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.

Lips Like Sugar has everything I could ever ask for in a Gen X romance = age-appropriate dating. Hot drummer (f'ing drummers) and single mom taking care of too many things. Excellent pop culture/musical references. Not being afraid of talking about the realities of getting older.
Cole and Mira are both so cool (way cooler than me, let's be honest), and I loved reading about them finding love in each other. There are entire sections of them just texting each other - I would read an entire book of just that. Loved their story, loved the side stories and families/found families, loved the spice.
In the acknowledgements, Jess K. Hardy says it best, "romance readers age up, so romance stories should age up, too."
I received an advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

5/5 ⭐
3/5 🌶️

I'm so obsessed with this series. I love that we get older main characters with real adult problems and they're still hot as hades. Jess does such a wonderful job creating these stories, I absolutely adored Cole and Mira.

Both Cole and Mira had some really bad hangups from their past relationships... Not just partners either, but parents too. It really threw a wrench in their relationship when they were too busy protecting themselves and not just going for what they needed and wanted.

I love how much we got to see Mads and Little Timber. I can't wait for more from Blue Basin.

Also, all the 90s nostalgia, heck yes. It's so dang fun. Gimme gimme gimme.

Thank you Netgalley & Jess K Hardy for this arc. All thoughts are my own.

I devoured the first book in this series, and when I found out there was a second one, I was all in.
I was not disappointed!

Who doesn't love a 53-year-old drummer, bisexual, golden retriever of a man?
Cole Sanderson puts everyone else to shame with how attentive, attractive, and downright charming he is.
The story begins with Mira, a local baker that's making Madigan & Ashley's wedding cake (see Come as You Are, book 1) and Cole arrives at her bakery to pick something up, and he gets involved in a fake dating scheme with Mira.

They have instant chemistry, and he agrees to be her date at the wedding (her ex will be there). They have a wonderful time and keep in contact.
I love the slow burn of their relationship as they progress from strangers to friends, to something more. How they rely on each other, and bare all while still keeping themselves guarded, just in case.

It was really nice to see favourite characters from the first book appear in this one, and help the story along with Cole and Mira's journey, as individuals and together.

The spice in this series always amazes me, and I also love that sex and fun aren't just for the young, but for the young at heart.

I cannot wait to delve into book 3 when it's out. this world is amazing and I could live in it forever.

ARC Review
Contemporary Romance

LIPS LIKE SUGAR
Series: Bluebird Basin #2

Rating: Obsessed

Fake Wedding Date
Drummer x Baker
Golden Retriever Boyfriend
Long Distance Dating
Absolute Best (real) First Kiss
Small Town Montana
Open Door
Dual POV

Diversity: Midlife Rep, Bisexual Rep
Seasonal/Holiday: n/a

Thoughts: Cole Sanderson!!! My first (and still only) book boyfriend this year! He's a golden retriever, a grandpa, a punk rock drummer, bisexual, and Seattle's most eligible bachelor over 50. I dare you not to grin through all of Cole's scenes.

Lips Like Sugar is funny, swoony, sexy, tender, and so damn romantic.

I'm obsessed, I savored every word, and I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!

The first sentence was hilarious and so relatable.

The first REAL kiss was one for the ages. So magical!

I love that both Cole and Mira are single parents in their 50s. Mira has a teen son and Cole has a daughter and first grand baby.

Jess K Hardy beautifully balances heart warming romance with the realness of healing, personal growth, and self care.

And the audacity to make me cry and then laugh out loud from a single paragraph!!

I agree with Hardy’s words from thr Acknowledgments so much that I had to put the quote here for you: “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.”

Are you ready to fall in love in Bluebird Basin?

Thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy. Lips Like Sugar publishes March 28, 2024.

🌷ARC REVIEW🌷THANK YOU @netgalley
AND @jesskhardy_author FOR THE OPPORTUNITY!!

🥁Coming out 28th March!!🥁

⭐5/5
🌶️3/5

🧁Gen X
🧁Drummer MC x Baker FC
🧁Fake Wedding Date
🧁Flirty
🧁Small Town
🧁Single Parents

May I start by expressing a bit of sentimentality? "Come As You Are" holds a special place as the very first ARC I ever requested. I was genuinely stunned by the book and enamoured with Madigan's story, to the point where I couldn't contain my excitement and ended up following Jess K Hardy on Instagram. So, when I caught wind of "Lips Like Sugar" being available on Netgalley, I promptly marked the release date on my calendar, and needless to say, acquiring it filled me with immense joy🥺

Of course, I worried that my fondness for Madigan and the characters from the first book might overshadow my appreciation for Cole and Mira. Yet, Jess K Hardy, you drew me in effortlessly from the start. I even found myself questioning whether my admiration for Madigan paled in comparison to Cole's, given his evident respect and regard for him.

Cole is a breath of fresh air as a masculine character, seamlessly blending confidence with his softer, city-boy demeanour. I never anticipated falling for him so deeply, but his flirtatious yet respectful nature, coupled with his compassion and meticulous attention to detail, won me over completely. Witnessing his growth, particularly in self-discovery and progression, was truly remarkable. And let's be honest, being a silver fox drummer? What more could you possibly ask for????

And then there's Mira. I found myself equally enamoured with her character. The burdens she bears and her unwavering compassion as a friend, daughter, and mother are nothing short of extraordinary. Witnessing her finally, let her hair down (quite literally) when she encountered Cole was truly a sight to behold.

This is my first Jess Hardy book and won't be my last! I loved everything about it. The chemistry between Cole and Mira was off the charts. I could picture this cute town and smell the baked goods from Glazed and Confused. Such a fun enjoyable read that was exactly what I needed as I usually read dark thrillers. As a Gen Xer I appreciated the romance and angst for characters aged 50 and older and loved the throwback music references. Perfect for romance readers and anyone who wants a warm heartfelt story with realistic GenXers you can't help rooting for.

Jess K. Hardy has done something miraculous. She made me love Cole Sanderson more than I already loved Matthew Madigan. I was sure it couldn’t be done, but alas, here we are.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I want to live in Red Falls. It has small-town energy, beautiful scenery, a delicious bakery, a fantastic bar named Jimmy O’Callaghan’s Irish Public House (with a jukebox), and insanely hot 50-some-odd-year-old rockstars. What’s not to love?

Cole Sanderson is the epitome of the ‘golden retriever’ MMC, and I’m pretty sure my heart grew three sizes while reading this book. “Fucking drummers.” There is something incredibly sexy about an openly emotional middle-aged man who is in touch with his feelings. Then you find out he is wrapped around his infant granddaughter’s little finger, communicates like his life depends on it, and can plan THE MOST EPIC first date in the history of first dates—and he likes ponies. “Fake date, real feels.” SWOON.

Mira Harlow is a strong, independent woman. She successfully runs her family’s bakery business while taking care of her queer teenage son and aging mother, who was recently diagnosed with early-stage dementia. Like many women I know, Mira always cares for others before she even thinks about herself.

This series is made for us 90s alternative kids who swore we’d never grow up but had to. People who have piercings and tattoos, along with baggage and therapy bills. Those of us who feel young at heart but need freaking Tiger Balm for every joint in their old ass body. Reading about people with real-life problems, like menopause, aging parents, destructive coping mechanisms, and even addiction, is hard. But it’s also strangely comforting. I don't know anyone in their 40s or 50s who hasn't dealt with at least one of these issues or isn't currently struggling with them.

Even though Lips Like Sugar can be read as a standalone novel, I decided to read Come As You Are first so I had more insight into the story. I’m glad I did because not only is Ashley and Madigan’s story superb, but their wedding is the main plot point of this book. And because of that, I have the image of a gorgeous 53-year-old drummer with silver-blonde hair, sporting a tailored tuxedo and black-rimmed reading glasses, trying desperately to hold it together while delivering an epic toast at his best friend's wedding seared into my brain. Cole and Mira’s story resonated with me and will stick with me for a long time. I would highly recommend both books to anyone, especially those with a secret heart song that nobody would understand.

I enjoyed reading Come As You Are in 2022. I was excited for a new title by Hardy and she didn’t disappoint.
Lips Like Sugar is book two in the Bluebird Basin Series by Jess K Hardy.
This sweet Gen X Romance is the perfect swoon worthy rom-com.
I personally thought it was amazing seeing middle-aged characters in a romance story.
I really liked the premise of the book and the characters.
Mira and Cole have incredible chemistry and a true emotional connection that radiates off the pages.
Jess K Hardy has a unique talent for creating characters that connect with readers on an emotional level, and Lips Like Sugar is no exception. The storyline is gripping, and the characters are so well-developed that they feel like real people by the end of the book.

Thank You NetGalley and Victory Editing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Okay. To be honest, I did DNF this book. HOWEVER, I feel like it was funny, very well written, and had relatable characters. The problem I had with it is that I don't think I am the target audience. Because of this, I was not able to relate the characters personally and I have a hard time reading a book like that. I think this is an amazing book that needs more recognition because of the middle age characters with kids and the situations they are currently in. There are SO MANY readers out there who are within this demographic that would be able to relate. Unfortunately, I just wasn't one of them.
Sincerely,
A 27 year old with no kids

Mira Harlow is BUSY. Like, too much so! She is running a bakery in her small town, parenting a teen son, and taking care of her mother. What she doesn't have time to do is have any social life for herself. She does kiss a very sexy stranger before asking him to be her date to a friends' wedding to avoid showing up and seeing her ex. Little does Mira know the sexy stranger is best friends with the groom! Cole Sanderson had zero expectations going to Red Falls, MT, but he is down to be Mira's date and pose as her long-distance boyfriend,

All Mira hoped to do was have a fun time at the wedding with her fake boyfriend, but she starts to have feelings for Cole after spending time with him. Cole returns to Seattle and Mira is left wondering if she missed out on a chance at love, as she goes back to her normal, chaotic life, I loved this part, because it seemed so realistic - we adults often have to make hard choices and women in particular don't put our wants & needs first. Cole is SMITTEN with Mira at this point and finds a way to return to her small town. Now Mira is left to decide if she's willing to give him a real chance...

Jess Hardy is a brilliant romance writer whose books immediately draw you into the story and makes you root for these characters! Thank you to the author for giving life to these glorious, 50+ characters!!

I just reviewed the ARC of Lips Like Sugar by Jess K Hardy via Netgalley. #LipsLikeSugar #NetGalley

Cole Sanderson is everything and I don't think I will ever get over him. Like god tier book boyfriend right there, my god!!

This book is the second in the series and I have not read book one. And I will go back and read it now.it, I loved Mira and Cole! I also loved that they are older and not in their twenties. As they are middle aged. The are people with varies problems. They are just like normal people. The chemistry between the two was amazing. This is a great series that I am looking forward to follow.