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mccorbin's review against another edition
5.0
I honestly, in my small-minded self, thought that I was going to love each character the same. That I was going to love their stories the same. And this was all because Penny Reid writes on only one level…excellence. And I found that I was wrong.
Yes, Penny Reid still writes on only one level…excellence – I am not wrong about that. I am wrong about the fact that I finally found a favorite couple and a favorite story; Ashley and Drew. I wasn’t expecting them to be my favorite but it swiftly happened and now I am completely at loss with my emotions.
Ashley left Tennessee years ago because of her father, because of her brothers, and because she didn’t want to marry a mountain man. She made a life for herself in Chicago, she found a knitting group, and she made a home. But now she is returning because her mother is sick and needs her (go ahead, start crying now because you won’t stop.) When she returns, she finds that her brothers have grown up, gotten jobs, and do not hold her down and spit in her mouth anymore but she is still weary of them. And her brothers have also brought another threat, Drew. Very quiet, very stoic, very giving but never taking, very handsome and knowledgeable kind of guy. I was smitten. I was smitten the first scene that he was in and I was hooked on to him for the rest of the book. And while this new threat, Drew, revs into Ashley’s life within the first pages and you slowly get to see the growth of his character, who he truly is, how he truly feels, and the beauty that surrounds him, you really do not get him until the last few chapters. You get glimpses of his poetic words and feelings but never really get the whole package until the end and all that wait is totally worth it
.
But this story isn’t about just Ashley and Drew. It is about Ashley and her brothers; the bond that was broken and how it starts to reform. It is about Ashley and her mother; the everlasting bond that is secure in life and death. And it is just about Ashley and how she grows from all these experiences.
I loved the two main characters. I loved the story behind them. I loved the brothers. I loved her momma. I loved that my heart broke into thousands of pieces because I felt the loss that Ashley felt. I loved the small little bits of wisdom that Bethany left Ashley during her lucid times. I loved the quick scenes that Ashley had with each brother and how she realized that they were not as bad as she thought, in fact, they were just boys when she left but now they were men who loved her. And I loved our meddling knitting group and the constant need to meddle.
Oh, and of course Penny provides an excerpt from one of my all time favorite books - North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It is one of my favorite scenes in Gaskell's book and the movie and one of my favorite scenes in Penny's book. If you haven't read North & South, please do. It is most wonderful (how about that…a book review inside of a book review.) And now that I think about it, Mr. Thornton (from North & South) is very much like Drew. Never verbal with his wants and love but communicates through his eyes and actions. *multiple deep sighs*
The best book in the series so far by my account. I can’t wait to start the next…
Yes, Penny Reid still writes on only one level…excellence – I am not wrong about that. I am wrong about the fact that I finally found a favorite couple and a favorite story; Ashley and Drew. I wasn’t expecting them to be my favorite but it swiftly happened and now I am completely at loss with my emotions.
Ashley left Tennessee years ago because of her father, because of her brothers, and because she didn’t want to marry a mountain man. She made a life for herself in Chicago, she found a knitting group, and she made a home. But now she is returning because her mother is sick and needs her (go ahead, start crying now because you won’t stop.) When she returns, she finds that her brothers have grown up, gotten jobs, and do not hold her down and spit in her mouth anymore but she is still weary of them. And her brothers have also brought another threat, Drew. Very quiet, very stoic, very giving but never taking, very handsome and knowledgeable kind of guy. I was smitten. I was smitten the first scene that he was in and I was hooked on to him for the rest of the book. And while this new threat, Drew, revs into Ashley’s life within the first pages and you slowly get to see the growth of his character, who he truly is, how he truly feels, and the beauty that surrounds him, you really do not get him until the last few chapters. You get glimpses of his poetic words and feelings but never really get the whole package until the end and all that wait is totally worth it
.
But this story isn’t about just Ashley and Drew. It is about Ashley and her brothers; the bond that was broken and how it starts to reform. It is about Ashley and her mother; the everlasting bond that is secure in life and death. And it is just about Ashley and how she grows from all these experiences.
I loved the two main characters. I loved the story behind them. I loved the brothers. I loved her momma. I loved that my heart broke into thousands of pieces because I felt the loss that Ashley felt. I loved the small little bits of wisdom that Bethany left Ashley during her lucid times. I loved the quick scenes that Ashley had with each brother and how she realized that they were not as bad as she thought, in fact, they were just boys when she left but now they were men who loved her. And I loved our meddling knitting group and the constant need to meddle.
Oh, and of course Penny provides an excerpt from one of my all time favorite books - North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It is one of my favorite scenes in Gaskell's book and the movie and one of my favorite scenes in Penny's book. If you haven't read North & South, please do. It is most wonderful (how about that…a book review inside of a book review.) And now that I think about it, Mr. Thornton (from North & South) is very much like Drew. Never verbal with his wants and love but communicates through his eyes and actions. *multiple deep sighs*
The best book in the series so far by my account. I can’t wait to start the next…
beeppeep's review against another edition
5.0
Another winner! This series just gets better and better. Can't wait for the Ninja! I've never appreciated beards much before, but this book may have elicited an affinity for them! I loved discovering punchy Ashley's soft side. Dr.Ruinous is definitely the epitome of a man's man with the heart of a poet. Bravo for portraying a selfless, strong man - even though that selflessness drove me crazy - an excellent reflection of Ashley. Thank you again, Penny Reid. I selfishly adore your insomnia and your family for sharing you with your career and your writing. You are amazeballs!
bearskybear's review against another edition
3.0
Good but..
Such a trivial thing but Ashley's career was referred to in very odd and opaque ways. Was she a nurse or an ARNP. She was referred to as an ARNP but everything that was written about her job was more aligned with a bedside nurse. Also I Red this after reading the other Winston bros books and the descriptions of her brothers are very juvenile even after she gets to know them again especially in comparison to how they're portrayed in their own stories which take place not long after this story occurs.
Such a trivial thing but Ashley's career was referred to in very odd and opaque ways. Was she a nurse or an ARNP. She was referred to as an ARNP but everything that was written about her job was more aligned with a bedside nurse. Also I Red this after reading the other Winston bros books and the descriptions of her brothers are very juvenile even after she gets to know them again especially in comparison to how they're portrayed in their own stories which take place not long after this story occurs.
ashkwtf's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. It was beautiful. I cried. For the first time ever, I was tempted to highlight text in a romance novel.
danielle_readsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
4
“Don’t you understand I need you to need me? How can I give, if you won’t take?”
This BOOK!!!! I’m already obsessed with this family, but Ashley’s book hurt me so good. Seeing the family from the beginning, seeing their mom, their grief it all hurt me to my core. And her and Drew are absolutely beautiful together. Their poems, their love was a beautiful love story. Starting the series from the beginning was the right choice.
“Don’t you understand I need you to need me? How can I give, if you won’t take?”
This BOOK!!!! I’m already obsessed with this family, but Ashley’s book hurt me so good. Seeing the family from the beginning, seeing their mom, their grief it all hurt me to my core. And her and Drew are absolutely beautiful together. Their poems, their love was a beautiful love story. Starting the series from the beginning was the right choice.
anasatticbookblog's review against another edition
4.0
Beauty and the Mustache (Knitting in the City book 4) by Penny Reid
Contemporary Romance, Can stand alone.
I have been wanting to read more of Penny's books since Neanderthal meets Human, but my reading schedule just didn't allow it. But when Beauty and the Mustache came out, and Penny said it could stand alone, I did something I rarely do, I skipped 2 books in the series and read this. It made me want to read the other two so much more. And I think this BaTM would have been a lot better had I read the other two. Other than Janie, I didn't remember all the girls from knitting night, and I think that if I had Ashley's story before she came to Tennessee I would have appreciated the story even more.
No doubt about it, Penny is a a phenomenal writer, and her writing is different from most authors I read, less dirty and way smarter. But Penny makes it seem effortless. Beauty and the Mustache was not what I was expecting. I was looking for more of the smart, quirky nerd humor from Neanderthal, but I got a much more serious, kind of sad, but super romantic tale, while still getting a good dose of the Penny funny quirkiness.
Ashley has come home from her nursing job in Chicago to small town Tennessee to care for her ailing mom. She hasn't been home in 8 years, and her 6 hot, bearded hillbilly brothers who used to torture her are still living home with mom. She hasn't kept up with any of them, but she talks to her mom every day. After arriving in the middle of the night, she is awakened at dawn the next morning to her brothers making a huge racket in the garage. Before even looking around, she storms into the garage, reaches into the car, and grabs the nipple of the person revving the engine loudly...assuming it's her brother Cletus. But it wasn't Cletus that grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Gray-blue eyes, almost silver, held mine in a vice grip of anger and surprise. I felt an electric bolt, like I’d been tazered in the stomach. Other than a very slight shadow of wonder, he wore an expression that would have made a thunderstorm proud.
As well, he was so ruggedly sexy I’m sure my mouth fell open to protest the unfairness of his existence. Luckily, no sound emerged. I was too busy oscillating between stunned, mortified, and turned on. This man was definitely not one of my brothers."
It sure wasn't. It was Drew Runous, her brother's boss, and game warden for the area. Drew, the quiet genius who was suddenly a huge part of her family, but they had never heard of each other. He was always around--her brother's and her mother's best friend. He took care of her family, and she had never even heard of him.
Drew didn't quite fit with her brothers, he was a poet, and quoted Nietzsche at every opportunity. In fact, each chapter began with a great quote. He looks at Ashley like he hates her, but you know it's just the opposite. But Ashley isn't there for romance. Her mother is dying, and Ash needs to spend every minute of her last few weeks with her. Also, Ash only attracts assholes, so she assumes Drew is one.
“Of course I’ve noticed ! How could I not? He’s like a Viking cowboy.”
“Does he give you zings in your things?” Sandra asked this question using her best serious face.
I groaned. “Yes, if that means what I think it means, which means he’s bad news. I have the uncanny ability to attract only users and assholes..."
Ashley is a romance novel lover, and I loved the way she described her love of reading and why. And I could totally relate to her love for the escape.
"What I wanted to do was hide in my room with my latest novel and escape into a world without bearded, masturbating hillbillies, and a world where my beloved mother wasn’t dying."
While there were some amazing and beautiful moments, the book felt a little long for me and dragged at times, despite the many funny lines. It's hard to be that funny when a wonderful woman is dying throughout the whole book.
Drew was an amazing man. Strong and stoic, romantic and poetic, tough and resourceful. The poetry woven into the story was wonderful, and Drew was totally swoon-worthy.
"Since I first laid eyes on you and felt sorry for every beautiful thing that was made no longer resplendent— nullified by your being.”
Wow. Seriously, this guy is just perfect. Well, not really. In fact, all of the characters are perfectly flawed, and honestly I loved them all.
Likes:
- •Funny and quirky, I laughed out loud numerous times. The brothers are hysterical.
- •Drew is amazing.
- •I love Ashley, what a great character.
- •I fell in love with Ashley's mom.
- •Her friends are also great, and some of the best moments are when the knitting group is together. If I knew them all from previous books, I would have loved them even more.
- •The quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
- •I actually felt like I learned while reading this.
- •Incredible writing that seems effortless.
- •The mixture of heavy sorrow and light moments that lighten it up just in time.
- •Great epilogue.
Dislikes:
- •I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read the others in the series first.
- •It felt a little long and draggy at parts, and the book took me more than triple the time it takes for me to normally read a book.
Rating: 4.25 stars (would have been higher if I read the others), 3.75 Heat.
Beauty and the Mustache is a superb example of amazing, smart, romantic writing. There was good sex, but not a ridiculous amount. There were laughs and sorrow, but at the heart, there was a slow-building, pretty epic romance. I love the 6 brothers, and I would really enjoy a spin-off series about them. I must say though, I think that this book would have been a 5 star read for me if I had read the rest of the series. I think I would have been more patient with a book when I have that much time invested in the series already. Overall I recommend this book, but even more so, I recommend the series, especially if you like smart, quirky comedy and romance.
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tashas_books's review against another edition
4.0
This was pretty good, but I didn't like it as much as the others in the series. The thing I love the most about Penny Reid's books are the characters, but in this one, the MCs didn't seem as vivid as her other characters. But I loved the Winston brothers and look forward to reading their books.
havenf's review against another edition
5.0
I e really enjoyed this series and have a few more left, but this is my favorite thus far. I full on belly laughed multiple times, and of course navigated all the other emotions as well.