A BREWED AWAKENING- 3 STARS

Finn Dashwood (and little Lucy) arrive from across the pond in tiny Wisteria, NC to start a new life as a pub owner. Immediately next door is the local British enthusiast and owner of Tea Tyme, Daphne Austen.  Assumptions are made, and insults plus bantering fly throughout the story. There are plenty of side characters, perfect for small-town vibes. Additionally, there's a high-profile social media couple planning a big wedding in town.

For starters, I do not generally go for contemporary tales. I prefer historicals. That being said, overall, the back and forth between Finn and Daphne was fun, and the side social posts from the other business owners were amusing as well. However, without giving too much away about the ending, I found the town tragedy a bit heavy, particularly since a similar situation recently occurred in real life. It was, of course, wonderful how everyone pulled together, and there is still a happily ever after. 

⭐⭐⭐ It was good. Recommended.

I received an eVersion from the publisher without expectation or compensation. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

📚Book #211 for 2025 Reading Challenge 
Read 11/13-15/2025
Expected Publication by Thomas Nelson: May 2026

Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham

Wow! Just wow!

This 1818 Regency-era romance is so well-written.  It's a love story of heartbreak due to circumstances and society's expectations, along with growing pains and the antics of children, which always enhance a storyline. Emme and Simon have much to overcome, and each has so much depth of character.

QUOTABLE: ☆"How on earth was she going to survive an entire season with the possibility of seeing Simon Reeves at any moment?"

☆"Two thoughts wove through her mind at the same time. First, this was a thoroughly mortifying way to die. Second, but what a marvelous scene it would make in a novel."

Very well done.

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read: 8/20-21/2025

Thomas Nelson Publ: 10/14/2025

I received an eVersion from the publisher and NetGalley without expectation or compensation. All 

opinions are mine alone. 

📔SYNOPSIS: In this clean Regency rom-com, a woman with a scandalous past (and an even more scandalous secret) swears off love—until the man who broke her heart needs her help. What could possibly go wrong? Perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Eloisa James looking for a low-spice, witty Regency romance.

After two failed social seasons, her family may think the third time will be a charm, but Emmeline Lockhart just wants to survive with her dignity (and singleness) intact. She thought she'd found her perfect match in Simon Reeves--charming, handsome, a veritable hero from a novel—until he vanished from her life without so much as a "farewell" or "my deepest regrets" (or even a vague apology scribbled on the back of a calling card). Lesson: never fall for a man known for his charm.

Fortunately, and unlike many of the other eligible young ladies of the ton, Emmeline has no need for a husband--because she's already found success in her scandalous (and very anonymous) profession as an author. Why bother with matrimony when she can make her own fortune and write men exactly the way she wants them?

But fate—or the misfortune of Simon's reckless patriarchs—has other plans. Simon's once-proud estate is in shambles, his family fortune has been gambled away, and the younger impressionable siblings in his care are running wild across his estate (and possibly across all of England). Simon is in desperate need of a wealthy, prestigious bride . . . and a friend.

Emmeline may not fit the role of heiress, but she can certainly be a friend. Just a friend. She'll help him find a suitable match, ensure his reputation remains intact, and keep things strictly platonic—no matter how dangerously appealing his new-and-improved sincerity and regret may be.

There's just one small problem: the undeniable chemistry that still smolders between them. Can Emme play matchmaker for the man she's still in love with without losing her heart all over again? And is it possible that some love stories--especially the messy, inconvenient, impossible ones--are worthy of a rewrite?

Filled with lively banter, adorable children, a frog named Blast🐸, and swoony kisses💋, Sense and Suitability is the clean Regency romance you've been looking for. Basham brings her signature humor to the Regency era, where social strictures keep the tension tight but the stakes low in this second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance. Until next time, Hugs and a cup of tea! Heather Elizabeth

The Mistletoe Countess by Pepper Basham

 

***WONDERFUL***

First time reading this author and I loved every bit of it!  Highly recommend for those who enjoy historical fiction mixed with faith, mystery, a bit of humor and romance.  This story has vivid descriptions throughout and I love all the ways Grace relates real life to the books she has read and uses her knowledge to her advantage.  Although she is highly misunderstood, she is smart, entertaining and caring and exactly who Frederick needs.  Frederick sees the value in her and is beyond intrigued; exactly who Grace needs.

Quotable: “Clearly you’ve not been reading your Sherlock. Every mystery starts with a remote theory based on inconclusive findings.”

Faith Moment: If David in the Psalms had to remind himself of the truth when his heart trembled with fear, Grace could do no less. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”

Tea Moment: “I see the tea’s been brought up for you, my lady. Would you like me to pour out?” “No thank you, Mary. I’ll see to it myself.” With a bow of her golden head, Mary excused herself, leaving Grace to the impending silence. The fire crackled in the white marble hearth, adding flickering light to the electric ones dotted throughout the room.

Mature Elements: I will mention that although tasteful in nature,  this book is probably more for mature audiences as it repeatedly shares the excitement a young couple feels after experiencing the marriage bed.

I was gifted an eBook via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

((5 Stars))

((MY STARS)) 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

From the author's Pinterest page - Havensbrook Manor

PUBLISHERS SYNOPSIS:  Will the magic of Christmas bring these two newlyweds closer together, or will the ghosts of the past lead them into a destructive discovery from which not even a Dickens’s Christmas can save them?

Mistletoe is beautiful and dangerous, much like the woman from Lord Frederick’s Percy’s past, so when he turns over a new leaf and arranges to marry for his estate, instead of his heart, he never expects the wrong bride to be the right choice. Gracelynn Ferguson never expected to take her elder sister’s place as a Christmas bride, but when she’s thrust into the choice, she will trust in her faithful novels and overactive imagination to help her not only win Frederick’s heart but also to solve the murder mystery of Havensbrook Hall before the ghosts from Frederick’s past ruin her fairytale future. 

Barbour Publishing, (c) 09-01-2021 

AMAZON

BARNES AND NOBLE

CHRISTIAN BOOK

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance novels with grace, humor, and culture clashes. She’s a Blue Ridge Mountain native and an anglophile who enjoys combining her two loves to create memorable stories of hope. You can connect with Pepper over at her website, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest.