The Lust Crusade

Raiders of the Lost Heart #3

by Jo Segura

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.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Chick Lit, Slow Burn

378 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 13, 2026

Reviews

[naz · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

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➳ 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!

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Brittany Steminist Booknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Bailey Clayton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley! I this was my favorite of the series.

[Laura Gilchrist-March · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you so much to Berkley Publishers for giving me a free e-arc of this book to read and review in advance! I was SO happy that I was able to read this early!

I AM A HUGE FAN OF THIS SERIES. You can still go find my reviews of the first two stellar books in this world of "Raiders of the Lost Heart"! As soon as I found out that Book 3 was being published, I had to see if I could get it in advance because I want to shout my love for these books and this author from the rooftops.

I am completely not surprised that The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura absolutely delivered on the romance, adventure, and banter that I have grown accustomed to by Jo. This book was as charming as her first two and don't get me started on the Latina FMC. As a bookworm Latina, I LOVE IT.

Once again we go on an absolute adventure and to be honest, I wasn't sure where this one was going to go considering we open up on the fact that Daniela (aka Dani) is only traveling to Greece because she's sort of lost in life after her parents decide to sell their home (and effectively hers too) and move to Florida. Not only that, but she's still pining over the loss of her great love, Theo Galanis, her older brother's best friend that she's been head over heels for... for forever when he has been pronounced dead after having been missing for A YEAR. After reading that intro... I was like "well who the heck is she gonna fall in love with now?!"

WELL LITTLE DID I KNOW. OF COURSE, Theo is alive but he's been KIDNAPPED?! By none other than Pierre Vautour our overarching big bad of the Raiders of the Lost Heart. (Don't ask me why but every time I think of Pierre I find myself saying Dora the Explorer's line "swiper no swiping!" because he is always trying to steal priceless historic artifacts. Like dude, give it a rest.) So of course, Dani goes and gets herself kidnapped too because she's too mad at Theo for just disappearing (Dani, you're not grasping the severity of the situation!)

Then they are running all over the place in Knossos, Athens, Crete, etc. just to track down this supposedly non-existent eye of the minotaur. Which, by the way, Theo hasn't been searching for the eye for the past year because Pierre's goonies that have been working with him before revealing they work for Pierre have had him looking for the Minotaur?!

When they finally get free of the goonies and under Pierre's thumb, they start to explore their feelings for each other. And it's not just the fact that Theo has a sexy little nickname for Dani (JUICY?! Yeah, she's a Latina alright) but because the man literally tattooed the last thing Dani said to him on the side of his body in greek. SWOON.

I loved Dani's fiery personality. As she said, she's often called a "muchacha mala" by her parents because she used to be a bit more reckless and all over the place getting into trouble with Eddie and Theo. She's fun and she doesn't beat around the bush, which is interesting considering this whole thing is a miscommunication trope about their feelings for one another!

Theo is just like the other MMCs of the Raiders of the Lost Heart. A BIG FREAKING NERD. But for Ancient Greece.. and I LOVE IT. I could just imaging his little greek nerdy heart freaking out over everything in Greece. And when he loves being called Dr. Galanis... lol SOLD.

Overall, this story was such a fun ride. Again, I expected nothing else from Jo Segura and this series. We go on a daring adventure that feels like an Indiana Jones movie mixed in with a RomCom and it is exactly what the Romance world needs. A little history nerd, a little banter, a big adventure, and lots of smooching (and other stuff.. yes, there is spice). I am obsessed. Cannot wait for the book to release to get my physical copy.

Highly recommend if you like romance, Ancient Greece, archeology, mythology, Latinx characters, banter, miscommunication trope, and spice.

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 Disclaimer: I absolutely adore anything Jo Segura writes. Educated women off to exotic places with danger looming Indiana Jones style…yes please. Daniela has carried a secret torch for her older brother’s best friend Theo since they met. It’s been thirteen months since his boat went missing on an archeological expedition in Greece. Even though they all but declared him dead, Dani travels halfway across the world hoping to find some sort of answer to what happened.

The good news…Theo is alive and the spark is still there. The bad news…he has been kidnapped and now Dani has been too. Will a fake engagement combined with their archeology and librarian degrees provide enough quick thinking to get them out of this mess? They just need to find the Eye of the Minotaur and their way to each other…

Seriously, Jo Segura could have her villains kidnap someone in my own hometown and I would devour that book but Greece is one hundred percent a better setting. The Lust Crusade is a fast-paced adventure that drops the reader right into the action without any of the danger. And Dani and Theo can tackle the ancient world of temples and myths (and the only one bed trope), then Aristotle’s words speak as true as ever that "Love consists of one soul that is living within two bodies.”

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Jo Segura and Berkley for the E-ARC!

Actual Rating: 4.5/5

I've spent the last few days binging Jo Segura's "Raiders of the Lost Heart" series, and it's no understatement to say that I'm obsessed! This third book is a great addition to the series, adding new characters, a lustful romance, an adventure of a lifetime, and bringing back a villain we're all much too familiar with.

I sped through this book (like all of Segura's other ones)! The mystery of the Eye of the Minotaur was intriguing, I kept going back and forth on whether it was real or not, and if our main characters would be able to find it before Pierre Vautour. Dani and Theo were such good MCs, their romance very believable and engaging. They're definitely my second favourite couple from this series (which, considering I like them all, should be saying something)! The sprinkle of backstory we got of their lives before Greece helped build their connection in my mind, making me want them to just talk and get together already! Segura keeps a good pace with their romance though, letting it simmer without overdoing it.

I hope more books in this series will be released, but until then, I highly recommend if you're looking for a romance filled with adventure and mystery to pick this up!

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dani travels to Greece because it makes her feel closer to Theo, the man she has secretly loved for years, who has been gone for over a year.
I loved Harold because he was a card and added some lightness to the story.
I also loved all the stories about Greek mythology and the vivid descriptions of the Greek landscape.
The romance is a very slow burn and doesn’t happen until the book is well advanced.
I did like how Theo has something very significant affixed to his body. That is a sigh worthy event.
This book is more like Romancing the Stone rather than an Indy movie.
Thanks NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the advance copy.

[Spencer Perreault · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for access to this ARC! The biggest thanks to Jo Segura for writing what has become my favorite in a series near and dear to me. As a forever Indiana Jones fan who wished to be an archaeologist as I grew up, the joy and fun and adventure (and of course romance) that is packed in these pages is every little nerdy girls dream. Hands down my favorite in the series!

[Jacquelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my free copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book. The history, the intrigue, the mythical elements really grabbed my attention. And of course the spice! I thought the characters were fun and diverse. I don’t know much about Greek history or mythology but I thought it being about the Minotaur was a fun element I don’t usually see with Greek mythology books. I think what I could have used more of was the mythology elements. I don’t know exactly why but the other two books felt more steeped in it than this one. But I still enjoyed it!



Overall, if you want a fun adventure with romance check out this series!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am such a fan of Jo Segura and her adventure romances. I think The Lust Crusade is my new favorite and her best yet. We get a Greek setting full of mythology and mystery, a brother’s best friend love interest who has been missing for over a year and presumed dead and is most certainly *not* dead, tension and unspoken lust (obviously), and a last love over ten years in the making. Oh, and a septuagenarian sidekick for part of Dani’s trip. So many of my favorite things.

I love Dani. Jo always writes such great female characters and Dani is another one to add to the list. She is smart and spunky, full of attitude and fire, but also vulnerable and feeling a little adrift in her life. She is admirable and relatable. She is searching for something for herself when she unexpectedly finds Theo, whose family just finally held a memorial service for after he’s been missing in Greece for over a year. What follows demonstrates Dani’s entire character in her loyalty, her intelligence, her determination, and her fighting spirit, especially for and alongside someone she loves.

Theo is hot. Nerdy hot. There is a lot more to him, but it must be said. He’s also a smart man who has been isolated from his own life as he’s been held captive and forced to search for something that is little more than a myth. He is stubborn and becomes far more concerned for Dani than he has been for himself when she gets tangled up in the mess that has become the norm for him. He wants her out and safe, and the tension between the two of them as she resists and insists on remaining by his side builds so much on the chemistry they already have from their years of circling each other. The stakes are high at every turn.

There is a lot to Dani and Theo’s backstory that is woven into their present in a great way that doesn’t take away from their current situation. There aren’t flashbacks to past moments or interactions between them, but their inner thoughts and memories provide their history so it’s clear that despite their avoidance and resistance to it, it has always been them for each other. Their one real opportunity to be honest with each other was derailed by some epic miscommunication that leads to Theo’s current predicament. It creates a real full-circle setup for Dani to be the one who finds him on her trip to feel closer to him after she and their families have let him go. The fast-paced journey they are set on from the time they reunite is full of banter and fire, and when things finally ignite between them it is the epitome of “it’s been a long time coming”.

I had such a fun time reading this book from chapter one to the end. Thank you to Berkley via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[everly · Rating 2 out of 5]

(ARC provided through NetGalley)

2.5/5

ok buckle up. I have a lot to say. I try to be vague but be aware of potential spoilers.

let me start by saying that i have always been intrigued by Jo's books. I think her covers and titles are very eye catching and they've been on my mental tbr for quite awhile. so when i saw the latest one on NG i thought this was the perfect opportunity to try her out!

I was...disappointed. Lets dig in to why.

PLOT - the plot of this book had so. much. potential. lifelong friends to lovers, archeologist MMC is missing and presumed dead, librarian FMC goes on a trip and ends up finding him and is brought into the hunt of trying to find a missing artifact the the MMC (Theo) had been held hostage trying to find. I was in. Seated. SO ready. However, the execution left me feeling underwhelmed. My main problem with this book lies mainly in its repetitiveness and the fact that it could be the poster child for the miscommunication troupe. i am not necessarily a miscommunication hater, but when it is done to this level and in this context, it starts to get frustrating. These people are supposed to be lifelong childhood friends who know each other better than anyone else, but they cant just SPEAK to each other plainly. They CONSTANTLY tiptoe around what they really want to say. Even Theo, who had been kidnapped for OVER A YEAR and was now given the chance to talk to the love of his life again??? I'm sorry but id be spilling everything at that point. And the REPETITIVENESS!!!! If i ever hear the phrase "triple G" again it will be too soon. Too much of the beginning of this book revolves around FMC (Dani) talking about how much she loved Theo, but she just couldn't be with him because she wasn't a "triple G" (good greek girl). This is mentioned so. many. times. I felt like the first couple chapters of this book was just Dani talking in circles around herself. I considered DNFing at as early as 10% through because I had yet to be fully intrigued. I did force myself to finish though. As the story progresses and we get into the meet of the treasure hunt, the story does pick up and get less repetitive. BUT, everything about the hunt feels very surface level and like it is simultaneously moving too fast AND too slow. Some clues and people seemed to come out of relatively nowhere and things seemed to happen a little too easily. It also didnt make sense to me that Dani was the one who seemed to be solving everything. I dont know if this was just supposed to be like a 'go women' thing, but i was very whatever about it. I don't wanna give too many overt spoilers, but this is wrapped up way too clean with way too many strings left to pull. Overall i think underwhelmed is how I would describe my feelings through most of the book.

THEO + DANI - oh Theo and Dani. What I will say, is that I do believe them as a couple. They had pretty decent chemistry and their romance didnt feel forced. What i will ALSO say is this is another element of this book that seemed to drag and then all of a sudden figure itself out in a way that did not make sense given what we had seen of the characters so far. **beware of mild spoilers ahead, I mean you know they are gonna get together but I am gonna go into a little detail so skip ahead if you dont want to see that** After spending a solid 60-70 percent of the book in their own inner monologues and speaking out loud to each other about how they couldn't be together, they kiss one time, seem to be immediately uncomfortable about what to say to each other about it bc they are both still denying their feelings for each other, then wake up and make out SO HARD!! this came so out of left field for me that i was CONVINCED it was a dream sequence. there was argubly NO resolution between the two of them when it came to what was keeping them apart but suddenly they were making out and openly flirting?? I dont get it. I felt almost to me like the author knew people would want the smut so she rushed through resolving their problems (and arguably not resolving them at all), just so they could make out. I will reiterate though that I do think Dani and Theo have decent chemistry as a couple and I think they would stay together by the end of the book.

DANI - yes. miss girl gets a whole section. Dani as a character was So Confusing to me. I feel like the author couldn't commit to a path for her so she just kinda ended up with a little of everything which was very unsatisfying. First, her personality. Dani just felt so flat to me. I LOVE a librarian FMC (because duh and also im a bookseller so i like to project) but i feel like it only got brought up in super cheesy ways. Like i would completely forget that she was a librarian until she brought it up again. Not that a characters career has to be their entire personality, but miss girl was giving us Nothing. Dani also described herself as a bit of a teen rebel, never really one to follow the rules or be quiet and that just didn't match up with other things we would be told about her. Her whole character felt like one big contradiction. It wasn't till about 3/4 of the way through that i even realized she apparently LIKED her job. the way it was talked about I thought she hated being a librarian. Dani also had a ton of inner problems that she talked about at the beginning of the book (mostly revolving around feeling unfulfilled and like she has wasted her time/made a lot of mistakes) and I dont think ANY of these were really solved by the end of the book. Like she got together with Theo so she didnt really have any problems anymore. Not a fan of that.

To wrap up, do I think this is the worst book ive ever read? No, of course not. I think there are plenty of people who would read this and really like it.
Did it have a lot of elements that Really annoyed me? YES.

I think this book is a very surface level adventure romcom. we dont really get into anything (the treasure hunt or the romance) too deeply. I would have liked a lot cut from the beginning so we could have more pages dedicated to the hunt and developing Theo and Dani as a couple.

I would be interested in potentially trying out one of her other books, but don't know that i will anytime soon.

thank you for reading probably my longest review ever.

[kiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Berkley Romance & Netgalley for the eARC!!

4 stars!

Another cute & fun read from Jo Segura! I absolutely loved the first 2 books & The Lust Crusade was such a perfect addition to the Raiders of the Lost Heart series!

The book takes place in Greece and I thought the author did such an amazing job at describing the setting, it felt like I was really there! This book features the brother's best friend trope which I loooved!! Dani & Theo chemistry is so good & I loved their banter!! I loved reading about their adventure they had to go on to find the Eye of the Minotaur. I definitely recommend this book and think this whole series is perfect, especially for adventure/STEM rom com lovers!

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man, what a bittersweet moment!

I have loved reading the Raiders of the Lost Heart series by Jo Segura. I picked up Raiders of the Lost Heart on a whim when it first came out, but it ended up sitting on my shelf for a while (my TBR is longer than my life expectancy). Then, back in August, I was pitched the third one for Reading Arizona, so I got to reading. And what a journey it’s been! It’ll be tough to say goodbye, but I have loved every minute of it, and for that, I am grateful.

The Lust Crusade follows Daniela Gutierrez, a librarian in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who once was voted most likely to bungee jump off the Eiffel Tower, and now was just “voted” out of her house—literally, because she lives at her parents’ home and they’ve decided to move to sunny Florida. What started as a sacrifice she made to drop out of school and help her parents after her father’s accident turned into years going by, and Dani wondering if she truly was staying out for her parents, or because she was afraid of what was next.

And to make matters worse, her brother’s best friend and the man she’s loved for as long as she can remember went missing on an archaeological dig in Greece, presumed dead.

In an effort to get over Theo Galanis once and for all, Dani heads to Greece. To get over the Greek man she’s was in love with. Yup, that’s sure to work!

But instead of getting over him (didn’t we all see that one coming), Dani comes face to face with him: Dr. Theo Galanis, definitely not dead but very much alive and well. And… hijinks ensue.

Will the pair make it back home alive? What happened to Theo? And is all fair in love and olives?

I love love love the friends to lovers trope. That is all I want in life. I want all of the friends to lovers stories. Give them all to me. And this one? Oh, perfection. They love to read together? He gives her books as gifts? He tucks her cold feet under his thighs and she watches him relax into stories? That’s what dreams are made of right there.

I also really loved that this story is more standalone than the second one. Don’t get me wrong, Temple of Swoon is great, but I loved that if you read this one first, you wouldn’t be too confused. I am not sure you could say the same with Temple of Swoon.

The other part that I really loved was that this love story allowed the reader to watch two characters grow and truly learn one another. Theo has trauma from being kidnapped, Dani has a lot of self-doubt and low confidence after not—in her eyes—living up to her high school dreams. They have to contend with their own history, their shared family dynamics, their parents’ expectations for their lives, etc. And rather than doing all of that growing behind the scenes, I love that we as readers got to see it play out.

Truly, this series is what would happen if Indiana Jones was written by a woman. Perfection and a wonderful romp. Highly recommend!

And keep an eye out for my article with Jo: I have to say, our interview is one of my favorites I’ve done! I’m excited to share it with the world here in a few weeks.

[Gabrielle Armstrong Velazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Berkeley for the complimentary copy of the book!

My official rating is 3.5 stars!

Between Assassins Creed, Epic the Musical and now this, I desperately need to go to Greece!!

TROPES
- [ ] Brother’s best friend
- [ ] Pining for years
- [ ] Miscommunication
- [ ] Forced proximity
- [ ] Kidnapped to find a relic
- [ ] Lost & found family
- [ ] Fake engagement
- [ ] Adventure!!!

MY SUMMARY:
Our leading lady, Daniela is on a trip in Greece 🇬🇷 so as to find closure after the death of her beloved. Now—this beloved is a person she’s never even kissed before! But they’ve known each other all their lives and have been developing feelings across the years. But you know… brother’s best friend and all that.

So all is well, so to say, until she sees Theo! Who was supposed to be dead after being missing for 13 months! Literal chaos ensues and Theo—who’s Greek American—and an archeologist—stumbles into long lost family in Crete, a cult and that maybe, myths aren’t just make believe.

While having all these misadventures, some of which are actually life or death, they FINALLY push through the most loathsome of tropes—at least IMO—miscommunication and decide “to hell with it” and give in to their feelings for one another.

MY TAKEAWAYS:
Both MMCs pining made my heart hurt but also, Theo’s idiotic miscommunication was based on his own cowardice and pride and it was driving me crazy!! Daniela also was too indecisive and changed plans like thrice! Come on girl! Make your damn mind 😆 But honestly, this makes them all more human. Out in the wild, out in society, we act the same or even worse.

These two have taught me that truly, the fear of stroking out keeps you from playing the game. I know that’s a horribly corny saying, but it remains truthful. They were both so afraid of being rejected or their family’s reacting badly, that they never spoke out what they felt. And Dani feared it was too late; he was dead and she had never told him how she’d felt. Love how it was a 70-year old man she made friends with on the trip, to remind her of this:

✨ “Don’t let love pass you by again. You never know if it might be your last opportunity.” ✨

Daniela taught me that I need to be daring. I can’t just stay close to home because it’s comfortable, or using the excuse that family needs me close by. She did that and wound up losing her university experience and becoming a homebody; whilst when she was younger, she was reckless and wild! That’s now growing or “adulting”; that’s limiting your whole potential!

Theo yields the lesson of not following your parents’ plan to a T. Just because they want something doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for you! Theo’s parents wanted him to marry a good Greek girl and to have an office job at a museum. But he loved playing with dirt and finding relics in the field, and writing about myths and legends and how real they could be. Sometimes “growing up” is not a clean cut path; we may take many twists and turns to get to OUR version of grown up.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks so much to @berkleypub @berkleyromance or @acebookspub for the free book! #BerkleyPartner #AceBooksPartner

Rating 3.5 Stars

The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura is a slow burn, friends to lovers, miscommunication adventurous romance novel that follows librarian, Daniela Guiterrez, and archaeologist, Theo Galanis as they embark on the uncovering of a presuming mythical gemstone—the Eye of the Minotaur. Thought to have died in Greece on an expedition, Theo is abducted by artifact smuggles who force him to locate this precious gemstone. On a trip to Greece, Daniella finds herself forced upon this treasure hunt. While deciphering clues and plotting their return home, Theo and Daniella slowly begin to unpack feelings that have always been bubbling to the surface.

This may have been my first contemporary romance adventure book, and I enjoyed the thrill of the chase and reading the breakdowns of the puzzles throughout. Not to mention that the chemistry between Theo and Daniella was undeniable! To maintain flirtatious banter and intimate moments while battling shady smuggles was very fun to read. I don’t always enjoy friends to lovers romance novels, but this one was believable as you can really tell how much they cared for one another, lust put aside.

However, despite the charm and thrill of the read, the repetition throughout the novel became too much at times. Not just with certain phrases, but with actions the protagonists would take. At times, they just felt unreasonably stuck, and I just wanted to grab them by their shoulders and give them a good shake. The miscommunication trope certainly added to this line of repetition. There were moments when progress could be made with conversations, but instead they felt flat and remained at the same sort of surface level whenever they discussed their romantic issues.

I also wasn’t a big fan of the pet name the MMC gave to the FMC. The reason behind it slowly became predicable which I didn’t mind, but I personally wasn’t a fan of it. It threw me off.

The ending did also feel rushed, and I would have loved more in-depth clue searching, but with the novel's biggest focus being that of the protagonist's love for one another, I did not entirely mind. I was convinced of their love for one another and found it meaningful and heart wrenching. So, was I expecting it to be an intensely layered treasure hunt with complex clues? No. I was expecting it to lean more towards love and romance, which it did.

I would recommend this novel to romance readers who want a tiny bit more adventure in their reads that they can easily follow and not feel lost in. I do see myself reading the rest of the series as I’m curious how they may differ.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
I'm a huge Indiana Jones lover. Write a romance that has that as it's base and I'm hooked. I adored the first two books in this series. They were so cute and just a little bit spicy. Plus they hit my adventurous side. I was excited to dive into this one and see where it went.
While these books are a series, they can absolutely be read as stand alones. There are some cross over characters, particularly the villain, but you could still understand this story without reading the other. However, for me, it was fun to see the characters from the previous books pop up.
This book was so much fun. I loved the adventure the two main characters went on. I've never been to Greece but Segura really made me feel like I was there with her lush descriptions of the different areas the characters visit. It just made me want to visit Greece even more than I already wanted to. And I really enjoy Greek mythology, so this one hit a great spot with that.
While not strictly a second chance romance, this title gave that vibe. Childhood friends who were pining for each other. Brother's best friend banned from touching his sister. Families who spent holidays together. I loved the entire vibe Segura set. The FMC and MMC have so much chemistry. The longing each of them felt was palpable throughout the book. However, if you're not a fan of the miscommunication trope you're not going to like this one. For me, I don't hate it or love it but it was stretched out so long in this book. Which is why I only gave this book 4 stars.
The vibe of this book was quite different from the first two. While there is adventure, they are in civilization the whole time. But Segura set it up and made it fun despite it being a very different setting. She kept the pacing up, inserted lots of shenanigans, and gave a plot that was fun and mysterious.
I'm not sure if Segura is done with this series, since the villain technically got captured in this one but perhaps she has something up her sleeve. Whatever it is, even if it's a different series, I will be reading it!

[Jenée Duran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Jo Segura, Berkley Publishing Group/Berkley Romance, and NetGalley for this eARC!

This is another cute, quick read perfect for those times where complex world-building and an array of characters just seems like too much to deal with. This book relies heavily on the miscommunication trope and, while I don't usually enjoy the miscommunication trope in romances, I didn't totally hate it in this book. While I can't believe it took them more than a decade to finally admit their feelings for each other, I really enjoyed the dynamic between Dani and Theo once they got out of their own way. I really enjoyed the easiness in Dani and Theo's relationship; since they'd been friends for so long, they already had a longstanding friendship and way of interacting with each other that really made the jump from friends to romantic partners seem more organic and palatable. I also really liked that both Theo and Dani were in their mid-to-late 30s in this book; as a mid-thirties woman, I really hate that many romance novels center around characters in their early 20s as I feel I can't always relate to them. And as a Latina, I loved seeing POC characters and a Latina FMC, as I could completely relate to the loud, crazy familial events and the meddling/nosy family members that make up Dani and Theo's inner circle.

The premise of the book was fun, with Dani and Theo searching for an antique artifact in Greece after Dani finds a missing Theo who's been presumed dead after being gone for a year. I love me some Greek mythology so them searching for the location of the eye of the Minotaur based off the Greek myth was a fun way to incorporate the Greek story into this romance novel. There was also some intrigue here, as Theo has been missing due to being kidnapped by a French millionaire to search for the eye of the Minotaur on his behalf before Dani stumbles upon him while participating in a tourist event. Overall, this book was fun and a great way to disassociate from reality for a few hours. There's a little spice in here and a little laugh out loud silliness which made me enjoy it all the more. I would recommend this to a friend, 3.75 stars rounding up to 4 for me :)

[Carmela Agatha Enriquez (agathafeelingg.reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

Thank you @prhinternational for an early copy of The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Release date: January 13th, 2026

Blurb: A librarian on a solo trip to Greece discovers her brother’s best friend and longtime crush has been kidnapped by smugglers and forced to find the legendary Eye of the Minotaur. To survive, they pose as an engaged couple while racing against time through ancient ruins, where their fake romance starts to feel all too real.

🛑Read on with caution; review may contain spoilers🛑

I picked this up because I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, and I couldn’t resist the cute cover! The story follows Dani, a librarian still hung up on her brother’s best friend, Theo, an archaeologist who went missing a year ago. Reeling from the mess her life has become, Dani joins a tour in Greece to feel closer to Theo, whose work centered on Greek history. There, she unexpectedly finds him alive, kidnapped and forced to locate the Eye of the Minotaur. To stay safe, the two pose as an engaged couple.

While I wanted to love this, it fell a little short for me. The childhood best friends-to-lovers setup had potential, but their dynamic became repetitive. For two people who supposedly grew up talking about everything under the sun, they suddenly couldn’t communicate at all once feelings entered the mix. Their banter was fun at times, but beyond that, their relationship didn’t have the spark I was hoping for.

As for the adventure, the treasure hunt leaned more toward lighthearted antics than an actual archaeological quest. Compared to the previous books, it felt more like a goose chase than an immersive exploration.

Overall, this was an okay and enjoyable read, but it didn’t quite capture the same magic as the earlier installments.

[Courtney|the.bookcourt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Thank you to Berkeley Publishing, NetGalley, and Jo Segura for the e-arc opportunity! All thoughts that follow are honest and my own!

Brother’s best friend trope PLUS fake engagement between a librarian and an archeologist stuck in Greece!? It doesn’t get any better than that!

Daniela has been in love with Theo, her brother’s best friend, for years. So when he goes missing for over a year and is presumed dead, what better way to remember him than on a solo trip to Greece. That is until she finds out that Theo is very much alive but in some serious trouble with artifact smugglers looking for the Minotaurs eye. See, Theo had been on an expedition to move on from Dani, until he got kidnapped. Now after a little white lie about who Dani was, they’re stuck together with less than 6 days to find this jewel, all while trying not to die…or fall in love.

As a lover of books (obviously) and Greek mythology, this book seemed right up my alley. And honestly it was a pretty good time! I loved all the stories about artifacts and landmarks and histories. Having just completed a course about myths and folklore it was great to have that as a background. I liked the action aspects, with the smugglers coming after them and keeping them from getting home. Definitely upped the anticipation.
Where this book fell a bit flat for me: first off the nickname Juicy is not for me. I think about halfway through I started reading it as Jessy because it was giving me the ick. Second the romance felt surface level. I wanted so much more communication between Theo and Dani to build that connection again. The tension was great though and had a good laugh when their whole family found out at the same time but yeah, just fell a little flat for me.

Either way, this was a still a great read especially if you enjoy ancient history and Greek mythology with a side of romance!

[Kristen | CozyNovelTea · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ Thank you to Berkley Romance for the #gifted eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!]

This is a fast-paced adventure romance that you won’t be able to read fast enough! It’s my favorite of the series (which you should fully read, if not for the recurring characters than because it’s a fun series). What I wouldn’t do for an epilogue!

I think the mystery surrounding the Eye of the Minotaur is intriguing enough to keep you reading. There are a lot of puzzle pieces and you’re never quite sure if or when Dani and Theo are actually safe. But at its core, this is a romance with some of my favorite tropes such as: brother’s best friend, slow burn, fake engaged, and only one bed (the use of this one is so funny).

Segura writes some of my favorite FMCs, and Dani is no exception. I think she may be my favorite of the series. She’s a sassy, curvy Latina who is loyal, driven, and incredibly clever. Even after losing some of her youthful confidence, she’s able to find answers others miss.

And after being held captive for over a year, Theo isn’t feeling very brave… except when it comes to protecting Dani.

Dani and Theo are clearly in love with each other(and have been for a while!) but insecurities and misunderstandings keep them from being honest about their feelings. I will be the first to say that I don’t enjoy the miscommunication trope, but it just works in this story! I’m sure getting their backstories and history together helps make them as a couple more believable.

I have really enjoyed this series and I'm sad to see it end but I'm so looking forward to what Segura writes next!

[giftgirlreadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format - Paperback and EARC Netgalley

Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Spice- 🌶 🌶

Series- Raiders of the Lost heart #3

Troupes- Brothers best friend, child hood crush, friends to lovers, forced proximity, only one increasing smaller and smaller beds, she thought he was DEAD.

CW- Kidnapping and violence

Ok so Jo somehow tapped into my current obsession with the jungle adventures like Jumanji and Jungle Cruise and The Lost City. Or if you want the Indiana Jones and Mummy movies. But she freaking did and I loved every single second of it!

This one takes place in Greece (cue bucket list swoon) and all of its famous and not so famous destination. And stars a Not so dead Theo and a Not so boring Dani, childhood friends and unrequited crushes. Kidnapped by our favorite baddie from the first to books and made to search for a mythical jewel these two must have to solve the puzzle while finally getting their romantic shit together.

I love a travel plot and I love it even more when we are solving a mystery and banging! I loved every bit of these two bantering and sparking off of each other. I the juxtaposition of ‘boring’ Dani who feels like she’s lost her wild streak and ‘adventurous’ Theo who is actually pretty timid and scared of the situation he’s found himself in. And I love that together they make an excellent team to beat the bad guys!

I have gotten to start off the last 3 years with a Jo Segura adventure/romance and this was a great way to start off my 2026! Jo could write 100 more book in this series and I would never get bored! So I can not wait to find out what she’s got for us next!

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Dani had spent years pining for her brother's best friend Theo. Shortly after she confessed her feelings to him, Theo disappeared on an archaeological trip to Greece and was presumed dead. Following his memorial service, Dani booked a trip to Greece to feel closer to him, and she sure was when she discovered he was still alive. Now in a hostage situation, Dani and Theo will search for the Eye of the Minotaur in order to earn their freedom.

Segura is three for three for me. I wouldn't call myself an action/adventure reader, but there is something about Jo Segura's stories that always hook me. Maybe it's the blend of action, danger, romance, and humor that does it for me, but whatever it is, it's a winning combination that never fails to deliver a wonderful reading experience.

This book was a bit different from the previous two. Though there were still a bit of connection to the previous books, but this time, we were out of the jungles and visiting major landmarks in Greece. Don't worry, there was still plenty of shenanigans and precarious situations, and I loved getting into it all with Dani and Theo.

As a big fan of friends-to-more, I was rooting for this pair to finally act on their feelings. Their lives had been entangled for so long, but as Dani's brother's best friend, Theo fought against his desires for her. Now, in a life or death situation, it was time for them to throw caution to the wind, and finally let their hearts lead the way. These two had great chemistry, and their long history provided a strong foundation on which they could build a meaningful relationship.

Dani and Theo were both equally lovely, and I enjoyed their banter and interactions. I admit, I would have liked a little bit more at the end, but wow! What a trip this was! Once again, Segura took me on a fantastic adventure where I got to explore the beauty and myths of Greece while watching Dani and Theo fall in love.

*ARC provided by publisher

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[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is the last book in this interconnected series. But don’t quote me on that 😂. Out of all the books in this trilogy I have to admit The Lust Crusade was my favorite. The third addition brought a great new crew of characters, slow-burn friends to lovers romance, and it’s full of mystery and adventure.


Like I mentioned the Lust Crusade was my favorite. I picked it up on a whim and absolutely devoured it in less than 24 hours. I loved learning about the mystery of the Eye of the Minotaur. I found it extremely intriguing, following along with the puzzle pieces of is it real or not kept me on the edge of my seat.

Our love interest couple, Dani and Theo, were such good MCs. I loved their backstory and seeing flashbacks of their past. I also loved watching their friends to lovers romance blossom throughout their adventure. Out of all the couples in this series Dani and Theo felt the most relatable and realistic.

The only reason I’m giving it a 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn’t want it to end. Now don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the ending but I feel like this book could’ve been better with an epilogue. But that’s my two cents. For those who love Indiana Jones mixed with romcom fun this book is the one for you. I highly recommend it and I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

Lastly thank you to NetGalley, Jo Segura and Berkley for the E-ARC!

[Gracie Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lust Crusade 🇬🇷🏺🏛️
4 ⭐️
3 🌶️

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the chance to read and enjoy this advanced copy! #berkley #berkleypartner

One thing about Jo Segura? She’s going to cook up an adventure romance that absolutely leaves me FED! I loved that this setting was a change in pace from her last two novels, and Greece was the perfect choice. Every single time I sat down to read this book, I wished I had a Greek salad + fries to accompany it.

This book was a yummy combination of some of my favorite tropes, PLUS, a Greek MMC named Theo can only lead me to one celebrity fan-cast that stayed in my head the entire time: Theo James, DUH. I also loved Dani as a FMC and really loved the diversity and representation that these two leading characters brought to the table.

Like her previous novels, The Lust Crusade gives Indiana Jones energy that mixes romance, adventure, and a little touch of mystery. Every time I picked up this book, I got lost inside of it and couldn’t put it down— at one point I read 100+ pages in one sitting without realizing it! I liked that we got to see the whole story play out in its entirety, and it didn’t feel like anything was glossed over: plus, I think it’s a nice touch that Pierre Vautour has been the collective villain in every book— I love a common enemy!

📖Tropes & TWs:
🇬🇷 Dual POV
🏺Greek setting
🏛️ Open-door spice
🇬🇷 Moderate language
🏺Brother’s Best Friend
🏛️ “It’s Always Been You”
🇬🇷 Kidnapping/coercion (on-page, of adults)

[Lauren | TransportedLFL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to PRH Audio for the free audiobook and to Berkley Romance for the advance reader copy. These opinions are my own.

This was such a fun adventure in Greece. Dani joins a senior singles tour there because she is mourning. But when she is exploring a museum, she finds that the missing archaeologist Theo is there and alive.

Theo is not only one of Dani's closest friends; he is also her brother's best friend. And that leads to so much amazing drama. I can't tell whether the drama of running from kidnappers or worrying about familial opinions is bigger. Both were incredible and thorougly engaging.

I really enjoyed all the Greek mythology and the incredible adventures. I thought the pacing of the action and romance well done, with the two complementing each other well.

The only down point for me of this book was that I just could not get over Theo's nickname for Dani. Every time he called her Juicy, I cringed. But I guess that's what I get for loving a childhood friends-to-lovers trope.

Although this is the third in a series, it stands alone. There are brief mentions of previous plot and characters, but you could just start here. I would have loved a bit more of a series wrap-up but greatly enjoyed the conclusion to this book on its own.

Kyla Garcia is rapidly moving on to my short list of favorite narrators. She did a great job with the entire 11.5 hour audiobook which was in third person with alternating POV chapters.

4.5 stars rounded up

[M Soh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Lust Crusade hits on two things I’ve always loved - archaeology and libraries. Of course it brought a lot more action and romance than has been my experience with both. Led by FMC Dani, we get wrapped up in a kidnapping mystery as she tries to save her missing for a year neighbor and brother’s best friend Theo, and the ensure the journey is not only full of adventure but also plenty of spicy romance.

Dani has come to the realization she had pretty much given up her future when her parents move and she takes a vacation for the elderly to Greece. When she believes she sees Theo, whose family just held a memorial for him believing he is dead after disappearing in Greece a year earlier, she can’t let it go. After all, Dani was sure they were on the cusp of a relationship before he disappeared. And so kicks off the romp across ancient sites, uncovering secret societies, secret family connections, fugitives, and maybe long lost mythical artifacts.

I loved that this story was non stop action! I only wish I could go back in time and shake Dani a bit, but loved her embracing her old rebel self throughout this story, and her relationship with Theo was the perfect support for her (and him).

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dani Guiterrez decides to take a trip to Greece to memorialize her lost friend Theo Galanis who was an archaeologist who disappeared more than a year earlier. Dani has been in love with her brother's best friend Theo for years. Now, she has to find a way to get over him and move on with her life.

But Theo isn't dead. He's been kidnapped by a man who wants him to discover the missing Eye of the Minotaur. The main problem with this is that the Eye is mythological. Theo did write a story about it which was published in a children's magazine. But the story was based on stories his grandfather told him when he was a child.

When Dani spots Theo and his captors at Knossos, she is determined to rescue him. She ends up captured herself and now the two of them have only six days to recover the eye before something fatal happens.

Eluding the villains, finding the jewel, and falling in love have a six day deadline.

This is a "best friends to lovers" story that would be solved a couple of hundred pages sooner if the main characters would just talk to each other. Simple misunderstandings have been magnified by time into major misunderstandings.

Both characters are interesting people with both strengths and flaws. The story complete with over-the-top villains was fast-paced and engaging.