'Just This Once' by Rosalind James is the first book in the 'Escape to New Zealand' series, focusing on New Zealand rugby players. The story follows Hannah, an American who goes on vacation to New Zealand to recharge but ends up in a dangerous situation and is rescued by Drew, a professional rugby player. As their relationship develops, Hannah struggles to let Drew in emotionally, while Drew patiently tries to win her over. The book delves into themes of romance, personal growth, and cultural exploration, with a writing style that is informative, romantic, and engaging.

Characters:

The characters are relatable, with Hannah revealing depth through her insecurities while Drew stands out as a fun, supportive figure.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is clear but sometimes lacks depth in setting descriptions, with some disorienting shifts in perspective.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a woman on vacation in New Zealand who meets a rugby player, leading to a complex romance influenced by her emotional struggles and life decisions.

Setting:

The setting is mainly in New Zealand, depicted less vividly than expected, with limited references to San Francisco.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow, focusing on character development over time, which may lead to some sections feeling prolonged.

Hannah Montgomery blew out a frustrated breath on the words. She was running late. And she hated to be late, hated feeling rushed and flustered. The meeting started in half an hour, and she had planne...

Notes:

The main character, Hannah, is a 30-something sportswear marketer from San Francisco.

Hannah is responsible for raising her younger siblings after their parents died early in their lives, which contributed to her insecurities.

Drew, the male protagonist, is the captain of the All Blacks rugby team, New Zealand's national team.

Hannah initially meets Drew when he rescues her from a rip tide during her solo trip to New Zealand.

The story explores the challenges of a long-distance relationship after Hannah returns home from her vacation.

The novel contains elements of romance and personal growth as Hannah navigates her relationship with Drew.

New Zealand's landscape and culture play a significant role in the narrative, enhancing the story's setting.

The book is part of Rosalind James' larger 'Escape to New Zealand' series, which includes multiple books featuring different rugby players.

Rosalind James is praised for her writing style, which combines humor and depth, while also incorporating Kiwi dialect.

The series is noted for its positive portrayal of strong, professional female characters in relationships with male athletes.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of emotional insecurity, references to parental loss, and episodic relationship challenges.

Has Romance?

The romance in Just This Once is a central focus, with the relationship between Hannah and Drew being key to the narrative.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

Everyone needs to be rescued sometimes.Everyone but Hannah Montgomery, that is. She just needs a vacation. Three weeks in New Zealand to sort out her life, figure out what she wants, seems just right. Oh, and to relax. She should definitely put that on the agenda. She certainly isn't looking for a fling with a professional rugby player, no matter how attractive he is. Hannah doesn't do casual. But maybe just this once. . .Drew Callahan is happy to help Hannah find all the fun she's been missing. But as much as he's shared with her, he's kept one very big secret. And learning the truth, now that she's back home again, has made Hannah more wary than ever. Drew knows that she's right for him. But how can he convince her to let down her guard enough to explore what they could have together?

Ratings (2)

Loved It (1)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (11):

Read It (3)
Want To Read (5)
Not Interested (3)

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About the Author:

Rosalind James is the author of four books in the "Escape to New Zealand" series, all of which have been Kindle bestsellers. Rosalind is a former marketing executive who has lived all over the United States and in a number of other countries, traveling with her civil engineer husband. Most recently, she spent several years in Australia and New Zealand, where she fell in love with the people, the landscape, and the culture of both countries.

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Just This Once

Rosalind James

Book 1 in the series:Escape to New Zealand