Just Say YES to "Just Say Yes"

Where does Just Say Yes rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'd say I would rank it pretty high in my book listening library. Emma did a great job and it is a wonderfully engaging story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The heroine, Chloe Donaldson: Jilted at the alter while 9 months pregnant with her partner's child, she is a strong-willed independent young single mother, and a great friend of Josie (previously introduced in "ETNZ -Just Not Mine". She is a former professional dancer-prima ballerina, and now a ballet school owner. She is strong, and fiercely independent – a smart, admirable woman.

Which scene was your favorite?

A special part of the story for me is Kevin returns from a road trip and finds Chloe dancing by herself with such an intensity that they share a passionate reunion. The emotional depth of these characters moved me immensely.

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

Yes, absolutely! I listen in the car on my way to/from work and it is tough to break it up that way because you get engrossed in the story.

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. I am so impressed with the details she writes into the background, scenery, the characters, everything really.

Setting / foreground/background

The descriptions of the geography and the 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. The author includes a helpful Kiwi glossary of New Zealand local lingo and unique cultural references to help the reader connect to the story and the characters more deeply.

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 hero, Kevin, is everything us women love in a good hero: athletic and physically gorgeous, he's sweet and smart, sexy, vulnerable, and emotionally sensitive . He has a very deep connection with his family and supports them financially – even housing many of them while they're in college. He's well-respected by his teammates and family.

The heroine, Chloe Donaldson: Jilted at the alter while 9 months pregnant with her partner's child, she is a strong-willed independent young single mother, and a great friend of Josie (previously introduced in "ETNZ -Just Not Mine". She is a former professional dancer-prima ballerina, and now a ballet school owner. She is strong, and fiercely independent – a smart, admirable woman.

The secondary characters were so funny and well-drawn, I felt like I almost knew them, and could picture myself having conversations with them. Chloe's mom is an interfering control-freak, but loves her daughter and grandson fiercely and just wants the best for them. Chloe's dad is supportive and strong, yet somewhat reserved.


Plot development
When we first meet Chloe, she is a ballet school owner and teacher, and a former prima ballerina. Kevin and she had met earlier at her best friend Josie's wedding a few months earlier (Josie and Hugh's story is Just Not Mine). We have met Kevin in previous ETNZ books, and we just knew he was another All Black, a great guy, and funny. In other words, another great hero-worthy character for a Rosalind James story.

What this book meant to me-how I felt about it

This book is long-awaited and Ms.James has really hit this one out of the park! Chloe and Kevin deserved their own HEA and now Ms. James has given us their wonderful story. I loved when Chloe stood up to her mother and took back control over the situation with her son. She really stood her ground and refused to be bulldozed or manipulated by her well-intentioned but meddling mother. I think she finally gained some much –deserved respect after that.

It was very touching when Kevin was leaving on a long road trip and Zavy gives him his stuffed toy Walter to keep him company. It was such a sweet scene. I loved how Kevin goes into protector mode when he went to confront Chloe's ex and tells him how things are going to be.

Oh, and by the way, this book is VERY steamy and sexy. Not for the faint-of-heart or those embarrassed easily. It doesn't go overboard with graphic sex scenes either. A good balance of buildup and tension -and the more sensual feelings developed - evolving to love.

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

This is my first experience with this narrator. I thought Ms. Wilder did a fantastic job navigating back and forth between different personalities and emotions, both male and female. Chloe's son, Zavy is 3 years old and I loved how Emma portrayed him. At first it took some getting used to for me, but 3 year olds do not talk like adults, and it has been a long time since my kids were little. The performance was excellent! I just loved the secondary characters as well. Her portrayals of the various dialects and personalities were just wonderful! She was also able to distinguish the characters from each other very well and had a great range of emotions and expressions of personality. Very well done.

Conclusion: The story concludes with some pretty tear-jerking moments and I'm so happy these two worked things out in the end. 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 - Escape to New Zealand and meet many wonderful characters with fascinating stories.


I purchased the ebook for Kindle, but I received a free copy of this audio 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.

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6 people found this helpful

LOVED!!!

All of Rosalind James' fans have been anxiously awaiting another installment in the Rugby Romance series "Escape to New Zealand" and "Just Say Yes" is WORTH the wait! I loved the book, loved the characters - both the main characters of Chloe and Kevin, as well as all of the assorted family and friends that appear. As usual, the family dynamic is strong, which I love - the strength (or lack of strength) of the family ties really helps to define the characters for me. I also enjoyed reading about ballet - again, the knowledge of her skills and descriptions really added to Chloe's character. Emma Wilder's skills as a narrator are amazing - I forgot that I was listening to just one woman! "Just Say Yes" was a very enjoyable read for me, and one that I would highly recommend!

"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.”

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Another favorite!

Every time I read or listen to this author's books I think "this one is my favorite", but in all honesty they all are perfect.
Once again she has new characters and a new storyline that will keep you listening and possibly playing it again after it is finished. I do love the New Zealand rugby stories with their steady rugby heroes and strong women influence.
The narration by Emma Wilder is excellent!

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2 people found this helpful

They'll dance their way into your heart!

Just Say Yes was a book that many of us requested from the author. We wanted to hear Kevin's story - was he just going to be a bit character or could he get his own story? Here is Kevin's story at last! But it's more Chloe's story because she was still frozen in her life from the left-at-the-altar-while-pregnant ambush of her ex and she needs a push to evolve into person she can be.

She meets Kevin again - her best friend is married to one of his teammates so they had naturally been introduced previously and a spark was there - but the circumstances are bad. And then she doesn't believe he could be interested in a single mum when he is such an eligible bachelor athlete. Does he stick around when her family life gets sticky? Is she scared away by his big and ever-present family? You know it's a HEA, but you'll have to listen to learn how they get there! Kevin is a quiet hero, but Chloe is, too, like most single mums.

This was a great escape book, full of New Zealand life and ballet with a tiny bit of rugby. The characters sound real and Chloe's little boy is adorable. You can listen to this book without having read the others, but you'll enjoy it more if you have read them, especially Just Not Mine.

When I finished reading this book, I thought "this is the best yet." And the audio version is a lovely match - the different voices used for everyone sound believable and Emma Wilder is so easy to listen to. The recording bounced around at first, but I'm pretty sure that was due to my not-very-stellar internet downloading.

I received a free copy of the audio version 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.

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1 person found this helpful

Loved It!

Any additional comments?

Its always a pleasure when i get to review one of Rosalind James Books, especially when its one from her Escape To New Zealand series.

In Just Say Yes, Chloe Donaldson is a ballerina who is forced to give up her ballet dreams after being stood up at the alter by her fiance', Rich.........AND she just happens to be 9 months pregnant. Chloe decides to retire so that she can dedicate her time to be a Mum to her adorable son, Zavy.

Kevin McDonald is a rugged rugby player who definitely has a soft side. Family is very important to him, which he shows by the way he takes care of his loved ones.

Chloe is renting an apartment in a 2 story family home, that just happens to be recently bought by Kevin so that he can house himself and certain members of his family. Therefore, he is forced to evict Chloe. Now the hunt is on for Chloe and Zavy to find a new home.

The more time Chloe spends with Kevin...... and his sisters, a relationship starts to develop, so do issues that bring them closer together. Their feelings blossom into a sweet, loving, caring, and sexy relationship. I love how things turn out for one of my favorite couples in this series.

This book is very well written! I must say Emma Wilder does an excellent job narrating this book. To hear her narrate this story and bring these characters to life is superb! I highly recommend!

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

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1 person found this helpful

Beautiful Story.

First book I have read in this series and it was beautiful. Hoping for more!

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Just Say Yes to the Lovely Book

Any additional comments?

It was with great happiness and joy that I reviewed Just Say Yes (Escape to New Zealand, Book 10) when it was first released in print. I was thrilled that Rosalind James had returned to her literary roots of writing sweet stories with strong, likable lead characters. Being set in New Zealand was a bonus. Not surprisingly, the book was well received. Now the book has been released in an audio format and, I am pleased to say, it is just as enjoyable and well worth a listen, losing none of its charm and with excellent narration by Emma Wilder.

Just Say Yes made my heart sing and I loved reading it.  I appreciated that Chloe Donaldson, while carrying some baggage, wasn’t overly brooding and fearful. Chloe is a former star ballerina whose career was derailed first by an injury and then an unexpected pregnancy and failed engagement. A strong, disciplined woman, she does what most women would do and comes up with a Plan B and, though not her dream, she opens a ballet school. Kevin MacNichol is nearly perfect and I won’t complain about that. Kevin is a wonderful young man, fully engaged in helping his family to the point that his younger twin sisters are living with him and he has purchased a house with an attached apartment for his brother and family to move into. Unfortunately for Chloe, this means that she needs to find another place to live in Auckland’s pricey and limited rental market. While she is hunting for a place to live, she becomes well acquainted with Kevin and his twin sisters. Along the way she also meets much of Kevin’s family.  The relationship between Chloe and Kevin and how he offers support and encouragement without being too overbearing, is the main focal point of the book. I include the relationship of Chloe and Zavy and the relationship of Kevin and Zavy in this storyline because, ultimately, Zavy is a part of Chloe and, therefore, Kevin’s relationship with Chloe, a part that Kevin welcomes with open arms.

The secondary storyline involves Chloe, her parents and her ex, Richard Clemmons. Chloe’s parents, though not necessarily of the huggy and kissy variety, have been supportive of her over the past three years while she has been raising her son, Zavy (Xavier), alone. Their relationship, particularly Chloe’s relationship with her mother, develops a big rift when her mother allows Zavy’s father back into his life without talking it out with Chloe first. Their relationship, though not severed, is further stressed as her mother pushes for Chloe to allow Zavy to spend more time with his father, Rich, and initially defends his less than stellar parenting abilities. This goes against all of Chloe’s best instincts. While it is the law in New Zealand that Rich be allowed to see Zavy, Chloe rightfully feels betrayed by her mother’s actions. Rich is not the least bit likable. 

How the two storylines play out is so enjoyable to listen to and how the book ends (no spoilers here!) will delight the listener. 

Beyond these two primary storylines, there is the interaction between Kevin’s twin sisters and how Chloe is able to help them resolve their own issues. The twins relationship is very true to life and add depth to the story. The book also includes a few characters found in other New Zealand books, most notably Josie Pae Ata, now married to Hugh Latimer. Other All Blacks have brief cameos.

This is a wonderful, heartwarming book and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I strongly encourage any listener who enjoys romance and certainly fans of Rosalind James to buy this book immediately. This is one of my favorites in the Escape to New Zealand series and it is in my stack of books to be re-read and savored.
 

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3 people found this helpful

Painful Narration

I liked the story. I have no complaints about that. I do wish they had kept the same narrator as the earlier books, though. This narrator had me cringing every time I heard the voice of the little boy. I was painful to listen to. It was distracting and really too away from the enjoyment of the audiobook.

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1 person found this helpful

Nice guys finish last ;)

This is the story I've been waiting for since the series came out. I. Love. Kevin. And I'm so very glad RJ waited to tell his story because this is a good one.

I know sometimes heroes get boring when they're too perfect, but to me, Kevin is a dream. He's a nice guy, strong, intense, but he has this stubbornness and temper that is fueled with passion and logic. It's like he gets irritated when people don't grasp the obvious. He's perfectly flawed.

As much as I wish the heroine was a chubby American named Holli, Chloe is also perfectly flawed. I feel like in real life, she'd be one of those beautiful women that you'd want to hate at first glance, but then you get to know her and she's so sweet and slightly spicy that you just have to make her your best friend.

The two combined make a beautiful mess out of life. And with all the trouble their families give them, they have each other's backs.

This is a great book for any fan of romance and is a great addition to the Escape to NZ series.

I was worried about the new voice actress, but I feel like she did a great job.

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The view expressed here is my own and I was not obligated to leave a positive review.

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1 person found this helpful

Rugby Player, Ballerina, Landlord, Eviction

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

You wouldn't think a woman dating the landlord that just evicted her and her toddler son would be a good story of topic. But, somehow I ended up cheering for Chloe and Kevin to make it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Chloe. A career dancer, who put her life on hold when she became pregnant by "the perfect guy". A perfect guy that bailed - wasn't ready for the baby-thing. Three years later, enter the All Black, Kevin. Not perfect, a bit messy, brothers and sisters in-tow, and her new landlord with an eviction notice in hand. But, he understands Chloe. Convinces her to not only date him, but that she should be pursuing her first love -- Dancing.

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

Emma Wilder did a good performance. Her portrayal of Chloe's voice is a bit whiney. But, compared to a number of the other narrators I have listened to, she is definitely one of the better ones.

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.

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