Fantastic and different addition to the series

It is a refreshing book on many levels.

First it somehow manages to combine several romantic genres (rugby romance, suspense romance, fairytale romance) successfully and contain realistic characters. It is no spoiler to say that the fairytale aspect of this book is approached very differently than other romance books. And for readers, I think really, as long as you like a good romance with a slow, satisfying build-up you will love this book even if none of these genres appeal to you, because really, it is just a great multi-generational romantic tale of several characters. The interaction between the generations is particularly interesting in this book, and the grandfather's interactions with Iain and Nina are right up there with my favorite parts of this book.

It is completely different than other books in this series (which is true of all the books in the series) and not a rehash of an old plot.

Yes the romantic protagonists Iain and Nina have great chemistry and heat, but James really puts together an ensemble of characters with great chemistry and she looks at love from different perspectives. Nina is a particularly interesting character to me. Like Iain, it can be hard for me to see things from her point of view, but she always has tangible reasons and that is what makes what she does interesting.

Escape from New Zealand books are the cheapest ticket to New Zealand money can buy. Listening to any one from the series helps the listener explore the country, and this book is no different, but does explore a different part of the country.

As any listener of a series can tell you, it can be hard to adjust to a new reader, no matter how great the reader might be. And even though I believe it is great to hear what different readers can do with the readers, I experienced Claire Bocking withdraw for twenty minutes or so because I was so used to her. After those twenty minutes I could fully appreciate Emma Wilder's reading. She has a clear, easy to understand voice, does accents well, is good at reading the different characters and doing voice acting, and was pleasant to listen to. I would be happy to listen to other books she might have narrated.

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

6 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

A Love Story 3 Generations in the Making

Any additional comments?

Rosalind James' story is wonderfully narrated by Emma Wilder. Each of the characters come to life under Emma's skillful vocalizations. This story doesn't just include Iain and Nina's burgeoning relationship but it also includes the mature love story of Iain's parents - a love story doesn't really end at "I do". The third generation gives lessons learned from life long love given by the widowed grandfather. Truly a multi-generational love story. But be prepared - just because there's more than one generation doesn't mean there is any less steam. I highly recommend this great pairing of story and narration.
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.

6 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Just couldn't stop listening!

I was totally not expecting this book to be what it was. Yes, I knew it was a rugby romance centered around a fictitious All Blacks player and a runaway bride. But the story had me immediately hooked--more so than the other books in this series. If you've not listened to any of the previous Escape to New Zealand books, that's just fine because this book easily stands on its own. If you have listened to the series, you'll get catch-ups with a few previous players/partners in lesser detail than previous installments. Either scenario still means a great book that really pulls you in. (BTW--for those that have listened to the series, JSM pulls itself up to tie with Just This Once as my personal favorite. Iain and Nina also tie with Drew and Kate as my favorite hero and heroine. I was completely blown away by this book!) The starting premise of the book is a bit far-fetched (a runaway bride fleeing marrying a minor European prince; said bride takes off to New Zealand and lands a job as a caretaker/companion for a cantankerous 85 year old man) but it works because NZ is just the place where something like this *could* happen. And, let's be honest, not everything in realistic fiction has to be completely possible! Isn't that part of the point of fiction? What really makes the book believable are the setting and characters. Rosalind James takes the reader on a journey to the area around Kaiteriteri in the northern part of the South Island as well as parts of Auckland. I had absolutely no trouble picturing the settings + what I did Google while reading matched what was in my mind (and I've never been to NZ). I could see, hear, feel, and smell the surroundings! As for the characters? When one thinks runaway bride, one would probably expect as simpering, flighty fool but that's not what you get with Nina. She has her flaws, including that she has previously pretty much done as she's told, but her struggles and growth to change really drew me in. Iain may have thought she was a timid kitten but she becomes an independent (albeit unsure) woman with a sense of humor, a bit of snarkiness, and able to trust his adventurous nature in the bedroom (and the beach, and the garden). Iain is a huge, sexy man who loves his family, has a strong sense of duty to his family and teams, and has been wounded by being left standing at the altar himself. He's also quick to make assumptions about people, which gets him into trouble more than once. The twisting journey that Nina and Iain take as they come together is sweet, irritating, frustrating, exasperating, humorous, and quite steamy. As I said, Iain is sexually adventurous and helps Nina explore this side of herself. (If descriptive, steamy, send-you-up-in flames sex scenes including the f-word and some back door action might offend you, give this book a pass. You've be warned so please don't buy the audiobook knowing this going in and leave an awful review or rip Ms. James for it. It's just not some people's cuppa.). This book made me laugh out loud at the verbal sparring and humorous situations, groan because people can just be stupid, grit my teeth and growl at the audacity of people, fan myself and get a bit bothered at the sexy scenes, and cry--yes, I cried, something I rarely do while listening--at the vulnerability and heartache. I also really enjoyed the side storyline of Iain's parents & their own struggles as an older couple + his grandfather's learning to cope with losing the love of his life.

Ms. James decided to depart from her usual narrator (Claire Bocking) due to circumstances beyond her control. As a huge fan of Ms. Bocking's work, especially this series, I was really worried that Emma Wilder wouldn't be able to fill the shoes left for her. Was I WRONG in even thinking this! Ms. Wilder knocked it out of the park! I can't tell you how many times I forgot that when I was hearing Iain, it was actually an American woman reading the part of a Kiwi man! (and let me tell you, her version of Iain is swoonworthy--just enough growl in that Kiwi speech to make him real and believe you are listening to a 6'6" beast of a rugby player with a soft side for family). She gave each character their own voice. I had no problem telling who was talking during the dialog. Each had their own accent, cadence, tone, etc. that made them identifiable. Her emotion was appropriate for each scene without overdoing it. Her speech patterns are very natural and absolutely enhance the narration/dialogue. Ms. Wilder's performance took a fantastic book and made it that much better--this is probably my favorite performance of any audiobook to date! I look forward to more narration by Ms. Wilder and may even be checking out her other work outside this series.

Now for the legal part . . . I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own. If you look at my reviews here, on Amazon and Good Reads you will find that I don't always leave a 5 star review. BTW--I would have gladly purchased this audio book with my own funds/credits.

4 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

Not every girl wants to be a princess...

This story is slightly different others in the series as it starts with a new narrator and a runaway bride. Emma is an excellent performer for the story! And Nina, the not-to-be-princess is fierce and brave, and escaped to NZ to find her own voice.

There are several stories intertwined in this book, but the characters are all connected. It is a suspenseful, romantic, comedy-drama (confused?) to keep you guessing at the twists and turns. I think this is my favorite of the series, though. Sexy and dynamic, whistful and suspenseful, reflective and thoughtful... the book has it all.

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

A great new narrator - another great story!

Rosalind James' popular Rugby Romance "Escape to New Zealand" series has another winner to add to her collection with Just Stop Me! We have a new narrator for this book - Emma Wilder - and she does an excellent job portraying all of the different characters, from a crusty old man to a middle aged mum and her taciturn husband, along with the main characters of Nina and Iain. As always, I love Rosalind's family dynamic; the family members are such an integral part of this story, and really round out each of the protagonists' characters. I really enjoyed both the narration and the book itself, and would highly recommend giving this book a listen! But then...all of Rosalind's books are worth a listen!

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.

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

I Love Visiting New Zealand!

Any additional comments?

Just Stop Me (Escape to New Zealand Book 9) is another solid entry to Rosalind James' increasingly popular and anticipated rugby romance series. It's a bit of a twist on Beauty and the Beast--though the real beast is more in the form of Nina Jones' ex-fiancé, Prince Matthias, than it is her not-quite-so handsome, "Incredible Hulk" new interest, Iain McCormick. 

The book centers on the growing relationship between Nina and Iain, as well as the personal growth each experiences. Nina, in particular, strives to stand on her own two feet and become independent from the influence of others. Though she has always earned a living, her destiny has always been heavily influenced and controlled by others.  

While I enjoyed the developing relationship between Nina and Iain, I especially appreciated the secondary plot lines and characters. Iain's grandfather was particularly endearing and my favorite character in the book. Arthur and Nina develop a close relationship as they help one another move on to the next stages of their lives. Both are hurting and they seem to be the perfect salves to one another. Arthur also offers sage advice to the younger members of his family, including Iain's parents, who are going through an especially difficult patch in their marriage. I very much enjoyed their story as they find their way back to one another. It’s nice to read about a love story of an older couple.

I less enjoyed the darker subplot which involves Prince Matthias unable and unwilling to let Nina go. It  made the book a little less "escapist" than I was expecting.

The Escape to New Zealand audio books now feature a new narrator, Emma Wilder.  Replacing a longtime narrator of any series isn’t an easy job and Emma does an admirable job. I appreciated that each “voice” was distinct and felt that the pacing was just right. After the initial two or three chapters, I Gave no thought to the fact that it wasn’t the narrator that I was accustomed to hearing. Nice job!

I strongly recommend this book for all lovers of romance novels and especially for lovers of Rosalind James' novels. Readers will not be disappointed.

I was given a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated for the review nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions stated are solely my own.

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

I love this audible book!

Would you listen to Just Stop Me again? Why?

Yes. I love all of Rosalind James' books and the only thing that could make it better is listening to the story being told

What other book might you compare Just Stop Me to and why?

Just stop me is a series and although many of the characters are in multiple books they're all stand alone. So I would say read other books in this series and you'll be just as happy

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

I love her accents. She does such a good job with any of them and the emotions she puts in is very intriguing

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

I would love to have but luckily it was too long and I listened over a few days

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

A rugby star, a princess and more! You'll love it!

Would you consider the audio edition of Just Stop Me to be better than the print version?

Yes - I think the audio narration definitely adds layers of personality nuances and mood - than just reading the book itself (which I have also done before the audio book was recorded)

What was one of the most memorable moments of Just Stop Me?

Nina teaching Arthur, Iain's grandfather how to do yoga. I could just picture it in my head and how they interact is really sweet and touching.

Which scene was your favorite?

You will love the subplots in the story - the added bonus is the nested love story of Iain's mom and dad learning to reconnect. It's a very sweet reminder of how couple's can get disconnected over the years and have to decide to fight for their marriage to survive it and be happy again.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There are some very touching moments and I found myself reacting to the emotions driven by the book, but honestly, I'm not really a crier -except in extreme circumstances. I definitely did laugh outloud though. There are some pretty funny moments.

Any additional comments?

If you are reading this, you have discovered one of my favorite authors of romance. Ms. James is a master story-teller and weaves wonderful imagery and the flavor of the local environment into her tales. She had me hooked from the very first Escape to New Zealand story I read.


The descriptions of the geography and landscape of New Zealand, in general are meticulous and compelling. All the imagery of such a beautiful country, and the mannerisms and local cultural references of the locals were fascinating.


In this story, we learn about Iain and Nina who meet at the airport in NZ, when Iain meets up with his mother who has been Nina's seatmate on a long airplane trip to Auckland. Iain joins them for the final leg of the trip home to the South Island and the fun begins. Iain's cranky and not very warm in welcoming Nina at first. He has serious trust issues, having been recently jilted by his fiance at the altar and is pretty unfriendly with the female species in general. And he's also a major player in an international rugby team, which Nina knows nothing about. Nina is also running from her own issues - having just walked away from a prince- before making the trip down the aisle, at least. She's not interested in any relationships with any men and is learning to fight for her own freedom and stand on her own feet for the first time. She doesn't take too kindly of Iain's accusations of sponging off his mom - nor his opinions of females either. Sparks will fly! Will they learn to trust again, and see each other's viewpoints - to learn to get along? How they solve their problems is worked out in a believable, yet romantic way. They have quite a few bumps along the way.


Oh, and by the way, this book is VERY steamy and sexy and not to spoil it, but if you don't like these type of stories, you might want to skip this one. Not for the faint-of-heart or those embarrassed easily but it doesn't go overboard with graphic scenes either. A good balance of buildup and tension -and the more sensual feelings developed - evolving to love. These two are pretty hot.


The character development. I fell in love with the characters and the setting of the book immediately. The characters were absolutely genuinely heartwarming and lovely to read about, very realistically drawn and compelling the reader to cheer them on. The side characters are pretty great too, IMO.


The struggles they dealt with were very realistic and I hope you will discover and love these characters, and the scenery as much as I did. Now go find a new escape today - Escape to New Zealand and meet these wonderful characters with fascinating stories.


The Audio Book.

I love this new narrator. Emma does a fantastic job with all the different kiwi accents, and characters - both male -and female, young and older- and distinguishes the characters enough so you can tell easily enough which one is talking. She does a great job going back and forth between the voices and keeps you hooked and adds so many layers of personality through her voice. Her expression of the full emotional range is beautiful!
•Voice quality -excellent
•Good pace, tone, and varied emotions demonstrated



"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.”

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

A princess and a lock...in a rugby romance.

Any additional comments?

It is always a good day when there is a new Escape to New Zealand book--and this latest addition to the series made mine. Unlike many long running series, every book in this one is distinct in its characters and approach. Yes, they are all rugby players, but that's where the similarities end.

In this edition, we find a hero who is just recovering from an aborted wedding that made it all the way to the altar (and the story behind that has a twist you don't see often) and an escaped bride, hiding from her rather scary and powerful groom-to-be. An unlikely pair, watching the way they come to fit together is a treat as they uncover their true selves layer by layer.

The secondary characters are also a treat; a crotchety grandpa who just needs some time to get over the loss of his wife and a long married couple trying to find that second wind after 30 years. These stories are interwoven with the slow build up of the primary romance between Nina and Iain and flow effortlessly in the story. And unlike most of the Escape to New Zealand stories (Just Good Friends being the exception), there is a slight bit of dangerous tension in the background as we're not quite sure of the level of crazy in the scorned groom.

Every book in this series just gets better and I highly recommend this well written, complex story. If this is your first Escape to New Zealand book, it probably won't be your last.

This is a new narrator for this series and carries it off well. I can't wait to hear more from her.


"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.”

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

thank goodness for Rosalind James

Would you consider the audio edition of Just Stop Me to be better than the print version?

they are equal, but I really do enjoy Emma Wilder's voice!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Just Stop Me?

I love the way Rosalind's words paint a picture.

What about Emma Wilder’s performance did you like?

Her tone of voice for sure.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reaction, just so sorry it ended.

Any additional comments?

We all are very lucky to have Rosalind James' writings in our lives. This is the first time I have felt this strongly about an author's writings. Thank you, Rosalind, please do not stop writing!

3 les gens ont trouvé cela utile