There's a special energy in both classic romantic comedies and archeological adventure movies that debut romance novelist Jo Segura smoothly blends in Raiders of the Lost Heart, giving readers a pitch-perfect fusion of The Mummy's dangerous discoveries and You've Got Mail's rivals-turned-lovers plot. Archeologists Dr. Socorro "Corrie" Mejía and Dr. Ford Matthews are entrenched competitors, with "curvy" Latina Corrie having to fight harder to prove her worth in the field while handsome, blond Ford is seemingly handed opportunities right and left.
But when Ford's dig for the remains of an Aztec warrior begins to languish, Corrie is his only hope and--he knows--the expert who should have been overseeing the dig in the first place. Resentful but unable to turn down joining the dig of her dreams, Corrie arrives in Mexico determined to succeed with top billing. The pair's verbal sparring quickly balloons into something more, as long-dormant sparks flare to life. ("He stared at her, tenderly, like they were old friends rather than old rivals.") Ford tries to hide the personal reasons motivating his efforts, but as he and Corrie grow closer and something nefarious begins happening on the site, his secrets become harder to keep.
With unapologetically incredible moments--like Ford snatching a snake out of midair--as well as the satisfaction of a strong heroine and hero realizing they could be more together than they are apart, Segura's debut is an action-packed yet sweetly tender ride. The sweltering jungle is far from the only heat that will leave readers swooning. --Kristen Coates, editor and freelance reviewer