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Diving Deep #1
Diving Deep
Adventure, danger, passion. A heady mix that only a select few can breathe—and live.
Standing by while his lover tempted fate deep under the Atlantic drove Lee Preston into the bottle. The pain of watching his captain drown in a sea of booze sent elite wreck diver Bobby MacArthur running.
Lee chases whiskey the way Bobby chases adrenaline. The farther apart they stay, the better off they’ll both be. And if Bobby repeats those words often enough, he might start believing them. Now his former partner is calling to his diver soul with the promise of the find of a lifetime. Every crazy chance he takes underwater is safe compared to coming back, but if Lee’s turning his life around, Bobby will haul his gear back aboard the Bottom Hunter.
But not as lovers—yet—and no booze, no wild gambles two hundred feet below. Not even to identify a missing piece of history sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic. Fate has given them a chance to redeem what was lost, if they survive.
But the sea is jealous of her secrets, and the price of her treasures is high.
Standing by while his lover tempted fate deep under the Atlantic drove Lee Preston into the bottle. The pain of watching his captain drown in a sea of booze sent elite wreck diver Bobby MacArthur running.
Lee chases whiskey the way Bobby chases adrenaline. The farther apart they stay, the better off they’ll both be. And if Bobby repeats those words often enough, he might start believing them. Now his former partner is calling to his diver soul with the promise of the find of a lifetime. Every crazy chance he takes underwater is safe compared to coming back, but if Lee’s turning his life around, Bobby will haul his gear back aboard the Bottom Hunter.
But not as lovers—yet—and no booze, no wild gambles two hundred feet below. Not even to identify a missing piece of history sunk to the bottom of the Atlantic. Fate has given them a chance to redeem what was lost, if they survive.
But the sea is jealous of her secrets, and the price of her treasures is high.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 9, 2016
89 people want to read
About the author
P.D. Singer
59 books172 followersP.D. Singer lived in Colorado with her slightly bemused husband, one young adult, and seventy-nine pounds of pets. She was a big believer in research, first-hand if possible, so the reader can be quite certain PD skied down a mountain face-first, had been stepped on by rodeo horses, acquired a potato burn or two, and rethought a novel that included sky-diving.
When not writing, playing her fiddle, or walking the sheddiest member of the family, she could be found with a book in hand.
When not writing, playing her fiddle, or walking the sheddiest member of the family, she could be found with a book in hand.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 24, 2024
Re-Read: Dec 2024
Re-Read: Jan 2023
Original Read: Feb 2022
The Romance:
I loved this so much! I adore second chance romances and this one was perfect. Lee and Bobby were together for four years but both had some bad lifestyle habits that the other couldn't live with. Even worse, the bad choices fueled each other's in a never ending downward spiral (Bobby took big risks during diving which drove Lee to drink which upset Bobby and made him lash out by taking more risks) that finally ended with Bobby leaving Lee. The story picks up after they've been been apart for 1 year and both men still love and miss each other desperately (their pining for each other was heartbreaking) but they're not willing to get back together until they both finally make changes.
I love that their year apart made them both realize that their relationship is definitely worth fighting for and how both of them resolve to fix the issues that had driven them apart. For Lee, that means tackling his alcoholism and for Bobby, it means not deviating from set dive plans, even if he thinks the risks are acceptable. My favorite part of the story is that making these changes isn't easy for either of them and the author kept things very realistic. Lee has relapses and has trouble figuring out how to deal with a world where alcohol is so readily available. As for Bobby, he's constantly tempted to push the boundaries during dives and he wrestles between his justifications for doing so with his desire to keep his promise to Lee. For both characters, their trust in the other has been shattered and it takes time to re-build that trust, which was wonderful to read about. I also appreciated that it takes Bobby time to understand that the path of Lee's sobriety isn't smooth and also how Bobby can help Lee's sobriety while not allowing Lee to use him as a crutch. Their personal and relationship struggles felt very real and their emotions ran so deep that I was fully invested in getting these two back together and having them work it out.
Another aspect that I dearly loved is how many of my favorite tropes the author used to illustrate how much Bobby and Lee love each other but in addition, these two were so physically affectionate with each other! The cherry on top is that they had been fully committed to their long term relationship prior to the break up (they were married in every way except legally) and that added so much meaning to the simplest actions . I absolutely adored how the author wrote these two and how realistic their relationship was at every step. They're the perfect example of soulmates who are meant to be together and their love for each other was amazing.
The Submarine:
Like other reviewers have said, I also appreciated the insane amount of research that the author did regarding the diving aspect and the exploration of the submarine. I know nothing about professional diving (or scuba diving in general) and I loved getting to learn about this way of life and how the divers went about exploring the submarine and figuring out information about the wreck.
Initially, I didn't think I'd be very interested in the submarine exploration plotline but to my surprise, I ended up getting really emotional about it. Maybe it's because I've read lots of historical WW1 and WW2 romances so I've developed a strong emotional connection with the wars in our past that history is slowly leaving behind.
For example, it never really sunk in for me (no pun intended) that despite all the technological advances we've made over the past 100 years, there are still nearly 50 WW2 submarines that have never been found. In fact, I found a news article about Tim Taylor, who is an ocean explorer who has recently found a total of 7 of these missing submarines and given closure to the 288 families whose crewmembers are still on those submarines.
I never realized that serving on submarines drastically lowers the chances of soldiers' bodies ever being found, never mind recovered. If you're serving in some other part of the military, it might not be possible to identify every body or find it, but there's something especially tragic about the thought of metal tubes lying on the ocean floor being the watery graves for hundreds of soldiers whose bodies we could identify but we can't find or safely retrieve. Unlike individual soldiers who might go missing due to becoming separated from their units or other situations, the submarine crews could all be identified if their submarine could be found but finding the submarines is the main problem. I couldn't get past the thought of the approximately 2000 soldiers whose bodies are still locked in their submarines, waiting on the ocean floor somewhere in the hopes of one day being found and being given the acknowledgement and goodbye that they deserve.
What's especially sad is that the desire to look for these missing men is fading as the wars slide further and further into the past. The youngest direct relatives of these soldiers are now in their 70s, 80s or 90s and they won't be around much longer. It makes me feel as if time is running out to find the remaining submarines because I fear that future generations might not be interested enough to invest the time and enormous funds required to do so.
Conclusion:
Overall, this is one of my favorite stories of all time. It contains wonderful characters, an amazing romance and a bittersweet yet intensely emotional connection to our past that I hope is never forgotten about.
Re-Read: Jan 2023
Original Read: Feb 2022
The Romance:
I loved this so much! I adore second chance romances and this one was perfect. Lee and Bobby were together for four years but both had some bad lifestyle habits that the other couldn't live with. Even worse, the bad choices fueled each other's in a never ending downward spiral (Bobby took big risks during diving which drove Lee to drink which upset Bobby and made him lash out by taking more risks) that finally ended with Bobby leaving Lee. The story picks up after they've been been apart for 1 year and both men still love and miss each other desperately (their pining for each other was heartbreaking) but they're not willing to get back together until they both finally make changes.
I love that their year apart made them both realize that their relationship is definitely worth fighting for and how both of them resolve to fix the issues that had driven them apart. For Lee, that means tackling his alcoholism and for Bobby, it means not deviating from set dive plans, even if he thinks the risks are acceptable. My favorite part of the story is that making these changes isn't easy for either of them and the author kept things very realistic. Lee has relapses and has trouble figuring out how to deal with a world where alcohol is so readily available. As for Bobby, he's constantly tempted to push the boundaries during dives and he wrestles between his justifications for doing so with his desire to keep his promise to Lee. For both characters, their trust in the other has been shattered and it takes time to re-build that trust, which was wonderful to read about. I also appreciated that it takes Bobby time to understand that the path of Lee's sobriety isn't smooth and also how Bobby can help Lee's sobriety while not allowing Lee to use him as a crutch. Their personal and relationship struggles felt very real and their emotions ran so deep that I was fully invested in getting these two back together and having them work it out.
Another aspect that I dearly loved is how many of my favorite tropes the author used to illustrate how much Bobby and Lee love each other but in addition, these two were so physically affectionate with each other! The cherry on top is that they had been fully committed to their long term relationship prior to the break up (they were married in every way except legally) and that added so much meaning to the simplest actions . I absolutely adored how the author wrote these two and how realistic their relationship was at every step. They're the perfect example of soulmates who are meant to be together and their love for each other was amazing.
The Submarine:
Like other reviewers have said, I also appreciated the insane amount of research that the author did regarding the diving aspect and the exploration of the submarine. I know nothing about professional diving (or scuba diving in general) and I loved getting to learn about this way of life and how the divers went about exploring the submarine and figuring out information about the wreck.
Initially, I didn't think I'd be very interested in the submarine exploration plotline but to my surprise, I ended up getting really emotional about it. Maybe it's because I've read lots of historical WW1 and WW2 romances so I've developed a strong emotional connection with the wars in our past that history is slowly leaving behind.
For example, it never really sunk in for me (no pun intended) that despite all the technological advances we've made over the past 100 years, there are still nearly 50 WW2 submarines that have never been found. In fact, I found a news article about Tim Taylor, who is an ocean explorer who has recently found a total of 7 of these missing submarines and given closure to the 288 families whose crewmembers are still on those submarines.
I never realized that serving on submarines drastically lowers the chances of soldiers' bodies ever being found, never mind recovered. If you're serving in some other part of the military, it might not be possible to identify every body or find it, but there's something especially tragic about the thought of metal tubes lying on the ocean floor being the watery graves for hundreds of soldiers whose bodies we could identify but we can't find or safely retrieve. Unlike individual soldiers who might go missing due to becoming separated from their units or other situations, the submarine crews could all be identified if their submarine could be found but finding the submarines is the main problem. I couldn't get past the thought of the approximately 2000 soldiers whose bodies are still locked in their submarines, waiting on the ocean floor somewhere in the hopes of one day being found and being given the acknowledgement and goodbye that they deserve.
What's especially sad is that the desire to look for these missing men is fading as the wars slide further and further into the past. The youngest direct relatives of these soldiers are now in their 70s, 80s or 90s and they won't be around much longer. It makes me feel as if time is running out to find the remaining submarines because I fear that future generations might not be interested enough to invest the time and enormous funds required to do so.
Conclusion:
Overall, this is one of my favorite stories of all time. It contains wonderful characters, an amazing romance and a bittersweet yet intensely emotional connection to our past that I hope is never forgotten about.
September 13, 2021
Warning for alcoholism, but great story. Lots of details about diving, and I found the story fascinating.
December 9, 2016
Whoa! Fluffy romance, this is not. What I got instead was an adventure, suspense, and a gripping love story that had both men struggling with who they were as individuals and how they might (or might not!) fit together as lovers. It’s not the first time they try this either, they’ve been there, done that, and split up before. Yet there is an undeniable attraction between them, a need to be together, and an ability to work as a team that would have them at the top of their profession –diving for treasure – if they could only manage not to destroy each other in the process. As a result, ‘Diving Deep’ is a journey filled with emotional distress, dangerous escapades above and below the water, and a thrilling race for success and fame that had me turning the pages as fast as possible.
Lee is a dive-boat captain and survives on a combination of commercial runs and private charters. The need for repair money drives him to take on a few risky clients here and there, and his need to forget his lover’s daredevil antics while on dives makes him drink way more alcohol than is responsible when a clear head is required the next day. Then his lover walks away after one too many risks and drunken escapade, and Lee dives into the bottle even more deeply than before.
Bobby is an excellent wreck diver, but he, too, is an adrenaline junkie. He gets his kicks underwater and tempts fate on a regular basis, but the one thing he can’t stand is watching Lee drink his life away. So he leaves. Not that it helps – he can’t forget Lee, he can’t stop loving him, and when he calls with an offer to participate in discovering one of the most amazing finds ever, Bobby can’t resist. Especially since Lee promises him he is dry and will not touch a drop of alcohol while they work together to discover a missing ship at the bottom of the Atlantic.
The chemistry between Lee and Bobby is off the charts. And that is without any physical shenanigans. Just watching them work together, get reacquainted, and chase a historical legend was breathtaking. The longer they are together the more the old attraction begins to sizzle, but Bobby is not ready to give in and trust again – not after everything they have already been through. As the hunt for treasure gets increasingly exciting, their personal conflict comes to a head, and the sparks fly in every direction. What a ride and what a hard-earned happy ending!
If you like thrilling, suspenseful adventure stories, if you enjoy watching two men come together – or try to - who have the potential to either love wholly or utterly destroy each other, and if you’re looking for an exciting read that has the potential to mesmerize you, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It left me spellbound and holding my breath more than once.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Lee is a dive-boat captain and survives on a combination of commercial runs and private charters. The need for repair money drives him to take on a few risky clients here and there, and his need to forget his lover’s daredevil antics while on dives makes him drink way more alcohol than is responsible when a clear head is required the next day. Then his lover walks away after one too many risks and drunken escapade, and Lee dives into the bottle even more deeply than before.
Bobby is an excellent wreck diver, but he, too, is an adrenaline junkie. He gets his kicks underwater and tempts fate on a regular basis, but the one thing he can’t stand is watching Lee drink his life away. So he leaves. Not that it helps – he can’t forget Lee, he can’t stop loving him, and when he calls with an offer to participate in discovering one of the most amazing finds ever, Bobby can’t resist. Especially since Lee promises him he is dry and will not touch a drop of alcohol while they work together to discover a missing ship at the bottom of the Atlantic.
The chemistry between Lee and Bobby is off the charts. And that is without any physical shenanigans. Just watching them work together, get reacquainted, and chase a historical legend was breathtaking. The longer they are together the more the old attraction begins to sizzle, but Bobby is not ready to give in and trust again – not after everything they have already been through. As the hunt for treasure gets increasingly exciting, their personal conflict comes to a head, and the sparks fly in every direction. What a ride and what a hard-earned happy ending!
If you like thrilling, suspenseful adventure stories, if you enjoy watching two men come together – or try to - who have the potential to either love wholly or utterly destroy each other, and if you’re looking for an exciting read that has the potential to mesmerize you, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. It left me spellbound and holding my breath more than once.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
January 9, 2017
Learned several new things with this one.
Probably nothing I will take with me into tomorrow.
I check for sharks when I'm in the tub.
Showering.
It is a good book tho.
Probably nothing I will take with me into tomorrow.
I check for sharks when I'm in the tub.
Showering.
It is a good book tho.
May 24, 2017
*** 5 stars ***
When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure if I'll like it. Mostly because I had problems with understanding the language. Never before, I had a need to learn vocabulary about diving. But after my initial problems, I was hooked.
This book has two thing that are the most important to me - the intriguing characters and the plot. Lee and Bobby were interesting, both as individuals and as a couple. And I was really glad that they talked to each other about their problems and misunderstandings. Also, there wasn't insta-solution for Lee's problems and I'm grateful of it.
I'd never thought that a book about diving, could fascinate me so much. But thanks to "Diving Deep" I've learnt so many interesting things. Besides, the whole process of finding materials about their discovery was well-written and engaging, and now as a result, I want to take a diving class for myself.
When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure if I'll like it. Mostly because I had problems with understanding the language. Never before, I had a need to learn vocabulary about diving. But after my initial problems, I was hooked.
This book has two thing that are the most important to me - the intriguing characters and the plot. Lee and Bobby were interesting, both as individuals and as a couple. And I was really glad that they talked to each other about their problems and misunderstandings. Also, there wasn't insta-solution for Lee's problems and I'm grateful of it.
I'd never thought that a book about diving, could fascinate me so much. But thanks to "Diving Deep" I've learnt so many interesting things. Besides, the whole process of finding materials about their discovery was well-written and engaging, and now as a result, I want to take a diving class for myself.
July 25, 2018
I did enjoy this one, lots of learning points too!
A story of trust - broken and regaining, diving - I know lots more now!, alcoholism.
I liked the info we were given on the diving, the U Boat, the U boat museum, fishing etc though I’m sure for some it will be too much.
However, we didn’t get much history on Lee or Bobby other than they had been lovers but Bobby couldn’t handle Lee’s drinking when it took of Lee. So Bobby kind of started off as the hard headed sod and really it was only at the end that he woke up to the fact that Lee is human and not a superman able to kick his addiction easily.
Lee wasn’t terribly sympathetic either, though his anxieties and worries about everything but especially Bobby diving off plan exacerbated his issues.
I found it a fairly even read despite a couple of potential angsty points, flowed well in the most part.
A story of trust - broken and regaining, diving - I know lots more now!, alcoholism.
I liked the info we were given on the diving, the U Boat, the U boat museum, fishing etc though I’m sure for some it will be too much.
However, we didn’t get much history on Lee or Bobby other than they had been lovers but Bobby couldn’t handle Lee’s drinking when it took of Lee. So Bobby kind of started off as the hard headed sod and really it was only at the end that he woke up to the fact that Lee is human and not a superman able to kick his addiction easily.
Lee wasn’t terribly sympathetic either, though his anxieties and worries about everything but especially Bobby diving off plan exacerbated his issues.
I found it a fairly even read despite a couple of potential angsty points, flowed well in the most part.
December 3, 2017
2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Diving Deep P.D. Singer
1) This book has two thing that are the most important to me - the intriguing characters and the plot. Lee and Bobby were interesting, both as individuals and as a couple. And I was really glad that they talked to each other about their problems and misunderstandings. Also, there wasn't insta-solution for Lee's problems and I'm grateful of it. I'd never thought that a book about diving, could fascinate me so much. But thanks to "Diving Deep" I've learnt so many interesting things. Besides, the whole process of finding materials about their discovery was well-written and engaging, and now as a result, I want to take a diving class for myself.
1) This book has two thing that are the most important to me - the intriguing characters and the plot. Lee and Bobby were interesting, both as individuals and as a couple. And I was really glad that they talked to each other about their problems and misunderstandings. Also, there wasn't insta-solution for Lee's problems and I'm grateful of it. I'd never thought that a book about diving, could fascinate me so much. But thanks to "Diving Deep" I've learnt so many interesting things. Besides, the whole process of finding materials about their discovery was well-written and engaging, and now as a result, I want to take a diving class for myself.
June 9, 2017
The book wasn't what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it. Lee and Bobby were professional divers and had once been lovers, but they were a bit toxic for each other - Bobby pushed risks and Lee was an alcoholic. The two traits fed on each other until they broke up. Lee got Bobby to come back for a new potentially history-making dive. There was a lot of information about artifact hunting which I was completely unaware of. I liked the fact that Lee's alcoholism wasn't magically cured through the power of love - I thought the relationship felt true. Overall, a great read.
January 6, 2018
3.5
A gripping story with two professional divers as MCs. Both of them are flawed: Lee is dependent on alcohol and Bobby on adrenaline. . Lots of interesting details about diving, without being too technical. As usual with P.D. Singer the writing is solid and the plot engaging.
A gripping story with two professional divers as MCs. Both of them are flawed: Lee is dependent on alcohol and Bobby on adrenaline. . Lots of interesting details about diving, without being too technical. As usual with P.D. Singer the writing is solid and the plot engaging.
July 25, 2022
3.5 stars
December 9, 2016
I never fail to be amazed at the tremendous knowledge P.D. Singer possesses on so many diverse topics. In Diving Deep she once again shocks readers with an understanding of deep sea diving, deep sea fishing, boat maintenance, international relations, WWII history, and so much more.
Lee is the captain of the Bottom Hunter, a dive boat that searches the Atlantic Ocean bottom for relics, some interesting, some valuable. The stress of loving a diver who takes chances below the surface drove Lee to becoming an alcoholic.
Bobby is a highly skilled diver who knows to the second how much time he needs above and below water and does the research necessary to reach his goals. He plans his dives carefully, but there is always an element of risk.
When Lee and Bobby are again reunited it takes time for them to actually form a new relationship, Lee without the alcohol and Bobby without taking unnecessary chances. When they find a sunken WWII vessel that no one knows about it brings them together to do the research to find out which boat this is and why it is where it is.
There is a rival dive boat with equally skilled divers who want a piece of the action and it’s up to Bobby to make the first claim and name the boat, but will he be in time? And when Lee finds that he has fallen off the wagon, will Bobby be able to forgive him one more time? Most importantly, will both men survive or will they be the last two victims of the sunken boat?
A terrific adventure, full of surprises and love, and a romance that spans time.
Lee is the captain of the Bottom Hunter, a dive boat that searches the Atlantic Ocean bottom for relics, some interesting, some valuable. The stress of loving a diver who takes chances below the surface drove Lee to becoming an alcoholic.
Bobby is a highly skilled diver who knows to the second how much time he needs above and below water and does the research necessary to reach his goals. He plans his dives carefully, but there is always an element of risk.
When Lee and Bobby are again reunited it takes time for them to actually form a new relationship, Lee without the alcohol and Bobby without taking unnecessary chances. When they find a sunken WWII vessel that no one knows about it brings them together to do the research to find out which boat this is and why it is where it is.
There is a rival dive boat with equally skilled divers who want a piece of the action and it’s up to Bobby to make the first claim and name the boat, but will he be in time? And when Lee finds that he has fallen off the wagon, will Bobby be able to forgive him one more time? Most importantly, will both men survive or will they be the last two victims of the sunken boat?
A terrific adventure, full of surprises and love, and a romance that spans time.
December 9, 2016
**4.5 DEEP Stars**
The blurb for this book does NOT do it justice. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the book when I first picked it up based on the blurb, but almost instantly I was soooo glad I did. Diving Deep goes deeper on so many different levels, it is truly a masterpiece.
To start, a few deets in front. The story goes into a lot of detail about deep-water diving. I have zero knowledge about this sport/hobby/career and I thought it would painful to hear about (not to mention all of the U-boat references), but OMG – it was FASCINATING. I feel like I learned so much about something that I didn’t even realize existed. It went DEEP on that topic. But it also went deep about alcoholism in a way that few authors are brave enough to explore. There were zero “insta” fixes here, and while reading it at times was frustrating, it was so real to life. And finally, the characters themselves are so DEEP. Lee and Bobby are just… perfection. So different, but made to be together – and so deeply in love.
I could go on and on about how deep and well-written this book is, but I don’t want to ruin any of the discoveries you’ll make on your own. This book is for ALL readers, everyone. You will LOVE it. SO WELL DONE – go pick up a copy, you won’t be sorry!
Review Copy of Diving Deep provided by Dreamspinner Press for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
The blurb for this book does NOT do it justice. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy the book when I first picked it up based on the blurb, but almost instantly I was soooo glad I did. Diving Deep goes deeper on so many different levels, it is truly a masterpiece.
To start, a few deets in front. The story goes into a lot of detail about deep-water diving. I have zero knowledge about this sport/hobby/career and I thought it would painful to hear about (not to mention all of the U-boat references), but OMG – it was FASCINATING. I feel like I learned so much about something that I didn’t even realize existed. It went DEEP on that topic. But it also went deep about alcoholism in a way that few authors are brave enough to explore. There were zero “insta” fixes here, and while reading it at times was frustrating, it was so real to life. And finally, the characters themselves are so DEEP. Lee and Bobby are just… perfection. So different, but made to be together – and so deeply in love.
I could go on and on about how deep and well-written this book is, but I don’t want to ruin any of the discoveries you’ll make on your own. This book is for ALL readers, everyone. You will LOVE it. SO WELL DONE – go pick up a copy, you won’t be sorry!
Review Copy of Diving Deep provided by Dreamspinner Press for an honest review.
Reviewed by Mel from Alpha Book Club
January 19, 2017
The finding of the U-boat was interesting, but the diving jargon kind of went over my head. Couldn't really care about the second chance romance because it's difficult for me to care about Lee. As for Bobby, the author didn't let me know much about him, so I couldn't care much about him, too.
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