Summer is the perfect time to go into the great outdoors in pursuit of treasure (and romance)! As with all genres, there are many possible sub-genres to be had here; adventure romance can be modern, historical, set in a desert, a jungle, or on the sea! What matters is the journey.
Let’s set the scene with movies! Romancing the Stone is a classic romantic comedy from 1984. It follows a romance author on an adventure to Columbia to save her kidnapped sister, accompanied by a bird smuggler reminiscent of a character straight out of her novels. It also inspired the 2022 movie The Lost City, which follows an archaeology researcher turned romance author who is kidnapped for assistance in finding a lost city with priceless treasure. The man who literally models for the covers of her romance novels sets out to save her.
Lastly, I can’t forget to mention the iconic gem that is The Mummy trilogy! This stays a pretty popular set of films (particularly the first and second), so much so that a fourth has been announced, 18 years later! They’re mostly rooted in history of ancient Egypt and fighting the undead, but there is a love story at the core between our main characters which has remained a favorite of many (me included).
There were quite a few books to consider talking about here, especially if you take a look at a lot of older romance novels. To keep it short, I narrowed it down to three recent novels that are bringing the adventurous treasure hunts back in season.
Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura follows rival archeologists on an expedition deep in the jungles of Mexico. This one is fun not only because of the banter, but also because our main female character has a personal connection to the expedition in the form of an ancestor from the Aztec empire.
Continuing with the trend of rivalry, next we have Thrill of the Chase by Kathryn Nolan. Hunting for diamonds, but make it sapphic! One is a reporter; one runs a salvage shop, and they butt heads while forming an unexpected partnership along the way. This one also includes some lovely moments and discussion of queer joy and queer history.
Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson is the first in a historical fantasy adventure series. It’s 1898 and our main female character is a scholar who has just lost her job. She’s searching for an ancient city in Honduras with a charming surveyor in tow.
~posted by Alyssa P.