Book Spotlight (and a Giveaway!): Positively Penelope by Pepper Basham

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Positively, Penelope by Pepper Basham hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! Keep reading for a fun excerpt!

POSITIVELY, PENELOPE by Pepper Basham
SERIES: Skymar #2
GENRE: Contemporary Romance (Christian)
PUBLISHER: Thomas Nelson
RELEASE DATE: August 1, 2023
PAGES: 416

Told mostly through letters, texts, and email, this contemporary romance will charm its way into hearts as Penelope rescues a theater and discovers her true self in the process.

Penelope Edgewood is practically positive in every way, so when, fresh out of college, she is awarded a paid internship to help save a century-old theater on the island of Skymar, she jumps at the chance. After all, a crumbling theater needs the special touch of someone who reveres all things vintage and adores the stage.

Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems at Darling House Theatre. Finances are in shambles, the local theater group is disenchanted, and the two brothers, Matt and Alec Gray, can’t seem to see eye-to-eye about how to run their theatrical business. So, of course, it’s the perfect place for Penelope to shine her own personal brand of sunshine.

With a little help from GK, the person emailing her encouragement along the way, she puts all her heart into helping the Grays save Darling House. But between Matt’s ever-present skepticism, Alec’s tendency to treat Penelope a little too much like the “princess” she thinks she wants to be (until someone actually started treating her that way), a grandfather who is stuck in his grief, and a mysterious person stealing Penelope’s marketing ideas, she’s not sure her optimism is enough to make a happily-ever-after of her own story, let alone The Darling House’s.

Between an adorable little girl, a matchmaker, a sea monster or two, and a copious amount of musical references, can Penelope draw enough confidence from her faith, her family, and her adoration of all things Julie Andrews, to find the thief and save the theater . . . without getting her heart broken in the process?

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From: Penelope Edgewood
To: Luke Edgewood, Izzy Edgewood, Josephine Martin
Date: August 30
Subject: An adventure and mystery

So, after visiting Kelna and Elowyn’s Tower (photos attached), one of the natives at the cutest little consignment shop in the world suggested I travel to the largest city on Fiacla. Mountcaster is its name AND it’s where I’ll be working at The Darling House (My online contact suggests Mountcaster too!). When I found out that it was only a fifteen-minute drive, I paid a taxi and decided to get a first glimpse.

In anticipation of a stellar adventure, I wore my navy detective hat like the one Bonita Granville wore in the 1930s Nancy Drew series, and made sure to take my camera for photos instead of only my phone. I still can’t get over how much this place looks make-believe. The ocean cliffs, the stone houses, the narrow lanes and rolling green hills, with enough mountains in the distance to make me miss home! I keep looking for fairies poking from behind one of the picturesque stone walls or a mermaid splashing up on the rocks at the sea’s edge. Oh my!

I don’t think the GPS is accurate around here, BTW. My taxi driver got me to Mountcaster much faster than GPS would suggest, and he didn’t join me in singing “Part of Your World” once. I wasn’t singing it loudly, of course, but he seemed to understand the music because he began shaking his head very slowly in rhythm to the song.

Anyway, I only got to spend a few hours exploring Mountcaster before returning to my little cottage for the night, but in the process I had one job offer, took a sneak peek at The Darling House (you guys, it’s like one of those old buildings that needs lots of work but you can feel the personality oozing from the walls like magic), received an unsolicited dinner invitation from a mime, and almost adopted a dog.

I’m exhausted, but am deliriously thrilled about tomorrow. I just had dinner at this wonderful Italian restaurant called Rosemary & Thyme and am using their Wi-Fi to message you while I await my taxi—oh, but here it is. I’ll tell you more later.

Penelope
P.S. There’s a newer theater in town called Emblem Studios. They have acting and dancing lessons, but I don’t think I’d want to work there even if they offered lots more than I’m making for the internship. Something about the guy with the sinister eyes gave me chills, no matter how expensive his suit was.
P.P.S. He’d look great in a fedora, though. Very gangster-ish.

From: Luke Edgewood
To: Penelope Edgewood, Izzy Edgewood, Josephine Martin
Date: August 30
Subject: An adventure and a mystery

Penny-girl,

Do you ever reread your emails and think how your family may respond to some of your information . . . or lack of information? I’m just curious.

Luke
P.S. If a house is oozing anything, I’d be concerned.
P.P.S. The mime makes sense, but very quietly.

From: Izzy Edgewood
To: Penelope Edgewood, Luke Edgewood, Josephine Martin
Date: August 30
Subject: An adventure and a mystery

Penelope,

As you well know, I am a big proponent of stories. I particularly like them when they’re complete. Would you be a dear and FINISH THE STORY! What sort of job were you offered upon meeting someone for the first time in a foreign country? (I can think of three possibilities and none of them are complimentary to you.)

And . . . a mime? What is that about? Oh gracious, maybe I should find a way to get over to Skymar before December so I can ensure your survival, or at the very least find out what is going on with the mime, the dog, and the sinister mister. (Good grief, why does this sound like a really strange movie by some director with an unpronounceable last name?)

BTW, the website for The Darling House IS ancient and Emblem Studios is definitely not. Wow, how did you find a creepy guy in a suit from that place? It looks like a high-end, monochrome glass house. Oh wait, that’s probably the perfect place for a creepy guy in a suit. I’ve read my fiction and seen enough modern movies!

Izzy
P.S. I’ve sent Brodie your address so he can come check on you if I don’t hear from you within two hours.
P.P.S. I always get concerned when you wear that hat.

Pepper Basham, Positively, Penelope
Thomas Nelson © 2023. Used by permission.

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Authentically, Izzy, $20 Amazon gift card, and a Peter Pan mug!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight July 26, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 2, 2023. 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.

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What about you? What makes you want to read Positively, Penelope by Pepper Basham?