Today (the day you may read this) is my birthday, but honestly? I feel like I'm giving you the gift. I already got one from Ms. Reid because this effing book is fanfreakingtastic, with a capital EFF.
This series has been on my radar for MONTHS. MONTHS. I remember seeing Ms. Reid at Book Bash in June and thinking, "I need to read those books." So, I came in on book 4. I regret nothing. NOTHING. (Well, maybe the fact that it took me this long to get to this series)
See, I have a thing for funny and smart books written by super witty/snarky authors. Let me clarify the snarky part. There is a certain amount and kind of snark that I appreciate. Some authors write snarky characters for shits and giggles and to add an OTT edge to a book or characters. I am not a fan of that kind of snark. Ms. Reid's snark is my kind of snark, it's the kind of stuff I hear my friends saying and that makes me laugh my ass off. As for the intelligent stuff? How about a hot Viking guy quoting Nietzsche? And poetry? Side note: Believe it not, I was an English education major for awhile in college and I have a huge weak spot for poetry. HUGE. Walt Whitman totally "melts the butter" off my biscuit. Drew melted my resolve and gave me hot flashes. He was just so delicious. Quiet, caring and protective of the whole Winston family. I loved him.
Ashley was a trip. I truly enjoyed her character and she had me laughing from the first few pages of the book. You are out of your ever lovin' mind if you aren't laughing your ass off within 1%. I will come hunt you down and it will NOT be pretty.
The Winston Brothers. Six brothers and six beards. Did I mention that I have a thing for beards?
See? This is the Mr. and he has a beard and there is no shaving of the beard allowed. Ever. (And despite the gray in the beard, he is actually a little younger than me.)
Those six brothers have a series all their own coming out in 2015 and I cannot wait! Winston Brothers series. As I read this book, I used a graphic that had pics of the brothers for reference. I had my Kindle in my lap and my iPad next to me, so whenever a brother spoke, I had a visual reference and I'm sharing it with you. HERE YOU GO. (You can thank me later for that.)
Oh and thank the baby Jesus for an author that can write southern characters that do not sound like uneducated rednecks or characters from Gone With the Wind.
I wish that this new breed of author would get more attention for the quality of their work. Penny Reid, you are officially on my list of badass, funny and intelligent writers. I don't think I'll be able to read the other books fast enough.