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
more
Maybe For You by Nicole McLaughlin
Whiskey and Weddings #3
Alexis “Alex” Parker had her future in front of her. She and Nate would spend their last year in the military in Italy as a married couple but…that did not happen. Instead, before the wedding took place Nate died and Alex headed off to Italy alone. During that year while she was in Italy she messaged time and again with her brother’s friend Jake. Jake listened and was there for her and the two became friends. Sure, Jake is known as a playboy who will never settle down but on the other hand Alex is not sure she ever wants to put her heart on the line again either.
When Alex comes home she is met by Jake at the airport, he takes her to see her brother and that is that…right? Well, Alex is a bit bored with time on her hands till her new job begins in a few months so she asks to go on tour with Jake…a tour that will promote the whiskey Stag distillery produces. Many venues will be visited, many people will be met and much time on the road will be spent…time that sees Alexis and Jake talking and sharing and caring in new ways. But, as Alex is leaving and Jake is a playboy what happens on the road stays a secret of the road…right? Well, perhaps not. No matter how careful one is sometimes secrets are exposed in a rather surprising way.
This is a friends to lovers genre story with HEA for the couple that left me wondering if the two ever do marry but even if they don’t they end up together and seem to have a good relationship once Alex is willing to open her heart to love again. It felt realistic and possible and true for the most part although I am not sure how close one would be to the family of one’s deceased fiancé in the long run.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Another great story in the Whiskey and Weddings series. It is Jake’s turn to find his true love. Alex is getting over the loss of the love of her life. It has been over a year since Nate has died and now Alex is coming home. During that year she was gone she because BFF with Jake through messenger. When she returns they pick up as BFF though just not talking as much. Jake needs to go on the road and promote the Whiskey so Alex decides to come along for the ride. During all this time she is very much still heartbroken with losing Nate. As these things go they start to develop feelings for each other in a romantic way. Though Alex is majorly conflicted with this and not wanting to be with anyone else but Nate. At one point I really want to tell Alex to get over it but then I was like who knows how I would be if I lost the love of my life. You will root for Jake in this book and man does he have the patience of a saint. I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil anything that happens near the end.
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
Overall, this story was okay. I liked Jake and seeing him grow as a character was a highlight, but Alexis I lost all respect for due to her reactions when crazy events happened. Catching up on the rest the gang-Charlotte is a saint for handling Dean!-was nice and I wished we had more time with them. I am glad I held out and finished the story as things did get better. The ending didn’t necessarily make up for the drawn out drama, but it went a long way.
Maybe For You is a great friends-to-lovers romance. I loved that Jake was super supportive of Alexis, & I really enjoyed their fun and playful relationship. They were the perfect match! Nicole McLaughlin perfectly blended Alexis’s tragic past with her future to create a beautiful love story. I hope there will be more books in the Whiskey and Weddings series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley.
This was a sweet love story for Alex and Jake.
Alex’s heart was crushed when her fiance died, sure she’d never love again. Jake took what he thought was a safer path by never risking his heart in the first place. Now these two friends have to share tight quarters on a two-week road trip that forces them both to examine their hearts and lives and determine just what they want their futures to look like.
I loved that these two started as friends, their romance building slowly over time as Alex patched up her heart and began to live again. Jake’s emotional journey was no less difficult as he had to ask himself the tough questions about his life choices and ultimate goals. Their relationship was sweet, funny, and truly heartwarming.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters, too. I haven’t read the previous books yet, but this one works great as a standalone. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
When life doesn’t turn out how you planned, maybe it’s time to head in a new direction. Maybe For You is a tale of heartbreaking loss, surprising new beginnings and witty dialogue. McLaughlin stages the ultimate road trip for a brokenhearted almost bride and playboy on the mend. Alexis is learning how to live again after a tragic loss. Her second chance comes in the form of a dashing coworker with a reputation for playing the field. Jake and Alexis take a business trip that changes the course of their lives when their hearts become fair game for love. Maybe For You is a sentimental tale that brings out the laughter and perhaps a few tears.
This was a great read. There is a sweet romance that develops after starting out as a fling. It’s been a year since Alexis lost her fiance Nate and while she wants to move on and start over it’s been hard. Now she’s back from Italy and has a new job lined up that will start in a couple of months. To pass the time she’s working at Stag Distillery. Hitting the road with Stag’s resident playboy Jake Cooper wasn’t how she expected to spend her time but being with Jake and experiencing life again may be exactly what she needs.
This is a wonderfully done story and I loved watching how both Jake and Alexis change through their journey. I highly recommend this one.
Maybe for You (Whiskey and Weddings, #3) by Nicole McLaughlin …I thought the first two books were great..but this was fantastic…. thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for letting me preview this book and series. Alexis Parker and Jake Cooper both have history or hangups…but they are so perfect for each other … this is a real friends to lovers story…he helps her get over a tragic loss and she helps him realize his self worth. So many feel.. happiness, grief, sadness, fun, sex, great friends and family we get to revisit…and of course a very HEA… Nicole always makes me feel like I am part of the story and it is so hard to leave….
She’s never had a no-strings fling. He’s never had anything else. 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 Jake Cooper on a Stag cross-country promotional tour. Jake promised Alexis’s brother that he’d be an absolute gentleman.
This is the third book in the series but could be read on its own. The characters are likeable & have plenty of depth. The story flows well & kept my interest all the way through. It’s quite a rollercoaster of a journey to the HEA especially as Alex has to move on from her fiancé’s death. A well written story of finding the courage to love again
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I love the covers of the books in this series, they are as romantic as the stories within. I didn’t expect that the remaining bachelor in the Stag Distillery partners, Jake, would end up with Dean’s baby sister, but was happy to read about Alexis’ HEA. In the first book of the series, Dean and Charlotte’s story, we read about Alexis’ marriage plans, and then the tragic death of her fiancee Nate. Then Alexis decides to continue with the plans she had with Nate and leaves on assignment to Italy for one year. This book starts when she arrives back in the US.
Alexis is still dealing with her bereavement and trying to find her new normal. She has accepted a job with the CIA in Washington DC, but comes to spend a few months in Kansas City with her brother and their group of friends. During her year abroad, she messaged frequently with Jake and they became best friends. Jake gave her the listening ear she needed as she dealt with her feelings of bereavement, and found herself again. She is so happy to be back home and be able to spend time with Dean, his father Joel and especially Jake. She accepts a temporary job as receptionist in the distillery and also assists Jake in his work promoting their product and traveling around to festivals. They get close and eventually their friendship turns into something else.
Alexis sometimes feels survivor’s guilt, she wants to search new horizons in her professional career and she feels that this job with the CIA is what she should do. Jake has a reputation as a ladies man, and has an issue about not being very intelligent. He has somewhat of an inferiority complex and resents any remarks about his lack of acuity. They embark on a fling that is supposed to be temporary but the support they get from each other and the feelings that start to arise, start to change the rules of the game.
This was a great friends to lovers story. I loved how Jake changes from a player to a partner, how he wants to face all their obstacles on the way to establish themselves as a couple. His willingness to face Dean and shoulder all responsibilities is so sweet. He is very considerate of Alex, gives her space when she needs to grieve, is a good sport with Nate’s family, and a great sounding board when Alex needs to revisit her thoughts. Alex is open about her feelings, and communicates very openly with Jake. I liked how she declared an intention every day in her diary, very healthy.
Very well written, great pace, full of warm feelings, consideration and friendliness, this was a feel-good book about family, loss, reunion and overcoming bereavement in a healthy manner. I loved the family times with Jake’s family, Nate’s family, and the Stag group.
Any kind of loss can be devastating but when it’s not the first time and both of the losses are close to you it can have far reaching tendrils that suddenly become a fear deep and dark. It’s not bad enough that you lost your parents and now lost your fiance just weeks before you marry but now you’re so afraid of loosing someone else that you protect your heart. That’s where Alex is. That’s where she thinks she’s happy. Jake is a playboy who is getting tired of the life but no woman has given him the reason to until he consoles Alex. The message was harmless until it became everything. These two have no idea where this will lead. They will have some troubles but their biggest trouble will be fear. Fear can be crippling.
This isn’t my first read by this author and once again she doesn’t disappoint. Yeah there’s some steamy goodness but the story of these two and the strength of Alex is such an emotional journey. I love how the story evolves and the healing and support from friends and family. It’s a great read.
Nicole McLaughlin’s Whiskey and Weddings series is my favorite series of the ones she writes. It seems each story is even better than the one before it. First I met Dean and Charlotte and shared their Happily Ever After in Maybe I Do. This first book in the series is where most of the characters in later books are introduced and this is where we find out the sad news Alex receives about her fiance Nate. This is where we find three close friends, Dean, TJ and Nate who open a boutique distillery and wedding venue. Next I joined along with TJ and Jen’s journey to their Happily Ever After in Maybe This Time.
Now it’s Jake and Alex’s turn. I love this story! At first Jake and Alex seem to be a very unlikely couple but Alex finds a special friend in Jake during her final deployment to Italy for a year. Following her return home things heat up when Alex joins Jake on his two week promotional tour for the distillery. And then….. Well lots of fun and surprises to look forward to.
Author Nicole McLaughlin does an excellent job telling a story while expressing some serious emotions. Both Alex and Jake have some major hangups. The author depicts their problems very realistically. The storyline flows so well that I found myself surprised when I got to the end of the book. I was there with both Jake and Alex through all the good times and the bad and I didn’t want the book to end. I always enjoy friends to lovers stories and this is one of the best I have ever read.
Bravo Nicole McLaughlin! You did a fantastic job!
A well-written somber friends-to-lovers romance about grieving, finding yourself, moving forward and learning to accept happiness, embracing new beginnings, and willing your heart to be open to love again.
This is my first read by Nicole McLaughlin and perhaps had I known Maybe for You was part of a series (albeit stand-alone) I would have felt less bombarded with characters and had a better understanding of situations and relationship dynamics having started with the first book in the Whiskey and Weddings series.
Much of the story is focused on Alex (Alexis) and her grief over the sudden loss of her fiance the year before. Jake has his own insecurities as well, that again, perhaps would have been more understandable if I had read the previous stories first. Both of their issues make for a melancholy feeling throughout the book. I would have like more focus on the building of Alex and Jake’s relationship, like the messages they shared while Alex was overseas, more of their interactions on the road trip, and the notes they left for each other when Alex is back home temporarily working at the distillery. Had those moments and more like them been written into the story it would have made their relationship more dynamic and given the story a much needed dose of levity and romance.
Overall, a decent friends-to-lovers story even though it’s tone is somber and at times tends toward the over dramatic.
Maybe For You, the third book in Nicole McLaughlin’s Whiskey and Weddings Series, is about grief and letting go so you can move forward, but knowing that the past helped shape where you are now. I loved Alex and Jake’s story, but at times it was a hard read. There are more tears than laughter, but at the end I walked away satisfied. There were a few instances where I wanted Jake to let go and talk to Alex; he was totally supportive of her, but never quite let his guard down to let her be supportive of him. New readers of the series won’t miss the earlier books, though they are wonderful. Series readers will love the resolution of the main characters.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
Alexis will take you on an emotional roller coaster. She’s lost her parents and her fiance in a helicopter accident. You’ll mourn with her and find yourself cheering her on as she tries to find happiness. A marketing tour brings her and Jake, her brother’s partner closer. Insecurities and wounded hearts provide plenty of drama and suspense. Well written and engaging. I read a reader copy via Net Galley and voluntarily chose to review.
I received a free advanced copy of this book from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
A few weeks before their wedding, Nathan Williams was killed in a helicopter accident. The wedding was supposed to have taken place at The Stag, a boutique distillery that had become Kansas City’s go-to wedding venue, owned by 3 friends, one of them Dean, the half brother of his Army fiancee, Alex Parker. The plan had been for the two of them to have had their final deployment in Italy, and while Alex could have been reassigned state side, she decides to continue the assignment. A few days before she leaves, The Stag has a party, celebrating the uncasking of their 5 year bourbon and whiskey. When Alex has a bit of a melt down, Jake, one of the other partners, comforts her, and during the subsequent year, they keep in contact by text. It is Jake that she asks to pick her up at the airport when she returns, so she can surprise her brother and Jake who she first tells that she was offered a job with the CIA. Jake has a rep as a playboy, but even his best friends don’t know about his insecurities, that he has carried around since he was young. When Alex comes back, she has a few months before she needs to report to her new job, so volunteers to accompany Jake on a tour in the Stag Wagon. Jake is the marketing and publicity guy. As they travel together, their relationship moves from BFF to friends with benefits. While Jake would like more, Alex is moving to DC and she doesn’t ever want to fall in love again. Man plans and G-d laughs.
I read this book as a stand alone, not having read the previous two books. However, there was enough explanations about Dean and Alex’s complicated family ties and the relationships of Dean and his fiancee Charlotte and TJ (the third partner) and his fiancee Jen, to prevent confusion. The author skillfully crafted compelling characters and an interesting situation. What I found most interesting was that, while the characters were developed, at least in this book, there were no physical descriptions of any of the main characters, except that both Alex and Jake were both physically in great shape and good looking. The only character that had any physical description at all, was that Nathan’s mother was “a middle-aged black woman”. Was this to allow the reader to picture the characters however they wanted? Very interesting technique.
I loved the relationship between Alex and Jake in this book. Both characters have had a lot of pain and angst in their lives. Alex lost her fiance in the military. Yes, it pretty much rules her life. It appears a lot of readers have problems with that. My husband was friends with a couple he met overseas while stationed in Kosovo. A couple of years after they married he was killed in Extortion 17. He was the helicopter pilot. I can tell you, that pain and agony does totally take over the lives of the one left behind. Seven years later, a big chunk of the wife’s life is still dealing with the loss. Therefore, it was no surprise to me than Alex was still a big mess. Her life, love and expectation for the future were blown to bits.
Jake had his own issues and pain. He certainly didn’t feel like his partners were ever going to fully accept him as an equal contributing factor in the business. Especially not after one of them called him out for his actions. As he fights his attraction to Alex, he also finds himself drawn to her more. He’s been warned off by her brother (one of his partners), but the feelings between them may just be too much to ignore. He’s totally in, but she’s determined to take a job out of state and keep him at a distance. Is there any way they can have a future?
I think this was my favorite book of the series. The insecurities of Jake really drew me to him and had me pulling for him the whole way. The compassion I felt for Alex made me determined that she find her HEA–with Jake. A very rewarding read!
How do you recover from unyielding grief & pain? Alex isn’t sure that she can. She lost her fiancée just before their wedding & it devastated her. She decided to finish out the tour that they were planning on using as a working honeymoon & then decide what to do next. After the year in Italy, she received a job offer she never expected. What was the right thing to do?
Jake was there for his friend’s sister in the only way he knew. He was her friend. After the funeral, he was the strong shoulder for Alex to confess her fears & doubts to. Now that she’s back home, their year long email & text only friendship is over. Where do they go from here? Is she ready to move on? He’s a stereotypical playboy, king of one night stands. Can he really have feelings for her? Is he ready?
What an emotional story! From the story of the tragedy at the beginning, this story drew me in & I couldn’t put it down. Alex’s character was mired in grief & her head was telling her to travel a path to keep her safe from pain. She was trying to stay away so she didn’t get hurt again. As the story goes on, yo see her begin to emerge & live again. Jake was slowly growing up & realizing he was ready for something more. He just didn’t know how to change people’s perceptions of him & didn’t have enough faith in himself & his abilities. I really enjoyed this story & can’t wait for the next!
Maybe For You is Nicole McLaughlin’s third book in her Whiskey and Weddings series set in Kansas City, Kansas. This story addresses the third distillery owner, Jake Cooper, head of marketing and internet presence. At 32, Jake is well known as a swinging bachelor. His road trips promoting their brand are somewhat notorious, to the point there has been a complaint.
When co-owner Dean Troyer’s sister, a military veteran, returns home for a brief stint before beginning a new CIA position, she readily asks to go with Jake on a marketing mission. What she does not state is that Jake has been her touchstone over the past year since her fiancé, Nate, was killed in the downing of a helicopter. Over that year Jake and Alex wrote regularly through messenger and his calm presence and strong support are what helped Alexis get to the point she is now.
As Alexis volunteers for the marketing trip, her brother swears his friend to protect his younger sister. Making this vow, Jake and Dean may have very different definitions. Because it isn’t long before Jake and Alex become a friends with benefits couple. Alex is gearing up for her new CIA position, not looking for a lifetime commitment, just a pleasant dalliance to help her over a rough spot. Neither are looking for love, but what they find is a new world opening to them.
I have enjoyed everything I have read by Ms. McLaughlin. They are steeped in personal warmth and have threads of current headlines woven throughout. The characters are rich and well drawn. The relationships are deep and true. These stories are intricately stitched together and bring wonderful folks into the reader’s purview. I do recommend this book.
I am new to this author and when given the opportunity , decided to give her a try.
The story centers around Alexis Parker and Jake Cooperon. Alexis recently lost her fiancee days before their wedding. Jake is a friend of her brother’s as well as one of his business partners.
Shortly after her boyfriend’s death , Alexis leaves for Italy for her last year of deployment. Upon her return to the USA she starts working for her brother.
Needless to say, it’s an emotional story about loss, and heartbreaks . During all of this, Jake has been not only a friend but also a confident. It’s obvious he has feelings for her.
I have to confess, after a while , I just wanted Alexis to whine less and get over her grief. Jake on the other hand, was a great character.
For me , it was more of a 3.5 star rating book.
I was entrusted this book by Netgalley and St Martin’s Publishing. The opinions expressed are solely my own.