2020 LAMBDA LITERARY FINALIST IN GAY ROMANCEDrake 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 … 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?
more
I would rate this 4.5 stars.
In an unfortunate series of events, Drake meets Caleb. This is meeting the right person in the wrong circumstances–or maybe not! It starts with an enemies to lovers vibe. Frankly, I didn’t quite feel the attraction during the hate phase, but once it gets going I was really rooting for these two. This takes place in Auckland, so there is use of New Zealand vernacular. It alternates first person POV in different chapters. I am hoping this is a typo and will be removed before publication, but it breaks the fourth wall in Cal’s thoughts, “and yeah, you heard what I heard.” It is only one sentence, but I didn’t like it.
This is an honest look at two people who meet and are attracted to each other, but will have to be mature and put the work in to maintain a relationship. This is flat out real in the way most romances are not. Sex is awkward, at times difficult, messy, and painfully vulnerable. This story explores all that. Many people say they hate it when the characters have issues because they just don’t talk to each other–here is your book where they have no choice but to communicate if they want to make this work. Medical issues are no joke and either one or the other of them could chicken out and run away without confronting the details on a daily basis, but they don’t. Neither does this book slap a label on it and call it a day, the reader gets the full nitty gritty about Drake’s illness and profession. This is all seriously intense; they barely date and then they are in it for life, and yet it still feels really believable. I am worried people won’t give this story a chance, or will give bad reviews, because of the discussions about bodily functions. This story is very good. Thankfully, there is plenty of humor also.
These families are loving, accepting, and have ribald moments of fun. These friends do not let the characters have rose tinted glasses or lie to themselves. This is what friendship looks like to me–people who will tell you harsh truths, not to hurt you, but to help you and still support your decisions, even if they think you are wrong. However there is also a great line in Caleb’s thoughts about making sure to not let your friends define who you are, “the first mistake I’d made was believing that Leanne’s version of me was maybe all there was.” I love that there is a wide and varied cast with representation of different cultures and sexualities. The epilogue takes place six months later and is heartwarming, taking them into the future together.
The cover art is by Kanaxa. I think it shows Drake and all I could think of was that expression “in the weeds,” which seems apropos.
It was an amazing whirlwind of a journey for this endearing couple.
I loved every single second of it.
The banter, the wit, the connection between them, the struggles… oh my gosh, just everything about ghis story makes you feel.
I highly recommend that you read this with a box of tissues and lots of chocolate on hand.
Thank you author for the escape into Drake and Caleb’s Love Story.
I wonder if Aaron gets his hea?!
Real Life Not Wrapped Up In A Bow
Digging Deep is the story of a male midwife, living with Crohn’s disease, and the cop who arrests him. Drake who loves his job, everything about it, from his patients to bringing new life into this world. He’s also surly, prickly, and bratty. He is not unaware of his faults, and owns them all. He does tend to put the blame for his behavior on his disease, and some of it is. He must be hyper aware of his diet, his surroundings in public, mainly access to a bathroom, keeping himself healthy, and a multitude of other things. Living with a chronic illness is not easy, or fun, or pretty, and it is not betrayed that way in this book. It is portrayed realistically, and in some detail, and that is what I loved about it.
Caleb is a good cop, who is also a player, never wanting more than a fling with anyone. He is a no strings attached guy, and he is fine living that way. He has no plans to settle down, has never been in a relationship, and has no plans to change that. Until he meets Drake.
Drake, for all his prickliness, has been hurt. Terribly so, by a long time boyfriend, who couldn’t handle his illness, when he had a flare up that hospitalized him. Because of that he tends to shut people down, before anything can get started, or before he can develop feelings for them, and get hurt again. He figures if he pushes people away first, It will save him the pain of them walking away.
Caleb finds Drake absolutely adorable. He makes it clear he’s not going anywhere, and sets out to “woo” Drake. He also does his best to educate himself about Drake’s disease.
What I loved most about this book, and these two men, was the realism of it all. These men were flawed, in their own ways, but they knew it. This book, and the subject matter, were raw, realistic, and hard sometimes, and it didn’t try to wrap it all up in a happy bow. Life happens, beyond the “honeymoon stage”, and that’s when the hard parts start, and you must put the effort in. Caleb has to figure out if Drake is worth the effort, and Drake has to figure out if Caleb is worth the possible hurt his leaving may bring him, if he can’t handle his disease.
This book has a HEA, but what I also loved about it was that the MC’s didn’t change who they were. Even with their HEA, Drake is still a prickly brat. It also has plenty of hot, sexy times between them, and Caleb diving head first in the deep end of a relationship, was funny and sweet.
This book deals with some heartbreaking subject matter, so please heed the trigger warnings.
https://optimumm.blog/2019/09/14/review-of-digging-deep-by-jay-hogan/
Drake Park is a young gay midwife who lives with Crohn’s – a chronic disease. His life is dictated by his disease, every simple thing like eating out, going to the theatre or traveling needs to be carefully prepared. Drake is single, his last relationship was a disaster at the end, and Drake is determined to never have to live that again – until Caleb.
Caleb is a hot gay cop, a bachelor who jumps from bed to bed without doing any repeats and running away from everything that might look like it’s a relationship. Everything was fine like that until he meets a sparky, bossy, hot midwife who gives him a run for his money.
Caleb doesn’t know if he can be in a serious relationship without messing it up, and Drake refuses to have a repeat of his last relationship. What are the odds that these two men succeed together?
Digging Deep by Jay Hogan is my first book by this author, and I liked it.
I loved the plot about a chronic disease, especially Crohn’s. I have friends who suffer from it, and I was glad to read a romance where one of the MCs has it. The author did her work well, and I appreciated that she took the time to research about it. Every disease is different from one person to another, but she sums the main aspects of it pretty well, and I liked it.
I loved the MCs. Drake is funny, sparky, and bossy. He refuses to appear vulnerable in front of everyone, especially Caleb. He pushes him away a lot from fear of the rejection when he will have a bad Crohn’s flare. He appears mean sometimes, and I found him pretty rude with Caleb, but I understand him and his reasons. Besides, when he realizes his mistakes, Drake works hard to make it up to Caleb, and I really love it.
Caleb is funny, sincere, and honest from the start with Drake. He admits knowing nothing about the relationship thing, and he admits not knowing anything about Crohn’s disease. But he refuses to let Drake judge him or assuming the worst about him. He fights hard for Drake, and for them. He wants a real chance to prove to Drake who he really is. I loved Caleb and his weird sense of humor.
The plot and the story were good, but there was too much repetition. All throughout the book, we read Drake pushing away Caleb, and Caleb doubting himself about their relationship. It was necessary at first when they started to date, but at some point, it was too much, and I had the feeling of turning in a circle with the same issues each time. It’s the only thing that bothered me during my read, and I admit I had to skip some passages from time to time.
Excepting this point, I really loved the story. The MCs, including the secondary ones, especially the awesome and wonderful Carmen/Daniel. I secretly hope to read a book about them and also about Aaron, Drake’s BFF.
Even if everything wasn’t perfect, it was a good book that I enjoyed.
Drake Park and Caleb Ashton are two very opposite people.
Drake is a midwife and lives a very structured life. He has Crohn’s disease which is very complicated. The disease not only effects his health but his relationships with people. His one serious relationship only lasted a few years and the break-up really affected Drake. He’s faced the reality of it all and is determined to just live his life the best he can and no longer get involved with anyone.
Caleb has a more than busy life being a detective. He has no time for commitments and just sticks to his casual one night stands.
How Drake and Caleb meet is somewhat funny and almost turned out to be a huge fiasco. After this odd meeting Caleb, sees his mistake plus he can’t get his mind off the snarky Drake and tries to make a date with him. Although, Drake keeps putting him off, Caleb makes a great effort in learning as much as he can about Crohn’s disease and comes up with some interesting ways to woo Drake. But the battle isn’t easily won. There’s a lot of ups and downs that both Drake and Caleb have to overcome and sometimes it leads to hurtful moments and misunderstandings.
Jay Hogan really delves into the personalities and lives of the Drake and Caleb in this interesting story that involves a serious disease. There’s heavy thoughts about having a relationship with Crohn’s disease being a major factor. Both characters have to struggle through making some very hard decisions and emotions.
With the many serious moments the author also gives us humor between Drake and Caleb, both their families that are very supportive and loving and toss in Caleb’s very unique friend Daniel/Carmen and Peter and anything is bound to be said.
Besides this being an education about Crohn’s disease, what I really appreciated about this novel is the “Acknowledgments”. It really shows that Jay Hogan did some serious research and reached out to people who have Crohn’s.
I have to admit, this is a first time read for me by Jay Hogan and I was thoroughly educated and entertained!
4.5 stars
Heat Level: 4
From the initial meet-cute, through an emotional rollercoaster of a journey. I found this story touching, authentic, real and poignant.
This story has angst, miscommunication, heat, pain, first love and the perfect amount of sass, sarcasm, and humor you can’t help but laugh along or roll your eyes as the case may be!
Jay has created a wonderful family of mismatched characters both, main and secondary, you can’t help but fall in love with. From sexy and caring cop Caleb to spiky and snarky Drake to the ever dramatic and dangerous Carmen, to the not Korean but totally Korean mum, Alison, all this book’s characters are just fantastic!
I loved Caleb and Drake’s journey and found the very real-world aspects and devastation they had to face made the story that much more authentic. I loved the back and forth between these characters and the use of humor and sarcasm to get through even every day, was balanced perfectly throughout the whole story. The Crohn’s aspect was thoroughly researched and I enjoyed the authenticity of getting to know this disease and what sufferers face. I loved Drake’s courage and growth, and Caleb’s strength and “staying power” and felt their connection grow. I loved the feelings generated throughout this story and the incredible truth that sometimes someone can just come into your life and turn your life around, someone that just changes your life, sometimes you have to fight for “the one” and when you’ve found your person, there’s no question you would fight to keep them! I loved the connection and bond these characters have and their mismatched family to boot!
I would like to note an important spoiler of sorts/reader warning:
Unfortunately, I didn’t come across any reader warnings at the start of this book but I would like to warn my fellow readers that this book contains late-term miscarriage and is done so authentically it is confronting and devastating. As a fellow miscarriage sufferer (and human being) this was a very hard (but important) part of this story and it definitely broke my heart, I feel a warning is necessary.
Even with the evident devastation, I loved these characters and their very unique journey. My first read by Jay and definitely not my last! I also have to say I loved her New Zealand humor as it can be so close to Australia, I just had to love it more!!
Thanks for reading! For great stories, reviews and more please visit https://bookstattoosandtea.wordpress.com
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
I want to just say a few words about this book, cos if I let myself have free reign, the review might be as long as the book!
Outstanding!
Brilliant!
Best book of the year!
Drake is a midwife with more than a few problems, most of them centring around his Crohn’s. When he gets arrested for using the loo, Caleb is the arresting officer and is immediately and totally smitten with Drake. Drake, though, holds Caleb at arm’s length and then some. Making sure Caleb knows exactly what he is getting into with Drake is the only way to make Caleb see that Drake is not boyfriend material. But Caleb? Batchelor that he is, he doesn’t back down from Drake’s all doom and gloom and it takes a flare up for Drake and a shooting for Caleb to make both men see that they are perfect for each other.
So, picture the scene. It’s miserable out, you’ve a glass of wine, and an early night and a new book to start. Bear in mind, you have to be up at 6am for that darn day job and it is already after ten.
And the next thing you know, the book is finished, the wine sat untouched, it’s 3am and you just put your kindle down and go “oh.my.god”
There are no other words that floated in my brain when I finished this book, none at all. All I could think was “oh.my.god” just that!
And trust me when I say, that is a very VERY good thing!
Drake is a prickly sort, he’s a male midwife, he’s gay and he has a life altering condition that requires a huge amount of adjustment for him, let alone anyone else. Caleb is happy, plodding along with his very uncomplicated life. And Drake knocks Caleb for six, quite literally. Drake also pushes Caleb away so darn hard, I felt it. But Caleb, he’s a stubborn sort, and when Drake wants wooing, Caleb woos! Oh yes, that boy does wooing beautifully!
There is a huge, massive, MAHOOSIVE amount of talk about what Crohn’s means to Drake and what that would mean to a prospective partner. And really, it is absolutely needed here. Caleb needs to know, right down to the itty bittiest detail what it means to live with this disease, and what Caleb should expect. And Caleb?? Caleb laps it all up and throws the hole darn pile of poop right back at Drake!
The level of research into Crohn’s is amazing and either the author worked her bloody socks off, and/or has first hand experience, because it shows! There is a lot of information, yes, but the way Drake delivers it to Caleb, it’s all absorbable for the lay person to take in.
I loved these two! So very different, but so very matched. They are funny in places, and deeply emotional. Sexy in places, and downright filthy too.
Oh I could rant all day about this book, I really could!
This is only the THIRD book that Hogan has written, and the second I have read. I need more! I really do! Cos if Hogan can deliver THIS level of writing after only 3 books, I’ma on the end of the next one, oh yes, yes I am!
So, in case you did NOT get how I felt about this book, and ya’ll know I’m all about my book feelings:
This is my outstanding book of the year!
I’ve filed it on my “Masterpieces” shelf too.
And as if I could give it anything other than:
5 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
This book was a new experience that I truly enjoyed. It was my first book by this author and I’m very thankful that I was given the chance to discover a true gem. This was a real story. It wasn’t a fantasy or a romance you see the gist of in many Hollywood movies. This was a love story that you or I could have. I was drawn in from the very first page. In the first chapter, you are introduced to Drake and Caleb. They meet in a very embarrasing way. Drake has been suffering from Crohn’s disease since late teens. It is a gastrointestinal disorder that has been extremly hard for him to accept, especially as a gay man. The author brings the reader up close with the disease and how it impacts a person’s life. As you are introduced to Drake and Crohn’s, you immediately see how strong he is. Due to its impact on his life, he is unable to experience relationships in any carefree manner. I never realized what these patients go through and Drake gets control of it, even becoming a successful midwife. He has a loving family and loving friends but no significant other. Caleb is a detective and is not looking for love and especially a relationship. But that seems to be out of his control the moment he looks at Drake which also includes arresting him. I absolutely loved the back and forth between these two! Drake can be very sarcastic and is really quick witted. The number one aspect of the book that kept the pages turning was how entertaining they were together. Once Caleb realizes he wants Drake and for more than a night, he sees he will have to work harder than anyone would imagine. Drake has been burned before with a painful broken heart due to his illness. He does everything he can to protect his heart. This was a very slow burn romance. But Caleb proves he is informed medically and he wants to be with Drake very much. I don’t know how he didn’t give up. Like I said, this was a real love story amidst real issues that are so difficult to work around and make work while still keeping your heart intact. It was so easy to root for them and be their cheerleader all throughout the book. I’d love to read more of their story. It was very inspiring and instills hope where otherwise there is doubt. I look forward to reading more from this author.
I was interested in reading this book because it’s a M/M romance, but also because Drake has Crohn’s disease. I was intrigued because I suffer from stomach issues myself so I could do sympathize with Drake. What I really like about this book it doesn’t sugar coat anything and gives it to you real. I enjoyed the chemistry between Drake and Celeb. They navigate through a relationship. There is also a good amount of humor in this one. That’s one of my favorite things about the book. I gobbled up this book and was hooked up right from the start. If you’re a fan of M/M romance then I highly recommend this book.
Enjoyable story, unique characters, brave approach to a difficult health related topic. Plus a lot of banter and smark, with a healthy dose of secondary characters to make the story even more appealing.
I loved the whole package a lot and will look forward to more such bravery from this author!
This was my first book by Jay and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. It had my kind of witticism and sarcasm. The characters were well rounded and deep enough to make you care about them. I know some about Crohns but this shows well the life of someone living with it.
My favourite bit was when Caleb was talking about his best friend Daniel/Carmen and saying he needed to get his pronouns in a row before talking to him/her.
I really did enjoy this.
While not easy to leave a review for a book and to decide on a star level, I chose a rounded up 3.5 star level. While some bits of this book were not for me (mostly because of preferences), I think that with the right person, you will love this novel!
Important note though: I do think that there should be a trigger warning for late-term miscarriages.
Though the story-line is wonderful and this is a good book, there were too many details for me. While I do know that this is a personal preference, there was just so much internal dialogue and too many descriptors that I ended up skimming paragraphs at a time. The book seemed to only flow well and move along when the main characters were together.
The supporting characters are absolutely perfect! They are willing to tell the mains when they need to cut the crap and when they need to see the real picture. They were supportive, loving, funny, and fit perfectly into the plot.
50 pages shorter and this would have been a solid 5-star read.
I highly recommend this book! I’ve never read a book involving Crohn’s disease and the effects the illness has on the person or those around them. I have known a few people with Crohn’s but not well enough to discuss anything with them. The way Drake and Caleb try to navigate their relationship is inspiring. It touches real issues and how partners need to talk with each other to grow and stay together.
Oh my, this book is beautiful. My first read by Jay Hogan and I am definitely coming back for more.
In Digging Deep, we follow Drake (midwife, NZ blend, activist and Crohns sufferer) and Caleb (detective, man-whore and terrified of his drag queen best mate, with reason). We see them from an unusual starting point through the genuine ups and downs of building a relationship when you’re both stubborn buggers who don’t trust your own staying power, never mind with the addition of what can be a debilitating illness.
It’s a fantastically-written story, with bits where I laughed HARD and others that made me reflect on the serious side of building a relationship. Oh and one bit that I suggest stocking up on Kleenex for.
Fabulous characters (please write Carmen and Pete’s story), just bloody brilliant all round.
I was given an ARC copy of this book. The above is my honest review.
This one has so much emotions that I just love. Caleb and Drake’s slow burn romance is such a great read. This one had my emotion going up and down in a good way. Angst but with humor that balance out the story. Definitely like that Jay Hogan also had a very good understanding about Crohn’s disease and how it affects people.
This was such a great, grab-you-by-the-feels, powerful, no-glossing-over-the-nitty-gritty, heartbreaking yet hopeful, realistically three dimensional, slow burning, and totally awesome tale. It had me hooked from beginning to end, and I would DEFINITELY recommend getting this marvelous gem ASAP.
A captivating, well built, slow burn read that will draw you in from the first chapter. The characters are unique and from their first meeting which doesn’t go so great till the end, this book will keep you entertained with the characters snark, humor and raw emotion.
The plot is well developed and a lot of research is displayed in the medical and daily aspects of Drakes struggle with Crohn’s disease.
I liked how the author didn’t gloss things over and was realistic in her timeline of the characters relationship progression, intimacy challenges and personality clashes.
The supporting characters were great and added well to the plot. The epilogue was a lovely end to their journey. A truly worthwhile read.
Drake has a chronic disease that has left him running away from relationships. Caleb is a cop who meets Drake at a rally and cuffs him. Not a great start, but it was a start of a beautiful relationship. I don’t know if I wanted to get that much info on Chron’s disease but it opened my eyes to a world unknown. What these characters go through is quite difficult but love conquers all, right?
I enjoyed reading the book and the sassy comments from both Drake and Caleb. Daniel and Carmen are a hoot!
A book that faithfully shows the reality of life while still allowing me to get lost in a lovely romance. I’ll be reading this again!
I struggled abit in the beginning of this book but as I read more I found this story to be interesting. Drake is suffering with a health problem which affects his life day in and day out and Caleb is a Police Detective who falls in love with Drake only Drake keeps Caleb at arms length. The intense research this author went to was amazing and as this is a new author to me I will be reading more.