Engagement and Espionage

Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries #1

by Penny Reid

Jennifer Sylvester made her deal with the devil . . . and now they’re engaged!

But all is not well in Green Valley. A chicken choker is on the loose, 61 dead birds most "fowl" need plucking, and no time remains for Jennifer and her devilish fiancé. Desperate to find a spare moment together, Jenn and Cletus’s attempts to reconnect are thwarted by one seemingly coincidental disaster after another. It’s not long before Cletus and Jenn see a pattern emerge and the truth becomes clear.
Sabotage!
Will an undercover mission unmask the culprit? Or are these love-birds totally plucked?

'Engagement and Espionage' is the first book in the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries series, is a full-length cozy mystery, and is a spin-off of Penny Reid's Winston Brothers series. This novel is best read after 'Beard Science,' Winston Brothers #3.

Genres: Romance, Mystery, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2020

About the author

Sign up for the newsletter of awesome: www.pennyreid.ninja/newsletter

Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.

FOLLOW PENNY:
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Reviews

[Penny Reid]

** NOW AVAILABLE **
AHHHH! It’s here!! You can now read ‘Engagement and Espionage’ far and wide. I’m so excited to launch this spin-off series. Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries…sorry, I had to take a breath there…is part small-town romance, part cozy mystery, and basically all shenanigans. I hope you love it!! But it’s okay if you don’t. TODAY IS THE DAY!

** Engagement and Espionage LINKS **
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/36zyaSS
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2r4JPc1
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2oDqOfX
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2N9gUMg
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2PFglvs
Nook: http://bit.ly/36p4ace
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2WBazfH
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2qneRLF
Paperback: https://amzn.to/36zyaSS
Add to your shelf on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2JI9ldr

** BLURB **
This book is best read after reading ‘Beard Science’, Winston Brothers Book 3

Jennifer Sylvester made her deal with the devil . . . and now they’re engaged!

But all is not well in Green Valley. A chicken choker is on the loose, 61 dead birds most “fowl” need plucking, and no time remains for Jennifer and her devilish fiancé. Desperate to find a spare moment together, Jenn and Cletus’s attempts to reconnect are thwarted by one seemingly coincidental disaster after another. It’s not long before Cletus and Jenn see a pattern emerge and the truth becomes clear.
Sabotage!
Will an undercover mission unmask the culprit? Or are these love-birds totally plucked?

‘Engagement and Espionage’ is the first book in the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries series, is a full-length cozy mystery, and is a spin-off of Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers series. This novel is best read after ‘Beard Science,’ Winston Brothers #3.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars



Engagement and Espionage is the first book in Penny Reid’s new cozy mystery series and I couldn’t wait to read it because, more Cletus and Jenn!

This story takes place after Beard Science, which is one of my favorite Winston Brothers books. It’s a little bit of Cletus and Jenn’s relationship development, a little bit of Jenn standing up to her mom and setting boundaries, and a lot of the mystery in Green Valley. Who’s killing the chickens or burning the bee hives? It seems to be one bad thing after another and they all seem to be connected to Jenn’s bakery.

I will forever love Cletus and Jenn and I’ll definitely pick up the next book in this series to get more of them. However, not sure if the cozy mystery genre is my niche. I would have loved a little less mystery and a little more romance. Penny Reid’s writing is fantastic and I would recommend this to anyone who loves the Winston Brothers like me!

[Helen 2.0 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine you're on a long walk through fresh falling snow, leaving quickly vanishing prints in your path...then you step into your log cabin and strip off all the outer layers, dropping into a plush lounge chair warmed by the crackling fire where a steaming mug of herbal tea waits for you...

That's about how it feels to read this book! Cozy, warm, simple but exquisite.

Cletus and Jenn aren't actually my favorite Winston Brothers couple—Beau and Shelly just won that spot this week—but they’re a close second. Their relationship evolves in a sweet but also suspenseful way as they work out how to be successful as a couple. I don’t usually like reading about pre-established relationships because the falling in love part is the fun part, but Penny Reid proved me wrong here.

The absolute best part of Engagement & Espionage is the portrayal of Jenn’s fraught relationship with her over-emotional, at times manipulative, but well-meaning mother. The nuances of attempting to salvage a relationship with an emotionally immature parent aren’t explored nearly as much as they should be in this genre.

Often it’s portrayed as black or white—the mother is an evil hag forever, or perhaps she sees the error in her ways and suddenly transforms into a saint. But that’s not how these things work in real life. When you love someone who doesn’t yet know how to love you back in a healthy way, there will always be backslides, fights, troubles, and tears, no matter how hard you try. But ultimately, Jenn and her mom love each other, and that's what keeps them coming back to try again and again.

This was really well done, and I saw a lot of my own troubles with family and setting boundaries reflected in this story. Kudos to Penny Reid.

The mystery aspect is fairly low-key. A nefarious force begins conspiring against Jenn and her mom, attacking the suppliers for their lodge and bakery. Cletus and Jenn get a chance to work together solving the mystery, which tests their relationship as much as it strengthens it. Despite the low-stakes nature of the case, I was invested the entire time and can’t wait to see what new mystery Penny Reid cooks up in Marriage and Murder.

[Phuong ✯ · Rating 4 out of 5]

#0 Beard Science ↠ 5 stars
#1 Engagement and Espionage ↠ 4 stars

"And to all the Cletus and Jenn stans, this book is most definitely 100% for you."

Engagement and Espionage is definitely a love letter from Penny Reid to every single person who wanted more of Cletus and Jennifer story. Therefore, I would highly advise to read it AFTER you've read Beard Science. Even though E&E is the first book of a new series, I don't think it works well as a standalone, because it's the continuance of the couple's story. There are a lot of name dropping that you'll find confusing, if you are not familiar with the Winston family and Green Valley folks.

What can I say being back in Green Valley with Cletus and Jenn besides that it feels like coming home after weeks of backpacking, sleeping in uncomfortable and squeeky 20 bed dorms. There's nothing better than throw yourself on your bed, wrap yourself in your most comfortable blanket and think "there's no better bed than the one i'm laying right now". That's how it feels like. Warm, familiar and home-y.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE being back into Cletus' head. He's one of these characters, if I'd meet him in real life, I'd probably punch him in the face after 5 minutes in his company. But that's when I know, he's going to be one of my favorite fictional characters. Cletus is such an unique, complex and flawed character. I have no other choice than to love him. His mind just works differently. He's cunning, ruthless, selfish, but at the same time he can be the most caring, selfless and brilliant person, especially to those he really cares about. All I can say about Cletus Byron Winston is that he's a paradox and his mind must be experienced. You have to read for yourself, if you REALLY want to know what I mean.

Jennifer Sylvester is the same lovely and selfless woman we got to know from Beard Science. She has such a big heart and I loved seeing her standing up for herself more and more. It was already a big part of her journey through Beard Science, but it just proves that you never stop growing. Sometimes you fall back into old habits and make the same mistakes, but that's okay because these things take time. No one is going to change within a few weeks. I couldn't imagine a better match for Cletus than Jenn.

She breathed a little laugh, stepping closer, her other hand coming to my jaw. "You are one in a million."
"And you are one of a kind."

Jenn and Cletus together have my heart. They are so freaking adorable … my heart, my mind and my soul can't deal with all these cuteness overload. Cletus and Jenn are the definition of "you make me a better person". Cletus thoughts about Jenn are so soft and swoony. There is nothing he wouldn't do for her and I had heart-eyes for them the entire time. Cletus and Jenn constantly support each other through every difficulty life throws at them. They teach each other how to be better humans. They grow together and I love every scenes that they had together. <3

WHY NOT 5 STARS?

Plain and simple: I was not invested in the plot. Mysteries, especially murder mysteries in romance books are 9.5 out of 10 times a snoozefest for me. I did not care that someone was murdering chickens and bees and that crime needed to be solved. I DID NOT CARE. Call the police. It's their job to solve that problem not yours! Jenn go bake your banana cakes and Cletus go fix some cars or meddle in someone's life. It didn't help that Jenn and Cletus were constantly interrupted during their time together, because something would go wrong. I JUST WANTED THEM TO GET SOME MOMENTS ALONE. They were so sexually frustrated and that plot device used was not only frustrating to them but for me as well. The person behind the mystery was kind of obvious, it was pretty easy to guess from the beginning.

Honestly, I'd been fine if this novel was only Jenn, Cletus and the whole Winston gang doing domestic stuff. Who needs a plot anyway? Not this gal here, but I'm in the minority here.

You have a big heart. I would never trade your mammoth, irrationally generous heart for a smaller, more frugal one. I love every square kilometre of it."
A laugh tumbled from my lips and I lowered to the couch. "Really? It's that big?"
"It should have its own zip code. And it's my third favorite thing about you."

Anyway, I still really loved this book and look forward to Cletus and Jenn marriage, getting a home and having babies together.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible to get enough Jenn and Cletus Winston? The answer would be no. I was so, so happy when I heard there would be more Green Valley books, and mysteries!!! Cletus is working on proposing to Jenn (in a perfectly Cletus-like way) and Jenn is still working on standing up to her mother while working way too many hours at the bakery. In the meantime, something is happening to her suppliers around Green Valley. Can she and Cletus solve the mystery of the chickens and the cows and the county fair before it’s too late?

This was so much fun, the perfect mix of mystery, family drama, petty small-town spats, romance issues and of course Winston brothers. Can we ever have too much Winston brothers at home just hanging out? This particular book had me devastated in the scene where Cletus and Jenn staged their fake breakup over a banjo and then laughing at Penny managing to inject bassoon jokes into the mix. Because, of course. I love getting to spend more time in Green Valley as out of all of Penny Reid’s books, this is my very favorite series. Glad there will be more Cletus and Jenn mysteries to come!

[lazybookconqueror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gah, so I absolutely love the Winston Brothers series, and I think all fans that were hit with the amazing and emotional ending of Beard Necessities were ecstatic to learn that Penny Reid would start a new spinoff series featuring the amazing couple that is Cletus and Jenn.

Returning to this world is so comforting and definitely such a soothing experience in these very weird times we're living in. Having said that, first I don't recommend this to people who haven't read Beard Science (Cletus and Jenn's original book), and I don't think that this book series managed to capture yet the same heart and soul of its predecessor.

It was still a lovely read and I enjoyed the cozy mystery aspect. The whodunit parts were interesting, funny, and well written - and they kept me guessing. I think that this mixture of action/adventure/mystery with romance is something that Penny Reid has always managed to be very successful at.

What was missing for me was the romance. Can a book about two people that already are in a relationship be slow burn? I didn't think it could, but Engagement & Espionage went out of its way to keep Cletus and Jenn apart and I didn't really understand why. Ok, real life happens and people are busy, but I missed their undeniable connection and constant banter as they still had some issues to iron out.

I think this will improve as this series progresses, especially with the super ''slap in your face title'' that will be the upcoming book Marriage and Murder. But it was still a delight to be back in Green Valley and to enjoy a little bit more of this amazing world.


Thank you so much Socia Butterfly PR and Penny Reid for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.



-----------------------------------------





Cletus and Jenn, Jenn and Cletus, OMG!

[Aisling Zena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

17/11/20

So maybe I blew this too big in my head because I was really disappointed... Cletus just wasn't Cletus and they while they were together they hadn't spent time together since their book and for most of this book. Don't know if it's the book slump talking but this was a let down, unfortunately.

Sadly it was not amazing.







14/2/20

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

Good Lord, now I’d offended his serene layers.

Chicken sausage? I didn’t grimace, and that was a miracle. Chicken sausage was akin to turkey bacon, an abomination.

That old man is mean as a badger with half a brain.


My Review:

This was a fun, engaging, and pleasurably engrossing read with healthy servings of mystery, family drama, and romance. Oddly sinister crimes were occurring in Green Valley and surprisingly, it all started with choked chickens and had nothing to do with the criminal elements that typically plagued the community. The mystery was artfully plotted and shrewdly paced with clever lashings of levity, crisp witty banter, and profoundly insightful and amusing inner musings and observations of human nature. I adored this well-matched and quirky couple in a previous series and am gleefully anticipating a continuation of their story with their brainy conundrums and unique and peculiar family complications.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3 4,5 stars <3

What a nice surprise, I loved it!Every minute of it, it was just so good!My favorite characters are back and I find the story interesting and I was intrigued.Engagement and Espionage was fast paced,addictive,heartwarming and cute!



This book takes place shortly after where Beard Science left us.In this story you get to see how Jenn tries to become herself and not what her parents wanted for her!I really love Jenn, she is amazing and I wanted to hug her!Cletus is still my favorite man sigh this guy I'm so in love with him!

I'm looking forward for the next book!



 

  

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

3.5 Stars

I don’t know about all of you, but . . . . .



And this year?????



I freaking created LIFE (on accident) in our compost heap. But look how perfect it is!!!! I’m pretty sure the ‘Rona has given me superpowers and this is just the first I’ve discovered so you better stay on my good side.

For me, Autumn also signifies the start of Cozy Mystery season. Sure, you can read cozies all year long, but the entire term “cozy” conjures images of fireplaces and snuggly blankets and those thoughts in July or August here in flyover country? Well, when the temps are like this . . . .



The last thing you want to think about is a blanket.

But come September 1st I just crank up the AC and let ‘er rip. Hahahaha! I keed I keed. Come September 1st we usually get a teaser 60-something degree day around my neck of the woods that gets you breaking out the sweaters and picking a light and cozy to read . . . only to discover the next day is going to be back to Satan’s ballsack degrees outside with one trillion percent humidity and a bonus negative one trillion air quality due to the combo of ragweed and forest fire. Yay Fall!

Anyway, I was all over this release as soon as the idea of it was mentioned and made sure to get my grubby little mitts on it as soon as it was seasonably acceptable. If you aren’t familiar with the Winstons . . . well, you’re really missing out because they are absolutely splooshtastic . . . . but this could probably work as a standalone. It certainly would benefit you to read Cletus/Jennifer’s book prior simply for their backstory, but hell it’s a porny not rocket surgery so you could probably decipher what’s going on with little to no brain power.

Anyway x2, this spinoff is the start of a new series where Cletus and his fiancé Jennifer are apparently going to become small-town sleuths. This time it’s about all the local farmers being sabotaged by someone for some reason. If you are addicted to the Hallmark Murders & Mysteries like I am, you’ll love it. I wasn’t a Jennifer fan (to say the least – poor gal probably still is feeling the smackdown I gave her fictional ass back in the day when I read their book), but she’s okay in this one and the rampant case of blueballs both Jen and Cletus have going due to various interruptions was pretty fun. I’ll certainly be first in line for the next one of these.

[zae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing quite like being back with the Winstons in Green Valley.

I missed Cletus and reading his POV so much. He's an annoying yet entertaining smartass and I love him for it. The snarky comments in his mind are so funny to read. His mischievous and devious character is perfect for a bunch of cozy mysteries.

I loved that we could see here how much Jenn has grown from Beard Science. YES, she realizes her worth! She's setting boundaries! She's standing up for herself and voicing out her opinions! Though she still has a way to go, I can't help but be so proud of her. It still hurts to see people (even her own parents) diminish her worth and make her feel like she's anything less than the amazing woman she is. One of the things I love about Cletus and Jenn is that he never made her feel that way.

"She would always be beautiful because her beauty was in her strength and resilience, her goodness and generosity, her cleverness and compassion..."

Honestly, thank you to Penny Reid for giving us more books to see them grow as a couple. All the things they do for each other are just so damn cute, they really are perfect for each other and it shows.

I LOVEEE all the Winston family moments!!! My fave couples are actually CletusJenn, BillyScarlet, and BeauShelly. THIS BOOK IS A TREAT. Scarlet was the only one missing but oh how I loved Cletus's sneaky mentions of ~his plans~ for Billy and Scarlet.

I gave it a 4 instead of 5 because I found myself uninterested at times with the plot but that didn't take away too much for me. It helps that I already love the main characters (and the town) that I'm willing to read anything with them. Sometimes it still feels unreal that Cletus and Jenn have a whole other spin-off series tbh. I'm so excited for the rest!!! ♡

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the first in a series, but it is best read after Beard Science (Winston Brothers #3).

Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries
#1 - Engagement and Espionage ★★★★✩
#2 - Marriage and Murder ★★★★★

[a · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars



This is the first time in over a month that I read a book and had a really, really hard time putting it down. And for that alone I loved this book.

It was so great being back with Cletus, Jenn and the Winston clan! If nothing else, this book made me want to reread the Winston Brothers series so bad! I missed these characters so much and I loved being with Cletus and Jenn so, so much.

I love how we get to see these characters still growing, still learning and most of all we are shown time and time again that the love that Jenn and Cletus have for each other help them become better people and they have such a wonderful influence on each other. They are truly perfect together and it showed in every interaction.

I have to admit that I was not really interested in the plot at all and found myself more than once wishing it would go away so I could have endless scenes with the characters without all this drama nonsense. I especially didn't like that the plot kept Jenn and Cletus from being ...romantically together for basically the entire book but I do understand why the author made those choice. Still wish she hadn't done it but since it became a subplot, I understood what she was trying to do. Since a book does need a plot, I will say that there was always something happening. I figured out pretty quick who was behind things but I still ended up shocked at the end with a little plot twist I wasn't expecting.

Overall, this was a great read and I am so happy that I was able to read it! I feel so excited and I may just go back and reread some favorite scenes and hopefully do a reread of the Winston Brothers series <3

[Grecia Robles · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY HEART!!
AMO
AMO
AMO
😍😍😍😍

“I appreciate you wanting to be noble with me, Cletus Byron Winston. But I love it when you’re selfish.”

Les advertí que esto sería puro fangirleo intenso y todavía no me bajo de mi nube de felicidad llamado CLETUS WINSTON.



Y FINALLY, no saben lo que esperé este libro, Yo me quedé con muchas ganas de más de la pareja de Cletus y Jenn porque sabía que podían dar más y yo anhelaba otro libro de ellos (si no me creen lean mi reseña de Beard Sciencie que fue hace 4 años ) y que Penny sacara este libro fue felicidad pura.


Sé que no es un libro cinco estrellas pero no puedo darle menos, vengo de un Reading slump donde nada me llenaba que tuve que parar y este libro me dio VIDA y me hizo muy feliz en toda la lectura tenía una sonrisa, me reí, lloré de felicidad de amor de TODO.
😊😍❤
Podría tener la trama más absurda pero tiene a los personajes más adorables del mundo entero. Y si es puro fan Service para los que aman con locura a Cletus.



Ya me había despedido de esta serie, ya había llorado por su final y sí esperaba con ansías este libro pero nunca me imaginé que tendría la misma esencia de la serie y tonta de mí porque la esencia de la serie radica en sus maravillosos personajes y aquí los tenemos de vuelta.

La línea temporal de este libro transcurre después de los eventos de los libros Beard Science y Beard in Mind ya que la línea temporal de éstos va en paralelo.
Por lo que es una historia después del vivieron felices.
Si pensábamos que Jenn había resuelto todos sus problemas con su madre sobreprotectora y su padre pasivo-agresivo estábamos equivocados.
Mientas Jenn y Cletus pasan por un momento donde casi no se ven por falta de tiempo de ella ya que trabaja en la panadería de su madre y sigue sin poner límites, tienen que resolver el misterio de ciertos ataques que estás sufriendo los granjeros provedores de Jenn y descubrir los motivos a estos ataques.

Me encantó volver a ver juntos a estos hermanos sobre todo a Billy que no me caía nada bien en los primeros libros y eso que es mi hombre perfecto de libros o sea suit and tie, blue eyes, cabello oscuro, guapo, pero es que Cletus no tiene rival y Jethro que no se queda atrás con su Charm mi segundo fav.
Pero Billy está en esa muy preciada tercera posición y lo que más me gustó de él es su amistad con Cletus.

“And I love you, quite a lot more than can be adequately expressed with words.”

Y las escenas finales de OH MY GOSH!!! Penny te luciste, son SO HOT, amé, definitivamente la necesitaba.
Durante todo el libro estaban todos lujuriosos, cuando tenían una oportunidad de estar sólos y dar rienda a la pasión los interrumpían y cuando ya pudieron my goodness incendiaron el lugar, ya sabía que Cletus tenía su vena salvaje pero verlo en acción, UUF QUE CALOR.
🔥👌

Cletus y Jenn su una pareja maravillosa llena de encanto, divertida, adorable que se aman y juntos son una mejor versión del otro.
Y en cada escena de pudimos ser testigos de su amor y su magia por eso LOS AMO!!
😍💕

Faltan tres libros más sé la terminaré en 5 años más conociendo a Penny que retrasa siempre sus libros pero no importa se que la espera siempre vale la pena, siempre que los retrasa digo te odio Penny pero cuando los leo se me olvida y la vuelvo amar

[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

BEARD SCIENCE is one of my favourite Winston Brothers books so I was thrilled to hear that Reid was bringing Cletus and Jenn back into the forefront (though lets be honest, Cletus steals the show in pretty much all the books) for their own spinoff that bridges some of the time jumps in the main series.

Getting even was a waste of time. Why would I get even when I could get the advantage?

I think what I loved most, beyond being reunited with this family (even if it's back in time and not everything is in the HEA-state that we've already seen), was the realism in the post-BEARD SCIENCE reality that just because the couple ended up together, doesn't mean everything is magically perfect after the book closes. Jenn and Cletus are still working through some things, both individually and as a couple, and they are struggling to find time for each other, to keep to their commitments, to keep their promises. I liked that.

What I didn't like? Jenn's mother. Her father. The fact that the population of this town is 90% lunatic. Seriously, is there something in the water in Green Valley?

"What's the difference between the Emergency Lasagna and the Lasagna Emergency?"
"One fixes an emergency, the other causes an emergency."

Everything not related to shitty parents and the mystery itself were great. I loved seeing old faces, the games Cletus plays, and I loved every page that featured Shelly (because of course I do). I also loved all the literal cock blocking, even the non-literal cocks that blocked, that set us on the road for a slow build to finally getting this couple to, well, couple.

"Cletus, don't you realize? You already have me. Stop being so careful."
"And if I make a mistake?"
"Trust me to forgive you."

Overall this was a great way to spend a sunday and I have no doubt this will delight Jenntus fans and general Winston Brothers fans alike.

3.5 stars

** I received an ARC from the author (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **

---

This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.

[aniryllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

CLETUS AND JENN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



That's it. That's the review.


***


Well... At least it's the accurate summary, lol.

Fair warning: I'm biased.

Cletus and Jenn are my babies and whatever (that's acceptable to me, lol) PR writes about them, I'm going to like it. I'm one of those lucky bitches for whom PR wrote this book.

[...] to all the Cletus and Jenn stans, this book is most definitely 100% for you.

I also read Beard Science 5 times. Last time was actually right before this book, growing my excitement more than ever.
I never left Cletus and Jenn. And they never left me.
This book was like coming home after a long, long time. Basically the time I waited for it 😂

I've never read a cozy mystery before (at least, I think so), therefore I didn't exactly know what to expect. I knew this was also a romance, but then I remember reading the definition of cozy mystery and panicking for a second because it seemed romance was not contemplated, lol.

I'm glad to say Engagement and Espionage is 100% romance and 100% Penny Reid.

I didn't mind the mystery part and didn't find it boring. It wasn't very different from her other books and more importantly, it didn't take away from C&J's relationship.

Even though a lot bit (sexual) frustrating, the romance part was amazing. These two are just so good together. Every little moment between them was precious. I read and re-read every part, not only to prolong the reading, but also because it gave me pure joy to read every interaction these two had.

Truly can't wait for more and see the people they'll become together.

The most surprising thing was Cletus and Jenn's mother's relationship. It was everything I didn't know I wanted. One of my favourite parts was when he and Diane talked about his mother, Bethany. It was a discussion long overdue (at least, to me). I'm glad PR finally wrote about it.


I voluntarily read an early e-copy of this title.


Some info:

The first 3 books are set in the past, exactly between Beard in Mind (book #4) and Dr. Strange Beard (book #5).

Here is the chronological order.
(Of course the pub dates are not accurate anymore 🥺)



On the other hand, Cletus and Jenn will have more than 3 books! Hopefully even more than 4.



Edit: Looks like the fifth (5!!!) book will be titled Pie Crimes and Misdemeanors.

[Rachel L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Catching up on all the Penny Reid books I haven't read in a few years. Jenn and Cletus were my favorite couple from the Winston Brothers series and I was excited to read this spinoff. I think this book was trying to do too many things at one time (plotwise) and it didn't all mesh well together. Was this a mystery? Was this a romance? Was this a mystery/romance? Kind of. It feels like Reid is still getting her feet wet in this genre combo. I see some trusted friend reviews who felt the same about this book rate the next one higher, so I will be reading it. Plus, it's Cletus and Jenn. I'll read anything the two of them are in.

[tai · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re in the US, I’m hosting a giveaway for a paperback copy of this book on my bookstagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCoHO8Ngl... Make sure to enter!!!! 🤩


5++++++ stars!


No two characters deserve to be featured in a cozy mystery series as much as Cletus and Jenn. When I first heard about this series and who it would be centered on, I remember thinking “oh, but of course!” I can’t help but feel like this genre fits these two characters more than perfectly! Engagement and Espionage was my most anticipated book of 2020 by far, and I was counting on it curing my never ending Winston withdraws. Well, let me tell you, not only did it exceed my expectations and will for sure be a favorite of the year, but it definitely did it’s trick when it comes to making me miss the Winston family a little bit less.

Maybe I should start off this review saying that for the past few months, I’ve been having the hardest time concentrating on books. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read A LOT of books since the year began, but lately no book has managed to catch my attention for longer than a few minutes at a time, even if I’m loving what I’m reading. Well, Engagement and Espionage not only managed to make me concentrate, but I found myself, in multiple occasions, not wanting to stop reading. I finished a chapter, and thought to myself “just one more and I’ll stop for a while” and.. spoiler alert... I did not stop. At night, I found myself fighting sleep to read more, and I’m not at all a night person! That’s how good this book was!


I really enjoyed the mystery plot of the book. It kept me on my toes for most of the story, it added an intriguing storyline and made the book fast paced and even more addicting. Cletus and Jenn make, to no surprise of anyone who knows these two characters, a great mystery solving duo. I throughly enjoyed their adventures in this story and I’m already so excited for what Penny has in store for us next, with the second book in this series!


When it comes to the characters, it’s easy to read a book when you’re already so in love with the main characters. Cletus is a hit within the Winston Brothers fan base, and his book is a fan favorite for sure, so I’m sure absolutely no reader will have a hard time being in his mind once again, as well as Jenn’s mind. But what makes this story even better, for me, than Beard Science *gasps* was the growth we get to witness these two characters go through, not just throughout this story but from where they were in the beginning of Beard Science to now. Although Cletus remains his unique, cunning, plotting self, having Jenn in his life definitely changes him (a little bit at least.. because Cletus is Cletus). And when it comes to Jenn, when we met her, she was this sheltered girl, who had suffered from so much abusive from her parents throughout her life. You really see her get out of her shell in this book, stand up for herself and be who she truly is, not who her parents (or, her father, really) wanted her to be. And, just like Jenn did with Cletus, I love how Cletus begins to rub off on her as their relationship progresses. I loved seeing her cunning side in this book so much! And let me just say, if you’re looking for two great morally grey characters in contemporary, you really shouldn’t look no further, because these two have got it all!


When it comes to these two as a couple, just like they grow and develop on their own in this book, so does their relationship. I loved seeing it progress because these two already have a established relationship, so from here on out it can only grow further and I think, as with all things, Penny did a phenomenal job! This is not her first time writing about two characters who are already together when their book starts, and she never allows it to become boring, she is always developing these characters and growing their relationship, keeping us invested in their life and love. With Jenn and Cletus, that definitely happened and I really loved reading about their life as a couple, and all the struggles they face in the beginning of their relationship. I also just loved how much Cletus supports and loves Jenn for who she is, and vice versa, and how whipped he is for her.


Lastly but definitely not least, the Winston family moments are always something I cherish. The Winston Brothers series is my favorite series of all time, and getting the chance to read more about their shenanigans is always a pleasure and it makes me so happy! I always feel like part of the family while I’m reading. If you’re hoping for a book that will have a good amount of scenes between these siblings, you’ll definitely get it! They are an important part of helping Jenn and Cletus during their investigations and you get a lot of little moments between them throughout the book, as well as little hints to a few of the other couples, as this book takes place before Dr Strange Beard and Beard Necessities. The little hints made me smile!


As predicted, Penny Reid does it again. She writes stories that make me want to stay up all night reading, and Engagement and Espionage was not any different. A delight to be in the heads of Cletus and Jenn once again, to be in Green Valley and read about all of the characters that I’ve grown to cherish and love. Probably one of the easiest 5 stars I’ll give this year for sure. I’m already itching to reread!

Little advice: if you have not done so, and you have time, I recommend rereading Beard Science before you pick this up. I did it and I do not regret it! Having it fresh in my mind made this even more enjoyable than if I hadn’t reread it (but of course, I’m sure you’ll still love it a lot, even if you don’t reread...)


*i received an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were still at the beginning, our beginning, and I’d never been as truly happy in my entire life as I lived and breathed and endured during the moments we spent together.

Only Cletus and Jenn could pull this off! A whole book about them being their odd, funny and sweet selves while solving a mystery that could only happen in Green Valley. This book (and series) is definitely a gift for the fans that I really appreciate.

This story takes after the events in Beard Science where Cletus and Jenn were beginning their relationship, so this book navigates through this new status for them and how they both have to adjust to it. As we could see from their previous book, Jenn was a woman sheltered and manipulated by her parents who was just finding her freedom and Cletus was... Cletus, so being in a relationship means a new challenge for them, having to juggle their jobs, family and add to that a mystery directly related to them!

Their relationship was the sweetest thing ever. This actually took me a bit by surprise, I was expecting this from Jenn and not from Cletus because despite being attentive he was also reserved, so I loved seeing this soft side of him. And I also loved the way they were so supportive and understanding with each other throughout their relationship, always putting the other's best interest ahead and talking things out. And the mystery! I hadn't really thought much about it but it kept me entertained throughout the book and Jenn and Cletus were the best team to solve this kind of mischief. Oh, and their internal monologues were everything! I swear I couldn't stop laughing at some moments for their reasoning!

The side characters also lived up to it because obviously we are talking about the Winston brothers here. They have some of the best family dynamics so I loved seeing them teasing each other again and helping Cletus and Jenn in their crazy ways, making her feel part of the family. I even liked Jackson James a bit even though I'm not her biggest fan...

On a more personal level, I just want to say that I discovered and enjoyed a lot of books during this quarantine but I missed this. I missed the familiarity and comfort that this series gives me, those characters that I have known for a while now, the internal jokes and those little winks to the stories of the other characters that I already know what they are about. So thanks Penny Reid for delivering amazing stories that make me wanna read everything in one sitting and not leave my couch until I'm done with them!

If you haven't read the Winston Brothers series yet, go do it. And then read this spin-off. And then the Smartypants Romance books because apparently you can never have enough of these characters and this small town, or at least that happens to me.

Thanks to the author and Social Butterfly for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Caitlin Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Penny Reid cozy mystery novel featuring Cletus and Jen. Have I died and gone to literary heaven? I am definitely delirious from the missed hours of sleep last night as I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN. However, I have no regrets and will just need several extra cups of coffee today. This book follows Beard Science, a favorite Penny novel of mine. Fans will not be disappointed. I absolutely loved the romance and connection between Jenn and Cletus. It was really empowering reading the character development for Jenn throughout the novel and seeing her really come into her own. Cletus is the evil genius you would expect him to be but also with a softer side.

Engagement and Espionage is the perfect blend of witty banter and intrigue. This book had everything you have come to expect from Penny Reid and more. It was sexy and fun while keeping me guessing. I was an avid fan of Murder She Wrote and the Nancy Drew mystery series growing up so combining the mystery element with my favorite characters was basically a no brainer for me. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Cletus and Diane. Diane definitely became more likable in this book as you got to see another side of her.

As always, it felt like coming home being back with the whole Winston family and returning to Green Valley. This book was the perfect intro to this handcrafted mysteries series and I will be counting down until the release of Marriage and Murder. Now I need to go back and read Beard Science again. I definitely recommend reading it before Engagement and Espionage if you can as it is the perfect introduction.

Thanks to Social Butterfly PR for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine Science hadn't ended. What if there was more to Cletus and Jenn's love story than we knew? Now imagine they find themselves solving a mystery while their love story continues and evolves.

You can picture it, right? Cletus's machinations, Jenn's brave kindness, and cock--er, rooster jokes galore. Yeah, this is all of that and so much more. Romance, mystery, and ... sausage.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝑾𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓."

Fabulous!

LOVED this book! 

Out of all the Winston brothers series, Cletus and Jenn story was my favorite I was so happy when Penny announced their spin-off.
It was immediately one my most anticipated books and Engagement and Espionage delivered, it's my favorite romance book of 2020.

Cletus was again everything and more. He's wicked smart; being inside his head is always just plain fun, I just love they way he talks and think.

Jenn is just so lovable, I really love how strong she is. She truly comes into her own, even more now then in Beard Science, amazing character growth.

They are just perfectly suited for each other. Cletus and Jenn are other's forever person, I love in this their plans and brainstorming, it's just so them.
They are perfect balance of soft and hot as couple, especially the ending... GAH! All of it.

Engagement and Espionage has fun mystery, amazing romance and sweet family moments.. definitely a must read.

Thank you, Penny, for writing this spin-off. Now have something rereading expect Beard Science every time I miss Cletus and Jenn.

 * 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delight it was to be back with Cletus and Jenn in ENGAGEMENT & ESPIONAGE. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the idea of a mystery series but it felt all the Winston familiarity I desired alongside a compelling set of circumstances. These characters (okay Cletus) had all the quirkiness and oddities you would expect, wrapped up in funny shennanigans. I was fully entertained from start to finish.

I love that Penny Reid has the confidence to drop you in a timeline you don’t expect and it 100% works. Cletus and Jenn weren’t that long past their origin story and I loved being able to pick back up with them there and see how they fared with the challenges that came. I hope you’re ready for the frustration and ancitipation of a sloooooowww burn.

This story had chickens as you might expect but it went from ooh to arghhh as the tale took some sinister turns. Cletus and Jenn made a great team, not quite in tune, not quite communicating brilliantly but with a connection that grounded them to a common goal…their bedroom. Jenn’s mother and father were central to events and they took some figuring out. The Winston brothers’ were ever present and I was pretty happy when they were on-page.

There were some fantastic moments involving emergency lasagna, rings, mistaken identities and bottoms. I laughed out loud many times and this was just ideal entertainment for my weekend.

“Bakers is one vowel away from being ‘bikers’.”

Penny Reid’s brand of humour, intelligent, odd and unusual totally floats my boat and I cannot wait for more from this series.

Thank you to the author for the early review copy

This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.

[bruna · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She would always be beautiful because her beauty was in her strength and resilience, her goodness and generosity, her cleverness and compassion, and no one could ever steal or change who she was."

Note: Although this is the first in a series, this book is best read after Beard Science (Winston Brothers #3).

Every time I start a new spin-off I get a little scared that the author is going to end up ruining my favorite characters/couples for nothing. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded in this case because "Engagement and Espionage" only made me love Cletus Winston, Jennifer Sylvester, and the whole Winston family even more.

This was one of the funniest books I've read this year and I can't say I'm surprised because well... Cletus Winston, am I right? He always says something absurd and you end up laughing without even knowing why. Besides that, the fact that he tells his jokes and innuendos with a straight face only makes everything funnier. Suffice to say, it was impossible to get bored while reading E&E because this is just the kind of humor I enjoy.

After Billy, Cletus is my favorite Winston brother. He went through so much trauma during his childhood and it broke my heart to see how what happened still affects him. However, I loved that despite all his suffering, he became an incredible person, brother, and now fiancé. Cletus always talks about how selfish he is when in reality he is one of the most selfless people in the world. His number one priority is making Jenn happy and safe even to his detriment. It was heartwarming and amazing to see how he treats her like a queen and is always supportive of her.

Jenn's constant growth is something that will never cease to amaze me. She didn't know how to deal with her newfound freedom and made some mistakes, but instead of reverting to her old shy self because of them, she only grew stronger and more determined. I loved the way Jenn took the matters into her own hands and stood up to her mother. It was also nice that her mom finally understood her side because it made their mother/daughter relationship improve significantly. I'm glad that now Jenn has a parent that cares for her because she sure as hell deserves it.

One of my favorite things about this book is that the beginning of Cletus and Jenn's relationship wasn't all hearts and flowers, especially if you consider that this was the first real relationship they both had. Seeing them struggling with broken promises, disappointment and bad timing made them more real and relatable because those are problems every couple faces once in a while.

What was beautiful is that even with all these obstacles, they never stopped respecting each other. Cletus and Jenn were always willing to admit to their faults and apologize for it. The scenes where they shared their feelings and tried to make their relationship better were what made this book stand out to me. They have one of the healthiest relationships in the new adult world and I'm here for it!

Since this is a cletusjenn spin-off, I thought there wouldn't be that many scenes with the other Winstons, but thank god I was wrong. Billy, Beau and Shelly were the side characters that appeared the most and their dynamic with the main couple was on point and amazing af. I had missed their interactions and banter a lot, so saying I was happy to see them all together again is an understatement.

Even though I didn't like the mystery plot, I still enjoyed everything else. All in all, this was a light and comforting book with lots of cute, funny, and endearing scenes with the best couple and family in the world. I honestly could read 500 more pages about them and not complain once. If you're a Cletus and Jenn stan, you won't be disappointed <3

*ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review*

Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries
#0 Beard Science – 5 stars
#1 Engagement and Espionage – 5 stars

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y'all, shit's mighty desperate out here. We're in a pandemic. The United States is a big ol' pile of fiery garbage sludge. I'm trapped in my dark apartment and our sink drain is clogged.

So thank our almighty savior Penny Reid for knowing that there was only one thing we needed from her in the year of our Lord 2020, and that was a Cletus and Jenn spinoff mystery series. GOD. BLESS.

Am I still chaotic about the man in one of my all-time favorite contemporary romance duos being named CLETUS? Yes. Was the plot of this novel filled with Penny Reid-branded messiness and a load of wish fulfillment? Yes. Did I absolutely eat this shit up in under five hours from when I received it? Yes, yes I did. I'm a biddy who regrets nothing, and you bet you ASS I love a cozy small-town mystery involving dead chickens and bakery conspiracies.

As if all of that wasn't enough, I was under the impression that there were only two books in this spinoff series. Imagine my SCREAMS when I read the back few pages and learned that there are at least FOUR MORE SPINOFF BOOKS planned for Cletus and Jenn in addition to this one.

Penny Reid is blessing us during the first half of these 2020s and deserves all of our praises and Edible Arrangements. And long live Cletus and Jenn and their cute lil lusty fantasies about each other.

Content warning: Discussions and vague depictions of domestic violence

[Antonella · Rating 5 out of 5]

SERIES: Solving for Pie no.1 but I recommend reading Beard Science before this
GENRE: contemporary romance, cozy mystery
TROPES & THEMES: a small-town romance
CLIFFHANGER: no
TRIGGER WARNINGS: no
HOTTIE METER: 4
SONGS: Kane Brown- What's mine is yours
Dan+Shay- Speechless
Thomas Rhett- Blessed


I adore Cletus and Jenn!! so the whole spin-off series about them is something I wholeheartedly approve of. Basically, the storyline continues where Beard Science stops. We get more of the Winston brothers, a lot of small-town shenanigans, and some steamy and sweet moments between Jennifer and Cletus.. but the mystery part wasn't really all that mysterious...

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid is the start of a spin-off mystery series from her highly entertaining Winston Brothers series. In Beard Science, Jennifer Sylvester and Cletus Winston began their romance when Cletus helped Jenn attain her independence from her parents. It was my favorite of the Winston Brothers stories, but I’ll be honest, I’m not usually that keen on stories that take place after the HEA or HFN ending. So I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about reading this first book in the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries but to my delight it exceeded my expectations and has convinced me that I will need to read all of the author’s upcoming books starring Jenn and Cletus. It’s best read after Beard Science and this review will contain some spoilers from that book. In terms of the timeline, this story takes place before Beard Necessities, the final Winston Brothers novel.

It’s been several weeks since Jenn’s life was turned upside down, but for the better with her involvement with Cletus. She’s still working for the Donner Bakery as her mother’s prize baker (her Banana Cake Queen moniker is well deserved) but her parents have split and her controlling and abusive father is trying to start up a business to rival her mother’s vacation lodge. Jenn gets her baking supplies from local farmers, and all of a sudden they don’t want to sell to her. While it seems obvious that her father must be involved somehow, things take a nasty turn when Farmer Badcock’s chickens turn up strangled or missing. And then Jenn’s mother gets knocked out and dragged behind a burning beehive. Is it a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or attempted murder? Jenn and Cletus have their hands full navigating the next steps in their relationship and finding out who is trying to sabotage them and why.

The obvious culprit is of course Jenn’s father, but that would make for a boring and predictable mystery and Engagement and Espionage is not that. There are a number of suspicious characters, some of whom Jenn has beaten in past local fair baking championships, and the author does a great job of providing several possible suspects for the shenanigans going on until the mystery is solved. I really liked how the plot plays out, things getting a little more complicated with every discovery so that in the end you get a satisfying whodunit. I don’t read a lot of mysteries so I don’t know how this compares for avid readers of the genre but it works for me.

With the mystery we also get the continuation of Jenn and Cletus’s romance. Everything seemed to be going great for them at the end of Beard Science, but Jenn hasn’t been able to get the free time she’d wanted from the bakery now that she’s helping her mother cope with her post-divorce problems, so she and Cletus hardly get to spend any time together. And every time they catch a few moments alone they get interrupted by another emergency, so they are both frustrated (sexually and otherwise) and this has put a strain on their relationship. Despite this, Cletus truly loves Jenn and is a real sweetheart, taking care of her house and little tasks so she can concentrate on the bakery, and then helping take care of her mother after the attack. Jenn’s mother has grown a lot since Beard Science as well, becoming a much more likable character, and in this story she and Cletus develop an actual bond. Cletus wants very much to give Jenn an engagement ring but he wants it to be one that she wants to wear, so he’s bought five of them and some of the funniest moments in the story come with him trying to figure out which one to give her.

The story is told from both Cletus and Jenn’s points of view, and getting into Cletus’s head is always an enjoyable and humorous experience. There are lots of scenes with Cletus’s family and townsfolk, and while there are a couple of more serious scenes (discussions of Cletus’s mother’s abusive marriage for example), the overall feeling of the novel is lighthearted, fun and sweet, mystery notwithstanding. And I’d be remiss not to point out that there are some pretty sexy scenes once Cletus and Jenn get some alone time together. All in all, it’s a great start to the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries and I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series!

This review also appears at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...

A copy of this story was provided by the author.

[soph &#x1f987; · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out all the Winston brothers my favorite always was Cletus since the first moment he appeared I wanted to read his book and when I did it Cletus and Jenn became one of my favorite couples, so obviously when I found out they were having a spin-off I was so excited and this series became one of the most anticipated for me.
The story begins right where beard science ends, Jennifer and Cletus are starting their relationship and overcoming the events of the previous book.
So I was a little scared because I thought that this was going to be filled with unnecessary drama between Cletus and Jenn, but no, even if they do have a rocky start their relationship only gets stronger and stronger from it, they relay and trust in each other showing so much growth with every chapter, honestly, if I loved them before this made me put them in a pedestal because seriously they have one of the most beautiful relationships I’ve read about, granted I wanted to smack my head against the wall a few times because they kept getting interrupted, but everything is worthy at the end.
Another thing I want to mention is Jenn and Cletus's growth as characters, honestly, they keep surprising me because they have such a great development, especially Jenn with every chapter I got more and more proud of her for overcome what she did and becoming an amazing woman.
The mystery is actually really great too, it takes a big part of the book which doesn’t make this book feel repetitive or unnecessary and it’s fun to put everything together and figure it out who made all those bad things.
Ps: Jenn´s mother in this book is the best, im loving her development as a character, and seeing her getting out of that abusive relationship was one of my favorite things.

[Anna lost in stories *A* · Rating 5 out of 5]

*little disclaimer
I have been in the biggest reading slump of my life since the end of august… it lasted for about two months and was absolutely awful… fortunately around the end of october I finally got out of it and got back to reading more like I am used to :) unfortunately I still don’t want to sit down and write *proper* reviews… you know, detailed and with full and coherent sentences… ;) usually when I get like this I can wait it out and then catch up on everything once that mood passes, but it’s not looking like it’s going anywhere anytime soon… so what I am gonna do is update all of the ones I still haven’t written (and all of my future ones will look like that as well, unless something magically changes) with this little disclaimer at the top and then a bit of an intro plus some random and chaotic thoughts… ;) I mean… it’s better than no review at all, right? :) some of them will include spoilers, some of them won’t, but don't worry, if there will be any spoilery things I share with you in my review, they will be always at the end of it, clearly marked and initially hidden from view, so there’s no way you will read anything accidentally :) ok, I think that covers everything that I needed to share with you :) we good? awesome :) then let’s just dive in ;)

This was one of my most highly anticipated releases of the year… I preordered the ebook months before and when it was published just… didn’t pick it up… from what I remember around that time I was in a major fantasy mood and didn’t want to read anything else… and by the time I got around to reading it, I decided to wait for the audiobook… and now I’m very glad I did, cause it was phenomenal :) ok, let’s get into all the chaotic thoughts :)

- even though this is the first book in a series you really should read at least *Beard science* before this one… it’s a story of how Jen and Cletus fell in love and got together, and this series focuses on their adventures a bit later on as a couple :) *Beard science* is part of Winston brothers series, but if you don’t want to read all of those books, read just this one :) it will give you a good backstory about each of the main characters, them as a couple and quite a few secondary characters, not to mention the town itself :) also, *Beard science* is hands down one of my all time favourite books… like, ever :) I always recommend it to people ;)

- Chris Brinkley and Joy Nash as the narrators were absolutely phenomenal… especially Chris *sighs dreamily* he‘s so swoonworthy :)

- going back into the story of these two felt like a hug… it was exactly what I needed… back in Green Valley, back with Jen and Cletus, back with the incredible writing style of Penny Reid… *sighs happily* I had the biggest smile throughout most of the book :)

- the frustration I felt right along Jen and Cletus was painful… I mean, they just couldn’t catch a break :) I can’t even tell you how many times they were interrupted when things were starting to get very interesting and how many times I groaned in frustration with them ;)

- the plot was… not gonna lie, it was a bit bonkers as well as predictable, but I didn’t mind at all :) it was good entertainment and let’s be honest, I didn’t pick this book up for the mystery :)

- seeing the growth of the relationship between Jen and Cletus was everything I wanted it to be… not gonna lie, because they are one of my all time favourite couples, I was a bit afraid of this whole series… I wasn't sure how Penny will portray them both as individuals and as a couple going forward… but I should have more trust in one of my all time favourite authors… :) she did them justice :) we could see how life outside of that initial bubble you’re in when you fall in love with someone can get harder… what kind of effect it can have on people who clearly love each other and want to be together, and yet they have to deal with other people and situations that make all of that difficult… their struggles felt so real… but what I think I appreciate the most is how they actually talked with each other about things…

- I never thought I’d say this, but I think that Cletus is my favourite Winston brother… yep, there it is… he is wickedly smart and terrifyingly clever… he protects people he loves, no matter what it takes… which makes it that much sweeter how he respected Jen’s boundaries and waited for her to be ready to make some tough decisions…

- I very much appreciated how accurate Jen’s struggle was throughout this book… wanting things and knowing what’s best for you is quite different from actually doing things… good intentions are not enough to prove how much you care about people you love if you don’t do the things to show them how important they are to you… she has a lot of years of bad habits to break but I loved how she made progress in this book :)

5 stars for a fantastic read and one I will definitely go back to in the future :)

XOXO

A

[abire · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She’d revealed her genius to me last fall while proving to be the most brilliant opponent I’d ever faced, by far. She’d bested me. Consequently, having no choice in the matter, I’d promptly fallen in love with her and was now besotted. Obviously."

OH.
MY.
GOD.
How good it feels to get these characters back!

It has been no secret to anyone who knows me that ever since I read the Winston Brother series, it has become one my favorites ever, if not THE favorite. I mean, what's not to absolutely adore? It has it all. So imagine my excitement at finding out my - at the time - second favorite couple from that series (which, has now become THE favorite alongside BillyScarlet) were getting their own spinoff.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of this year, and let me tell you, it was SO worth the wait.

This is so very different from Beard Science, but no less amazing. In Beard Science, we get Cletus and Jenn's story and its early stage development. Which one of the best things I've read... ever. Whilst in this one, we get Cletus and Jenn AS a couple, and see them go through the motions of their daily lives, with their respective jobs and engagements while trying to BE together. Which, to say the least, was NOT easy.

Honestly, I loved everything about this book, even things I was intially weary about at the beginning, I ended up adoring. The plot was so perfect for Cletus and Jenn, but also so interesting. Granted, it was not a difficult mystery to solve as a reader, you pick up on what's going on and who's behind what pretty easily, albeit minus the details that make it all make sense, but it was no less entertaining and perfect for our perfect weird duo.

I don't even need to mention my love for Jenn and Cletus as individuals, let alone as a couple, because that's a given, but I'm doing it anyway.
I cannot think of two people more fit for each other than these two. Cletus' stealthy wickedness is only matched by Jenn's outstanding cleverness. These two complete each other in all ways and always, but they also, like in Beard Sciene, continue to help each other daily. Jenn, trying to make Cletus a better person without outright changing him, and Cletus trying to get her to be a little selfish from time to time while keeping her gigantic heart.
I mean.. these two? Once they enter your heart, you need to be aware that they are never leaving, and their place in it might just end up growing and growing.

Speaking of people who's place just keeps growing in your heart, my review would not be complete without the mention of The Winston Brothers! Seeing this crazy, amazing, loveable bunch again is another reason as to why this book was just perfection. Their lack of hesitation to help one another at the drop of a hat is just one of the many great things about this family and one of the many reasons why they're just impossible not to love. And the role they played in the solving of the mystery just made their places grow 10x in my heart. Especially Billy. (AND MAYBE NOT A WINSTON BROTHER BUT SHELLY!!!)

I do feel the need to mention a pleasant surprise for me in this book : Diane Donner! She was absolutely amazing in this book. Her character development was just amazing! Her trying to be a better mother to Jenn and a better person was so well written and felt so natural. I adored how she finally accepted Cletus and the little kinda friendship that formed between them. Also, their conversation about how a woman might struggle to leave her abusive husband when the abuse was directed at her but not at her children AND HER PROMISE TO JENN AT THE END!!!! I FULLY SUPPORT!!! YES YES YES!!!

A couple things I feel the need to mention so I will do so in dashes so as not to make this review endless :
- BillyScarlet crumbs!!
- The Alex crumbs!!!!!
- Kip finally getting what was coming to him. And his misogynistic, abusive ass being bested by a woman! Feels good feels organic.

I'm sure I'm forgetting things, but I'm still in an Engagement and Espionage hangover. Just know this was perfect, cletusjenn are perfect, the winston brothers are perfect and I love them to death.

In conclusion, this was everything I was hoping it'd be and more (tbh my greedy ass just wanted more winston content) and I'm so excited for the rest of the series!! (Especially that it's now a five BOOK SERIES instead of four)


*ARC kindly provided by SocialButterfly in exchange for an honest review.

[maggieandteddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: reread/I listened to audio 10/3/20 So good! Even after 3 months... Chris Brinkley and Joy Nash are Cletus & Jenn.
Jenn has more of her voice in this. I forgot how sweet they are together. Cletus is always labeled as sly, but I really love his romantic side. Jenn is gaining more and more control of her family bakery business (her Mom Diane is the owner). A lot of dry humor and Cletus-isms. The villain(s) make the mistake of underestimating Cletus-and Jenn. They make quite a team.
I'm really for book#2 in Solving for Pie!. I listened to the audio through Hoopla, but it's also on Audible and Author's Direct
(^^^) (^^^)

I've been so excited for this! Jenn & Cletus. My favorite Winston couple. I do love them all.
I have so many highlighted phrases- make that paragraphs.
Cletus is such a crack up. His antics... not even his brothers realize what he's REALLY up to !
Jenn is like his Gracie to his George Burns (look it up- 20th Century comic duo).
There's so much more of Jenn and Cletus' love story and their courtship. This takes up where Beard Science left off. You could read this on it's own, but I'm glad that I read Beard Science first.
Jenn's parents really interrupt their time together. Kip-Jenn's dad is such a slime ball. Jenn's mom, Diane is uber emotional. Cletus starts to figure out how to get along with her and starts to see the good -deep inside that starts to bubble out. Diane Donner starts to like Cletus.
Jenn and Cletus vow to find out who is involved with missing and dead chickens and other mysterious things going on around Green Valley. Cletus is made for this type of sleuthing.
There are so many funny moments. I'm sure that I could have highlighted the whole book.
This is dual 1st person POV.
So many great supporting characters. I have to say I got a kick out of Cletus' relentless antagonizing of youngest brother Roscoe. (He was an easy target- I'm the youngest of 4, so I remembered what it's like). I want the audio!!