Review: Maybe This Time by Nicole McLaughlin

Maybe This Time

by Nicole McLaughlin

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Pages: 300

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Jen Mackenzie has been knocked down more than a few times, but she always gets up and makes sure she has the last word. It’s the reason she now considers herself equal parts self-sufficient and free-spirit. But since losing her job and trying to help her mother beat cancer, real life―and her occasional careless choices―have begun to catch up with her. Her one saving grace: The Stag, a boutique distillery that has become Kansas City’s go-to wedding venue. The only catch: One of the owners, TJ Laughlin, happens to be the one man who somehow manages to make Jen feel inadequate.

TJ has secretly had a thing for Jen since high school. Now, as her new boss, it’s a daily struggle between revealing his feelings and wringing her beautiful neck. Only one thing is for certain: he can’t stand idly by and watch the woman he cares for struggle. She may be convinced that accepting TJ’s help is a weakness. But all he sees in Jen is beauty and strength, inside and out. As things finally heat up between them, can TJ find a way to convince Jen that love is about give and take―and having it all, together?

Kritters Thoughts:  The second in a series and as I stated yesterday this is one of those series where you can read the books out of order because each book centers around a different character, but you may loose a little in the character development from book to book.  

This book centers around the main bartender and one of the other owners of the distillery, The Stag.  Jen has been a bartender at The Stag and while she lost her other job teaching theater due to a cut of funding she is able to fill in for their receptionist and this brings her to the Stag for many more hours and she has more chances to interact with that crew.  TJ is one of the other owners and he has known Jen since high school and there are definite positive and negative feelings between them and has been for awhile, but maybe some interesting circumstances could take this more positive or more negative.

I liked the story/plot in this book a little more than book two, but be warned there was a lot more sexy times in this one compared to the first.  I liked the characters and plot more so it didn't affect my reading but again if you try to avoid books with sexy times this may not be the book/series for you.  I loved the push and pull in this book so much - these characters had so much history to work through it was so good.  It reminded me of a relationship of mine and I won't share the details here, but I always love a book so much more when I have a personal pull to the story and the characters.  

I will continue with this series because I love the distillery, the space and the owners.  I am waiting for book three to arrive!


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Ebook 2018 Challenge: 34 out of 100


Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from St Martin's Press.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.