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New Zealand Ever After #1
Kiwi Rules
Need an escape? The brand-new, snarky, steamy, Kiwi-centric series by the bestselling author of Escape to New Zealand.
Afghanistan hadn't quite killed me. Karen Sinclair just might.
You don't find many too-pretty rich boys in the New Zealand Defence Force. Turns out there's a reason for that. Fortunately, you can find your true self in the oddest places. Of course, you can lose yourself in those places, too--at least some pieces of you.
Since I was back home with a new leg, some facial alterations, and time on my hands, I might as well help out my sister. Showing a potential buyer around some of New Zealand's quirkier ecotourism sites, having a few adrenaline-fueled adventures? Fine. It wasn't like I'd never been camping, unlike the walking tornado that was Miss Karen Sinclair. Unfortunately, Karen had never heard of the phrase, "Let me get that," let alone, "We don't have time." She'd definitely never heard, "There's no more room in the car."
And then there was the sexual frustration.
Afghanistan hadn't quite killed me. Karen Sinclair just might.
You don't find many too-pretty rich boys in the New Zealand Defence Force. Turns out there's a reason for that. Fortunately, you can find your true self in the oddest places. Of course, you can lose yourself in those places, too--at least some pieces of you.
Since I was back home with a new leg, some facial alterations, and time on my hands, I might as well help out my sister. Showing a potential buyer around some of New Zealand's quirkier ecotourism sites, having a few adrenaline-fueled adventures? Fine. It wasn't like I'd never been camping, unlike the walking tornado that was Miss Karen Sinclair. Unfortunately, Karen had never heard of the phrase, "Let me get that," let alone, "We don't have time." She'd definitely never heard, "There's no more room in the car."
And then there was the sexual frustration.
445 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2019
1160 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
About the author
Rosalind James
55 books1,218 followersRosalind James writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense published both by Montlake Romance and independently. Her stories are set in New Zealand, Idaho, California, New York . . . really, anyplace that seems cool. (Research trips, especially those involving lots of rugby, are a bonus.) Her books are available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats. Rosalind is a former marketing executive who spent several years in Australia and New Zealand, where she fell in love with the people, the landscape, and the culture of both countries. She attributes her rapid success to the fact that "Lots of people would like to escape to New Zealand! I know I did!"
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
December 5, 2021
I liked both MCs. They were both well-drawn, and their relationship worked. The hero had lost the lower part of one leg during military service, and this aspect of the book was handled well IMO.
The plot moved along well. It wasn't really a complicated story, but there was lots of relationship building. The basic love story was strong and deeply felt, for two very deserving characters. The secondary characters were also interesting and added to the story. I would like to have seen Karen's smarmy ex get a bit more comeuppance, but he did kind of get what he deserved I suppose.
There was a little light bdsm between the MCs, which isn't appealing for me, but it wasn't overdone and I didn't mind it.
The New Zealand setting was lovingly depicted. I've been to NZ, and I could really picture those scenes in my mind. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.
The plot moved along well. It wasn't really a complicated story, but there was lots of relationship building. The basic love story was strong and deeply felt, for two very deserving characters. The secondary characters were also interesting and added to the story. I would like to have seen Karen's smarmy ex get a bit more comeuppance, but he did kind of get what he deserved I suppose.
There was a little light bdsm between the MCs, which isn't appealing for me, but it wasn't overdone and I didn't mind it.
The New Zealand setting was lovingly depicted. I've been to NZ, and I could really picture those scenes in my mind. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book.
May 12, 2025
After her almost-fiance sells out their start-up business and shafts her in the process Karen Sinclair falls into a depression: no flat, no fiance, no job, new city. Only her big sister and brother-in-law manage to drag her out of the pit and persuade her to fly to New Zealand to inspect a high-end glamping business which her brother-in-law is thinking of buying.
Jackson 'Jax' MacGregor is a former model turned soldier, after a roadside bomb took his leg he has returned to New Zealand to recouperate. His heavily pregnant sister has asked him to act as tour guide for an American millionaire who may want to buy her high-end glamping business.
Jax and Karen first meet by accident on the beach Karen sees him emerging from the sea like some water god and then tries to rescue him from a group of teens who have stolen his crutches. Jax can't believe this aggressive American who seems intent on saving the poor cripple and turning an irritation into a full scale battle. Sparks fly in more ways than one until they realise they have been set up by their respective families.
As they tour some of New Zealand's most beautiful countryside and enjoy some of the athletic pursuits the country has to offer the intrepid explorer Karen and Jax gradually fall in love, but if he intends to return to his regiment and she intends to return to the US what future can they have? Is this just a holiday fling?
So, the rating is a mixture of two things. The characters and the plot which I really liked and get a solid four stars, and the BDSM stuff which I personally find off-putting and which spoilt the book for me. I don't object to BDSM per se but I don't understand why it seems to be an all or nothing kind of deal - kind of like they can't have sex any other way which isn't normal. I also felt that Jax was subconsciously compensating for the loss of his leg by being so dominant and ordering Karen around. I get that outside the bedroom Karen and Jax were equals but to me that's a bit like saying he only shouts at her in private - still not acceptable. Anyway, it is obviously an issue for me - others have said that it wasn't overdone and they didn't mind it - so I guess you assess your own views.
Otherwise, this book reads like a advert for holidays to New Zealand, full of amazing scenery, beautiful food, tons of sports, amazing local culture all wrapped around a romance between two strong characters who have been battered but not defeated by what life has thrown at them. Rosalind James is a great writer and her deep love of EnZed shows through every page, I loved Jax and Karen and their story.
2025 reread. Still don't like the BDSM stuff but I can see that they also made love without that so my previous comment was wrong. Would maybe lift the rating to a three and a half stars. Funnily enough I had forgotten the BDSM and chose to reread because I enjoyed the story. LOL.
Jackson 'Jax' MacGregor is a former model turned soldier, after a roadside bomb took his leg he has returned to New Zealand to recouperate. His heavily pregnant sister has asked him to act as tour guide for an American millionaire who may want to buy her high-end glamping business.
Jax and Karen first meet by accident on the beach Karen sees him emerging from the sea like some water god and then tries to rescue him from a group of teens who have stolen his crutches. Jax can't believe this aggressive American who seems intent on saving the poor cripple and turning an irritation into a full scale battle. Sparks fly in more ways than one until they realise they have been set up by their respective families.
As they tour some of New Zealand's most beautiful countryside and enjoy some of the athletic pursuits the country has to offer the intrepid explorer Karen and Jax gradually fall in love, but if he intends to return to his regiment and she intends to return to the US what future can they have? Is this just a holiday fling?
So, the rating is a mixture of two things. The characters and the plot which I really liked and get a solid four stars, and the BDSM stuff which I personally find off-putting and which spoilt the book for me. I don't object to BDSM per se but I don't understand why it seems to be an all or nothing kind of deal - kind of like they can't have sex any other way which isn't normal. I also felt that Jax was subconsciously compensating for the loss of his leg by being so dominant and ordering Karen around. I get that outside the bedroom Karen and Jax were equals but to me that's a bit like saying he only shouts at her in private - still not acceptable. Anyway, it is obviously an issue for me - others have said that it wasn't overdone and they didn't mind it - so I guess you assess your own views.
Otherwise, this book reads like a advert for holidays to New Zealand, full of amazing scenery, beautiful food, tons of sports, amazing local culture all wrapped around a romance between two strong characters who have been battered but not defeated by what life has thrown at them. Rosalind James is a great writer and her deep love of EnZed shows through every page, I loved Jax and Karen and their story.
2025 reread. Still don't like the BDSM stuff but I can see that they also made love without that so my previous comment was wrong. Would maybe lift the rating to a three and a half stars. Funnily enough I had forgotten the BDSM and chose to reread because I enjoyed the story. LOL.
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April 27, 2019This is the first book I've read by Rosalind James that I have dnf'd. It was wordy, Karen was annoying, and I was positively bored by the story.
September 3, 2022
FREE today (September 3, 2022) on Amazon.
Free today (February 21, 2020) on Amazon.
3.5 stars.
Jax's mix of gentleness and toughness is very seductive, the heroine's personality, too. But both leads are too expressive, Jax being too talkative for my taste; his character is more a sum of traits (the nerd, the former soldier, the rich boy) than a cohesive male hero.
The story is very descriptive, long-winded even, with lots of dialogue (the constant "I said"/ "she said" are tiring) and the leads' voices in the narrative aren't distinctive enough sometimes.
Still, there are very good, entertaining dimensions and, all in all, I've enjoyed it.
Free today (February 21, 2020) on Amazon.
3.5 stars.
Jax's mix of gentleness and toughness is very seductive, the heroine's personality, too. But both leads are too expressive, Jax being too talkative for my taste; his character is more a sum of traits (the nerd, the former soldier, the rich boy) than a cohesive male hero.
The story is very descriptive, long-winded even, with lots of dialogue (the constant "I said"/ "she said" are tiring) and the leads' voices in the narrative aren't distinctive enough sometimes.
Still, there are very good, entertaining dimensions and, all in all, I've enjoyed it.
February 14, 2023
I marked this 5 stars when I read it but it needs to come down. There are various issues in this that make it questionable. I had lots of happy feelings while reading it, but I noticed various things that were not cool. And I’m the second book of this series, the author goes off in a way that made me lose trust of her.
Some of the issues included him buying them a house for a wedding gift where she wasn’t consulted. That’s bizarre behavior for them.
I laughed so much. The banter is on point and the characters are so well written. You really get to know these two people and the family that surrounds them. It’s immensely satisfying.
They are both dealing with heavy things. For him, the loss of a foot and for her, the loss of a long term relationship and the company that she grew. She’s amazing and I absolutely loved how straightforward she is.
The relationship goes pretty quick from 0-60 but I believe it. I don’t believe as much that they can crash from their personal tragedies and recover so fast. For him, it’s only been 5 months since he lost his leg and he’s already running and swimming like crazy? Seems unbelievable that his body could heal that fast. For her, she spiraled into a bad place and then is up for this adventure pretty quickly. So, timelines felt a bit rushed.
Plus, there’s the whole way her ex screwed her over. She builds two company and gets only $400,000 as severance when he sells it for tens of millions!?
But all of these issues are minor compared to the delight of this book. They are such a sweet couple who are both strong and capable. He’s super supportive of her. I liked how we got to see them both be capable separately and take turns on who was caring for the other. There is a little dom/sub play but it’s not overwhelming and is done very sensitively without making their whole emotional or sexual relationship about one person being dominant and another being submissive.
They both take turns getting super emotional and honest, including him crying in front of her and vice versa. It was amazing to see this done well.
I HIGHLY recommend this book. It’s excellent. I now want to travel and vacation in New Zealand. It sounds so amazing.
Some of the issues included him buying them a house for a wedding gift where she wasn’t consulted. That’s bizarre behavior for them.
I laughed so much. The banter is on point and the characters are so well written. You really get to know these two people and the family that surrounds them. It’s immensely satisfying.
They are both dealing with heavy things. For him, the loss of a foot and for her, the loss of a long term relationship and the company that she grew. She’s amazing and I absolutely loved how straightforward she is.
The relationship goes pretty quick from 0-60 but I believe it. I don’t believe as much that they can crash from their personal tragedies and recover so fast. For him, it’s only been 5 months since he lost his leg and he’s already running and swimming like crazy? Seems unbelievable that his body could heal that fast. For her, she spiraled into a bad place and then is up for this adventure pretty quickly. So, timelines felt a bit rushed.
Plus, there’s the whole way her ex screwed her over. She builds two company and gets only $400,000 as severance when he sells it for tens of millions!?
But all of these issues are minor compared to the delight of this book. They are such a sweet couple who are both strong and capable. He’s super supportive of her. I liked how we got to see them both be capable separately and take turns on who was caring for the other. There is a little dom/sub play but it’s not overwhelming and is done very sensitively without making their whole emotional or sexual relationship about one person being dominant and another being submissive.
They both take turns getting super emotional and honest, including him crying in front of her and vice versa. It was amazing to see this done well.
I HIGHLY recommend this book. It’s excellent. I now want to travel and vacation in New Zealand. It sounds so amazing.
April 23, 2019
Sadly, I think this is my last book by this author. I am dnf’ing this one as I did the last one as well. There is just too much information on things that are not important to the story. Karen isn’t really all that likable either to be honest.
August 10, 2019
I am shocked by the positive reviews / high # of stars. Totally nonplussed.
I usually adore this author, and for her first ten (or so) books Rosalind James was an auto-buy for me. This book exemplifies why she no longer is. It's probably because of my historic affection for her that I gave it 2 stars instead of the 1 or 0 stars it really deserves.
This story feels schizophrenic, cannot decide who anybody is, what their motivation is, in which direction they're going (and how they're going to get there), and then WHAM! things change, up is down, left is right, character X is now acting like B, totally incongruous to what we've already been told. And some of the situations are so bananas preposterous that it takes you out of the story, thinking "c'mon!" A heavily pregnant woman with three children under 10 is really going to fly from New York to NZ for two days? Really??? A former flame is going to track down someone they really don't care about and fly halfway 'round the world, wait on the former flame's new paramour's doorstep and then engage in spontaneous fighting? Even typing this out I am literally, audibly scoffing and shaking my head. Insulting is the word I'm coming up with, like how stupid, lazy, gullible down the author think we are? Ugh.
It was like pulling my own teeth, without anesthetic, to finish this book, and if it hadn't been written by this author there is no way I would have. It's just because I adored most of her Escape to New Zealand books (but not all, to be fair), and all of her Kincaids books.
Deleted.
I usually adore this author, and for her first ten (or so) books Rosalind James was an auto-buy for me. This book exemplifies why she no longer is. It's probably because of my historic affection for her that I gave it 2 stars instead of the 1 or 0 stars it really deserves.
This story feels schizophrenic, cannot decide who anybody is, what their motivation is, in which direction they're going (and how they're going to get there), and then WHAM! things change, up is down, left is right, character X is now acting like B, totally incongruous to what we've already been told. And some of the situations are so bananas preposterous that it takes you out of the story, thinking "c'mon!" A heavily pregnant woman with three children under 10 is really going to fly from New York to NZ for two days? Really??? A former flame is going to track down someone they really don't care about and fly halfway 'round the world, wait on the former flame's new paramour's doorstep and then engage in spontaneous fighting? Even typing this out I am literally, audibly scoffing and shaking my head. Insulting is the word I'm coming up with, like how stupid, lazy, gullible down the author think we are? Ugh.
It was like pulling my own teeth, without anesthetic, to finish this book, and if it hadn't been written by this author there is no way I would have. It's just because I adored most of her Escape to New Zealand books (but not all, to be fair), and all of her Kincaids books.
Deleted.
July 10, 2019
I would like to start with how much I love Rosalind James and her New Zealand series. This book is nothing compared to those. It seemed to start out okay with a good story line. It has evolved into raunchy sex with no meaning or purpose. I an at 73% and put it down for two weeks to read something else thinking I would be able to pick it back up. This book is a no go and a DNF for me. I wish I would have skipped it altogether.
February 3, 2020
I like the first part of the book and the last part of the book. I found the middle 60% to be rather slow. Literal wrestling (sex) and metaphorical wrestling (the protagonists wrestling with their frailties and weaknesses) just wasn't enough to keep my attention....
April 16, 2019
A lovely story! We first met Karen as a sixteen year old girl in Fierce, the younger sister of Hope, who had become Karen’s guardian when their mother died. Hope had only been eighteen then, and she had to give up all plans for college, and just work hard to keep them; then Karen got sick and they had no medical insurance. By then Hope had met, and was working for Hemi, a wealthy fashion designer, and they were having a very passionate, but on/off relationship. Nevertheless Hemi paid for Karen to be examined, and for the very expensive operation to remove the brain tumour that was threatening her life. Karen was a very bright girl, and very sparky, an opinion about everything! I have been hoping to read her story, and see how she grew up; she is approaching her thirtieth birthday when this story begins and has a wonderful job. She works in a company she part-owns, the world is her oyster! She is still the sparky, opinionated girl she ever was, well able to speak up for herself. By the end of the first chapter her life has fallen apart and she is hurting, badly. She moves back to New York to a small apartment, and is found there by Hope and Hemi, he offers her a lifeline, a research job for her to do in New Zealand, he is thinking about purchasing a company but doesn’t have the time to check it over before he buys, and he knows she will be honest about it. She will also be well looked after by his family, who she loves.
Also in the first chapter Jax finds his life torn apart, and he is living away from his family, although in a luxury apartment owned by his parents, trying to come to terms with a life that is going to be very different than he ever envisaged. They meet on the beach just after Karen arrives in New Zealand. There is an instant attraction between them but they are both very abrasive and argumentative, and sensitive. Karen keeps trying to save him, and Jax is determined to fight his own battles! They have to try and get on, it turns out that he is the person who will be showing her the business that Hemi is interested in purchasing; Karen had been expecting to meet his sister Poppy, and he was expecting to meet Hemi.
Various things occur in their travels that cause problems for them, not least Karen getting sick and panicking because she ends up in hospital. And when all seems to have settled down and they can both relax and think about having a life together - it seems that fate is determined to keep them apart! When they at last see each other again, after two very long weeks for both of them, their reunion is totally joyous, and the rest of the story is beautiful, tears of joy all round, me included! I have been looking forward to this book for ages and it was so worth waiting for! These characters feel so real, so alive, Rosalind James is so good at writing emotion you feel you really know these people.
A really good read!
Also in the first chapter Jax finds his life torn apart, and he is living away from his family, although in a luxury apartment owned by his parents, trying to come to terms with a life that is going to be very different than he ever envisaged. They meet on the beach just after Karen arrives in New Zealand. There is an instant attraction between them but they are both very abrasive and argumentative, and sensitive. Karen keeps trying to save him, and Jax is determined to fight his own battles! They have to try and get on, it turns out that he is the person who will be showing her the business that Hemi is interested in purchasing; Karen had been expecting to meet his sister Poppy, and he was expecting to meet Hemi.
Various things occur in their travels that cause problems for them, not least Karen getting sick and panicking because she ends up in hospital. And when all seems to have settled down and they can both relax and think about having a life together - it seems that fate is determined to keep them apart! When they at last see each other again, after two very long weeks for both of them, their reunion is totally joyous, and the rest of the story is beautiful, tears of joy all round, me included! I have been looking forward to this book for ages and it was so worth waiting for! These characters feel so real, so alive, Rosalind James is so good at writing emotion you feel you really know these people.
A really good read!
November 2, 2021
I cried a few times reading this book. Both of them are working through some trauma (he's lost part of his leg and has scars all over his face and body) and she was dumped by her fiance and forced out of her company where she worked with her fiance.
I loved how they both talked about their feelings honestly and did nice things for each other. The book was very romantic and hot.
SPOILER SPOILER SPILER
S
P
O
I
L
E
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The hero likes to tie her up or hold her hands down or spank her. He tells her he fantasizes about her getting a tattoo of his name in his handwriting on her butt cheek. On their wedding day, she shows him the tattoo she got for him.
He buys her pretty jewelry (custom made belly button rings, she has 4 of them when she meets him) and offers to move to America for her.
I loved how they both talked about their feelings honestly and did nice things for each other. The book was very romantic and hot.
SPOILER SPOILER SPILER
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S...........
The hero likes to tie her up or hold her hands down or spank her. He tells her he fantasizes about her getting a tattoo of his name in his handwriting on her butt cheek. On their wedding day, she shows him the tattoo she got for him.
He buys her pretty jewelry (custom made belly button rings, she has 4 of them when she meets him) and offers to move to America for her.
April 25, 2019
Best yet
I always look forward to a Rosalind James book. I love her description of the New Zealand and Maori culture and the chemistry between the main characters, but this book has my favorite character of all...Jax is the ultimate leading man. He checks all the boxes for me. Karen was a little harder to connect with but them together worked and worked exceedingly well. Definitely a great story...loved it.
I always look forward to a Rosalind James book. I love her description of the New Zealand and Maori culture and the chemistry between the main characters, but this book has my favorite character of all...Jax is the ultimate leading man. He checks all the boxes for me. Karen was a little harder to connect with but them together worked and worked exceedingly well. Definitely a great story...loved it.
June 25, 2020
There was an actual story, characters were amusing—seemed to have actual interests and lives. One issue that recurs with this author: bringing certain elements outside of the bedroom, which seems out of character for both parties. Being vague as I don’t want to have to hide for spoilers.
May 3, 2019
Oh Rosalind, I love you, you know I do. I've learned a lot about N-Zed from you and you can do hot & spicy better than many. But I'm getting tired of the woman-submissive sex. As if every woman secretly wants to be 'ravaged.' I think this was particularly difficult to take with Karen, who we'd met before, and who is supposed to be such a strong woman. Maybe the idea was the wounded man could be tough and the tough woman could submit. And I get that she was emotionally upset and all...but you know what? The wounded man can be gentle and the tough woman can be an equal partner and things can still be hot & spicy. Just my opinion. I still love your humor and applaud your straight-up accounts of Jax's living with a prosthetic limb. I just really think this okay book could have been amazing and it didn't quite hit the mark.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2020
3.5 stars - I liked the story, the wounded soldier, two people whose lives have veered off course, I liked the connection between them, how they fit and the honesty and directness. I didn't care for the sexy parts and started skimming. I am said that Makes has veered off of into dominance land. Not at all my cup of tea and so wrong for both the characters - she's too strong to make me feel like this is what she needs and he comes off as sort of a split personality, since he is very sweet, nurturing and emotionally vulnerable at times. With a different tone to the bedroom scenes this might have made five stars.
April 23, 2019
This is a story about facing set-backs in life and not only overcoming them, but emerging on the other side stronger and better than before.
Karen was a secondary character in a previous series by Ms. James but this book stands alone very well.
Karen has been dealt a harsh blow by the person she thought would be her partner in life as well as in business. Her brother-in-law sends her off to New Zealand to research a business he's thinking of buying as a stop gap while she decides where she wants to go next.
Jax is also at a crossroads in his life, recuperating from major injuries suffered in Afghanistan. He's getting used to the loss of a limb and is uncertain about his future, trying to cope with major changes in his life.
It's not the right time for either of them to meet each other, let along fall in love, but somehow this is what happens. The story is told in alternating first person pov, which was great for better understanding where each one was coming from. There's pathos involved, but also joy and laughter as these two adults work their way to a new future, different form what they had envision but probably all the better for being unexpected.
I very much enjoyed this book. Ms. James deals with Jax's injuries in a realistic way, neither minimizing them nor projecting them into insurmountable prominence. The secondary characters were well rounded and the setting was almost another personality in the story. I look forward to reading the next book in this new series.
Karen was a secondary character in a previous series by Ms. James but this book stands alone very well.
Karen has been dealt a harsh blow by the person she thought would be her partner in life as well as in business. Her brother-in-law sends her off to New Zealand to research a business he's thinking of buying as a stop gap while she decides where she wants to go next.
Jax is also at a crossroads in his life, recuperating from major injuries suffered in Afghanistan. He's getting used to the loss of a limb and is uncertain about his future, trying to cope with major changes in his life.
It's not the right time for either of them to meet each other, let along fall in love, but somehow this is what happens. The story is told in alternating first person pov, which was great for better understanding where each one was coming from. There's pathos involved, but also joy and laughter as these two adults work their way to a new future, different form what they had envision but probably all the better for being unexpected.
I very much enjoyed this book. Ms. James deals with Jax's injuries in a realistic way, neither minimizing them nor projecting them into insurmountable prominence. The secondary characters were well rounded and the setting was almost another personality in the story. I look forward to reading the next book in this new series.
April 17, 2019
4.5 Stars
Sometimes we meet secondary characters and they resonate so much that we hope they end up with a story of their own. That's exactly the case with Karen Sinclair (First seen in the Not Quite a Billionaire series). Kiwi Rules takes place roughly 10 years after we last saw young Karen.
Ms James does a wonderful job of bringing Karen into adulthood and creating a reason for her to also return to New Zealand. I loved the descriptions of Karen's character, she's entertaining and her mix of confidence and insecurities ripple off the page making her incredibly easy to relate to. Jax is an excellent counterpoint to Karen. He has his own issues and baggage, but has a confidence that she needs. I appreciated the things both Jax and Karen had in common, especially regarding their families and trying to determine where they are meant to go forward in life after some pretty big changes.
Kiwi Rules is another example of Ms. James unique style that pulls you into the adventures of her characters and makes you want to go along with them. There is an excellent balance between place descriptions and character activity so that you can picture the environment even if you've never been there. New Zealand's unique culture is also woven into the story via secondary characters that make you want to hang out with them as much as with Karen and Jax.
If you have read the Not Quite a Billionaire series, then you will appreciate the appearance of Hope, Hemi, and the rest of the extended Te Mana family. Don't worry if you have not read the earlier books as this is a complete stand alone.
Ms James is an author that I can always count on to deliver a high quality, engaging read and Kiwi Rules is another example of why this is true.
Sometimes we meet secondary characters and they resonate so much that we hope they end up with a story of their own. That's exactly the case with Karen Sinclair (First seen in the Not Quite a Billionaire series). Kiwi Rules takes place roughly 10 years after we last saw young Karen.
Ms James does a wonderful job of bringing Karen into adulthood and creating a reason for her to also return to New Zealand. I loved the descriptions of Karen's character, she's entertaining and her mix of confidence and insecurities ripple off the page making her incredibly easy to relate to. Jax is an excellent counterpoint to Karen. He has his own issues and baggage, but has a confidence that she needs. I appreciated the things both Jax and Karen had in common, especially regarding their families and trying to determine where they are meant to go forward in life after some pretty big changes.
Kiwi Rules is another example of Ms. James unique style that pulls you into the adventures of her characters and makes you want to go along with them. There is an excellent balance between place descriptions and character activity so that you can picture the environment even if you've never been there. New Zealand's unique culture is also woven into the story via secondary characters that make you want to hang out with them as much as with Karen and Jax.
If you have read the Not Quite a Billionaire series, then you will appreciate the appearance of Hope, Hemi, and the rest of the extended Te Mana family. Don't worry if you have not read the earlier books as this is a complete stand alone.
Ms James is an author that I can always count on to deliver a high quality, engaging read and Kiwi Rules is another example of why this is true.
April 21, 2019
4.5 stars. The further you read into this book, the better it gets.
Jax and Karen truly fit together like puzzle pieces. They had more than chemistry, they had a connection. Two people who felt broken and managed to find the one person to help make them while again. If that is not fate, I don't know what it is.
One of many things I enjoyed about this book was Jax's calm patience. Whether with Karen, the boys on the beach, his father, or Hemi, Jax stays the course. I loved Karen's honesty. At times, it might have been more harsh then people were comfortable with at the moment, but you didn't have to wonder what was on her mind. I thought it was also great that as Jax and Karen grew to trust each other, they could somewhat comfortably share their pasts, their present, and future with Each other.
Once again, Rosalind James provide a few hot scenes that were so full of sensuality, it made them downright scorching.
Then we got to revisit previous characters such as Hope, Hemi, and Koro. If this is the first book, I can only imagine how good the future books will be in this series.
Jax and Karen truly fit together like puzzle pieces. They had more than chemistry, they had a connection. Two people who felt broken and managed to find the one person to help make them while again. If that is not fate, I don't know what it is.
One of many things I enjoyed about this book was Jax's calm patience. Whether with Karen, the boys on the beach, his father, or Hemi, Jax stays the course. I loved Karen's honesty. At times, it might have been more harsh then people were comfortable with at the moment, but you didn't have to wonder what was on her mind. I thought it was also great that as Jax and Karen grew to trust each other, they could somewhat comfortably share their pasts, their present, and future with Each other.
Once again, Rosalind James provide a few hot scenes that were so full of sensuality, it made them downright scorching.
Then we got to revisit previous characters such as Hope, Hemi, and Koro. If this is the first book, I can only imagine how good the future books will be in this series.
April 20, 2019
Book 1 in the new New Zealand Ever After and if this book is anything to go by this will be another great series. We have met Karen before but you don’t need to have read any of Ms James previous books to enjoy Kiwi Rules.
Karen has lost her job and walked away from her boyfriend who happened to also be the boss all in one swift moment and she travels to New Zealand to lick her wounds and start over and that’s where she meets Jax a NZ special forces soldier who lost his leg in Afghanistan.
The chemistry is sizzling and the attraction is instant but Jax is not sure where he wants life to take hm and Karen is getting over a nasty breakup as well as looking into the company Jax’s sister owns, so do this couple have to much baggage to make a life together........
Once again this very talented author draws us into the life’s of her wonderful characters and I loved that this story was intertwined with characters from the Not Quite Billionaire Series but please don’t be put off if you haven’t read that series because this book is a stand-alone. Kiwi Rules is a must read and you need to one click this beawritten love story. Looking forward to book 2
Karen has lost her job and walked away from her boyfriend who happened to also be the boss all in one swift moment and she travels to New Zealand to lick her wounds and start over and that’s where she meets Jax a NZ special forces soldier who lost his leg in Afghanistan.
The chemistry is sizzling and the attraction is instant but Jax is not sure where he wants life to take hm and Karen is getting over a nasty breakup as well as looking into the company Jax’s sister owns, so do this couple have to much baggage to make a life together........
Once again this very talented author draws us into the life’s of her wonderful characters and I loved that this story was intertwined with characters from the Not Quite Billionaire Series but please don’t be put off if you haven’t read that series because this book is a stand-alone. Kiwi Rules is a must read and you need to one click this beawritten love story. Looking forward to book 2
October 13, 2024
I liked the book and yes it was kind of wordy. It took me a bit to get into this story as I have not read any of the other New Zealand books by Rosalind James. I will definitely go back and pick up the Not Quite a Billionaire Series as Hemi is awesome character.
Karen Sinclair is wrecked after her boyfriend/partner Josh makes a deal to sell the company they built together for 8 yrs out from under her. He gets the sale, the big bucks, the apartment, the CEO job and she gets a check for 400K and a see ya later after 8 yrs of 80 hr weeks?
She is furious falls into deep depression and is pulled out of it by her sister and brother in law Hemi when they send her to New Zealand to "help" them research a company they are thinking of buying.
There she meets Jax a New Zealand Defence Force bomb expert that is on leave after losing his leg and being blown up in Afghanistan. He is on 6 month recovery play and he is asked to "help" his sister who wants to sell her travel company. They met and it is rough going a lot of the story.
Karen Sinclair is wrecked after her boyfriend/partner Josh makes a deal to sell the company they built together for 8 yrs out from under her. He gets the sale, the big bucks, the apartment, the CEO job and she gets a check for 400K and a see ya later after 8 yrs of 80 hr weeks?
She is furious falls into deep depression and is pulled out of it by her sister and brother in law Hemi when they send her to New Zealand to "help" them research a company they are thinking of buying.
There she meets Jax a New Zealand Defence Force bomb expert that is on leave after losing his leg and being blown up in Afghanistan. He is on 6 month recovery play and he is asked to "help" his sister who wants to sell her travel company. They met and it is rough going a lot of the story.
June 23, 2020
DNF. It was a fairly good story up until the gratuitous BDSM. I don't find that stuff sexy, and it's certainly not romantic.
April 22, 2019
Review written: April 22, 2019
Star Rating: ★★★★½
Heat Rating: ☀☀☀☀☼
Kiwi Rules is Karen's book - Karen, the younger sister from Hope's and Hemi's Not Quite a Billionaire trilogy. Karen who had such tragedy in her young life; Karen who still felt larger than life than her sister Hope. Karen who is and was more like Hemi's equal in her outspokenness. That Karen.
And she is all those things in her own book too. She's determined and idealistic and intense and emotional and yes, a bit bunged up too. Because Karen can't be perfect, you know. She's got some pretty bad taste in men. Though in fairness, Josh is kind of like Hemi's Anika, a little too awful to be believable. Maybe there are some men out there who are that clueless, but they don't tend to be CEOs who got there on someone else's coattails. They'd be CEOs because their family owned the company. But really, Josh isn't all that important except that he's an idiot and a wanker.
It's Jax and Karen's book. And Karen is recovering from the loss of her sense of self more than anything else. It's a very difficult loss to deal with. So is Jax. He's also dealing with the loss of identity, in that he is no longer fit for duty, what with only one good leg after a bomb blast. Each feels their loss keenly, but there is an interesting gender split between those losses: identity wrapped up in utility for Jax and identity wrapped up in poor judgment and loss of a sense of womanhood, being pleasing to others for Karen. It's a theme that continues throughout the book and in other places.
It's easy to say that my favorite character is Koro. There's never even a question. I loved him in Hope's and Hemi's series and I loved him even more here, all 95 years of him. A bit of an aside: I've been reading a lot of WWII non-fiction lately and it is interesting to note that a Maori pilot was involved in the Great Escape. So Koro's story took on greater meaning for me. I especially loved his tenderness and wisdom and he made me cry more than once.
I liked Jax too, of course. He wasn't perfect by any stretch but he was perfect for Karen. His tenderness and gentle dominance mixed with his toughness and military training made him my kind of catnip. Karen was a strong woman without the need for the kick-ass theatrics. Her strength of character was a thing of beauty. I love women who are strong like Karen, who was also my kind of catnip.
As she often does, James flirts with D/s elements. While Hope's and Hemi's books were straight up erotica, Karen's and Jax's only flirts with it. I would say hot but not to the level. This is a big point. If you come into this expected Hope's and Hemi's books, you would be wrong. Their trilogy was hot but it was also melodramatic, raw, visceral, sharp, jagged. Karen and Jax are not. Are they hurting? Yes. Are there some raw moments? Absolutely. But this most definitely in the newer, updated James style more in line with Sexy as Sin and Just Come Over .
I loved it! And maybe, if we are very good and beg a bit, we'll even get Poppy's story.
This review is ©April 2019 by Monique N. and has been crossposted to Amazon.com.
Star Rating: ★★★★½
Heat Rating: ☀☀☀☀☼
Kiwi Rules is Karen's book - Karen, the younger sister from Hope's and Hemi's Not Quite a Billionaire trilogy. Karen who had such tragedy in her young life; Karen who still felt larger than life than her sister Hope. Karen who is and was more like Hemi's equal in her outspokenness. That Karen.
And she is all those things in her own book too. She's determined and idealistic and intense and emotional and yes, a bit bunged up too. Because Karen can't be perfect, you know. She's got some pretty bad taste in men. Though in fairness, Josh is kind of like Hemi's Anika, a little too awful to be believable. Maybe there are some men out there who are that clueless, but they don't tend to be CEOs who got there on someone else's coattails. They'd be CEOs because their family owned the company. But really, Josh isn't all that important except that he's an idiot and a wanker.
It's Jax and Karen's book. And Karen is recovering from the loss of her sense of self more than anything else. It's a very difficult loss to deal with. So is Jax. He's also dealing with the loss of identity, in that he is no longer fit for duty, what with only one good leg after a bomb blast. Each feels their loss keenly, but there is an interesting gender split between those losses: identity wrapped up in utility for Jax and identity wrapped up in poor judgment and loss of a sense of womanhood, being pleasing to others for Karen. It's a theme that continues throughout the book and in other places.
It's easy to say that my favorite character is Koro. There's never even a question. I loved him in Hope's and Hemi's series and I loved him even more here, all 95 years of him. A bit of an aside: I've been reading a lot of WWII non-fiction lately and it is interesting to note that a Maori pilot was involved in the Great Escape. So Koro's story took on greater meaning for me. I especially loved his tenderness and wisdom and he made me cry more than once.
I liked Jax too, of course. He wasn't perfect by any stretch but he was perfect for Karen. His tenderness and gentle dominance mixed with his toughness and military training made him my kind of catnip. Karen was a strong woman without the need for the kick-ass theatrics. Her strength of character was a thing of beauty. I love women who are strong like Karen, who was also my kind of catnip.
As she often does, James flirts with D/s elements. While Hope's and Hemi's books were straight up erotica, Karen's and Jax's only flirts with it. I would say hot but not to the level. This is a big point. If you come into this expected Hope's and Hemi's books, you would be wrong. Their trilogy was hot but it was also melodramatic, raw, visceral, sharp, jagged. Karen and Jax are not. Are they hurting? Yes. Are there some raw moments? Absolutely. But this most definitely in the newer, updated James style more in line with Sexy as Sin and Just Come Over .
I loved it! And maybe, if we are very good and beg a bit, we'll even get Poppy's story.
This review is ©April 2019 by Monique N. and has been crossposted to Amazon.com.
April 21, 2019
This book is proof that Ms James is an author with a capital A ... actually A +++
I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. .... everything about it .... but mostly the characters, dialogue, and storyline. What else is there?
This ticks all my boxes. It's not a simple romance that was thrown together quickly. It's a full length novel that will make you you sigh both during and after you read it.
The characters are amazing. Jax and Karen both as individuals and as a couple. They are both hurting from betrayal and loss that would knock anyone around ... and it has. They both come together fortuitously at a chance encounter .... and then during a business arrangement. As they are making their way back to their new norm, they realize that they are quite similar. They are attracted to each other, which is an awakening for both of them. They are honest to a fault and their dialogue will make you smile. Jax will make you sigh ... over and over. Karen will make you weep with wanting to be her as Jax turns his attention to her.
The supporting characters (and there are many) are welcome friends from previous books. Koro, Hemi, Hope. Some are new with the hopes that they make it into future parts of this series. The one character who is in all of Ms. James books is En Zed .... New Zealand. The land. The people. The way of living. Kiwi Rules. Ms. James is, to this reader with NZ at the top of her travel list, a one woman advocate for the country. I've read other Kiwi authors who bring the country to life, but (and nothing against them), there is nothing like the way that Ms. James brings everything to live. She has the slang, lingo, food, scenery, places all woven into the story to a point where the country is in and of itself a character.
The storyline is much more than a romance. It's a story of one one, or two, pick themselves up after immense loss and emerge stronger alone and even stronger together. It's about realizing that losses make you much more than you thought you could be. My kindle book is full of highlighted passages from the book that make me sigh and wish I was Karen. Here are two: "Sometimes, the thing you need comes along" "Push through it today, and tomorrow, you're that much stronger." Even the chapter titles give you a sense of the depth of Ms. Jame's craft. If I wasn't a well married woman, I'd chuck it all and head to NZ to look for my own Jax!
If you are looking for a quick "fluff" story to read, don't get this book. If you are looking for a NOVEL with a PLOT and CHARACTERS that will have you simultaneously binge reading while trying to savor the good parts (and they are ALL GOOD PARTS), download this book, order dinner in, ignore the laundry, and skip the housecleaning.
I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. .... everything about it .... but mostly the characters, dialogue, and storyline. What else is there?
This ticks all my boxes. It's not a simple romance that was thrown together quickly. It's a full length novel that will make you you sigh both during and after you read it.
The characters are amazing. Jax and Karen both as individuals and as a couple. They are both hurting from betrayal and loss that would knock anyone around ... and it has. They both come together fortuitously at a chance encounter .... and then during a business arrangement. As they are making their way back to their new norm, they realize that they are quite similar. They are attracted to each other, which is an awakening for both of them. They are honest to a fault and their dialogue will make you smile. Jax will make you sigh ... over and over. Karen will make you weep with wanting to be her as Jax turns his attention to her.
The supporting characters (and there are many) are welcome friends from previous books. Koro, Hemi, Hope. Some are new with the hopes that they make it into future parts of this series. The one character who is in all of Ms. James books is En Zed .... New Zealand. The land. The people. The way of living. Kiwi Rules. Ms. James is, to this reader with NZ at the top of her travel list, a one woman advocate for the country. I've read other Kiwi authors who bring the country to life, but (and nothing against them), there is nothing like the way that Ms. James brings everything to live. She has the slang, lingo, food, scenery, places all woven into the story to a point where the country is in and of itself a character.
The storyline is much more than a romance. It's a story of one one, or two, pick themselves up after immense loss and emerge stronger alone and even stronger together. It's about realizing that losses make you much more than you thought you could be. My kindle book is full of highlighted passages from the book that make me sigh and wish I was Karen. Here are two: "Sometimes, the thing you need comes along" "Push through it today, and tomorrow, you're that much stronger." Even the chapter titles give you a sense of the depth of Ms. Jame's craft. If I wasn't a well married woman, I'd chuck it all and head to NZ to look for my own Jax!
If you are looking for a quick "fluff" story to read, don't get this book. If you are looking for a NOVEL with a PLOT and CHARACTERS that will have you simultaneously binge reading while trying to savor the good parts (and they are ALL GOOD PARTS), download this book, order dinner in, ignore the laundry, and skip the housecleaning.
April 16, 2019
This was a simply lovely story about two wounded people finding each other and realizing that past setbacks, no matter how serious, don’t determine who they are and what their futures will be.
Karen is the younger sister of Hope, the heroine of James’ Fierce series. THe book opens with the rather overdone romance trope when a woman is thrown over by her boyfriend and loses her job all at the same moment. It’s even more demoralizing for Karen because she had heped build this company together with her boyfriend and he throws her out. She goes to NEw Zealand spend some down time recovering from this shock and figure out where she should go from there.
On the beach she meets Jax, a NZ special forces soldier who lost his leg in Afghanistan. Before that he was a famous male model and, by coincidence, his sister owns the business that Karen’s billionaire brother-in-law, Hemi, has asked her to investigate. The sparks fly between Karen and Jax. He is having a hard time figuring out what his life is going to be now that he has lost his leg and his job.
So both characters are searching for meaning in their lives. Karen is an interesting person. She is energetic, honest-to-a-fault, dedicated, and determined. Jax is great! His job disassembling bombs has given him patience in the face of challenges. But he has to adapt to what it is like to not have his leg. He is adapting about as well as anyone can expect as we observe him from the outside. We first meet him when he’s swimming at a beach without his prosthetic and has to crawl out of the water. Right there, with that image, we can sense his inner strength to crawl like that on a public beach.
He and Karen end up exploring his sister’s glamping business which gives us a wonderful look at some beautiful spots in New Zealand. We also get to see Hemi’s father who is a surrogate grandfather to Karen. His wisdom from over 90 years provides some very sweet moments as these two characters struggle to figure out what their futures will be.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from the author; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
Karen is the younger sister of Hope, the heroine of James’ Fierce series. THe book opens with the rather overdone romance trope when a woman is thrown over by her boyfriend and loses her job all at the same moment. It’s even more demoralizing for Karen because she had heped build this company together with her boyfriend and he throws her out. She goes to NEw Zealand spend some down time recovering from this shock and figure out where she should go from there.
On the beach she meets Jax, a NZ special forces soldier who lost his leg in Afghanistan. Before that he was a famous male model and, by coincidence, his sister owns the business that Karen’s billionaire brother-in-law, Hemi, has asked her to investigate. The sparks fly between Karen and Jax. He is having a hard time figuring out what his life is going to be now that he has lost his leg and his job.
So both characters are searching for meaning in their lives. Karen is an interesting person. She is energetic, honest-to-a-fault, dedicated, and determined. Jax is great! His job disassembling bombs has given him patience in the face of challenges. But he has to adapt to what it is like to not have his leg. He is adapting about as well as anyone can expect as we observe him from the outside. We first meet him when he’s swimming at a beach without his prosthetic and has to crawl out of the water. Right there, with that image, we can sense his inner strength to crawl like that on a public beach.
He and Karen end up exploring his sister’s glamping business which gives us a wonderful look at some beautiful spots in New Zealand. We also get to see Hemi’s father who is a surrogate grandfather to Karen. His wisdom from over 90 years provides some very sweet moments as these two characters struggle to figure out what their futures will be.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from the author; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.
April 22, 2019
Kiwi Rules is the beginning of a new series by Rosalind James, and what a beginning it is! The heroine is Karen Sinclair, who we met in an earlier series: Not Quite a Billionaire. She was the younger sister of Hope, the lead in that series. I'd always hoped that we'd hear more of what happened to Karen and was thrilled to finally get her story. It's about ten years later and she's all grown up. Please note however, that it isn't necessary to have read the previous trilogy, as Karen's story stands on it's own.
As the story starts Karen is on top of the world. After years of working long hours and devoting her life to developing a new company with her almost fiance, Josh, they are about to make it into the big leagues. But things take a disastrous turn and nothing ends up as she'd planned.
Karen ends up going to New Zealand to help her brother-in-law Hemi check out a business he's interested in buying, while there she meets Jax (aka: Jackson) MacGregor. Jax is an NZ special forces soldier who's recovering from an explosion in Afghanistan that resulted in the loss of his leg. There's an instant attraction between the two that only becomes more complicated when they later discover that Jax is the contact for the business that Karen's been sent to check out.
What follows is an engaging story of these two characters, both of them strong and independent, but with their own vulnerabilities and self doubts. I fell in love with both of them and was cheering for them to come together where they belonged. I experienced an abundance of emotions while reading: from having to grab a tissue to dab away to the tears, to finding myself reading with a huge grin spread across my face. And as usual the author didn't disappoint with just enough super hot love scenes to keep things spiced up.
One of my favorite parts of Rosalind's stories are always the wonderful secondary characters that fill out the background of the story: Koro, Matiu, Poppy, all the kids, and even Debbie the duck. I'm secretly hoping that maybe Poppy or Matiu will have the next story (or maybe the two of them together?). Whoever ends up in the next book, I'm already anxiously awaiting it. Kiwi Rules was a satisfying read and a wonderful introduction to a new series.
As the story starts Karen is on top of the world. After years of working long hours and devoting her life to developing a new company with her almost fiance, Josh, they are about to make it into the big leagues. But things take a disastrous turn and nothing ends up as she'd planned.
Karen ends up going to New Zealand to help her brother-in-law Hemi check out a business he's interested in buying, while there she meets Jax (aka: Jackson) MacGregor. Jax is an NZ special forces soldier who's recovering from an explosion in Afghanistan that resulted in the loss of his leg. There's an instant attraction between the two that only becomes more complicated when they later discover that Jax is the contact for the business that Karen's been sent to check out.
What follows is an engaging story of these two characters, both of them strong and independent, but with their own vulnerabilities and self doubts. I fell in love with both of them and was cheering for them to come together where they belonged. I experienced an abundance of emotions while reading: from having to grab a tissue to dab away to the tears, to finding myself reading with a huge grin spread across my face. And as usual the author didn't disappoint with just enough super hot love scenes to keep things spiced up.
One of my favorite parts of Rosalind's stories are always the wonderful secondary characters that fill out the background of the story: Koro, Matiu, Poppy, all the kids, and even Debbie the duck. I'm secretly hoping that maybe Poppy or Matiu will have the next story (or maybe the two of them together?). Whoever ends up in the next book, I'm already anxiously awaiting it. Kiwi Rules was a satisfying read and a wonderful introduction to a new series.
February 27, 2020
Fun read, but sometimes repetitious
I enjoy work from this author - hot characters, hot sex, and beautiful places to do it in. What's not to love?
The first half of this one felt repetitious on character descriptions, though. For trying to prove Jax is more than his scars and missing leg, they're mentioned a lot. Karen's appearance is as well, and how appealing they find each other. Of course they do, it's a romance novel.
Adding in other characters helped give something else to discuss, as they revealed their personal demons and fell deeper in lust. Love. Both.
The writing is sound, well edited, with plenty of spicy scenes and a slight bit of kink. An example of the writing:
"There it was again, that glimpse of something wounded, something naked. In another second, she’d start talking and cover it up again. That was one of the worst things about crime. The way it left its victims feeling guilty and ashamed, like they were the ones who’d done something wrong. The way it made them second-guess and doubt themselves."
I enjoy work from this author - hot characters, hot sex, and beautiful places to do it in. What's not to love?
The first half of this one felt repetitious on character descriptions, though. For trying to prove Jax is more than his scars and missing leg, they're mentioned a lot. Karen's appearance is as well, and how appealing they find each other. Of course they do, it's a romance novel.
Adding in other characters helped give something else to discuss, as they revealed their personal demons and fell deeper in lust. Love. Both.
The writing is sound, well edited, with plenty of spicy scenes and a slight bit of kink. An example of the writing:
"There it was again, that glimpse of something wounded, something naked. In another second, she’d start talking and cover it up again. That was one of the worst things about crime. The way it left its victims feeling guilty and ashamed, like they were the ones who’d done something wrong. The way it made them second-guess and doubt themselves."
December 23, 2025
I like seeing the grown up Karen. I can appreciate how Jax is with her and how he realizes she isn't acting or being or saying anything mean, it's just the truth and people get defensive when the truth is told outright. The truth when spoken out loud is great for reflection and pointing out things that might not come to the forefront of your mind. Jax is a great fit for Karen and I love that there wasn't fight or big dramas. I can 100% relate to that kind of relationship as that is what I have with my husband. It's only messy when the words first come out, then you realize life moves along and you need to lace up and go after it!
March 2, 2020
I really liked this Authors past books . I read a lot and sometimes the books seem the same- girl has traumatic breakup and she heads to her hometown, car gets stuck and her childhood sweetheart rescues her. He’s rich, has tons of brothers who are professional athletes, they fall in love, you get the picture. I have read so many stories like this yet they are still fun, interesting and the characters hold my interest.
This book not so much. It keeps dragging on. Sometimes I have to turn to the beginning of the chapter to see who is speaking. It’s just boring, disjointed and doesn’t seem to have a point. I’m trying to get through it but not sure if I’ll finish
This book not so much. It keeps dragging on. Sometimes I have to turn to the beginning of the chapter to see who is speaking. It’s just boring, disjointed and doesn’t seem to have a point. I’m trying to get through it but not sure if I’ll finish
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June 8, 2021This was a really hard one to finish. I LOVE Rosalind James’s Escape to New Zealand stories and a few others but this one specifically really missed the mark all around. The relationships and character building were missing their strength and I feel like the characters lost who they were trying to be throughout the book. Some of the writing was choppy and took several reads to clarify but I refused to DNF this book. If this wasn’t your cuppa, definitely give James another chance and read her Escape to New Zealand series, you won’t be disappointed!
December 30, 2022
I liked the book. There were a few point with strong feels that brought me to tears. There were other points where I was confused on the conversation and wasn't clear if it was because I didn't speak Kiwi.
Overall, it was a fun read.
Overall, it was a fun read.
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