Raiders of the Lost Heart

September 18, 2023
Rival archaeologists discover more than buried treasure in Segura’s diverting and action-packed debut. Corrie Mejía, 35, the foremost expert on the Aztec warrior Chimalli, is thrilled to be invited on an expedition to Mexico to search for the warrior’s remains. The catch is that her grad school rival, smoking hot pain in the ass Ford Matthews, will also be on the dig. This fraught duo were once on the brink of a relationship and Corrie’s still holding a grudge after the rocky end of their flirtation eight years ago. Ford, meanwhile, never stopped crushing on her. Despite lingering miscommunications, the more time they spend together in the jungle, the more old feelings reignite. After an artifact from their dig goes missing, they work together to root out the thief, leading to thrilling danger—including a knife fight in a waterfall—and plenty of opportunities for Corrie and Ford to learn to rely on each other. Nonstop banter keeps things light, though the immaturity of the pair’s initial bickering may put off some readers. Better handled are Corrie’s admirable desire to succeed in a male-dominated field and Ford’s appealing emotional vulnerability. Drawing unapologetically on Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider for inspiration, Segura’s rip-roaring debut is sure to put her on the map. Agent: Eva Scalzo, Speilburg Literary.

Starred review from October 1, 2023

DEBUT This sexy, engaging romance leads readers through the wilds of academia and sets them down in a realistic archaeological dig. Dr. Corrie Mej�a is a badass archaeologist, outrunning a jaguar (okay, jaguarundi), and recovering stolen artifacts and returning them to their owners, but none of that has brought her funding for the dig she really wants to do. Eight years ago, she and Ford Matthews had a moment, but the next day, Ford broke Corrie's heart. Since then, he's also stolen a fellowship that should have been hers, and now he's scored a fully funded dig for the remains of Chimalli, an Aztec warrior and Corrie's possible ancestor, as well as the subject of her dissertation. However, Ford's dig is going nowhere, so he tricks Corrie into helping him. Finding out that she's only assisting Ford and that her nemesis is in fact the dig's lead researcher infuriates Corrie, but she can't say no to this once-in-a-career opportunity. As she works closely with Ford, they both realize that their attraction is still sizzling; the hot Mexican jungle is about to get even steamier. VERDICT With its well-crafted, interesting characters and intriguing storyline, this debut novel will fly off shelves.--Heather Miller Cover

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2023
Dr. Socorro "Corrie" Mej�a is one of the world's experts on Chimalli, an Aztec warrior whom she believes is a distant relative. When she receives a mysterious invitation to join a dig in the jungle to look for Chimalli's remains, she's interested but cautious. Arriving in Mexico, she is very unhappy to discover that the person in charge is Dr. Ford Matthews, who managed to beat her at everything she worked so hard for when they were in graduate school together. Corrie quickly zeros in on a promising area, but a thief at the campsite is endangering their efforts. In a classic enemies-to-lovers romance, Corrie and Ford quickly begin spending hot sexy nights together in the campground, while struggling with their competing goals during the daytime. Ford is falling hard for Corrie, but knows their relationship is doomed. Eventually, she will uncover the secrets that he's kept from her all these years. Readers fascinated by archaeology and Indiana Jones fans will love Segura's steamy romance.

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November 1, 2023
Two archaeologists who can't stand each other are determined to uncover the remains of an Aztec warrior...but they may also uncover some hidden feelings. Dr. Corrie Mej�a has long dreamed of traveling to Mexico to search for the remains of the Aztec warrior Chimalli. Not only would it finally get her colleagues to respect her as a serious archaeologist instead of a sexy Lara Croft type, but she believes that Chimalli was her ancestor. When a mysterious man shows up at her office and says he's been sent by an anonymous investor to offer her a place on an expedition to find a special knife that Chimalli once owned, she's intrigued. Corrie knows she should be on this dig, but she also knows that when an opportunity this perfect falls into your lap, it's too good to be true. And it is, because the person heading up the expedition is her nemesis, Dr. Ford Matthews. When Ford took the fellowship Corrie thought she deserved eight years ago, he became her enemy--even if he's quite easy on the eyes. But the chance to find a priceless artifact and be part of history is too much for Corrie to resist, so she agrees to join the team. Ford needs the money the investor promised so he can pay for his sick mother's expensive care, and Corrie needs the respect. Falling in love with their professional rival would only get in the way of their goals...but their feelings for each other have no place to hide in the jungle. Segura balances action-packed adventure with enjoyable romance tropes: Instead of "just one bed," there's "just one tent." Corrie is a likable heroine, and she and Ford have enough chemistry to keep readers turning the pages. A fun, fast-paced adventure rom-com with plenty of steamy scenes.

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