I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham Published by Thomas Nelson on May 5, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Christian / Contemporary, Fiction / Christian / Romance / General, Fiction / Romance / Clean & Wholesome, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Romance / Workplace, Fiction / Small Town & Rural
Pages: 384
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
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Daphne dreams of Mr. Darcy. Finn serves up pints and rock music. Can opposites attract when a tea shop princess meets her pub-owning rival? Perfect for fans of Courtney Walsh and Emma St. Clair.
In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings to tradition like cream to a scone. She's built her life--and her late grandmother's tearoom, Tea Thyme--around all things English: delicate china, Jane Austen novels, and the comforting predictability of routine. The only thing threatening her perfectly ordered world? The loud, aggravatingly handsome Brit opening a pub next door.
After his ex-wife broke his heart and his business partner nearly destroyed his career, Finn Dashwood packed up his six-year-old daughter and left England behind. He's looking for a fresh start, and the last thing he needs is a fussy, tea-obsessed neighbor criticizing his every pint and playlist. It doesn't matter that she's ridiculously kind (to everyone else) and that his daughter is utterly fascinated by her. Finn's heart is not open to being broken again.
But disagreements turn into prank wars and then a competition when a high-profile wedding needs a last-minute caterer. The townsfolk are thrilled--Wisteria hasn't seen this much excitement since the county fair lost a goat.
When the wedding demands both sweet and savory fare, Daphne and Finn are forced to put down their swords and pick up their serving trays. Between burnt pastries, brewing tempers, trending hashtags (#SipsAndSpats, anyone?), and one very adorable little girl, rivalry soon gives way to reluctant friendship--and maybe something that feels suspiciously like chemistry.
Can a tea shop princess and a pub owner with a past mix their lives as seamlessly as clotted cream and jam . . . or will their differences keep them steeped in rivalry forever?
Fall headfirst into a romance that's as sweet as scones and as lively as a pub singalong. Early readers are raving about the laugh-out-loud humor, irresistible chemistry, and swoony, kisses-only romance that makes A Brewed Awakening impossible to put down. Grab your copy today and discover a charming enemies-to-lovers story brewed with heart, humor, and small-town magic.
Pepper Basham made me forget that I prefer a healing sunburn (oh, the itch!) over a romance formula. I used to read a lot of romance before my heart became cold and black, but somehow this is my first Pepper Basham novel. I have no idea how that happened, and I’m sticking to that because, honestly, not a clue. These days, I’m more romance can be part of another story, but I tend to not gravitate to romance for the sake of romance, yet I chose this book for all the reasons, and I’m super happy I did. With more books like this, I could learn to maybe appreciate romance for the sake of romance. Maybe?
Daphne and Finn, sorry Mr. HotFace, just had me rolling. I may or may not have literally laughed out loud, lying in bed pretending to sleep, while I was actually reading. Add in Jack and Nate, and a whole new level of humor. The town, the social media posts, the fact that Jack and Nate literally made fun of tropes while playing out a trope, just slayed me like no other. Honestly, I forgot the formula while reading this, and for me, that’s like A+ work. I just enjoyed the people, the story, and the flirting. I loved everything about this romance. True story that I rarely ever tell.
I also loved the nod to Helene. One would think that adding that level of tragedy into the sparks of this mountain town would detract from all the fun and chaos leading up to it, but honestly . . . it literally just added to it. The range of depth that this book brought to me literally just made me want to read the entire backlist of Pepper Basham. End of the day, I am struggling to give all the reasons I loved this book with no reasons not to love it. The interweaving of little life lessons (that we all still need even as adults), the flirtiness, the entire connectedness of a community. The character development, the world building, all the things makes me love this book. Something I don’t think I’ve ever said about a romance for $1000 Alex.
About Pepper Basham
I wrote my first story when I was a nine year- old, freckled-faced tomboy in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains (my earlier writings wouldn’t have been considered “books”, more like short stories). Coming from a long line of oral storytellers, weaving a good yarn seemed a typical part of my life. It wasn’t until I finished college, had two children, and a full-time job before I began to study the ‘craft’ of writing (you know when I had plenty of time).
She lives in the beautiful mountains of southwestern, VA where I work as a speech-language pathologist by day and author by night 🙂
So…now I’m an older, freckled-faced mommy enjoying life, learning to write, and laughing often. My mom says that I must have a small bit of insanity because I don’t realize how stressed I ought to be.
I write historical and contemporary romances which, many times, include my love of Appalachia, Britain, and family.
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