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44 Hours
The universe is definitely trying to punish Jennifer Andrews. Her new colleague, Ellaine Baxter, is not only an annoying, ambitious hard-ass, she’s the woman who broke Jennifer’s best friend’s heart. Now, for added torture, they have to drive to a teambuilding conference together.On their three-hour journey, things go from tense to catastrophic after an unscheduled stop in New Zealand’s wildly beautiful Kaimanawa Forest. Getting lost is just the start of the nightmare. For forty-four exhausting hours, the warring pair must find a way to work together.They might even survive…if they don’t kill each other first.An enemies-to-lovers romance about finding love with the person you least expect.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2020
114 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Donna Jay
38 books462 followersIn 2016, Donna Jay published her first sapphic romance. Since then, she has published eighteen more books, three of which made the number one spot in lesbian fiction.
Her stories feature resilient women, thought-provoking storylines, have plenty of heat, and are all set against the stunning backdrop of her home country, New Zealand.
She also writes sweet romances under the name Diana Jayne.
When she’s not writing, Donna can be found with her nose stuck in a book, or her backside glued to the sofa, binge-watching post-apocalyptic movies.
Sign up for her newsletter here - https://donnajayauthor.com/subscribe
Connect with Donna Jay
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Email - donna.jay.books@hotmail.com
Her stories feature resilient women, thought-provoking storylines, have plenty of heat, and are all set against the stunning backdrop of her home country, New Zealand.
She also writes sweet romances under the name Diana Jayne.
When she’s not writing, Donna can be found with her nose stuck in a book, or her backside glued to the sofa, binge-watching post-apocalyptic movies.
Sign up for her newsletter here - https://donnajayauthor.com/subscribe
Connect with Donna Jay
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Email - donna.jay.books@hotmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
June 9, 2020
3.75 Stars. A feel good enemies to lovers story. I’ve been chatting with people lately about how all of our ‘to read lists’ are getting really long. There have been a lot of good books out in lesfic this year and this is only the start of the heavy summer reading season. So many authors I enjoy had books come out this past May and now this June, July and even August looks like they are going to be even more packed. I was happy to keep my good book roll going with an author I have been a fan of for a long time. This is now my tenth book or short/novella by Jay. I can’t believe it’s been that many but I’ll happily keep reading her as long as Jay keeps writing.
I was attracted instantly to this book. The cover caught my attention right off and I like that it gives you a good idea what the plot point is that drives this story. As I mentioned already this is an enemies to lovers story so just imagine if you are lost in the wilds of New Zealand with said “enemy”. Not only are enemies to lovers a trope high on my like list, I really like the adventure of people stuck in the wild, having to brave the elements. Maybe I watch too much Naked and Afraid or even Survivor but I knew this book would be right up my alley. My only real complaint is I wanted even more time in the wild, for more excitement to build, but that is just a personal preference.
If you have read Jay before, you will know she puts in what I would consider, realistic BDSM in most of her stories. One of my favorite things about Jay, and I mention this all the time, is she writes real people because her characters are genuine and realistic so you feel like you could know them. And while the sex scenes are always steamy, she doesn’t suddenly turn the characters into porn stars, again she uses realism. So while I actually like Jay’s “brand” of BDSM if you will, this book actually does NOT have any. I think this is only the second book by Jay I remember without any BDSM. There is one scene with handcuffs, but that is as close as you get. So as a reader if you wanted to try one of Jay’s romances, but was worried about the BDSM inclusion, you won’t have to worry about reading it in this book.
I enjoyed the romance as it was a good mix of really sweet and steamy. It is pretty low angst so it is one of the reasons I can put the feel good tag on this. However, there is still conflict the characters have to deal with. There is some work place harassment and a family member who is homophobic, so there is plenty of conflict to keep us wanting to flip the pages. And while homophobia is always hard to read about, this book doesn’t push it under the rug. It’s actually dealt with and in the end it gives you hope, which again helped me put the feel good tag on this read.
If you are a Jay fan, I think you will enjoy this one too. It’s a sweet romance, with some steam, and even some excitement to get the book rolling. I would also recommend this to people looking for a feel good romance right now. Just a reminder, while this book is not, half of Jay’s other stories (including some of my favorites) are available with Kindle Unlimited. It would be a great way to see if Jay might be an author for you too.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
I was attracted instantly to this book. The cover caught my attention right off and I like that it gives you a good idea what the plot point is that drives this story. As I mentioned already this is an enemies to lovers story so just imagine if you are lost in the wilds of New Zealand with said “enemy”. Not only are enemies to lovers a trope high on my like list, I really like the adventure of people stuck in the wild, having to brave the elements. Maybe I watch too much Naked and Afraid or even Survivor but I knew this book would be right up my alley. My only real complaint is I wanted even more time in the wild, for more excitement to build, but that is just a personal preference.
If you have read Jay before, you will know she puts in what I would consider, realistic BDSM in most of her stories. One of my favorite things about Jay, and I mention this all the time, is she writes real people because her characters are genuine and realistic so you feel like you could know them. And while the sex scenes are always steamy, she doesn’t suddenly turn the characters into porn stars, again she uses realism. So while I actually like Jay’s “brand” of BDSM if you will, this book actually does NOT have any. I think this is only the second book by Jay I remember without any BDSM. There is one scene with handcuffs, but that is as close as you get. So as a reader if you wanted to try one of Jay’s romances, but was worried about the BDSM inclusion, you won’t have to worry about reading it in this book.
I enjoyed the romance as it was a good mix of really sweet and steamy. It is pretty low angst so it is one of the reasons I can put the feel good tag on this. However, there is still conflict the characters have to deal with. There is some work place harassment and a family member who is homophobic, so there is plenty of conflict to keep us wanting to flip the pages. And while homophobia is always hard to read about, this book doesn’t push it under the rug. It’s actually dealt with and in the end it gives you hope, which again helped me put the feel good tag on this read.
If you are a Jay fan, I think you will enjoy this one too. It’s a sweet romance, with some steam, and even some excitement to get the book rolling. I would also recommend this to people looking for a feel good romance right now. Just a reminder, while this book is not, half of Jay’s other stories (including some of my favorites) are available with Kindle Unlimited. It would be a great way to see if Jay might be an author for you too.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
June 8, 2020
3.5* – Despite some sensitive topics (most notably parental homophobia), this is a surprisingly fun and light read.
There’s no love lost between Jennifer and her colleague Ellaine, since Ellaine dumped Jennifer’s best friend, and being sent together on a teambuilding trip sounds like hell to both women. When Jennifer plays a silly prank on Ellaine on the drive there, they get lost in New Zealand’s Kaimanawa Forest. Those 44 hours bring them a lot closer and give Ellaine the opportunity to tell her side of the breakup story. For Jennifer, what comes out of the ordeal is a chance to confirm her attraction to women, and one woman in particular.
44 Hours starts almost as a comedy, then becomes more serious but it never gets too angsty. That’s due, mostly, to Ellaine’s personality. Her kindness and quick sense of humour lighten even the darker moments. Ellaine, who’s been out since her teenage years, grew up with love and the certainty that she’s worthy of that love. Jennifer, on the other hand, repressed her feelings for women because of her mother’s bigotry. Getting to know Ellaine and falling in love with her helps her embrace her own strength and stand for what she wants.
Both Jennifer and Ellaine are sweet and endearing characters, each in her own and very different way. The secondary characters are interesting too, especially Jennifer’s ex and her sister.
If you’ve read Donna Jay’s books before, you probably expect some BDSM. While there’s some sort of power play in 44 Hours – a leopard cannot change its spots –, it’s very very light. But sexy. Of course.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
There’s no love lost between Jennifer and her colleague Ellaine, since Ellaine dumped Jennifer’s best friend, and being sent together on a teambuilding trip sounds like hell to both women. When Jennifer plays a silly prank on Ellaine on the drive there, they get lost in New Zealand’s Kaimanawa Forest. Those 44 hours bring them a lot closer and give Ellaine the opportunity to tell her side of the breakup story. For Jennifer, what comes out of the ordeal is a chance to confirm her attraction to women, and one woman in particular.
44 Hours starts almost as a comedy, then becomes more serious but it never gets too angsty. That’s due, mostly, to Ellaine’s personality. Her kindness and quick sense of humour lighten even the darker moments. Ellaine, who’s been out since her teenage years, grew up with love and the certainty that she’s worthy of that love. Jennifer, on the other hand, repressed her feelings for women because of her mother’s bigotry. Getting to know Ellaine and falling in love with her helps her embrace her own strength and stand for what she wants.
Both Jennifer and Ellaine are sweet and endearing characters, each in her own and very different way. The secondary characters are interesting too, especially Jennifer’s ex and her sister.
If you’ve read Donna Jay’s books before, you probably expect some BDSM. While there’s some sort of power play in 44 Hours – a leopard cannot change its spots –, it’s very very light. But sexy. Of course.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2020
Besides being a romance, this story is quite different in premise from Jay’s other novels. Actually, all her books are different from each other. Jennifer Andrews is sent on a team-building work trip with her nemesis, Ellaine Blake. An unplanned stop finds them lost in a forest and having to rely on each other in order to make it out alive. It also means they may have to talk to each other too which Jennifer really doesn’t want to do because Ellaine broke her best friend’s heart.
This story is mostly about Jennifer and her journey out of the closet and into the bush, so to speak. She’s a little uptight but given her mother’s piety, it’s not surprising. She has numerous relationships to negotiate which is interesting and all part of her growth in being true to herself. Ellaine is a lovely and easy character to like. Jennifer is more prickly.
Initially I was confused about how easily they got lost but I’ve never seen a New Zealand forest so maybe it’s an easy thing to do. I liked that the forest isn’t the whole book but I might have kept them there for longer to increase the trauma. I found Jennifer’s mother more traumatic. This was a great aspect to the book and once again, firmly placed this novel in the real world. I think I’ve said this in every review of Jay’s books but I need to say it again. The characters are real people, with real families, an ordinary work life, middle class behaviour and finances. It’s one of the things I like most about her novels.
The ordinary parts of their lives are not changed to suit an international audience. Things that are uniquely kiwi, stay that way. One last thing: if Jay is an author you’ve wanted to try but don’t to BDSM, this is the book to read.
Book received for an honest review.
This story is mostly about Jennifer and her journey out of the closet and into the bush, so to speak. She’s a little uptight but given her mother’s piety, it’s not surprising. She has numerous relationships to negotiate which is interesting and all part of her growth in being true to herself. Ellaine is a lovely and easy character to like. Jennifer is more prickly.
Initially I was confused about how easily they got lost but I’ve never seen a New Zealand forest so maybe it’s an easy thing to do. I liked that the forest isn’t the whole book but I might have kept them there for longer to increase the trauma. I found Jennifer’s mother more traumatic. This was a great aspect to the book and once again, firmly placed this novel in the real world. I think I’ve said this in every review of Jay’s books but I need to say it again. The characters are real people, with real families, an ordinary work life, middle class behaviour and finances. It’s one of the things I like most about her novels.
The ordinary parts of their lives are not changed to suit an international audience. Things that are uniquely kiwi, stay that way. One last thing: if Jay is an author you’ve wanted to try but don’t to BDSM, this is the book to read.
Book received for an honest review.
July 19, 2023
This is one of those all-in-one-sitting enjoyable, leisurely reads. It is also a good reminder that preconceived ideas about people may prevent us from having worthwhile people in our lives.
This enemies to lovers workplace romance begins with a scary and challenging situation for both women, then morphs into what happens next. Jay writes about everyday people who have relatable challenges and a well fleshed out story behind them.
I really liked both MCs - Ellaine may be one of my favorite characters that Donna Jay has written so far. As is common with toaster oven tropes, family dynamics come into play. This portion was handled with great care and had a refreshingly surprising ally. With Jay, there's always sexy time - though this is a bit more tame than her usual. That said - it was just right for this story. Happy to have spent my evening with another of Jay's works!
UPDATE after July 2023 audiobook listen: I enjoyed the narration by Emma Wilder and felt like it lent itself well to the story. Wilder introduces the story in her American accent and then closes the book in it as well. I thought she did great with the New Zealand accents and she had really good differentiation between the characters - both male and female. I’ll have to seek out more of her work!
This enemies to lovers workplace romance begins with a scary and challenging situation for both women, then morphs into what happens next. Jay writes about everyday people who have relatable challenges and a well fleshed out story behind them.
I really liked both MCs - Ellaine may be one of my favorite characters that Donna Jay has written so far. As is common with toaster oven tropes, family dynamics come into play. This portion was handled with great care and had a refreshingly surprising ally. With Jay, there's always sexy time - though this is a bit more tame than her usual. That said - it was just right for this story. Happy to have spent my evening with another of Jay's works!
UPDATE after July 2023 audiobook listen: I enjoyed the narration by Emma Wilder and felt like it lent itself well to the story. Wilder introduces the story in her American accent and then closes the book in it as well. I thought she did great with the New Zealand accents and she had really good differentiation between the characters - both male and female. I’ll have to seek out more of her work!
April 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this one. It was so much more than a 'lost in the woods' romance.
The elements of trust, coming out and family approval were strong and heartwrenching.
I loved the addition of bird pets, as a crazy bird lady myself it's not something you see much of. Oh lord did it make me swoon for Ellaine. But Jennifer was just as swoon worthy in her own right, although wide eyed and innocent in many ways. It was sweet to watch their relationship unfurl.
I loved their talks and support for one another, Ellaine especially being so supportive to Jennifer in her coming out and issues with her bigoted mother. Handling it all in stride with grace and confidence.
A charming story.
The elements of trust, coming out and family approval were strong and heartwrenching.
I loved the addition of bird pets, as a crazy bird lady myself it's not something you see much of. Oh lord did it make me swoon for Ellaine. But Jennifer was just as swoon worthy in her own right, although wide eyed and innocent in many ways. It was sweet to watch their relationship unfurl.
I loved their talks and support for one another, Ellaine especially being so supportive to Jennifer in her coming out and issues with her bigoted mother. Handling it all in stride with grace and confidence.
A charming story.
August 18, 2020
This story wasn't what I thought it would be, obviously didn't research it enough. The 44 hours of being lost really only lasts the first couple chapters of the book, whereas I had assumed it would be more of an edge of your seat-survival story with bears and lions and finding water from the backs of leaves with maybe some drug dealers they have to run from and dirty sex on forest floors. Nope. It was more of a merging of a new couple and a coming out story, with a lot of banter back and forth, at times witty, at times kind of annoying.
Ellaine and Jennifer the MCs hate each other initially, though they work together at an agriculture machine shop. Yeah you read that right. Unique! But they end up lost in a NZ Nat'l Park on the way to a team building event, and turns out there's been a lot of misunderstandings over the years that created those hateful feelings. Turns out they have a lot of chemistry between them, but Jennifer has never been with a woman and has a highly homophobic mother. Some knee jerk reactions happened from her words.
This scene, though......:
"I have hidden pockets, and they're plenty big enough to hold the itty-bitty lingerie I like to see you in."
"Let's go," Jennifer said walking again, images of being half-naked in front of Ellaine driving her forward.
Twenty minutes later, with a nude coloured bra and matching BRIEFS safely tucked away....
THERE IS NOTHING ITTY-BITTY ABOUT BRIEFS.
Overall I liked the book but it didn't blow me away. I do enjoy this author however. 3.25/5.
Ellaine and Jennifer the MCs hate each other initially, though they work together at an agriculture machine shop. Yeah you read that right. Unique! But they end up lost in a NZ Nat'l Park on the way to a team building event, and turns out there's been a lot of misunderstandings over the years that created those hateful feelings. Turns out they have a lot of chemistry between them, but Jennifer has never been with a woman and has a highly homophobic mother. Some knee jerk reactions happened from her words.
This scene, though......:
"I have hidden pockets, and they're plenty big enough to hold the itty-bitty lingerie I like to see you in."
"Let's go," Jennifer said walking again, images of being half-naked in front of Ellaine driving her forward.
Twenty minutes later, with a nude coloured bra and matching BRIEFS safely tucked away....
THERE IS NOTHING ITTY-BITTY ABOUT BRIEFS.
Overall I liked the book but it didn't blow me away. I do enjoy this author however. 3.25/5.
July 7, 2020
A nice enemies to lovers story that's pretty heavy on the romance and with doses of homophobia in the midst.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
June 21, 2020
What happens when you dislike a person because of second-hand information? Exactly, you can get proven wrong and that's exactly what this book is about. (So also don't judge a book by one second-hand review, especially if that one is given by Charles ;).) On the other hand, if you are Charlesed, you are part of the inner circle. Good job Jay!
This book is published at a perfect time. An enemy's to lovers book that's written so that it feels and is a feelgood romance. As a Dutchy, I did wonder how one gets lost in a forest when going for a number one. But after seeing the pictures of dense New Zealand's forests there was no doubt about it: never will I set foot in there without compass or some device with a GPS in it.
This book is the most lengthy book Jay has written so far and she managed it great. The pacing of the storyline is great and because of the length of the book, scenes and developments in the book didn't have to be rushed.
Jay is one of my favourite writers and has a way with words that's up my ally. "She had a body like a country road - all dangerous curves and warning signs." is by far my favourite sentence of the book. The enemy's to lovers dynamic is totally different from what I'm used to and turned pretty quickly considering the circumstances. The other troubles this brought on is something I think everyone encounters at some point in their lives with some friends: they are not always what they seem.
This book really made me feel good, so thank you Jay, for another great read!
A copy of this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Check out this and other reviews at https://lesfic.home.blog/
This book is published at a perfect time. An enemy's to lovers book that's written so that it feels and is a feelgood romance. As a Dutchy, I did wonder how one gets lost in a forest when going for a number one. But after seeing the pictures of dense New Zealand's forests there was no doubt about it: never will I set foot in there without compass or some device with a GPS in it.
This book is the most lengthy book Jay has written so far and she managed it great. The pacing of the storyline is great and because of the length of the book, scenes and developments in the book didn't have to be rushed.
Jay is one of my favourite writers and has a way with words that's up my ally. "She had a body like a country road - all dangerous curves and warning signs." is by far my favourite sentence of the book. The enemy's to lovers dynamic is totally different from what I'm used to and turned pretty quickly considering the circumstances. The other troubles this brought on is something I think everyone encounters at some point in their lives with some friends: they are not always what they seem.
This book really made me feel good, so thank you Jay, for another great read!
A copy of this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.
Check out this and other reviews at https://lesfic.home.blog/
August 20, 2020
Nice.
November 28, 2022
2.5 star rating
The beginning was catchy with the whole enemies angle and being lost together etc.
But the whole story after their rescue and back to civilization just didn't hold my attention. I took a break hoping getting back to the story will change but unfortunately it didn't.
The beginning was catchy with the whole enemies angle and being lost together etc.
But the whole story after their rescue and back to civilization just didn't hold my attention. I took a break hoping getting back to the story will change but unfortunately it didn't.
May 17, 2021
Unfortunately, this one didn't resonate with me at all. I got it first and foremost because I was really in the mood for a survival/adventure kind of romance, because the kinds of bonds that can be formed while lost or stranded together can be sooooo good, and I was just craving it. Alas, the 44 hours are over and done with in the first 20% of the book, and the rest of the book deals with the aftermath? Or not even the aftermath, because it didn't really concentrate on them getting over their ordeal. It read pretty much just like a regular getting together story. For an enemies to lovers trope, the relationship moved super quick. And probably most importantly, I couldn't connect with the writing at all. I found it super bland and jarring by turns, and none of the dialogue was compelling to me. TBH I started reading very quickly after the 50% mark, because I just wasn't interested in these women or their relationship. (Though Ellaine had a lot of potential.)
Not bad; just not for me, especially since I went into it expecting and wanting something different. And that's not the book's fault; that's on me.
Content warnings:
Not bad; just not for me, especially since I went into it expecting and wanting something different. And that's not the book's fault; that's on me.
Content warnings:
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Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08...
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https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
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October 8, 2024
I really enjoyed the first 30% of the book—the jungle scenes were exciting, and the tension kept me engaged. However, once Jennifer and Elaine were saved from the jungle, the pacing slowed significantly. The rest of the story seemed to focus more on their developing relationship, with Jennifer’s homophobic mother creating most of the conflict. While that could have added depth, it felt like the plot stalled and lost momentum. It’s disappointing because the beginning had so much promise, but the rest of the book didn’t quite deliver on that potential.
June 18, 2020
Immersing myself in this enemies-to-lovers romance over the past few days has been like wrapping myself in a comfy blanket to shut out the world.
Jennifer and Ellaine are adorable. Their conflict and resolution felt real. The New Zealand setting is an intriguing blend of familiar and exotic, and the sex is hot. What more could we ask for?
This is an FF romance. If they're your bag then I highly recommend this one.
Jennifer and Ellaine are adorable. Their conflict and resolution felt real. The New Zealand setting is an intriguing blend of familiar and exotic, and the sex is hot. What more could we ask for?
This is an FF romance. If they're your bag then I highly recommend this one.
April 14, 2021
A bit of a whirlwind story. Enemies-to-lovers in 44 hours of getting lost in the New Zealand bush.
The way the mains get lost is just so unbelievable, as is how their romance starts.
I like that the story is different from most WLW where there is the inevitable break-up/ big drama anywhere near the 70% mark, but it is just so unbelievable.
The characters, especially Ellaine, say one thing but has about 0 self-control so end up doing the opposite. And for a woman as badly burned as Ellaine you'd think she would think twice and actually take it slow.
Jennifer is just coming out and her mom is about the biggest of homophobes there is, I feel like this storyline doesn't get enough attention. Angela, Jenn's sister, is the shining light in this book, standing up for Jenn and going against their mother, and the way that dialogue is written, the best part of the book in my opinion.
It wasn't the best story, nor was it the worst. I did enjoy myself even though my eyes got a nice eye roll exercise. Sometimes you need something easy to read, it wasn't this book. I think the author was doubting about going the more serious route, with a homophobic parent, dating a friend's ex, or a lighter story, enemies-to-lovers, lost in the bush, banter, and fun. But because of the conflicting ways to approach the story, it falls a bit flat and eye-roll inducing. Overall I'd say it deserves 2.5 stars because it is just different from other WLW books.
The way the mains get lost is just so unbelievable, as is how their romance starts.
I like that the story is different from most WLW where there is the inevitable break-up/ big drama anywhere near the 70% mark, but it is just so unbelievable.
The characters, especially Ellaine, say one thing but has about 0 self-control so end up doing the opposite. And for a woman as badly burned as Ellaine you'd think she would think twice and actually take it slow.
Jennifer is just coming out and her mom is about the biggest of homophobes there is, I feel like this storyline doesn't get enough attention. Angela, Jenn's sister, is the shining light in this book, standing up for Jenn and going against their mother, and the way that dialogue is written, the best part of the book in my opinion.
It wasn't the best story, nor was it the worst. I did enjoy myself even though my eyes got a nice eye roll exercise. Sometimes you need something easy to read, it wasn't this book. I think the author was doubting about going the more serious route, with a homophobic parent, dating a friend's ex, or a lighter story, enemies-to-lovers, lost in the bush, banter, and fun. But because of the conflicting ways to approach the story, it falls a bit flat and eye-roll inducing. Overall I'd say it deserves 2.5 stars because it is just different from other WLW books.
January 24, 2021
Ratings: 7/10 ⭐️
June 15, 2020
The Beauty and Magic of New Zealand
I adored this book! Not just because I love all things New Zealand and Donna Jay, although I do… but this story is so good. Who doesn’t love an enemies to lover tale? Jennifer hates Ellaine because she broke her best friend’s heart. It doesn’t help that they work together. Now they have to go to a workshop together. When they get lost in the insanely gorgeous Kaimanawa forest, they have to lean on each other to survive. Forty-four hours is a long time to get to know someone and sometimes things aren’t always what they seem.
As I said I loved this dramatic tale. It was exciting, steamy and sweet with enough angst to keep things interesting. I was drawn into this story from the start. When the women were lost in the forest, I felt like I was there. I could hear the forest sounds, feel the heat and the breezes, and smell the leaves and ferns… I fell in love with Jennifer and Ellaine. Both women were so interesting and intriguing, I wanted to know them better and wow did I love the intimacy and the sexy bits! Ms Jay is very talented, especially with that! Anyway, I loved this book so much that I could not stop thinking about it. I had to read it again the next day! I think this is a wonderful book that is a must read!!
I adored this book! Not just because I love all things New Zealand and Donna Jay, although I do… but this story is so good. Who doesn’t love an enemies to lover tale? Jennifer hates Ellaine because she broke her best friend’s heart. It doesn’t help that they work together. Now they have to go to a workshop together. When they get lost in the insanely gorgeous Kaimanawa forest, they have to lean on each other to survive. Forty-four hours is a long time to get to know someone and sometimes things aren’t always what they seem.
As I said I loved this dramatic tale. It was exciting, steamy and sweet with enough angst to keep things interesting. I was drawn into this story from the start. When the women were lost in the forest, I felt like I was there. I could hear the forest sounds, feel the heat and the breezes, and smell the leaves and ferns… I fell in love with Jennifer and Ellaine. Both women were so interesting and intriguing, I wanted to know them better and wow did I love the intimacy and the sexy bits! Ms Jay is very talented, especially with that! Anyway, I loved this book so much that I could not stop thinking about it. I had to read it again the next day! I think this is a wonderful book that is a must read!!
June 14, 2020
This story makes me want to visit New Zealand even more than I did before. Is it possible to fall for a character in a book? Not going to tell you which one, you get to choose for yourself. Jay creates fantastic characters with such depth of personality, some you love, some you can’t stand, and others somewhere in between. Her ability to develop relatable dialogue is honestly a joy to read. And the brilliant gems of humor throughout, some might be a bit more subtle than others and I love them all; they add more to the color of the story and characters. I never give spoilers, even though I’d love to share a few favorite lines and phrases, I won’t. You’ll have to read it to find them.
Jay offers a really well developed enemies-to-lovers romance, steamy with a little kink, some family drama, and a story about love, forgiveness, and trust. About overcoming fears. Small fears and those larger fears that, if you can overcome them, lead you to learn more about yourself. Giving you the chance to trust yourself and be comfortable with who you are. Then you have more to give and to forgive.
Do yourself a favor and grab this up, and spend some time getting to know a bit about New Zealand and a few awesome characters. I loved this story! Just sayin’.
Jay offers a really well developed enemies-to-lovers romance, steamy with a little kink, some family drama, and a story about love, forgiveness, and trust. About overcoming fears. Small fears and those larger fears that, if you can overcome them, lead you to learn more about yourself. Giving you the chance to trust yourself and be comfortable with who you are. Then you have more to give and to forgive.
Do yourself a favor and grab this up, and spend some time getting to know a bit about New Zealand and a few awesome characters. I loved this story! Just sayin’.
June 7, 2020
Lost, then found! A dense New Zealand forest, add two women who despise each other and what do you get? Another great story by Donna Jay. This book has it all. Awesome characters, steamy sexy time, just a bit of feathered friends and an eventual HEA.
Donna really worked hard to build a story that will keep you reading until The End. I think her writing gets better with each story she gives us and this book is her longest yet, 410 pages. So, make sure you grab this one and get ready to immerse yourself in her home country of New Zealand. I know you will enjoy this read!
Donna really worked hard to build a story that will keep you reading until The End. I think her writing gets better with each story she gives us and this book is her longest yet, 410 pages. So, make sure you grab this one and get ready to immerse yourself in her home country of New Zealand. I know you will enjoy this read!
June 2, 2020
I found this story to be very entertaining and exciting. I was pulled in right from the beginning. This was such a fun read. The author kept me engaged with the characters throughout. There were unexpected twists that added to the story. There were also some hot sexy parts. I didn't want the book to end! I wanted to read more of Jennifer and Ellaine's story. I've read and enjoyed other books by this author and this one did not disappoint. I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of her work.
May 27, 2024
**Audiobook update **
Emma Wilder did a fantastic narrating 44 Hours. She seamlessly maintained voices for all of the female characters and male and children’s voices. Her New Zealand accent stayed true. Through her, Donna Jay’s excellent was brought to life. Well done!
Donna Jay is an excellent story teller. Two people who hate each other forced into a car in order to travel to a team building seminar. A simple immature move by Jennifer caused them to get turned around and end up lost in the woods. Quite a scary concept how easy it was to get lost. Over the course of 44 hours, our two main characters learn a lot about one another, the biggest being that Ellaine didn't break Jennifer's best friend's heart. After being rescued, Jennifer was finally able to admit to herself and her family who she really was. Unfortunately, her mom couldn't accept her daughter. Fortunately, Jennifer had a supportive sister and father. Jennifer and Ellaine's relationship progressed naturally. There were steamy parts and a lot of witty dialogue between the two. I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it!
Emma Wilder did a fantastic narrating 44 Hours. She seamlessly maintained voices for all of the female characters and male and children’s voices. Her New Zealand accent stayed true. Through her, Donna Jay’s excellent was brought to life. Well done!
Donna Jay is an excellent story teller. Two people who hate each other forced into a car in order to travel to a team building seminar. A simple immature move by Jennifer caused them to get turned around and end up lost in the woods. Quite a scary concept how easy it was to get lost. Over the course of 44 hours, our two main characters learn a lot about one another, the biggest being that Ellaine didn't break Jennifer's best friend's heart. After being rescued, Jennifer was finally able to admit to herself and her family who she really was. Unfortunately, her mom couldn't accept her daughter. Fortunately, Jennifer had a supportive sister and father. Jennifer and Ellaine's relationship progressed naturally. There were steamy parts and a lot of witty dialogue between the two. I enjoyed this book immensely and highly recommend it!
June 16, 2020
This is a slightly different style from past DJ books that I have read, but as always the characters come first. I liked how the main couple navigated the various friends and others around them, all while building their own relationship. I wasn't a fan of the Mom, as DJ has handled this better in other stories, but that's what makes each book unique. The dialog was snappy, and the sex scenes were both sensual and detailed.
September 10, 2021
It took me a while to get into the book. And, suddenly, I found myself lost in the NZ wilderness with Jennifer and Ellaine. But more than that, I were immersed in their journey, not only to get back home, but getting to know each other and learning to trust each other…
March 7, 2022
Rounding up since I had a lot more fun with this than I expected. While the story did not bring anything new to the table, or delve too deeply into complicated issues, enjoyable nevertheless.
I noticed the transitions at the beginning to be a bit awkward but after about the 10 to 15% mark, the transitions became less jarring. One thing that is important to note is that the story is written from the perspective of both leads but the second lead's voice does not show up until about 30% of the way through. It was a little surprising for me since I do not always pay attention to the table of contents but certainly was necessary as we started to witness the mutual attraction.
While the time out in the wild is important, it is not the sole setting of the story. If you are looking for more of a survival romance this might not be for you. Otherwise, it is a decent lesfic that I think most people who enjoy the genre can easily fall into.
I noticed the transitions at the beginning to be a bit awkward but after about the 10 to 15% mark, the transitions became less jarring. One thing that is important to note is that the story is written from the perspective of both leads but the second lead's voice does not show up until about 30% of the way through. It was a little surprising for me since I do not always pay attention to the table of contents but certainly was necessary as we started to witness the mutual attraction.
While the time out in the wild is important, it is not the sole setting of the story. If you are looking for more of a survival romance this might not be for you. Otherwise, it is a decent lesfic that I think most people who enjoy the genre can easily fall into.
May 25, 2021
Unexpected
This was my first Donna Jay book and it was rather entertaining. In all honesty, though, I thought this was going to be a survivalist type story based on the blurb. We got to see Jennifer and Ellaine traipsing through the wilderness in circles, fighting dehydration and starvation as well as exposure, but it all came to an end pretty quick. The rest of the story took place in the real world and read like a drama/romance. The story did elicit emotions in me, more toward Jennifer and her mother's strained relationship. There were a lot of frustrating moments that touched my wrath, but those deeper, emotional-filled moments is what kept me glued to the pages. Jennifer drove me up the wall at times, I'm not entirely sure what it was about her, but she wasn't my favourite. I have to give her kudos, though, for confronting her friend and her traitorous ways as well as confronting her mother. That took courage, but gawddamn, it was frustrating as Hell to finally get there. Ellaine was more comfortable with herself as well as her life, she was out whereas Jennifer, wasn't... yet. Ellaine was cool. I could picture myself hanging out with someone like her. I do believe she was the calming touch stone for Jennifer and that, paired with her easy going personality is what helped Jennifer with her struggles. As for the intimacy scenes, I did read them, but they didn't do anything for me. That's nothing to do with Jay's writing, it's a personal thing with me.
This wasn't a story I'd actively seek out, but it was entertaining nonetheless.
This was my first Donna Jay book and it was rather entertaining. In all honesty, though, I thought this was going to be a survivalist type story based on the blurb. We got to see Jennifer and Ellaine traipsing through the wilderness in circles, fighting dehydration and starvation as well as exposure, but it all came to an end pretty quick. The rest of the story took place in the real world and read like a drama/romance. The story did elicit emotions in me, more toward Jennifer and her mother's strained relationship. There were a lot of frustrating moments that touched my wrath, but those deeper, emotional-filled moments is what kept me glued to the pages. Jennifer drove me up the wall at times, I'm not entirely sure what it was about her, but she wasn't my favourite. I have to give her kudos, though, for confronting her friend and her traitorous ways as well as confronting her mother. That took courage, but gawddamn, it was frustrating as Hell to finally get there. Ellaine was more comfortable with herself as well as her life, she was out whereas Jennifer, wasn't... yet. Ellaine was cool. I could picture myself hanging out with someone like her. I do believe she was the calming touch stone for Jennifer and that, paired with her easy going personality is what helped Jennifer with her struggles. As for the intimacy scenes, I did read them, but they didn't do anything for me. That's nothing to do with Jay's writing, it's a personal thing with me.
This wasn't a story I'd actively seek out, but it was entertaining nonetheless.
October 23, 2020
I'm a big fan of survival stories so I was a sucker for the 44 hours concept. I thought it was realistic without being too overwrought. There's a nice story here about family and relationships that was more than I expected. This is a cozy book for when you want to read a lesbian romance novel on a rainy day. Kudos.
December 23, 2020
Funny, cute and i loved it
Enemy to lovers. Love between sisters. Family acceptance. And love and trust between MC. Everything i loved about the story.
Enemy to lovers. Love between sisters. Family acceptance. And love and trust between MC. Everything i loved about the story.
August 13, 2020
This is a relatively light-hearted enemies to friends romance. As a practical matter the enemies portion of the story is over fairly quickly. After that the focus shifts to the relationship itself and how they are received by the other people in their lives. Most are supportive except for one homophobic mother and one very irritated ex-bestfriend / ex-girlfriend. Fortunately the angst does not overwhelm the relationship and the couple achieve their HEA. As a bonus, Jennifer makes progress conquering her fear of birds.
August 26, 2020
This is really a great read. Jennifer and Elaine were great together. Although in the beginning they hated each other. There is homophobia by Jennifer’s mother and lots of laughs throughout. Great love scenes with a great ending.
Read
January 22, 2021DNF. Got to "Squirt, squirt, lick, lick" and left.
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