Grin and Beard It

Winston Brothers #2

by Penny Reid

NEW YORK TIMES, WALL STREET JOURNAL, & USA TODAY bestselling series

Sienna Diaz is everyone’s favorite “fat” funny lady. The movie studio executives can’t explain it, but her films are out-grossing all the fit and trim headliners and Hollywood’s most beautiful elite. The simple truth is, everyone loves plus-sized Sienna.

But she has a problem, she can’t read maps and her sense of direction is almost as bad as her comedic timing is stellar. Therefore, when Sienna’s latest starring role takes her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park she finds herself continually lost while trying to navigate the backroads of Green Valley, Tennessee. Much to her consternation, Sienna’s most frequent savior is a ridiculously handsome, charming, and cheeky Park Ranger by the name of Jethro Winston.

Sienna is accustomed to high levels of man-handsome, so it’s not Jethro’s chiseled features or his perfect physique that make Sienna stutter. It’s his southern charm. And gentlemanly manners. And habit of looking at her too long and too often.

Sienna has successfully navigated the labyrinth of Hollywood heart-throbs. But can she traverse the tenuous trails of Tennessee without losing her head? Or worse, her heart?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Humor, Fiction, Adult

389 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2016

About the author

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Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

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Reviews

[Penny Reid]

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[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!



Penny Reid has done it again, my friends! Her talent truly knows no bounds. Anytime I’m wanting a book that’s smart, funny, romantic and sweet I know just the author I want to read. I haven’t met a book of hers yet that I didn’t love. This one was extra special to me because I found the main chapters to be so relatable. To anyone who has ever felt like they’ve been labeled in the past, and they’re kind of stuck with that label- this is the book for you. Seriously, I just want to give a huge hug to Sienna and Jethro both. I adored them so much! 


Jethro Winston is the oldest of the Winston clan. He’s made some bad choices in his past, but they’ve shaped the great man he is now. Sienna Diaz is a comedian, actress, and writer. She’s big in Hollywood right now, but she’s not stuck up or snobby. In fact, she is the opposite of what you would consider a Hollywood girl. She’s down to earth, average sized, sweet and charming. And don’t forget funny- this girl will have you rolling with laughter! From the moment she and Jethro meet, their flirting is off the charts and fabulous.

“Every step of the way I’d been scolded for being happy with myself. How dare I be happy with who I am, my size, the color of my skin, that I can make both men and women laugh.”

I love that Jethro has no idea that Sienna is as famous as she is. That is exactly what she needs. Someone who sees her as her, just Sienna. Their relationship had a slow start. It was a friendship with a slow burn towards the romance side. The growth of their relationship was great to see. The way they learned to trust one another, and really truly fell for each other was beautiful.

I was mad for him. Everything was grand. We were perfect together.


Jethro and Sienna saw way beyond the labels that had been put on them from a young age. Jethro always felt like a disappointment to his family. He was a troublemaker as a kid and not the brother you could count on. Sienna was labeled as the funny one and that's all she was to some people. They saw past that and to the heart of who one another truly was deep down. It was such a gorgeous thing.



I cannot get enough of these Winston brothers. I am so excited to get each and every one of their books- but especially Cletus’s. There is just something about him that makes you love the guy! And I’m so interested in how his story will be! Also, after reading this one, I’m a little more intrigued to get Billy’s book… All these characters are so likable. I’m looking forward to them all!

There are always so many ‘quotable’ lines in Penny’s books. Lines that make me say ‘Yes! This is so true!’ These are just a few of them :)

“Think of how much better the world would be if people craved compliments about the beauty of their heart rather than the beauty of their face.”

“It’s good to care, Sienna. It’s good to care about what others think, but only when those other people matter.”

The best thing about a Penny book is that feeling I get when I start reading it. I never want to put it down and I’m always completely enraptured by the story. I read with the biggest smile on my face never wanting it to end. This has been true for every book of hers I’ve read, and Grin and Beard It is no exception. I fell in love with Jethro and Sienna’s story. The perfect combination of humor, love, friendship, and family with fantastic smarts and wit, this is a must read and is going on my favorites list! 



[chan ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

penny reid is just... a genuinely fantastic romance author

i didn't know what i was getting myself into when i read the first book, and honestly i knew even less going into this one. was it going to be a tiredly trope-y attempt at a romance set in the south or was it going to be just as good as the first book in the series?

rest assured, it was the latter. this book was a LOT of fun. i think penny reid has mastered the fluffy rom com. characters are INCREDIBLY unique and nuanced and all of the reasons they have for behaving the way they do make sense. which should be an obvious thing i guess when writing contemporary but so often i read romances and i'm like... the flavor is lacking and the decisions these people are making suck. not so in penny reid's books.

and i think it's an incredibly big testament to her writing that she got me to care about a story with a famous character. i adored fame in my stories when i was a kid but over time i've sort of soured of that trope. but somehow it worked here. it never felt overwrought and it got me thinking about the complications of fame i'd never previously considered.

the only thing that is keeping me from giving this book 5 stars though i think is the overall premise/characters. which sounds vague and contradictory and maybe it is. but while i sincerely appreciate and know objectively this was a great story, a story with a famous heroine and a reformed bad boy is never going to be a five star story for me. i am however THRILLED to check out the third book in this series. and i wouldn't be surprised if i decided to read all of penny reid's backlist asap.

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOW LIVE!!!!

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B01FTEWIBK
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Kobo: http://bit.ly/25i6Wcv
iBooks: http://apple.co/1ViItkB
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/1sQuOGq

3.75 “put your best fuck forward” stars!

“It’s good to care what other people think but only when those other people matter.”



Grin and Beard It is the story of the eldest Winston brother Jethro, and Hollywood starlet and funny girl, Sienna. Sienna is a famous actress and comedian filming in Tennessee when she gets lost trying to locate the house she’s staying in. Ranger Jethro rescues her from the side of the road and the two hit it off right away.

Both are hesitant to pursue the other, Sienna with her Hollywood career constantly interfering with her personal life. Jethro has a wild past he is ashamed of and made vows about the kind of man he wants to be. Both need to figure out a way to fit the other into their life plans, but the chemistry between them is potent and undeniable.

“It felt real. He felt real. I loved that he was real.”



I enjoyed this newest book from Penny Reid. It follows along the lines of a traditional romance, one with a sweet story and a slow burn. But while the romance itself is traditional, I felt there was a lot that was progressive about this story. For one, this is a movie star romance novel, but instead of the star being a man, it was a woman. Not only was she a star, but she also wrote her own movies and was Latina (something unfortunately hard to find in the white-washed genre of romance). I loved reading about Sienna because I love strong intelligent women who work hard for what they want instead of lying down and letting a man take charge.

“Every step of the way I’d been scolded for being happy with myself. How dare I be happy with who I am, my size, the color of my skin, that I can make both men and women laugh.”

The portrayal of Hollywood was something else I liked in this book. Growing up in LA I am pretty jaded about that whole industry and I hate how it’s glamourized. Yes there are positives to it, but many authors gloss over the negatives and Penny didn’t do this. Sienna’s career affected her daily life in ways we take for granted, such as how to look, act, eat, drink, speak and more. The fact that she was size 14 and working in Hollywood successfully is impressive to me because you don’t see that all too often.

As per usual in Penny’s books, there’s sharp wit and humor laced throughout the story. I found myself laughing out loud at many points and smiling a lot as well. I wouldn’t say this is a romantic comedy but I think readers will connect with the humor spread throughout.

“Where I'm from they call your kind a hipster or lumbersexual, with the beard and the flannel and such.”
"Ah. See, where I'm from, they call my kind a man."



Side characters: Cletus gets MVP. Oh. My. Gawd. That man!!!!!! I need more Cletus in my life. I can’t ever put my finger down on what he will say or do next, or even what he is thinking. He managed to be a comedic relief, relationship guide, and a scary MoFo all at once! Also, I am dying to read Billy’s book. I’m not kidding, the wait for his book will be the death of me!

“I think we all need someone who sees the best in us.”

So why not a full five stars? Well, I blame it mostly on personal preferences. Sweet romance isn’t what I normally choose to read, and this book was fairly sweet and romancey. I also didn’t have that spark with it, the one you get when you absolutely love a book? Overall I liked this book, but it wouldn’t be my first choice to reread.

Readers far and wide will love this book and these characters, Sienna and Jethro make a delightful couple many will enjoy. The Winston brothers are a fun and unique bunch and I find myself cursing my parents for making me an only child, even though I suspect my siblings wouldn’t be half as cool as these guys. If you want a book to curl up with on a rainy day with some tea, this is the book for you.

“Jethro Winston was my forever person. I would never be strong enough to let him go.”

ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Grin and Beard It
Series: Winston Brothers #2
Author: Penny Reid
Release date: May 31, 2016
Cliffhanger: No
HEAYes



Oh, my. If there was any doubt how much I loved these mischievous, rascally Winston brothers (there wasn't) then this book would have clinched the matter. There is something so comforting about returning to this family that's bursting with Southern charm and wisdom. I don't think I could ever get enough of them. What I love about this series is that all seven Winston siblings come to life so vividly in their own special ways. They're so delightful that they share the spotlight with the hero and heroine, I could never use the term "secondary characters" to describe them. They shine too brightly for that.

The very first scene with Sienna is sure to make you fall in love with her. She's a comedian, screenwriter, and actress who is attempting (unsuccessfully) to maneuver the Tennessee roads. This leads to a murderous rampage directed towards her map that had me laughing at her plight. Her wit, and her unpretentious inner thoughts were charming-she was charming. Which made her the perfect match for her bearded rescuer, Jethro Winston. One flash of her dimples and his irresistible smile and they were both lost. They flirted like masters on a mission.



These two begin a slow burn relationship that felt natural in its development. Though they had an intense, instant attraction they didn't rush into anything based purely on lust. They were cautious and made rational, adult decisions about how to approach the possibility of dating. Sienna is a city girl, only in town temporarily for filming her latest movie. Jethro is born and bred in the country and planned on starting his own family there when the time came. He's interested in dating with a future in mind. She...well, hasn't wanted anything but casual in the past. She hasn't found anyone to tempt her. Until Jethro.

My despondency was borne from already feeling invested in a girl who had a history of not investing.

They were naturally guarded at first, but eventually they came to see how desperately they needed each other. Being apart led to a constant ache on both sides that couldn't be extinguished. There was nothing to alleviate the suffering except exploring the emotions that they had buried. Through communication and the very hilarious intervention of his brother Cletus, they set their reservations aside.

Jethro has shown himself to be one of the most steadfast and humble of the brothers. His shameful past through the influence of his despicable father has made him eager to be the brother that everyone can now depend on. He was the oldest, but instead of protecting his brothers growing up, he perpetuated the the trouble their father brought on them. This is something that he can't, and won't forgive himself for. I really felt his remorse, and his need to make amends was a sign that he had truly matured past his own mistakes.

Seeing how each of their lingering labels acquired from childhood affected each other was a healing balm for both of them. They were free to shed their superficial pretenses and grow together as a couple. They saw each other in a light that no one else could.

Being Sienna Diaz, movie star, was easy. Tiring, but easy. It was a role, a mask I could slip on at will. Being myself wasn't usually as easy. Jethro had made it easy for me, which was one of the reasons I loved being around him.

There is such a feeling of completeness when these two are around one another, a feeling as if being together made them more whole and at ease within themselves. And Jethro was so tender and passionately adoring of Sienna, he never failed to capture my heart.

"You are so beautiful," he said, his attention from my hair to my neck and chin. "I don't think I knew what beauty was, until I met you."

This book was delightfully drama free. Not to say there wasn't conflict, but it was based on realistic concerns and not born out of manufactured situations. The brothers added an amusing layer of shenanigans that was such diverting fun. Personally, my favorite brother is Billy and I was thrilled to see more of his story unfold on the sidelines. I cannot wait to hear more about him and get the missing pieces filled in with his future book.

If you're going into this story looking for something witty, enchanting, and entertaining you'll get everything you bargained for. The bearded brothers have done it again, be prepared to be dazzled in all of their bearded glory.

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[L.H. Cosway · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She was still dimples and eyelashes to me." <-- Awwww!



5 is not enough stars!!!

<3 <3 <3

Sigh....Jethro is such a MAN. He's just so...capable. He's the kind of guy who'll open doors for his woman, cook her a delicious meal and then go repair the roof after. Oh, and maybe wrestle a few bears along the way :-D Are you sold yet? Because you should be. From the very first chapter when he showed up to rescue Sienna from being lost on the side of the road I was GONE. He's pure Penny Reid swoony hero material.

And Sienna! She's my new girl crush. I was laughing out loud so many times. She's right up there with Cletus when it comes to bringing the funny! Not to mention she and Jethro were just pure book couple heaven together.

This story was the most delicious slow burn, you'll be just about ready to combust with anticipation :-D And as always, Penny depicts the lush Tennessee setting with a family you'll want to be a part of. Every single character has their own particular quirks and personalities, and they're just so real. You're going to love this book. LOVE IT!

Now I just need to bide my time and wait for Cletus' book. I know for a fact it's gonna be epic!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good...

I changed my rating again after listening to another instalment of the Winston Brothers. 2 from 2.

I couldn't help myself to be honest because I enjoyed the audio so much. I think re-reading/listening changes the experience and allows you to sit back and enjoy the highs and lows knowing exactly when to brace and when to relax.

Again, the narrators do such an amazing job bringing Penny Reid's amazing story to life.

I enjoyed every minute of it and I can't wait to start my re-read/listen of Beard Science. CLETUS!!!

*********************************************

Jethro is proof that people can learn from their mistakes

What I’m about to tell you will either horrify or make you envious…I spent a whole day in bed reading. Now, I kind of planned it this way and luckily the stars aligned and all my ducks lined up in a row. I had a girls night out last night. It wasn’t the wildest or the latest night, but it did leave me feeling a little under the weather. Yippeee…crazy to think I'm excited to not feel 100%, but like I said it worked towards my dastardly plan. I knew Grin and Beard It was going to be a long story but I was not keen to have my reading time span over days, so the fact that my copy landed on my kindle before today was like I planned it. I started my day lost…

Sienna Diaz has a terrible sense of direction and when she finds herself lost with her GPS/Nav thingamajiggy not working and her phone with no reception, she’s a wee bit frustrated. It doesn’t help that the map seems to be written in hieroglyphics and all of the roads look the same. Luckily, she is saved by a man in uniform and this man is HOT!!! She is really attracted to him and can’t believe it when this man doesn’t recognise her. Not tooting her own horn or anything, but she’s a famous Academy Award-winning actress and it doesn’t happen EVER that people don’t recognise her. She’s actually quite happy about it because he’s flirting and seems interested in her and not about her fame, connections or money. Sienna enjoys being normal for a little while and takes up the flirting challenge and this guy excels at flirting.

This guy is Jethro Winston, the eldest of the Winston boys and a reformed bad boy. When he meets a young lady on the side of the road who’s having a spazzy fit at her map, he’s very intrigued. This woman is HOT!! She has curves that make him sweat and the funniest sense of humour that he can’t help but feel attracted to her. Then he touches her hand and feels a buzz under his skin that heats his blood and it’s been a long time since a woman has made him feel this way. He wants to get to know her more.

The relationship between Sienna and Jethro is a slow-burning one. Obviously, with Sienna’s fame, she must be careful who she trusts. Sienna is also constantly surrounded by people whether it be her security staff, makeup artist, fellow actors, and crew. When Jethro and Sienna attempt to have some private time together it’s not always easy. They both have their own hang-ups and issues to deal with. Jethro believes he doesn’t deserve happiness and Sienna realises her career isn’t making her happy and that she must make changes in her life if she wants to find happiness. I’m glad that they both had Cletus to steer them on the right track.

Yes, Cletus steals the show AGAIN. Cletus is funny, intelligent and a wee bit crazy. I love him.

I really enjoyed Grin and Beard It. This is a long story that felt like it flew by in a flash. The characters were funny and engaging, the sizzling attraction jumped off the pages and the drama never seemed unbelievable or unnecessary. At times, I was nodding my head in agreement with discussions on love, priorities, and happiness. I feel a connection with these Winston brothers and the people we meet in town. I feel like I’ve already met some of the ladies who will lead the other Winston boys astray. I’m not really sure who these women will best suit to or matched up with…but I can’t bloody wait to find out.

Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.

[Helen 2.0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penny Reid may just not be capable of writing an anti-hero. Every time I think she’s setting up a hero who’s got a dark past or violent tendencies, he always turns out to be a big fluffy teddy bear just like all the others.

Jethro fits that description perfectly. For someone who was always the black sheep of the family, falling in with a bad crowd and always a day away from jail, he’s remarkably tame in this book. He works as a park ranger, controls his temper easily, never does anything wrong, and won’t even have sex with Sienna before marriage. Golden retriever boyfriend incarnate.

Sienna is a wonderful heroine. I loved her dumb jokes, her strong, no-nonsense approach to society, and her tendency to thwart drama by just properly communicating with people.

There was this one line about her Latina nature that had me frowning a bit:

"Hank was easy to tease when it came to his roots. If I wanted to get him worked up, I’d call him a yokel. I didn’t think of Hank as a yokel. In fact, I wasn’t even sure what a yokel was.

But his retaliatory slurs—about women and Latinas—never bothered me since I knew he didn’t mean or believe them, kind of like when your big brother calls you a poopy-head. Well-meaning revenge slurs between friends were one thing, well-meaning ignorant slurs between strangers were quite another."



Penny Reid is white so this is a wild thing for her to say through the voice of her POC character.

Having now read three of the seven Winston Brothers, I’m noting a pattern. These books are too long with not enough conflict to pad out the word count and keep things interesting. Even though I always fall in love with the characters and laugh out loud, I also always hit a point where I start skimming because nothing’s really happening in the plot.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS ♥

This series is my favorite!!I love Winston brothers and I can't get enough of them!!!Grin and Beard it is the perfect combination of super sweet,funny and hot moments!Penny Reid knows how to make a reader happy, every time I finish a book of her I'm always with a big smile in my face!



Sienna and Jethro are adorable and funny, they make me swoon and melt all the time.Seriously when these two were together I was smiling like a little kid!It was so nice seeing them flirting all the time.I could definitely connect with them.Jethro is irresistible,charming,sweet,protective and hot!And Sienna is an amazing heroine that you can easily relate with her!!I loved that she was independent,funny and lovable!They were match perfect!

These men are hilarious,each one has his own unique personality and they have won me all of them!!! I love the bond these men have.But in this book especially I can say that I have a crash for Cletus...This man omg I need his book now!!!I'm not going to get bored with this series ever!If you are looking for a fast paced and funny read this is perfect for you!!Read this series you will never regret it!! I'm super excited for the next book

*An advance reading copy was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review.*

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Lure of the Winston Beard Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
Men and their Beards are nothing new...Yet, recently there has been this new allure of this draw...and Penny Reid has created a series with men who not only have them but are what all others attempt to be... men who are unique yet solid. The ones who would look naked without them... and when naked, perfect with them. Men who have an inner code of right..who have had their own conflicts and come out the other end better...and who hold family dearest of all.

We first met these Winston Men in Beauty and The Mustache. It was love at first sight for me. I was a goner. There we saw these brothers all different yet the same in their devotion to their mom and sister. We were given insight to the family dynamic...who was serious, playful, part rebel and how these different brothers supported each other. It was a very strong start of a love affair for these men. Difficult to contain, with legions of readers clamoring for more.

More came in the form of this series... with the first official entry of Truth or Beard. This brought the Winston Brothers to their rightful place. Front and center with a love story to curl your toes. There was the push/pull of Duane's and Jessica's history and how they came together. There was also more insight into the family dynamic and a hint to Jethro and his conflicts. It is in this book where we get the full-on dose of all that is Jethro... and Lordy... it is something to want for your own.

For Jethro is in redemption mode. He has had his own "Come to Jesus" moment in his life. He has seen the error of his ways...How flirting and hooking up without serious care can hurt others...His past with women had been very clear... he would have fun, make breakfast and send them on their way...no harm no foul...Yet when he was younger, his past with a motorcycle crew was not so harmless...things happened which to this day, haunt him.

When Jethro finally came to terms with all of his past; hurts inflicted to others and even his family...he turned the corner.
Made serious decisions:

Work to prove to his brothers he had changed.
Study hard and become a forest ranger.
And
No more women until he found the one to marry.

Jethro has been on his path for quite some time. Five years of time. Things are going well or at least on their way... every day he is showing by his actions he has changed. Most of his brothers have seen his growth. He knows he is a work in progress, yet he feels good... solid and strong in who he is.

He is driving his route to the Ranger's Post when he comes across a car in a ditch with a woman doing some type of war dance on the paper on the ground...stomping and kicking. He turns his truck around and comes back to see how he can help. This woman was all kinds of his type when he was having his flirt on... Long hair, dark eyes, tall and more curves than straight lines. Everything to get his motor started. As he got out of the truck and came over to her, he could hide his smile as he gazed at her. He tipped his hat and said Howdy Ma'am. She seemed to relax seeing him in his uniform and smiled... showing him the cutest dimples saying a Howdy Partner back...which made Jethro fight laughing even harder...When it was clear she was lost and on her way to a place close by, Jethro offers to take her to the location and have her car handled later. As these two talk, it has a flirty undercurrent from her...and he is trying not to revert to his past flirt ways..but the charming slips out and they are exchanging free and easy ... and it feels so good. He takes her to her location, asks for her name and has to say goodbye.
Side Note
This scene of the meeting, bantering, quick wit, and chemistry between them is pure Reid. It captures every single thing you will need to see how these two connected perfectly... it really was wonderful....it caused me to have an hours-long grin plastered on my face while reading this entire book in one sitting. REALLY.

Our gal Sienna Diaz is stunned, surprised and delighted. As a famous movie star of Major proportions... meaning she is an award-winning, multi-movie franchises and paparazzi capturing with her every move Star ...to meet someone with NO AGENDA is so refreshing, it caused her to let her guard down and just be... be herself. The Sienna she has not been able to be for a very long time...

And oh it felt so good, too good... because when she finally realized Jethro had no friggin' clue as to who she was... and all that flirting was directed at her... the woman he saw before him, not a possible connection for another Hollywood project... she did a bad thing...she gave him Sarah as her name...Oh, she knew eventually if she even got to see him again, he would probably figure out who she was...they were filming in this area after all... that was why she was even here...But oh, the joy... the feeling of being with him was just so great. He looked at her with all her curves as if she was just the sweetest thing ever...and their conversation had all her sparks snapping...it was fun.

Sienna is a wonderfully fun character. She speaks her mind, has dealt with the cruelty of stereo-typing normal-sized women as not worthy or sexy. Men have never been a problem... she takes what she wants and then is done. She has made her career through her own talent in writing and then acting. She sees what she wants and works to make it happen. She loves her sister yet is torn by her management style...all well-meaning but too relentless.

So this is the crux of it all...Jethro has met this woman... from just this one meeting, she has him thinking about things he has put to the side for a very long time. He thought she was just wonderful and was definitely taken with her. When fate has her lost again, he finds her and from there... they both feel the chemistry...

And our gal has now a problem...a huge Elephant in the room of her heart...she knows she has to tell him who Exactly she is...because if she doesn't...she knows things are going to turn bad.

I am now going to be very cruel...because I am not going to give you any more...This story was just too good to breakdown all of the complexities...because Reid gave us everything. She gave us Sienna... a woman who is just as strong in her representation as Jethro-We get Jethro's brothers, their women and all the family-crazy that comes with it. She gave us so much heart, it overflowed...and she gave us huge doses of Cletus, hints about Billy and his secret love...oh, so much Winston...just the best.

I will give you this tease, though..because it sums up everything we need to remember in our own lives:
"Men live simply, but are not simple. Boys are simple, but do not live simply."
Oh yes, there is so much more I could have quoted... but for me... this is the telling of what is so attractive about these Winston Men.

Penny Reid has promised us more...Woot, Woot... Cletus and Abbi- Beard Science- October 2016.


Beauty and the Mustache (Knitting in the City4/
Winston Brothers, #0.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Truth or Beard (Winston Brothers, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Grin and Beard It (Winston Brothers #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Beard Science (Winston Brothers #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Beard in Mind (Winston Brothers, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dr. Strange Beard (Winston Brothers, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Beard with Me (Winston Brothers, #5.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Beard Necessities (Winston Brothers, #6)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And the series that started it all:


Neanderthal Seeks Human (Knitting in the City, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Neanderthal Marries Human (Knitting in the City #1.5)
Friends Without Benefits (Knitting in the City #2)
Love Hacked (Knitting in the City, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Beauty and the Mustache (Knitting in the City, #4; Winston Brothers, #0.5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Happily Ever Ninja (Knitting in the City, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dating-ish (Knitting in the City, #6)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Marriage of Inconvenience (Knitting in the City #7)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
5/16/2016-It's not everyday you are sneaking a peek at your personal email during a work event and see you have THE ARC you have been waiting for....
You look around to see if anyone is noticing your internal whoops and hollers going on inside your head...
So far, no one has a clue...heh, heh...
Little do they know, I have mentally left the building and have hopped on the Penny Reid train of joy...
~~~~~~~~~
OMG...the blurb is up and it is fantastic...
A film star who will make us think of Melissa McCarthy...
With Jethro always seeming to be in the right place at the right time...
And both of them captivated by each other....

I CANNOT STAND IT...

hanging head for outburst...

I will try to contain myself... for this is a July 2016 release....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You know that old slogan for Lay's Potato Chips;
Betcha Can't Eat Just One...

Well, now I have a hankering for more Winston Brothers...

Jethro... figure out your woman
Make it happen quick...

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review



“And I was not a man-eater. I was more of a man-sampler.”

If there was ever a book that I want to hug, Grin and Beard It would be it. Seriously, I swear Penny Reid could write about knitting, rugby players, and bearded men and I would love it. Oh yeah, she already did and I LOVE THEM. Yes, that’s right my fellow bookworms I am a Penny Reid addict and proud of it.

“And that’s when I noticed Officer Grins-a-lot was adorable. Six foot something; smiling eyes framed by thick lashes; brown beard covering a strong, angular jaw. Maybe most people wouldn’t have described him as adorable. In fact, I’m pretty sure most women would call him a hot piece of ass. But after working for the last fourteen years in Hollywood, all good-looking men were regulated to benignly adorable in my headspace.”

Grin and Beard It has me grinning big time and I am still grinning after a few hours finishing the book. This book is another example as to why I love Penny Reid. I swear Ms. Reid just knows how tug our hearts with her smart, witty, quirky, and playful writing. What I love about this author that she can make any book steamy with her playful innuendos and double entendres.



The beard. Call it a hipster trend or what not, the fascination with hot rugged bearded men is here to stay. And for Sienna Diaz, her knight in shining armor that comes to her rescue when she gets lost happens to be none other than a park ranger. A park ranger with a beard. A park ranger named Jethro Winston.

“She may have been named Sienna instead of Sarah, and was apparently a celebrity of huge proportions, but she was still dimples and eyelashes to me.”



As a famous plus size actress and America’s golden girl, Sienna Diaz is in Tennessee filming a movie that she happened to write and star. Tired of being hounded by the paparazzi, Sienna decides to travel and rent out a friend’s house. Getting to the house seems to be the only problem for Sienna because for the life of her she can’t read a map that is until Jethro comes to her rescue and directs her to the cabin.

“Jethro had been the disappointment. I’d been the clown. Individually we had become more. But together and with each other, we didn’t need to be our labels. We were free to be just ourselves.”

Soon Jethro and Sienna find themselves engaging in a playful and flirtatious banter. Sienna loved that Jethro didn’t know anything about her celebrity status and that she could just be herself with no pretenses. And for Jethro, he found someone that could possibly be the one. But when Jethro discovers that Sienna is a celebrity and their lives are complete opposites, Jethro begins to act different and starts distancing himself that is until his family and friends reminds Jethro that he is worthy of love and redemption. As much as Jethro tries to stay away from Sienna, he just couldn’t. So when Jethro opens to Sienna of his troubled past, Sienna begins to fall in love with Jethro big time. Thoughts of forever begins to linger and for a girl who never thought she would settle down, Sienna begins to come to the conclusion that she may have finally found the one. So can an A-list celebrity and a park ranger find a way to balance their relationship and make it work? Or will doubts and fears be their downfall?

“I wanted to drive him crazy, open myself to him, trust him completely. I wanted to be truly vulnerable. I wanted him to dominate and cherish and use my body. I wanted him to want me, need me. I wanted him satisfied but insatiable, always craving more. Always thinking of me.”

Grin and Beard It was just another reminder of why you gotta love those Winston brothers. Each and every one of them adds a playfulness and seriousness to the story line. But what I especially love about this book was that Penny Reid allowed readers to feel the tangible and palpable connection brewing between Jethro and Sienna. For example, the anticipation of their first kiss and first time together was worth the wait. I loved that Ms. Reid laid all the proper solid foundations of their relationship so when Jethro and Sienna finally committed to forever, it had me grinning big time. My heart was truly bursting with so much love and left me smiling big. So if you are looking for a smart, fun, and adorable romance that will leave you grinning from ear to ear and possibly looking for a hot rugged bearded man, then Grin and Beard It is the book for you. As always, Penny Reid will hold readers hostage as she delivers a fun story line with her smart and gorgeous prose. All there is left to go say, go get lost and pretend you can’t read a map and possibly your very own Jethro comes to the rescue. Just Kidding don’t get lost and learn how to read a map. ;)



Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...Penny Reid

[XxTainaxX Curvy and Nerdy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't kill me, reading friends, but I didn't like this one as much as I hoped to :( Jethro and Sienna meet when she comes into town to film a movie. They were cute together. Sweet and funny. Where I struggled is that I didn't really feel they got to know each other or develop their relationship. There weren't a lot of scenes together that I felt had depth. I also didn't feel they addressed their individual internal conflicts well. It felt almost like a fade to black then we're on the other side of it. Other than that, I liked Sienna's personality and Jethro's honesty and demeanor. They were good together and I think with a little more development I could have easily loved them as a couple. They were pretty sexy when they finally moved forward with that aspect of their relationship. Safety: No OW/OM/Sharing. There is a little drama with an ex of the h. No rape/abuse.

[Dee Montoya · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 +++Epic Grin Stars*****

(ARC kindly provided by Author)

Reading this book was like going on an awesome vacation, 370 pages of good times. Everything I look for in a story; romance, entertainment and lots of laughter.

Jethro provided the swoon and Sienna the spice, making Grin & Beard It a tasty story. Impossible to forget.



Jethro is the oldest of the Winston brothers. He has a bit of a dark past; always craving his father's approval, he followed his daddy's footsteps into the thug life. But for the past five years, he has been walking on the straight and narrow, trying to earn his family's trust and forgiveness.

Sienna Diaz is the most famous, funny, plus size, actress/writer in show business right now. The Latina has achieved a lot of notoriety as the creator and performer of a string of very successful films. Her latest project has her lost in the smoky mountains of Tennessee.

While Sienna is in the middle of a very violent fight with her map, a park ranger comes to her rescue. Ranger Jethro's grin is so epic and beautiful, that Sienna is sure he can guide any troubled woman into heaven just by following his smile.



Jethro's main goal for the past five years has been to be an honorable man. He works hard and has avoided women and empty relationships for a long time. He is looking for the one, no more flings, no more one night stands, he wants long lasting love. The minute he's in Sienna's presence, her curves and dimples are awakening something fierce inside of him. For the first time in a long time, Jethro is feeling hopeful about love.

Sienna is very career oriented. She's opened a lot of doors for women and Latinas in show business, and she takes a lot of pride in that. Which is why she doesn't have time to settle into a relationship. Jethro is something else though, for one he has no clue who she is, and when Sienna is with him, it feels beautiful to just be a girl, who likes a boy and not the celebrity, that public persona, always obligated to put on a polite front.

When Jethro finds out who Sienna really is, will he be able to handle her A-list status? Will the simple man and the Latina superstar be able to figure out a way to be together?



As a Latina woman and a Penny Reid super fan, when I learned she was giving Jethro Winston a Mexican woman as his love interest, I was both excited and nervous. Excited because not a lot of authors write books with a Hispanic heroine, and nervous because not all take the time, and do the research to do it accurately . So I'm very happy to report that Penny, nailed it! She created yet another character in Sienna, that celebrates women and our diversity. Because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter where you are from, what size you are, or what color is your skin, we all have insecurities, and we all just want to be loved.

Sienna was so funny, so strong and so endearing, that any woman reading this book can relate to her. And Jethro, well... What can I say about my darling Jethro? He is even more sexy, dreamy, rugged and delicious than I ever thought possible. Oh... and the man can seriously flirt, almost every word out of his mouth had me blushing and giggling, like a silly girl.

This series keeps getting better and better. I'm so in love with the Winston brothers, that I wish there were more of them, I seriously can't get enough. Each character is so funny, beautiful and unique, they are impossible not to love. Do yourself a favor and read these books. Let the enchanting words of Penny Reid take you away to a place, where love and laughter fill your heart and leaves you smiling for days and days.

If you didn't know, Penny is on Spotify, and she creates awesome music playlists for all her books. Because I need music for my books I took the liberty of stealing some of the tunes she added and together with some of mine, I created my own Grin and Beard It music playlist, and here it is:

*The Boys Are Back In Town by The Avett Brothers
*La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf
*Part Of Me by The Avett Brothers
*Home By Philip Phillips
*Die A Happy Man by Thomas Rhett

[Maria✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on the blog HERE because I'm a)late to the party b)trying to read the whole series asap :)

[Dali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, smexy, heartwarmingly romantic and inspiring.

Oscar winning comedy actress and writer Sienna Diaz has become Hollywood’s “it” girl even though she’s a plus-sized Latina that doesn’t conform to tinsel town’s skinny as a stick standards. Her secret: she’s happy with her body, with who she is and doesn’t care what others think.

“Think of how much better the world would be if people craved compliments about the beauty of their heart rather than the beauty of their face.”

Tired of all the attention and lack of privacy though, she takes off alone to Green Valley, Tennessee to her next project without considering she has no sense of direction, placing her lost and confused in the path of incredibly attractive Ranger Grins-a-lot. Living in Hollywood has numbed her against amongst beautiful people, but can she resist the highly charismatic Jethro Winston?

“Irrational anger bubbled to the surface and all I could think about was murdering the map. I would show the map who was boss. I was boss… Stupid map, making me do cardio. I’ll kill you!”

Wanting to belong to something important, be part of a group of loyal people, Jethro, the oldest Winston brother spent the greater part of his youth making too many bad decisions as part of biker gang. When his best friend died five years ago, he realized he already had a loyal family that loved him but whom he had neglected. He decided to become a new and better person, he also opted to be celibate until he got married. Can a woman who’s known as a man-eating serial dater derail him from his best intentioned plans to find his forever person?

“She’d stolen my breath, robbed me of thought and sense. She was a master thief, and I loved her for it.

I don’t know what made me fall harder, if it was the skilled writing, the wonderful development of layered and complex characters or the sweet romantic story or all of it together. What I do know is that Penny Reid’s books always feel fresh, smart and hilarious. I couldn’t stop laughing and smiling.

Being both “professional charmers,” Jethro and Sienna have playful hilarious sexual banter and incredible chemistry. Their relationship unfolded effortlessly with a slow burn, yet the emotion that flows between them blazed up the pages captivating my heart absolutely. These are smart, unforgettable characters with wonderful personalities.

“I can’t think of a single thing more important than driving around a woman who loves me.”
“…Do you really want to saddle yourself with a directionally challenged, prematurely love-declaring weirdo for the next twelve weeks.”
“…I can’t think of anything I want to do more than take you for a ride twice a day.”

Jethro is more than hot, witty, funny and capable. He’s thoughtful, sincere and caring, which had me swooning.

“If I have wild success, and I hope I do, it’ll be as a husband and father, a brother and an uncle… I would want forever with you.”

Sienna was a magnificent heroine, I just adore reading about strong, smart women. The fact that she faced odds stacked up against her with a smile made her even more appealing. And oh my! Some of the things that came out of her mouth were HEE-LARIOUS. Others though were sweet, loving and tender. They cut to the soul and I loved every single word, stare and interaction between Jethro and Sienna.

“Don’t ration the passion, i.e. put your best fuck forward.”

The good characterization didn’t end with the swoony hero and awesome heroine. All of Jethro’s brothers we’re unique and interesting, but without a doubt Cletus was the best. I loved his peculiar way of doing things, of giving support, advice and comic relief. I can’t wait to see who he’s paired up with.

This story is more than a romance, it’s about forgiveness and family, about love and fighting for what’s important.

Grin and Beard It is book #2 in the Winston Brothers series by Penny Reid. It’s a standalone contemporary romance that will make you smile, giggle and swoon. Told by both points of view with a happy ending.

* I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author via IndieSage. The excerpts are from that copy. *

Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2klIybP

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[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

He was charming, yet artless. Straightforward, yet complex. Funny and witty, but sincere instead of sarcastic or caustic.

Yes to all of that goodness.

I absolutely adore everything about this series. Penny Reid’s created a family of brothers that can absolutely do no wrong in my book. The way these characters manage to mess with my preconceived ideas about what I should expect from a rural-born park ranger named Jethro or an auto mechanic named Cletus continues to be a wonderful surprise.

She may have been named Sienna instead of Sarah, and was apparently a celebrity of huge proportions, but she was still dimples and eyelashes to me.



Sienna Diaz has officially landed on my list of favorite book ladies of 2016. There’s nothing better than a woman who knows exactly what she wants, who she is and refuses to compromise herself and what she values for anyone. The fact she knew unequivocally and almost immediately that Jethro was not only a man worth getting to know but also a partner who would accept her eventually, trappings of fame and all, endeared her to me even more. I also love the fact that despite her world wide fame, Jethro managed to reduce her to a fluttery, flirty mess on more than one occasion. My heart was fluttery right along with Sienna's.

Did I mention Jethro and Sienna are all kinds of awesome together?



Those "comforting" prairie scenes were the cutest! It takes a special kind of author to offer up that brand of sweetness and not make me pass out due to excessive eye rolling, but Penny Reid made it work.

I know this thought is all kinds of cliché and cheesy but I’m going to say it anyway---this series is like a breath of fresh air, dammit! I love the writing, I love the lack of overused tropes normally thrown in to create “drama” and conflict. Most importantly, I just love the fact I can count on an easy and entertaining read when it comes to all things Winston.

I’ve made no secret of the fact I’m counting down the days until we get the lowdown on Cletus, but am I the only one salivating over a Billy book? That one’s gonna be gooood

[~♡AB♡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ 4.5 Stars ★★★★



Penny Reid once again transports us to the mountains of Tennessee and reunites us with our favourite Winston Brothers. I absolutely love this series, and with a combination of swoony bearded heroes and strong intelligent heroines, it's definitely a sure winner in my book.

Jethro Winston is the eldest of the brood, and has a shady past that he is desperately trying to redeem himself from. He is a changed man and no longer has connections to the local biker club, but the shame that lives inside him motivates him to do everything in his power to be the best man he can be.

Sienna Diaz is a Hollywood star and comedy scriptwriter who has been flung into stardom literally overnight. When she gets lost in the mountains on her way to her upcoming film set, she is rescued by an attractive park ranger who she forms an instant connection with.

Grin and Beard It is a slow burn romance, but definitely not lacking in the swoony department, my butterflies were on high alert pretty much throughout the book. I adored the friendship between Sienna and Jet, especially knowing how strongly attracted to each other they were.

"She may have been named Sienna instead of Sarah, and was apparently a celebrity of huge proportions, but she was still dimples and eyelashes to me."

Jet is looking for a serious relationship, but that's not going to be easy when the woman you have set your sights on is extremely famous and career focused.

This was a really sweet story and I loved the determination of the characters to get their happy ending, it was a pleasure to read.

This series offers a unique mix of characters that you can't help but love, and I have a soft spot for Penny's way of writing, which is so different to anything else out there. Younger brother Cletus got a fairly big role in this book, and the anticipation to read his book is extremely high, I just cannot wait for his crazy antics.

Overall, this is turning out to be a top fave series and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves quirky and cute.

Grin and Beard It is part of a series of standalone contemporary romance novels, told from dual POV's

ARC gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Images featured in this review were created by me using stock images either purchased from deposit photo or from free stock sites.

[McGee Magoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS!

No matter what it was, he had it handled. Nothing in the world was more alluring than a capable man.

Green Valley Tennessee is my go-to fictional happy place. More specifically, the Winston Homestead in Green Valley Tennessee is my go-to fictional happy place.

Since the release of Beauty and the Mustache, I have been in love with the Winston men. The kind of love that's a little insane. When Penny Reid gives sneak peeks or a release date is set or I finally get to see the final product, I turn into this:


It might make me a wackadoodle, but I swear nothing makes me want to cheer and sob simultaneously quite like the Winstons. I love them for being multifaceted, sexy, salt-of-the-earth, bearded hunks of masculinity. Whether they are being assholes or weirdos, or are stuck in some self-flagellation over a misspent youth, or flirting up a storm, I love them.

Jethro is no exception. I almost don't want to write this review because it's hard to be succinct when my heart's all over the place.

Jethro is a man. He's flawed, he's made mistakes, but he's working toward building things that matter in his life. He's building up his home, his relationships with his siblings, his career, his friendships all because he's repentant of his past mistakes and wants a future in which he's deserving of the love and respect he's given. Jethro's transcended the stage in his life where he's concerned about passing, trivial thrills. "As a carpenter I know for a fact, if you want something to last, you have to build it to last. If we wanted to establish something lasting, we can't build our foundation on just the physical." He wants Sienna, and he wants her for good. My gaze cut to hers-to this gorgeous, clever, strong woman- and I made two decisions: first, I might not ever truly deserve her, but I would work every day to be a man who did. I would work to merit her trust, loyalty, and love. I would earn it no matter how freely she might be willing to give it.

Excuse me...*choking back tears*... for one moment :

Speaking of donuts, the best scene ever written is when Jethro gives Sienna her first Daisy's Nut Hut doughnut. Fucking hilarious and super cute and hot.

In addition to a beautiful love story, we get to learn more and more about the Winston brood. Billy, in particular, gets some page time that explains so much-whilst making us crazy for more. Cletus is a show-stealer (again) and I can't find it in me to care because he is an amazing character. He's an onion. He's weird, he's smart, he's persnickety, he's scary and sneaky and he has a huge heart. Thank the Overlord that Cletus' book is next!

I'm sad that I've finished this book because I love spending time in this gorgeous, rich world of Penny Reid's. But knowing there's still four more books to come has me jumping for joy. *cue the weird cheering/sobbing*









Jethro is getting a Plus-Sized heroine! Winston + BBW = GREATEST BOOK EVER!!

I probably shouldn't have known this information so far away from the release because I will OBSESS!!

[Aisling Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Doughnut stars



What can I say for this brilliant gem of a book? I loved it and devoured it start to finish. You know when you read an amazing book all others that come right after it pale? Well, this is it.

Sienna Diaz is an Oscar award winning actress and writer. But that isn't what is special about her. She is a beautiful, funny, average sized Latina actress that has won the heart of the public. America's sweetheart and a pioneer for women and minorities in Hollywood. And that's still not what's special about her. She has a big heart,knows what she wants, isn't trapped by what the public want and/or expect from her. She loves her job but isn't caught up in her celebrity status. In fact she'd rather not have the fame and just write. A consummate pleaser that needs to put everyone at ease and have them laughing in minutes.

“Howdy, partner.”
I cringed, because that wasn’t at all charming. That was unintentionally awkward. But I really needed any help he was capable of providing, and based on his hotness, my expectations were low. I sent up a prayer that he wasn’t my least favorite kind of hot guy: the hot guy asshole.
In my defense, at least I didn’t follow up my earlier statement with, “Someone has poisoned the waterhole.”

Jethro Winston is a man filled with remorse over past misdeeds and needs to prove to his family and himself that he has changed. At times he feels trapped by the consequences of his past but always strives to do right. He tries to control everything so he wont slide back to his old harmful habits. How much he drinks, where he goes out, who he dates. A reformed bad boy and incorrigible flirt with charming whit, basically irresistible!

Well, hell.
She was good at this.
Really good at this.
Like recognizes like, and what I had on my hands here was a professional charmer. This revelation was as shocking as finding moonshine in Reverend Seymour’s Sunday punchbowl, because her earlier appearance of honesty and awkwardness had been downright disarming. Whereas now she had me wondering if it had been an act.

When the two meet a flirt storm ensues and doesn't really stop. This was very much a slow build romance but there was so much chemistry and heat between these two that you don't really notice it takes them most of the book to get "busy". The journey to their getting together was entertaining and insightful. Both had to deal with respective issues and find a way to be together. I loved taking it with them. I don't think there's anything that I didn't like about this book.

Then Jethro held out his hand. “Dance with me.”
Blinking, first at his offered palm and then at his features, I asked, “Why?”[...]
Jethro dipped his mouth to my ear, his beard tickling my neck as he finally whispered an answer to my question, “Because you want me to hold you, but you don’t know how to ask.”

“I won’t. I’ve made my decision—selfish as it is—and so have you. We’re in this together. We have a good deal to learn about each other. You can’t ever be certain of another person, and that’s where faith comes in. I’ve asked a lot of people to have faith in me when I didn’t deserve it, and I’m asking the same of you now.”

I'm also now extremely curious about Billy and Claire. And Cletus!!! And I really hope Jennifer gets a Winston man too. There's a lot more that I can say about this lovely book but I'm trying not to give too much away. Read it if you want to laugh and be entertained but also moved.



P.S. Have doughnuts near by. This book made me crave them like crazy.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's talk about book love, author love, series love. I legit love it all, this book, Penny Reid and this beautiful series set in Tennessee. As you probably know, I am from Tennessee, actually a large city very close to Green Valley. So, I just feel such an intense love for this series. As soon as I read the first pages of the book my smile and love just comes flooding back. I have been in funk lately and this book just made me immediately smile and feel such happiness to be reading it.

I love Jethro. Yes, he is the bad brother or was, but he has overcome that. He has proven himself and gone above and beyond to be better. I could just feel his heart and desire to be better, to be worthy. Sienna Diaz is a movie star in town filming a movie. Naturally, Jethro has no idea who she is and it allows them both to get to know each other.

Oh boy, I loved this part of the story. I loved the two of them, the build up was perfection and had me excited to turn the page. Their time together had me falling more and more in love with their openness and l love for each other. Catching up with the Winston group brought a HUGE smile to my face and had me eager to read their books.

I have nothing negative to say, nothing. Like all Penny's books this one is a little long, but reads so fast. I was never bored and stay engaged the entire time, excited to turn the page. This book is beautifully written, had me sighing and swooning, and addictive. I absolutely recommend not only this book, but the entire series!!

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

Teasers created by me with stock images purchased from depositphotos.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

Today sucks and there are only two of us at work to do everything that normally 5 people do and some bitch has already tried to throw me under the bus for SOMETHING I DIDN’T EVEN FUCKING DO!!!! and my computer just SHUT DOWN without me even touching the G.D. thing so why don’t we not talk about this book for a minute in order for me to calm myself down before I pull an Office Space on this mah fah . . . .



Okay, so it was a Christmas miracle and the pornbrarian™ (new word) decided to give me the best present ever in the form of buying this entire series. Up to this point I had scored the first for free from Amazon and got the third from the porny library. My experience proves that (1) you can totally read these out of order and it will matter zero and (2) beards are guuuuuuuud.

Grin and Beard It is the second book in the Winston Brothers series and focuses on brother Jethro . . . .

“Oh, Ranger Jethro. You are so adorable. I just want to take you home and put you in my pocket.”

I want to take him home and put him somewhere too. And it’s near my pocket . . . .



I’m sure all of these books follow the same script – boy meets girl/boy and girl shouldn’t be together for whatever reason/slow roller of a romance/big shebang. This one had the bonus of Jethro not liking Jennifer Sylvester and her stupid fucking banana cakes so I was on his team all the way. That might be partially to blame on my oldest’s newly acquired taste in “country” music (country in quotes, because as much as he would never admit it, this new stuff is like straight up boy band music with a little twang – there’s no Waylan or Johnny in the mix, fo sho!). Anyway, don’t hate ‘cause I ain’t knocking it. I’ve found myself turning the ol’ Pandora over to the Florida Georgia Line plenty and that’s where I met a young'un named Sam Hunt who sings songs that make me wanna sploosh my pants and who could have easily fit the role of Jethro here . . . .



Come to Momma! I mean, assuming you’re old enough for me to want you to come to momma, that is.

This second book ended up being a fine time for me. Jethro was hawt and I didn’t want to punch Sadie in the throat so that was a bonus. The only teensie gripe I have are authors who promise “fat” girls who wind up being described as looking exactly like this . . . .



I’m all for this idea . . . .



But until authors stop making their “fat” leading ladies top out at a 12 or 14, the cycle isn’t going to be broken. Penny Reid had the perfect opportunity here to go bigger. I mean, does Ashley Graham really come to mind when you think of “everyone’s favorite funny ‘fat’ lady????” The correct answer is no, because THIS LADY does . . . .



Baby steps, I guess.

Anyway, that’s a seriously minor quibble so I will zip it and hope my turn comes around for all of the other brothers in the Winston household fairly quickly while I wait with baited breath along with all the other horny housewives for Billy’s story . . . .

[Denisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the beginning, the book was fun, then it went to decent, then ok, then meh, and I ended up not liking it.

Ok ok, don't start throwing rocks at me, I tried to like it... I just failed.


I'll start with the many many good stuff. The chick was funny! She was damn funny, and he was pretty fun from time to time too. Too bad it didn't last too long...
And... this is where my list of good things end.


What I didn't like? Well, where to start.
I couldn't connect with the characters. More than that, they weren't the smartest people I've seen (I could even exaggerate and say they were idiots (but everyone will hate me even more, so I won't say that)).
And the book was way too long, too much internal monologue and way too many boring stuff in it. It was enough that the plot itself was damn cliche and predictable and boring, you didn't have to make the dialogues/monologues long too, they were the only good part in this whole book!
I also didn't like the writing style, I was expecting so much more from Penny Reid....
Ah yes, and let's not forget about all the questions I still have left after I finished the book. I get that there will be more books in this series, starring new characters, but c'mon! I was actually curious how the guys' best (girl) friend reacted when she found the news, and if she left, and what their siblings thought and what her parents said.
What made me give it 2 stars though, not 3, was the ending. I was so so disappointed! It was damn predictable and annoying! And after the long, long beginning (ok, first 85% of the book), the last part felt rushed.

All in all, I didn't like this book. I understand why some people liked it, but I can't see why so many people loved it. Ah well, maybe it's not the books' fault, but mine (I don't believe that, not really...).

I really wouldn't recommend this one, there are better stuff out there worth trying.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay, another Winston Brothers romance! These are all so super cute and have that perfect note of southern charm if you like slightly hillbilly guys who mean well and are a little bit old fashioned. It’s like going on vacation to Tennessee for a book, and Jethro, the oldest of the Winston clan, was a sweetheart, a reformed criminal who has sworn off bad deeds and women for five years to become a bear-saving park ranger, and comes across famous actress Sienna when she’s lost on a park road. I loved Sienna as well, a regular-sized woman who isn’t afraid of what she eats and has a saucy attitude. They were afraid to get close at first, and watching romance slowly blossom was sweet.

I also loved the hints of what is to come between Claire and Billy, who is something if a Winston enigma. As much as I love the romance, the interplay and struggles in the relationships f the brothers is really well written and keeps you flipping the page. They have a tortured thing going on that is completely drool worthy.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)



Jethro Winston is a 31 yr. old gorgeous bearded hottie from Green Valley, Tennessee. He has five brothers & one sister, and is the oldest of the siblings. After a troubled wild past, Jethro has spent the last few years trying to turn his life around & be a better man. Part of his self reforming includes five years of self imposed celibacy. So when he stumbles upon a stunning Latina woman who is lost, he is thinking he is seriously being tested with this temptation. She's spunky, flirty, & just his type.



This mystery woman that has come to town is Sienna Diaz. Sienna is a movie star & screenwriter. She is a famous Hollywood actress from LA in need of a break. She is headed out to her friends cabin on the lake when she gets lost & a delicious wild life park ranger finds her & comes to her rescue. Her hero has no clue she's famous & it's so refreshing. Tired of her demanding schedule & the paparazzi, Sienna wants to get away & have some peace and quiet. She continues to run into Jethro & they start spending time together. She loves how real he is. He was like a breath of fresh air. Just so normal & genuine. Being with him was easy, fun, & exciting and things were effortless between them. As their amazing connection continues to grow, Sienna feels maybe this small town with this beautiful man is where she belongs.



-Officer Grins-a-lot was adorable.

-This woman was all kinds of my type.

-I had a physical type, and this woman checked all the boxes. This made her dangerous, a temptation.

-Something about her...made it hard to look away, or think, or talk.



As things get more serious between them Jethro starts to wonder if they can work as a couple. He doesn't want his scandalous past to impact her future, & he also worries they may not be looking for the same things. He is looking for his forever & to settle down, & isn't sure if Sienna is looking for something temporary or something more serious. He tries to put on the brakes, & put some distance between them, but feisty Sienna isn't having that. This couple has to decide if they will go public with their relationship. I loved this book so much! It's full of laughter and romance. Jethro Winston is just such an incredible man! I liked how he knew what he wanted & wouldn't settle for less. I adore all these brothers & look forward to reading all their books!



-She was more. So much more.

-So responsive. So incredible. So...mine.

-"Being with you is where I belong."

-He treated me like I was precious to him, like I was the most important thing in his life.

-Jethro Winston was my forever person.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jethro Winston has a past that he isn't very proud of. He knows he was an asshole that hurt people, so now he does his best to make up for it. He's a Park Ranger, taking care of the wildlife, and he does anything to help around the town. When he see's a lost woman in the Mountains, he stops to help her, never thinking she would be the one to change his life. For five years he's been living a life that isn't really his, but what he thinks will be best for those around him, and with this mysterious woman that shows up in his life his priorities start to change.

Sienna Diaz has been in the spotlight for a few years now, and she's already tired of it. She's America's favorite "fat" comedian and has success that she never thought she would. Be all that success comes with the price of her happiness and she's not sure if she can keep paying. While in Tennessee for her next film she meets Park Ranger Jethro, who has no idea who she is. It's refreshing to not be recognized, and soon she's spending more and more time with the sexy Ranger. But when he finally realizes just how famous she is, she's not sure he'll want to stick around any longer.



Sienna was an amazing character with a great sense of humor. She had this quirky kind of personality that I just couldn't help but love. I'm not a huge fan celebrities because they're usually stuck up characters, but Sienna was far from like that. She was very down to earth, instead, and I adored that about her.



Jethro is the modest brother of the Winston's and kind of keeps them all in line as the big brother. He's making up for the times he wasn't around and he needed them, and I liked seeing his role in the family. I loved seeing how he opened up more around Sienna and was able to see that he should forgive himself for his past indiscretions. They made a cute couple and were so different in the way they viewed the world, but those differences are what made them so perfect for one another.



All of the Winston's, from what I've seen so far, are really great characters and I can't wait to get all of their stories. Cletus is next, he's the odd ball of the group, but I kind of already like him best. If you haven't read this series yet, I highly recommend it. The beards alone make it worth reading.

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, PR proves why she's an auto-buy author for me! The second book in the Winston Brothers series was about Jethro Winston, and I loved it. Jethro is the carefree, sexy ranger with the easy smile and the shady past. He's the oldest of the Winston brood, and also the most charming...at least I think so. But Jethro has a past he's spent several years trying to make up for to his family.
Sienna Diaz is the 'it' girl in Hollywood. She's an accomplished actress and screenwriter on location in Tennessee for a film...and she has an affinity for getting lost. Until she's found by Jethro, that is.

The banter between Sienna and Jethro was fantastic. Their easy way with each other, the connection, the chemistry...the sexual tension, was incredible. They both had their insecurities and fears, but I'm glad the drama wasn't drawn out. These were two adults who had their shit together, thankfully. A bit of shyness, fear, perhaps doubt? Perfectly normal. I loved how Sienna and Jethro didn't hide their feelings from each other, but embraced something frighteningly beautiful and new.
There were several laugh out loud moments, lots of hilarious double meanings and innuendos...but not always from Jethro and Sienna, but from the incredibly charismatic and freshly different Cletus Winston! He was a shining star in this book and managed to steal the limelight a time or two. His book is next I believe, and it's going to be good because he's so wholly different from his brothers! He's got this darkness under his hilarity and it'll be interesting to see how it unfolds. He said this one thing that made me laugh so much! Mainly because it was a little naive...true for sure, but not for all...especially those putting on a show!

"...But she's loud with Jethro. A woman isn't that loud unless she's having the time of her life."
LOL.

The brother I'm most interested in though, is Billy! What is his deal?? What's up with Claire?! CANNOT WAIT for his book!
This series is so good and so funny! I loved that Sienna was 'plus' size (such an annoying description the world has labelled many normal women), that she was Latina and that she was beautiful, smart and funny. Jethro was amazingly perfect and deserved the happiness he was afraid to seek. Can't wait for the other brothers books!


*Arc generously provided by Penny Reid for review*

[Eda** · Rating 5 out of 5]

** 4.75-5 “La Vie En Rose” STARS **

“I don’t think I knew what beauty was, until I met you.”

I am in love with this series! I am in love with the Winston brothers! I am in love with their bond! I am in love with their unique taste in women! I am in love with EVERYTHING about this world Penny Reid has created!

OVERALL: READ IT B*TCHEZ!

P.S: Am I the only one OMFG SO FREAKIN' EXCITED about Billy's book? (which will be the last one in the series apparently....GODDAMNIT!)

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

From now on, it was Jethro Winston and Sienna Diaz against the world, defying our history, ignoring the labels others might assign. If I became lost, I knew I could count on him to find me, and vice versa. We had faith in each other, and that's all that mattered.

Every time I go to re-read a Winston Brothers book I'm like, "Oh, Penny Reid probably isn't as good as I'm remembering. This series is probably overhyped by my mind due to beards."

So I picked up this book to read it for the twentieth time and at first I was like this, ho-hum, but by 16% I was under Reid's spell once more. She's still got it. Some books you come back to later and you're like, "Nah, why did I ever like this shit?" But not here.

Listen, I actually gasped - out loud! - twice when I was reading this. It was purely involuntary, I can assure you. It is difficult to get me so into a book I do things like gasp or laugh out loud, and I gasped out loud in shock TWICE while reading this - then looked around me in total astonishment at having done such a thing, checking to see if anyone was looking at me in amusement.

Yeah, that's how much these books pull you into this world. And I was gasping out loud even though a.) I'm not a gasper and b.) I already had read this at least twenty times.

Penny Reid... I mean, damn. She writes these Winston brothers who are kind, patient, gentle, and friendly. NOM. And they have beards!!!! Nom nom! I read a lot of romance - and some of it is even romance that I enjoy and that turns me on - but as for heroes I would actually date IRL this is it. These are the heroes right here. Most romance novels create heroes that are fun in theory, but would be shitty or scary IRL. These men are not like that, they are the ideal Boyfriend.

Now, don't think I'm some salivating Reid fangirl - I do not enjoy Reid's Knitting in the City books, nor did I like Beauty and the Mustache. So... not someone who thinks Penny Reid writes golden every time. She's let me down. However, these Winston brothers books are fucking awesome, so let's discuss.
...

When we first meet Sienna Diaz and Jethro Whitman Winston, we have certain impressions of them. Sienna gets lost driving to a cabin. She is a fat, funny, latina actress who has won awards. We see her that way. Fat, funny, latina actress who is award-winning and finds her fame and celebrity both overwhelming and tiring.

Jethro Whitman Winston, park ranger, white man, appears in his vehicle to guide Sienna to the cabin. He has no idea who she is. He does not recognize this celebrity and just thinks she is a pretty and nice lady. We see Jethro the way Sienna does, as an attractive, bearded, straightforward, cheerful, helpful, patient, competent, kind man. NOM. Oh, sorry, got distracted. I was going to save the noms for later, but FUCK ME this man is hot. So gentle. So kind. NOM.

ANYWAY.

I keep repeating 'we see them this way' because Reid is going to amp these characters up. What you see is NOT what you get in Reid's books, which actually involve character development. I know, it's romance, you're shocked. There's a lot going on under the surface here, and Reid is going to plunge those hidden depths by the time the novel's over.

Here are some highlights you can expect in this book:


Reformed Bad Boy

Can people change? Is what you have been in the past a permanent stain on your whole life? I think not. I believe people can grow and change - for better or for worse. I am someone who believes people can change. A lot of people do not think this, and are very unforgiving.

Reid deals with these themes here, especially with Jethro's arc. We don't know it at the beginning, but throughout the book it comes out piece by piece - what a Bad Man Jethro was in the past. And I'm not saying that in a cutesy way. He really was bad news: drinking, brawling, drugs, treating women like prostitutes, involved with the local motorcycle gang, etc.

As a result of his past actions - the hurt and pain he's caused his family, the townsfolk, and his past lovers - he has been not only on the straight and narrow for five years, but completely celibate. It's extremely interesting. He has family members who are on his side and think he genuinely has changed, and he has family members who hate him for what he's done in the past.

Now her smile wavered, her eyes narrowing into suspicious slits. "Jethro, don't you hurt that girl."

I winced, her words hitting a target Ash likely didn't realize existed.

Placing a gentle hand on Ashley's shoulder, I pulled her a smidge closer. "Ash, I love you. You've been gone a long time and have only been back a few months, so I don't mind repeating myself 'cause you haven't been here to see things change first-hand." I made sure she was looking at me, really looking, before continuing. "I don't do that anymore. I haven't for a long time. I have no intentions of hurting Sienna or anyone else. Not ever again."

Ashley's gaze flashed, likely with some unpleasant memory of a younger asshole me, then dropped to the deck. She nodded stiffly. Her tone was laced with guilt as she apologized. "I'm sorry. You're right. You've changed. Sorry."

The set of my sister's jaw was a painful reminder of how, no matter how far I'd come or how many good decisions I'd made in recent years, I couldn't take back past mistakes.

BAM! So fucking good. And this is all woven into the story very subtly, and Jethro isn't the only one struggling with public image.

One interesting thing about Sienna is that she sees herself one way: as a fat, funny latina actress - but we can see others around her see her as a maneater. And we get that. Slowly, it becomes clear to us that in certain ways she is a heartbreaker. She has to deal with this as well - this disunion between how she sees herself and how she believes the world sees her with actual reality. She's very pretty and charming and a lot of men have their hearts set on her - whether they are conflicted about that or not (some men people really struggle admitting to themselves that they are attracted to someone who is fat).

My point is, these characters are a lot of things... just like people in real life, the judgments and opinions we have about them when we first meet them are not accurate and not based on complete knowledge. But as you go through the book the picture becomes clearer and clearer. It's wonderful.

Reid also tackles the labels assigned to children and how those aren't (or shouldn't be) permanent. The pretty one, the smart one, the failure. People are not what they were in childhood. Even as Sienna and Jethro are fighting these ideas people have of themselves, they are also labeling others incorrectly or judging others by who they were as children/teenagers. It's complex.


Celibacy and Waiting for Marriage

It's quite a shock for Sienna to find out that Jethro is celibate, has been for five years, and plans on only having sex with his wife. How is she supposed to deal with this revelation? Kudos to Reid for tackling this issue, and moreover, from presenting it from the male quarter - very rare in romance fiction.

I don't think Sienna handled it well. She is not patient enough. This is played as understandable - not cute, but pretty close to cute - but I'm not buying it. If you are with a romantic partner who is hesitant about having sex (for whatever reason) it is YOUR responsibility as the more eager partner to be patient and kind. You should wait until the more hesitant partner is ready and sure. I don't feel like Sienna did that here, I feel like she pressured Jethro to have sex with her.


Hero with Female Friends

The hero has female friends. He talks to them about what is going on in his life and has serious discussions with them. He has no hidden desire to fuck them, and they have no hidden desire to fuck him. This is almost unheard of in romance and it is so refreshing. Every other woman is not a threat to Sienna.


Actual Conversations About the Relationship

There are four or five Serious Talks that Sienna and Jethro have in this book. It's astounding. When they have a problem, they sit down and have an adult conversation with each other about it, instead of using the age-old romance tropes of "The Misunderstanding" and "Secretly Seething Inside For Nine Chapters."

It's amazing the adult, kind, rational relationship Reid creates here. Frankly mind-blowing.


Hand-holding

It's the little things that make a relationship in a romance book real. Not everything is about sex. More authors should learn from Reid and throw little things like this in.


Quotes

Opening each chapter with an amazing literary quote like a fucking boss.


True Life Partner

Jethro takes his responsibilities as a man very seriously. It's spectacular. He's always thinking about what Sienna might want and need and trying to give that to her. He also feels compelled to be her partner and her bastion of strength against the world. Much like she is to him. I truly believe that your partner should be just that, your partner - your stronghold and your help against life and the world. My most beloved romance novels are the ones where I feel like - instead of just wanting to fuck each other very badly - the hero and heroine are going to stand by each other's sides and meet the pain and difficulty that life brings head-on.

First I was worried, because Jethro had this idea that Sienna was his 'prize' or 'reward' for all the reformation he had done in the last five years, but Reid quickly sets him straight as he starts realizing that Sienna is flawed and human. This is actually a good thing, because having a woman who is not on a pedestal, but instead is an imperfect sinner hmmmm, that's not the word. An imperfect wretch like yourself means that you two can bond together as equals and true partners. Having an idealized, false version of your lover leads to downfall.

My job, as her man, was to take care of her, to see to her needs and well-being. Not cause embarrassment, not be a stain on her reputation. Not make her job harder. I'd already darkened the lives of my own family. I couldn't live with myself if I hurt her chances for success.


Blue Balls

Props to Reid for having Jethro handle blue balls like a man. Apologies to anyone who is offended by this term or concept.

I kissed her again, pulling down the cup of her bra and sliding my palm over her perfectly shaped breast.

Fuck. She felt so fucking good. Heaven in my hands.

I wanted her. Right now.

I wanted her little, panting, hitching breaths and her loud, abandoned moans. And now I knew she was a happy screamer, I wanted her screams, too.

"Wait." She twisted her mouth from mine and caught my hand again. "Wait, stop."

I stopped, but groaned my dissatisfaction. "What? What is it?"

"I don't want you to go down on me." Her words were breathless but I heard conviction in her tone.

"Why?" I said through gritted teeth, because I DID want it. As much as I'd needed her mouth on me before, I needed my mouth on her sweet body. Needed the taste of her. NEEDED it.

"Because I didn't give you a blow job because I wanted reciprocation. I did it because I need you to-to-to accept my affection. I have feelings for you - deep, important, overwhelming feelings - and I have to be able to show you how I feel."

"Fine. Done. You can show me while I taste you." I moved to kiss her again, shifting my thigh between her legs.

"Jethro, stop. You're not listening to me." Her grip on my roaming hands tightened and I growled my frustration.

My patience was at an end.

I couldn't be this close without taking some part of her for myself, so I pulled my hands and body away. I rolled onto my back, shoving my palms into my eye sockets. My heart galloped. Blood pounded between my ears and rushed with needful intent to my dick.

"Let me know when you're calm enough to talk," she said, her tone even. Completely fucking reasonable.

She didn't apologize and I was glad. She had nothing to be sorry for.

But, Christ almighty, I was shaking with how badly I needed to touch her. I was sweating with it. And it wasn't her fault.

Time. I needed time.

And space.

I pushed myself upright and edged to the tailgate, jumping down. In my peripheral vision I saw she'd also sat up and was trying to figure out what I was up to. Likely, to her eyes, I was a black mass against the dark field and sky.

"Jethro?" She sounded uncertain. I didn't like that.

I cleared my throat and tried to mimic her earlier reasonable tone. "I need a drink. You want something? I have hot chocolate."

She hesitated before asking, "Do you think it's still hot?"

"Should be. It's in my camping thermos.

"Then yes, please."

I walked to the driver's side and opened the door while I considered taking off my shirt. I was still hot. I knew of a pond not far from here I could jump in. It wouldn't be precisely cold at seventy or so degrees, but it might do the trick.

I fished out the thermos and tequila, shut the doors, walked back to the tailgate, and poured her cup first. She'd crawled on her hands and knees to where I stood and I had to look away. Seeing her in that position inspired all kinds of frustrating thoughts. I set the mug just in front of her, pulled the cork from the bottle of Patron, and took a short drink.

I needed to clear my head, not get drunk. The burn helped, sobered and slowed my frenzied pulse.

"You're drinking tequila?"

I nodded, then remembered she couldn't see me. "Yes. I'm drinking tequila."

She was quiet, like she was picking her words, then said, "You're upset."

I tried the words on and they didn't quite fit. "I'm not upset. I'm frustrated."

This launches into one of Reid's patented real-life relationship talks, and it's wonderful, but I am really happy with Jethro here. It's so hard for people, because we live in a culture where females believe they owe men sex. I remember when my much younger, virgin girlfriend came to me about her boyfriend. They were having some pretty intense makeout sessions and he was getting erections and she wasn't ready to have sex with him. "You owe him jackshit," I informed her. "If things get really bad, just tell him to go jerk off in the bathroom." FFS, the entitlement is real. And women feel so much GUILT over it, OMFG.

"Just because a man gets an erection while making out with you, doesn't mean you owe him sex or that this is 'your fault' and you have to 'take care of it.'" I told her. "What was he doing before he met you? Jacking off? Well, he can do that now.'" And it irritates me to hell when people suggest not making out. So now my friend can't enjoy making out with him? Because he gets an erection? Fuck that shit. There should be tons of making out. Making out doesn't have to end with a penis in one of her orifices. That's disgusting and stupid.

Well, that makes sense because she's a VIRGIN, Carmen.

Yes, and what? Non-virgins don't deserve any courtesy or respect? They have no rights. Once they've had cock inside them, they'd better be ready to have that cock inside them whenever Boyfriend feels like it? Fuck that shit.

Okay, mini-rant over.


Funny

The book is laugh-out-loud funny at times and Reid has a GREAT sense of humor.


THE BAD

Yes, don't think I have no complaints about this five-star book! LOL

1.) Why give Jethro a beard if you are not going to give me DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS of what he does with it in bed?! WHY. Reid provides us with the off comment about 'his beard tickled my cheek' and 'his beard scratched my neck' which is lovely... but I want extensive details about how he uses his beard as a sexual weapon against Sienna. Come on! There is a whole scene where he eats her out and Reid doesn't even mention beards or beard-sensations! WHY. How can you do this to me?

I want detailed kissing, necking, cunnilingus, and makeout sessions with serious beard action descriptions. Do you know how good it feels when bearded men kiss you on the neck?!!?! Can we talk about this, please!??! In great detail?! Why is this book not more descriptive. WHY. Maybe the hero can just take his beard and rub it all over the heroine's body like a delightful little hedgehog? Soon?

Also, I would be stroking and playing with Jethro's beard a lot. Why doesn't Reid employ more beard-stroking and beard-touching in this book? Sigh. We will just work on it and hope it arrives in later books.

2.) See my earlier spoiler-guarded section above on dealing with the fact that your romantic partner is not willing to move forward sexually as fast as you are. I wish Sienna had been more understanding about this.

HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?

Pretty damn good.


TL;DR: I would recommend reading Truth or Beard and then this book and then Beard Science. Beard Science is Cletus's book and I don't know if I am physically or mentally prepared to write a review on it since I find Cletus to be the most sexually exciting Winston brother.

This series is gold. Reid writes the hell out of it and you are going to be blown away by the levels of complexity, the humor, and the amazing character development. If you like sweet, patient, kind, gentle men and you like to laugh, this is a total win. One of the few, few romance books/series in which I can say, "I would date these men IRL."

Five romance stars, highest praise, some of the best romance books I've ever read. Reid just kills it with these Winston men, I swear. It's almost unbelievable that anyone could write romance this well.

Highly recommended.

ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
BBW Romance
Contemporary Romance
Multicultural/Interracial Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine

[♥Sharon♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

”We have faith that there is purpose. We hope for things we can’t see. We believe there are lessons in loss, power in love, and that we have within us the potential for a beauty so magnificent, our bodies can’t contain it.” ~ Amy Harmon, Making Faces

It is no secret that I love Penny Reid’s writing, her choice of characters, her wit and the originality of her storyline. It is a love story, it has some angst and yes it has passion like all other romance books but Penny uses her creative liberties to give us something unique.

At the beginning of each chapter we get a quote from various authors, poets, philosophers and spiritual leaders. I loved each one of them but my favorite is at the beginning of my review. It is very fitting for Jethro and Sienna. Fate had a plan for these two. Both had experienced life lessons, good and bad. Each wanted that beauty that is only found in true love. Would the stars align for these two?

Sienna Diaz~ is used to being the focus of attention. She was voluptuous, funny and sexy. She loves her life but would give anything to have a normal relationship with someone who would love her for who she was void of her celebrity status. Meeting Jethro had given her a sliver of hope even though the demands of her career had her questioning whether they could have that happily ever after.

Long hair, dark eyes, tall, more curves than straight lines. And she had lips that could only be described as luscious. ~ Jethro

Jethro Winston ~ okay ladies, for those of you who have read this one, wasn’t he just perfect? He was sweet, funny, handsome, gentlemanly and super sexy. Of the two Winston brothers we have had the pleasure of reading about, he is my favorite so far. He wasn’t always this perfect package. When he was younger, he had lived his life carelessly and did things that put a strain on relationships within his family. He had gained some forgiveness and made amends but when it came to love he questioned whether he deserved it. Could he allow himself this happiness.

He made love like he walked. Like he spoke. Like he lived. With complete confidence and artless self-assurance. ~ Sienna

I loved how Sienna and Jethro’s relationship developed. I was a slow burn and the sexual chemistry was off the charts. They teased and tempted each other which only left them all hot and bothered. When Sienna finally gives into the thought of finally getting everything she dreamed of with this sweet talking park ranger she took what she wanted.

But....reality decides to test this fragile relationship and Jethro is the one who needs to make a choice. Is he the only one that doesn’t see it?

I very much enjoyed this one. Sienna and Jethro made for an interesting relationship, the side characters provided for the acceptable level of annoyance and Cletus, he just made everything just a little better. He was always meddling and making me laugh. I cannot wait for his story, which we will get in Beard Science.

[Norah Una Sumner · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jethro had been the disappointment.
I'd been the clown.
Individually we had become more.
But together and with each other, we didn't need to be our labels.
We were free to just be ourselves."

I absolutely loved this book. I love Penny's writing style, the way she portrays both women and men in such an empowering way, the kind of humor she uses. Penny is my queen, to be honest. And so is Sienna. Oh my God, this gal is so freaking awesome. I love her humor, her awkwardness, her attitude towards Jethro, her confidence. GIRL POWER AT IT'S BEST. And then there's Jethro... our adorable, bearded "bear trapper" who cannot unsee Sienna's dimples. Together they make an awesome team. I loved reading about them and their little adventures. But also... how cute is Claire? I have to give props to this lady. And I'm glad Sienna thinks that as well.

"I also decided, if things didn't work out with Jethro, I would ask her to marry me and request she make goat cheese bruschetta every Sunday."

And... CLETUS. I swear to God, I love this guy so much. Also, I am so happy that Jethro and Billy are working things out, I seriously can't wait for his book. ♥



I JUST WANT MY VERY OWN WINSTON BROTHER.

...Is it really too much to ask? *cries*