The Antiquarian's Object of Desire (Love's Academic #3)

Anyone who's read India Holton's Love's Academic series will know that wherever her two leads go, magical mischief and romance is sure to follow, and in her third and latest book The Antiquarian's Object of Desire, the chaos is at an all-time high!

Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been besties since they were eight years old in boarding school together. Unfortunately, that close friendship is unacceptable in the Victorian era Oxford University setting where they're both professors. Amelia's position would be in particular peril were the head of their department, Professor Ottersock, to suspect the two unmarried professors were so close. What's the solution?

These two don't fake date ... they fake hate! When anyone's eyes are on them, the barbs fly and petty squabbling ensues, but the more heated their "tempers" get, the more turned on they seem to become, even if only in their minds. Furthermore, the magical objects around them seem to misbehave as well causing a path of destruction wherever they go! Has the genuine and deep affection they've always had for each other become something more or was it there all along?

When the two are sent, along with flighty museum curator Vanity Tunnicliffe, to the estate of Sir Nigel Harroway and his wife Lady Ruperta to examine his extensive private collection of magical antiques,  their patience is put to the test as all manner of misbehaving magic follows. As the days drag on and their proximity becomes more tempting, it's not just the antiques Amelia and Caleb want to inspect! 

With Amelia's teaching position on the line if anyone finds out she and Caleb aren't actually the sworn enemies everyone believes them to be, can these two find their way to something more? First they have to get out of the Halloway estate in one piece and that's no easy feat when certain people, ghosts and magical objects all seem to be conspiring against them!

 I don't read too many series, and barely any historical romance, but India Holton is an author that always delivers adventure, humor, dynamic characters and crazy magical stories that are so fun to escape in. The inner monologues of her characters are always hilarious, particularly when narrated by the brilliant Elizabeth Knowelden. It's also fascinating to see a strong, intelligent Victorian era FMC wrestle with the constraints and "taboo" desires of women in that time, both professionally and personally.

This was a wonderful immersion read and Amelia and Caleb's story may be my favorite yet. Their story certainly ended on a potentially interesting path for a new book!

★★★★ ½ 

Thanks to Berkley Publishing, NetGalley and author India Holton for this digital ARC to honestly review and to Audible for the audio. It's out now.