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.

Hannah is a woman who has recently broken off her engagement because she realized she wasn't in love with the guy. She doesn't understand why she's gotten as far in life as she has without ever being in love.
Aiden is a bar owner, a vet with some PTSD and, the best friend of Hannah's best friend. There is something that keeps pulling these two together but, can they make a relationship work
This is a powerful book that throws you into the two characters and, their problems. Love, hate, desperation, sadness and, through it all, the fierce determination of one woman to help the man she loves deal with some absolutely horrific memories and, learn how to love himself!
I could not put this book down!

Will you ever fall in love? Hannah knows that she has no choice but to be happy for her sister Becca & her best friend Jase. She kept them apart for so long she just feels alone. Aiden knows that Hannah is feeling a bit last at the moment and he wants to be there for her but he doesn't want her to think that he wants more. Hannah likes spending time with Aiden but she realizes that she wants more and she pushes him too far too quickly with awful consquences for them. Can Aiden be honest with Hannah about his past and why he is so scared of hurting her? Can Hannah be strong enough to help Aiden through everything and be the one that he will want always? A good read of a young couple trying to make sense of life and everything that goes with it. I receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

It started out promising, but the fact that the book tackled such a heavy topic as childhood sexual abuse and glossed over it was not working for me. The heroine, Hannah, seemed way too pushy, considering how Aiden kept asking for space. Even when she found out about his history, she was *still* pushy! And then they have this conversation which was basically a complete avoidance of the issue, so instead of talking about what happened to him, they ignored it and moved on. In real life, no way things could be resolved this smoothly. Had the book avoided the topic of sexual abuse, it would have been good. But with that topic comes a responsibility to address the issue head-on and with accuracy, and I just didn't feel the author pulled it off.

What a fabulous book!! My heart is full and happy! Unfortunately, I have not read any of the earlier novels in Nicole McLaughlin’s Man Enough series, and didn’t even know it was a series prior to reading Only with You. It didn’t matter in the least and I was crazy about Aiden and Hannah’s story.

Aiden is the quite, polite, yet sexy and brooding type guy, whereas, Hannah is pretty wide-open with her thoughts and feelings. At the beginning of the novel that are developing a friendship versus the primarily casual acquaintances that they were before. The friendship builds slowly, but they each find themselves thinking of the other, as well as, leaning on one another and sharing feelings. As soon as things really begin blossoming with these two, Aiden puts on the brakes because of his past and present issues that he is unwilling to share with Hannah. Thus begins such a beautiful, yet frustrating relationship where on one hand, Aiden opens up easily about some things, but he also hurts Hannah when he is unwilling to complete confide in and trust her. However frustrating it was at times, I still loved their story.

I had a few problems with this book, starting with Jase and Becca. Perhaps they were different in previous novels in this series, but I found it hard to believe that Becca and Hannah were twins and that Jase and Hannah had been BFFs since childhood. Why? Because Jase was just downright hateful to Hannah, treating her more like an enemy than a friend. Then there is Becca, who could have cared less to spend any time with her twin, and seemed overly pleased with herself. Not only were they unlikable, they didn’t add anything to the story. My other issue was, I felt as if the first 1/3 of the novel could have been cut out, and instead, shared more about Aiden and Hannah between the last chapter and the epilogue. Just start it a little before the road trip and then give us more meaty stuff later!

Anyway, I absolutely loved Aiden and was rooting for these two characters from beginning to end. I definitely recommend this to contemporary romance fans, however, be aware of possible triggers involving sexual abuse. This was my first time reading Nicole McLaughlin but will not be my last. I enjoyed her writing style and her realistically flawed characters, and once I got into this one, I was completely hooked!

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Only With You is the fourth book in Nicole McLaughlin's Man Enough series. This book starts out with Hannah Walters floundering after a failed engagement. It comes to her attention that Aiden King is a good listener and an even better friend. What she doesn't know is that Aiden has been attracted to her for a while. Aiden is a strong, sexy man but has a troubling background and major insecurities which means major misgivings for a good relationship with any woman let alone with Hannah.

I've enjoyed this series. This book seems to have a more serious tone than the other books. At times Aiden's problems pulled me away from enjoying the story. It seemed like he almost had too much baggage. I liked the main characters, Aiden and Hannah but wish I could have stayed focused on the story a little better.

I love a romance that involves a damaged man "fixed" by the love of a good woman and this one did not disappoint. Aidan was the perfect sexy, brooding hero and Hannah was just hilarious, I loved her. I'm definitely going to seek out other romances from Nicole Mclaughlin. Just a warning that Aidan's history could be triggering for some, although I thought the treatment in this book was very discreet.

I very much enjoyed reading this book. This would be great read for the beach. It has a realism that very much touches on some real issues that couple deal with in society. It has romance, mystery. I was worried getting closer to the end that this book wouldn't have a conclusion at all but it does. I feel that the author could make a sequel to this book to see how the lives of these characters continue. I didn't want to put this book down. .

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.

Nicole McLaughlin and her guardsman men are hot, sexy and Aiden King is unlike any man we have seen. He has secrets of his own, one huge one that not even this reader saw coming but when it does even you be surprised. Hannah is exactly what he needs to break free from his past and learn to live. These two with their feelings just made me want more of it. It was good to see who will break first and boy once it happened there was no stopping Hannah from getting her man. Love it.

"I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own."

When I read the blurb for Only with You, I knew that I was going to like the book. It was the blurb made me read the book. I read the blurb of a book and forget it as soon as I start reading. I have been burned by too many blurbs incorrectly summing up the story or just being horrible. I am happy to say that Only with You’s blurb lives up to the book.

While Only with You is the 4th book in the Man Enough series, it can be read as a stand-alone….for the most part. I am not going to go into my rant about how I dislike picking a book up mid-series. If you have followed my blog long enough, you know how I feel. I don’t like starting a book and not knowing what is going on. The whole Hannah/her sister/Hannah’s best friend triangle is what I am talking about. I had no clue what was going on or what the backstory was and it drove me batty. Other than that, the book can be read on its own.

I did like the finesse how the author wrote about Aiden’s secret. I did figure it out pretty early in the book. My heart hurt for him and, later in the book, his mother. I couldn’t see how Aiden’s grandmother was blind to what was going on under her roof. When he finally did tell Hannah his secret, I loved how she reacted. She reacted exactly how a person should act when being told something like that. She didn’t treat him any different either.

I liked Aiden but there were times where I wished that he would open up more to Hannah. I felt her frustration at his one-word answers. As a reader, it annoyed the heck out of me too. But, in hindsight, his reluctance to talk was understandable. It drove me (and Hannah) bat poop crazy.

While I liked Hannah, I thought that she was too indecisive about her relationship with Aiden. She did than she didn’t. Then she didn’t know then she did and then she didn’t again. All her flip-flopping around started giving me a headache. And it led Aiden on. Which wasn’t cool. I did like that she had a weakness for estate sales. It made her seem more human.

Aiden and Hannah’s first sex scene made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I was uncomfortable because of Aiden’s reaction before, during and after sex. While justified, his reactions prevented me from enjoying that sex scene. Now the other sex scenes were super hot. Aiden and Hannah were on fire.

The romance between Aiden and Hannah was a slow burn one. There was no Instalove. They started off as friends and eased into the relationship. I loved it!!! The only thing I didn’t like was that Hannah was so flip-floppy about them being together. That drove me nuts.

The end of the book was your typical HEA. I did get a chuckle out of what happened at the very ending. That would be something that would happen to me.

What I liked about Only with You:

A) How Aiden’s secret was written.

B) No Instalove

C) The blurb

What I disliked about Only with You:

A) Hannah’s flip-flopping about their relationship

B) Aiden and Hannah’s first sex scene

C) Aiden’s one-word answers

I would give Only with You an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is language. There is mild violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

There are trigger warnings in Only with You. If you want to find out what they are, highlight the trigger section. Because they are major spoilers, I will not discuss them. I will say that if you are triggered by those then I suggest you don’t read the book.

Only with You is a book that I would recommend to family and friends. This is also a book that I would reread.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press, Swerve, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Only with You.

All opinions stated in this review of Only with You are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

I wearily DNF'd at 21%. I tried, I really tried to keep going. In the end, I couldn't continue through the continuous internal monologues, mundane descriptions, and trite texts. With the interesting blurb and cute cover, I was expecting something with a little more oomph, but Hannah and Aiden never captured my attention.

Hannah babbled constantly, in and out of her head, and she sounded far too much like an undecided, overly excitable teenager. Meanwhile, Aiden is known for his one word answers. Even their texts were boring:
AIDEN: What time should I have dinner ready?
HANNAH: I'll be at her place about 3. We'll probably leave there around 4ish? Want me to text you when we leave to head up there?
AIDEN: Okay. Yeah.
HANNAH: Can't wait!!!!!

If anything, the beginning had far too much about Jase, Hannah's best friend and now her twin sister's boyfriend and way too little about Aiden, his taciturn buddy. Also, despite being twins, Hannah and Becca don't have a close relationship and there are fraught unnamed tensions. So far, Hannah talks too much, Aiden doesn't speak at all, and there are whispers about Becca and Jase to boot. To be fair, I didn't read Becca and Jase's book but this story made too many assumptions that I had.

I feel bad about DNF'ing a book due to boredom. In fact, I read a review that suggested it picks up around the 50% mark but I didn't think I could get through the next 30%. The writing wasn't bad; the characters just didn't hold my attention. I can only guess that starting a new to me series with the fourth book wasn't a good fit for me.

Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC generously provided by NetGalley.

Only With You by Nicole McLaughlin is the 4th book in her Man Enough series. Having read and enjoyed McLaughlin’s other series (Whiskey & Weddings), I thought I would read this book, even if it is the 4th book in the series. It did read very well as a standalone, but though I did like the book, I found that the lead characters did not compare with what I loved about the other series.

Hannah Walters, our heroine, is the twin sister of the heroine in the previous book. Hannah has a very outgoing personality, but after having recently broke off her engagement, she doubts she will ever find the kind of love she wants. To top things off, she is trying to get used to her best friend dating her sister, and that she will not see him as much, even if she is happy for them. Hannah decides to back off men for a year , and doubts if she will ever find true love.

Aiden King, our hero, is good friends with Jase (Hannah best friend and sisters boyfriend), and he has secretly had a crush on Hannah. However, Aiden not only has PTSD, but also a mentally disturbing secret from his youth that no one knows. When staying at Jase’s house over a weekend, Aiden spends time talking with Hannah, who he sees is somewhat down. A friendship builds, with both texting each other and enjoying their talks.

Hannah will visit Aiden’s bar to try out his great food, and when his grandmother passes away, it will be Hannah who helps him. Aiden sets out to find his mother who left him as a child, and he will ask Hannah to go with him to visit her.

What follows is a nice storyline, where Aiden will finally meet his mother, and Hannah will begin to fall in love with him. Though this is a slow build romance, Aiden’s issues are a roadblock that Hannah needs to help him reveal the truths of his past, and why he cannot move forward in a relationship.

Thought they both were good characters, for some reason I couldn’t really connect with them as a couple. Hannah was overbearing at times, but she tried to help Aiden to let her in; Aiden was a damaged soul, who was unable to open up to her. They both had their own issues, and I did root them to find a way to work together to get past the stumbling blocks. Perhaps it just took too long.

Only with You was well written by McLaughlin, and the story line focusing on the issues was done very well. Again, I just felt no connection with our leading couple. I would suggest you read this book, as this was solely my own perception.

If you've read the series, this will change your mind about Hannah, who came off as well, not very nice earlier. If you haven't read the series, you're in for a treat (and this is fine as a standalone.). Hannah feels like she has missed love and she's interested in Aidan, who has kept himself apart from others. Aidan's issues are significant but treated lightly (as befits a romance). That said, this is a fine light read with good characters I hope to see again soon. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

An emotional journey for not only the man, but also for the woman he loves. Family issues galore for both of them. His are more traumatic. Heart-wrenching trip that has its ups and downs. More intimate details than I prefer, but are easily skipped over. A little coarse language.

Posted to wrong title accidentally.

Apologies for the error with the initial review and I will correct on sites posted as well as post the correct review.

Thank you.

This was another great story by Nicole McLaughlin. I met Hannah and Aiden in "It Should've Been You", but I do believe that this book could be read independently of the series. There was enough explained that a reader could follow the story and understand. Also there was not too much "rewritten" about earlier books that it was over done. The book has great character development and several plots that held my interest.

Both Hannah and Aiden have on-going issues in each of their lives that makes them feel less than lovable. Together they find friendship and then love and then happiness. (I really like when couples are friend first then find love.) The road there is not an easy one though. That is what makes the story so interesting.

While this is a romance book, it is not a light and fluffy read. Hard life problems exist and cause the connection of Hannah and Aiden to be strained. As it is with loving another person, you accept the problems that come with them and as a united front, the couple can face them and hopefully find healing.

I felt so many emotions while reading this book. Parts were humorous, heart breaking, romantic and calming. I look forward to continuing the series.

I was given the ARC for this book by St. Martin’s Press. I want to thank them and also Nicole McLaughlin for allowing me to enter the world of this book early. I truly enjoyed my visit in this journey of Hannah and Aiden's love story.

4.5 Stars!

Only with You was an amazing read packed full of emotion with fantastic characters and a relationship I couldn’t help but root for.

After her recently failed engagement, Hannah Walters has decided to focus on herself and put love on hold for the time being. However when she finds herself unexpectedly growing closer to Aiden King, Hannah can’t help but think Aiden is the type of man she has waited for her entire life. Aiden has always been attracted to Hannah but due to events from his past he never made his move. As the two get closer, Aiden finds it difficult to keep Hannah at arm’s length. During a spur of the moment road trip, Hannah and Aiden find themselves faced with a choice in terms of where their relationship is headed. Back to a casual acquaintance? Or to happily ever after?

Hannah has always been an outspoken person and has no qualms voicing her opinion even when it’s something others would rather not hear. Hannah spent her whole life in the shadow of her perfect twin sister Becca and their relationship was never a close one as a result. Hannah feels that because she is in her thirties and has yet to find love, that there must be something wrong with her. I connected with Hannah very easily as a lot of the insecurities she has are ones I myself have experienced. Hannah has a love of estate sales that she calls her addiction which I found charming.

Aiden is a bit of a mystery at first as he’s not one to talk much and is even more tight-lipped when it comes to his past. Aiden had a rough childhood and while I won’t get into details due to spoilers, there are some dark topics in his past. Due to his past, Aiden hasn’t had many relationships but after learning his history, I can understand why he kept himself closed off. As a means to escape his past, Aiden joined the Army and became a sniper. Now Aiden runs a bar he owns while also serving in the National Guard.

Hannah and Aiden’s relationship begins as a friendship that ultimately becomes more which is one of my favorite tropes. I really enjoyed the time spent on the building of their friendship as it gave them a good foundation to grow their relationship. Hannah manages to get Aiden to open up quite a bit and their conversations tend to be flirty and full of banter. Due to Aiden’s issues, their relationship isn’t an easy one and strayed towards the type of relationships I don’t usually enjoy but I found myself loving between Hannah and Aiden.

Only with You was the first book I’ve read by Nicole McLaughlin and it definitely won’t be the last. I’m looking forward to reading more from her in the future and I highly recommend this book to fans of character driven romances.

I really enjoyed this story. It's a bit different from what I usually read but it's always good to step out of your comfort zone. The characters are sweet and captivating. The story line keeps you intrigue. Well written

What I enjoyed about this novel is how sweet the developing love between Aiden and Hannah is presented. She begins to realize that she wasn’t entirely blameless in past relationships and strives to better open herself up to being there more for those around her instead of it having to be mostly about herself. This opens the door for her to be what Aiden needs to overcome his past.

What I didn’t enjoy about this story was the sometimes disjointed way the story flowed. It read more like a bunch of short stories that were later woven together into a novel. There was a lack of depth I wanted to feel for the type of subject matter the author was exploring. And I wondered more than once if I should have read the previous three books in the Man Enough series to get to the heart of the characters evolved. 3.5 stars