Just This Once

Last Frontier Lodge Novels, Book 3

By: J. H. Croix

Narrated by: Hollis McCarthy

Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

Just This Once is a friends to lovers story between a brilliant prosecutor who's sworn off love and a Navy SEAL who's been hiding his feelings for too long. Becca Hamilton is a busy prosecutor who's dedicated and passionate about her work. After being left high and dry days before her wedding several years ago, she promised herself she wouldn't let her heart become vulnerable again. Yet, she didn't count on temptation in the form of Aidan McNamara.

Aidan McNamara is many a woman's dream - a tall, dark, sexy-as-hell military type who tends to save the day so often it's annoying. Becca has been quite successful at ignoring the spark that burns every time Aidan is near. Until he shows up and happens to save her evening. One scorching hot kiss on a rainy night, and Becca begins to question the limits she set for herself. She gambles she can allow herself just one night with Aidan.

Aidan has been half in love with Becca since the first time he laid eyes on her. A chance encounter kindles hope in his heart. He can't say no when she asks for one night, but he knows from the start he wants more.

Becca quickly discovers that just once won't even come close to satisfying her desire. She's completely unprepared for the depth of feelings Aidan elicits. Forced to take a much-needed break from work, she decides a journey to Last Frontier Lodge in Alaska might give her some perspective and a long overdue adventure. A trip she hoped would clear her head only leaves her missing Aidan so much she can hardly stand it.

Aidan is a man of plans and action, but with Becca, he's winging it every step of the way. When she takes off to Alaska, he finds himself following her even though it goes against his grain. Can Becca let down her guard long enough to let Aidan into her heart?

©2016 J.H. Croix (P)2016 J.H. Croix

Sizzling romance with a fabulous hero

Aidan McNamara is a close friend of Becca Hamilton's two older brothers, and beloved by her whole family. He and her brothers served together as SEALs, thereby forming a lifelong bond. Unbeknownst to Becca, Aidan has been half in love with her for the last 10 years, ever since the first time he met her when he was 28 and she was 23. Unfortunately for Aiden, the timing was never right to approach her to form a relationship. He was either overseas on a mission, or she was in a relationship with someone else. And during the last 3 years, even though they have both been single and both live and work in Seattle, she as a prosecutor and he as the owner of a private security firm, Becca has bitterly sworn off men. She discovered her fiancé cheating on her days before their wedding, and her trust in men, and her own judgment about them, has been sharply eroded.

Then comes the night when, on the way to visit her parents in a small town near Seattle, she is run off the road by a drunken driver who flees the scene. Fortuitously, Aiden, who has a younger sister who lives in the same town as her parents, is driving to visit his sister along the same highway where Becca is stranded. He recognizes her car in the ditch and rushes to assist her. During a moment of emotional vulnerability for both of them, in Aiden's dark car on that same rainy night, they share a steamy kiss. Suddenly, all sorts of romantic possibilities flare between the two of them that neither of them would ever have dreamed possible before that moment.

Becca is a strong heroine and very admirable, both personally and ethically, but for me, Aiden steals the show in this book. He is a phenomenal hero, both strong and compassionate. A dynamic occurs between them in their sex scenes that I have only ever seen in a few other romance novels where the heroine is recovering from a traumatic sexual assault, which this heroine is not. Knowing how prickly Becca is, with emotional defenses a mile high after her fiancé’s devastating betrayal, Aiden instinctively allows her, during every single sexual encounter in this book, to make the first move. While I have nothing against the classic romance novel favorite, the alpha male who leads the way, I found it simultaneously heartwarmingly cozy and blazingly sexy for a blatantly alpha male like Aiden to surrender sexual control to his female lover.

This is the third book in an extremely enjoyable series whose books are set mainly at the Frontier Lodge in Alaska. This particular book occurs partly in Seattle but mostly at the Frontier Lodge. As a result, this very naturally and organically permits fun cameos by characters from the previous two books in the series as well as quick and meaningful appearances from characters who star in books of their own later in the series, most especially Aiden's younger sister Ellie.

The narrator does an excellent job.

I rate this book as follows:

Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Romance plot: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Audiobook narration: 4 stars
Overall: 5 stars

Just This Once

This book was interesting and romantic. This is the start of series and I hope to read more from this author.

Great Story

Another audio book narrated by Hollis McCarthy, okay.

The story itself was amazing. If I were to base the story on the story line I'd give it a five star, however it too used the vulgar language that absolutely wasn't necessary.

Other than that it was a great story of love, trust and family.

Enjoyable read

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I have lots and lots of audiobooks and some narration is really great and some is just so-so. That being said I haven't heard anything by this narrator before and I'm not sure why I didn't really like her. Something was off in her inflection to me but it didn't detract too much from the story line.

Any additional comments?

Though I had problems with some parts of this book I did enjoy the story. I thought the characters were well developed and the story flowed well. I think the stalker could have been left out or further developed, one or the other. This was my only complaint. I would happily read more by this author and intend to read more in this series.
I received a copy of this book from the author but all opinions are my own. I voluntarily offer them.

A sweet, love story.

Would you listen to Just This Once again? Why?

Yes, it's a great feel good story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Let's be honest, the dog steals the show in this tale!

Have you listened to any of Hollis McCarthy’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've never listed to Hollis McCarthy before, but I'd love to check out more of her work.

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

This book will give you that warm, fuzzy feeling at the end, letting you know that all is right in the world, or at least in the two main character's world! And it may also make you want to travel to Alaska, be warned! I really do want to check out that ski lodge now...

great love story

love love love this *book*. also a narrator can make or break a book and this one was pretty good.

Great Story

What does Hollis McCarthy bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I liked the way the narrator was able to distinguish between the voices. I wasn't sure I was going to like her at first but I got used to her way of narrating.

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

I would have liked to have listened to it in one sitting but couldn't. The story kept me interested.

Any additional comments?

I received this audio book free and am reviewing it in exchange for an honest review. This is the 3rd in the series but can be listened to as a stand alone. I liked the way both Becca and Aiden had feelings for each other but didn't act on them until circumstances put them together. Becca had problems from a previous relationship that put her off of men. Aiden was patient and they worked their way through these problems. This is a great story and I'm looking forward to listening to the others by this author. This story is worth a credit in my opinion.

Great story, love the characters

I received a free copy of this audiobooks and voluntarily chose to review it. I truly enjoyed both the story and narrative. Can't wait for the next book. The story line kept me interested, and the chemistry between the main characters. The narrator did some good job trying to distinguish between characters which held my interest.
Jennifer

SWEET

Hollis McCarthy's deep voice is an easy one to listen to, whilst telling the story between ex Navy Seal Aidan McNamara (Gage's Best Friend) & attorney (another attorney in the Hamilton's) Becca Hamilton.
Aidan had fallen for Becca since he first laid eyes on her, that'd been 10 yrs prior, but she's not able to trust a man again since she caught the man she was going to marry JUST BEFORE she was to marry.
So we see how Aidan came across Becca in an accident on her way home & this is when he couldn't hold back any longer, he had to have her & she him, but of course when one of them says no matter WHAT it's ONLY going to be a one time event. But when that connection happens it's a scary factor & after Becca's old case they hear that the person is going to go after the prosecutor, so we see her go to her brothers.
But this period of time even though we hear the 2 of them talking he can't handle it, especially when Becca tells him that they shouldn't carry on, we see Aidan go after her.
And of course, something has to happen, for Becca realise how Deep her True Feelings are for him.
So it's an easy & fairly short love story & I suggest for you to read as it's always great to listen to how each character finally get together, especially as we'll be seeing them in the future Last Frontier Lodge 😘

A great story

Any additional comments?

****I received a free copy of this audiobook and voluntarily chose to review it. *****
When I started this listening to this book as an audiobook I wasn't aware that it was the third book in a series. But it didn't disturb the listening at all - the book can be read as a stand-alone, but I'm sure most series are best if you read all the books in the series in the right order ;)
This book is a very sweet book about a woman distrusting love after a terrible break up (her fiance was messing around with her bridesmaid a few days before the wedding). Lucky for her she gets help from a friend of her brother when she gets involved in a car accident. He has always known she was the one but in respect of her brother he never pursued her - until now!
And then the story of love between Aidan and Becca begins. Becca fighting the urge to trust in love again even though Aidan is SO nice and understanding to her all the time despite him having troubles about the relationship - being disloyal to his friend/her brother and never has been in a relationship himself.
I really enjoyed this love story - it was kind of safe (in the best way) and sweet. You get to know the two main characters very well and understands their distress about their feelings for each other while wanting/not wanting a relationship. The story feels real opposite to the other love story I listen to prior to this book - where one tragedy hit after the other. It was way too much - no one would be able to survive that much loss. And was SO great listening to a love story wich could be a real love story not just a made-up story with way too much drama. The drama in this book is the fight inside Becca and Aiden whether to choose to trust in love or not. And the journey to trusting each other was really enjoying! I will definitely listen to the rest of the audiobooks in this series - starting with book number one this time :)