Pepper Basham

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious awesomeness! I adored this book! It was everything my romantic, musical loving heart could ever want. Pepper Basham delivers a delightful, magical, feel good, grumpy/sunshine romance with endearing characters, witty humor, all the favorite musical/pop culture references, and even a hint of mystery. Like with Authentically, Izzy I absolutely fell in love with Positively, Penelope.

Penelope Edgewood’s talents are put to the test when she accepts a 3 month show more internship in Skymar to revive the old Darling House Theater. Armed with a sunny disposition, creative solutions, a Mary Poppins bag full of amazing things, and the support of her lovable siblings/cousin, she begins tackling the theater’s problems. Soon her cheerful positivity and love for the theater affect everyone around her including her grumpy business manager Matt Gray. But, not everyone is happy with the changes Penelope’s making. Someone is out to sabotage her and the theater. It’s going to take Penelope’s unconditional love and know how to pull off a miracle and save the theater.

All the love for this book! I adored Penelope and Matthias! In Authentically, Izzy, Penelope came off as a bit naive and we didn’t get to see the full facet of her personality. In this story, she really shines and we see her depth and the true kindness she possesses. Penelope chooses joy and her example affects everyone around her. She’s a breath of fresh air and it was pure delight reading her story.

The flip side of the coin is Matt or “Matthias.” This lovable grump has been through a lot in the past few years. Unfortunately, he’s temporarily lost his joy and mistakenly bans fairytales and princesses from his young daughter Iris’ life. Penelope brings back the magic with singing, baking, and watching “almost” princess movies like Tangled with Iris. When he sees the happiness she brings to not only his life but everyone around her, he begins to rethink his grumpy ways. I loved their romance with him teaching Penelope how to ride a bike, dancing in the theater, and his sacrifices.

Told mostly in epistolary form, I enjoyed reading the witty, heartfelt, sometimes snarky (Luke) emails and texts. All the Edgewood relatives’ personalities really shine and you can’t help loving them all. It was especially fun to see a new side to Luke and I can’t wait for his story! I thoroughly enjoyed new characters introduced like Grandpa Gray and Gwendolyn. I loved all the musical references and the quotes from Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn. I also loved the message of choosing joy. Even the villain has a story and manages to tug on your heartstrings.

You can’t help but smile while reading this story and I guarantee you’ll find yourself singing those amazing show tunes from Phantom of the Opera to My Fair Lady! Highest of recommendations for this exceptionally, practically perfect, clean romance! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given. show less

“My value wasn’t measured by her behavior. Or my mistakes. It was measured by God’s love. A love I couldn’t out-fail. Ever.”

May I say this quote above made me cry as it is something I need to remember often, when my mind takes me places it doesn’t need to stay. Like Katie, I need to find my ultimate value in God, not what others may have said to me.

Hairy coos, puffins, a few exotic pets, an Edwardian Era adventure, an adorable ten-year-old, an American travel writer in Scotland, show more and a #hotScot!! Whew!! That’s a lot!! Mix them all up with a touch of faith, dependably but step-by-step guiding the characters through their choices and messes ( this *is* the social media phenomenon known as Miss Adventure for a reason),and we have a wonderfully endearing, humorous story that you will be sorry to close the book on.

Scotland, with its nearly constant (as I read it)mist or rain has never been high on my travel list. But Pepper Basham is so talented, that in Some Like it Scot, she could convince the biggest naysayer that Scotland has a rugged beauty that needs to be seen, smelled, and felt! Not to mention meeting the #hotScot! A totally infuriating, standoffish, confusing, and ultimately, just maybe attractive #hotScot !

With a dysfunctional family in her background, our heroine Katie is desperately searching for a sense of belonging and home. A conversation with her brother highlights this. “What if Scotland is the place you’ve been searching for?…Home, Katie. We’re all trying to find it.…Sometimes it’s a place. Sometimes it’s a person. Sometimes it’s both.”
When Katie finally realizes her sense of home, will she accept it, or will she attempt to run? ( We often recreate the familiar, even to our own hurt!)

Fave character? Obviously, the two main characters are the winners here. But Mirren, with her soul-piercing discernment and unconditional love has got to be a close second!! And the Highlander Coo! ( I must say that Moolatté is disappointed in this representation of her adorable breed!) Could it be, that animals, and people, have inward qualities that cannot be judged by outward appearances? Katie can see this as relates to the #hotScot, but she has difficulty understanding how others see her because of who God made her to be. Will she be free to be herself, or will she forever be trapped trying to conform to ghosts of impossible expectations? This is a hilarious, must-read book!!

I received a copy of the book from JustRead Tours via NetGalley. I also bought my own ecopy. ( But I need the pb- this is one for the keeper shelf!!) No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Love lingers long.”- Mirren

“Graeme, it’s not about your hold on God. It’s about His hold on you.”- Greer

“When you know you’re loved, it changes everything.” show less

I am so in awe of The Heart of the Mountains by Pepper Basham that I doubt my review can do it justice. While The Heart of the Mountains is actually a sequel to Laurel’s Dream, it could easily be a companion book to Catherine Marshall’s Christy. Basham has so well transported the reader into the same world that Marshall originally created, albeit with different characters.

The style, language, and premise is similar to Christy. An outsider enters the mountains, is rejected by many, yet show more forges ahead with a mentor. As Cora Taylor falls in love with the mountain’s unique culture and people, I was in rapture as I read one the best Christy-like books out there(and there have been several lately, but all pale in comparison to Basham’s offering.
You will physically ache for the mountain people as well as the outsiders who wish to help them.

So many heroes in this book. But besides the Cora and Jeb(a couple who will live in my mind forever), Caroline McAdams is a wonder. Her trust in God is rock-solid, even in horrible times, and she exhibits unconditional love. She looks beyond actions and sees the heart desires.

“God did love His children. Anyway and always. No matter how broken or lost.” The characters in the novel grapple with (among other themes) social justice, racial equality, and fighting against unimaginable odds. Would Cora be trampled underfoot by all the obstacles in her new world? “People dealt with grief in so many different ways. Some wore their wounds better than others. Some sank beneath the pain, others soared.”

I love finding nuggets of truth for today, my “Notable Quotables,” and Pepper Basham provided so many. What a glorious book!

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. show less

"Isn't loving someone being comfortable with who they are by being exactly who you are?"

Even if you aren't a fan of epistolary writing, you will absolutely love this book. Full of fantastic humor, laugh-out-loud moments, tender vulnerability, amazing characters, and real-life faith, the book will capture your heart. Throw in tons of book and movie references and delicious banter and you have a perfect romcom to curl up with on a cold afternoon. I love Pepper Basham's books and this one is show more her best romantic comedy yet (which is saying A LOT)!

It's amazing how the plot flows and we get to know the characters so well through written email and text exchanges. Izzy's relationship with her cousins is enviable but she does harbor deep insecurities and doubts that only surface towards the end. Her creativity, authenticity, and love for others are so refreshing and genuine. And Brodie.... he's a keeper! His awkwardness, bookish nerdiness, soul-deep passion and commitment to family and legacy and dreams, and tender and astute love for Izzy are endearing and make him the perfect hero. Izzy and Brodie's story had me grinning from ear to ear the whole time, with tears of sympathy and joy interspersed.

And we so desperately need Luke and Anders and Brynna's stories soon.....and I can't wait to read Penelope's own happily-ever-after.

I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own. show less