Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: A Brewed Awakening
Author: Pepper Basham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: May 5, 2026
Genre: Small Town Contemporary Romance
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?
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?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Thomas Nelson | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | BookBub | Bookshop
My Review of A Brewed Awakening
I found A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham a delightfully emotional read! It gave me all of the feelings, and I was totally there for it all! Firstly, let me say that Basham is one of my favorite authors, so I’m always happy when she has a new book. I’ve never been disappointed! This opposites attract rom-com both cracked me up and made my heart ache.
I loved this small NC town and its residents. The social media posts in each chapter with the hilarious hashtags attached really brought the small town, close knit community feel, and I totally wanted to just move in and join in the speculations about Finn and Daphne.
The flirty banter between Finn and Daphne was SO much fun to “watch.” Their wit and sarcasm made it easy for the town to predict that they’d end up as a happily ever after. Their cooking and baking skills were off the charts, and I loved how they would come up with ideas to make each other’s recipes even better. And this was before they even realized what a great couple they’d be! Finn’s daughter Lucy stole my heart. What a sweetheart! I want to sing Disney songs with her!
Even though the synopsis mentions a storm threatening the celebrity wedding, I wasn’t expecting THAT! No spoilers, but it truly showed the sense of community during the last few chapters. The epilogue was wonderful and makes me long for another book…maybe Daphne’s brother can have a story. A girl can dream. I highly recommend this and give it 5 stars!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Also Available:
About the Author
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will receive a signed copy of A Brewed Awakening, and winners choice of a Literary Beverage Mug or a Storming Castles mug!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 13, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 20, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!