Raiders of the Lost Heart

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. (Dec.)