Beauty and the Mustache

A Philosophical Romance, Knitting in the City, Volume 4

By: Penny Reid

Narrated by: Joy Nash

Length: 12 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

This is a full-length novel, the fourth book in the Knitting in the City series.

There are three things you need to know about Ashley Winston: 1) She has six brothers and they all have beards, 2) She is a reader, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Former beauty queen Ashley Winston’s preferred coping strategy is escapism. She escaped her Tennessee small town, loathsome father, and six brothers eight years ago. Now she escapes life daily via her Amazon kindle one-click addiction.

However, when a family tragedy forces her to return home, Ashley can’t escape the notice of Drew Runous - local Game Warden, bear wrestler, philosopher, and everyone’s favorite guy. Drew’s irksome philosophizing in particular makes Ashley want to run for the skyscrapers, especially since he can’t seem to keep his exasperating opinions - or his soulful poetry, steadfast support, and delightful hands - to himself. Pretty soon the girl who wanted nothing more than the escape of the big city finds she’s lost her heart in small town Tennessee.

©2014 Cipher-Naught (P)2022 Cipher-Naught

I'm falling in love everytime

I love the book but I love the audiobook even more. Joy Nash made Ashley, Drew, and the brothers come alive and so in character. I have trouble differentiating which brother is talking since they sound the same sometimes. I have probably played this more than 5 times already because it helps me get through the mundane routine of lab research. It makes me sigh, laugh, blush, and cry so much, which to me signifies a great book (I bought the paperback, ebook, and audiobook). I read all the books and this one was my first audiobook. Currently collecting all of Penny Reid books and audiobooks.

Well butter my biscuit!

What did you love best about Beauty and the Mustache?

I loved the whitty humor in the midst of sorrow. Ashley and Dean are a fantastic couple whose banter back and forth were great! I loved the knitting group, they are an amazing set of friends. And her brothers! Loved them all and their redneck names.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beauty and the Mustache?

I can't say without giving away a major plot!

Which character – as performed by Joy Nash – was your favorite?

She did amazing with Ashley, the southern charm and accent she gave really made her come alive and made you want to be her friend.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Again, can't say without giving away the story.

Any additional comments?

I am going to read the other 2 books that I missed in this series.

I’m pretty sure Joy Nash should read ALL the books.

After listening to this book twice I decided to write a review. This narrator just melts me with her voice. I’ve already read this book and loved it. I didn’t think I could love it more, but this is one of those times when a performance really makes it special. Nash gives you the Tennessee accent in a way that makes you want to move there. Ashley is gorgeous and sexy and smart and funny. And I’m convinced while listening that she will always get the guy. However they are kept apart while she cares for her mother. It is that delicious kind of hurt that keeps you awake all night. And as the mystery of what is going on is unveiled, you see how amazing Drew is. What a delicious romance. This will always go on my re-read and re-listen list.

Wonderful!!

This story is about the relationship between Ashley and Drew. It is about family and friends, life and death. It made me laugh out loud and it also made me cry,

The narration by Joy Nash was great!
Highly recommend!!

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE POETRY

Beautiful modern day romance. This is very different but still that funny edge. Penny is fabulous and the narrator is phenomenal.

a feel good story

sometimes you never know what you're going to get when you pick a book you know nothing about. While on spring break I chose this book to listen to while enduring a long car ride. I have to admit the characters were quick to love and easy to laugh with. Ashley & her family have been through so many hard times & are still enduring a heartbreaking reality. Knowing that during difficult times there is still good that falls upon them as they get together makes for a wonderful read/listen as we escape from our own realities, just for a short time. Andrew is a godsend to this family & is the peace that calms the storm..especially Ashley's!

Just alright

This book was A LOT longer than needed to be. The story was way too drawn out and Ashley and Drew definitely annoyed me with their lack of talking. The reader was a little too much with the southern accent and when she tries to do the male voice it is not good. Get the male actor!

Where to begin what I thought....

If you could sum up Beauty and the Mustache in three words, what would they be?

Lovely, funny, sexy

2 words that you will want from your partner after you read this book are FIELD NOTES.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Beauty and the Mustache?

So many...but I the first scene I thought of was when Ashley told Drew "I am not your problem anymore." My heart sank. Loved it!!!

Have you listened to any of Joy Nash’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to anything by Joy Nash before, but she did a great job.

Any additional comments?

I think was expecting more drama from Ashley's father.

I started this book a little bored and was just about to put it on hold or in other words DNF it, but I am glad I stuck with it. After about chapter 5, I really got into it. I ended up really enjoying. There was not a lot of sex scenes and the intimate scenes were hot.

All the feels!

This story evoked every emotion. I laughed, cried, and swooned. This is a love story after my own heart with both the hero and heroine displaying a love of words. She loves books, and he loves poetry, and I loved it all so much! This author really has a mastery of words, right down to how she uses them in speech to fit the personality of her characters. Both her inner monologues and the dialogues are phenomenal. The narrator also did a great job with her delivery and of matching her voices to the personalities of the characters, and her male voices are hot! She has the ability to pitch her voice low and sexy. Of course, she used that one for Drew, since he is the hero. Considering how many men she had to voice, she did an impressive job making them all sound different.

I loved the love story, but I also enjoyed how Ashley reconnected with her brothers. It really pulled at my heartstrings and made me smile. Her relationship with her mother was beautiful, and that was the part of the story that made me cry. I did love how that lady outwitted her awful husband. I liked how everything came together as the story progressed. Nothing felt forced or contrived. Ashley's family and friends got in her business, but the people you're closest to often do that. She did speak up, though, when she'd had enough. I appreciated the realism in one passage in particular when her friendships started to get strained. Even the best of friends become irritated with each other sometimes, but the ones that last find a way to get back on track. People are not perfect, and neither are relationships.

This brings me to the romance. I have to give the author credit for making it happen believably under such circumstances. Part of that involved giving the heroine the right hero. Drew's connection to her family helped a lot in this scenario. It paved the way for her to trust him. The pacing was also perfect. If it had happened too fast, it would have had no foundation. Of course, there was still a perfectly understandable element of escapism and seeking comfort from grief, but the conversations they had added something deeper. Drew's philosophy wasn't just thrown in as an attempt to give him depth. It made sense in the context of his backstory. The last chapter from his point of view absolutely blew me away. It really felt like a glimpse into the raw, unfiltered thoughts of an artistic, complicated man. Excellent writing!

love this series

This series is my first introduction to Penny Rein. I love the variety in each story and the heart wrenching twists and turns. The books and narrators pair to so well to make me laugh, cry, get angry, and celebrate each moment in the story.