Series: Winston Brothers #5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: July 30th 2018
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review
Hunches, horse races, and heartbreak
Ten years after Simone Payton broke his heart, all Roscoe Winston wants is a doughnut. He’d also like to forget her entirely, but that’s never going to happen. Roscoe Winston remembers everything—every look, every word, every single unrequited second—and the last thing he needs is another memory of Simone.
Unfortunately, after one chance encounter, Simone keeps popping up everywhere he happens to be . . .
Ten years after Roscoe Winston dropped out of her life, all Simone Payton wants is to exploit him. She’d also like some answers from her former best friend about why he ghosted her, but if she never gets those answers, that’s a-okay. Simone let go of the past a long time ago. Seriously, she has. She totally, totally has. She is definitely not still thinking about Roscoe. Nope. She’s more than happy to forget he exists.
But first, she needs just one teeny-tiny favor . . .
With each new Winston Brother book, I fall more in love with this fascinating cast of characters Penny Reid has created. This latest installment is about the youngest of the Winston boys, Roscoe. He’s a vet, basically has photographic memory (he can remember memories/events word for word), and… has always been in unrequited love with his childhood friend. But Dr. Strange Beard is so much more than childhood friends reconnecting – it also features racial issues that are so prevalent in today’s world. Though this isn’t my favorite Winston Brother novel, I loved Roscoe and Simone, and highly recommend their story if you want to read something different.
There is no one.
There’s never been anyone.
There’s only been you.
Ten years after Roscoe cut all ties and communication with his best friend Simone, she’s back in town, and as much as he tries to avoid her, he can’t. Simone makes it her mission to get close to Roscoe again, but not for the reason you’d think. She’s never stopped wondering why Roscoe dropped her a decade before and is determined to find out. But as she learns how kind-hearted, protective, sensitive, and not to mention gorgeous he is, she can’t help but fall for him.
Loving Roscoe wasn’t a hunch, or a hypothesis, or a theory.
I loved Roscoe, and that was a law.
Roscoe and Simone were a breath of fresh air for me. We have a sensitive hero who loves the heroine with all his heart and a headstrong heroine who thinks that love is not for her. I loved how these two learn to be vulnerable with each other. They learn to tackle issues together, lean on each other, and grow in a beautiful way that wasn’t possible when they were apart. And I am so impressed with the way the author chose to portray racism and Simone’s struggles throughout the book. It was honest and real, and having sensitivity readers for this aspect of the book certainly helped.
“You are in my heart. You have shaped my soul. Nothing–nothing–will change that for me.”
I can never get enough of Penny Reid’s characters. Each one is so utterly unique and amazing in his/her own way, and Simone and Roscoe were no different! If you like Penny’s books, this one’s a must read. Now I’m eagerly awaiting the next and final Winston Brothers book, which I feel will end up being my favorite (BILLY!!!).
Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.
Reading Order: Winston Brothers series
#1 ~ Truth or Beard: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Grin and Beard It: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Beard Science: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Beard in Mind: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Dr. Strange Beard: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Beard With Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#7 ~ Beard Necessities: Ebook • Goodreads (Nov. 4, 2019)
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Awesome review!! Sounds good too!! Shared on all my socials!!
I love these covers! I need to get around to reading them.