Beard Necessities by Penny Reid Series: Winston Brothers #7
Published by Cipher-Naught on November 4, 2019
Format: ARC
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
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Billy Winston’s family is going to see him happy and in love if it’s the last thing they do.
No one deserves a happily-ever-after quite as much as the second oldest Winston brother and his lady love, Claire McClure (aka Scarlet St. Claire). Cruelty and circumstance tore them apart almost twenty years ago. Secrecy and bitterness kept them separated.
But you know who's tired of their separation and stubbornness? Everyone. Especially Billy Winston’s family. And now they're going to do something about it.
Well-meaning interference means the star-crossed lovers can’t stop tripping over each other in the hills of Tuscany, the catacombs of Rome, and the waterways of Venice. Billy and Claire find themselves thrown together and at the mercy of the Winston siblings’ shenanigans.
But will their forced proximity bring them together? Or push them even further apart?
This second-chance romance brings back the entire Winston gang, playing cupid in one last story of love, hi-jinks, and family collusion.
BEARD NECESSITIES is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, and can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s probably best read after books 0.5, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the Winston Brothers series.
I’ve been with the Winston brothers through thick and thin, and Beard Necessities signals the end of the road. I’m totally not crying. You’re crying!
You really shouldn’t read Beard Necessities without reading Beard with Me first, and if you’ve read Beard with Me then you know the emotional train wreck that is Billy and Claire’s relationship. Their history is riddled with secrets, misunderstandings, and stubbornness. The tension between them is so thick you can cut it with a knife, but it is obvious to their family and friends that they are destined to be together. A family vacation to Italy is the perfect opportunity to give them a gentle-ish nudge.
Time and again, Billy has sacrificed his own happiness to take care of those he loves. Claire (aka Scarlet) has suffered from guilt and a feeling of unworthiness. All their resentment and longing makes for some really painful interactions; however, there is also an infectious sense of optimism. Slow burn romances are the best, and I loved every chapter of simmering, delicious anticipation.
This is Claire and Billy’s story, but Cletus comes close to stealing the show. Of all the characters in all the Penny Reid books I’ve read, Cletus is my favorite. His meddlesome hijinks and pearls of wisdom bring so much fun to the story.
A series this heartwarming needs an epic conclusion, and Beard Necessities does not disappoint. It is the perfect combination of humor and heart. The epilogue reunites all the Winstons, their spouses, and children. For fans, it’s a wonderfully indulgent gift. I can’t think of a more fitting or touching end.
Recommended for fans of:
Slow burn romance
Second chance romance
Large families
Scheming
Italy
I received an early copy to voluntarily read.
Grab your copy of Beard Necessities!
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About Penny Reid
Penny Reid is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.
Yep. You said it all! What a wonderful book and conclusion. Now, if only Penny Reid could dig up some Winston relation we haven’t read about yet and give them a story…
Great review! I’m looking forward to this one. I’m listening to Beard Science right now.