Item: Raiders of the Lost Heart
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by Jo Segura

An Indie Next and LibraryReads Pick!

Rival archaeologists must team up on a secret Aztec expedition, or it could leave their careers—and hearts—in ruins.

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.

Book Summary:

Dr. Socorro "Corrie" Mejia has worked her whole life to get to this moment. She's finally tracking down the remains of her ancestor, Chimalli. It should be a dream come true. It is a dream come true! Mostly.

Where Corrie should be leading this team for such a personal mission, she is instead forced to share. Dr. Ford Matthews is a colleague and Corrie's nemesis, so he's the one tacked onto this mission.

My Review:

I knew right away that Raiders of the Lost Heart would be a fun adventure full of charm and personality. And I'm happy to report that having finished the book, I was certainly not wrong! This book is just as much fun as that bright cover promises – and then some.

Admittedly, I'm a big fan of work/drama and enemies-to-lovers. I also adore reading about archaeology (I don't care how realistic it is, either, as long as it is entertaining), so this was the perfect storm for me. You'll find it a thrill if you have similar tastes.

Honestly, I'm not rating this book higher because while I loved Corrie and the overall plot, I didn't really like Ford. Disliking half the romantic cast is not ideal, but thankfully, it didn't detract too much in this instance and thank goodness for that.

Highlights:
Contemporary Romance
Enemies-to-Lovers
Fun Adventure
Indiana Jones-vibes

Thanks to Berkley and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Raiders of the Lost Heart

by Jo Segura

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Jan 3, 2024

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