Beard with Me (Winston Brothers, #6) by Penny Reid Find the Author: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Newsletter, Author Fan Facebook Page
Series: Winston Brothers series #6
Also in this series: Grin & Beard It, Beard Science, A Beard In Mind
Published by Cipher-Naught on September 16, 2019
Pages: 500
Review Copy Provided By: Author
Goodreads
AMZ US Apple Books
This post may contain affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I may receive a small commission from the sale.
‘Beard With Me’ is the origin story of Billy Winston and Scarlet St. Claire (aka Claire McClure) and is just the beginning of their epic love story.
No one is better at surviving than Scarlet St. Claire and making the best out of circumstances beyond her control is Scarlet’s specialty. In an apocalyptic situation, she’d be the last person on earth, hermitting like a pro, singing along to her CD Walkman, and dancing like no one is watching.
Scarlet is clever, Scarlet is careful, and Scarlet is smart . . . except when it comes to Billy Winston.
No one is better at fighting than Billy Winston and raging against his circumstances—because nothing is beyond his control—is Billy’s specialty. In an apocalyptic situation, he’d be the first person on earth to lead others to safety, overcome catastrophe, or die trying.
Billy is fearless, Billy is disciplined, and Billy is honorable . . . except when it comes to Scarlet St. Claire.
I was provided a review copy; this did not influence my opinion of the book.
“I knew, with absolute certainty, I’d dream of her and her spirit and her voice for the rest of my life. The belief was soul-deep, in my bones and muscles and skin, but particularly in my heart.”
Reid’s ability to “flip the script” and write this breathtaking, angst-filled story was both shocking and expected. Her talent has been proven time and again. With each book she sets the bar higher as she pours more of herself into her characters and their stories.
‘Beard With Me’ was overwhelming, wonderous and crushing. My chest ached and my eyes burned. Billy and Scarlet/Clare’s story had a tragic beginning. Full of promise and lies. Full of pain and solace. Full of firsts and last times.
Billy’s quiet strength, loyalty and resounding need to protect those he loved, was exactly what Scarlet needed. He was her shelter from the pain, her promise of better, and he filled her emptiness with expectations and hope. Billy was her first kiss, her first love and was supposed to be the one she grew old with. Yet it was because of his strength, loyalty and undeniable need to protect her, that he couldn’t grow old with her. He had to let her go.
Blown away. I am blown away by the fact that this story was never planned on being told. This would have been a travesty, because this book feels integral to the entire Winston Brother’s series. It explains so much, it explains who Billy is and why he is. I am glad I read it now, after having read all of the others, because there were many “a ha!” moments. I loved the little ‘Easter eggs’ that Reid placed throughout the pages of this book. It was like I was in on inside jokes with the author as she placed these morsels throughout this story.
Billy had always been this entity that stayed just on the fringe of each story. He was either talked about or had what seemed to be a small role in the other sibling’s stories. But Billy was never small. He never stayed in the shadows. He was there, supporting them and encouraging them, and giving up who he was and who he could have been for everyone he loved.
I get it. I understand now. This entire series has been leading up to ‘Beard Necessities’ – to Billy and Scarlet’s story, and I now know why. And as much as I WANT/NEED that book, I am afraid. I am full of trepidation not just because I know it will break me, but because it is the last book in the Winston Brother’s series and I don’t want them to end.
In an apocalyptic situation, I want this series with me! ❤️
”If the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts, then my soul was Scarlet.”
About Penny Reid
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author of the Winston Brothers, Knitting in the City, Rugby, and Hypothesis series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she just writes books. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.
What's on your mind? (Please note, comment may be held for moderation before appearing.)