Review by Veronica
Raiders of the Lost Heart is a fun, spicy romance adventure.
Favourite Quote:
“I asked Calvin to send for you.”
Her entire body clenched as she sucked in a breath. That low, sweet, delicious timbre sent an unwanted fiery blast across her skin. She knew that voice, too. Even better than she’d known Ethan’s.
Book Synopsis:
Archaeologist Dr. Socorro “Corrie” Mejía has a bone to pick. Literally.
It’s been Corrie’s life goal to lead an expedition deep into the Mexican jungle in search of the long-lost remains of her ancestor, Chimalli, an ancient warrior of the Aztec empire. But when she is invited to join an all-expenses-paid dig to do just that, Corrie is sure it’s too good to be true…and she’s right.
As the world-renowned expert on Chimalli, by rights Corrie should be leading the expedition, not sharing the glory with her disgustingly handsome nemesis. But Dr. Ford Matthews has been finding new ways to best her since they were in grad school. Ford certainly isn’t thrilled either—with his life in shambles, the last thing he needs is a reminder of their rocky past.
But as the dig begins, it becomes clear they’ll need to work together when they realize a thief is lurking around their campsite, forcing the pair to keep their discoveries—and lingering attraction—under wraps. With money-hungry artifact smugglers, the Mexican authorities, and the lies between them closing in, there’s only one way this all ends—explosively.
Review:
I love a good adventure rom-com, especially one that says it has Indiana Jones/ Tomb Raider vibes, which meant that I was incredibly pumped to read this book because that is what it was being advertised as. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations. For a book that is supposed to be an adventure rom-com, it has very little adventuring, action, or hell, even funny shenanigans in it. I’m sorry to say it was a little boring. The main focus of this story is Corrie and Ford’s rival to lovers relationship/attraction. Any real action in this book happens about three-quarters of the way through, and even then, it’s not that much. Corrie is supposed to be this Laura Croft character, and we learn of her past adventures, which sound amazing and very entertaining. I wanted that kind of adventure to happen in this book, but it doesn’t. Now, that’s not to say this book was terrible because it wasn’t. It’s an enjoyable read, and I loved the unique setting. Corrie and Ford’s jobs are interesting. I just wished the author leaned more into the adventure/action side of the story.
As I mentioned above, this book is really character/relationship-driven. Yes, external elements guide the plot’s direction and, at times, dictate what the characters are doing. But that external stuff really felt like it took the backseat in this book. If you like that sharp, slightly angry chemistry between your two MCs, then you will love the chemistry between Corrie and Ford. There is some major tension (and yes, some of that tension is lusty) between these two characters. Corrie hates Ford because she believes he stole an opportunity to advance her career, and Ford isn’t too fond of Corrie’s reckless antics.
There was a surprising amount of angst in this story, especially with Ford’s character. It made the story feel less funny and more heavy. Ford is dealing with some tough family issues, and his struggle with these issues is surprisingly more front and center in the plot than I expected it to be. Ford’s family problems are the driving force motivating his choices, actions, and reactions in the story.
I like Corrie’s character. She is smart and driven and loves keeping Ford on his toes. Her character just wasn’t this Tomb Raider copycat. Corrie tries to prove to fellow academics that she is more than just a sexy archaeologist. She wants to prove that she didn’t get where she is because of her looks. She knows she is smart and capable of doing great things in her field of study. Her character has some depth, and I loved seeing her more vulnerable side.
The romance in this book is spicy, and there are plenty of lusty shenanigans. I enjoy a good story about rivals/enemies to lovers. The author captured that sharp, fast banter perfectly, and both MCs kept each other on their toes. Because Corrie and Ford find themselves working together in close proximity, you get that lusty will they/won’t they build up. But their relationship isn’t just a physical one. There was a surprisingly large amount of quiet moments between Corrie and Ford. These quiet moments are what gave their relationship depth, and it was great seeing that despite their rivalry, they both feel safe enough to share their deepest fears and traumas with each other.
Raiders of the Lost Heart is Jo Segura’s debut novel. Even though it lacks adventure, it is still a great read, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.
