Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura

Welcome Back, Booklovers! Raiders of the Lost Heart intrigued me because it was promising me an adventure romance which I don't see a lot of. With comparisons to Romancing the Stone and Indiana Jones I knew I had to read this one before the year ended. It did finally inspire me to watch The Lost City out of curiosity wondering if it would have any of those vibes.

Dr. Corrie Mejia is very passionate about finding the lost remains of Chimalli, an Aztec warrior she believes to be one of her ancestors. Which is why she agrees to trek through the Mexican jungles with her enemy Dr. Ford Matthews and play second fiddle despite the fact that she should be leading this expedition. While working on this dig old feelings from college resurface while the stakes get higher in the search for Chimalli. 

Corrie and Ford have enough chemistry and there's enough steam to satisfy readers but it's still hard to get into this couple because of how easy they get together. Corrie's anger towards Ford is warranted since he basically slept his way into a fellowship that should've been hers. It felt like the author uses Ford having a dead parent and a dying parent as a way for readers to have instantly sympathy for him and also justify his actions while absolving him from accountability. Corrie so easily forgives him even as he uses her dissertation as a guide for this dig that he'll not only receive the credit for but a substantial amount of money for.  

And as much as we are told she's a great archaeologist that's not portrayed on page. At times it felt like the book was actively going against the message it was trying to tell about women being seen as equals in their industries. Even in the author's note Jo Segura mentions that while she likes archeology in actuality it's quite boring so she left that boring stuff out in order to not bore readers. There's much talk from Corrie about not falling into the sexy Latina stereotype yet all she's portrayed as is the sexy Latina with much description of her fabulous breasts and how much the crew is lusting after her. Corrie is also willing to risk her reputation very easily for sex with the man who has screwed her over multiple times in her career to advance his own. And for a professor who taught at Yale, Ford was very bad at doing research which causes them to run into problems later. Which was also wild because so much of archaeology is research! 

What started off as an interesting premise ended up fizzling out for this reader. 

The Monsters We Defy by Leslye Penelope

Welcome Back, Booklovers! The Monsters We Defy is a fantasy that came on my radar once I heard it was serving up Harlem Renaissance vibes. I really enjoy historical fantasy and the way they make the past fantastical while also showing readers the human side of these people we read about in history books.

In The Monsters We Defy we follow Clara, a young woman cursed with the ability to communicate with spirits. People often seek out the spirit's assistance in their every day lives and she acts as their go between helping broker the deals. The problem is when you accept help from a spirit there's always a twist to it that never works the way you want it to. 

Clara has the opportunity to break this curse upon here by stealing away an enchanted ring from Madame Josephine. However stealing the ring won't be easy and Clara puts together a band of people who need to be released from bad deals with enigmas to help her. At the same time young people are going missing in her neighborhood and she's trying to investigate the cause. Clara is told by The Empress that securing the ring will bring back those who are missing so that's additional motivation for pulling off this heist. 

DC provides a unique backdrop with personality of it's own while still giving the vibes expected from the art scene of that era. Even if I wasn't familiar with DC from a recent visit, Leslye Penelope paints a clear image of the city. While it is more of a slow burn type of fantasy there's enough here to keep readers engaged. The cast of characters are each entertaining in their own right. One of my favorites being Clara's feisty roommate Zelda. And I suggest reading through the author's note if you're interested in hearing about what parts of this story were inspired by real life people besides the celebrities you hear name dropped on page. So much attention to detail when into this story including the addition of Clara working at The Journal of Negro History. Fans of historical fantasy will enjoy this one but it's worth checking out if you're looking for a different kind of fantasy in general. 

Salsa Magic by Letisha Marrero

Welcome Back, Booklovers! I love books that feel authentic. And Salsa Magic caught my eye between the cover that was giving throwback in the best of ways and the synopsis that hinted at the tale of a Nuyorican family that was sure to touch my heart. Levine Querido provided me a finished copy and with them releasing another book I enjoyed I was looking forward to this read. 

Maya Beatriz is a middle schooler navigating first crushes, standing out on the soccer team, and dealing with gentrification of their neighborhood affecting her family's business. One day an estranged auntie arrives from Puerto Rico and her presence sends her family into a frenzy. Abuela doesn't want them speaking Titi Yaya and there are whispers of her being a bruja. Plus Maya is having strange dreams. Maya is not sure why she feels a connection to Titi Yaya however she wants to know more. And when Titi starts talking about Yoruban Gods and Goddess and family legacy, Maya knows she must follow her heart to fulfill her destiny. 

This is a great story about family and coming of age. Maya's family dynamics are relatable especially to Caribbean American readers. There's so many little things in the Afro-Caribbean experience that translate regardless of language or island so it was nice to see that represented here. The book has a strong message about making amends and connecting with your family members while they're still here. So often we make excuses to hold grudges or let our busy day to day lives get in the way and then regret not spending time with people when they're gone.  And so many traditions die out because there's no one willing to pass them along. 

In between connecting with her estranged aunt, Maya is also dealing with a crush on a girl from her soccer team and a bully on a rival team. Her relationship dynamics with her aunt who because of her age is more like a sister-cousin to her, is also changing. 

This book is perfect for fans of Encanto and Elizabeth Acevedo. Letisha Marrero writes in a way that's almost lyrical. You can practically smell the cafecito through the pages.