‘Come As You Are’ is not only a book that has some sizzling romance but also one where you see the characters overcome struggles that not everyone would understand and see how they are able to keep going and try to be a better person. And not just be a better person for them but the people around them.
Jess K Hardy’s newest book, ‘Come As You Are’, was just an amazing read as the main characters are older. You don’t see the main characters a bit older, wiser, and mature and this was a pleasant change to read. Both Matthew Madigan and Ashley Cooke have lived life and still have much more to live. Matthew is one of the main characters and he is an ex-musician and recovering addict who is head of a sober living home. Ashley is the other main character, and she is the owner of a ski hill that is struggling, an ex-husband who can’t seem to stay out of her life and a mother who likes to make life interesting.
Ashley’s mom produces an idea that has Matt and the people from the sober living home come and work on the ski hill. Ashley of course was not in on this and was not a fan, but she quickly comes around and doesn’t fight the attraction she has for Matt.
It was not just the two main characters who had growth and change happen but everyone in the book had a bit of that. And it was nice to see the characters say they were having these thoughts or issues instead of trying to hide or run from them.
Here is the full description of the book:
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.
This book had me smiling, laughing, and crying. The romance is so hot, there was snow melting and you will just enjoy the whole story that Jess takes you on. I am giving this book 4 stars. It is one I am going to pick up again when the winter season comes around. So, make sure to grab that hot cocoa, sit by the fireplace and pick up ‘Come As You Are’ wherever you pick up your books, and if you are a Kindle Unlmited member it is included in one of the many books you can read with your membership.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Pinkity Publishing for the ARC copy of this book.
The post Book Review – ‘Come As You Are’ by Jess K Hardy first appeared on The Lost Coffee Mug.
