Just for Fun: A Rugby Romance (Escape to New Zealand Book 4)

I think any sports fan would enjoy this story. This young couple had to face many big controversies and through family, friends and love they made it through.

Ah...the cliche of cliches - the secret baby/second chance/athlete romance. I have to admit a weakness of mine. I LURVE secret baby/second change/athlete romances. The fact that all three of my favorite corny cliches are found in this VERY well written novel seriously just made my weekend! The problem with loving books with the secret baby device is that the heroine often comes off looking like a selfish and immature little girl throwing a temper tantrum. Well written secret baby books with a believable premise and a sympathetic heroine are few and far between...but this is definitely one of them.Emma meets Nic on an airplane on the way to Fiji after she's dumped on her wedding day and decides to go on her honeymoon alone since the tickets are non-refundable. She's 21, kinda flaky, a girly girl, and still has a lot of growing up to do. She and Nic meet when tipsy, she literally falls into his lap on the plane - thus setting off a blazing affair we get glimpses of in brief flashbacks throughout the book. Despite telling her he loves her and he'll call her, Nic, who's only 22 decides he's not ready for this kind of commitment, and takes his merry self off to England to play rugby, leaving a brokenhearted girl behind. He never knew she was pregnant, and she was unable to contact him to tell him. Unlike a lot of secret baby heroines, Emma never tried to keep Zack from Nic, she tried multiple times and multiple ways to get word to him and she's not too proud to ask for child support if it means Zack will have a better life with more security.Nic finds out about Zack's existence when he's roped into volunteering at a friend's rugby camp, where Zack catches their attention because his moves are not just superior for a six year old, but reminiscent of Nic's own moves. When he catches a glimpse of Emma with the parents and notices the similarities of Zack's features to his own, that's when Nic realizes that his affair with Emma lead to a child and tracks them down. Thus begins their journey to HEA.What I love about this book is that Nic is not just an immature arrogant athlete. Since his affair with Emma seven years before, he's grown up and matured. When he finds out about Zack's existence, he truly wants to be a good father and works hard to bond with Zack and become a part of his life. The complication is that he's engaged to his long time girlfriend, who's less than enthusiastic about Zack. Fortunately, there is no OW drama - the drama generated by his fiancee is minimal and resolves on its own so Emma is not stuck between them. Zack is also adorable - he sounds like a real six year old, and as evidenced in  Just For Now (Escape to New Zealand) , Rosalind James writes great kids - believable and age appropriate. It's kind of heartbreaking when he tells Nic very matter of factly that since he's not his father (before the big revelation) he can't really depend on him as you can only depend on your own dad and not other people's dads since they forget a lot. It's beautiful and heartwarming to see Emma slowly opening back up to Nic, learn to trust and depend on him, and come to the realization that he's a different man than the boy she used to know. It's also lovely to see Nic come to realize the important things in life - and it's not the fancy job, the big house, or the status his fiancee had drilled into his head.This is a book without a lot of external conflict - there's no big misunderstandings, there's no cheating, there's no unnecessary drama and rehashing the past and all that stupid "he hurt me so bad I love him but I can't trust him so I must run away from him" crap that a lot of books involving secret babies and second chances fall into. This is a book about two people coming together after many years apart where they have both grown, two grown ups who want to do the best by their child, and two people who talk through their issues and come together naturally as a family. This is a book filled with warmth, humor, rugby, family, and the sweetness of rediscovery. For those who loved the prior books in this series (like me!), you see a bit of Hannah, a bit of Kate, and a bit more of Jenna. In fact, we see Jenna while she's pregnant with Lily and there's a nice scene between Finn and Nic as well. I love this book!

Welcome back to New Zealand ... land of Kiwis and everything rugby! In the fourth book of the Escape to New Zealand series, author Rosalind James provides the reader with another tale of romance, this time with the story of Nic Wilkinson and Emma Martens.Seven years ago Nic and Emma meet on a plane to Fiji, and because of air turbulence, Emma literally lands on Nic's lap. Nic was going to the island for a week's holiday before heading to England to play rugby; while Emma was spending the week on her non-honeymoon after her ex-fiance left her at the altar. They had an intense week-long island affair and then went their separate ways, but a little gift in the way of a son came out of their time together. Fast forward six years later, Nic is volunteering at a kid's rugby camp and discovers that he has a son when he sees six year old Zack's mom, Emma. Nic is determined to do right by his son, and as their story unfolds, there is some bumps along the way: Nic's engaged to a snotty high-maintenance lawyer named Claudia, but the mutual attraction that simmers beneath the surface between Nic and Emma, and the love they share for their son brings them back together. As they work through their newly formed family dynamic, can their long ago Just For Fun affair turn into a forever relationship?Just For Fun follows the same relationship and rugby themes set in New Zealand as the previous three books in the series, but this storyline is a bit different as it focuses on a love child born from a long ago quick affair that brings two people together for a second chance at love. I loved each of the four books in the series, but I have to say that this one is my favorite, it is a happy feel good kind of romance story that simply makes you smile. Written in the third person narrative, the reader follows Nic and Emma's journey from each of their perspectives as their love story unfolds. Their story is about two people who had a youthful affair seven years ago, only to reunite as parents who begin their relationship as friends, and gradually build it into a second chance at becoming lovers. The story flows smoothly as Nic and Emma move forward with realistic co-parenting issues and basic relationship yearnings, with occasional steamy flashbacks to their affair, and some dramatic twists and turns that keeps the reader turning the pages.True to the other books in the series, the author provides the reader with stories that are set in New Zealand and revolve around the popular sport of rugby. The attention to detail and description of New Zealand's history and dialect, and the nuance of the professional game of rugby will peak the reader's interest and imagination.I enjoyed the author's character development of Nic and Emma throughout the story. Emma is a gentle and caring woman who is very protective of her son. Nic is a lovable man who is determined to be a father to his son, while being rough and tough on the rugby field. I really appreciated the author's style of building their relationship from one of coming together because of their son, to their growing mutual attraction, overcoming emotional baggage, to getting a second chance at love and a building a family.With an interesting cast of characters, some who make cameos appearances from the other three books in the series; engaging dialogue and interactions; a storyline that mixes humor, drama and romance; Just For Fun is a heartwarming and enjoyable read!Just For Fun is the fourth (but hopefully not the last!) book in the Escape to New Zealand series.

Nice is taking a break from his life as an All Blacks rugby playing when he meets Emma on a plane. She is a bit tipsy as she tries to get over the fact that she should be on her honeymoon. They agree to have some fun and its very memorable for both of them. Years later Nic is watching a young boy playing rugby and there is just something about him that gets his hackles up. He gets some details and knows that the boy is is and confronts Emma demanding answers. He is engaged to someone else but is determined to do right by his son and that causes problems in his relationship and he is annoyed for missing out on his sons life. Really well written story

What a dull read. The characters and the plot were nothing special sorry.There are much better books out there with the same storyline.

Just because of Fifty shades , others are throwing in bits & bobs of s&m , but it should be all about the story myself .

I just love New Zealand and love Rosalind's books - sit down, cup of tea and whisk yourself away into the land of the long white cloud - ideal chic lit and hunky men to boot. See if you can work out which All Black player(s) she's used for inspiration :-) Keep up the great work Rosalind - more, more, more - please x

Another amazing book in this series which kept me gripped til the end. I love this rugby team they all seem so great. This was my favourite book in the series along with `Just Good Friends`. I loved the characters in both these books and the love story to go with it.