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Review

4.5 stars

This book is so much fun! Smart, funny, sweet and beautifully romantic, it’s like a breath of fresh air in between all of the dark, heavy, angsty and super-emotional books out there – not that there’s anything wrong with those books, but sometimes you just need something light, you know? Featuring Penny Reid’s fantastic humour from start to finish, this is a really enjoyable story with characters that I absolutely loved, and I had a great time reading it.

This is the first book in the Winston Brothers series, and is a spin off to the Knitting in the City books, directly tied to Beauty and the Mustache (the heroine from that book is the sole sister to the Winston boys). I haven’t read that book, and though the main characters make an appearance and there are a few spoilers for events in that story, this one is easily read as a standalone – and it actually makes me want to go back and finish off the Knitting series.

This book introduces us to Jessica. Jess has just graduated from college and has returned to her home town to get some teaching experience, pay off her student loans and save enough money so that she can go off travelling, wanting nothing more than to explore and experience the world. She’s not home long before she runs into her childhood crush, Beau Winston. One of six bearded Winston brothers, Beau is friendly and outgoing and the object of all of Jessica’s fantasies and when he throws her hot looks and then backs it up with even hotter kisses, she thinks all of her dreams have come true. But her hot hook up turns out to be not Beau, but his identical brother, Duane. Jessica grew up with Duane just as she did with Beau, but Duane was always broody and standoff-ish, and any relationship between has always been completely antagonistic. Despite this, Jessica very quickly comes to the realisation that Duane Winston makes her feel things that his brother never did, and while Beau always regarded her as a friend, Duane clearly has different feelings.

“This is what I’m talking about. I don’t know if we can call a truce. All we know how to do is argue.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Jessica,” he whispered, “arguing with you is one of my favourite things to do.”

The chemistry between these two is absolutely sensational, and Jess soon forgets all about her previous infatuation with Duane’s brother when she realises that Duane himself is something special. But where she is irresistibly drawn to him and wants to jump all over the sexual tension that zings every time they are together, Duane is frustratingly reserved.

Oh my God, I LOVE Duane!!! He’s and such a gentleman – kind and respectful and effortlessly charming, and his insistence on courting Jess is so sweet! He has wanted Jess since they were teenagers. She’s it for him, the girl he wants to marry, and as much as he wants her, he’s determined to do things right.

“I think we’re suited.”
“So you’ve said.”…
“But like you said in the car, we don’t know each other, not really.”
“I get it,” I said on a rush, because I did get it. I did.
… But then he admitted quietly, “I want to know you … And I want to be known.”

So gorgeous! But that’s not to take anything away from his alpha-ness and hotter than hell moves, because OMG! Their connection is sizzling and the sexy time is steamy. But there’s something refreshingly gorgeous about an old-fashioned guy with old-fashioned ideals with the sexual charisma to back it up.

I admit, I thought about hiking up her skirt, sliding into her sweet body, and taking her hard and fast against the door.
I thought about it. I did.
But I didn’t want to do that.
I wanted to marry this girl.
That was the truth of it. And maybe one day, after we’d been married for a while, I’d pull her in here and bend her over the table at the back and we’d have a real good time. Maybe we’d do it every Wednesday…when she was my wife.
But not now. Not yet. Not when I’m needing to be taken seriously and respected.

I loved this story. Jessica and Duane’s romance unfolds beautifully with lots of sweet moments, some fan-worthy hot moments and lots of humour as they get to know each other as adults and explore what they have between them. And for the most part, it’s angst-free and functional – they talk to each other, they are open about their feelings, and when there they have an issue they deal with it. It’s refreshing to read and just shows you how great they are together. And the developing romance is gorgeous!

“My momma once told me, you don’t need to be pushed in order to fall. I don’t think you’ll need to do much pushing Jessica.”

But how can anything work between them when Duane has a solid life with his family in his home town and Jessica is desperate to leave and follow her dreams? Added to that, Duane and his brothers are having issues with a local biker gang, and Jess is having a few issues with her own family. It’s not always easy, but Jess and Duane handle it beautifully, and I loved watching it all play out.

This is a really strong start to a new series I’m excited to continue on with. Duane and his brothers are a fantastic bunch, each with their own unique quirks, and I laughed so much at their constant teasing and bantering. I was actually listening to this as an audiobook and burst out laughing in a crowded elevator during the scene were Jess visits the boys at home for the first time. SO freaking funny! I loved this one, and I’m really looking forward to more adventures with the Winston boys.

4.5 stars.

Note – the audiobook version of this book is fantastic! The two narrators put just the right amount of personality into the characters, and I could see it all play out in my head as I was listening which I think made the whole thing even funnier. I highly recommend giving it a listen.

The Winston Brothers

Everyone in Green Valley, Tennessee knows that the six bearded Winston brothers have been imbued with an unfair share of charm and charisma… and are prone to mischief.