lexi_styles's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
booklovinmamas's review
4.0
Review also posted on Book Lovin' Mamas
I read the first 3 books in the Escape to New Zealand Series, so I definitely wanted to read the 4th book.
I found I gained two obsessions after reading this series, thanks to Rosalind James. One - I really want to visit or live in New Zealand, and two - I need to watch Rugby. That being said...I am seriously contemplating moving to New Zealand after reading this series and enjoying what New Zealand has to offer. I even told my hubby and he gave me crazy eyes.
That being said, I definitely enjoyed reading the fourth book to the Escape to New Zealand series.
Nic Wilkinson is a rugby player who is about to realize his one week fling with the beautiful Emma Martens in Fiji may have been more than a just a fling. Emma's life got turned upside down before she met Nic. She was supposed to be getting married and going on her honeymoon to Fiji with her husband. Instead, she is going to Fiji alone and meets Nic, the handsome rugby player who is going on his own getaway. They hook up and sparks fly, but then Nic has to get back on the plane for his rugby games. Emma has to go back to her life as well.
Six years later and Nic is about to find out by accident that Emma has kept something from him that he definitely wanted to know about.
Now Nic's life is about to turn upside down and even his fiancee he is with is not happy.
"Just For Fun" definitely is a perfect title to this story and Rosalind James did not disappoint in her fourth book. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book....but the characters and I did not click well. Nic, I was okay with...but not Emma. She was difficult to understand even when Nic stepped in to help her. He wanted to be there and Emma was just stand-offish. I really did not like Claudia, who was Nic's fiancee. She drove me to the point where I wanted to smack her (and I realize she's fictional). She should have been supportive but wasn't.
I enjoy how much Rosalind James writes a story that draws the reader in. She throws in the previous characters and how they are doing. She also makes real storylines, and what happens in the real world...but minus the sexy rugby players. (At least in my part of the world, we do not have the rugby players...but other sports)
I highly recommend this series to contemporary romance readers, readers who love sports romances, and readers who have read the first 3 books in the Escape to New Zealand series.
I look forward to Rosalind James next books....she definitely has a fan.
(She knows how to make a reader fall in love with some sexy fictional rugby players)
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the Author (for Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review.
I read the first 3 books in the Escape to New Zealand Series, so I definitely wanted to read the 4th book.
I found I gained two obsessions after reading this series, thanks to Rosalind James. One - I really want to visit or live in New Zealand, and two - I need to watch Rugby. That being said...I am seriously contemplating moving to New Zealand after reading this series and enjoying what New Zealand has to offer. I even told my hubby and he gave me crazy eyes.
That being said, I definitely enjoyed reading the fourth book to the Escape to New Zealand series.
Nic Wilkinson is a rugby player who is about to realize his one week fling with the beautiful Emma Martens in Fiji may have been more than a just a fling. Emma's life got turned upside down before she met Nic. She was supposed to be getting married and going on her honeymoon to Fiji with her husband. Instead, she is going to Fiji alone and meets Nic, the handsome rugby player who is going on his own getaway. They hook up and sparks fly, but then Nic has to get back on the plane for his rugby games. Emma has to go back to her life as well.
Six years later and Nic is about to find out by accident that Emma has kept something from him that he definitely wanted to know about.
Now Nic's life is about to turn upside down and even his fiancee he is with is not happy.
"Just For Fun" definitely is a perfect title to this story and Rosalind James did not disappoint in her fourth book. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book....but the characters and I did not click well. Nic, I was okay with...but not Emma. She was difficult to understand even when Nic stepped in to help her. He wanted to be there and Emma was just stand-offish. I really did not like Claudia, who was Nic's fiancee. She drove me to the point where I wanted to smack her (and I realize she's fictional). She should have been supportive but wasn't.
I enjoy how much Rosalind James writes a story that draws the reader in. She throws in the previous characters and how they are doing. She also makes real storylines, and what happens in the real world...but minus the sexy rugby players. (At least in my part of the world, we do not have the rugby players...but other sports)
I highly recommend this series to contemporary romance readers, readers who love sports romances, and readers who have read the first 3 books in the Escape to New Zealand series.
I look forward to Rosalind James next books....she definitely has a fan.
(She knows how to make a reader fall in love with some sexy fictional rugby players)
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the Author (for Blog Tour) in exchange for an honest review.
christyyyd's review
4.0
I normally hate the secret baby trope but I didn’t mind it in this book. I still don’t understand rugby.
bookworm2913's review
5.0
Another awesome New Zealand novel
I love this series. I learn so much about the Kiwi culture while being thoroughly entertained by an awesome cast of characters that keep me coming back for more. This series is also comforting, a light place to come to after reading some heavy books, somewhere to rest my head and relax.
I love this series. I learn so much about the Kiwi culture while being thoroughly entertained by an awesome cast of characters that keep me coming back for more. This series is also comforting, a light place to come to after reading some heavy books, somewhere to rest my head and relax.
hammock_and_read's review
3.0
I enjoyed this one as it is a second chance love story. Surprise kid that meets at rugby camp. meet more of the ABs and learn more about their life with media, marriage, and this one has more of the famous side.
This one is steamy. Overall, 3 stars and 4.5 steams
This one is steamy. Overall, 3 stars and 4.5 steams
katemarie929's review
4.0
I loved this series... Could not put it down at all. The characters are perfect, and i love how you continually get glimpses of the previous characters throughout each book. :) which there were more All Blacks to read about! Now I need to book my trip to New Zealand!
bananatricky's review against another edition
4.0
I have totally binge read a good proportion of Rosalind James' back catalogue over the New Year break after receiving a copy of one of her books ([b:Take Me Back|30249280|Take Me Back (Paradise, Idaho, #4)|Rosalind James|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1470388728s/30249280.jpg|50716916]) from NetGalley and realising that I had only read a couple of her Escape to New Zealand series previously.
As a result I am copying and pasting part of this review into the other books. The Escape to New Zealand series is a set of romances featuring players from New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team. All the books are full of En Zed (how the letters NZ are pronounced in New Zealand) slang and contain a handy glossary of terms at the back. Although being English I understood the vast majority of terms, or could guess their meaning from the context there were a few (like Domain and Jandles) which I had to look up. Each of the books also describes at least one rugby match in some detail - although I am English I have to confess I don't really follow/ understand rugby and I tend to gloss over these bits although I am picking up some of the terms.
This books features Nic Wilkinson and Emma Martens.
Nic met Emma on the way to Fiji, she was on her honeymoon (sans bridegroom) and he was taking a break before going to play rugby in the UK. They spent an unforgettable week together but Nic never called.
Six years later Nic is back in New Zealand and making an appearance at a kids' rugby class as a favour for a rugby legend, he sees a promising young player called Zach and chats to hims briefly then looks up and sees that the boy's mother is Emma. He does the maths and realises that the boy must be his son. Although he is now engaged to a high powered lawyer, Nic never forgot his week with Emma and he is determined to do the right thing by his son.
I'm a sucker for a secret baby story and this was a good one. My only complaint? I thought that Nic could/should have done more for Emma and Zach from the start - maybe played the 'I want my son to be safe' card to make sure Emma had a newer car etc? Also Emma was a bit too prickly about believing Nic was genuine in his desire to help. Otherwise? Another cracker.
As a result I am copying and pasting part of this review into the other books. The Escape to New Zealand series is a set of romances featuring players from New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team. All the books are full of En Zed (how the letters NZ are pronounced in New Zealand) slang and contain a handy glossary of terms at the back. Although being English I understood the vast majority of terms, or could guess their meaning from the context there were a few (like Domain and Jandles) which I had to look up. Each of the books also describes at least one rugby match in some detail - although I am English I have to confess I don't really follow/ understand rugby and I tend to gloss over these bits although I am picking up some of the terms.
This books features Nic Wilkinson and Emma Martens.
Nic met Emma on the way to Fiji, she was on her honeymoon (sans bridegroom) and he was taking a break before going to play rugby in the UK. They spent an unforgettable week together but Nic never called.
Six years later Nic is back in New Zealand and making an appearance at a kids' rugby class as a favour for a rugby legend, he sees a promising young player called Zach and chats to hims briefly then looks up and sees that the boy's mother is Emma. He does the maths and realises that the boy must be his son. Although he is now engaged to a high powered lawyer, Nic never forgot his week with Emma and he is determined to do the right thing by his son.
I'm a sucker for a secret baby story and this was a good one. My only complaint? I thought that Nic could/should have done more for Emma and Zach from the start - maybe played the 'I want my son to be safe' card to make sure Emma had a newer car etc? Also Emma was a bit too prickly about believing Nic was genuine in his desire to help. Otherwise? Another cracker.
ssejig's review
3.0
This wasn’t exactly a secret baby book because Emma gosh-darn-well tried to let Nic know that she was pregnant after their one week in paradise. He immediately recognizes her son as his own, especially after he sees Emma in the crowd of parents and does some quick math. He finds their house and immediately wants to claim his son, Zack. His fiancée, not so excited about that. She is sort of depicted as cold and money conscious but not a totally heartless and evil person. However, she doesn’t want to stay in a relationship with Nic. That doesn’t mean that Emma falls right into his arms but it does clear the way for their romance to occur without cheating.
Another fun story from Ms. James. It had some aspects of insta-love both in the first and second meetings between Emma and Nic but otherwise an enjoyable book.
Another fun story from Ms. James. It had some aspects of insta-love both in the first and second meetings between Emma and Nic but otherwise an enjoyable book.