Review: Sweet, warm, engaging and heartwarming...just what you expect from a Rosalind James novel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 14, 2014
I enjoyed this one!  I know it's rated a 4*, but I think it's really a 4.5* book.  It's really good, but not perfect [my gold standard for 5* books would be her booksJust for Fun (Escape to New Zealand Book 4)andNothing Personal (The Kincaids Book 2)].  I was a little disappointed byJust My Luck (Escape to New Zealand Book 5), but I was fully satisfied by this newest addition to Rosalind James' Escape to NZ series.  Hugh and Josie are both incredibly engaging and likable, the children are very real without being annoying cliches, we get to visit with our friends from the prior NZ books, the writing is clean and the dialogue snappy - what's not to love?*** possible spoilers ***I had read a teaser for this book prior to release and was initially a little concerned by the fact that Josie had a boyfriend since I don't like books where there are complicated OW/OM issues and I don't like books that involve cheating.  Despite that, there was no way I wasn't going to read this since I love Rosalind James' writing, but for those for whom this is a trigger (like me) and are hesitant to read this because you don't want OM drama - no worries!  Yes, Josie has a boyfriend - but you barely see him - and while a relationship rooted in deep friendship, respect, affection and attraction develops between Josie and Hugh while she's still with her boyfriend, they never cross the line and there's no cheating at all. Josie and her boyfriend break up before anything really develops with Hugh, so it wasn't a big deal (or little deal) at all.***end spoiler***What I really enjoy about Rosalind's books is that the conflict is usually internal - there's not a lot of external factors that get in the way of the development of the H and h's relationship and nothing feels contrived.  Aside from the fact that these two happen to both be celebrities (Hugh is of course, an All Black and Josie is a local soap star), they're very real and authentic.  They go grocery shopping, they garden, they cook, clean, and drop kids off at ballet class.  They both struggle with insecurities and the knowledge that their lives (individually) have deviated from what they planned and expected.  The joy is in watching their personal growth as they begin to live up to their potentials and how they eventually come together, fall in love, and grow as a couple.This is not a book that's filled with suspense and excitement - there are no big misunderstandings (yay!), no cheating, no secret babies, no billionaires, no BDSM.  But it's a book filled with warmth, family, growing into one's responsibilities, and falling in love.  So if you're in the mood for a feel good book that's a fun and easy read - this is a good one.