“Dig Deep” delivers a 5-book, 36+ hour enemies-to-lovers listen. In these linked stories, a construction crew is sidelined after the discovery of a dinosaur fossil brings in a group of paleontologists to dig up the entire skeleton. Resentments flare as the two groups have to occupy the same site; the paleontologists digging for bones and the construction guys forced to remain idle.
The main trope threaded into all of the books is enemies-to-lovers but other tropes take featured roles. There’s age-gap, opposites-attract, gay/bi-awakening, disabled main character and silver foxes. I’d say there’s something for everyone in this group of stories.
The plot of these books is very contrived. My suspension of disbelief was constantly challenged. Quite a lot of the extreme situations the author puts the characters through are improbable at best, if not impossible.
Characterization is uneven. There were a couple of characters that I thought early on would turn out to be horrible homophobes only to find them getting together with another man. One minute there’s animosity, the next cooperation, then before you know it, they’re coming to physical blows. I couldn’t figure these guys out.
The relationships of Books 1-4 are enjoyable. Each one is emotional in its own way. Book 5’s relationship is the weakest and I had the most difficulty getting through that story.
I liked Austin Jay’s narration. It is a nicely emotional performance.
I requested and received a free review copy of this audiobook and have left this voluntary opinion.