Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an ARC of Come as You Are, by Jess Hardy. The cover drew me in first. I absolutely love this cover! This book was really cute! At first, I didn’t really like Ashley because of how she treated Madigan and his guys. But during the books she grew as a character and learned that people can change. And not to judge someone by their past.

The chemistry between Ashely and Madigan was on point. I was rooting for them. This book made me laugh out loud a few times. Overall, a very sweet and fun read. Perfect way to spend the afternoon!

☽𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎☾

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.

Overall:
4.75/5 ✰
3.75/5 🌶

Ashley Cooke will go to any length to salvage her bankrupt ski resort. Her father's most prized possession. Unfortunately, she is having difficulty raising funds and hiring new employees...and her cheating ex-husband, Chuck, is continually bothering her, attempting to convince her to sell the mountain to him and even attempting to win her back.

Matthew Madigan was a rockstar who has been clean for a long time. He now runs Little Timber, a facility where he helps other recovering addicts by being as engaged as possible and reminding them that there is life after addiction.

This bearded and tattooed six-foot-tall sober living house owner ends up moving to the ski hill. It is a good deal. Ashely will get employees, and Madigan will teach the guys the value of hard labour, providing them with both a diversion and a purpose.

However, feelings and insecurities surface. A lovely romantic novel in which fear and hope coexist.

𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:

I knew I was going to adore this book from the first few pages, and I wasn't disappointed.
The writing is great, detailed and engaging. I was flicking pages like Mad Madigan (did you see what I did there?). I feel the storyline also had a role in this. It was exhilarating, and I hadn't read anything like it before, so I was absolutely and utterly engrossed.

Madigan captivated me from the start. The way he speaks, the way he understands how to guide the boys, and the way he attempts to interact with Ashley as much as possible were all refreshing. He had me in a trance.
I must admit that I had some concerns with some aspects of Ashley's attitude, but as the author provided more information about her, I ended up understanding her in ways I didn't think I would be able to.
In addition, the supporting characters were outstanding. I need more of these characters. They were all exceedingly amusing, witty, and compassionate.

My first read by this author and I'm already on my Kindle store about to purchase
The 7 Rules of Moving On.

Come As You Are by Jess K Hardy was just as I was anticipating....
Fun. adventurous, emotional, compelling

1. This cover is one of my favs.
2. I couldn't get enough of Ashley and Madigan..... Just hot!
3. I'm so happy to see this is book one in the A Gen X Romance Series'.. gimmie book two please!
4. This was a phenomenal small town romance with two amazing characters.

CAYA is sweet, funny, and so endearing.
I've never rooted for two fictional characters before as much as I did for these two.
Their chemistry was just everything I was hoping it would be.
Hardy is an incredible author who has a magical way of developing characters.
Overall, this was such a perfect read! I loved this from first to last page, and I couldn’t put it down.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Pinkity Publishing,
Thank You for your generosity and approving this eARC!

Okay, FIRST OF ALL, props to the author for giving us a romance with older MCs! Too often we see twenty somethings featured as MCs, and this was such a refreshing break from that!

This story was so emotionally beautiful, and so love that it shone a light on life after addiction and provided a window into what recovery looks like. Not only that, but the story also showed us the difficulties brought about by divorce, and what it looks like to find love again.

This was sweet and spicy and real and raw and I really enjoyed it!

I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op. All opinions are my own.

I love your books! Your books always make me never want to return from your adventures! I can hardly put the book down! Thank you for writing such a wonderful book again!.

small town romance
gen x
spicy 🌶🌶🌶
kinda insta-live-ish

this book took me by surprise. i picked it because of the cover and i’m glad i did.

ashley and madigan were adorable. i wished that the love between them would develop in a better way and not as quickly as it happened. but i liked it. never thought i just need a small town romance to solve my slump.

thank you to netgalley for the arc!

I’m pretty stingy with my five star ratings, but Come As You Are deserves all the stars! Ashley and Madigan’s story is so sweet and endearing and emotional, I loved every bit of it

Beyond excited to read and acquire this title. I love a good redemption story and think this would make a great movie. I love the characters, storyline, and the presentation of the book. Many more thoughts and a full review to come.

——

HE'LL WIN HER HEART ONE MIXTAPE AT A TIME.

Ashley Cooke will do just about anything to save her struggling ski hill. When she hires the men from a local sober living home for the season to cut costs, even she thinks she's gone too far. With her credit cards maxed, her cheating ex-husband intent on buying the mountain out from under her, and record-breaking snow in the forecast, she can't afford to be distracted by the six-foot-tall bearded and tattooed sober living home owner moving onto her mountain.

Recovering addict and ex-grunge rocker Matthew Madigan has devoted every minute of the last decade to the men residing at his sober living home. When he meets tightly wound and adorably flustered Ashley, desires he's put on the back burner for years start to simmer. Immune to his infamous albeit rusty charm, Ashley presents a challenge he can't resist. When she offers to give him skiing lessons in exchange for his help training her St. Bernard rescue dog, he jumps at the chance to ride next to her on the chairlift despite his debilitating fear of heights.

During bunny hill shenanigans, chairlift confessions, and steamy cabin serenades, Madigan teaches Ashley that a person's past doesn't define them, and Ashley shows Madigan that the men he helps aren't the only people who deserve a second chance. When sabotage threatens both the men and the mountain, Ashley and Madigan will have to decide if they're only having a winter fling, or if the mountain isn't the only thing worth fighting for.