The Lust Crusade

Segura concludes her Raiders of the Lost Heart series (after Temple of Swoon) with this slow-burning but action packed adventure rom-com set in Greece. It opens with librarian Daniela “Dani” Gutierrez attending a memorial service for her brother’s best friend (and her lifelong crush), Theo Galanis, who went missing a year ago while on an archaeological expedition. When Dani takes a solo trip to Greece, however, she runs into Theo, who is very much alive. He’s being held hostage by artifact smuggler Pierre Vautour, who is seeking a gemstone known as the Eye of the Minotaur. When he was first captured, Theo lied and told Pierre he was engaged, in a play for sympathy. Now, when his captors come upon him with Dani, they assume she’s the fiancee, and she gets sucked into the madness. Given less than a week to find the gemstone, they set out on a desperate quest, all while faking a romance. Dani’s spunkiness and Theo’s stubbornness complement each other well, and once they get together the sex scenes sizzle. The path there occasionally drags, however, as the pair tiptoe around their feelings. A rushed ending leaves some subplots unaddressed, but the hunt for the gem is entertaining and the leads’ sparky banter adds levity. The author’s fans will be pleased. (Jan.)