Thanks to NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the eARC. Sorry I took so long—once I saw it was coming on audio, I just had to wait! I got my copy on Libro.fm.

Come As You Are
By Jess K. Hardy
(Bluebird Basin book 1)

Narrated by Andi Arndt & Stephen Borne.

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (0-5)
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 (0-5)
Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (0-5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥 (0-5)

What I’m Starry-Eyed Over:
🤩 Gorgeous writing—totally captivating with beautifully descriptive physical surroundings and physical attraction.
🤩 Workplace romance, the forbidden and sneaky kind.
🤩 It’s such a unique and clever ski resort plot.
🤩 The sweetest reverse teach-me/let’s make a deal!
🤩 Eyebrow raising innuendos and flirting.
🤩 Mature MCs with the cutest characterization and with smokin’ hot chemistry.
🤩 The narrators are perfectly cast—mature yet fun!
🤩 When Ashley is tongue tied after interacting with Madigan. Her mom: “Bibs, Madigan. The word my daughter is searching for is bibs.” Laugh-out-loud funny!
🤩 Matthew Madigan is total book boyfriend material—so hot, sweet, observant, thoughtful, and the good listener Ashley needs. “Requesting permission to raise the current speed limit.”
🤩 I just love Madigan (Matthew) and Ashley together so much, how it’s been so long for both of them. They are so raw and real and beautiful.
🤩 The anticipation of Ashley calling Matthew Madigan.
🤩 I’m a sucker for a hot shower scene.
🤩 All the feels romcom goodness!
🤩 Beautiful theme of resilience. And, fantastic recovering addict/alcoholic representation.
🤩 Murphy—pet lovers will be smitten.
🤩 Ride on Mad Madigan!

What I’m Wishing/Dizzy About:
💫 The understand the slow burn. But I still think Ashley’s hormones would have had her wanting to touch Madigan a little sooner.

I grabbed this book originally based on the cover. I went in completely blind and I think that maybe I should have read the blurb first? It was still a great story and I did enjoy it but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I knew.
Still a great story that I would read again or buy for a friend!

What a pleasant read- it was a steamy, heart wrenching story!

🩵 Ski-resort setting
🩵 Holiday time
🩵 Silver fox
🩵 Gen-X couple (46 and 53)
🩵 STEAMY!!!

Come as you are - Jess K Hardy

Really enjoyed this book, it felt refreshing to be reading about a couple who are slightly older than the current demographic for romance books. Ashley was a lovely character to follow on her path to keep her beloved ski hill alive, and her mums personality was a great contrast to Ashley's and I felt this gave a good dynamic to the story. What can I say about Madigan? perfection in a book boyfriend! Lots of depth to his character, warmth and of course tension between him and Ashley, a really good read. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
Thank you so much Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Pinkity Publishing and Netgalley for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

SO many emotions when it comes to this book, but I loved it! I enjoyed the ties to rom-coms with mixed tapes, boom boxes, and 80s music. The story was easy to follow and the writing was great!

This was a solid book, and it was nice to see Gen X/older main characters get their happily ever after. I'm interested to read the next book in the series and get Cole's story.

Really enjoyed this book. It was a great love story with many different dimensions and backstory is to the characters. It was also very interesting and topical with the business element of the ski slope, and more modern businesses around the area. The characters were great, and I really wanted everything to work out for them not just the two main love interests. It would be good to have a part two I think.

This is a book that can make you cry, laugh, and fall in deep love with the characters!

It has everything you can want - more mature MCs (justice for older adults falling in love!!!!), snow shenanigans, mixtapes and spicy sex life no matter the age!

This book had great character development, focused on growth, redemption and the emotions in this book were so heartfelt!
The book follows Ashley and Madigan who are immediatly attracted to each other, but that insta reaction is followed by a tasty slowburn. The emotional and physical intimacy in this book was written so beautifully that I felt it in my heart.

While Madigan had plenty regrets about his past and Ashley's ex created unnecessary drama, this book was incredible!

Yay, a romance with Gen X and "elder millennials" as the main characters. It is refreshing to read about my own age group and the nostalgia of the 90s music scene. The main characters are both mapping out the next steps in their life. Ashley needs to save her mountain and Madigan wants to find meaningful work for the guys in Sober Living. How oh how could they work together? In this cute, sexier version of Hallmark, the men from sober living work at the Ski resort. While Ashley teaches Madigan how to ski, sparks fly between them. While the romance is what you would typically expect, it is still an enjoyable read, full of anticipation as the two navigate how they feel. But are they able to save the mountain from being gobbled up by their corporate competitors?

I definitely enjoyed this book. I love the fact that they were able to work with a sober living facility. There were questions and preconceptions about employing the alcoholics and addicts. The book addressed those and hopefully educated some readers along the way. It tastefully described the hardships some face when returning to life while working hard to stay sober and regain trust. The romance was wonderful as well.

I didn't know what to expect going into this but it was a lovely surprise all around. I think it's important that not only are the stories we read entertaining but that we also have an opportunity to learn something from them. This story gives what i think is an unexpected view into the world of sobriety and recovery. It allows for just enough to open the door to a view many don't always check. Hardy gives us this by introducing Matthew Madigan and his people from Little Timbers. The support that Ashley receives when she opens her door to Madigan and his crew shows just how important taking a chance in life can be.

unfortunately, i had to DNF this book. I tried picking it up multiple times but it just wasn’t for me.

thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book!

Such an amazing book! I loved every second of reading this! All of the characters were so deep and amazing! The dialogue was fantastic! I absolutely can’t wait to see what comes next!!

This was a sweet romance for two people who had basically given up on finding someone special. Ashley is a divorced mom of a grown daughter who was cheated on many times by her ex-husband. Not only was he a cheater, he made her feel "less than," instead of building her up. It's difficult for her to find self-confidence in anything after living through that marriage. Then she meets Madigan, an ex-rocker and recovering addict. On paper they couldn't be more different yet they work. Both of them are in need of someone to prioritize them and Madigan definitely does that with Ashley. However, Ashley is so confused that she has a hard time understanding that Madigan needs that from her. Eventually she'll figure it out but it takes her a bit.

The push and pull of their relationship is believable and tugs at the heartstrings. In addition, the side characters are well thought out and add quality to the storyline.

This is an enjoyable story and I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley for this complimentary ebook. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This storyline was beautifully written. Ashley and Madigan are in the middle-age bracket, but you forget that, unless it’s mentioned. They both have gone through a lot in their lives, from heartbreak to dealing with trust issues. But through it all they find each other and start to learn how to trust and depend on others. A second chance at falling in love and really feeling how it is to be in love with someone so enamored by you.

Ashley is a single mom who is trying to save her home from becoming an overly developed ski resort. Madigan is an ex-musician who happens to run a home for ex-cons on the road to getting back into society. As they spend time with each other during the Winter season, feelings start to develop. The thing is, he’s afraid to get too close to Ashley and be his authentic self, someone he’s never shown to any one. Ashley is also afraid that Madigan will end up being like her ex and leaving.

Things are going to well for the Bluebird either, they’re in way over their head with debt. Ashley’s mother Maude Alice isn’t that helpful and their relationship is strained, after the death of her father. Max. It doesn’t help that Chuck, Ashley’s ex is trying to buy Bluebird and develop it and always trying to get back with her.

This is a sweet winter read, that reminds you people can change, if we let them. That if we’re willing to see our past mistakes and move on from them, that we also should let go of the sorrow and sadness.

Thank you #NetGalley for the arc of this book. I absolutely loved every second of it.

2.5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’ve been feeling very guilty that it is taking me so long to get through books. Life has gotten very busy - my apologies to the publisher.

There were so many things that had me excited about this book. I was keen for older lead characters, the plot about Little Timber and the workers, and a mature romance.

The addiction recovery centre and men working at the ski site storyline were the things I enjoyed most. I liked the cast of characters, and the message that people in recovery aren’t villains. The messaging around addiction was great.

The romance fell flat for me because the leads did not speak or behave like they were in their 40s/50s - the immaturity and instalove made it a little jarring. I also didn’t buy the timeframe. I was more invested in Kev/Davis than the MCs.

The mother and daughter characters and their relationships were added side-plots that I don’t think were fleshed out and resolved enough. The animosity between Maude Alice and Ashley didn’t add much to the experience for me.

In short: I’d recommend this because of the addiction recovery content, but the romance didn’t work for me.

First thought: Loved this one, it is a story of growth, redemption and triumph. Life doesn’t always turned out as planned, and this is a love story to the hard, messy and emotional side and shows its worth it to push through.

Ashley is divorced and is trying to run her families ski resort after her dad sudden death, but they are in the red and if things don’t turn around she’ll be forced to sell. She doesn’t have the luxury of taking chances or she could loose it all, but her mom who is the complete opposite proposes they use a local recovery house for their labor this season.

Madigan is an ex rockstar who is has been in recovery for over 20years, and he runs the recovery house. He’s made it his mission to help others have a space safe after they are released from prison. His group just lost their jobs, as the local mill closed but he’s hoping the family owned ski resort will take him and his men on this season.

Backed into a wall she has no choice and gives this group a chance, so the men move to the resort and train to be the staff for the winter season. Ashley and Madigan have insta chemistry but they both have a lot going on to make this work and it’s not worth the risk for romance or a fling.

This ski season is going to be one hell of a ride you don’t want to miss!

Potential Triggers: Death of parent, Divorce, Cheating, Addiction/Recovery:Sex, Drugs,Alcohol

Tropes you’ll find:

* Insta Chemistry
* Addiction/Recovery
* Forced Proximity
* Divorced FMC
* Ex Rockstar MMC
* Love Story to GenX
* Second Chance
* Winter Vibes
* Spicy 🔥

This was a fun little wintery rom-com. I loved the main characters, and I particularly liked that they were a bit older, so closer to my age group. This romance is more of a slow burn and has themes of starting over, friendships, healing, and family. This was an enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. The fmc is caring, single mom and strong. The mmc is sexy, vulnerable and a breath of fresh air. I loved their story and the pace. Some of those steamy scenes .. wow. I also enjoyed the side stories of her mother , her daughter and the men trying to fix their lives. I wouldn’t mind another book from the other guys. Sam and Izzy’s story maybe.

This was a cute, quick wintry read. There were a few more serious topics like addiction, manipulative relationships etc so just a heads up on that. I enjoyed the adorable mischievous rescue dog and that it was an later in life romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a good book! Loved the characters and the storyline. It was super quick and easy to read. Add this to your TBR!