Daphne has inherited her grandmother’s beloved tea shop, Tea Thyme, and continues the charming English theme her grandmother began. A devoted Jane Austen fan, Daphne treasures her quiet, predictable life—until a genuine Brit moves in next door and turns her world upside down.
Finn Dashwood arrives in Wisteria, North Carolina, with his six-year-old daughter, Lucy, after heartbreak and betrayal leave him searching for a fresh start. His dream is to open an authentic English pub, but the perfect location happens to be right beside Tea Thyme. Daphne is less than thrilled with the noisy neighbor and his plans, though Finn quickly notices how deeply the townsfolk—and Lucy—adore her.
When a celebrity wedding is scheduled in their cozy mountain town, Daphne and Finn find themselves competing for the coveted catering job. The rivalry escalates into a town-wide contest, with each showcasing their best dishes. The stakes are high, but so are the sparks flying between them.
Pepper Basham delivers a charming tale filled with humor, heart, and unexpected twists. The endearing cast of characters will capture your heart, while the sweet romance and small-town warmth make this story impossible to put down. A Brewed Awakening is a delightful blend of wit, poignancy, and hope—a perfect read for fans of heartfelt, clean, contemporary romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham is exactly the kind of feel-good, small-town romance that reminds you why her books are such comfort reads. With Basham’s signature blend of humor, heartfelt emotion, and fully lovable characters, this story feels like a warm cup of coffee shared with your best friend.

The chemistry between the leads is both sweet and sparkling, the banter is pitch-perfect, and the community around them adds a rich coziness to the entire narrative. Basham excels at creating characters who feel real: flawed, hopeful, and easy to root for. I especially loved the gentle exploration of second chances, belonging, and finding courage to open your heart again.

If you're looking for a romance that's uplifting without being saccharine, tender without losing its wit, and infused with a dash of Basham’s trademark charm, A Brewed Awakening is a must-read. Perfect for fans of small-town settings, faith-touched narratives, and stories that leave you smiling long after the last page. Highly recommended!

I receive complimentary books from various sources, including NetGalley, authors, and others. I am not required to write a positive review, and I have not received any compensation for my thoughts.

Pepper Basham writes EVERYTHING so well, and A Brewed Awakening is another winner! Sweet, romantic, with a yummy tea shop setting in a small Carolina town I'd love to live in. Plus characters you really come to care about. Loved it!

This book wrecked me. In the best possible way.
I loved it, cover to cover.
The banter between the two main characters was maybe a bit much, but what else can you expect from a Pepper Basham book?! ☺️

Sweet and spicy all around!


Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

A Brewed Awakening is a very well written rom-com. I throughly enjoyed the plot and the character dynamics. This author always delivers a good read. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. This is my unbiased review.

Pepper Basham has done it again! This book was completely delightful from start to finish. I loved the characters and their development and growth. The plot was well-paced and captivating. I highly recommend this clean and wholesome read. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

A Brewed Awakening was so warm and easy to read and fall in love with.

I loved the tiny mountain town chaos, the bakery vs pub rivalry and the little social media posts at the start of each chapter, those were honestly my favourite part 🩷

Daphne and Finn have that soft, steady chemistry that you can’t help but loveee. The prank war, the catering drama, Lucy being adorable it all just worked together in that feel good, small town way.

I really liked this one 🤎📚🫖✨

Charming, funny, and delightful, I loved it! I want to live in Wisteria. You do not want to miss this sweet enemies-to-lovers, and opposites-attract foodie rom-com set in the perfectly endearing small town.

Anglophile Daphne Austen, owner of Tea Thyme, meets the new owner of The Green Dragon Pub, and next door neighbor British Finn Dashwood while she is practically drooling over his English car (a Cabriolet like the one her grandma used to love). "There would come a day when she'd respond like a grown-up around handsome men. This was not that day." She's less than impressed with Finn despite his car.

Oh my goodness, the start of every chapter includes local town social media posts and hashtags that are a hoot!

A Brewed Awakening is about a town full of unforgettable characters, and main characters who have been through difficult losses, an adorable six-year-old daughter Lucy, highly entertaining banter, friendly competition, and lots of great food. Everyone in town pulls together during good times and difficult times. The author has created such a great place, I wasn't kidding when I said I'd like to live here, or spend a vacation here.

I highly recommend A Brewed Awakening for lovers of satisfying romantic comedy! Author Pepper Basham writes completely entertaining and delightful stories, and this latest one is wonderful.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson via Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

This was the perfect small town cozy romance I've been looking for! And yes, it did make me want to keep refilling my tea cup while enjoying it. It nails that small-town, Hallmark-movie magic without ever slipping into cheesy territory .It’s warm, funny, and full of heart in all the right ways.

Daphne and Finn have A+ banter, the kind that actually feels earned instead of forced, and their enemies-to-lovers chemistry hits that perfect sweet spot: clean, swoony, and satisfyingly slow burn romance. The small-town gossip threads and social-media posts sprinkled in? Absolutely hilarious. and the small town felt like a place I want to move to and immediately befriend every nosy neighbor.

Finn’s relationship with his daughter was gold, and Daphne was instantly lovable. This book just feels good like comfort food in romance form.

It made me smile the whole way through.

This was such a fun, creative story about a tea shop owner and a single dad who is new to town and opening his own restaurant.
The banter was not just great between the two main characters but the entire town.
It took me a little while to get used to reading the posts in the book but once I did, it quickly became one of the things I enjoyed the most in this book. It just took this from a good rom-com to a great read that has hilarious banter and so much heart. This is the first book I have read from this author but it definitely will not be the last.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC copy of this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was such a fun, feel-good read! Their rivalry had me grinning the whole time. The banter is great, the setting feels like something out of a Hallmark movie. If you like lighthearted, clean romances with lots of humor and heart, this one’s an easy recommendation. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to the author and to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

This one did not disappoint. Sweet, romantic, and the best setting! I love when I can relate to the characters and also when I see a story hold such a special place in my heart. This author writes such amazing stories and I am so happy to share this one with all of the people in my life

A BREWED AWAKENING by PEPPER BASHAM is best described as a “culinary rom-com”, which takes place in the friendly town of Wisteria, where Daphne Austen, lover of tea and Jane Austen, meets the very British, flirtacious and disturbingly handsome Finn Dashwood, drinker of coffee and hater of tea, who sets up his pub next dorr to her “princess tea shop”, Tea Thyme. Finn owns a cabriolet and has a delightful daughter, both of which make Daphne feel less hostile towards her infuriating competitor……..
There is depth to this story as the author gives us insight into the characters’ emotions, and also as tradegy hits the town…….
There is humour, non-stop banter, interference from the locals, competition, a gentle Chrutian message and a sense of belonging in the community, woven into a truly lovely story.
I cannot recommend this entertaining and most enjoyable read strongly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham is a fun, cozy read that feels like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket with a good cup of coffee ☕️. The story is lighthearted and full of charm, with a small-town setting that’s easy to settle into and characters that feel instantly familiar.

Pepper Basham’s humor really shines—there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments mixed with sweet, thoughtful ones. The romance is clean and slow-building, making it perfect for readers who enjoy gentle tension and lots of heart rather than high drama.

Overall, A Brewed Awakening is an easy, feel-good read that’s perfect when you want something comforting, funny, and uplifting. A great pick for cozy fiction fans and anyone who enjoys faith-filled stories with warmth and wit.

THE BANTER!!! OH THE BANTER!!!! Shout out to Netgalley for approving this book right before a snowstorm and bitt rly cold weather hit. I bundled up on my couch and devoured this book! The banter between the main characters was next level!! Hilarious, sweet, gave me some new sayings that I want to use. I may or may not have cried a few times, and I loved the faith aspect of the book. It was beautifully woven in and just what I needed to hear about trusting God. I absolutely looovveeeeedddd this book and if there isn't a next book in the series with her little brother and her BFF, I will be upset!

Delightful. Adorable. Swoon-worthy kisses and laugh-out-loud banter. I absolutely LOVE A Brewed Awakening. Finn and Daphne are joining Luke and Ellie at the top of my favorite rom-com couples. Finn and Daphne themselves are wonderful; their banter is delightful, and the enemies-to-more trope is so satisfying. The social media posts and comments at the beginning of the chapters add character and humor. I loved the clever hashtags and the fun merch the general store kept coming up with to highlight each post.

Little Lucy is just the cutest, and adds a sweet, adorable layer to the relationship between Finn and Daphne. Pepper Basham created the quintessential Southern small town, a perfect backdrop for the romance. and also the ideal cast of neighbors to support each other in good times and in crisis. The entire town comes together at the end, after a major crisis affects everyone.

I received an ARC copy of this book and was not required to leave a review. This opinion is my own.