Tag Archives: Pepper Basham

Top 10 Tuesday — Summer TBR

17 Jun

Happy Tuesday! Is it hot where you are? It is here in the sunny South, so that means it is officially Summer! of course, it is often hot here in the Spring and Autumn as well, but Summer is a special kind of hot. Some refer to it as Satan’s front porch. 😉 And let’s not even talk about the humidity! But the AC and ceiling fans that are obligatory here keep our reading environment cool and dry, so don’t feel too bad for us. Today bloggers are listing their Summer TBRs. I have a few projects that are keeping my pleasure reading at a minimum, but I do have a few books that will be well deserved breaks. I’ve only listed a few, but they are highly anticipated.

What are you reading this Summer?

For more Summer TBRs, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Books on My Summer TBR

Becoming Madame Secretary by Stephanie Dray

For A Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham

The Light on Horn Island by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Top 10 Tuesday — Changes

13 May

Happy Tuesday! Today in TTT bloggers are talking about the changes their blogs have undergone since they began. Can you believe I have been blogging for 15 years?! I missed this milestone anniversary last November; I probably need to do something about that. 😉 My blog has changed in a lot of ways, but in basics it has stayed the same.

For more changes in blogging, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Changes in My Blogging/Reading

I still review mostly CF and clean fiction. Nowadays I rarely review non-fiction.

I have cut way back on the number of books I review. I started blogging when my kids were at home, I was working part time, and my husband was working full time. Now we are empty nesters, I’m retired, and my husband is semi-retired. More time means less time for the blog.

I am reading less too. It seems weird that having more free time translates to less reading, but in my case it does, since I have more opportunity for other pursuits.

I am reading what I like. In the early years of blogging I took any and all books publishers were willing to send me. Now I am more choosy.

I read almost exclusively on my Kindle. It’s easy and portable. I never thought this would happen, but it also allows me access to more books, especially through NetGalley.

While I have contemplated phasing out my blog, I am still really attached to the book blog community. I love engaging with other readers and reviewers from all over the world. Who knows how long my blog will go on . . .

Because I can’t stand not referencing books in the TTT posts, here are a few books I have read recently. I am still an eclectic reader! I love reading my go-to authors books and discovering new authors.

Spotlight on Contemporary Romance

10 Apr

Some Like it Scot JustRead Takeover + Review Tour

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

Some Like it Scot

Title: Some Like it Scot
Author: Pepper Basham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: April 8, 2025
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

She lives her life on the fly. His heart is double-knotted to home. Can two different souls create a life together?

Popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell roams the world collecting other people’s stories. She’s built a career as “Miss Adventure,” known for saying yes to anything new–country, food, or experience–and predictably finding those adventures taking a downward turn into misadventures.

Offered the chance to explore her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience, Katie finds herself immersed in the beauty and eccentricity of Scotland. In her period attire, with traditional foods and activities, the opportunities for misadventures are endless, especially with the presence of a maniacal macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an all-too-surly Scotsman.

Reclusive and protective Graeme MacKerrow doesn’t venture far from his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme’s comfort zone has always been family, and after his sister’s death, he’s even more determined to save the MacKerrow ancestral home and keep those he loves close. The sudden intrusion of a six-foot-one American lass, famous for her traveling misfortunes, was far from his plan.

As this world of folklore, community, and woodworkers-in-kilts tempts Katie to discover her own story, could this one grand series of misadventures lead her directly to where she belongs? And would a settled-in-Scot ever risk loosening his grip on what’s familiar to allow a wanderlust writer a home in his heart? How could their very different worlds share the same page of life’s story when “home” is in two very different places? But maybe home–and the future–isn’t quite what either one imagined it would be. Maybe home is less about a place . . . and more about a person.

Excerpt

Graeme

And then my attention settled on Katie Campbell. Her gown appeared less elegant than the others, and so tight it easily highlighted her curvy silhouette. But her profile held the real mesmerizing quality. Shaded beneath that muckle hat of hers, all smiles had faded. She wore an intriguing look, distant. 

Lost? Lonely?

I shouldn’t care, truth be told. 

And she shouldn’t draw my attention like she did. No more than the rest of the group with their fancy dress and saucer-sized hats. But she did. In a bathersome way. My attention kept pulling back to the ginger in the ill-fitting frock and an expression filled with unvoiced emotions. 

Suddenly, her entire body stiffened, and she turned, eyes wide. 

And I heard it. 

The sound of Kirsty’s bicycle bell. 

Och! How on earth did the little imp plan these things? Did she keep watch for victims from her Grannie’s front porch?

The girl made sport of scaring strangers and with the last week of Summer Term in place, she’d likely have even more freedom. Usually, her antics weren’t a problem because she rarely disturbed the natives anymore, but when tourists came it was like she had a radar out to find them. Wild one, she was. But with naught but her aged grannie for family, she was left to her own devices…and amusement most of the time. 

“What’s all the noise?”

Mum’s question fell on deaf ears as Katie grabbed a man’s arm near her, clearly trying to get his attention about mad Kirsty. In one quick movement, the man shocked to attention moving away from Kirsty’s trajectory, but in the process knocked Katie back. Katie stumbled, attempted to keep her balance with arms flailing about like propellers, and then—my breath seized in my chest—she tumbled over into the loch.

Did catastrophe follow the woman!

“Good heavens, Graeme!” Mum called.

I rushed to the door and flung it open, Mum on my heels. Dodging two ladies in fancy dress, I ran the distance to the loch, passing the daft man she’d saved as he stared into the water without one step to help. 

“I…I didn’t know. I…didn’t mean…”

The loch wasn’t especially deep at the water’s edge, perhaps 12 feet, but deep enough.

Katie didn’t emerge, but I could see her silhouette below the water, her arms frantically moving but not making progress to the surface. Jerking off my jacket and tugging off my shoes, I drew in a deep breath and plunged into the loch near her. 

The cool water soaked through my t-shirt and jeans as I turned in Katie’s direction and waited for the bubbles from my dive to dissipate. A pale arm flapped toward me through the bubbles and then her gaze met mine. So wide, so vulnerable, pleading for my response. 

And my heart squeezed an answer. 

She pointed below to her skirt and I swam lower, noting the trouble. 

The bottom of her dress had interwoven with an old, disposed oyster cage. I dove lower and found the tangle, ripping the knotted lace to free her. With the last tug of snagged cloth, I rose, wrapping my arm about her waist on the way to the surface. 

Her arms wrapped around my neck, her body flush against mine, as we broke above the water line. I may have freed the tangle of her cloth, but the knot in my chest only tightened as she coughed against my shoulder, her cold cheek pressing into my neck. 

Greer had looked at me with such fear, once. 

Only once. 

Near the end.

And I’d been helpless to save her.

But Katie trembled against me, a mingle of breaths and coughs assuring me of her fitness, and…well, I fought rising emotions until they stung at my eyes. I was a bloomin’ fool, I was.

With a sweep of my arm, I brought us close to the rock well lining the water’s edge and steadied us against it. She coughed once more before shivering into my side. My hold instinctively tightened around her and with one long sigh, her head dropped against my shoulder, fully trusting me and my strength.

The pressure in my chest tightened to the hurting spot. Don’t trust me to keep you safe, I wanted to say, but the words refused to form. Instead, I went completely doolally and held her a little closer. 

Because…truth be told. She was safe now.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Faith Gateway | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop

Also Available:

Authentically, Izzy Positively, Penelope Loyally Luke


About The Author

Pepper Basham

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 Asheville, NC, where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, the mom of 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

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Some Like it Scot and hairy coo themed gift box!

(1) additional winner will receive a print copy of Some Like it Scot!

Some Like it Scot JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 9, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 16, 2025. 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.

Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

Top 10 Tuesday — Spring-y Covers

8 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Spring has definitely sprung around my house. The azaleas are in full bloom now and the dogwoods are showing off. Our blueberry bushes are full of blossoms and seem to have escaped any late frosts! Yay! Along with the beauty outside my windows, I’ve got some book beauties on the shelf. Today’s TTT topic is Spring-y Book Covers. The covers are lightening my mood and adding some really pretty granny squares to my 2025 book blanket project. Find new releases and oldies — I have a bountiful mix on my shelves — below.

For more, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Spring-y Book Covers

Always Green by Patti Hill

Always on My Heart by Iola Goulton

A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee

Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham

Hope Springs by Lynne Hinton

The Light on Horn Island by Valerie Fraser Luesse

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

Sunrise Reef by Irene Hannon

What The Mountains Remember by Joy Callaway

When The Jessamine Grows by Donna Everhart

Top 10 Tuesday — No Fooling, These Books Are Great!

1 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Since it’s April Fool’s Day, this week’s TTT topic is you’d be a fool not to read these books. My list contains books I have read this year that I highly recommend you read. As always there’s a variety of genres so you can easily find your next favorite book. Enjoy!

For more bloggers’ choices, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Recommended Books I’ve Read So Far This Year

Before The King by Heather Kaufman

Break My Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn

The Hunted Heir by Jayna Breigh

The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

Indigo Isle by T. I. Lowe

Memory Lane by Becky Wade

The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

Of Love And Treason by Jamie Ogle

Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham

The Women of Chateau Lafayette by Stephanie Dray

Mini-Book Review — Some Like It Scot

26 Mar

I finally met Pepper Basham in person in January at the Turning A New Page Book Festival in Perry, GA. What fun it was to sit in on the two panels she was on, as well as, talking with her face-to-face! She is so sweet! And funny! If you are a fan of her romcoms you probably would have guessed that already. I also had the great fortune of receiving an ARC of her latest book, Some Like It Scot. It is a fun romp through the Scottish countryside with sheep, a hairy coo, and a swoony hero in a kilt. Main character Katie Campbell is a popular travel writer that has endeared her audience with misadventures. Katie is sweet, kind, and prone to harrowing near death experiences, with this trip to the Isle of Mull no exception. She is also burdened by family dynamics leading her to a flight response in her personal life. I loved Katie. She is a relatable character, even if you’ve never been chased by a cow or fallen off a cliff. 😉 She meets her dream man, but it is definitely not love at first sight for either of them — at least that’s what they tell each other. I really liked how the romance develops between the pair. There are plenty of zany situations and quirky, but lovable characters. I especially fell in love with Lachlan, a young boy wise beyond his years, and Mirren, a woman who nurtures Katie in ways her own mother never did. I also now want to return to Scotland to experience the misty lochs and quaint towns found on Mull.

Some Like It Scot was a quick read with lots of romance, but it also conveys godly wisdom for anyone reading it. It’s definitely a recommended read!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

She lives her life on the fly. His heart is double-knotted to home. Can two different souls create a life together?

Popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell roams the world collecting other people’s stories. She’s built a career as “Miss Adventure,” known for saying yes to anything new–country, food, or experience–and predictably finding those adventures taking a downward turn into misadventures.

Offered the chance to explore her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience, Katie finds herself immersed in the beauty and eccentricity of Scotland. In her period attire, with traditional foods and activities, the opportunities for misadventures are endless, especially with the presence of a maniacal macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an all-too-surly Scotsman.

Reclusive and protective Graeme MacKerrow doesn’t venture far from his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme’s comfort zone has always been family, and after his sister’s death, he’s even more determined to save the MacKerrow ancestral home and keep those he loves close. The sudden intrusion of a six-foot-one American lass, famous for her traveling misfortunes, was far from his plan.

As this world of folklore, community, and woodworkers-in-kilts tempts Katie to discover her own story, could this one grand series of misadventures lead her directly to where she belongs? And would a settled-in-Scot ever risk loosening his grip on what’s familiar to allow a wanderlust writer a home in his heart? How could their very different worlds share the same page of life’s story when “home” is in two very different places? But maybe home–and the future–isn’t quite what either one imagined it would be. Maybe home is less about a place . . . and more about a person.

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 currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where 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. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at http://www.pepperdbasham.com.

Top 10 Tuesday — Book Blanket Update

25 Mar

Happy Tuesday! I was not feeling the TTT topic today — DNF (did not finish) books. Didn’t we just post about that topic? I typically finish all the books that I start primarily because I am pretty picky about the books I choose to read — mood reading, favorite genres or authors, etc. So today I am posting an update about my 2025 book blanket. Below are the books I have recently read and the granny squares I have made to remember them by. And in good conscience, I have to confess that I may be choosing books based on pretty covers. 😉 Do you have any bookish projects going on?

For more on-topic bloggers’ lists please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

2025 Book Blanket Update

Top 10 Tuesday — Spring TBR

18 Mar

Happy Tuesday! How is it already Spring? Now, I am not complaining. The winter here in the Sunny South was cold by our standards. But how has the time gone so quickly!? While my reading isn’t as quick as it used to be, I am steadily making progress on my TBR list. TTT helps me get it in line too. So here’s my Spring TBR, a mix of review books, book club selections, and just because. Wish me luck! 😉

For more bloggers’ Spring TBR lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Spring TBR

Always by My Side by Iola Goulton

Cold Dead Night by Lisa Phillips

A Gardin Wedding by Rosey Lee

Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow

Midnight on The Scottish Shore by Sarah Sundin

The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch

Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

Sunrise Reef by Irene Hannon

Top 10 Tuesday — Destination Titles

12 Nov

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT prompt is Destination Titles (books with the names of places in their titles). I didn’t anticipate how quickly I could come up with 10 books! My list includes books with cities in the title. The cover art reps the cities as well. Take a close look at A Shadow in Moscow‘s cover! I have a variety of genres and time periods represented — I hope you find one to love!

For more virtual travel, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Destination Titles

The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham

Embers in The London Sky by Sarah Sundin

The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton

The Librarian of Saint-Malo by Mario Escobar

Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

The Paris Betrayal by James Hannibal

A Shadow in Moscow by Katherine Reay

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt

Book Review: Hope Like Wildflowers

21 Oct

Pepper Basham has been a favorite author for a long time. With her newest historical romance, Hope Like Wildflowers, the feeling is reinforced. This is a sweet romance that does not shy away from messy life situations, but rather shines a light for God’s truth, love, and care. You do not want to miss this book!

An Appalachian Girl Seeks a Place to Belong
 
Return to the mountains of 1910s Appalachia with beloved author Pepper Basham to discover Kizzie McAdams’s story.

Kizzie McAdams spent her childhood longing to see beyond the mountains of home, but when her job as a servant in a landowner’s house results in an unplanned pregnancy, her world tips into uncertainty and heartbreak. Disowned by her father, she seeks comfort in the arms of the man who promises to take care of her, but his support is conditional and inconsistent. She finds acceptance in the home of a nearby family who not only offer Kizzie friendship but point her to a deeper understanding of God’s love.

Despite her change of heart, her status as a social outcast brings with it continued threats and alienation so she flees her past in hopes of starting over in a nearby town. But her new world carries many of the same prejudices as the old. It also brings the unexpected friendship of businessman Noah Lewis, a man who lives with the same desire as Kizzie for helping the marginalized.

Unfortunately, Kizzie and Noah’s attempts to help those in need pit them against Noah’s elder brother, a powerful mill owner who holds control of the family finances. Is Kizzie and Noah’s growing romance strong enough to battle family power, social expectations, and Kizzie’s past to capture their happy ending? And when Kizzie’s first love returns to claim her, which future will she choose? 

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 currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where 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. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram.

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at http://www.pepperdbasham.com.

My Impressions:

Hope Like Wildflowers, the third book in Pepper Basham‘s My Heart Belongs in The Blue Ridge series, is a sweet romance. The characters are real and relatable, and this reader could not help cheering them on towards their HEA! And like others of Basham’s novels, this book does not shy away from showing life in all of its messiness including the follies and flaws of its characters. The overarching message of God’s truth, love, and care shines like a beacon and reminded me yet again how good God is. Main character Kizzie is young and naive and looked for love, attention, and affirmation in the wrong place. Her mistake is costly as she finds herself pregnant and abandoned by her family. This may be shocking to modern readers, but the setting is early 1900s Appalachia, so her circumstances ring true. The first chapters of the book really are heartbreaking, but Kizzie soon discovers what real love looks like. Kizzie is a formidable character — her vulnerability and weakness are strengthened by her faith and hope. Yes, hope is a strong theme in the novel — something unseen but knowable in its certainty. As Kizzie grows in her faith and finds a place of purpose and belonging, she finds that God is a true provider, father, friend, and husband. A hefty dose of suspense kept the pages turning as well.

While Hope Like Wildflowers is a standalone novel, I really want to visit the first two books in the series. My heart yearns for more of that Blue Ridge experience!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Barbour Publishing for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)