Beauty and the Mustache (Knitting in the City, #4; Winston Brothers, #0) in Sharks of Awesome

Jul 01, 2018 Linds rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, adorable, my-emotions, heart-pangs, cute

4.5 stars

Why was this book titled BEAUTY AND THE MUSTACHE? Wouldn't BEAUTY AND THE BEARD make so much more sense?!?! Anyways...

I'm really glad I read this AFTER reading the other Winston Brothers books... I think if I'd read this one first my rating would have been much lower, because there are a LOT of characters introduced, and a lot going on. But, since I adore the Winston brothers, I adored this book. I loved getting to see more backstory with the Winston family, and it was nice to finally r ...more

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Sep 11, 2017 Sarah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, favorites

Why is it not possible to give a book more than 5 stars???? Like why can't it be out of 10? Cause this book would get 11!!! Amazon has been recommending me Penny Reid's books more months but I've ignored them until I joined a romance book club on FB. Recommendations are thrown out like rice at a wedding and so many of these women have recommended her books, especially the Winston Brothers Series. Then when they became available on Kindle Unlimited for a limited time, I knew I had to give them a Why is it not possible to give a book more than 5 stars???? Like why can't it be out of 10? Cause this book would get 11!!! Amazon has been recommending me Penny Reid's books more months but I've ignored them until I joined a romance book club on FB. Recommendations are thrown out like rice at a wedding and so many of these women have recommended her books, especially the Winston Brothers Series. Then when they became available on Kindle Unlimited for a limited time, I knew I had to give them a try!

It does hurt my heart a little bit to start in the middle of series. Beauty and the Mustache is 4th in the Knitting in the City series but the prequel to the Winston Brothers. The Knitting in the City series isn't available on KU so I knew I was starting with the books that I could get for free before buying.

Beauty and the Mustache was SO FLIPPING GOOD, I will pay full price for every single one of Penny Reid's other novels! Her romances are described as "smart romance." I wasn't even sure what that meant when I first heard it. But then I read BatM and I get it! I can't think of a better word to describe it! I loved all the quotes from other writers and poets she used at the beginning of each chapter. And not only was there wonderful metaphors when the heroine, Ashley, was describing her feelings (it's written in 1st person POV) but excellent humor!

Sometimes, when a book is written in 1st person POV, I get lost. I have a hard time keeping up with the other characters and other things that are going on outside the main character's zone. Ms. Reid did a great job still making me feel apart of the whole world and not just Ashley's. Of course our own lives are told from 1st person POV, but when I read a book that way, I want to be able to be involved in the story the same way I am in my own life. This book did that.

I LOVED that Ms. Reid didn't feel compelled to fill this book with foul language and lewd humor. While there was definitely some sex talk and jokes, especially between Ashley and her girlfriends, it was tasteful and not over the top. I can count on my hand one time, the amount of F bombs she used. It was just classy. A class act book!

The love scenes were also very tasteful. There was only one major love scene, about 2/3 of the way through, and a couple other heavy petting scenes, that were more focused on the feelings and emotions of what Ashley was feeling verses the actual act. While it was very clear what was happening, it wasn't overly descriptive when describing body parts and actions. I enjoyed it much more than some other, more descriptive romance novels I've read.

Let's talk about the hero: Andrew 'Drew' Runous. I'm pretty sure Ms. Reid was using Chris Hemsworth from the first Thor movie as a physical template for Drew! Longish blonde hair, blonde beard, steely blue gray eyes, 6'4", muscles galore. But also a PhD, lover of poetry and music. Super smart man who is more comfortable in his own thoughts and has a hard time expressing his emotions. Except of course when it comes to Ashley. He is one of those heroes who expresses his love through actions. And he drops poetry like rain in a storm. It makes Ashley weak in the knees and the only way she knows how to shut him up is to kiss him. But she loves it! I've never really considered book boyfriends before, but if I were gonna start a list, Drew Runous would be at the very top of my list!

Ashley was a great heroine. I very much enjoyed being in her head. And not to mention all her wonderful bearded brothers! I can't wait to read their stories!

If you are hesitant about starting this book, just read it! It's wonderful and funny and smart and sassy and sexy and just darn good! I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys classic romance and big bearded men! ...more

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Sep 17, 2016 Ruth rated it it was amazing

Audio. Totally delightful and philosophical (Nietzsche quotes). A combination fraught with poetry of words and deeds. Sign me up for more!

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Jan 02, 2017 Jenna rated it it was amazing

Love this series!

There's a facebook group that does Reid-Alongs of her books and everyone discusses it together. It's wonderful!

I read this one out of order and I wish I had known better because I feel like some of the personalities and character histories should have been more of a shocking reveal than they were. ...more

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