The Highland Heist Tour by Celebrate Lit
About the Book
Book: The Highland Heist (A Freddie and Grace Mystery Book 4)
Author: Pepper Basham
Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction
Release Date: July, 2025
Grace Storms a Scottish Castle to Save her Sister
Lord Astley surprises his wife with a trip to America to see her family before they end their honeymoon adventures. But just as they arrive, they find Grace’s sister, Lillias, is the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. To add to the confusion a solicitor arrives to tell the sister’s they are needed in Scotland immediately to claim their mother’s inheritance.
The clock is ticking to clear Lillias of suspicion, but someone is determined to keep the sisters from reaching the Scottish Highlands. When Lillias disappears, Freddie and Grace race to Scotland, sure the answers will be found in a long-forgotten castle.
With a ghost from Frederick’s past leaving threatening clues along the way, the mysterious Mr. Kane waiting in the wings to grab the inheritance for himself, and an apparition haunting the infamous castle, Lord and Lady Astley must capture the castle, save Lillias, and not die in the process.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroadsand Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
Excerpt
June 23, 1914
Perfect husbands were rare, except perhaps in fiction, but Grace Percy, Countess of Astley, had married the real-life equivalent, she was certain.
“I still cannot believe this surprise, Frederick!” Grace’s shock had continued all the way from the harbor, where her dear husband had announced that they’d arrived in America instead of England. “I thought the terrain looked different than England, but I never suspected we’d go anywhere else except your beloved Havensbrooke.”
“Our beloved Havensbrooke, I hope?” he corrected, turning from his place in the front seat of the hired touring, next to a rather somber driver.
Her smile immediately responded. At nearly seven months married, Grace still found her thoughts paused on occasion at the idea of his English estate being her home. But how could she help it? They’d only lived in the estate a few months before they’d taken off on their honeymoon tour. But oh, what a delightful introduction to her new home, complete with a murder mystery and a ghost hunt.
She sighed. Married life certainly kept proving to be wonderfully exciting.
She sent him another grin before tipping her head out the window just enough to take in the familiar lane leading to her father’s house. “How did you even know where to go? Harrington is such a small place outside of Richmond, and I know I’ve never given you exact directions.”
His low chuckle warmed the already heated June air, skittering a familiar welcome of tickles up her bare neck. “I’ve written my own letters to your father, darling.” His voice, so smooth and English, carried such delicious tenderness that Grace turned to find him shooting a wink to their adopted daughter, Zahra.
Zahra’s lips tipped. She rarely showed great affection, but who could blame her? After losing her family and living on the streets of Cairo, the little girl still had plenty of healing to do. So every smile came extra special.
Poor Miss Cox, the young English maid Frederick had hired in Italy to accompany them through the remainder of their trip, blushed at Frederick’s wink and smile. After all the overt affection Grace lathered on her darling husband, it was a wonder Miss Cox hadn’t gotten used to it yet, but perhaps the trouble lay more in how very handsome her husband was.
Grace thought about that idea for a moment. She supposed if she wasn’t married to this wonderful man, she’d find herself a little awestruck too.
Truth be told, he was so handsome, he might fit the description of a dime-novel villain, but she was very glad fiction didn’t get it right on that score either.
“Besides, it may be a while before we can travel again.” He continued, turning back to face the front of the car. “I know it’s a few months earlier than we’d originally planned, but it seemed a waste not to take advantage of being at sea. And I know you’d love to see your family.”
Grace would have kissed his cheek if she hadn’t been sitting in the back seat of the touring with Zahra between her and Miss Cox. “You are the most wonderful man.” She turned to Zahra and Miss Cox. “Don’t you think so?”
Miss Cox’s eyes widened, and she quickly looked away, but Zahra’s grin stretched enough to show off her teeth. The simple white dress she wore brought out the depths of those endless gray-green eyes. Grace still couldn’t stop smiling at the very idea that the little girl belonged to her and Frederick now.
“He has all his hair and teeth.” Zahra nodded, the tiniest twinkle in her eyes alerted Grace that the little girl might be finding her humor. “That is a help.”
Frederick’s laugh burst out. “Indeed it is, Zahra. And I’m glad to still possess both of them.”
Grace studied his thick dark hair for a second longer, her fingers twitching to push through his locks, but the very idea could send poor Miss Cox through the car window. Grace drew in a deep breath to keep her show of admiration to a more appropriate public display and leaned toward Zahra. “The gardens at Rutledge House are lovely, Zahra. They were my mother’s gardens, and I’d often spend time with her there. Hopefully, when we return to our dear Havensbrooke”—she emphasized, sending her dear husband a look to ensure her noted her correction—“you and I and, perhaps even Lily, can work to restore those gardens together. Then we can make our own special place too. Gardens are very creative places in stories as well as in real life.”
MY REVIEW
This book is witty, mystery filled and a fun read. I enjoyed following Grace and Frederick on their latest journey. Their marriage seems to be rock solid which a family member is jealous of. Oh yes there is that green eyed monster running throughout the story which fuels deceit, greed and anger.
I liked how Frederick wanted to surprise Grace with a trip before venturing off on their honeymoon. Things don’t go well when they walk into a murder scene featuring Grace’s sister. Lillias is not very friendly even though Grace wants to help her sister clear her name. Who killed Lillias’s husband?
The mystery grows deeper when the sisters are summoned to Scotland to claim an inheritance. They both must be there there for this to take place, but there is a little hiccup. With unique detective skills Grace and Frederick race to try to clear Lillias name while trying to stay out of danger.
The author delivers a clever mystery which had me trying to read faster. I like how Grace and Frederick embrace their new marriage with faith and trust. A beautiful story that captures the meaning of family. With humor along the way this book paves the way to a delightful look at embracing redemption and new relationships.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Blog Stops
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 30
The Sacred Line, July 30
Where Faith and Books Meet, July 30
Pens Pages & Pulses, July 31
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 31
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 1
Jodie Wolfe, August 1
Worthy2Read, August 1
Texas Book-aholic, August 2
Devoted To Hope, August 2
Book Looks by Lisa, August 3
For Him and My Family, August 3
Happily Managing a Household of Boys , August 4
Min Reads and Reviews, August 4
Stories By Gina, August 4
Simple Harvest Reads, August 5 (Guest Review from Mindy)
Daysong Reflections, August 5
All-of-a-kind Mom, August 6
Blogging With Carol, August 6
Betti Mace, August 7
Melissa’s Bookshelf, August 7
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 8
Mary Hake, August 8
Blossoms and Blessings, August 9
Labor Not in Vain , August 9
Holly’s Book Corner, August 10
An Author’s Take, August 10
Lily’s CornerLily’s Corner, August 11
Cover Lover Book Review, August 11
She Lives To Read, August 12
Just Your Average reviews, August 12
Pause for Tales, August 12
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon eGift card and a print copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
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Best-selling, award-winning author of The Debutante’s Code, first in the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery Series, Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum. You can connect with her at her website where you can learn about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online where she spends way too much time!
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Mindy Steele was raised in Kentucky timber country and has been writing since she could hold a crayon against the wall. Steele writes Amish Romance peppered with just the right amount of humor, as well as engaging Suspense, using rural America and the residents as her muse. Steele strives to create realistic characters for her readers and believes in engaging all the senses to make you laugh, cry, hold your breath, and root for the happy ever after ending. A hopeless romantic, with a lyrical pen, Steele wants her readers to find themselves somewhere within her pages. A mother of four and grandmother to a half dozen blessings, Steele enjoys hiking and gardening, coffee indulgences and weekend road trips, and is personally doing all she can to make peanut butter its very own food group.
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Abbey Downey started writing inspirational romance stories during naptime when her kids were babies and found she couldn’t stop. She previously published two books with Love Inspired Historical under the pen name Mollie Campbell. She also works with Spark Flash Fiction producing a quarterly digital magazine that contains love stories under 1000 words.
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Mary Pat Johns’ writing career began once she retired from teaching speech and writing. She has written devotions for an online publication, had short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul, and wrote a column for the Victoria Advocate, a local newspaper.