Thank you to PRHAudio for the ALC and Berkley for the eARC. The narration is AMAZING, you don’t miss not having dual whatsoever.

The adventure plot pacing is a bit slow and the premise is one that’s hard to pull of (one love interest secretly trying to sabotage the other) and this one didn’t quite do that BUT just something about how into each other these two were really had me enjoying this by the end. She's an archeologist and I wish she got to use her smarts more, it was definitely told more than shown because she was constantly on the defense. At least he appreciated her for her brain and the sabotage wasn't him manipulating his personality so the romance still felt genuine. And the insta-lust really did work for me, they were giving twin flame.

Ultimately, "Temple of Swoon" is a tale of self-discovery, love, and the clash between ambition and preservation. The witty banter, combined with the adventure and rich setting, makes it a captivating read. Readers will be left rooting for Miri and Rafa as they navigate not only the treacherous jungle but also their growing feelings for each other. This novel is a delightful escapade that perfectly balances humor and heart, making it a must-read for fans of adventure and romance.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group for providing the ARC.

After Raiders of the Lost Heart, I was really excited to dive back into Jo Segura's world, where badass women archeologists are leading the charge in having these awesome adventures and discovering all of the amazing things. The romance doesn't hurt as well, and Rafa and Miri were delightful in this story, just as much as Corrie and Ford were in the first one.

If there was anything that I didn't care for, it was the insta-love that these characters portrayed. It's one of my least favorite tropes and I have a hard time getting into stories where this is prevalent. But it didn't stop me from enjoying the story overall.

This book was hilarious and I had not expected it. The banter between the two MC’s was amazing and I was honestly unable to put the book down - every chance that I had to read this, I was picking up the book and devouring the words on the pages.

Overall, I think my favorite thing about the book wasn’t even the characters, but the adventure they found themselves in. Most of my contemporary romances are essentially the same, and that’s obviously on me and the books I choose, so this was an amazing palette cleanser. The authors writing style also really captivated me and it made things so much smoother and easier to enjoy!

Individually, the MC’s were amazing, but together, they were even better. They fed into each other amazingly and. I loved how they worked out their differences to stay together. I personally wish we got to see how they figured their life out together after the adventure they faced, but the epilogue was so sweet for an ending!

I highly recommend the book.

Read If You Like:
- Enemies-to-lovers romance
- Adventure-filled expeditions
- Hidden agendas and secrets
- Competent, quirky heroines
- Broody protectors with a secret soft side
- High-stakes jungle settings

Temple of Swoon is an exhilarating mix of adventure, romance, and intrigue that transports readers deep into the Amazon rainforest. Dr. Miriam Jacobs, a quirky archaeologist with a lot to prove, is impossible not to root for as she leads her team on the hunt for the legendary Lost City of the Moon. Her optimism and unshakable determination shine through even as she struggles to overcome professional doubts and her own self-criticisms. On the other hand, Rafael Monfils, the enigmatic journalist with a hidden agenda, is the perfect foil—equal parts brooding and mysterious, yet vulnerable in ways that make him all the more compelling.

The chemistry between Miri and Rafa is electric, balancing moments of biting tension with heartfelt connection as their opposing missions collide. Watching Rafa try to derail Miri’s journey while becoming increasingly captivated by her relentless spirit is both entertaining and deeply satisfying. The lush, vividly described jungle setting adds another layer of intensity, with danger lurking around every corner—not just from the terrain but also from rival hunters in pursuit of the city.

The novel’s blend of humor, action, and romance is perfectly paced, keeping readers on edge while delivering just enough lighthearted moments to balance the stakes. Miri’s corny jokes are endearing, and Rafa’s internal battle between duty and desire makes his arc unforgettable. Together, they must navigate not only the perils of the rainforest but also the growing bond that neither of them can ignore.

This is the kind of story that will make your heart race, not just for the adventure but for the characters you’ll grow to adore. Temple of Swoon is an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a romance steeped in action, danger, and undeniable chemistry.

Thank you so much to Berkley for my ARC!

I had so much fun reading this one! I loved Raiders of the Lost Heart but this one was even sweeter for me because I love how quirky/awkward our FMC is.

These books have all the drama and action of an Indiana Jones movie with bad*ss female archeologists taking the lead! An action adventure romcom with strangers to lovers, secrets and sabotage, a race against the clock (well really against the bad guys), hidden cities and legendary mysterious protectors -- this book did the most and I ate it up. Miri is adorable and Rafa is a very honorable saboteur if that's a thing. Their meet cute happens right off the bat and is sort of insta love but I'm cool with that, plus I always enjoy a character prone to oversharing/word vomit. The banter is great and I love that Rafa gives Miri a silly nickname, Pringles, always laughing with her and at her antics but never acts like she is a joke; he supports/respects that she's a strong, capable leader and doesn't like how her co-lead treats her. It definitely gives woman-in-a-career-dominated-by-men vibes with Miri second guessing herself and feeling the pressure to always have to prove she's meant to be there, and I liked seeing how she grows more confident throughout the book and figures out what she really wants.

While Miri was determined to prove herself to her boss, mentor, archeology community, etc. Rafa was feeling the pressure to protect his mother's history and do what his dad asked which meant betraying Miri. So it obviously was not a seamless transition to romance but the tension from the secret Rafa was keeping and seeing how both he and Miri tried to distance themselves from each other but couldn't stay away kept me flipping each page to see what they were gonna do next. And when they do give in, the spice is spicy and the romance is swoony and that's that! Oh and bonus points for this being set in Brazil since that's where my mom was born and raised! I always love reading a book with a setting I can feel connected to. If you want a quick, action-packed romcom with some family drama and self-discovery, check this one out(:

While this is a standalone, I do recommend reading the first book first for maximum enjoyment! I received an early digital copy from Berkley on NetGalley that I voluntarily read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

Better than the first one but not by much. I like the characters and their romance just fine but the storyline is a bit boring and the writing style is annoying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted more from Temple of Swoon. I had a hard time connecting to Miriam and Rafael's relationship. Individually, I liked their characters. As a couple, I found their relationship lacking. I had a difficult time with their instalust. I felt like Miriam and Rafael's relationship could have been developed better. By the time they were saying their I love you's, I wasn't fully convinced. I also thought the side characters were underdeveloped. They felt a little one-dimensional. Characters from Segura's first book are featured in this book. Readers will want to read Raiders of the Lost Heart before reading this one. I wasn't surprised by the big twist at the end. The climatic scene at the end of the book was fine. I did feel like the final scene with the bad guys could have been cleaned up better. I enjoyed the journal article epilogue. Just like her first book, Segura did a wonderful job creating an immersive and strong setting. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.

I really like “adventure” romances, I like reading about the archeological digs and finds. The stories about the people who used to live there are fascinating. In this book, Miri (Dr. Miriam Jacobs) is in charge of a group of archaeologists searching for the Lost City of the Moon, a mysterious place with modern day guardians descended from the city’s original inhabitants.

There’s a journalist in the group too, Rafa is going to document the search.
What the group doesn’t know is that Rafa is there to sabotage the dig and make sure they never find the lost city.

Miri and Rafa are attracted to each other and as their relationship deepens, Rafa is torn between protecting the location of the lost city and helping Miri find it so she can make her name as an archaeologist. There’s a giant twist at the end that throws everything into question!

I highly recommend this book, it’s a fun read. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my

Format - Paperback ARC/ EARC (Netgalley)

Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Spice- 🌶

Series- N/A

Troupes- Insta attraction, forced proximity, work place romance in the jungle,

Representation-

CW- Violence and attempted murder

Back into the jungle we go! Cue the Indiana Jones theme song! This new adventure takes us to the Amazon Rainforest on the hunt for the lost City of the Moon which I really wish was a real place and that there was a netgeo documentary on it. But I digress.

Dr, Miri Jacobs is suddenly throw into the deep end to lead the expedition when our friends Cori and Ford from the first book have to back out. With the determination of a thousand suns and the reflexes of a cloud leopard she takes charge and quickly discovers nefarious actors are out to stop them. Rafa has one goal, sabotage this expedition to find the City of the Moon and go home to finally live his life his way. A not so chance meeting trying to catch a bus and a tub of Pringles and its lust at first sight.

This book was so much fun from the vine swinging to the snacks to the spicy times this book has something for everyone. Jo has great imaginative story telling with perfect comedic timing and with two such dynamic characters and a truly diabolical baddie this book will keep you turning pages and loosing time, while you laugh and gasp and have your glasses fog up as the storm hits.

I can not wait to read whatever else Jo has in store for us!

Thank you Jo Segura, Berkley and Netgalley for the early copies all opinions are my own!

I loved Raiders of the Lost Heart so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel! Miri is a great character but not what I expected for this book. She is Corrie's opposite in almost every way but I liked seeing her gain her confidence through this story. I loved that she picked her own path to being successful.

Miri and Rafael have great chemistry. This was a nearly impossible situation for the two of them and I really enjoyed watching them chose each other despite that. I feel like the moral of the story is if someone will share their snacks with you on the way to the amazon you should just keep them. I'm going to be honest, I consider myself a nice person but if my snack supply is going to be limited I may not be that nice.

I think fans of adventure romance will really enjoy this book. I am personally not a huge fan of snakes and humidity so the amazon is not for me but reading about it is really fun. I'm curious to see if this series will continue!

I absolutely loved Temple of Swoon! I was immediately captivated by this book because of its exciting jungle location and the intense tension between Miri and Rafa. Miri was a lot of fun to support because of her tenacity and oddball sense of humor, and I loved her relationship with Rafa. Action, peril, and lots of fun moments were all expertly tempered by their chemistry.

I had the impression that I was traveling with them on the journey since Jo Segura perfectly balanced romance and adventure. I found myself reading pages late into the night because of the suspenseful twists and the detailed descriptions of the Amazon. Definitely would read more by this author.

I liked it, but I just didn’t quite love it. I think what I’m missing is a bit more emotional connection between the characters in Segura’s work. Still fun

Absolutely loved this! Such a different book for me but still loved all the same.

I love reading books about women in male dominated fields so getting into the mind of Miri was fantastic. I loved her tenacity and determination to prove herself and never quitting to go after what she wanted.

Rafa immediately got added to my long list of book boyfriends. The man is so fine and caring. How he tried to sabotage the excursion and still put Miri above that. Her safety and her desire to continue.

Having the added plot twist at the end was super exciting. I really love that underneath it all this story was one of finding ones true self. Rafa discovering the truth about his family and where his mom came from was so worth finding out about his slimy father. Who I hated from the start mind you.

This was my first book by Jo Segura and will definitely not be my last. I truly loved the representation in this book that felt so natural and not forced.

As with Raiders of the Last Heart, this book was a humorous nod to Indiana Jones while revealing that not all archeology excavations are as simple as the movies make them seem. I acknowledge that there are still likely inaccuracies that I won't know about as I'm not an archeologist, but I really appreciate how Jo Segura is able to intertwine a discussion of the issues with archeology with a fantastic love story. The characters are great, the plot is fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Bring on any more that may be written, because I will keep coming back for them!

Short synopsis: Miri is on the hunt for the Lost City of the Moon in the Amazonian Rainforest.

What I liked: I love a strong female character, defeating the odds placed on her and kicking butt (especially in a male dominated career field). Miri was fun and spunky, and I gotta give the girl some credit, I’m also a huge fan of snacks. There is definitely a feeling of Instalove, but I liked the meetcute and the chemistry felt real.

I really liked the atmosphere, I think the author did a great job describing the rainforest I felt transported.

What didn’t work for me: I enjoyed Raiders of the Lost Heart when it came out, but this felt like almost the same book. Even the “Villian” was the same. It was predictable and I saw the “twist” coming from really early in the book.

Overall a cute quick story!

Read if you love:
* Fanny packs and snacks
* Instalove and meet cutes
* Exploring the jungle
* Strong fmc - Archeologist
* Indiana Jones

Thank you NetGalley for this early copy for an honest review!

Temple of Swoon has a unique premise that really drew me to this book. I was excited to read more when I learned that our main character, Miri, was a badass archeologist. Unfortunately, this fell just a bit flat for me. Both of our main characters read much younger to me than they were. I also was hoping for a lot more storyline surrounding the expedition. While I enjoyed Rafa and Miri as characters, I couldn’t really get as invested in this story as I wanted to.

Dr. Miriam Jacobs agreed to join her mentor on a journey into the Amazon rainforest to find the Lost City of the Moon, but then her mentor has to bow out, so now Miri is leading the expedition. She’s been on digs before, but this is her first time taking the reins. After years of being ignored, Miri is ready to take on the Amazon and find its secrets.

Journalist Rafael Monfils is part of the expedition team, to report it for his magazine. But secretly, he’s trying to sabotage the mission. The Lost City of the Moon has stayed hidden in part because there have been protectors keeping explorers away for generations. His mother was one of the protectors, and Rafa wants to live up to her memory. He can’t let Miri and her team find the city.

Miri knows that finding the Lost City of the Moon won’t be easy. Surviving in the Amazon will be difficult enough. Between the rains, the snakes, the spiders, and the lack of communication with the rest of the world, the expedition is dangerous. But add in the fact that there are those trying to keep them away, and the expedition gets more dangerous. There is a notorious explorer who would love nothing more than to beat them to the Lost City and loot it before Miri and her team can find it and preserve it. Known as the Vulture, he’s the reason Miri’s mentor couldn’t make the trip, and he has all of his resources focused on the Lost City.

But as Miri comes up against challenges, she manages to outthink, outrun, and outmaneuver all of them. The one thing she can’t get around is her growing feelings for Rafa. She is drawn to him from the first moment she met him, even going so far as to sharing her snacks with him. And her snacks are sacred. She’s got the M&Ms. She’s got the Pringles. And she’s got the hots for the reporter.

Rafa finds himself drawn to Miri as well. He wants to protect her from the dangers of the Amazon and the jerks who try to hold her back. But he has to protect the Lost City of the Moon too. It’s his family’s legacy, and he has to respect that. He’s walking a very fine line, with his head on one side and his heart on the other.

But when the Vulture swoops in and puts the team and the expedition in jeopardy, Miri and Rafa have to decide just how far they’ll go to find the Lost City. And how far they’ll go to protect the love growing between them.

Jo Segura’s Temple of Swoon is another adventure-filled rom com that blends archeology, strong women, and spicy love scenes in stories that rival The Jewel of the Nile. There are scenes of danger and scenes of lust, and a lot of intelligent dialogue and sweet-natured humor in between.

I had a lot of fun reading Temple of Swoon. I loved these characters together. They were both really interesting, but it felt like they brought the best out in each other, which just made it that much better for me. As someone who is a strong believer in snacks, so I was on board with Miri right away, and I didn’t really have any doubt that she would succeed. She is such a strong woman, and I was rooting for her on every page. And when she found love as well, I was all in with this story. Grab your favorite chips and candy, and settle in for a wild ride with this one!

Egalleys for Temple of Swoon were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

If I ever hear that the main character has “sapphire eyes” one more fucking time.

This is just the first one all over again but worse because only one main character is vaguely interesting and he’s a liar mcliarson soooo.

This was a fun insta love but then normally paced rom com set in the Amazon rainforest. I found the awkwardness of the FMC endearing but also annoying. I enjoy the Indiana Jones vibes it has going for it.