Just This Once (Escape to New Zealand 1) - Rosalind James

The Book
Release Date: 30 August 2012

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. . .

As much as he’s shared with Hannah, Drew Callahan has kept one very big secret. And learning the truth, now that she’s back home again, has made Hannah warier 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?

My Opinion  3 STARS
This book spans over at least a year and although it seems to go really slowly a lot happens.  You also get told a lot about New Zealand, Māori tradition and the game of Rugby.  At times it seems as if the author is plugging New Zealand as a holiday destination rather than writing a romance novel as it seemed to much description was put on the surrounding scenery and land.

If you are not into reading about sport, then this book will not be for you and will become somewhat boring.  However I loved that the people portrayed were solid individuals and Drew especially was a wonderful character.  The typical alpha male with a generous soft side.

Hannah is one of those woman  who don't actually realise who strong she is and that it doesn't mean your weak if you cry and let some-one look after you.  Her dad died when she was a child and her mum fell apart leaving her to basically raise her younger brother and sister from the age of twelve.  When their mum also died she became both parents to her brother and sister and has always done what she can for them.  She has no social life and works very long hours at the office. 

 She has saving all her holiday entitlement of have a dream holiday alone in New Zealand where she wants to recharge her batteries and relax.  However fours days into her holiday she nearly drowns when she is saved by a Drew.

Drew is the captain of his local Rugby team and the captain of the New Zealand team the All Blacks.  However Hannah being from America has no idea who he is and he is glad that she takes him only for the man he is with no pre-conceived ideas.  He manages to get her to agree to spend the majority of her rest of her time with him and they travel round a bit and do lots of physical activities as well as end her dry run of sexual partners.

When it is time for her to go home, she finds it incredibly hard and realises for the first time that she has not thought about work once.  On her way back home however, Hannah finds out exactly who the man she has spent her time with and is more than a little intimidated.

When Drew comes over to visit a month later he meets her brother and sister, but he also asks if she would consider moving to New Zealand, to see if what they have between them would work.  After speaking with her best friend and after having spent a christmas alone as both her siblings had others things to do she looks into the idea.  She manages to get a good job, then Drew helps out silently with her visa application.

Not long after she finds herself living in New Zealand with a famous boyfriend and a less stressful job that she loves.

Hannah however struggles to let Drew in emotionally, constantly reminding him that she can do and pay for things herself.  However Drew is there constantly showing her that he wants her there permanently and does not give up into pressing himself however slowly into her life, being there even if she doesn't realise it and slowly reveals more and more about herself.

It isn't until she sees the very big strong man down at the last game of the season that she realises completely how much she loves him and can't live without him.  Of course this is where we get our happy ending to the tale.

If not for the fact that the whole story seems to go really slowly, which can be a bit boring a times, this is a really well written book.  A good book for a time when you just want something slow to read.

TBR