Review: Just for Me

Just for Me by Rosalind James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first read this as part of an anthology, but felt in need of a pick-me-up so read it again. We have seen some of this story in previous books, notably Just Say (Hell) No which was Marko and Nyree's book and Just Come Over which was Rhys and Zora's book.

So Luke is Nyree's half-brother. He's a professional rugby player, as is his younger brother Kane, which is unsurprising since his father Grant was the All Blacks coach for many years. Luke left NZ for Europe and now plays for a Paris rugby team, with a British mother he has also captained England. What no-one knows because he has kept it a closely guarded secret, even from his family, is that Luke is gay. But after his latest romance goes South because of the secrecy, Luke worries that he is suppressing too much. The one thing he can do is go back to NZ for his sister's wedding and take some of the heat of their father's displeasure off her shoulders.

Hayden is Zora's openly gay brother, a New Zealand contract lawyer, he's just found out that his boyfriend has got back together with his ex, without bothering to tell Hayden. Definitely a case of having his cake and wanting it too. Not only that, but he makes it very clear that Hayden was only temporary, a fling, before the two of them got back together, because Hayden is too boring, too pedestrian, too middle-class to be a long-term thing.

Hayden and Luke meet at Zora's where Nyree is painting a beautiful mural on Rhys' daughter Casey's bedroom, having previously painted Zora's son Isaiah's ceiling, as the wedding is rapidly approaching she has enlisted everyone to help. Both instantly smitten, Luke can't imagine what a sophisticated, cultured man like Hayden could see in a hairy, taciturn, scarred bear of a man like him, whereas Hayden can't imagine what appeal a boring talkative lawyer could have for a strong, internationally famous athlete.

But is Luke willing to be out-out with his team as well as his friends and family, and how can a relationship work when one of you lives in Paris and the other lives in New Zealand?

This was just delicious from start to finish. Luke and Hayden were such a lovely couple and I'm glad we got to see more of them.

Loved it just as much second read.

Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

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