Loved the premise and had a fun start but I didn't stay engaged and struggled to finish. Rafael's sabotaging just felt so silly, every time it happened again I got annoyed. Didn't mind the chemistry though.

2.5 stars - I was sadly a bit disappointed with this book. I was ready and excited for a fun wacky adventure rom-com and this ended up falling a bit flat for me. The insta-love/insta-lust wasn't believable between Rafael and Miri and the overall plot felt lackluster. There was somehow too many and not enough things happening at the same time. I also was so uncomfortable with the fact that one of the spicy scenes happened almost immediately after one of the characters got a concussion - that was a step too far.

Thank you to Berkley for the eARC - all opinions are my own.

POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

I love adventure romances and the book before this one was so much fun! I did love Miri and Rafa’s instant connection and cute and witty banter, as well as the twist that I didn’t really see coming! However, it did feel a little slow when I was expecting more fast paced, but it was still overall an enjoyable read.

**Many thanks to Berkley and Jo Segura for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**

Miriam Jacobs STILL cannot believe that her mentor is none other than THE Corrie Mejia, the boss babe archaeologist who made a name for herself on a trip searching for the Aztec Empire not too long ago. Although she secretly yearns to reach that level of indescribable and effortless 'cool', Miriam is a unpolished at best and a bit of a newbie, one who is more at home cracking dad jokes than anything else. So when she gets the opportunity to lead an expedition through the Amazonian jungle, it's MORE than just overwhelming: it's seemingly IMPOSSIBLE. After all, with no map leading the way and only sparse clues pointing to its whereabouts, how on EARTH is Miriam going to be the one to lead her team to the City of the Lost Moon?

Well, Rafael 'Rafa' Monfils is going to make SURE she doesn't get there...but he can't say a word about his intentions. Posing as a journalist who will be documenting the trip, he is charged with making sure the crew doesn't actually stumble on the right path to lead them to the lost city (Ciadade de Lua, or "Moon City") while maintaining an air of innocence. There's only a few problems with this plan: first off, from the minute these two lock eyes in a taxi, there is HEAT for days...and secondly, the more obstacles Rafa tosses in her path, the more determined Miriam becomes to not only lead her team to victory, but to prove that Corrie put her trust in just the right mentee. But as it turns out, there is more than one group set on finding the ancient city and claiming its spoils...one who will stop at nothing to keep Rafa AND Miriam at bay. But can these two fight the urge to bond (in more ways than one) and can Rafa keep his eye on the prize? Or will his desire for Miriam overtake his mission and put BOTH of them square in the path of the enemy...with NO escape from the lost city in sight?

After feeling pleasantly surprised by Segura's first book in this series, I was EAGER to grab this next installment. In the previous book, Segura managed to toe the line between scintillating and silly, adding just enough of a "female Indiana Jones meets Lara Croft" vibe to make the book feel fun, fresh, and different...and to oddly keep me hooked, despite some areas for improvement.

But when it came to this second attempt at a jungle exploring, adventure rom-com with rivals (albeit secret ones?) to lovers, I found myself longing for the simple silliness I found in the first installment...and missing the BEJEEZUS out of one Corrie Mejia.

Yep, that's right...the characters you spent ALL of the last book getting to know intimately? All but gone here. Corrie is MENTIONED as a mere link to this current story...but that's where the similarities and the ties to the first story come to a stop. There's nothing WRONG with Miriam, per se, but I just found her a less interesting, less confident, and less street smart version of Corrie...so much for female empowerment. There's also nothing necessarily WRONG with Rafa; he's a perfectly serviceable counterpoint to Miriam, although their big 'connection' is basically driven 10000% by lust and not by much else, which can be a bit boring to read after a while. (I mean, we get it, they're both good looking...but with this much ELSE in common, could they not have built MORE of a substantive relationship to go along with it?) I can't say I was ever rooting for OR against them per se...they seemed more like just people destined to hook up and date for a few months before going their separate ways.

Unfortunately, the other problem with this particular series is rather than growing and expanding, I felt as though I was retreading the SAME well-worn grooves on the jungle path. Although the plot is certainly different (less work rivals to lovers and more strangers to lovers) this also sort of removed the stakes AND the emotional impact to an extent. Without commenting on the plot itself this is hard to discuss, but by the time you figure out who the 'real' enemy is, your emotional balloon will all have but deflated...and things get pretty boring from there on out. If the book were a TV movie (because let's face it, feature film it is not), this is the part when you'd pick up your cell phone and start idly scrolling, glancing up every so often. I think it's only introduced to introduce some empathy for Rafa's character...but at the end of the day, he had NO problem sabotaging Miriam from the beginning which was just sort of vindictive. He certainly ends up having a LOT in common with the eventual villain...that's all I'll say.

The word "swoon" can have many meanings, from "to faint from extreme emotion" or even "to become enraptured." But when it came to THIS Temple of Swoon, the definition I related to most?

"A state of bewilderment."

3 stars

Badass archaeologist Dr. Miriam Jacobs is leading an expedition through the Amazon Rainforest to find the Cidade Perdida da Lua, the Lost City of the Moon. She falls hopelessly in love with the journalist and photographer on their adventure... but Rafael is a descendant of os protetores da lua, the protectors of the ancient Moon City, and he's determined to throw Dr. Jacobs off the trail.

I mean... could it get any more fun than this?! This book was an absolute blast and I loved it. The characters were so a-dork-able I couldn't help but root for them. And I have to admit, it's rare that I find a plot, stakes, or conflict that I care about in romance books, but man did Temple of Swoon deliver! I was lamenting to my partner 70% of the way through that I just couldn't see a way for the book to get resolved. On the one hand, we want Rafael to protect his heritage, but on the other, we want Miri's career to take off! And of course, I stood corrected. I loved the ending. It swept me up in the whimsy and wonder any Indiana Jones movie could offer - complete with comical jewel thieves, hidden treasure, and vine bridges that snap once you're halfway across. And who doesn't love a good The-Notebook-style rain-soaked kiss scene?

My only criticism would be that I wanted more. I wanted to dig into this setting and conflict just a little more than the book did. But, it did a fabulous job at keeping the tone light, unserious, and funny. Can I really be mad about a romance book being mostly about the romance (lol)? Nah. Temple of Swoon was fantastic.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the eARC.

I had a blast with Raiders of the Lost Heart, and this follow-up did not disappoint! First of all, Rafa and Miri’s relationship was chef's kiss. No miscommunications, no "I secretly hate you but actually love you" nonsense—just two people clearly into each other from the get-go. The tension between them? Spicy. It had me hooked like I was reaching for a can of Pringles I definitely didn’t need but couldn’t stop eating it up (wink wink haha).

And then there’s Rafa, dealing with some seriously heavy family stuff that had my heart doing some acrobatics. It was emotional, raw, and just... wow. Between the romance, the drama, and the snacks I inhaled, this book hit all the sweet spots. Can't wait to see what Jo Segura releases next!

Thank you to Berkeley Publishers for the free ebook! After reading and enjoying Jo Segura's previous romance in the jungle book, Raiders of the Lost Heart I knew I wanted to read the follow up book. I was so pleased after reading it, I wound up preordering a physical copy to keep on my shelf. If you want an entertaining time along with a diverse romance highly recommend this one!

Dr. Miriam Jacobs is the most awkwardly lovable archeologist tasked with a search in the Amazon for the Lost City of the Moon. I adored her and her vine swinging, inner monologuing ways. Rafe Monfils is a journalist with a secret mission to sabotage the search, but finds himself thinking how cute Miriam is. I loved the banter, the themes about self confidence and yes the steam. This book is like watching a throwback movie full of charm, action and a plot that was a refreshing change for today's romance reader.

First off, I love the cover. There are some fun adventures but it was cheesy and predicable. I’m also not a big fan of insta love.

Unfortunately this book was a miss for me. There are certain character traits that I don’t enjoy in books and the main character of this book had them. She was a hot mess and there is nothing redeemable in my opinion about her.

2.5 stars rounded up

As a woman with a PhD in a STEM field Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura just fell flat, much like Miri does on those vines. The book follows Dr. Miriam Jacobs as she tries to find the Lost City of the Moon in Brazil. While exploring Miri is unsuccessfully trying to imitate her mentor in being a badass, and she tries so hard but she's just too "quirky" and "adorkable." She takes almost the entire book to have an ounce of character development which made me so sad. To top it all off the main love interest is straight up sabotaging and endangering her the entire time.

I thought this book had so much potential but it spent so long trying to convince us that Miri was just sooo quirky. If there had been only small hints of her being not like the other girls it wouldn't have been that bad but there are just tens of pages drilling this down. I did not like the main love interest at all. He was reckless and put people's lives in danger. He got forgiven for his literal crimes way too easily. I did think the twist was interesting which is why it made it to 2.5 stars but it was a pain to get there. Last, this book was so long but the ending felt incredibly rushed. I really hope that there is a third book so that we can get some of the magic from the first book back though.

If you remember when this author’s first book came out, I was so excited for it because the cover was amazing and the synopsis made it seem like an Indiana Jones movie. But then like when I read it there was one thing that happened that I couldn’t get out of my head. I thought since so many people said that was a bad look in the last one that someone would have told her not to do it again. But this book determined that that was a lie.

Ok so in the first book *SPOILER* the love interest is a yt man who steals the research of a colleague, a woman of color. As it turns out, this one has a really bad look too. *SPOILER* This one has the main character that falls for the love interest and as it turns out, the love interest is trying to sabotage the mission. *END SPOILER* I didn’t remember which one of them is actually Latinx (there was no real representation I saw an Insta review that someone said it was the FMC who was a yt American and he was from Brazil but never spent time there and while I’m not Latinx, the person who wrote the Insta review said they wouldn’t label this as Latinx romance. And I didn’t feel that was a good sign so I did in’s label it as that either. ) but even still, it was the sabotaging of a woman by a man. And I don’t like that lol But idk maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think he groveled enough for what he was doing to her. And the way that ended? There wasn’t enough done to them for me.

Also, for this to be an action and adventure title, there wasn’t much happening. With him doing what he was doing, it was just them walking around in circles. I just hate that this is labeled as action and adventure when they only spend like 25% of the book is them actually finding something. Idk I just wanted more. Especially because the things they DID find was actually really cool. But the waterfall and the rock were ok, but I wanted something more. I think it’s the descriptors I was missing. I’ve never been to the Amazon Rainforest, so I really wanted to be able to see it through their eyes. Idk it was weird. Why wouldn’t you write this into your book? The lush forest and the deep, different greens, etc. It could have been so cool.

But I did like it. The romance was a bit instalusty, but at the same time, I feel like that’s most forced proximity. Since they’re stuck together they just fall for each other. But I think these nerds were actually really cute together lol They were finishing each others’ sentences by the end lol I know it’s weird, but I thought it was cute. Again, I didn’t get LOVE it because of what he did, but if she was fine with it, whatever.

The plot twist is what carried this for me tho. I saw it coming, but I didn’t if that makes sense. I thought it was him. Close, but no cigar lol It really was crazy. And all the things they were doing was gross. I was happy that the one person who wasn’t scared the entire time was Miriam. I was hella proud of her. I was also happy that she wasn’t one to get rid of easily. Even when people were leaving. I was glad that Rafa found out the hard way.

This review was a little all over the place, but so was the book lmao I didn’t LOVE it, but I liked it more than the last one. It wasn’t as fun as the other one, but it was still good enough. And since this ended the way it did, hopefully there’s another and the author makes things right this time and only makes the villain the person who has been doing the running in this book and the first one.

I was so excited to read this! I picked up the author’s first book last year, Raiders of the Lost Heart, and fell in love with it! So, when I learned I received an ARC of Temple of Swoon I was ecstatic.


Temple of Swoon tells the story of Dr. Miriam Jacobs and journalist Rafael Monfils. Miriam (Miri) is an archeologist who worked with Dr. Corrie Mejía on an Aztec expedition. Dr. Mejía and Dr. Ford Matthews were supposed to be the leads on this expedition, but they can’t make it. Instead they put Miri in charge as a co-lead. She is tasked with finding the Lost City of the Moon. Rafa (Rafael) is sent by his father to stop Miri from finding the lost city. Will Rafa succeed or will he give in to his feelings? In addition to Rafa being sent to stop Miri, Vautour (the man responsible for the disaster of the expedition from Raiders of the Lost Heart) is also trying to find the lost city.

I loved this book! It gives Indiana Jones vibes with romance sprinkled in. I never once expected Vautour to be who he is. That was a plot twist. Perfect for fans of Indiana Jones who also love romance!

This was a fun romance with an adventure vibe. I found it very entertaining and the two main characters are very likable. The bad guys are definitely bad and overall it is cute, but a little silly. If you are looking for a nice escape with some spice this will fit the bill. I was a big fan of "Romancing the Stone" as a kid and have always held a special place in my heart for it. This didn't quite make that cut though. A little too silly and predictable without much tension or drama to really invest me.

This is another fun action filled adventure reminiscent of the Indiana Jones movies and Lara Croft. I enjoyed the expedition almost as much as the romance that developed between Miri and Rafa. The mystery is fascinating as is the location. The audiobook is a great way to read this exciting romantic comedy and it's narrated by Kyla Garcia.

In this delightful romantic comedy that blends the adventurous spirit of National Treasure with the excitement of Indiana Jones and a touch of romance, we dive into the promising journey of the classic archaeologist character. I had been eagerly looking forward to this read, but I was a bit worried it might not meet my high expectations or match its captivating cover. However, I was pleasantly surprised! Right from the start, I appreciated the book's historical accuracy while still allowing for some creative embellishments. The storyline and its development throughout the book were fantastic, perfectly capturing the essence of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Despite a few minor grammar and punctuation issues, this book was such a joy to read and has quickly become one of my favorites this month. I have a feeling it will be a go-to when I find myself in a reading slump. Jo Segura has definitely won me over, and I can't wait to explore more of her work.

Audience: Adult
Plot: 3.25 out of 5
Characters: 3.25 out of 5
Spice: 🌶️ out of 5

Tea Pairing: Cinny Roll Black Tea by Plum Deluxe

Keywords: Romance, Comedy, Witty, Banter, Slow burn, Archaeologists, Expeditions, Lost cities, Brazil

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from Berkley Romance. Thank you! All opinions are my own.

From the very first page, this is definitely a romantic comedy – as there were several laugh-out-loud moments. This is a fun, witty novel that is set in the Amazon Rainforest, where Dr. Miri Jacobs has been assigned to help on the expedition to locate the lost Moon City. Not anticipating becoming co-lead, Miri is out to prove herself, her mentor, and the academic world that she can be a serious archaeologist. When she discovers that the very handsome photojournalist Rafael “Rafa” Monfils joins the expedition, sparks immediately fly. But Rafa has a mission of his own – to sabotage the expedition in order to protect his family’s lineage.

Throughout the novel, I kept getting ‘Romancing the Stone’ vibes (with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner) because of the banter, fun, and slow-burn romance. The good-times vibes were definitely there. The overall pacing of the novel was good – with a balance of action, romance, and character growth. However, there were a several characters that I would have liked to have gotten to know more about or would have liked a bit more interactions with – such as Dr. Quinn, Felix, Logan, and Anissa.

The final chapters revealed a bit of a plot twist that I didn’t see coming. That new development changed the tone of the novel for me quite a bit, and I felt there was a sense of urgency. Overall I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to anyone who might have enjoyed the first one (Raiders of the Lost Heart) or fun, romantic comedies.

Segura's second novel does not disappoint. What would Dr. Corrie Mejia do? It is the mantra Dr. Miri Jacobs lives by. She is out to make a name for herself as an archeologist and the legend of protectors guarding a secret city will not stop her. Especially, when Dr. Mejia asks her to find it in secret. Rafa on the other hand is not just the journalist tasked with covering the mission but to lead people away from the secret city as the son of a protector.

It was enjoyable as much as the first one. I loved the humor in this book, such as Rafa's nickname for Miri, "Pringles". I loved the feeling of being uplifted by a romantic interest, like Rafa did for Miri. He shows her that she is already successful, confident, woman. He opens her eyes to the confidence that Miri already possesses. I cannot wait to read the next one!

Thank you Berkley Romance and PRH Audio for my gifted copies! All opinions are my own!⁣
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If you ever watching Romancing the Stone or even Indiana Jones, you should check out Temple of Swoon.
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This is an interconnected standalone, but follows Dr. Miriam Jacobs. She is Dr. Corrie Mejia’s protege. She’s never led an expedition before and runs into all kinds of trouble when Dr. Mejia and her partner aren’t able to make it. She has a love interest with journalist Rafael Monfils, who has joined them. I enjoyed their chemistry, banter and vine swinging! There was a lot of drama and action. I think I got a little bogged down in how much she doubted herself. She constantly questioned what Corrie would’ve done in her place. I love the look into archaeology and especially the perspective on preserving what they find. Overall I enjoyed this, but maybe not quite as much as Raiders of the Lost Heart. ⁣
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I listened to the audiobook and absolutely adored Kyla Garcia’s narration.

This book was such a fun read, which is no surprise honestly after loving Jo Segura’s first book Raiders of the Lost Heart. Temple of Swoon was RIGHT up my alley.

First, shout out to Berkeley Romance and Ace Publishers for gifting me an e-arc of this book! I was very excited be be given a chance to read this one and review it.

After her first book, I HAD to read Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura. It was a MUST. For me, the Latinx representation was just what I needed as a Latina in that same field as Dr. Corrie, SO I was thrilled to go back into this world with Miri and Rafael.

A Brazilian hidden city? A big bad chasing them down to exploit the artifacts? A badass female archaeologist and sexy male journalist?! YES.

I mean what more can you want?! 🫣🫠

I loved Miri. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to compare since I was obsessed with Corrie in the last book but Miri lived up to my expectations. She’s smart, she’s a badass (even if she doesn’t believe it at first) and she felt so real. Her insecurities and her need to prove to everyone that she is a badass… well it felt real. I think Jo Segura really hit home with a female in a male dominated field and how that can feel, especially as she is mentored by Dr Corrie who is (after her story) seen as a badass archaeologist in her field. Miri was bullheaded and stubborn and a bit daring (almost to her downfall) and I loved it. I just ate it up.

As for our leading man, Rafael. He was great, not my fave (sorry I just love me Ford Matthew’s) but he was an interesting character. I loved his smitten behavior with Miri and the way that he was fiercely protective and did not want to let anyone walk all over her (not that she would let them). The complicated relationship with his father and then of course the non existent one with his deceased mother really made him a loveable character. But I was getting annoyed with him as he worked against Miri even though he was clearly falling for her, and I don’t know if I can forgive him for that.

But the TWIST. Look I did not see that coming. I couldn’t really see it coming until it was like right in front of my face. But wow I exclaimed out loud when it happened and read until the wee hours of the morning to finish this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. The characters, the action, the spice, and the archaeology just do it for me 🤷🏻‍♀️ I look forward to any books Jo Segura writes because she’s got a fan in me.

3.5 stars! This was a fun and entertaining adventure rom-com. After reading Temple of Swoon, I'm realizing I need more adventure romances in my life.

I enjoyed the rainforest setting as well as the concept of an archaeological expedition to find a lost city. The pacing was great, and I didn't feel like it slowed down during any parts. However, I feel like the book was missing that it factor, which would've made it four or five stars. There could've been more action, higher stakes, more emotional depth, and/or less insta love.

And I didn't think the characters had the best chemistry. Based on the synopsis, there inevitably was going to be a major miscommunication/break-up, but I think that should've happened sooner so we could see the characters mend their relationship before the climax of the story. I also thought there would be a bit more Indiana Jones-style action. But this was definitely entertaining and unlike any romances I've read before!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance for sending me a copy of Temple of Swoon. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)