Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
I’m in a Facebook group for Avid Readers of Christian Fiction, and for the past year or more, I’ve seen so many people raving about Pepper Basham’s books. Everyone kept saying how witty and fun her books were.
Then I got to meet Pepper at the Asheville Christian Writers Conference and sit in her workshops. I discovered that not only is her writing witty and fun, but so is she. She breezes into a room, full of life and energy and makes you feel good just being around her.
More recently, I got to attend a workshop at the American Christian Fiction Writers where she and two other authors taught about romance writing. Again, I was struck with how authentic she is and how her joy bubbles over.
When I was invited to review Pepper’s newest book, Sense and Suitability, I jumped at the opportunity. As you can guess, it’s a play on Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, and what a delightful play it is.
About the Book
Title: Sense and Suitability
Author: Pepper Basham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: September 23, 2025
Genre: Clean Regency Romance (Rom-Com)
In this clean Regency romance, a woman with a scandalous past (and an even more scandalous secret) swears off love–until the man who broke her heart needs her help. What could possibly go wrong?
After two failed social seasons, her family may think the third time will be a charm, but Emmeline Lockhart just wants to survive with her dignity (and singleness) intact. She thought she’d found her perfect match in Simon Reeves–charming, handsome, a veritable hero from a novel–until he vanished from her life without so much as a “farewell” or “my deepest regrets” (or even a vague apology scribbled on the back of a calling card). Lesson learned: never fall for a man known for his charm.
Fortunately, and unlike many of the other eligible young ladies of the ton, Emmeline has no need for a husband–because she’s already found success in her scandalous (and very anonymous) profession as an author. Why bother with matrimony when she can make her own fortune and write men exactly the way she wants them?
But fate–or the misfortune of Simon’s reckless patriarchs–has other plans. Simon’s once-proud estate is in shambles, his family fortune has been gambled away, and the younger impressionable siblings in his care are running wild across his estate (and possibly across all of England). Simon is in desperate need of a wealthy, prestigious bride . . . and a friend.
Emmeline may not fit the role of heiress, but she can certainly be a friend. Just a friend. She’ll help him find a suitable match, ensure his reputation remains intact, and keep things strictly platonic–no matter how dangerously appealing his new-and-improved sincerity and regret may be.
There’s just one small problem: the undeniable chemistry that still smolders between them. Can Emme play matchmaker for the man she’s still in love with without losing her heart all over again? And is it possible that some love stories–especially the messy, inconvenient, impossible ones–are worthy of a rewrite?
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Thomas Nelson | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub | Bookshop
Book Review
From the moment I opened up Sense and Suitability, it captivated me. I was immediately drawn into the world and delighted by the characters. As I read, I kept giggling at the clever word choices. I don’t know how many times I had to stop and read a sentence aloud just to fully appreciate it.
I’ve always loved reading books about authors, especially nonconventional writers like women writing before it was socially acceptable. It’s hard for us to comprehend nowadays where the majority of writers are female, but in the Victorian times and earlier, it was definitely a challenge for spunky women who dared to defy convention and write books.
Imagine trying to write without being able to share with your friends and family. I can’t imagine what that would be like, but Sense and Suitability gives a glimpse into the difficulties faced by those early writers.
Though Regency time period isn’t my first choice, Pepper definitely made it more desirable. She captured the nuances of class differences and the silliness of it all. If you’re already a fan of Regency romance, you’ll be able to appreciate it even more.
Though Sense and Suitablity is not deep, it does include spiritual threads of forgiveness, charity, kindness, and responsibility. It also shows the lighter side of clergy life.
If you’re looking for a fun, fanciful read with a happily-ever-after ending, be sure to check out Sense and Suitability. If you do, I suspect you’ll be a Pepper Basham fan for life.
About the Author
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 the wife, mom to five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
Connect with Pepper by visiting www.pepperdbasham.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will receive a signed copy of Sense and Suitability (or winner’s choice of Pepper Basham’s books) and a $25 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 9, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 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/CAN 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!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
Let's chat! What are your thoughts?