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Digging Deep #1
Digging Deep
A Digging Deep Story
2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance
Drake Park has a complicated life. As a gay male midwife, he’s used to raising eyebrows. Add Crohn’s disease and things get interesting—or not, considering the sad state of his love life. Experience has taught Drake that most men are fair-weather sailors when it comes to handling his condition—gone for dust when things get rough. Staying healthy is a full-time job without adding in any heartbreak, so a little loneliness is a small price to pay. If he says it often enough he might even believe it. One thing for sure, the cop who arrested him isn’t about to change that.
Caleb Ashton does not have a complicated life. A senior detective with the Whangarei Police Department, he likes his job and is good at it. He works hard and plays hard, happy to enjoy as many men as he can while he’s still young enough—or at least he was. These days he feels adrift for the first time in his life, and the only thing sparking his interest—a certain prickly young midwife.
But can Drake find enough faith to risk opening his heart again? And does Caleb have what it takes to cope with the challenges Drake’s condition presents?
2020 Lambda Literary Award Finalist in Gay Romance
Drake Park has a complicated life. As a gay male midwife, he’s used to raising eyebrows. Add Crohn’s disease and things get interesting—or not, considering the sad state of his love life. Experience has taught Drake that most men are fair-weather sailors when it comes to handling his condition—gone for dust when things get rough. Staying healthy is a full-time job without adding in any heartbreak, so a little loneliness is a small price to pay. If he says it often enough he might even believe it. One thing for sure, the cop who arrested him isn’t about to change that.
Caleb Ashton does not have a complicated life. A senior detective with the Whangarei Police Department, he likes his job and is good at it. He works hard and plays hard, happy to enjoy as many men as he can while he’s still young enough—or at least he was. These days he feels adrift for the first time in his life, and the only thing sparking his interest—a certain prickly young midwife.
But can Drake find enough faith to risk opening his heart again? And does Caleb have what it takes to cope with the challenges Drake’s condition presents?
416 pages, ebook
First published August 6, 2019
309 people are currently reading
873 people want to read
About the author
Jay Hogan
26 books930 followersHeart, humour and keeping it real.
I am a two times Lambda Literary Award Finalist—2020 for DIGGING DEEP and 2024 for THE ART OF HUSBANDRY.
I have also received the The Romance Writers of New Zealand 2021 Romance Book of The Year Award for OFF BALANCE.
I am a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense primarily set in my home country. I write character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality, and a splash of angst. I’ve travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life I worked as a critical care nurse and a counsellor. My family love and somehow put up with me, and my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel thinks I spend too much time at my desk but keeps my feet warm.
Join my reader group to keep up with my news.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hogan...
You can also find me at:
https://www.jayhoganauthor.com where you can buy my audiobooks direct at a discount.
https://www.facebook.com/JayHoganAuthor
I am a two times Lambda Literary Award Finalist—2020 for DIGGING DEEP and 2024 for THE ART OF HUSBANDRY.
I have also received the The Romance Writers of New Zealand 2021 Romance Book of The Year Award for OFF BALANCE.
I am a New Zealand author writing mm romance and romantic suspense primarily set in my home country. I write character driven romances with lots of humour, a good dose of reality, and a splash of angst. I’ve travelled extensively, lived in many countries, and in a past life I worked as a critical care nurse and a counsellor. My family love and somehow put up with me, and my gorgeous Cocker Spaniel thinks I spend too much time at my desk but keeps my feet warm.
Join my reader group to keep up with my news.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/hogan...
You can also find me at:
https://www.jayhoganauthor.com where you can buy my audiobooks direct at a discount.
https://www.facebook.com/JayHoganAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
August 18, 2019
It happens from time to time : I pick a book from an author whose work I enjoy and with a blurb that seems right up my alley, but sadly, I don’t get my escapism time.
“Digging Deep” is a contemporary MM romance between Drake, who has Crohn’s disease and is a midwife and Caleb, a police detective, who enjoys sex but is not into relationships. Obviously, Drake is wary as it’s not easy to find somebody who can be understanding of his condition in the long term. As for Caleb, he’s going into new territory : this is the first time that he cares for a guy.
It’s relationship-oriented, with a fun stride and lots of steam. However, what didn’t work for me is that I could never understand why Caleb got attracted and committed to Drake. They meet and BAM, Caleb is focused and thoughtful. Baffled with this “failed” start, I never engaged after that.
Add some few personal niggles. First, self-blaming irks me in RL so I don’t want too much of it in my reading world as it’s a sure way to make me feel I’m in Dramalaland. Unfortunately for me, a good part of the story was around Caleb very strongly blaming himself for what happened to one of his patients. As for the secondary characters, way over the top for my tastes, whether it was Caleb’s best friend, whose theatrics and “pearls of wisdom” eluded me, or all the family and their intrusions.
A case of “it’s me, not the book”.
ARC of “Digging Deep” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“Digging Deep” is a contemporary MM romance between Drake, who has Crohn’s disease and is a midwife and Caleb, a police detective, who enjoys sex but is not into relationships. Obviously, Drake is wary as it’s not easy to find somebody who can be understanding of his condition in the long term. As for Caleb, he’s going into new territory : this is the first time that he cares for a guy.
It’s relationship-oriented, with a fun stride and lots of steam. However, what didn’t work for me is that I could never understand why Caleb got attracted and committed to Drake. They meet and BAM, Caleb is focused and thoughtful. Baffled with this “failed” start, I never engaged after that.
Add some few personal niggles. First, self-blaming irks me in RL so I don’t want too much of it in my reading world as it’s a sure way to make me feel I’m in Dramalaland. Unfortunately for me, a good part of the story was around Caleb very strongly blaming himself for what happened to one of his patients. As for the secondary characters, way over the top for my tastes, whether it was Caleb’s best friend, whose theatrics and “pearls of wisdom” eluded me, or all the family and their intrusions.
A case of “it’s me, not the book”.
ARC of “Digging Deep” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2019
Exceptionally good, full review tomorrow when I'm at the laptop.
Oops, that took a bit longer than expected. Anyway full review now ready!
I loved this book big time. I'm already a big fan of Jay's writing but with this book she's outdone herself, touching on a complex medical issue and ensuring Drake's character is not only believable but absolutely relatable.
Both characters are wonderfully expressed, and while I totally fell for Drake, with his spikes and bristles, my heart dropped fully into Caleb's hands.
I have a soft spot for cops at the best of times (one of my exes was a policeman) but detectives who fall for spikey and bristly midwives with a chronic illness and do their absolute best to find out all they can about it to be a good potential boyfriend are even more delicious.
There's lots of medical stuff in this but it never overwhelms the basic narrative of two men with very different experiences and personalities falling in love.
I will say that a certain plot element which comes in later in the game, while it works well as a tension point, felt a wee bit just too convenient and I'd maybe have preferred the understanding from Drake about his feelings to have come without needing it.
But, it's an incredibly minor point, a personal niggle only, and it never took me away from the overriding message of taking chances and living whatever life you get given to the best of your abilities.
#ARC kindly received from the Publisher Dreamspinner Press in return for an honest and unbiased review
Oops, that took a bit longer than expected. Anyway full review now ready!
I loved this book big time. I'm already a big fan of Jay's writing but with this book she's outdone herself, touching on a complex medical issue and ensuring Drake's character is not only believable but absolutely relatable.
Both characters are wonderfully expressed, and while I totally fell for Drake, with his spikes and bristles, my heart dropped fully into Caleb's hands.
I have a soft spot for cops at the best of times (one of my exes was a policeman) but detectives who fall for spikey and bristly midwives with a chronic illness and do their absolute best to find out all they can about it to be a good potential boyfriend are even more delicious.
There's lots of medical stuff in this but it never overwhelms the basic narrative of two men with very different experiences and personalities falling in love.
I will say that a certain plot element which comes in later in the game, while it works well as a tension point, felt a wee bit just too convenient and I'd maybe have preferred the understanding from Drake about his feelings to have come without needing it.
But, it's an incredibly minor point, a personal niggle only, and it never took me away from the overriding message of taking chances and living whatever life you get given to the best of your abilities.
#ARC kindly received from the Publisher Dreamspinner Press in return for an honest and unbiased review
August 12, 2019
One the one hand this was a very interesting book and the hurt/comfort because of Drake’s Crohn’s disease was amazing. But I was very disappointed these guys constantly ‘needed time’ to think things through.
At first it was Drake who didn’t want to give Caleb a chance. Drake kept making things difficult and kept telling Caleb he couldn’t handle Drake’s decease.
Then Drake got his head out of his ass and I started to enjoy their relationship. But then Drake’s Crohn flared up and he pushed Caleb away again.
I hated the resulting separation and I felt as if these guys both made it so hard on themselves.
When they finally made up I was relieved, but then Caleb said he needed space to think things over and I wanted to scream!
These guys were basically still separated at 90% and I was just so done with them by that time.
It’s a shame because this book really taught me a lot about Crohn’s disease and living with a chronic illness. And those parts were so interesting. But the back and forth within the relationship really got on my nerves.
At first it was Drake who didn’t want to give Caleb a chance. Drake kept making things difficult and kept telling Caleb he couldn’t handle Drake’s decease.
Then Drake got his head out of his ass and I started to enjoy their relationship. But then Drake’s Crohn flared up and he pushed Caleb away again.
I hated the resulting separation and I felt as if these guys both made it so hard on themselves.
When they finally made up I was relieved, but then Caleb said he needed space to think things over and I wanted to scream!
These guys were basically still separated at 90% and I was just so done with them by that time.
It’s a shame because this book really taught me a lot about Crohn’s disease and living with a chronic illness. And those parts were so interesting. But the back and forth within the relationship really got on my nerves.
July 26, 2019
Wow…this was….wow. My first time with Jay Hogan and it was certainly memorable. I was sucked into this story and frequently lost myself in it. I’m afraid that I do know a bit about the heavy burdens of Drake’s disease. Drake is a survivor of Crohn’s. Careful to clarify not suffers from but survives because anyone hit with Crohn’s is forced to survive. As a gay midwife, he’s used to taking people by surprise but those close to him don’t blink twice at his dependency on order and control when it comes to his life. When an urgent bathroom need tosses him in the path of a growling Detective, his rigid routine is pushed. Can he bend? Can he let someone in and not just kinda-sorta-in but all the way? Drake doesn’t let many (if any) past his carefully constructed walls. And does Caleb truly have what it takes to be the rock Drake needs? If you’re willing to hold on for some pushing and pulling, let’s find out!
What's to like: As I mentioned, I’m familiar with the trials and tests Crohn’s disease puts on loved ones. My brother-in-law has battled his Crohn’s demons since he was barely old enough to have a beer. After his surgery, he began monthly infusions to stay in remission. Sadly, no one thought to mention to this young man that while this (outrageously expensive) miracle drug worked wonders, it also made him sterile. Fortunately, they discovered this before crossing the road of no return and doctors were able to salvage the remaining (single digit) sperm he had left. And after two years of tears, shots, and the blessings of IVF, I have beautiful twin nieces. For them was a heartbreaking obstacle that had a happy ending but not everyone is so lucky. So, I always tell everyone when discussing Crohn’s to think ahead and be on the safe side. Freeze and save. You never know where your future might take you but not having the choice is unbearable. Okay, sorry…I had to get that out of the way first. I know Drake would want me to spread the word!
Back to the story.
So, Drake has found his groove with the unpredictability of Crohn’s and he’s doing fine. Yes, he might be alone but better alone and healthy, right? Our determined detective doesn’t agree. There’s something enchanting about the prickly midwife that he just can’t shake free from. And the more Caleb discovers about Drake, the less he wishes to. I admire a man with perseverance and Caleb has that trait in spades. Lucky for Drake! I do think things became a touch repetitive but regardless, I enjoyed them and their journey. It was also VERY different reading about a LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) in New Zealand. Since I’m married to one, I can tell you there must be profound differences if Caleb’s day to day in the band of blue is accurate. It was…interesting to say the least.
What's to love: What really sold me on this story was the total package. Snarky wit kept me smiling. Personal victories had me cheering. Tender and thoughtful moments had me swooning. And steamy loving had me sweating. I LOVED how Caleb never gave up on Drake. Drake pushed and pushed and suddenly realized, he didn’t want to push anymore. Despite his claims that Crohn’s ran his life, the simple fact was, he allowed it to. I adored how Caleb helped him understand it was certainly a major and demanding part of him but it didn’t define him. As long as he didn’t let it. When you truly love someone, you love every facet of them. Caleb didn’t scare or run, but he did tire of holding on when the cord was constantly pulled. I loved their differences and yet how compatible they were. Caleb joked while he embraced all the shit Drake had to deal with and it was exactly what Drake needed. I enjoyed their families, including work families. But most of all, I loved how authentic they were. It wasn’t always pretty but it sure was genuine. An impressive first time with Hogan and definitely not my last.
Beware of: Buckle in for an informative crash lesson on the iron-clad grip Crohn’s disease has on its victims. Prepare for hard-won swooning, and yes, you rock the romance shit Caleb. A feisty drag queen makes quite the impression. And stubborn can sometimes slip into stupid territory but true love is never wrong. *spoiler alert* Drake is a midwife and he’s not immune to the rare tragedy his job delivers.
This book is for: If you’re looking for something solid and…deep, dig your toes in here. This ride is filled with ups and downs but I promise the ending will leave you flying high.
Book UNfunk
What's to like: As I mentioned, I’m familiar with the trials and tests Crohn’s disease puts on loved ones. My brother-in-law has battled his Crohn’s demons since he was barely old enough to have a beer. After his surgery, he began monthly infusions to stay in remission. Sadly, no one thought to mention to this young man that while this (outrageously expensive) miracle drug worked wonders, it also made him sterile. Fortunately, they discovered this before crossing the road of no return and doctors were able to salvage the remaining (single digit) sperm he had left. And after two years of tears, shots, and the blessings of IVF, I have beautiful twin nieces. For them was a heartbreaking obstacle that had a happy ending but not everyone is so lucky. So, I always tell everyone when discussing Crohn’s to think ahead and be on the safe side. Freeze and save. You never know where your future might take you but not having the choice is unbearable. Okay, sorry…I had to get that out of the way first. I know Drake would want me to spread the word!
Back to the story.
So, Drake has found his groove with the unpredictability of Crohn’s and he’s doing fine. Yes, he might be alone but better alone and healthy, right? Our determined detective doesn’t agree. There’s something enchanting about the prickly midwife that he just can’t shake free from. And the more Caleb discovers about Drake, the less he wishes to. I admire a man with perseverance and Caleb has that trait in spades. Lucky for Drake! I do think things became a touch repetitive but regardless, I enjoyed them and their journey. It was also VERY different reading about a LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) in New Zealand. Since I’m married to one, I can tell you there must be profound differences if Caleb’s day to day in the band of blue is accurate. It was…interesting to say the least.
What's to love: What really sold me on this story was the total package. Snarky wit kept me smiling. Personal victories had me cheering. Tender and thoughtful moments had me swooning. And steamy loving had me sweating. I LOVED how Caleb never gave up on Drake. Drake pushed and pushed and suddenly realized, he didn’t want to push anymore. Despite his claims that Crohn’s ran his life, the simple fact was, he allowed it to. I adored how Caleb helped him understand it was certainly a major and demanding part of him but it didn’t define him. As long as he didn’t let it. When you truly love someone, you love every facet of them. Caleb didn’t scare or run, but he did tire of holding on when the cord was constantly pulled. I loved their differences and yet how compatible they were. Caleb joked while he embraced all the shit Drake had to deal with and it was exactly what Drake needed. I enjoyed their families, including work families. But most of all, I loved how authentic they were. It wasn’t always pretty but it sure was genuine. An impressive first time with Hogan and definitely not my last.
Beware of: Buckle in for an informative crash lesson on the iron-clad grip Crohn’s disease has on its victims. Prepare for hard-won swooning, and yes, you rock the romance shit Caleb. A feisty drag queen makes quite the impression. And stubborn can sometimes slip into stupid territory but true love is never wrong. *spoiler alert* Drake is a midwife and he’s not immune to the rare tragedy his job delivers.
This book is for: If you’re looking for something solid and…deep, dig your toes in here. This ride is filled with ups and downs but I promise the ending will leave you flying high.
Book UNfunk
August 19, 2019
Drake Park is an independent, somewhat prickly midwife whose life is complicated, and occasionally dominated, by dealing with his Crohn's disease. He's good at his job and has things generally under control, but a chronic health condition demands accommodations and taxes his energy. After a bad breakup with a guy who couldn't handle a sudden flare-up that landed him in hospital, Drake isn't looking for romance. He wants to deliver babies, help pregnant women, with a side of trying to protect the environment. An arrogant cop is the last thing he needs in his life.
Caleb Ashton is a cop who has things figured out - a great work partner, an interesting but small-town police job, a variety of sex partners when he's in the mood, and a long-time best friend to smack him upside the head when he needs it. Life is pretty straightforward. Until he meets Drake and suddenly the guy who could always fuck 'em and leave 'em is fascinated by a gorgeous man who wants nothing to do with him.
I really liked these two characters - they sparked and snarked at each other in very satisfying fashion. I thought the balance with Drake's Crohn's was well done. It's always a challenge to include a disability or chronic illness in a romance without either trivializing it or letting it overwhelm the story or become a source of pity-angst. While I don't have personal experience with Crohn's, the research I've done suggests that Hogan hits this one pretty spot-on in terms of how it plays out in Drake's life. We need more romance books with main characters whose life challenges are down-to-earth and even unattractive. Drake's determined independence and the cast of secondary characters made this work very well.
Speaking of secondary characters, I really liked several of them (despite the degree to which they meddled in both MCs lives), particularly Caleb's best friend Carmen/Daniel. The term drag queen is used, but we don't get to hear in detail how they identify - with Carmen being the more usual presence in the daily life of the character, this felt like possibly a bigender representation. I loved how most of the other characters took the switches in their stride, adjusting expectations and pronouns. Carmen was fierce and unapologetic and she lit up the pages, (loudly enough that I was glad we got a moment of vulnerability later.) The intrusiveness of her involvement with the romance fit with Carmen's larger than life persona. Daniel had his own style, and didn't just take a back-seat.
One thing that struck me, reading this account of a New Zealand guy with Crohn's, was how the cost of the illness didn't hit the character front and center, the way it did as I researched Crohn's in America. Drake doesn't debate whether he can afford a hospital stay or surgery topping off his thousands of dollars of deductible. He doesn't wonder if he should try to change jobs to get better health insurance. Stress aggravates chronic illness, and in America the costs and uncertainties of that add a layer to dealing with Crohn's. New Zealand does have a mixed system, with some parallel private care, but Drake has a safety net that works.
Both characters have moments of screwing up, and times when they take emotional hits. I liked the effort that Caleb made to educate himself (and would have liked to see Drake make a bit more effort in return to ask about what being a cop really entailed for Caleb - good bet it wasn't always that easy.) The end included a hesitation that felt very realistic but slowed the story. I like things real, so I'm going to applaud that even though it derailed the emotional arc for a while. I hadn't read this author before, but I enjoyed their writing style and will pick up another of theirs soon.
Content warning for a sad event .
Caleb Ashton is a cop who has things figured out - a great work partner, an interesting but small-town police job, a variety of sex partners when he's in the mood, and a long-time best friend to smack him upside the head when he needs it. Life is pretty straightforward. Until he meets Drake and suddenly the guy who could always fuck 'em and leave 'em is fascinated by a gorgeous man who wants nothing to do with him.
I really liked these two characters - they sparked and snarked at each other in very satisfying fashion. I thought the balance with Drake's Crohn's was well done. It's always a challenge to include a disability or chronic illness in a romance without either trivializing it or letting it overwhelm the story or become a source of pity-angst. While I don't have personal experience with Crohn's, the research I've done suggests that Hogan hits this one pretty spot-on in terms of how it plays out in Drake's life. We need more romance books with main characters whose life challenges are down-to-earth and even unattractive. Drake's determined independence and the cast of secondary characters made this work very well.
Speaking of secondary characters, I really liked several of them (despite the degree to which they meddled in both MCs lives), particularly Caleb's best friend Carmen/Daniel. The term drag queen is used, but we don't get to hear in detail how they identify - with Carmen being the more usual presence in the daily life of the character, this felt like possibly a bigender representation. I loved how most of the other characters took the switches in their stride, adjusting expectations and pronouns. Carmen was fierce and unapologetic and she lit up the pages, (loudly enough that I was glad we got a moment of vulnerability later.) The intrusiveness of her involvement with the romance fit with Carmen's larger than life persona. Daniel had his own style, and didn't just take a back-seat.
One thing that struck me, reading this account of a New Zealand guy with Crohn's, was how the cost of the illness didn't hit the character front and center, the way it did as I researched Crohn's in America. Drake doesn't debate whether he can afford a hospital stay or surgery topping off his thousands of dollars of deductible. He doesn't wonder if he should try to change jobs to get better health insurance. Stress aggravates chronic illness, and in America the costs and uncertainties of that add a layer to dealing with Crohn's. New Zealand does have a mixed system, with some parallel private care, but Drake has a safety net that works.
Both characters have moments of screwing up, and times when they take emotional hits. I liked the effort that Caleb made to educate himself (and would have liked to see Drake make a bit more effort in return to ask about what being a cop really entailed for Caleb - good bet it wasn't always that easy.) The end included a hesitation that felt very realistic but slowed the story. I like things real, so I'm going to applaud that even though it derailed the emotional arc for a while. I hadn't read this author before, but I enjoyed their writing style and will pick up another of theirs soon.
Content warning for a sad event .
August 6, 2019
Oh, my freaking ghawd This was the best crazy ride ever. It was at times heartbreaking with heavy feelings, but mostly delightful and joyful.
I laughed and snorted. It was the best witty, sarcastic and heartfelt honest read ever.
Written in an extremely captivating way, I couldn’t even try to imagine. The best!
They met in the most unusual way as Detective and the arrested man. Drake just spits on Caleb.
Caleb has a thick skin and tried more than once to connect with Drake. No chance at all!
When they do connect it isn’t easy at all. Drake has a list of complaints, he is rude and insulting.
Caleb finally gets it, he is not welcome.
When the cards are turning we get to meet them for real and hold your guns because WOWWW they are everything you can wish for. It isn’t an easy ride and it doesn’t go by itself but oh boy they are both very intense and, witty, sarcastic, heartfelt, sweet, sexy, sensual, possessive, claiming, hardheaded, stubborn, vulnerable, flawed, fucking real and down to earth!
Take a seat and prepare for an awesome story. It is widely written and has a depth you can drown in.
Thoroughly developed. Drake his condition with Crohn is very well developed, deep bow to the research. Both Drake and Caleb are amazingly worked out, both with their own characteristics, and that is standing tall throughout the whole story, it’s about both of them and really well balanced. It’s also about their work as a detective and midwife, their awesome friends, colleagues, and families.
The whole plot is just perfectly worked out. Sometimes devastating, hurtful, but their amazing emotional grow and their enchanting characters had the upper hand.
Highly recommended
I laughed and snorted. It was the best witty, sarcastic and heartfelt honest read ever.
Written in an extremely captivating way, I couldn’t even try to imagine. The best!
They met in the most unusual way as Detective and the arrested man. Drake just spits on Caleb.
Caleb has a thick skin and tried more than once to connect with Drake. No chance at all!
When they do connect it isn’t easy at all. Drake has a list of complaints, he is rude and insulting.
Caleb finally gets it, he is not welcome.
When the cards are turning we get to meet them for real and hold your guns because WOWWW they are everything you can wish for. It isn’t an easy ride and it doesn’t go by itself but oh boy they are both very intense and, witty, sarcastic, heartfelt, sweet, sexy, sensual, possessive, claiming, hardheaded, stubborn, vulnerable, flawed, fucking real and down to earth!
Take a seat and prepare for an awesome story. It is widely written and has a depth you can drown in.
Thoroughly developed. Drake his condition with Crohn is very well developed, deep bow to the research. Both Drake and Caleb are amazingly worked out, both with their own characteristics, and that is standing tall throughout the whole story, it’s about both of them and really well balanced. It’s also about their work as a detective and midwife, their awesome friends, colleagues, and families.
The whole plot is just perfectly worked out. Sometimes devastating, hurtful, but their amazing emotional grow and their enchanting characters had the upper hand.
Highly recommended
November 20, 2020
2.5 stars?
I’m giving up at 81%
The beginning was seriously amazing. Their first meet is hilarious and cute and horrifying and so much fun.
Drake is at a protest and needs a bathroom urgently because he has Crohn’s. He breaks in a building and when he steps out of the bathroom finally, he gets arrested. By Caleb. Then Caleb asks him out and Drake is like Hell no!
I loved their banter! I was so excited and highlighting the shit out of the book.
Caleb is persistent and starts courting Drake. That part was super cute. And then when they first got together was adorable.
By then it’s about 35% and nothing else happens. For the longest time. It was so incredibly sweet and boring.
Then something bad happens to Drake.
Drake pushes Caleb away.
Caleb is mad. “But I want to be there for you!”
Drake: no you can’t
Then something bad happens to Caleb.
Drake: let’s be there for each other.
Caleb: what? No you were right. I was not fair.
Drake: you don’t want to be there for me anymore?
Caleb: no hear me out.
And I’m out. I just don’t care anymore. Bye.
I’m giving up at 81%
The beginning was seriously amazing. Their first meet is hilarious and cute and horrifying and so much fun.
Drake is at a protest and needs a bathroom urgently because he has Crohn’s. He breaks in a building and when he steps out of the bathroom finally, he gets arrested. By Caleb. Then Caleb asks him out and Drake is like Hell no!
I loved their banter! I was so excited and highlighting the shit out of the book.
Caleb is persistent and starts courting Drake. That part was super cute. And then when they first got together was adorable.
By then it’s about 35% and nothing else happens. For the longest time. It was so incredibly sweet and boring.
Then something bad happens to Drake.
Drake pushes Caleb away.
Caleb is mad. “But I want to be there for you!”
Drake: no you can’t
Then something bad happens to Caleb.
Drake: let’s be there for each other.
Caleb: what? No you were right. I was not fair.
Drake: you don’t want to be there for me anymore?
Caleb: no hear me out.
And I’m out. I just don’t care anymore. Bye.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2020
* 2020 Lambda Literary Finalist in Gay Romance. Wonderful story !*
Down in the Kiwi country, northern New Zealand, Whangarei, we find a pair of men who need each other, but it takes awhile to realize it.
We open with the arrest of poor Crohn's Disease sufferer, Drake using a public bathroom.
Caleb, 37, muscled and strong, is a police detective
covering a protest, where someone on the "watch" list gets into a public building that is closed.
Korean/Kiwi, 30, thin and handsome,
a Midwife and protester, suffers from Crohn's and needs to go, now ! Embarrassed, but thankful he found the bathroom, Drake is taken to jail, where things do not go well.
Caleb feels guilty, and later sees Drake, and intends to woo the prickly Midwife. Their attraction is strong, but Drake fears for more rejection, because his disease is hard to handle and sends men running. Caleb is a hit and run type of guy, who doesn't want a relationship, but something about Drake is changing his mind.
We have tension, long conversations, story swapping, hot sexiness, care giving, drama, deep thoughts, understanding, fear, Crohn's information, a birth gone wrong, and an injury. Caleb has a robbery case investigation, when the wooing begins, with dates, dinner, outlandish flowers, spam, and other helpful gifts, which are so cute, because caustic Caleb is really doing his homework.
We have loving friends and family, with ups and downs, but all are watching the relationship grow. Caleb's drag queen friend Carmen/Daniel is priceless, and Drakes BFF is Aaron who has a recent break up, is a great character.
Each man is self deprecating, and each guy tries to convince the other to stop. They become closer and are doing well, until Drake's birthing case goes badly and he hides from everyone, becoming so ill....
Lots of drama and suspense, that had me crying so hard. Gosh !
The guys are intermittent in their talks now, but an injury changes everything.
I liked the serious topics, the deep passion, and the funny parts, too. Their sexy times are super sizzling, and we want this to work.
This is a heart wrenching tale in parts, Funny sometimes, but mostly we get a pair of men in need.
Highly recommended.
ENJOY !
========
Note: Trigger: This book contains detailed descriptions of childbirth which may be upsetting to readers who have had difficult labors and/or miscarriages.
========
Down in the Kiwi country, northern New Zealand, Whangarei, we find a pair of men who need each other, but it takes awhile to realize it.
We open with the arrest of poor Crohn's Disease sufferer, Drake using a public bathroom.
Caleb, 37, muscled and strong, is a police detective
covering a protest, where someone on the "watch" list gets into a public building that is closed.
Korean/Kiwi, 30, thin and handsome,
a Midwife and protester, suffers from Crohn's and needs to go, now ! Embarrassed, but thankful he found the bathroom, Drake is taken to jail, where things do not go well.
Caleb feels guilty, and later sees Drake, and intends to woo the prickly Midwife. Their attraction is strong, but Drake fears for more rejection, because his disease is hard to handle and sends men running. Caleb is a hit and run type of guy, who doesn't want a relationship, but something about Drake is changing his mind.
We have tension, long conversations, story swapping, hot sexiness, care giving, drama, deep thoughts, understanding, fear, Crohn's information, a birth gone wrong, and an injury. Caleb has a robbery case investigation, when the wooing begins, with dates, dinner, outlandish flowers, spam, and other helpful gifts, which are so cute, because caustic Caleb is really doing his homework.
We have loving friends and family, with ups and downs, but all are watching the relationship grow. Caleb's drag queen friend Carmen/Daniel is priceless, and Drakes BFF is Aaron who has a recent break up, is a great character.
Each man is self deprecating, and each guy tries to convince the other to stop. They become closer and are doing well, until Drake's birthing case goes badly and he hides from everyone, becoming so ill....
Lots of drama and suspense, that had me crying so hard. Gosh !
The guys are intermittent in their talks now, but an injury changes everything.
I liked the serious topics, the deep passion, and the funny parts, too. Their sexy times are super sizzling, and we want this to work.
This is a heart wrenching tale in parts, Funny sometimes, but mostly we get a pair of men in need.
Highly recommended.
ENJOY !
========
Note: Trigger: This book contains detailed descriptions of childbirth which may be upsetting to readers who have had difficult labors and/or miscarriages.
========
September 11, 2019
Sorpresa muy agradable, no me esperaba mucho, la enfermedad crónica de uno de los protagonistas me parecía que podía desvirtuarse en morbo. Pero, nada más lejos de la realidad, está tratada con mucha elegancia, con realismo, pero con esperanza. Una historia de amor tierna, y en momentos, también divertida. Muy bonito.
October 12, 2024
Audio: 5 million stars for Gary Furlong! This audio can be found on Jay Hogan’s website now and will be on all platforms on the 14th
Book: 4 stars
It took me a while to warm up to Drake… I loved Caleb, but the pushing away from Drake got old after awhile haha! But in the end I loved how they supported each other and their chemistry!
Idk if it was one of my favorite Jay Hogan’s books, but it was enjoyable!
Book: 4 stars
It took me a while to warm up to Drake… I loved Caleb, but the pushing away from Drake got old after awhile haha! But in the end I loved how they supported each other and their chemistry!
Idk if it was one of my favorite Jay Hogan’s books, but it was enjoyable!
August 6, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Jay Hogan has become an author that I look forward to time and again and Digging Deep is another great book. The characters are all excellent and extremely well written, from Drake and Caleb, to all of the side characters.
Drake has not had an easy time of it. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teen, it has ruled his life for years now. While he is said to be in remission, he takes daily medication and can have issues at any time, usually when it is most inconvenient. He rigorously plans his meals and his days, but even then, the disease is always in charge. Hogan did a great job showing what Drake had to deal with on a daily basis, both when he is feeling okay and when he has flare ups. Drake feels controlled by his disease and since his last relationship ended, he doesn’t think it’s fair to ask a partner to also take on the vast complexities of the disease and he doesn’t think there is even a man out there strong enough to do so. He just hasn’t given Caleb a chance.
The men have amazing chemistry together right from the start, even under the less than ideal circumstances of their first meeting.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Jay Hogan has become an author that I look forward to time and again and Digging Deep is another great book. The characters are all excellent and extremely well written, from Drake and Caleb, to all of the side characters.
Drake has not had an easy time of it. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teen, it has ruled his life for years now. While he is said to be in remission, he takes daily medication and can have issues at any time, usually when it is most inconvenient. He rigorously plans his meals and his days, but even then, the disease is always in charge. Hogan did a great job showing what Drake had to deal with on a daily basis, both when he is feeling okay and when he has flare ups. Drake feels controlled by his disease and since his last relationship ended, he doesn’t think it’s fair to ask a partner to also take on the vast complexities of the disease and he doesn’t think there is even a man out there strong enough to do so. He just hasn’t given Caleb a chance.
The men have amazing chemistry together right from the start, even under the less than ideal circumstances of their first meeting.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
December 6, 2024
A few years ago, a friend recommended New Zealand author, Jay Hogan, to me. By this time she already had a reasonably long back list and I spent many months reading some of the best books I’ve ever enjoyed. Digging Deep was one of those books and what an utterly unforgettable story it is. I love every single story this author has ever written and regularly re-read/listen, but I especially love those books where she uses her extensive knowledge as a senior Critical Care Nurse practitioner/teacher and Digging Deep in particular.
Drake Park’s life is complicated enough juggling a busy professional life as a male midwife, but add his chronic disease into the mix, and he has a more difficult life than most. On the whole he makes it work, but bitter experience has taught him that he’s not able to experience the kind of life that most gay men enjoy. Drake has learnt that he cannot compromise his health and, more especially, that trusting a man to understand him and his complex health needs has only led to heartbreak and disappointment in the past. The stress is never worth the inevitable pain.
Drake is pretty much resigned to a life alone with the emphasis on staying healthy, when he ‘meets’ police detective, Caleb Ashton, under less than auspicious circumstances. Caleb is a bit of a Tom cat with a commitment phobia, but for some reason he can’t explain, is immediately drawn to the gorgeous young man he arrests. Yes, Caleb arrests Drake, but is soon filled with overwhelming regret after he becomes fully aware of Drake’s condition and consequently realises the unnecessary pain and humiliation he has caused him.
Wanting to make amends, but also intrigued and attracted to the gorgeous young midwife, Caleb attempts an apology, in fact, more than one apology. Drake is having none of it. He’s prickly and sarcastic rebuffing Caleb at every turn. Caleb has to work extremely hard to even get Drake to agree to a conversation with him. What follows is often hilarious, but also sweet and endearing, as Caleb researches Drake’s Chrone’s disease - this appears to be the way to earn Drake’s trust - and then to prove he understands and is not put off by what he learns.
Drake is the recipient of some rather unusual gifts from his admirer, all pertaining to Chrone’s - Caleb’s rather unusual ‘bouquet’ being a case in point. Slowly Drake is worn down by Caleb’s resilience to his put-downs and amused and even secretly thrilled by his unusual and thoughtful gifts.
This story lends itself perfectly to the outstanding and fabulous performance by the multitalented Gary Furlong. Funny, witty, and snarky, as is the norm with any book written by Jay Hogan, there are also some tense and highly emotional moments. One such moment completely overset me and I felt myself wholly there in that place and time, experiencing Drake’s utter despair. I’m not often moved to tears, but such was the impact of Jay Hogan’s words on me and Gary Furlong’s interpretation of them that I was thoroughly undone. Such a beautiful, moving, utterly captivating story but also, at times - heart wrenching. I honestly cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially the audio version. A perfect author/voice actor team. 5 highly deserved stars.
Drake Park’s life is complicated enough juggling a busy professional life as a male midwife, but add his chronic disease into the mix, and he has a more difficult life than most. On the whole he makes it work, but bitter experience has taught him that he’s not able to experience the kind of life that most gay men enjoy. Drake has learnt that he cannot compromise his health and, more especially, that trusting a man to understand him and his complex health needs has only led to heartbreak and disappointment in the past. The stress is never worth the inevitable pain.
Drake is pretty much resigned to a life alone with the emphasis on staying healthy, when he ‘meets’ police detective, Caleb Ashton, under less than auspicious circumstances. Caleb is a bit of a Tom cat with a commitment phobia, but for some reason he can’t explain, is immediately drawn to the gorgeous young man he arrests. Yes, Caleb arrests Drake, but is soon filled with overwhelming regret after he becomes fully aware of Drake’s condition and consequently realises the unnecessary pain and humiliation he has caused him.
Wanting to make amends, but also intrigued and attracted to the gorgeous young midwife, Caleb attempts an apology, in fact, more than one apology. Drake is having none of it. He’s prickly and sarcastic rebuffing Caleb at every turn. Caleb has to work extremely hard to even get Drake to agree to a conversation with him. What follows is often hilarious, but also sweet and endearing, as Caleb researches Drake’s Chrone’s disease - this appears to be the way to earn Drake’s trust - and then to prove he understands and is not put off by what he learns.
Drake is the recipient of some rather unusual gifts from his admirer, all pertaining to Chrone’s - Caleb’s rather unusual ‘bouquet’ being a case in point. Slowly Drake is worn down by Caleb’s resilience to his put-downs and amused and even secretly thrilled by his unusual and thoughtful gifts.
This story lends itself perfectly to the outstanding and fabulous performance by the multitalented Gary Furlong. Funny, witty, and snarky, as is the norm with any book written by Jay Hogan, there are also some tense and highly emotional moments. One such moment completely overset me and I felt myself wholly there in that place and time, experiencing Drake’s utter despair. I’m not often moved to tears, but such was the impact of Jay Hogan’s words on me and Gary Furlong’s interpretation of them that I was thoroughly undone. Such a beautiful, moving, utterly captivating story but also, at times - heart wrenching. I honestly cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially the audio version. A perfect author/voice actor team. 5 highly deserved stars.
May 24, 2020
DNF @ 45%.
This was my first time reading Jay Hogan and the first chapter really had my hopes up that this may be a new author to add to my to-read list.
I thought that Drake made a pretty good impression in the first chapter. Then in next chapter we switch to Caleb's POV... and there isn't much difference. Good thing there is a header when the POV switches.
The sex scenes were long. And I don't mean that in a good way. One went on for pages and pages. The dirty talk was as cringey as dirty talk always is. The euphemisms were awkward, as they ever are.
I didn't like how Drake started out very frank about Crohn's. But the closer Drake and Caleb got, the more he tiptoed around the symptoms and complications. I would think if you wanted your partner to go into a relationship with eyes wide open, you wouldn't, "anal can be risky". You think you would be like, I have scarring in my intestines, I may shit on your dick, I have painful ulcers which means I can't handle being penetrated at the moment, cut your nails so you don't cause microtears, and any form of sex involving body fluids is risky as it can wreck havoc on my immune system if you have so much as a cold." Instead, it's just like, "I can tell Caleb did his research".
The editing is a bit meh. There are punctuation issues. And one thing that I found really annoying was when a character was cut off, the sentence would just". I personally prefer - to be used when dialogue is cut off, so it looks intentional and doesn't just read like a word was missed in editing.
Also, I don't know who the cover model is suppose to be. I assumed Drake, until Caleb describes his hair as asymmetrical, with one lobe peaking out on one side. I'd rather books not feature models if they can't actually resemble the characters.
What started out great ended up taking a huge nosedive. I just couldn't slog my way through it any longer.
This was my first time reading Jay Hogan and the first chapter really had my hopes up that this may be a new author to add to my to-read list.
I thought that Drake made a pretty good impression in the first chapter. Then in next chapter we switch to Caleb's POV... and there isn't much difference. Good thing there is a header when the POV switches.
The sex scenes were long. And I don't mean that in a good way. One went on for pages and pages. The dirty talk was as cringey as dirty talk always is. The euphemisms were awkward, as they ever are.
I didn't like how Drake started out very frank about Crohn's. But the closer Drake and Caleb got, the more he tiptoed around the symptoms and complications. I would think if you wanted your partner to go into a relationship with eyes wide open, you wouldn't, "anal can be risky". You think you would be like, I have scarring in my intestines, I may shit on your dick, I have painful ulcers which means I can't handle being penetrated at the moment, cut your nails so you don't cause microtears, and any form of sex involving body fluids is risky as it can wreck havoc on my immune system if you have so much as a cold." Instead, it's just like, "I can tell Caleb did his research".
The editing is a bit meh. There are punctuation issues. And one thing that I found really annoying was when a character was cut off, the sentence would just". I personally prefer - to be used when dialogue is cut off, so it looks intentional and doesn't just read like a word was missed in editing.
Also, I don't know who the cover model is suppose to be. I assumed Drake, until Caleb describes his hair as asymmetrical, with one lobe peaking out on one side. I'd rather books not feature models if they can't actually resemble the characters.
What started out great ended up taking a huge nosedive. I just couldn't slog my way through it any longer.
August 24, 2019
4 stars
October 8, 2019
I've given this a B+ at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars
Digging Deep is the first book I’ve read by New Zealander Jay Hogan, and I have to say I was pretty impressed. In it, the author takes a long, hard look at how living with a chronic illness impacts on every single aspect of life for the person who has it and those around them, while at the same time developing a tender, sensual love story between two men who have a lot to learn about how to maintain a relationship under difficult and often debilitating circumstances. Jay Hogan has clearly done her research when it comes to the disease itself (she acknowledges the input she received from many of those living with Crohn’s disease), and although there are times when the text gets a little bit info-dumpy, it never overwhelms the story or romance, and she injects a lot of humour into the tale while never belittling the disease or those who live with it.
Duck-Young Park (father, Korean, mother, Irish/Fijian) – who prefers to be called Drake – is a midwife who works in private practice in Whangarei in the Northland of NZ, alongside two close friends. He loves his job and is very good at it; he has a great relationship with his colleagues and has a couple of clients he counts as friends, but other than them, his best friend, and his family – with whom he’s really close – he lives a fairly lonely life. After his last relationship crashed and burned – his boyfriend of two years bailed when Drake had a fairly serious Crohn’s flare-up – he’s been cautious about getting involved again and has come to the conclusion that romance is not for him. Staying healthy and the pressure that puts on him is hard enough; the last thing he needs is another broken heart over a guy who won’t stick around when the going gets tough.
Police officer Caleb Ashton makes no secret of the fact that he’s not interested in relationships. He flits from casual fling to hook-up and back again, and likes it that way; he’s not boyfriend material anyway – he’s too selfish for that – and he’s content with the way things are. His best friend is the glorious drag-queen, Carmen Bendover (otherwise known as Daniel when not in drag), he gets along really well with his work-partner, Leanne, and okay, so he’s not seen much of his family for the last couple of years, but that’s down to him… and he knows he really must make an effort. He just hasn’t got round to it.
Life is about to change for both Drake and Caleb when Drake is attending a local demonstration and – to cut a long story short – Caleb ends up arresting him. Sparks fly, but when Caleb attempts to ask Drake out for coffee, Drake shuts him down in no uncertain terms and thinks that’s that. No matter how hot the guy is – very – or how tempted Drake is – quite a bit – there’s something about the officer that warns him to steer clear. But that proves to be more difficult than Drake had anticipated, as Caleb embarks upon a campaign of serious wooing that’s as much a surprise to Caleb as it is to Drake. Caleb is irresistibly drawn to the gorgeous, prickly midwife, and his persistence is endearing (and not at all creepy); the gifts he sends are thoughtful and clearly show that he’s making an effort to learn more about Drake’s condition, and after a few weeks, Drake admits that he can’t pretend to be indifferent any longer. He’s been attracted to Caleb from the first, but was – and still is – very wary about getting involved with someone new, especially someone with no track record when it comes to relationships. But if Caleb is willing to try – and he clearly is – then maybe Drake can afford to open up and let him into his life… just a little bit.
Drake and Caleb are complex, well-rounded characters and I liked them both, even when they weren’t always that likeable. Drake is brusque and snarky and tough, a real survivor, and both men have been used to being selfish in their own ways; Caleb, because he’s used to just looking out for himself, and Drake because he has to put himself and his health before everything else. But what they both have to realise is that when you love someone, you love all of them, even those parts you don’t like very much. Caleb’s journey from self-professed manwhore to loving partner is really well done; he makes a huge effort to learn about Drake’s condition and is determined to prove to Drake that he’s not going to be like his ex, and run when things get difficult. That said, I really appreciated that Caleb doesn’t immediately turn into Mr. Perfect; he really wants to be there for Drake, but can’t help worrying if maybe it will all get too much for him, and his doubts seemed perfectly realistic and made him seem that much more human. The author depicts Drake’s way of living with the disease very well also; he has to live a very regimented life, to be careful about what he eats and drinks, keep as fit as possible, keep his stress levels as low as possible, and he also has his coping mechanisms for when the condition flares up. But while he admits to a degree of selfishness – and I’m not necessarily criticising that; after all, he knows the disease better than anyone around him – he fails to see that he is, to an extent, allowing it to run his life.
Digging Deep is very much a character driven story, with the bulk of the conflict arising from Drake’s tendency to keep people at a distance, but there are a couple of dramatic moments that propel the story in the second half of the book. It’s hard to say much without spoilers, so I’ll just say that one of them is a tragedy specifically related to Drake’s profession that hits him really hard, and the other relates to Caleb and his job. While the first of these felt organic to the story, the second seemed a little contrived, and is one of the reasons I haven’t awarded the novel DIK status. Drake and Caleb already had so much on their plate that I felt it was over-egging the pudding.
There were also a few places where things got a teeny bit repetitive, but otherwise, this was a great read. In spite of the limitations placed on Drake’s sex life, there’s plenty of steam in this novel, and plenty of swoon worthy moments, too, such as the ugly-ass bouquet (you’ll see what I mean when you read it), or all those times when Caleb refuses to give up on Drake or when Drake finally realises that he doesn’t want to keep pushing Caleb away. I loved that Caleb wasn’t afraid to call Drake on his crap (pun unintended!) and how he embraced everything that came with loving Drake and was ready with the humour in a way that was just perfect for him.
There’s a terrific cast of secondary characters – Carmen and Drake’s mum are a hoot! – and while there are a lot of medical details in the book, they’re important in order for readers to understand the characters’ journey and the what they may face in the future. Digging Deep is a terrific mixture of funny and romantic, thoughtful and serious, and I give serious props to the author for bringing this story to life in such an insightful and engaging manner.
Note: This book contains detailed descriptions of childbirth which may be upsetting to readers who have had difficult labours and/or miscarriages.
Digging Deep is the first book I’ve read by New Zealander Jay Hogan, and I have to say I was pretty impressed. In it, the author takes a long, hard look at how living with a chronic illness impacts on every single aspect of life for the person who has it and those around them, while at the same time developing a tender, sensual love story between two men who have a lot to learn about how to maintain a relationship under difficult and often debilitating circumstances. Jay Hogan has clearly done her research when it comes to the disease itself (she acknowledges the input she received from many of those living with Crohn’s disease), and although there are times when the text gets a little bit info-dumpy, it never overwhelms the story or romance, and she injects a lot of humour into the tale while never belittling the disease or those who live with it.
Duck-Young Park (father, Korean, mother, Irish/Fijian) – who prefers to be called Drake – is a midwife who works in private practice in Whangarei in the Northland of NZ, alongside two close friends. He loves his job and is very good at it; he has a great relationship with his colleagues and has a couple of clients he counts as friends, but other than them, his best friend, and his family – with whom he’s really close – he lives a fairly lonely life. After his last relationship crashed and burned – his boyfriend of two years bailed when Drake had a fairly serious Crohn’s flare-up – he’s been cautious about getting involved again and has come to the conclusion that romance is not for him. Staying healthy and the pressure that puts on him is hard enough; the last thing he needs is another broken heart over a guy who won’t stick around when the going gets tough.
Police officer Caleb Ashton makes no secret of the fact that he’s not interested in relationships. He flits from casual fling to hook-up and back again, and likes it that way; he’s not boyfriend material anyway – he’s too selfish for that – and he’s content with the way things are. His best friend is the glorious drag-queen, Carmen Bendover (otherwise known as Daniel when not in drag), he gets along really well with his work-partner, Leanne, and okay, so he’s not seen much of his family for the last couple of years, but that’s down to him… and he knows he really must make an effort. He just hasn’t got round to it.
Life is about to change for both Drake and Caleb when Drake is attending a local demonstration and – to cut a long story short – Caleb ends up arresting him. Sparks fly, but when Caleb attempts to ask Drake out for coffee, Drake shuts him down in no uncertain terms and thinks that’s that. No matter how hot the guy is – very – or how tempted Drake is – quite a bit – there’s something about the officer that warns him to steer clear. But that proves to be more difficult than Drake had anticipated, as Caleb embarks upon a campaign of serious wooing that’s as much a surprise to Caleb as it is to Drake. Caleb is irresistibly drawn to the gorgeous, prickly midwife, and his persistence is endearing (and not at all creepy); the gifts he sends are thoughtful and clearly show that he’s making an effort to learn more about Drake’s condition, and after a few weeks, Drake admits that he can’t pretend to be indifferent any longer. He’s been attracted to Caleb from the first, but was – and still is – very wary about getting involved with someone new, especially someone with no track record when it comes to relationships. But if Caleb is willing to try – and he clearly is – then maybe Drake can afford to open up and let him into his life… just a little bit.
Drake and Caleb are complex, well-rounded characters and I liked them both, even when they weren’t always that likeable. Drake is brusque and snarky and tough, a real survivor, and both men have been used to being selfish in their own ways; Caleb, because he’s used to just looking out for himself, and Drake because he has to put himself and his health before everything else. But what they both have to realise is that when you love someone, you love all of them, even those parts you don’t like very much. Caleb’s journey from self-professed manwhore to loving partner is really well done; he makes a huge effort to learn about Drake’s condition and is determined to prove to Drake that he’s not going to be like his ex, and run when things get difficult. That said, I really appreciated that Caleb doesn’t immediately turn into Mr. Perfect; he really wants to be there for Drake, but can’t help worrying if maybe it will all get too much for him, and his doubts seemed perfectly realistic and made him seem that much more human. The author depicts Drake’s way of living with the disease very well also; he has to live a very regimented life, to be careful about what he eats and drinks, keep as fit as possible, keep his stress levels as low as possible, and he also has his coping mechanisms for when the condition flares up. But while he admits to a degree of selfishness – and I’m not necessarily criticising that; after all, he knows the disease better than anyone around him – he fails to see that he is, to an extent, allowing it to run his life.
Digging Deep is very much a character driven story, with the bulk of the conflict arising from Drake’s tendency to keep people at a distance, but there are a couple of dramatic moments that propel the story in the second half of the book. It’s hard to say much without spoilers, so I’ll just say that one of them is a tragedy specifically related to Drake’s profession that hits him really hard, and the other relates to Caleb and his job. While the first of these felt organic to the story, the second seemed a little contrived, and is one of the reasons I haven’t awarded the novel DIK status. Drake and Caleb already had so much on their plate that I felt it was over-egging the pudding.
There were also a few places where things got a teeny bit repetitive, but otherwise, this was a great read. In spite of the limitations placed on Drake’s sex life, there’s plenty of steam in this novel, and plenty of swoon worthy moments, too, such as the ugly-ass bouquet (you’ll see what I mean when you read it), or all those times when Caleb refuses to give up on Drake or when Drake finally realises that he doesn’t want to keep pushing Caleb away. I loved that Caleb wasn’t afraid to call Drake on his crap (pun unintended!) and how he embraced everything that came with loving Drake and was ready with the humour in a way that was just perfect for him.
There’s a terrific cast of secondary characters – Carmen and Drake’s mum are a hoot! – and while there are a lot of medical details in the book, they’re important in order for readers to understand the characters’ journey and the what they may face in the future. Digging Deep is a terrific mixture of funny and romantic, thoughtful and serious, and I give serious props to the author for bringing this story to life in such an insightful and engaging manner.
Note: This book contains detailed descriptions of childbirth which may be upsetting to readers who have had difficult labours and/or miscarriages.
November 10, 2024
Rounding up because of the light it shines on chronic illnesses, specifically Crohn’s disease.
The balance of things made this read not for me. The pacing felt a bit wonky and the push-and-pull arguably could’ve been cut shorter, or at least needed a change up in execution here and there. I would’ve appreciated more explanation for Caleb’s sudden dedication and steadfastness when it comes to Drake, given he has a reputation for sleeping around and not doing relationships. He just turned on a switch and was somehow ready to romance the pants off of Drake.
Drake does the majority of pushing away in the relationship, but I was able to see, for the most part, where he was coming from with his own struggles and insecurities and past experiences. And then, when the incident happens and he takes it beyond to 110, ouch. But as a fellow self-blamer who left an adjacent field out of being at a loss as to how to carry the emotional burden, I wanted to give him the biggest hug.
The balance of things made this read not for me. The pacing felt a bit wonky and the push-and-pull arguably could’ve been cut shorter, or at least needed a change up in execution here and there. I would’ve appreciated more explanation for Caleb’s sudden dedication and steadfastness when it comes to Drake, given he has a reputation for sleeping around and not doing relationships. He just turned on a switch and was somehow ready to romance the pants off of Drake.
Drake does the majority of pushing away in the relationship, but I was able to see, for the most part, where he was coming from with his own struggles and insecurities and past experiences. And then, when the incident happens and he takes it beyond to 110, ouch. But as a fellow self-blamer who left an adjacent field out of being at a loss as to how to carry the emotional burden, I wanted to give him the biggest hug.
April 6, 2023
3.5 stars
The .5 stars go to learning about Crohn’s disease and what a debilitating condition it is.
The .5 stars go to learning about Crohn’s disease and what a debilitating condition it is.
August 27, 2021
I learned a lot reading this novel and I was impressed with the detail. Midwifery, especially as a male midwife, Still Births, Crohn's Disease (especially as that works as a Gay male).
Few tiny niggles, it's quite long and repetitive, quite a few typos, needs editing down.....but overall, an enjoyable and instructive read.
Few tiny niggles, it's quite long and repetitive, quite a few typos, needs editing down.....but overall, an enjoyable and instructive read.
March 7, 2025
Great story, great supporting characters and two polar opposite leads...one detective who's a bit of a man-whore [his words not mine] and the other, a male midwife who loves his job and who suffers from a very debilitating condition and in view of past experiences, has an understandably cynical approach to men, dating and love in general.
Have to say, this is the second Jay Hogan story I've read, Crossing the Touchline being the first, and her approach to M/M is quite refreshing. The fact that the stories take place in NZ is an added bonus.
October 12, 2024
I love books that don't revolve people who are physically perfect. That just because someone is coping with something, that they don't deserve all the romance and a Happily Ever After.
This is what Jay Hogan has done for us. A gorgeous romance, grounded in reality, a reality that involves a serious medical condition with life altering effects.
Gary Furlong narrates the audio version, and he does a gorgeous job of it, really bringing out the emotion in the characters and the scenes. As an Australian, I often have trouble with narrators when they attempt an Australian or New Zealand accent, it often sounds too forced or too stereotypical. Gary Furlong does an admirable job and he is one voice I can listen to doing this accent. Overall, I loved the audio!
This book and audio was very well done, and I highly recommend it.
This is what Jay Hogan has done for us. A gorgeous romance, grounded in reality, a reality that involves a serious medical condition with life altering effects.
Gary Furlong narrates the audio version, and he does a gorgeous job of it, really bringing out the emotion in the characters and the scenes. As an Australian, I often have trouble with narrators when they attempt an Australian or New Zealand accent, it often sounds too forced or too stereotypical. Gary Furlong does an admirable job and he is one voice I can listen to doing this accent. Overall, I loved the audio!
This book and audio was very well done, and I highly recommend it.
August 18, 2019
3.75 stars rounded up
This was Jay Hogan's first book that I read and I was pretty satisfied with it. Strong characters with unique issues (meaning that I have not read many people with Crohn's OR male characters with occupation as a midwife), strong story-line, and of course a New Zealand location. All the supporter characters rocked too. Oh, and Hogan also wrote a very powerful scene
The only thing annoyed me was the whole in the end. I mean, I thought both men had talk things out and they understood what would happened, so it was rather weak that . It felt unnecessary.
This was Jay Hogan's first book that I read and I was pretty satisfied with it. Strong characters with unique issues (meaning that I have not read many people with Crohn's OR male characters with occupation as a midwife), strong story-line, and of course a New Zealand location. All the supporter characters rocked too. Oh, and Hogan also wrote a very powerful scene
The only thing annoyed me was the whole in the end. I mean, I thought both men had talk things out and they understood what would happened, so it was rather weak that . It felt unnecessary.
August 17, 2019
I really didn’t like this one much. My main issue with this book was Drake. I didn’t like him at all. I didn’t like the way he treated people in general. His constant need to think things over got on my nerves. Caleb was ok, but I really couldn’t get invested in their relationship.
The one thing I appreciated was the chance the author took including a main character suffering from the Crohn’s disease. It’s a very uncomfortable type of disease to write about, and I believe it was handled with respect and you could tell the author really did her research.
The one thing I appreciated was the chance the author took including a main character suffering from the Crohn’s disease. It’s a very uncomfortable type of disease to write about, and I believe it was handled with respect and you could tell the author really did her research.
August 20, 2019
The sexy detective usually enjoys an uncomplicated lover but with Drake he wants so much more. Their romance plays out, I like the emotion and growth that happens for both characters. Now, the sex. I know you’re really curious about how the sex. Well, here it is: smoking freaking hot!
Full Review - http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...
Full Review - http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/reviews/...
August 22, 2021
Trigger warnings: wrongful arrest, hospitalisation, relationships falling apart because of disability (in the past), lots of discussion of...toilets and what you do in them??, medical emergency, graphic descriptions of childbirth, blood,
3.5 stars.
This came up as a BookBub suggestion for me last week and I was sufficiently intrigued by both the blurb and the less-than-$2 price point to pick it up. And then I discovered it's set in New Zealand and I had to pick it up IMMEDIATELY. And for the most part, I enjoyed this! It's a sweet romance between two slightly broken guys who discover that they're a little less broken when they're together.
The discussion of Drake's Crohn's disease was great - it impacts literally everything in his life from his diet to his mental health to his career to his relationships to his ability to travel - and the way Caleb threw himself into learning as much as he possibly could in order to be there for Drake when he needed it was great.
HOWEVER. I am absolutely convinced that this book DIDN'T need a
3.5 stars.
This came up as a BookBub suggestion for me last week and I was sufficiently intrigued by both the blurb and the less-than-$2 price point to pick it up. And then I discovered it's set in New Zealand and I had to pick it up IMMEDIATELY. And for the most part, I enjoyed this! It's a sweet romance between two slightly broken guys who discover that they're a little less broken when they're together.
The discussion of Drake's Crohn's disease was great - it impacts literally everything in his life from his diet to his mental health to his career to his relationships to his ability to travel - and the way Caleb threw himself into learning as much as he possibly could in order to be there for Drake when he needed it was great.
HOWEVER. I am absolutely convinced that this book DIDN'T need a
December 22, 2024
4.5 stars bumped up to 5 for the superb narration.
My review of the book (from July 2019) is HERE
This is the first book by Jay Hogan I ever read, so I have a bit of a soft spot for it - although listening to it now, it's a bit overlong and could have done with a bit of judicious pruning here and there. Still, I enjoyed the story and the romance - and Gary Furlong is absolutely outstanding as snarky midwife Drake and completely nails his mouthy, in-your-face yet vulnerable personality. It's a wonderful performance all round. Recommended.
My review of the book (from July 2019) is HERE
This is the first book by Jay Hogan I ever read, so I have a bit of a soft spot for it - although listening to it now, it's a bit overlong and could have done with a bit of judicious pruning here and there. Still, I enjoyed the story and the romance - and Gary Furlong is absolutely outstanding as snarky midwife Drake and completely nails his mouthy, in-your-face yet vulnerable personality. It's a wonderful performance all round. Recommended.
March 5, 2020
Ugh, I seriously don't know how to rate this book especially that I feel very emotional about the issue it broaches.
On the one hand, it's the first and only book I've ever found whose MC suffers from an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's in his case). I do admit it was the main reason why I picked it up, as I'm a suferer myself, and I can't even begin to explain how meaningful it is to me that a book like this exists. It was difficult to read at times as I've gone through a lot of what the MC has but I'm glad it can bring awareness to people who haven't even heard of the disease.
All of the above was what I liked about the book.
On the other hand, however, the story just wasn't that good. It started very well but as it progressed I started to become more and more bored. It didn't seem to end. It was over 400 pages that honestly could be limited to 250 pages, that dragged on like 1000 pages. So much unnecessary page filler and so little action that I started skipping pages. There just wasn't enough plot for a book that long, in my opinion.
I also don't exactly understand the whole dilemma the MCs had to face. I don't have Crohn's, but I know people who suffer from it, and I have CU myself, and I really don't understand the drama. I mean, don't get me wrong, any IBD is an absolutely awful, painful, debilitating disease. All of it is true. But I really don't get why it would ever be a deal breaker for someone who's in love with a person suffering from it. Yes, it is something to think about at the start of a new relationship but why this has become the main focus of the book is beyond me. Yes, the MCs do decide love is more important but it left me, the reader, with the feeling of "huh, so is that really how people look at it?" If the story was supposed to bring hope... well, it didn't bring me much.
All in all I still do recommend the book. If not for the plot itself (which has its moments, the book is just way too long), then for the educational value, to learn more about the disease that isn't much talked about and that thousands have to suffer from.
On the one hand, it's the first and only book I've ever found whose MC suffers from an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's in his case). I do admit it was the main reason why I picked it up, as I'm a suferer myself, and I can't even begin to explain how meaningful it is to me that a book like this exists. It was difficult to read at times as I've gone through a lot of what the MC has but I'm glad it can bring awareness to people who haven't even heard of the disease.
All of the above was what I liked about the book.
On the other hand, however, the story just wasn't that good. It started very well but as it progressed I started to become more and more bored. It didn't seem to end. It was over 400 pages that honestly could be limited to 250 pages, that dragged on like 1000 pages. So much unnecessary page filler and so little action that I started skipping pages. There just wasn't enough plot for a book that long, in my opinion.
I also don't exactly understand the whole dilemma the MCs had to face. I don't have Crohn's, but I know people who suffer from it, and I have CU myself, and I really don't understand the drama. I mean, don't get me wrong, any IBD is an absolutely awful, painful, debilitating disease. All of it is true. But I really don't get why it would ever be a deal breaker for someone who's in love with a person suffering from it. Yes, it is something to think about at the start of a new relationship but why this has become the main focus of the book is beyond me. Yes, the MCs do decide love is more important but it left me, the reader, with the feeling of "huh, so is that really how people look at it?" If the story was supposed to bring hope... well, it didn't bring me much.
All in all I still do recommend the book. If not for the plot itself (which has its moments, the book is just way too long), then for the educational value, to learn more about the disease that isn't much talked about and that thousands have to suffer from.
September 18, 2023
Digging Deep is the first book in the series of the same name, and it goes off with an exceptional bang!!! Due to my work history, I have a good amount of knowledge to do with Crohn's Disease, and how they may end up with ostomy bags in particular. However, this story made it all so much more real! No more dry textbooks for me. I was able to relate on a much more personal level, seeing the impact it had on both Drake and Caleb respectively.
Both of these characters stole my heart. From the sassy yet oh-so-prickly midwife to the caring and considerate ex-man-whore who wants to try this "romance shit" with the guy who's gotten under his skin. There was only one issue that was never fully answered to my satisfaction (😉), and that was Leanne. Why was she 'off', as Caleb put it? I understand how the review because of the child would affect her, but that was sorted, and she was still not right? I'm not sure if I missed anything or not, but this is just a minor point, which has absolutely nothing to do with my total enjoyment of this book.
Excellently written, with enough detail for you to sympathise with the main characters without it taking over the whole story. I don't think there were any editing or grammatical errors in this book, but to be honest, I was too engrossed with the story. I was intrigued by the blurb and simply fascinated by the story itself. Absolutely recommended by me, and I really can't wait to continue with the series!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 14, 2019
Both of these characters stole my heart. From the sassy yet oh-so-prickly midwife to the caring and considerate ex-man-whore who wants to try this "romance shit" with the guy who's gotten under his skin. There was only one issue that was never fully answered to my satisfaction (😉), and that was Leanne. Why was she 'off', as Caleb put it? I understand how the review because of the child would affect her, but that was sorted, and she was still not right? I'm not sure if I missed anything or not, but this is just a minor point, which has absolutely nothing to do with my total enjoyment of this book.
Excellently written, with enough detail for you to sympathise with the main characters without it taking over the whole story. I don't think there were any editing or grammatical errors in this book, but to be honest, I was too engrossed with the story. I was intrigued by the blurb and simply fascinated by the story itself. Absolutely recommended by me, and I really can't wait to continue with the series!
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aug 14, 2019
January 4, 2023
People who love medical shows this one is probably for you! I can see how this wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea but I really enjoyed it. It’s heavy on the medical stuff, Drake’s Crohns features in every page and we spend a lot time on the toilet with him. The midwifery side of things is detailed and doesn’t end well which could be triggering to some readers. There is time spent in hospitals and this is described in accurate detail. Personally as a nurse/midwife myself I love this. The gorier, more intense and detailed medical stuff the better. But I’m a freak like that. I love it how accurate this authors writing is on the medical side of things, her blurb states she was a previous Critical Care Nurse and this shows.
I enjoyed the slow burn romance. Yes the push and pull was a little excessive and maybe that last time wasn’t needed but I can why the author did this. Both of these characters had strong voices. Drake could have easily overtaken this book but Caleb was his own distinct person and I loved this and how real and normal they both felt. Sometimes in a hurt/comfort novel the comforter is this amazing angel who gives everything and is too perfect, I love it how Caleb had doubts and got pissed off like a normal person. This may not be perfect but its memorable and impactful with a well earned HEA.
I enjoyed the slow burn romance. Yes the push and pull was a little excessive and maybe that last time wasn’t needed but I can why the author did this. Both of these characters had strong voices. Drake could have easily overtaken this book but Caleb was his own distinct person and I loved this and how real and normal they both felt. Sometimes in a hurt/comfort novel the comforter is this amazing angel who gives everything and is too perfect, I love it how Caleb had doubts and got pissed off like a normal person. This may not be perfect but its memorable and impactful with a well earned HEA.
January 19, 2020
Many people have to deal with diseases that make their life very difficult, and seeing what they have to deal with on a daily basis can be heart-wrenching - yet reading about someone battling with all its consequences can also be totally inspiring. The way the author has dealt with Crohn’s disease in this novel, not sparing any details, made me realize how much I take my health for granted. Drake, one of the main characters in this book, is an amazing man with many quirks. Caleb, the man he meets and falls in love with, may not have a complicated life, but he is a man with hidden depths. Set in New Zealand, with a great touch of local flavor, this is the story of an unexpected love, many discoveries, and lots of funny moments.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
July 7, 2022
A little too long.
Poop is gross; love is good.
Tender, hot, funny.
Poop is gross; love is good.
Tender, hot, funny.
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