There is something so special about a Regency romance that brings together two characters who are willing to challenge society’s expectations for the sake of helping others. Pride & Practicality by Pepper Basham is one of those stories, filled with compassion, second chances, and a romance that develops through a shared desire to make a difference.
I’m excited to be participating in the JustRead Publicity Tours Takeover + Review Blitz for this newest Regency romantic comedy from Pepper Basham, published by Thomas Nelson!
Today I’m sharing my thoughts on Arianna and Thomas’s story, and there’s also a wonderful giveaway opportunity for readers who would love to add this book to their shelves.
Title: Pride and Practicality
Author: Pepper Basham
Series: N/A
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐
Disclaimer
Affiliate links can be found within this post. If you need additional information, please see the disclaimer.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
My Thoughts:
Arianna Reeves has been through so much over the introductory course of this book. But when we first meet her, she’s clearly scared and trying to find some safety when she notices the honorable Thomas Bridges. He helps her and sends her on her way to someone that will forever change Arianna’s life. This chance meeting between complete strangers, leaves a mark on both of them; but neither expect to every see the other again.
But many months later, the estranged daughter of the Ravenscross estate returns home to her family. Her reputation is in ruins from leaving with a man the year before and no one having any idea where she has been or if she was even alive. Her family is relieved to know she is alive and the awkward re-introduction to her home life and society comes with many challenges. But Arianna’s character is strong, even if she is openly vulnerable which I loved about her. She tries to put on a strong face and pretend the dislike for her doesn’t bother her, but inside she’s debating on whether she should even stay.
Matters are even more complicated when she finds out that the local rector is the same man that helped her escape her situation and became her knight in shining armor. Thomas and Arianna are not quite sure how to navigate that they actually already know one another, but from very different circumstances. What brings them together is their shared love for helping the unfortunate children around them.
Both Arianna and Thomas have a calling and a desire to help children from deprived areas have a safe place where they can be educated, live like children, and have opportunities they could never dream of. This is what really drives both Arianna and Thomas to lower their defenses around one another and work together. Not to mention that Arianna has a secret inheritance from the very woman that Thomas sent her to and she wants to help fund building a children’s home that Thomas has been dreaming of for some time.
Through all the trials and tribulations, these two characters are driven by their adoration for others and find their way to one another. No matter the challenges they face – because Thomas faces some very serious decisions including the loss of his rector position if he pursues being with Arianna because of her tarnished reputation.
But love prevails and they find their happily ever after in a powerful final moment where all of Arianna’s claims about what happened to her are finally revealed as truth and she is redeemed in the eyes of society once again!
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Publisher’s Blurb:
In a world ruled by reputation, compassion may be the most scandalous act of all. Perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Eloisa James looking for a low-spice, witty Regency romance. “It is a truth universally acknowledged that a reader in possession of a good humor, must be in want of a Pepper Basham book–and Pride and Practicality is one of her best.” –Karen Witemeyer
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.
In Pride and Practicality, Pepper Basham delivers a Regency rom-com brimming with lively banter, heartfelt charm, and just enough mischief to keep propriety on its toes. With a kisses-only romance that sparkles with chemistry and a story rich in faith, humor, and second chances, this delightful tale invites readers to laugh, sigh, and fall in love with a romance that is as meaningful as it is joyful.
Where to Buy:
🎁 Pride & Practicality Reader Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of Pride & Practicality, JustRead Publicity Tours is hosting a special giveaway with two wonderful prizes for readers!
What’s Up for Grabs?
- Grand Prize: One reader will win a copy of Pride & Practicality along with a Pride and Prejudice-themed bundle!
- Second Prize: One additional reader will win a signed copy of Pride & Practicality!
How to Enter
Visit the official JustRead Tours giveaway page to enter for your chance to win.
ENTER THE PRIDE & PRACTICALITY GIVEAWAY
Giveaway Details
- Open to US residents only.
- Giveaway ends November 11, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
- Visit JustRead Tours for the complete giveaway information and entry instructions.
You can also explore the other stops on the Takeover + Review Blitz to discover what fellow readers are saying about Arianna and Thomas’s story!
If you loved this review, consider sharing it with your friends!
More Regency Romance to Explore
One of the things I especially appreciated about Pride & Practicality was the way Pepper Basham brought together two people whose desire to help others was stronger than their concern for society’s approval. Arianna and Thomas have such a beautiful connection, and their story is a wonderful reminder of the importance of compassion, forgiveness, and seeing beyond someone’s reputation.
If you enjoy historical romances filled with meaningful relationships, characters overcoming difficult circumstances, and a happily ever after worth waiting for, this is certainly a story to consider adding to your reading list!
Looking for more historical romance recommendations? Be sure to explore my other book reviews here at Adventures in Literature, including my collection of Historical Romances That Feel Like a Warm Hug.
And don’t forget to visit JustRead Tours to enter the giveaway before November 11th!
Disclosure: This review is shared as part of the JustRead Publicity Tours Takeover + Review Blitz. All opinions expressed are my own.
Looking for book recs…
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