Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Digging Deep
AUTHOR: Jay Hogan
NARRATOR: Gary Furlong
PUBLISHER: Southern Lights Publishing
LENGTH: 12 hours and 25 minutes
RELEASE DATE: October 14 , 2024
BLURB:
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 fulltime 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?
Note: One of the main characters in this book is a midwife and there is an account of an emergency delivery and the loss of a baby.
REVIEW:
Note: The author has recently released this audio via website. Link can be found below.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I bought this book years ago and then hadn’t gotten around to reading it. To be fair, I have something like 14,000 books in my calibre library so I guess you could say I have an issue. It’s not hoarding/addiction if it’s books right? 😉 Anyway, when the opportunity came along to review the audio, I jumped at the chance. I have enjoyed this author’s books in the past and knew this will be a good story. And it was. That is not to intimate that it’s all sweetness and light but there is a happily ever after that is hard won here.
Both men have a lot on their plate. They have demanding jobs and Drake’s health condition is something that he is managing, but it’s not easy and requires vigilance on his part. The mean under less than ideal circumstances when Drake has an emergency while at a march. Caleb arrests him after banging on the bathroom door in a public building. Drake tries to plead his case, but Caleb isn’t having it and takes him downtown anyway. Then he’s left in a disgusting interview room and nearly humiliates himself before the officer gets him to a bathroom. He’s in pretty bad shape by the time they finally let him go. Caleb tries to apologize and now it’s Drake’s turn to have none of it.
Drake tries to recover after the incident and spends the rest of the weekend on meds, resting, trying to get nutrition in, etc. He is back at work, visiting his patients (he’s a midwife). When Caleb shows up at his practice office, he’s surprised. Caleb admits he was kind of a jerk to Drake and he’d like to make amends. Drake had noticed Caleb checking him out while arresting him but he’s already been through a breakup of someone who thought they could deal with Drake’s health issues but that turned out to not be true. He ended up with a big setup and was hospitalized for months. Drake’s just not up to spending time with someone who will just decide he isn’t worth the trouble. Been there, done that got the t-shirt and the hospital bills to show for it. Then he finds out that Caleb might not be quite the jerk Drake assumed.
Drake feels bad about how he gave Caleb the brushoff and so he then goes to the Police station to apologize. They do end up going for coffee, but Drake still isn’t convinced that pursuing more is worth it. He’s got food issues and needs bathroom issues and needs access etc. And lets not even get into what all these issues can do to his libido and a possible sex life. Caleb has some work to do to wear down Drake’s resistance to anything really.
Finally Caleb perseveres and they end up going out and spending time together. And he is very mindful and respectful of Drake’s requirements. Drake is pleasantly surprised because he really didn’t expect that. In the end, they find that they really do enjoy each other’s company. As they get to know each other better, Caleb can see why Drake was so reluctant to pursue anything with him. Caleb has never had a real relationship. He’s much more into hookups and the club scene really. Drake can’t drink and he’s not so interested in clubs. Caleb’s best friend is a drag queen names Carmen (alter ego Daniel) who he’s been friends with his he was a kid. Carmen is married and is shocked that Caleb really seems to be settling in for the long haul.
Then a tragedy strikes. Drake is not only devastated but he feels like he is responsible for the situation. His patient is devastated and Drake refuses to let Caleb be with him. He goes off into self-destruction and lands in hospital and stops communicating with Caleb. Drake hurts Caleb a lot with the way he reacts to this situation, but when he finds out how bad it really is, he’s there right away. Drake is remorseful and hopeful that Caleb might be able to forgive him. Before they can work through things though, Caleb’s world goes sideways. Thankfully there are supportive family and friends who help these two figure out that the only way they are going to make it is if they work together and communicate honestly with each other. It’s not going to always be sunshine and roses. But there is a path forward that they can find together if they are willing to work for it.
Gary Furlong is one of my absolute favorite narrators (follow him on insta – he is a hoot!). His accents are just so spot on. Drake and Caleb are prickly and flirty and growly and gruff. But once they get past their initial push/pull, they are so adorable together. This author doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff that Drake is dealing with in his life due to his chronic health condition. There is no cure. He has to deal with symptoms and do his best to avoid triggers and keep his stress as low as possible. Caleb is on a learning curve not only with Drake’s health but also just being in a relationship for the first time in his life. I loved the way the author and subsequently the narrator dealt with the evolution of these two from sort of enemies to lovers. I loved the voice choices for Carmen/Daniel, Drake’s family and coworkers and particularly his patient Prim and her husband. I thought the devastation and emotions were absolutely perfect. This is an emotional story and the arc for these two men is very much a journey from attraction, to lovers to acceptance of all of the parts that make up a life – especially the less than perfect ones. Very well written and worth the listen. Recommended.
RATING: 
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