Witty Rom-Com Hits All the Right Notes! 'Brewed Awakening' - by Pepper Basham

 

About the book:

Daphne dreams of Mr. Darcy. Finn serves up pints and rock music. Can opposites attract when a tea shop princess meets her pub-owning rival? Perfect for fans of Courtney Walsh and Emma St. Clair.

In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings to tradition like cream to a scone. She's built her life--and her late grandmother's tearoom, Tea Thyme--around all things English: delicate china, Jane Austen novels, and the comforting predictability of routine. The only thing threatening her perfectly ordered world? The loud, aggravatingly handsome Brit opening a pub next door.

After his ex-wife broke his heart and his business partner nearly destroyed his career, Finn Dashwood packed up his six-year-old daughter and left England behind. He's looking for a fresh start, and the last thing he needs is a fussy, tea-obsessed neighbor criticizing his every pint and playlist. It doesn't matter that she's ridiculously kind (to everyone else) and that his daughter is utterly fascinated by her. Finn's heart is not open to being broken again.

But disagreements turn into prank wars and then a competition when a high-profile wedding needs a last-minute caterer. The townsfolk are thrilled--Wisteria hasn't seen this much excitement since the county fair lost a goat.

When the wedding demands both sweet and savory fare, Daphne and Finn are forced to put down their swords and pick up their serving trays. Between burnt pastries, brewing tempers, trending hashtags (#SipsAndSpats, anyone?), and one very adorable little girl, rivalry soon gives way to reluctant friendship--and maybe something that feels suspiciously like chemistry.

Can a tea shop princess and a pub owner with a past mix their lives as seamlessly as clotted cream and jam . . . or will their differences keep them steeped in rivalry forever?

My review:

This was such a cute story! Where do I begin?  I loved the witty banter and not just between Finn and Daphne.  There were a lot of fun social media comments with funny hashtags from different people in the community and that really made the small town come alive and feel like everyone truly knew everyone.  Daphne and Finn were so cute together; besides the banter they invented mouth-watering recipes and had amazing chemistry.  I seriously wanted to try the food!  It sounded so good and I keep thinking about it, lol.  Finn and Daphne struggled to trust and open their hearts to each other as they were both protecting themselves from past hurts and Finn especially had his little girl to consider as well.  She was adorable and it was so sweet to see Daphne bonding with her, especially when she gets bullied for having a scar from her cleft lip surgery and Daphne finds words that show her her worth comes from God.  I liked that we're shown people who aren't all perfect-looking and another example of that was Daphne's brother, Jack, who has prosthetic legs.  Besides the romantic comedy, there was also some action as a hurricane is coming nearby and there's a worry about flooding.  Daphne prays and tried to trust God during all of this.  You really see the community come together during this time.  The faith element is on the lighter side in the story as it's mentioned they both attend church and a few other things.  Overall, this story was picture-perfect.  Swoon-worthy banter (and hero) with adorable daughter, amazing food and a quirky community that brings to mind Gilmore Girls.  I really hope there's a sequel!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.