What do you think?
Raiders of the Lost Heart #3
The Lust Crusade
A plucky librarian and an archaeologist on the run fake an engagement to save their lives, leading them into the labyrinth of their own desires.
Daniela Guiterrez has been in love with her brother’s best friend for as long as she can remember—until he went missing a year ago during an archaeological expedition. But on a solo trip to Greece, the intrepid librarian discovers that Theo is very much alive, although judging by the criminals holding him hostage, he is not doing well.
An expert in Ancient Greek archaeology, Dr. Theo Galanis has been abducted by artifact smugglers in search of a priceless gemstone—the Eye of the Minotaur. This ridiculous assignment was supposed to get Dani out of his system, not keep her tied up next to him. But when a little white lie spirals into his captors believing Theo and Dani are engaged, they must utilize her research skills and his expertise to solve the centuries’ old Minoan mystery, all while feigning a romance to keep each other alive.
Now with less than six days to find the jewel, underground societies, mythological beings, and pesky abductors are only half the battle. Because among the ancient ruins and temples they explore is an even bigger falling in love for real.
Daniela Guiterrez has been in love with her brother’s best friend for as long as she can remember—until he went missing a year ago during an archaeological expedition. But on a solo trip to Greece, the intrepid librarian discovers that Theo is very much alive, although judging by the criminals holding him hostage, he is not doing well.
An expert in Ancient Greek archaeology, Dr. Theo Galanis has been abducted by artifact smugglers in search of a priceless gemstone—the Eye of the Minotaur. This ridiculous assignment was supposed to get Dani out of his system, not keep her tied up next to him. But when a little white lie spirals into his captors believing Theo and Dani are engaged, they must utilize her research skills and his expertise to solve the centuries’ old Minoan mystery, all while feigning a romance to keep each other alive.
Now with less than six days to find the jewel, underground societies, mythological beings, and pesky abductors are only half the battle. Because among the ancient ruins and temples they explore is an even bigger falling in love for real.
367 pages, Paperback
First published January 13, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love, love Jo Segura, and honestly I know it’s because she perfectly combines my love for romance 💕 with adventure and treasure hunting ✨This is already her third book, and aghhhhh I loved every single book so far 💖
This story takes us to Greece 🇬🇷 and follows our girl Daniela Gutierrez, a librarian 📚 who is grieving her forever crush on her brother’s best friend, Dr. Theo Galanis, who went missing a year ago.. so she decides to travel to Greece to reminisce… and then sees THEO ALIVE 😱!!! Little does she know he was actually abducted, and because of her curiosity 👀, she ends up right in the middle of it all.
I really loved the plot because duh!!!!! Someone going missing but actually being abducted by evil men who want a treasure?? Talk about adventure!!! Not only that, but HELLO the tension between these two was INSANE 😮💨🔥. They clearly both have feelings for each other, but they’re literally trying to survive, so you get these small moments here and there where you can just feel it 🥹💘
It was such an easy read ✨ That said, I do want to be honest and say that compared to the other two books, this one was my least favorite. The characters and the setting weren’t as intriguing for me as the previous ones, but that’s totally a personal preference!
Either way, if you love romance + adventure + treasure hunting, Jo Segura still delivers everrryyy singlee timeeee
tropes
🏛️ brother's best friend
🏛️ fake engaged
🏛️ slow burn
🏛️ only one bed
🏛️ treasure hunting
thank you Berkley for my eARC!
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅
you gotta understand I LOVE JO SEGURA! the way she makes the perfect balance of adventure and romance in a book, like YES IM READY!
This story takes us to Greece 🇬🇷 and follows our girl Daniela Gutierrez, a librarian 📚 who is grieving her forever crush on her brother’s best friend, Dr. Theo Galanis, who went missing a year ago.. so she decides to travel to Greece to reminisce… and then sees THEO ALIVE 😱!!! Little does she know he was actually abducted, and because of her curiosity 👀, she ends up right in the middle of it all.
I really loved the plot because duh!!!!! Someone going missing but actually being abducted by evil men who want a treasure?? Talk about adventure!!! Not only that, but HELLO the tension between these two was INSANE 😮💨🔥. They clearly both have feelings for each other, but they’re literally trying to survive, so you get these small moments here and there where you can just feel it 🥹💘
It was such an easy read ✨ That said, I do want to be honest and say that compared to the other two books, this one was my least favorite. The characters and the setting weren’t as intriguing for me as the previous ones, but that’s totally a personal preference!
Either way, if you love romance + adventure + treasure hunting, Jo Segura still delivers everrryyy singlee timeeee
tropes
🏛️ brother's best friend
🏛️ fake engaged
🏛️ slow burn
🏛️ only one bed
🏛️ treasure hunting
thank you Berkley for my eARC!
⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅
you gotta understand I LOVE JO SEGURA! the way she makes the perfect balance of adventure and romance in a book, like YES IM READY!
January 10, 2026
જ⁀➴ 3 stars
HUGE thank you to Berkley Romance, Jo Segura, and NetGalley for the free widget to get this eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Lust Crusade will be officially published on January 13th, 2026!
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
This was my first-ever adventure romance and my first book by Jo Segura, and I had a lot of fun reading this! The Mediterranean vibes with the setting taking place in Greece, on top of all of the Greek mythology woven throughout the plot, made it seem like it was right up my alley, and I had to send in a request for it right away. I know the other two books in this series have mixed reviews, but I haven't read them yet to have anything to compare this one to, and I wanted to give this a chance.
Daniela Guiterrez is a librarian in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she spends her days between the bookshelves. She's also mourning the loss of her brother's best friend and longtime childhood crush, Theo Galanis, an archeologist who went missing on an excavation trip a year ago and is presumed to be dead. Deciding to take a trip for herself, she travels to Greece in an attempt to connect with Theo's heritage and to feel closer to him after the loss. When she's there and runs into Theo, who is very much NOT dead and was instead kidnapped by artifact smugglers, she gets roped into helping him find the elusive Eye of the Minotaur in six days, or else they both die. Faking a marriage is what's keeping them alive, but will that turn into love?
The one thing I love about this book is the amount of Greek mythology that was woven througout the story. As someone who's a big fan of Greek mythology (and just any and all mythology in general), I loved how the myths of the Minotaur, Theseus, and Ariadne were incorporated into this story about a mysterious jewel that's allegedly not even real. The atmosphere of Greece and the descriptions of the climate, setting, and the FOOD? I was craving some hummus and spanokopita while I was reading this, I'm not going to lie.
There were so many twists and turns throughout the story, and although predictable, I did have a lot of fun reading this and I found myself rooting for Theo and Dani every time they attempted to escape their captors and throw them off their trails. Like, you'd want to beat a grown man too if he said that he "wasn't above hitting a woman" when Theo and Dani got kidnapped. (That's an exact line, by the way.) I know a lot of people have said this gives Indiana Jones vibes with the adventure romances that Jo Segura writes, and I can 100% agree on that statement!
I also loved how we got background information on Dani and Theo and their past together growing up as kids. Their families are super close and spent a lot of time together, and since Dani's brother, Eddie, is best friends with Theo, they all grew up together. I loved how we got to actually read about it vs. hearing about it in passing and having to take their word for it. It's not like they're full-blown flashback chapters or anything, but there are brief callbacks and mentions here and there of it when appropriate. We got to see exactly how deep their relationship and their ties run, and I liked that we got to see their memories together.
There were two things I took two stars off for:
1. Dani's nickname: If I have to hear the word "Juicy" ONE MORE TIME... I'm sorry, I personally couldn't stand her nickname. Granted, it was a childhood nickname, and there is a backstory behind why her nickname is Juicy, but it's literally the most annoying nickname on the planet. I couldn't stand Theo calling Dani that every other time he talks to her. I think he's said Juicy more times than he's said Dani or Daniela.
2. The miscommunication: Okay, so hear me out here. In 9 books out of 10, I will always say that miscommunication between two characters is entirely unnecessary and avoidable because these characters are fully grown adults. Talk things out, you know? While this book has plenty of that to go around, I do believe, to some extent, that it was warranted....at first. That's the one condition. It was warranted AT FIRST. Obviously, you would be a little concerned and confused if you were in a foreign country just to find that a missing archeologist who's been gone for over a year and had a whole funeral/memorial service for him was actually not six feet under, too. In that, I agree 100% with Dani in that her reaction was completely warranted. HOWEVER, for the amount of bickering and passive aggressivness and the amount of times they went hot and cold throughout the story, there should've been a moment where they just aired everything out at once vs. letting everything come to light as they went along. For two people who got kidnapped, they had plenty of time to talk things out and address things.
Going hand in hand with that, I felt like the ending was extremely rushed. With everything they had going on between them and the fact that they were looking for this giant jewel while trying to keep their abductors off their trail, everything wrapped up way too quickly and too abruptly for me to feel like the book had a definite finish. If the book were maybe one or two more chapters long, I would have a different view on this, but the flip-flop between the last few chapters specifically was almost like night and day.
Overall, this was a fun adventure romance despite its flaws, and if you're a romance reader looking for a little bit of action in your books without it bordering the line of romantic suspense, please check this book out!
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
Trigger/content warnings: sexual content (I'd say probably a 1.5-1.75/5 on the spice scale, but this is subjective to everyone's comfort level with spicy scenes in books), swearing, physical assault, kidnapping/abduction
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ I got a widget for this from Berkley right before Christmas, so I'm taking advantage of that now haha! I think this is my first adventure rom-com, and I can't wait to see what this book is all about. Like, an adventure that takes place in Greece? Sign me up! 🇬🇷🏛️🏺🩷 I actually own the first two books in the series, but I think they're all interconnected standalones, so I'll make my way through the first two books later😂
HUGE thank you to Berkley Romance, Jo Segura, and NetGalley for the free widget to get this eARC in exchange for an honest review. The Lust Crusade will be officially published on January 13th, 2026!
"It has always been you. It will always be you. And now that I've had this time with you, there will never be anyone else. I love you. Nothing will ever change that."
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
This was my first-ever adventure romance and my first book by Jo Segura, and I had a lot of fun reading this! The Mediterranean vibes with the setting taking place in Greece, on top of all of the Greek mythology woven throughout the plot, made it seem like it was right up my alley, and I had to send in a request for it right away. I know the other two books in this series have mixed reviews, but I haven't read them yet to have anything to compare this one to, and I wanted to give this a chance.
Daniela Guiterrez is a librarian in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she spends her days between the bookshelves. She's also mourning the loss of her brother's best friend and longtime childhood crush, Theo Galanis, an archeologist who went missing on an excavation trip a year ago and is presumed to be dead. Deciding to take a trip for herself, she travels to Greece in an attempt to connect with Theo's heritage and to feel closer to him after the loss. When she's there and runs into Theo, who is very much NOT dead and was instead kidnapped by artifact smugglers, she gets roped into helping him find the elusive Eye of the Minotaur in six days, or else they both die. Faking a marriage is what's keeping them alive, but will that turn into love?
The one thing I love about this book is the amount of Greek mythology that was woven througout the story. As someone who's a big fan of Greek mythology (and just any and all mythology in general), I loved how the myths of the Minotaur, Theseus, and Ariadne were incorporated into this story about a mysterious jewel that's allegedly not even real. The atmosphere of Greece and the descriptions of the climate, setting, and the FOOD? I was craving some hummus and spanokopita while I was reading this, I'm not going to lie.
There were so many twists and turns throughout the story, and although predictable, I did have a lot of fun reading this and I found myself rooting for Theo and Dani every time they attempted to escape their captors and throw them off their trails. Like, you'd want to beat a grown man too if he said that he "wasn't above hitting a woman" when Theo and Dani got kidnapped. (That's an exact line, by the way.) I know a lot of people have said this gives Indiana Jones vibes with the adventure romances that Jo Segura writes, and I can 100% agree on that statement!
I also loved how we got background information on Dani and Theo and their past together growing up as kids. Their families are super close and spent a lot of time together, and since Dani's brother, Eddie, is best friends with Theo, they all grew up together. I loved how we got to actually read about it vs. hearing about it in passing and having to take their word for it. It's not like they're full-blown flashback chapters or anything, but there are brief callbacks and mentions here and there of it when appropriate. We got to see exactly how deep their relationship and their ties run, and I liked that we got to see their memories together.
There were two things I took two stars off for:
1. Dani's nickname: If I have to hear the word "Juicy" ONE MORE TIME... I'm sorry, I personally couldn't stand her nickname. Granted, it was a childhood nickname, and there is a backstory behind why her nickname is Juicy, but it's literally the most annoying nickname on the planet. I couldn't stand Theo calling Dani that every other time he talks to her. I think he's said Juicy more times than he's said Dani or Daniela.
2. The miscommunication: Okay, so hear me out here. In 9 books out of 10, I will always say that miscommunication between two characters is entirely unnecessary and avoidable because these characters are fully grown adults. Talk things out, you know? While this book has plenty of that to go around, I do believe, to some extent, that it was warranted....at first. That's the one condition. It was warranted AT FIRST. Obviously, you would be a little concerned and confused if you were in a foreign country just to find that a missing archeologist who's been gone for over a year and had a whole funeral/memorial service for him was actually not six feet under, too. In that, I agree 100% with Dani in that her reaction was completely warranted. HOWEVER, for the amount of bickering and passive aggressivness and the amount of times they went hot and cold throughout the story, there should've been a moment where they just aired everything out at once vs. letting everything come to light as they went along. For two people who got kidnapped, they had plenty of time to talk things out and address things.
Going hand in hand with that, I felt like the ending was extremely rushed. With everything they had going on between them and the fact that they were looking for this giant jewel while trying to keep their abductors off their trail, everything wrapped up way too quickly and too abruptly for me to feel like the book had a definite finish. If the book were maybe one or two more chapters long, I would have a different view on this, but the flip-flop between the last few chapters specifically was almost like night and day.
Overall, this was a fun adventure romance despite its flaws, and if you're a romance reader looking for a little bit of action in your books without it bordering the line of romantic suspense, please check this book out!
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
Trigger/content warnings: sexual content (I'd say probably a 1.5-1.75/5 on the spice scale, but this is subjective to everyone's comfort level with spicy scenes in books), swearing, physical assault, kidnapping/abduction
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ I got a widget for this from Berkley right before Christmas, so I'm taking advantage of that now haha! I think this is my first adventure rom-com, and I can't wait to see what this book is all about. Like, an adventure that takes place in Greece? Sign me up! 🇬🇷🏛️🏺🩷 I actually own the first two books in the series, but I think they're all interconnected standalones, so I'll make my way through the first two books later😂
January 22, 2026
I keep reading these books. WHY do I keep reading these books? This one was arguably the worst. You mean to tell me this really smart archaeologist guy has been held captive for A YEAR by absolute bumbling idiots and can’t figure out how to get away? *facepalm* So many plot holes, so many terrible cringey dialogue moments, and if I hear the word “juicy” ever again it will be too soon.
February 12, 2026
I really enjoyed The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura! This was such a fun childhood-friends-to-lovers romp through Greece, and it made the perfect companion for tandem reading and listening while I did all the evening mom things. Laundry? Dishes? Packing lunches? Suddenly, I was mentally on a sun-soaked Greek island hopping adventure instead.
The chemistry between these two had that layered history I love in a friends-to-lovers story — shared memories, old feelings resurfacing, and just enough tension to keep it interesting. There were definitely a few moments I didn’t see coming, which kept it from feeling too predictable, but overall it leans into that sweet, escapist, popcorn romance energy. The kind you pick up when you want something light, fun, and easy to sink into.
This is the third book in the Riaders of the Lost Heart series, and while I still think the second one holds my top spot, I absolutely recommend the series as a whole. If you’re in the mood for sunshine, swoony nostalgia, and a romance that feels like a little getaway, this one delivers!
**Thank you to Berkley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🖤 ||
Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!
The chemistry between these two had that layered history I love in a friends-to-lovers story — shared memories, old feelings resurfacing, and just enough tension to keep it interesting. There were definitely a few moments I didn’t see coming, which kept it from feeling too predictable, but overall it leans into that sweet, escapist, popcorn romance energy. The kind you pick up when you want something light, fun, and easy to sink into.
This is the third book in the Riaders of the Lost Heart series, and while I still think the second one holds my top spot, I absolutely recommend the series as a whole. If you’re in the mood for sunshine, swoony nostalgia, and a romance that feels like a little getaway, this one delivers!
**Thank you to Berkley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🖤 ||
Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!
February 21, 2026
This second installment in this series of interconnected standalones was a lot of fun! This one hit for me much harder than the first book, even though the first book was still really good.
I felt so much more connection between our two main characters in this book. They had a childhood friends to lovers/brother's best friend dynamic that added a lot of depth and layers to their relationship. This was a slow burn that really worked for me because the relationship did evolve and change throughout the slow burn and we got to see that on page. Watching them work through their feelings, as well as connect with each other on a deeper level was a lot of fun and built a lot of solid sexual tension.
I felt like the spicier scenes in the novel were really well written, and were very varied in their content. Nothing felt cringe or over blown and honestly, it felt very realistic.
The adventure and mystery really worked for me as well personally. I felt like it had a solid mix of romance, adventure, and mystery. I enjoyed this novel quite a bit more than the first. I loved the setting of Greece and the mixture of Greek language that was thrown into the book. It was a different and much appreciated change of pace in what I typically read.
I felt like there were a couple of storylines that didn't get wrapped up and left me wondering what happened. Mostly concerning Andre's' Family. Mostly his grandmother and their connection to Theo. Like what happened with that?? It's never resolved. That's going to bother me a little bit, but overall the positives definitely outweigh that one negative.
Overall, super solid installment, and I will absolutely be going onto the third book!
I felt so much more connection between our two main characters in this book. They had a childhood friends to lovers/brother's best friend dynamic that added a lot of depth and layers to their relationship. This was a slow burn that really worked for me because the relationship did evolve and change throughout the slow burn and we got to see that on page. Watching them work through their feelings, as well as connect with each other on a deeper level was a lot of fun and built a lot of solid sexual tension.
I felt like the spicier scenes in the novel were really well written, and were very varied in their content. Nothing felt cringe or over blown and honestly, it felt very realistic.
The adventure and mystery really worked for me as well personally. I felt like it had a solid mix of romance, adventure, and mystery. I enjoyed this novel quite a bit more than the first. I loved the setting of Greece and the mixture of Greek language that was thrown into the book. It was a different and much appreciated change of pace in what I typically read.
I felt like there were a couple of storylines that didn't get wrapped up and left me wondering what happened. Mostly concerning Andre's' Family. Mostly his grandmother and their connection to Theo. Like what happened with that?? It's never resolved. That's going to bother me a little bit, but overall the positives definitely outweigh that one negative.
Overall, super solid installment, and I will absolutely be going onto the third book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2026
I REALLY wanted to write this one. This series has been on my radar for a while. It has an Indiana Jones vibe which piqued my interest. Overall, this was a good not great read for me. I was engaged in the adventure of the story and of course LOVED the idea of Daniela and Theo having their moment. As some of you know, I LOVE a good best friend's sibling story. And while I enjoyed the adventure, I struggled with the pacing. These two could not get out of their own way until like 75% of the book. This was a true slow burn with some miscommunication thrown in. At points I wanted to shake these two! Come on people. And then when they finally did get together, everything felt rushed. They got together and then the adventure ended within the last 10%. I just wanted more LOL. I liked the pining that these two had. There was great angst. We kept getting glimpses of the fire these two felt for each other only to have to wait longer. I did like how the fire played out. I liked how these two elevated each other and how much they cared about each other.
Daniela has been in mourning for the past year. Ever since her brother's best friend Theo went missing, she has not felt the same. Especially since they spent that night together and then he all but disappeared. She just wishes that she had had the nerve to tell him how she really felt. And now she never will. Which is how she finds herself in Greece- thinking about Theo. But then she sees him. She actually sees him. Even though he is supposed to be dead. How is this possible? How could he have let his family think he was gone? When she sees him, she has more questions than answered. He has been kidnapped by people looking for a mythological object in hopes that it is real. And now she has been kidnapped too. She never thought she would be so happy to see someone while being so enraged at the same time. But how does he still look so handsome? How does he still make her catch her breath? She wants to talk about what happened between them. She wants to explore this feeling. She is starting to sense he cares about her too, but every time she gets close he pulls away. Until finally she realizes they have been misinterpreting everything. And now that they have a window to escape and things have been cleared up, she wants to lay it all out there. She starts to think that maybe they could have a future. They just have to get out of this country alive.
Theo doesn't know how long he has been gone at this point. He knows it has been several months, but he hopes people are still looking for him. All he wants is to see his people again. And then he does. He sees Daniela. His best friend's little sister. The woman he has loved from a far for years is now here in Greece. She is now being kidnapped with him. He has to save her. He couldn't live with himself if something happened to her. How does she still look so beautiful? He thought she felt the same way about him but apparently he was wrong. But then he sees how she is looking at him. He starts to enjoy this time they are spending together. He starts to realize he can no longer go back to them being the way they were before. He wants her in his life. He just has to get them out of here alive. And now that he knows she feels the same way about him, he is more determined than ever to find this rock and get them home safe.
Like I said, I wanted more out of this but overall it was a fun adventure with some yearning and angst thrown in. I liked the history lessons in there too!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Daniela has been in mourning for the past year. Ever since her brother's best friend Theo went missing, she has not felt the same. Especially since they spent that night together and then he all but disappeared. She just wishes that she had had the nerve to tell him how she really felt. And now she never will. Which is how she finds herself in Greece- thinking about Theo. But then she sees him. She actually sees him. Even though he is supposed to be dead. How is this possible? How could he have let his family think he was gone? When she sees him, she has more questions than answered. He has been kidnapped by people looking for a mythological object in hopes that it is real. And now she has been kidnapped too. She never thought she would be so happy to see someone while being so enraged at the same time. But how does he still look so handsome? How does he still make her catch her breath? She wants to talk about what happened between them. She wants to explore this feeling. She is starting to sense he cares about her too, but every time she gets close he pulls away. Until finally she realizes they have been misinterpreting everything. And now that they have a window to escape and things have been cleared up, she wants to lay it all out there. She starts to think that maybe they could have a future. They just have to get out of this country alive.
Theo doesn't know how long he has been gone at this point. He knows it has been several months, but he hopes people are still looking for him. All he wants is to see his people again. And then he does. He sees Daniela. His best friend's little sister. The woman he has loved from a far for years is now here in Greece. She is now being kidnapped with him. He has to save her. He couldn't live with himself if something happened to her. How does she still look so beautiful? He thought she felt the same way about him but apparently he was wrong. But then he sees how she is looking at him. He starts to enjoy this time they are spending together. He starts to realize he can no longer go back to them being the way they were before. He wants her in his life. He just has to get them out of here alive. And now that he knows she feels the same way about him, he is more determined than ever to find this rock and get them home safe.
Like I said, I wanted more out of this but overall it was a fun adventure with some yearning and angst thrown in. I liked the history lessons in there too!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
January 31, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Dani travels to Greece to feel close to the man she secretly loved, her brother’s best friend, who went missing over a year ago. But come to find out he isn’t dead, but was kidnapped by artifact smugglers on an excavation trip. And of course, gets herself kidnapped too. Because why wouldn’t she. Now, they have to fake being engaged and find the treasure the smugglers are looking for so they don’t get killed by them.
It was a cute read but between all the miscommunication and the word JUICY, I’m giving it a 3 star rating.
Dani travels to Greece to feel close to the man she secretly loved, her brother’s best friend, who went missing over a year ago. But come to find out he isn’t dead, but was kidnapped by artifact smugglers on an excavation trip. And of course, gets herself kidnapped too. Because why wouldn’t she. Now, they have to fake being engaged and find the treasure the smugglers are looking for so they don’t get killed by them.
It was a cute read but between all the miscommunication and the word JUICY, I’m giving it a 3 star rating.
January 16, 2026
If I have to read the word “juicy” again. It’d be too soon.
March 15, 2026
4.5 🌟
A romance that takes place over a short period of time is ALWAYS better if they’re friends first - bonus points if they’ve known each other for a long, long time and have always been into each other. Add on the fun adventure aspect you get from Jo Segura and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a quick, cute, feel-good book.
A romance that takes place over a short period of time is ALWAYS better if they’re friends first - bonus points if they’ve known each other for a long, long time and have always been into each other. Add on the fun adventure aspect you get from Jo Segura and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a quick, cute, feel-good book.
January 18, 2026
I have really enjoyed the whole Raiders of the Lost Heart series and the Lust Crusade is no exception. This series feels to me like the best of both an adventure movie and a romance book. It's not too much adventure that I get bored (I regularly get bored reading romantasy books with a lot of world building) but enough that the book feels fast pace and fun to read.
Dani and Theo both think the other is the most amazing person in the world and I love getting to read that especially when we get the comparison of their insecurities in their own POV. I think having someone adore you for your perceived flaws not in spite of them is one of the things that makes a good romance. It definitely makes Theo and Dani easy to root for!
I recommend this series for anyone who likes a bit of adventure with their romance. The series is best read in order but each book could function as a standalone if you don't mind spoilers for earlier books. I will need to go back soon and read all three together to fully see all the connections between the books.
Thanks to Berkley romance for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Dani and Theo both think the other is the most amazing person in the world and I love getting to read that especially when we get the comparison of their insecurities in their own POV. I think having someone adore you for your perceived flaws not in spite of them is one of the things that makes a good romance. It definitely makes Theo and Dani easy to root for!
I recommend this series for anyone who likes a bit of adventure with their romance. The series is best read in order but each book could function as a standalone if you don't mind spoilers for earlier books. I will need to go back soon and read all three together to fully see all the connections between the books.
Thanks to Berkley romance for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 17, 2026
thank you to berkley for the free copy
The Lust Crusade was a delight - it had me wanting to go to Greece, get kidnapped with my hot friend and eat all the Greek food. I really love the way Jo writes dialogue - the banter is snappy and really fun to read. It was refreshing to see a fun, rompy rom com with people in their 30s. I really hope she writes more of these adventure romances!
The Lust Crusade was a delight - it had me wanting to go to Greece, get kidnapped with my hot friend and eat all the Greek food. I really love the way Jo writes dialogue - the banter is snappy and really fun to read. It was refreshing to see a fun, rompy rom com with people in their 30s. I really hope she writes more of these adventure romances!
November 24, 2025
This book might be a fun little escape for anyone who isn’t a librarian or archeologist and is able to suspend disbelief. However, I’m a librarian (and engineer) who lives in Michigan and has been learning Greek (kind of) via Duolingo. My sense of practicality greatly impacted my enjoyment of this story. I primarily kept reading it past the first three chapters because I was gifted early access via NetGalley by Berkley Publishing Group.
Tldr - The romance is the “big misunderstanding” trope, and the adventure story includes inept kidnappers, escapes, and searching for the “Minotaur’s eye,” which may or may not exist, in an Indiana Jones kind of way, or really, more like Sandra Bullock in The Lost City movie. It was a relatively quick and light read. If you like the author’s work, you’ll likely enjoy this one too, but there were too many things that annoyed me about it to really recommend it.
In the first 3 chapters, our heroine, Dani, whines repeatedly about how she’s amounted to nothing and did nothing with her life in the 16 years since she dropped out of college so she could take care of her parents, who she was still living with until they sold the house. She also says she’s a librarian. So, that’s a bit of an insult to librarians, implying our career is a failure of a life, but also to be a librarian requires a bachelor’s and master’s degree. It turns out that on page 182, the hero, Theo, praises Dani’s intelligence by noting how she earned her master’s degree in a year while working full-time. Until this point, I kept cringing whenever she pointed out that she was a librarian since I thought she hadn’t gone back to college nor had a degree. Once I believed she had the MLS, I had to wonder about her self-loathing during the beginning of the book.
Other things as a librarian that I found fault with that the average person probably wouldn’t be bothered by… Theo tore a page out of a book that he didn't own, and Dani climbed a bookcase in a library, which came crashing down. Apparently, it was so tall that Theo had to give her a boost by holding her butt. If there were a bookcase that tall, there would also have been a ladder or a step stool for safety’s sake. As a librarian, she should have known better. Plus, Theo is much taller, and she should have had him get the book. Third thing, while visiting the library, the author sets up a sex scene by having Dani share her fantasy of having sex in a library. I work at a college library. The students occasionally try to do this. It’s nasty. No one else wants a couple to have sex in the library, especially the library employees. Finally, the author uses the term “TBR” - I know it stands for “to be read,” but will most people?
I’m not a fan of the romance trope of a “big misunderstanding.” When they kind of talked about things, but the conversation actually perpetuated their misunderstanding, my eyes would roll, and I would get annoyed. Just be honest and talk about it! After the story ends, the author has discussion questions, including a set on this trope. She rightly points out that the whole adventure likely wouldn’t have taken place if Theo had simply discussed things with Dani back in Grand Rapids, MI.
Now for the adventure plot… parts of this were fun for me. There are Greek words in the book, and I was actively trying to use my limited Greek from Duolingo to translate semi-successfully. The author does a fine job of translating for us a few sentences afterward, so don’t let this be a deterrent to reading the book. I also want to visit Greece, so I liked reading about the place.
I found it hard to believe a trained and professional archaeologist would violate so many of what I would assume to be the proper protocols for investigating a location as a respectful archaeological dig. He’s losing all provenance. This is more of a treasure hunt than a respectful search for an ancient artifact. Admittedly, there is the kidnapping to factor into it, with bad guys who are willing to hurt people, but they escape from them fairly quickly once Dani is there. She also seems to mystically intuit just the right clue to get them moving in the right direction. I also kept questioning their escape as to why they didn’t buy a phone, reach out to family or reporters, or secure greater safety for themselves. Did they have passports? Access to money? I’m thinking, probably not, based on a few things.
The final thing that bothered me was that Dani and Theo “fell in love” when she was in high school. They’ve not spoken of their affections for each other for approximately 18 years. That seems too long. Her being at her folks for 16 years seems too long. I’m not sure what the right duration is, but it feels off. On the other hand, I do appreciate that Theo wasn’t a director of a museum while in his mid-20s.
Oh, final thing, I hated Theo's nickname for Dani. It's Juicy. She likes it. I can't fathom a woman liking people calling her "Juicy." Too big an ick factor for me.
Tldr - The romance is the “big misunderstanding” trope, and the adventure story includes inept kidnappers, escapes, and searching for the “Minotaur’s eye,” which may or may not exist, in an Indiana Jones kind of way, or really, more like Sandra Bullock in The Lost City movie. It was a relatively quick and light read. If you like the author’s work, you’ll likely enjoy this one too, but there were too many things that annoyed me about it to really recommend it.
In the first 3 chapters, our heroine, Dani, whines repeatedly about how she’s amounted to nothing and did nothing with her life in the 16 years since she dropped out of college so she could take care of her parents, who she was still living with until they sold the house. She also says she’s a librarian. So, that’s a bit of an insult to librarians, implying our career is a failure of a life, but also to be a librarian requires a bachelor’s and master’s degree. It turns out that on page 182, the hero, Theo, praises Dani’s intelligence by noting how she earned her master’s degree in a year while working full-time. Until this point, I kept cringing whenever she pointed out that she was a librarian since I thought she hadn’t gone back to college nor had a degree. Once I believed she had the MLS, I had to wonder about her self-loathing during the beginning of the book.
Other things as a librarian that I found fault with that the average person probably wouldn’t be bothered by… Theo tore a page out of a book that he didn't own, and Dani climbed a bookcase in a library, which came crashing down. Apparently, it was so tall that Theo had to give her a boost by holding her butt. If there were a bookcase that tall, there would also have been a ladder or a step stool for safety’s sake. As a librarian, she should have known better. Plus, Theo is much taller, and she should have had him get the book. Third thing, while visiting the library, the author sets up a sex scene by having Dani share her fantasy of having sex in a library. I work at a college library. The students occasionally try to do this. It’s nasty. No one else wants a couple to have sex in the library, especially the library employees. Finally, the author uses the term “TBR” - I know it stands for “to be read,” but will most people?
I’m not a fan of the romance trope of a “big misunderstanding.” When they kind of talked about things, but the conversation actually perpetuated their misunderstanding, my eyes would roll, and I would get annoyed. Just be honest and talk about it! After the story ends, the author has discussion questions, including a set on this trope. She rightly points out that the whole adventure likely wouldn’t have taken place if Theo had simply discussed things with Dani back in Grand Rapids, MI.
Now for the adventure plot… parts of this were fun for me. There are Greek words in the book, and I was actively trying to use my limited Greek from Duolingo to translate semi-successfully. The author does a fine job of translating for us a few sentences afterward, so don’t let this be a deterrent to reading the book. I also want to visit Greece, so I liked reading about the place.
I found it hard to believe a trained and professional archaeologist would violate so many of what I would assume to be the proper protocols for investigating a location as a respectful archaeological dig. He’s losing all provenance. This is more of a treasure hunt than a respectful search for an ancient artifact. Admittedly, there is the kidnapping to factor into it, with bad guys who are willing to hurt people, but they escape from them fairly quickly once Dani is there. She also seems to mystically intuit just the right clue to get them moving in the right direction. I also kept questioning their escape as to why they didn’t buy a phone, reach out to family or reporters, or secure greater safety for themselves. Did they have passports? Access to money? I’m thinking, probably not, based on a few things.
The final thing that bothered me was that Dani and Theo “fell in love” when she was in high school. They’ve not spoken of their affections for each other for approximately 18 years. That seems too long. Her being at her folks for 16 years seems too long. I’m not sure what the right duration is, but it feels off. On the other hand, I do appreciate that Theo wasn’t a director of a museum while in his mid-20s.
Oh, final thing, I hated Theo's nickname for Dani. It's Juicy. She likes it. I can't fathom a woman liking people calling her "Juicy." Too big an ick factor for me.
October 20, 2025
This trilogy has been so much fun, and I think The Lust Crusade is my favorite of the three. It was exciting and adventurous with great characters and a wonderful romance. I love that the series titles play off the Indiana Jones films. So clever! And it fits perfectly because these stories give me all the globe-trotting, treasure-hunting, chaotic vibes of Indiana Jones just with way more swoon.
The story follows Dani, a librarian who travels to Greece hoping for some kind of closure after Theo, her brother’s best friend and the man she’s secretly loved for years, was declared dead following an archaeological expedition gone wrong. Except, when she travels to Greece, she learns Theo’s not dead. He’s very much alive but being held hostage by artifact smugglers searching for a legendary gemstone, the Eye of the Minotaur. And before Dani can even process that Theo’s alive, she’s kidnapped too.
Dani is such a fun heroine. She’s book-smart, brave, and just chaotic enough to get herself in over her head. I loved that she’s a librarian who suddenly finds herself in the middle of an archaeological mystery in Greece. Minus the kidnapping situation, it would be a dream come true for her, considering she’s always wanted adventure but has yet to fulfill her dreams. And Theo. Love him! Let’s just say that “nerdy-hot archaeologist” might be my new favorite trope. The story actually has several tropes I love – only one bed, friends to lovers, fake engagement, and more.
Dani and Theo’s fake engagement is full of sexual tension and humor, but it also gives their long-buried feelings an opportunity to be explored. The chemistry between them is electric, but it’s also complicated. There’s this constant push and pull between what they want and what they think they can have, especially with their families in the background and the potentially deadly situation hanging over them. The danger they’re in only heightens their feelings, and I so rooted for them to find a way to safety and to be together.
I also loved the way Jo Segura wove Greek mythology and history into the story. The references to Minoan legends, ancient temples, and the myth of the Minotaur made the mystery feel rich and layered, while the descriptions of Greece made it sound so gorgeous even amid all the danger. It’s definitely a place I’d love to visit someday.
The story follows Dani, a librarian who travels to Greece hoping for some kind of closure after Theo, her brother’s best friend and the man she’s secretly loved for years, was declared dead following an archaeological expedition gone wrong. Except, when she travels to Greece, she learns Theo’s not dead. He’s very much alive but being held hostage by artifact smugglers searching for a legendary gemstone, the Eye of the Minotaur. And before Dani can even process that Theo’s alive, she’s kidnapped too.
Dani is such a fun heroine. She’s book-smart, brave, and just chaotic enough to get herself in over her head. I loved that she’s a librarian who suddenly finds herself in the middle of an archaeological mystery in Greece. Minus the kidnapping situation, it would be a dream come true for her, considering she’s always wanted adventure but has yet to fulfill her dreams. And Theo. Love him! Let’s just say that “nerdy-hot archaeologist” might be my new favorite trope. The story actually has several tropes I love – only one bed, friends to lovers, fake engagement, and more.
Dani and Theo’s fake engagement is full of sexual tension and humor, but it also gives their long-buried feelings an opportunity to be explored. The chemistry between them is electric, but it’s also complicated. There’s this constant push and pull between what they want and what they think they can have, especially with their families in the background and the potentially deadly situation hanging over them. The danger they’re in only heightens their feelings, and I so rooted for them to find a way to safety and to be together.
I also loved the way Jo Segura wove Greek mythology and history into the story. The references to Minoan legends, ancient temples, and the myth of the Minotaur made the mystery feel rich and layered, while the descriptions of Greece made it sound so gorgeous even amid all the danger. It’s definitely a place I’d love to visit someday.
December 6, 2025
The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura is an adventurous, slow burning romantic romp set largely in Greece, where Daniela “Dani” Gutierrez, a spirited librarian who has been in love with her brother’s best friend for years, unexpectedly reunites with Dr. Theo Galanis, an archaeologist long presumed dead, when she finds him alive but held captive by smugglers searching for the mythical Eye of the Minotaur. To stay alive, they pretend to be engaged and embark on a desperate, high stakes treasure hunt through ancient ruins, with less than six days to uncover the artifact while navigating ignited feelings between them. Their forced proximity and shared history give way to a romance that grows amid action, myth and danger.
Opening this book felt like stepping into a sunlit, salt scented world where humor and heat blend with mystery and heart. What truly moved me was how Dani’s fierce loyalty and Theo’s steadfast intelligence are written with such vibrant energy that their chemistry feels electric even when their own walls are still up. There is a joyful rhythm to their banter, and the way Segura injects Greek mythology into the chase made me smile at nearly every turn: it felt playful, rich, and surprisingly touching.
At the same time the story gave me genuine moments of tenderness when Dani and Theo confront the weight of their long past and what it means to finally face what was never said. Some scenes of their emotional conversations felt especially honest and heartfelt to me, giving the adventure real emotional texture beyond the wild treasure hunt. I felt the warmth, the blend of slow burn romance and good pacing, although some elements of the plot felt lighter than expected in places.
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving this book four stars because it charmed me with its blend of adventurous plotting, authentic characters, and slow burning romance that felt both satisfying and full of heart.
I would have loved a bit more depth in certain emotional turns, but overall the experience made me laugh, root for Dani and Theo, and appreciate the way Segura plays with genre in a way that feels fresh and warmly engaging.
Opening this book felt like stepping into a sunlit, salt scented world where humor and heat blend with mystery and heart. What truly moved me was how Dani’s fierce loyalty and Theo’s steadfast intelligence are written with such vibrant energy that their chemistry feels electric even when their own walls are still up. There is a joyful rhythm to their banter, and the way Segura injects Greek mythology into the chase made me smile at nearly every turn: it felt playful, rich, and surprisingly touching.
At the same time the story gave me genuine moments of tenderness when Dani and Theo confront the weight of their long past and what it means to finally face what was never said. Some scenes of their emotional conversations felt especially honest and heartfelt to me, giving the adventure real emotional texture beyond the wild treasure hunt. I felt the warmth, the blend of slow burn romance and good pacing, although some elements of the plot felt lighter than expected in places.
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars. I’m giving this book four stars because it charmed me with its blend of adventurous plotting, authentic characters, and slow burning romance that felt both satisfying and full of heart.
I would have loved a bit more depth in certain emotional turns, but overall the experience made me laugh, root for Dani and Theo, and appreciate the way Segura plays with genre in a way that feels fresh and warmly engaging.
January 26, 2026
This was a refreshing read. This is the first time I have read a contemporary romance with adventure. I loved the search for the eye of the Minotaur. It was unique and kept me wanting to read more. I will say a bit of the plot was cheesy and not believable, but it did not take away from the story overall and I still enjoyed it. I think my favorite part was the fact that these were older main characters with very relatable backgrounds and life experiences except for the kidnapping story of course lol
Even though this is the third installment of a series, I did not need to read the other books to able to fully enjoy this. I love me a standalone series. However, I will go back to read the first two books.
I am looking forward to more from Jo Segura.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Even though this is the third installment of a series, I did not need to read the other books to able to fully enjoy this. I love me a standalone series. However, I will go back to read the first two books.
I am looking forward to more from Jo Segura.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
March 20, 2026
I absolutely adored the first two books in this series and had high hopes for the conclusion.
I didn't click with these characters as well.
Daniela & Theo had this huge history of friendship and drama so the emotions shoulda been intense.
They surprisingly felt manufactured. Like they were being forced into the story instead of an integral part of their relationship.
It just didn't feel realistic and a lot of the time these two felt extremely childish.
Not what I have come to love about Jo's writing.
Still a decent read, just not as good as the others.
Thank you NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for my copy.
I didn't click with these characters as well.
Daniela & Theo had this huge history of friendship and drama so the emotions shoulda been intense.
They surprisingly felt manufactured. Like they were being forced into the story instead of an integral part of their relationship.
It just didn't feel realistic and a lot of the time these two felt extremely childish.
Not what I have come to love about Jo's writing.
Still a decent read, just not as good as the others.
Thank you NetGalley & Berkley Publishing Group for my copy.
February 5, 2026
Worst nickname of all time. It made me physically cringe every time I read it and it’s in there a lot.
May 5, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
✨ Tropes
* Forced Proximity
* Librarian/Archaeologist
* Action-Adventure / Quest
* Hidden Identity/Secrets
✅ What I Liked
* The Leads: The chemistry and relationship development between Theo and Dani.
* A Fresh Direction: I loved the step away from the previous books and the group of archaeologists..
* The Mystery: The plot kept me on my toes! It wasn't easy to guess how everything would fully play out.
* The Setting: Greece was the perfect backdrop. The way Jo Segura integrated myths and monuments directly into the story was like a mini tour of Greece.
* The Continuity: Having the villain from the previous books gave tension and stakes.
⚠️ What would I like more of
* The Minotaur’s Children: they could have played a bigger part in the narrative. They were such an interesting concept. If this wasn’t the end of the series you could have had them part of an over arching storyline. But this brings me on to my last point.
* The Books - It’s the last book of the series. 😢
Accessibility reading 🎧:
* VoiceView read out the Greek as each letter which made the VoiceView a bit disjointed.
* It said Giorgina as - Guy-or-jai-na
* Feedback sent in.
✨ Tropes
* Forced Proximity
* Librarian/Archaeologist
* Action-Adventure / Quest
* Hidden Identity/Secrets
✅ What I Liked
* The Leads: The chemistry and relationship development between Theo and Dani.
* A Fresh Direction: I loved the step away from the previous books and the group of archaeologists..
* The Mystery: The plot kept me on my toes! It wasn't easy to guess how everything would fully play out.
* The Setting: Greece was the perfect backdrop. The way Jo Segura integrated myths and monuments directly into the story was like a mini tour of Greece.
* The Continuity: Having the villain from the previous books gave tension and stakes.
⚠️ What would I like more of
* The Minotaur’s Children: they could have played a bigger part in the narrative. They were such an interesting concept. If this wasn’t the end of the series you could have had them part of an over arching storyline. But this brings me on to my last point.
* The Books - It’s the last book of the series. 😢
Accessibility reading 🎧:
* VoiceView read out the Greek as each letter which made the VoiceView a bit disjointed.
* It said Giorgina as - Guy-or-jai-na
* Feedback sent in.
June 7, 2026
2.5 stars
I keep trying Jo Segura books because the plots and overall vibes should be made for me! The setting of Greece, the mythology tidbits, and our fmc being a librarian were the positives.
Unfortunately, I do think this was my least favorite of the three. I didn't feel like we knew the characters as individuals very well, only in relation to each other (and vaguely their families). It felt very one dimensional. She's a librarian and he's an archaeologist...that's about it. And they really only used these skills a couple of times.
Segura just cannot escape a miscommunication trope; I think this is just part of the brand of this series -- the mmc also hides something from the fmc for a majority of the book every. single. time. (albeit this one isn't as egregious as the first two). This one also graced us with the nickname "juicy" which is in the top 5 WORST nicknames of all time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the e-arc.
I keep trying Jo Segura books because the plots and overall vibes should be made for me! The setting of Greece, the mythology tidbits, and our fmc being a librarian were the positives.
Unfortunately, I do think this was my least favorite of the three. I didn't feel like we knew the characters as individuals very well, only in relation to each other (and vaguely their families). It felt very one dimensional. She's a librarian and he's an archaeologist...that's about it. And they really only used these skills a couple of times.
Segura just cannot escape a miscommunication trope; I think this is just part of the brand of this series -- the mmc also hides something from the fmc for a majority of the book every. single. time. (albeit this one isn't as egregious as the first two). This one also graced us with the nickname "juicy" which is in the top 5 WORST nicknames of all time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the e-arc.
January 10, 2026
I haven’t read any of Jo Segura’s books before, but I will definitely be reading the rest of this series now! This was a fun fast-paced read with lots of adventure. Theo and Dani were so cute together!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!
April 7, 2026
3.5
just as fun of a romp as the other two (although having a cringe pet name/nickname is an ick for me. why do i have to read a grown man call a grown woman "juicy" with full sincerity?) the stakes in these are always higher than your standard romcom bc the bad guys in indiana jones movies will shoot you for money
just as fun of a romp as the other two (although having a cringe pet name/nickname is an ick for me. why do i have to read a grown man call a grown woman "juicy" with full sincerity?) the stakes in these are always higher than your standard romcom bc the bad guys in indiana jones movies will shoot you for money
January 3, 2026
4.25⭐️
Theo—or, as the world knows him, Dr. Theo Galanis, archaeologist—has been missing and presumed dead for over a year after disappearing in Greece. Dani, a librarian, is Theo’s best friend’s little sister and has missed him dearly ever since. Right before he vanished, they shared a moment she believed meant something more, but then he left and never came back. Hoping to feel closer to him and maybe find some closure, Dani decides to take a trip to Greece. While visiting Knossos with her tour group, she spots someone sneaking around who looks suspiciously like her supposedly dead friend. One thing leads to another, and the two end up kidnapped together, trying to escape their captors while uncovering a multi-millennia-long cover-up involving an ancient Greek artifact—all while pretending to be fiancés and navigating their very real feelings for each other.
This one was so fun! You’ve got a presumed-dead MMC being held hostage and a spunky FMC who decides she’s going to rescue him. There’s action, drama, tension born from miscommunication, and a long, complicated history between the leads. I loved how Greek mythology was woven into the story, along with the treasure hunting and gallivanting all over Greece.
The dialogue is witty, and the chemistry between Dani and Theo leaps off the page! There’s just enough action to keep things exciting without overshadowing the emotional romance at the heart of the story. The occasional flashbacks to Dani and Theo’s shared past perfectly complement the present-day storyline, cementing their history without slowing the pace. I honestly could have happily read another 100 pages of this! The Greek Island settings and lush descriptions made me want to drop everything and go to Greece!
Overall, this was a fantastic, action-packed romance featuring hints of best friend’s little sister, forbidden romance, and miscommunication tropes, all layered into an overarching plot of treasure hunting and digging through history and time. If you love Greek mythology and Indiana Jones but always wished for a little more romance, then this one is for you!
This was my favorite of the series, and I had an absolute blast reading it!
At this point, I will read anything Jo Segura writes!
This one is out January 13th, 2026!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Theo—or, as the world knows him, Dr. Theo Galanis, archaeologist—has been missing and presumed dead for over a year after disappearing in Greece. Dani, a librarian, is Theo’s best friend’s little sister and has missed him dearly ever since. Right before he vanished, they shared a moment she believed meant something more, but then he left and never came back. Hoping to feel closer to him and maybe find some closure, Dani decides to take a trip to Greece. While visiting Knossos with her tour group, she spots someone sneaking around who looks suspiciously like her supposedly dead friend. One thing leads to another, and the two end up kidnapped together, trying to escape their captors while uncovering a multi-millennia-long cover-up involving an ancient Greek artifact—all while pretending to be fiancés and navigating their very real feelings for each other.
This one was so fun! You’ve got a presumed-dead MMC being held hostage and a spunky FMC who decides she’s going to rescue him. There’s action, drama, tension born from miscommunication, and a long, complicated history between the leads. I loved how Greek mythology was woven into the story, along with the treasure hunting and gallivanting all over Greece.
The dialogue is witty, and the chemistry between Dani and Theo leaps off the page! There’s just enough action to keep things exciting without overshadowing the emotional romance at the heart of the story. The occasional flashbacks to Dani and Theo’s shared past perfectly complement the present-day storyline, cementing their history without slowing the pace. I honestly could have happily read another 100 pages of this! The Greek Island settings and lush descriptions made me want to drop everything and go to Greece!
Overall, this was a fantastic, action-packed romance featuring hints of best friend’s little sister, forbidden romance, and miscommunication tropes, all layered into an overarching plot of treasure hunting and digging through history and time. If you love Greek mythology and Indiana Jones but always wished for a little more romance, then this one is for you!
This was my favorite of the series, and I had an absolute blast reading it!
At this point, I will read anything Jo Segura writes!
This one is out January 13th, 2026!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
April 25, 2026
The Lust Crusade is the best out of this series so far, but not by much. Theo and Juicy are solid characters, and the most likeable (imo) out of the series MCs, but the I have the same issues with the plot as the prior two boooks. I also think this carried villain and his rotating goons is giving Scooby Doo, which isn't the vibe I'd hope for in this kind of book. IDK. It was better, but still didn't hit for me. I'm officially done with this series and Jo Segura. So much hope and excitement for these three books to be let down with such wild disappointment.
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for Goodreads
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 for Goodreads
March 4, 2026
ще одна дуже нереалістична романтична історія про археолога і бібліотекарку. тут прям зовсім неможливо було повірити в сюжет: хлопця викрадають, рік тримають в полоні, всі вже його поховали, а потім в полон беруть ще й дівчину, і впринципі у них повний чіл в цих викрадачів. окей?? лінія щодо археології (пошуків каменю) була якась найнудніша з цих трьох історій поки, якщо чесно. і ще дратувало, що більшість часу не було перекладу грецьких фраз. але загалом мені все одно було приємно читати, я відпочила, бо непогані персонажі і легка атмосфера Греції. чекаю наступну історію.
Did Not Finish
January 20, 2026DNF @ 25% kidnapping plot line is too ridiculous even for me
February 27, 2026
the romance plot is basically lack of communication (the characters already know and have feelings for each other before the events of the books); there are some questionable decisions, esp. from the MMC, but this book was so much fun!! definitely my favorite of the series
February 4, 2026
I've had mixed feelings about this entire series. I keep trying them again because I want to love them. This one was better than the last for me, but there were still parts I found infuriating.
Also, I truly hate when there's only one narrator for multiple POVs.
Also, I truly hate when there's only one narrator for multiple POVs.
February 7, 2026
Cute and I liked it more than the second book but nothing groundbreaking
June 26, 2025
STEM MMC: archaeologist. This is a fun action adventure romcom with some drama and suspense! I loved this one so much! Maybe because I’ve been to some of the places this book takes you to, I felt so much more immersed than the other books in the series. The Greek-ness of it (both in setting and in culture) is top tier!
I will say that if you’re not a fan of miscommunication, this book might not be for you, but if you can manage that trope, it’s so good! This is the slowest burn of the three books, and it’s super worth it! Can you say books as a love language?! 👀🔥📚
Jo writes such badass FMCs; I loved Dani’s sass so much, and she’s a bit curvy and Latina. I think she’s my fave FMC of the series.
While you could absolutely get away with reading this book as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading both Raiders of the Lost Heart and Temple of Swoon first. There’s a key player that spans all three books, and I’m not sure you’ll get the full impact in this book if you haven’t read the others yet even though we’ve never met either of the two MCs in this book. Just like the others, it’s well written, has a good plot, and has good spice.
I will say that if you’re not a fan of miscommunication, this book might not be for you, but if you can manage that trope, it’s so good! This is the slowest burn of the three books, and it’s super worth it! Can you say books as a love language?! 👀🔥📚
Jo writes such badass FMCs; I loved Dani’s sass so much, and she’s a bit curvy and Latina. I think she’s my fave FMC of the series.
While you could absolutely get away with reading this book as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading both Raiders of the Lost Heart and Temple of Swoon first. There’s a key player that spans all three books, and I’m not sure you’ll get the full impact in this book if you haven’t read the others yet even though we’ve never met either of the two MCs in this book. Just like the others, it’s well written, has a good plot, and has good spice.
February 25, 2026
Much like we need to make podcasting equipment more expensive, we need to make writing books less accessible. This is by far the worst book I have ever read and I feel entitled to financial compensation.
This book is sloppy, full of plot holes, is choppy but also drawn out. The entire book is just miscommunications and that leads the conflict which is my least favorite trope. Oh we don’t know how to communicate and that’s the leading cause of all our issues!!! Grow up.
I truly hated this book with a passion. It’s a miracle I finished it. I could write an entire essay about how god awful this book is. And the worst part is that it has a decent rating on goodreads??? I need you guys to start thinking critically about the books you read. Please.
The characters are unlikeable, the conflict feels super “scooby doo”, the villains are a fucking joke, and the protagonists are idiots.
I only read this book because it was a “blind date with a book” for Valentine’s Day. The Lust Crusade is by far the worst date I’ve been on.
This book is sloppy, full of plot holes, is choppy but also drawn out. The entire book is just miscommunications and that leads the conflict which is my least favorite trope. Oh we don’t know how to communicate and that’s the leading cause of all our issues!!! Grow up.
I truly hated this book with a passion. It’s a miracle I finished it. I could write an entire essay about how god awful this book is. And the worst part is that it has a decent rating on goodreads??? I need you guys to start thinking critically about the books you read. Please.
The characters are unlikeable, the conflict feels super “scooby doo”, the villains are a fucking joke, and the protagonists are idiots.
I only read this book because it was a “blind date with a book” for Valentine’s Day. The Lust Crusade is by far the worst date I’ve been on.
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