This was a great next installment in the series and really felt like a continuation of the first book. Because of that, I did feel a little lost at times before my memory would get triggered and I'd remember who some of these side characters were. I'd recommend reading book 1 for sure before starting this one and I'd say the shorter the time between the two, the better. I've only read a handful of older MC romances and I'm really enjoying them and the slightly different dynamic of either being a second chance at love or, as is the case here, a chance to go all-in. Mira and Cole have a great depth of character and I love how much we get to see of them outside the main relationship dynamic. We get to see family and friends as well as their own thoughts and worries. I do wish we got to see a little more of Cole's internal thoughts on paper because there were a few places where it felt like the book was missing that extra layer of character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC. Publication date was March 28, 2024

Absolutely loved this story! I appreciate Jess Hardy for writing extremely sweet, extremely hot romances about men and women who are middle aged and ACT LIKE THEY ARE MIDDLE AGED but still have personalities, quirks, and worries while they are falling in love. More please!!!

4 stars! Highly recommend it I love fake dating to get back at an ex lol Add a rock star and older characters hell ya! I had no idea what the book was about the cover drew me in and I was all for it. I love a silver fox and pictured Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers as our main character! #LipsLikeSugar #NetGalley

This book had everything I didn't know I needed and I could not put it down.

-Main characters in their 50s
-Fake date, real feels
-Long distance pining
-Dual POV
-Golden Retriever Boyfriend

The story opens with Mira working on a wedding cake at her bakery when her ex (Paul) and his wife (Chrissy) show up. Mira finds herself agreeing to sit with Paul and Chrissy at the wedding with her nonexistent wedding date. Cole happens to stroll through the bakery door to pick up tarts for the aforementioned wedding at this time and finds himself in a faking dating situation with Mira. The fake date doesn't last long as they have a true connection that they build through text messages and phone calls. Both are juggling a lot of responsibility and are navigating past relationship trauma. Mira is running her bakery, raising a teenage son by herself and dealing with reality of her mother's dementia. Cole is running his recording studio, helping his daughter and granddaughter, and working with his ex-partner on her music.

Cole falls hard and fast for Mira and she is reluctant to open her heart. Their banter throughout the book is fantastic and you can truly see their relationship blossom. The spice level was perfect and the emotional connection was *chef's kiss*. I also appreciated the Volvo station wagon! Who doesn't love safety?

I really enjoyed this book and would encourage others to pick it up. Jess's writing was phenomenal and kept me up past my bedtime saying "just one more chapter...."

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
#LipsLikeSugar #NetGalley

Cole Sanderson, former drummer for a popular 90s grunge band, is the epitome of a sexy grandpa and he knows it.

Yeah. I said it. Grandpa.

He's in his 50s. Emotionally mature. And perks up any time his best friend and former bandmate Madigan flexes his giant biceps (let's be honest...we'd all do the same...)

But it's the single mom baker with the emo style and closed off emotions who holds his heart. The question is - does she want it?

"Why do I keep falling in love with people who refuse to love me back?”

Lips Like Sugar is another stellar installment in the Bluebird Basin Romance series. Cole is such a puppy dog when it comes to Mira. He's patient and loving and wants nothing more than to make her happy.

Mira has a huge chip on her shoulders, though, and she doesn't believe she's worthy of love. It takes having the thing she wants most in life taken away from her to get her to realize she deserves her happily ever after.

Lips Like Sugar is available now, so getcha a sweet Gen X romance with some serious spice.

Thank you, Jess K Hardy and NetGalley, for the ability to read this fantastic novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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.

I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Mira Harlow has been carrying the world on her shoulders. She's a single mom of a teen while caring for her mother who has the beginning stages of dementia. So what would possess her to kiss a perfect stranger and asking him to be her wedding date? Well, seeing her ex happily married and in her shop with his wife doe the trick. Cole Sanderson came to town for his best friend and former bandmate's wedding. He did not complain when the gorgeous baker tugged him in for a kiss. The connection is instant, but he lives in Seattle, miles and miles away from Montana. Will they be able to overcome the obstacles, including distance, to give each other a shot?

Have you read Come As You Are? If you haven't, do so now. It's the best romance featuring MCs in their 40s and 50s that I've read, until now. I'm not sure which I love more of the two in this series. Cole is a drummer, and everything that comes with that which made me laugh so much because *it's* *true.* The sandwich generation is highlighted here in ways that are so relatable, single mom raising her child while also caring for her mother. And Cole is a new grandfather, giving new meaning to the word Grandaddy. Hardy does such a fantastic job of weaving the realities of life into her Bluebird Basin romances, that make them both relatable and aspirational. I loved this installment and am hoping there will be more! I would recommend this to anyone looking for Gen X rep, rockstar romance, fake dating, phone fun, bi rep, and spicy romance.

I just adore this series so much!! I wasn't sure how Hardy was going to top Ashley and Mad's story, but Cole and his whole heartfelt emotions and Mira together were so precious! I fell in love with both of them so quickly. This town is so lovable, the characters are so charming, and everything feels so meaningful there. I also kind of love the touch of Davis' and Kev's ongoing side story tied in with each one. I'm eagerly waiting for the next, because these swoony Gen X small town romances have me by a chokehold and I'm okay with it.

Lips like Sugar

No one writes Gen X romance characters with such realistic, yet heartfelt tenderness as Jess K Hardy. She’s done it again with LIPS LIKE SUGAR, the second installment of her Bluebird Basin series.
Mira is dealing with sandwich generation challenges: menopause, hot flashes, a teenage son, a mother with memory issues. She also runs a bakery and when she starts fake dating Cole, she finally lets her guard down and enjoys herself. Former drummer, Cole Sanderson, has a demanding ex and a daughter who is struggling as a single parent. He is also one hot hot HOT bisexual grandfather, who knows how to give a wedding toast that makes everyone cry, including the reader. He falls first- the second he meets Mira- and agrees to be her fake date to Madigan’s wedding hoping to get to know her better. He’s so incredibly sweet and emotionally intelligent. He’s supportive and knows when to listen. Swoon!
Mira and Cole are competent, selfless people, with real lives, who do everything they can to support their family and friends. Their chemistry and connection is strong, but that each have deep wounds standing in their way. Along the way, Mira and Cole treat one another with respect and kindness resulting in a touching, tender and sometimes heart wrenching story. I kept turning the pages to see if they would get their much deserved happily ever after. I’m not sure I’ve ever rooted this hard for a couple to succeed.
And…the sex was out of this world. Cole knows how to read the (bed)room. He takes his cues from Mira can deliver whatever the mood calls for, be it gentle, hot, rough, or adventurous. You will never think of Tiger Balm the same way again, I promise.

Thank you to the author and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.

This book really snuck up on me! I was aware of Hardy's Bluebird Bassin 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! 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!

This was a sweet, sexy, mostly lighthearted read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I really love that Jess K. Hardy is writing love stories with Gen X main characters. It's such a delight to read about older characters living though those early, heady, all-consuming days of new love. Cole and Mira were no exception.

This is not a trope-driven book. I know it's marketed as fake dating, but the fake dating lasts for like 2.5 seconds. Beyond fake dating I'm struggling to think of any other tropes utilized in the book, and to be honest I'm not mad about it. I love a trope-y book, don't get me wrong, but it's nice sometimes to read a story that feels...realistic. At its core, this is a story of two people who meet in a chance encounter, experience a deep attraction and connection, and then have to grapple with the fact that they live two states apart and have roots in those places that can't be easily transplanted.

Lips Like Sugar is book 2 in the Bluebird Basin series. While it can be read as a standalone I think the book benefits from having read book 1 first. There's overlap in setting and side characters, and less attention is paid to establishing that background in Lips Like Sugar than in Come As You Are. Plus, the wedding of the two MCs in Come As You Are is featured prominently in the early part of Lips Like Sugar. I don't want to get too into comparing the books, but I will say that book 1 worked better for me than book 2. I'm not entirely sure why, because I enjoyed the main characters in both books equally, neither book is trope-driven, and they're both on the low plot side of the spectrum. I think for me book 1 was enhanced by the additional story layer of getting to know the residents of Little Timber sober living home and Madigan's own journey to recovery that made it a more satisfying read.

Another excellent older adult romance - who says us Generation-X folk can’t find love and don’t want to read about characters our own age? I get very tired about reading stories of 20-somethings and really appreciate the authors giving me 40’s, and Hardy here even 50’s, characters. It’s more realistic for me as the reader. I may be an X-ennial, but still technically Gen-X.

I really enjoyed reading Blue Bird Basin book 1 last year, about Ashley and Madigan finding love on her ski hill, and was happy to pick up the copy of book 2, about her friend Mira, the local single mom baker, making their wedding cake, and his friend and former bandmate, drummer Cole. They had a most-excellent meet-cute when he walks into her bakery to pick up an order for Madigan and she leaps onto him and kisses him (with only a quick stop for consent, of course), because her ex husband is standing right there with his new wife and she’s just told him that she’s moved on and has a new boyfriend - how convenient he walked in.

The fake wedding date trope turns into such an emotional storyline with so very many things happening along the way, not least of which have to do with each other’s families - he helps out Madigan at the group home when he and Ashley go off on their honeymoon and an event occurs… but it’s also steamy proving 50+ can have great bedroom lives. I definitely recommend this book, plus Come As You Are (best read together)! Such a great Gen-X series!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and this is my honest feedback.

*4.5

The connection between the two of them was really strong and I loved the book. She was so afraid to admit that what she had with Cole was real even though everyone else could see it. They were good together. I said this after the first book but now I really need a book about Kev and Davis.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Lips Like Sugar is a satisfying and addictive romance romp.

Jess's first book, Come As You Are, was one of my all-time favourite rom-com reads. So, I was excited to read her next book in the Bluebird Basin series. I may not have loved this book as much as its predecessor, but it still was an enjoyable read. Firstly, I love that Jess's main characters are older. Both Cole and Mira are in their 50s, and they have lived life. They have gone through life's ups and downs and have come out stronger in the end. Their age adds so much richness and depth to their character's essence. I also adored all the 80's and 90's song references in this book. They felt like a love letter to my soul.

This book starts a day before Madigan and Ashley's wedding (the two MCs from the previous book). Cole is Madigan's best friend, and Mira is the local baker baking the wedding cake. Now, this book does read as a stand-alone, but I would highly recommend reading Come As You Are because it is freaking amazing. Mira finds herself in a sticky situation when her ex-boyfriend and his wife walk into her bakery, and Mira finds herself saying that she will be attending the wedding with her boyfriend (who doesn't exist). Cole just so happens to walk into her bakery while this is all happening, and Mira ropes Cole into pretending to be her boyfriend for the wedding. I'm not always a fan of fake dating tropes, but I didn't mind it too much in this case. This is because the fake dating aspect of this story only takes up a small chunk of the book. These two only really pretend to be fake dating for the first quarter of the book, and then they move to a steamy friends-with-benefits situation. I enjoyed how this story unfolded. The progression of Mira and Cole's relationship made sense for them. There are a few things that would only happen in Romanceland, but that's okay.

I really liked Mira's character. Jess knows how to create a strong and complex heroine. Mira is juggling a lot of responsibilities in this book. She is running her own business (that is struggling a bit), her mother is starting to show early signs of dementia, and she is raising a teenage son by herself. My heart instantly connected with Mira. Her struggles are real and very relatable. I could just feel her sense of being always overwhelmed, and I wanted good things to happen to her. Mira is reluctant to open her heart to Cole because she believes that any relationship they have is doomed to fail because they live in two different cities, and because she has so many responsibilities, she thinks no man would ever want to be a part of that hectic lifestyle. Her character arc is learning to believe that Cole is different from past boyfriends and that she can trust this man with her heart.

If you like your romances on the spicier side of things, then you will love this book. Jess knows how to create delicious and steamy tension between her two MCs. From the beginning, Cole and Mira know that they are seriously attracted to each other, and Cole definitely falls in love with Mira harder and faster in this book. The main hurdle between these two is the long-distance relationship, and Mira is reluctant to be in any relationship. I liked these two together. Their banter is fun and witty and just so enjoyable. These two just connected physically and emotionally right away. There is just something about that spark that existed between them that just draws you in. I loved every exchange and found myself wanting to see what would happen next.

Lips Like Sugar is a fabulous romance filled with oodles of charm and spice.

I saw a couple of people singing this book's praises on bookstagram, so I decided to request it on Netgalley - and was overjoyed when my request was approved. And was I disappointed? Gods no! This book was so good, lovable and swoony and emotional in the best of ways, funny too, and as a mother of a 14-year-old son, just like Mira is in the book, I could relate to that part of the story really, really well... And, let's face it, who of us hasn't dreamed about dating a rocker from Seattle..? Cole is truly one of the best of them. Freaking drummers. 😉

This book! I’m going to be thinking about desserts and their philosophical meaning as far as relationships go for the rest of the day. And flirting via hot flashes?? Jess K. Hardy, how dare you be so brilliant. Why does this work so well???

This story is sexy and sweet and I want all good things for Mira and Cole.

Jess Hardy brings another fun, relatable, and spicy story in the Bluebird Basin series. Cole and Mira are wonderfully believable as they navigate finding love for themselves while trying to manage the joys and hardships of being in the sandwich generation. They have great chemistry with each other and with their real and found families. Gen X’ers will enjoy seeing themselves and their pop culture represented.

What starts as a surprise kiss and a fake date turns into a long distance relationship and real feelings.

Lips Like Sugar is the second book in the Bluebird Basin series. It can be read as a stand-alone but I highly recommend that you also read Come As You Are (book 1). This Gen X romance is open-door.

I have not not stopped thinking about this book since I finished it! (How soon is too soon for a reread?) Cole is the silver fox, drummer, book boyfriend of dreams. Him and Mira are as opposite as can be but they are the balance each other needs. Their chemistry is palpable from the very beginning and only grows stronger throughout the storyline. It’s always satisfying when the MMC is all in first. (I don’t know why but it is.)

Jess K. Hardy’s unapologetic effort to write for herself first leads to best possible results. Whenever an author writes the characters they want to see it brings about the most relatable and genuine MCs. Her style and sense of humor truly shine in Lips Like Sugar. I don’t know if we’re getting a third book in this series but I look forward to reading whatever she has next for her readers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to the author and Netgalley!

I love this series soooooo muuuuuch! Reading about characters who are about my age is a blast. There’s so much life experience, and Hardy doesn’t shy away from topics like menopause. But there’s also plenty of passion—and humor!

The meet cute (which included a kiss) had me hooked from the first chapter. And I also loved the no-big-deal bisexual rep.

This series is a must-read if you’re a romance reader in your 40s or older!

I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley, and thisis my honestly enthusiastic review.