Getting to go back to Bluebird Basin was a pure delight! Mira and Cole had such a special connection and I loved watching it develop!

Cole stole my heart in so many ways. I always love a male main character not afraid of his emotions and I loved how hard he fell for Mira. Also, he listens to Mira and wants all the details of her life from what menopause is like to her daily struggles taking care of her mom. Finally, he tells Mira that he got a vasectomy when Roe v Wade was overturned. I love that he cared about his partners enough to make that choice despite not being in a serious relationship.

I also really loved seeing Mira's struggle to be a mom and take care of her mom. This is something I've seen my own parents dealing with though luckily, I'm a grown-up, unlike Mira's son, so it's a bit easier. I also liked that even though Mira was in her 50's she had career goals and things she wanted to accomplish!

This series has so much heart, amazing characters and friendships as well as romances. I can't wait to read more. I really Want Davis and Kev's story! I hope we don't have to wait until they are twenty years older to get it!

🌶️🌶️️🌶️ - This one had a couple of open door scenes as well as some pining and sexual tension.

Thank you NetGalley, Jess K Hardy, and Victory Ending for giving me access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Content Warnings: Living with/ taking care of a parent with mild cognitive impairment, addiction and relapse

Lips Like Sugar is a wonderful winter like romance. The two main characters are in their 50s, which is amazing because it gives light to finding love later on in life aside from the “normal” teenage to early adulthood love that we all come to love. To be honest, when I picked out this arc I didn’t even realize it was a second book into a series. But nonetheless I enjoyed it and I will definitely be reading the first installment asap. Here I am telling you about this book without giving too much details because I want you to enjoy this book just like I did by going in full on blind! We follow Mira Harlow who is a parent of a 14 year old son, taking care of her mother, juggling her life in her bakery. She wants to avoid her ex at all cost at a wedding so she does the most wild thing that us would love to do but probably won’t ever do, and that is asking a stranger who name is Cole Sanderson to be her date. First it’s fake dating which then turns into a full blown connection. When life has to return to how they normally are they are faced with their feelings, this is a wonderful escape to see love later in life. Truthfully, this is a journey in itself that you would constantly look back on.

Hands down one of the most well written, realistic, and refreshing love stories I’ve ever read.

Cole and Mira are 50 somethings trying to enjoy the fruit of wisdom that time bestows upon those willing to learn and grow. Their story begins with a fake dating trope that is anything but cliche. Because the characters are 50 there’s a deep sense of security in both Mira and Cole. They’re not making decisions in their relationship based on insecure attachments that many 20 somethings are prone to. There’s a deep sense of maturity coming from both parties. For example, Mira and Cole both know when they have to honor their adulthood commitments instead of saying, “Eff it!” and risking much by throwing caution to the wind. That’s not to say they don’t have fears and that their fears don’t affect their relationship. The gift of time can also be a curse because you’ve had more time to be hurt and hurt badly in relationships.

I could focus on the plot of this book, but I want you to read it and see what unfolds for yourself. Instead, I want to focus on Hardy’s ability to create genuinely lovely and believable characters. Yes, one is a former rockstar, but that’s just a facet of Cole. Yes, Mira is a baker, mom, and daughter taking care of her aging mother, but she’s earnestly just trying to get through the day and not be a superhero or martyr. Mira’s struggles with menopause are neatly woven into the story so that they feel like the true experience of someone dealing with “the change,” but not overwhelming to the point of caricature. She’s the punchline of no jokes on aging and women of a certain age, so to speak. Hardy also writes the intimate scenes so effortlessly, blending them into the story so that they feel natural to any real life relationship. That does not mean they lack for creativity or spiciness, they just fit so well into both the plot and development of Cole and Mira’s relationship. Each supporting character is well developed, not a cliche or stereotype either, and adds value to the scenes they’re in. Mira and Cole’s banter is hilarious (yes, I laughed out loud during this book), but it’s not over the top snark that would be reserved for a sitcom in the early 2000s aiming for cheap laughs. There’s warmth and compassion in the banter and conversations that build Mira and Cole’s relationship. Beyond Cole and Mira, Mira’s best friend Jen is also extremely realistic. She’s funny, no doubt, but the scenes read like you’re peering into a friendship not watching a dramedy unfold, and I mean that as a compliment. Along the same lines of relationships in the book, one of the best parts about this book is Cole is a hot grandpa; we get plenty of baby scenes with his cute little granddaughter, Ruby, but without pregnancy tropes (I know those are controversial). The relationships beyond the primary love story help make this book feel familiar in the best way possible.

The first 30% of this book felt very different from the last 2/3s of the book. After 30% I started to fall in love with Mira and Cole and their budding relationship. I think the first 30% is what aids in the success of you rooting for Mira and Cole. They progress from fake wedding date to authentic affection. Yes, the book begins with a kiss, but the attraction physically and emotionally takes time to build. After all, this is intimacy and to know someone intimately you have to have extended time and experiences with them!

In the same vein of realistic relationships, conversations, and themes in the book, Cole and Mira have saggy skin, stretch marks, and grey hair, just like any aging person. I appreciate that there is no overemphasis on the size Cole’s certain body part or how perfectly shaped any of Mira’s body parts are. They enjoy one another sincerely as they are. I love that!

Overall, it has been extremely refreshing to read about a Gen X couple who are established, secure, and looking for honest connection with someone to spend the second half of their lives with.

Thank you so, so much to author Jess K. Hardy, NetGalley, and Victoria Editing NetGalley Co-Op for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars

Confession time, I may have a bit of a girl crush on Jess K Hardy. When I read Come As You Are last year, I was swept away by the story and the same goes for Lips Like Sugar. I love the way this author writes 50+ year old characters that are still learning, growing, and figuring out life and love while trying to parent their children and care for their parents. Lips Like Sugar is a love letter to the Gex-X generation and those of us in the Gen Jones group who doesn’t quite fit the Boomer era and don’t quite fit the Gex-X era. While you can read Lips Like Sugar as a standalone, due to some of the things that occur in this book I do highly recommend reading Come As You Are as it will make this book all the more memorable.
The last few years have knocked Mira Harlow sideways and she’s really not sure how she’ll recover. She has a 14 year old son who has gone from her loving little boy to a quiet, non talkative teenager. Her mother has been diagnosed with a mild cognitive impairment, most likely a precursor to dementia, and requires therapy and round the clock monitoring and care. The bakery that has been in her family for generations is barely keeping them afloat as the town she’s grown up in and loves is dying around her. The very last thing she needed was her ex-boyfriend and his new wife to walk into her bakery and announce they will be attending her friend’s wedding. Refusing to look like a loser, Mira announces she’ll be attending the wedding with her boyfriend and when a stranger walks into her bakery she welcomes him as her boyfriend and kisses him something that is so out of character for her she doesn’t even recognize herself. Thankfully the man plays along and Mira realizes he is none other than the ex-punk rock drummer Cole Sanderson.
From their quirky meet-cute to the under the world ending, I was completely enthralled with Mira, Cole, and their unconventional love story. One phone call, one get to know you before we fake date meeting, and hours at the wedding getting to know one another even better; they are both feeling something, but Cole’s life is in Seattle where he owns a recording studio and is helping his daughter with his granddaughter who is the light in his life and Mira is tied to Red Falls. They know it’s impossible and say good-bye but weeks later, Cole reaches out through a text which leads to more texting, then eventually phone calls, then video calls both wanting to be near one another and yet both still firmly entrenched in their lives. Cole gets the opportunity to return to Montana to help his friend Madigan and he jumps on it.
I loved that this book wasn’t all hearts and flowers; these were two people, both who had some baggage from their past weighing them down, and both firmly entrenched in their lives yet the connection between them was so strong. I ached for them, it was torture watching them fall in love while both knowing their lives were complicated and messy. I also applaud the author for showing that even in your 50s you can be kind of a mess, but you can still grow. You are still sensual, sexy, and can have fun with a partner and life because you are still LIVING! And you can still have your world fall apart and not know how to handle it.
Lips Like Sugar was a captivating, heartwarming yet heart-wrenching story and Ms. Hardy is a masterful storyteller. I loved watching this couple’s journey as they navigated life and love.

6 stars

Step aside Jamie Fraser
Move over Rhysand
There’s a new book boyfriend in town, and his name is Cole Sanderson. The swoon I swooned over this man…

Do you guys see my rating? I LOVED this book so much! Let’s examine the reasons, shall we?

* They are not in their 20s! She is late 40s and he is early 50s, and they show that you aren’t dead and worthless when you hit middle age. Although, it is still realistic middle age, as in she is going through menopause, and they wax poetic over Tiger Balm 😆
* The flirting is stellar!!! Seriously, you don’t see a whole lot of really good flirting nowadays in romance books, and we need to bring this back.
* Cole (you know, my new boyfriend) is just perfection (#fuckingdrummers ). The charisma, the emotional intelligence, the sexiness, the everything ❤️
* It’s not all fluff. Her mother has mild dementia symptoms, which I thought were handled very realistically. Also, we show recovering addiction and relapse, just as we did in the previous book in this series.
* As a Gen Xer myself I love the older references, but also some of the fake band names were *chef’s kiss*. I mean, Asyd Nancy?! Not to mention Amyl and the Sniffers

Do yourselves a favor, and check out this book, you won’t be sorry!

Thank you to NetGalley for this advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

*I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I really love this author’s “Bluebird Basin” series. This second instalment has all of the charm of the first book with these new characters and new situations. There aren’t enough later-in-life romances being published, and it delights me that this is filling a void in the romance world and doing it so well. The author has a great writing style, her characters are fully developed and three dimensional, and the cast of secondary characters help make everything feel more real. I love the relationships in this book, both romantic and platonic. The friendships really help take it to the next level for me. Plus, it was great to get a look at what Maddigan and Ashley are up to!

I’m really looking forward to seeing more from this author and this series.

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 parents of grandparents. This alone sets the book apart and makes in relatable in a special way. But don’t think it’s the only thing it has 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. 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.

I was so excited to read a romance that featured characters whose stories more closely resembled my own life and experiences as a Xennial, and this did not disappoint! I was immediately invested in this story and immediately in love with Mira. I related to her in so many ways (as a woman, a SINGLE single parent, and as an adult child concerned for a parent). Enter Cole... Wow. Quite possibly the most perfect man ever written; emotionally intelligent, introspective, and so certain of who he is... It's the sexiest thing about him.

The banter is so good. It genuinely felt like these characters had known each other forever, but they still felt that that high school giddiness of a new relationship or crush.The discussion of hard topics like menopause, addiction, and caring for a parent in cognitive decline were handled so well. I appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation. The bonds between the parents and their kids was so nice (parenting goals, really), but I wish we'd gotten a little more time with Ian (I know... side character, but I liked him).

All in all, a fantastic story and I can't wait to read more in this series :)

I was a HUGE fan of the first book in this series, so I was. a little nervous to crack the cover, but Jess Hardy didn’t let me down! Cole and Mira, her beautifully “messy in the middle of life” main characters feel real, complicated in the best way, and positively electric together. One of the BEST things about the romance genre is when people can see themselves in the story, and find the hope and joy in knowing that real love is for everyone. Jess Hardy has done this for Gen X! Lips like Sugar reminds us that self discovery doesn’t end at the age of 25, and that if we keep our hearts open, wishes come true. Thank you to Jess Hardy, NetGalley and Victory editing for gifting me access to this ARC!

I enjoyed this story a lot and thought it was a fun meet cute. It was great to be back in this world!

Where should I start? This book met, no exceeded all my expectations and then some! As an "older" romance reader, it was refreshing to read a romance with characters near to my age. Cole Sanderson is my dream partner. like seriously how can I find a real life Cole? Mira was so relatable and sometimes I got frustrated with her but honestly, that's probably because I related to her too much. This is book 2 in a series but I didn't read book 1 first so it can definitely be read as a standalone. Although now that I've read this one, I can't wait to read book 1. Hardy's writing style is fun and easy to read. It just flows and you will find that after just a short time of reading, you have blown through quite a bit of the book. My only complaint is that I don't have a Glazed and Confused near me to eat some of Mira's yummy confections! I'll definitely be checking out more of Hardy's work and so should you!

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #LipsLikeSugar by Jess K. Hardy in exchange for an honest review.

Mira and Cole’s journey was the warm, cozy, heartfelt story that I didn’t know I needed. Lips Like Sugar delivered a funny, soft love story with some of the most realistic subplots and side characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a while.

Mira is a bakery owner, mom to a moody teenager, and primary caretaker for her memory impaired mother—basically a superhero covered in sprinkles. Cole is a retired drummer, perpetual dreamer, and a doting father and grandfather—basically a soft and sensitive dreamboat with fantastic hands. After a brief moment of “kiss the stranger and pretend you’re dating” these two launch into a rollercoaster of emotions, battling against family responsibilities and the relatable habit of not putting themselves first.

One thing I think Jess K. Hardy did particularly well was the incorporation of texting as a means of deepening an established connection. The reader gets a front row seat as Mira and Cole slowly open up, graduate to phone calls (and video calls 🔥), and eventually break out of their phones entirely, unable to stay away from each other.

Lips Like Sugar was a delight to read! I laughed, I cried, and I craved cupcakes for two days. In the words of Mira’s mother: “Sometimes it's the mess that makes life beautiful.”

I loved Mira’s character and the responsibility she felt towards her family and how that felt like invisible chains. I loved that the character’s felt mature but still learning and adapting to life and fucking up. Jess K Hardy is a auto-buy for me now.

I did at times feel Cole was too perfect of a character. His tendency to latch onto people who don’t love him back was glossed over without much depth to it. I also felt that the third act conflict with the cupcake was a tad over the top, which is in-line with Cole’s character but needed more building for the payoff, which could’ve been done well if the guy getting lost was actually shown on page so we can feel Cole’s heartbreak at not being there.

4.5

I loved Come As You Are, the first book in the Bluebird Basin series. I requested this one so fast when I saw it on NetGalley. It did not disappoint.
This book is written in third person, so it took me a bit for my brain to adjust and get into it.

Mira and Cole are both single parents in their early fifties. Mira runs her family bakery while raising her teenage son and caring for her mother. Cole is a former drummer for a popular 90s band.

There is a tiny bit of fake dating, and Cole was immediately taken by Mira. He was such a softie. This was a sweet book and I really enjoyed it. They are older than me, so some of the references went over my head. Like when they got horny over tiger balm 🤣 I know my time is coming. But I thought it was refreshing to read about a couple finding love later in life.

Bisexual rep
Small mountain town
Strangers to friends to lovers
Gen X romance
Both single parents
Golden retriever MMC
Elder emo vibes

Thank you so much to Jess K. Hardy and NetGalley for an arc of this book! All opinions are my own.

I read Come As You Are earlier this year and really enjoyed it, but Lips Like Sugar was even more phenomenal! I haven’t read too many Gen X romances besides both books in this series, but I am definitely going to keep an eye out going forward, especially any coming from Jess K. Hardy. The book was the perfect combination of sweet, funny, heartwarming, and heart wrenching, and perfect, sweet, cinnamon roll and bisexual king Cole had me screaming over how precious of a man he is. I mean, the man got a vasectomy after Roe v. Wade was overturned - swooooooon. Would definitely recommend this book!

You can expect: Gen X romance, baker FMC, drummer MMC, single mom, fake dating, small town, romantic kiss in the rain, he falls first.

CW: addiction recovery, memory loss.

Romance for the young is like amateur hour at the trapeze academy. There they are, a bunch of fresh-faced dingbats, flinging themselves at each other with wild abandon. Worst case scenario? A few scratches - but the net’s right there. They keep climbing back up that tower with their pain-free joints (which they don’t even appreciate) until they connect with their person.

Romance over forty is the same. Except now the tower’s higher, the net’s lower, and the quality partner pool can fit in a Prius. Also, there’s probably a fire somewhere. Several fires.

Opening up to the chance of love again when you aren’t a spring chicken is for rebels and risk-takers. Apparently, so is writing characters over-40 because it’s nearly unheard of in Romance.

Jess K. Hardy is both a rebel and a risk-taker of a Romance writer, as we learned in her first book in the series “Come As You Are” – a story of two GenXers putting their hearts out there one more time.

In “Lips Like Sugar” we return to Red Falls, MT, this time to Mira Harlow; GenX bakery shop owner, single mom of a teen, and caregiver to an aging parent with memory issues. One day Mira is stretched way too far and she flings herself out there…and right onto the lips of drummer legend Cole Sanderson.

Not that he’s complaining. Cole’s been floating around too, his one long term relationship having yielded a loving daughter and grandchild, but a load of heartache. He wasn’t opposed to a fling. But he finds himself falling hard for Mira, who insists they keep it casual, and now he’s not so sure.

“Lips Like Sugar” is a rare reading experience for women over 40 in Romance - one of being seen.

It is impossible not to laugh in empathy as Mira moves from hot flash to frustration with a body suddenly turned traitorous with perimenopause.

I, like Mira, am the sole caregiver for an aging parent with health issues. There’s always a fear of not knowing what to do for this person you love and will, inevitably, lose.

Hardy threads this needle with such a delicate hand, as Mira tries to come to terms with her role as a daughter and mother, along with a potential partner to Cole. It’s deeply affecting and emotional without ever straying into the heavy-handed.

I’ll admit I cried 100% more than usual reading “Lips Like Sugar” (which is because that number is generally 0%), but the emotion felt earned, which is a difficult balance to strike and is a credit to the quality of the writing in general. These are two complex, imperfect, and relatable characters, stumbling their way into a happily ever after.

Also, they are hotter than any hot flash together, which is saying a lot, trust me.

Ultimately, this is what makes “Lips Like Sugar” such a charming, tenderhearted, and beautiful love story. Worth the leap. No net needed.
_______
Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. This title will be released on March 28th, 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.

I have been waiting to read this book.

I could see so much of myself and my friends in this story. It accurately reflects the pressures of the middle aged. And the challenges of finding love when your love has all kinds of other events happening. It’s realistic to need to work to make love happen. It’s hard to break out of the patterns in your life, and accept the risk that comes with.

I enjoyed the 80s and 90s references so, so much. I literally laughed out loud to the point that my father came to check on me.

Cole. Cole is a ball of emotions and charm and impulsivity. F@$&ing drummers. Mayor of Emotionland. He’s a gilf 100%

Mira is so closed off to herself. She enjoys Cole, they have fun, banter, open up to each other. But she is so quick to close off as a protective mechanism. She doesn’t let him see her as vulnerable, or how much she is obsessed over him. While on the flip side, he’s pretty open with all of that, but he understands she’s not there yet and adjusts accordingly. And girl - I really don’t understand the silent orgasm. Like why???

I’m already looking forward to the next book on the series!

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing an ARC for review.

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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️♾️
🌶️🌶️

💭 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.

This book is one of the most delightful and sweetest I've read this year!
After reading Come As You Are, this became one of my most anticipated books of the year. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to read an ARC of it.

The characters are beautiful and complex. Mira's life really resonated with me, and I loved that she found the support and love she deserved in Cole. While the story was sweet and soft, it was also emotional and scary, because that's the way life is.

I felt that this book was a balm to my soul and it's one of my new all times fave <3



Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the eARC