Come as You Are

Bluebird Basin, Book 1

De: Jess K. Hardy

Narrado por: Andi Arndt, Stephen Borne

46-year-old 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.

53-year-old 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.

©2022 Jess K. Hardy (P)2024 Dreamscape Media

Good story and likable characters

Good story with likable characters that want to do better and improve their lives while supporting and standing up for each other. I’m not one to like unnecessary drama due to miscommunication or misunderstandings, (or sabotage) and while there was some drama it wasn’t enough to turn me away.

Poor narrator

The male narrator was difficult to listen to - cadence, tone, over- annunciation. It was rough. I stopped and started this book several times. if I hadn't have picked it up on a 2 for 1, I would have returned it.

Come as You Are

I first learned about this book a few months ago when it was recommended in a romance reader group. When I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read it ASAP, but alas, it wouldn’t be available in audio until March.
And so, I waited, not so patiently, for the audiobook, and I spent yesterday, and most of the night, reading it while taking care of a sick labrador. It was the perfect distraction.
Come as You Are had everything I hope for in a romance – flawed, relatable characters, a hero who has been a bit scarred by life, a heroine who finds her confidence and feels like a friend, interesting secondary characters, a slow burn romance, and suitably sexy sexy times. I loved it.
Andi Arndt and Stephen Borne did a beautiful job bringing the characters to life. Their voices were perfect for Ashley and Madigan, and reading this book in audio really enhanced the experience.
If you’re looking for a warm and lovely romance with realistic older characters who’ve been burned in the past but find the courage to trust in themselves and love, definitely give this book a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Not for me

A friend recommended this to me but I can't stand both MCs, they just keep acting so immaturely I don't believe they're in their 40s/50s. MMC "training" FMCs dog by *checks notes* asking said dog politely just took me so far out I had to stop and read something else. Overall it was fine for a sale purchase, the mom-fmc-daughter interactions were kinda cringey but if that doesn't bother you this would probably be enjoyable.

Great 'second chance' romance!! ❤️

The pace was slightly slow, but the story SO lovely, and no shortage of spice!! The male narrator was new to me, but did a great job with the MMC and other male characters. Andi Arndt is ALWAYS a favorite, and as a skier & Winter enthusiast, I really enjoyed the story as a whole. Would definitely recommend this!

More characters in their 30's and 40's please!

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞. 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

Praise for a romance with adult characters in their 40's an 50's.

I love this book. Ashley owns a ski resort/mountain and it's fallen on hard times. When her only option is to hire group of men from a halfway house, she does it reluctantly, only to fall for their "boss" and leader Madigan.

The romance combined with the men's addiction struggles and Ashley's grief and parental issues was so beautifully portrayed. I definitely caught myself tearing up several times!

Madigan is so sexy, and so KIND, and he CRIES a lot! I love a man that is in touch with his emotions. He wants the best for his guys but he also wants to fall in love with Ashley.

Ashley is guarded and a divorcee and mom with an adult child and she's not looking for love. Until Madigan moves onto her mountain and rocks her world.

𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐬. 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧-𝐜𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰.

Really such a lovely story and I'm looking forward to the next one!