
Series: Knitting in the City #4, The Winston Brothers #0
Published by Cipher-Naught on 2014-08-28
Length: 376 pages
Reviewing Kindle from My Book Shelf
Rating:
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There are three things you need to know about Ashley Winston:
1) She has six brothers and they all have beards,
2) She is a reader, and
3) She knows how to knit.Former beauty queen, Ashley Winston’s preferred coping strategy is escapism. She escaped her Tennessee small town, loathsome father, and six brothers eight years ago. Now she escapes life daily via her one-click addiction. However, when a family tragedy forces her to return home, Ashley can’t escape the notice of Drew Runous—local Game Warden, bear wrestler, philosopher, and everyone’s favorite guy. Drew’s irksome philosophizing in particular makes Ashley want to run for the skyscrapers, especially since he can’t seem to keep his exasperating opinions— or his soulful poetry, steadfast support, and delightful hands— to himself. Pretty soon the girl who wanted nothing more than the escape of the big city finds she’s lost her heart in small town Tennessee.
Beauty and the Mustache is book #4 in the Knitting in the City series, and book #0.5 in the Winston Brothers 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.
I adored this book! Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid is the fourth book in Knitting in the Series and the book that starts the spin-off series Winston Brothers. I read the spin-off series first, it was my introduction to Reid, so I was really excited to start this one. Ashley Winston is living her best life in Chicago with her found family, trying to erase her past, mainly her father, and working as a nurse practitioner. When she isn’t able to reach her momma after two days, she gets worried. That’s when she reaches out to one of her brothers who tells her that their momma is in the hospital and refusing to see any of them, so Ashley returns home to her six brothers and Drew Runous, a federal game warden who has become a part of the family while she’s been gone.
Ashley is a fun character. She’s spent her adult life running away from her past and unintentionally cutting out her family. The only one she still speaks to is her mother who she speaks to daily and goes on vacations with. Returning home was never a part of her plan. She’s tried so hard to be better and distance herself from her father, who was abusive and manipulative and disappeared from their lives when she was a kid. The fact she looks like him haunts her. Now she’s home and realizing that all the reasons she stayed away no longer apply. Her brothers have become men, men she can rely on, men she likes.
Then there’s Drew. Drew is an enigma. Their first encounter isn’t the best (though absolutely hilarious!), and Ashley spends a lot of time trying to figure out his intentions. Her family has accepted him as a part of their family. He’s quiet, writes poetry, and has a secret. He seems affronted by Ashley’s presence, mainly that “Ash” is a girl and not a guy 😂 Can’t say I can blame him for that shock. However, despite it all, he makes it clear that he is there to support Ashley and her family as they prepare to say goodbye to their matriarch.
Overall, I loved Beauty and the Mustache. This book is full of love, family, laughter, and tears. The situations the characters are placed in feel true to life. So many emotions reading this one! All good and some cathartic tears as well. If you are a fan of the series, looking for a sweet contemporary romance, or a good laugh, I highly recommend it.
I loved this one too. Plus Charlie Hunnam. The Winston series is so exciting.
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I love the Winston Brothers! I read that series first not knowing that it was a spin-off. I’m glad to finally go back and read this one. Definitely lived up to my expectations 🙂
I love Penny Reid’s books! Glad you enjoyed this as well!
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