BEARD IN MIND (The Winston Brothers #4) by PENNY REID :: REVIEW

Penny Reid -for us- is always like a breath of fresh air when we pick up one of her books. She doesn’t excessively flower her words nor does she soften them. She brings an air of real life –undiluted- into her fiction which will touch many readers’ hearts for their honesty and singularity. Characters who swim against the current, a storyline that mirrors only itself. This is why we love Penny Reid. The beauty is always there and her characters have their own unique mould.

“Unless they’re polished, their colors will fade.”

“Like a person.”

“Pardon?” I returned my gaze to her profile.’

“People need to be polished to be stroked, touched,” her tone was abstract, “and when they’re not polished, their colors fade. They fade, they change, warp become something different.”

We have read every single Winston Brothers book in this series and whilst they’re as different as night and day in many respects, they’re really quite similar in their message. Every character has a specific burden or personal disposition to work through yet whilst a beautiful romance runs through them, the underlying theme always has such depth and realism.

“All people are broken, Shelly. No one is perfect. Some seek help. Some don’t. But no one is ever fixed by another person. We can only work on ourselves.”

We were excited for Beau’s story, who is so much more than just a wonderful and handsome, family loving man. We loved Beau’s character for how he was written and how he always stayed true to himself and his principles. A man whose heart is pure and loving despite the aches and breaks thrown at it. This man is a sunset and a sunrise; constant with such beauty.

‘But Beau is amazing. Being with him is so…effortless. Nothing has ever felt effortless before. And he wants to be with me.’

Without question this was Shelly’s story to tell and it was told in such a vivid yet clinical way that the effect of her words felt like razors in their intensity and honesty. It was a window into a tormented soul who struggles with control and their place in life; adopting coping mechanisms which may confound others yet makes life somewhat liveable for her. These coping mechanisms are stressful and controlling in their own right and makes for devastating reading. However, that is Penny Reid, and for those who stand in judgement of romance readers clearly haven’t picked up a book by this Author.

‘But I have always known –always felt- how embarrassing it is, to be this way. To admit that I can’t touch people without wanting to cut myself, to keep them safe from me, just in case. Because though you say I am not crazy, I know how I sound.’

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and cannot be measured nor compared. We all see beauty differently despite the yardstick so often planted in front of us. For us, real beauty is found through emotions, healing, bravery in suffering and without question can be found where you least expect it or look for it. The beauty of words can never be underestimated, especially when those words are found by that one person whose heart feels their true value.

“You are absolutely vital to me. I want to be just as vital to you. I want to take care of you, let me take care of you. You are my first thought in the morning, and my last thought before I go to sleep.”