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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Beard Necessities by Penny Read was accumulation and end game of years of heartbreak, longing, love and passion. In true Penny Reid style, the story evoked explosive and intense emotions in my heart. The words created a soothing and heart rending symphony. Perfect in every sense.
I have a confession. I read only Scarlet aka Claire and Billy’s story in the whole series. But it did not disturb my reading experience at all! And that tells you how amazing this story really is. But you should read other Winston brothers stories to get the full impact. The crazy Winston family has united and made a grand plan to make Happily Ever After happen for Billy Winston. And they are determined to break down Scarlet’s fort of guilt and self hatred. The journey will sometimes be hilarious. I seriously could not stop laughing at the shenanigans of Cletus, Beau and even Jethro! And sometimes the emotions stabbed at my heart and it was painfully beautiful.
Scarlet and Billy’s relation and chemistry has countless shades. And that’s bound to happen when their history goes back a decade. A lot happened in between. And they have unresolved feelings and issues. And I was a mesmerized spectator. The pain and angst hold my heart captive all through the story. Penny Reid made me live every emotions. Sadness for their pain. Happiness for their reunion and union. Anger for all their troubles. Swoon and melting heart for their all consuming and bone deep love. Goosebumps for the burning hot passion.
I am equally elated and sorry to see the epic Winston Brothers series ending. And what a brilliant ending. Penney Reid gave Scarlet and Billy a fitting final bow.
Received ARC for Honest review
**Please note, I was given an ARC for each of these books for an honest review of them. These reviews are my own thoughts and feelings and I have had no financial compensation to provide these reviews to you**
I discovered Penny Reid’s books about a year ago with one of the Winston Brothers books and for about 2 weeks straight I was in straight Penny Reid universe. Read everything she had out to that point. But those Winston brothers will always have a special place in my heart. Having said that, the release of Beard Necessities brings this chapter to a bittersweet end. This is the conclusion of Billy and Claire/Scarlet’s love story. A long and winding path that is hinted at in previous books and we learn the actual beginnings of in Beard With Me (which, for the record, I have not read and may not read as from the talk of the book in Penny’s Shark of Awesome group, it would probably gut me and I’m not emotionally ready for that)
But back to BN. I adored this book because it brought all the brothers (and their wives/significant others) together to help bring an HEA to Billy and Claire. New words were learned, laughs were given, tears were cried. I would recommend that if you read this book that you prepare for a book hangover. It’s all over the place with your emotions. Sadness, anger, happiness. Just be prepared for a roller coaster of emotions, especially if you’ve followed the brother through their journeys.
I will miss the Winston Brothers, but I am happy to see that Penny will be bringing Cletus and Jen (my absolute favs!) back for their own series that will also tie up some loose ends that you come across in previous books. And don’t forget that you see many of the brothers and their ladies in the Pennyverse books put out through Smartypants Romance!
5 Bearded Stars
This is the story I have been waiting for since reading Truth or Beard, I read these out of order at first. I fell in love with Duane but something always pulled me toward Billy. I’ve been slowly dying reading all the siblings’ stories knowing that this one would be the one to break me, and I was not wrong! Penny has crafted such a wonderful world you won’t want to leave once you immerse yourself. I’ve come to find that reading this is bittersweet for me, I wanted it so bad but now that’s it’s here, it feels like saying goodbye to your best friend. It’s overwhelmingly sad and heartbreaking to let go of this family.
“Honey,” I rough-whispered so I wouldn’t shout, my arms falling so I could get closer to her, “if I thought you would ever actually give yourself to me, if I could have you, really and truly have you, I’d take you. Right now. Right here.”
Billy is the rock of this family, he self-sacrifices all the time, since the very beginning. He put’s everyone’s needs and happiness before his own. My heart ached for these two, really truly ached for them. Billy and Claire lost years of time together, so many missed opportunities and memories because of stubbornness and missed placed martyrdom.
They both thought they were doing the right thing, when in reality they made decisions for the other without trusting them. They had assumed so many things over the years and their assumptions are what cost them those years that they won’t get back. And Ben he cost them time too, I really don’t like that guy at all. He was shady as hell and I can’t stand him anymore.
“I didn’t need to see or touch or taste paradise to know how deeply and irrevocably I am in love with you. That hasn’t changed. That is as constant as my soul, which has been, and will always be, forever yours.”
When Billy wants to put on his charming pants watch out ladies he could make even the most cynical of woman swoon. Billy will catch you off guard with his sweet words and open soul. Seriously he’s good, I caught myself multiple times just basking in the feelings he produced and I was lost at times within his words. Just wrapped up in a warm Billy Bubble! This man is All. The. Things!!! To have someone love you so much that they would put themselves in danger and not think twice, that’s the kind of love we are all looking for. That’s the kind of love Billy holds within his heart. How could you not fall irrevocably in love with this man?
“Scarlet is the color of my soul. But now that we were finally together, she also painted my days and nights in the exquisite spectrum and uncontainable brilliance of her spirit.”
These two finally having their moment after all these years, and all the heartache they had to endure to get there. Has to be the most satisfying thing I’ve read all year. Seriously these two own me heart and soul. But not only them, their entire family owns me. Having all the Winston’s in one book and getting the chance to see each of them one more time and feel their love for each other and the power that comes from such a close knit family will warm you to your core.
I’m not going to lie I cried multiple times while reading this. I honestly don’t want to leave this world that Penny has created. It’s warm and fuzzy and gives you all the feels in every possible way. But I realize it’s time to say goodbye to this amazing family that will forever hold a place deep in my heart and has ultimately become a part of my soul. Thank You Penny for the Winston’s and this journey that has taken a piece of me that I will never get back.
3.75 stars. Beard Necessities is the final book in the Winston Brother series and is Billy and Claire/Scarlet’s story. We have seen glimpses of this couple and gotten pieces of their story over the years, but now we finally get to see them get their happy ending. I can’t go too much into the story, but I will say it is sweet and emotional with lots of sibling meddling, and it takes place in beautiful Italy.
I really liked Billy and Claire, as I knew already. It was obvious they were meant to be together. I was very happy they finally could get over their history and the guilt and pain from the past to let themselves be happy together. The story is very simple, understated and romantic, but I did find it a little anticlimactic after such a long wait and build up. It is sweet, sad, and emotional, but not overly so, and there are moments of humor. I was left a little confused about a few things. I think I missed some bonus scenes along the way, prior to this book, because they are alluded to but not really explained. I didn’t really understand what Ben and Claire’s marriage was like, how he treated her or how their odd/abusive sex life was. It was all very vague and fuzzy. I also felt like Billy and Claire needed to have a discussion about their past relationships. It is not explained if they ever tried dating others for real to move on from each other, or how many sexual partners they had, or if they were celibate. I think that was purposefully vague, but I like things spelled out in that regard, personally.
Overall, though, I did enjoy this book, even if it didn’t totally blow me away. I am sad to see this series end, but I know we will get to see the characters in future books set in Green Valley. I look forward to that and seeing some of the other side characters get their books. Thanks to Penny Reid for writing such a good series!
What’s that saying? Don’t cry that it’s over, be glad it happened?? Well, I’m crying both sad and happy tears because this final Winston book was just outstanding!! This was an epic finale to a truly wonderful series.
5+++ stars!
Billy Winston is the second oldest of the Winston brothers, and lives in Green Valley, Tennessee where he’s a congressman. He’s known for being fearless, brave, and selfless to a fault. He always puts others first, and his family decides it’s time for him to find happiness and love. His interfering, meddling siblings mean well when they play matchmaker on a trip to Italy where his ex Claire McClure aka Scarlet will be.
Scarlet had owned Billy’s heart since they were teenagers, but secrets, lies, and life had separated them almost twenty years ago. Their timing was never right, and it was difficult for him to be around her. He was still angry with her and had so many conflicting feelings inside. He’d basically been pining for her most of his life. He wondered if it was time to let her go, and try to accept they were maybe just never going to happen.
Scarlet lives in Nashville where she’s a country music star. She was on a trip in Italy with the Winston’s when she comes face to face with the one man she’s avoided for years. She’s loved Billy Winston since she was fourteen, and he was still just as brutally handsome. He always knew her so well, from her past to her hopes, fears, and dreams. Years had passed but he’d never been far from her mind. She still longed for him, but they were now strong willed, stubborn adults with such a painful history. They were now sharing the same space, and she couldn’t seem to escape him. Constantly thrown together and forced to coexist could they resolve their differences and finally get their happily ever after, or will the mountains of regret between them continue to push them apart?
Beard Necessities (Winston Brothers, #7) by Penny Reid is a full length contemporary romantic comedy that can be read as a standalone, but is best enjoyed read after books 0.5, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the Winston Brothers series. This couple’s story is my favorite in the series, and Billy Winston is my all time favorite Winston brother. I love them all, but Billy has my heart. This character has the most beautiful soul. He’s dreamy, swoony perfection. I would give this book ten stars if I could. It’s a second chance romance full of love, emotion, and of course Winston siblings shenanigans. The entire gang is in this story, and it was a phenomenal, unforgettable book! I loved every moment!
Beard Necessities by Penny Reid is book 7 in the Winston Brothers series. It’s an emotionally beautiful and epic conclusion to an amazing series. This is the story that I have been dying to read since book 2- Billy and Scarlett/ Claire.
This story has everything- thrills, twists, turns, feels, steam, slow burn, 2nd chance romance, drama, angst, passion , beloved love and epic HEA. This story has great characters, beautifully written plot, and dreamy moments that could melt your ereader. What a way to end a series. Outstanding!!!
My Rating: 4.5 stars ********
A lovely, funny, touching, satisfying conclusion not only for Billy and Scarlet, but the entire series
Book 7 in the Winston Brothers series, and the final book in the series, I’ve been waiting for the conclusion to Billy and Scarlet’s, that is, Billy and Claire’s…you know, I’m just going to go with Scarlet, not only because that’s how Billy thinks of her, but more importantly, that’s how she thinks of herself…Billy and Scarlet’s story since I realized there was a story for them waiting to be told—and waiting even more impatiently after their heart wrenching origin story in Beard With Me. At the same time, I’m sorry to reach the end of a series that I’ve loved, and characters that feel as real to me as anyone out here in real life. While this can technically be read as a standalone, to get the full impact of the emotional journey that is Billy and Scarlet’s story, I highly recommend reading the entire series in order starting with the Knitting in the City crossover book, The Beauty and the Mustache, all the way through to the origin story, Beard With Me. At a minimum, I’d suggest reading Dr Strange Beard and Beard with Me, both of which contain a lot of setup for this book.
Plotting Cletus plots, and pulls the rest of the Winston clan into his schemes (at least he’s using his power for good, lol). I love that the entire family was involved, and I was cheering them on as they conspire to finally—finally!—get Billy and Scarlet on the same page. The depth of how much they care for both Billy and Scarlet is touching, and while I didn’t expect quite the lengths—hmmm, maybe make that depths—Cletus, et al, were willing to go to (Venice! I was literally laughing out loud and then Cletus’s note had me ), I adored that they all had a part to play in making sure Billy and Scarlet got to their HEA. It isn’t all fun and frolicking in Italy, of course; you didn’t really think it was going to be a straight forward path filled with Jenn’s delectable desserts and Cletus’s boar sausage, did you?
There’s plenty of tension to the plot with so many things needing to be resolved as these are two people who have been hurt so deeply and for so long, with so many secrets, lies, and misunderstandings between them, that they have trouble letting down their walls enough to believe that they can finally have what they really want. We get the details at last of what happened between Billy and Scarlet after she came back to Green Valley, and I REALLY want to say some things about Ben McClure here, but this is a case where you just need to read the book, because anything else feels spoilery. Add in an ominous possibility of repercussions for Billy’s actions during Razor’s capture, all the pain, guilt, anger, and regret, and lastly, debts paid and owed, and Billy and Scarlet (with help from the family, of course!) have their hands full clearing the air, dealing with years of emotions, and balancing the ledger between them, in order to get to a place where their relationship can finally move forward in a healthy way.
I have so many passages highlighted it was almost impossible to choose, but I had to give you a few of my favorites I feel showcase some of the emotion and language this story holds:
Billy: “I’d never wanted to be a source of weakness for Scarlet. I’d wanted to be a source of strength.”
Scarlet: “He made me feel so much, he always had, feelings that were both necessary and dangerous in equal measure.”
Shelly: “Just that, two people, witnessing or experiencing the same event, can have two entirely different interpretations of the truth.”
Jethro: “Come on, dummy. Let’s go get the girl.”
And finally, Billy again: “I promise, if you’ll have me, I’ll sing with you whenever or wherever you want. But only with you, Scarlet. I only want to sing with you.”
Expect both laughter and tears in this lovely, funny, touching, and satisfying conclusion not only for Billy and Scarlet, but the entire Winston Brothers series. No series conclusion would really be complete without a peek into the future, of course, and the epilogue gives us that hilarious peek. There’s a little sadness, too, but knowing the author has the Handcrafted Mysteries series planned for Cletus and Jenn, plus the expectation of continued guest appearances by various Winstons, and their friends and associates, in the Smartypants Romance, Penny Reid universe, Green Valley world stories by so many other talented authors helps provide some consolation. 5+ stars
B2B Kelly
Prepare yourself for a family full of meddling siblings, with Cletus behind 99% of it! I was especially entertained with and scenes with Cletus since Penny has previously stated she identifies the most with his character.
Having one of your favorite series of all times end is never easy, and by now we all have ginormous expectations of how Billy and Scarlet’s story should end, since we’ve been seeing them struggle through the last 6.5 books. But do not fret, because Penny Reid did not do us wrong. I can honestly say that all my expectations were met and exceeded. I can’t imagine their story ending any other way. Surrounded by the Winston family that we’ve seen grow and fall in love. Thank you Penny for giving them the ending their deserved, however painful it was for them to get there.
“But these two idiots, they’re too stubborn and noble to climb over the messy mountain of regret and secrets they’ve built between each other. So, as folks who love them both, it falls on us – all of us- to make the magic happen”
“Love sometimes means calling another person on their bullshit, even if doing so requires an awkward, uncomfortable conversation, like this one we’re having right now.”
“I didn’t need to see or touch or taste paradise to know how deeply and irrevocable I am in love with you. That hasn’t changed. That is as constant as my soul, which has been, and will always be, forever yours”
The Winston Brothers series is finished and I am sadly content.
Sad because the series is over and oh so content with how this journey ended.
My heart is full My smile is huge & I am proud of myself for only shedding a Cletus approved amount of tears while reading this one.
These Winston Brothers own a part of my heart & the biggest piece belongs to Billy. I will miss them, but I guess that’s the joy of books – a reread is always around the corner. Penny Reid you are my unicorn!
I can totally feel the waves of emotions wafting off of Claire and Billy in the first beginning scene they’re together. So raw, and broken these two are and I’m glad we saw how they got back together. I just wished maybe there was something a tiny bit more by the very end, like something for me feels missing? I can’t 100% point it out. This was still a good read and conclusion to the series. I can’t wait for the cozy mysteries now.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I’m not even sure how to go about writing a review for Beard Necessities. So many of my fellow Reiders and I have been waiting literal years for this book. With this being such a highly anticipated book for me, I did try to go in with minimal expectations. I knew it’d be great, but I didn’t want my expectations to hinder my final opinion of it.
I loved this story so much.
Billy and Scarlet had so much to work through individually. If you’ve read the whole series (which you NEED TO if you haven’t), then you know they both had some things they needed to work through. I think their hearts were so blocked up with guilt and hurt and resentment, they couldn’t take the leap and make that first move towards reconciliation. Thankfully, Cletus and the gang did some major meddling and jump-started their reunion.
I like that it was made clear that Scarlet had and was currently in therapy. In the words of Sienna ‘Thank God.’ Scarlet probably should have been in therapy a long time ago, but either way, I’m glad she was working through things with a professional. For me, it would have made it difficult to believe her progress without that.
Billy. Billy Billy Billy. Always being the savior. Always sacrificing. Thank goodness his family loves him so much and realize they need to step in to help him make a change. I love their not-so-gently shoving and pushing and meddling. There’s growth with his relationship with Jethro, you get to see more of Billy and Roscoe’s connection, and Cletus, of course, is a standout character as always (I was going to call him a side character, but I know Cletus would never accept the fact of being a ‘side’ character).
The book isn’t smooth sailing for Scarlet and Billy. As difficult as it was to read, watching them stumble through their reconciliation, lies and secrets coming into the light, walls being torn down, and vulnerabilities being shared, they truly earned their HEA. Not that anyone should have to earn it, but these two truly did.
I love the closeness and strength of this family. This family, the Winstons, is what makes these books so special. They feel real to me in a way other characters don’t. You’d think I’d know why this is after many years and 7 books, and I’d be able to tell you exactly what it is about them that feels so real, but I can’t. I think it’s just some sort of Penny Reid magic.
I’m so sad to see this series come to an end, but my heart is filled with so much joy that Billy and Scarlet are finally living their lives together, just as they always should have been.
The ending is bittersweet. Bitter because it’s the end. Sweet because this family is everything. But thankfully we’ll hopefully be seeing more of the Winstons with Cletus and Jenn’s mystery series, and maybe the Winstons will even make some appearances in the upcoming Green Valley series too.
I can’t wait to see what Penny has in store for us next. I will gladly follow wherever she leads.
I’ve been with the Winston brothers through thick and thin, and Beard Necessities signals the end of the road. I’m totally not crying. You’re crying!
You really shouldn’t read Beard Necessities without reading Beard with Me first, and if you’ve read Beard with Me then you know the emotional train wreck that is Billy and Claire’s relationship. Their history is riddled with secrets, misunderstandings, and stubbornness. The tension between them is so thick you can cut it with a knife, but it is obvious to their family and friends that they are destined to be together. A family vacation to Italy is the perfect opportunity to give them a gentle-ish nudge.
Time and again, Billy has sacrificed his own happiness to take care of those he loves. Claire (aka Scarlet) has suffered from guilt and a feeling of unworthiness. All their resentment and longing makes for some really painful interactions; however, there is also an infectious sense of optimism. Slow burn romances are the best, and I loved every chapter of simmering, delicious anticipation.
This is Claire and Billy’s story, but Cletus comes close to stealing the show. Of all the characters in all the Penny Reid books I’ve read, Cletus is my favorite. His meddlesome hijinks and pearls of wisdom bring so much fun to the story.
A series this heartwarming needs an epic conclusion, and Beard Necessities does not disappoint. It is the perfect combination of humor and heart. The epilogue reunites all the Winstons, their spouses, and children. For fans, it’s a wonderfully indulgent gift. I can’t think of a more fitting or touching end. I received an early copy to voluntarily read.
As I write this review, there are tears streaming down my face. Mostly happy, but there’s a touch of sadness. I didn’t expect to be this sad saying goodbye to one of my favorite fictional families, but as I finished the book it hit me harder than expected. Penny created a world that has drawn us in and given us characters (this almost seems awful to say because they feel so real) that we’ll never forget.
Billy & Scarlet….they gave me a love story that was so full of everything; love, flirting, frustrations, & understanding. I loved how much their families schemed and worked to get them together. It was a classic Cletus scheme from the very first word. I also enjoyed seeing both Billy & Scarlet learn to really understand where the other was coming from. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, so I can’t say much more than…it’s one of the greatest love stories ever written!
Thank you, Penny, for giving me hours of joy with the Winston family. It will be a family I can’t wait to revisit each time I read the series again!
Life has a way of coming full circle. For Billy and Claire – the trials and tribulations of their lives have finally brought them back into the same realm in life. Both are too stubborn to realize just how deeply their bond actually exists. The two have been dancing around each other for years, and now a little interference from the Winston’s may provide the push that these two tattered souls need.
The Winston clan is headed to Italy, and Cletus has come up with a plan to push Billy and Claire together at last. With the help of the entire Winston family, Cletus is determined to help Billy and Claire find the happiness that neither has found without the other in life. When the entire Winston family gets involved, you know things are about to get very interesting. Can Billy and Claire find their way back to one another and explore a long overdue chance at love? Only time and a little Winston antics will tell if this love story is meant to finally come to fruition.
Beard Necessities is the long awaited conclusion to Billy and Claire’s story, and it is everything that you didn’t realize you wanted for the couple!! First let me say – if you have not read the rest of the series, do NOT start with Beard Necessities. There is so much history involved in the development of this story that will only make sense if you know all of the nuances of Billy and Claire’s story.
What can I tell you about Beard Necessities that won’t spoil the nuances of the plot for readers? Simple put……this story was EPIC!!! No one deserves to find their happiness more than Billy and Claire. After all – Billy has endured more pain and suffering than anyone has ever realized (except for Cletus of course). All of the heartache, missed opportunities, and secrets that were meant to be hidden will culminate into a love story that is unexpected and worthy of the most tattered Winston soul.
Billy really is selfless and deserves happiness more than anyone. Will his future include Claire or will they uncover secrets that neither will overcome? Every single piece of the past unfolds in this story of redemption for Billy and Claire. Regardless of how you feel about these two characters…..you will discover that Penny Reid completely outperformed herself in wrapping up a series that has captivated me from the very first book!! The Winston Pennyverse is complete, and it was definitely worth the wait!!
Beard Necessities was EVERYTHING I wanted and needed it to be…and more.
A book like this, there’s a lot of heavy expectation and I salute Penny Reid because she gave Billy and Scarlet the HEA they both worked so very hard for. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the part the Winston family played in the whole, getting Billy and Scarlett in the same place so they could finally figure things out.
Beard Necessities, like the rest of the Winston series, made me laugh (a lot), cry and swoon. I just adore those Winston men AND Ashley and the rest of the family.
It makes me sad that this series is coming to an end, I’ve loved it so much and reading this book made me remember just how fantastic it’s been!
*Copy provided by author
My review for Beard Necessities could be summed up in one sentence: I can’t imagine a more perfect or fitting ending for the Winston Brothers series. This book did all the things to my heart and I loved it more than I can possibly say. But, I’m darn sure gonna try.
You know that feeling when you’re reading a book and the hero and heroine are struggling to get it right? When you just want to lock them in a room together until they work out their issues (one way or another)? When you just want to smush them together and make them kiss? That’s the basic premise of Beard Necessities from the perspective of the Winston clan. They’d simply had enough of Billy and Scarlet apart and had no choice but to intervene. In the most Winston ways ever, naturally. (Cletus is a national treasure, y’all.)
Beard Necessities is far lighter than (what I read of) Beard with Me, but it’s not without its heavier moments. Billy and Scarlet have quite the history and most of it isn’t great. It was going to take more than a little forced proximity for them to work things out. Rightfully so, to be honest. It wouldn’t have felt authentic or believable without a little struggle and angst. But while this book has some heavier moments, they’re nothing like those of Beard with Me. The darker parts of their history are referenced but don’t happen on the page thankfully. You can breathe easier if you found that stuff as hard to read as I did.
My love for this book (and the Winston family) truly knows no bounds. I’m not going to dig too far into the storyline because you really need to experience it for yourself. I laughed and cried, swooned all over the place, and fell even more in love with every member of this wonderful family. It’s hard to imagine the Winstons outside of their home in Tennessee, but the setting of Italy was absolutely perfect for this story. A fresh start deserves a beautiful backdrop, right? *sigh* It was all just wonderful, showcasing each of the characters in the best way possible.
Series-ending books are so hard for me, especially when I’ve loved a series as much as I’ve loved the Winston Brothers. On one hand I am almost desperate to get the ending, but I also hate that it’s all over. I’m not very good at giving up the characters I love. But hey, that’s what rereads are for, right? You better believe I’ll have an epic Winston Brothers binge one of these days. For now, I’m going to revel in the perfection that was Beard Necessities. Especially that epilogue, y’all. All the heart eyes.
Favorite Quotes:
“Billy deserves happiness, as does Claire. But these two idiots, they’re too stubborn and noble to climb over the messy mountain of regret and secrets they’ve built between each other. So, as folks who love them both, it falls on us—all of us—to make the magic happen.”
The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts, and my soul was still Scarlet.
“Love sometimes means calling another person on their bullshit, even if doing so requires an awkward, uncomfortable conversation, like this one we’re having right now.”
“Honey, if I thought you would ever actually give yourself to me, if I could have you, really and truly have you, I’d take you. Right now. Right here.”
“You can’t force two people to kiss and make up, not when there’s years of history and hurt between them.”
This was a wonderful way to end this series. I was waiting to read this story for a long time, and this author did not disappoint as usual.
It is a must read. I definitely recomment this book, this series, and this author.
5 HUGE STARS for Billy, Scarlet, and the whole Winston family!!
Beard Necessities is Billy and Scarlet/Claire’s love story and the final book in the Winston Brothers series. I have been waiting for this book for what feels like forever, and even though I didn’t want this amazing series to end, I couldn’t wait to dive in. And I am glad I didn’t because it is everything and more than I could have asked for. Emotional, addictive, consuming, smart, and witty, Beard Necessities gives us a beautiful second chance romance while bringing the whole Winston clan together again, and I devoured it!
Billy and Scarlet have a complicated and heartbreaking past. They fell in love as teenagers only to be pulled apart before they could grasp onto their future together, and both Billy and Scarlet were never the same. It’s been nearly two decades and the Billy’s family has had enough. Enough of the hurt, anger, and confusion Billy and Scarlet experience each time they are together, and enough of them avoiding the other as much as possible while denying their feelings. The whole family makes it their mission to make Scarlet and Billy find the love they lost. They have a plan to bring these two together again, and I was totally on board!
“Billy deserves happiness, as does Claire. But these two idiots, they’re too stubborn and noble to climb over the messy mountain of regret and secrets they’ve built between each other. So, as folks who love them both, it falls on us—all of us—to make the magic happen.”
I knew this story was going to be hard. I knew that Billy and Scarlet couldn’t immediately reunite. There were too many secrets and lies between them. Too much regret, guilt, sadness and hurt that overwhelmed them. Watching them push each other away was painful. Every road block made me want to cry. But these characters! OMG, these characters! I loved every single broken, hurting, real piece of them and wanted nothing, and I mean nothing, more than for them to finally find their happily-ever-after.
I knew they would have to fight for it but before they could do that, they had to get to a place where a HEA was even feasible. That’s where the wonderful Winston clan came in. They are so full of love and are always there for each other. And they wanted Billy to be happy after everything he’s been through. He was always the one to put things back together. He’s kept his family safe and he still puts them first in everything he does. Now, it was time to put him first, and they orchestrated their plan perfectly.
At first it was hard to see Billy and Scarlet together because of the hurt in their hearts. Having to face the truths they have kept bottled up inside, they had so much to discuss and so much to work through before they could be together. Yet, with a complicated, emotional past like theirs, I found myself desperate to see how the story would unfold, how the forgiveness, healing, and loving would happen, and how Billy and Scarlet would finally have a future together.
Even though everything changed and they went through so much over the years, there was still a spark that lived in their hearts. The heat, attraction, and chemistry was still present, and they were still so madly, deeply in love with each other no matter how hard they tried to deny it. Once they were able to open up their hearts to each other, the strained interactions turned into fun, flirty, banter-filled moments, and when their walls came tumbling down, the passion reignited.
“These weren’t the sweet, searching kisses from our past. This was a monster, a beast fed by years of need and frustration and raw desperation.”
Not a single Winston has let me down, and I have loved each and every one of their stories so I’m not surprised that I also loved Billy and Scarlet’s. I was desperate for their second chance, it’s one of my favorite tropes after all, and there was no doubt that they would find a place in my heart with the others. It was beautiful when they were able to finally love freely and openly, and I was happy with how everything played out. And the epilogue!!! Perfection!
This story is Billy and Scarlet’s but it is so much more than that. It’s about family, unconditional love, forgiveness, and understanding. It’s about the people who mean the world to you who will never let you fall or fail. The ones who wish only for your happiness and that is why the Winston Brothers series filled my heart beyond its capacity, and continues to do so as I think about these characters. The whole Winston family added so much to this story. I needed their connection again. I needed everyone back for one last hurrah, and their parts in Beard Necessities were perfect. And did I mention the gang brought out the laughs?! Because they did! This book was hilarious!!
In the end, this funny, emotional, charged, captivating, and unputdownable book was the perfect ending to a wonderful series! My heart is happy!
“Love isn’t about giving up. It’s about never giving up.”
Note: Though we get the beginning of Billy and Scarlet’s love story in Beard with Me , you do not have to read it to enjoy Beard Necessities; however, I do recommend reading it to get the whole picture. It only added to my love for Billy and Scarlet, and though it is heartbreaking, the pain is worth it!!
*ARC generously provided by the author*
*5 Stars*
I voluntarily read an early copy of this title.
I don’t even know where to start with this review. I loved this book. It gave me ALL. THE. FEELS. Some totally unexpected ones too. I think because I was expecting all the emotions in BWM, and then not so much in this. Whoops, silly me!
I loved the character development with everyone in this one. We get so much of the whole Winston family, and ALL OF THE CLETUS THAT EVER DID CLETUS, along with both Billy and Scarlet too.
Scarlett was fabulous in this, and I really liked how she just straight up knew what she wanted, how she wanted to deal with things and how she said what was on her mind. Billy on the other hand could be frustrating, even though I understood his POV on things and where he was coming from when his internal thoughts or conversations with his family explained them.
We also learn a fair bit more about the past in this one, and so many things clicked into place.
I had a great time reading this, and whilst I was speeding through it, I was also trying not to because I wanted to savor it. This was the story we have all been waiting for, and the character/s who have had us intrigued through all the snippets of them in the prior books of the series.
I truly enjoyed this, and am sad that the Winston Brothers series is over. I can only hope Penny decides to grace us with more of their presence in the future, because I will never have enough of these guys.