A delightful adventure romp filled with funny banter, mild suspense and lots of heartwarming and also steamy romance! Love it

When I first saw RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART, it immediately became one of my most anticipated books of the year. There’s something about a romance with a super unique, adventure-filled premise that intrigues me. I enjoyed the general concept of SOMETHING WILDER by Christina Lauren for example – yes that one got a little far-fetched at times but this kind of ~adventure~ story mixed with rom-com elements has me written all over it for some reason.

I ended up enjoying RAIDERS quite a bit, and seeing TEMPLE OF SWOON announced soonafter was a dream come true. Another rom-com with archeologists and Indiana Jones vibes? Yes, keep them coming, Jo Segura!

TEMPLE OF SWOON follows Miri (mentee of the MC from the first book) and Rafael (a journalist with an overbearing father who forced him on this mission even though he tried to quit). Miri is looking for the lost City of the Moon and leading her first expedition without any help. Rafael’s mother and her ancestors had been protecting the lost city for years; his real reason for being there is to sabotage the mission on her behalf (and his father’s) to ensure its legacy remains intact. He didn’t expect to start falling for Miri and her tenacity though!

This book was even better than Segura’s debut – the same Indiana Jones adventure vibes were prevalent without being too unrealistic. The romance was excellent. Yes, the two had a little bit of instalove, but I enjoyed it a lot. Miri was kind of a weirdo in an endearing way, which was nice to read!

Despite the big secrets Rafael was keeping from Miri, there wasn’t a lot of miscommunication or frustration while reading this book. There was a certain character that I HATED early in the book – I won’t say who for spoiler reasons – who luckily left the story and eliminated some annoyance.

There was some twists that I genuinely did not see coming – it was really unexpected to be surprised by certain characters and plot points in a romance! I really hope that Segura keeps writing books like this, and other romance authors implement some fun adventure elements in their books!

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura
Narrator: Kyla Garcia
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 1/7

Thank you so much Berkley Romance for my free book! #berkleypartner #berkley And thank you to PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.
This book is a lot of fun! It’s a perfect mix of action, romance, and laugh-out-loud moments, all set against the stunning backdrop of the Brazilian jungle. Whether you’re new to Segura’s books or a returning fan, this one’s got something for everyone.

Dr. Miriam Jacobs, or Miri, is such a great character. She’s smart, determined, and just the right amount of awkward, with her cheesy jokes making her super relatable. Her adventure through the jungle to find the Lost City of the Moon is packed with challenges, but her perseverance and quirky charm steal the show.

And then there’s Rafael Monfils, the journalist who’s definitely not just there to write a story. Rafa’s secret mission to derail the team’s expedition adds a juicy layer of tension, especially as he starts falling for Miri. Their chemistry is top-notch—sweet, fiery, and full of heart. Watching Rafa struggle between his goals and his growing feelings for Miri is so satisfying, especially since he’s clearly her biggest fan, even when he’s working against her. There’s an insta-love vibe that I usually don’t love, but I enjoyed it here.

The jungle setting is intense and beautifully described, with just the right amount of danger to keep things exciting. There’s even a fun tie-in to Segura’s first book that fans will appreciate, though you can totally read this as a standalone.

I followed along with this on audio and I thought the narrator did an amazing job voicing all of the characters.

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced adventure with a lovable heroine, a bit of romance, and tons of excitement, Temple of Swoon is definitely worth picking up!

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was one of my favorite movies as a kid, and Temple of Swoon was such a fun (and yes, swoony) read as an adult!

Dr. Miri Jacobs needs to prove herself on the archaeological mission of a lifetime in the Amazon. She didn’t count on handsome journalist/photographer Rafa DeMonfils being part of the mission. But Rafa has secrets that he’s keeping. And neither of them could have imagined what the Amazon had in store for them - broken down trucks, knife fights, vine-swinging, and an unexpected villain trying to beat them to the site.

This book was full of ups and downs, and it was a fast-paced, delightful read. I highly recommend it for romance readers who love a little adventure!

I Received an advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

I really enjoyed Raiders of the Lost Heart and so I was looking forward to reading this one but I just could not get into it. I didn't really understand her motivation for lying to him about why she was travelling which made it hard to get invested in the characters

*SIGH* 2.5 stars
It is with a heavy heart that I rate and review this book. This is the second book by Jo Segura I've read and the once again we have a secretive and sabotaging MMC which is just so hard to get behind and love. Like she forgave him SO fast and I just don't get it. He just blindly followed his fathers instructions to ruin her life and career and jeopardize the lives of the crew and for what? UGHHHHH

The romance and tension was lack luster and my favorite part of the book is the cover. . Even the action felt less intentional and not as detailed as book one which made it tough to really feel while reading. Admittedly tho he calls her "Pringles" and I LOVED THAT

I was so excited to get this ARC bc I read book 1 and loved the Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider vibes but the romance, characters and stakes in this book were just a let down.

Temple of Swoon was a highly anticipated read for me as I really enjoyed Jo Segura's debut, set in the same world. However; I ended up "not finishing" Jo's latest at the 33 % mark as I found it to be predictable and semi following the same storyline as the first novel. I wanted to read something with "lol" jungle moments and captivating characters but was hit with more of the "lol he's the bad guy oh this again" and probably will not continue my Jo Segura journey.

Great banter and lots of action and adventure.

I love a strong female lead in romance books, but I don't like when they get taken advantage of so much that they look silly on page. Lie of omission is tricky in this sense. It has to be done carefully and not at the expense of the female lead's success.

Overall a fun read with great steam.

Temple of Swoon is perfect for someone looking to find adventure with a heavy sprinkle of quirky humor and just the perfect amount of spice!

As a big fan of Indiana Jones and a lover of the first book in this series, I was STOKED for this. But it was such a letdown. The FMC acted so dumb and it became nearly unbearable. The love was also a little too insta lovey for me. I’ll hold out hope for another great adventure romance but this one didn’t do it for me.

It’s hard to be a badass archaeologist when you’re wearing a fanny pack, err money belt, but Dr. Miriam Jacobs is going to try.

Miri’s mission is to find the Lost City of the Moon in the Amazon rainforest. While Journalist Rafael Monfils’ mission is to stop her. You would think that would make them natural born enemies, but it doesn’t. And, I think this is one of the things I missed. While I loved that Rafa fell for Miri’s adorable dorkiness almost immediately. I did miss some good old banter and tension that you get from two people that are trying to despise each other.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked the action and adventure. Also, I love a book with a latin flare, and this one delivered.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was just as adventurous as the first book was! Between the non-stop Jungle Action, with a side of some swoony romance, this book was easy to fly through.

I really enjoyed Miriam. She pushed herself to be her best and definitely had a lot of growth by the end, with Rafa as her biggest cheerleader even if things didn’t start out so pure. I loved the shenanigans they got themselves into and how their relationship slowly developed over time. This was absolutely a slow burn and I was cheering in my seat when they finally got together for the first time, over 50% into the book.

I would love to see a third installment of this series follow Anissa. Now that we have seen Dr. Meijas and Dr. Jacobs have their career altering moments and happily-ever-after romances, it’s time for Anissa to shine!

This is my last read of 2024 and it was a good one! A sign that my next read in 2025 will be just as good.

One of the standout aspects of "Temple of Swoon" is its vivid and immersive world-building. Segura's creation is richly detailed and steeped in mythology and folklore, with a depth and complexity that is simply stunning. The temple itself is a character in its own right, a labyrinthine and mystical place that seems to pulse with its own rhythm and magic.

I loved both Romancing the Stone and Raiders of the Lost Arc countless times back in the 1980s so I’m drawn to books that are of a similar genre.
I thought Miri was an interesting character but I never really warmed up to Rafa. I thought he was a bit vacuous and gullible since he never bothered to check out who his mother was, just taking his father’s version of the story.
The book is action packed and the very end is the best part, in my opinion.
In a day and age where every little thing seems exposed and non private I like to think the city remains hidden and protected from the outside snoopy world.

What a fun read! I really enjoyed this story. It was fun to be back in the archaeological world with romance and adventure.

I love adventure romances and so glad to see this second installment from Jo Segura! I hope there is a third because we deserve to see what the author does with a Crusade title 😉.

Temple was really fun and cozy. A perfect lighthearted read for the end of the holiday season. Just sit back, suspend that disbelief, and go along for the ride. As a former archaeologist, it’s fun seeing see archaeology in romance, even if only in name. Miri and Rafa were both cute and it was fun to follow their story.

✨ Review ✨ Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura

Thanks to Berkley and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

I had super high hopes for this because I loved the first book in the series, but this one fell a little flat for me. It seemed to follow the same arc as the first book, and was both fast-moving and not enough adventure somehow. The pacing was a bit off for me -- everything in the last 50 pages felt a little rushed.

With that said, it was still a fun adventure-filled read, and I love that Segura is bringing in badass brown archaeologists (and the struggles they face in a male-dominated field) to our view.

I loved that Miri was super silly, loving her snacks and swinging on vines, and as a fellow silly PhD, I loved seeing this. I liked the chemistry between the characters. I don't really love lying / miscommunication as a trope and so this also I think impacted my enjoyment of this.

I'll definitely pick up whatever Segura writes next, but this kind of fell in the second book slump for me. :(

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: f/m contemporary romance
Setting: Brazilian rainforest
Reminds me of: Indiana Jones meets badass female archaeologist
Pub Date: January 7, 2025

Read this if you like:
⭕️ adventure romances
⭕️ badass female PhDs (like Ali Hazelwood's books)
⭕️ the Brazilian rainforest

Miri was so relatable, especially in the way she puts pressure on herself to succeed. Her tenacity and drive had me cheering her on the entire book and I loved her cheesy jokes.

She and Rafa were perfect for each other. I loved the awkward meet cute and instant attraction between them. They have great chemistry and the banter is so much fun! I loved that this was dual POV because seeing Miri through Rafa's eyes was so sweet. There's lots of sexual tension and spicy moments throughout, with several open door scenes.

I absolutely love the Indiana Jones vibes of this book. The expedition to find the lost city had it all: high stakes, action, adventure, and even some capybaras. As Miri might say, this book was rad!

Thank you Berkeley Romance for the free copy of this book!!

Temple of Swoon is the second book in Jo Segura's rom-com archaeology series. It's super cute, a tad cheesy (in a good way), with adventure and spice thrown in.

Where Raiders of the Lost Heart was more romcom then adventure, Temple of Swoon had more adventure thrown in. Which I enjoyed. I just wish with Miri's badassery and knowledge, that she had discovered more using them then by accidentally finding everything. It wasn't until the very end that she truly shined and showed what she could do.

I did love Miri and Rafa together. Their meet cute was adorable and I love the tension between them and the banter throughout the story. I also loved the nickname Pringles.

Read if you like:
Adventure Romance
Forced Proximity
Sabatoge
Spice


Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the eArc in exchange for my honest review

I love adventure romance books and this is a solid contribution to the genre.

The book has the humor and fun adventure vibes that I was craving and I appreciated that each of the main characters were nuanced and the expedition and backstory was well thought out and I loved the front and center focus of the rights of indigenous people in Western archaeology.

Unfortunately I felt that the book was a bit uneventful in terms of the archaeology plot - they barely make an progress and then within the last 10% solved the whole thing. I also had a hard time liking the FMC, Miri. I'm sure many will find her quirky and charming, but I just found her annoying. I understand the character growth of overcoming her imposter syndrome, but to me it made her seem extremely younger than her 25 years and got really grating.

Overall a fun read with some interesting twists and a strong angle for indigenous rights for cultural sites in archaeology.