A small-town tea shop owner with a sweet tooth and a devil-may-care Englishman with more savory tastes join forces to cater a British-themed wedding. Sparks fly in this sweet enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract rom-com perfect for fans of Emma St. Clair and Sarah Adams.
As a child, Daphne Austen fell in love with her grandmother’s stories of England, perhaps to the point of romanticizing them a little too much. Now, as an adult, she inherited Tea Thyme, the only English tearoom within a hundred miles of her Blue Ridge Mountain town. But keeping her tea and pastry shop afloat proves to be a continual struggle. Since losing her mother and then grandmother, Daphne’s clung to the need for routine, predictability, and beautiful order–and her tearoom shines as the epitome of her Anglophile and obsessive tendencies. But her perfect world spirals into madness when an Englishman moves in next door and shatters all her Darcy daydreams with his loud music, questionable manners, and highly American interests. With an off-the-charts swoon factor, he even tempts to shatter her heart.
Finnley Dashwood left England to start over somewhere his ex-wife’s parents couldn’t track him down and force their parenting techniques on him. It was as if they wanted to make up for their daughter’s neglect by suffocating him with control and unwanted affection. The unassuming town of Wisteria, North Carolina, provides the perfect place to start over and even remake himself as the dashing, English restaurant owner of his earlier days, instead of the somewhat-cynical recluse he’d truly become. With a shop ready for his use, an apartment for him and his daughter, and an acquaintance who owns the revered Wisteria Manor (now event planning center), Finn has everything he wants for a new beginning–except . . . maybe an understanding of the small-town Appalachian culture and the uptight, perfectionistic tea princess next door.
At first, Finn finds the whimsical and notoriously optimistic shop owner humorous and somewhat annoying, but as she begins to invest in the life of his daughter and he observes her authentic love for the people of the town, Finn’s heart opens to the terrifying possibility of a second chance at love. As they are forced to work together on a local-celebrity wedding, their differences clash, sizzle, and finally begin to simmer into a unique, complementary blend of sweet and savory. But just as hope blooms into possibility, a massive storm crashes into the little town, upturning all their plans and putting not only their budding romance but the resilience of the tight-knit community to the test.
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Sexual Content - 0/5
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Violence - 0/5
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Language - 0/5
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Drugs and Alcohol - 0/5
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Summary
4.5 stars Reviewed by Rebecca
"If you'd told me handsome was comin' to town, I'd have worn my good teeth."
Granny D wasn't the only citizen of Wisteria, North Carolina who was swooning over their recent transplant. For heaven's sake, Daphne Austen was caught practically drooling over the man's car, until the owner of the blue Cabriolet opened his very fine mouth that was situated perfectly on his very fine face and spoke in a distinctive British accent. And just like that, it was game-on in the banter department.
Finn Dashwood, Daphne's new next door neighbor on Main Street. His pub, her tearoom, it was the stuff small mountain town legends were made of. The entire town was captivated by their sugar and spice, competition between tarts and ribs, chalkboard shenanigans, their . . . . whatever it was they were doing.("@HarryColeman: Is this what the kids call flirting these days? @MargaretColeman: Darling, don't meddle. But yes, it absolutely is.")
Underneath all the social media frenzy was a common human response; fear. Both Finn and Daphne had experienced great loss, people who were supposed to be forever had fled and neither were particularly interested in experiencing the gut wrenching sensation of a broken heart ever again. However, somewhere in the middle of cook-offs, and bake-offs, kiss-offs (oops!)and stand-offs, they realized that God had given them an exceptional blessing; each other.
One of the funniest, cleverest stories that I have ever read, or ever will read! (with one of the sweetest little princess characters!) (besides, the social media conversations at the beginning of every chapter are worth the price of the book!) (there's more! that sweet, sad nod to local catastrophe, well done!)