It just hit me that I’m doing a cover reveal in less than two days.1 Where has the time gone?! Last weekend when I was at a writing retreat, I should have been working on this newsletter instead of zoning out by the pool. (What can I say? It was REALLY hot, and pool time was a necessity!). But alas, here I am, drafting this post at 9PM less than 48 hours before my cover reveal, because it just occurred to me that I needed to do a sneak peek for my newsletter subscribers!!
Better late than never, amirite? (cue forehead sweat).
Okay, I’ll get right to it. Are you ready to see the cover for THE LUST CRUSADE, the third book in the Raiders series? Well, hold onto your potatoes, friends, because I sure wasn’t ready when I saw this beauty…
I titled this post “Third Time’s a Charm”, but let’s be clear: ALL of my covers have been charms! Yet again, Camila Gray (@camisgray on IG), and designer Emily Osborne (@goodyoneshoe on IG) have worked their magic and delivered another dream cover. How did I get so lucky? I mean, look at it! He’s HOT. She’s GORGEOUS. And all the details—the sparkling gemstone, the little owl (aka, the owl of Athena), the bougainvillea and olive branches, the blurb of all blurbs from Ali Hazelwood—it’s perfect! And check out how amazing it looks next to RAIDERS OF THE LOST HEART and TEMPLE OF SWOON:
I love them all!! THANK YOU, Cami and Emily!
Like last time, before I get to the full description, here are a few FAQs about book two:
When does TLC come out? Tuesday, January 13, 2026!!
Where can I buy it, and will there be any preorder incentives? You can preorder it now at most major retailers and your fave local indies. I will also do some sort of preorder incentive, TBD. Stay tuned for more details later.
Are there any returning characters from RAIDERS or TEMPLE? Yes! But I’ll keep who a surprise. The main characters, Dani and Theo, are entirely new.
Do I have to read RAIDERS and/or TEMPLE before reading THE LUST CRUSADE? No, but I personally think the books are best read in order—ROTLH, TOS, then TLC—to avoid spoilers. But each book can be read as a standalone.
What was the inspiration for TLC? Since ROTLH and TOS both take place in rainforests, I thought it would be fun to change things up a bit and set this next book in an entirely different environment. I’ve always been a big Greek mythology geek (Clash of the Titans, anyone?!?!). Then, a few years ago, I took a trip to Greece, an archaeology nerd’s dream come true! As for the plot, I was particularly inspired by the Minotaur and the labyrinth, a word I misspell (no joke) every time I type it, so naturally I needed to write a book where I had to type it a few dozen times. And so TLC was born!
Is there any relation to The Last Crusade? Like with my other books, the titles are merely homages to my love of Indiana Jones and adventure movies. That said, The Last Crusade IS my favorite Indiana Jones movie, so it’s only fitting that this book may just so happen to be my favorite of the three.
What’s the heat level of the TLC? I always have a hard time answering this question because heat levels are so subjective. Ask a seasoned romance reader and they might say 2-3 chili peppers out of 5. Ask my mom and she’ll say 10,000 chili peppers. LOL. I’ve said this is my sexiest book, likely due to the fact that Dani and Theo have been PINING for each other for years, which is really saying something because RAIDERS was also quite h0rny. But just you wait until you get to the bathtub scene… [insert winky face here]
What tropes/microtropes are in TLC? Brother’s BFF. Forced proximity. Fake engagement. There’s never more than one bed, and they keep getting smaller and smaller. Tattoo with a hidden meaning. She washes his hair. “It’s always been you.”
And now, the full description:
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, Theo, for as long as she can remember—until he went missing over 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 was 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 his little white lie spirals into his captors believing Theo and Dani are engaged, the “couple” must utilize her research skills and his expertise to solve the millennia-old Minoan mystery, all while feigning a romance to keep each other alive.
Now with 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 danger: falling in love for real.
Okay, it’s getting late. I’ll be doing the official cover reveal tomorrow, 6/12, on my social media at 7am PT/10am ET so please keep the cover under wraps until then. I’d love if you can share my IG post at that time, though. In the meantime, thank you so much for subscribing to my newsletter, and for all your support! I cannot wait to share this book with you in just seven short months! :)
xo -
Jo
I wrote this last night.