Thursday, February 24

Audiobook Review: Grin and Beard It by Penny Reid




Author: Penny Reid
Narrator: Chris Brinkley, Cielo Camargo
Title: Grin and Beard It
(Winston Brothers #2)
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Format: Audiobook
Published:  March 21st 2016
Where I got It: Audible 

Summary: 
Sienna Diaz is everyone’s favorite “fat” funny lady. The movie studio executives can’t explain it, but her films are out-grossing all the fit and trim headliners and Hollywood’s most beautiful elite. The simple truth is, everyone loves plus-sized Sienna.

But she has a problem, she can’t read maps and her sense of direction is almost as bad as her comedic timing is stellar. Therefore, when Sienna’s latest starring role takes her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park she finds herself continually lost while trying to navigate the backroads of Green Valley, Tennessee. Much to her consternation, Sienna’s most frequent savior is a ridiculously handsome, charming, and cheeky Park Ranger by the name of Jethro Winston.

Sienna is accustomed to high levels of man-handsome, so it’s not Jethro’s chiseled features or his perfect physique that make Sienna stutter. It’s his southern charm. And gentlemanly manners. And habit of looking at her too long and too often.

Sienna has successfully navigated the labyrinth of Hollywood heart-throbs. But can she traverse the tenuous trails of Tennessee without losing her head? Or worse, her heart?


Review:
Book 2! I was excited for this one. One...this fits into a couple of my reading challenges. Two...I was curious to see Jethro grow up and man up. He has a lot of making up to do and getting his crap in order. 

Here we follow Sienna and Jethro. Sienna has made a name for herself in Hollywood. She is America's sweetheart. She is everyone's favorite "fat" funny lady. She is funny, sweet, sassy, beautiful...everything you could want. However, she can't read maps and her sense of directions are left to be desired. When her newest role takes her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, she finds herself lost and nearly out of gas. She is saved by the handsome, charming, and cheeky Park Ranger by the name of Jethro Winston who has no idea who she is. Perfect. 

This was just sooo soooo soooooooo sweet. I actually fell in love Jethro. I love Sienna too. Why can't she be real? I would be her biggest fan!!! I would want to become her bestie in real life. She is funny and sassy and just plain adorable. Psssh. I hate Hollywood. A size 14 is considered "fat". Idiots. That is literally the average size for women. >_> 

But yessss these two deserved each other. They were perfect for each other and I could tell from the first moment they talked to each other! The friendship and lust was there right off the bat. The love and getting together took a minute. Lots of communication issues, but they worked it out pretty quickly. I loved that there wasn't any crazy drama that kept them apart. Just the "normal" stuff. Especially because Jethro DOES have a past and he worries about ruining Sienna's career. But they eventually talk it out and strive to make it work. I simply loved it. 

There is some drama in his family too. But...they talk it out. Jethro finally clears the air with one of the brothers. Things aren't perfect yet, but I feel like the family is finally getting over the past and what Jethro had done. Which makes me happy! Forgiveness and love!

I wanted to slap some damned sense into Sienna's sister/manager...especially after that stunt she pulled near the end. Grrrrr. I get you worry for your sister/client, but F off.

Honestly, I do wish we got to see more from Jethro's POV. I felt like 65% of the book was Sienna's. WHICH don't get me wrong...I loveee her, but I would've like it to be more balanced. 


The narrators were fantastic of course!!! They had the same male voice and that made me happy. He is always good. They changed the female narrator to fit better into Sienna's character. That worked for me. She did amazing. 

In the end, I really liked this one. I for sure liked this more than book 1. Don't get me wrong, book 1 was good, but this was better. I loved our mains. I loved the drama and how they resolved the drama. The narrators were on point. My only issue was that the POV was a little off balanced. I would've loved more Jethro parts. Other than that...no issues. I'll give this 4 stars. 


 



Challenge(s):
- #10 for Audiobook challenge
- #9 for Romance Reading Challenge - Actor/Actress






















6 comments:

Melliane said...

I did read the first one a while ago but I should try more.

Carole Rae said...

Sameee. This was so good. I'm happy I decided to try book 2.

Mary Kirkland said...

It's always nice when the subsequent books in a series are better than the first one.

Carole Rae said...

Yes Mary! I agree! It is rare sometimes!

Blodeuedd said...

I can't remember which ones I read, hmmm

Carole Rae said...

I know you read one or two of them!