Maybe For You by Nicole McLaughlin – a Review

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Description:
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 Jake Cooperon 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?

Review:

Maybe for You by Nicole McLaughlin is the 3^rd book in her wonderfully fun Whiskey and Weddings series.

Alexis (Alex) Parker, our heroine, is tough, sweet, independent, and very vulnerable, due to having a tragic year.  She is the sister of Dean (one of the Stag distillery owners & previous hero), who helped raise her after their parents died. We remember Alex when she was happily planning her wedding, until she tragically lost her fiancée.  Alex is determined to finish her military duties, accepting a year in Italy to help her get over her grief. 

Jake Cooper, is one of the owners, and the marketing expert as well as the playboy of the group.  He does the promotion, and as he travels to sell their product, he is known for his womanizing ways.  Jake is a good guy, and he knows Alex is Dean’s sister, which means she is off limits, but a friendship builds as they become pen pals during her year away.

When the year is over, Alex returns home to her brother and friends, hoping to find a job.  No one is happy that she plans to take one far away, as they all care about her, including Jake.  Alex needs to be free, and asks Jake to take her when he goes on his next tour for the company sales. 

What follows is a slow built romance between two people, who in many ways were so different.  Alex was still in her grief over losing her fiancée, and Jake was never interested in a permanent relationship, not to mention he needed to not become involved with Dean’s sister.    During their trip, they become even closer, with their attraction to each other making it difficult to not act on their feelings.  When they finally succumb to their lust, they both agree to enjoy their temporary fling. When they return home Jake knows he has fallen in love with Alex, and though she cares about him, she still lives with her guilt of betraying her fiancée, even if he is dead.  Things will take a turn when a surprise happens, which will eventually move toward their HEA.  I really did enjoy the epilogue.

Nicole McLaughlin did a beautiful job bringing both of them together; so well done, as I loved every moment.  It was great to see the previous book characters, who we loved, such as Dean, Charlotte, Jen and TJ.  Maybe For You was a fun, sweet, entertaining story, as well as emotional and heartwarming.  I loved Alex and Jake together, as their romance was fun and sexy, with their chemistry off the wall.   Whiskey and Weddings is an enjoyable and fun series that you should be reading.  I suggest you start with the first book, Maybe I Do.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher