The men in Nicole McLaughlin’s Man Enough series are tough Alphas devoted to serving their country and the women who love them. National Guardsman Aiden King has been attracted to Hannah Walters for a while, but he never made a move because of her close relationship with his best friend. But when circumstances change, Aiden is surprised when his friend gives his blessing. Problem is, there’s a … there’s a reason he’s still alone after all these years, and as much as he wants her, that secret keeps him from acting on his desires.
Hannah has finally decided to wait for the kind of love you read about in books and see in movies. After her failed engagement, Aiden’s unassuming support has become a touchstone for Hannah. It soon becomes apparent that he may be exactly the kind of man she’s been looking for. But the closer they become, the more he keeps her at arm’s length.
When Aiden suggests a road trip to take Hannah’s mind off her troubles, the two of them go on a journey neither one expected. She just hopes that the final destination is them together for good.
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I have totally loved this series by Nicole McLaughlin. I knew she might have a tough time with this one based on the response to the heroine, Hannah, from the last book. Hannah had made a comment to her sister when they were younger that had a huge negative impact on her sister’s life. Personally, I had a similar experience growing up with my sister and could totally relate. Hannah’s sister, just like mine, had no idea how far reaching the negative comments were. It was addressed briefly in this book and then Hannah moved on.
Hannah was fairly selfish in the other book, but really finds herself in this one. She starts a relationship with Aiden and discovers quickly that he has some sort of issue that will definitely make a sexual relationship with him difficult. Aiden is a very likable character. He’s screwed up and he knows it, but tries really hard to protect Hannah. At times it is gut wrenching what he has and is going through. Hannah grows up enough to try to get him help and stand by him. The end isn’t all sparkles and glitter–it’s much more realistic. Ms. McLaughlin did a great job of handling a very difficult subject matter.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and I also purchased a copy.
Wow, this story had an original concept (other reviewers have mentioned what but I won’t). I adored Aiden King. What woman wouldn’t a strong, yet gentle, caring man. He had served in the military and now was in the National Guard, whew HOT!!! Hannah on the other hand, let’s just say that she was different. Some said she was selfish, childish, self-centered… I feel that part of it comes from her attempt to lighten up situations at times. Also as a teacher, I felt that she should have recognized some of the signs that Aiden showed to realize the trauma that he had suffered through.
I appreciated having a dual POV format here. Getting into Aiden’s thought-process was a must in this story. This story is a wonderful one that I didn’t have a problem reading in one sitting. This book may not be for some as there are tellings of certain situations that may be a trigger for some.
This is story that has raw emotion in it and pulls at your heartstrings. The story is so well written and the plot is very complex. The characters are complex, very well-developed and strong. The hero and heroine both have their own problems to overcome. Aiden is emotionally scarred. Hannah has had bad relationships. Aiden has been attracted to Hannah for a long time. Hannah is just now noticing him. Can two scarred people come together as one? This emotionally charged story will enthrall you, as it did me. All the characters are interesting and lovable. If you are as affected as I was you will cry. I am definitely going to read more from this author. She is very talented!
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is the story of two very headstrong people, Hannah and Aiden, who kinda know each other, but decide that they should know each other better. There are struggles and fun, hidden things in each of their pasts that they need to overcome, but this is a good story and a great read. This is definitely one to pick up.
Only With You by Nicole McLaughlin
This was my first book by Nicole McLauglin and even though this is book four in a series, it is a stand-alone and I was able to follow the story with no problems. It did make me want to go back and purchase the first three!
Nicole definitely dips her toes into some serious topics. She gives us just enough to know what happened, what deep seeded pain it caused, and still causes. I appreciated that she didn’t go into explicit detail on the emotional struggles they faced when the truths were revealed or the therapy and recovery, etc. as that would need to have been handled with perfection. I really liked the approach she took. It was heartbreaking and extremely emotional, and I felt she approached it with great care. I felt the pain and struggle, yet didn’t feel blasted with visuals. I do think this story could be a trigger for some, though.
Favorite Quotes:
Talk about good guys. Jase’s fellow National Guardsman and close friend was like a unicorn of men: kind, quiet, gentlemanly… he was handsome— in that bearded wilderness-man kind of way. He was also big and buff and could probably pick her up with his pinkie finger. As big as he was, did that mean . . . And just like that her mind went to a naughty place.
I hate the thought that maybe I’m not capable of the necessary feelings to be someone’s forever person. I mean, is that something you learn? Because if so I was obviously busy focusing on kissing when I should have been paying attention.
At the end of the day, I’m just an absolute hypocrite because I want to do what I want, when I want it, without anyone’s input. But I also want someone to do what I want with me, because who wants to do anything fun alone? And kissing. I miss kissing, Dad. Although we both know I’m using the word kissing, but I really… Sorry. Didn’t mean for that to get weird.
“This place has the worst name,” she said before they got out of the truck at Smokin’ D’s. “Sounds like a bra set on fire.”
My Review:
Although the premise and back-story were truly heartbreaking, Ms. McLaughlin provided engaging storylines with humorous observations and intriguing and enticing tidbits that kept the emotional tone well-balanced and easy to read. The traumatic issues suffered by the characters are sadly relevant in our world and resulting problems were realistically put forward in a humanizing and admirable manner. I applaud and covet Ms. McLaughlin’s agile word skills. I adored these endearing and quirky characters; they squeezed my heart while also providing me with a near constant smirk. More, please.
Aiden is a tough guy of few words, but beneath his alpha persona are emotional wounds that threaten to prevent a relationship from developing with Hannah. Although their love story was emotional and heartbreaking, there were also moments that made me laugh. I felt every emotion as Aiden & Hannah struggled with the ups & downs of their new relationship. Only with You is a love story where two people who are complete opposites find a way to make it through the not so perfect moments.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley.
ARC for honest review with no compensation received from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
Only With You is book 4 in the Man Enough series and is my very first read by this author but you can bet I will be buying more of her books!’
Hannah and Aiden have been friends but only on a superficial level. Hannah is coming off a broken engagement and still having issues with her best friend in the world Jase who is now dating her twin sister Becca. Though she is happy for them it’s still hard because she feels like she lost her best friend…Aiden on the other hand has been attracted to Hannah for sometime but being Jase’s best friend he doesn’t want to stir up any problems so he doesn’t pursue her until Jase’s give him his blessing to go after Hannah.
With secrets, failed engagements, somewhat broken friendships, self doubt and emotional struggles can these two find their way to a HEA??
ONLY WITH YOU by Nicole McLaughlin is book Four in the Man Enough series. This is the story of Aiden King and Hannah Walters . I have read the previous book but feel this can be a standalone book.
Hannah has moved forward to hold off for love just like her sister found with her best friend Jase. Aiden has always liked Hannah but didn’t want to step on any toes since his good friend Jase was close to Hannah…but now that has changed. Only there is now something with him that is holding him back.
Really enjoyed seeing their relationship play out.
Only with you – 4 stars
June 5th
Nichole McLaughlin
I am giving an honest review of a book that I received from NetGalley.
This is the first book that I’ve read from this author and I must say the it was very intriguing. I could figure out what had happened to Aiden as a young boy but I was eager to read on and see how they handled it. This is not your typical plot found in romance books which makes it even more interesting to read.
Life wasn’t going as planned. Nothing felt right anymore. Everything has changed and my world has shifted. Then he sparks something in me. I thought we were just friends but now I want more. I thought he did too. This author shows that real love is sometimes bitter. There are sometimes things that can get in the way if it’s allowed. But she doesn’t let it go at that. This book is filled with emotions. . . so many emotions. Loss, lies, abuse, fear, anger. But what do you do when the man you want, the only one you will fight for, thinks he isn’t worth the battle. This isn’t insta love, this isn’t pretty and easy love. This is the kind of love that makes life bearable. This is the kind of love that once it’s ignited the flame will only burn brighter and stronger. This is the kind of love that is only with you.
This author takes us down a road we hadn’t expected and adds gut wrenching punches that keep you invested in the characters. They are scarred. They are imperfect. They deserve love. They do love. They heal. I love how deep their love goes and how the author handles a topic that’s sensitive especially for men. An amazing read with characters you can relate to and just want to love up on. I haven’t had the chance to read the other books in the series yet but had no problem picking up and understanding what I missed in the previous books since they are standalones with carryover characters.
Only with you is the latest edition of Nicole McLaughlin’s Man Enough series. Army veteran, national guard member, and small bar owner Aidan King has been smitten with Hannah Walters since his good friend and fellow guardsman Jase Beckford introduced them. Hannah found Aidan to be a very supportive listener after she had broken off a recent engagement. Their friendship grows as does her interest.
As they become closer, Hannah is troubled by his lack of interest in taking their relationship further. Having come from a very troubled childhood and being raised by his grandmother when his unmarried teenaged mother took off, Aidan has deep secrets he is too ashamed to share. As they negotiate this emotional minefield, a depth of caring develops that may just be the saving grace for them both.
Once again Ms. McLaughlin writes a story with rich characters and deep social issues. I greatly enjoyed this book, feel it has a very important message, and certainly do recommend it.
I received Only With You by Nicole McLaughlin from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This is the 4th book in McLaughlin’s Man Enough series but can be read as a stand alone as I haven’t read any of her books before. There are times in the book that allude to the previous book about Hannah’s best friend and twin sister but not enough to confuse you.
Now that Hannah’s best friend and twin sister are dating, she feels at loose ends. Deciding to take a “year for me” is her attempt to figure out what she wants but she struggles with not having a confidante. Aiden King has been attracted to Hannah since he first met her. But with his past, he is hesitant to start anything with her. But, he offers his friendship and she offers him hers and the attraction grows for both of them.
I greatly enjoyed this book!! Hannah is a normal run of the mill women struggling through issues we all do and easily relatable. But Aiden and his back story is the conflict! His back story took my heart, ripped it to shreds, and sewed it back together. I cried for him and cheered his HEA. I thought the ending was just right.
The timeline for this book is a little over a year. But, Nicole McLaughlin does a wonderful job of making the jumps in time easily understandable. I greatly enjoyed the fact that their relationship took this long to progress and not just a snap of the fingers. And easy read even though the subject matter was intense. A new author I will be looking for in the future. #OnlyWithYou #NetGalley
I have read both this book and book #3 in this series and with each of them you can read them as a stand alone, though I find it’s more enjoyable to read as a series. Aiden has a lot going on in his mind that he has to get through. Is Hannah enough to help him through everything? Hannah is also going through things though not as much as Aiden. Can aiden help her also? I liked how the author eases into how Hannah helps Aiden. It’s not a sudden thing, it takes time, months actually. The book is a quick read but you don’t feel like the story was rushed. Hannah think redeems herself in this book and Aiden is finally able to help get over his past. This was a great book to end with the 4 friends.
*Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this for my honest opinion
Only With You (Man Enough, #4) by Nicole McLaughlin …. Aiden and Hannah’s story… Aiden has a dark secret…he really cares for Hannah but he doesn’t think he is good enough for her and she is getting over an engagement that never should have been and the fact that her twin Becca and Jase from SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU #3 are a couple and she has lost her best friend (Jase). This book grips you from the start and even with lots of laughs there is a story that needs to be told. I laughed and cried my way to their HEA.
This was a pretty good romance. Here is what I liked: the characters, the writing style, the setting. What I didn’t like the preoccupation with sex. I understand that the subject matter was sensitive and so a certain amount of it was in the plot. It was a bit to graphic for my taste. That being said, the characters were likeable. I liked how Hannah grew as a person, emotionally. Aiden as mysterious and somewhat dark with his secrets. The writing style was engaging and kept my attention. The story moved along nicely and it was a nice escape. The subject matter could be difficult for some people depending on their own history.
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
National Guardsman Aiden King has been attracted to Hannah Walters for a while, but he never made a move because of her close relationship with his best friend. But when circumstances change, Aiden is surprised when his friend gives his blessing. After her failed engagement, Aiden’s unassuming support has become a touchstone for Hannah.
This is the fourth book in the series & features Hannah, Becca’s twin who we met in Should’ve Been You & although it has cameo appearances from earlier characters it could well be read on its own. I enjoyed the book but did find it a slow burner & took until quite a way into the book before it finally felt to ‘get going’. It’s another of the series that I enjoyed & could see myself reading it on holiday where I could dip into it but not a book I was so engrossed in that I couldn’t put it down.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
I truly enjoyed loved reading Only With You by Nicole McLaughlin, book four in her Man Enough Romance series, a friends to lovers story. This wonderful story is filled with the sexual attraction, misunderstandings, and difficult secrets. Outgoing Hannah is at odds with herself since her twin sister is now engaged to her best friend and she broke up with her fiancé. She decided the time had come for to wait for the kind of love you read about in books and see in movies. National Guardsman Aiden has been attracted to Hannah for a while. Aiden has been alone a long time for a reason but a secret from his past keeps him from acting on his desires, no matter how much he wants her. When Aiden suggests a road trip to take Hannah’s mind off her troubles, the two of them go on a journey neither one expected. She just hopes that the final destination is them together for good. I loved how Hannah tried to figure out the quiet Aiden and what demons were causing him to keep her at arm’s length. Hannah was a more caring and compassionate person than she was portrayed in the previous story. Those traits helped her in dealing with Aiden and how f***ed he was, as he would say. I ached for Aiden and all the hurts he dealt with growing up; abandoned by his teen mom, abused by his uncle, and raised by a grandmother who loved him but turned away from what was happening to him. No one, before Hannah, tried to find professional resources to help him cope and deal with his pain, anger and guilt. I truly believe it was due to his feelings for Hannah that tipped the balance, letting him open up and share with her.
Ms. McLaughlin wrote a wonderful story with relatable characters, and some very realistic problems. She did an excellent job approaching the realities and lives of sexual abuse victims, especially men. I really enjoy reading this book and had trouble putting it down, turning page after page, wanting more once I turn that last page. I highly recommend this book to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Only With You by Nicole McLauglin
Man Enough #4
Hannah Walters started out, in my mind, as the wicked selfish sister who kept her sister Becca and Jase apart for way too long. However, as I read THIS book I found that there are always two sides to every story and was happy to find out that Hannah is indeed someone worth caring and rooting for while hoping she can find her way to a HEA with Aiden. Aiden has HUGE issues to contend with and has pretty much cut himself off from intimacy. His reasons are rooted in immutable facts of his past and though he can compartmentalize while working in his bar, interacting with others, sighting down the rifle scope as a sniper or spending time with friends there is one aspect of intimacy that eludes him even though he would love to experience it with Hannah. The two would probably not even have had a chance at a HEA if Hannah hadn’t persevered but thankfully she did and Aide and she do have a shot together as a result of her (and his) efforts.
I am sorry to see this series end but wonder if perhaps there are more stories to be told about the people that are supporting character in some of the books in this series?
NOTE: This is not an easy read. There are triggers for those that have experienced abuse. There is also information I found interesting about just how many men may have experienced it in their early formative years.
Thank you to NetGalley and Swerve for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 – 5 Stars
Hannah has gone through a lot recently. She broke her engagement, repaired her relationship with her sister, Becca & has pulled back from her best friend, Jase who is now her sister’s boyfriend. She still can’t believe her actions when they were younger kept Jase & Becca from getting together. Now Hannah has declared that she is taking some time to just focus on herself & make sure she’s in the right place before attempting another relationship. So why is she so tuned into what Jase’s friend, Aiden is saying & doing? Why is she attracted to him?
Aiden has been interested in Hannah for a long time. He’s held back because he wasn’t sure of her relationship with Jase & didn’t want to interfere. He doesn’t want to hurt her but wants to see where this goes. He has PTSD from his years as a sniper in the National Guard but also from something from his past. He can’t talk about it & it keeps him from developing close relationships. Can Hannah deal with it? Can Aiden?
This is a highly emotional story with wonderful characters. Each story in this series is self contained & can be read as a stand alone. The characters make appearances in each other’s stories & they basically follow one after another on a time line. The characters are complex & well defined. The interactions between them adds dimension & understanding to the plot. I felt that the relationship between Aiden & his family could have been discussed in more depth to add a greater understanding but that is my personal feeling.