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Bluebird Basin #2
Lips Like Sugar
A Fated Mates Best Romance Book of 2024!
Meet Cole Sanderson: 54-year-old drummer, brand new grandpa, Madigan's best friend, charismatic golden retriever, phenomenal flirt, and your new book boyfriend.
It’s official, Mira Harlow has finally lost it. Between running her small-town bakery, parenting her 14-year-old son, and taking care of her mom, she’s a stretched-thin mess. But kissing a total—and very sexy—stranger before begging him to be her date to Ashley and Madigan’s wedding just so her ex won’t see how lonely she really is? That’s a new level of chaos, even for her.
The last thing drummer Cole Sanderson expects when he drives into the small ski town of Red Falls, MT is to score a date to his best friend’s wedding. But since his life in Seattle is stagnating, when the gorgeous, green-eyed bakery owner propositions him to be her long-distance boyfriend, stirring his punk-shenanigans roots to their core, he doesn’t even hesitate to tell her, “Hell yes!”
Mira hopes for a fun night with her fake date, but when their wedding weekend turns into a genuine connection, when Cole returns to Seattle and she tries to go back to her normal life, she can’t help but wonder if she missed out on something real. But Cole isn’t done with her yet, and when he finds his way back to Red Falls, she’ll have to decide what’s more important, holding down her world, or taking a risk, embracing the chaos, and maybe even falling in love.
Lips Like Sugar is book 2 in the Bluebird Basin Romance series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. This story features two main characters in their fifties, lots of laughs, plenty of open-door steam, and so many butterflies.
Content notes: Living with and caring for a parent with mild cognitive impairment, addiction, relapse, an unhealthy ex, grown men deeply in their feels, strong friendships, conversations about love languages, and an absurd amount of Say Anything references, including a steamy riff on the airplane seatbelt sign scene…
Meet Cole Sanderson: 54-year-old drummer, brand new grandpa, Madigan's best friend, charismatic golden retriever, phenomenal flirt, and your new book boyfriend.
It’s official, Mira Harlow has finally lost it. Between running her small-town bakery, parenting her 14-year-old son, and taking care of her mom, she’s a stretched-thin mess. But kissing a total—and very sexy—stranger before begging him to be her date to Ashley and Madigan’s wedding just so her ex won’t see how lonely she really is? That’s a new level of chaos, even for her.
The last thing drummer Cole Sanderson expects when he drives into the small ski town of Red Falls, MT is to score a date to his best friend’s wedding. But since his life in Seattle is stagnating, when the gorgeous, green-eyed bakery owner propositions him to be her long-distance boyfriend, stirring his punk-shenanigans roots to their core, he doesn’t even hesitate to tell her, “Hell yes!”
Mira hopes for a fun night with her fake date, but when their wedding weekend turns into a genuine connection, when Cole returns to Seattle and she tries to go back to her normal life, she can’t help but wonder if she missed out on something real. But Cole isn’t done with her yet, and when he finds his way back to Red Falls, she’ll have to decide what’s more important, holding down her world, or taking a risk, embracing the chaos, and maybe even falling in love.
Lips Like Sugar is book 2 in the Bluebird Basin Romance series but can absolutely be read as a standalone. This story features two main characters in their fifties, lots of laughs, plenty of open-door steam, and so many butterflies.
Content notes: Living with and caring for a parent with mild cognitive impairment, addiction, relapse, an unhealthy ex, grown men deeply in their feels, strong friendships, conversations about love languages, and an absurd amount of Say Anything references, including a steamy riff on the airplane seatbelt sign scene…
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2024
84 people are currently reading
2386 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
March 18, 2024
Woohoo!!!!! Jess K. Hardy has delivered yet again! I love that Lips Like Sugar, as well as the first book in the Bluebird Basin series Come As You Are, features main characters in my age group!!!!! YAY! It is refreshing and exciting, plus this book works perfectly as a stand-alone. But trust me Come As You Are is awesome and I highly recommend it! 🧁❤️
Mira Harlow has a lot on her plate. She has a teenage son, and her mother has mild cognitive impairment. She is also a small-town family business owner of the town bakery. It is where her ex walks in with his new wife. They are in town to attend Madigan and Ashley's wedding. Not only is Mira attending the wedding she is also making the wedding cake. Flustered, she tells them she is going to the wedding with her boyfriend and quickly kisses a total stranger who goes along with it.
Cole Sanderson, a punk drummer who saw/experienced fame in the 90's, lives in Seattle and is in town to attend Ashely and Madigan's wedding. He and Madigan were in the same band and have been close ever since. When Mira kisses him, he goes along with it. When not kissing women in bakeries, he is a father and proud grandfather.
This was a terrific book that has Mira and Cole fake dating while dealing with real life issues. Both have things on their plate, both have responsibilities, and both have had unlucky experiences with love. I enjoyed their banter, their texts, their chemistry, their openness, and their vulnerability. Both characters are likeable, and I was rooting for them the entire book. I always say with romance books, it's all about the journey and I loved the journey that Mira and Cole took individually and together.
Hats off to Jess K. Hardy for showing characters in their early 50's being sexy, sensual, sexual, and fun loving. We are still hot and hot to trot! I also applaud her for showing the concern that Mira has for her mother who has mild cognitive impairment. She shows Mira's worry, love, and concern that she feels for her mother. Hardy also shows her mother's frustration, humor, and strength while dealing with her cognitive impairment.
I found this book to be a gripping and endearing read. This book also touches on many things: friendship, family, responsibility, addiction, menopause, love, aging parents, ex's, etc. As I mentioned, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey the characters went on. It was a joy to go on the journey with them! Plus, the mention of movies and music had me feeling nostalgic and warm and fuzzy inside. This book gave all the feels.
If you have not read a book by Jess K. Hardy, what are you waiting for? I am a HUGE fan of this wonderful series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!!!
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op 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
Mira Harlow has a lot on her plate. She has a teenage son, and her mother has mild cognitive impairment. She is also a small-town family business owner of the town bakery. It is where her ex walks in with his new wife. They are in town to attend Madigan and Ashley's wedding. Not only is Mira attending the wedding she is also making the wedding cake. Flustered, she tells them she is going to the wedding with her boyfriend and quickly kisses a total stranger who goes along with it.
Cole Sanderson, a punk drummer who saw/experienced fame in the 90's, lives in Seattle and is in town to attend Ashely and Madigan's wedding. He and Madigan were in the same band and have been close ever since. When Mira kisses him, he goes along with it. When not kissing women in bakeries, he is a father and proud grandfather.
This was a terrific book that has Mira and Cole fake dating while dealing with real life issues. Both have things on their plate, both have responsibilities, and both have had unlucky experiences with love. I enjoyed their banter, their texts, their chemistry, their openness, and their vulnerability. Both characters are likeable, and I was rooting for them the entire book. I always say with romance books, it's all about the journey and I loved the journey that Mira and Cole took individually and together.
Hats off to Jess K. Hardy for showing characters in their early 50's being sexy, sensual, sexual, and fun loving. We are still hot and hot to trot! I also applaud her for showing the concern that Mira has for her mother who has mild cognitive impairment. She shows Mira's worry, love, and concern that she feels for her mother. Hardy also shows her mother's frustration, humor, and strength while dealing with her cognitive impairment.
I found this book to be a gripping and endearing read. This book also touches on many things: friendship, family, responsibility, addiction, menopause, love, aging parents, ex's, etc. As I mentioned, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey the characters went on. It was a joy to go on the journey with them! Plus, the mention of movies and music had me feeling nostalgic and warm and fuzzy inside. This book gave all the feels.
If you have not read a book by Jess K. Hardy, what are you waiting for? I am a HUGE fan of this wonderful series. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!!!!
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op 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
November 25, 2024
This was fantastic. A romance with characters in their 50s?! I haven't read anything like this and it was so refreshing to see a couple fall in love later in life who had lived a lot of life. This was beautifully done.
October 22, 2024
4 stars
Lips Like Sugar is the second book in Jess K. Hardy’s ‘Bluebird Basin’ series. I hope this author keeps writing in this world. I’m enjoying these characters so much. I love that the characters are more seasoned, and as frustrating as Mira was at times, I could understand her perspective based on her life responsibilities. I adored Cole so much and was happy with everything by the end of the book.
Lips Like Sugar is the second book in Jess K. Hardy’s ‘Bluebird Basin’ series. I hope this author keeps writing in this world. I’m enjoying these characters so much. I love that the characters are more seasoned, and as frustrating as Mira was at times, I could understand her perspective based on her life responsibilities. I adored Cole so much and was happy with everything by the end of the book.
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Andi Arndt & Stephen Borne
Narration Rating: 3.5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 11h 30m
May 18, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, Jess K. Hardy, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
'Lips Like Sugar' offers a delightfully sweet and heartwarmingly beautiful wintery romance featuring two main characters in their early 50s, whose relatable journey brings a fresh perspective to love in later stages of life. As the second installment in the "Bluebird Basin" series, while it can be enjoyed independently, diving into the series from the start with 'Come As You Are' enriches the experience by providing a deeper understanding of character dynamics and background. Having adored the first book, receiving the opportunity to read the second as an ARC was met with sheer jubilation. While 'Lips Like Sugar' was thoroughly enjoyable, the original charm of the first book remains my favorite and holds a special place in my heart. The narrative beautifully captures the essence of second chances in love, transcending age barriers to deliver a compelling tale brimming with tension, humor, and tender moments. The parable chemistry between the characters ignites the pages, infusing the story with sizzling, open-door romance that sets hearts ablaze. Amidst the passion, readers are enchanted by the flutter of butterflies, swept on a journey that celebrates the timeless allure of finding love anew. 🩵🩵🩵🩵
Mira Harlow, juggling her small-town bakery, parenting her 14 year old son, and caring for her mother, reaches a breaking point! Desperate to avoid her ex at a wedding, she impulsively asks a sexy stranger, Cole Sanderson, to be her date. Cole, seeking change from his stagnant life, agrees to play along, sparking unexpected chemistry. As their fake date turns into genuine connection, they face the challenge of returning to their old lives while grappling with newfound feelings. When Cole returns to Red Falls, Mira must choose between stability and embracing love admits chaos.
Mira and Cole were truly remarkable, both individually and as a couple, embodying a rich tapestry of emotions, imperfections, and authenticity. Their portrayal highlights the ongoing journey of growth and learning in older individuals, showcasing their humanity, vulnerability, and capacity for love. Mira's selflessness resonates deeply, while Cole's genuine and caring nature is truly admirable. Together, they navigate the complexities of making room for others in their already full lives, demonstrating that finding the right person is worth the challenges. Their story serves as a poignant reminder that embracing new experiences, fostering personal growth, and welcoming love knows no age boundaries, perpetually enriching and enlightening our lives.
In essence, this romance is a truly enchanting journey that leaves readers feeling wonderfully cozy and fulfilled. Now I eagerly wait for the next installment in the series and I highly recommend!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Notes: Living with and caring for a parent with mild cognitive impairment, addiction and relapse.
'Lips Like Sugar' offers a delightfully sweet and heartwarmingly beautiful wintery romance featuring two main characters in their early 50s, whose relatable journey brings a fresh perspective to love in later stages of life. As the second installment in the "Bluebird Basin" series, while it can be enjoyed independently, diving into the series from the start with 'Come As You Are' enriches the experience by providing a deeper understanding of character dynamics and background. Having adored the first book, receiving the opportunity to read the second as an ARC was met with sheer jubilation. While 'Lips Like Sugar' was thoroughly enjoyable, the original charm of the first book remains my favorite and holds a special place in my heart. The narrative beautifully captures the essence of second chances in love, transcending age barriers to deliver a compelling tale brimming with tension, humor, and tender moments. The parable chemistry between the characters ignites the pages, infusing the story with sizzling, open-door romance that sets hearts ablaze. Amidst the passion, readers are enchanted by the flutter of butterflies, swept on a journey that celebrates the timeless allure of finding love anew. 🩵🩵🩵🩵
Mira Harlow, juggling her small-town bakery, parenting her 14 year old son, and caring for her mother, reaches a breaking point! Desperate to avoid her ex at a wedding, she impulsively asks a sexy stranger, Cole Sanderson, to be her date. Cole, seeking change from his stagnant life, agrees to play along, sparking unexpected chemistry. As their fake date turns into genuine connection, they face the challenge of returning to their old lives while grappling with newfound feelings. When Cole returns to Red Falls, Mira must choose between stability and embracing love admits chaos.
Mira and Cole were truly remarkable, both individually and as a couple, embodying a rich tapestry of emotions, imperfections, and authenticity. Their portrayal highlights the ongoing journey of growth and learning in older individuals, showcasing their humanity, vulnerability, and capacity for love. Mira's selflessness resonates deeply, while Cole's genuine and caring nature is truly admirable. Together, they navigate the complexities of making room for others in their already full lives, demonstrating that finding the right person is worth the challenges. Their story serves as a poignant reminder that embracing new experiences, fostering personal growth, and welcoming love knows no age boundaries, perpetually enriching and enlightening our lives.
In essence, this romance is a truly enchanting journey that leaves readers feeling wonderfully cozy and fulfilled. Now I eagerly wait for the next installment in the series and I highly recommend!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Content Notes: Living with and caring for a parent with mild cognitive impairment, addiction and relapse.
February 28, 2024
✔️Dual POV (Mira x Cole)
✔️Set in Red Falls, Montana
✔️Contemporary, open-door romance (3/5 🌶️)
✔️Tropes: Fake dating, seasoned romance, Gen X romance, small-town romance
Cole is a drummer for a once-famous 90s band. He visits a small Montana ski town for his best friend’s wedding where he gets roped into being the fake boyfriend of Mira. She’s the town’s baker whose ex is attending the same wedding.
Cole and Mira are fully grown humans with responsibilities, past mistakes, family they adore, and friends who love them. Making space for each other is the only hurdle they have to overcome — but it’s a big one.
I was constantly smiling while reading this book. It’s like a VH-1 “Behind the Music” that showed the happily ever after soooo many of your favorite 90s band members never got. I loved both of these characters. They didn’t have to grow so much as expand their already-full lives enough for each other.
I LOVED that Cole was head-over-heels for Mira instantly. I don’t know if I could have pushed him away as many times as Mira did (for good reasons!). He was written as such an alluring character that I’m 100% sure I would have instantly caved.
Content warnings: Addiction (not by either main character)
ARC copy acquired through Net Galley with approval from Pinkity Publishing.
✔️Set in Red Falls, Montana
✔️Contemporary, open-door romance (3/5 🌶️)
✔️Tropes: Fake dating, seasoned romance, Gen X romance, small-town romance
Cole is a drummer for a once-famous 90s band. He visits a small Montana ski town for his best friend’s wedding where he gets roped into being the fake boyfriend of Mira. She’s the town’s baker whose ex is attending the same wedding.
Cole and Mira are fully grown humans with responsibilities, past mistakes, family they adore, and friends who love them. Making space for each other is the only hurdle they have to overcome — but it’s a big one.
I was constantly smiling while reading this book. It’s like a VH-1 “Behind the Music” that showed the happily ever after soooo many of your favorite 90s band members never got. I loved both of these characters. They didn’t have to grow so much as expand their already-full lives enough for each other.
I LOVED that Cole was head-over-heels for Mira instantly. I don’t know if I could have pushed him away as many times as Mira did (for good reasons!). He was written as such an alluring character that I’m 100% sure I would have instantly caved.
Content warnings: Addiction (not by either main character)
ARC copy acquired through Net Galley with approval from Pinkity Publishing.
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January 7, 2025This was such a great read!!
I think I loved this one even more than book one!
Both characters were super unique and lovable. I couldn't stop reading about them!
I think I loved this one even more than book one!
Both characters were super unique and lovable. I couldn't stop reading about them!
March 30, 2024
Sweet and sexy
It feels a little odd to say that the hero - a sexy, bisexual grandpa - was my favorite part of this romance, but it's the truth. He's a cinnamon roll sweetheart who has lived a wild life and now wants nothing more than to have someone special to spend quiet evenings with. I loved that he was so gone for his girl, and the chemistry between them was obvious right away. The meet cute was great, and I could definitely see why they connected so easily. There's a banter-filled, playful dynamic between them that absolutely worked. However, the black cat heroine drove me kinda crazy - her reluctance to see what was in front of her started to grate after a while. I didn't want her breaking that sweet grandpa's heart, which meant that the first half was stronger than the second for me. But it was another solid installment to the series, and strong overall.
The story follows Mira (50), a woman who is too busy to date. She's got her hands full taking care of her teenage son, ailing mother, and the bakery she loves. So when her ex walks into her bakery and she's too embarrassed to admit she'll be going to a wedding alone, Mira does something completely out of character. It's only after kissing a handsome stranger and claiming that he's her boyfriend that Mira realizes where things went awry. Not only is the man not a total stranger, but he's the former drummer of a famous rock band. Surprisingly, Cole (53/54) actually is interested in taking Mira to the wedding as his date, and the two have a fantastic time. But Cole is only in town for a limited time, so starting up something real is out of the question... right?
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, which isn't required reading but might make the experience better. We get a few scenes revolving around the sober living facility at the heart of book one (including some potentially triggering situations), but this is very much Cole and Mira's story. They were great together, and I loved the lightness Cole brought into Mira's life. Neither one anticipated being single in their fifties, that's just the way things have played out. Cole was such a sweetheart, and I so wanted him to find his happily ever after. Mira, well Mira was a tougher sell. I empathized with her, but I also didn't love the assumptions she made about the situation. I loved the texts and long distance communication, though much of their relationship felt physical in person (which was partially by design). There's a decent amount of heat, plenty of lighthearted moments, and an undercurrent of tension and melancholy. Not my favorite in the series, but I did enjoy it.
It feels a little odd to say that the hero - a sexy, bisexual grandpa - was my favorite part of this romance, but it's the truth. He's a cinnamon roll sweetheart who has lived a wild life and now wants nothing more than to have someone special to spend quiet evenings with. I loved that he was so gone for his girl, and the chemistry between them was obvious right away. The meet cute was great, and I could definitely see why they connected so easily. There's a banter-filled, playful dynamic between them that absolutely worked. However, the black cat heroine drove me kinda crazy - her reluctance to see what was in front of her started to grate after a while. I didn't want her breaking that sweet grandpa's heart, which meant that the first half was stronger than the second for me. But it was another solid installment to the series, and strong overall.
The story follows Mira (50), a woman who is too busy to date. She's got her hands full taking care of her teenage son, ailing mother, and the bakery she loves. So when her ex walks into her bakery and she's too embarrassed to admit she'll be going to a wedding alone, Mira does something completely out of character. It's only after kissing a handsome stranger and claiming that he's her boyfriend that Mira realizes where things went awry. Not only is the man not a total stranger, but he's the former drummer of a famous rock band. Surprisingly, Cole (53/54) actually is interested in taking Mira to the wedding as his date, and the two have a fantastic time. But Cole is only in town for a limited time, so starting up something real is out of the question... right?
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, which isn't required reading but might make the experience better. We get a few scenes revolving around the sober living facility at the heart of book one (including some potentially triggering situations), but this is very much Cole and Mira's story. They were great together, and I loved the lightness Cole brought into Mira's life. Neither one anticipated being single in their fifties, that's just the way things have played out. Cole was such a sweetheart, and I so wanted him to find his happily ever after. Mira, well Mira was a tougher sell. I empathized with her, but I also didn't love the assumptions she made about the situation. I loved the texts and long distance communication, though much of their relationship felt physical in person (which was partially by design). There's a decent amount of heat, plenty of lighthearted moments, and an undercurrent of tension and melancholy. Not my favorite in the series, but I did enjoy it.
October 23, 2024
LIPS LIKE SUGAR
● Cole (53/54) & Mira (50)
● drummer in a band / runs a bakery
● Mira takes care of her mom who has mild cognitive impairment
● Mira has a teen son
● Cole is a grandpa
● Seattle, Wa (Cole) & Red Falls, MT (Mira)
● Cole comes to Red Falls for his friend’s (Madigan-Bk 1) wedding
● Mira was trying to avoid an ex and pretended a stranger (Cole) is her boyfriend
● fake dating
● Gen X romance
Bluebird Basin
#1 Madigan & Ashley - Come As You Are
#2 Cole & Mira - Lips Like Sugar
● Cole (53/54) & Mira (50)
● drummer in a band / runs a bakery
● Mira takes care of her mom who has mild cognitive impairment
● Mira has a teen son
● Cole is a grandpa
● Seattle, Wa (Cole) & Red Falls, MT (Mira)
● Cole comes to Red Falls for his friend’s (Madigan-Bk 1) wedding
● Mira was trying to avoid an ex and pretended a stranger (Cole) is her boyfriend
● fake dating
● Gen X romance
Bluebird Basin
#1 Madigan & Ashley - Come As You Are
#2 Cole & Mira - Lips Like Sugar
Audiobook source: Hoopla
Narrator: Andi Arndt & Stephen Borne
Length: 11h 30m
June 1, 2025
Another fabulous story from Jess K. Hardy. I enjoy mature romance with characters in their forties and fifties. Here Mira and Cole are in their fifties and their first meeting was so good.
Fake dating and friends to lovers with incredible chemistry and dialogue. Their relationship kept growing and so did they as individuals and a couple.
The characters from book 1 were there and I can’t get enough of them. I’m so excited for Davis and Kev’s book.
This series has seriously got a hook in me.
Fake dating and friends to lovers with incredible chemistry and dialogue. Their relationship kept growing and so did they as individuals and a couple.
The characters from book 1 were there and I can’t get enough of them. I’m so excited for Davis and Kev’s book.
This series has seriously got a hook in me.
August 19, 2024
I enjoyed the first book in the series and this one was just as good - light and fun, medium heat romance with MCs in their 50s.
A quick pros and cons review because I don't seem very eloquent/verbose these days.
Pros:
- older MCs, well-developed, interesting with more/less baggage and real, relatable issues (past relationships, raising children and grandchildren, taking parents of aging parents, etc.)
- loved the romance - the attraction felt real but also the doubts, the fear of a massive change in the direction of one's life
- secondary characters I get to know and love from book 1, some new one that I found equally engaging
- unlike addiction and recovery which was a main focus in the first book, here we see emphasis on emotional issues, making relationships work
Cons:
- ||the way her fear of abandonment was resolved didn't work for me. You don't just make it so that it is all one big misunderstanding and that's it||
- I was not sold of the proposal in the end ||not sure making her overcome her greatest fear (fear of darkness in a cave) is the right way to make a proposal.|| Could be a me thing but the way he did it was all wrong.
Overall, I really like this series, they are easy to read and satisfying and I am looking for more books in this world. I really, really appreciate the older MCs. I know the general definition of second-chance romance is when the same characters get a second chance to be together. In my book though, second chance romance is when life/fate gives the characters a new chance at romance when they have given up on love for different reasons. We have characters who have loved deeply and have had satisfying relationships in the past but no longer look for/believe in romantic love. It's truly magical for me to see them fall in love again.
CW: drug use relapse (side character, not detailed), emotional manipulation, fear of darkness, abandonment issues,
A quick pros and cons review because I don't seem very eloquent/verbose these days.
Pros:
- older MCs, well-developed, interesting with more/less baggage and real, relatable issues (past relationships, raising children and grandchildren, taking parents of aging parents, etc.)
- loved the romance - the attraction felt real but also the doubts, the fear of a massive change in the direction of one's life
- secondary characters I get to know and love from book 1, some new one that I found equally engaging
- unlike addiction and recovery which was a main focus in the first book, here we see emphasis on emotional issues, making relationships work
Cons:
- ||the way her fear of abandonment was resolved didn't work for me. You don't just make it so that it is all one big misunderstanding and that's it||
- I was not sold of the proposal in the end ||not sure making her overcome her greatest fear (fear of darkness in a cave) is the right way to make a proposal.|| Could be a me thing but the way he did it was all wrong.
Overall, I really like this series, they are easy to read and satisfying and I am looking for more books in this world. I really, really appreciate the older MCs. I know the general definition of second-chance romance is when the same characters get a second chance to be together. In my book though, second chance romance is when life/fate gives the characters a new chance at romance when they have given up on love for different reasons. We have characters who have loved deeply and have had satisfying relationships in the past but no longer look for/believe in romantic love. It's truly magical for me to see them fall in love again.
CW: drug use relapse (side character, not detailed), emotional manipulation, fear of darkness, abandonment issues,
November 27, 2024
4.5 stars. Oh, my heart! This was exactly what I needed to read. MCs in their 50s with real lives and real problems who have lived through some shit. Cole and Mira have immediate palpable chemistry and longing when he walks into her bakery and is game to play along as her boyfriend in front of her ex and his wife. He’s only in her small Montana town for his best friend’s wedding before he heads back to Seattle so nothing more can happen beyond the weekend. But they each have trouble forgetting about the other and that soon leads to texting and then phone calls and then Cole returning to Red Falls.
Cole has a lot of golden retriever energy. He can be impulsive but he also thinks the best of others and tries to take care of the people around him, including Mira. He looks after her when she has her period and remembers to turn on the twinkle lights before he leaves because she’s afraid of the dark. And that’s just one example! Mira puts everyone else first before her and she’s not great at taking care of herself so it was beautiful to see Cole take that role. She also gives back to him, like sending him cupcakes on his birthday.
This is honest about the aches and pains of adulthood without falling into ageism. Mira is a single mother and her mother, who has mild cognitive impairment, lives with them. Cole’s daughter and grandbaby live with him. They have responsibilities but they’re also grownups with their own interests and dreams. Then there’s how all of that intersects with the reality of being in their 50s and what that means for their changing bodies. It was refreshing to read. Cole is bisexual and didn’t come out publicly until his mid30s so there was some interesting discussion around sexuality and what the queer community is like in small town Montana, which is of import to Mira as her son is pansexual.
I appreciated they had a discussion about forgoing condoms after they’ve had sex and then had to wait until after Mira got her test results back. Too many romance novels have this conversation immediately before sex or during, if they’ve “forgotten” the condom. And often they don’t acknowledge the risk of pregnancy or exchange test results. Safety first, y’all.
This truly was nearly perfect for me, with a few minor exceptions. A few other details might have helped flesh out the characters more, like what Mira’s relationships were like before she decided to have her son on her own or what happened with Cole’s parents. It’s possible more of Cole’s backstory was in the first book in this series, which I haven’t read, but a refresher would have been helpful here. On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed this and can’t wait to read more by this author.
Characters: Cole is a 53 year old bisexual white drummer and recording studio owner. His 26 year old daughter Becks and baby granddaughter Ruby live with him in Seattle. Mira is a 50 year old white bakery owner. She has a 14 year old son named Ian, who is pansexual, and her mother lives with them. This is set in Red Falls, MT.
Content notes: mother with mild cognitive impairment, sober secondary character, secondary characters at sober living house with past substance abuse or alcoholism, off page relapse (secondary character), “clean” used in terms of sobriety, past toxic relationship (MMC was on-again, off-again for 25 years with Nancy), past parental biphobia, MMC’s daughter’s boyfriend flaked out after Ruby was born but they’re working through it, past death of friend (overdose), secondary character is estranged from her husband, FMC’s father left when she was 5, FMC used a sperm donor to have son, perimenopause, menstruation, past vasectomy, unsafe sex practices (MMC tears condom wrapper open with teeth), on page sex, restraint, private plane sex, FaceTime sex, erotic massage, alcohol, inebriation (secondary characters), vape (secondary character), diet culture, gendered pejorative, ableist language
Cole has a lot of golden retriever energy. He can be impulsive but he also thinks the best of others and tries to take care of the people around him, including Mira. He looks after her when she has her period and remembers to turn on the twinkle lights before he leaves because she’s afraid of the dark. And that’s just one example! Mira puts everyone else first before her and she’s not great at taking care of herself so it was beautiful to see Cole take that role. She also gives back to him, like sending him cupcakes on his birthday.
This is honest about the aches and pains of adulthood without falling into ageism. Mira is a single mother and her mother, who has mild cognitive impairment, lives with them. Cole’s daughter and grandbaby live with him. They have responsibilities but they’re also grownups with their own interests and dreams. Then there’s how all of that intersects with the reality of being in their 50s and what that means for their changing bodies. It was refreshing to read. Cole is bisexual and didn’t come out publicly until his mid30s so there was some interesting discussion around sexuality and what the queer community is like in small town Montana, which is of import to Mira as her son is pansexual.
I appreciated they had a discussion about forgoing condoms after they’ve had sex and then had to wait until after Mira got her test results back. Too many romance novels have this conversation immediately before sex or during, if they’ve “forgotten” the condom. And often they don’t acknowledge the risk of pregnancy or exchange test results. Safety first, y’all.
This truly was nearly perfect for me, with a few minor exceptions. A few other details might have helped flesh out the characters more, like what Mira’s relationships were like before she decided to have her son on her own or what happened with Cole’s parents. It’s possible more of Cole’s backstory was in the first book in this series, which I haven’t read, but a refresher would have been helpful here. On the whole, I thoroughly enjoyed this and can’t wait to read more by this author.
Characters: Cole is a 53 year old bisexual white drummer and recording studio owner. His 26 year old daughter Becks and baby granddaughter Ruby live with him in Seattle. Mira is a 50 year old white bakery owner. She has a 14 year old son named Ian, who is pansexual, and her mother lives with them. This is set in Red Falls, MT.
Content notes: mother with mild cognitive impairment, sober secondary character, secondary characters at sober living house with past substance abuse or alcoholism, off page relapse (secondary character), “clean” used in terms of sobriety, past toxic relationship (MMC was on-again, off-again for 25 years with Nancy), past parental biphobia, MMC’s daughter’s boyfriend flaked out after Ruby was born but they’re working through it, past death of friend (overdose), secondary character is estranged from her husband, FMC’s father left when she was 5, FMC used a sperm donor to have son, perimenopause, menstruation, past vasectomy, unsafe sex practices (MMC tears condom wrapper open with teeth), on page sex, restraint, private plane sex, FaceTime sex, erotic massage, alcohol, inebriation (secondary characters), vape (secondary character), diet culture, gendered pejorative, ableist language
March 16, 2024
I loved this book.
I felt super connected to both Mira & Cole, I was really rooting for them the whole time - they felt real to me.
📖 Lips like Sugar
📝 Jess K. Hardy
🗓️ 03/28/2024
💜 contemporary romance
📱 read on kindle (arc)
📚 book 2 • Bluebird Basin series (can be read as a standalone)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️
💭 overall thoughts:
We need more “older” MCs in romance 🙌🏼
Jess K Hardy does this SO well.
This is my second read of hers and I can’t wait for more in this series.
👩🏻🍳🥁MCs:
I love seeing both MCs as single parents, and in their 50s.
Mira has a teenage son, and is caring for her own mother. Cole has his 20-something daughter + baby granddaughter live with him.
They both have a lot of life experience, though they approach it differently.
📖 story:
Cole’s best man speech 🥹 that was probably my favorite moment of the book.
I love how they had amazing chemistry from the moment they met (adored their meet-cute!), yet their relationship developed slowly and realistically over time.
🤍side characters:
Both Mira & Cole’s families/exes added a lot to the story, showing why they are the way they are. I also loved the bits we got of Madigan & Ashley from the first book, and Davis.
tropes + topics:
🥸 fake dating
🫶🏼 single parents
🤍 MCs in their 50s
🥁 famous drummer mmc
🧁 baker fmc
🏳️🌈 bisexual mmc
🩵 strangers to friends to lovers
🏔️ small mountain town
💞 dual 3rd person pov
🫶🏼 books with similar vibes:
•Come as You Are by Jess K Hardy
(I really haven’t read many like this one!)
Thank you to NetGalley & author Jess K. Hardy for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
I felt super connected to both Mira & Cole, I was really rooting for them the whole time - they felt real to me.
📖 Lips like Sugar
📝 Jess K. Hardy
🗓️ 03/28/2024
💜 contemporary romance
📱 read on kindle (arc)
📚 book 2 • Bluebird Basin series (can be read as a standalone)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️
💭 overall thoughts:
We need more “older” MCs in romance 🙌🏼
Jess K Hardy does this SO well.
This is my second read of hers and I can’t wait for more in this series.
👩🏻🍳🥁MCs:
I love seeing both MCs as single parents, and in their 50s.
Mira has a teenage son, and is caring for her own mother. Cole has his 20-something daughter + baby granddaughter live with him.
They both have a lot of life experience, though they approach it differently.
📖 story:
Cole’s best man speech 🥹 that was probably my favorite moment of the book.
I love how they had amazing chemistry from the moment they met (adored their meet-cute!), yet their relationship developed slowly and realistically over time.
🤍side characters:
Both Mira & Cole’s families/exes added a lot to the story, showing why they are the way they are. I also loved the bits we got of Madigan & Ashley from the first book, and Davis.
tropes + topics:
🥸 fake dating
🫶🏼 single parents
🤍 MCs in their 50s
🥁 famous drummer mmc
🧁 baker fmc
🏳️🌈 bisexual mmc
🩵 strangers to friends to lovers
🏔️ small mountain town
💞 dual 3rd person pov
🫶🏼 books with similar vibes:
•Come as You Are by Jess K Hardy
(I really haven’t read many like this one!)
Thank you to NetGalley & author Jess K. Hardy for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
February 9, 2024
4.25 stars
I spent the majority of the time while reading this in a state of swoon: either over Cole, who is a truly outstanding and 🔥🔥🔥 MMC, or at the little 80s callbacks dotted here and there: the music, the Lloyd Dobler references, the fact that Cole and Mira learned they were both at the same Depeche Mode concert in 1988.
But back to Cole, who is the sexiest golden retriever you’ll have the pleasure of reading about. He’s all in on life, and that includes Mira, with whom he agrees to fake date so she can show her ex that she’s moved on.
“We can be anything,” he said. “Anything you want. Imagine your dream wedding date, your perfect night. I want to be that for you.”
Mira, meanwhile, is juggling single motherhood, a family business, and the caretaking of her mother, who is sliding into dementia. It is a lot, and Cole is both a refuge for her and a source of stress: What will happen when he returns home to Seattle, where he has a business, a daughter and a granddaughter?
This book is full of the kind of wonderful scenes Hardy excels at: tender and real and often sexy as hell. Her sex scenes are truly top notch.
Two criticisms, one small, one bigger:
1. At the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Mira’s ex, Paul, and his new wife, Chrissy. Chrissy is written as a clingy, shallow bubblehead, which rubbed me the wrong way. It is OKAY for other women to be cool or at least not an irritant, even if they’re an ex’s new squeeze. I’d argue that this is particularly important in a book with middle-aged protagonists, because we all have histories, and few of us are our partners’ firsts. As a result, the beginning of the book felt uneven to me.
2. There is a third-act breakup, which I don’t necessarily mind if it’s done well. But here, the reasons for the breakup didn’t really hold up for me. Mira has a lot on her plate. She’s a single mother of a teenager, runs the family business and looks after her mother. She knows that she can’t leave her town, and so the thought of asking Cole to leave his life in Seattle to be near her is overwhelming to her. That would have been enough to justify her actions, but Hardy works in some stuff from her past: fear of abandonment and a feeling of unworthiness, which I don’t feel were integrated enough into the story to become motivations for rejecting Cole. Also, there are two revelations from her mom and from Paul that triggered a change of heart in Mira. One felt realistic, but the other felt too easy.
That said, these things wouldn’t stop me from recommending this book to literally any romance lover, especially those who are craving romance with protagonists who aren’t in their 20s.
I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I spent the majority of the time while reading this in a state of swoon: either over Cole, who is a truly outstanding and 🔥🔥🔥 MMC, or at the little 80s callbacks dotted here and there: the music, the Lloyd Dobler references, the fact that Cole and Mira learned they were both at the same Depeche Mode concert in 1988.
But back to Cole, who is the sexiest golden retriever you’ll have the pleasure of reading about. He’s all in on life, and that includes Mira, with whom he agrees to fake date so she can show her ex that she’s moved on.
“We can be anything,” he said. “Anything you want. Imagine your dream wedding date, your perfect night. I want to be that for you.”
Mira, meanwhile, is juggling single motherhood, a family business, and the caretaking of her mother, who is sliding into dementia. It is a lot, and Cole is both a refuge for her and a source of stress: What will happen when he returns home to Seattle, where he has a business, a daughter and a granddaughter?
This book is full of the kind of wonderful scenes Hardy excels at: tender and real and often sexy as hell. Her sex scenes are truly top notch.
Two criticisms, one small, one bigger:
1. At the beginning of the book, we are introduced to Mira’s ex, Paul, and his new wife, Chrissy. Chrissy is written as a clingy, shallow bubblehead, which rubbed me the wrong way. It is OKAY for other women to be cool or at least not an irritant, even if they’re an ex’s new squeeze. I’d argue that this is particularly important in a book with middle-aged protagonists, because we all have histories, and few of us are our partners’ firsts. As a result, the beginning of the book felt uneven to me.
2. There is a third-act breakup, which I don’t necessarily mind if it’s done well. But here, the reasons for the breakup didn’t really hold up for me. Mira has a lot on her plate. She’s a single mother of a teenager, runs the family business and looks after her mother. She knows that she can’t leave her town, and so the thought of asking Cole to leave his life in Seattle to be near her is overwhelming to her. That would have been enough to justify her actions, but Hardy works in some stuff from her past: fear of abandonment and a feeling of unworthiness, which I don’t feel were integrated enough into the story to become motivations for rejecting Cole. Also, there are two revelations from her mom and from Paul that triggered a change of heart in Mira. One felt realistic, but the other felt too easy.
That said, these things wouldn’t stop me from recommending this book to literally any romance lover, especially those who are craving romance with protagonists who aren’t in their 20s.
I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Read
June 2, 2024This delightful Gen X romance from Jess K. Hardy reprises so many of the elements I loved about Come As You Are. The characters, Mira and Cole, are in their 50's, so they've lived through some shit and survived. The book is funny and sweet and heartwarming and sexy (gotta love a hero who gets a vasectomy after the overturning of Roe). And there's a rich cast of secondary characters, including Ashleigh and Madigan (their wedding is what brings Cole into town).
And yet, I didn't love this one as much as the first book in the series, and I'm honestly not entirely sure why. Part of it, I think, is how much time Mira and Cole spend apart. The book starts with fake dating/real feelings, a trope I'm always here for. But there's a significant chunk of long-distance dating and relationship development via text, and the narrative lost me a bit at that point. Plus, I wasn't 100% sold on the plot device used to bring Cole back into town...and I think maybe I've read too many books/seen too many Hallmark movies about small-town bakery owners. Anyway, it all added up to a book I really liked, but one that perhaps suffered by comparison to its predecessor.
PS: More middle-aged romance characters, please!
"Who ever said we couldn't do ridiculous things anymore just because we're old?"
"Young people."
And yet, I didn't love this one as much as the first book in the series, and I'm honestly not entirely sure why. Part of it, I think, is how much time Mira and Cole spend apart. The book starts with fake dating/real feelings, a trope I'm always here for. But there's a significant chunk of long-distance dating and relationship development via text, and the narrative lost me a bit at that point. Plus, I wasn't 100% sold on the plot device used to bring Cole back into town...and I think maybe I've read too many books/seen too many Hallmark movies about small-town bakery owners. Anyway, it all added up to a book I really liked, but one that perhaps suffered by comparison to its predecessor.
PS: More middle-aged romance characters, please!
"Who ever said we couldn't do ridiculous things anymore just because we're old?"
"Young people."
February 8, 2025
This is the kind of internal conflict that is so thin. Mira is commitment-phobic because "everyone has left her" meanwhile she. Had a steady mom ( with dementia)
Then you have Cole,an absolute perfect hero who loves too easily and too much.
These people are in their 50s. And I'm sorry but I'm too old & younger than them for that kind of self-indulgent thinking.
For me, this just isn't the right kind of angst. First, it's soft angst. Second, it's the kind of psychological trauma I don't have time for as a middle aged adult. Third, and most offensively, they were kind of really boring. The heaviest emotional scenes were well outside the couple, and in a sense too late to be interesting. (Mira realizing what she does because of conversations telling her something different didn't ring true to me).
So. It was cozy, but it was a chore. I'm not recommending against it unless you, like me, are a romance reader that would rather be punched in the gut sporadically by the interactions between your leads, I'd skip this. If you are looking for a well-written cozy romance with leads in their 50s, this might be for you.
This could also be my own difficulty in reading contemporary by and large in this moment.
NB: love languages are a disproven, conservative Christian framework by an anti-LGBTQAI chucklefuck.
Then you have Cole,an absolute perfect hero who loves too easily and too much.
These people are in their 50s. And I'm sorry but I'm too old & younger than them for that kind of self-indulgent thinking.
For me, this just isn't the right kind of angst. First, it's soft angst. Second, it's the kind of psychological trauma I don't have time for as a middle aged adult. Third, and most offensively, they were kind of really boring. The heaviest emotional scenes were well outside the couple, and in a sense too late to be interesting. (Mira realizing what she does because of conversations telling her something different didn't ring true to me).
So. It was cozy, but it was a chore. I'm not recommending against it unless you, like me, are a romance reader that would rather be punched in the gut sporadically by the interactions between your leads, I'd skip this. If you are looking for a well-written cozy romance with leads in their 50s, this might be for you.
This could also be my own difficulty in reading contemporary by and large in this moment.
NB: love languages are a disproven, conservative Christian framework by an anti-LGBTQAI chucklefuck.
March 28, 2024
REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 stars
Lips Like Sugar
by Jess K Hardy
Much like the first book in the series, this book has a number of very original things about it. (It’s unfortunate that some of these things are rare enough in Romance, as to be notable here):
- Main characters in their 50s
- Bisexual main character
- Lots of emo vibes
- Dignified depiction of dementia
This was definitely a solid read but was at times slow for me. I LOVED the first book in this series and didn’t like this one quite as much. That said, it’s a good read and I definitely recommend it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 stars
Lips Like Sugar
by Jess K Hardy
Much like the first book in the series, this book has a number of very original things about it. (It’s unfortunate that some of these things are rare enough in Romance, as to be notable here):
- Main characters in their 50s
- Bisexual main character
- Lots of emo vibes
- Dignified depiction of dementia
This was definitely a solid read but was at times slow for me. I LOVED the first book in this series and didn’t like this one quite as much. That said, it’s a good read and I definitely recommend it.
February 11, 2024
We love to see a 50 year old woman getting hers. Sometimes it feels like we only really see MCs in this age group when it’s the silver fox falling for the nanny. If there’s no appetite among romance readers for women over 35, then I think we all need to take a long look in the mirror, because this book was hot! And swoony! The chemistry was delectable, and the spice delivered. The characters were compelling, and it was interesting to see how much history they each brought to the relationship. We don’t get so much of that with younger MCs. Also, Cole?? We love a hot drummer who’s not afraid to have his feelings.
I will say that the pacing is a little off. The book drags in the middle, and it also feels like a whole second plot begins at around 60% which is sort of exhausting. There’s also a long stretch in which it feels as if we’re getting just about every conversation either MC is having with anyone at all and then when tragedy strikes, we get almost no details about it, and it unfolds for like one page before we are whisked along to something else. I would have swapped the POV in a few places where I thought we would have gotten more out of seeing things from the other MC.
There are a bunch of disparate secondary story lines, and many of them are given more attention than seems called-for given that they are not resolved. I’m assuming that they will continue in future books in this series, but they are really just a slightly confusing distraction in this one. I didn’t read the first book in the series before this one, so perhaps it would have made more sense if I had.
Overall, a cute story with solid steam and lovable characters that would have benefitted from a bit more editing.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for my honest review.**
I will say that the pacing is a little off. The book drags in the middle, and it also feels like a whole second plot begins at around 60% which is sort of exhausting. There’s also a long stretch in which it feels as if we’re getting just about every conversation either MC is having with anyone at all and then when tragedy strikes, we get almost no details about it, and it unfolds for like one page before we are whisked along to something else. I would have swapped the POV in a few places where I thought we would have gotten more out of seeing things from the other MC.
There are a bunch of disparate secondary story lines, and many of them are given more attention than seems called-for given that they are not resolved. I’m assuming that they will continue in future books in this series, but they are really just a slightly confusing distraction in this one. I didn’t read the first book in the series before this one, so perhaps it would have made more sense if I had.
Overall, a cute story with solid steam and lovable characters that would have benefitted from a bit more editing.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for my honest review.**
March 29, 2024
This book really snuck up on me! I was aware of Hardy's Bluebird Basin series from the first book, but I had yet to get around to reading it. But the synopsis of this book had me at "fake dating" and "long distance."
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book and blown away by Hardy's writing, that I couldn't put the book down once I started. Mira and Cole have incredible chemistry from their first interaction, and I was so pleased to see a return of the "just fake date me for 5 minutes" use of the fake-dating trope instead of the new norm of the mcs needing some long drawn out reason to fake-date. Sure, those 5 minutes between Mira and Cole lead to faking through a wedding, but what develops from there is a beautiful and tender friendship leaning into something-more-land.
Quickly, the friendship gives way to their attraction for one another, but not in a rushed way. I cannot stress enough how thick the sexual tension between Cole and Mira was from the get-go, and the continued development of that, as well as their feelings for one another, was so well done. The book does get spicy around the halfway point, and that continues through the rest of the book. I don't think it's overbearing, but near the end I was like "Yes, we get it you're hot for one another can we communicate our feelings yet?" And then they did, so.
I also enjoyed how all the side characters were so well fleshed out - Mira's mother and son, Cole's daughter and ex-wife. I did feel a little left out with Ashely and Madigan's romance playing out on the back burner (the couple from the first book) as I haven't read that book, but I think Hardy sets the stage and their involvement up well enough, and I moved past it
Thank you to NetGalley and Jess K Hardy for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I was so pleasantly surprised by this book and blown away by Hardy's writing, that I couldn't put the book down once I started. Mira and Cole have incredible chemistry from their first interaction, and I was so pleased to see a return of the "just fake date me for 5 minutes" use of the fake-dating trope instead of the new norm of the mcs needing some long drawn out reason to fake-date. Sure, those 5 minutes between Mira and Cole lead to faking through a wedding, but what develops from there is a beautiful and tender friendship leaning into something-more-land.
Quickly, the friendship gives way to their attraction for one another, but not in a rushed way. I cannot stress enough how thick the sexual tension between Cole and Mira was from the get-go, and the continued development of that, as well as their feelings for one another, was so well done. The book does get spicy around the halfway point, and that continues through the rest of the book. I don't think it's overbearing, but near the end I was like "Yes, we get it you're hot for one another can we communicate our feelings yet?" And then they did, so.
I also enjoyed how all the side characters were so well fleshed out - Mira's mother and son, Cole's daughter and ex-wife. I did feel a little left out with Ashely and Madigan's romance playing out on the back burner (the couple from the first book) as I haven't read that book, but I think Hardy sets the stage and their involvement up well enough, and I moved past it
Thank you to NetGalley and Jess K Hardy for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
February 15, 2024
I adored Come As You Are and have been really eagerly anticipating the second book in the series, and Lips Like Sugar absolutely satisfied!
I love to read deeply developed characters, and Jess is crushing it on that count. Both Cole and Mira are self-aware and self-reflective, and we see the ways that their thinking are both strength and limitation through their story.
I also really appreciate that they’re just a few years apart in age but having somewhat different generational experiences within their families - Cole has just become a grandparent, while Mira is feeling the squeeze between her teenage son and her aging mother. This piece of their story seemed so authentic and added color to them individually and to their relationship, and I loved how accepting they were toward each other’s roles.
Another detail that really adds to my enjoyment of a book is the integration of music, and real song titles and bands, and this book sent me to Spotify several times to enhance the vibe while I read. Their heart songs? 😭😭😭
The fan service weaving Ashley and Madigan lightly through this book was spot-on - not so much that they took over, just enough to keep loving their relationship, too. And my interest is perfectly piqued for book 3 - though I love love love stories about fully adult characters and the next book sounds like it will center 20-somethings, I will read whatever comes next in this series based on my love for the first two books!
❤️❤️❤️ “Fake date. Real feelings.” ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!
I love to read deeply developed characters, and Jess is crushing it on that count. Both Cole and Mira are self-aware and self-reflective, and we see the ways that their thinking are both strength and limitation through their story.
I also really appreciate that they’re just a few years apart in age but having somewhat different generational experiences within their families - Cole has just become a grandparent, while Mira is feeling the squeeze between her teenage son and her aging mother. This piece of their story seemed so authentic and added color to them individually and to their relationship, and I loved how accepting they were toward each other’s roles.
Another detail that really adds to my enjoyment of a book is the integration of music, and real song titles and bands, and this book sent me to Spotify several times to enhance the vibe while I read. Their heart songs? 😭😭😭
The fan service weaving Ashley and Madigan lightly through this book was spot-on - not so much that they took over, just enough to keep loving their relationship, too. And my interest is perfectly piqued for book 3 - though I love love love stories about fully adult characters and the next book sounds like it will center 20-somethings, I will read whatever comes next in this series based on my love for the first two books!
❤️❤️❤️ “Fake date. Real feelings.” ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!
February 20, 2024
ANOTHER BANGER! i love the bluebird basin series! he may be 30 years older than me… but DAMN, i’m in love with cole. a drummer mmc? who’s a softy?! come on!! loved the lovely mira as well, and ESPECIALLY loved them together. i can’t recommend this book, and its series enough!
#netgalley
#netgalley
April 27, 2025
Thank you to Victory Editing/Netgalley and the author for the ARC.
If you are a fan of grown adults (40s/50s) dealing with real life challenges, yet finding ways to date in the modern era, you will enjoy Lips like Sugar. I loved how immediate and seamless the connection between Mira and Cole was - they had such great banter, both in person and in their texts (long distance relationships = text convos in books = my fave). It was also sweet to see how everyone in their orbit was supporting their relationship, even though circumstances seemed to be a barrier, at least on paper. Both characters had some growth opportunities and work to do on themselves, but ultimately they were able to acknowledge their flaws and find ways to make it work in the end. I’m looking forward to going back to read Come As You Are & the upcoming Wish You Were Here in this interconnected series of standalones.
If you are a fan of grown adults (40s/50s) dealing with real life challenges, yet finding ways to date in the modern era, you will enjoy Lips like Sugar. I loved how immediate and seamless the connection between Mira and Cole was - they had such great banter, both in person and in their texts (long distance relationships = text convos in books = my fave). It was also sweet to see how everyone in their orbit was supporting their relationship, even though circumstances seemed to be a barrier, at least on paper. Both characters had some growth opportunities and work to do on themselves, but ultimately they were able to acknowledge their flaws and find ways to make it work in the end. I’m looking forward to going back to read Come As You Are & the upcoming Wish You Were Here in this interconnected series of standalones.
May 27, 2024
The character work in this was excellent and I got pretty emotional about the mother/daughter stuff as that is my biggest fear as the oldest daughter of a mother. Really recommend this series if you're looking for something "new" in contemporary romance.
February 4, 2024
“Sometimes it’s the mess that makes life beautiful.”
•
•
Thank you Net Galley and Jess K Hardy for sending me an ARC! Ever since reading Come As You Are, I have been waiting with bated breath for the next installment and I was so happy for the opportunity to read this early.
This book was EVERYTHING! I cannot put in to words how much I loved this. Mira and Cole were so amazing, as individuals and as a couple. They were complex, emotional, imperfect, honest and real. As Jess said in her acknowledgements - ”Older people are largely absent from the media we consume outside of the role of parent or grandparent or plucky upstairs neighbor. Those depictions tend to be so surface level they’re practically transparent. I write these stories because I think it’s important to realize that older people are all still learning, still growing, still fucking up and sometimes making terrible choices, still deeply emotional, deeply flawed, outrageously immature at times, still having sex, still falling in love, and still worthy of being main characters. Romance readers age up, so romance stories should age up too.” And it could not be truer. That’s what makes her Bluebird Basin books (thus far) so beautiful and amazing and part of a short list of my favorite books of all time.
This picked up fairly soon after the end of Come As You Are with Ashley and Madigan getting married. Enter Mira. Single, mom to a teenage son, caretaker of her aging mother and Red Falls baker. She is barely holding herself above water. Always putting others ahead of herself and truly believing that’s all she can do. Somewhat unexpectedly, her ex boyfriend walks in to her bakery and announces that not only will he be at Ashley and Madigan’s wedding, but so will his wife. Not wanting to be “tragically” single, Mira makes a split second decision to announce that after she delivers their wedding cake, she will also be going. With her boyfriend. Enter Cole. Single, dad to Becks, grandfather to Ruby, drummer for the Makers and owner of Trax, a Seattle based recording studio. In town for his best friend, Madigan’s wedding, he walked in to Mira’s bakery just looking to pick up some tarts but walked away with a fake wedding date. But as Cole eventually puts it, the date may be fake but the feels are all real.
Cole and Mira go on this fake relationship, fake wedding date adventure but very quickly realize how perfect it all feels. How REAL it all feels. How easy it feels. However, they aren’t really in any position to uproot either of their lives for the other. Mira is tied to Red Falls, Montana and Cole is tied to Seattle. It might be messy, but when you find the real deal, life is too short to waste it.
Mira’s journey as a single mom raising a teenage son while also trying to care for her aging mother and run a business was inspiring. There were times I just wanted to give her a hug and tell her it would all be okay. And Cole. Ugh. He is the definition of “heart on your sleeve” but also “would give the shirt off his back.” I loved everything about him.
As usual, the supporting characters were spectacular. I can’t wait for Davis and Kev next. I can only imagine the heartache Jess is going to dish out to us.
This was such a treat. I loved this book. These characters. The story. The feels. Infinite stars.
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Thank you Net Galley and Jess K Hardy for sending me an ARC! Ever since reading Come As You Are, I have been waiting with bated breath for the next installment and I was so happy for the opportunity to read this early.
This book was EVERYTHING! I cannot put in to words how much I loved this. Mira and Cole were so amazing, as individuals and as a couple. They were complex, emotional, imperfect, honest and real. As Jess said in her acknowledgements - ”Older people are largely absent from the media we consume outside of the role of parent or grandparent or plucky upstairs neighbor. Those depictions tend to be so surface level they’re practically transparent. I write these stories because I think it’s important to realize that older people are all still learning, still growing, still fucking up and sometimes making terrible choices, still deeply emotional, deeply flawed, outrageously immature at times, still having sex, still falling in love, and still worthy of being main characters. Romance readers age up, so romance stories should age up too.” And it could not be truer. That’s what makes her Bluebird Basin books (thus far) so beautiful and amazing and part of a short list of my favorite books of all time.
This picked up fairly soon after the end of Come As You Are with Ashley and Madigan getting married. Enter Mira. Single, mom to a teenage son, caretaker of her aging mother and Red Falls baker. She is barely holding herself above water. Always putting others ahead of herself and truly believing that’s all she can do. Somewhat unexpectedly, her ex boyfriend walks in to her bakery and announces that not only will he be at Ashley and Madigan’s wedding, but so will his wife. Not wanting to be “tragically” single, Mira makes a split second decision to announce that after she delivers their wedding cake, she will also be going. With her boyfriend. Enter Cole. Single, dad to Becks, grandfather to Ruby, drummer for the Makers and owner of Trax, a Seattle based recording studio. In town for his best friend, Madigan’s wedding, he walked in to Mira’s bakery just looking to pick up some tarts but walked away with a fake wedding date. But as Cole eventually puts it, the date may be fake but the feels are all real.
Cole and Mira go on this fake relationship, fake wedding date adventure but very quickly realize how perfect it all feels. How REAL it all feels. How easy it feels. However, they aren’t really in any position to uproot either of their lives for the other. Mira is tied to Red Falls, Montana and Cole is tied to Seattle. It might be messy, but when you find the real deal, life is too short to waste it.
Mira’s journey as a single mom raising a teenage son while also trying to care for her aging mother and run a business was inspiring. There were times I just wanted to give her a hug and tell her it would all be okay. And Cole. Ugh. He is the definition of “heart on your sleeve” but also “would give the shirt off his back.” I loved everything about him.
As usual, the supporting characters were spectacular. I can’t wait for Davis and Kev next. I can only imagine the heartache Jess is going to dish out to us.
This was such a treat. I loved this book. These characters. The story. The feels. Infinite stars.
April 11, 2024
Review originally posted at https://smexybooks.com/2024/04/review...
Y’all, this book has everything I could ask for. Over 50 main characters? Check. Deliciously swoon- worthy, beta rock and roll hero? Check. Sexy, sexy times galore? Check.
Lips Like Sugar is the second book in the Bluebird Basin series and focuses on Cole Sanderson, best friend and former bandmate to Madigan, and Mira Harlow, single mother, parental caretaker, and small-town baker/business owner in Red Falls, MT. They meet quite by chance–when Mira pulls Cole into her lie about having a date for Madigan and Ashley’s upcoming wedding. Cole is taken with Mira right from the first moment they meet and insists upon some getting to know you time in order to make their fake date believable to her ex.
What starts out as a fake date turns into a genuine, real connection between the two when they start to get to know each other. The chemistry is real y’all. I really, really loved this couple in all their messy, authentic glory. Cole is only in town for a short amount of time, and he has a whole life back in Seattle, but he can’t stop thinking Mira. She can’t stop thinking of him either, even though she has a mother and son to take care of and a business to run. This begins a relationship through texts and even some facetime sexiness.
Both of them have a lifetime of baggage along for the ride. Mira has issues with being left behind, and Cole knows he tends to fall harder than his partners than they do him, which often leads to heartache, but they fall anyway and fall hard. There are so many soft, sweet moments. So much understanding. These are main characters in their 50’s, so there are frank discussions of what it means to be growing into older bodies, how decisions in their pasts affect their future, and the challenge of taking care of both their children and their parents while still making time for themselves. This is the exact place I am in life, and I connected to each of these characters immediately.
I really love this series. LOVE. Even the easter egg mentions of both music and movies from the 90’s make me smile. The romance between the main couple is super-hot, but also tender and sweet. I love the friendships and how they are a vital part of the main character’s lives. There is just so much to adore about this Gen X romance series. I’m looking forward to whatever comes next.
Content warnings- mentions of past alcohol and drug abuse, secondary characters in drug rehab program, parent with early onset memory impairment.
Final grade- A
Y’all, this book has everything I could ask for. Over 50 main characters? Check. Deliciously swoon- worthy, beta rock and roll hero? Check. Sexy, sexy times galore? Check.
Lips Like Sugar is the second book in the Bluebird Basin series and focuses on Cole Sanderson, best friend and former bandmate to Madigan, and Mira Harlow, single mother, parental caretaker, and small-town baker/business owner in Red Falls, MT. They meet quite by chance–when Mira pulls Cole into her lie about having a date for Madigan and Ashley’s upcoming wedding. Cole is taken with Mira right from the first moment they meet and insists upon some getting to know you time in order to make their fake date believable to her ex.
What starts out as a fake date turns into a genuine, real connection between the two when they start to get to know each other. The chemistry is real y’all. I really, really loved this couple in all their messy, authentic glory. Cole is only in town for a short amount of time, and he has a whole life back in Seattle, but he can’t stop thinking Mira. She can’t stop thinking of him either, even though she has a mother and son to take care of and a business to run. This begins a relationship through texts and even some facetime sexiness.
Both of them have a lifetime of baggage along for the ride. Mira has issues with being left behind, and Cole knows he tends to fall harder than his partners than they do him, which often leads to heartache, but they fall anyway and fall hard. There are so many soft, sweet moments. So much understanding. These are main characters in their 50’s, so there are frank discussions of what it means to be growing into older bodies, how decisions in their pasts affect their future, and the challenge of taking care of both their children and their parents while still making time for themselves. This is the exact place I am in life, and I connected to each of these characters immediately.
I really love this series. LOVE. Even the easter egg mentions of both music and movies from the 90’s make me smile. The romance between the main couple is super-hot, but also tender and sweet. I love the friendships and how they are a vital part of the main character’s lives. There is just so much to adore about this Gen X romance series. I’m looking forward to whatever comes next.
Content warnings- mentions of past alcohol and drug abuse, secondary characters in drug rehab program, parent with early onset memory impairment.
Final grade- A
February 13, 2024
I am grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book early, because like the first book in Jess K. Hardy's Bluebird Basin series - "Come As You Are" - I loved every bit of her upcoming new release, "Lips Like Sugar."
Mira is a 50-year-old single mom and baker who lives near Madigan and Ashley from book 1, in the beautiful Montana mountains. When she meets Madigan's former bandmate, "f***ing drummer" Cole, sparks fly immediately.
I adore how this sweet love story treats a Gen X couple, normalizing the 50+ world of dating while going through perimenopause, dealing with exes, aging parents, grumpy teens, and even grandbabies. The characters are sexy, passionate, dedicated to both their careers and families, and feel like real people. Having a rock star fall in love with you is still everyone's dream, right?
One thing I appreciate about this book is that we still get to spend a little time with Madigan and Ashley from the first story, even though they are out of town for a good portion of it.
"Lips Like Sugar" deals with issues of addiction, fears of abandonment, and LGBTQ+ life, as some characters in the book identify as bi or pan.
Grab your favorite bakery treat and cozy up with this delectable story. Highly recommended!
(Book release date: March, 2024)
Mira is a 50-year-old single mom and baker who lives near Madigan and Ashley from book 1, in the beautiful Montana mountains. When she meets Madigan's former bandmate, "f***ing drummer" Cole, sparks fly immediately.
I adore how this sweet love story treats a Gen X couple, normalizing the 50+ world of dating while going through perimenopause, dealing with exes, aging parents, grumpy teens, and even grandbabies. The characters are sexy, passionate, dedicated to both their careers and families, and feel like real people. Having a rock star fall in love with you is still everyone's dream, right?
One thing I appreciate about this book is that we still get to spend a little time with Madigan and Ashley from the first story, even though they are out of town for a good portion of it.
"Lips Like Sugar" deals with issues of addiction, fears of abandonment, and LGBTQ+ life, as some characters in the book identify as bi or pan.
Grab your favorite bakery treat and cozy up with this delectable story. Highly recommended!
(Book release date: March, 2024)
February 11, 2024
This book was so good!!
I liked Cole & Mira a lot!! The real-life dynamics within this book - the way the author weaved the real life shit we deal with into this fantastical romance - was just amazing.
Mira is dealing with being a single mom to a teenager, taking care of her elder parent, owning a business, all while dealing with menopausal symptoms. She's so strong and independent, but is it to her own detriment?
Cole is a grandpa!! He owns his own business, too, and is a successful rockstar. He goes to help his best friend by babysitting Little Timber while Mads goes on his honeymoon - but it's not all cupcakes & pastries. Some serious shit goes down & everything just rises to the surface for him.
Cole makes up his mind on what he wants in life. Develops the 'lifes too short' philosophy.
Mira isn't there yet. She's got too much going on.
The fact that these to work through it is amazing.
I loved it when Cole said he got a vasectomy when Roe v Wade got overturned. It was him doing his part to keep from accidentally procreating.
I loved it when Cole met Miras mom & son. That was such a wholesome scene. The vulnerability that Mira showed was so unlike what we know of her up to that point. It's like the curtain was brought back & we were given a glimpse into her heart.
I loved that the ex is what helped her realize the errors of her ways.
Excellent Read.
Very Emotional.
I liked Cole & Mira a lot!! The real-life dynamics within this book - the way the author weaved the real life shit we deal with into this fantastical romance - was just amazing.
Mira is dealing with being a single mom to a teenager, taking care of her elder parent, owning a business, all while dealing with menopausal symptoms. She's so strong and independent, but is it to her own detriment?
Cole is a grandpa!! He owns his own business, too, and is a successful rockstar. He goes to help his best friend by babysitting Little Timber while Mads goes on his honeymoon - but it's not all cupcakes & pastries. Some serious shit goes down & everything just rises to the surface for him.
Cole makes up his mind on what he wants in life. Develops the 'lifes too short' philosophy.
Mira isn't there yet. She's got too much going on.
The fact that these to work through it is amazing.
I loved it when Cole said he got a vasectomy when Roe v Wade got overturned. It was him doing his part to keep from accidentally procreating.
I loved it when Cole met Miras mom & son. That was such a wholesome scene. The vulnerability that Mira showed was so unlike what we know of her up to that point. It's like the curtain was brought back & we were given a glimpse into her heart.
I loved that the ex is what helped her realize the errors of her ways.
Excellent Read.
Very Emotional.
March 24, 2024
I love seeing a hot MMC in his fifties going for the hot 50 yo FMC. It shouldn’t be as refreshing & rare as it is, but here we are and it deserves a mention. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Most 50 yo in romance are either creeping up on a 20 yo or relegated to background characters like a parent or grandparent. This alone set this book apart and made it relatable in a special way to me. But it also has so much more going for it, this book is beautifully written and relatable to anyone who believes in second chances. Come as you are was one of my favourite books in 2022 and I can already tell this one will make my best of 2024 list.
You can’t imagine a better meet cute. I adored Mira from the moment we first meet her and by the time Cole delivered his best man speech I was madly in love with him too. I don’t want to say more and spoil it for you. Just take my word for it and read it. Can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading both books in this series.
Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity. I was given an ARC copy of this book and my opinions are my own.
You can’t imagine a better meet cute. I adored Mira from the moment we first meet her and by the time Cole delivered his best man speech I was madly in love with him too. I don’t want to say more and spoil it for you. Just take my word for it and read it. Can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading both books in this series.
Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity. I was given an ARC copy of this book and my opinions are my own.
April 19, 2024
I won this book from a goodreads giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the second in series of gen x romances. You don’t need to read the first book, but I recommend it.
I really enjoyed this one. It not only was a wonderful love story, but dealt with some serious issues without being too much. The main characters were loveable, the side characters really added to the story, and we were in the same backdrop of a small town in Montana.
My favorite part of this book was a chapter that was (almost? I forget) entirely written as a series of text messages. It was cute, fun, and I didn’t want that chapter to end.
I definitely recommend this one, but watch your trigger warnings!
CW: addiction (minor), dementia (on page, parent of main character), past divorce.
This is the second in series of gen x romances. You don’t need to read the first book, but I recommend it.
I really enjoyed this one. It not only was a wonderful love story, but dealt with some serious issues without being too much. The main characters were loveable, the side characters really added to the story, and we were in the same backdrop of a small town in Montana.
My favorite part of this book was a chapter that was (almost? I forget) entirely written as a series of text messages. It was cute, fun, and I didn’t want that chapter to end.
I definitely recommend this one, but watch your trigger warnings!
CW: addiction (minor), dementia (on page, parent of main character), past divorce.
February 15, 2024
Another fantastic edition to the Bluebird Basin series. One of the things I loved from the first book was learning about the men staying at the lodge, so I was really pleased that whilst they were not as big of a focus in this book, we still got to spend some time with them. Jess is really great at letting us feel the characters emotions, and I particularly loved how emotional Cole was, and that he was unafraid to show it. I absolutely recommend this series, particularly if you want to read about older characters, rather than 20 somethings.
Crossing my fingers and toes for a Kev and Davis story <3
I received an advanced copy of this book but all thoughts are my own.
Crossing my fingers and toes for a Kev and Davis story <3
I received an advanced copy of this book but all thoughts are my own.
June 12, 2024
I loved this second Bluebird Basin book featuring two middle aged parents/grandparents finding love where they least expect it. A dual POV, ex-rock star (drummer) x baker romance set in a small Montana town. There was fun cameos from the two main characters in book one but this can definitely be read as a standalone. I also loved the great phone banter/text exchanges, the parent with early onset Alzheimer's and the bisexual (him) rep. Great on audio and highly recommended!
Steam level: very open door
Steam level: very open door
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