Dr. Strange Beard

[b:Dr. Strange Beard 30315676 Dr. Strange Beard (Winston Brothers, #5) Penny Reid https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528200187l/30315676.SY75.jpg 50803831]My goodness! Penny Reid has taken Green Valley fans on one hell of a roller coaster ride with this penultimate installment of the Winston Brothers clan. I felt both like I was coming home again to a cozy, comfortable place in my heart, and at the same time discovering new hidden depths to characters I thought I already knew.What is masterful about this book is whether you are a fan of the series or picking this one up on a whim, the story is easily read as a standalone but it also advances an ongoing storyline that has been developing since book one in this series. The story highlights the difficult and unfair reality many, many individuals in this county face every day while at the same time weaving a powerful and compelling work of fiction.Dr. Strange Beard follows the youngest brother Roscoe, now a practicing veterinarian and age 26, but we still get lots of glimpses of many familiar townsfolk, a few new ones, and of course all the Winston siblings and their significant others. This story takes place nearly 5 years after the end of book 4. We get a satisfying summary of what has been keeping the Winston's busy over the last half-decade.We also get glimpses further into the past. Roscoe and Simone were best friends when they were kids but it has been a decade since they have spoken.Simone is a delightful character. She is strong, smart, and unwaveringly pragmatic. I would love to read book after book of Simone's musings. Roscoe...oh Roscoe, he is at once charming when he wants to be and his depth of feeling is heartbreaking. All this without really being angsty. It is quite an impressive feat to read. What I would also love to see at some point no rush is a book about their parents. Claps. The next book comes out September 16th can't come soon enough.