When Corrie is invited on a mysterious archeologic dig to find the remains of her supposed ancestor and thesis topic, she can't help but agree, despite the lack of information surrounding the trip. But when she arrives, the lead archeologist is none other than her doctoral rival, Ford, who she can never quite decide whether she wants to slap or sleep with. She almost walks away, but when she can't stand to give up the dig of her life just because of their differences. Once the two spend more time together, the sexual tension bubbles over just as the dig begins heating up, too.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I know nothing about archeology, but love romance books where the main characters have unique, interesting careers, and this one fit the bill. It provides a plot point and interesting tidbits aside from the developing connection and steam (that this book also delivers incredibly). This is a fabulous debut, and I can't wait to see what else thing author puts out!

Thanks to Berkley for my eARC and finished copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

I was not a fan of this book. I found Corrie to be very unlikeable, and I really wasn't sure what Ford saw in her, other than that he found her attractive. I felt like they both acted in a very immature manner, and if they, at any point, would have just stopped and had a real conversation, most of the "conflict" in the book could have been avoided. But to be honest, I think most of the "conflict" in the book arose because Corrie had a bad temper and didn't think about what she was saying or doing before she did it. She acted like a spoiled middle-schooler.
I also felt like I had so suspend belief on the archaeological aspect and historical accuracy, not to mention the ending.
I would not recommend this book

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and the Berkley Besties program, all opinions are my own.

I love a good Indiana Jones type of story with a little mythology, archeology, and adventure. I was so excited that this had a female lead, but I was a little let down by this. The story was a bit hard to take seriously when the two main characters were constantly thinking about how hot each other are and lusting after one another. It was lacking the adventure plotline that I was expecting from this book. Our female lead continuously wants to be taken seriously for her work, yet her mind is constantly in the gutter and despite how capable she is as an archeologist she doesn't think through her actions. I think the book's message really got lost along the way. If the author's goal was to write a steamy rom-com, she did so, however I wanted more of the dig and science behind it.

This follows Corrie and Ford, two archeologists who have been rivals since their days as students. Both great at what they do for a living, but very different in their methods. Corrie has always been fascinated by the ancient Aztec warrior Chimalli, especially since her grandfather claims they are his descendants. She even wrote her thesis on Chimalli and her dream is to lead an expedition to find his remains. Unbeknownst to Corrie, Ford has been handed her dream expedition and he needs her help when the dig has come to a standstill. Corrie has been angry with Ford since their days as students and she has never confronted him about it. Ford knows he needs to come clean about what really happened all those years ago and the dig is just another reason for her to hate him. As Ford and Corrie form a truce to make the most of the dig, the truth slowly comes out and the spark between them is reignited. The dig isn't going as planned, but with Corrie's help and expertise on the subject and history, things slowly turn around.

Like I said I was expecting more of an adventure book with a romance. I felt mislead by the premise of this book. If you are expecting something like The Mummy, Lara Croft, or Indiana Jones which this was compared to several times it is lacking that type of humorous adventure. There is a bit of action that occurs toward the end, but overall the action and adventure I was looking for was lacking. Perhaps this is more realistic of how an actual dig really works, but I was expecting something a bit more fantastical and less realistic. At it's core this a romance novel, and I didn't feel the chemistry between the two main characters. There is alot of lust between them for much of the book, and there are some spicy bits, so depending on what you are looking for this may or may not be the book for you. They fight alot, and I wasn't a fan of the conflict resolution overall. Their communication skills need some work and something I look for between adult characters is great banter and good communication.

Overall, this was fun but not what I was looking for.

A book inspired by Indiana Jones?? Say no more. I LOVED these movies as they came out when I was young.

Raiders of the Lost Heart was so dang fun. The location couldn't be better or the premise more unique. And that COVER! I loved Corrie as the MC--she was a badass breaking the glass ceiling in her field, determined to prove the first impressions of her wrong.

I also loved her rivalry with Ford. They've been competing for grants and positions for years, but when they're stuck in the wilderness, of course things are going to turn steamy. The book's tagline "Your tent or mine?" totally cracked me up. The "only one tent" scene was perfect.

I'll admit I didn't love Ford, his lies, or the way he stepped on Corrie to better his own career. Even when he admitted it, it didn't feel like the issue was quite resolved.

I'm looking forward to more books by this author! I enjoyed her writing style and willingness to do something totally unique.

“You’re the only person who can occupy my mind, no matter how much I’ve tried to keep you out. The only person I’ve ever truly wanted to know. And the only person I’ve ever wanted to know me.”

TLDR: This was such a fun read! Different than my typical reads and I kinda loved that. It’s got tension, suspense, humor, and heat. If you’re looking for a little adventure I recommend giving this one a try. No passport required.

I loved our FMC, Dr. Socorro Mejía, aka. Corrie. She’s smart and funny. A total badass who’s not afraid to take risks. She’s spent much of her career in academia trying to earn respect and prove that she’s more than just a pretty face. Dr. Ford Matthews is her hunky academic rival who also happens to be leading her dream expedition. What could possibly go wrong?!? I loved their banter, the tension, and the explosive chemistry. The jungle setting of this book was fun and I enjoyed learning the backstory surrounding their dig. The suspense at the end had me engaged and on the end of my seat.

I don’t want to give away too much because I think going in slightly blind is one thing I really enjoyed about the book. It definitely gives off some Indiana Jones, Romancing the Stone, and The Lost City vibes. So, if you dig any of those (no pun intended. OK, maybe) then you’ll enjoy this. Oh, and can I just say one last thing? You know I love an epilogue and this one had me grinning.

Tropes + things
Rivals to lovers
Second chance
Treasure hunt
Forced proximity
Only one tent
Waterfall rendezvous
Adventure + suspense
Dual POV/3rd person

Thank you @BerkleyRomance, @NetGalley, and the #JoyfulChaosBookClub for the ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own.

A romance novel with action? This is a sub-genre I had no idea I would enjoy as much as I did. Raiders of the Lost Heart plays on the big adventure movies and does it in a way that the entire story feels fresh. Enemies to lovers is another trope that plays out. Corrie and Ford have great chemistry and their rivalry sets the tone for how hard they fall. This was a really enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed reading about the ruins and seeing it from an archeologist perspective. I've always thought that job would be intriguing. The main characters hate each other thanks to half stories and assumptions during college. When they pair up for Corrie's dream job, some truths start coming out and attractions can't be hidden. There was a mystery within a mystery too. They were looking for the body of an ancient warrior, but we're also being spied on and stolen from by a member of their own crew. Then things come to a head and you are left fighting tears after an accident happens.

Really enjoyed this one! I love a feminist and niche job main character and she did not disappoint! There's a lot to enjoy with this one- overall plot, family identity, job ethics, STEAM FACTOR, and yes, there's miscommunication, but the MMC tries very hard to avoid it. Overall a solid read!

Thank you, Berkley and PRH Audio for the ALC and ARC!

Loved, loved, loved this one! Indiana Jones meets a romcom! I enjoyed the banter and angst between Ford and Corrie throughout the whole book - it was pure perfection. This book was so well executed with a love story, a really fun plot, and adventure! A possible part two?? Please!!

3.5 but rounding up as the book is a review. I grew up on Raiders of the Lost Arc and Harrison Ford was definitely “on my list.” I wanted to be an archeologist for about 3 years of my childhood. I saw this cover and blurb and was so excited to read it.

What I loved…..I love me an alpha female and beta male. Give me a man who can cry over an alpha-hole any day. Corrie owned her sexuality and bravery and Ford owned his vulnerabilities and sensitiveness. There was a slight sunshine (Corrie)/ grumpy (Ford) vibe which I always enjoy. I liked their bickering, loved the sexual tension, and really enjoyed watching their journey.

What didn’t quite work for me was the adventure aspect with the suspense of who the bad guy was. Much of it felt cheesy…..which yes, Indiana Jones is cheesy, as is National Treasure. I needed a little more oomph or more well developed secondary characters or something. It was still a solid debut and I would read the author again.

First, I adore the cover and title of the book. I loved the Indiana Jones movies and am a sucker for an action-packed treasure hunt. This hunt also has an enemies to lovers trope with some fantastic spice. There's discussion on bias towards female archaeologists and some examples of charming male archaeologists using their influence to get their own way. I'm not sure that I could have been as forgiving as Corrie was when some of Ford's actions came to light. It would be a great book to discuss with someone. It's got a little bit of everything- action, intrigue, steam, and romance. I particularly loved the archaeological scenes and learning about a dig.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy. All opinions are my own.

This was so fun! I was so ready for Romancing the Stone and Indiana Jones inspired romance and this definitely had those vibes. While it was as adventurous as those, I loved how the hero and heroine were on an archeological dig trying to find an artifact the heroine has been looking for for a decade. Ford and Corrie have a history, so when she arrives adn realizes he's leading the dig, she isn't happy. I really loved the push and pull between them, though the heroine did get to be a bit much with how crass and open about sex she was. The hero would just make an innocent comment and she'd be all obsessed with having sex with him. I would have liked it toned down a bit, but there was definitely an undeniable attraction between the two that had them always coming back to each other for more.

I do wish the side characters, villains, and red-herring characters were fleshed out a bit and some of the commentary the author was trying to address was stronger. But overall, I loved the setting of this and thought the story was so fun!!

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Have you ever read a book and thought it would be a great movie as you are reading it? This romance has Indiana Jones and Laura Croft ish (without the tomb raiding) vibes, and plenty of spicy scenes. Okay. So a lot of that would have to be cut to make it into theatres 😅 I’m all good for a redemption arc, but the MMC here sucked donkey b@lls for most of his life prior to this dig. He does make up for it, but lord almighty for saying he was in love with her in college he sure didn’t try very hard. Also the miscommunication (lol no communication) that happened made me wrinkle my nose. But they figured it out 🤷🏼‍♀️ I love the FMC and everything about her. Well, maybe except for a scene in the jungle when Ford catches her. That didn’t ring true to her morals, but that’s just me. This was a good romance, and I would definitely read more about any future adventures now that Ford got his head out of his a$$.

The narrator did a good job, narrating both main characters. It was easy to distinguish between the two characters and the audiobook flowed seamlessly.

❤️Tropes❤️
💋second chance romance
💋 enemies to lovers
💋 opposites attract
💋 forced proximity
💋 one bed
💋 miscommunication

Archaeologist Dr. Socorro “Corrie” Mejía has been on a life mission from a young age: to discover the remains of the ancient ancestor in the Mexican jungle. So when she is offered a chance to join a dig already occurring doing just that? It sounds too good to be true. But she can’t pass on the opportunity to finally realize her dreams. Only it turns into a nightmare upon landing, and she sees who is directing the dig. Dr. Ford Matthews. Her arch rival since college, the one who has stolen all of her opportunities out from under her using his charm, and masculinity, and handsome wiles. And worst of all, the one who broke her heart. The heat of the Mexican jungle isn’t the only thing that will be making her uncomfortable while she searches for her ancestor.

Thank you to NetGalley and PRH Audio for the copy, all thoughts are my own.

Short Synopsis: Dr Socorro "Corrie" Mejia is an archeologist invited to join her rival Dr Ford Matthews on an expedition into the Mexican jungle to hopefully recover the missing remains of Chimalli an ancient Aztec ancestor of Corrie's.

My thoughts: I actually was a bit skeptical about this one when I initially heard what it was about, but didn't realize how much I'd love reading about archeologists! Think Indiana Jones mixed with the Mummy and National Treasure all mixed together and you get this fun exploration into the Mexican Jungle.

This one does get spicy, hello they have to share a tent because Corrie's got soaked in a downpour, and the rival chemistry was so much fun.

Corrie was a strong chick, pushing boundaries in a male dominated career and she never gave up, especially when things got hard. She was unapologetically herself, no matter the situation and I loved her for it, My complaint with this one was Ford really was a total piece of work through the majority of the book. He knew how important this dig was to Corrie but stole it right from under her, and then just called her in when he became desperate. I get his reasoning, but I wish he would have come clean sooner than he did.

Read if you love:
- Indiana Jones
- Mexican Jungles
- College and career rivals
- Only one tent
- Treasure hunts

I absolutely loved this adventure romcom with enemies to lovers trope and it had all the spice!!

Corrie Mejia has made it her lifetime achievement just trying to prove she’s more than a pretty face. She has endured years of people judging her by her looks, Corrie feels she has finally gained the credibility she serves when she earned her doctorate in archaeology. She has outran and tricked thieves who has tried stealing artifacts she has literally stared down men twice her size you can compare her to Laura Croft.
When she’s offered a chance to experience and expedition into the Mexican jungle , she can’t help but get excited. This this trip offers the promise of the respect she’s due , it also gives her a chance to unearth the long lost remains of her potential ancestors.
When she arrives on site, she’s shocked because the lead of the expedition is none other than Dr. Ford Matthews. As we dived into the past we uncover a long buried competition between the two archaeologists , and it’s soon shown that Ford, is dealing with his own struggles. As the duo attempts to put the past behind them and uncover the secrets of the long buried past, it soon becomes apparent a thief threatens to steal more than just their credit. Can these two archaeologists uncover the secrets that are buried and also face the love that’s staring them straight in their face? This book had spice but also had a strong female character who isn’t afraid to stand up for herself. I loved Corrie! I read this book in two days! I loved the enemies to lovers and the academic side along with the archeological side!! Think Indiana Jones and Laura Croft mix!

Dr. Mejia, an amazing bad ass super hot archaeologist is offered a mysterious chance to follow her dream. Head into the Mexican jungle and find the remains of Chimalli, a warrior or the Aztec empire who Dr. Mejia has dedicated herself to researching. The catch? The leader of this mysterious offer is her college nemesis, Dr. Matthews.
This was so close to being something I loved. It had all the potential to be my new all time favorite romance! But sadly though the elements were there, the execution left something to be desired. The reason for Corrie and Ford to be enemies wasn't fleshed out enough for me, the adventures began and ended entirely too quickly and the ending was so rushed and confusing. It felt like a lot of build up for not much pay off.
Still, the banter was cute, the sex was good, and it's a fun change of pace for romance, more adventure romance books please!

Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for my eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Corrie and Ford were rivals in their archeology doctoral program but both always felt an undercurrent of attraction. Now working together on a dig in Mexico, things haven’t changed one bit. Corrie and Ford eventually give into their feelings but things get complicated with a challenging dig site, a demanding investor, a few secrets between them, and someone trying to steal artifacts.

This was one of my most anticipated reads this fall but I was a little let down. I wanted more danger and adventure, less lust, and a more swoony MMC. Ford was fine but I wanted to feel more for him than “fine.”

If you like movies like Indiana Jones, Romancing the Stone, or National Treasure, then this could be a book you’d enjoy.!

This was such a fun read! I grew up with The Raiders of the Lost Arc movies and was so excited to see that a romance novel inspired by the Indiana Jones movies. It had all of the action and adventure that I hoped for, plus the romance that I counted on. I was hooked by this book right away and didn’t wait to put it down until Corrie and Ford found their happily ever after.

Corrie and Ford were great characters and the chemistry between them was palpable. They did have some history and not all of it was positive. When Corrie arrived to help with the expedition, she was not happy to find her nemesis Ford in charge. They had a lot of obstacles to overcome and it was fun to see it happen. They seemed to understand each other better than anyone else and were able to lean on each other at times.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Frankie Corzo did a wonderful job of bringing this story to life. I thought that she had a very pleasant voice and I had no problem listening to this book for hours at a time. I liked the voices that she used for the various characters in the story and thought that she added just the right amount of emotion to her reading. I do believe that her narration added to my overall enjoyment of this story.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that it was a fun read with characters that were easy to like. Ford and Corrie were wonderful together and I couldn’t wait for them to figure out that they were worth fighting for. I do hope to read more of this author’s work in the future.

I received a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Penguin Random House Audio.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader copies for the Joyful Chaos Book Club and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the end of the year. Just look at that gorgeous cover. My pre-order just arrived.

Corrie is an archaeologist and professor when she gets the opportunity of a lifetime to join a dig in Mexico searching for the remains of her ancestor. But when she arrives, she learns the catch. The lead archaeologist on the dig, Ford, is her nemesis.

This includes so much to love: enemies-to-lovers, only one tent, mystery, and funny banter. But I had expected and would have enjoyed a faster pace with more action. And I wasn't all in on Ford as the hero, especially given the amount of deception.

Frankie Corzo performed the audiobook with a great voice. She was a new-to-me narrator, but I expect to read much more from her.

Okay, HOT🥵 in terms of climate and romance!

Dr Corrie Mejía is a gorgeous badass archeologist but still has to deal with the boys club bs that’s common in her field. Dr Ford Matthews is her grad school nemesis who basically stole what should have been her job right out from under her when he started dating the daughter of a professor in the field. The two haven’t seen each other since a frequently referenced moment in a library during grad school that’s better left in the past. Corrie has always dreamed of finding the remains of ancient Aztec warrior Chimalli who just might be her ancestor and Ford managed to snag the job that aims to do so but if he has any hopes of succeeding he needs Corrie’s help. The two have to navigate working together despite their history, while also rooting out a thief in their midst and surviving what is turning out to be a dangerous mission. It’s a fun adventure with lots of spice!

The characters give Lara Croft and Indiana Jones vibes.

🦴enemies to lovers
🦴ancient artifacts
🦴only one tent
🦴sex positive vibes
🦴HEA
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I loved Corrie! She’s a strong woman doing her best to excel in a field where she’s looked at differently simply for being a woman and a gorgeous one at that — which is honestly not uncommon in many fields. Ford was eh for me. He made a lot of questionable decisions but seemed to be really struggling and looking to redeem himself. The chemistry between the two was fantastic and the witty banter was entertaining. The side characters added levity to the story too and were just as lovable as Corrie. The way the book ends suggests that there COULD be a sequel if the author so desires so here’s hoping that there is because I would eat that book up too!

A quick and easy read, I’d recommend this to any romance readers who also like a little adventure!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review is posted to Goodreads and Instagram.