Title: Digging Up Love
Author: Chandra Blumberg
Genre: Romance
Published On: January 1, 2022
Publisher: Montlake
Source: digital
Pages: 345
Synopsis:
From debut author Chandra Blumberg comes a playful, heartfelt romance about chasing your dreams and finding love in the process.
Alisha Blake works her magic in the kitchen, creating delectable desserts for her grandfather’s restaurant in rural Illinois. Though Alisha relishes the close relationship she has with her family, she can’t help but dream about opening a cookie shop in Chicago. She may be a small-town baker, but Alisha has big ambitions.
Then a dinosaur bone turns up in her grandparents’ backyard. When paleontologist Quentin Harris arrives to see the discovery for himself, he’s hoping that the fossil will distract him from a recent painful breakup. Instead, he finds Alisha—and sparks fly. The big-city academic and the hometown baker seem destined for a happily ever after.
But Alisha is scared to fall in love. And Quentin’s trying to make a name for himself in a competitive field, which gets even more complicated when the press shows up at the dig site. For love to prevail, the two may have to put old bones aside—and focus on the future.
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
But while this one is unique, it’s probably not for every romance fan. If you’re not a fan of the miscommunication trope, you might want to steer clear of this one. Every problem Alisha and Quentin face could have simply been solved with a five minute conversation. BUT I think that’s what’s at the heart of this story: two people who aren’t being honest with themselves so they can’t be honest with each other. But rest assured no one’s lying in this story! They just don’t want to face the truth so they’re not digging very deep. See what I did there??
I didn’t mind the miscommunication in this one though, because it leads our characters to learn about themselves and each other, pushing them to the happiness they deserve.
This dual point of view romance is also very PG, which some of you will love while others will be left wishing for more. I usually fall somewhere in between, and I would have liked a little more romance because the bits we got were swoon-y!
“‘Our kiss felt like—‘ Like everything he ever wanted and exactly what he needed. Lightning and a gentle rain. Still waters and stardust.”
Chandra Blumberg, Digging Up Love
Blumberg has also created several side characters with potential for further stories, and I was happy to see that a book about Alisha’s sister Simone is coming this summer!
There’s a mix of many worlds in this one, Alisha’s small-town setting and Quentin’s more academic life in the city, plus even some adventures in a cornfield and on a beach! And so so many references to delicious food. I fully expected some recipes at the end of this one. Maybe they’ll include some in the final copies. One can hope!
Thank you to the publisher Montlake and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Rating:
Barnes and Noble | Indiebound | Amazon
About the Author
A Song For A Book
Blumberg mentions one artist in Digging Up Love and I knew he had the perfect song for me to highlight: “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars. One thing I especially loved about Quentin was his adoration for Alisha.
Oh, her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they’re not shinin’
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her tryin’
She’s so beautiful and I tell her everyday
Yeah, I know, I know
When I compliment her, she won’t believe me
And it’s so, it’s so
Sad to think that she don’t see what I see
But every time she asks me, “Do I look okay?”
I say
When I see your face
There’s not a thing that I would change
‘Cause you’re amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
‘Cause girl, you’re amazing
Just the way you are
Yeah
Will you be adding Digging Up Love to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
A Ross thing. Haha! I love it! I will probably pass on this one even though it sounds delightful. Miscommunication — or lack of communication — can be a struggle for me. Great review, though!
Yeah, I know miscommunication is a hard pass for many readers. But it was very well written so maybe keep an eye out for her next one! 🙂
Will do!
I have no issue with miscommunication — that’s a real thing. Love food in books too!
Yes! Absolutely!
This one sounds so cute! Thanks for the warning about the miscommunication thing. I can enjoy books which use that trope, but I have to be in the right mood to accept them or I just get annoyed.
I get that! It’s a trope that needs to be done well!
Yup, and if I’m not expecting it sometimes it annoys me even when it is done well!
That’s always a hard choice to make for me, as well. Do I want to know about tropes or content warnings before I read a book? Or do I just want to go into it blindly? It usually varies for each book or genre. 😉
Yes, it is a hard decision to make! Usually for me it depends on my current mood. And lately I’ve been feeling more sensitive in my reading, so knowing a little about the warnings right now has been helping.
Yes! Same here. <3
I’m glad this one worked out for you. I also had a bit of a Ross thing and my son wanted to be a paleantologist as one time. I get frustrated with miscommunication, so this one is probably not for me. Great review Dedra.
Love those nerdy boys! 😉 Must be why I married one. Ha!
💖😁
Great review, Dedra! I’m so glad you gave the heads-up for miscommunication because that is a trope that I tend to dislike, especially if it goes on for a while (which it sounds like it does in this book?)! But… It still sounds really cute and I love the premise, so maybe having a heads up will help me deal with the miscommunication! 🤣
Yeah… the miscommunication issues are pretty much through the entire book, but they’re also kind of a main plot?? I guess that’s why they didn’t really bother me too much. It’s also a quick read, which helps. It doesn’t feel like it drags on forever. 😉
That cover is amazing! Sounds like a fun read!
Yes! I thought the cover was too cute!