Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are sharing books that have nationalities in the title. I had more books than I expected to choose from my shelves, but I did a bit of googling to round out my list. Asterisks denote books that I don’t own. Let me know if I should add them!
Happy Tuesday! Today I am tweaking the TTT prompt just a bit. I am listing books I have read whose titles include real cities. I have visited some of those places (5 in fact!), but others I have only traveled to in my imagination via the books listed. I love how many different genres and time periods are represented — I hope you find one to schedule your next trip to!
Happy Tuesday! Today TTT bloggers are sharing upcoming books that they cannot wait to read. It’s really hard to limit the list to just 10, but here goes.
Happy Tuesday and happy summer! Today TTT is featuring bloggers’ Summer TBR Lists. Mine is short, but sweet 😉 . I do have a favor to ask of you, though. I need to pick something for my book club to read in August. I’ve presented 3 choices — please tell me which you would choose and why. Thanks so much!
Happy Tuesday from the sunny and HOT south! I really wasn’t feeling this week’s TTT prompt — wishlist books. So, I decided to feature books with the word wish in the title. That quickly evolved into books with wish(es), hope(s), and dream(s) in the title. I hope you find one to love!
Happy Friday! Today I am featuring the final (boo hoo) book in the Freddie and Grace Mystery series by Pepper Basham. I am both excited and reluctant to read The Bachelor Spy. The series is so great, but I’m not sure I can bear not having a new book to look forward to. It’s a conundrum that only readers will understand. I have a lot of reading to do before I can begin this book, so I have a bit of time to savor the anticipation. LOL!
Here’s the first line:
Stephen Blake had been trailing the presumed spy most of the voyage — first to secure his target, and then . . . to strike.
Spies Infiltrate Havensbooke Hall. . .and Another Mystery Adventure Begins
Stephen Blake’s life goal is to protect people, especially those closest to him, but war in 1914 England doesn’t follow any rules. When Blake is informed that a noted German spy may have taken up residence at Havensbrooke Hall—his cousin Lord Astley’s estate, which is being used as a convalescent war hospital—he’s sent there to uncover the plot.
Lady Grace Astley has become a force to be reckoned with while Frederick is out on the war front. With Havensbrooke as a hospital, she’s shocked by the devastation the war is bringing home; but ever hopeful, she is determined to help these weary soldiers find some relief. However, not everything is as it seems inside Havensbrooke. Precious items soon start disappearing . . . and not just the kind that are worth a lot of money.
Through a case of mistaken identity, a comedy of errors, a kidnapping, and a race for time within the crumbling subterranean passageways beneath Havensbrooke, can Blake and Gracie work together to root out the criminals, thieves, and spies before time runs out?
Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Pepper loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.
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?
Excerpt
Finn Dashwood stood in her doorway, looking both out of place and frustratingly at ease, a small container in his hands. His presence alone seemed to dwarf the dainty decor, and the contrast of his dark jeans and fitted gray Henley against the pastel paradise of her tea shop was almost laughable.
He wasn’t a Darcy. Or a Knightley. Or a Brandon.
So he shouldn’t make it work.
And yet . . . he did.
Her gaze drifted to the container he carried, and her heartbeat skittered. Had he actually brought her something?
Could it be that the jerk had a conscience?
“Good afternoon, Miss Austen.”
His voice! That unfair, glorious British accent dipped in baritone.
“Welcome to Tea Thy—” Rosemary’s greeting cut off as her pale-green eyes locked onto Finn. “Goodness. Sakes. Alive.”
“Don’t start,” Daphne muttered under her breath, shooting Rosemary a look, but it wasno use. The woman stared with sheer appreciation and absolutely no self-control of her facial muscles. Nothing like reinforcing Finn’s ego with Rosemary’s impression of a cartoon character who’d just seen a twelve-foot sandwich.
Finn’s grin crooked, clearly missing nothing from the little exchange and Rosemary’s near hyperventilation.
“That new creation looks very suspiciously unlike tea.” He nodded toward the milkshake in her hand.
The residual chill from the ice cream evaporated beneath the sudden flush in her cheeks.
“I happen to serve many things in my shop besides tea, Mr. Dashwood. If you’d taken the time to ask rather than tossing around uninformed critiques, I’d have been happy to enlighten you.”
Why did he seem to bring out her snarky side? And why did she suddenly want to go cook three batches of dark-chocolate croissants.
And why did he have to possess such expressive eyes? Her fingers tightened around the glass in her hands. Tea should only prove a temptation in liquid form.
Not eye color.
“Now, Daphne-honey, that ain’t no way to talk to our new neighbor.”
Granny D had made remarkable speed from her table to the door, clicking her tongue like a chicken on the hunt. “Lord have mercy,” she exclaimed, fanning herself dramatically with a weathered hand adorned with tarnished silver rings. “If you’d told me handsome was comin’ to town, I’d have worn my good teeth.”
Finn turned, brows high, then broke into a slow, amused grin. “Good afternoon, ma’am.” He offered his hand. “Finn Dashwood.”
“You sound as good as you look, don’t ya’?” Granny D hummed her appreciation as she circled him, making no attempt to hide her appraisal. Why did Daphne feel as if the woman was one step away from checking his teeth like a prize stallion at auction?
She almost whimpered.
There were wonderful things about small southern towns.
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of southwestern VA, where she is a wife, mom to five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
Connect with Pepper by visiting pepperdbasham.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
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.
Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is book titles that describe me or my life. Uh, no! LOL! I read a lot of mystery/suspense and those titles can be seriously scary. And besides, I am a huge rule follower — just ask my husband, the man who never saw a rule that couldn’t in some fashion be broken. 😉 So I decided to flip the topic and go with titles that would describe my evil twin aka alter ego. This was a fun post to put together. I hope you enjoy it and find a great book to read.
If I was one to take on a life of crime, I would want to be thought of as a member of TheQueens of Crime. In pursuit of the lofty title I’d travel to Scotland and perpetrate a Highland Heist. Not sure if that would include a few shaggy cows, but who knows what a thief could discover among the heather. I might Ambush a man in a kilt to help me carry all the loot, making sure I hide my identity and not let on An Appearance of Impropriety. I must maintain an air of integrity and not get caught! But if I’m found out and pursued by the coppers, I’ll make sure my crimes are well Hidden by a Canyon of Deceit so I am not forced into Taking A Second Shot to fend them off. A good criminal must be able ToOutwit Them All! If I’m not successful, the authorities will say that Death Follows Her and I may be presumed Guilty Until Innocent .
Here’s a tip: the authors of these books are way better at telling tales than I am. Check out their fabulous books!
Happy Tuesday! Today I just was not feeling the TTT topic — bucket list books. I have done a couple of these posts and didn’t really want to do the research on books and destinations, so instead I am sharing the latest additions to my NetGalley Shelf. A few of these have already released, so I need to get going on my reading. There is also a good mix of genres — I hope you find one to love.
Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is buzzwords — words attributed to a book that make you want to read it. With a little tweaking of the topic, I am bringing to you books that might appeal to you if you are looking for a specific trope or plot device. There are 5 buzzwords but 10 books of a variety of genres! I hope my list achieves its goal to make you want to read them immediately! 😉
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