I Sooooo Needed This!

I was soooo in the mood for a light-hearted, sweet-hearted, book like this. "Just This Once: Escape to New Zealand, Book 1, by Rosalind James was just the ticket, for the mood I was in... I loved the characters, and loved the story. The narrator, Clair Bocking did such a good job, although, I would recommend slowing down a bit...her accents were right-on!
A bit like a travel brochure, perhaps; although, I found myself really in need of a happy, basically not stress book...Have fun! Credit worthy...YES!

11 people found this helpful

INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO NEW ZEALAND ... AND ...

hunky, drool-worthy rugby players! I've never followed any sports, ever, but after reading this series, I have discovered a new love of my life ... RUGBY! And a trip to New Zealand has moved to the #1 spot on my bucket list. I am amazed that a romance novel series could wrought all of these changes in my life ... but they did. Hear me out ---

Messed up, walled-off lady really needs a break from her life and takes a three week vacation to New Zealand. There, she stumbles into a (she thinks) short-term fling with a really great guy that happens to be a rugby player ... whatever that is. :) (She does have a vague notion of rugby, like most American women.) There's times you're going to "hate" Hannah and get very frustrated with her ... but I "got" her. She just needed someone to break down her walls and convince her that not everyone in her life would bail on her. Hannah and Drew's journey to the HEA is enchanting and spicy-hot (very well done love scenes!) and fulfilling.

The author (an American who spent time in En Zed) also gives us a travel-show-worthy view of New Zealand and the Kiwi culture. I was enthralled with the language, the glimpses of the natural wonders of New Zealand and the Kiwi-ism (with Glossary included in the book or ebook.) I loved how she showed how different our professional athletes are from Kiwi sportsmen and how friendly the people are. I can't wait to visit.

And last ... the reader did a GREAT job with all the Kiwi accents and really did justice to a great story. I gather she is rather new to audiobooks, but I hope we hear a great deal more from her. I've also heard that the rest of this series will be available soon.

Highly recommended and well worth a credit!

22 people found this helpful

Sweet Romance in the vein of Nora Roberts

I'm always on the lookout for a new romance series that has some humor, keeps things moving along, has likable characters and minimizes the time spent in angst. This story does all of the those things and is in a new venue to me, so I also enjoyed learning about the New Zealander (Kiwi) culture. I would have liked to have seen Hannah get her act together a bit earlier, but it was also nice to have a more realistic timeline to the inevitable commitment to the relationship. Drew was a saint, but if you can't have a gorgeous, sexy, kind and patient man in a HEA where can you have one? The steam level was about that of 2010's Nora Roberts-- just enough to keep your interest, but not enough to make the more sensitive readers blush too badly. The narrator did a great job with the accents and distinguishing voices. She's one of the best I've heard so far, and I've listened to hundreds of books. I hope Audible gets the later books soon. As of this writing, she was up to book 5, with 6 being released in June. Well worth the credit!

18 people found this helpful

Nice Surprise!

Would you listen to Just This Once again? Why?

I don't usually listen to books twice, but I would listen to this with a friend again.

What did you like best about this story?

I like having alpha male characters that are faithful and patient.

What about Claire Bocking’s performance did you like?

I enjoyed her talent with accents. I also appreciate that her female characters sound like women and her male characters sound like MEN!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed a lot throughout the whole book, and I did get teary eyed a few times, but especially towards the end.

Any additional comments?

I wasn't expecting much from this book, and I actually owned it for awhile before I started listening to it. Once I started it, I couldn't wait to get back on the road (where I do most of most listening) to continue listening.

5 people found this helpful

See ya familia! I'm off to New Zealand!

What did you love best about Just This Once?

This was such a nice surprise - this was an engaging, sexy listen. I loved the story and found Hannah and Drew's budding relationship come to life under the backdrop of New Zealand. The author spent lots of time taking the reader "there" and I so appreciate that. I want to escape when listening to this genre and this story did it for me. Plus the narration was 5 stars awesome!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Drew was pretty sexy! Hannah's trust issues got old and she sounded like a broken record but as with any worthy "feel good" book, in the end they worked it all out.

What about Claire Bocking’s performance did you like?

So good. 5 stars! The New Zealand male accents are hot!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just thoroughly enjoyed this one as well as book 2. Both are so entertaining.

Any additional comments?

If you like travel, romance, adventure, sexy sex scenes and pretty awesome NZ accents- here ya go. You've been served!

9 people found this helpful

A trip next door...

I have had my eye on this story for years and when I saw it available on the Romance Package, I couldn't stop myself from giving it a try.

New Zealand is a country I have visited and loved. With them being so close to Australia we're practically neighbours. I found it somewhat comforting to recognise the lingo and places mentioned. Having the hero playing Rugby Union was also something familiar and I loved the discussions in comparing Rugby Union and Rugby League.

I really liked Drew but Hannah was a little annoying, unfortunately. She needed to trust Drew and her instincts. Eventually, it all comes good and I was left satisfied.

The narrator was AMAZING with accents. Her American and Kiwi accents left me bamboozled as to which was her native tongue. Kiwi accents are not easy. Only one little complaint, I couldn't tell when the characters changed from male to female. I was convinced that Emory was a chick for the first couple of chapters.

Really happy to have found this one in the Romance Package and I will definitely be looking to go on in the series.

3 people found this helpful

Total escape!

What made the experience of listening to Just This Once the most enjoyable?

Claire Bocking's accent was fantastic. The authors knowledge of rugby and Maori culture is apparent. I'm really glad I learned about a sport and culture as well as enjoyed a fantastic love story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Drew. I mean, c'mon... why wouldn't you like Drew? Super nice, super hot Kiwi rugby player that wants to spoil his lady rotten? Umm, where can I get one of those?

What about Claire Bocking’s performance did you like?

Her Kiwi accent and pronunciation of Maori words. Her whole performance was fantastic.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yup.

Any additional comments?

This is a great intro for the other books in the series. I've always wanted to go to New Zealand and now this is makes me REALLY want to go to NZ.

3 people found this helpful

Feels like vacation!

If you could sum up Just This Once in three words, what would they be?

Engaging, escapist, sexy

What did you like best about this story?

The narrator was perfect! I felt like the story was really enhanced by Claire and the descriptions of New Zealand seemed as though I was there. Well done!

Which character – as performed by Claire Bocking – was your favorite?

I was impressed how she seamlessly moved back and forth between the characters, male and female, and with different accents, inflections and dialects! Excellent job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes -- I almost did it in one sitting. Perfect for a solo rode trip or commute. I wanted to know what was happening next

Any additional comments?

Can't wait for the rest of the series on audio and I hope Claire reads them all.

3 people found this helpful

Save your credit

This book was really hard to get through and I really wanted to like it. While I liked the male lead the female lead was simply not to like..at all. The story could have been so much better, but somehow just never came together for me. The reader had great New Zealand accent but sounded like a 12 year old and her male voice had NO depth at all. Save your credit for a book with better characters and a much better reader. Unfortunately, I won't be reading the rest of this series.

2 people found this helpful

Delightful.

Loved every minute of these characters and their journey. Enjoyed learning more about New Zealand and hearing that wonderful accent.

2 people found this helpful