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Just for Now (Escape to New Zealand) Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Just for Now (Escape to New Zealand)


When Jenna McKnight is hired as a nanny to take care of an attractive single father and his two kids, she may unexpectedly end up with the loving family she always wanted. Jenna McKnight is a schoolteacher from Las Vegas, Nevada who moved to Wellington, New Zealand with her husband, Jeremy. When Jenna arrives home early from work and catches Jeremy in bed with another man, it turns her world upside down. She promptly files for divorce, quits her job as a schoolteacher, and moves to Auckland, New Zealand for a fresh start.
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When Jenna arrives in Auckland, she is temporarily staying with her friend Natalie. While Jenna is playing with a neighbor's dog at a local park, she meets a 5-year-old boy named Harry and his 9-year-old sister Sophie along with their nanny, Nyree. When Jenna talks to Harry, she notices that he has a strong interest in animals and lets him play with the dog. She also realizes that Sophie is a good athlete who enjoys playing soccer. Jenna keeps running into Harry, Sophie, and Nyree at the park and they strike up a rapport.

To ensure she doesn't overstay where welcome at Natalie's place, Jenna applies for a live-in nanny position. Unbeknownst to Jenna, the ad was posted by Finn Douglas, a famous rugby player who is vice-captain of the All Blacks (New Zealand's national rugby team). Finn's wife died in a car accident a few years ago and he needs extra help around the house, especially when he travels away from home for rugby matches.

When Jenna arrives at Finn's home for the interview, he is rude to her because he presumes that an attractive woman like Jenna is more interested in becoming his girlfriend than being a nanny to his two kids. Jenna lets Finn know that she is insulted by his baseless accusations and more than qualified to fill the nanny position. As Jenna abruptly leaves, she sees Harry and Sophie enter the house. Jenna quickly realizes that Finn is their dad. The kids protest when they see Jenna leave and implore their dad to hire her as the nanny.

A week later, Finn eventually relents to the kids' request and contacts Jenna about the nanny position. Finn apologizes for his rude behavior during their first encounter and schedules another interview with her. Jenna finds out that Nyree had to leave so that she can take care of her sick mother. Jenna eagerly accepts the job and starts right away. While Jenna is working at the house, Finn begins to realize that she is a great caretaker to his kids and his attraction for her grows. Finn isn't a conventionally attractive man, but Jenna is drawn to his fit physique. She also enjoys their easygoing conversations and appreciates how attentive he is to his kids.

Jenna and Finn slowly begin to trust and confide in each other about their past relationships. Jenna leans on Finn when her divorce becomes finalized and she finds out that Jeremy plans on marrying the man with whom he had the affair. Finn understands how it feels to be betrayed and lets Jenna know that his wife was cheating on him before she died. Finn's wife was on her way to meeting the man she was sleeping with when the fatal car accident occurred.

After working in the house for several months, Finn and Jenna can no longer resist their attraction to each other and consummate their relationship. Jenna and Finn are fully enjoying their new status as a couple when Jenna suddenly finds out that she is pregnant. Out of fear of how Finn will react, Jenna waits several weeks before she tells Finn about the pregnancy. Finn is shocked and lets Jenna know that he isn't happy about the situation and how it will potentially change their lives.

Jenna is seriously hurt by the way Finn responded to hearing about the pregnancy. Her dream of becoming a real member of Finn's family has been shattered. She moves out of the house without telling anyone. When Finn figures out that Jenna left, the kids are extremely upset and he is worried sick about her. Finn is desperate to find Jenna so that he will have the chance to express how he truly feels about her and the baby before he loses her for good.
Best part of story, including ending: Jenna developed a strong bond with Finn's kids. The kids still had a void in their lives that had never been filled since their mother died. Jenna took a genuine interest in them and became the nurturing maternal figure they needed.

Best scene in story: When Jenna and Finn make love for the first time, they are finally able to physically express the passion and desire that had been building up in the relationship.

Opinion about the main character: Jenna knows who she is and actively goes after what she wants. In spite of all the painful experiences she has dealt with throughout her life, she is still capable of developing loving relationships with other people. She's a woman who understands her value and won't settle for anything less than she deserves.

The review of this Book prepared by Pamela Parker a Level 3 Eurasian Jay scholar

Chapter Analysis of Just for Now (Escape to New Zealand)

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Plot & Themes

Time/era of story    -   2000+ (Present Day) In love with caretaker or teacher    -   Yes Falling in love with    -   Nanny

Main Male Character

Profession/status:    -   sports figure Age/status:    -   20's-30's Sex makes him    -   blissful

Main Female Character

Age/status:    -   20's-30's Profession/status:    -   nanny Effect of sexing    -   blissful

Setting

Asia/Pacific    -   Yes Asian country:    -   Pacific Islands

Writing Style

Accounts of torture and death?    -   no torture/death What % of story is romance related?    -   nearly 100% How explicit is the sex?    -   vague references only Focus of story    -   Her How much dialog    -   roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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Rosalind James Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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