Hi y’all!
Happy spring! It really feels like spring at our house (finally!) and I am here for it. After a very snowy spring break, we are actually in real spring. Loving the blooming bulbs, daily walks, and spring recipes.
Today I am so excited to share my ARC review of Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham. I absolutely loved this story from Pepper. I’ve become a big fan of her books in the last year and this is such a beautiful addition to her collection. I loved the Scottish setting and the clever story filled with endearing and imperfect characters. Set in a clever “Edwardian Experience” (think living inside the world of Downton Abbey for 3 weeks), this story of an American travel writer who meets a grumpy Scot is full of beautiful scenery, clever (mis)adventures, and a collection of witty puns.
This book releases today — April 8th, 2025!
Book Summary: “An American travel writer who has never found a place to belong and a reclusive Scot with a surprising secret find a shocking connection when she enters a Highlands manor house that has been turned into a three-week long Edwardian experience.
Katie Campbell has traveled her entire life. As the daughter of an army chaplain, changing homes–or even countries–was commonplace, so when her wild childhood storytelling turned into a lucrative career as a travel writer, she thought she’d found her perfect match. But as she’s nearly thirty with no real place to settle down, she’s starting to wonder where “home” actually is. Her own family hadn’t felt like home since her sister’s death left them all limping through life.
When a lengthy project in Scotland promises to not only give her travel fodder for months but also a shot at a coveted editing position, she accepts and is sent to spend three weeks in the newly created Craighill House, a Scottish home redesigned to offer guests an Edwardian experience. But her entrance to Craighill introduces her to a quirky group of characters and a surly Scot who is helping refurbish the magnificent woodwork of the estate house.
As Katie attempts to live “Edwardian,” she learns that all that glitters does not a comfortable lifestyle make . . . and surly Scots may turn out to be dashing and creative uncles raising their orphaned nephews. When a few escapades from the Downton era lead Katie on hunts for mermaids and dragons or to a fireside chat with a family who has grown stronger through tragedy, Katie begins to wonder if “home” looks a whole lot like rolling green hills, magnificent braighs, and a few extra “ayes” thrown in for good measure. But can her world-traveling lifestyle fit in with a Scot whose heart is double-knotted to home?“
One of my favorite parts of this and all Pepper novels is the beautiful, clever writing and storytelling. I always feel transported into her stories through her words. The Scottish setting in this novel is breathtaking and full of history and legend. I find myself longing to experience it for myself now! Her imagery is exquisite and her descriptions of the people are witty and profound. There is just something about the way she builds her story and describes these places and people. Reading this book was such a cozy experience. I love the way she writes. I laugh, I smile, and I may have shed a few tears in this story. The beautiful themes of family, grief, finding joy, finding God, and love were simply captivating.
Katie is such a delightful protagonist. I loved getting to know the different layers that make up the person she is — social media superstar, loyal sister and friend, true connoisseur of stories, and a beautiful woman inside and out. She is someone you can’t help but love and want to be friends with. I enjoyed reading about her (mis)adventures from her run in with the highland cow to learning to dance and cozy moments in Graeme’s world. She makes life an adventure. I also enjoyed the complexities of her character. She holds deep grief alongside easy friendship for all sorts of people. She treats others with kindness first and is fiercely loyal to those she loves. I loved seeing that loyalty extend to Graeme and his family. Seeing her find home with him was so beautiful.
Graeme is everything you want to see in an ideal Scottish hero. He is certainly attractive. But he is also talented, hard working, and so very kind. I loved seeing his relationship with his nephew, Lachlan and with his mother (who are both fantastic characters as well). He has also known deep grief in his life. And seeing how that has affected him is both tragic and hopeful. Graeme comes to understand his past and his potential so much more clearly in this story. I loved seeing him open up to Katie and allowing her into his home and heart. The ways he protects her and is drawn to her and saves her are simply beautiful.
Pepper does it again! I loved this beautiful story for so many reasons. A beautiful Scottish setting. Fantastic characters that find a place in your heart. A lovely, slow burn romance that showcases enemies to lovers and grumpy sunshine vibes with truly swoony kisses. And beautiful writing that shows how love, grief, loyalty, friendship, adventure, and joy all make up life and relationships. A truly fantastic novel!
What are some of your favorite settings?
If you could visit any book setting, which would it be?
From Pepper’s Website: I wrote my first story when I was a nine year- old, freckled-faced tomboy in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains (my earlier writings wouldn’t have been considered “books”, more like short stories). Coming from a long line of oral storytellers, weaving a good yarn seemed a typical part of my life. It wasn’t until I finished college, had two children, and a full-time job before I began to study the ‘craft’ of writing (you know when I had plenty of time).
Our family lives in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, NC, where I work as a speech-language pathologist by day and author by night 🙂
So…now I’m an older, freckled-faced mommy enjoying life, learning to write, and laughing often. My mom says that I must have a small bit of insanity because I don’t realize how stressed I ought to be.
I write historical and contemporary romances which, many times, include my love of Appalachia, Britain, and family.
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