Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton Narrator: Elizabeth Knowelden
Series: Love's Academic #1
Published by Berkley, Penguin Audio on July 23, 2024
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 384
Length: 6 hours, 19 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Professor Beth Pickering is on the verge of finally capturing the rare Deathwhistler bird when Professor Devon Lockley swoops in, capturing both her bird and her eye. For his part, Devon has never been more smitten than when he first set eyes on Beth. When a competition to become Birder of the Year by capturing an endangered caladrius bird is announced, Beth and Devon are forced to team up to have any chance of winning
The Dangerous Damsels series began this world with its witty, hilarious antics. The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love continues the tradition in a new series in the same world, Love’s Academic. It isn’t necessary to have read the previous books as they are not mentioned at all. Those books are so fun I wouldn’t miss them, however. I really appreciate the magic of strong women in a historical setting. The plots are rather ridiculous, but the dialogue is exceedingly clever and often humorous. The books are romances.
A contest for ornithologists underlies the events here. The press decides that a romance between two attractive professors would be just the thing and also get more people interested in ornithology. So they contrive to have the man in their chosen couple win. The rich, greedy and powerful council come up with a plan to anoint their preferred winner by having them find a rare bird, and then to profit on using the bird’s magic. This leads to many shenanigans and thefts to help or hurt the preferred parties.
Beth and Devon are young professors who are competing because they love birds, are very knowledgeable, and want the prize of tenure and some money. Many confusing things happen to them because people are interested in their romance (which doesn’t exist, but…) They are separated from their older mentors and thrown together. It gives them an opportunity to talk ornithology and find common values.
The ornithology, these two charming young people and their developing romance are delightful! I highly recommend this ridiculous fun. It looks like the next adventure will feature geographers in The Geographer’s Map to Romance next April.
Narration:
The narrator has done all the books in the series and I really enjoy her performance. The voices for the characters felt authentic. Nearly all the speaking was done by Beth and Devon, or the thoughts in their heads, so it was easy listening. I was able to listen at 1.5x speed, a bit faster than the previous books.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About India Holton
India resides in New Zealand, where she’s enjoyed the typical Kiwi lifestyle of wandering around forests, living barefoot on islands, and messing about in boats.
Now she lives in a cottage near the sea, writing books about unconventional women and charming rogues.Think slow burn romance with literal explosions.
India’s writing is fuelled by tea, buttered scones, and thunderstorms.
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
|
| Writing |
 |
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 Red River Road by Anna Downes @whatannawrote @MaddyWithington @MinotaurBooks @MacmillanAudio #LoveAudiobooks - October 3, 2024
- A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara @MaxieDara @jaimebee @BerkleyPub @PRHAudio @sophiarose1816 #LoveAudiobooks - October 2, 2024
- 🎧 Candle & Crow by Kevin Hearne @KevinHearne @luckylukeekul @DelReyBooks @PRHAudio#LoveAudiobooks - October 1, 2024
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 24-COYER
I’m glad you loved this. It’s on my list, and knowing the second book is already on the horizon gives me a good excuse to read it😁
These books are so witty, ridiculous and fun!
Great review, Anne💜 I’ve yet to try romantasy and this looks like a good one.
This or the Damsels series preceding it would be excellent choices. They are totally smart, silly and fun.
I absolutely adored this story, and the main couple was so adorable together! However, I didn’t realize this series was related to the first one since there were no pirates or witches. It seemed like a whole new (but fantasy) historical world. Huh.
Well I saw it labeled as Damsels #4 somewhere but it has no connections. It might be the same world / timeframe. Either way, it’s a fun book.
I have a charm of that bird from a trip I took
Nice!
It sounds like a cute read. Its the first time I am hearing of this book.
If you like historical mystery romances that are utterly ridiculous and cleverly witty you will laugh through any of India Holton’s books.
Awwww! I like the sounds of this one. 🙂 Sounds like a fun cast
If you have not read this author I would highly recommend her. It’s sort of historical mystery rom-com.