I really wanted to love this book - but unfortunately it fell short for me and I ended up DNF'ing it.

I read the synopsis and thought the premise of this story was great - but I'm not sure exactly where it went wrong for me - I didn't especially love the characters, and felt the writing style wasn't for me - it felt a little immature for me as an almost 37 year old.

Thank you for the chance to read though.

Digging Dr Jones - Olivia Jackson

This was such a fun read!
Perfect if you’re looking for a fun and exciting romance adventure, which gives off Indiana Jones vibes.
It was low stakes but still kept me interested the whole time. I also really loved the relationship between Adriana and Andrew.
Overall this book was good vibes and I really enjoyed it!

ARC Review for *Digging Dr Jones* by Olivia Jackson**

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 stars)

This book was *an absolute blast*! *Digging Dr Jones* delivers exactly what it promises — a hilarious, spicy, high-energy adventure romance that's impossible to put down.

Adriana is a relatable, delightfully chaotic heroine who stumbles (literally) into the wildest vacation of her life when she gets stuck with a cursed bracelet meant for the grumpy, gorgeous archaeologist Andrew Jones. What follows is a whirlwind journey full of *forced proximity* (hello, tension!), *opposites attract* dynamics, *fish out of water* hilarity, and *destination romcom* magic, all sprinkled with just the right amount of *spice*.

The banter between Adriana and Andrew is quick, sharp, and addictive — I laughed, swooned, and even teared up a little during some of their more vulnerable moments. Their chemistry *absolutely sizzles*, and the jungle setting makes every scene feel larger than life (and a little dangerous — in the best way!).

If you loved *The Lost City* or anything by Christina Lauren, you will *devour* this. Olivia Jackson has nailed the perfect balance between steamy romance, laugh-out-loud humor, and heart-tugging character growth.

**Tropes featured:**
- Forced Proximity
- Opposites Attract
- Fish out of Water
- Destination Romcom
- Spicy Adventure Romance

*Digging Dr Jones* is pure escapist joy — equal parts laugh, swoon, and adventure. Highly recommend!

I really tried with this one because the premise sounded so up by street but I ended up DNFing at 40%

The FMC spends so much time complaining about her past it’s exhausting. The MMC doesn’t seem remotely interested in her. She’ll be awfully flirting and he will be waxing lyrical about an archeological discovery. It’s genuinely uncomfortable to read.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

DNF @ 10%.

Most unfortunately, I could tell the writing and story of this one wasn't for me right from the start. I hated every decision the FMC made or talked about making in the past, and all the words said by her, her brother and the MMC. I didn't read much but I could tell I wasn't going to enjoy myself, so I chose self-love and stopped.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish! It hit all the marks for me! It was a mix of The Mummy meets Romancing the Stone meets Indiana Jones. It was such a fun and silly ride!

ndiana Jones meets the Hallmark Channel in this adorably sweet adventure romcom.

Originally I gave this four stars but when I really thought about how I felt about it....I changed it to 5 stars. At times, this book was over the top cheesy and unrealistic...but I don't read romcoms for realism. This was a fun read and I had a really good time. In real life would we jump into an adventure with a hot archeologist we've only known for hours just because he's going to pay us ridiculous amounts of money to do so?......actually....in this economy? In a heartbeat 😂 If you like adventure, instalove/instalust and a little cheese with your romance, this will be right up your alley. Also- Dr. Jones has sexy forearms and says things like "I never ignore people who are important to me." "You look ethereal tonight." and my personal favorite "You touch her again, and I'll break every bone in your body, starting with your skull."

Tropes/Things to expect
*Adventure
*Forced Proximity
*Opposites Attract
*Instalove/instalust
*MMC and FMC over 30

I really dug Digging Dr. Jones (sorry, love too puns too much to pass it up). The story had the chance to get too silly but the writing and how grounded the characters were kept the balance of everything going, though there a ew spots here and there where the story started to get a bit silly. However, the book was so fun it was hard to be bothered or too long.

First book by this author and i did enjoy it. felt different from any other romance books i read, I've never read an adventure rom com but I liked it. It was fast paced and entertaining. I love a cute meet cute with good banter!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

This adventure romcom centers on a woman who accidentally binds herself to a magical bracelet intended for a renowned archaeologist, drawing her into a treasure hunt in the jungles of Colombia. With *The Lost City* vibes, I was excited by the premise, but unfortunately, the execution fell flat.

The writing style was the primary issue. It felt clunky and juvenile, reminiscent of YA rather than adult fiction. Both the protagonist, Adriana, and the male lead, Andrew, lacked personality and meaningful character development. They felt one-dimensional and it was difficult to engage with them. The dialogue often felt forced and unrealistic, and the story didn’t evolve fluidly, with many actions and reactions feeling contrived. Additionally, the frequent references to the FMC's “mommy” and “daddy” issues were overdone and detracted from the narrative.

When it came to the romance, I wasn’t convinced. The supposed chemistry between the characters felt unnatural, and the attempts at “sexy” moments were more cringeworthy than enticing. It was clear the author was trying to build tension, but it came off as forced and lacked any real spark.

The portrayal of Adriana's brother felt stereotypical, especially with the overdone cliché of the gay character packing way too many suitcases. It just felt outdated.

**What didn’t work:**
- Immature, clunky writing style
- Underdeveloped characters with no personality (Adriana and Andrew)
- Forced romantic moments
- Overused emotional backstory about “family issues”
- Stereotypical character portrayal

While the book had potential, it ultimately didn’t deliver for me. I’m sure it will appeal to readers who enjoy this style, but it fell short in terms of character depth and authenticity.

Fun, spicy and adventurous! Great for fans of Uncharted, The Lost City and Indiana Jones!
When Adriana opens a mysterious package and puts on the bracelet inside, she has no idea that her whole world is about to be turned upside down.
Dr Andrew Jones is the actual intended recipient of the bracelet which will reveal the location of hidden treasure!
Adriana and Andrew go on an adventure together across South America, flirting, sleuthing and trying to stay a step ahead of their enemies.
A spicy rollercoaster ride!

Digging Dr Jones is a rom-com style book that follows that coincidently and conveniently for the plot, similarly named Adrianna Jones and Andrew Jones as they engage in a quest involving an ancient artefact.

I had high hopes for this book based on the blurb, it had all the themes and elements I loved. I liked certain elements of the set up, like a down-on-her-luck businesswoman, who is in her thirties. But ultimately, I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, I found it a little immature (things like “rah rah” and “WTF-ery” in the opening chapters) and at odds with the voice I expected from an adult protagonist. I also found there wasn’t a lot of depth to Andrew, he felt a bit too perfect. Overall it’s sad, because I really, really wanted to like this book.

I’m sure this will be a great romance adventure for other readers, but not for me. Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own.

This book gave me major Romancing the Stone vibes, which is still one of my favorite movies. I love stories with a treasure hunt and I enjoyed the clues that Adriana and Andrew needed to put together in order to solve the mystery that she gets herself roped into. This was definitely a quick read, and the romantic burn between the two main characters does not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Digging Dr Jones by Olivia Jackson is an adventurous story about a woman named Adriana Jones whose life is in crisis. While on vacation with her brother William, she receives a package from an unknown sender with a beautiful antique bracelet. She puts it on, it knowing it was really meant for Dr Andrew Jones, an archeologist, who needs the bracelet to assist in finding a treasure. When the bracelet won’t come off, Adriana and William agree to go with Dr Jones on his adventure. As sparks fly between Adriana and Dr Jones, will they successfully find what they seek?

This was a fun story. The characters were a bit flat, and sometimes the language took me a bit out of the story, but I enjoyed it overall. The story is not realistic regarding an archeologist searching for treasure, but I’m fine with just going along with it and enjoying the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I'm always up for an adventure romcom, and Digging Dr. Jones hit the mark. If you enjoyed the movies The Lost City and The Mummy, you'll love this book.

The plot was a lot of fun and interesting (especially if you're into archaeology or had dream of being Indiana Jones). The plot is a little wacky but that's what keeps things entertaining. I had a lot of fun reading about the different situations the characters ended up in. I thought the plot was unique.

The romance is for lovers of opposites attract and forced proximity. Adriana and Andrew have the best banter. I was cackling because of these two. I thought the romance developed nicely. Plus this has spice which I was pleasantly surprised by.

This is a fast-paced adventure filled with romance, humor and spice. Readers are going to love this one!

I am loving this new trend of "adventure romance" books. As someone who grew up watching the Indiana Jones movies, Jewel of the Nile, etc, these books are a fun callback to my formative years.

This book, in particular, has an identity mix-up that kicks off the fun, ancient treasure, jungle dangers, a feisty and clever heroine, and a gruff but cool archaeologist. It's a fun romp, over the top and campy at points, but that just adds to the charm.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read.

Adriana and her brother are on vacation when a package is mistakenly delivered to the wrong room, setting off a chain of events that brings Adriana face-to-face with Dr. Jones, an archaeologist on a treasure hunt. The adventure was engaging at times, though there were moments when it felt slow, and I found myself losing interest. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but not one I would read again.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this ARC.

3 words. I loved it. Such a good story. Easy to read. A little bit of romance. Or a lot of it. Couldn't put it down once I started it.

Omfg I love this book.
It had me giggling, kicking my feet, blushing… all the things.
It’s so fun, so hot, so adventurous, so hot, so captivating… did I mention it’s hot? 👀
I’M👏OB👏SESSED👏
I love Andrew, Adriana, and William sm. 🥹
Digging Dr Jones is Olivia Jackson’s debut novel, and I’m an instant fan.
✨Literally spectacular give me 14 of them right now✨

Love this book so much, I couldn't stop reading.
I thought it was perfect in every way. Love the story,the characters,the plot, the pacing.
I love this book