Anyone who thinks a love story about birders sounds boring or tame clearly hasn’t read “Birding With Benefits,” the romance novel by Sarah T. Dubb that inspired Hallmark Channel’s latest rom-com.
Starring Hallmark fan favorites Andrew Walker and Rachel Boston, “Adventures in Love and Birding” premieres on September 27, 2025, and, according to the longtime friends, they had to pucker up more than usual so as not to disappoint fans of the book. Although the movie won’t be quite as steamy as the novel (this is Hallmark, after all), Walker told EntertainmentNow ahead of the premiere that it’s “the most I’ve ever kissed somebody in the movie.”
But Walker and Boston had no problem leaning into their steamy scenes, they both said, because they’re so comfortable working together and respect each other so much.
Andrew Walker Says He & Rachel Boston Didn’t Shy Away From Making Their Kissing Scenes Sizzle
In “Adventures in Love & Birding,” Boston plays single mom Celeste, who reluctantly agrees to help a bird enthusiast named John, played by Walker, at the birding competition he participates in each year. But she “misunderstands the assignment and tells everyone she’s his new girlfriend instead of just his teammate,” per Hallmark.
John gets roped into playing along with the fake relationship, and when they attend a party with Celeste’s friends, he realizes they need to be more affectionate to prove that they’re an item.
He told EntertainmentNow, “So we’re like, ‘Okay, what should we do? What if I touch you, kind of gently swipe your face?’ And that became, ‘I guess we should kiss, right now, right? Shouldn’t we kiss?’ And so it’s very hot and heavy. And Rachel was so fun to play alongside with this very explorative kind of love story.”
Boston and Walker have known each other for 16 years — since their first onscreen romance in the NBC drama “ER” — so they were comfortable with pushing the envelope together.
“Naturally, it’s awkward to kiss another girl who is not my wife,” Walker conceded, referencing his wife of 12 years, Cassandra Troy. “But it’s part of the job, right? And what was fun was that Rachel made her character very open to this connection. It was refreshing for my character, and it was very refreshing for me too, as the actor, to realize, ‘Oh, wow, she’s going there, you know? How physical can I get with her? Should I kiss her a second time?'”
“Oh, we went for it,” Boston laughed, noting that it made sense for her character to be swept up in the passion of a surprise romance as she was also rediscovering herself.
“I think for Celeste, this is a journey of second chances,” Boston told EntertainmentNow. “She wasn’t looking for love, or even interested, but all of a sudden, it’s like she’s in a romance novel.”
“We take our roles seriously and we’re result-oriented,” Walker added. “I think that’s why Nikki (DeLoach) and I work really well together, too. We all want to have a great product, so we’re not shy about a kissing scene — we’re just open to the best idea, the best visual. Whatever that is, wins.”
“We’re also so comfortable with each other,” Walker said of Boston. “We talked about the technicalities of our kisses. Like, ‘Is the hand up on the cheek? Is that weird? Should I go in a little faster? Should it go a little slower? How does it look visually?’ You know, it’s the anatomy of a kiss. What makes it good?”
Rachel Boston Hopes Fans Are Inspired by Her Brave ‘Adventures in Love & Birding’ Character
HallmarkBeyond the steamy kisses, Boston hopes viewers are drawn into her portrayal of a strong single mom, much like herself, who isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort zone and explore new possibilities.
“She’s getting to live out this romance,” Boston said of Celeste, “and she’s still the person she always was, but meeting the right person has brought it out even more.”
“And I think having a new hobby, as simple as it may seem to be learning about birding, it just gives her this whole new perspective on life,” she continued. “You know, you can wake up and organize your garage, which is what she was going to do on the day she met John, or you can go put yourself out there and do something unexpected. Both choices are valid, by the way, but she definitely made the right choice that day. I really hope it inspires people.”
Rachel Boston Cherishes the Chance to Bring Her Daughter to Work
One of the personal choices Boston is happiest about in her own life is regularly bringing her three-year-old daughter, Grace, to work with her, whether they’re on a Hallmark Christmas Cruise or a movie set.
“It’s remarkable working in family entertainment and raising a child at the same time,” she told EntertainmentNow. “I just finished a Christmas movie, too, and our executive producer said, ‘Bring your daughter!’ She would have her grandson on set, too.”
“It’s so neat to share lunch with (Grace) and make memories and have her experience a working mother,” Boston beamed. “I think there’s something so profound about seeing it through her eyes where she realizes, ‘Mommy has something she loves to do, and I have things I love to do. I get to color when mommy does what she loves.’ I’m just teaching these lessons along the way, and trying to be very intentional about it.”
“She is my priority,” Boston added. “I started working for Hallmark long before I had her and now I am just so, so grateful to be able to bring her and balance work, life, and motherhood.”
Walker, whose two sons — West, 10, and Wolf, 5 — also visited the set of “Adventures in Love and Birding,” told EntertainmentNow, “Rachel is somebody who takes her work very seriously, and she’s an incredible mom. Seeing the way she is with her daughter is amazing.”
Andrew Walker & Rachel Boston Are Already Planning to Work Together Again
When Walker and Boston reunited for “Adventures in Love and Birding,” it had been over seven years since they last appeared onscreen together in a Lifetime movie. After their latest experience filming together, they decided they can’t wait that long again and have already begun planning a new project together, she told EntertainmentNow.
Walker sang Boston’s praises while discussing their work together, calling her “such a loving being.”
He continued, “I think people see how bubbly Rachel is at events and such, but don’t really realize how introspective she is, and she’s such a great conversationalist. She loves her quiet time, loves nature. And she’s a family girl. She moved back to Tennessee, where she’s from, and lives two minutes away from her parents. She’s just a great person.”
Incredibly touched by Walker’s description of her, Boston replied, “To be able to work with people that see you — I think that’s part of this (Hallmark) family that’s just so unique. They get to see all facets of your life. I mean, it’s just such an incredible family. And Andrew’s energy on set, and the love and joy he has for life, is just infectious.”
“Adventures in Love and Birding” premieres on Hallmark Channel on September 27 at 8 p.m. Eastern time, and will be available to stream via Hallmark+ the following day.
