Read This Book If…you love a quirky FMC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

Genre: romance
Series: Raiders of the Lost Heart # 2
Spice Level: 3/5🌶, 1-2 explicit scenes
Setting: jungle in Brazil
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense
Tropes: workplace, hurt/comfort

My Thoughts:
This was better than the first book in the series! Besides getting some background information on characters that are briefly mentioned in this book, you can skip Raiders of the Lost Heart.

The lore surrounding the lost city was interesting and I loved all of the plot twists and turns. There’s plenty of adventure and action happening, which kept the story moving at a good pace.

What fell flat for me (again) was the romance and relationship between these two.

After this book, I can say that this author just isn’t for me. All of the MMCs sabotage the FMC’s careers and nothing happens but they’re still somehow in love at the end.

Again, I enjoyed this one more than the first book, but still isn’t for me.

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

Much like the first this was full of fun and adventure! And I loved getting to know Miri and Rafa. They were VERY sweet trying to focus on work and not their feelings!! It’s one of the best things about a workplace romance!

I also loved seeing Miri being in charge and working so hard at her job! She’s so good at what she does but she never gets the opportunity to really show it because the world is an unfair place!

My biggest gripe with this and the other one really…is how hard the MMC working AGAINST the FMC for so long. This one did feel a little different?? I don’t really know why?? But I feel like Ford was more irritating than Rafa??

Thank you so much to Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I really enjoyed Jo Segura's first book and was eager to read another adventure romance from her. Temple of Swoon feels different enough from Raiders of the Lost Heart, but still keeps the same adventurous tone. I enjoyed Miri and Rafa's romance and all the twists and turns near the end.

*Received as a free ARC*
Wow, a sequel! As an archaeology person, I'm always down for (well written) archaeology fiction. I know exactly who I'm recommending this to! The romance did feel a little fast, but I am ace so. Maybe it's totally normal! Also there was a bunch of time we didn't see. All in all, a solid read and just in time to break of January dullness.

I recommend this one for fans of goofy romcoms and “adorkable” women. I loved the narration, especially the MMC, but wanted the plot to move a bit faster.

What a fun continuation of the Raiders of the Lost Heart series!

This picks up after the incidents of the first book with new yet connected characters.

Miri is tasked with co-leading an excursion into the Amazon in search of the Lost City of the Moon. Rafa is on the excursion to stop her from finding it because of a family obligation.

It's dramatic enough on its own, but then there's the sabotage, spies, and the irresistible chemistry between the two that sparks on their meet-cute at the airport.

The rest is full of banter, adventure, and Miri's journey to finding her confidence and Rafa finding his purpose. It is a truly fun and spicy journey to go on with them.

I enjoy books with a spunky heroine, in this case an archaeologist, who is determined to make a name for herself in her field and sets off to do so a la Indiana Jones. This dig had some interesting clues that she had to follow to find the lost city and it was fascinating following along as traveled through Brazil. The romance was a great addition to the story, and I felt the chemistry between Miri and Rafa. I look forward to more books like this and from this author.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The characters were strong and their adventure was fast-paced but, for me, it didn't stand out from other similar books.

This took me an embarrassingly long time to finish - but here is my review.

I struggled to finish this book, it really did not hold my attention and I am sad about that since I enjoyed the first book. I felt that the relationship between the FMC and MMC was not grounded in anything serious despite them having a month together in the Amazon, they didn't have a serious conversation until the end. The characters both fell flat for me and the plot seemed underwhelming. Also a personal preference - I don't enjoy nicknames being constantly used. I found the story to be slightly repetitive, and mirrored the first book too closely.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this E-ARC.

Dr. Miriam "Miri" Jacobs finally gets the chance to prove herself when she's unexpectedly chosen to co-lead an expedition to find the legendary Cidade de Lua (Lost City of the Moon). It's her chance to shine and maybe save her job at UC Berkeley.... but nothing about this journey is easy. Journalist Rafael "Rafa" Monfils is there to document the expedition. But No one knows that he's also there to prevent the team from ever locating the location of the hidden city, as a promise to his father. Unfortunately, Rafa never expected to fall for Miri. From the dangers of the rainforest to rival treasure hunters also on the trail, Miri and her team face one challenge after another.

Segura's sophomore novel is another fun adventure where we're following a strong, female archeologist on the quest for a hidden treasure (Miri's mentor is Dr. Corrie Mejia). I really liked Miri as a character, even if she makes some questionable decisions. You can't help but root for her as she finds her confidence and refuses to allow any setbacks discourage her.

Miri and Rafa have great banter. I liked Rafa more than I liked Ford, but it was still frustrating to see Rafa sabotage Miri's efforts. At least in this situation, Rafa thinks he's doing the right thing and protecting everyone.

The ending of the book happens very quickly in comparison to the rest of the story. I wish we had gone more in depth (I would have absolutely read more pages!) but the story does wrap up nicely.

I was excited for this one! Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura is a fast-paced, action-packed romance set against the lush and dangerous backdrop of the Amazon jungle. Dr. Miriam Jacobs, a determined archaeologist out to prove herself, and Rafael, a conflicted journalist with secrets of his own, are thrown together on a mission filled with intrigue, danger, and undeniable chemistry.

The dual POV adds depth to their story, with Miriam’s tenacity balancing beautifully against Rafael’s inner struggle between duty and desire. Their banter and sizzling connection keep the pages turning, while the vivid setting and high-stakes adventure make this a thrilling read.

Perfect for fans of steamy romance with a side of adventure, this book delivers humor, heart, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC—I can’t wait to see what Segura writes next!

a vine-swinging good time from start to finish! Miri and Rafa's adventure to find the lost city of the moon will have readers swooning, laughing and kicking their feet the whole way.

This is a great companion to the first book in the series. You don't have to read the first book to enjoy this one.
From the first moment we met Miriam I loved her. Snarky and self-deprecating she has no trouble.. mostly not on purpose. Telling people what she thinks and she's bound and determined to be just like her hero.. Dr. Corey from BK 1.
Rafael was great. I love his chemistry with Miriam and while he was sabotaging the dig.. bad boy.. he did genuinely bad about it and I do feel like Karma got him back when he was hit with a big reveal.
This caused a bit of conflict between Rafael and Miriam; however, it was resolved pretty quickly, although some groveling on his part wouldn't have hurt IMO
I like both Rafael's and Miriam's character growth throughout the story. Their chemistry was 🔥, and I loved how the story played out. I love the Indiana Jones vibes.
I'm not sure if we will get more books in this world,, but either way,, I will be reading whatever this author puts out next!

Temple of Swoon is a great combination of romcom and adventure. Jo Segura creates a world of archeological intrigue and action, with tons of swoon-filled moments too.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Archeologist Miri is finally in charge of her own research expedition to find the Lost City of the Moon, rumored to be deep in the Amazon rainforest. Rafael is part of the expedition as a journalist and photographer, and he and Miri have an instant connection. But Rafa has a secret—he’s trying to sabotage the expedition in order to protect the Lost City of the Moon from discovery. But as Rafa gets to know Miri, he can’t help but being attracted to her brains, her tenacity and her quirky sense of humor. Soon he’s questioning if he doing the right thing by trying to disrupt her work….

If you like action and adventure in your romance, this book is a great pick. I love a story where the plot and mystery are just as important as the connection between the main characters.

It helps too that Miri and Rafa are both so darn likable. Sure, there is a dose of insta love at the beginning, but the forced proximity of the archeological dig and their steamy chemistry makes it a little more believable. And, as much as I didn’t love Rafa keeping a huge secret from Miri, I love that he admires her clever ideas and obsession with snack foods as much as her stunning eyes.

Temple of Swoon is a fun, adventurous read. If you like a little action in your romcoms, this entire series is a must read. Jo Segura’s take on archeological expeditions are always a good time, and I can’t wait to read what’s up next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Temple of Swoon was a cute romcom that combined romance with adventure and mystery. The characters were absolutely swoon-worthy, especially Rafael. Miri was a fun character, although quirky and a little awkward at times, it was not hard to enjoy her character. As much as I enjoyed reading how these two characters connected, the plot itself kept me wanting more. I felt like I was missing more of the adventure and mystery, especially since it's supposed to be inspired by Indiana Jones. Sure, there was a mystery there, but it was kind of just thrown at you like "here's what's happening, go along with it". There was a lot of potential.. I feel like if the book was a bit longer, the story could have been told better and could have captured the essence of adventure much better.

Segura does a great job of making the environment seem vibrant and exciting. I enjoyed the pacing of this book but I was not able to connect with this story or Miri at all. I think this is mostly in part to the choice of third person POV and by the end I didn't care for the happily ever after.
I also didn't like the nickname being used, really and I found it killed the enjoyment of the intimate scenes.

4 stars! This was a fun, adventurous and silly story. I really loved both Miri and Rafa. Pick this up if you're looking for an exciting escape filled with characters learning to find their confidence and voice despite whatever challenges come their way.

For years Dr. Miri has been striving to make a name for herself in the field of archaeology to no avail.  However, her aspirations are fast-tracked when she is unexpectedly assigned to lead a high-profile expedition in the Amazon jungle in search of the legendary Lost City of the Moon.

Full of self doubt, but desperate to prove herself, her plans are quickly disrupted when disaster strikes, leaving her stranded in the heart of the jungle.  Fortunately, she is aided by a sexy photojournalist named Rafa, who helps her fend off the mysterious adversaries who are pursuing them.

Unbeknownst to Miri, Rafa harbors a hidden agenda that directly contradicts her own: to ensure that the lost city remains concealed forever. Stakes escalate as their flirtations grow into a deeper connection and secrets are revealed.  

Rich in plot twists, set against an exhilarating backdrop, and featuring endearing characters, this dual point of view, slow-burn romance is sure to captivate fans of Segura’s debut, Raiders of the Lost Heart, further solidifying her reputation as the preeminent author of adventure romance.

I had so much fun with this book! I really enjoyed Jo's first book, and I think I liked this one even better! I am someone who grew up on Romancing the Stone and I definitely get all of those vibes from this series. The combination of love and adventure makes this a book I couldn't put down!

Temple of Swoon, written by Jo Segura, is a captivating story of heartbreak, redemption, and passion. This narrative follows the journey of two enemies who unexpectedly fall in love. Once I began reading, I found myself unable to put the book down.