‘Beard With Me’ is the origin story of Billy Winston and Scarlet St. Claire (aka Claire McClure) and is just the beginning of their epic love story. No one is better at surviving than Scarlet St. Claire and making the best out of circumstances beyond her control is Scarlet’s specialty. In an apocalyptic situation, she’d be the last person on earth, hermitting like a pro, singing along to her CD … singing along to her CD Walkman, and dancing like no one is watching.
Scarlet is clever, Scarlet is careful, and Scarlet is smart . . . except when it comes to Billy Winston.
No one is better at fighting than Billy Winston and raging against his circumstances—because nothing is beyond his control—is Billy’s specialty. In an apocalyptic situation, he’d be the first person on earth to lead others to safety, overcome catastrophe, or die trying.
Billy is fearless, Billy is disciplined, and Billy is honorable . . . except when it comes to Scarlet St. Claire.
COMING SEPTEMBER 2019
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I am not okay. Seriously not okay. Finished an hour ago and just been sitting on my bed feeling equal parts empty and sadly content. I know that doesn’t make sense but it’s the best description I’ve got.
I’ve said it before – Penny Reid is a wizard, a words wizard. Stories like this are why she’ll forever be a one click author for me.
This one gave me first love butterflies, painful subjects, very real world emotions and heartbreak, sweet and honest friendships, the strength of a good family and I also got my heart broken. Not every love story is a happy one but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a love story.
Absolutely recommend, just ensure you have tissues handy.
Favorite Quotes:
Cletus had the decency to squirm in his seat. “Lie is such an ugly word. I prefer fiction.”
I was the only child of Razor Dennings that he’d claimed. His recognition of me as his spawn meant I would forever be followed by a cloud in the shape of a tornado with horns.
Billy Winston had somehow tapped into the thermostat of my body and set it to Arizona in the summer. I’d never been to Arizona, but I was pretty sure they had those days where it got so hot the thermometers broke.
As my momma’s friend Ellie Leffersbee said whenever she saw or heard or experienced something she found momentous, I was stirred like a gin and tonic and shaken like a martini.
I would’ve called him a sonofabitch, but his mother was a nice lady.
Cletus, looking thoughtful and not an ounce afraid, scratched his jaw as best he could given the fact his arms were being held. “No, Darrell. You are my role model, obviously. It has always been my sincerest desire to be an aging impotent biker with dysentery and the laughingstock of East Tennessee. Teach me your ways, Diseased-Wang Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
My Review:
I adore Penny Reid and would worship at an altar of her discarded printer ink cartridges. Her writing has a distinct and perceptive eloquence with a perfect blend of entertaining levity, thoughtful insights, compelling drama, heart squeezes, looming peril, and extra quirky and highly endearing characters. She gives each unique character a profound depth, which illuminates their strengths as well as exposing their vulnerabilities. Beard With Me ranks as one of her best and is one of those rare books that warrant a ten-star rating, despite the lack of closure for the main characters’ storyline. I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Penny is a master at weaving complicated familial obligations and the innocence of love. I admire Billy’s fortitude and Scarlet’s determination. This beautiful Winston family should be read by everyone!
4.5 Stars
Beard with Me is the latest installment in the Winston Brothers series, HOWEVER, it can be read as a complete standalone. This is an origin story and does not need to be read after other books in the series (although I highly recommend them all!)
This is one of those reviews that’s hard to write, and I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how best to express my feelings. I went into this book knowing it wouldn’t be a happy, easy read, but nothing could have prepared me for this story. It is gut-wrenching and beautiful at the same time, a story I never wanted to stop reading but admittedly had to put down a few times before continuing on.
“The last thing I ever want to be for you is a regret.”
I’ve been wanting Scarlet (Claire) & Billy’s story since I first started reading the Winston Brothers series, and while we need to wait to see what the future brings, we now have their beginning. But even more important, we learn what shaped each of them, what their childhood & adolescence was like, and it definitely wasn’t puppies & kittens.
Scarlet is so unbelievable strong, determined to survive and accept the life she was born into. Billy is a protector, forced to grow up and take on responsibilities he shouldn’t have to for years to come. From enemies to friends to first loves, their story is heartbreaking and unlike any other.
While this book is not your typical Winston Brothers comedy, it is an amazing read. Questions are answered, lives are shaped, and I understand these characters so much more now. I can’t wait to see what comes next for them!
First off, I tried to wait to read this one until Billy’s book came out. I lasted less than 24 hours, so that should tell you all you need to know about the pull of Penny’s books.
Second, I just finished and in no way, shape, or form am I okay. Not even a little bit. And if some characters could be boiled alive in a vat of oil and fire-breathing snakes, that would be a-okay with me. (No snakes would be harmed in this fictional torture. Obvi.)
Third, there seems to be a hole in my heart now. This aching, festering thing that bleeds just a little more when I think of Scarlet. How she doesn’t expect anything. How she doesn’t trust anything. How she refuses to count on people. I feel every single ounce of that and this book will stay with me.
Especially the very last line. That might stay with me forever.
I have no words to really describe Beard With Me other than magical, endlessly loving and pure heartbreak. This story was absolutely magnificent and full of poignant feels and typical word sorcery that Penny Reid is known for. It is so smartly written and engaging that I did not want to stop reading for a minute. But it is also an emotional maelstrom where I was torn in so many different directions. I laughed, I cried and I weeped but moreover I was left desperately needing more.
I have loved this series from the beginning and could not jump aboard another Winston brother novel fast enough. I loved this story and can’t wait for more! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
4.25 stars. Ahh! So Good! This will be super tricky to review because I can’t say much about the plot. Just know that this book is Claire’s story and is the origin story of the Winston family. We know from the other Winston brothers books where Claire and Billy are at their lives in the present, estranged from each other because of something that happened between them. Now, we get to find out what happened when they were very young that made them that way. We see Claire as a young teen and how her life is at that point. Things are pretty bleak for her for many reasons. This story was really good and there is romance, but there is also a sense of foreboding because we know that something is coming that is the catalyst for Claire and Billy’s estrangement as adults. This book has the bittersweet feelings of young, new love and the awkward, teenage angst. There is a star crossed lovers feel. The story is, at times, sad, emotional and bittersweet, with moments of sweetness, love and a dash of humor. I really loved Billy and Claire in this book. I felt so sorry for everything they went through. I also very much enjoyed seeing the other Winston characters as kids, especially young Cletus.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. But I wanted more! I can. not. wait for Billy and Claire’s book and, hopefully, their HEA! I bow down to Penny Reid’s writing skills, imagination and evil geniosity.
I have been a longtime fan of the Winston brothers’ shenanigans, but I wasn’t sure what to expect from a story that goes back in time to when they were teens. What I found is that Beard With Me enhanced my appreciation of things I already knew, and it spoils nothing for newbies to the series. It isn’t just about the beginning of Billy Winston and Scarlet St. Claire’s complicated relationship; it’s also the heart of the loving Winston household.
Billy is the last brother to have his turn in the fictional spotlight. I have always been drawn to him and yet there is so much I don’t know. He is the responsible Winston, the family caregiver, the one everyone looks up to, the one who keeps his feelings close to the vest, and the one who regularly sacrifices his happiness for others. This book explains why.
Scarlet is massively endearing. It is impossible to overlook her cheerfulness, self-deprecation, and innate goodness despite her bleak circumstances and insecurities. She is a gifted singer, and through her the reader gets to experience the transformative power of music—both in its influence on her and its affect on Billy.
Billy and Claire are often faced with the difficulty of choosing between self-preservation, fulfillment, and self-sacrifice. I loved all the sweet, awkward, and, yes, even the heartbreaking moments they share.
Don’t expect the witty or laugh-out-loud humor that one associates with this series because the tone of this book is more serious. Some parts are downright difficult to read. However, you can’t have the brothers in the same room without some whimsical moments. A young Cletus is a sight to behold. I really enjoyed seeing Bethany (Momma Winston) in her prime. Her perceptive compassion transcends basic kindness.
Beard With Me isn’t the end of Billy and Scarlet’s story. I haven’t a clue how things will end up between them, but I do know that with Penny Reid behind the wheel I’m bound to enjoy what will surely be a bumpy journey. I’ve already added Beard Necessities to my TBR list.
I received an early copy to voluntarily read.
5 “Dream bigger” stars!
Beard with Me is Billy and Scarlet/Claire’s backstory and as Penny Reid states in her Authors Note, “this book is not a romance, it is a tragic love story.” And that is the truth. I was worried when I began this story because I knew it would break me. It’s not all rainbows and butterflies. It’s harsh and raw. Real and heartbreaking. Though it is gut wrenchingly painful, it is also wonderfully emotive, and I loved it!
Billy and Scarlet are two original characters who have intrigued me from the moment I met them. Their love story has been a mystery and now that we have their past, I am even more desperate for their future.
Scarlet is strong and genuine and kind. She is so unlike the other Iron Wraiths kids and she doesn’t fit in with them. But she doesn’t she fit in with the non-Iron Wraiths either. Her daddy is the president of the club and for the most part he has a hold over her and dictates her actions. The things she endures made me cry. However, she is resilient and she does not break. I couldn’t help but love her heart and her witty personality.
Billy is the Winston boy who has had to take care of his family since his oldest brother left to join the Iron Wraiths. He is so often times misunderstood but he has such a big heart. His family means everything to him and he will do anything to protect them. He is endearing even when he is blunt or comes across as rude. I found a deeper understanding of the relationships between Billy and his family. Even with all the frustrations between brothers they still care and love each other. I see why Billy makes decisions he does and where he is coming from. Some of the interactions between them were crushing, and even though I knew everything works out for the other Winston brothers, it was still hard to experience the conflicts.
Billy and Scarlet don’t hide the fact that they hate each other and when Billy finds Scarlet on their property he isn’t thrilled. His anger doesn’t stop his mother from showing her wisdom and heart, and he finds himself spending more time with Scarlett.
“My sweet boy, you need to have faith. The Lord would not have put her in our path if He didn’t want us to help. I believe that. We are being called. And when you’re called, you answer, even if it’s inconvenient, even when it’s scary. Actually, especially then.”
Over time Billy and Scarlet get to know each other and their hate takes on a different form. They understand each other and their connection grows stronger. Billy gets Scarlet to dream and hope, and they can imagine a different future from what they expect. The young love that blooms out of beautiful friendship is breathtaking and true. The more it swelled in my heart, the more devastated I knew I’d be when it all ends.
“I’d do anything—anything—to keep her safe, even let her go.”
Billy and Scarlet’s backstory made me cry. I hurt for them. It’s not fair how things went down. However, Beard with Me is just be beginning of Billy and Scarlett’s love story. Now, I need their happily-ever-after. They remain in my heart and mind and I cannot wait for more. I’m hoping Beard Necessities will finally give Billy and Scarlet a second chance to rekindle first love!
“If the soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts, then my soul was Scarlet.”
There are some stories, some characters, that stay with you long after you read the last page. They worm their way into your brain, your soul, and burrow themselves in deep. To cut them out, would be to cut out a piece of yourself. This is what Penny Reid characters do to me.
They wake me up in the middle of the night. They pop into my thoughts when I’m doing the most mundane of tasks. They take over my mind at any and all times.
They have burrowed into my soul and to cut them out, would be to cut out an essential part of myself.
You may read all that and think I’m being dramatic. Maybe I am. Maybe because I’m a Highly Sensitive Person or an empath I attach to characters differently than most. Maybe in a week, I’ll have moved on. I doubt it, but sure, maybe.
I wish I knew exactly what it is about these characters, that have caused me to get so deeply attached to them. I don’t feel this way about every book I read, heck not even every Penny Reid book. It’s particularly this family. The Winstons that have me so deeply and irrevocably attached and undone.
“If the soul becomes dyed by the color of its thoughts, then my soul was Scarlet.”
Beard with Me by Penny Reid is the Winstons origin story, particularly Claire’s (aka Scarlet) and Billy’s, but you’re also given more background into Cletus and Jethro.
If you’ve read the Winston series, this book will click so many things into place for you. There are so many ‘ah ha’ moments. Easter egg moments that’ll have you going ‘yes!’ or ‘Cletus makes so much more sense now,’ or ‘that’s why she’s so reserved.’ It had me grabbing the other Winston books off my shelf and searching the pages for scenes that have now come into focus because of Beard with Me.
Those Easter egg moments, along with Cletus being the Cletus we all know and love, even at 15, offer a respite from the heartbreaking and heart-wrenching story of Billy and Scarlet.
These two both had to grow up well before they should have. Billy has taken on so much to support his family and feels a deep responsibility for them and their wellbeing. Scarlet has basically raised herself. I’m surprised she is as lighthearted as she is at times. What her parents put her through, their neglect, abuse, and her father’s downright sinister behavior towards her and others would surely break even the strongest of people, but not Scarlet.
“Now that I know your heart, I’ll forgive you anything.”
As Scarlet says in the book, she and Billy aren’t mature for their age, they’re old for their age. And that’s a distinct difference I think. They’re still teenagers but with the experience and knowledge of the evil in the world that no child should ever be privy to. They have responsibilities that should be being taken care of by adults.
You’ll forget at times these two are just 14.5 and 16. The responsibilities they both have aged them tenfold. But through their time together, they’re able to offer each other a bit of respite from the hard realities of their worlds. Whether they are just sitting quietly together, or singing and playing music, you get a glimpse of what these two could be if only they’d been handed a different set of cards in life.
Yes, you can read this as a standalone. It’s an origin story and Reid does a great job of introducing characters without making it feel repetitive for those devote Reiders, but also supplies enough information for those who might pick this book up first without having read the series.
That said, I highly recommend reading the series first. But as a devoted Reider, I’m also highly biased.
You can read and enjoy and understand this book fine without the others. But I feel strongly that this makes the entire Winston series more whole. It’ll give you a deeper understanding of this family. Of these characters. Of why Billy is the way he is. Cletus too. Why Scarlet is reserved and guarded.
“I’d do anything –anything– to keep her safe, even let her go.”
While this is a standalone, for me it doesn’t feel like one because I know that there is so much more to Billy and Scarlet’s story than just this book. This is just the beginning for these two, and I cannot wait to see how the rest of their story unfolds.
OMG!! The young Winston boys are absolutely adorable, amazing… Everything!
I just finished reading Beard With Me. And yes there were all the tears and heartbreak, but I absolutely loved meeting these young Winstons!! I also laughed and swooned and fell in love with all the Winston Brothers (especially Cletus) all over again!!
Beard with Me isn’t a usual Penny Reid romance or RomCom. It is a prequel to the Beard series and gives us the tragic beginning to Billy and Scarlet/Claire’s story.
“I mentally devoured this picture of him, feeling greedy for it. It was like looking at a painting or a sculpture, an intensely gorgeous piece of art. Have you ever known someone like that? Who takes your breath away when they smile? Gawd.”
Scarlet is the definition of a strong heroine. She endures the unendurable. She reaches her limit then just keeps going.
“She’s the colors of the forest, I realized with a fair degree of wonder. Her skin pale like the white birch, her freckles the rich tawny and light brown of new pinecones, her lips peachy pink and rust red like the river stones we’d used to encircle the firepit yesterday. She was beautiful and wild and genuine, and I could not stop staring at her.”
This story is totally heartbreaking but amazingly beautiful and I cannot wait for Beard Necessities. Is it November yet?
-5 Stars!!-
I had to throw my phone into the backseat of my car so I wouldn’t read this at stoplights.
It wasn’t my greatest moment. Should I have more self-control than to read the last few chapters of Billy & Scarlet’s backstory while waiting in rush hour traffic? Yes, I should. I’m an adult.
But I didn’t, so I threw my phone to where I couldn’t get it and hoped I didn’t get any important calls.
Hi, I’m Roxie and I have a Winston Brothers problem. I’ve loved all these books and this one is no different. It’s got deeply-imagined characters who you feel like you could know. It’s got great banter and moments that literally made me hold my breath and parts that, were it a movie, would have had me hiding behind a pillow.
This book is great. You should read it. I’ll just be over here climbing the walls until Beard Necessities comes out.
Beard with Me by Penny Reid is the sixth book in her wonderful Winston Brothers series. An emotional roller-coaster backstory of the teenage versions of Billy Winston and Claire McClure or, Scarlet St. Claire as she was known back then. Painful and emotional – This book ripped my heart open for all the things that COULD have been for these two but never were. This had me going back through the previous FIVE Winston books and searching for mentions of Claire and re-reading the interactions with Billy as adults. Definitely a love story but definitely not a romance. I was rocked to my core by the depth of suffering these two went through. Seeing the younger stoic Billy Winston and understanding why he is the way he is. Marveling at the progress Claire has made in her life to not only return to Green Valley after what she suffered at her fathers hands but to thrive and live and be an active member of society. Just… WOW! I was excited and eager for Billy’s book, Beard Necessities, before but now, after reading this backstory, I am on tenterhooks waiting for November to roll around. If you are a Penny Reid / Green Valley fan this book is a must read. Enjoy!
5 “This heartbreak better be worth it” Stars
What the hell, Penny Reid?!! WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS TO ME??? I can’t even with this book. I CAN’T EVEN!!!!!
Let me start for real now. You absolutely do not have to read Beard with Me to read any of the Winston Brother’s books as it is “the origin story”. That said you must read it as it sheds a whole new light on a lot of stuff. Especially Billy Winston. I must confess that he never was one of my favorite brothers… I thought of him as being kind of cold and aloof in a snobbish way. HOW VERY WRONG I WAS!!!! Now I need to reread all the books because now that I know what I know it is imperative that I look at things again, and I’m pretty sure NOTHING IS GOING TO BE THE SAME!
Although this book would be classified strictly as YA, I have to say this does not feel like a YA book. The reason is that neither Billy nor Scarlet had the luxury of actually being “young” in any other than the biological sense. These two had gone through and went through so much, I’m actually amazed that they’re alive, much less functioning human beings.
I really don’t want to say much more, other than I absolutely LOVED Billy. I absolutely LOVED Scarlet. I FLOVED Billy and Scarlet together and I can’t wait for them to get the HEA they earned and deserve.
Now I’ll end this with a warning. If you get red, puffy crying face do not read this before leaving for work or if you’ll need to show your face in public. This book will wreck you. It will break your heart and make it bleed. It will grab your innards and flip-flop them willy-nilly from start to finish. And you will still absolutely love every freaking second of it.
Beard with Me is a totally must-read book that I couldn’t put down even when I absolutely had to. It will make you feel everything and more and you will no doubt need a box of Kleenex at your side. And although I wish I could read Beard Necessities RIGHT THIS MINUTE, I can be glad (if I make a real big effort) to have the time and reread the whole series in preparation for it… So, you know what I’ll be doing over the next few weeks.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book*
***5 ‘Fairies’ Stars***
I’m a Winston family #fangirl, so when this baby was announced I was all in.
I didn’t care who it was about, I wanted it on the Kindle as soon as possible.
And then came the blurb and explanation that this was an origin story, not a romance, though there is a love story woven into the fabric of it and I was honestly even more excited to get my grubby hands on it, because getting to meet the younger selves of the Winstons I’ve come to love and then it was noted that some Reiders may not be all that happy with all they learn, but to keep in mind that this is not the finale, it is simply the beginning. So I prepared myself for all the feels, while doing my best to ignore an early reviews, and while I will admit I wasn’t prepared for all that happened, I loved every moment.
I loved both Billy and Scarlet. Scarlet is a force. This girl is a warrior. She is all to aware of how she is perceived and while it weighs heavily on her, she doesn’t allow it crush her. Billy is stubborn, determined and compassionate, something that is necessary as the oldest Winston in the house and helping to keep his younger siblings in line. And though the responsibility weighs heavily on him, it’s one he has taken on without hesitation. As for their relationship, as is stated in the description, this is their origin story and there is more to come, but even though it was just the start, I loved watching them become unexpectedly more to each other. It was sweet and also a little heart breaking, but it felt real and I cannot wait to get my hands on the rest of their journey.
But as much as this book was mostly about Billy and Scarlet, there is a healthy dose of the rest of the Winston’s ~ as well a few friends ~ in here and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the younger versions of them all and picking up on the aspects of their personalities that grew and evolved as they did and seeing how certain moments shaped them into the adults I’ve already met. One word of warning, there are situations in here that get pretty heavy and may be uncomfortable for some to read, but they were handled well and are important to understanding just who the characters are at their core.
And as for the question on if this book can be read as a standalone if you have yet to dive into the world of The Winston Brothers. You can. You can also skip this one if you want to. But, from the POV of a #fangirl. I do suggest reading the series in order and not skipping it. The wealth of insight into these complex, imperfectly perfect and unique characters is priceless and makes them all that much more real.
~ Copy provided by Social Butterfly PR & voluntarily reviewed ~
No one can extract extreme emotions from me like Penny Reid. Beard With Me made me bleed and hurt. Beard With Me filled me with wonderful and terrifying emotions. I am overwhelmed and awed by her words. Again.
I will be really short and straightforward with the story line. This is the origin story of Billy and Scarlet. It is not a HEA story. It is only the beginning of an epic and tragic love story. And I can only imagine how brilliant the next part will be.
Scarlet is my hero. She has an incredibly difficult life. Being the daughter of the despicable president of local motorcycle club is not easy. But she is determined to make a life on her own. She has walls around her heart and she doesn’t let anyone in. My heart was breaking for her and the tears did not stop. And Billy Winston is the last person she needs in her life. What can I say about Billy? He has the burden of everything possible. He is the protector, caregiver, trouble controller and everything. He doesn’t need Scarlet’s problem in his life. But he can’t shield his heart from her goodness and beauty. The chemistry is like thorn of a beautiful rose. It pricks, it hurts, it causes pain but the effect is mesmerizing. I screamed inside with the unfairness of their trial but I have to endure it because I know Penny Reid will make it better.
One word comes to my mind whenever I try to describe Penny Reid’s writing. Magic. One hundred percent pure, undiluted and soul-stirring magic. The reading experience is indescribable by mere words. This is something you need to do yourself. And you will be an addict like me.
Received ARC for Honest review
Wow! After reading Beard With Me, I’m left with all these conflicting thoughts, feelings and emotions. In this book there is no HEA and we get to see the young Billy and Claire/Scarlett. He is 16 and she is 14…. this is an intense yet very sad story which gives their start of their relationship. Cletus is also featured in this story. I loved getting to know him and seeing how he got to who he is now based on what happened then broke my heart.
This is a story that will have to be read so you can experience the drama, agony and sadness that flavors each page. I can’t wait to get Billy and Scarlett’s full story!!!
My Rating: 4.5 stars *******
Sweet and dark, funny and tragic; a heart wrenching, gut punch of a book
Book 6 of the Winston Brothers series, this is really the origin story for the series and as the author says in her forward, “this book is not a romance, it is a tragic love story” and so it’s darker and not truly representative of the rest of the series, imo (though Ashley’s story has its own tragedy running through it, I always consider it more of a segue between the author’s Knitting in the City series and the Winston Brothers books). While a standalone, as someone who has read the earlier books several times, I’d say you would get more out of this with the background of the previous books to put things into perspective.
I’ve been anticipating—and a little bit dreading—this book for some months now. As a fan of the author, and of the Winston Brothers series in particular, I knew that the backstory of Billy and Claire, aka Scarlet, wasn’t a happy one, even if I didn’t have all the details yet. But this was a story I felt I NEEDED to know, so when this hit my e-reader, I set aside what I was doing, stocked up on tissues, made sure the dog was fed, took a deep breath, and dived in.
Sure enough, I was in tears almost from the start. Seeing the kind of pressure both Billy and Scarlet were under, and the horrors they experienced at such a young age, was heartbreaking, as was seeing Jethro while he was still a part of the Iron Wraiths. I knew Billy hated him for what he’d done at the time, and even though I really liked adult Jethro, I finally really understood just why Billy hated him, and I had to hate that version of Jethro a little bit myself, right along with Billy.
It wasn’t all darkness and tears though; after all, it couldn’t be a Winston Brothers story—even the tragic, origin story—without some humor and lighter moments along the way. I loved how Billy was mesmerized by Scarlet’s singing, and how sweet and caring he was in spite of her fierce (and sometimes fiery) independence. We finally get to meet the long talked about Ben McClure, and I smiled at the glimpses we got of Roscoe and Simone, Duane and Beau, Ashley and Bethany; Bethany’s kindness and compassion really shone here. Seeing this version of Cletus was frankly enlightening, though the essence of who he would become is clear (his fascination with smoking jackets! *giggle snort), and it will be interesting to reread his book—he’s always been my favorite—with this new background in mind. But then there were Darrell and Razor; both of them are chillingly evil, and I hate the knowledge that though these two are fiction, people like them do exist out in the world.
And as for some of the things I knew were coming, well, my stomach was in knots as I waited for those awful, horrible shoes to drop. And when one of them did…well, it was hard to read as this author puts you right in the scene, and you really feel like you’re there, watching these awful things happen to these characters that you think of as real people—I had to make use of those tissues more than once.
This is not a happy book. It has its lovely, funny moments, but mostly this is a heart wrenching, gut punch of a book that explains so much above the Winston brothers, but especially about Billy and Scarlet. I’m glad I read it but it will be some time before I’m able to face a reread, if In fact I ever reread it—and this is a series I probably read at least once a year. Ahh, who am I kidding—sweet and dark, funny and tragic, I’ll read it and cry, every single time. 5+ heartbreaking stars
B2B Kelly
How to review a book that was So utterly heartbreaking and sad but also told the story of such a pure, innocent love between two kids in the middle of some shitty circumstances. It ripped my heart to shreds multiple times, but the love story between Billy and Scarlet was all I was hoping for and more. The wait for Beard Necessities is going to be a struggle, that’s for sure!
Nothing about Scarlet’s life in Green Valley is ‘ordinary’. As the daughter of an Iron Wraith member, Scarlet knows a thing or two about survival. In an effort to avoid her father, Scarlet finds herself living in harsh conditions, even during the best type of weather. All of the trials and tribulations are soothed whenever Scarlet is around the Winston family.
No one could imagine the responsibilities that go along with living in a large family, unless they experienced it. For Billy Winston – the task of helping take care of his siblings and act as the man of the house is a daily occurrence. With football, school, and a job – Billy is loaded down with tasks that the teen still manages to pull off with the appearance of ease. While the rest of the Winston household may seem to be in chaos, Billy always manages to show his resilience during the difficult times.
Billy finds that his arms of protection are now including Scarlet. Both know how deadly the members of the Iron Wraiths can be, and neither family is immune to the chaos that follows. With Scarlet determined to escape the tendrils that come with being Razor’s kid, Billy finds that he cannot help but want to shelter Scarlet from the storms. As with all things Winston, Billy knows that helping Scarlet may come with a price.
Be still my heart…….how do you lay out the details of Beard With Me without giving anything away?? I will start by saying that Penny Reid has taken her Winston Brothers series to an epic level. Nothing about this story is ‘ordinary’. The plot fills in missing years with the entire Winston family that fans have been dying to know. The result….an explosion of information that will grip your heart and take you on a ‘ride’ that sets the scene for many books to come.
There are so many hardships that family members of the Iron Wraiths have had to endure. Billy, Scarlet and the entire town of Green Valley are all too aware of the path of destruction that burns in the path of this band of bikers. The Winston family has tried to escape the tendrils of that life, but knows that it can change on a dime. Now Billy finds himself longing to extend his arms of protection to Scarlet.
Scarlet is unbelievable in this story. Her pain is unlike anything most individuals have experienced. Without either parent to protect her, Scarlet forages her way through the trials and tribulations of life at a very young age. Billy Winston wants nothing more than to give Scarlet the stability and protection that he feels at the Winston home. With everything that Scarlet has gone through, you can’t help but hope that Billy can be the shining light in the chaos of Scarlet’s life.
Did I mention Cletus?? Cletus…..oh Cletus…..you have stolen my heart once again!! There are tidbits of information about Cletus’ childhood that just ‘clicks’ when you reflect back on the man we have come to love in the series. The friendship that Cletus and Scarlet share in the story is endearing and warmed my heart.
Simply put…..you MUST dive into Beard With Me with your heart wide open. Soak up every nuance of the history in this novel. Penny Reid is a master of the written word, and this story only pushes that envelope even further. This story is a legacy of all things Winston, and it only pulls us deeper into the world of the bearded men of Tennessee that we have all come to love.