Review: When You Look at Me by Pepper Basham {Blog Tour + Giveaway}

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for When You Look at Me by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours.

About The Book

Title: When You Look at Me
(Pleasant Gap Romance #2)
Author: Pepper Basham
Publisher: Woven Words Publications
Release Date: October 25, 2018
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

An unexpected mother-to-be
A romance-leery composer
And a forgotten melody from the past that holds the keys to their futures

When Julia Jenkins' great aunt dies and leaves her a Victorian mansion with decades of secrets, Julia never expects to unearth a World War 2 espionage mystery. Struggling with her own past since an assault left her pregnant, her future as a solo parent leaves her dreams uncertain. The inheritance from her great aunt gives Julia the ability to take a step back into her future, but also sends her into the discovery of a love story she’d never anticipated. As she goes through her aunt's treasured possessions, Julia uncovers some oddly written piano music with a musical code she can’t decipher on her own. Not to worry, introverted Englishman and composer, Henry Wright, is thrust on the scene by a pair of homespun matchmakers who know the ‘right’ man for Julia’s wounded heart.

Henry arrives in Pleasant Gap with the task of composing the soundtrack for his best mate’s newest film. The Jenkins’ family’s southern welcome and gregarious personalities set his reticent nature on edge, but he’s inexplicably drawn to his gentle and music-loving hostess, Julia. Uncertain how to build a friendship with the wounded woman, and rather hopeless in communicating well through words, the bond of music becomes a bridge between her uncertainty and his awkwardness.

But her broken past and his families’ expectations build a wall much greater than the cultures that separate them. As they work together to solve a musical mystery from the grave, will an unlikely romance from the past inspire their hearts to trust in a God who’s written the perfect melody for their lives?

PURCHASE: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review

It is always a happy day when Pepper Basham releases a new story! And this one is just as wonderful as all her others. Ms. Basham has coined the word "britallachian" for this series and it is quite perfect. From the mix of Appalachian and British accents, to the wonderful and hilarious adventures of our main couple, I giggled my way through this story quite happily! :)

Julia and Henry are so worth spending time with. The difficulties that they both face in their respective journeys are genuine and give a depth to the overall sweetness of their romance. But of course, the romance bits are undeniably adorable, though! Their meet cute is so appropriate and I just loved the shy way they tiptoed around each other at first. I especially loved how they connected through their love of music. How each of them had discovered the way music helped them cope and then to find another who understands that part of their heart? Such a connection isn't easily found and it was one of my favorite bits of the whole story. And watching as they both step out of their comfort zones and seek to add a bit of bravery to their lives....it was delightful to see. They both have so much to overcome, but as they grow and learn, they help each other become more confident. A true rapport is between them. So it's not just the cute, but also the swoony and genuine that delighted me!

And have I mentioned how much I love the big, loud, and awesome Jenkins' family?! I think they just got added to my list of favorite fictional families ever! The hilarious way they interact, yet balanced with the deep love they have for each other, I adored each and every time they came on the page. They are the backbone of this series, for sure.

Filled with sweetness and giggles, as well as a mystery to solve, this story is certainly one of Ms. Basham's best. With a swoonworthy (and quiet) hero, a damaged (but hopeful) heroine, fairly serious romantic (and crackling) chemistry between them, and the boisterous family of loveableness (and hilarity), this is a book worthy of checking out. If I haven't convinced you, I promise that Ms. Basham will if you only give her a chance! Trust me, friends. :)

**I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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About The Author

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance novels with grace, humor, and culture clashes. She’s a Blue Ridge Mountain native and an anglophile who enjoys combining her two loves to create memorable stories of hope. Pepper is also a mom of five, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of Jesus and chocolate. She resides in Asheville, North Carolina with her family.

CONNECT: website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

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Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive:

• print copy of Just The Way You Are (Pleasant Gap Romance #1)
• print copy of When You Look at Me (Pleasant Gap Romance #2)
• a plaque which says: Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life.... love comes along and brings you a fairy tale

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight October 22, 2018 and lasts through 11:59pm October 29, 2018. Void where prohibited by law. US addresses only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Review: Rose in Three Quarter Time by Rachel McMillan

Oh friends, where to start? From first pages to last, I was thoroughly captivated by this story! I knew from Love in Three Quarter Time that the elegance and enchantment of Vienna would probably sweep me away again, but I wasn't expecting to be so thoroughly immersed into the music. From that first description of Rose's playing through every single hypnotizing moment thereafter, my heart was caught! Rose and Oliver's instantaneous connection (in music and in heart), I understood it. I craved it. It swept me away so completely that it felt like I could feel the beats and the pure emotion of every bar of music. Especially during one specific scene when I fell just as hard for Oliver as Rose did! :)

Ms. McMillan's characters always seem to make me love them pretty much from chapter one and Oliver and Rose did precisely that. I think it was that they simply understood each other so inherently, so completely, yet they were so hopeless at seeing the heart of the other that was falling so madly! A good marriage of convenience story convinces me that these two people will fit, even as they slowly learn the same thing. And Oliver and Rose? Oh do they ever fit each other! Even the flaws and idiosyncrasies that flare up naturally in them they somehow find endearing about the other! If they were real, I might just find them a bit sickeningly sweet, but on the page? My heart just wanted more!

Endearing, charming, delightful, I could spend paragraphs expounding on how there aren't enough adjectives to describe my LOVE of this story. I could gush about every detail, yet I acknowledge that the greatest pleasure is found in discovering the gem for yourself! So go do that, friends. Drop whatever other book you've started, rush out and buy this one immediately, and then fall in love just as I did! Oliver and Rose and the music of their hearts are worth it. Trust me! :)

**I received a copy from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads :: Amazon

Every experience Oliver had with falling in love was intertwined with music. Falling in love with Rose was different. There was something elusive about music. Rose was flesh and blood with a freckle on the side of her nose and tendrils of hair that rebelled against their perfect braids. You could coax music to your will and rehearse it into its best version. Rose was beautifully, thrillingly, unpredictable.

"This is awkward"-he drew an imaginary line-"and we are going to hop over that."
"Oliver, we just married each other. How could it get any more awkward than that?"

And all of the history stayed with her just like the names of the buildings she passed every day, "The Golden Wings", "To the Green Pillar", "To the Golden Crown", the Platz and the graffiti-walled park, the baroque suburban houses, the alleyway markets like sweet secrets tucked in the pockets of the street's ivory and yellow coat.

Review: Dancing and Doughnuts by Rachel Kovaciny {Blog Tour + Giveaway}

Hello, my lovelies! I am SO pleased to be participating in this blog tour for my dearest blogging friend, Rachel. You may remember when I helped with the cover reveal...well, I am here to tell you that I have now read the book and it is a delight! Even though westerns aren't usually my genre of choice, I will always make an exception for Rachel.

But enough about my excitement! Let's get on with it, shall we?

{Blog Tour info here}

My Review

Oh, friends. If you're in need of a sweet little story to make you grin, then I definitely recommend that you pick this one up! I may not love westerns, but I am now a fan of Jedediah Jones. His quaint way of talking, his "love" of apples, and just his gentleman-like manner of behavior sold me from chapter one. He made me grin so many times! :)

The whole story just feels energetic and fun. As if you really are enjoying an evening with dancing and doughnuts. And speaking of the title, there's certainly plenty of both in these pages! I liked the mystery to solve as well. As this is a western take on The Twelve Dancing Princesses, I rather enjoyed seeing the different ways Ms. Kovaciny incorporated pieces of the fairytale alongside her own creativeness. I wasn't certain at all who the culprit was, but I was right beside Jedediah as he worked out each new idea. I really just loved the way his mind worked! Seriously. He made me laugh, but he was always one step ahead of me.

This story utterly delighted me! It was just the happy I needed after the end of a long and busy day. It's light and fluffy with a bit of sweetness on the outside, just like it's namesake! (Also, I appreciated the nod to Shakespeare. Very appropriate! :) I think you'll like it too. Trust me.

**I received a complimentary copy via the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Website :: Facebook :: Goodreads :: Amazon :: Blog :: Instagram

Giveaway

autographed copy of Dancing and Doughnuts
copy of Log Cabin Cooking
Once Upon a Western tote bag

Enter Here

Review: Dead Drift by Dani Pettrey

It has been much too long since I've read a Dani Pettry story! I'd forgotten just how amazingly good she is at keeping me on the edge of my seat. From each nail-biting moment to the next, I was anxious for the good guys to win. Which I was in no doubt of! But still. With my heart in my throat, I'd push on to the next chapter full of anxiety and hope. Because that's what so much of this story is full of! No matter what terror may be happening on the page, hope permeates every paragraph.

Even having not read every book in the series prior to reading this final one, I found myself fascinated with the frienships that make up the story. This is undoubtedly Luke and Kate's journey, yes, but all the characters get to have their moment. Character relationships is where Ms. Pettrey's writing truly shines, in my opinion. I love the way they all take care of each other and the love that flows through every interaction (both frustrating or not, because goodness knows they can frustrate each other! ;). More than friends, they've become a family of sorts. Whip-smart, always-willing-to-go-into-danger-for-each-other-no-matter-what type of family!

The intriguing push and pull of the romance in this one is, naturally, a favorite of mine. Luke and Kate's fractured history makes for disappointment, irritation, and constant chemistry-laden interaction! Forced to deal with all the secrets and the unsaid things hovering under the surface of their conversations, they both struggle to work through their emotions. At times I wanted to shake them, at others I wanted to hug them! The way they clearly love each other, but deny it for all their worth, just made me all the more anxious for their eventual reconciliation. Yet I could understand all the hurt that they had to let go of, which wasn't easy. I loved watching them slowly open up to one another again! So that by the time the real sweetness between them arrived...ah my heart!

With just enough tension to keep her readers on their toes, yet enough hope for the future, Ms. Pettrey pens a story like no other! I was completely invested from the first pages until the last and quite happy to get my just reward (especially the chance to finally relax! ;). I'm now planning to go back and read the rest of the series. And soon, I hope! Because after seeing where so many of the characters end up, I quite want to find out how they got there. It's a keeper, friends! As any Dani Pettrey book always is.

**I received a complimentary copy via Bethany House. All opinions expressed are my own.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble

Katie was a starlit night filled with the bursts of fireflies. She was the pummel and front of a waterfall booming in his ears, the surge of a plane netting into the bright blue sky, pressing him back against the seat, his chest tightening with excitement.

To Luke, home had become far more than a physical dwelling. To him a home was where his heart resided, and she was sitting three inches to his right. 

"I didn't know.... You've been gone so long, I didn't know-"
"If I still had a relationship with Christ?"
"I knew you did. To what extent is what I wondered."
He raked a hand through his hair on an exhale. "I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It's not where it should be on my end, but God has held on tight and never let go."