Synopsis
Newly divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure and putting herself first, cliches be damned. So when a friend asks Celeste to “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn’t looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching contest if he’s ever going to launch his own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed signals, they’ve become teammates…and thanks to his meddling friends, a fake couple.
Celeste can’t tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona wilderness feed Celeste’s hunger for new adventures while giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. Since they’re both committed to the single life, Celeste suggests a status upgrade: birders with benefits, just until the contest is done. But as the bird count goes up and their time together ticks down, John and Celeste will have to decide if their benefits can last a lifetime, or if this love affair is for the birds.
Thoughts
As a contemporary romance reader and casual birdwatcher (with a subscription to Birds & Blooms Magazine to prove it), I was excited to read this book. What a wonderful debut novel! It really exceeded my expectations.
John and Celeste are absolutely lovely, even if they are two wounded birds recovering from failed relationships. Their personalities strike a beautiful balance, and I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing this couple’s love story. I could particularly relate to Celeste as she navigated mothering a college age child while also entering into a new chapter of life.
While this book is light in birding, it’s big in heart. Pick this up if you want a sweet and mature contemporary summer romance read. I will definitely be watching for more books from this author!
Question
Do you have a favorite bird?