She’s never had a no-strings fling. He’s never had anything else. But maybe this time will be an exception? After a year of mourning her fiancé, Alexis Parker has worked hard to rediscover what she wants out of life. Fresh out of the military and back stateside, her brother offers her a marketing job at the Stag Distillery. Ready for a new challenge, Alexis agrees to accompany her new co-worker … her new co-worker Jake Cooper on a Stag cross-country promotional tour. He may have an infamous playboy reputation, but Alexis is surprised to find out that there is more to him than meets the eye. And she likes what she sees. . .
Jake promised Alexis’s brother that he’d be an absolute gentleman. Of course, that was before he and Alexis hit the road, and they both agree that what Alexis’s big brother doesn’t know won’t hurt him. The plan: to keep their fling confined to the RV, and everything will go back to normal once they head home. Things progress in ways neither of them could have imagined, and Jake realizes that he and Alexis make a perfect mix. Can he convince her that he’s ready to shake things up and give true love a shot in Maybe for You?
“Nicole McLaughlin is a wonderfully fresh voice in contemporary romance–sweet, sexy, and immensely satisfying.”–Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling author
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I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I was nice to visit again the characters from the prior books. While it would be more enjoyable to experience this book having read the other books in this series, I do not think it is necessary to understand and enjoy it.
This book is the story of Alex and Jake. Alex has had so much sadness in her life, having lost her parents in an (auto) accident and her fiancé’ in a military helicopter accident. She is at a point in her life where she is trying to decide who she wants to be and what road her life will follow. Jake has had a history of feeling that he did not belong anywhere; his family, his school and currently his co-owned partnership in the whiskey distillery. He carries his insecurities with him in his professional and personal life. He was, for most of his adult life, drifting from woman to woman as a way to not committee and just have fun.
When Jake sees how vulnerable Alex is at a party soon after her future husband died, he is overwhelmed by her sadness. They become great friends and then more. I really enjoyed this story because I like the friends to lovers stories so much. I think good relationships are based on friendship.
We see into Alex’s feelings through many journal writings, which I thought was a nice touch to the story.
The author continued the wonderful character development that she began with the series. With each book, the characters were more multi-layered and interesting. I liked that the story evolved to a plot that focused mainly on Alex and Jake and their relationship away from the other main characters. It was nice to focus on just their growing relationship.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. I want to thank St. Martin’s Press for giving me a wonderful journey into the world contained in the pages of this book. I enjoyed the book and wanted to write a review to share with potential readers. Enjoy!
3.5 Stars…
Maybe for You is, in parts, an emotional story. Alex and her fiancé Nathan were in the military and due to get married, unfortunately he was killed in a helicopter accident just before the wedding, which understandably is heartbreaking and life altering. Dean is Alex’s brother who owns a distillery in Kansas with his two best friends, TJ and Jake. As the story begins, Alex is preparing to leave for Italy to do a tour for the military so she can get away from the memories, and hopefully clear her head after losing her fiancé, so she decides to attend a party at her brothers distillery before she leaves, which is where she meets Jake. Alex and Jake become texting buddies while she is away, and the two become very good friends, she confides in him with her feelings, fears and milestones she makes while in Italy. When she returns is where the friendship becomes complicated.
I found this story to be pretty good in the beginning, but after awhile of Alex’s insecurities and whining, it became just irritating. Top that with Jake all of a sudden having issues with his past, (which came out from left field) I started to lose interest in the characters because of the continual complaining about insecurities. I get that the loss of someone close is difficult to deal with at times, but to start throwing in other “issues” from her past, then Jakes, it became redundant, whinny, and didn’t add anything to the story. I didn’t care for the way Alex reacted to the situation she and Jake ended up with, completely turned me off, then topped off with more unfounded complaining that just leaves you with a really bad taste in your mouth. Loved the premise of the book, it was the “stuff” in the middle and beyond that turned this into a how much longer is this going to go on so we can move on and get to the heart of the story. I think the book could have been 75 – 100 pages shorter, might have made it a bit easier on the story and to get through without as much unfounded drama. Book was just so so for me.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book
Maybe For You by Nicole McLaughlin is a fabulous contemporary romance. Ms. McLaughlin has once again delivered a book that will keep readers glued to their e-readers from start to finish. Alex’s soon to be husband died just weeks before they were to be married. She deployed to her next assignment but stayed in contact with her one of her brother’s partners. Jake is part owner of Stag and helps Alex with her grief through messages while she is deployed. Alex and Jake’s story is loaded with drama, humor, sizzle and will have you riding an emotional see-saw. I enjoyed reading Maybe For You and look forward to reading more from Nicole McLaughlin. Maybe For You is book 3 of the Whiskey and Weddings Series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.