Unfortunately, I did not finish. I found the characters hard to connect with and it made me not invested in the story. I made it to about 25% before I decided to call it.

I’ve been on the hunt for an archaeology-themed romance lately, so I knew I had to read this one. I’ve always had such an interest in archaeology (and a major soft spot for Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones), and the cover is so cute too! This was such a fun, fast-paced read, I was hooked right away and flew through it. I really loved the subtle nods to Indiana Jones, but it still felt like its own story. If you’re after an adventurous, quick-paced romance with all the cute vibes, I definitely recommend picking this up!

`✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ 3 stars 🌟

arc review 📖

જ⁀➴ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬
🏕 romcom
💞 forced proximity
🏕 archaeologist MMC
💞 spicy
🏕 banter
💞 'The Mummy' vibes

I wanted a spicy, funny, refreshing, romantic pallet cleanser, and I got it.

Right from the start I knew the humour was for me:

𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒘𝒆𝒕-𝒐𝒖𝒕-𝒐𝒇-𝒕𝒉𝒆-𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒌. 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔 … 𝒏𝒐, 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕, 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔— 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒌 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝑰— 𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅.

This gave off similar vibes from the OG movie 'The Mummy' but where the MMC is the archaeologist. This was a fun little treasure hunt journey with tension and spice.

⚘ Anyone who enjoys a RomCom with adventure will enjoy this.

────୨ৎ────

⋆˙⟡ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑈𝐾 & 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑐

This was a solid, fun read.

perfect for fans of adventurous romcoms like Raiders of the Lost Heart and Temple of Swoon. The chemistry, forced proximity, and treasure-hunting chaos totally delivered. Adriana and Andrew were a good match, and I loved the blend of romance, humor, and action. Not over-the-top or too deep, just an entertaining, spicy romp through the jungle.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me! I dnf’d at 25%. I had a tough time connecting won’t the characters for many of the same reasons I have read in other reviews. The MFC is hard to like and her relationship with her brother is a bit odd. I did like the MMC from what I could get at 25% but even then, it wasn’t enough to convince me to continue. Thanks to the author, Publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.

I really enjoyed this story. It reminded me of Indiana Jones (probably because they mention it a few times) but I also like the idea of an actual jungle exploration looking for treasure, and I like that they're doing it to make sure the treasure goes to a museum where everyone can enjoy it and people can learn from it. Rather than it going into the private collection of the highest bidder (which is what Dr Jones's rival is trying to do).

I liked Adriana and her brother, William, was brilliant. They're on holiday together when she receives a bracelet she thinks is meant for her but is actually meant for Dr Andrew Jones - archaeologist and treasure hunter. But they can't remove the bracelet, which is also a key, so she has to travel with Dr Jones to find an unlock the treasure.

But they have to stay one step ahead of the bad guys who are also after the same treasure.

Great adventure romance story.

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 starts rounded up to 4. This book is pure, escapist fun. Adriana and Andrew have incredible chemistry, with snappy banter and plenty of steamy moments along the way. The romance builds believably despite the outlandish premise, and the jungle setting makes for a vivid, atmospheric backdrop. My only minor critique is that it felt a bit long; around the 80% mark, my attention started to drift, but the story won me back by the end.

If you’re into tropey romcoms with a bit of danger and a lot of spice, this will make for a really fun summer read.

Digging Dr Jones by Olivia Jackson – 3.5/5 stars
Digging Dr Jones is a light-hearted, fun romance that combines adventure with a bit of mystery. The story follows a spirited young woman who gets involved in an archaeological dig alongside the charming and enigmatic Dr. Jones. Set against the backdrop of dusty excavation sites and ancient secrets, the novel blends humour, chemistry, and a touch of suspense.
What works well:
• Engaging and playful banter between the main characters
• A fresh setting that adds excitement beyond the typical romance
• Good balance of romance, adventure, and mystery elements
What didn’t work as well:
• Some plot points feel predictable or rushed
• Secondary characters are less developed
• Occasionally the pacing drags in quieter sections
Overall:
Digging Dr Jones is a fun, easy read perfect for fans of romantic adventures with witty dialogue and a bit of intrigue. While it doesn’t break new ground, it offers a charming escape with likable characters and a lively story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Jackson, and HarperCollins UK / One More Chapter for the opportunity to read Digging Dr Jones in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Digging Dr Jones is a fast-paced, flirty, and full-throttle adventure romance that feels like the love child of Indiana Jones and The Lost City. When Adriana accidentally locks herself into a mystical bracelet meant for the legendary (and infuriatingly attractive) archaeologist Dr Andrew Jones, she’s pulled into a treasure hunt across Colombia complete with cryptic clues, rival treasure hunters, and a jungle that definitely doesn’t care whether you're wearing hiking boots or heels.

Olivia Jackson balances action, humor, and romance in a way that keeps the pages turning. Adriana is bold, sarcastic, and wonderfully human equal parts chaos and heart. Andrew, on the other hand, is her perfect foil: cool, competent, and just the right amount of brooding. Their chemistry sparks early, and the slow-burn tension between them is as entertaining as the quest they’re on.

The setting is vibrant and cinematic, with booby-trapped temples, lush jungles, and high-stakes moments that feel straight out of a movie. But beneath the high-octane plot is a romance with real emotional payoff, as both characters learn to trust: not just each other, but themselves.

There are a few bumps: the pacing stutters slightly at the beginning, and some side characters (like Adriana’s brother) don’t quite land. And while the romance is deliciously slow to build, the spice level might catch some readers off guard - it definitely earns its heat rating!

Still, Digging Dr Jones is a hugely enjoyable romp, equal parts heart-racing and heartwarming. If you love enemies-to-lovers banter, reluctant allies, and stories where romance and adventure go hand in hand, this one’s a gem.

unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me, i didn’t like the fact that the fmc believed the mmc to be married yet still continued to flirt with him. thank you for letting me read it ahead of time

A promising adventure romance, with a unique plot and intriguing characters! The discovery phase of the plot was so well done and fast paced, with interesting research background.
The forced proximity, opposites attract in the Colombian setting really worked with the developing romance and the adventure itself!

Excited to read more from this author!

The definition of a popcorn read!
Fun, light, entertaining, to read all in one sitting.
Sadly there was nothing that really stands out or particularly memorable about the characters or the plot.
It Is a cute Indiana Jones inspired rom com and I am happy I read It.

This was a super cute and cheesy adventure romance. As a fan of Indiana Jones, I was excited to read this. It was super quirky and made the story unique. It started a little slow, but once it picked up we were rolling and it was hard to put down.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Olivia Jackson, and Harper Collins UK for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun read, but it was a bit hard to get in to. I think you are a fan of adventure movies, you'd like this one. Just a good time!

really fun indiana jones themed romance. i loved the adventures these 2 went on and how these adventures made them fall in love. very fun plot. i only got the ick from the brother, somehow their sibling relationship felt a bit unnatural to me.

thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into the story as the writing and dialogue were a bit too quirky for me. It was like the author was trying very hard to make the inner monologue of the protagonist comedic, but it came off more annoying. The FMC Adriana and her brother William were also very immature and childish. I couldn’t stand them at times. The romance was between Adriana and Andrew was rushed as well. They developed feelings so fast.

If you're a fan of adventure movies like National Treasure and Indiana Jones but also want cheesy romance then you should definitely check this book out.
Is this book ridiculous? Yes, of course it is! But it's also a lot of fun and I really enjoyed It.

Digging Dr Jones was such a fun read perfect for lovers of Indiana Jones and National Treasure.

I did feel like it was a very slow start but the second half did pick up. There is a few spicy scenes but not too many that you lose touch with the romance. The characters are likeable and I enjoyed the plot.

I absolutely loved this book! It is so easy to read and just a real feel good book. The characters are perfect and i loved the romance.

For those who want the feeling of the mummy, in a book, this is it. The plot is exciting, the banter is witty, the romance is on point. This book is everything.