Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the advance copy. The following review is my honest opinion.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura is a fun rom com adventure. It really reminded me of the recent Sandra Bullock movie, The Lost City. Both had the same vibes.

Raiders follows two rival archaeologists, Corrie and Ford, as they go in search of the long lost remains of Corrie’s ancestor. What follows is a textbook enemies-to-lovers bickering/flirting relationship. However, it’s not all by the numbers with this trope. You get a jungle backdrop, an intense backstory, and an adventure worthy of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft.

The book will leave you wanting more. It’s impossible to put down as you want to see more of their adventure, and more of the steamy relationship. And let it be known: there is steam.

If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers, archaeological adventures, and ancient mysteries, this book is definitely for you!

What a fun adventure of a book. I really enjoyed Raiders of the Lost Heart, mainly for the unique plot and sassy characters. It was refreshing to see a strong, confident woman representing the STEM field.

An archeological dig brings together old acquaintances that have a brief past and now can't stand the sight of each other. Can they put their differences aside to find an ancient relic and quite possibly uncover a love for each other.

DNF at 25%. This review contains spoilers until Chapter 4.
I also did try to read this quite a few times and ultimately decided it wasn't for me.

I know a lot of people will like this and find this fun. I love romance books but as a member of the aroace spectrum, there are things that happen in some romance books that just very much confuse me and put me off in on romance books and this featured quite a large number of them, which I will be enumerating in this review for my fellow a-spec romance readers. So while this might not be for me it just might be for you.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura follows schoolmates turned academic rivals Corrie and Ford as they team up on a secret Aztec expedition deep into the Mexican jungle in search of Corrie's long-lost remains of her ancestor, and for Ford's part financial salvation to help his sick mother.

I started of enjoying this novel and hoping it didn't turn out cringe for me but it was very emotionally explosive with seemingly no buildup. They're both well into their 30's but they both act very emotionally immature while both being incredibly sexually frustrated from the get-go for each other that it honestly feels contrived. I personally needed some sort of solid foundation for the situation that the author put them in to make it believable but instead we were simply told that she''s been attracted to him forever and so has he so they basically spend their entire adulthood pulling each others' pigtails like toddlers who don't quite know how to process emotions. Corrie feels also very not-like-other-girls-and-thats-why-i-have-a-crush-on-her and how's she's very much objectified, but she also sees herself as ordinary and plain and not that great and I personally vehemently dislike that kind of FMC.

So a couple of scenes that that trigger my aspecness:
- the way she keeps referring to "nether regions"
- the way she psychoanalyzing the way he drinks water 🫠
- the way she mentions how he is “sexy without the sex” uh.... can someone please explain what that even means??? 🫠
- the way he has two letters tattooed on his arm and this dell girl assumes its her initials after ogling him all night only for her to ask outright and have him tell her its his DYING MOMS INITIALS. 🫠
- the way her breasts brush his arm and instead of moving away like anyone else in real life, that just stand there and stare at each other and absolutely no one moves away and they just keep staring at each other
- the way she keeps assuming the absolute worst of him on every aspect of his humanity and yet every time she thinks of him or sees the barest hint of him she wants to bang him and how she calls him appetizing multiple times 🫠
- and then finally, the main reason why I ended up DNFing this is when he chooses to help her unpack her things in direct contrast to her wishes (where she tells him to stop), reaches into her bag, and - surprise! - the first thing he pulls out is this massive purple sex toy called Barney the Monster 🌚 and this mid-thirty year old man seems to have no clue what a vibrator/dildo is so then she tells him and he acts SO SURPRISED and flustered, leading him to run out of the tent, and into the rain, to the shower room to wank off like a teenager to thoughts of her using Barney.

Soooooooo yeah. This is definitely NOT for me but it might be for you!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, and Netgalley for the eARC and Penguin Random House Audio for the ALC, allowing me to read and reread in two different media.

📣 a dislike to lovers adventure story where the heroine is the Lara Croft type

📖 what’s one of your Monday numbers? Mine are: 4:45, when I woke up today 🙃; 1, kid sick with a stomach thing; 2, books I’m currently reading.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

I’m not the type to get into races with jaguarundi or go on unguided tours of caves, for example, but I *do* love an adventure story & the thrill of the hunt in my local antique or thrift store 💁🏻‍♀️ so Jo Segura’s Raiders of the Lost Heart was right up my alley.

This book is really fun.

Featuring two professors who have a missed romantic opportunity & betrayal in their background, ROTLH takes the reader on an intriguing ride through the jungles of Mexico & a dislike-to-lovers relationship arc.

Corrie Mejía is the badass archaeologist type who’s been compared to Lara Croft & isn’t afraid of a bit of danger with her quest. She’s also trying to make it onto the archaeological map amongst her colleagues, who don’t entirely give her the respect she’s due.

An opportunity to search for Chimalli brings her face to face with an old nemesis, Ford Matthews, a hottie who she believes betrayed her. Ford is self-aware, self-critical when necessary, and secretly consumed with worry.

In the jungles of Mexico the two have a chance to confront their past & figure out if they have a future.

This opposites attract works really well together, both of them tempering the other/encouraging the other when necessary. I liked how wrong they could both be about their work/research methodologies—it’s nice to see talented, really smart people not be perfect sometimes 🤪.

For me, some of the external drama gets to be a bit much, & I didn’t 💯 love the pacing of how certain strings are tied at the end, but by & large this is an entertaining, adventurous, passionate story by an author I’d definitely like to read again.

4 ⭐️. Out tomorrow!

CWs: blackmail, previous slut-shaming, mother currently has cancer, loss of parents, former betrayal of parents.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of a Christmas tree decorated in pink & gold.]

When Ali Hazelwood recommends it, you know it's gonna be good!

Think national treasure but make it a rom com! This fun action packed adventure read was so fun and really packs a punch! So much suspense and adventure mixed with just the right amount of romance to leave you swooning. It really felt like a movie!

Dr. Socorro “Corrie” Mejía, archaeologist has the chance to go deep into the Mexican jungle to find a long lost artifact, but there's a catch, she has to go with her grad school nemesis.

LOVED the women in STEM rep! As a woman in STEM myself, the author captioned the plight of a woman in a male dominated field and depicts our heroine as the queen that she is.

LOVED the duel POV! Really made the enemies to lovers believable and the chemistry more palpable.

Overall, took some of my favorite tropes and themes and combined them in a perfect adventure!

I didn’t love this like I’d hoped.

I think one of the main reasons for that is because one of the main storylines only exists due to a misunderstanding that could have been easily solved with a quick conversation or even a five-minute phone call. Harrison needed to man up and talk to Corrie ten years ago before the misunderstanding snowballed. Instead, he gives up on the girl he supposedly had feelings for in favor of pursuing a relationship with someone else because he thought Corrie wouldn't ever forgive him. He also does several other things that should have us giving him some major side-eye.

Another factor that kept me from fully enjoying the book is the fact I had to keep reminding myself these were thirty-something adults. Their thoughts felt immature for their age. It was like they had the raging hormones of teenagers, Corrie especially.

I wanted adventure, sweeping romance, and banter. Let's put it like this, I wanted the perfect tea latte. and instead, I got lukewarm water.

What do you get when you have too long time archaeology rivals put on the same expedition which they both need for their careers? You get this delightful book with action and banter, and the most delightfully written characters. I was drawn into this book from the very beginning. I could see that there was an underlying chemistry between Corrie and Ford underneath there very explicit dislike for one another. It was fun to see how they had to deal with each other while trying to save their expedition from all of the outside influences. I was entertained from start to finish.

Raiders of the Lost Heart was a fun romance with all the laughs, spice, and Indiana Jones-inspired adventure.

Ever since she became an archaeologist, Corrie has always been intrigued by the search for the lost remains of her ancestor, an ancient Aztec warrior. When she is offered a chance to be a part of the expedition looking for his remains, she jumps at the opportunity, only to find out the team is led by her academic nemesis, Ford.

Going into this read, I was so excited about the story being a mix of romance and adventure, and it delivered on both! The chemistry between the two main characters was off the charts! (Also, I ADORE that the male lead was named Ford based on Harrison Ford. So clever!) The banter, romance, and drama of the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, anxiously anticipating what would come next.

If you want to escape into a new, fast-paced romance with all the twists, turns, and spice, definitely keep this read in mind!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*

A cheesy and steamy romp for fans of The Mummy and Indiana Jones, though a little less exciting.

I was very excited for the premise of this one, plus that cover! The academic rivals and forced proximity on a dig in Mexico sets the scene for tension and an archaeological mystery. Corrie and Ford always had vibes for each other until Ford ended up with a career opportunity Corrie was vying for. The first third of the book was somewhat cheesy and cringy, then the pace slows right down until the last third. There was less adventure than I was looking forward to, which made the book drag a bit.

I adore Corrie. The way she is unapologetic about herself but also allows for vulnerabilities to show through her badass adventurous self. As a Latine woman, she has to prove herself on multiple fronts in the misogynistic boys world of archaeology. I really appreciate how Segura has Corrie must manage people's focus on her body instead of her brains.

Ford and his decisions left a sour taste in my mouth. From his POV, both he and you know he needs to come clean but he takes forever to actually do anything about it.

I will read future Jo Segura titles since there is great promise, but this fell flat for me.

CW: cancer, sexual harassment

I loved this book! I devoured it in only a few sittings and wish there was more to read. The story line was paced very well and the characters were easy to love!

Quick Synopsis:
Ford and Corrie are rival archaeologists who met in college. They never entirely forged a friendship and now rely on animosity to deal with one another. When Ford is forced to ask for Corrie’s help on his latest dig, the two have to figure out how to live and work alongside each other. The two must also determine how they’ll deal with their mutual attraction and hatred with so much at stake for the dig.

Storyline/Pacing:
The story started fast-paced and very intriguing. I enjoyed the adventure aspects of the plot and even found the relationship aspect cute. That said, about 50% into the story, the plot gets weighed down with the relationship and loses the adventure aspect. The momentum slowed for me, and I was left wishing for more. Additionally, I’m ready to read a book where parental cancer isn’t an obligatory character hardship. I think this had some bearing on my feelings toward this one. I know I'm an outlier in this, because all the reviews seem very favorable, so it may be another case of the wrong reader.

Author:
I loved that this story highlighted women in archaeology, and I feel like it’s a great debut. Jo Segura has a strong voice, and her feminist perspective shined through.

Overall:
I recommend this to anyone who loves strong female leads and enemies-to-lovers tropes. It was a humorous romance with a bit of spice and a hint of Indiana Jones.
⭐️⭐️⭐️stars

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the Digital Review Copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and Berkley for the gifted e-book! ❤️ #gifted. My review is comprised of my honest thoughts.

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, rivals, Indiana Jones vibes, women in STEM

I really liked this one. It was cute and sweet. I was torn at first because I didn't love Ford and some of the stuff he did to Corrie. He eventually won me over. The characters were developed so well. It was fun and full of adventure. I highly recommend it!

Unfortunately I did not like this book very much. It’s definitely because of the expectations I had going into the book. The marketing and premise of the book had me ready for an action packed adventure romance. What I got was a romance that just happened to take place at an archaeological dig site, not particularly exciting.

I also just really did not like Ford and I would not have forgiven him. Not a chance.

The marketing for this book is a disservice to the author because I have a feeling I won’t be the only one let down. I did enjoy her writing though so I will read her next book.

When I first saw this cover, I wanted this book. When I saw it was a Latinx MC romance, I needed this book!!

This book was such a fun read!! It has a bad ass Latina MC who is kicking butt and taking names and fighting to make a name for herself in the male dominated field of archaeology. Often compared to a Latinx Lara Croft, I admired the hell out of Corrie Mejia as she was unapologetically herself.

When she finds herself on a dig in the jungles of Mexico working with her rival archaeologist Dr. Ford Matthews, the jungle climate wasn't the only thing heating up!! This book was spicy!! And I'm not mad about it!

Pick up this book if you like bad ass women, a little humor with your spice, and an awesome jungle setting!

Thank you to Berkley publishing for my complimentary eARC and to PRHAudio for my complimentary audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Raiders of the Lost Heart was a wild and crazy adventure. Think Raiders of the Lost Arc meets Romancing the Stone. Lots of witty banter and arguments over who is really the boss, along with the added enjoyment of an enemies to lovers/second chance romance. The steamy Mexican jungle is no match for the steam between Ford and Corry. But their romance may need to be put on hold while they work through some unresolved issues.

I adored how the ending stayed true to every adventure flick out there…..Will there be a sequel ?

I enjoyed the narrator. No issues with voice quality while listening at 2x speed.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura was so fun! Perfect for lovers of The Mummy, National Treasure, and Indiana Jones. It's got career rivals with a long history of tension 🥵, only one tent, tons of banter, sneaking around, lush jungle vibes, and a mystery subplot! Low on spice but full of tension and chemistry.

This was so much fun! It was so entertaining to follow Corrie and Ford on their Indiana Jones-esque adventure in Mexico. And their romance blossomed so naturally. I’m looking forward to more from this author!

I received a copy of this book from Berkley Publishing.

Perhaps the title makes it pretty evident, but Raiders of the Lost Heart takes a healthy amount of inspiration from the likes of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, The Mummy, and similar action-packed, archaeological franchises. If you’re familiar with any of those, this book is a must-read. While I’ve seen at least one Indiana Jones movie and the first of The Mummy series, I’m not an expert on this realm, but I enjoyed it here all the same!

Raiders of the Lost Heart whisks readers away to the Lacandon Jungle of Mexico, where Dr. Corrie Mejía, Dr. Ford Matthews, and their team of archaeologists are searching for Chimalli, the ancient Aztec warrior who may have lived and died in this area. I love the setting, with its tropical climate, lush green vegetation, and proximity to rivers and waterfalls, not to mention the many animals who make their home there. Not enough of the books I read are set in jungles! I also love that the characters are archaeologists, dedicated to better understanding and preserving our past. Here, we get to see them thrown into some adventurous scenarios, complete with unexpected rapids, snakes, and some man-made danger towards the end of the book.

Both of the leading characters are captivating, especially Corrie. Frequently compared to Lara Croft, Corrie is a woman known for her daring, bravery, and thorough outdoor skills. She can steal back priceless necklaces, outrun jaguarundis, and uncover treasures that have been lost for centuries. She’s incredible, with a wicked sense of humor, too. However, I also appreciated the extra depth in her experiencing sexism within the industry. Despite all of her accomplishments, why do her peers so often reduce her to her looks and perceived sexuality? She’s extremely smart and deserves far more respect than she gets. Ford, on the other hand, has had life pretty easy, at least until the last couple of years. He might come off as cocky at first, but underneath some lies and pettiness, he’s actually sweet and deeply caring, especially for his sick mother. Ford grew much more likable the more I got to know him here.

Corrie and Ford are a great pair of enemies to lovers, and it’s grounded in their shared history and the “what if” they never got to explore. During this dig, what starts off as harsh remarks and jokes soon turns into something more. They have physical chemistry for sure, but I also liked the more tender moments between them, the heart-to-hearts that make for true emotional connection. Ford has some bad secrets, and Corrie has her reservations, but will their time in the jungle be enough for them to see a future together after the dig is over?

The book ends with some exciting action and danger that I wasn’t expecting. The whole ending sequence is thrilling and a quick read! I also loved the clues left in the epilogue… is there going to be a sequel? In the Amazon? Yes please, sign me up!

Raiders of the Lost Heart is an exhilarating romance, full of details about Mexico and the Aztecs, a healthy dose of adventure, and a love story that feels well earned. What a stunning debut this is, and if it’s the start of a series, I already can’t wait to read the next installment.

This book was SUCH a delight! I love a good academic rivals romance, and add an action/adventure twist and I'm sold. Side note: I'm very glad that we're getting more action/adventure romcoms in general, it's a subgenre I never thought I'd be into, turns out I'm VERY into it!

Corrie and Ford have butt heads since college, but now he needs her help because he's stalled on his dig. I loved the tension between these two and how immediate it was because of their history. Their banter had me giggling and kicking my feet almost the entire time, which is so rare for me these days. When he found her vibrator while trying to help her unpack--PLEASE. This is why you don't go through other people's stuff, but oh my god was I dying hysterically through that entire exchange.

Also, I felt so much for Ford's reasoning for taking a job he knew Corrie was more qualified for and ultimately getting duped because of how much he needed money for his mom's treatment. I also loved that even through their differences, Corrie and Ford could also open up to each other and be vulnerable about the hard stuff they've gone through in their lives and careers.

I loved this one, can't wait to see what Jo Segura comes out with next!

4.25 stars

Raiders of the Lost Heart is a delightful adventure romance filled with action and whole lot of romantic tension. I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s subtle nods to other adventure stories in popular culture (primarily the Indiana Jones franchise) and liked the rivals-to-lovers elements as well.

Without providing any spoilers, I will say I was slightly put off by a specific element in the epilogue; it’s just not my favorite narrative choice. I also think that Ford could have groveled a bit more. But then, again, I always like my heroes to suffer a bit… and that probably doesn’t fit the tone of this book.

Regardless, it was an enjoyable read that definitely takes readers on an adventure. And I wouldn’t mind seeing more stories in this vein in the future!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.