When you have to work with your rival, what is the worst that can happen?

Synopsis

Ten days, two rivals, and a busload of tourists. How bad could it be?

For archaeologist Emilia Flores, landing a fellowship to work at the ancient ruins of Pompeii in Italy is a dream come true. The only catch? She’ll be digging alongside her infuriating nemesis, TJ Mayer, who’s been a constant thorn in her side.

TJ isn’t about to pass up the Pompeii project. Sure, he’ll be stuck working with Emilia, but he thrives on challenging her. And he hasn’t forgotten that secret kiss they shared at an archaeology conference last winter.

Though unearthing Pompeii’s treasures might be a dream, student debt is a nightmare that never takes a vacation. So, when TJ and Emilia are offered a lucrative side job to lead a ten-day tour through Southern Italy, they grudgingly agree to tackle it together.

Forced to set aside their animosity and work as a team, they forge an unexpected camaraderie. As the sparks between them ignite, their rivalry gives way to passion, making it easy to forget their years of fierce competition. But what happens when the tour ends and the real world steps in? 

Tour Wars is a rivals-to-lovers, grumpy/sunshine romance featuring a nerdy cinnamon roll hero, a strong-willed Latina heroine, and plenty of hotel hijinks.

My review

Being an archaeologist isn’t an easy job, as the projects are limited. But for Emilia Flores, having to compete each time with TJ Mayer is an extra layer of stress, especially now that they are working on the same Pompeii project.
Working in Pompeii is for the both of them a dream coming true, but with their student debts, that also means that both Emilia and TJ have to accept side jobs on tours. And the both of them have a too good opportunity to pass on, on being on a ten –day tour through Southern Italy. So being forced to work together, they must forget about their rivalry. Could it be that the hot Italian sun may ignite other feelings? But what when the tour is over and the real world awaits, with issues that may jeopardize what has been built so slowly?

What a delight to return to this series, and what an absolute pleasure in getting to know Emilia and TJ so much better!
I am not into archaeology myself, but with the series I for sure got to appreciate the hard work that is being done, and I have to be honest, it takes place in Italy, so obviously I was going to love this book!

It was from the very start that I liked and admired Emilia. She worked hard to be where she is now, and despite it not being easy to find a job, she isn’t ready to just give up easily on something she dreamed so long of.
In a way, I could even understand her dislike of TJ, as I also wouldn’t appreciate someone flaunting around, apparently using his connections to make his career.

I loved her work ethic too, she is truly passionate about it, and wants to do things the right way. She is obviously a hard worker, and the burden of the student debts even make her to tours, even if it isn’t what she likes doing. But as she understands the importance, she doesn’t show it at all.

Of course I knew that my initial opinion of TJ would change throughout the story, and I am not afraid to admit my error!
Yes, he is very different from Emilia, but different isn’t bad. And getting to know him better, made me also understand and even agree with using his connections. Because when you love something as much as he (and also Emilia) does, why shouldn’t you use those connections to your advantages?

Having the two of them working together, was truly amazing. Even while touring they are each other’s opposite, yet somehow they also complement each other. And they learn to use each other’s strengths to make the tour a real success.

But them working together also makes them be a front against perhaps the antagonist of this story. It was just so swoon – worthy to see TJ being protective over Emilia, even if Emilia can for sure stand her ground.
Yet at the same time it angered me that such behaviour was still taking place, and going unpunished…
But I LOVED how despite everything, a way was still found, to make all that ugly wrong – doing right!

I absolutely devoured this book. It was great to see how people learn that their initial thoughts about someone could be wrong, and find that there is so much more they have in common than not. And seeing those sparks fly around…
But it helps even more to have a wonderful setting, that I know all too well, and getting acquainted with new characters, showing that even if you are competitors, there can still be formed a comradery, even a real friendship. A friendship that cannot stand injustice.

Carla Luna wrote an amazing story, making me like archaeology a little bit more, even if it will never be completely my cup of tea! 🤣