The Player in New Zealand

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.

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.

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 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!)