When archeologist Dr. Corrie Mejia was told she would have to give up a entire semester of teaching to go on a dig in Mexico, she agreed, despite not knowing who was investing in the dig or who was working on it. It had been her dream to work on an expedition in the Mexican jungle, looking for evidence of Chimalli, who she believes is a long-long ancestor of hers. She had done her dissertation on Chimalli. And despite doing many digs all over the world, she’d never yet been able to find the funding for the one she wanted.

And then, when it happened, someone else stole the expedition right out from under her. She is the world’s leading expert in Chimalli, and the investor chose someone else to lead the dig she’d been waiting on all her life. So of course, she said yes, and she set off for Mexico as soon as possible.

What she found there is her old nemesis from grad school, Dr. Ford Matthews. He had stolen the prime teaching gig she wanted after graduation, and now he was the one running this dig? Corrie thought it was so unfair that he got so far just by being charming and handsome, but she can’t pass up the chance to find where Chimalli had lived and died, so she agrees to stay. Plus, she finds out that clearly they had been there for several months already and hadn’t found anything. If they had, they wouldn’t have needed her. They were digging in the wrong place, and Ford was betting on her to find the right spot.

All Corrie had to do was to focus on the expedition. And forget about that night she and Ford spent together back in school. But the more time she spends around him, the harder it is to just forget. The sun over the Mexican jungle is not the only thing that is making her hot.

But there are issues. The new site she finds doesn’t give up the secrets she was looking for. The weather is crazy, from hot to flooding rains, and it seems like there is a potential thief, and Ford and Corrie have to figure out who it is before the entire expedition is ruined. They both need the expedition to be successful, and nothing can stand in their way. Not even falling in love.

Raiders of the Lost Heart is a fun, spicy rom com that brings the archeology of Indiana Jones together with a love story of former enemies who lean into the heat that comes from hate. With lots of jungle fun and flirty banter, this novel sizzles with the heat of the jungle as well as the jungle love.

I really loved this book. It’s filled with passion and humor and a strong female lead. Corrie is a truly special character, strong and smart and adventurous. She made a name for herself in a male-dominated field and stole the hearts of everyone she met. The setting for this story is unique and exciting, and the writing is smooth and propulsive. And the book is overall just an amazingly fun book to read. You don’t want to miss Raiders of the Lost Heart. It is perfection.

Egalleys for Raiders of the Lost Heart were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.