DR STRANGE BEARD (Winston Brothers #5) PENNY REID

“Like thunderstorms and time, this too shall pass.”

Everyone knows by now how much we absolutely love The Winston Brothers series, as well as Penny Reid. The way in which she writes is so incredibly engaging, expressive and intelligently quirky and eccentric. These brothers have stolen our hearts, as have their individual stories. We loved being back with a family that we feel part of in all their technicolour glory.

‘I loved her and she didn’t love me, but I wasn’t bitter. I didn’t resent her, I didn’t wish her ill. Her happiness mattered to me, it always had. But what could I do? Every time I saw her face, heard her voice — or worse, her laugh – everything I’d wanted resurfaced.’

Roscoe and Simone’s story was complex, at times highly relevant, and each individually emotional. We loved where this journey took us at times and it was great to see areas explored which are not often found in romance novels. We just wish we’d connected with them a bit more on the romantic side; for us, there was a little too much miscommunication and inner musings and not enough talking or exploring what each felt about the past and the present. Although we must stress how much we loved them individually.

‘Memories of solitude don’t clutter the mind. But if I had to be around people, I preferred the company of strangers to long-time acquaintances, and my family’s company over everyone else’s.’

Roscoe has never gotten over the loss of his best friend and his one and only love, Simone. We truly felt the love he had for her and the heartbreak he suffered when she rejected him when he was at his most vulnerable. Roscoe is a man of few words, he’s introspective yet generous with his kindness and loyalty. His vulnerability is immense as far as Simone is concerned. There’s a scene in this book which just had us swooning. Roscoe and puppies, that’s as much as we’ll say!

“How do you know?”
“What?”
“How do you know if a woman has substance? Whether her feelings for you go as deep as your feelings for her?”
“She makes you a priority.”

Simone is a kick arse heroine with a fierce and outgoing personality. She’s strong willed and she truly goes for what she wants. She grew on us after a shaky start, and any doubts we had on her personality and treatment of poor Roscoe faded by the end. So many secrets and deceptions. Who truly ghosted who?!

‘So many emotions swirled within me, but vulnerability struck out as the strongest. It was a strange sort of vulnerability, one I’d never recalled experiencing before. Because instead of making me feel weak, it made me feel powerful.’

As much as we did enjoy Dr Strange Beard, it was not our favourite Winston book. The last thirty or so percent was fabulous though and highly emotional with real heart. This is where the Penny Reid we know and love, shone. For us, one of the things we most loved in this story was Billy, whose book we cannot wait to read!

‘There is no one. There’s never been anyone. There’s only been you.’