Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
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
The knowledge shot a direct line to his heart, propelling him to lose all sense and ask, “Would you like some . . . tea?”
She nearly choked down a swallow and turned to take a drink of water before looking back at him, a soft smile playing over her lips. “Do you actually know how to make superior leaf water?”
Her exaggeration pulled another smile from him. Their eyes met. Held.
And stuck.
He cleared his throat, turning back to the stove, grabbing the pot of oatmeal as an excuse to move. What was going on with him?
“Making tea and liking it are two very different things.”
“Actually, if you like it, you make it better.” She pointed her half-eaten toast at him like a culinary wand. “It’s science. Or magic. Or some equally inconvenient truth.”
He placed the oatmeal between their plates on the table and remained standing next to Daphne. “You’re calling me inconvenient?”
“Oh, definitely.” Her grin sharpened, eyes dancing. “And possibly a breakfast saboteur. This is a trap, isn’t it? You’re trying to sabotage my confidence before the wedding showdown. Undermine my competitive spirit with . . . delicious carbs.”
Good, the banter was back. Preferable. More manageable.
“Guilty.” He gestured toward the table. “Clearly, I’m superior.”
“Hardly.” She scoffed and crossed her arms. “This is a one-off miracle. No one should trust the culinary instincts of a man who thinks gas station coffee is a valid life choice.”
He chuckled, but it wasn’t the charming, calculated kind. It was real.
And it felt good to be…real with her. He gave his head a shake.
There she went again.
Slipping beneath his defenses like she’d done last night with that talk of food and grandmothers. Authentic. Unfiltered. And for some reason . . . more dangerous than flirting.
“Food can be terribly persuasive, Ms. Austen.” He leaned a little closer. “I might just win you over with it.”
She rolled her eyes in a way that should have been ridiculous. It wasn’t. It was unfairly charming.
Her grin tugged up at one corner like she enjoyed their back-and-forth just as much as he did.
Too much.
Like a daily dose of something he didn’t know he was craving.
Like something he might not want to live without.
He tried to shake it off. Keep things simple. Light. Like the past relationships.
Kiss and leave.
His gaze dipped to her mouth.
Right.
That’s all.
“Sweetness can be powerful, Mr. Perfect Teeth,” she corrected, lifting an eyebrow. “Doesn’t mean the rest of your cooking is.”
“Mr. Perfect Teeth?” He blinked. “That’s the best you’ve got?”
“I was taught to be nice, not just play nice.” That soft southern drawl wrapped around her declaration and tugged at something inside him.
He should’ve backed off. Thrown a joke in. Flirted just enough to cover the fact that she was getting under his skin in a way no one else had in a long time.
But she was standing so close, and her gaze kept flickering like she didn’t want to look—and couldn’t quite help herself.
That’s when the real trouble began.
“What’s wrong with both?” he asked, his voice lower now. “A little fun, a little . . . sweetness, all rolled into one?”
She snorted, even as her gaze drifted slowly down his frame and then locked with his again. And lingered.
His skin prickled with a sudden need.
“Fun, maybe,” she said softly. “But sweet is not a word I’d use to describe you.”
“No?” He stepped in. Just close enough to make her eyes widen slightly. “And how would you describe me?”
She hesitated, her attention snagged at the corner of his mouth—where a little smirk tugged, daring her.
“Dangerous,” she whispered.
The way she said it—barely there, barely brave—sucker punched him.
Because it wasn’t flirtation. It was a truth she hadn’t meant to say out loud.
And suddenly, he wanted to prove her wrong. Show her that there was more to him than cocky grins and casual charm. Once, he’d been the kind of man who knew how to love fully, without hesitation. And look where that had gotten him.
“Dangerous?” His voice dropped, the air between them shrinking by inches. His pulse spiked as his gaze roamed her face, drawn in by those too-perceptive eyes. “I’m not the one who’s dangerous, Daphne.”
Her brow furrowed. “I don’t . . .”
“Genuine kindness,” he said, voice rough, “is dangerous too. It makes people hope for things they shouldn’t. For things they can’t repay.”
Book Excerpt
The knowledge shot a direct line to his heart, propelling him to lose all sense and ask, “Would you like some . . . tea?”
She nearly choked down a swallow and turned to take a drink of water before looking back at him, a soft smile playing over her lips. “Do you actually know how to make superior leaf water?”
Her exaggeration pulled another smile from him. Their eyes met. Held.
And stuck.
He cleared his throat, turning back to the stove, grabbing the pot of oatmeal as an excuse to move. What was going on with him?
“Making tea and liking it are two very different things.”
“Actually, if you like it, you make it better.” She pointed her half-eaten toast at him like a culinary wand. “It’s science. Or magic. Or some equally inconvenient truth.”
He placed the oatmeal between their plates on the table and remained standing next to Daphne. “You’re calling me inconvenient?”
“Oh, definitely.” Her grin sharpened, eyes dancing. “And possibly a breakfast saboteur. This is a trap, isn’t it? You’re trying to sabotage my confidence before the wedding showdown. Undermine my competitive spirit with . . . delicious carbs.”
Good, the banter was back. Preferable. More manageable.
“Guilty.” He gestured toward the table. “Clearly, I’m superior.”
“Hardly.” She scoffed and crossed her arms. “This is a one-off miracle. No one should trust the culinary instincts of a man who thinks gas station coffee is a valid life choice.”
He chuckled, but it wasn’t the charming, calculated kind. It was real.
And it felt good to be…real with her. He gave his head a shake.
There she went again.
Slipping beneath his defenses like she’d done last night with that talk of food and grandmothers. Authentic. Unfiltered. And for some reason . . . more dangerous than flirting.
“Food can be terribly persuasive, Ms. Austen.” He leaned a little closer. “I might just win you over with it.”
She rolled her eyes in a way that should have been ridiculous. It wasn’t. It was unfairly charming.
Her grin tugged up at one corner like she enjoyed their back-and-forth just as much as he did.
Too much.
Like a daily dose of something he didn’t know he was craving.
Like something he might not want to live without.
He tried to shake it off. Keep things simple. Light. Like the past relationships.
Kiss and leave.
His gaze dipped to her mouth.
Right.
That’s all.
“Sweetness can be powerful, Mr. Perfect Teeth,” she corrected, lifting an eyebrow. “Doesn’t mean the rest of your cooking is.”
“Mr. Perfect Teeth?” He blinked. “That’s the best you’ve got?”
“I was taught to be nice, not just play nice.” That soft southern drawl wrapped around her declaration and tugged at something inside him.
He should’ve backed off. Thrown a joke in. Flirted just enough to cover the fact that she was getting under his skin in a way no one else had in a long time.
But she was standing so close, and her gaze kept flickering like she didn’t want to look—and couldn’t quite help herself.
That’s when the real trouble began.
“What’s wrong with both?” he asked, his voice lower now. “A little fun, a little . . . sweetness, all rolled into one?”
She snorted, even as her gaze drifted slowly down his frame and then locked with his again. And lingered.
His skin prickled with a sudden need.
“Fun, maybe,” she said softly. “But sweet is not a word I’d use to describe you.”
“No?” He stepped in. Just close enough to make her eyes widen slightly. “And how would you describe me?”
She hesitated, her attention snagged at the corner of his mouth—where a little smirk tugged, daring her.
“Dangerous,” she whispered.
The way she said it—barely there, barely brave—sucker punched him.
Because it wasn’t flirtation. It was a truth she hadn’t meant to say out loud.
And suddenly, he wanted to prove her wrong. Show her that there was more to him than cocky grins and casual charm. Once, he’d been the kind of man who knew how to love fully, without hesitation. And look where that had gotten him.
“Dangerous?” His voice dropped, the air between them shrinking by inches. His pulse spiked as his gaze roamed her face, drawn in by those too-perceptive eyes. “I’m not the one who’s dangerous, Daphne.”
Her brow furrowed. “I don’t . . .”
“Genuine kindness,” he said, voice rough, “is dangerous too. It makes people hope for things they shouldn’t. For things they can’t repay.”
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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!
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