Beard Necessities

4.5 stars-tender and emotional romance

4.5 stars--BEARD NECESSITIES is the seventh full-length instalment in Penny Reid’s contemporary, adult WINSTON BROTHERS romance series focusing on the Winston siblings of Green Valley, East Tennessee. This is thirty-four year old, Congressman Billy Winston, and thirty-two year old, country singer Claire McClure’s (aka Scarlet St. Claire) story line. BEARD NECESSITIES can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading book six BEARD WITH ME for some of the history between Billy and Scarlet. The author recommends reading books 0.5, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the Winston Brothers series to learn more of the backstory involving our leading couple, and their warring families.

SOME BACKGROUND: At the age of sixteen, Billy Winston was beaten within inches of his life by the Iron Wraiths MC but Scarlet St. Claire would never know the truth until eighteen years later, a truth that would reveal how much Billy was willing to risk to save the life of the young woman he loved.

Told from three first person perspectives including Cletus, Billy and Scarlet BEARD NECESSITIES follows the rekindling romance and relationship between Billy Winston, and Claire McClure (aka Scarlet St. Claire). Eighteen years earlier Billy and Scarlet’s world imploded when following years of abuse at the hands of her father, Scarlet walks out of Billy’s life, and into the arms of someone else. Fast forward to present day wherein, Scarlet, now known as country singer Claire McClure, would join the Winston clan in Italy, a family get together organized, in effort, to bring Billy and Scarlet back together. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Billy and Scarlet, and the potential fall-out as secrets and lies threaten to tear them apart, once again.

Congressman Billy Winston is considering running for Tennessee state senator but struggles with a family history that could threaten everything and more. With his brother Roscoe recovering from an attack; and Billy recovering from donating bone-marrow, the family heads to Italy for Billy’s health, and to push together two people who haven’t stopped loving one another for close to twenty years.

The relationship between Scarlet and Billy is acrimonious and antagonistic. Years of secrets and lies have destroyed any semblance of a happily ever after; their love for one another hidden behind layers of heart break, pain, betrayal and mistrust. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including all of the Winston siblings and their spouses, as well as Duane Winston’s in-laws Sheriff and Mrs. James.

BEARD NECESSITIES is a story of family, betrayal, secrets and lies; of revenge and hate; second chances and a happily ever after. Penny Reid pulls the Winston family together in an effort to reconcile estranged brothers, and lovers, and in doing so, reveals a complicated past between our leading couple. The premise is sensitive, inviting and engaging; the characters are sassy, dynamic and animated; the second chance romance is tender and emotional.