What do you think?
Rate this book
Bluebird Basin #1
Come As You Are
“I’ve gotta admit, it’s pretty strange to finally meet the woman you wrote a love song about thirty years after you wrote it.”
46-year-old Ashley Cooke will do just about anything to save her struggling ski hill. When she hires the men from a local sober living home for the season to cut costs, even she thinks she’s gone too far. With her credit cards maxed, her cheating ex-husband intent on buying the mountain out from under her, and record-breaking snow in the forecast, she can’t afford to be distracted by the six-foot-tall bearded and tattooed sober living home owner moving onto her mountain.
53-year-old recovering addict and ex-grunge rocker Matthew Madigan has devoted every minute of the last decade to the men residing at his sober living home. When he meets tightly wound and adorably flustered Ashley, desires he’s put on the back burner for years start to simmer. Immune to his infamous, albeit rusty charm, Ashley presents a challenge he can’t resist. When she offers to give him skiing lessons in exchange for his help training her St. Bernard rescue dog, he jumps at the chance to ride next to her on the chairlift despite his debilitating fear of heights.
During bunny hill shenanigans, chairlift confessions, and steamy cabin serenades, Madigan teaches Ashley that a person’s past doesn’t define them, and Ashley shows Madigan that the men he helps aren’t the only people who deserve a second chance. When sabotage threatens both the men and the mountain, Ashley and Madigan will have to decide if they’re only having a winter fling, or if the mountain isn’t the only thing worth fighting for.
Perfect for fans of L.B. Dunbar and Kate Canterbary, Come As You Are is a later in life, small town, rockstar romance with lots of heat and even more heart!
Content notes: Addiction, divorce, mourning the loss of a parent
46-year-old Ashley Cooke will do just about anything to save her struggling ski hill. When she hires the men from a local sober living home for the season to cut costs, even she thinks she’s gone too far. With her credit cards maxed, her cheating ex-husband intent on buying the mountain out from under her, and record-breaking snow in the forecast, she can’t afford to be distracted by the six-foot-tall bearded and tattooed sober living home owner moving onto her mountain.
53-year-old recovering addict and ex-grunge rocker Matthew Madigan has devoted every minute of the last decade to the men residing at his sober living home. When he meets tightly wound and adorably flustered Ashley, desires he’s put on the back burner for years start to simmer. Immune to his infamous, albeit rusty charm, Ashley presents a challenge he can’t resist. When she offers to give him skiing lessons in exchange for his help training her St. Bernard rescue dog, he jumps at the chance to ride next to her on the chairlift despite his debilitating fear of heights.
During bunny hill shenanigans, chairlift confessions, and steamy cabin serenades, Madigan teaches Ashley that a person’s past doesn’t define them, and Ashley shows Madigan that the men he helps aren’t the only people who deserve a second chance. When sabotage threatens both the men and the mountain, Ashley and Madigan will have to decide if they’re only having a winter fling, or if the mountain isn’t the only thing worth fighting for.
Perfect for fans of L.B. Dunbar and Kate Canterbary, Come As You Are is a later in life, small town, rockstar romance with lots of heat and even more heart!
Content notes: Addiction, divorce, mourning the loss of a parent
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2021
409 people are currently reading
5129 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 743 reviews
November 11, 2022
4.5 stars
Woohoo!!! A romance where the characters are in my age group! Plus, the talk of boom boxes, mixed tapes, and'80's music put a HUGE smile on my face! I also loved the romance between two people who are essentially starting over, finding their footing, falling in love, and having hot sex!
Ashley Cooke (46 years old) is doing her best to save Bluebird Basin Ski Lodge, the ski hill that her father once owned. Her ex-husband is determined to buy the ski hill from her, but Ashley is determined to save it no matter what. When her mother suggested that she hire men from a local sober living home, she begrudgingly decides to meet with the owner as a means of cutting costs. The snow is about to fall, and she needs the ski hill ready.
Matthew Madigan (53 years old) is a silver fox and a former rock star and recovering addict. He is the owner of Little Timber, the sober living home, and is determined to assist the men in getting back on track. He jumps at the chance to get them some work, keep them busy and hopefully see their sense of self-worth and confidence grow.
Ashley and Madigan both thought romance was behind them. That was until they met. Madigan finds the beautiful and flustered Ashley to be attractive. Ashley tries to keep her eyes off the muscle bound, tattooed, bearded man who has charmed her.
We all know where this is going to go. It's all about the journey and what a nostalgic and steamy journey this was. I loved both characters and rooted for them. Both had confidence issues. Ashley's ex-husband cheated on her throughout their 16-year marriage, and it has affected her self-esteem. Madigan's years of addiction and prison time have also left him feeling less than confident. He hasn't had a real relationship with a woman since he has been sober.
Both characters are dealing with real life issues, and I enjoyed how the characters tackled them head on. There are discussions about addiction, grief, divorce, insecurity, intimacy, aging bodies/changing bodies and how it affects sexual performance, relationships, and love.
I smiled throughout this entire book. It was charming, uplifting, and sweet. I love books about starting over, under dogs, falling in love, and finding confidence. I also appreciated how the author showed how addiction affects not just the addict but those in their lives.
Jess K. Hardy came on my radar when I read Missing Charlie. When I was offered the chance to read this book, I jumped at it. I'm so happy I did. As I stated earlier, it was nice to see a book with the main characters being in my age group. Plus, I enjoy the author's writing and characters. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
The only thing missing in this book is John Cusak holding a boom box! Seriously, I loved this book and the '80s references.
Highly recommend!
Thank you to Pinkity Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Woohoo!!! A romance where the characters are in my age group! Plus, the talk of boom boxes, mixed tapes, and'80's music put a HUGE smile on my face! I also loved the romance between two people who are essentially starting over, finding their footing, falling in love, and having hot sex!
Ashley Cooke (46 years old) is doing her best to save Bluebird Basin Ski Lodge, the ski hill that her father once owned. Her ex-husband is determined to buy the ski hill from her, but Ashley is determined to save it no matter what. When her mother suggested that she hire men from a local sober living home, she begrudgingly decides to meet with the owner as a means of cutting costs. The snow is about to fall, and she needs the ski hill ready.
Matthew Madigan (53 years old) is a silver fox and a former rock star and recovering addict. He is the owner of Little Timber, the sober living home, and is determined to assist the men in getting back on track. He jumps at the chance to get them some work, keep them busy and hopefully see their sense of self-worth and confidence grow.
Ashley and Madigan both thought romance was behind them. That was until they met. Madigan finds the beautiful and flustered Ashley to be attractive. Ashley tries to keep her eyes off the muscle bound, tattooed, bearded man who has charmed her.
We all know where this is going to go. It's all about the journey and what a nostalgic and steamy journey this was. I loved both characters and rooted for them. Both had confidence issues. Ashley's ex-husband cheated on her throughout their 16-year marriage, and it has affected her self-esteem. Madigan's years of addiction and prison time have also left him feeling less than confident. He hasn't had a real relationship with a woman since he has been sober.
Both characters are dealing with real life issues, and I enjoyed how the characters tackled them head on. There are discussions about addiction, grief, divorce, insecurity, intimacy, aging bodies/changing bodies and how it affects sexual performance, relationships, and love.
I smiled throughout this entire book. It was charming, uplifting, and sweet. I love books about starting over, under dogs, falling in love, and finding confidence. I also appreciated how the author showed how addiction affects not just the addict but those in their lives.
Jess K. Hardy came on my radar when I read Missing Charlie. When I was offered the chance to read this book, I jumped at it. I'm so happy I did. As I stated earlier, it was nice to see a book with the main characters being in my age group. Plus, I enjoy the author's writing and characters. I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
The only thing missing in this book is John Cusak holding a boom box! Seriously, I loved this book and the '80s references.
Highly recommend!
Thank you to Pinkity Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 14, 2023
I LOVED THIS so much! Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Pinkity Publishing for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
So, this book. Think of your favorite ski resort with freshly fallen snow over cozy cabins, a heart-of-gold sexy Irish tattooed former guitar-playing rockstar who now helps recovering addicts, a divorced workaholic blonde who is scared to open herself up to love again, a truly villainous rival ski resort owner/ex, an adorable St. Bernard rescue dog, AND add a dash of holiday vibes and more than a dash of spice (like a whole bowl of spice!). Like the image? Thats the book. It's amazing. If you like Tessa Bailey's books, you will adore this, but I honestly enjoyed this so much more than some of hers. Jess K. Hardy's writing is easy to digest, and her side characters, both the Little Timber guys and Maude Alice and Davis, were so well done and interesting that I felt equally invested in their stories as I did in Ashley and Madigan's.
I absolutely adored this book--it felt like I was inside of a movie. Truly. I felt so much chemistry between Madigan and Ashley, more so than I've felt towards other characters in books that are longer and very hyped up. They are simply perfect together, physically and emotionally. Their romance is inspiring, hopeful, well-written, and so beautiful to read. But this has more than just the romance plot--it examines the complex issues of addiction and recovering addicts, second chances in life, familial dynamics, and choosing hope over fear. Basically, this has everything. Oh, and did I mention this ends with a winter concert featuring famous bands? A swoonworthy happily-ever-after? Ugh. This has it all. Go read it. Now!
PS--I cannot wait for another book in the Bluebird Basin series. Praying for a Davis/Kev story!
So, this book. Think of your favorite ski resort with freshly fallen snow over cozy cabins, a heart-of-gold sexy Irish tattooed former guitar-playing rockstar who now helps recovering addicts, a divorced workaholic blonde who is scared to open herself up to love again, a truly villainous rival ski resort owner/ex, an adorable St. Bernard rescue dog, AND add a dash of holiday vibes and more than a dash of spice (like a whole bowl of spice!). Like the image? Thats the book. It's amazing. If you like Tessa Bailey's books, you will adore this, but I honestly enjoyed this so much more than some of hers. Jess K. Hardy's writing is easy to digest, and her side characters, both the Little Timber guys and Maude Alice and Davis, were so well done and interesting that I felt equally invested in their stories as I did in Ashley and Madigan's.
I absolutely adored this book--it felt like I was inside of a movie. Truly. I felt so much chemistry between Madigan and Ashley, more so than I've felt towards other characters in books that are longer and very hyped up. They are simply perfect together, physically and emotionally. Their romance is inspiring, hopeful, well-written, and so beautiful to read. But this has more than just the romance plot--it examines the complex issues of addiction and recovering addicts, second chances in life, familial dynamics, and choosing hope over fear. Basically, this has everything. Oh, and did I mention this ends with a winter concert featuring famous bands? A swoonworthy happily-ever-after? Ugh. This has it all. Go read it. Now!
PS--I cannot wait for another book in the Bluebird Basin series. Praying for a Davis/Kev story!
Read
November 3, 2022Welcome to Bluebird Basin!
This book, more than any other I’ve written, is achingly near and dear to my heart. Like it has for so many, addiction has touched my family in countless ways. Writing this book was cathartic. It made me examine my own anger, my own hurt, my own judgments. My own struggles.
With that being said, please know that this is a sweet, happy, and uplifting story about people wrangling their lives back on track, finding joy in the little things, finding confidence, moving forward, finding love. It’s also steamy af! And funny. And satisfying. And grunge rocker turned sober living home manager Matthew Madigan is guaranteed to make you swoon❤️🥵
Oh, here he is when he was ‘in the band’
And here he is now in all his silver fox glory!
This book is my love letter to Gen X, grunge music, self-deprecating humor, suburbans with fake wood paneling, mixtapes as a love language, 80s ski hill movies, and people in their 40s and 50s banging it out.
I hope it makes you smile, laugh, cry, fan your face, and fall in love with Ashley and Madigan. And as always, thank you so damn much for reading my words❤️
-Jess
P.S. Here is a PLAYLIST inspired by the early 90's and all things Madigan and Ashley!
This book, more than any other I’ve written, is achingly near and dear to my heart. Like it has for so many, addiction has touched my family in countless ways. Writing this book was cathartic. It made me examine my own anger, my own hurt, my own judgments. My own struggles.
With that being said, please know that this is a sweet, happy, and uplifting story about people wrangling their lives back on track, finding joy in the little things, finding confidence, moving forward, finding love. It’s also steamy af! And funny. And satisfying. And grunge rocker turned sober living home manager Matthew Madigan is guaranteed to make you swoon❤️🥵
Oh, here he is when he was ‘in the band’
And here he is now in all his silver fox glory!
This book is my love letter to Gen X, grunge music, self-deprecating humor, suburbans with fake wood paneling, mixtapes as a love language, 80s ski hill movies, and people in their 40s and 50s banging it out.
I hope it makes you smile, laugh, cry, fan your face, and fall in love with Ashley and Madigan. And as always, thank you so damn much for reading my words❤️
-Jess
P.S. Here is a PLAYLIST inspired by the early 90's and all things Madigan and Ashley!
July 13, 2023
4 Beautifully Emotional ✨'s
Come As You Are was breathtakingly beautiful and raw. The story follows Ashley, who is struggling to keep her family's ski lodge running and out of her ex-husbands' hands. When her mother suggests hiring men from a local sober living home to work for them, Ashley is reluctant to bring them on. However, when Madigan, the owner of the sober living home, and former addict himself assures Ashley the men will be on their best behavior, she agrees to hire them for the season. While the men get situated in their jobs and open up more, Ashley and Maddigan quickly notice the chemistry between themselves and can't help but grow closer.
I absolutely loved how raw and emotional the story and characters were in Come As You Are. Both Ashley and Maddigan believed because of their age and issues they would never find love again, but watching them grow and uplift each other was beautiful. The way their love unfolded was so natural, aided by their healthy communication and assurances in each other. I also can't stress enough how lovely the side characters were, to see the men come out of their shells and be there for each other through their sobriety was amazing. Overall, this book is a great read for anyone looking for a steamy slow-burn romance that is just as likely to make you cry as it is to make you laugh or smile.
~I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Come As You Are was breathtakingly beautiful and raw. The story follows Ashley, who is struggling to keep her family's ski lodge running and out of her ex-husbands' hands. When her mother suggests hiring men from a local sober living home to work for them, Ashley is reluctant to bring them on. However, when Madigan, the owner of the sober living home, and former addict himself assures Ashley the men will be on their best behavior, she agrees to hire them for the season. While the men get situated in their jobs and open up more, Ashley and Maddigan quickly notice the chemistry between themselves and can't help but grow closer.
I absolutely loved how raw and emotional the story and characters were in Come As You Are. Both Ashley and Maddigan believed because of their age and issues they would never find love again, but watching them grow and uplift each other was beautiful. The way their love unfolded was so natural, aided by their healthy communication and assurances in each other. I also can't stress enough how lovely the side characters were, to see the men come out of their shells and be there for each other through their sobriety was amazing. Overall, this book is a great read for anyone looking for a steamy slow-burn romance that is just as likely to make you cry as it is to make you laugh or smile.
~I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
August 31, 2024
4 stars
Come As You Are was my first Jess K. Hardy book but I’ll be checking more out from her! Honestly, I’m not sure if I saw someone talk about this book, or just saw it when browsing Hoopla, but either way I’m so glad I picked it up.
Matthew Madigan runs a sober living home and Ashley Cooke is trying to save her family’s ski hill. They end up helping each other out, and falling for one another along the way. I loved that both of the characters were older. Their story was romantic, sweet, emotional, and fun. Overall, this one was great!
Come As You Are was my first Jess K. Hardy book but I’ll be checking more out from her! Honestly, I’m not sure if I saw someone talk about this book, or just saw it when browsing Hoopla, but either way I’m so glad I picked it up.
Matthew Madigan runs a sober living home and Ashley Cooke is trying to save her family’s ski hill. They end up helping each other out, and falling for one another along the way. I loved that both of the characters were older. Their story was romantic, sweet, emotional, and fun. Overall, this one was great!
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Stephen Borne & Andi Arndt
Narration Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 10h 16m
February 26, 2025
It's refreshing to read a romance written about a woman in her 40s and a man in his 50s, we don't see enough of those nowadays. A fun romance between a ski resort owner and a former rockstar (also a former addict and convict) and I just had a great time listening to this one. Lots of fantasy elements in terms of how men are written and running a ski resort, but we really don't read romance because it's realistic do we?
I appreciated that the stakes in this book were not necessarily tied completely to the romance and that both main characters had goals to accomplish outside of the romance. Some things could have been defined more which is why 4 stars and not 5, but would happily read more by this author in the future.
I appreciated that the stakes in this book were not necessarily tied completely to the romance and that both main characters had goals to accomplish outside of the romance. Some things could have been defined more which is why 4 stars and not 5, but would happily read more by this author in the future.
April 20, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up for all the feelings
Come as You Are is a romance with somewhat older than typical main characters (the h is 46 and the H is 53). More importantly though, it's a romance that focuses on character development, growth, redemption, and emotional elements I can't put into words. This story wasn't perfect, but it touched my heart, while also having some hilarious moments and bringing some major heat. Ashley (h) is the owner of a failing ski hill. She's divorced, has a contentious relationship with her mother, her daughter is away at college, and her ex is trying to buy out her business to bring it under a giant conglomerate. Ashley has some flaws and internal fears, but she grows significantly throughout the book. Madigan (H) arrives in the picture when Ashley's mom suggests that Ashley hire the residents of his sober living house to work on the mountain. Madigan's an ex-con, ex-rock star, and generally amazing man who's put in the work to better himself following his own addictions and now works with recovering addicts to try and help others. He also has his flaws and insecurities, mainly surrounding new opportunities and the new feelings Ashley inspires that make him worry about losing control.
This book heavily features themes of recovering addiction. I cannot stress that enough that even though the characters are currently in recovery, there are mentions of past troubles, everyday struggles, concerns about new situations arising, and fears about relapse. None of these consume the story, I'd argue that they enhance it because the story felt fuller with this particular aspect, but addiction recovery in the real world is a major plot line. This particular group is overall positive and doing well though.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow drama and slight om drama from the ex who does want the h back (she would never). Neither are virgins and both have been celibate for years. I did not love how sometimes comparisons to their pasts would be brought up, like h thinking about her ex (in a negative way) in comparison to H while they were getting frisky. The H also was a manwhore while he was in his rockstar phase and doing drugs/alcohol. I didn't mind this because it was very clear that he had a lot of regrets over his past lifestyle, he hated that he couldn't remember everything he'd done, and his whole life was different than who he used to be. He still had a couple of thoughts, like the h, that I wished hadn't been there, but ultimately didn't impact my overall enjoyment or their relationship. The h is very understanding of how past-Madigan is not present-Madigan.
Madigan and Ashley have insta-chemistry and attraction, but it's a slow burn into physical and emotional intimacy, which they talk about. They're not always the best at communicating all of their feelings throughout the book, but there are some complicated emotions and situations that arise and I loved how emotions were addressed and felt. There are tears shed by both Madigan and Ashley at different points. Emotions running high and having to keep a pulse on them is true for the group of men as well, who have group time and have to work one-on-one at times. They do snowga (snow yoga) at one point. There was a deep vein of feelings involved in the story for not just the main characters but also the side characters. It wasn't just feelings though. I loved all the details of how Ashley and the men worked on the ski hill. She had to teach some of them to ski and the men thrived in the outdoor environment and doing hard work. Madigan worked with Ashley's rescue dog, who'd failed at rescue training, and was forced to learn to ski as well, which brought them closer together.
Both Ashley and Madigan had concerns about their attraction and feelings for each other. It felt very relatable to see these characters wade through their personal frustrations and fears, but come out the other side and choosing to trust themselves and each other. They have some very cute and sweet moments too showing how much the other one means to them and offering support. As Ashley and Madigan pursued their interest for each other, this book gets very steamy. I don't even remember how many steamy scenes there are but even though they happen after the 50% mark (I think), there are several.
Conflict-wise, drama happens from a couple of different sources, but the source of conflict comes from Ashley's ex's pursuit of buying the mountain from her. Some of these details didn't make sense to me honestly and felt forced at times or contrived. Interpersonal drama and conflicts are also part of the story related to the main characters' pasts, the men's histories and Ashley's family. Some of the smaller moments of conflict were painful to read, but they also made sense given the characters. I didn't always agree with what characters were choosing to do and sometimes I was internally yelling at someone or begging someone not to do something. I loved Ashley's daughter and I wonder since this is the first book in the series if the daughter will also get a book. Ashley's mother was not a character I liked, not even by the end. I also loved every single one of Madigan's men that were featured, their struggles and worries and camaraderie with each other. Madigan has a support system of his own and the calls he has with his dad were amazing. I could feel the love and wisdom flowing, it made me miss my mom.
By the end of the book, all the major plot lines and minor threads were tied up and there was a great sense of satisfaction for these characters. I was so happy for them at the end. I'm kind of teary typing that, which isn't the first time I got teary during this story, I cried multiple times. I think it was a HEA ending where it was established that Madigan and Ashley were in love and together, and making big plans for the future. The author offers a bonus epilogue at the end as well, that is steamy, but may be further into the future. I liked where this left off and also how it allows for stories to continue for potentially future main characters. I would absolutely recommend this, just be prepared to go through all the feels.
Come as You Are is a romance with somewhat older than typical main characters (the h is 46 and the H is 53). More importantly though, it's a romance that focuses on character development, growth, redemption, and emotional elements I can't put into words. This story wasn't perfect, but it touched my heart, while also having some hilarious moments and bringing some major heat. Ashley (h) is the owner of a failing ski hill. She's divorced, has a contentious relationship with her mother, her daughter is away at college, and her ex is trying to buy out her business to bring it under a giant conglomerate. Ashley has some flaws and internal fears, but she grows significantly throughout the book. Madigan (H) arrives in the picture when Ashley's mom suggests that Ashley hire the residents of his sober living house to work on the mountain. Madigan's an ex-con, ex-rock star, and generally amazing man who's put in the work to better himself following his own addictions and now works with recovering addicts to try and help others. He also has his flaws and insecurities, mainly surrounding new opportunities and the new feelings Ashley inspires that make him worry about losing control.
This book heavily features themes of recovering addiction. I cannot stress that enough that even though the characters are currently in recovery, there are mentions of past troubles, everyday struggles, concerns about new situations arising, and fears about relapse. None of these consume the story, I'd argue that they enhance it because the story felt fuller with this particular aspect, but addiction recovery in the real world is a major plot line. This particular group is overall positive and doing well though.
Written in third person, dual POV. No ow drama and slight om drama from the ex who does want the h back (she would never). Neither are virgins and both have been celibate for years. I did not love how sometimes comparisons to their pasts would be brought up, like h thinking about her ex (in a negative way) in comparison to H while they were getting frisky. The H also was a manwhore while he was in his rockstar phase and doing drugs/alcohol. I didn't mind this because it was very clear that he had a lot of regrets over his past lifestyle, he hated that he couldn't remember everything he'd done, and his whole life was different than who he used to be. He still had a couple of thoughts, like the h, that I wished hadn't been there, but ultimately didn't impact my overall enjoyment or their relationship. The h is very understanding of how past-Madigan is not present-Madigan.
Madigan and Ashley have insta-chemistry and attraction, but it's a slow burn into physical and emotional intimacy, which they talk about. They're not always the best at communicating all of their feelings throughout the book, but there are some complicated emotions and situations that arise and I loved how emotions were addressed and felt. There are tears shed by both Madigan and Ashley at different points. Emotions running high and having to keep a pulse on them is true for the group of men as well, who have group time and have to work one-on-one at times. They do snowga (snow yoga) at one point. There was a deep vein of feelings involved in the story for not just the main characters but also the side characters. It wasn't just feelings though. I loved all the details of how Ashley and the men worked on the ski hill. She had to teach some of them to ski and the men thrived in the outdoor environment and doing hard work. Madigan worked with Ashley's rescue dog, who'd failed at rescue training, and was forced to learn to ski as well, which brought them closer together.
Both Ashley and Madigan had concerns about their attraction and feelings for each other. It felt very relatable to see these characters wade through their personal frustrations and fears, but come out the other side and choosing to trust themselves and each other. They have some very cute and sweet moments too showing how much the other one means to them and offering support. As Ashley and Madigan pursued their interest for each other, this book gets very steamy. I don't even remember how many steamy scenes there are but even though they happen after the 50% mark (I think), there are several.
Conflict-wise, drama happens from a couple of different sources, but the source of conflict comes from Ashley's ex's pursuit of buying the mountain from her. Some of these details didn't make sense to me honestly and felt forced at times or contrived. Interpersonal drama and conflicts are also part of the story related to the main characters' pasts, the men's histories and Ashley's family. Some of the smaller moments of conflict were painful to read, but they also made sense given the characters. I didn't always agree with what characters were choosing to do and sometimes I was internally yelling at someone or begging someone not to do something. I loved Ashley's daughter and I wonder since this is the first book in the series if the daughter will also get a book. Ashley's mother was not a character I liked, not even by the end. I also loved every single one of Madigan's men that were featured, their struggles and worries and camaraderie with each other. Madigan has a support system of his own and the calls he has with his dad were amazing. I could feel the love and wisdom flowing, it made me miss my mom.
By the end of the book, all the major plot lines and minor threads were tied up and there was a great sense of satisfaction for these characters. I was so happy for them at the end. I'm kind of teary typing that, which isn't the first time I got teary during this story, I cried multiple times. I think it was a HEA ending where it was established that Madigan and Ashley were in love and together, and making big plans for the future. The author offers a bonus epilogue at the end as well, that is steamy, but may be further into the future. I liked where this left off and also how it allows for stories to continue for potentially future main characters. I would absolutely recommend this, just be prepared to go through all the feels.
November 1, 2022
Steamy, emotional, heart wrenching, and beautiful. This book had me completely invested in Madigan and Ashley’s romance as well as the entirety of the secondary characters stories. I laughed, cried, and the angst and tension between the main characters was so delicious my heart ached.
I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a heartfelt read about grief, overcoming struggles, and finding a second chance at love.
5 stars (but I’d give it a million stars if I could)
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a heartfelt read about grief, overcoming struggles, and finding a second chance at love.
5 stars (but I’d give it a million stars if I could)
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2023
Come as You Are is entertaining read. Tje characters are fabulous and the plot fits perfectly with the romance.
Miss Hardy certainly knows her characters and the drama is minimum
Toward the end of the story though, Miss Hardy seems confuse with her characters. I do not think Matthew's grovel is sincere nor romantic enough. And everything seems rushed to be resolved.
Overall, it is still entertaining read.
4 stars
Miss Hardy certainly knows her characters and the drama is minimum
Toward the end of the story though, Miss Hardy seems confuse with her characters. I do not think Matthew's grovel is sincere nor romantic enough. And everything seems rushed to be resolved.
Overall, it is still entertaining read.
4 stars
November 28, 2024
Loved this one. I read the second first, and I prefer that one, but this was also just excellent.
July 4, 2023
A delightful, grown-up romance that’s still sexy as hell
This was the perfect antidote to all the books with 19-year-old virgin ingenues as the heroine. I LOVED the characters were older, wiser, and knew how to communicate. This is an excellent, small-town / second-chance romance. You should give it a chance, too!
This was the perfect antidote to all the books with 19-year-old virgin ingenues as the heroine. I LOVED the characters were older, wiser, and knew how to communicate. This is an excellent, small-town / second-chance romance. You should give it a chance, too!
November 17, 2022
This book was like a Hallmark Christmas movie, if Hallmark Christmas Movies involved 50% less actual Christmas, and 100% more grown adults who fuck. Which is to say, I really enjoyed it, though it does feel very much like the kind of thing to pick up only when you're in a specific mood.
The basic story is that Ashley is trying to save her family's ski slope from financial ruin, so that she won't be forced to sell it to her evil ex-husband who owns the mega-resort across town. (This plot is the source of most of the snowy, Hallmark-y vibes). Enter Madigan, a former musician who runs a sober home for fellow recovering addicts, and who thinks Ashley's Bluebird ski resort would be the perfect place for his men to find work and stick to their sobriety. After some initial reluctance, Ashley agrees to hire them, and over the course of their winter working at Bluebird she and Madigan fall in love. It's a fairly basic story, but one that gets a lot of depth from its treatment of its secondary characters, its discussion of addiction recovery and societal response to former addicts and convicts, and most of all its non-gimmicky approach to a romance with older protagonists.
I'll tackle that last thing first: don't let the "Gen-X Romance" tagline put you off (despite it being, in my mind, extraordinarily off-putting). Having "Gen-X" right there in the title of the book made me wary that this book was going to be either gawking at Ashley and Madigan's age with a lot of "knees too bad for sex" jokes, or overly congratulating itself for imagining that people over 45 actually do have sex. Thankfully, this book did neither. Rather than making their age some kind of direct, surface-level showy "point," Madigan and Ashely felt like they had a super-realistic mix of maturity, coping skills, previous life baggage, and deeply-ingrained insecurities that are hard to free themselves from. And, I should add, really good sex.
I especially appreciated how Ashley, a woman in her late 40s, was allowed to still be nervous and insecure a lot of the time, without feeling like the book infantilized her for it. Because as it turns out, being a "grown up" doesn't actually mean leaving behind any and all anxiety and self-esteem issues. And I also was relieved to see that the book never fell into the trap of using the fact that Ashley is a mother (to Davis, a college-age daughter) as a token sign of her maturity. I could stand on a soapbox forever about how society refuses to accept the grown-adultness of adult women until they have children, but instead I will put my soapbox away and simply applaud this book for not falling into that trap. Ashley's dynamic with both her own mother and her daughter felt like fully-fledged relationships between adults with distinct personalities, rather than just placeholders for cultural stereotypes about mothering as part of how grown women relate to each other and the world.
Madigan was a really great character in his own right, as well. There were moments where I worried he was falling into a jumble of romance wish-fulfillment (he's muscly and beardy! but he cries a lot! and loves going down on women!) but I think the treatment of his past struggles with addiction, and his relationship to the men he supervises, really grounded him and gave him depth as a character. And the way all of that informed his approach to his relationship with Ashley felt subtle and perfectly understated: he has very understandable reservations about how a romantic relationship might fit into his hard-earned sobriety, but that struggle isn't the defining characteristic of him as a person, or of his romance with Ashley.
There was clearly also a lot of future romance potential among the secondary characters, who were all really enjoyable and well-individuated. The men who live in the sober home and work at Bluebird especially : there was a real risk of oversimplification here, of ending up in a place where it felt like they were being exploited for feel-good, life-lessons vibes. But I, at least, never felt that way. There was, though, one major misstep for me. I'm going to put it under a spoiler tag, but people may want to check if they have strong feelings about estrangement or boundary-setting in relationships.
There's definitely a bit of High Drama towards the end of the book, but oddly enough it didn't really feel tonally inappropriate, despite the rest of the story being comparatively low-key? I guess maybe that's because it felt like a big Hallmark ending, with a villain and a desperate attempt to save the failing business and some other spoilery shenanigans. Happily it didn't really detract from the romance, which developed slowly and realistically, with obstacles that felt mostly earned and only occasionally parachuted in for plot reasons. On the whole, while there was a false note for me here and there, I enjoyed reading this a lot, and would definitely try more from this author.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
The basic story is that Ashley is trying to save her family's ski slope from financial ruin, so that she won't be forced to sell it to her evil ex-husband who owns the mega-resort across town. (This plot is the source of most of the snowy, Hallmark-y vibes). Enter Madigan, a former musician who runs a sober home for fellow recovering addicts, and who thinks Ashley's Bluebird ski resort would be the perfect place for his men to find work and stick to their sobriety. After some initial reluctance, Ashley agrees to hire them, and over the course of their winter working at Bluebird she and Madigan fall in love. It's a fairly basic story, but one that gets a lot of depth from its treatment of its secondary characters, its discussion of addiction recovery and societal response to former addicts and convicts, and most of all its non-gimmicky approach to a romance with older protagonists.
I'll tackle that last thing first: don't let the "Gen-X Romance" tagline put you off (despite it being, in my mind, extraordinarily off-putting). Having "Gen-X" right there in the title of the book made me wary that this book was going to be either gawking at Ashley and Madigan's age with a lot of "knees too bad for sex" jokes, or overly congratulating itself for imagining that people over 45 actually do have sex. Thankfully, this book did neither. Rather than making their age some kind of direct, surface-level showy "point," Madigan and Ashely felt like they had a super-realistic mix of maturity, coping skills, previous life baggage, and deeply-ingrained insecurities that are hard to free themselves from. And, I should add, really good sex.
I especially appreciated how Ashley, a woman in her late 40s, was allowed to still be nervous and insecure a lot of the time, without feeling like the book infantilized her for it. Because as it turns out, being a "grown up" doesn't actually mean leaving behind any and all anxiety and self-esteem issues. And I also was relieved to see that the book never fell into the trap of using the fact that Ashley is a mother (to Davis, a college-age daughter) as a token sign of her maturity. I could stand on a soapbox forever about how society refuses to accept the grown-adultness of adult women until they have children, but instead I will put my soapbox away and simply applaud this book for not falling into that trap. Ashley's dynamic with both her own mother and her daughter felt like fully-fledged relationships between adults with distinct personalities, rather than just placeholders for cultural stereotypes about mothering as part of how grown women relate to each other and the world.
Madigan was a really great character in his own right, as well. There were moments where I worried he was falling into a jumble of romance wish-fulfillment (he's muscly and beardy! but he cries a lot! and loves going down on women!) but I think the treatment of his past struggles with addiction, and his relationship to the men he supervises, really grounded him and gave him depth as a character. And the way all of that informed his approach to his relationship with Ashley felt subtle and perfectly understated: he has very understandable reservations about how a romantic relationship might fit into his hard-earned sobriety, but that struggle isn't the defining characteristic of him as a person, or of his romance with Ashley.
There was clearly also a lot of future romance potential among the secondary characters, who were all really enjoyable and well-individuated. The men who live in the sober home and work at Bluebird especially : there was a real risk of oversimplification here, of ending up in a place where it felt like they were being exploited for feel-good, life-lessons vibes. But I, at least, never felt that way. There was, though, one major misstep for me. I'm going to put it under a spoiler tag, but people may want to check if they have strong feelings about estrangement or boundary-setting in relationships.
There's definitely a bit of High Drama towards the end of the book, but oddly enough it didn't really feel tonally inappropriate, despite the rest of the story being comparatively low-key? I guess maybe that's because it felt like a big Hallmark ending, with a villain and a desperate attempt to save the failing business and some other spoilery shenanigans. Happily it didn't really detract from the romance, which developed slowly and realistically, with obstacles that felt mostly earned and only occasionally parachuted in for plot reasons. On the whole, while there was a false note for me here and there, I enjoyed reading this a lot, and would definitely try more from this author.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review
May 1, 2025
Why didn’t I read this one sooner. I’ve had it on my Kindle for a while so I’m glad I finally dived in. This story had me hooked immediately. The characters captured me from the first page. Not only the main characters Ashley and Matthew but also the side characters, Matthew’s men from Little Timber and Ashley’s mother and daughter were intriguing and added so much to the story.
The connection between Ashley and Matthew was so palpable and honest. I enjoyed every single moment with them. The romance swept me away and the serious topics were so well written and handled. It added another layer to these fabulous characters.
I’m so invested with this series and world that I can’t wait to read book 2. This author has got a new fan.
The connection between Ashley and Matthew was so palpable and honest. I enjoyed every single moment with them. The romance swept me away and the serious topics were so well written and handled. It added another layer to these fabulous characters.
I’m so invested with this series and world that I can’t wait to read book 2. This author has got a new fan.
July 15, 2023
It's so nice to see a book with older characters! This was such a cute, semi-steamy romance! I also enjoyed that it was slow burn. The chemistry between Madigan and Ashley was delicious! It got a bit rushed at the end but even with that it was wonderful. I can't wait to read more by Jess K. Hardy!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
October 20, 2022
I’m pretty stingy with my five star ratings, but Come As You Are deserves all the stars! Ashley and Madigan’s story is so sweet and endearing and emotional, I loved every bit of it.
Plus I cried like a bitch 🤣 So much heartache, grief, and love… I couldn’t help myself 🤣🤣🤣
Plus I cried like a bitch 🤣 So much heartache, grief, and love… I couldn’t help myself 🤣🤣🤣
November 23, 2022
Light and sexy
I went through a few different stages with this book, from "but I'm not Gen X," to "oooh I love the sound of that complex backstory," to "well this is surprisingly easy breezy." Through it all, the main thing that stood out to me is that I really enjoyed the story and the writing style, and I would definitely come back for more. Billed as a "Gen X romance," this wintery love story is a great mix of lighthearted charm, getting a second chance at life, and nostalgic moments that are probably even more fun for readers of that generation. It was also surprisingly spicy, with a few fan-worthy scenes that will make you forget these characters' ages (53 & 46). I wanted it to delve a little deeper into our hero's backstory and get a little grittier, but this ended up being a playful and romantic story for readers of all ages.
The story follows Ashley, a woman who is struggling to keep a ski hill afloat. After her divorce, she took over the ski hill, and it just hasn't been making enough money. When Ashley has an unexpected meeting with Madigan, a recovering addict who now runs a sober living home, she never planned on hiring a group of formerly incarcerated men who have complicated histories with substance abuse... but that's exactly what happens. As Ashley begins training her new hires, she discovers that there are more to these men than their pasts - including Madigan. A former rock star, Madigan leads an entirely different life these days. He's avoided the things that were once trouble for him, and that includes women. But there's something about Ashley that gets to him, and Madigan has hopes that he might win her over.
The cover is super cute and the blurb is sort of a mix between lighthearted and potentially angsty, so I wasn't sure what kind of story I'd be getting - or if the whole Gen X aspect would go over my head. But this was fun and easygoing, with low angst and feel good vibes. We get hints that both Madigan and Ashley have had darker moments in their pasts, but the book is all about finding love in the present. I personally would've liked more time spent on digging deeper (both with the relationship and Madigan's past) or even more scenes with Madigan's guys, though I'm betting that this is setting up some future love stories. As to the Gen X aspect, I could definitely see this being nostalgic to many readers. I'm not so far removed from that age group that references to cassette tapes and the grunge scene lost me, and it was fun to see Ashley and Madigan bonding over certain things. It was only once or twice that their ages threw me off, mostly with the very sexy intimate moments. Not sure I really want to think about 53-year-olds (aka someone closer to my father's age) getting it on like that, but that's a me problem, lol. I ended up breezing right through this, and I'm intrigued by some of the potential couples who were introduced. So it was definitely a win overall.
I went through a few different stages with this book, from "but I'm not Gen X," to "oooh I love the sound of that complex backstory," to "well this is surprisingly easy breezy." Through it all, the main thing that stood out to me is that I really enjoyed the story and the writing style, and I would definitely come back for more. Billed as a "Gen X romance," this wintery love story is a great mix of lighthearted charm, getting a second chance at life, and nostalgic moments that are probably even more fun for readers of that generation. It was also surprisingly spicy, with a few fan-worthy scenes that will make you forget these characters' ages (53 & 46). I wanted it to delve a little deeper into our hero's backstory and get a little grittier, but this ended up being a playful and romantic story for readers of all ages.
The story follows Ashley, a woman who is struggling to keep a ski hill afloat. After her divorce, she took over the ski hill, and it just hasn't been making enough money. When Ashley has an unexpected meeting with Madigan, a recovering addict who now runs a sober living home, she never planned on hiring a group of formerly incarcerated men who have complicated histories with substance abuse... but that's exactly what happens. As Ashley begins training her new hires, she discovers that there are more to these men than their pasts - including Madigan. A former rock star, Madigan leads an entirely different life these days. He's avoided the things that were once trouble for him, and that includes women. But there's something about Ashley that gets to him, and Madigan has hopes that he might win her over.
The cover is super cute and the blurb is sort of a mix between lighthearted and potentially angsty, so I wasn't sure what kind of story I'd be getting - or if the whole Gen X aspect would go over my head. But this was fun and easygoing, with low angst and feel good vibes. We get hints that both Madigan and Ashley have had darker moments in their pasts, but the book is all about finding love in the present. I personally would've liked more time spent on digging deeper (both with the relationship and Madigan's past) or even more scenes with Madigan's guys, though I'm betting that this is setting up some future love stories. As to the Gen X aspect, I could definitely see this being nostalgic to many readers. I'm not so far removed from that age group that references to cassette tapes and the grunge scene lost me, and it was fun to see Ashley and Madigan bonding over certain things. It was only once or twice that their ages threw me off, mostly with the very sexy intimate moments. Not sure I really want to think about 53-year-olds (aka someone closer to my father's age) getting it on like that, but that's a me problem, lol. I ended up breezing right through this, and I'm intrigued by some of the potential couples who were introduced. So it was definitely a win overall.
July 30, 2023
I would like to thank Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Pinkity Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Come as you are was a refreshing romance read as it features Ashley, a 46 divorced snow resort owner, and Madigan, a 53 year old guitarist, recovering addict and owner of a recovering house for ex-cons and addicts.
The story includes heavy topics such as grief, substances abuse and the difficult reintegration of ex-cons in society. Despite the difficult topics, it is a heartwarming read as, in its essence, it is a story about forgiveness, acceptance and second chances in life.
Older couple’s romance books are a rarity. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it because love has no age, and romance books should not have too.
Bonus points for the 90’s playlist!
Come as you are was a refreshing romance read as it features Ashley, a 46 divorced snow resort owner, and Madigan, a 53 year old guitarist, recovering addict and owner of a recovering house for ex-cons and addicts.
The story includes heavy topics such as grief, substances abuse and the difficult reintegration of ex-cons in society. Despite the difficult topics, it is a heartwarming read as, in its essence, it is a story about forgiveness, acceptance and second chances in life.
Older couple’s romance books are a rarity. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about it because love has no age, and romance books should not have too.
Bonus points for the 90’s playlist!
January 21, 2024
This book was very pleasant and mature. It was well-written and engaging.
I didn't always want to read it, it's not that there wasn't drama but it was a book of people who knew who they were and well on their way to communication nirvana (heh).
I loved the Gen X-y ness of it all, but I always like to remind people grunge existed because of greedy establishment assholes. So what Hardy did here against selling out to corporate real estate was fitting. I look forward to reading more of her books, since she treats her characters with such respect and such a smooth read overall.
I didn't always want to read it, it's not that there wasn't drama but it was a book of people who knew who they were and well on their way to communication nirvana (heh).
I loved the Gen X-y ness of it all, but I always like to remind people grunge existed because of greedy establishment assholes. So what Hardy did here against selling out to corporate real estate was fitting. I look forward to reading more of her books, since she treats her characters with such respect and such a smooth read overall.
December 30, 2024
The fmc is 46 and the mmc is 53 and they didn't treat them like they were geriatric. Loved it
Read
May 9, 2023DNF at 10%, this plot made no sense. Why would she hire minimum wage ski instructors who can’t ski?
February 1, 2024
Charming and sweet story about learning to embrace life, give yourself and others another chance; story about learning to be brave and living your life to the fullest.
I really enjoyed that the main characters were more mature. I loved the fact that Ashley was in her forties. Her story really resonated with me.
Loved it!
I really enjoyed that the main characters were more mature. I loved the fact that Ashley was in her forties. Her story really resonated with me.
Loved it!
November 13, 2022
This was incredible. Fun, emotional, sexy, serving a woefully under-represented age bracket of the romance genre and having fun doing it. No notes.
November 2, 2022
This has:
- Gen-X couple (46 and 53)
- The most reluctant (yet deserving) MCs
- Edging & "Once you go thick, nothing else does the trick"
- All the nostalgia for Gen X-ers and X-ennials
- Every feeling imaginable
Ashley is the Owner of Bluebird Basin Ski Lodge. She often finds herself disappearing into all her various roles and forgetting who she is and what she deserves.
Madigan is Owner & Administrator of Little Timber Sober Living Home, Former Guitarist in a Grunge Band, In Recovery and has BIG CINNA-DOM ENERGY.
Bluebird Basin is struggling on multiple fronts and while Ashley is trying to figure out a plan, her meddling Ma, Maude Alice, enters Bluebird Basin into an employment contract with Little Timber Sober Living Home. The men in recovery will be on Bluebird Basin's payroll under the watchful eye of Little Timber owner and proprietor, Matthew Madigan. Ashley has concerns about this new arrangement, the impact that it may have on her lodge and the guy in charge, but the attraction and sparks cannot be denied, even though they both try to fight it.
Being in recovery, Madigan is used to tamping down anything faintly resembling temptation, as one of his biggest fears is being out of control. "I never let go like that anymore either. I don't want to be out of control again." But Ashley is too much to resist and she gives him a place to feel both wild and safe. MY HEART!!!!
Ashley has an awful ex, stress from trying to keep her lodge afloat and so many insecurities that come with growing older. "She hated to admit it, but with every passing year she felt more and more...invisible. She was the boss, the mother, the daughter, the ex-wife. But when was the last time she was the object of anyone's attention?" Madigan is having none of it! This man was made to love her and he cannot help but show it. He was flirting, making mix tapes, pulling out his best moves. Both of them were so far gone!
Another amazing thing in this book were the candid conversations about how bodies and libidos can change with age and certain medical experiences. Madigan regularly checked in with Ashley, went at her pace and gave her THE best experiences of her life. Before, During and After-Care were critical to the mission!
Ashley also got Intro to Edging 101. Madigan edged Ashley and inadvertently edged himself into a meltdown, bless his heart. We love to see it. They hit their stride and after years of celibacy for both of them, they were ENTHUSIASTIC!!!! I'm here for the people of Gen X getting their backs blown to smithereens from something other than age and a series of unfortunate events.
We also get to meet the men of Little Timber and hear some of their stories. At any given moment, Ashley's crying, Madigan's crying, the side characters are crying, I'm crying, you're crying, we're all crying! This book is chock full of feelings!
I received a copy of Come As You Are in exchange for a review. Jess K. Hardy and I are mutuals on the socials and basically I will be creeping in her DMs begging for HEAs forever.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. Soft, Real, So Many Feelings, 90s Nostalgia, grown people problems but handled in grown people ways (no third act break-up!).
I really need all of you to read this, not now but RIGHT now
- Gen-X couple (46 and 53)
- The most reluctant (yet deserving) MCs
- Edging & "Once you go thick, nothing else does the trick"
- All the nostalgia for Gen X-ers and X-ennials
- Every feeling imaginable
Ashley is the Owner of Bluebird Basin Ski Lodge. She often finds herself disappearing into all her various roles and forgetting who she is and what she deserves.
Madigan is Owner & Administrator of Little Timber Sober Living Home, Former Guitarist in a Grunge Band, In Recovery and has BIG CINNA-DOM ENERGY.
Bluebird Basin is struggling on multiple fronts and while Ashley is trying to figure out a plan, her meddling Ma, Maude Alice, enters Bluebird Basin into an employment contract with Little Timber Sober Living Home. The men in recovery will be on Bluebird Basin's payroll under the watchful eye of Little Timber owner and proprietor, Matthew Madigan. Ashley has concerns about this new arrangement, the impact that it may have on her lodge and the guy in charge, but the attraction and sparks cannot be denied, even though they both try to fight it.
Being in recovery, Madigan is used to tamping down anything faintly resembling temptation, as one of his biggest fears is being out of control. "I never let go like that anymore either. I don't want to be out of control again." But Ashley is too much to resist and she gives him a place to feel both wild and safe. MY HEART!!!!
Ashley has an awful ex, stress from trying to keep her lodge afloat and so many insecurities that come with growing older. "She hated to admit it, but with every passing year she felt more and more...invisible. She was the boss, the mother, the daughter, the ex-wife. But when was the last time she was the object of anyone's attention?" Madigan is having none of it! This man was made to love her and he cannot help but show it. He was flirting, making mix tapes, pulling out his best moves. Both of them were so far gone!
Another amazing thing in this book were the candid conversations about how bodies and libidos can change with age and certain medical experiences. Madigan regularly checked in with Ashley, went at her pace and gave her THE best experiences of her life. Before, During and After-Care were critical to the mission!
Ashley also got Intro to Edging 101. Madigan edged Ashley and inadvertently edged himself into a meltdown, bless his heart. We love to see it. They hit their stride and after years of celibacy for both of them, they were ENTHUSIASTIC!!!! I'm here for the people of Gen X getting their backs blown to smithereens from something other than age and a series of unfortunate events.
We also get to meet the men of Little Timber and hear some of their stories. At any given moment, Ashley's crying, Madigan's crying, the side characters are crying, I'm crying, you're crying, we're all crying! This book is chock full of feelings!
I received a copy of Come As You Are in exchange for a review. Jess K. Hardy and I are mutuals on the socials and basically I will be creeping in her DMs begging for HEAs forever.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. Soft, Real, So Many Feelings, 90s Nostalgia, grown people problems but handled in grown people ways (no third act break-up!).
I really need all of you to read this, not now but RIGHT now
December 14, 2022
Ако някой си мисли, че ровенето в дълбините на душата, терзанията на сърцето, проправянето на път през грешките и прошките ,е запазена марка само на класическата литература..., е , може да помисли пак. Защото и днешните книги поставят пръст в раната на съвременните проблеми, с които се сблъскват не графове, помешчици и арисократи, а ние.Покрай работата в ски- училището и закачките между Мадиган, Ашли и момчетата от комуната,Come As You Are ни разкрива много важни проблеми: - Как понякога животът с егоистични и самоуверени типове може да се превърне в присъда. Без престъпление и без срок, може да сме затворени в килията на смачканото самочувствие,безперспективността и чувството за постоянна вина. С унищожени мечти и с подрязани крила,бъдещето стана далечен мираж в гъста мъгла.Дори с куража да изритаме грешните люде от ежедневието си, пак ще мине време преди да спрем да поглеждаме предпазливо през рамо.
- Всяка грешка има последствия. И не е задължително малката грешка да води до малко последствие. Понякога резултатът е огромна сянка, падаща върху дните и името ни в обществото. После,каквото и добро да се прави всеки ден, сянката следва обекта си. Предпазването на други от нашите грешни стъпки и решения, може да доведе до някакво удовлетворение и до прошка към самите себе си. Мадиган показа как работи това.Но за хора като Ашли и като Мадиган вторият шанс е най - добрата помощ. Някой да протегне ръка, за да те дръпне на правия път. Някой да остави обществените порядки настрана и да реши сам да си състави мнение. Някой с куража да загърби миналите ситуации и нечитавите хора в живота си. И да си позволи да види бъдещето по - светло и по - топло с онзи, който издига душата, ума и тялото му в рая. Възможността да срещнем любовта тогава, когато най - малко я търсим. И какво се случва когато открием подходящият човек на 40, 50 и повече години? Освен тръпката, желанието да е точния и раздвижването на поръждясалите части от нас,ние се сблъскваме с целия минал живот на този човек. Със скелетите в гардероба му и с болките му от някой друг, но скрити в куфара пред нашата врата.Очарователна и въздействаща книга!
* " Понякога хората, които сме наранили, не искат да бъдат част от нашия нов живот и не можем да ги виним за това. Само защото можем да намерим начин да си простим, това не означава, че някой друг също трябва да ни прости или дори трябва да изслуша нашите извинения. "
- Всяка грешка има последствия. И не е задължително малката грешка да води до малко последствие. Понякога резултатът е огромна сянка, падаща върху дните и името ни в обществото. После,каквото и добро да се прави всеки ден, сянката следва обекта си. Предпазването на други от нашите грешни стъпки и решения, може да доведе до някакво удовлетворение и до прошка към самите себе си. Мадиган показа как работи това.Но за хора като Ашли и като Мадиган вторият шанс е най - добрата помощ. Някой да протегне ръка, за да те дръпне на правия път. Някой да остави обществените порядки настрана и да реши сам да си състави мнение. Някой с куража да загърби миналите ситуации и нечитавите хора в живота си. И да си позволи да види бъдещето по - светло и по - топло с онзи, който издига душата, ума и тялото му в рая. Възможността да срещнем любовта тогава, когато най - малко я търсим. И какво се случва когато открием подходящият човек на 40, 50 и повече години? Освен тръпката, желанието да е точния и раздвижването на поръждясалите части от нас,ние се сблъскваме с целия минал живот на този човек. Със скелетите в гардероба му и с болките му от някой друг, но скрити в куфара пред нашата врата.Очарователна и въздействаща книга!
* " Понякога хората, които сме наранили, не искат да бъдат част от нашия нов живот и не можем да ги виним за това. Само защото можем да намерим начин да си простим, това не означава, че някой друг също трябва да ни прости или дори трябва да изслуша нашите извинения. "
June 7, 2024
I am an inveterate romance reader. I have a very high cheese tolerance, but this industrial-sized drum of store-brand mac & cheese cheez powder left me nauseated. I loved the backstory for the two leads and what brought them together. The writing is just so bad. And the villain was straight out of Scooby Doo. I am going to a 2 for the backstory and especially for the middle-aged leads (hooray for elder love!), including a nearly 50 year old woman with a child in college who'd had a hysterectomy, plucked chin hairs before a date, and was generally very sexy and a 50+ year old man with a record and a history of addiction who was maybe even sexier. I hope a better writer steals Madigan and Ashley and writes them a better story.
Also, the male reader for this, Stephen Borne, was SO BAD! He did all he could to take the sexy out of both leads and he occasionally succeeded. Andi Arndt was, as usual, just fine.
Also, the male reader for this, Stephen Borne, was SO BAD! He did all he could to take the sexy out of both leads and he occasionally succeeded. Andi Arndt was, as usual, just fine.
June 7, 2023
Older couple (he’s 53 she’s 46). He’s a former rock star/addict, that runs a rehab house. She’s an owner of a small ski resort that need help. The two work together and love happens. So so good. I thought it would be a lite read, but for a smallish book, it hits a lot of heavy topics, like trusting former addicts, mom/daughter relationships. With all that, cute love story with some good 🌶️🌶️🌶️
September 28, 2023
Oh, I liked this so much! Strongly recommend for anyone interested in older protagonists and decent people being decent people. Looking forward to reading more in this series for sure.
September 8, 2023
Enjoyable contemporary romance set in a ski mountain resort around Christmas, without too much (almost none) holiday but with a bunch of recovering addicts finding their footing.
Hero is in his early fifties, heroine is in her late forties and I loved that we get to see two older MCs getting as a second chance at love. They felt like real people to me, ones that have some/more baggage, have been through ups and downs, have suffered loses and enjoyed wins. Being in my 40s myself, I really, really appreciate seeing both Ashley and Madigan as people who don't have everything together all the time. They have their doubts and they question their decisions, hesitate and make mistakes.
I liked how they talked through their issues. It was not easy for either of them to open up and talk about feelings, their past and their future. But they did have those talks and worked things out.
On the plus side, I also liked the side characters, especially Madigan's team of recovering addicts. I felt the presentation of their struggles was done with care and consideration.
On the negative side, I was not a big fan of the insta-love and the stereotypical bad guy ex-husband (a cheating narcissist who was bad in bed).
Overall, apart from some minor issues here and there, I quite liked this romance. It feels similar in many ways to Jill Shalvis romance - focus on community and family, funny and high-heat.
CW: cheating (in the past), addiction (in the past), death of a parent (in the past), ski/avalanche incident,
Hero is in his early fifties, heroine is in her late forties and I loved that we get to see two older MCs getting as a second chance at love. They felt like real people to me, ones that have some/more baggage, have been through ups and downs, have suffered loses and enjoyed wins. Being in my 40s myself, I really, really appreciate seeing both Ashley and Madigan as people who don't have everything together all the time. They have their doubts and they question their decisions, hesitate and make mistakes.
I liked how they talked through their issues. It was not easy for either of them to open up and talk about feelings, their past and their future. But they did have those talks and worked things out.
On the plus side, I also liked the side characters, especially Madigan's team of recovering addicts. I felt the presentation of their struggles was done with care and consideration.
On the negative side, I was not a big fan of the insta-love and the stereotypical bad guy ex-husband (a cheating narcissist who was bad in bed).
Overall, apart from some minor issues here and there, I quite liked this romance. It feels similar in many ways to Jill Shalvis romance - focus on community and family, funny and high-heat.
CW: cheating (in the past), addiction (in the past), death of a parent (in the past), ski/avalanche incident,
October 30, 2022
I loved this—loved the ski resort setting, LOVED the men of Little Timber, a sober living/rehabilitation center for recovering addicts & ex-cons, whose storylines were so compelling & told with compassion. Older MCs, both with baggage, in a very sweet & steamy romance with a very good dog.
October 14, 2022
Jess K. Hardy is one of my favorite contemporary writers because, for me, she settles her stories and writing at the perfect intersection of sexy and tender. Her characters are stories are honest and vulnerable, but also full of compassion and kindness. When I pick up a Jess Hardy book, I know I'll be challenged and amused and aroused and held in comfort all at the same time.
Come as You Are is a special story that handles really complicated topics, including addiction, very well. This book has a rich cast of characters, but rather than fall back on stereotypes, Hardy fills out each character with depth and humanity, so that we end up feeling attached to every member of Madigan's crew on the mountain. As someone who's life has been deeply affected addiction and people plagued by it, I truly value Hardy's human-first approach to handling these characters.
Ashley is... well, she is a little bit of all of us in our 40s. She is strong and experienced, but vulnerable and wounded. She knows herself but is open, eventually, to learning and being more than what she thought she could be.
I've gone all sincere here because this book made me feel that way, but don't let me overlook something very important.
THIS BOOK IS HOT. Like, edging and dirty talk, sweet sweet orgasms in a cozy cabin, you will be thinking about these sex scenes for weeks and weeks HOT.
In short, read this book. Do it!
I was honored to have an advanced copy of this book!
Come as You Are is a special story that handles really complicated topics, including addiction, very well. This book has a rich cast of characters, but rather than fall back on stereotypes, Hardy fills out each character with depth and humanity, so that we end up feeling attached to every member of Madigan's crew on the mountain. As someone who's life has been deeply affected addiction and people plagued by it, I truly value Hardy's human-first approach to handling these characters.
Ashley is... well, she is a little bit of all of us in our 40s. She is strong and experienced, but vulnerable and wounded. She knows herself but is open, eventually, to learning and being more than what she thought she could be.
I've gone all sincere here because this book made me feel that way, but don't let me overlook something very important.
THIS BOOK IS HOT. Like, edging and dirty talk, sweet sweet orgasms in a cozy cabin, you will be thinking about these sex scenes for weeks and weeks HOT.
In short, read this book. Do it!
I was honored to have an advanced copy of this book!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 743 reviews