UGHHHH I absolutely loved this book. Tane is so grumpy and masculine that I could not help to fall in love. This enemies to lovers romance where Claire is escaping a stalker ex and goes to New Zealand to work at a bar. This bar is owned by Tane who is a retired Rugby player whos angry about a lot of things. This funny was cute, sexy, and so funny. I also enjoyed that it had an added appeal of learning about New Zealand a little better as Claire Travels. Overall, this was such a cute read and it was a great afternoon romance!

This was a super fun grumpy/grumpy workplace, fake dating romance. I loved both the MCs and the New Zealand setting!! Perfect for fans of Jen Morris. Laughs, heart and some heat, this was my first Liz Alden book and I'm excited to check out her others. Much thanks to NetGalley and the author for my advance review copy.

This is the fourth book in Liz Alden’s Wanderlust series which is inspired by journey’s as she’s been a full-time traveler. I have read the prequel and third book in this series but the series to my knowledge is not interconnected so they can be read out of order without any problem. This book follows Claire as she move’s to New Zealand on a year long youth work visa. She works in a bar and develops feelings for Tane, the grumpy ex-rugby player who co-owns the bar with his sister.

I have had a couple friends do the youth work visa thing in New Zealand and a couple other countries and am genuinely surprised that more books don’t use this premise, so I was familiar with this process. I really liked Claire she was fun and quirky and a wonderful sunshine character. Tane grew on me through the story. I did struggle with Tane’s alcoholism at the beginning of the book and how easily he seemingly got over it. I was happy to find that in the author’s note that Liz noted that Tane’s experience with ending alcohol dependency was not typical and should not be treated as such. I really liked all of the side characters and found that they added to the story. The book was a nice, short read which kept me engaged and kept the story moving which i greatly appreciated. I also really enjoyed all the traveling that Claire and Tane did which made me really want to visit New Zealand.

Thank you to NetGalley and Liz Alden for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

QOTD: What is your dream trip?
My A: Roadtrip across America and visit every National Park! 😍
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During the pandemic I snagged The Second Chance in the Mediterranean off of NetGalley and loved it. It's book three in Liz Alden's Love and Wanderlust series so of course I ordered the first two books and loved them even more! When I saw she was writing book four, I was pumped. I need a vacation right about now, and I can't think of a better place to escape to than New Zealand!
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Each book in the series is set in a different location and is travel based. Liz Alden's writing style perfectly describes the landscape, people and cultures of the places in her books and I always end up adding to my travel bucket list. 😅


If you love:
Enemies to friends to lovers
One Bed (one TENT)
Traveling
Fake Dating
Laugh out loud moments
Character growth
Work place romance
HAE
... This one is for you!
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BLURB:
That surly ex-rugby player making a ruckus in the dark corner of the bar I work at? Yeah, I try to avoid him. Too bad he’s my boss.

I thought I was grumpy AF but I’ve met my match. Tane Parata has two moods when I see him in the bar he co-owns with his sister: grouchy in a dark corner or reliving his rugby days with a rowdy group that likes to cause trouble. I try to avoid him at all costs—the last thing I need is more male drama in my life after my stalker ex. He's why I came to New Zealand—to escape.

When my closest friend in the country—who happens to be Tane’s sister—asks me for a huge favor, I can’t say no. Now I’m Tane’s fake date to a family wedding, and it turns out he is trying to turn his life around.

Adventuring around New Zealand opens my eyes to more than just Lord of the Rings fandom and sheep. I didn’t expect to fall in love with the country…or Tane.

TW: on page Alcoholism and a stalker.

I really enjoyed this one! It was a sweet and quick read for me. Claire and Tane were really cute together. I love how much they cared for another and that there wasn’t any petty drama between them. I wish we could have seen them a little further in the future than what the epilogue placed them at, but I’m also hopeful there will be another book…maybe this time with Iris and Rico?? We’ll see! Thank you to NetGalley and Liz Alden for the e-ARC!

The Player in New Zealand by Liz Alden is the fourth novel in her Love and Wanderlust series. This delightfully funny novel explores the enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Claire, a happy traveler running from her past and Tane, a grumpy ex-rugby player dealing with the loss of his career. Like all of her other novels in this series, The Player in New Zealand by Liz Alden gives readers the perfect amount of travel-lust, romance, and conflict. If you love travel, romance, and unique characters—pick this novel up along with all of the other books in her Love and Wanderlust series.

First book I've read wich takes place in New Zealand, and I truly loved the premise, both the book and the series as a whole. Altough it's my first time reading Liz Alden title, I realize this is the fourth of the series, but fortunately, the stories surely can be read as standalone. It was a delightful adventure get to know details and the kiwi's lifestyle while following Claire and Tane's journey. With a light and compelling narrative, I was completely imersed in the story and cheering up the romance. It's good to take note that this is a contemporary romance for adults, so there's intimate hot scenes, and also delicate subjects, such as emotional violence, stalker and alchohol problems that has brought deepness to the narrative. I liked a lot, and I am looking foward tho read the next one!

This wasn’t a meet cute. This was a meet grumpy! But there are reasons that both of these characters are grouches, and the exposition of those reasons is handled pretty well.

I really liked that Claire isn’t your typical romance protagonist. She’s tall, tattooed, with a nose piercing and short hair. She also cusses and talks about her vibrator more than once.

Tane is complicated. The “gifted athlete who was forced to retire due to injury and now can’t cope” thing has been done, and better. The attraction the two feel for each other isn’t really fully explained either.

I was glad that the problem that drove Claire to New Zealand in the first place was resolved, though the trauma she had been through is kind of left unaddressed.

The descriptions of New Zealand sights (including The Shire!) and Maori customs was a definite plus.

All in all, it was a fun read, though I don’t feel compelled to read others in the series.

Possible Objectionable Material:
A few quite spicy sex scenes, swearing (including the F word). Stalking. Lots of drinking—Claire is a bartender.

Who Might Like This Book:
People who are interested in New Zealand. Those who like seeing people overcome traumas of various types.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my opinion.

This book also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2022/03/love-in-its-many-forms.html

Can I give this 10 stars? I want to give it 10, no 100 wait 1000! Okay, I’ll stop!

So I love all of Liz’s books but there was something about Clare and Tane (maybe their super hot chemistry) that shot them to joint favourite couple with Seb and Marcella (Side note, if you haven’t read their stories, you need to)

I loved everything about this book….

✨Clare and Tane were wonderful together and as individuals. They really cared about each other and you could feel this on the page.

✨Side Characters… both Clare and Tane have great sisters that make interesting and mischievous side characters.

✨I lived in Australia for 6 years and never visited New Zealand and I really regret it, but reading this story is the next best thing because I really felt like I was there in the hostel and the bar with Clare!

So yeah, if you want a Rom-com filled with steamy scenes and wanderlust this is definitely it!

I have really enjoyed all of Liz Alden's Love in Wanderlust books. The characters have been fun and relatable, the writing has been so good, and the storylines are perfect. This book was no exception. I was a little skeptical from the beginning because I loved the yacht aspects of the previous books so much and I wanted more of that, but I was definitely wanting to give this one a chance. And while I've never been to New Zealand, I found the way it was described in the book to be so dreamy - and now I really want to go! I can't wait for the next Love in Wanderlust book!

I can’t begin to tell y’all how excited I was to get approved for an eArc of The Player In New Zealand by Liz Alden. This is book 4 in her Love and Wanderlust series, which features a stunning travel destination as the backdrop for this low angst love story between a retired national level rugby star (and current bar owner) Tane and visiting American (while conveniently escaping a stalker) Claire.

Having never read a Liz Alden book before, I walked into this one pretty unsure of what to expect in steam level, writing style and overall angst, drama, and banter. And you know what, I loved this. The relationship and dialog moved at what I would call a realistic pace, and it was such a refreshing thing to read.

Tane is such a sturdy (and deeply sweet) hero. He’s dealing with his own baggage and working through grieving his rugby career, and fall out of the ACL injury that ended it all for him. A case of mistaken Identity, deep intoxication and a bossy grump collide (literally and figuratively) for a brutal meet cute. But from there, the relationship organically evolves from wary colleagues, to kind-of friends.

When Nina (Tane’s sister and bar co-owner) and Tane’s cousins wedding comes up, it’s rapidly decided that Tane absolutely NEEDS a date. But more than that he MUST attend with a fake girlfriend. Okay, y’all at this point I was HERE for it. Especially because this is written only from Claire’s point of view, I knew the wedding was gonna change things for these two. Before the wedding, there is a sweet moment between Tane and Claire as they practice the Hongi, and share breath. My word the connection and intimacy in that scene alone, had my whole heart.

Rest assured friends, there is also lots of great moments, for these two to heat up the tents, kayaks, hotels, Ute’s AND stock rooms as their physical relationship heats up. But fear not, the real hidden gem here is our physical touch love language MMC, and all the non sexual touching and cuddling. Gosh do I love a lil sweet cuddle between love interests.

From there these two slowly, sweetly and without a lot of fanfare, simply fall in love. There is some 3rd act external drama (care/of Claires stalker) but no third act break up! We stan a breakup free romance!
I loved the realistic representation of Tane. He’s absolutely a romance hero, but not with the PERFECT language every time, or the over the top physical descriptions. He’s imperfect, and his challenges with sobriety are handled with respect and care. I think lots of people will connect with the support, love and community found in Tane’s family.

Perfect for fans of Karla Sorensen, The Player in New Zealand is a delight that will have you smiling, happily sighing and wishing you had a Tane of your very own. Grab this one wherever you get your books on March 22nd 2022.

This book was cute but I feel like it needed a bit more. I don't think the book went into enough detail about their feelings for each other. When they said I love you I didn't feel as though it was earned.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I have been fortunate enough to read advanced copies of all of the Love and Wanderlust series so far, and while I have greatly enjoyed all 4 books, The Player in New Zealand is definitely my favorite. If you haven't read this series, what are you waiting for?

In this book we find Claire who has just left behind her life in Boston to escape her past and finds herself temporarily working at a bar in New Zealand. The bar happens to be owned by ex-rugby player Tane and his sister Nina. Tane is a bit of a mess, but when he asks Claire to join him for a family wedding and pretend they are dating, she says yes, which quickly leads to so much more.

I adore Liz Alden's incredible way of describing the incredible settings of her stories and making you want to travel there as soon as possible. While New Zealand was a different setting and did not find the characters at sea, I adored reading about the two towns and wanted to be there! Her characters throughout the series have also been incredible, but these two in particular were my favorites. I mean a grumpy cinnamon roll of an ex-rugby player is everything I didn't know I wanted in a love interest. And Claire, her strength despite the life she was leaving behind was inspiring. Seeing her slowly heal from the trauma of a stalker ex-boyfriend, find her independence, and fall in love was a beautiful journey I adored getting to follow. Add in both Claire and Tane's somewhat meddling characters and we had the perfect cast of characters.

Thank you to the author for the advanced copy! I am so excited for book 5 to take me to Indonesia!

Claire is in New Zealand for a year on a work visa-- a move she made to get away from her stalker. Tane, a recently retired rugby player, owns the bar where she recently started working. But Claire doesn't know that, and treats him like the drunk customer she thinks he is. Eventually, they reach a tenuous truce... until Tane's sister convinces them that Claire should pose as his girlfriend at a family member's wedding.
Suddenly, the two of them find themselves in close proximity, unable to ignore their mutual attraction. Claire is adamant that she doesn't want a relationship-- her time in New Zealand is short, after all-- but the two keep coming back to each other.
Claire's journey is about learning to trust herself and the people around her. Tane's journey is about accepting that his rugby career is over and finding better ways to process than with alcohol. Together, they work through their problems and create something beautiful and special.
The Player in New Zealand is a mild enemies-to-lovers with a beautifully done fake dating trope. It's sweet, and inspiring, and definitely a book I'd recommend to just about anyone.

***4 Stars***

There are many reasons why people pick up the books they read. Author. Cover. Subject. Or even the title and when I saw “New Zealand” in the title, my curiosity peaked.
Then I saw Rugby and I was all like gimmegimmegimme..because I love New Zealand and Rugby is my fav sport (especially when it’s AB’s rugby)
So I had to jump in and I gotta say, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. From the characters and their antics to the setting, it all worked for me and has me really wanting to visit New Zealand again.

I adored Claire and Tane. Claire may see herself as a bit grouchy and quirky, she owns it all. She is vivacious and definitely not afraid to speak her mind in most situations. Tane. First impressions weren’t great, but as the book progresses, you see just how huge his heart is and how charming he can be and it was hard to not fall in love with him.

Their journey to their HEA may have started out a bit rocky, but it was a fun one. I really liked them together. Their bantering and flow was on point, even when things were a bit rocky, and though things do happen somewhat quickly, they had me rooting for them to find a way to make things stick.

This is my first read by the author and it was a winner. The writing was engaging, the pacing good and though I would have liked to have Tane’s POV at times, I liked being in Claire’s head as she experienced New Zealand for the first time. There are a few situations in here that could be triggering for some, but they aren’t anything too intense and, IMHO, handled well. As for New Zealand. I honestly felt like I was back there. The chill vibe and beautiful country jumped off the page for me. And the supporting cast of characters were awesome! Nina was my fav, hands down, but Emily and Iris were just as awesome.

So, if you’re looking for a fun, low on the angst read then this is a must click for you!

~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~

I have read all of Liz's books so far and was delighted when I finally realized how this one was connected to the others. Don't worry, this is totally a stand alone but there is just a fun easter egg for long time readers. (also let me take a second to encourage that your read her earlier books in the Love and Wanderlust series because they are awesome)

This book felt a little heavier than some of her earlier books where there was almost a slow burn and a sticky emotional backstory for both characters that drew me in and broke my heart. Tane is a retired rugby player with a chip on his shoulder and a vice he can't shake. He is the epitome if grump when we meet him so to see how he evolves over time was extremely entertaining. Claire is an American tending bar at the bar Tane and his sister Nina own and operate in New Zealand. She needs a total life reset after a fairly traumatic relationship and finds refuge in mixing drinks and sight seeing. These two were almost both grumps but then pushed together both became these sweet softies.

As in all of Liz's books there was travel, epic scenery, adventure, and steamy steam.

I love how this story slowly evolved and incorporated so many different tropes. I mean who does not like only one tent or fake dating or secret dating??? And when the sisters get involved things get adorably funny. By the end my heart had melted and I cried happy tears. There was low angst and lots of adult conversations and experiences.

I highly recommend this book (and the whole series!)

The Player in New Zealand is the fourth book in Love and Wanderlust series, but it’s a standalone and no prior knowledge of the series is needed.

Claire has come to New Zealand to put as much distance between her and her stalker as possible. She has a job as a bartender, which she can keep for six months and then has to switch them because of visa rules. Tane is a former rugby player veering on a brink of alcoholism. She’s not impressed by him, but he pulls his act together and becomes sober. They are sort of forced together by Tane’s sister, but realise they lust each other and make the most of the situation. Later they decide they love each other and get married for visa reasons.

The description above is a tad spoilery, but that’s how the book played out. There’s a handful of scenes where Claire and Tane interact, with no emotional engagement whatsoever that the reader is made a part of. Most of the book is filler scenes about Claire’s daily life and New Zealand that are told not shown, and which had no impact on the plot whatsoever. The ticking clock of Claire having to switch jobs doesn’t add any tension to the narrative.

Nothing important happens in front of the reader. Tane quits drinking behind the scenes and if it’s difficult for him, it isn’t shown. Claire, whose point of view we follow, presumably falls for him, but doesn’t bother to share it with the reader. For example, we are told of longing phone calls when they’re apart, but we never witness one. Since it’s a romance, the reader automatically infers love, but the emotional payload for reading to the end isn’t there.

I liked Tane and I would’ve wanted to be there for his journey to sobriety, only I wasn’t allowed to, but I didn’t really get Claire at all. She constantly reacted oddly to everything, and I kept wondering if she read situations wrong or if I did. Her trauma for being stalked for years wasn’t dealt with, only the stalker. And since I wasn’t told why Claire and Tane liked each other, I couldn’t really see them as a couple either.

I like my romances light, so this was fine. But I like the emphasis to be on the romance and the couple. And I’d like to feel at least something by the time we get to the I dos.

3.5

the story moved at a great pace, and there wasn’t anything exactly wrong, but it felt like it was missing some kinda extra oomf.

#netgalley

As per my usual MO, I didn’t read the description. I’ve read the rest of the Love and Wanderlust series and knew I was happy to read another. From the cover I’ll admit I expect more camp counselor than bartender, but that’s neither here nor there.

Good story, personal growth with a side of adventure and some steam. It’s billed as age gap, and while there are 7 (I think) years between them, it feels more like the story of people in different places of their lives. Quality family support characters. And a little moment of past series characters!

Thanks NetGalley and Liz Alden for the review copy!

Claire moves to Wellington, New Zealand, to put as much distance as possible between her and her stalker-ex friend back in Boston. She's living her best working holiday visa life, living in a hostel and working at a bar. One evening, a drunk ex rugby player, Tane, tries to serve himself at the bar and he and Claire get into an altercation. It turns out that he's the owner of the bar, and after firing Claire, they avoid each other as much as possible. When Tane's sister Nina asks Claire to be Tane's fake date to a family wedding, will Claire and Tane become friends, or more?

My favourite thing about this installment of the series was the light introduction to Maori culture and how respectfully that was handled. I also really liked that two of the characters from The Sailor in Polynesia popped up, in a completely non intrusive way, so if you'd not read that book it wouldn't spoil it for you!
My least favourite part was Claire's character, I found her super self obsessed and selfish. Iris, her sister, is a big part of the story but Claire never asks her about herself or what's happening in her life, which I found incredible since Iris was the reason Claire managed to move to NZ in the first place!

This is my second Liz Alden book. One of the best things about her books, in my opinion, is that they're set in different exotic locations and it's easy to tell the author is writing from experience of those destinations. Despite the simple storyline, this was a fun, quick and easy read, perfect if you're looking for a holiday or beach romance with a bit of steam! I started off with The Sailor of Polynesia and loved it, and now need to pick up Panama & the Mediterranean!