Had to DNF this book as the ethnocentrism and cultural biases were really obvious, even for someone like me who usually gets lost in even mediocre stories easily. The FMC’s inner monologue just gave me the ick.

I enjoyed the premise of this story and the mystic around the bracelet. But found the FMC incredibly unlikeable, I get that she was going through a tough time but she seemed so miserable and anti anything fun. I much more enjoyed the MMC and the FMCs brother as characters.
I loved the descriptions of the environment, it really helped imagine the scene and the treasure hunt made this story quite unique. The MMC really was a British Indiana Jones.

Thank you Harper Collins UK and Olivia Jackson for the ARC of Digging Dr Jones!

I'm kind of stuck on how to rate this. It took me a while to get into it; I started on April 21 but didn't finish until May 6th. I read the first chapter and then stopped for a few weeks, and then when I realized this released on May 2 and not June 2, I bumped it back up my TBR to finish on time and post this.

For what it was; a cheesy forced proximity insta-love romcom with Indiana Jones vibes, I think it hit the mark. If you were expecting an accurate depiction of archeology, you'll probably be disappointed. Also, if you dislike insta-love, like me, just keep that in mind.

I also felt myself annoyed with the FMC, Adriana. She consistently brought up her childhood in a trailer park as to why she would never find love or be successful, yet her brother, William, who was raised in the same circumstances owned his own plastic surgery clinic. Also, from the premise I wasn't expecting William to tag along for the entire adventure, and at many points his inclusion felt forced and his character felt incredibly stereotypical.

The book may have benefited from a dual POV because Andrew, the MMC, seemed really flat. He's obviously a smart man, given his jobs (he's also a professor at Cambridge), but a lot of the a-ha moments came from Adriana, the self proclaimed college dropout. He also seemed to be reduced to his hotness a lot of the time, especially by Adriana and William.

The evil villain/rival colleague/girlfriend stealer plotline also felt somewhat unnecessary.

I think in the end, my rating for this hovers between 2..5 and 3 stars.

I appreciate the chance to have read this early, so thank you again to Harper Collins UK for the ARC.

Digging Dr. Jones is a thrilling adventure that mixes excitement, romance, and humor, making it an absolute page-turner. The story kicks off when Adriana accidentally locks a mysterious bracelet onto her wrist, sending her on an unexpected journey. What starts as a simple vacation quickly turns into a high-stakes treasure hunt deep in the Colombian jungle, full of dangerous terrain, ancient ruins, and cryptic puzzles. The action is fast-paced, and the vivid descriptions of the jungle make it feel like you're right there with Adriana and Andrew as they face one obstacle after another (whether it's the wild dangers of nature or rival treasure hunters determined to beat them to the prize). But it’s not all about the adventure; the chemistry between Adriana and Andrew adds a fun twist. Their witty banter and contrasting personalities—her carefree attitude versus his serious, focused nature—create some great tension and a slow-burn romance that keeps you hooked. If you’re into fast-paced action, a bit of romance, and lots of laughs, Digging Dr. Jones is a super fun read.

I’m so glad I took a chance on this book. I used to love the Indiana jones movies, and I loved that this book had those vibes. I was expecting that they’d spend a bit more time in the jungle than they actually did. This book is a bit insta-lovey but because of a miscommunication (which I normally completely hate) at the start, their relationship also is a bit of a slow burn. But once the spice starts there is a lot of it. This book is definitely not perfect but sometimes you need the junk-food romcom and this book was perfect for me to enjoy like that. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I’m looking forward to reading more in the future.

Tropes: forced proximity, opposites attract, destination romcom, disastrous meet-cute
Thank you so much to the author, netgalley, and Harper Collins UK for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.

4.5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this before release.

I had soooo much fun with this book! I am a sucker for archeological mysteries (think Indiana Jones, the Mummy, National Treasure) and this was right up my alley. I like the characters and the intimate scenes were well done in my opinion. It did feel a little bit insta-love to me, but it was cute nonetheless. Would definitely read more romance adventure books by this author.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

Run and read this one now! Omg it is a smoldering adventure that I want to go on again. Such a fun, fun read literally it’s a trip to the jungle with sizzling chemistry, lol moments, mystery, treasure hunting and the best character dynamics. For all the ladies who wanted to date Indiana Jones this book is for you! (Plus this cover is 😍✨🙌)

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Adriana Jones is on vacay with her brother at a resort in Costa Rica for the next 2 weeks. A cuff bracelet was just delivered to her room, she thought it was a gift so she put it on. Then a random stranger showed up at the Trident Bar stating it was his. Ok this man may be gorgeous but this is hers, but money could convince her otherwise.

Dr Andrew Jones was expecting the key to be delivered to his room but the hotel told him there was a mixup. So he tracked it down and found a gorgeous women wearing it, he offered to pay her to get it back. The only problem is they couldn’t get the cuff bracelet to open. It was stuck on the arm of Andrea.

Now that’s going to be a problem as that bracelet is the key. So Andrew convinces Andrea to go with him to Columbia for the next few days to try and get it off and help him unlock the cheat that holds the map to the treasure he’s hunting. But we all know treasure hunts never go as plan and this one is just getting started.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

“And oh, my heart. We might not have found lost treasure, but I may have found the sole reason for global warming. Dr. Andrew Jones was hot.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Strangers to Lovers
* “Mistaken Gift” Bracelet Leads to Adventure
* She’s the Map
* He’s Director of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge
* Opposites Attract
* She’s a Fish Out of Water
* Amazing Sibling Dynamics - Their Besties
* Jungles of Columbia
* Single POV - Slow Burn & Spice

🌿💕🌺🗺️🌿💕🌺🗺️ 🌿💕🌺🗺️🌿

These cartoon-style covers keep luring me in, and I’m not mad about it 😂

Adriana Jones accidentally opens a package meant for the very attractive (and mildly grumpy) archaeologist Dr Andrew Jones. Inside is a mysterious bracelet. Naturally, she tries it on (as one does when they receive a package that's not meant for them). Naturally, it won’t come off. Turns out it’s an artifact meant to unlock a long-lost treasure, and now Adriana’s stuck with it - and on a treasure hunt in the Colombian jungle.

The setting was great - hot weather, tropical plants, questionable caves. I liked the sense of adventure, even if I’m not usually into treasure-hunting stories. This one leaned heavily into the romance (with plenty of spice), but the sibling dynamic between Adriana and her brother William was my favourite.

The plot was easy to follow, and while the antagonists were a bit flat, I still had a good time with the story.

I would recommend this book if you always thought you'd have liked "Indiana Jones" better if it was a steamy romantic comedy. Or if you ever wanted to go on a jungle trek, with a side of cave adventure.

3.25/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.

A romantic jungle romp
5 stars

This is Olivia Jackson’s first book and after reading this one, I hope that it’s the first of many. I wouldn’t even care if it’s another story just like this one. Seeing Adriana and Andrew again would be just wonderful.

As the whole theme of the book suggests - this is an action adventure romance. Think of film romps like Romancing the Stone or what I wished The Lost City had been. Adriana Jones is on holiday with her brother after her dreams of starting her own business go up in smoke. When a parcel comes to her room with a bejewelled bracelet inside, she puts it on. But then the darn thing won’t come off. Which would be fine except the bracelet was actually the property of archeologist Dr Andrew Jones and he needs it to find lost treasure. So that means Adriana is joining Andrew on his adventurous treasure hunt across Colombia.

Adriana is exactly the kind of girl that you’d want for an adventure such as this. She’s just as dubious and doubting as anyone would be - but when push comes to shove - this girl throws all of herself into the hunt. I loved her feistiness, her vulnerabilities and was rooting for her to take a chance. Her insecurities and hang-ups are all completely understandable (and relatable) but it can be hard to write a character with inhibitions that doesn’t come across as a moaning Minnie. But I didn’t think that once about Adriana. I just wanted her to get it together so she didn’t miss out on the lovely Andrew.


I loved Andrew. There’s always the worry when you hear “British hero” that you’re going to be stuck with horrendous attempts at some stereotypical type of accent. But hooray - apart from calling people ‘love’ - which is a totally acceptable Britishism - Andrew speaks totally normally and won’t make British people’s bums clench. He’s also an absolute sweetheart. We hear the story from Adriana’s point of view but that meant we didn’t really know what Andrew was thinking or feeling until he came out and said it. But I loved how he was with Adriana - and how he raised her up.

Adriana and Andrew were a deliciously slow burn in terms of their romance. They really got to know each other and danced around each other until they took the chance. And I was surprised just how hot this book turned out to be. Not a complaint but I was expecting it to be a little tamer than it ended up being. Happy days for everyone!

The characters and their relationships were an absolute delight but it was the action adventure romp around Colombia that really made this a winner. We have a treasure hunt, secret codes, an ancient love story, graves, moving floors, crazy rivals. It’s just everything you want out of a romance that’s all about that jungle adventure. I have now pre-ordered the paperback of this book as I like to have my favourite books on my shelves and I’ll happily say this is one of the best books of 2025 so far.

However, as an aside, it’s an absolute travesty that in the playlist at the start of the book doesn’t have the absolute belter Dr Jones by Aqua. Come on now - even the video fits the book’s theme! Missed a trick right there. SMH.

I enjoyed this book and feel it makes the perfect fun summer read.
Adriana is on a dream vacation with her brother in the hopes of forgetting her problems back home. When she receives a mysterious package and, thinking that it is for her, puts on the beautiful bracelet inside, adventure awaits! This leads her to meet Dr Andrew Jones, who the bracelet was actually meant for as it was thought to be the key to finding a great treasure.
As Adriana and Andrew race against time to solve the mystery of the treasure before treasure hunters with less noble intentions, the chemistry between the pair gets steamy!
Overall, this was a fun read. I felt there were maybe a few pacing issues, but I enjoyed the Indiana Jones style adventure across the Colombian countryside in this romantic comedy.

This was an adventurous romantic comedy, really well written and with characters you can't help but love.

There were some conflicts, scenes and conversations that seemed forced or *ick*, but otherwise I enjoyed the adventure, enjoyed reading about Andrew and Adriana, and the beautiful Colombian scenery. I wish there was a bit more character growth for Adriana, who seemed to have wounded that needed healing.

many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC opportunity.

Indiana Jones meets insta love in a book. This is an easy read, if you like a cheesy love story with a little wild mixed in.

Whilst it was predictable and didn't bring anything original to the genre, it was enjoyable to read and lose yourself in.

I liked the characters and the sibling portrayal.

Indiana Jones, meets forced proximity, meets enemies to lovers, meets the cutest love story ever, all in the middle of a thrilling adventure in pursuit of a lost treasure. I loved this book and the characters. It was the perfect amount of reality mixed with extravagant adventure and suspense.
Andrew and Adriana are such an amazing pair and they really balance each other out in the perfect way, working together to keep one step ahead of their rivals. The banter was superb and the side characters, especially William, really filled out the wonderful cast of characters that were there. Every single pun and joke that related to Andrew and Indiana Jones was amazing and had me rolling on the floor.

I thought the storyline was good, although I thought it was odd that Adriana kept referring to her brother as handsome. Maybe it’s just me. While I liked Andrew and Adriana’s relationship, I almost preferred them not together. I only say that because I loved the bickering they did with each other. Now I guess I will have to watch Indiana Jones!

I did enjoy this. I love the Indiana Jones/adventure vibes in a romance novel, makes it so fun! I didn't love but also didn't mind the insta-love. I like a little more tension in my romance novels.

This was a fine debut - didn’t hate it but wouldn’t rush to recommend it. I found the pacing a little off, very slow for the first half of the books where we get sort of stuck in a repetition loop of they find a clue, nothing happens with them personally and they both onto the next spot. The final 30% or so was much more fast paced and exciting in terms of the adventure part of the plot, I don’t know that I felt that much chemistry between Andrew and Adriana but the spice scenes were fun. I’m sure this will hit the mark for some people and hope it find its readers.

This book was just as adventurous as I imagined!

I absolutely devoured this book - I was utterly consumed by the journey and just couldn't put the book down!
I went in expecting insta-love, cheesiness and a fast paced book so wasn't "let down" - it was a fun concept and an enjoyable read for me. It was easy to follow along and the writing was good.

We had our usual comedic side character to add another layer of laughter.

Overall, I would recommend this book as a palate cleansers!

So I loved this! It was a great read, really fun and the characters had great dynamics.

I loved William and Adriana's sibling relationship. The teasing and tainting but the complete adoration they have for each other was great.
Dr Jones, man on man did I fall a bit for him, so sweet, romantic and swoonworthy. He gave off protective vibes - "You touch her again and I'll break every bone in your body" 🥵🤌.
The story was fun, very Indiana Jones, meets national treasure meets the mummy (1999 of course)
The only downside i had was Adriana did get a tiny bit annoying with her whole "I'm not worthy, I'm too trailer trash" thing but i got over that quick enough. And a few of the words during the spicy scenes weren't to my taste but that's a total personal thing though.
Overall i would recommend and probably read again
🌶🌶
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Debut novel read - Digging Dr. Jones by Olivia Jackson
Released 05/02/2025

As a whole I think this book was pretty good. The plot was fun and kept you on a wild adventure: While on a much needed vacation, Adriana Jones receives a knock on her door and a surprise gift, a gemstone bracelet. Except, the bracelet was actually meant for handsome archaeologist, Andrew Jones. Now he needs her to accompany him into the jungle to search for some ancient treasure.

Andrew had good book boyfriend vibes and there is certainly some steamy moments in the book.

The book started out a tad slow for me but then picked up pace and kept up the adventure. I very much disliked a side character and almost wished she was eliminated from the book entirely. bleh.

I'd say this was a 3.5-3.75 ⭐ read and for goodreads sake I'm rounding that up to 4⭐

Many thanks to Netgalley and One More Chapter for an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

Digging Dr. Jones by Olivia Jackson is a delightful adventure rom-com that blends treasure hunts with sizzling chemistry. When Adriana Jones accidentally dons a mystical bracelet meant for the dashing archaeologist Andrew Jones, she’s thrust into a whirlwind quest through the Colombian jungle. Their forced partnership is filled with witty banter, unexpected twists, and a slow-burn romance that keeps the pages turning.

This story offers a fun mix of action and romance, making it a great pick for fans of adventurous love stories. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted read with engaging characters and a dash of spice, this one’s worth checking out.