Pride and Practicality Review: JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Pride & Practicality by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Pride & Practicality
Author: Pepper Basham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: November 3, 2026
Genre: Clean Regency Romantic Comedy

In a world ruled by reputation, compassion may be the most scandalous act of all.

Arianna Reeves knows how quickly admiration can turn into exile. One poorly placed trust, one disastrously charming rake, and she is no longer society’s darling–but its favorite cautionary tale.

Now returned home–uninvited and unmistakably whispered about–Arianna is determined to make amends with her estranged family and do something useful with her thoroughly ruined life. Even if polite society would prefer she did it at a very great distance from anyone respectable.

Thomas Bridges, a principled clergyman with an inconvenient habit of thinking for himself, is already walking a narrow line. His congregation expects propriety, his mother expects matrimony, and both have very firm opinions about his future. Thomas, however, would prefer a life guided by conviction . . . even when it proves impractical.

When Arianna repeatedly–and quite disruptively–crosses his path, Thomas faces a dilemma no sermon prepared him for. She is not at all what she ought to be: not dull, not foolish, and–most dangerously–not someone he can overlook, but a kindred spirit who shares his passion for service and his troubling habit of defying society’s expectations . . . all with good intentions, of course.

As their forbidden acquaintance deepens into something far more perilous than friendship, Arianna and Thomas must decide: preserve their reputations, or risk them entirely for the good of others—–and their own hearts.

Because in a society that measures worth by perfection, choosing grace, mercy, and love may cost them everything–and give them more than they ever hoped to find.

MY PRIDE AND PRACTICALITY REVIEW

I am not a Jane Austen fan. I know that’s dangerous to admit when the author’s inspirational material is very much in line with Austen. But I am a fan of Pepper Basham’s books. So, I wanted to give this one a try. I am glad I did.

While Arianna struggles with what I feel is underserved shame, her reasons for it are realistic and understandable, especially in the society she lives in. Thomas is a black sheep in a completely different way. In a time when expectations on clergy were legalistically strict, any variation was cause for alarm in the congregation and worry for their position in the clergyman.

Thomas and Arianna’s meeting isn’t exactly the sensible, staid interaction that would’ve been acceptable at the time. And while those in the Thomas’s church don’t know about it, their unconventional meeting creates plenty of awkward social ramifications as they try to figure out how to balance society’s expectations and the leading of their hearts. And Thomas and Arianna both have hearts of gold, giving and caring for those who society would rather pretend don’t exist.

Even the characters who are less than understanding are likable when you consider the rules of society they are entrenched in. But rather than leaving Thomas and Arianna on their own, the author has given them people who stay firmly in their corner despite the missteps of the pair. And there are enough awkward or less-than-graceful moments to keep a smile on your face while reading.

The author allows us to see the best and worst of society without making the reader truly dislike anyone, well almost anyone. But we won’t go there because of spoilers. She also did a great job showing us the struggles of Thomas of Arianna but also their depth. All the characters feel real and relatable even though the setting is long before our times. And really, while the novel delivers an entertaining story, it also reminds us to check our own expectations of others at the door and focus on being the kind of people who change lives for the better, even when it’s not popular.

To write a historical story that speaks to the current reader in an accessible, enjoyable way is not easy. Pepper Basham did a great job, and I give her story five stars.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Faith Gateway | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

 

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About the Author

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a Cranford Collection copy of Pride and Prejudice, a matching journal, four Pride and Prejudice inspired bookmarks, and a copy of Pride & Practicality!

(1) additional winner will receive a signed copy of Pride & Practicality!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight November 4, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on November 11, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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