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Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries #2
Marriage and Murder
The Devil is in the details . . .
Cletus Byron Winston wishes to marry Jennifer Anne Donner-Sylvester (aka The Banana Cake Queen) posthaste! He’s spent the last year wanting nothing more than for the celebrations to be brief, libations flowing, and BYOB (bring your own blueberries). His future mother-in-law has other plans, plans his intended has been willing to indulge, much to Cletus’s chagrin. Therefore, so must he. To a point. But truth be told, he wouldn’t mind if the meddlesome matriarch disappeared, at least until the nuptials are over.
On the night of Cletus and Jenn’s long-awaited engagement party, just when the surly schemer is of a mind to take matters into his own hands, a shocking event upends everyone’s best laid plans and sends the small hamlet of Green Valley into complete disarray. The final months leading up to Cletus and Jenn’s matrimonial bliss are plagued with chaos and uncertainty. Will Cletus and Jenn finally make it to the altar? Or will murder and mayhem derail their happily-ever-after?
And most importantly, who done it?
‘Marriage and Murder’ is the second book in the cozy mystery series Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries. It is best read after Winston Brothers #3, ‘Beard Science’ (which can be read as a standalone) and Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries #1, ‘Engagement and Espionage.’
Cletus Byron Winston wishes to marry Jennifer Anne Donner-Sylvester (aka The Banana Cake Queen) posthaste! He’s spent the last year wanting nothing more than for the celebrations to be brief, libations flowing, and BYOB (bring your own blueberries). His future mother-in-law has other plans, plans his intended has been willing to indulge, much to Cletus’s chagrin. Therefore, so must he. To a point. But truth be told, he wouldn’t mind if the meddlesome matriarch disappeared, at least until the nuptials are over.
On the night of Cletus and Jenn’s long-awaited engagement party, just when the surly schemer is of a mind to take matters into his own hands, a shocking event upends everyone’s best laid plans and sends the small hamlet of Green Valley into complete disarray. The final months leading up to Cletus and Jenn’s matrimonial bliss are plagued with chaos and uncertainty. Will Cletus and Jenn finally make it to the altar? Or will murder and mayhem derail their happily-ever-after?
And most importantly, who done it?
‘Marriage and Murder’ is the second book in the cozy mystery series Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries. It is best read after Winston Brothers #3, ‘Beard Science’ (which can be read as a standalone) and Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries #1, ‘Engagement and Espionage.’
374 pages, ebook
First published March 2, 2021
523 people are currently reading
8694 people want to read
About the author
Penny Reid
92 books22.4k followersSign 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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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:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pennyreidwriter
Twitter: www.twitter.com/reidromance
Instagram:www.instagram.com/reidromance
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March 2, 2021
Ahhhh! The wait is over! MARRIAGE AND MURDER, book #2 in the Solving For Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries series is ALIVE! I don’t know if Cletus would approve an unsanctioned celebration, but I think this momentous occasion calls for sausage pie. What say you, lovely readers?
** Read far and wide **
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** BLURB **
The Devil is in the details . . .
Cletus Byron Winston wishes to marry Jennifer Anne Donner-Sylvester (aka The Banana Cake Queen) posthaste! He’s spent the last year wanting nothing more than for the celebrations to be brief, libations flowing, and BYOB (bring your own blueberries). His future mother-in-law has other plans, plans his intended has been willing to indulge, much to Cletus’s chagrin. Therefore, so must he. To a point. But truth be told, he wouldn’t mind if the meddlesome matriarch disappeared, at least until the nuptials are over.
On the night of Cletus and Jenn’s long-awaited engagement party, just when the surly schemer is of a mind to take matters into his own hands, a shocking event upends everyone’s best laid plans and sends the small hamlet of Green Valley into complete disarray. The final months leading up to Cletus and Jenn’s matrimonial bliss are plagued with chaos and uncertainty. Will Cletus and Jenn finally make it to the altar? Or will murder and mayhem derail their happily-ever-after?
And most importantly, who done it?
‘Marriage and Murder’ is the second book in the cozy mystery series Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries. It is best read after Winston Brothers #3, ‘Beard Science’ (which can be read as a standalone) and Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries #1, ‘Engagement and Espionage.’
June 27, 2022
3.5*
Good to be back in Cletus-Jenn world. They are my favorite couple in the Winston Brothers series. They're witty, funny, and passionate about their loved ones. I enjoyed my time with them this time around too.
Good to be back in Cletus-Jenn world. They are my favorite couple in the Winston Brothers series. They're witty, funny, and passionate about their loved ones. I enjoyed my time with them this time around too.
February 16, 2021
Penny Reid is extraordinary. She has crafted a fantastic murder mystery that's woven through the most wonderful Winston love story, giving us romance, Cletus, family love, Cletus, suspense, Cletus, and even (fabulously) tears.
Marriage and Murder is compelling and brilliant, and it hits all the right mystery, suspense, romance notes to make it impossible to put down. It stands alone so you could, if you really had to, read it before reading any of the other Winston Brothers books. But really, why would anyone do that?
Marriage and Murder is compelling and brilliant, and it hits all the right mystery, suspense, romance notes to make it impossible to put down. It stands alone so you could, if you really had to, read it before reading any of the other Winston Brothers books. But really, why would anyone do that?
March 10, 2021
–
4.25 stars
SONG:
Better – ZAYN
Penny Reid has written some of my comfort books, because it meant coming back to one of my favorite fictional families: the Winstons.
〘 PLOT 〙
It's Cletus and Jennifer's engagement day. Everyone around Green Valley is gathered to celebrate Cletus and Jenn's love. Out of nowhere Kip, Jenn's father, arrives uninvited and creates a lot of drama with his mistress Elena. They are asked to leave. After some time, while taking a moment for themselves, Jenn and Cletus hear gunshots and discover that Jenn's father got murdered in the parking lot in his car. Now the police tries to find the murderer, even Jenn is a suspect in the investigation.
☆ ALL THE STARS FOR ☆
✎ Cletus and Jenn. I'm in love with their love. It's the way Jenn and Cletus think the other can walk on air. There is so much love, adoration, devotion and being in their heads makes me smile every time. I just want someone to think about me how Cletus thinks about Jenn when he sees her. 🥺
What frustrated me a lot in the previous book is how Jenn and Cletus got interrupted all the time when they finally had some time alone. Thank god in this book they could do the dirty, before they were interrupted. I also love how Jenn and Cletus' kinky side is slowly showing... compared to the bigger picture what they do in their bedroom is by no mean really kinky, but it's for them and i'm here fore it. 😌
✎ Cletus mind. You know there are thousands of alpha a-hole characters out there and so many of them are replacable. Not just alpha heroes, it's beta heroes, omega heroes, name me any hero and I could probably name another hero that has similar traits, but Cletus Byron Winston. There is only one Cletus. Still to this day, he is one of the most unique characters I've ever read about and I'm going to say this in every Cletus book until the day I find another character that comes close to Cletus uniqueness. I love reading Cletus' POV. I love being in his mind. It's such a breath of fresh air, cause no one is doing it like Cletus Winston.
✎ all the Winston family moments. The Winstons and all their significant others are such a tight knitted group and constantly in each other businesses and it's the best thing ever. They love and support each other so much that every single member is taking part in the planning of Jenn and Cletus' engagement. These family scenes just make me super happy. What is there not to love about a family that is there through thick and thin? The Winston is one weird family and I want them to adopt me!!!
✎ the character growth. Looking back at Beard Science and now reading Marriage and Murder, it's eye-opening, cause Jenn and Cletus grow so much. Jenn already had a great character development in Beard Science and the story itself was wrapped up nicely, but seeing how these characters continue to grow makes me so proud. I love how Jenn learned in this book to be more sex positive, because that's something she was never taught. Cletus stand on revenge and people around him has also changed so much since he meet Jenn. His attitude towards his father by the end of Beard Science and by the end of Marriage and Murder– already words apart. His feelings towards Jackson James by the end of Beard Science and Marriage and Murder– I sense the next best bromance without being really a bromance LOL. Jenn and Cletus went through so much healing together and it shows and I love it.
❁ WHO CARES ❁
I knew the whole concept of this new Cletus/Jenn spin off is based on mysteries that they are trying to solve together, but honestly I don't care about that at all. I'm only reading for the new Winston content and domestic Cletus & Jenn scenes. All the things about who murders who.. who the hell cares. Not this gurl here. So those chapters when Cletus and Jenn were trying to investigate the murder were not really that interesting to me, since I thought it was pretty obvious from the start who was behind everything. But that's just a me thing to not care about all the murder mystery stuff.
All in all, Marriage and Murder is a great addition to Jenn and Cletus story. I know that this whole spin off is not really necessary for their story, cause everything was wrapped up in Beard Science, but for Jenn and Cletus fans and Winston family lovers it's a nice bonus. I like that the relationships that were left shaky after BS are getting more explored in this series.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries Series
#0 Beard Science – 5 stars
#1 Engagement and Espionage – 3.75 stars
#2 Marriage and Murder – 4.25 stars
#3 Home and Heist – tbr
#4 Baby and Ballistics – tbr
#5 Pie Crimes and Misdemeanors – tbr
SONG:
Better – ZAYN
Penny Reid has written some of my comfort books, because it meant coming back to one of my favorite fictional families: the Winstons.
〘 PLOT 〙
It's Cletus and Jennifer's engagement day. Everyone around Green Valley is gathered to celebrate Cletus and Jenn's love. Out of nowhere Kip, Jenn's father, arrives uninvited and creates a lot of drama with his mistress Elena. They are asked to leave. After some time, while taking a moment for themselves, Jenn and Cletus hear gunshots and discover that Jenn's father got murdered in the parking lot in his car. Now the police tries to find the murderer, even Jenn is a suspect in the investigation.
☆ ALL THE STARS FOR ☆
✎ Cletus and Jenn. I'm in love with their love. It's the way Jenn and Cletus think the other can walk on air. There is so much love, adoration, devotion and being in their heads makes me smile every time. I just want someone to think about me how Cletus thinks about Jenn when he sees her. 🥺
To me, she existed as a multi-dimensional angel and devil, owner of my heart, my joy and my pain, light-years beyond beautiful, or celestial, or exquisite.
"No Jenn. Not the dress. You." Cletus gave me a soft kiss, ending it by gently nipping my bottom lip. "You are my miracle."
"I love you so completely, with every cell in my body. I wonder sometimes if I'd cease to exist– just evaporate or disappear– if anything ever happened to you."
What frustrated me a lot in the previous book is how Jenn and Cletus got interrupted all the time when they finally had some time alone. Thank god in this book they could do the dirty, before they were interrupted. I also love how Jenn and Cletus' kinky side is slowly showing... compared to the bigger picture what they do in their bedroom is by no mean really kinky, but it's for them and i'm here fore it. 😌
✎ Cletus mind. You know there are thousands of alpha a-hole characters out there and so many of them are replacable. Not just alpha heroes, it's beta heroes, omega heroes, name me any hero and I could probably name another hero that has similar traits, but Cletus Byron Winston. There is only one Cletus. Still to this day, he is one of the most unique characters I've ever read about and I'm going to say this in every Cletus book until the day I find another character that comes close to Cletus uniqueness. I love reading Cletus' POV. I love being in his mind. It's such a breath of fresh air, cause no one is doing it like Cletus Winston.
✎ all the Winston family moments. The Winstons and all their significant others are such a tight knitted group and constantly in each other businesses and it's the best thing ever. They love and support each other so much that every single member is taking part in the planning of Jenn and Cletus' engagement. These family scenes just make me super happy. What is there not to love about a family that is there through thick and thin? The Winston is one weird family and I want them to adopt me!!!
"Does this mean I get to plan your bachelor party?"
"Never mind, I rescind the offer."
Billy chuckled, finally walking towards his car. "Too late. I have Jenn as a witness. What's done is done."
Cletus turned as Billy brushed past. "This shall not stand!"
"That shouldn't be a problem. I believe your stripper friend–George, right? I believe he rappels from the ceiling, if memory serves. No standing involved."
✎ the character growth. Looking back at Beard Science and now reading Marriage and Murder, it's eye-opening, cause Jenn and Cletus grow so much. Jenn already had a great character development in Beard Science and the story itself was wrapped up nicely, but seeing how these characters continue to grow makes me so proud. I love how Jenn learned in this book to be more sex positive, because that's something she was never taught. Cletus stand on revenge and people around him has also changed so much since he meet Jenn. His attitude towards his father by the end of Beard Science and by the end of Marriage and Murder– already words apart. His feelings towards Jackson James by the end of Beard Science and Marriage and Murder– I sense the next best bromance without being really a bromance LOL. Jenn and Cletus went through so much healing together and it shows and I love it.
It was, he was, I was, life was perfection.
❁ WHO CARES ❁
I knew the whole concept of this new Cletus/Jenn spin off is based on mysteries that they are trying to solve together, but honestly I don't care about that at all. I'm only reading for the new Winston content and domestic Cletus & Jenn scenes. All the things about who murders who.. who the hell cares. Not this gurl here. So those chapters when Cletus and Jenn were trying to investigate the murder were not really that interesting to me, since I thought it was pretty obvious from the start who was behind everything. But that's just a me thing to not care about all the murder mystery stuff.
All in all, Marriage and Murder is a great addition to Jenn and Cletus story. I know that this whole spin off is not really necessary for their story, cause everything was wrapped up in Beard Science, but for Jenn and Cletus fans and Winston family lovers it's a nice bonus. I like that the relationships that were left shaky after BS are getting more explored in this series.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries Series
#0 Beard Science – 5 stars
#1 Engagement and Espionage – 3.75 stars
#2 Marriage and Murder – 4.25 stars
#3 Home and Heist – tbr
#4 Baby and Ballistics – tbr
#5 Pie Crimes and Misdemeanors – tbr
July 18, 2023
When it comes to Cletus and Jen, Penny Reid can do no wrong. I’d read any kind of story about those two.
This second Solving for Pie book is heavier on the mystery and lighter on the romance. The story kicks off with a murder at an engagement party, and a fun but darker whodunnit occupies most of the remaining plot.
Cletus and Jen’s relationship is on stronger footing, with the only conflict between them having to do with Jen’s guilt about wanting to have sex with him all the time. I didn’t find this conflict nearly as compelling as the romance plotline in Engagement and Espionage. It makes sense that Jen, having been raised in a Christian fundamentalist household with two emotionally abusive parents, is holding onto a lot of guilt and shame surrounding her sexuality. I just thought that she had worked through most of that trauma in earlier books, so its return here was a bit jarring and difficult to read.
This book sets up the relationship between Repo (the biker) and Diane (Jen’s mother), a love story I can’t wait to read about in Beard in Hiding. I can’t believe I’ve come to love Jen’s mother so much, which speaks to the elegant way Penny Reid has handled the past difficulties and slow resolution of that mother-daughter relationship.
This second Solving for Pie book is heavier on the mystery and lighter on the romance. The story kicks off with a murder at an engagement party, and a fun but darker whodunnit occupies most of the remaining plot.
Cletus and Jen’s relationship is on stronger footing, with the only conflict between them having to do with Jen’s guilt about wanting to have sex with him all the time. I didn’t find this conflict nearly as compelling as the romance plotline in Engagement and Espionage. It makes sense that Jen, having been raised in a Christian fundamentalist household with two emotionally abusive parents, is holding onto a lot of guilt and shame surrounding her sexuality. I just thought that she had worked through most of that trauma in earlier books, so its return here was a bit jarring and difficult to read.
This book sets up the relationship between Repo (the biker) and Diane (Jen’s mother), a love story I can’t wait to read about in Beard in Hiding. I can’t believe I’ve come to love Jen’s mother so much, which speaks to the elegant way Penny Reid has handled the past difficulties and slow resolution of that mother-daughter relationship.
April 3, 2024
Cletus and Jenn are slowly inching their way towards their wedding day in this wonderful companion series to The Winston Brothers. Now it’s their engagement party, Cletus is just as particular as ever, this time over having to wear nice clothes, because, Cletus, and when something terrible occurs at the party, he and Jenn will have to work together to solve another mystery and clear one of their names.
This had all the hilarity and charm of the first book in the series. There was a good mystery to solve. Appearances by the Iron Wraiths. Plenty of Winston Brothers. And Cletus and Jenn being themselves, which I can’t get enough of. Very much enjoying this addition to Green Valley.
This had all the hilarity and charm of the first book in the series. There was a good mystery to solve. Appearances by the Iron Wraiths. Plenty of Winston Brothers. And Cletus and Jenn being themselves, which I can’t get enough of. Very much enjoying this addition to Green Valley.
April 21, 2021
Move aside Knives Out, there's a new cozy mystery in town and it's a good one.
Although I enjoyed Engagement and Espionage there was something missing in that book that I couldn't quite explain. The tone was just a little bit off and I missed the incredible spark we got from Cletus and Jenn back in Beard Science. Well, there's no need to fret, in Marriage and Murder that connection comes back with a vengeance.
Even though this is an incredibly well-crafted mystery that would make Agatha Christie proud, the romance is still very much front and center. To balance the murdery bits, we are rewarded with witty dialogues, swoony declarations, and so many steamy scenes. Seriously, they are HOT. But only Penny Reid can also make them liberating, romantic, and incite a whole conversation about feeling free with the one you love. Chef's Kiss.
Cletus is so much more Cletus. Being inside his head is insanely entertaining. But, I would be remiss if I didn't mention his character growth. In Beard Science, he was his old self, a somewhat selfish plotter. In Engagement and Espionage, he is trying hard to change his ways but felt a bit muted. Here, he is his best version - smart as a whip, and still having "too many irons in the fire", but sharing all parts of himself with Jenn. Also, he is distracted by her, and he needs to both cope with that and prepare for it. This inner struggle is cute and shows us that even Cletus has his blind spots.
Jenn also keeps evolving, she is still discovering who she is outside of her parent's influence, and what it means to cope with her father's death. She realizes that it's human to feel frustrated and angry and that she's not the perfectly sweet and polite Southern Bell all the time - and that's absolutely ok.
The plot itself is interesting and captivating from the very first chapter. The twists and turns and the carefully sprinkled evidence will keep you wondering until the very end whodunit. And amidst everything that is going on you get to enjoy the whole gang - all the Winston's coming together to support Cletus and Jenn. As always, this means a lot of charisma and emotional moments. Honestly, I couldn't ask for anything better.
And this managed to make me even more excited for Totally Folked, the book about Jackson James. But, GAH, what we're all going to be thinking about is a book about Isaac Sylvester aka Twilight.
Here are some thoughts that may be spoilery, so stop here if you haven't read Marriage and Murder yet. But, go grab it and read it as soon as possible, because it's worth it.
I love how this world is so incredibly connected. Back in Baking Me Crazy Joy is explaining that Cletus remodeled the Donner Bakery after Jenn was in a wheelchair for a while, and here we get to know why! And this was back in Smartypants Romance launch 1 - impressive.
Also, in the new The One That I Want a big part of the plot is around Diane Donner being MIA.
With the time jump we see at the end of the book, I'm guessing or mostly hoping that this series will end in the same timeframe as the future epilogue from Beard Necessities. Fingers Crossed.
This is not a spoiler at all, but back to the attention to details, Kip is murdered on March 2nd or the same as the release date for Marriage and Murder - so clever!
And Penny, if you ever read this, we were teased about a shower sex scene for a great part of this book and we need it! Maybe in a future newsletter, wink wink?
My God, here's an honorable mention to THAT scene between Jenn and Repo... Just wow. Damn those invisible ninjas cutting onions while I was reading it.
And, to wrap it up, how could I not mention Ash and Drew's wedding and their explanation for it not happening before? I know it was mentioned in previous books that they wanted to get married but Ash wouldn't commit and I couldn't understand why, but not only it made perfect sense in Marriage and Murder, but that's also another scene that I would love to read about - their actual wedding day. Honestly, Ash was great in this book and I love her so much.
Final thoughts: if you enjoy anything by Penny Reid or the Winston's at all, go pick this up.
Download your copy today:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bxHvvw
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/MarriageMurderPR
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2LqTiBk
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2T5lIVP
Nook: https://bit.ly/2WuiXzm
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2Z0eZjD
Thank you Social Butterfly PR for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews in the Blog
Bookstagram
Although I enjoyed Engagement and Espionage there was something missing in that book that I couldn't quite explain. The tone was just a little bit off and I missed the incredible spark we got from Cletus and Jenn back in Beard Science. Well, there's no need to fret, in Marriage and Murder that connection comes back with a vengeance.
Even though this is an incredibly well-crafted mystery that would make Agatha Christie proud, the romance is still very much front and center. To balance the murdery bits, we are rewarded with witty dialogues, swoony declarations, and so many steamy scenes. Seriously, they are HOT. But only Penny Reid can also make them liberating, romantic, and incite a whole conversation about feeling free with the one you love. Chef's Kiss.
Cletus is so much more Cletus. Being inside his head is insanely entertaining. But, I would be remiss if I didn't mention his character growth. In Beard Science, he was his old self, a somewhat selfish plotter. In Engagement and Espionage, he is trying hard to change his ways but felt a bit muted. Here, he is his best version - smart as a whip, and still having "too many irons in the fire", but sharing all parts of himself with Jenn. Also, he is distracted by her, and he needs to both cope with that and prepare for it. This inner struggle is cute and shows us that even Cletus has his blind spots.
Jenn also keeps evolving, she is still discovering who she is outside of her parent's influence, and what it means to cope with her father's death. She realizes that it's human to feel frustrated and angry and that she's not the perfectly sweet and polite Southern Bell all the time - and that's absolutely ok.
The plot itself is interesting and captivating from the very first chapter. The twists and turns and the carefully sprinkled evidence will keep you wondering until the very end whodunit. And amidst everything that is going on you get to enjoy the whole gang - all the Winston's coming together to support Cletus and Jenn. As always, this means a lot of charisma and emotional moments. Honestly, I couldn't ask for anything better.
And this managed to make me even more excited for Totally Folked, the book about Jackson James. But, GAH, what we're all going to be thinking about is a book about Isaac Sylvester aka Twilight.
Here are some thoughts that may be spoilery, so stop here if you haven't read Marriage and Murder yet. But, go grab it and read it as soon as possible, because it's worth it.
I love how this world is so incredibly connected. Back in Baking Me Crazy Joy is explaining that Cletus remodeled the Donner Bakery after Jenn was in a wheelchair for a while, and here we get to know why! And this was back in Smartypants Romance launch 1 - impressive.
Also, in the new The One That I Want a big part of the plot is around Diane Donner being MIA.
With the time jump we see at the end of the book, I'm guessing or mostly hoping that this series will end in the same timeframe as the future epilogue from Beard Necessities. Fingers Crossed.
This is not a spoiler at all, but back to the attention to details, Kip is murdered on March 2nd or the same as the release date for Marriage and Murder - so clever!
And Penny, if you ever read this, we were teased about a shower sex scene for a great part of this book and we need it! Maybe in a future newsletter, wink wink?
My God, here's an honorable mention to THAT scene between Jenn and Repo... Just wow. Damn those invisible ninjas cutting onions while I was reading it.
And, to wrap it up, how could I not mention Ash and Drew's wedding and their explanation for it not happening before? I know it was mentioned in previous books that they wanted to get married but Ash wouldn't commit and I couldn't understand why, but not only it made perfect sense in Marriage and Murder, but that's also another scene that I would love to read about - their actual wedding day. Honestly, Ash was great in this book and I love her so much.
Final thoughts: if you enjoy anything by Penny Reid or the Winston's at all, go pick this up.
Download your copy today:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3bxHvvw
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/MarriageMurderPR
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2LqTiBk
Kobo: https://bit.ly/2T5lIVP
Nook: https://bit.ly/2WuiXzm
Google Play: https://bit.ly/2Z0eZjD
Thank you Social Butterfly PR for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews in the Blog
Bookstagram
March 17, 2021
Before Penny Reid I had never heard of cosy mysteries and I definitely had no intention of reading one. And then she said Cletus and Jenn were the main characters and I couldn't get a hold of them fast enough.
Everything about the Winston family has been epic. Every single one of them and their significant others has brought so much, not just to their own books but to the series as a whole. So, when we got to puppet master, Cletus's book at the end of the series I really didn't want to let them go. Then this spin off popped up and I love it.
It has all of the Winston's, along with all of Cletus's shenanigans and Jenn's quiet calm with a side of mystery and drama. And aside from keeping me guessing from the first page it also has so much romance and heat. Seriously the way Cletus loves Jenn is swoon worthy. But the fact that Jenn is so besotted with him umm ….. sausage had me giggling and fanning my face.
I have loved watching their relationship continue to develop while enjoying the mystery of the moment. I really can't wait to get my hands on the next one and see if some of these loose ends get tied up because there are still so many questions, I want answers to that I just know Penny is loving dangling there for us to obsess over while we impatiently wait for the next instalment.
Everything about the Winston family has been epic. Every single one of them and their significant others has brought so much, not just to their own books but to the series as a whole. So, when we got to puppet master, Cletus's book at the end of the series I really didn't want to let them go. Then this spin off popped up and I love it.
It has all of the Winston's, along with all of Cletus's shenanigans and Jenn's quiet calm with a side of mystery and drama. And aside from keeping me guessing from the first page it also has so much romance and heat. Seriously the way Cletus loves Jenn is swoon worthy. But the fact that Jenn is so besotted with him umm ….. sausage had me giggling and fanning my face.
I have loved watching their relationship continue to develop while enjoying the mystery of the moment. I really can't wait to get my hands on the next one and see if some of these loose ends get tied up because there are still so many questions, I want answers to that I just know Penny is loving dangling there for us to obsess over while we impatiently wait for the next instalment.
March 4, 2021
4 stars
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but it had a little too much mystery and ‘who done it’, and not quite enough romance for me personally. Marriage and Murder, however, had much more romance, steam, and just more Cletus and Jenn content that I adored!
I feel like Cletus and Jenn both had so much growth when it came to their relationship. Jenn really came into her own in this book, and we got to see a new side of Cletus and I was here for it! No matter what’s going on in Jenn and Cletus’s world, they always have each others back and are always there for each other and I love that about them!
The story was wonderful and Penny Reid’s writing was exquisite as always. I loved the family dynamic and the relationship between Cletus and Jenn. The mystery aspect is just not my favorite thing… but that’s just a personal preference. Honestly, without that, it probably would have been a 5 star for me. I know a lot of people love that element in books, I just don’t care for it so much.
I will never grow tired reading about the Winston family. They are some of those characters that could have endless books and I would be happy. Cletus and Jenn are couple goals and this was such a great addition to their love story. I’m happy we’re getting more from them in the future and I hope there is more in this world (Jackson!) If you’re looking for a beautiful, funny, and emotional romance, pick up Marriage and Murder!
Our love story might’ve been a little mixed up. Some folks might even call it weird. I’d threatened and blackmailed him. We’d become friends. We’d fallen in love...But that was us.
This story was ours.
We were weird.
I was so glad I’d stayed away from the normals, because I wouldn’t have traded being weird with Cletus for being normal with absolutely anyone else.
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but it had a little too much mystery and ‘who done it’, and not quite enough romance for me personally. Marriage and Murder, however, had much more romance, steam, and just more Cletus and Jenn content that I adored!
I feel like Cletus and Jenn both had so much growth when it came to their relationship. Jenn really came into her own in this book, and we got to see a new side of Cletus and I was here for it! No matter what’s going on in Jenn and Cletus’s world, they always have each others back and are always there for each other and I love that about them!
The story was wonderful and Penny Reid’s writing was exquisite as always. I loved the family dynamic and the relationship between Cletus and Jenn. The mystery aspect is just not my favorite thing… but that’s just a personal preference. Honestly, without that, it probably would have been a 5 star for me. I know a lot of people love that element in books, I just don’t care for it so much.
I will never grow tired reading about the Winston family. They are some of those characters that could have endless books and I would be happy. Cletus and Jenn are couple goals and this was such a great addition to their love story. I’m happy we’re getting more from them in the future and I hope there is more in this world (Jackson!) If you’re looking for a beautiful, funny, and emotional romance, pick up Marriage and Murder!
February 18, 2021
‘In her I saw flaws and strengths others would never see, secret parts of her known only to me, and my private knowledge of this stunning woman elevated her from the one-dimensional being implied by the pithy descriptor beautiful to someone quantum, cosmic in nature. To Jackson, she may have been merely beautiful. To me, she existed as a multi-dimensional angel and devil, owner of my heart, my joy and my pain, light-years beyond beautiful, or celestial, or exquisite. Because when I saw Jenn, I saw all of her, all versions of her, and all our history, and all the wondrous and frightening possibilities of our future.’
Marriage and Murder by author Penny Reid is a truly sumptuous, gripping and monumental mosaic of intrigue, mystery, romance and scandal. The story as a whole is thoroughly exhilarating and arresting (quite literally in this case) but when you break the story down into all the different components that make it so dynamic, it’s in the essence of the characters, the flow and ebb of sparkling and emotive dialogue, it’s in how everything has been thought out, planned out and executed with remarkable detail, passion and depth.
How astonishing it is, that we are able to fully immerse ourselves in a tale of murder and havoc, greed and chaos, but also get swept up in such a glorious display of love and romance, familial connections and warmth and still laugh and swoon amidst all of the somber and more serious aspects of the story. I was able to literally laugh-out-loud, my heart was melting in a gooey puddle of love, I was sobbing a few times right before I was back to laughing again- such is the power behind the words and people gifted to us within this book.
Author Penny Reid is absolutely superb at bringing her characters to life and probably the most famous of those personalities is Cletus Winston. The man is an enticing enigma. With a sleek intelligence, an abundance of wit and a warehouse-size arsenal of wiliness and shrewdness about him, he is without a doubt a magnificent protagonist. Because underneath all of that he is a man in love, with a protective streak a mile wide and a thought process that is equal parts scary-amazing and deeply romantic and sweet. In Marriage and Murder, I feel like we really got to delve deeper into his character and I could not possibly love him as much as I do right now. He is bewitching. How his mind works, how he feels so much, the way he is able to reflect and take action. There is no one quite like Cletus Winston and seeing all of his layers stripped back in this book really was quite breathtaking. His vulnerability and tender heart are two of the most beautiful aspects. While his clever mind and razor-sharp talent at pin-pointing people’s weaknesses are the most spellbinding aspects to see in action.
‘Side note, I despised how police surveillance made extorting and threatening people difficult. So frustrating.’
Jenn is simply as dazzling as ever. She feels like she has always been a part of the Winston brood. She encompasses love and loyalty. I adore that she is able to retain her sweet and sincere nature but is also discovering her sexuality, her outward strength and using her voice to stand up for herself. She is Cletus’ equal in every way. There are no dominant aspects in the relationship, they each play their roles wonderfully. They complement, ease, arouse and respect each other and have such profound feelings for the other that it is like running your eyes along an impressive tapestry of emotions. They definitely go through a tumultuous time in Marriage and Murder but for me it just highlighted the solidity of their bond.
Marriage and Murder is a seriously exciting and standout cosy mystery with the added sparkle of Winston family and Green Valley-infused depth. It’s a truly astounding piece of writing; a delicious concoction of thriller, whodunnit and romance, hosting a wealth of intrigue, mayhem, drama and angst, with some beautifully choreographed intimate scenes, that were powerful, intoxicating and wonderfully romantic. With the enticing addition of some old familiar faces, one enigmatic and aloof Issac Sylvester and the affable and alluring Jackson James, and you have one sexy, complicated and sensational recipe for success here.
Marriage and Murder by author Penny Reid is a truly sumptuous, gripping and monumental mosaic of intrigue, mystery, romance and scandal. The story as a whole is thoroughly exhilarating and arresting (quite literally in this case) but when you break the story down into all the different components that make it so dynamic, it’s in the essence of the characters, the flow and ebb of sparkling and emotive dialogue, it’s in how everything has been thought out, planned out and executed with remarkable detail, passion and depth.
How astonishing it is, that we are able to fully immerse ourselves in a tale of murder and havoc, greed and chaos, but also get swept up in such a glorious display of love and romance, familial connections and warmth and still laugh and swoon amidst all of the somber and more serious aspects of the story. I was able to literally laugh-out-loud, my heart was melting in a gooey puddle of love, I was sobbing a few times right before I was back to laughing again- such is the power behind the words and people gifted to us within this book.
Author Penny Reid is absolutely superb at bringing her characters to life and probably the most famous of those personalities is Cletus Winston. The man is an enticing enigma. With a sleek intelligence, an abundance of wit and a warehouse-size arsenal of wiliness and shrewdness about him, he is without a doubt a magnificent protagonist. Because underneath all of that he is a man in love, with a protective streak a mile wide and a thought process that is equal parts scary-amazing and deeply romantic and sweet. In Marriage and Murder, I feel like we really got to delve deeper into his character and I could not possibly love him as much as I do right now. He is bewitching. How his mind works, how he feels so much, the way he is able to reflect and take action. There is no one quite like Cletus Winston and seeing all of his layers stripped back in this book really was quite breathtaking. His vulnerability and tender heart are two of the most beautiful aspects. While his clever mind and razor-sharp talent at pin-pointing people’s weaknesses are the most spellbinding aspects to see in action.
‘Side note, I despised how police surveillance made extorting and threatening people difficult. So frustrating.’
Jenn is simply as dazzling as ever. She feels like she has always been a part of the Winston brood. She encompasses love and loyalty. I adore that she is able to retain her sweet and sincere nature but is also discovering her sexuality, her outward strength and using her voice to stand up for herself. She is Cletus’ equal in every way. There are no dominant aspects in the relationship, they each play their roles wonderfully. They complement, ease, arouse and respect each other and have such profound feelings for the other that it is like running your eyes along an impressive tapestry of emotions. They definitely go through a tumultuous time in Marriage and Murder but for me it just highlighted the solidity of their bond.
Marriage and Murder is a seriously exciting and standout cosy mystery with the added sparkle of Winston family and Green Valley-infused depth. It’s a truly astounding piece of writing; a delicious concoction of thriller, whodunnit and romance, hosting a wealth of intrigue, mayhem, drama and angst, with some beautifully choreographed intimate scenes, that were powerful, intoxicating and wonderfully romantic. With the enticing addition of some old familiar faces, one enigmatic and aloof Issac Sylvester and the affable and alluring Jackson James, and you have one sexy, complicated and sensational recipe for success here.
June 13, 2025
It's funny because I enjoy this series, but they also aren't that good. (hopefully this makes sense). Reid is an author I'll read anything by, I mostly love her characters and the small world she's created and happy to spend time in it. This one started off rough by being slightly over convoluted, combined with way more steam than the last one it felt like there was a balance she was trying harder to find. It mostly worked, but I thought the pacing was a bit off. I was actually more interested in all the side characters and not Cletus and Jenn which is a shame because they were my favorites in the Beard series.
Curious if there will be more of these? I see them planned but it's also been 4 years since this book was published without another series release. I also just don't pay as close attention to release dates/order as I used to so I mostly likely am missing something.
Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo 2025 categories hit: Mystery Romance (who-doin-it, fka who-done-it) and Grand Gesture
Curious if there will be more of these? I see them planned but it's also been 4 years since this book was published without another series release. I also just don't pay as close attention to release dates/order as I used to so I mostly likely am missing something.
Ripped Bodice Summer Bingo 2025 categories hit: Mystery Romance (who-doin-it, fka who-done-it) and Grand Gesture
March 18, 2021
2.5 Stars
Welcome to the latest installment of Cletus and the Queen! Wait, that’s not what these are called? Well, it’s what I call ‘em because “Solving for Pie” is stupid. Anyway, in case you aren’t familiar – this series features the aforementioned Cletus . . . .
And his Banana Cake Queen fiancé Jennifer . . . .
When the two aren’t humping like rabbits, they dabble in solving the latest murder that’s gone down in their neck of the woods.
Are these books any good????
Will I read as many of them as Penny Reid decides to spit out????
What can I say, I dig the terrible Hallmark Murders & Mysteries movies and these read exactly like watching one of those. Lower marks this time are earned because there is a formula to these cozies. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) – so one red herring and then let’s get on with the damsel in distress getting kidnapped, the hero saving the day and just get ‘er done. It also helps to have a fairly small cast of characters, but since the Winstons have 17,000 family members now between all of the brothers, the sister and their respective counterparts that’s kind of impossible to do. But the main thing that needs to be worked on??? Brevity. There’s not enough story here to extend much beyond 250 pages. Also, while I know other perverts are there for the smex, I could definitely go for a lot less detail when it comes to this series . . . .
The one positive? Reid has placed this timeline firmly prior to Roscoe meeting his lady love. And thank god because if you want an example of “how to be woke” written in the most whitesplaining way possible, his story is one that can’t be missed. Yikes.
Welcome to the latest installment of Cletus and the Queen! Wait, that’s not what these are called? Well, it’s what I call ‘em because “Solving for Pie” is stupid. Anyway, in case you aren’t familiar – this series features the aforementioned Cletus . . . .
And his Banana Cake Queen fiancé Jennifer . . . .
When the two aren’t humping like rabbits, they dabble in solving the latest murder that’s gone down in their neck of the woods.
Are these books any good????
Will I read as many of them as Penny Reid decides to spit out????
What can I say, I dig the terrible Hallmark Murders & Mysteries movies and these read exactly like watching one of those. Lower marks this time are earned because there is a formula to these cozies. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) – so one red herring and then let’s get on with the damsel in distress getting kidnapped, the hero saving the day and just get ‘er done. It also helps to have a fairly small cast of characters, but since the Winstons have 17,000 family members now between all of the brothers, the sister and their respective counterparts that’s kind of impossible to do. But the main thing that needs to be worked on??? Brevity. There’s not enough story here to extend much beyond 250 pages. Also, while I know other perverts are there for the smex, I could definitely go for a lot less detail when it comes to this series . . . .
The one positive? Reid has placed this timeline firmly prior to Roscoe meeting his lady love. And thank god because if you want an example of “how to be woke” written in the most whitesplaining way possible, his story is one that can’t be missed. Yikes.
March 1, 2021
“But whatever it was, whenever and whatever she needed or wanted or craved, I would always and forever make sure it was hers. Just as I would be hers, always and forever.”
It's SO GREAT to have these characters back, and I will probably never get tired of CletusJenn and the Winstons!! I don't know how Penny Reid does it, but with every book, I fall more and more in love with this incredible family.
After the events of Engagement and Espionage, Cletus and Jenn are more than ready to tie the knot, and Marriage and Murder opens up with their engagement party. The Winstons and the entire town of Green Valley gather to celebrate the happy couple... until someone ends up dead, and Cletus and Jenn are among the suspects.
Like the previous book, I enjoyed this one so much! The murder mystery plot was very entertaining and riveting, and once again it was amazing to see the whole family rally behind Cletus and Jenn to solve it. The romance and the mystery were well balanced, there were also lots of funny moments between the Winstons, and once more Cletus stole the show with his sassy comments and jokes. The series in general also provided more information about what happened in between books of the Winston Brothers series and what some of the Smartypants books hinted at. You feel like you know these characters by heart, but you still learn so much about them, and that’s something that I like a lot about this series!
There are no other couples like Cletus and Jenn. These two are so perfect and adorable together, and I will never get tired of them. I'm still in awe of how supportive of each other they are, and how they complete each other so well. You learn even more about them and their relationship, they also evolve as a couple, and it's great to follow them as they go through all these steps together. Their love is so pure, and I ONLY want what they have.
I know I keep saying this, but I need the Winston family to adopt me!! Ever since I read Truth or Beard I have fallen in love with this big family, they are my favorites, and their interactions always make me the happiest. In this book, I particularly liked those between Jenn, the Winstons, and their loved ones, especially the moments between Billy and Jenn. I need more of these two!! Also, the BillyScarlet crumbs!!! I hope we'll see them together in this series because I love them so much. We got to see more of Isaac, Boone, and Jackson too, I'm getting more and more curious about them, so I can't wait for them to get their book. Alex has also been mentioned several times, and it has made me so happy, my precious baby <3
Overall, I have nothing negative to say about this book, I loved everything about it. It was entertaining, funny, sweet, and the epilogue made me so emotional. Cletus and Jenn are happily married and are resting a little bit until a new mystery shakes them up. I'm excited to see what's next for Cletus and Jenn, and my all-time favorite family!
*ARC kindly provided by the author and Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review
April 9, 2021
I snuck a peek at my review for book one of this series just to see if my feelings about this follow-up were on par and.. you know, mostly? Yes. Also it’s funny to see I had spent a sunday afternoon reading book one and here I spent a sunday morning reading this one. Sundays are for mysteries?
But to reiterate from my previous review, seriously, what is in the water in this town? I realize this is a “mystery” series spinoff from the main books but honestly. Town o’lunatics. Having said that, though, there were fewer characters who irritated me this time around (we love to see growth!) but the drama level is high. Even though I think this one was tamer.. in a few ways. Vague comments are vague.
Overall I find a lot of the conflicts in Reid’s books are a wee bit OTT but I think it feels manageable because her characters are also full of personality. So it all kind of feels on-par.. until you stop and think about it.
Cletus, one of the characters with the absolute most personality, however? He was really off his game in this one. There were reasons (excuses) given of course but it was interesting to see Reid put him through being.. well, fallible. Not quite the smartest in the room. I’m not sure I had many thoughts about Jenn, or about her realizations or the things she came to terms with, which may not be a good thing but neither was it bad. And, I mean, even though this is their series, overall it’s the ensemble that really sells this for me. As always.
Somewhat bonkers plot and conflict aside, even if my feelings overall are becoming bit muted about these books as time goes on, I still had a pretty good time being back in this world. And after all this time, and after all these books and spinoffs, it would take something pretty big to get me to stop reading at this point.
** 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.
But to reiterate from my previous review, seriously, what is in the water in this town? I realize this is a “mystery” series spinoff from the main books but honestly. Town o’lunatics. Having said that, though, there were fewer characters who irritated me this time around (we love to see growth!) but the drama level is high. Even though I think this one was tamer.. in a few ways. Vague comments are vague.
Overall I find a lot of the conflicts in Reid’s books are a wee bit OTT but I think it feels manageable because her characters are also full of personality. So it all kind of feels on-par.. until you stop and think about it.
Cletus, one of the characters with the absolute most personality, however? He was really off his game in this one. There were reasons (excuses) given of course but it was interesting to see Reid put him through being.. well, fallible. Not quite the smartest in the room. I’m not sure I had many thoughts about Jenn, or about her realizations or the things she came to terms with, which may not be a good thing but neither was it bad. And, I mean, even though this is their series, overall it’s the ensemble that really sells this for me. As always.
Somewhat bonkers plot and conflict aside, even if my feelings overall are becoming bit muted about these books as time goes on, I still had a pretty good time being back in this world. And after all this time, and after all these books and spinoffs, it would take something pretty big to get me to stop reading at this point.
** 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.
February 27, 2021
'Marriage and Murder' promises two things; there will be a marriage and there will be a murder, but it delivered so much more.
My first thoughts were that this book was **STEAMY** and it is. At first glance, it was easy to question why the steam was needed: Was it gratuitous? Was is it too much? But as with most superficial judgements, I was wrong. I get it now. It isn't just **steam**. It is Jenn coming into her own, finally accepting her sexuality. She was raised to repress those feelings and desires and taught that they were wrong. One can't have those and be a good girl. So now, in a committed relationship, where she once struggled with the ideas of sex, she's flourishing. She no longer sees sex as an act, but as part of her fully functioning, healthy relationship with Cletus. As the story unfolds, and with the help of her friends, she learns these desires and feelings are normal and healthy, but more so that she is normal, healthy and perfect the way she is.
I loved this version of Cletus in this story. Of course he was broody, domineering and sneaky but Cletus was also sexy, protective and incredibly loving.
Y'all, the coming together of Jethro and Cletus was incredible! Their touching conversation added so much heart and character to this story and their relationship. The revelations revealed shined light onto why Jethro was the man he was, and why he is who he is now. It was like reading a story within a story. I think I cried a few times while reading it.
Also ... I need and am so excited for Jackson James's story.
But also ... will mamma finally get her HEA?? (psst. Penny, asking for a friend)
'Marriage and Murder' is the story telling from Penny Reid I fell in love with; great banter, great laughs, great emotional pull. Just GREAT! It elicited all the gooey delicious feelings! All of them.
"Our love story might've been a little mixed up. Some folks might even call it weird. I'd threatened and blackmailed him. We'd become friends. We'd fallen in love."
"I was so glad I'd stayed away from the normals, because I wouldn't have traded being weird with Cletus for being normal with absolutely anyone else."
My first thoughts were that this book was **STEAMY** and it is. At first glance, it was easy to question why the steam was needed: Was it gratuitous? Was is it too much? But as with most superficial judgements, I was wrong. I get it now. It isn't just **steam**. It is Jenn coming into her own, finally accepting her sexuality. She was raised to repress those feelings and desires and taught that they were wrong. One can't have those and be a good girl. So now, in a committed relationship, where she once struggled with the ideas of sex, she's flourishing. She no longer sees sex as an act, but as part of her fully functioning, healthy relationship with Cletus. As the story unfolds, and with the help of her friends, she learns these desires and feelings are normal and healthy, but more so that she is normal, healthy and perfect the way she is.
I loved this version of Cletus in this story. Of course he was broody, domineering and sneaky but Cletus was also sexy, protective and incredibly loving.
Y'all, the coming together of Jethro and Cletus was incredible! Their touching conversation added so much heart and character to this story and their relationship. The revelations revealed shined light onto why Jethro was the man he was, and why he is who he is now. It was like reading a story within a story. I think I cried a few times while reading it.
Also ... I need and am so excited for Jackson James's story.
"I want somebody to look at me like Jenn looks at you, how Ash looks at Drew."
"Jackson, you do realize that in order for somebody to look at you that way, you have to be with the same woman more than once?"
But also ... will mamma finally get her HEA?? (psst. Penny, asking for a friend)
'Marriage and Murder' is the story telling from Penny Reid I fell in love with; great banter, great laughs, great emotional pull. Just GREAT! It elicited all the gooey delicious feelings! All of them.
This review was originally posted on Feeding My Addiction Book Reviews
I was provided a review copy by Penny Reid; this did not influence my opinion of the book.
March 22, 2021
“When I saw Jenn, I saw all of her, all versions of her, and all our history, and all the wonderous and frightening possibilities of our future.”
How does Penny do it??? These aren't new characters—I've read about them before. There's already a layer of familiarity and comfort but it was still a pleasant surprise to see more sides to them. Penny Reid made me fall even more inlove with the Winstons after Marriage and Murder.
Plot
During Cletus and Jenn's engagement party, someone winds up dead. And they end up as part of the suspects. I'm constantly amazed at how Cletus's mind works. He's the logical and cunning type. I could see his calculated moves, down to the things he says and information he chooses to divulge during the aftermath of the scene. Even him trying to piece everything together after the incident.
The whodunnit aspect led the book to be a total page-turner for me as the pieces were slowly coming together. Since this particular incident and bits of the aftermath have been mentioned in other books, it was really interesting seeing the whole picture start to form!
Cletus and Jenn
Cletus's sassy and whip-smart remarks will always get me. He brings so much humor in the pages and I love that. And Jenn... I feel like she's become more self-assured. I am so proud of how much more growth she had gone through! Also, they are both sooo inlove and I'm here for it. Now with the investigation and murder case, they really support each other in many ways. They always take each other's feelings into consideration. Always. Cletus's #1 priority is Jenn and it’s so evident in his words and actions.
The Winstons
I can't get enough of them!!!! They really tug at my heartstrings. Cletus and Jenn are the main characters, but the Winstons and their significant others made this book a family affair. Everything wedding-related and even during the case, they all took part in planning things and giving them much-needed support. BEST FAMILY!!
One of the many things I enjoyed in the Winston Brothers books is the dynamic between Cletus, Beau, and Billy. I saw more of that in this book and it just feels like a warm hug. I missed them so much. Also here’s a small appreciation for Jethro who really turned his life around for the better. I’m reminded of it even more after reading this book.
I am just SO GLAD there is more. This was beautiful but yes, I want more of them. Even Isaac! Jackson James! Boone! I can't wait for their own stories.
I’ve read all of Penny’s books that she wrote herself*. Ever since 2019, Beard Science & Beard with Me ties at my favorite but this... this book. This is my new favorite. (though I’m adding it up there with the two. I can’t bear to let go, so now I have those three books at my #1 spot)
*saying this as she co-authored a series, which I haven't gotten to yet
tl;dr: This is so much more than what I expected. Cletus and Jenn, the romance, the mystery/whodunnit, the Winstons, even the other people in Green Valley who had a hand in the situation... I truly, truly loved everything about this book. 😭💗
Thank you to Penny Reid and Social Butterly PR for providing an ARC! ♡
Interested in reading Winston Brothers & the Green Valley books? Here's a Guide to Green Valley!
Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries
#1 - Engagement and Espionage ★★★★✩
#2 - Marriage and Murder ★★★★★
March 24, 2021
Favorite Quotes:
Good Lord, the woman had invited everyone in East Tennessee and all their neighbors but none of their children. An intimate engagement party is what she and Jenn had promised me last year when the wedding planning had begun. This evening would be as intimate as an orgy in Times Square and would likely be better attended.
This chafed like wet pants on a ten-mile hike.
The woman was not usually one to offer comfort. At her most agreeable, she was saltier than a sardine.
She looked like a lawyer. You know, learned and poised to argue.
My Review:
This was a delightfully fun and highly entertaining read with romance, sizzling sensuality, family drama, a murder mystery, and my best-loved character from among my favorite family of quirky hillbillies, Cletus. I am enamored with him as well as his intended bride Jenn. They are an adorable couple and both with odd and complicated family dynamics. The storylines were intriguing, the characters were delectably peculiar, and the writing was cleverly amusing and kept me fully engaged on all thrusters. I hope to be reading these tales into perpetuity with these characters reaching the age of having spirited nursing home shenanigans.
Good Lord, the woman had invited everyone in East Tennessee and all their neighbors but none of their children. An intimate engagement party is what she and Jenn had promised me last year when the wedding planning had begun. This evening would be as intimate as an orgy in Times Square and would likely be better attended.
This chafed like wet pants on a ten-mile hike.
The woman was not usually one to offer comfort. At her most agreeable, she was saltier than a sardine.
She looked like a lawyer. You know, learned and poised to argue.
My Review:
This was a delightfully fun and highly entertaining read with romance, sizzling sensuality, family drama, a murder mystery, and my best-loved character from among my favorite family of quirky hillbillies, Cletus. I am enamored with him as well as his intended bride Jenn. They are an adorable couple and both with odd and complicated family dynamics. The storylines were intriguing, the characters were delectably peculiar, and the writing was cleverly amusing and kept me fully engaged on all thrusters. I hope to be reading these tales into perpetuity with these characters reaching the age of having spirited nursing home shenanigans.
August 11, 2020
I would do questionable things to get my hands on these books, read the first one and it was the best thing I've read in a while.
March 20, 2021
I absolutely love Cletus, Jenn and the whole Winston crew! This was a pleasure to read and I can’t wait for more😍😍😍
March 25, 2021
”Every day, I want you to know that I would marry you, that I love and adore you no less but always more than the day before.”
OH MY GOODNESS
MY HEART
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
⚠️ADVERTENCIA⚠️: Creo que esta reseña va a ser puro fangirleo intenso,
Amo a los hermanos Winston en especial a mi adorado Cletus y además que él y Jenn son mi pareja favorita, entonces no había manera que este libro no me gustara y que no le diera mis 5 estrellas.
E insisto esto es puro fan service pero .. AMAMOS. 😍😍😍
Amo como esta nueva serie sigue siendo tan fresca y tan única como su serie original y que los hermanos siguen tan presentes que era la magia de la serie Winston´s Brother que es muy familiar y lo seguimos teniendo aquí.
Yo me emocioné cuando se anunció esta serie y me imaginé que Cletus y Jenn iban a tener sus aventuras a contarnos que pasó con ellos en ese lapso de 5 años entre el libro de Beau y Roscoe .
Pensé que su trama ya había sido cerrada en su libro y no había nada más que contar sino cosas nuevas y que equivocada estaba porque Cletus y Jenn tienen mucho que contar porque quedaron muchos cabos sueltos que se han dio desarrollando a lo largo de estos dos libros.
En este libro tenemos un asesinato de una persona muy cercana a Jenn, hay varios sospechosos pero la principal es su mamá Diane por lo que Cletus y Jenn están trabajando por descubrir al asesino.
La trama de este libro está más interesante que la del libro anterior pero sigue con la misma secuencia.
Y al fin Penny hizo canon a Diane y Repo y aquí ya los tenemos juntos.
Otra cosa que amé porque sí todo amé, son las escenas hot demasiado HOT entre Cletus y Jenn y es que OMG son insasiables y Cletus que está siempre en control en la cama es ..
Cletus y Jenn forever LOS AMO, son la mejor pareja del mundo, me encanta los muchos que se aman, se apoyan como se conocen y se complementan es que si en solitario son geniales juntos son TOP
Mi segundo hermano favorito es Jethro y amé que saliera mucho juntos con Billy que es mi tercer favorito.
En realidad me gustó que salieron todos los hermanos y que apoyaran a Cletus.
En serio amé TODO en este libro y ya quiero el siguiente pero el siguiente en salir es el de Jackson James y con lo presentado aquí ya lo quiero leer.
February 25, 2021
As I sit here trying to formulate the words to express how much I loved this book, I can't help but smile. This book brought me so much joy through the world of Green Valley, and I can't help but wish this was a real place to visit.
"You can't kiss me like that if you expect me to think straight."
"Who says I expect you to think straight? Let's think crooked."
The banter that Cletus and Jennifer have, the love, the chemistry (oh my goodness the chemistry in this book!), just adds an extra delightful layer to this cozy mystery. I spent half of this book reading as fast as I could, only to stop and reread passages over and over. The who-done-it factor had me on the edge of my seat, until the the very last chapter. The writing is brilliant, and these characters have so much depth to them. With each new book we learn more and more about how they tick, and really how deep they feel.
Though this book and series follow Cletus and Jennifer as main characters, I love how it fully encompasses the rest of the Winston family. These glances in their life, through their interactions with Cletus and Jenn are such a joy to readers who fell in love with this family.
"Because when I saw Jenn, I saw all of her, all versions of her, and all our history, and all the wonderous and frightening possibilities of our future."
"You can't kiss me like that if you expect me to think straight."
"Who says I expect you to think straight? Let's think crooked."
The banter that Cletus and Jennifer have, the love, the chemistry (oh my goodness the chemistry in this book!), just adds an extra delightful layer to this cozy mystery. I spent half of this book reading as fast as I could, only to stop and reread passages over and over. The who-done-it factor had me on the edge of my seat, until the the very last chapter. The writing is brilliant, and these characters have so much depth to them. With each new book we learn more and more about how they tick, and really how deep they feel.
Though this book and series follow Cletus and Jennifer as main characters, I love how it fully encompasses the rest of the Winston family. These glances in their life, through their interactions with Cletus and Jenn are such a joy to readers who fell in love with this family.
"Because when I saw Jenn, I saw all of her, all versions of her, and all our history, and all the wonderous and frightening possibilities of our future."
February 26, 2021
Penny Reid is my all time favorite author. I love everything she writes, no exceptions. Engagement and Espionage was my favorite read of 2020, and I was so excited for Marriage and Murder and to see more of these characters I love so dearly. And I have to say, I might’ve loved this book even more than the first one in the series!
The Winstons are my all time favorite family. The series is my all time favorite ever as well. I’ve reread it multiple times and I still never grow tired of these characters and their stories. So seeing more of these people I love so much is always a highlight of these books for me. But this one was extra special. It’ll be extra special to any Winston fan out there. There were so many beautiful moments between these characters that made me shed a tear or two. Billy and Cletus were always one of my favorite sibling relationships, and you really get a lot of these two in this book. Billy was always more of a father to these siblings than just a big brother, and I just always felt like his relationship with Cletus was extra special. I also LOVED Billy and Jenn and every single scene with them I can get! Billy really takes her in, he becomes such a loving big brother to Jenn, which is something she has lost with Isaac, and just makes their relationship extra special to me. I also loved the Ashley moments so much! Loved that she was so important in this book and seeing more of her relationship with Jenn as well.
Cletus and Jenn are just a special couple. I haven’t met a soul who has not fallen in love with these two as separate entities but also for their romance after reading Beard Science. I love seeing them as a couple in this series so much, and seeing them reach all of these milestones: engagement, marriage, etc.. This book, surprisingly enough, just made me love them even more, which I never thought was quite possible!
I liked how Marriage and Murder answered so many of these mysteries books like Dr. Strange Beard, Beard Necessities, and even the Smartypants books hinted at too! I was always curious to know more about the years between Beard in Mind and Dr. Strange Beard, and these books do such a great job of filling in the blanks while also adding such a fun mystery twist to the story.
Which brings me to another point I loved: the mystery! Like I mentioned above, I love everything Penny writes. Everything. So honestly, I was excited when she announced a cozy mystery series featuring Jenn and Cletus! And I really feel like she’s excelling in this genre! The mysteries are well thought out, and keep me on my toes trying to guess with the characters who is behind it. The plot in this book was so fun! I liked it even better than Engagement and Espionage!
Lastly, this book made me so intrigued about so many of the upcoming books in this universe! Isaac, Boone, Jackson, I want them all and I want them now! I also loved the small Billy and Scarlet crumbs, although I’m excited to read a book in the series where they are actually together!
This was so good and I already want to read it all over again! Definitely a new favorite. Loved all the Winston Brothers moments and all the Cletus and Jenn stuff was SOOO cute! So good!!! If you have not started this series yet I super recommend!!!!
*I got an arc in exchange for an honest review*
The Winstons are my all time favorite family. The series is my all time favorite ever as well. I’ve reread it multiple times and I still never grow tired of these characters and their stories. So seeing more of these people I love so much is always a highlight of these books for me. But this one was extra special. It’ll be extra special to any Winston fan out there. There were so many beautiful moments between these characters that made me shed a tear or two. Billy and Cletus were always one of my favorite sibling relationships, and you really get a lot of these two in this book. Billy was always more of a father to these siblings than just a big brother, and I just always felt like his relationship with Cletus was extra special. I also LOVED Billy and Jenn and every single scene with them I can get! Billy really takes her in, he becomes such a loving big brother to Jenn, which is something she has lost with Isaac, and just makes their relationship extra special to me. I also loved the Ashley moments so much! Loved that she was so important in this book and seeing more of her relationship with Jenn as well.
Cletus and Jenn are just a special couple. I haven’t met a soul who has not fallen in love with these two as separate entities but also for their romance after reading Beard Science. I love seeing them as a couple in this series so much, and seeing them reach all of these milestones: engagement, marriage, etc.. This book, surprisingly enough, just made me love them even more, which I never thought was quite possible!
I liked how Marriage and Murder answered so many of these mysteries books like Dr. Strange Beard, Beard Necessities, and even the Smartypants books hinted at too! I was always curious to know more about the years between Beard in Mind and Dr. Strange Beard, and these books do such a great job of filling in the blanks while also adding such a fun mystery twist to the story.
Which brings me to another point I loved: the mystery! Like I mentioned above, I love everything Penny writes. Everything. So honestly, I was excited when she announced a cozy mystery series featuring Jenn and Cletus! And I really feel like she’s excelling in this genre! The mysteries are well thought out, and keep me on my toes trying to guess with the characters who is behind it. The plot in this book was so fun! I liked it even better than Engagement and Espionage!
Lastly, this book made me so intrigued about so many of the upcoming books in this universe! Isaac, Boone, Jackson, I want them all and I want them now! I also loved the small Billy and Scarlet crumbs, although I’m excited to read a book in the series where they are actually together!
This was so good and I already want to read it all over again! Definitely a new favorite. Loved all the Winston Brothers moments and all the Cletus and Jenn stuff was SOOO cute! So good!!! If you have not started this series yet I super recommend!!!!
*I got an arc in exchange for an honest review*
March 8, 2021
4.5 stars
Ahh I loved this book for all the romance and Jenn and Cletus that we got!
I'm not a big cozy mysteries reader and I'll admit that I don't read these books looking for that, but I will say that this time I was really surprised by the plot! I thought for sure that I knew who the murderer was but the more I read, the more I realized I didn't know everything like I thought I did. It definitely kept me intrigued and I also loved getting to know Diane and Repo a bit more. I'm still sad that Roscoe is almost never in these books, but I'm hoping we'll see more of him soon!
I 100% read these books for Jenn and Cletus and Penny definitely served with this one! The steam, the swoon, the domestic moments with these two absolutely made this book for me. I can only hope the next book will be just like this one with the romance!
Overall, this was a great read and one that Winston fans will be sure to love!
Ahh I loved this book for all the romance and Jenn and Cletus that we got!
I'm not a big cozy mysteries reader and I'll admit that I don't read these books looking for that, but I will say that this time I was really surprised by the plot! I thought for sure that I knew who the murderer was but the more I read, the more I realized I didn't know everything like I thought I did. It definitely kept me intrigued and I also loved getting to know Diane and Repo a bit more. I'm still sad that Roscoe is almost never in these books, but I'm hoping we'll see more of him soon!
I 100% read these books for Jenn and Cletus and Penny definitely served with this one! The steam, the swoon, the domestic moments with these two absolutely made this book for me. I can only hope the next book will be just like this one with the romance!
Overall, this was a great read and one that Winston fans will be sure to love!
March 2, 2021
➵ Initial thoughts after hitting “The End”: There are just so many things to love about this book I should make a list like Cletus. All the starts to this story!!
➵ Heroine: Jenn declares herself a Cletus sex fiend. Her character has grown so much since I met her, and I’m not just talking about having a healthier view on intimacy. She goes through so much in this book yet comes out stronger and more sure of herself. It was a joy to watch.
➵ Hero: What can I say about Cletus Byron Winston that hasn’t already been said? He’s clever, witty, swoony, sexy, swoony, completely unique and swoony. And did I mention swoony. Yes, Jenn and Cletus adore each other very much, but somehow I just melt whenever he expresses his love for Jenn. He even wrote her a letter!!
➵ Sexiness: Should the sex fiend comment before not be clue enough, rest assured Jenn and Cletus find time to express their love in both sweet and tenderly, and sizzling hot.
➵ Plot: After months of waiting to get married, Cletus and Jenn’s engagement is upon them. Regrettably a murder takes place and all their plans seem to go down the drain, unless they find out who did it.
➵ Feels: Penny Reid always brings out all the best feels and Marriage and Murder is an absolute delight to read. It was sweet, sexy, heartwarming, intriguing, a bit angsty and whole lot of fun. I loved the friendships and family bonds. I definitely suffered from highlightitis and One More Chapter Disorder.
➵Quotes: Oh wow, there were so many, from the awesome epigraphs to the swoon between Cletus and Jenn. But this one is just so Cletus!
➵ Facts: Marriage and Murder is standalone by Penny Reid. It is book #2 of the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries. It's told from both points of view with a happy ending. Genres: Cozy Mystery | Mystery Romance
Amazon -> https://amzn.to/3sF6TZq
★ I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. ★
Stalk me on Instagram ★ FaceBook ★ More reviews
➵ Heroine: Jenn declares herself a Cletus sex fiend. Her character has grown so much since I met her, and I’m not just talking about having a healthier view on intimacy. She goes through so much in this book yet comes out stronger and more sure of herself. It was a joy to watch.
➵ Hero: What can I say about Cletus Byron Winston that hasn’t already been said? He’s clever, witty, swoony, sexy, swoony, completely unique and swoony. And did I mention swoony. Yes, Jenn and Cletus adore each other very much, but somehow I just melt whenever he expresses his love for Jenn. He even wrote her a letter!!
"I love you so completely, with every cell in my body. I wonder sometimes if I'd cease to exist– just evaporate or disappear– if anything ever happened to you."~ Cletus to Jenn
➵ Sexiness: Should the sex fiend comment before not be clue enough, rest assured Jenn and Cletus find time to express their love in both sweet and tenderly, and sizzling hot.
➵ Plot: After months of waiting to get married, Cletus and Jenn’s engagement is upon them. Regrettably a murder takes place and all their plans seem to go down the drain, unless they find out who did it.
➵ Feels: Penny Reid always brings out all the best feels and Marriage and Murder is an absolute delight to read. It was sweet, sexy, heartwarming, intriguing, a bit angsty and whole lot of fun. I loved the friendships and family bonds. I definitely suffered from highlightitis and One More Chapter Disorder.
➵Quotes: Oh wow, there were so many, from the awesome epigraphs to the swoon between Cletus and Jenn. But this one is just so Cletus!
“Cletus.” Jackson glanced down at his notepad, scratching behind his ear. “You can stop plotting our murders with our eyeballs any time now.”
“But I haven’t finished,” came my very calm reply.
➵ Facts: Marriage and Murder is standalone by Penny Reid. It is book #2 of the Solving for Pie: Cletus and Jenn Mysteries. It's told from both points of view with a happy ending. Genres: Cozy Mystery | Mystery Romance
Amazon -> https://amzn.to/3sF6TZq
★ I was given an ARC of this book courtesy of the author. The excerpts are from that copy. I am voluntarily reviewing this title. ★
Stalk me on Instagram ★ FaceBook ★ More reviews
March 17, 2021
3.5 Stars
Marriage and Murder is the second book in the Solving for Pie series, and while it is loosely tied to the first book, it can be read as a standalone. Readers of the Winston Brothers series may enjoy it more though.
Penny Reid’s writing is as clever as I have come to expect from her, and the fact that this murder mystery is more complicated and serious than the one in the first book is welcomed. I liked the different layers; however, the story is simply too long and drawn out. I prefer my mysteries — even comedic mysteries — to be more fast-paced. I’m not a fan of hanging threads, and unfortunately the book ends without a complete resolution for some of the key parties involved.
I doubt I’ll ever tire of the Winstons, though, and we get plenty of the entire Winston family in this book. I adore Cletus and his cunning and humorous ways. I am also fond of Jenn, who is completely devoted to Cletus and no longer the shrinking violet she once was. It’s been wonderful to see her blossom. Cletus is so far gone for Jenn that he’s a distracted, mushy mess and it’s a wonderful thing to witness.
Even though this book isn’t my favorite of Reid’s, there is no denying the appeal of the characters and the entertainment they bring to this series.
Recommended for fans of:
Weddings
Close-knit families
Light mysteries
Marriage and Murder is the second book in the Solving for Pie series, and while it is loosely tied to the first book, it can be read as a standalone. Readers of the Winston Brothers series may enjoy it more though.
Penny Reid’s writing is as clever as I have come to expect from her, and the fact that this murder mystery is more complicated and serious than the one in the first book is welcomed. I liked the different layers; however, the story is simply too long and drawn out. I prefer my mysteries — even comedic mysteries — to be more fast-paced. I’m not a fan of hanging threads, and unfortunately the book ends without a complete resolution for some of the key parties involved.
I doubt I’ll ever tire of the Winstons, though, and we get plenty of the entire Winston family in this book. I adore Cletus and his cunning and humorous ways. I am also fond of Jenn, who is completely devoted to Cletus and no longer the shrinking violet she once was. It’s been wonderful to see her blossom. Cletus is so far gone for Jenn that he’s a distracted, mushy mess and it’s a wonderful thing to witness.
Even though this book isn’t my favorite of Reid’s, there is no denying the appeal of the characters and the entertainment they bring to this series.
Recommended for fans of:
Weddings
Close-knit families
Light mysteries
*I received an early copy of this book to voluntarily read and review.*
December 26, 2022
probably should wait awhile before writing a review. i just want to gush about what an awesome book this is. perfect combination of romance, mystery, drama, humor and heartwarming family moments. Cletus and Jenn are wonderfully weird and perfect for each other. so so happy Penny created this spin off series for them. i guess we wait a year now for the next installment? i shall try my best to be patient 😃
February 22, 2021
“Let’s Think Crooked.”
Marriage and Murder is a multi-layered cozy mystery romance novel, which explores the many ways people love and why they love each other. It is the second novel in the “Solving for Pie” series and is best enjoyed after Engagement and Espionage – though arguably far better enjoyed after reading Beard Science. However, you could read it as a standalone. Once again, I felt like I, too, gained the many siblings Jennifer gains in marrying Cletus. Best of all, more of Cletus’s depth is revealed [his declaration that he has a vengeful heart (I don't believe him, but it is why I love him!)]…and if you’re a conscientious reader, you’ll notice the foreshadowing in chapter one.
From the outset, Cletus resists changing too many times in a single day, yet marriage, the act of even getting married demands compromise and change. To me, change is a theme of marriage and Penny expertly weaves it throughout.
Attempting to count the plot twists in this “who-done-it” is like trying to count the twists of a corkscrew. No joke, at the 83% mark, there’s a new plot twist… "Let’s think crooked,” indeed! Penny’s been holding out on us. She writes an excellent romance novel, no doubt about it, but the plot twists in this book would make Agatha Christie’s head spin!
I don’t know which book I’m ready for more… Home and Heist, Totally Folked, or Isaac’s story… please tell us he gets a story.
As usual, every chapter sub-heading is a quote which is not only relevant to the chapter, but applicable to life itself. And they have bolstered my TBR list as a result!
Marriage and Murder is a multi-layered cozy mystery romance novel, which explores the many ways people love and why they love each other. It is the second novel in the “Solving for Pie” series and is best enjoyed after Engagement and Espionage – though arguably far better enjoyed after reading Beard Science. However, you could read it as a standalone. Once again, I felt like I, too, gained the many siblings Jennifer gains in marrying Cletus. Best of all, more of Cletus’s depth is revealed [his declaration that he has a vengeful heart (I don't believe him, but it is why I love him!)]…and if you’re a conscientious reader, you’ll notice the foreshadowing in chapter one.
From the outset, Cletus resists changing too many times in a single day, yet marriage, the act of even getting married demands compromise and change. To me, change is a theme of marriage and Penny expertly weaves it throughout.
Attempting to count the plot twists in this “who-done-it” is like trying to count the twists of a corkscrew. No joke, at the 83% mark, there’s a new plot twist… "Let’s think crooked,” indeed! Penny’s been holding out on us. She writes an excellent romance novel, no doubt about it, but the plot twists in this book would make Agatha Christie’s head spin!
I don’t know which book I’m ready for more… Home and Heist, Totally Folked, or Isaac’s story… please tell us he gets a story.
As usual, every chapter sub-heading is a quote which is not only relevant to the chapter, but applicable to life itself. And they have bolstered my TBR list as a result!
March 9, 2021
i loved it even more than the first one!!!
March 2, 2021
Here are some facts:
— Penny Reid is my favorite author.
— Cletus and Jenn are one of my favorite ships.
— The Winston brothers are my favorite fictional family and I want them to adopt me!!
— If for some reason you haven't read any of these series, let me say you are missing a LOT.
❝𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆.❞
After all the misadventures Cletus and Jenn experienced in Engagement and Espionage , these two characters are ready to exchange the “I do's.”. It's their engagement party, everything is going according to the plans of Jenn's mother and they're just ready to end the show and move forward in their future together, but a few "POW! POW!" after someone is dead, the party hasn't even started, and Cletus and Jenn are in the middle of an investigation... AGAIN.
Following the same vibes from the previous book, this was a VERY CletusJenn book. We have mystery, a sweet and fun romance (but also steamy? much more than what we are used to in this series I think), an incredible family dynamics, a small town with a lot of gossipy characters, and I could go on all day...
This entire series is actually a big gift for Cletus and Jenn fans, but I love how these characters manage to maintain that essence since "Beard Science", but we still see them grow over time. Cletus and Jenn are still their odd selves, but now Jenn is more independent and determined, being the only one who makes decisions for her. Cletus is still selfish and conspiratorial, keeping things to himself that could help him later, but now with Jenn in his life, he's more than ready to listen to her opinions and spend every minute if possible with her, always anticipating her needs. Same with his family.
AND THE WINSTON FAMILY! Seriously, I can remember every little detail of this series and its characters, but I'm still gonna enjoy reading it from different POVs. I loved that we saw so much more of Ashley and Drew, and Shelly and Beau (my underrated babies), the girls' relationship with Jenn, how they so openly accepted her into the family and were ready to help her with whatever it was. And also those little crumbs from Billy and Claire... I can literally recite their story backwards and forwards, but every time they were mentioned I squealed a little. Even the mentions of Jethro, one of my least liked characters, made me happy seeing how far he went since he was with the Iron Wraiths and how willing he is always to help his brothers and repair that relationship.
And I can see how Penny Reid is paving the way for that new spin-off 👀 There are many side characters that have already been mentioned in the other books, but they had a great time on page here, like Jackson James and Boone. Honestly, I'm more than ready to spend my life reading books located in Green Valley and I love that Penny seems to have material for a long time. I can't wait to get back to this universe soon!
ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
— Penny Reid is my favorite author.
— Cletus and Jenn are one of my favorite ships.
— The Winston brothers are my favorite fictional family and I want them to adopt me!!
— If for some reason you haven't read any of these series, let me say you are missing a LOT.
❝𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆.❞
After all the misadventures Cletus and Jenn experienced in Engagement and Espionage , these two characters are ready to exchange the “I do's.”. It's their engagement party, everything is going according to the plans of Jenn's mother and they're just ready to end the show and move forward in their future together, but a few "POW! POW!" after someone is dead, the party hasn't even started, and Cletus and Jenn are in the middle of an investigation... AGAIN.
Following the same vibes from the previous book, this was a VERY CletusJenn book. We have mystery, a sweet and fun romance (but also steamy? much more than what we are used to in this series I think), an incredible family dynamics, a small town with a lot of gossipy characters, and I could go on all day...
This entire series is actually a big gift for Cletus and Jenn fans, but I love how these characters manage to maintain that essence since "Beard Science", but we still see them grow over time. Cletus and Jenn are still their odd selves, but now Jenn is more independent and determined, being the only one who makes decisions for her. Cletus is still selfish and conspiratorial, keeping things to himself that could help him later, but now with Jenn in his life, he's more than ready to listen to her opinions and spend every minute if possible with her, always anticipating her needs. Same with his family.
AND THE WINSTON FAMILY! Seriously, I can remember every little detail of this series and its characters, but I'm still gonna enjoy reading it from different POVs. I loved that we saw so much more of Ashley and Drew, and Shelly and Beau (my underrated babies), the girls' relationship with Jenn, how they so openly accepted her into the family and were ready to help her with whatever it was. And also those little crumbs from Billy and Claire... I can literally recite their story backwards and forwards, but every time they were mentioned I squealed a little. Even the mentions of Jethro, one of my least liked characters, made me happy seeing how far he went since he was with the Iron Wraiths and how willing he is always to help his brothers and repair that relationship.
And I can see how Penny Reid is paving the way for that new spin-off 👀 There are many side characters that have already been mentioned in the other books, but they had a great time on page here, like Jackson James and Boone. Honestly, I'm more than ready to spend my life reading books located in Green Valley and I love that Penny seems to have material for a long time. I can't wait to get back to this universe soon!
ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
July 28, 2021
4,5 ⭐
as someone who has read Beard Science so many times, it is safe to say that I adore Jenn and Cletus, so any new story centered on them is a winner in my eyes.
Keep em coming!!
as someone who has read Beard Science so many times, it is safe to say that I adore Jenn and Cletus, so any new story centered on them is a winner in my eyes.
Keep em coming!!
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