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?
Titles in the Whiskey and Weddings series include: Maybe I Do – Maybe This Time – Maybe For You –
Title: Maybe This Time
Series: Whiskey and Weddings #2
Author: Nicole McLaughlin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: February 27, 2018
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
My Rating: 3.5 stars
I’m torn on Maybe This Time. I loved the first story in this series, Maybe I Do, liked aspects of Maybe This Time and refuse to give up on a series simply because I cannot stand one character. I do not like Jen. It’s really that simple. I could go on a long rant about her horribleness to TJ, her entitlement personality and her ‘oh woe is me while I kick you in the man parts’ moments. I could, but she’s not worth the time to type all of my thoughts out… and that’s pretty telling for me.
There were parts of this story that saved it for me. I cannot fault the author because I could not stand or connect to a main character, that’s on me. So this is going to be a very brief review.
The story falls into the “good book” for me mainly because it moves the series forward and I liked TJ. I’ll round up like I always do on half stars. I would strongly suggest that you make up your own mind about Maybe This Time. Jen hit all the wrong buttons for me – but she might be exactly the type of character you love. Remember, this is simply my opinion, my thoughts – you should really check this one out for yourself.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
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