5 Smooches
Synopsis
There are three things you need to know about Ashley Winston: 1) She has six brothers and they all have beards, 2) She is a reader, and 3) She knows how to knit.
Former beauty queen, Ashley Winston’s preferred coping strategy is escapism. She escaped her Tennessee small town, loathsome father, and six brothers eight years ago. Now she escapes life daily via her Amazon kindle one-click addiction. However, when a family tragedy forces her to return home, Ashley can’t escape the notice of Drew Runous— local Game Warden, reclusive mountain man, bear wrestler, philosopher, and everyone’s favorite guy. Drew’s irksome philosophizing in particular makes Ashley want to run for the skyscrapers, especially since he can’t seem to keep his exasperating opinions— or his soulful poetry, steadfast support, and delightful hands— to himself. Pretty soon the girl who wanted nothing more than the escape of the big city finds she’s lost her heart in small town Tennessee.
This is a full-length novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the fourth book in the ‘Knitting in the City’ series.
Review
“As well, he was so ruggedly sexy I’m sure my mouth fell open to protest the unfairness of his existence. Luckily, no sound emerged. I was too busy oscillating between stunned, mortified, and turned on.”
It is absolutely no secret that I LOVE the Knitting in the City series by Penny Reid and when I received Beauty and the Mustache I had no doubt in my mind that I would love this as much. I was wrong, so wrong! I LOVED IT SO MUCH MORE! Penny writes a smart independent, witty heroine who still comes across as vulureable when needed. While these super strong smart women might not be for everyone they are most definitely for me! Not to mention how drool worthy her men are too (and there are a ton of men in this boo! lol!)
“Uh,” he cleared his throat, “Tuesday mornings are Beau’s time slot.”
When Ashley’s mom gets sick she does something she hadn’t planned on doing for a very, very, very long time . . . she comes home to Tennesse and her 6 very manly and rugged brothers! The Winston Boys are quickly becoming men that I need more of in my life. If I could be granted one wish today it would be for these loving yet hilarious men to each get their own book! For me, BatM was more somber and serious in a lot of ways than the previous books. The issues Ashley has to deal with are difficult and heart breaking. On top of all that she is not in a place (physically and emotionally) to look for love or any kind of relationship! But isn’t that when one always seems to find you!
“Sugar, I’d be honored to catch you anytime you’d like to fall.”
In Tennessee there is one man too many hanging around her house, Drew. Her brother’s boss and her mom’s confidant and friend. But to her Drew is somewhat cold and distant. This is not what she needs when her life is falling apart! Drew is scary to her, he is rugged and super handsome and a distraction. This is a time when she needs to focus on healing her relationship with her brothers and spending valuable time with her mom, but Drew is happy to just fill in the gaps and for that I loved him desperately!
I never knew how much I wanted a hairy bearded man till I read Beauty and the Mustache! But oh boy I feel like I desperately need one in my life now! I don’t want to finish this review without also mentioning that the dynamic among the knitting group makes me yearn for that kind of a relationship with a group of girls. But mostly above all I need a Sandra and I need to start working on making my own Spank Naughty List!
“He sought to soothe me, but I would have none of softness. I wanted the storm. I needed a downpour.”
Penny’s writing is magical! There is just no other way to describe it! She perfectly blends the best wit I have read in a book with a story I can’t put down! On top of all that she has made me fall in love with every man she writes. I cannot recommend this whole series but as I have said with each book before Beauty and the Mustache is most definitely my absolute favorite!!! (BTW this is most definitely a standalone but please read them all cause they are amazeballs)
~miranda
Buy It Now
“Then, In that moment, I finally figured out what kind of handsome he was. He was fiction-handsome. Like, romance novel handsome. But not clean cut (billionaire) alpha male or even the tattooed (billionaire) bad boy archetype. He was the bodice ripper, Scottish highlander or Viking conqueror, historical romance kind; an unshaven, lion wrestling, mountain man recluse, toss you over his shoulder and plunder your goodies kind of handsome.”
“Meanwhile, there was a wild boar of need within me; one that he’d awakened with his quick silver eyes, poetic words, velvet baritone, heroic deeds, and expertly choreographed kisses. He’d left me to drown in want.”
