The geographer's map to romance

Holton's effervescent second Love's Academic romance (after The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love) returns to a supernaturally infused alternate Victorian England--but its true magic lies in the whirlwind love story and wonderfully witty wordplay between its leads. Geography professor Elodie Tarrant, avatar of academic chaos and "one of England's foremost specialists in exigent thaumaturgic geographic dynamics," has been married to her straitlaced husband, professor Gabriel Tarrant, for a year. Despite once having seen potential for a real bond, their match was born of convenience rather than love, and since the wedding they've led separate lives. When a magical fault line emerges in a small Welsh town rife with paranormal tourism, both of the Tarrants are called in to assist. They take vastly different approaches to the problem, with often hilarious results, especially as, while working to stop the supernatural threat, they also dance around their rekindling feelings for each other. Holton ratchets up the whimsy in her worldbuilding and her characters leap off the page, especially taciturn Gabriel, who manages to imbue myriad meanings into a simple "Hm." The result is a delicious, feel-good romp. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary (Apr.)

Holton returns with the second in her historical-fantasy rom-com series featuring academics engaged in magical adventures (after The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love). Professors Elodie and Gabriel Tarrant are married but live separate lives, rather ironically, since they married for the convenience of finding someplace to live. They both work in the same field--magical disasters--and each secretly adores the other. Elodie and Gabriel are pulled away from their teaching (and avoiding each other) duties to go to Wales, where magical eruptions are endangering the region's stability. Holton layers on detail and frothy jokes like a pastry chef with an eye for fabulous icing roses, covering every inch of the story with sugared delights. Beneath this is an unfolding reconciliation between Elodie and Gabriel that becomes more satisfying as the book advances. There are also lovely scenes, including a glimpse of the couple's initial meeting and history, as well as some brightly conceived moments of current courtship, admiration, and characterization. VERDICT This series isn't as strongly plotted as Holton's "Dangerous Damsels" trilogy, but her many fans will delight in the charm-filled escapade.--Neal Wyatt