An Unexpected Pairing That Felt Like an Afterthought This was an odd pairing, and I honestly didn’t expect a book centered around these characters. To be frank, this book felt like an afterthought. It alluded to a lot of other storylines, which made it less enjoyable. In previous books, side characters and their interactions felt intentional and added to the story, but here, it felt almost forced. As for the couple, Diane and Jason are unlikely, but they somehow managed to make it work. That said, Diane isn’t a character I’ve ever really cared for since Book 3 of the series, and she still didn’t win me over here. On the other hand, I really enjoyed getting to know Jason better, which was a highlight. I’m assuming this book was either written to introduce a spin-off series or to fill in gaps from one. Overall, it was an okay read, but not one I would recommend, especially compared to the stronger entries in the series.

After being introduced to this pairing in the previous book, I was excited to dive into their story and see how it all began. This book did such a great job of showing that Beau Winston is more than just charm; it revealed a deeper, more complex side of him that even he seemed surprised by. I loved how Shelly adored Beau’s heart and goodness, and I appreciated how much care the author took in portraying Shelly’s mental health journey. Beau’s patience and effort to understand her and make her feel included were beautifully done. I would have liked to know more about certain events that were mentioned but not fully explored, but overall, it was an enjoyable read that added depth to the series. Beau and Shelly’s story is one that fans will find touching and memorable.

I might be a bit biased since Cletus is my favorite Winston sibling, but I truly feel this book was fantastic. Going in, I knew Cletus as the smart, goofy, sneaky oddball of the family, and I was nervous about how he’d translate as a romantic lead. But the author knew exactly what she was doing—she made Cletus multidimensional and gave him so much depth, while still capturing his unique charm. As for Jennifer, we got glimpses of her in earlier books, but this one fully explores her character and lets us see her blossom. I loved getting to know her beyond those initial impressions, and she and Cletus turned out to be such a perfect match. This book does a great job of making you feel all the right frustrations with certain characters, which was incredibly satisfying. So far, this is my favorite book in the series. Cletus and Jennifer’s story is a standout romance that I’d recommend to any fan of the series!