Just for Now

Escape to New Zealand, Book Three

By: Rosalind James

Narrated by: Claire Bocking

Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

There's no place like home...

For teacher Jenna McKnight, nothing spells "heartbreak" like finding her husband with somebody else--in her bed. It's clearly time to reinvent herself. A new body, a new city, and a new job later, she's done just that. The beautiful Auckland villa isn't really her home, though. Finn Douglas and his kids aren't really her family, however much she wishes they were. And playing house can be a dangerous game.

Rugby star Finn Douglas is just looking for a temporary nanny and housekeeper. Not a girlfriend, and definitely not a wife. He can't resist Jenna's cooking, it's true. Who knew he'd have so much trouble resisting her? He wants to do what's right for his kids. But waiting is so hard...

Note: This romance, like New Zealand, contains a bit of steam. If that isn't your cuppa, maybe visit some other country... er, audiobook.

©2012 Rosalind James (P)2014 Rosalind James

Another winner.

As always another great story by Rosalind.
First let me say this, I am new to audible, I have tried to get into them in the past but find I don't like listening to a narrators voice in the roles of the character, preferring to have the voices sound how I imagine them in my mind when I read. I also read far too many books to be able to afford audible books all the time.
I read Finn and Jenna's story in Ebook format when I first discovered this series. So this is a revisit for me and the first audible book I have seen through until the end.
This was a lovely story, that had me enjoying myself from page one.
With the couple very much becoming a family long before they realised it, making it a warm and fuzzy romance. Finn and Jenna are both very likeable and the kids are delightful.
The story was well written with lots of laughs along the way, It took quite a while for us to get to the steam but when we got there we were rewarded as usual.
The descriptions of New Zealand Rosalind usually treats us too weren't as awesome as some of her other titles but great just the same.
The narrator did a great job jumping from accent to accent, male to female, adult to child and back again.
I will be waiting for Rosalind's next instalment in audio and Ebook.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Cheers Michelle in Australia.

Worth the "trip"!!!

What made the experience of listening to Just for Now the most enjoyable?

The story is engaging. Yeah, so part of it is cliche, but it's well written and not what one would typically expect of said cliche! I love that Jenna is so sweet and strong at the same time. And Finn? Whew! Tough when he needs to be, a great dad, and sometimes a softie. Harry and Sophie are real kids with real issues & I enjoyed that Finn and Jenna weren't perfect in dealing with them. Claire Bocking's performance was phenomenal! Three books into the series and she's nailed all the characters voices so that they are unique but believable. Finn's gravelly voice is swoon-worthy and the kids sound like real kids, not an adult doing kids speaking. I've read the print book (5+ times) and it's a great story that's much different than Just This Once and Just Friends. Bocking's performance made me love the story that much more because she brought nuances to the story that printed word sometimes lacks. It's a well written story that the narration pushes in the AMAZING range for me.

Any additional comments?

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Wow! Loved it!

Would you listen to Just for Now again? Why?

This is the first time I have ever listened to an audio book. I was fortunate to receive a free advanced copy to review and give my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this review. I have read all of Rosalind James' books and loved each and every one! I decided to try this as my first audio book and was so happy that I did. I typically don't read books more than once but would actually read and listen to this again and again! I really loved the story line and loved listening to Claire Bocking reading to me. I wasn't sure how the voices of Finn would translate as well as how the love scenes would come across. I was pleasantly surprised. I definitely will listen to other Rosalind James' books in the future.

What other book might you compare Just for Now to and why?

This book is the third book in her Escape to New Zealand. All of them are must reads (or listen). I love the characters in all of the books and the way each character is described. I'm ready to go on a trip to New Zealand!

What about Claire Bocking’s performance did you like?

I loved Claire's voice and the voices she used for the other characters. She definitely adds a great deal to the story.

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

I loved when Finn realized that he was in love with Jenna (I'm a sucker for a good romance).

Any additional comments?

So glad that I took a chance with this book in particular to try an audio book. I look forward to hearing more of the Escape to New Zealand stories!

Slow, gradual love story. A must read

I like this best of the 1st 3 books in this series. The live that built between hero and heroine was slow but ultimately beautiful, especially since kids were involved. It was a heartfelt story that had me feeling many emotions throughout.

Rugby, Drama, and a Happy Ending

What did you love best about Just for Now?

Claire Bocking is a wonderful voice actress. The characters are distinct and her accents are spot on. I also loved the realness of the characters. The author writes well enough to where you can empathize with them.

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

I've listened to Just This Once and Just Good Friends, both written by Rosalind James. Bocking does a fantastic performance in those as well.

Any additional comments?

I appreciated that the characters weren't perfect. Finn and Jenna sometimes said the wrong things and held insecurities that I could relate to (Jenna mostly, seeing as I don't have kids, I'm not a man, and I'm not a rugby player). The descriptions of the area and the culture make you feel like you've been there and if you went back, you'd never want to leave. I read/listen to romance novels all the time and the Escape to New Zealand books always keep me coming back for a re-read.

This is the first book I read in the series because I randomly saw the ebook version on sale and it had a cupcake on the cover (I read it out of order). Cupcakes aside, it made me want to go back and read them all (in order this time). I was extremely excited when I heard the audio book was coming out because Bocking is superb. She has a lovely voice, singing and speaking.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Fun and Pleasant - Enjoyed very much

It was a lovely relaxing book to listen to. Sometimes you want a romantic listen with sweetness and not too much crazy out of control drama and angst. The narrator has the best accents. Makes me want to visit NZ.

Great story from beginning to end. A must read

really enjoyed this heart warming Cinderella type story, never knowing how its going to end, just when you think you know, the story takes you in a different direction. Enjoyed it and never a boring moment. This would be a nice book to jump into and become one of the characters.

Narazation was fantastic. This is book 3 in the series. You could start with this one, but treat yourself and start with book 1. I'm not even sure how I found this series Romance with love scenes are usually not my kind of read, until I started this series. Can't wait to grab the next one. Rosalind James is a very talented writer and has given me a love for New Zealand and Taught me so much about their culture.

A Fun Year One

If you could sum up Just for Now in three words, what would they be?

Fun Year One

What other book might you compare Just for Now to and why?

I've read plenty of other romance authors so I'm sure I've come across a similar storyline. I just hate to compare it to another book because there really isn't one that compares. (Well, I guess you could reference the entire Escape to New Zealand series.) What I love about Rosalind James is that I literally cannot stop the story. I have to know what happens! And even when I want to scream (is this really happening to Finn? Again? And AGAIN?!), I still keep cheering these characters on. This book is about Jenna, a former Year One Teacher, who becomes a nanny for a New Zealand Rugby star. They don't exactly start off on the right foot, but that's part of the story line (at least in the beginning). Their relationship develops over the course of the book. There's lots of layers to their story so it's very easy to get pulled right in (and never want to leave).

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed the entire book, so it is hard to pick one favorite. If you are looking for funny there's a wombat apology that will have you giggling. If you want romance, there's an unbirthday present scene that you won't soon forget. It really has a great balance of real life, so there will be something that you remember about this book.

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

Absolutely. I've read the book and I have to say I really enjoyed the audio. I listened to about half of the book during a summer road trip, then spent the rest of the week trying to find time to finish the audio. I've since purchsed book 2 for my next lengthy road trip.

Any additional comments?

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Great Narration for one of my Favorite books!

What did you love best about Just for Now?

I fell in love with Jenna, Finn, and the kids when I first read this book several months ago, but truly hearing it in the 'correct' accents made it so much more enjoyable! I love all of the Escape to New Zealand books by Rosalind James and this is one of my favorite stories.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved hearing Harry - he's such a sweet character and hearing the performance of a small child with a NZ accent made it even more charming!

What about Claire Bocking’s performance did you like?

Claire Bocking did a fantastic job switching between all of the characters of the book - every one had their own voice and there were even different spins on the accents which I loved listening to!

Any additional comments?

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Once the kids like you....

Would you listen to Just for Now again? Why?

Just for Now is a sweet story of Jenna, a temporary unemployed school teacher, an on-the-road rugby player, and his two small children. What could go wrong? Or, perhaps, right? I've listened to this book twice already.

What did you like best about this story?

I appreciate that Jenna is professional and doesn't fall all over Finn. Yes, he's popular and likable, but she takes on a motherly role to the kids and their relationship seems authentic.

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

Claire navigates the characters seamlessly -- I especially appreciate her interpretation of the children.

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

This book is one that you will want to listen to in one sitting!