Honey for Tea

by Elizabeth Cadell

For eight years Jendy Marsh had been in love with Allen, a neighboring farmer, but he had eyes for nobody but her sister Nancy. So when Nancy tells her that she is not going to marry Allen, Jendy cannot help feeling a tiny spark of hope. Returning to the home of her spinster aunt to offer companionship and comfort to Allen, Jendy soon discovers that all is not as it should be. Then onto the scene comes a childhood rival with her impossible daughter, a prodigal son, a beautiful Swedish servant girl with her East End boyfriend, and a strange retired couple with their treasure-hunting. . .

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Violet Elizabeth Vandyke was born on 10 November 1903 in Calcutta, British Raj, daughter of British parents, Elizabeth Lynch and Frederick Reginald Vandyke, a colonial officer. During the Great War she studied music in London, but refused a musical career and returned to India where she married in 1928 Henry Dunlop Raymond Mallock Cadell, and they had a son and daughter. After she was widowed ten years later, she returned to England.

Elizabeth wrote her first book 'My Dear Aunt Flora' during the Second World War in 1946, there after producing another 51 light-hearted, humourous and romantic books which won her a faithful readership in England and America. In addition to England and India, many of her books are set in Spain, France, and Portugal. She finally settled in Portugal, where her married daughter still lived.

She died on 9 October 1989, aged eighty-five.

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

So charming! Great characters and plot twists, too. Loved this one and could barely put it down.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Takes place in England. Written in early '60s. Woman returns to ancestral home after older sister has thrown over friendly neighboring farmer (that younger has always loved) and gone to Spain. So sue me, I have no brain capacity for Dostoyevsky these days.

[Saralyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Elizabeth Cadell's style of writing. It's homey and interesting. She has an interesting take on human nature. I just wish her ideas of morality agreed more with mine. I really liked the twist at the end of the story that wrapped together more of the story than I thought was actually plot. :) (did that make any sense? Oh, well.) A cozy read.

[Oolookitty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute but forgettable. I tried reading a few Cadells thinking they'd be good "cozy, comfort" reading during a stressful period, but though they're cute and fun, they're actually a little TOO flully. I have no real memory of reading this... so that tells you something right there.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it's hilarious to look at the different covers that each edition of this book has. No one would ever guess they are all for the same book!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book! I read it in an afternoon. This is he second Cadell book I have read and I'm excited to read more. It has charm, speed, clean romance, mystery. What's not to love?

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the quiet snark of the narrator’s voice, and the overall gentle atmosphere of the novel. There isn’t much character development, but it’s such a quick read that I didn’t mind.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun little book for those days when you are in the mood for something light and sweet. Jendy comes home to the ancestral home she shared with her acerbic aunt and her beautiful older sister Nancy. Nancy has just decided that she will not marry her long-time admirer Allen after all, preferring instead the vaguely described pleasures of a life in Spain. Jendy is supposed to help everyone pick up the pieces, a task that is complicated by the fact that she herself has been in love with Allen for years. What should be a peaceful visit turns out to be full of surprises. Not only is Allen's disquieting brother Roderick visiting the farm, but the predatory Annabel and her obnoxious daughter are also hanging around, making nuisances of themselves. A passing caravan discharges a cockney workman and his pregnant Swedish girlfriend, whose unmarried state immediately gives Jendy's aunt a project to keep herself busy. In the end, everybody is suitably paired off and all is set for various couples living "happily ever after".

The book title is from a poem by a homesick war poet, and refers to the fact that both Roderick and Nancy ultimately feel the need to come home to their roots in England after having exhausted their wanderlust.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems silly to say a book written this long ago is dated. But I'll say it anyway. It's dated. That said I really enjoyed it and I was more than a little surprised at the way they resolved things between Nancy and Allen. Considering I just said this book is dated I didn't see that coming! I don't think this will become one of my favourites but I enjoyed it. As usual Cadell does children well and her elderly Aunt was especially engaging.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swoon! A broken engagement. A less than respectable younger brother. A pregnant girlfriend. An estate lacking a male heir. An embezzlement. A busy body old aunt. Stir this all together to create another cleverly written Elizabeth Cadell romance. Somehow, Aunt Eddie makes it all come right in the end.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked this one. Can tell the time/culture difference more in this book than some of her others. Still enjoyable.

[Stacielynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is an old hardcover novel that I picked up at a used book sale.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars - I'll think about this more - but I found the situation and characters interesting, and I did not know what was going to happen with either.

I found many of the characters so interesting it was frustrating we didn't find out more about them.

Also, I have two complaints that are not about the writing: Why would the kindle edition have a horse on the cover? there are no horses in this story at all, which is fine, but if you were wanting one you'd be disappointed and why do publishers write such stupid blurbs as well as include so many plot points as to be spoilers?

But back to the writing: very good! I was surprised by what the book turned out to actually be about, and I enjoyed it. I already know I will want to re-read it at some point. What more can I ask?

[Martin Rinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A seriously underrated romance!

You don't know, from the start, who will be heroine and who will be hero. You don't even know who you can trust. Likable, but only on the surface? Despicable, but not once you really get to know...
And one eight-year-old girl who is... (No! No spoilers. She's damned interesting.)

A totally engrossing story, and I was afraid to put it down. Didn't want to miss... And don't want to tell you more because...

Just one hint. It's a romance. Oh, yeah. The ending. Not like any other romance, except that it makes you feel glad you read the book.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to guess a bit with this one.

Two girls, sister, one blonde, one brunette. One sensible and down to earth. One an artist and a bit free spirited. Two brothers, one a sensible farmer, and one a bit of a rake. An intimidating dowager aunt. A carefree young man and his pregnant girlfriend. new neighbors and an some unpleasant old ones. In a tiny village (which Jane Austen always maintained was the perfect setting). Oh, there are some shopkeepers, and the vicar, who play a small,part. Everyone gets sorted out in the end. Lovely.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give Elizabeth Cadell a try so I picked up this old beat up copy of Honey for Tea at my local library and it was worth it. The story was simple yet with a little mystery. I would like to read more from her. I give this about a 3.75 because it was what I needed at the moment.

[Sharon Stine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful as usual

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

The exact amount of fluff and silliness that I was looking for--a very nice read!

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was another Cadell book where I liked one of the couples, but not the other one.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

One of the few Cadell books remaining in our library system. This was a literary trip down Memory Lane as my mother introduced me to Cadell's books in my pre-teen years.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly charming. Lots of likeable characters (the aunt being a particular delight) and for Cadell, an unusual number of plot strands. A great summer’s read.

[Mirjam H]

DNF
Maybe I had too high expectations after listening to quite a few recommendations of E. Caddell at Booktube but I found this book disappointing. Unbelievable and superficial!