The Tanglewood Tea Shop - Lilac Mills

Date of Reading:02/02/2019

Author: Lilac Mills

Publisher: Canelo

Publication Date: January 31, 2019

Source: NetGalley 

My Rating: 3.5/5

About the book:

Patisserie-Chef Stevie is stuck in a rut. Her beloved Great Aunt Peggy has passed away, she’s been fired from her job and the love of her life has walked out the door. But when she’s called to the solicitor’s office to hear the reading of Peggy’s will, Stevie’s life begins to change.

Left with a large amount of money, Stevie is determined to take Peggy’s advice and turn her life around. The quirky tea shop that she sees up for sale in the beautiful village of Tanglewood must be a sign, and Stevie can’t wait to make it her new home.

But what happens after your dreams come true? It turns out that life in the village isn't as idyllic as it may have seemed. With local mums waging war against sugar, a tea shop and its patisserie-chef owner are definitely not welcome.

When the gorgeous but grouchy local stable-owner, Nick, shows up he seems like just another fly in the pastry batter but as the two grow closer, Stevie realises he might just be the perfect reason to stay and win over the village...

This laugh-out-loud romantic comedy is perfect for fans of Daisy James, Holly Martin and Portia Macintosh.

My Review:

        I don't want to lie, I was planning to give up on this story without finishing. Glad that I have stuck through because the latter half more than made up for all the dull moments in the beginning. Stevie's buying of the tea shop and settling in the community takes half of the book and then only we get the glimpse of the exciting story we are promised. Especially when old lady Betty comes to the scene to play the perfect fairy godmother.

       I loved the cosy community, the tantrums of the black cat who is also named Peggy, but the one who has really touched my heart is Tia, who braves the world from a wheelchair. This book would have been really fascinating and unique if Tia was to be on the lead role. Sadly, that is not in my hands. But I do really hope that there will be such a story from the talented hands of Lilac Mills.

Meet the author:

Lilac spends all her time writing, or reading, or thinking about writing or reading, often to the detriment of her day job, her family, and the housework. She apologises to her employer and her loved ones, but the house will simply have to deal with it!

She calls Worcester home, though she would prefer to call somewhere hot and sunny home, somewhere with a beach and cocktails and endless opportunities for snoozing in the sun…

When she isn’t hunched over a computer or dreaming about foreign shores, she enjoys creating strange, inedible dishes in the kitchen, accusing her daughter of stealing (she meant to say “borrowing”) her clothes and fighting with her husband over whose turn it is to empty the dishwasher.