Grin and Beard It

This has quickly become one of my favorite series.
Jethro's story is the second book in the Winston Brothers series, but the third book overall. Ashley, the only girl in the middle of the six boys has a book in the Knitting in the City series (Beauty and the Mustache) that takes place before the events in Truth or Beard.
These boys, on the outside are the quintessential stereotypical hillbillies. But the more you get to know them, you learn they are intelligent, well read, polite, loyal and protective. Good men, all of them.
Being a good man came late to Jethro. As most young men do, he looked up and idolized his father. But his father was one of the worst. After getting clean of his father and turning his life around, he's tried hard to be the older brother his siblings needed him to be.
Sienna also comes from a large family. She was dubbed “the funny one”. With her curves, and her quick wit, she took her stand-up comedy and turned it into an Oscar winning acting career. Too bad it didn't help with her sense of navigation. Filming her latest movie in the hills of Tennessee she finds herself, completely lost, when Jethro comes to her rescue. It doesn't take long for her to realize he has no clue who she is. Just doing the gentlemanly thing and escorting her to the set.
Both Jethro and Sienna have overcome so much to be where they are now. Sometimes sacrificing the thing, you want the most in the entire is the only to be sure you are truly deserving.
I loved Jethro and Sienna's story. But I was a little disappointed with the ending. I was left with several unanswered questions. What happened with his dad? I know Cletus said he had it covered, but I wanted to know. The same with Claire, what did she finally end up doing? And yes, they have their happily ever after, but I guess I wanted to know the logistics of it. She lives and works out of California, he Tennessee. How are they going to make that work? I finished the book and it felt unfinished; I wanted the details.
That being said, I will continue reading. Cletus is up next; I can't wait to get inside his head.

AUDIO GOODNESSAll the charm my heart desired, a capable man, a woman who is unabashedly herself, more of Cletus! [a:Chris Brinkley 8531381 Chris Brinkley https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and [a:Cielo Camargo 16870625 Cielo Camargo https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] deliver [a:Penny Reid 5997227 Penny Reid https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1548811001p2/5997227.jpg]'s low-angst, lighthearted but not fluffy story. I loved how Sienna owns her physical self and her sexuality. How she's a Latina devoid of oft trod hardship origin story and socially conservative parents. Very refreshing. I was also more than a little in love with Jethro and his capable hands. Beyond attractive. Cletus with his lists, practicality, and deviousness were the icing on this goodness cake.

“Business as usual” with a Winston Brothers book: I loved the characters, including the supporting cast (Dave!), and couldn't help rooting for them (except for Tom, of course :-p). I loved the drama bits of the story as well as the happy end, I laughed out loud, and it still hit me right in the feelz.

I know this was about Jethro and Sienna, but this made me love Cletus a whole lot.

Jethro was always a strong and silent older brother, but this just gave him so much depth and new beginnings.

He came upon a very lost Sienna trying to find her way up the mountains, but ended up finding his forever.

Eh. This was fine! The meet-cute was adorable, but also gooey Instalove, and “forbidden love” that didn't really have the stakes it could have, and the Latina rep felt mostly like an afterthought. The audio was also fine, but the narrators' Southern accents started to grate on me after a while. 2.5 stars.