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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such a cute fun, romcom!!!! Also…he has hand tattoos 😏 and the characters are older than 20’s and 30’s!!! That was awesome! I loved how she added humor to some of the things you worry about when you’re older 😂😂 it was great!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ashley Cooke is 46, divorced from a gaslighting, cheating, craptastic husband who is hellbent on buying the ski hill that belongs to her family so that it’s incorporated into a “Nutella” ski conglomerate. She’s having none of it. But her credit cards are maxed out and she’s losing customers to the fancy resorts. She’s at wits end. That’s when her mother basically drives her over the edge with her antics. Without Ashley’s knowledge, she set up a deal with the men who live at the Little Timber Sober Living Home. It’s run by 53-year-old Mathew ‘Mad” Madigan, an ex-con. Madigan used to be in a famous grunge band in the past but he burned bridges and money with his own addiction. After recovering with the support of his family, he decided to help other men recover and find their footing.
At first, Ashley is livid. It’s the last straw. How can her mother do things so impulsively and just create more problems for her?
But when Ashley and Madigan meet, it’s impossible to deny how drawn to each other they are. She sees the real him and he treats her with all the respect and admiration she never got from her ex.
After chair lift confession, bunny hill shenanigans, they start forming a bond. But Madigan and his men are only there for the season and it’s not looking like Ashley will be able to save the hill anyway. Unless she accepts the help of these men and organize an event that might save them all.
After chair lift confession, bunny hill shenanigans, they start forming a bond. But Madigan and his men are only there for the season and it’s not looking like Ashley will be able to save the hill anyway. Unless she accepts the help of these men and organize an event that might save them all.
First of all, hooray for “older” MCs!!!! It’s so refreshing to see that amazing romance books can be written with characters of any age. I loved how absolutely romantic this was! They are dealing with real life issues and struggles and the discussions about addiction, getting older, falling in love after you thought you’s never experience it again, not believing that you are worth the trust of the people around you…
I absolutely loved it and was cheering for Madigan and Ashley and for all the men from Little Timber!
A must read!
A must read!
Thanks, NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Sweet book about second chances in life. It’s a light, fluffy book that deals with a lot of heavy issues. Main couple was great and I loved watching them fall in love and lean on one another. Side characters were good. Some stronger than others. I will pick up the next book in the series.
I received a copy from netgalley and the publisher.
I received a copy from netgalley and the publisher.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank You to Netgalley, author, and publisher for sending me a digital e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The cover is vivid, well-drawn, and accurately depicts the characters, scene, and tale. The map in the book is lovely and looks like a marketing map for a park or ski resort. The narrative contains elements of humor, realism, romance, sadness, and reflection, which made me laugh, smile, cry, and feel and reflect with the characters. The characters are all so relatable, charming, and well-developed that you feel as if you are right beside them, developing with them on their adventures. The plot was brilliantly written, well-developed, and had a few minor plot twists that added mystery and intrigue to the story, making it even more engaging. The writing was beautiful, realistic, and inventive, which made it easy to identify with the characters and immerse oneself in the plot and environment. The characters, events, and plot drew me in from the first page, and I wish I could have read it all in one night, but I couldn't.
The humor is well-done, and it serves to alleviate the stress and difficult periods in the book while helping readers laugh alongside the characters. There are so many relatable moments for various people, such as worrying about how one will pay their bills, feeling like life has taken you on a rollercoaster you did not agree to ride, grieving a parent, having a difficult time in life but doing your best to get back on track for yourself and loved ones. I appreciate how on the cover and in the book, it is mentioned that Madigan has fear and hope tattooed on his hands, which to me felt like a nod and warning to not let fear control you or overwhelm optimism for a brighter future. I adored and enjoyed Madigan's brother and parent-type banter, as well as his bond with the men from Little Timber. Their friendships were entertaining, witty, relatable, and admirable. Ashley's connection with her daughter Davis and mother, Maude Alice, was relatable and reminded me of my own with my mother. Murphy the dog, despite being a minor character, plays a crucial role as a lovable sidekick who sets things in motion while also serving as a loving fur companion. I liked how Ashley and Madigan's romance progressed; it was realistic, amusing, and impressive in how they supported each other's journey to conquer their challenges, anxieties, and strive for their goals. The romance becomes a little spicy, hence the mature rating, but it contributes to the plot and character development rather than detracting from it, which I really loved.
Come As You Are by Jess K. Hardy is a beautifully written and developed book about overcoming obstacles, finding one's way again, moving on from the past, and learning to live in the present, as well as learning that things and people are not all the same and that it is okay to learn, give, and receive love again. Recommended for readers looking for a beautiful, amusing, and touching contemporary romance with two older main characters, a cute dog, sibling-like banter amongst friends, and more. This is the first novel in Jess K. Hardy's Bluebird Basin series; however, both may be read as standalones. I've already bought a digital copy of both volumes in the series, Come As You Are and Lips Like Sugar. I look forward to reading Lips Like Sugar and additional Jess K. Hardy works in the future.
The cover is vivid, well-drawn, and accurately depicts the characters, scene, and tale. The map in the book is lovely and looks like a marketing map for a park or ski resort. The narrative contains elements of humor, realism, romance, sadness, and reflection, which made me laugh, smile, cry, and feel and reflect with the characters. The characters are all so relatable, charming, and well-developed that you feel as if you are right beside them, developing with them on their adventures. The plot was brilliantly written, well-developed, and had a few minor plot twists that added mystery and intrigue to the story, making it even more engaging. The writing was beautiful, realistic, and inventive, which made it easy to identify with the characters and immerse oneself in the plot and environment. The characters, events, and plot drew me in from the first page, and I wish I could have read it all in one night, but I couldn't.
The humor is well-done, and it serves to alleviate the stress and difficult periods in the book while helping readers laugh alongside the characters. There are so many relatable moments for various people, such as worrying about how one will pay their bills, feeling like life has taken you on a rollercoaster you did not agree to ride, grieving a parent, having a difficult time in life but doing your best to get back on track for yourself and loved ones. I appreciate how on the cover and in the book, it is mentioned that Madigan has fear and hope tattooed on his hands, which to me felt like a nod and warning to not let fear control you or overwhelm optimism for a brighter future. I adored and enjoyed Madigan's brother and parent-type banter, as well as his bond with the men from Little Timber. Their friendships were entertaining, witty, relatable, and admirable. Ashley's connection with her daughter Davis and mother, Maude Alice, was relatable and reminded me of my own with my mother. Murphy the dog, despite being a minor character, plays a crucial role as a lovable sidekick who sets things in motion while also serving as a loving fur companion. I liked how Ashley and Madigan's romance progressed; it was realistic, amusing, and impressive in how they supported each other's journey to conquer their challenges, anxieties, and strive for their goals. The romance becomes a little spicy, hence the mature rating, but it contributes to the plot and character development rather than detracting from it, which I really loved.
Come As You Are by Jess K. Hardy is a beautifully written and developed book about overcoming obstacles, finding one's way again, moving on from the past, and learning to live in the present, as well as learning that things and people are not all the same and that it is okay to learn, give, and receive love again. Recommended for readers looking for a beautiful, amusing, and touching contemporary romance with two older main characters, a cute dog, sibling-like banter amongst friends, and more. This is the first novel in Jess K. Hardy's Bluebird Basin series; however, both may be read as standalones. I've already bought a digital copy of both volumes in the series, Come As You Are and Lips Like Sugar. I look forward to reading Lips Like Sugar and additional Jess K. Hardy works in the future.
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting
4.5 stars. I really liked Ashley, Madigan and the cast of characters around them. Madigan is a former rock star turned sobriety house owner, while Ashley owns a rundown ski mountain. He asks that she consider hiring his men who are in recovery. She sticks her foot in her mouth at first, but for financial reasons, she decides to give him a try.
There were a lot of layers here. They've both lived full lives before meeting, and each brings their own hang-ups and baggage. Ashley has a complicated relationship with her jealous, philandering ex-husband and her mother who lives on the mountain with her. He is coming to terms with what a relationship would mean for his own sobriety. I really had a fun time with this one!
There were a lot of layers here. They've both lived full lives before meeting, and each brings their own hang-ups and baggage. Ashley has a complicated relationship with her jealous, philandering ex-husband and her mother who lives on the mountain with her. He is coming to terms with what a relationship would mean for his own sobriety. I really had a fun time with this one!
5 stars
I feel like there aren’t enough romances for a slightly more mature age. But having the MCs in their 40s and 50s was such a joy and a wonderful change of pace in the genre. Both MCs have lived a lot of life and come to the table fully formed humans who have made mistakes, done crazy things, had long relationships, and carrying some huge baggage. Relationships aren’t about shedding that baggage but finding someone who is willing to take some of that weight when it gets too heavy. What a beautiful story between two healing souls trying to prove to themselves and each other that they are worth finding true happiness. And the conflict was something real and heavy (not just a dumb miscommunication). All around, a great and moving story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book!
I feel like there aren’t enough romances for a slightly more mature age. But having the MCs in their 40s and 50s was such a joy and a wonderful change of pace in the genre. Both MCs have lived a lot of life and come to the table fully formed humans who have made mistakes, done crazy things, had long relationships, and carrying some huge baggage. Relationships aren’t about shedding that baggage but finding someone who is willing to take some of that weight when it gets too heavy. What a beautiful story between two healing souls trying to prove to themselves and each other that they are worth finding true happiness. And the conflict was something real and heavy (not just a dumb miscommunication). All around, a great and moving story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book!
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes