Loved it! New Zealand update and great narration!

Any additional comments?

This was the best pairing yet! I loved the update on all the characters from the Escape to New Zealand series. I think this was Claire's best narration out of all that I've listened to so far. The character intonation was all spot on! I loved Finn's voicing. Can't wait to hear the next of Rosalind James' work voiced by Claire!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Just Once More, A reunion, a wedding & a baby

Would you consider the audio edition of Just Once More to be better than the print version?

I think in some ways the audio edition is better, because the quality of the narrator/actor reading the book is so good. She really does a great job distinguishing the different characters, and that is tough with this story - with a cast of more than a dozen "main characters" from previous Rosalind James' stories. Many of them would sound alike, but she does manage to separate them somehow.

Would you be willing to try another book from Rosalind James? Why or why not?

YES - absolutely! She's one of my favorite authors and I love all her stories.

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

Yes, I have and this one is probably better because of the challenge of somehow distinguishing all the characters from each other, as I mentioned previously.

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

There were parts that dragged a bit, and I prefer to listen in the car while driving to work anyway, so it was broken up a little bit for me that way.

Any additional comments?

In this novel, it doesn't have the same build up and tension, characters getting to know one another as you normally find in most romances. This was the only thing that didn't quite make the book hit this one out of the park for me. I love the characters getting to know each other, have some kind of conflict they have to work through, and grow from an experience together, which is part of the process of falling in love. You don't really have much of that in this book because it is more of a reunion story - more or less. The story is more for Rosalind James' fans that have already read most of the books in the Escape to New Zealand series. I loved getting to see (or hear) about the happily-ever-afters and the challenges normal couples face, especially with children in the picture. There is a story about Drew and his little boy in the grocery store that was priceless (I won't spoil it but boy, can't we ALL relate to kids and grocery stores?) All of Rosalind's stories have been very relatable and realistic to me, except for a few fantasy elements. What's a romance novel without a few of those, right?.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

One more hot rugby romance!

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

I loved it!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Just Once More?

It's so hard to pick just one memorable moments in this book. This is the book that continues with the characters that I have grown to love in Rosalind's other Escape to New Zealand books. Each character is unique but are intertwined in a unique way. I would love to read more about these characters!

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

Claire is the first person that I have listened to on an audio book. I have to say she has spoiled me! She has such a unique way in keeping the multiple characters separate as well as her as the narrator. This is just as good, if not better than her other performances. I've listened to other audio books but can say that I didn't enjoy them as much as listening to Claire!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Just watching all of the characters and how their relationships have grown over time. Each character is amazing and by the way the book is written, I feel that I know them all each personally. I also love when I read/hear situations that I can totally relate to in my real life. This book is a great escape; would love to be in New Zealand listening to it!

Any additional comments?

I love this author and narrator, and I love this series! 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. AND, I would give this book a positive review even if I had paid full price for it!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Hannah & Drew, with Rugby Friends!

What did you love best about Just Once More?

It was nice to see the characters from the first 6 books reunite together in this story. The story is really a continuation of Hannah and Drew's story, but the scenarios of bringing the rest of the crew together are sweet and reminiscent.

What other book might you compare Just Once More to and why?

This book must be read after the first 6 as you will not know the characters or their connections to each other. Definitely not a stand-alone, unless you are brave enough to keep track of the characters!

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

Claire is amazing. I am in awe of her talent for keeping genders and accents apart. Remarkable! I'm a fan!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Drew in the grocery trying to "reason" with a cranky 7-year-old upon returning home from the beach is priceless. Some parts of this story you will laugh out loud, and sometimes even cry ugly tears. The book is also sweet and sexy, the best parts of Rosalind's stories. ;)

Any additional comments?

I received a free copy of this audiobook 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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Catch up with the Escape to New Zealand families!

First off, this book could possibly be listened to by itself BUT the reader would probably feel like they're not completely "in" on everything since it involves history laid in the 1st six books. If a story based around rugby, more specifically the provincial,super and All Blacks teams interests you, this could be the series for you to explore. Now having said that AND having read the other books . . . it was good to "b" able to Escape to New Zealand once again. The play on the "b" is because of the background, believability, babies/pregnancies, brotherhood, bonding, beaches, bedrooms, backseats, and beginnings. It was fantastic to have details of situations from past books be filled in to really round out the stories. The book also makes the characters even more endearing because their insecurities and feelings of being "less than perfect" are revealed and dealt with in a very realistic manner. Pregnancy and babies are handled in a broad spectrum--from the issue of not being able to have biological children to should we have more to holy smokes, what have we really done & how are we going to manage another child? The interweaving of the lives of fictitious past and present All Blacks gives possible insight into the issues they might really have to deal with. The book helps to forge new bonds and strengthen old ones. Obviously the beach is going to factor into a book that is set in New Zealand in December--both in the bonding and "steamy" factor. Speaking of steamy . . . in addition to the beach, there's also bedroom and backseat happenings as well. As for the beginnings--so many to witness. From a wedding to a newly engaged couple to the growth of families. Can't wait to see how these evolve in future Escape to New Zealand installments!

As for the narration, I have to say that Claire Bocking really brought great stories to life once more and has reached a new level of phenomenal for several reasons. Her Kiwi accent is spot on and she seamlessly switches from narrator mode (her own voice) to Kiwi characters (including Paheka and Maori) to American characters. Not only that, she does a marvelous job of giving close to 20 individual characters their own voice and you can clearly tell who's "talking" even with out the prompting text/bits. We're talking a range from toddlers to young children to older children to teens to young adults to older adults. Once again, she emotes the narration and character speech with sincerity and believability. I found myself laughing, sighing, groaning and even crying because of the emotion she brings to the story. I just can't imagine anyone else doing the narration for this series of books and being so successful at it.

Now for the legal bit . . .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. If you look at my reviews here, one Amazon and Good Reads you will find that I don't always leave a 5 star review. BTW--I would have gladly purchased this audio book with my own funds/credits.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

Wonderful per usual!

This is a great story, and if you've read or listened to Rosalind's other books, be aware that if you are at all like me, some of these chapters will hit you right in the gut and leave your eyes all leaky! Not a good combination for driving! Claire definitely catches all the emotions in the individual couple stories. This is a collection of stories featuring previous couples, but the story is mainly Drew and Hannah. It's a great short story revisiting the ABs and their partners. It's a catch-up, if you will. I love the narration for this series-she has nailed it every time. Highly recommend!!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Romance is for Remembering

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

Between the wonderful story about characters met in previous rugby romance books by Rosalind James and the amazing voice of Claire Bocking, this was a wonderful experience.

What did you like best about this story?

Romance is remembering is what the character, Reka, says at one point in the story and nothing is truer about this book. It brings together all the characters from Ms. James romance rugby series, Escape to New Zealand, from Drew and Hannah to Hugh and Josie. At times funny, heartwarming, steamy, and downright teary, it is a wonderful story.

What about Claire Bocking’s performance did you like?

Claire Bocking is amazing . She somehow brings every character to life, whether male or female or young or old, they all come alive with her performance. She makes it seem as though you are right in the midst of their lives. You can feel the emotion and experience the moments.

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

I think it would be what the character Reka says, that romance is remembering. Because Ms James not only brings us up to date in the character's lives, she also helps us remember what brought them together and the depth of their ongoing love.

Any additional comments?

I would definitely commend this Audible book to everyone. It is an uplifting, enjoyable read. 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.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

A Lovely Visit with Old Friends

Any additional comments?

Just Once More is a "can't miss" for fans of the "Escape to New Zealand" rugby romance series by Rosalind James. For the most part, Just Once More is a reunion novella that takes place shortly after the end of the last book, giving the reader a glimpse of where life has taken the primary characters from the first six books. Most of the action takes place in the days immediately preceding the wedding of Josie Pae Ata and Hugh Latimer, the reason the couples have reunited. There are also a few flashback scenes and shared tales which fill out some of the details in different couples' stories. As always, there is a good amount of spice. Though the book touches base with all the couples from the previous books, the primary focus in this book is back on Drew and Hannah Callahan, who were featured in the very first book, Just This Once. 

Visiting with "old friends" can be very enjoyable and this is the case with this novella, which is roughly half the length of the other books. Because of the shorter length and the more widespread focus, the book lacks some of the emotional depth that is so integral to the other books. That said, this book is a lot of fun; I enjoyed listening to it and seeing where life had taken all the characters. 

The narration by Claire Bocking is excellent. She has clear and identifiable voices for each character which makes the book a more enjoyable "read."

I received a free copy of this audio 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. 

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

Rugby Romance update!

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

catching up everybody

What other book might you compare Just Once More to and why?

The only thing you can compare Rosalind James books to are her other books. They're all great and very original.

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

Her accent! She's so great with the kiwi and american accents and keeping all the characters distinct.

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

It's like the Love Actually of Rugby Romances. Except no heartbreak.

Any additional comments?

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinion expressed is my own and I was not obligated to give a positive review.That being said, there is nothing negative about this book. You get to catch up with all your favorite characters with sweet, steamy scenes thrown in. You see what it's like when your favorite couple goes from courtship to years (and several kids) into their marriage. You also get to see different couples in different stages of their relationships. It was nice to hear about the characters again and the length was perfect. It was a nice update without being the length of a full book, even though i would have read that one too. James and Bocking make a great team.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Awesome Rugby Romance.

Well it was great to catch up with all our escape to New Zealand friends and go back to the places Rosalind describes so well, and so good to hear Claire do her thing with the male/female voices.
Can't say this will go down as one of my favourites, there was so much going on, although it still had my attention from the beginning, like all of Rosalind's books do.
The glimpses into the lives of our past leading characters was heart warming and sometimes steamy, (I just love Kate and Koti). Koti's car seeing plenty of action in this book, in more ways than one.
Drew and Hannah, Hemi and Reka and Kate and Koti were my favourite catch ups this time and I'm Looking forward to a new leading couple in the next book.
"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."
Cheers Michelle in Australia.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful