Grin and Beard It (Winston Brothers) – book review

Grin and Beard It
by Penny Reid
Release Date: March 21, 2016
Publisher: Cipher-Naught
Book #2 in the Winston Brothers series
Number of Pages: 406
Contemporary Romance
Ages 15 and up
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Sienna Diaz is everyone’s favorite “fat” funny lady. The movie studio executives can’t explain it, but her films are out-grossing all the fit and trim headliners and Hollywood’s most beautiful elite. The simple truth is, everyone loves plus-sized Sienna.

But she has a problem, she can’t read maps and her sense of direction is almost as bad as her comedic timing is stellar. Therefore, when Sienna’s latest starring role takes her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park she finds herself continually lost while trying to navigate the back roads of Green Valley, Tennessee. Much to her consternation, Sienna’s most frequent savior is a ridiculously handsome, charming, and cheeky Park Ranger by the name of Jethro Winston.

Sienna is accustomed to high levels of man-handsome, so it’s not Jethro’s chiseled features or his perfect physique that make Sienna stutter. It’s his southern charm. And gentlemanly manners. And habit of looking at her too long and too often.

Sienna has successfully navigated the labyrinth of Hollywood heart-throbs. But can she traverse the tenuous trails of Tennessee without losing her head? Or worse, her heart?  

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While I enjoyed the first book in this series, Truth or Beard, I absolutely loved this book. I was concerned after going back and reading the book that links this series with the Knitting in the City series because I found that one to be more meh. I was cautiously optimistic as this story progressed and ended up very happy with my decision to continue trying this author.

Throughout this story, my stomach went through so many butterflies and dips with the romance and sweet insecurities of Jethro and Sienna. Not only do they seem to understand one another on a deep level, but they also make a cute couple. Along with some meddling by Cletus, one of Jethro’s brothers, this couple finally found their footing.

I didn’t expect Jethro to have the marshmallow center he does. I knew he could be empathetic and kind from the previous books, but his optimism and sunshine personality was a surprise. I loved it! Sienna is quite the bright spot herself. She has a biting wit but is never mean-spirited. She loves to laugh and to make others laugh. They were both a joy to be around while reading their story.

There were a few continuity issues I picked up on, but they didn’t interrupt the flow of the story and were very minor. I felt the author gave adequate time to these characters together, and also on their own. And though we get to see the Winston clan, they don’t overwhelm the book. A few more tendrils have been cast out regarding Billy and his love life, at the same time it seems Billy and Jethro have come to a good place in their very contentious relationship.

Not only will this be a book I’ll recommend to others, but I’ll also warn them to have donuts on hand. I haven’t craved donuts so much since the first season of The Umbrella Academy!

4.5 stars