Truth or Beard (Winston Brothers, #1)

by Penny Reid

[leelu92]

I didn't want this book to end.  Isn't that endorsement enough for you?  Ha!  While reading Truth or Beard, my husband thought I was crazy, due to all of the "laughing out loud" I was doing.  I also read out loud to him several times- I could not help myself!  The Winston men are completely addictive, every single one of them.

Now that Jessica is back in town, Duane decides that he is going to make his move on her.  Jessica has had a massive crush on his twin brother, Beau for YEARS.  Beau is the sweet one, while Duane has always been the one to drive her nuts by teasing her and giving her a hard time.  In fact, Jessica has always believed that Duane just plain ole didn't like her.  Well, you know what they say about the little boy that was constantly teasing you on the playground?

"See? 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 favorite things to do."

Yep, he's got a crush on you.  Once he decides that he and Jessica need to be together, he vows to make it happen honorably and properly.  Unfortunately, Jessica cannot keep her hands to herself and she makes it very hard for Duane to take things slowly.  Ms. Reid throws in a little bit of suspense plot involving a local MC that several characters have ties to.  I thought this was a great addition to the overall plot because it shed some light on the depth of several characters like Claire (I cannot wait for her book).

I loved the longtime connection that Jessica and Duane have with each other. Even though they've given each other a hard time all of their lives, they have incredible chemistry that screams relationship.  Is the path to a relationship like this one ever smooth?  Not so much.  Duane knows that Jessica wants to travel and he is firmly entrenched in Green Valley with no intention of ever leaving.  He has family and a business and a little bit of trouble that pops up (see MC plot) that he feels ties him to home.  Of course, he does not want to hold her back in any way because he truly does care for her deeply.  I have to say that Duane is completely swoon-worthy.

I'm a little bit of a newcomer to Ms. Reid's books but every one I read, I fall deeper in love with her writing.  I absolutely cannot wait for more from this series!  As if I couldn't have fallen more in love with the whole family, Cletus was one of the most entertaining characters ever written. Ever.

If you love a book with romance and humor with a nice bit of sexytimes thrown in, you'll LOVE Truth or Beard!