This book was just as cheesy as the first one.
It was a bit predictable. It just seemed to follow the previous book but with different characters.
If you’re looking for some light reading with some heat thrown in, this book is for you.

DNF @ 50%
I'm so sorry I didn't like it 😭 it's supposed to be a rom-com, a silly little romance ( or so I thought), but there is so much action happening, AND it's ista love lust. Like who does that ?? All he thinks about is her sapphire eye *shuddering* they are on a mission to the Amazon to explore the last ancient civilization that mysteriously disappeared. It's her first time leading the team. He is a photographer who is assigned to archive what they discover, but he's secretly plotting to never let them find what they're looking for, so do you wanna know what he did? He endangered all his team's lives yep that's right he is so responsible

Pre-read

I got approved for this eARC 👉🏻👈🏻 thank you Netgalley

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3/5 ⭐️

This book had a lot of potential, but I fear it left me a little bit bored for at least the first 50% of it. I grew up watching a lot of Indiana Jones and other action movies like that, so maybe I was just expecting it to have action from the start? It did get really good towards the end and I really wanted to rate this higher, but then the MMC’s article was included and it was just…awful. Apologies, but this is a bit spoiler-y.

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Okay, let me just say, the MMC is awful. The FMC has awful imposter syndrome and talks constantly about how the MMC is an award winning journalist, so the fact that one of his articles is included and it’s TERRIBLE makes me even angrier about the fact that he was 100% the villain in this story. I know, I know he wasn’t the big bad or whatever…but he was the driving force for the majority of the day to day conflict. He betrayed her on a consistent basis. I just… Also, I clocked the twist from literally the beginning which is always a bummer when it’s revealed.

Anyway, the idea of this was more enjoyable to me. I would possibly read the first one if it’s reviewed better than this one. The vibes were good. If this had more action or more spice, I think I would have liked it more. Too much wandering around in the jungle while dealing with anxiety for my taste.

The first book, Raiders of the Lost Heart Left me wanting more, I needed to be thrown back into the world of archeology, adventure, and romance. This book gave me everything I wanted, an awkward but lovable leading lady, daring stunts, run-ins with thieves, and of course a flirtatious male lead who will leave you swooning. They had off the charts chemistry and one on one moments that made me sigh. This book is fast paced and never has a dull moment, seriously there were times where I was audibly gasping because I was so shocked by what was happening. My only con is that it was over too soon, or maybe I just read it to fast because I couldn't put it down.

In all this book hasn't even come out yet and I am eagerly waiting for when Ms. Segura announces what our next adventure we will be on.

Temple of Swoon is everything I didn’t know I needed in a book! It’s packed with spunk, sizzling romance, and whip-smart cleverness. Think of it as a modern-day Indiana Jones, but with even more charm and flair. The story truly delivers—it’s adventurous, thrilling, and downright irresistible. The characters leap off the page, the plot twists keep you on your toes, and the chemistry? Absolutely electric.

I didn’t realize how much I craved this trope until I discovered this gem. It’s fresh, fun, and fully immersive. If you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure with heart and humor, Temple of Swoon is a must-read. 10/10, no question!

thank you to netgalley and berkley publishing for the opportunity to read this as an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.75⭐️ a quick little adventure romance read! great for a filler book / something to read in between reading a series, i would say!

this was my first read by jo segura, and i’m happy i finally got around to reading one of her books! i first want to say, this is a third-person written romance book; so if you’re not a fan of third-person narration, i would say maybe this isn’t for you - but, i myself am not a huge fan of third-person (especially for romance books), and i found the read still enjoyable.

the plot was easy to follow and was entertaining enough to keep me reading, but i do think the stakes could have been higher somehow given it is more of an action-romance book. i love the concept of setting out in the amazon to find a long lost and hidden ancient city! the chemistry between the fmc miri and mmc rafa was pretty good, lots of corny jokes and banter with a sprinkle of spice here and there to keep the romance rolling. i loved the dynamic of the archeologist (miri) set to find ‘the lost city of the moon’ and the so-called journalist (rafa) who’s actually there to keep them from finding the lost city.

overall, it kinda gives cheesy hallmark movie sprinkled with a little treasure hunting and action/adventure in the amazon rainforest (lol). happy to have read it!

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overall ratings:
star: 3.75⭐️/5
spice: 1🌶️/5
emotion: 1-1.5💧/5

tropes:
💛 insta-love
💗 workplace romance
💛 adventure-romance
💗 “nerdy” heroine
💛 slow burn
💗 witty banter
💛 hidden identity
💗 no third act breakup

3 lost city stars

This is the second in a series, and I enjoyed book #1, “Raiders of the Lost Heart.” This installment only has a brief cameo from the stars of the first book.

Dr. Miriam Jacobs is assigned to an archaeological team to find the Lost City of the Moon deep in the Amazon. Other teams have searched and failed to find it. There are rumors of protectors of the city who don’t allow anyone to succeed.

However, Miri must have a big find on this trip, or she’s out at her university. Publish or perish!

Also on the trip is Rafael, a photojournalist with a secret plan to sabotage the team from the start. He and Miri have a hilarious meet-cute at the airport when they both miss the bus to the base camp. She also gets an adorable nickname, Pringles.

There are lots of failed attempts to find anything, nefarious villains, and some interesting vine swinging by Miri and Rafael!

This one did not hold my interest as much as the first although I did enjoy the quest to find the lost city.

"Her mission: find the Lost City of the Moon in the Amazon rainforest.

His mission: protect the holy temple...and his heart.

While her mentor may be the world's most badass archaeologist, the only thing bad about Dr. Miriam Jacobs are her corny jokes. But when Miri is charged with leading an unmapped expedition through the Amazon for the fabled Lost City of the Moon, she finally has her chance to prove to her colleagues that she's capable - and hopefully prove it to herself, too.

Journalist Rafael Monfils has joined the archaeological team to chronicle their search for the lost city. Or at least, that's what they think he's doing. Rafa's real goal? Make sure the team does not reach the Cidade da Lua, stopping the desecration of the holy city and protecting his mother's legacy. All he needs to do is keep them on the wrong path.

If only the endearingly quirky Dr. Jacobs wasn't so damn tenacious - each of Rafa's tricks and purposeful wrong turns only seem to fuel her determination. Even worse, he's charmed by her goofy attempts to channel Lara Croft as they traverse the dangerous Brazilian rainforest. But they're not the only crew hunting for the lost city, and soon the untamed jungle - and their untamed hearts - might be the least of their worries..."

I mean, the title and the cover alone make this must buy! Indiana Jones meets Romancing the Stone!

If you are looking for a cute romance read, then this book is the one to read. I had a cute time reading it. It’s lighthearted and fast-paced that you wouldn’t know you finished it already. Plus, the nonstop banter makes the romance so much better. I enjoy the characters banter with each other. It makes the chemistry and the romance more enjoyable.

This book was a hilarious and bingeable good time. I love how quirky Miri is, and how Rafa embraces and loves all of them. Miri’s personality jumped off the page and had me laughing out loud more than once.

Also, Rafa’s nickname for her, Pringles, is perfection and I smiled or laughed nearly every time it appeared on page.

Temple of Swoon has a little bit of everything: action, adventure, and sizzling chemistry between Miri and Rafa. There aren’t many “spicy” scenes but chemistry between them was enough to make me keep turning the page.

I did not read Raiders of the Lost Heart before reading Temple of Swoon, but you best believe I’m running to read it now. I had so much fun with this book! Temple of Swoon worked well as a stand alone, but I’m sure the connections to the previous characters would be more fun if you had read Raiders of the Lost Heart first.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for providing me this advanced copy. Trust that I’ll be raving about it for months to come.

4.5 - Thank you to Berkley Romance for the advance ebook!

This book will be out January 7th.

"I think someone's jealous"
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because I'd be jealous if someone else was kissing you, too."

Raiders of the Lost Heart was Jo Segura's debut that came out last December and I really enjoyed that one! So I was excited to learn that we were going to be getting a new one in this same universe. This is a stand alone book but there are characters mentioned from the first book but I think Segura did a well enough job explaining the characters and their dynamics should you want to jump right into this one. But one thing that is in common between the two books: strong female characters in a male dominated world.

Now my memory of the MMC in Raiders is very foggy so I am hoping I am correct in saying that Rafael/Rafa was way more swoonier than Ford. The chemistry between him and Miri was strong from the very beginning. Their banter was so good but especially good when they first met. Their paths end up crossing when they ended up working on the same expedition.


"I haven't done anything remarkable. I'm about as boring as they come."
"Pringles, you're anything but boring."

My heart went out to Miri because all she wanted was to be taken seriously. She wanted to prove to everyone especially to her mentor Corrie (from the first book) that she could handle being the team lead. She had so much riding on this expedition and no one knew but her that her job was at risk if it did not succeed.

Rafael on the other hand was feeling the familial pressure from his father to make sure Miri did not succeed in the expedition. And boy do they have some set backs! Rafa's mother is from the area where they are exploring and he is hoping to be able to connect with those who might have knew her. He is hoping this is his last big mission with his employer as he wants to pursue writing novels full time. There's a pretty big reveal that happens that shakes both Miri and Rafa to the core but more so Rafa.

This book has action, family drama, spicy scenes and just such a good time!

PS - Once again this cover art is GORGEOUS!!!!

The Temple of Swoon is such a fun story, and I think I liked this one even more than the first book, Raiders of the Lost Heart. It’s a fantastic romantic adventure with a very fitting title! Speaking of titles, I have to mention how much I love them and their Indiana Jones references. I feel like this whole series is the perfect mix of Indiana Jones and Romancing the Stone, and I couldn’t get enough of it!

The two main characters, Miri and Rafa are both compelling and layered with interesting stories. Miri works in a male-dominated environment and works hard to prove her worth, and Rafa is a journalist with a secret mission that could thwart Mimi’s chance at making a name for herself in the field of archeology. However, he spends more time helping Miri than he does ruining her excursion. It was interesting to learn more about them, their professions, and what led them to these points in their lives. I also enjoyed their growth throughout the story. Miri underestimates herself, and Rafa learns a lot about himself, his family, and his ancestry, which is super intriguing.

I adored Rafa, the sweet-talking cinnamon roll! He's super swoon-worthy, and I absolutely loved how hard he fell for Miri. Some of the things he says to her, and a lot of what he thinks about her, melted my heart. I just loved them together and the little ways they supported each other without even realizing it. Rafa puts Miri first before he even acknowledges his conflicted feelings, and their close proximity, co-workers-to-lovers romance is even more heightened because of the high-stakes situations they constantly face.

The story also has action and adventure, a bit of a mystery, and a surprising twist, all of which add suspense and tension to the story. The secondary characters are great, too, and I'm curious to see who will be the focus of the next book. And there are several comical scenes that had me laughing out loud, especially when Miri initially tries to pull a Tarzan stunt. So funny!

I would definitely recommend this book to contemporary romance readers, and though it's the second in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. However, if you did read Raiders of the Lost Heart, you'll be excited to see a brief cameo from the book. Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

This adventure romance set in the Amazon Rainforest pairs a glasses-wearing archaeologist, fighting for her job, with a hot journalist, accompanying the expedition and trying to sabotage its progress at every turn.

Dr. Miriam Jacobs feels out of her depth leading this expedition to find the Lost City of the Moon without her mentor, Dr. Corrie Mejía, by her side, but she’s determined to keep going. She and the team encounter obstacle after obstacle as well as interference from another crew with less than ethical methods and motivations.

Rafael Monfils was sent on the expedition to make it fail, but since their meet-cute outside the airport, he has wanted to see Miri succeed.

I appreciate how Jo Segura writes female leads that are willing to try, try again; focus on using brain power, not just brawn; and truly care about protecting the legacy of the peoples they research.

And I like how gone Rafa is for Miri, and how, with the dual POV, we get insight into how he struggles with the conflict between what he feels to be his mission and how he wants to support Miri and her team.

I received an advance copy of the book from Berkley. Review opinions are my own.

This whole series is super entertaining! If you like romance with a dash of adventure - you'll enjoy this romp through the Amazonian jungle.

**Just so you know what to expect - this is not adventure with a side of romance. This is romance, cheesy, adorable vine-swinging moments and all - with a bit of adventure and high-stakes moments blended throughout.
- Open door romance!

**Thank you to Berkley Romance for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

In my late twenties I went on a rafting/camping trip where I quickly earned the nickname "Poptart" due to my choice of junk food for the voyage. As a result, I feel a certain kinship with Dr. Miriam "Pringles" Jacobs, the badass heroine of this novel. The fact that she also reminds me of my BFF-since-sixth-grade (and fellow rafting trip partner) with her easily-distractable yet hyper-focused creative thinking and a fiercely loyal, compassionate heart makes the novel even more enjoyable.

In the story, Miri arrives in Brazil to find that she has been promoted to co-lead the special archeological search for La Cidade da Lua, famed hidden city in the Amazon. She doesn't feel confident in her abilities to lead, but she channels her mentor, Socorro Mejia (of Raiders of the Lost Heart fame), and steps up to the plate. Thankfully, Corrie sent Miri some helpful clues and a special artifact to assist her.

Along for the ride is Rafael Monfils (French-Canadian/Brazilian journalist hired to document the search, and resident hottie), but he's also a descendent of the protetores da lua and has been charged with doing everything he can to sabotage the expedition and ensure the opposite of success.

Of course, there is instant chemistry between Miri and Rafa, and they struggle to remain strictly professional while keeping their respective secrets, as well as dealing with enemy treasure hunters, low morale among the team, and all the pitfalls of a trek through the Amazon jungle.

I enjoyed the character development of the protagonists throughout the storyline, and the setting was intriguing, though I think the author missed the chance to highlight the agony of all the insect bites they would have endured after weeks in a tropical jungle. Secondary characters were less complex, but still fairly realistic. Of course, the villains were as villainous as possible, ensuring the reader has someone they can love to hate while rooting for our hero & heroine.

I felt like the pacing was fairly good up until about 80%, then suddenly stuff started happening a bit too quickly, and not in that "all the loose threads are being woven together to explain things" kind of way. More of a "gotta wrap this up" kind of way. However, it does wrap up nicely while still leaving a few things open enough for additional titles in the series.

Miri is trying to make her mark as an archeologist and she is given the chance to lead an expedition in the Amazon to find the lost City of the Moon. Rafa is a nature journalist who was sent as part of his family heritage to secretly keep Miri from finding the city. Sparks begin to fly between the two and Rafa questions his mission.

This book was funny and cute. It is the second in a series, but it wasn't necessary to read the first. The book got a bit steamy but it was on the milder side of things. I would read more in this universe.

Temple of Swoon is the second book I've read by Jo Segura and it's unfortunately as disappointing as the first. The quality of the writing isn't poor but the characters are not well drawn. The heroine especially comes across as a bumbling fool. It's one thing to be clumsy and quirky but she is genuinely horrible at her job an makes one poor decision after another. Her behavior is so bizarre that at one point I found myself thinking one of the antagonists was right about his criticism of her. The hero lies to the heroine for the entire book and endangers her life and her career at multiple points. Don't even get me started on how poor the representation of the archaeology field is either. It's frustrating because I want to love these books but they fall flat each time.

I read the first book in the series and thought it was just ok, and I feel similarly about this one. I like the idea and love the setting, but it just fell flat for me. Both characters seem less like real people and more just like various quirks put together.

The second in a series follows Miri, a clumsy archeologist trying to prove herself as she leads a mission to find the lost City of the Moon in the Amazon. All of her attempts are thwarted by Rafa, the sexy journalist trying to protect the city as part of his mother's life's work. Invariably they fall for each other and other hijinks ensue, especially as a bad guy is trying to find the same city to loot it.

There are a lot of references to the first book, so a reader may want to read that one first, but unnecessary. The chemistry between the main characters doesn't have to be great, however, the reader is left confused about how their lust and some limited group interactions led to love that quickly.

While there is a good amount of adventure within the story, the pacing leaves some to be desired. There are frequent lulls where it is easy to put down the book and get distracted.

Overall, a decent romance that some will love.

Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley for the DRC! All opinions are my own!

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura. This just might be my favorite romance novel of 2024. The romance was SOOO sweet and I adored these two characters. Plus the adventure is so fun!