Book Review of 'Sense and Suitability' by Pepper Basham

Hello Bookworms!

It's been a minute since I've read a good Regency romance and today not only am I featuring a wonderful romance but it just so happens to be written by one of my favorite authors!

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Clean Regency Romance and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Sense and Suitability Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Sense and Suitability

Author: Pepper Basham

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: September 23, 2025

Genre: Clean Regency Romance (Rom-Com)

In this clean Regency romance, a woman with a scandalous past (and an even more scandalous secret) swears off love--until the man who broke her heart needs her help. What could possibly go wrong?

After two failed social seasons, her family may think the third time will be a charm, but Emmeline Lockhart just wants to survive with her dignity (and singleness) intact. She thought she'd found her perfect match in Simon Reeves--charming, handsome, a veritable hero from a novel--until he vanished from her life without so much as a "farewell" or "my deepest regrets" (or even a vague apology scribbled on the back of a calling card). Lesson learned: never fall for a man known for his charm.

Fortunately, and unlike many of the other eligible young ladies of the ton, Emmeline has no need for a husband--because she's already found success in her scandalous (and very anonymous) profession as an author. Why bother with matrimony when she can make her own fortune and write men exactly the way she wants them?

But fate--or the misfortune of Simon's reckless patriarchs--has other plans. Simon's once-proud estate is in shambles, his family fortune has been gambled away, and the younger impressionable siblings in his care are running wild across his estate (and possibly across all of England). Simon is in desperate need of a wealthy, prestigious bride . . . and a friend.

Emmeline may not fit the role of heiress, but she can certainly be a friend. Just a friend. She'll help him find a suitable match, ensure his reputation remains intact, and keep things strictly platonic--no matter how dangerously appealing his new-and-improved sincerity and regret may be.

There's just one small problem: the undeniable chemistry that still smolders between them. Can Emme play matchmaker for the man she's still in love with without losing her heart all over again? And is it possible that some love stories--especially the messy, inconvenient, impossible ones--are worthy of a rewrite?

My Review

It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a Regency romance as much as I did Sense and Suitability. This novel has it all: emotion, humor, chaos, and love. Talk about entertaining!! This novel is positively wonderful!

From the beginning, my heart hurt for Emmeline. It wasn’t a virtue to be a strong and independent woman in this era, and marriages felt more like business transactions than love. It’s truly heartbreaking as it’s clear that Emmeline wants to write her own story, and she has the tenacity and gumption to do it. I gave her so much credit for not letting heartbreak get her down, and how she kept her wit and heart of gold despite her circumstances was admirable.

Emmeline and Simon are truly some of my favorite leading characters, as it’s a joy to witness their interactions. The multiple meet-cutes that Emmeline shares with Simon, the supposed rake that broke her heart, kept this story engaging and entertaining. I also loved the supporting cast, particularly Simon’s siblings. Talk about cuteness overload! They each bring a richness to the narrative that I feel would’ve been lacking without them.

Just when I thought I couldn’t fall more in love with Pepper Basham, she comes out with something like this that makes my heart swoon all the more. I was constantly entertained and felt all the feels while I was reading Sense and Suitability. I wish all Regency romances could be this wonderful.

My Rating: ★★★★★

Also Available

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Be sure to check out my other reviews of books by Pepper Basham

About the Author

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of southwestern VA, where she is the wife, mom to five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

Connect with Pepper by visiting www.pepperdbasham.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will receive a signed copy of Sense and Suitability (or winner's choice of Pepper Basham's books) and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 9, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 16, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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