Escape to New Zealand Boxed Set, Vol. 2

Just for Fun, Just My Luck, Just Not Mine

By: Rosalind James

Narrated by: Claire Bocking

Length: 36 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

Three best-selling steamy and sweet New Zealand rugby romances.

Just for Fun

What happens in Fiji stays in Fiji. Except when it doesn't.

Emma Martens and Nic Wilkinson have no history together except one perfect week. Nothing in common anymore except the most important thing of all. Getting together again would be messy. Complicated. Scary. And, just maybe, worth every risk.

Just My Luck

When roommates Kristen Montgomery and Ally Villiers head to New Zealand for a year's working holiday, Kristen hopes she can reboot her life after a disastrous marriage. Ally's just along for the adventure. They both get more than they bargained for after an outing to a climbing gym introduces them to the new captain of the All Blacks and his teammate. One man's perfect. The other isn't. Sometimes the course of true love runs smooth. Other times it's a very bumpy ride indeed.

Just Not Mine

Destiny can sneak up on you. Or it can smack you in the face.

Hugh Latimer's coping with a few problems just now. A broken hand, missing the All Blacks' European rugby tour, and a half brother and sister who are playing havoc with his love life. Instead of packing down in the scrum, he's driving the carpool to ballet - or forgetting it's his turn. When he hears his neighbor wailing out bad pop in the wee hours, it's the last straw. Or maybe not, because his new neighbor is a Maori soap star with issues of her own.

©2015 Rosalind James (P)2016 Rosalind James

Truly Impressed with the Narration

My favorite of the 3 books is Just For Fun, but the other books are also very good. You start reading or listening to the books and you are immediately drawn into the story. Fully entrenched, whisked away to another place, another life.

The Escape to NZ books are unique in that the romantic characters really seem to like each other. There is not a great deal of angst between the characters. They have conversations, which are often humorous. Their dialogue is engaging. They have a strong chemistry, and the sex scenes are not only sexy, but romantic.

Claire Bocking does an amazing job with the narration. Listening to her, you manage to forget that only one person is telling the tale. She manages to give each character their own voice, personality, identity. It is definitely not boring. I have listened to other audio books and find my mind wandering. This didn't happen when reading the same book, so it is more than just a well written book that makes the narration work.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

I can say in all honesty that I truly enjoyed both the print and audio books. Between the great stories and the wonderful narration, you cannot go wrong with this set of books.

Rosalind James + Claire Bocking = Fantastic!

If you could sum up Escape to New Zealand Boxed Set, Vol. 2 in three words, what would they be?

Rugby, New Zealand, Steam!

What other book might you compare Escape to New Zealand Boxed Set, Vol. 2 to and why?

Is it too easy to say Escape to New Zealand Boxed Set, Vol. 1?...

What about Claire Bocking’s performance did you like?

I've already read these books by Rosalind James before and it was amazing to hear them brought to life! The accents were awesome, and hearing words pronounced correctly will change the way I read books that take place in New Zealand from now on!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Steamy New Zealand Rugby Romance

Any additional comments?

I am a huge fan of Rosalind James and her Escape to New Zealand series. I have read all of the book in the series. This was my first time listening to any of them on Audible. How amazing that it was three books in a set, not just one! Claire Bocking brings to life books 4-6 in this series. The country of New Zealand comes to life, along with the voices of each character. Each book had its own unique sound and could stand alone on its own, but together as a set they are even better. There are children that are central characters in two of these books and Claire is able to narrate their voices without sounding like a condescending adult. I did wonder how the steam factor of some of the scenes would translate to narration, but I wasn't disappointed. I think you need to listen for yourself and come to your own judgement.

I am so impressed with the narration of these books. I am going to have to go and listen to more in the series, even though I have already read the books in print!

Fine print: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Best value in Audible

One of the best deals in Audible offering 3 stories for 1 credit in a great series.
Ch 1-42 Just for Fun: Nic Wilkinson’s engagement to socialite Claudia is shaken with the discovery of his son Zach Martens and Zach’s mom Emma.
Ch 43-94 Just My Luck: Nate Torrance has some big shoes to fill as the new Skipper and he just can’t get anything right in his attraction to climber Ally Villiers. Most enjoyable for me was the bonus romance of Hannah’s sister Kristen Montgomery and Liam Mahaka.
Ch 95-143 Just Not Mine: Actress Josie Pae Ata is a new neighbor to All Black Hugh Latimer and his half siblings Amelia and Charlie. Hearts are stolen all around. Must read to fully enjoy book 11 Just Say Hell No.
We’re also introduced to the interest between Dance teacher Chloe Donaldson and All Black Kevin McNicholl who appear in book 10 Just Say Yes.
Bocking does a great job of narration.
Recommend this series for all romance lovers.

Love NZed

I love learning about NZed. I loved learning about Rugby. But as the series progressed it be a.e more about sex than story. By series 2 it a little story, and graphic sex scenes. Then it progressed to the same story, girl from the U.S. meets Rugby player, romance, bumps in the road and increasingly violent and SMB sex. The last series has little story and lots of graphic sex. The stories become so predictable and the frequency of violence and the sex increases.
I didn't realize I was getting 50 Shades down under. I wouldn't read 50 Shades because as a therapist I am very disturbed by encouraging young woman to participate in sex they are uncomfortable with so a rich man will love and marry them. These books have the potential for good stories but 0.25 to 0.50 of each chapter is sex. What happened R. James, did you run out of story?

OMG

Thinking about moving to NZ. Claire Bocking is so great. Feel I know all of RJ's characters personally thanks to Claire.

Kept falling in love

If you loved the first three books in this series, you will love the second set just as much. I was worried I might get bored of more of the same New Zealand, rugby players, but I was absolutely mistaken. Rosalind James is wonderful at creating distinctive characters, and beautifully complex and unique love stories. Although all the heroins are strong, independent women and the men are all gorgeous, rugby players, each story is so different in its own right. The writing is clever and smart, and the stories are all equal parts heartwarming and sexy. Claire Bocking did an outstanding job with all narrations. Usually I prefer men to narrate the male portions of a book, but in this case, I wouldn't change a thing. All of her voices women, men, and children (even brooding teen) were a joy to listen to.

Now for the reviews of the individual books.

Book 4: Just For Fun (Nic & Emma's story) - I loved this single-mom reunion with baby- daddy. Being a mom, Emma's story was easy to relate to. And I really loved that Nic wanted to the right thing from the get go. You just couldn't help, but want the HEA family story.

Book 5: Just My Luck (Nate & Ally and Kristen & Liam's stories) - This one was probably my least favorite of the series. It took me quite a while to warm up to Nate's character, and the story didn't draw me in the way the others have. Maybe it was all just a bit too realistic.However, I did love Kristen & Liam's sub-story...beautiful, bombshell falling for the heart of gold.

Book 6: Just Not Mine (Hugh & Josie's story) - Rosalind James got right back on track with this one. I loved it start to finish. Hugh's misfortune of losing his father and having to raise his minor siblings becomes a blessing in disguise for all involved.

You don't need to listen to the first 3 books to enjoy this boxed set, but I would highly recommend it. I find it more enjoyable knowing the back story of many of the peripheral characters. And like the first boxed set, this one is definitely worth a credit!

I couldn’t handle the narrator

If you are writing books about people who live in New Zealand, who have New Zealand accents, for the love of all that is good have a narrator with an actual New Zealand accent. The first time the narrator read something in their fake New Zealand accent I was out. I returned the book immediately. I love this series, it’s a fun and easy read, but the fake accent was bad.

3 books in 1

Just for a fun was exactly that. A really fun listen. I ran out of luck with Just my Luck and Just not mine was somewhere in the middle.

Another great boxset

I love this series. Some books are better than others but they are all good and enjoyable listens. I would highly recommend them. I will continue to listen and or read books by this author.

Can't get enough!

I have seriously fallen in love with New Zealand, rugby, and the All Blacks! I cant get enough of these couples and their stories!!!

Two perfect books, one not so good!

Just for Fun

This is a great example of a romance that is so well written that a relatively simple plot line is still a really good read. Nic and Emma had a brief fling which resulted in an unplanned pregnancy. They meet again five years later, but Nic is now engaged.

I loved that nobody was quite perfect in this book. Nic’s fiancé was quite upfront about the fact that being a step mother had not been part of her life plan, and acted accordingly. Nic and Emma were still very attracted to each other, but there was never any question of cheating on his fiancé, or acting on this attraction impulsively, due to the involvement of their child. The child was a fabulous realistic depiction of a five year old, and I loved that there was no fairytale connection between father and son, but rather the occasional hiccups, mistakes and misunderstandings which would be expected. I also liked the avoidance of that romance novel cliche of a perfect couple torn apart by circumstances, but here we were given a holiday romance where they were both too young to realise how special it really was.

Just my Luck

I enjoyed the first half of this book, with a reluctant developing romance between All Black Captain, Nate, and climbing instructor Ally. Nate made it clear his priority was to his new job, with a heavy training schedule, numerous PR events and overseas tournaments. However, Ally soon resents the pressures of his job as newly appointed All Black Captain, with the entire country watching him and judging his performance. I know the author was trying to show how Nate needed to learn to balance work and life, but I thought Ally just sounded clingy and needy. My dislike of Ally only increased when she declared that driving 20k over the speed limit, and squealing around corners, was “fun” and got upset when her new boyfriend refused to use his celebrity status to get her off the resulting speeding ticket. Slotted in at the end of the book there was suddenly this whole career “subplot” that all seemed a bit manufactured to make some sort of drama, but was all a bit contrived. Add to that a whole personal crisis caused by Ally’s poor judgement early in the book and I actually came away thinking that Nate deserved better! This book was only saved by a lovely secondary romance with another couple and I could not help wishing they were the main couple in this book.

Just not Mine

This book featured All Black rugby player Hugh, who had just “inherited” a couple of kids, and his neighbour Josie, a successful soap star. There was nothing about this book I didn’t enjoy, but special mention must go the accurate depiction of the kids, who were struggling to cope with the loss of their parents and their new living circumstances. I also loved how the book showed how difficult it was for an actress to maintain the perfect appearance required for her career, and the realistic depiction of Josie’s family - the writer did not succumb to the temptation to make them all perfect cookie cutter figures. The last few chapters were especially strong as Hugh struggled with the realisation that his entire life was now going to be dictated by his family responsibilities, while Josie had her own personal struggles to deal with. This book featured a really strong and mature couple who thought carefully before they acted, still made mistakes, but openly fronted up to them and dealt with the consequences. I know this is just a book couple, but it is a lovely feeling when you finish a book knowing that this couple will face whatever life throws at them and deal with it – together. Leaves me feeling all warm and fuzzy!

Summer fun listening

Claire has an amazing skill for breathing life into some of my favourite Rosalind James characters. These stories are great for the beach or in my case enjoying the sunshine in the garden. I don't think this series could have better title than escape to New Zealand. Of the three stories Nate and ally's is my favourite sometimes life just can't be scheduled :)