Member Reviews

Truth or Beard by Penny Reid is the first book in the Winston Brothers series. This is a spin off from another book, Beauty and the Mustache, but can be read as a standalone. Jess and Duane are our favorite couple of the moment and they don't disappoint. Watching Jess realize that Duane is someone she can fall for is more than she wanted to admit, but Duane persisted and came out on top! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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I enjoyed this story. It was sweet and the characters are cute. Duane was charming and I enjoyed Jessica’s personality too. The southern charm throughout was great as well. I’m excited to see where the rest of this series takes me with the Winston brothers!

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I was so excited to read this book and see it be picked up by a major publisher. This book was great banter and chemistry between the main characters that had me chuckling and enjoying the read. There are some moments that were a little childish, like fixating way too long on something, but overall I enjoyed and will continue with the series.

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This book is laugh out loud funny! Some of the words coming out of their mouths- Jessica especially- had me cackling! Swoony enemies to lovers story that’ll leave you wanting more!

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This book wasn't for me. I didn't like Duane, I found him arrogant and not in a good way, and just unlikeable for me. Also the spicy scenes were not it. They seemed innappropriate and moreso used as a weapon rather than a romantic tool.

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Penny Reid is one of my favorite authors and Truth or Beard is a prime example of why. I love the introduction we get to Green Valley and the Winston family. As this series is an offshoot of the Knitting in the City series we have seen these characters and town a bit before, but you get to really know them better in this series.

This first book in the series centers on Duane and Jessica. They have known each other since they were children, but bickered more than they got along. Via the dual POV it was interesting to see how they viewed one another from the beginning and the growing feelings as their relationship changed.

This book - and series - hooked me from the very beginning and even after a reread still remain an all time favorite. I cannot wait for the rest of the series rerelease from Bloom Books!

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I have never read anything by this author, but I will be looking out for other books they write in the future. I really enjoyed the story as well as the pacing of the story.

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This is the 1st book of the Winston Brothers series. This is Duane's story. I'd read it a few year back and it was a fun book to revisit.

Jess 's family has warned her about those Winston boys and she's always held back - but had a crush on Beau, Duane's twin brother. Beau's the one that makes her heart skip a beat when she see him....or is it? It's a fun story and I look forward to reading more of this series

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers copy of Truth or Beard by Penny Reid! Super excited to see this getting a widespread release!

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Truth or Beard, I love love love this story. I laugh at the banter and the chemistry between these two. I truly enjoyed this story and the rest of this series is just as good! If you are looking for a cute romance with great banter, steam, and a connection that is off the charts you need to read Truth or Beard.

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Love Love LOVE! I've already bought my paperback copy to display on my bookshelf. I am obsessed with this new updated cover but it's still the same incredible story inside. Adore Penny Reid.

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Thank you Sourcebooks Bloom for allowing me the chance to read this after rediscovering the author and series. Over a decade ago I fell in love with the covers but was unable to read them.

For readers looking for a spicy contemporary story with two person POV, childhood enemies with a case of mistaken identity involving twin brothers all in a small town where everyone knows everyone, and a few meddling families.

Unfortunately for me as soon as a character was fixated that another characters penis was circumcised and then mentioned it TEN times, a spicy scene where I could not confirm that one or both hands were in the same or two different locations, and a plot twist involving a biker gang I realized this was not enough to keep me engaged and in fact took me out of the story one too many times to keep reading. While I wanted to find out how the story ends, what happens to the main and secondary characters I had to finally put the book down.

I am confident that there is an audience that will enjoy this book and the rest of the series alas, it won't be me.

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I received a free digital copy of this book.

Jessica James has returned home to gain some teaching experience and save a little money before she plans on traveling the world. She makes the best of her current situation and gets dressed up for a costume party, where she runs into her long-time crush, Beau Winston....or could it be his obnoxious brother, Duane?

A shared private moment turns into frustration and perhaps a change of feelings? But Jessica isn't planning on sticking around and the Winston brother who has captured her heart isn't sure how navigate a relationship with an expiration date.

There were a lot of things I liked about this book, but I also had strong negative reactions to the lack of consent in a scene regarding mistaken identity, nor did I like how one of the side characters (Tina) was talked about or treated.

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if you need a fun redneck romcom— look no further! I was laughing so hard at much of this book but it’s not just goofs, there’s a solid plot line to go with it! It’s a series I’m definitely going to continue but I’m going to be rooting for my boy Cletus until I get to his book (and maybe after, who knows)

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Oh, this was so entertaining! I loved the biker boys and their beards. It had so much humor but also heartwarming moments. I would totally read the rest of this series! I read this in one sitting.

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The Winston Brothers is one of my all time favorite indie romance series, and I’m so glad they are getting three gorgeous special editions as they are traditionally published!

This first book is one of my favorites - an enemies to lovers, twin mix-up, opposites attract romance. The banter between Duane and Jessica is top tier!

Be prepared for a spicy, laugh-out-loud funny romp when you pick this up.

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So far I am really enjoying this author and her style of writing. I love Duane’s character so much and the book literally has me laughing out loud and that’s always a plus! The chemistry between Duane & Jessica is palpable and the *ahem* scenes are leaving me wanting MORE. This will defiantly be a 5 star read for me and I plan to dive into the rest of the series.

*Update* this ended up being a DNF for me. While I was enjoying it, I found it getting a little to verbose for my liking and there were some scenes that as a POC made me uncomfortable.

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"Jessica James, you’re going to have to get used to me wanting to take care of you and fix your troubles.”

This was a cute read! I loved how Duane has always wanted Jessica, and finally decides to go after her when she comes back to their hometown. The things that he would say had my heart swooning! I really enjoyed the story and the pacing was perfect. I did struggle a bit with the characters and how some of the things they said sounded very childish. Even though the characters were in their early 20s, it still sounded like they were in high school.

Read if you like:
Dual POVs
Small town romance
Hero falls first
A bit of suspense
Somewhat open door romance

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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This book was ok. I like the writing but I didn’t like the main characters much.

This is the first book by this author that I have read and even though I just found this one ok I will most likely try an other book by Penny.

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This is a interesting story that blended attraction, sexual tension, some LOL scenes and intrigue. I look forward to reading the other books in the series

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