Billy Winston’s family is going to see him happy and in love if it’s the last thing they do.No one deserves a happily-ever-after quite as much as the second oldest Winston brother and his lady love, Claire McClure (aka Scarlet St. Claire). Cruelty and circumstance tore them apart almost twenty years ago. Secrecy and bitterness kept them separated.But you know who’s tired of their separation and … who’s tired of their separation and stubbornness? Everyone. Especially Billy Winston’s family. And now they’re going to do something about it.
Well-meaning interference means the star-crossed lovers can’t stop tripping over each other in the hills of Tuscany, the catacombs of Rome, and the waterways of Venice. Billy and Claire find themselves thrown together and at the mercy of the Winston siblings’ shenanigans.
But will their forced proximity bring them together? Or push them even further apart?
This second-chance romance brings back the entire Winston gang, playing cupid in one last story of love, hi-jinks, and family collusion.
BEARD NECESSITIES is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, and can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s probably best read after books 0.5, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the Winston Brothers series.
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Second chance romances with major time jumps aren’t really my thing because I hate the miscommunication and unnecessary drama surrounding the main couple. Yes, I hate Ben with every fiber of my being. Yes, I hate that Billy and Scarlet spent almost two decades apart because they refused to discuss their problems. Yes, I hate that Billy didn’t tell her the truth (even though I really get his reasons). And yes, I hate that Scarlet was manipulated and abused by Ben for so many years.
HOWEVER, I love Billy and Scarlet so much that those things didn’t bother me enough to give this book less than 5 stars. I just wanted to see them moving on from all the pain, sadness, resentment and anger and finally getting the happiness they deserve. And that’s exactly what I got with “Beard Necessities”.
When they were almost giving up on their love, the Winston family came up with the perfect plan to speed things up and make Billy and Scarlet finally face their past. I really loved how every character in the series got involved to help them find their way back to each other. Cletus, as always, is the mastermind behind everything. I can’t even tell you how much he made me laugh in this book. He’s so effortlessly funny and amazing! I’m already excited to read his new series with Jenn. I also loved Scarlet’s conversations with Sienna. They are an awesome pair and I’m super happy that they are such close friends now.
Everything I said about Billy and Scarlet in my “Beard with Me” review still stands. I can’t get over how strong they both are. It really blows my mind to think that even after everything they went through, they still managed to build a great life for themselves. It wasn’t easy, especially because they were apart for so long, but they really turned things around and made the best they could in their situation. Another great surprise was seeing Scarlet going to therapy. If this had happened a few years back, maybe a lot of heartache would’ve been avoided 🙁
I also liked how Billy and Scarlet were both still so in love with each other after all this time. I know it might seem far-fetched to some, but for me it just felt right. The love and connection they share is so strong that even time wasn’t capable of ruining it. It was really special to see them trusting each other again, sharing their feelings and talking about everything that happened in the past without hiding anything.
When Billy and Scarlet finally got back together, it felt like everything was right in the world again lol It’s like Jethro said: “there’s nobody in the world who deserves happiness more than you two”. I wish there were more scenes of them simply being together, like in “Beard With Me”, but I can’t really complain because their happy ending was simply perfect, intense and sweet. Just like them.
I feel in love with the Winston brothers. This was an amazing conclusion, but it was tough to say goodbye to this charming family.
I recommend all of the Winston Brothers books by Penny Reid, such a fun family
Ever since Beard With Me, I never really stopped thinking of Billy and Scarlet. They stole my heart, and to say I was looking forward to Beard Necessities is an understatement.
I’m so so so proud of how far Scarlet has come and how much she’s grown. I keep tearing up just thinking about it, from knowing her as Claire McClure at the start of the series to the 14-year-old Scarlet St. Claire to the now Scarlet Claire Winston. And Billy… my dear Billy Winston. After all these years of having so much weight on his shoulders, I am so glad in this book that was finally lifted. Billy and Scarlet/Claire have been through SO MUCH, and I’m just so happy they’re finally together – happy and inlove.
As for the rest of the Winstons — they’re AMAZING in this book. I love one (1) meddling family. I’m so happy we got so many scenes of them together in this book as well. Having them present here with the addition of the epilogue really made this a good ending to the series. Even if I’m truly sad and heartbroken that it’s over, I’m so satisfied with this send-off.
I’m so excited for Penny’s and the future SmartyPants Romance releases. I’m so grateful I still have books set in Green Valley to look forward to, but for now, I’ll rest easy knowing that the Winstons are living their happily-ever-after with their family.
These characters have my entire heart. I’ll always be thinking of them.
I always enjoy any book by Penny Reid.She has such likable characters and fast paced storyline..In the Winston brother’s series,you feel you are part of the family. I will read anything she writes.
The end of the Winston’s they are all coupled up and get their happy ever after. I will miss this family
Most of the best book endings leave you satisfied and whole but there will always be those rare ones that manage to do that and more. Beard Necessities felt more than just a standalone, more than just Billy and Scarlet’s story — it was also a conclusion, which makes feelings rather hard to reconcile, but in the best way possible. Thinking about how every single book in the Winston Brothers series built up to this feels almost nostalgic and it’s no surprise that this more than exceeded expectations.
Billy and Scarlet had been foreshadowed since Truth or Beard and we see little by little, book after book, just how deep their history runs. Getting a glimpse of them from the other character’s (albeit clueless) perspectives throughout the first six books made for good theorizing, but if there was one thing that was absolutely clear, it’s that it had always been Billy and Scarlet since Day 1. Penny Reid’s masterful approach to establishing this couple and this series as a whole was so intricately done that you don’t even realize just how all those small pieces you never thought to look at formed an even bigger picture than you can ever imagine.
Knowing the events of Beard with Me, it’s heartbreaking to see how irreparable Billy and Scarlet seemed at this point. Life and circumstances have brought them to where they were now but it appeared that even after 18 years, they were still held back by the secrets of their past. Which is why finally seeing them communicate and learn to forgive themselves and each other came as the biggest relief. Their story was every bit painful and beautiful but it was a journey worth treading if it meant witnessing the glorious payoff of happily ever after.
This, of course, only happens with the meddling of the Winston family (with the one and only Cletus acting as mastermind) which made for so many of the most hilarious moments among the whole series. The different friendships and dynamics shown in this book were interesting as it was heartwarming, since these were some we haven’t quite seen before — tandems with the likes of Claire and Jethro, Claire and Sienna, Billy and Jethro, Claire and Shelly, and even Billy and little Bethany. While the romance is the forefront of these books, the friendships and familial relationships are just as integral to these characters. It’s not only their other halves that leave them thriving, it’s also the relationships they build that make the books in this series so fulfilling from start to finish.
It’s with a heavy heart to bid farewell to the Winston clan but to Penny Reid, immense thank you for the laughs, the tears, and for bringing this family to life. So while it’s sad to see it go, its conclusion couldn’t have possibly happened any other way than it did; it was perfect.
It’s always sad when a series comes to an end, and unfortunately, Beard Necessities is the final installment of The Winston Brothers. This has been such a fun series, and the bearded brothers (and Ashley!) have definitely wormed their way into my heart. But with Penny Reid’s new Smartypants Universe I know we will still get glimpses of Green Valley and one of our favorite fictional families.
Billy & Claire’s story has been the one I’ve wanted most since the very beginning, and their first book was my absolute favorite in the series. Since the story of their past was so incredible I just knew their present would be amazing and I went in with the highest of hopes. I’m not sure if I set my expectations too high, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the story I was hoping for. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book, I just wanted more for them and would have loved for more of them together than their journey towards each other.
Character-wise, Claire is one of my all-time favorite heroines. She’s been through hell and back, and still plasters on a smile and tries to make everyone else’s lives better. I love that we got bits and pieces of her throughout the series, and then her backstory before this one. She evolved so much and is such a strong character. It was great to see Billy let loose a bit, and let down his guard. He’s always been such a secretive character so it was nice getting more of him and I loved his interactions with his family.
The highlight of this book for me was having most of the Winston family together. They are hysterical and bring light to every scene they are in. I loved how the epilogue tied the series together and I don’t think there could have been a more perfect ending.
I actually teared up reading the authors notes at the back of the book. I just can’t believe it’s over. I don’t think I could ever be ready to say goodbye to my beloved Winston family so I guess it’s lucky I can do a reread at any time. Although probably not too soon since this one was the hardest to read.
I found myself needing little breaks between some of the chapters to get my head around the injustices that Billy and Scarlet had to go through. Every single time something that had stood in their way was overcome there seemed to be another obstacle. And I think the hardest part was realising how many of them were created by Billy trying to protect Scarlet.
I admit I was as frustrated with Billy as much as I adored him. The depth of his love for Scarlet was beautiful but he took martyr to a whole new level. And my evil little soul wasn’t really happy that they didn’t get a whole load of revenge on a few people. But I guess like the saying, the best revenge is a life well lived and I did love that everything came full circle and the epilogue was perfect.
I just can’t believe it’s over. However I am eternally grateful that this story involved the entire family and we got to spend this last book with all of them.
5 “Epic ending is epic” Stars
If there was ever a story that needed a HEA it’s this one, the tale of the love of Billy and Scarlet. Beard Necessities ticked all the boxes in what I need, want and expect from a Penny Reid romance. It was fun and hilarious, sweet and sexy, will evoque all the feelings and emotions and has the bestest epilogue I’ve read in a long, long while.
“If this–just singing and kisses–was our life together, I’d die a happy man. Of course, the cause of death would likely be chronic excessive sexual frustration.”
While this can absolutely be read as a stand-alone romance, it will in no way be as good a story as if you read the whole Winston Brothers series, since all of them play matchmaker to Billy and Scarlet/Claire. Also, the “prequel” – about how their story actually begins will give you a complete background as to why their relationship is the way it is at the beginning of this book.
“Wait, wait. I have no condom.”
“I don’t care.” I did not care. Actually, part of me did care–the irrational, hysterical, wackadoodle part. The part that wanted to issue an impregnation invitation. Please. Impregnate me. Let’s make some babies! NOW!”
To say their happily ever after is overdue is the understatement of the century. I loved both Scarlet/Claire and Billy individually and together. Both of them had serious issues to overcome, and even though at more that one point I was a bit exasperated with their lack of communication, I could absolutely understand where they were coming from.
I don’t want to spoil anything away, so let me just reiterate how awesome, entertaining, hilarious and hot Beard Necessities was. I loved absolutely every second of it, their romance, all the family time and all the Cletus being Cletus times. I LOVED THIS BOOK and it was the perfect ending to one of my all-time favorite series. The Winston Bearded Brother’s and their shenanigans have a permanent place in my re-reading list and I can’t wait to see what comes next for them, because this just can’t be totally over…
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
Ever since I read Beard With Me, I’ve been on the edge of my seat anxious for how this next book, the final part of Billy and Scarlet’s story, would go. Overall I did really like seeing Billy and Scarlet finally get together. I loved seeing all our favorite couples from the past books in this series so often and in so much of the story. Especially all the Cletus we got! It was definitely good the way that each of them realized the issues the other had and called them out about it. I like that once they’d gotten all the secrets out, or most of them, they then were pretty quick to finish sharing them, or not to make something into another of those secrets that characters always keep to “protect” the other one. Definitely the book was a page-turner for me.
Now, my problems with the book. The first part to this story, Beard With Me, was such a majorly emotional and epic story, that this one just seemed really simple and not as complex. I didn’t cry like I did with the first one, or with other books in the series. I honestly got a little irritated with all the back and forth between the two as well. Although I was glad that Scarlet would not give up after the first give in between the two, even when Billy clammed up or seemed to push her away. And even though we have known several things throughout the other characters’ books in the series, I feel like I needed so much more of the time we missed between the first book and this book. I need more time with Scarlet and Ben, to know how things really were. I need to know more about Billy and Scarlet’s rendezvous at the hotel. I guess we don’t need all that, it’s not really the type of story we get from this author. It’s just like how I kind of think at times I’d like to have an origin story for Bethany and Darrell Winston, but then really, since he was who he was, that wouldn’t be a good HEA kind of story. So my rating isn’t a 5, because it wasn’t perfect. Also something I mentioned on the Facebook group recently, I’d love to see a “bible” for the Green Valley series, and know all the characters we’ve met and who they’re related to, etc. Especially once we got all the couples’ kids involved. It reminded me so much of my dad’s side of my family. He was one of 5 siblings, and his oldest brother had 5 kids, and all their kids, and at parties for the longest time, I had trouble keeping straight which one belonged to which of my cousins.
It seems as if I had a lot of problems, but overall, as I said in the first paragraph above, it was a good ending. Sexy scenes were just as good as ever, and all the characters were the characters I loved from their own stories earlier in the series. I hate that this is the end of the Winston Brothers series, but am so happy for the whole SmartyPants Romance series that will give me glimpses into my favorite world of characters as well as the new Cletus and Jenn mystery series coming next year! I also have a new idea, or a way to take a story idea I had last year and maybe change it to something that I could try to get into the world myself!
And I have to add this, every time I would think or read the name of this book, my brain immediately began singing the “Bare Necessities” song from the Jungle Book original movie.
If you’ve read a number of my reviews, you know by now that I’m all about second chance romances; it is absolutely one of my favorite romance tropes, so the fact that one of my always one-click authors wrote a story in this trope, which also just happens to be in a series that I have read since its onset, only added to my reading experience. And, let me tell you, with as much heartache Penny Reid put her characters and her readers through in Beard with Me, she needed to give all of us a send off in true Winston brother fashion, but also help Billy and Claire/Scarlet to finally say the things that needed to be said and find a way to put the past behind them and work toward a future that would, hopefully, begin to make up for the decades they spent apart…the bad decisions that were made…the words that were never spoken.
Because readers were already privy to so much of Billy and Claire/Scarlet’s past, a firm foundation and backstory have been set-up, which means that it’s time to live in the present and look toward the future, but that means that these two need a bit of a push in the right direction – the one that will allow them time together…time to work for something they both want – a life with each other, and there’s nobody better to get things set in motion than Cletus Winston and Billy’s other siblings because they know what happiness is, but they also know that it has to be worked for and there’s nobody better to help this couple learn that lesson than those who have been through it themselves, and while the other Winston siblings’ stories may not be as heartbreaking or complex as Billy and Claire/Scarlet’s is it doesn’t mean they don’t know what it takes and they’ll sure as heck make their opinions clear as they interfere and meddle in Billy and Claire/Scarlet’s lives.
Regardless of what these two characters have been through, there is still a significant amount of heartache and hurt to sift through and what better way to figure things out than traveling around the world, albeit not together, but they might as well be as many times as Billy and Claire/Scarlet’s paths cross because of a certain family’s need to see their brother happy with the one he loves.
Because Billy and Claire/Scarlet’s love story spans over decades, readers are bound to have a litany of feelings about both of them…whether it’s how they handled things…their lack of action to make things better…their inability to speak their truths…but truly, there are so many words and actions that can be reacted to in multiple ways that it wouldn’t surprise me if readers, at times, were fed up with one or the other, but here’s the thing…in the stretch of time that Billy and Claire/Scarlet have had feelings for one another, they’ve gone from being teens to being adults and mistakes are bound to be made and childish antics are bound to occur, which means that as long as readers can see the evolution of these characters’ lives, they shouldn’t pass judgment too quickly or right one or both of them off because of what readers perceive Billy and Claire/Scarlet to be.
Beard Necessities is a total Winston family affair, which is something that I adored about the final book in the series. Because even though this is Billy and Scarlet’s second chance at their true love story, it’s beyond clear that they can’t do it alone and who better to help than Billy’s meddlesome siblings – the same people who have fought day in and day out to prove to each other that they’re nothing like their father and everything like their mother who raised them, and they’ll work to show Billy and Scarlet just how much happiness they deserve.
4.5 Poison Apples
Gaah! So good! I loved Billy and Scarlet’s story.
“I’d been married to one man and dreaming about another.”
Claire McClure AKA Scarlet St Claire and Billy Winston have an ocean of almost twenty years, secrets, lies, guilt and suffering separating them. Take one devious brother and a whole load of loving siblings who want nothing more than to see their good brother get everything he deserves in life. So begin the shenanigans and machinations!
“The woman was my only secret, the only person I’d lied about, or for, or to, and always as a means of protecting her.”
Billy just about broke my heart with his stoicism, his goodness, his stubbornness and his anguish. Scarlet’s pain was also hard to bear but I loved her dogged determination to be present for Billy. I felt the loss of years keenly between them but their connection is undeniable; their chemistry compelling. The Winstons are a tribe to aspire to. I loved how they all rallied round to do what they knew would be right for Billy and Scarlet, all set against the backdrop of beautiful Italy.
“My life and heart have been forever transformed. You are the architect and artist of my own personal paradise.”
I admit that I’ve only read four books in this series but it didn’t detract from my overwhelming enjoyment of this story. It was funny, sad, sexy and wholly heartfelt. I feel so lucky to still have the other books and this author’s clever, beautiful words to catch up with as soon as I can make time!
5 STARS
I have nothing but love for author Penny Reid. Beard Necessities is the final book in the Winston Brothers series and it is somewhat bittersweet knowing this is it. I am so happy Billy and Claire (aka Scarlet) get their HEA. I guarantee you’ll love this book considering all the Winston siblings are at their best with their hijinks, especially Cletus (ahh…love him).
If you haven’t read the rest of this amazing series, you should, as this book is an EPIC conclusion that completes it. I highly recommend if you love second chance romances, too. This Beard Necessities by Penny Reid will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!
The Scarlet & Billy story – Second Half
Beard Necessities by Penny Reid is Part 2 of Billy & Scarlet’s twisty path to happiness. I don’t want to make my review 100 pages long, which is hard to do as this Book 7 also COMPLETES the Winston Brothers series. It’s a yay/nay moment to be sure, as you can’t help but become invested in the characters, their world, and their drama. I wanted to note that this book is contemporary/literary fiction, NOT a romance novel. As Penny said, it’s a love story, but if you’re looking for the fluff and fun of a traditional romance novel, this is not it. It IS a stand-alone novel, and can be read as such, although you may get more out of it (and love and understanding of the characters and their quirks if you read the whole series). I don’t enjoy reviews with massive spoilers, so I’m trying to keep details to myself, but still provide a solid (general) overview.
So, yes. This book gives us the end of an era and the culmination of the HEA that Billy & Claire/Scarlet deserve. It was a long, long time in coming. Their path was winding and awkward and a little bit painful at times. It’s true! Yes, Beard with Me was hard. Billy’s second-chance at love put us through the emotional wringer, but it’s definitely worth it in the end. I’ve been reading this series since very near to the beginning (as in, I think Book 2 had just come out when I discovered them), so I’ve been waiting for this for AGES. I admit, I was worried. The end of a series…it’s a challenge, and expectations are high. Talk about buildup!
One of my favorite things about the characters throughout this series is that they feel very real. You’re not looking at an airbrushed, cookie-cutter group of heroes/heroines. These are flawed, varied, devious, distinct, colorful, and deep, and I love them for it. This story, and indeed the conclusion to the entire Winston world is all that I was hoping for/expecting, and more. One thing I particularly enjoyed here was seeing the peeks into the lives of all the Winston siblings. Especially Cletus. Thank science for Cletus!
For this book, we’re taken out of Tennessee and whisked across the Atlantic to Italy. While some of the interactions between Billy and Scarlet were painful – as you’re yelling in your head “YOU GUYS”, the chemistry is incredible and the dialogue and trueness-to-character (yes I made that up) is just what we have come to expect from the brilliant mind of Penny Reid. I was right there with the rest of the clan feeling frustrated and wanting to see these two to get their act together already. I love how the whole group came together to make Billy the priority, after all his years of being the rock for everyone else. You will laugh, but you will also cry. At least I did. Granted, I always cry. But that’s ok! It means the author has done her job and you are FEELING it.
I’m grateful for the gift of the Winston family & the privilege of reading their stories.
4.5 stars
Its been a long time since I’ve entered the Winston universe and it was like coming home. As with any Penny Book that I’ve read, I simply can’t get enough of her writing style… i absolutely LOVE it. She often has a way to simply draw me and hold me captive. I become the main character. I feel everything they feel. There’s nothing like it.
Billy Winston is a martyr in a sense. 20 years ago he took on something that wasn’t his, just to keep Scarlett/Claire safe. From there it has gone downhill with secrets and miscommunication. But Billy’s family has had enough. They can see how much Billy and Scarlett still harbor feeling for each other, so they devise a plan to nudge them along.
But there is so many secrets and feelings of inadequacy and obligations that they need to get through. This is their last shot. So what happens? You will definitely have to one-click to find out.
Ahhh! I’m so sad to see this series end but this was such a beautiful ending. I’ve been waiting what seems like forever to see Billy get his HEA and this was everything that I wanted and more. Thank goodness, the family finally stepped in to speed things up! No one deserved happiness more than Billy and Claire and although it took years to get there, I feel like they both needed those experiences to really appreciate what they had. I loved every minute and that epilogue was the ultimate happy-ever-after.
Perfection!
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.
In Beard Necessities the whole Winston clan join forces to ensure that serious, steadfast Billy and scarred, fierce and brave Scarlet find the path to each other and their HEA. But first they both need to start revealing some secrets and guilt and blame.
“…words had been knives and looks had been arrows and I’d needed every weapon at my disposal to push him away.”
After the absolute heartbreak in Beard With Me, Beard Necessities felt like such a reward. The angst level was toned down and the humor amped up, but the swoon was in full force!
“You are the architect and artist of my own personal paradise. Now, when I close my eyes, I won’t need to imagine what heaven feels like. I’ll know.”
It was such a treat to have so many of the Winston family play a part in this story and the epilogue was just Epic!!
-5 Stars!!-
***5 ‘Winston Clan’ Stars***
I hated to hear that this would be the last Winston Brothers book, even though I know full well that we aren’t truly saying good-bye to them and this world, but it still made me a little sad regardless. So to say I was excited and wary all at once isn’t all that hard to believe. But once I did, I was all in and I absolutely LOVED it.
But not necessarily because of Billy and Scarlett.
I know. This one is their HEA and my focus should have been on their journey to their HEA, and it was. But there was no escaping how happy is made me to witness the Winston Clan coming together for a cause (Billy and Scarlett obviously) and giving me all that goodness that makes up their family.
So my rating is like 60/40 Winston Clan/Billy and Scarlett when you break it down.
But considering this is about Billy and Scarlett’s HEA, let me give you my thoughts on them. These two broke my heart even as they made my eyes hurt from all the rolling they did as they stumbled their way back to each other because they were their own worst enemies. There are just waaayyy too many examples of how difficult they made it for themselves and each other for me to even get into (at least without spoiling it for you if you have yet to pick the book up) but needless to say. These two needed help in the worst way to get over themselves. But even as I growled at them, I couldn’t deny that they were exactly what the other needed and was definitely rooting for them to get it together and finally grab hold of their happiness in the end.
As for the Winston Clan as a whole. Everything they did in this was like catnip for me. I loved watching them interact and just seeing how they’ve all evolved was so much fun…and that epilogue?? Gold. Pure gold!
Beard Necessities was a great finale to a series that I love. I could definitely go on verbal vomit binge about it, but I think I’ve done that enough already.
But one random thing I will mention is that I got way too happy when the Coop in Figline was mentioned because I shopped there many times while I was in Italy with my family earlier this summer and each time it was an experience. And I will say that having visited many of the places mentioned in the book definitely made the story that much more fun for me in the end.
~ Copy provided by Social Butterfly PR & voluntarily reviewed ~