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.

Such a fun read - started and finished in one sitting! Helped me change up my normal reads (mystery/thrillers) and reminded me why I love to branch out!

Laughed a lot and enjoyed the story as it had just the right amount of spice! Definitely an opposites attract (in the best way) kind of story!

You won’t regret picking this one up!

Digging Dr Jones è fondamentalmente un buon romance per chi ama Indiana Jones, Uncharted e Tomb Raider. Galeotto fu il braccialetto, che, per un errore, anziché finire nelle mani del Professor Andrew Jones, finisce in quelle di Adriana Jones, di recente rimasta senza un lavoro e in vacanza con il fratello William, chirurgo plastico, prima di tornare alla realtà (e alla ricerca di un lavoro). Ormai il danno è fatto, e Adriana deve seguire Andrew in Colombia per riuscire a trovare la mappa del pirata Augustine Pérez, che dovrebbe portare a un immenso tesoro. Insieme a loro viaggia anche William, che in quell'avventura vede il riaccendersi di una sete di avventura che provava solo con il suo ex storico.

È come leggere un film di Indiana Jones ma in chiave romantica, con intrighi, colpi di scena e anche un super-cattivo a là James Bond che ti fa appassionare alla storia. Vi innamorerete di Adriana e Andrew, ma soprattutto della storia di Augustine e Maria. Vi divertirete a seguire il mistero, resterete col fiato sospeso fra tombe profanate e mappe misteriose...

Finalmente leggo qualcosa di decente!

Part romance, part mystery. The story begins with Adriana Jones and her brother on holiday, she then puts on a bracelet she receives as a gift which is actually for Dr Andrew Jones and next thing you know he’s taking her and her brother to another country to solve an archeological mystery. While the storyline was completely out there it was still interesting and spiced up with some steamy romance.

Thank you to One More Chapter for the eARC.

Did Not Finish.

I still love Indiana Jones and The Mummy so I couldn't resist trying this one. But the FMC was immediately someone I was annoyed with. She agrees to go to a different country with a man she just met...just like that? Also, all this right after she drinks so much she starts drunk girl crying. The vibes were not vibing with me and thus, DNF.

OMG! I have laughed so hard while reading, unable to set down the book. I grew up watching Indiana Jones and this book takes me back to the feeling. Love the spicy scenes and the fun parts.. The action scenes are great.

Digging Dr Jones is a sizzling, sun-soaked adventure that had me laughing from start to finish. Packed with chaotic energy and sharp banter, this book takes readers deep into the Colombian jungle for a treasure hunt full of chemistry, mishaps and heart.

Adriana is a brilliantly relatable character who stumbles into the world of archaeology completely out of her depth, while Andrew Jones is the grumpy academic with a mission and a secret soft side. Their dynamic is a joy to read. The forced proximity and opposites attract tropes are used perfectly, creating tension and humour in equal measure.

Personally, I loved how playful this story was. It felt like watching The Lost City but with more steam and a dash more chaos. If you enjoy destination romances with spice, treasure maps and unexpected love, this one absolutely delivers.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Adriana Jones receives a bracelet while on vacation in Costa Rica. But that bracelet was actually supposed to go to Andrew Jones, an archeologist. She can't get the bracelet off, so she has to go on an adventure with Andrew to find a pirate's treasure.
This was a very cute debut novel. I love adventure romances, so I was excited to read this one. There were moments when I was a bit bored, but I enjoyed myself overall. If you want an Indiana Jones-esque slow burn romance, then definitely give this book a go!

Digging Dr Jones is a perfect romcom to get you out of a book slump! There is action, adventure, hilarious moments, and such fun chemistry between the main characters. Plus the spice is the perfect amount. I love how the whole adventure starts because Adriana puts on a bracelet that she thinks belongs to her but actually leads to her going on a treasure hunt. If you love Indiana Jones and treasure hunting then this is the perfect book for you!
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC!