Truth or Beard by Penny Reid
Winston Brothers #1
Publication Date: July 23, 2015
Genres: Contemporary, Humor, Romance
Beards, brothers, and bikers! Oh my!
Identical twins Beau and Duane Winston might share the same devastatingly handsome face, but where Beau is outgoing and sociable, Duane is broody and reserved. This is why Jessica James, recent college graduate and perpetual level headed good girl, has been in naïve and unhealthy infatuation with Beau Winston for most of her life.
His friendly smiles make her tongue-tied and weak-kneed, and she’s never been able to move beyond her childhood crush. Whereas Duane and Jessica have always been adversaries. She can’t stand him, and she’s pretty sure he can’t stand the sight of her…
But after a case of mistaken identity, Jessica finds herself in a massive confusion kerfuffle. Jessica James has spent her whole life paralyzed by the fantasy of Beau and her assumptions of Duane’s disdain; therefore she’s unprepared for the reality that is Duane’s insatiable interest, as well as his hot hands and hot mouth and hotter looks. Not helping Jessica’s muddled mind and good girl sensibilities, Duane seems to have gotten himself in trouble with the local biker gang, the Iron Order.
Certainly, Beau’s magic spell is broken. Yet when Jessica finds herself drawn to the man who was always her adversary, now more dangerous than ever, how much of her level-head heart is she willing to risk?
Series Description:
Everyone in Green Valley, Tennessee knows that the six bearded Winston brothers have been imbued with an unfair share of charm and charisma… and are prone to mischief.
Truth or Beard is book #1 in the Winston Brother’s series. Each book is a standalone, full length (110k words), contemporary romantic comedy novel, and follows the romantic exploits and adventures of one of the six Winston Brothers.
Review
I love childhood enemies to lovers’ storylines and when you add in Penny Reid’s stellar writing and quirky, lovable, and down to earth characters, it’s a match made in literary heaven for me.
If I could read Penny Reid’s writing every day, I would because there’s something so seamless about the settings and characters she creates. She sets herself apart from most romance authors because she doesn’t try to glamorize anything or try to impress. She writes from her heart and strays outside the box with her witty exchanges between characters and her realistic perceptions of life, love, and the idea of happy living.
When I was introduced to the Winston brothers in Beauty and the Mustache, I immediately wanted their stories; I wanted to spend time with each one of them and understand what makes them who they are and move beyond the hillbilly persona that they all seem to portray and get to who they are at their core.
Duane Winston is all about living balls to the wall. He seems to personify what it means to be wild and reckless, but there’s more to him than his need for adventure, and readers see that when he finally makes a move for the girl he’s always wanted but never thought he’d get – Jessica James.
Jessica knows all too well how Duane can be; she’s endured his torment since childhood while crushing on his twin brother Beau. She’s back in Green Valley for a few years to pay off her student loans and then she’s headed for her own adventure – traveling the world and experiencing everything it has to offer. She doesn’t want anything to complicate or stand in the way of going on a walk about around the world, but what she didn’t count on was how Duane’s plan to woo and court her would have her reevaluating her world traveler status.
The chemistry between Jessica and Duane is off the charts, and the way Penny Reid explores how hot Duane makes Jessica is both humorous and panty melting. Jessica is usually a well spoken, tell it like it is woman, but what he does to her body sets her off like readers have really never experienced in Penny Reid’s stories.
Jessica and Duane’s story is a great start to Reid’s new series. Penny Reid continues to impress me with how she crafts a story because her characters are so complex and rounded that readers see their transformations throughout the text and the way she builds the storyline around her characters so that they are the driving force of it allows readers to truly lose themselves in her stories and fall in love with every aspect of the text.
I am so looking forward to all of the other Winston Brothers’ books, but I have to say, Cletus stole the show for me. I love his personality and full disclosure statements, and I can’t wait to see him talk his way into a woman’s heart.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
5 poison apples
About Penny Reid
SEX! It all started with sex, between my parents. Personally I don’t like thinking about it, but whatever works for you is a-ok with me. No judgment. The sex happened in California and much of my life also occurred in that state until I moved from the land of nuts (almonds), wine, silicon… boobs, and heavy traffic to the southeast US. Like most writers I like to write, but let’s get back to sex. Eventually I married and gave birth to 2 small people-children (boy-6, girl-4 as of this writing).
By day I’m a biomedical researcher with focus on rare diseases. By night I’m a knitter, sewer, lino block carver, fabric printer, soap maker, and general crafter. By the wee hours of the morning or when I’m intoxicated I love to listen to the voices in my head and let them tell me stories. I hope you enjoy their stories.
Fairest Of All Book Reviews 
Pingback: Tour: Truth or Beard by Penny Reid ⋆ IndieSage PR