Spotlight & Giveaway: The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you India Holton’s new release: The Geographer’s Map to Romance

Geography professors in a failed marriage of convenience inconveniently reconnect for an emergency mission in this swoony historical-fantasy rom-com.

Professor Elodie Tarrant is an expert in magic disasters. Nothing fazes her—except her own personal disaster, that is: Professor Gabriel Tarrant, the grumpy, unfriendly man she married for convenience one year ago, whom she hates but at the same time secretly loves.

Gabriel is also an expert in magic disasters. And nothing fazes him either—except the walking, talking tornado that is his wife. They’ve been estranged since their wedding day, but that hasn’t stopped him from secretly loving her, and yet hating her, too.

When magic erupts in a small Welsh village, threatening catastrophe for the rest of England, Elodie and Gabriel are accidentally both assigned to the case. With the fate of the country in their hands, they must come together as a team in the face of perilous conditions like whirlwinds, explosions, and only one bed. But this is easier said than done. After all, there’s no navigational guide for the geography of the heart.

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from The Geographer’s Map to Romance 

THE GEOGRAPHER’S MAP TO ROMANCE by India Holton
Berkley Romance Trade Original | On Sale: April 8, 2025
Excerpt

Elodie looked away from Gabriel, releasing a breath she’d not only been holding but had tied up and gagged too. There was no point trying to compel her nerves into tranquility; she might as well attempt meditation in a hurricane. Gabriel was so damned vexing, the most arrogant man she’d ever known!
(He’d also embraced her, risking himself to protect her! And his sister clearly knew that Elodie was his wife, which suggested that he’ d mentioned her to his family!)
Oh yes, and there had been an explosion.
Preoccupied with these italics, Elodie only vaguely noted that the other travelers on the platform had begun bustling toward the train. Motthers was removing pages from his clip- board and handing them to her; she folded them absentmindedly and handed them back. Amelia, turning slowly on a heel to inspect the lingering blue tinge in the atmosphere, murmured something about “thaumaturgic residue,” but Elodie only dimly registered the words. He’d mentioned her. To his family!
“What a mess,” Gabriel grumbled.
Elodie managed to focus then, supposing he was about to continue their argument. Her stomach clenched. But in fact his gaze was on Beetleson, who remained hunched among the dowsing rod’s remnants, trying frantically to brush away the glimmering cloud of magic that now engulfed his entire head. “I want a full report of this episode on my desk, Monday morning,” Gabriel told the young man, his voice like a dormant volcano: quiet, calm, but with the potential to erupt with terrifying effect at any moment. “Accompanied by an essay on
Newton’s first law of motion.”
“Aghhhh,” Beetleson replied.
“Motthers, help the poor boy get to the infirmary,” Elodie said without thinking—then did think, and winced at the realization she’d just consigned herself to going on the assignment alone with Gabriel. But it was too late; Motthers had already dropped his clipboard and shrugged off his emergency response kit with such an eager haste Elodie would have been offended had the train’s conductor calling, “All aboard!” not distracted her.
“Should I try to follow after you tomorrow?” he asked, making it sound like he was proposing a trek up Mt. Everest. Elodie frowned as the question reverberated through her tangled nerves. “I don’t know,” she murmured, and turned to discuss the situation with Gabriel—only to find he’d picked up his suitcase in one hand, his ER kit in the other, and was striding for the train. Just like that.
Elodie glared after him. Beside her, Amelia gave a heavy sigh that sounded a lot like Elodie’s heart felt. “He’s so uptight,” the woman said. “I can’t remember the last time he relaxed, let alone laughed.”
“I saw him smile once,” Elodie said, then immediately shut down her memory of the moment before it triggered a catastrophic tsunami of emotions. She looked around for her suitcase, which was in fact sitting by her feet, along with Motthers’s ER kit. Motthers himself had already gone to help Beetleson, apparently thinking that, if he didn’t get an answer from Elodie, that was as good as a no. Her brain felt too askew to manage the decision, so she just hauled the kit onto her back, lifted the suitcase, and tucked one side of her hair behind her ear in lieu of a proper coiffure. Then she nodded to Amelia.
“Sorry to dash, but it really was nice meeting you.”
“And you,” Amelia replied, then glanced at Beetleson. “Is the student going to be all right?”
“Oh, he’ll be fine once the magic dissipates,” Elodie said. Then she leaned closer to add furtively, “Besides, this fright will teach the lad not to be so careless about basic safety rules when it comes to thaumaturgic tools.”
Amelia blinked for one startled moment, then laughed. “I’m off to Hereford,” she said, “but when I get back, perhaps we might have tea? It’s no concern if you’d rather not.”
“I would like that indeed . . .” Elodie said, but her voice trailed off as she noticed Gabriel across the platform. He’d paused in boarding the first class carriage and was frowning at her, no doubt wondering if she intended to catch the train. For a moment, she considered again not doing so. Spending several days in the countryside with her husband might be a secret wish of her heart, but it was also one that only the most devious of fairy godmothers would make come true.
And yet, although she often failed at being dignified, she was in every other respect professional. Whatever her personal issues with Gabriel, she was going to do her work, and do it well, like a grown-up. So there!
“Well, good luck,” Amelia said. And watching her brother as he entered the train, she added, “I’ve a feeling you’ll need it.”
“Oh?”
“It’s going to be a disaster zone.” “That’s the job,” Elodie said.
“The job?” Amelia smiled wryly. “Oh yes, that too.”
“Final call!” the conductor announced. Elodie dashed for the train. She had just entered when Motthers began frantically hollering her name. Pausing, Elodie turned to see the student waving his clipboard at her. “Professor, wait! I forgot to tell you! It’s urgent! There’s another problem—!”
Toot!
The conductor shut the carriage door, and as Elodie tumbled into a seat, the train began its journey toward magic.

Excerpted from The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton Copyright © 2025 by India Holton. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Excerpt. ©India Holton. Posted by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.
 
 

Giveaway: One copy of THE GEOGRAPHER’S MAP TO ROMANCE for one U.S. only winner.

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Meet the Author:

India Holton lives in New Zealand, where she has 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 uppity women and charming rogues, and drinking too much tea.

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