This was an unexpected story. How could you not fall in love with Aiden? He is so strong, tender, caring and wounded. He spent his time in the military as a sniper, but he has a secret that has wounded him for many years. Hannah has always been a bit self-absorbed. After her break up with her fiancée, she decided to take some time and figure out who she was and where she wanted to be. Aiden was quietly in the background giving her encouragement. Every time she thinks they might be forward as a couple, he pulls back. She over shares everything, so it hard for her when Aiden shares nothing. She helps him through some tough times, but she can't get him to open up. How is their relationship going work if he won't talk to her. Aiden has kept his secret for so long, he doesn't know how to get past it. Will Hannah hold on long enough to help him?

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

Aiden has a secret and he's a man so they aren't supposed to share the horrible past, they are told to suck it up and just move past. It's the moving past that Aiden is having a hard time doing and it seems he has met his match when it comes to Hannah. Hannah knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it. This year she wants to focus on being a better her. But when Aiden crashes into her life it seems things are about to change. Can they fight together for the greater purpose or will it all be just too for them?

The author held nothing back in this book everything seemed fair game. The characters were faced with some tough subjects. I loved how the author didn't necessarily make this book super deep she added a soft element to it where you found your self either laughing or crying. I enjoyed Hannah and how she continues to work on her relationship with Becca. This book does have some strong and adult language in it, but it did not consume the book. I also enjoyed how Hannah had this struggle and this way of finding herself and being ok with or without a man but always relying on Love in the end. I have read a few books from this series and I am ready for more its such a fun group of characters to follow. I can't wait to see where the author takes them next.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion

Only With You was an entertaining read with some incredible characters and an emotional storyline. Aiden and Hannah have been circling around each other for quite a while but the timing has never been right and the close friendship Hannah had with Aiden's friend Jase kept them from acting on their attraction. Now Hannah is freshly out of a relationship but she's no longer sure she even knows how to love. Aiden longs to be with her but he feels unworthy of anyone's love. With the emotional issues these two are dealing with now could be the worst time for them to get together or it could quite possibly be just what they both need to heal.

This is definitely a book I would recommend.

This is my first book I've read by Nicole McLaughlin, but it won't be my last. As Only With You, although a little slow to start did soon pull me in and I was engaged throughout.

As this story was not only sweet. But it was full of emotion and great characters, and it tugged at my heart. Plus, I really liked that it was very character driven. And I enjoyed the way Aidan and Hannah's relationship slowly built from a casual acquaintance to a solid friendship to a happy ever after. And I thought they worked well together, especially considering their differing personalities and life experiences.

However, I must admit to being a little frustrated at times with this story and Hannah. And I do wish that Aidan's issues had been given more time and that they had delved a little deeper. As I felt they were only just touched upon and I could of read so much more.

But that being said, this was an enjoyable read and I would happily recommend it to others. Especially if you like your romance very character focused and with plenty of emotion.

Only With You is the fourth book in the Man Enough series. I normally don't read books in a series out of order, but I decided to go ahead and read this book. Aiden has been attracted to Hannah for a while but has never acted on his feeling. Hannah was recently engaged but decided to break it all. Aiden is their to support Hannah and they become very close. Hannah doesn't know that Aidan has issues that he is trying to work through. They work through his issues together and become to love each other. I can't wait to read the other books in this series. Thanks Netgalley and St Martins Press Swerve for an ARC of this book!

Only With You by Nicole Laughlin

First, be assured it’s a gorgeous contemporary romance.
But dealing with the after effects of sexual abuse can be heartbreaking.
The hero here, Aiden, is so heartbreakingly hurt. Beyond the full range of issues, he thinks he doesn’t deserve her. “Him wanting her like he’d never wanted anything in his life, and yet still too terrified to do anything about it.” A quote from the book sums up the situation yet that’s not going to work for Hannah. She’ll be strong enough to help him deal with whatever is needed even though it’s so difficult. But he needs to trust her and open himself up.
An emotional few scenes such as meeting his mother for the first time in many years made this book deeply touching.

The truest part is the non-immediate resolution yet that also makes me love this romance so much more. I know this couple will work together through good and bad for the long term happily ever after.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

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 love Hannah. She can talk a mile a minute and sometimes she just needs to stop. Everyone loves her for it but sometimes they just want her to stop. Now Aiden is a different story. He loves to hear her talk a mile a minute. This book will take you on a roller coaster ride. You will be laughing one moment and wanting to cry the next. Anger will seep in from time to time. Hannah's obsession will hook Aiden. You are going to love the ending.

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.

The early copy I read of this book was my first by this author, and it was an amazing read! I have St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Publishing to thank for inviting me to read and review this one, otherwise I may not have found this terrific author. Ms. McLaughlin captivated me with her refreshing, unique, larger-than-life characters and immersed me smack in the center of their story with ease. All I had to do was sit back and enjoy the ride.

It started innocently enough, with Hannah and Aiden being friends of friends who become friendly with each other. Aiden is in a group of National Guardsmen who make their Guard duty weekends into somewhat of a social event with good food, significant others and their friends. Hanna and Guardsman Jase have been friends since childhood, but things have gotten a little awkward since Jase started dating Hannah's twin, Becca. Somehow, Aiden becomes a friend to Hannah and an ear for her. And boy, does he get an earful. Frequently. But that’s a part of Hannah's personality that really made her shine and endeared her to me, her slight insecurities and her non-stop chattering. That, and the fact that she needs to be talked down from her estate sale addiction.

Aiden is big, tough, quiet and hard to read, never sharing anything personal and never using more than one word when one will do. He's kind of had a thing for Hannah for a while, but he's not sure where she stands on the Jase/Becca thing. Additionally, he believes he really has nothing to offer a woman. Holy wow, this is one of my favorite kinds of heroes! Lots of buried pain, long-term damage that needs healing, and one who doesn’t see himself for the amazing man he is. There were certainly bumps and potholes along the way, and it took a lot of effort, trust and vulnerability, but Aiden figured things out, and it was glorious!

I loved everything about this book! The quaint, small-town settings, the complex, endearing secondary characters, the slow-burn romance, the storyline that flowed perfectly and the heartfelt, poignant, inspiring message. All of the men in the Man Enough series have won me over, and I can't wait to read more! These books all stand alone, so you can start with Aiden and Hannah's story and catch up with the rest.

☆☆ Trigger warning/potential spoiler below.

*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review. (☆☆Stop here to avoid spoiler.☆☆)




☆☆ This book deals with the subject of childhood sexual abuse.

Link to blog post: https://bookaddictromance.blogspot.com/2018/06/how-have-i-never-read-nicole-mclaughlin.html

Sexual abuse is horrific and to be abused by someone who should have protected and cared for you must be even more devastating. The put this topic in a romance novel is a very tricky thing, but Nicole McLaughlin seems to handle it with the utmost sensitivity and care. The fact that the one who has lived through this is a man who to everyone else seems like the strongest and toughest man alive is even more difficult not to mention that he finds himself struggling to heal and move on, even if it means losing the woman whom he has had a crush on for so long

Aiden King was a sharpshooter in the army and is now a National Guardsman and the owner of a bar. He has always been a man of few words and his friends don’t know much about him except for the fact that he grew up with his grandmother. He has had a long time crush on one of his close friends’, Jase’s, best friend Hannah. Not wanting to go against the bro-code, he has always held back. But now that Jase has finally admitted his feelings for Hannah’s twin sister and has found his happily ever after, Aiden finally believes that he may have a chance. The only thing holding him back now is his secret. A secret that he has been keeping deeply hidden.

Hannah Walters has just broken up with her fiancée and is determined to not repeat the mistakes of her past. She wants a love like her parents had or her twin sister has seemed to have found. And she won’t settle for anything less. So why does she find herself thinking about Jase’s silent and imposing fellow Guardsman? And even though she tries to get close to him, it seems that there is just something that is holding him back. Will he ever let her behind his walls?

This book takes off right where the previous book of the series, “ Should’ve Been You” left, so we don’t miss anything that happened that night ;) Granted, in the previous book, Hannah wasn’t exactly likeable, but we get to see a more genuine and caring side of her in this book and love her for it. All in all, this is a book that broaches a very sensitive subject in the most delicate way possible. It is sweet and leaves you with hope and optimism. A great ending to a very special series!

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

Another heartbreaking story in the Man Enough series from Nicole McLaughlin. I truly love this series because it’s made up of imperfect people who have to deal with heartbreak & devastation that rocks them down to their souls. Each character must get past the secrets they hide to find their happiness, as we see with Aiden & Hannah. Aiden’s secret is so dark that it’s stopped him from having normal intimacy with women. Hannah has decided that it’s time to concentrate on herself & not on trying to be in a relationship. When Aiden & Hannah end up sharing a couch on the guys National Guard service weekend they begin a new segment of their casual friendship. What starts out as casual heats up fast as Hannah tries to help Aiden deal with the untimely death of his grandmother. Their emotions are put to the test as they visit his estranged mother & try to explore a physical side of their relationship, but Aiden’s dark secrets pull them apart just as fast as the heat of their passion brought them together. Now it’s up to Hannah to show Aiden that there’s nothing he can tell her that could make her stop loving him & that there is help out there for him. I love how Nicole McLaughlin tells this story & the fact that it is a topic that isn’t widely talked about & that she does it with such heart & honesty. Definitely recommend this book & the series.

2.5 Stars
While I didn't hate it, I certainly didn't love it either. My main problem was that it was excruciatingly slow. And I didn't really like Hannah. Or Jase. And the end wrapped up so quickly with a big red bow that seemed so unrealistic. So not my cup of tea, but others may enjoy a slow emotional ride.

I was captivated by this book. Aiden is a great friend and he is an awesome cook. Hannah is a girl who wants him but he is on the fence about a relationship he says he's damaged due to military and etc. he went thru a lot growing up. I loved it. loved to ending a lot.

this was an overall good read. Nothing in particular really made me feel overly in love but it still was good

Publisher's Description:

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 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.

My Thoughts:
This convoluted tale of a dumped fiance and a man with an abused past carries us back to some of the characters in the first book I read in this series "Should've Been You".
Now we are treated to Aiden and Hannah's story.
This tale carries the couple on a road trip to pay a surprise visit to Aiden's mother who he hasn't seen since she abandoned him to his Grandmother when he was very young. Aiden's grandmother has recently died and this was the catalyst that brought this couple closer. Although they both have been attracted to each other for sometime.neither one has acted on their attraction.
Will this journey to his past lead to the end for them as friends or to something more intriguing?
I gave this mostly sweet romance 4.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames.. Aiden's abused past has prevented anything more than a heated kiss between these two prior to this trip.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book by invitation from the publisher to read and review.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Nicole McLaugh’s book Only With You was a joy to read. I didn’t read the other 3 books in this series, but i never felt like I was missing anything from the storyline. It is a perfect stand alone book. The storyline touches on sexual abuse from a male perspective. McLaugh approaches the topic sensitively and the reader is privileged to see personal growth from this main character Aiden. Hannah is a thirty something who reflects on her life and decides it’s time to love herself before she can love another. In her quest, she finds herself falling for Aiden. I enjoyed how McLaugh brings these unlikely characters together and shows how amazing love can be once you open yourself up to the possibility. Thanks you for Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and allowing me to give my honest opinion in exchange.

Having read and enjoyed the previous book in this series, Should've Been You, I was eager to read this one since it featured Hannah, the not so likeable twin to Becca. However, it was not exactly the typical romantic read that I was expecting. This book dealt with a lot of issues that can be a difficult subject to address, mainly sexual abuse by a family member and the long standing repercussions it can have. So if you are looking for a romantic read full of steamy scenes, this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for more of an emotional story featuring two characters that are trying to grow emotionally, this book is for you. Hannah does a lot of growing up in this story as she tries to help someone that she loves rather than just the self-centered person that she has always been. Nicole McLaughlin handles the difficult issues well without dwelling on them extensively nor glossing over them as being inconsequential.