Tea Rose

Tearoom Mysteries #2

by Erin Keeley Marshall

After helping to host Tea for Two’s first “Teas around the World” tasting, Rose Young approaches the proprietor/ cousins, Elaine Cook and Jan Blake, in distress. Rose’s mother died recently, and in going through her belongings, she found a death certificate—for herself! What could this document mean? What happened when Rose was a year old? The cousins’ search for truth behind this unsettling and reaches far beyond Lancaster, Maine, to a pivotal point not only in Rose’s life but also in history.
Meanwhile, as the town prepares for its Fourth of July festival, much is at stake in the selectman election. Can Rose’s father, Clifton, win and preserve the charming character of Lancaster, or will greedy big-city outsider J. Eisley Segouri prevail with promises of big-box commerce? And Jan’s son, Brian, makes a tantalizing discovery that might help the cousins decipher the story of the sapphire ring found in one of the tearoom’s walls.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Cozy, Christian, Mystery

244 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

Erin Keeley Marshall is the author of Navigating Route 20-Something (Harvest House 2008) and The Daily God Book (Tyndale House 2007). She was also a contributing writer for Becoming 2 and Becoming 2008 New Testaments, the Revolve 2007 New Testament, and the Revolve Devotional Bible (Thomas Nelson). She has edited and written for several publishing companies throughout the United States. Her experience includes product development; writing devotional and Bible study material, and cover and marketing copy; compiling content; research; managing manuscripts from the concept through publication stages; and editing fiction and nonfiction, juvenile Bibles, and gift books. In her spare time she enjoys jogging, outdoor activities, lake living, decorating, cooking/baking, traveling, and hanging out with her family.

Reviews

[Olde American Spirit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elaine Cook and Jan Blake are at it again - thinking that they are simply going to serve fresh, hot tea and scones, but solving mysteries in their quaint, New England town is what happens again!

This is book #2 in the Tearoom Mysteries series and it was just as delightful and full-of-charm, low stakes mystery as the first one. This time, one of their employees finds a few mysterious things of her newly deceased Mom's that makes her question everything!

The cousins jump in to help the young woman, and get deeply involved with the Germany's intriguing history and what it meant for Rose's family.

Mystery and peril without any gruesome results whatsoever. While I loved it, I gave it less stars than book #1 because the plot of the first book was simply more interesting to me.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“After helping to host Tea for Two’s first “Teas around the World” tasting, Rose Young approaches the proprietor/ cousins, Elaine Cook and Jan Blake, in distress. Rose’s mother died recently, and in going through her belongings, she found a death certificate—for herself! What could this document mean? What happened when Rose was a year old? The cousins’ search for truth behind this unsettling and reaches far beyond Lancaster, Maine, to a pivotal point not only in Rose’s life but also in history.
Meanwhile, as the town prepares for its Fourth of July festival, much is at stake in the selectman election. Can Rose’s father, Clifton, win and preserve the charming character of Lancaster, or will greedy big-city outsider J. Eisley Segouri prevail with promises of big-box commerce? And Jan’s son, Brian, makes a tantalizing discovery that might help the cousins decipher the story of the sapphire ring found in one of the tearoom’s walls.”


Series: Book #2 in the “Tearoom Mysteries” series. Review of the first book, Here!


Spiritual Content- A couple Scriptures are mentioned; Prayers; Church going; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of churches, church going, services, hymns, & a pastor/reverend; A few mentions of thanking God; A few mentions of blessings & being blessed; A few mentions of a dedication.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’; A bit of eye rolling; Mentions of deaths; Mentions of wars; Mentions of prison, prisoners, & arrests; Mentions of break-ins & prowlers/intruders; Mentions of stealing & thieves; Mentions of injuries, pain, fighting, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a divorce and a wife leaving her husband; A few mentions of a work accident & death (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of assaults, jail time, & crimes; A few mentions of lies & lying; A couple mentions of a car crash & deaths; A couple mentions of something illegal; A couple mentions of gossip; A mention of betting/gambling;
*Note: Mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of clothing brands.


Sexual Content- Some blushes; Mentions of interest, romance, flutters, & (not) dates; A mention of a hand kiss;
*Note: A mention of someone butting in.

-Elaine Cook, age mid-50s
-Jane Blake, age mid-50s
P.O.V. switches between them
225 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars
{Add ½ star for those wanting a light mystery.}
This one was interesting to me because of the German history & such! Both these first books to this new series have focused on other parts on the world (without actually going there), so I’m curious to see if later books in the series will keep this trend. :)


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun addition of this series. Definitely very different from the last book, but it still had that same cozy feel, which I'm definitely here for! I'll be listening to the next book in the series soon.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine if you were to have a parent die and you went to go through their personal belongings like you might if you were perhaps planning to list their house with a realtor. Then as you were going through some of your late parent's paper work you come across a legal sized envelope. You open it and find a death certificate inside. You read the name and find that it's your death certificate . Supposedly you died when you were 18 months old. But something is very wrong because you're not dead.
The cover on Tea Rose doesn't do this mystery story justice. It's a very pretty cover but then you see what's peaking out the envelope sitting beside the delicate China tea cup . Something definitely isn't right when Rose Young, waitress at Tea for Two , finds her own death certificate in her late mothers personal belongings. She must get to the bottom of this unsettling situation and get some answers for her own peace of mind.
Fortunately for Rose she has her employers, Elaine Cook and Jan Blake to help her work her way through these questions and to help her solve this mystery about her death certificate and why her name and birth date is on it. Why does it exist? So delve into this mystery story as I did to find out why Rose has a death certificate when she's very much alive.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries this story will not disappoint you. I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in this book. I know you will too.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose helps host a tea around the world and afterwards talks to the owners about her problem.Her mother had just died and she found a death certificate for herself as a toddler. She can’t figure it and what her mother had been hiding from her for all these years. Her father is running for office so she doesn’t want to bring it up to him or cause problems for him. Elaine and Jan decide to help her find out what is going on.

[Shelley Giusti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading these, there really isn't a murder to solve in this one but it was trying to find out about a mysterious birth certificate.

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose's mother has passed away and while cleaning out the attic she comes across a death certificate, her death certificate. Confused, Rose tells Jan and Elaine and asks for their help. Will they be able to solve the mystery of the living death certificate? What secrets is Rose's mother hiding?

I love this series so far. It's small-town mystery fun. I also love the writing and glimpses into small-town life. Makes me want to pack up and move to a town like this.

[Ashton Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book much more than this one. I didn't like that the main mystery in book 1 wasn't even addressed in this one. It was just ok. I will read the next one and see what I think.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this second book in the series. Love the family and friends relationships. Can always count on Guideposts for inspiring stories.

[Jo Ann Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a little slow starting out, but wow what a conclusion. Didn't see that ending coming at all. I highly recommend the tearoom mysteries to anyone who enjoys tea and also the main characters are in their 50's . No murders, just a good clean suspenseful mystery.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really enjoying this cozy mystery series. Easy to read when life is difficult ❤️

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more enjoyable than the first book. The first book had a lot of boring background. This mystery felt a lot more interesting too. I enjoyed this. 3.5 stars

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Christian mystery @ Chickadee Lake with 2 widows and their Tea Room house. Great characters and good story.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!! (Wish i could rate it 10 stars!!)
Review:
Thank you to a family friend who lent me this book to read!! This was my first time reading a series by Guidepost publishers and by this author and might i say it wont be the last!!

This story had me HOOKED since chapter 1!! The characters, setting and plot were so easy to get into and to read about!!

I can't wait to read more books in this series in the future!!

[Cameron Toney · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise for this book is one of the most interesting set ups I've read for a mystery in years. What if, when cleaning your late mothers house after she died, and you found your own death certificate? What a premise! Amazing!
Add that it's set in and around a tea shop, and well I was all set to read.
But I'm afraid I liked the set up a little better than I liked the story, which. while a clever set up, was a somewhat ordinary delivery, and I found the characters a little difficult to keep strait.
A wonderful idea, rather plainly delivered.

[Sally Mander · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blah kind of book. No real plot, didn't really go anywhere. Is not a stand alone book. Hurry quick, get it out of my library!

[Bibi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the right, small, feel-good-kind of book I picked up at the end of a project and after weeks of no reading. Tea Rose features two cousins - talented baking expert Jan Blake and organizational whiz Elaine Cook - who run a tea shop in their lovely Victorian house on the shores of Chickadee Lake in Maine.

Their hired help in the Tea Shop is Rose with whom the ladies develop a great bond. Rose is coping with the recent loss of her mother and, in going through her mother's possessions, a great mystery develops about her identity - a death certificate listing Rose as deceased plus the disappearance of a necklace which Rose once wore and was photographed in, provide tantalizing fodder for this budding mystery.

As Rose shares her concerns with Jan and Elaine, these good-natured ladies commit to help her as best they could. They reach out to old friends and they accept Rose's invitation for help in sorting out her mom's things. In the background, Rose's adopted father (Clifton) is running for a position as the town's official. Many residents, supposed tourists to the area, a strange older man who visited the tea shop plus the nosy and chatty tenant who rents a cottage close to Rose's home, all became suspects or complicit participants.

When it seems that someone is keen to break into the home of Rose and Clifton, an alarm system is installed and the police is informed. The story moves through trying to ascertain the authenticity of the death certificate, deciphering initials and clues on a lace tablecloth belonging to Rose's mom, and getting to the crux of Rose's identity and the recovery of the family jewelry.

An interesting story which links the Berlin wall, a family heirloom, and the lengths Rose's moms (biological and adopted ) went to protect Rose. I like that the book featured good-natured people, pleasant landscapes, mouth-watering pastries, and delightful hot teas from around the world. I was pleased that the author incorporated God and faith in the everyday lives of two very active cousins/grandmas. It was only at the end of the book that I realized that the author is a contributing writer to Guideposts which provide daily devotions, inspiration, and advocate the power of prayer, and positive living.

Simplistic, heart-warming, and joyful. Rounded up to four stars.

[Salena Moffat · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 out of 5 🌻s
#TeaRose by #ErinKeeleyMarshall
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A delightful second book in the #TearoomMysteries series published by @guidepostsmagazine! I know I'm going to love every book in this series. #cozymysteries with delightful and fully fleshed out characters! Again, any fan of @hallmarkchannel will love them too!
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Rose Young, younger employee of widowed cousins Elaine and Jan, is the primary focus of this one. She finds, after her mother's passing, her own (!) death certificate. She takes it to show her employers, and another mystery is in full swing.
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I don't think I can spill much more tea (see what I did there? 😉) without spoilers, so I'll just urge you to grab this series and enjoy it. Perfect reading for #fall!
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Yes, I know the emojis look more like coffee than tea, but I couldn't find a truly tea one. The tea pictured is the #BakerStreetBlend by @sagenatural, yummy stuff! The teacup is from the always amazing @thebelieversbox subscription box. This is not in any way an ad for any products shown, and I have not received compensation for the items.
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#bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookishness #bookstagram #booklove #bookstagrammer #tea #cozymystery #centralmaine #gentleread #fallread

[Cynthia L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, fun read. I enjoyed the tearoom setting and all the talk about tea and desserts and a renovated Victorian home. Incorporating a mystery into the storyline adds to the fun. This one has a twist and that intrigued me to keep reading. The characters were likable. The author seemed to go back and forth between the two main characters and I often couldn’t figure out who the protagonist was, but I eventually settled in. There is not necessarily an obvious antagonist, either, but several to choose from, thus I continued reading—because I wanted to see what happened. It all works out, of course, and although I bought this book #2 in a series from a used book store purely for its cover and subject matter, I would go back and try to find books 1 and 3 in a used bookstore or inexpensive venue when I want light and easy reading. It seems odd to have all three books written by different authors as a series by Guideposts, but I guess that’s part of the intrigue.

[Ann Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sequel to “Tearoom for Two” and written by a different author— or at least a different name is attached. The tone is the same, so perhaps the names are simply changed. Be that what it may, this story continues with the adventures of cousins Elaine Cook and Jan Blake, who operate a tea room in Maine. The story centers on their employee Rose, whose mother recently died. Rose finds an unexplained death certificate with her own name on it, so the cousins help her to get to the bottom of the situation. Again, a sweet story, although the plot is a little convoluted. Includes an excerpt from the next in the series, written by still another author. What’s with all these different authors? Just giving different writers. A chance to be published?

[Jenn O'Brien · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - a charming "cozy" very light mystery that would be perfect to read in an Adirondack chair while the waves of a lake lap in the background. When I read the first book, I started a list of ALL the characters (there are a lot of them!). I'm glad I revisited that list to refresh my memory -- this is one of those series that would be good to read back-to-back to keep fresh on the various townspeople. Once the mystery was unraveled, I was a somewhat fuzzy on the details. I thought that part of the story could have been explained a little better. Overall, a nice little summery escape to Maine.

[Paula-O · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a guidepost mystery, these little books are written by different authors .
"Tea Rose" is written by Erin Keeley Marshall.

Book #2 is written about Rose who helps in the victorian home Tea for Two. She lost her mom recently and is now finding many things about her Mom that she did not know, when she found a birth certificate and a death certificate with her name on it ..this leads to search to find out more.
If you like to read about a mystery , I think you will enjoy reading these.

[Myra Marquis Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series. I love that each book is written by different authors which gives a new look at our old friends.

This one starts off with the mystery within the first chapter. Sure there were some twists and turns but the story was good. I was disappointed that the editors didn't catch a few things that shouted out to me...but all in all it was good.

Now on to book 3 "To a Tea"

[Rebecca Cecil · Rating 4 out of 5]

LIKED THIS BOOK. IT WAS SLOW GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO READ MY FIRST TEAROOM MYSTERY BOOKS SO I WAS SOMEWHAT DISSAPOINTED BECAUSE OF HOW SLOW THE STORY GOES. IT IS A NICE FAMILY BOOK NO BAD WORDS NO SEX SO EVEN A TEEN AGE GIRL COULD READ THIS. ROSE, ELAINE AND JAN ARE VERY GOOD FRIENDS AND ARE THERE FOR EACH OTHER AND THEY TRY THEIR HANDS AT A MYSTERY. ELAINE AND JAN HAVE A BAKERY AND TEA SHOP EVERYONE LOVES THEIR LITTLE SHOP.

[Claire Barfell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Tearoom Mysteries series! Elaine and Jan continue with their successful tea room and their employee Rose has a mystery that they help her solve. Who was Rose's real mother? Who is trying to break into their house? Will her father win the election for selectman? Also, where is the missing brooch? Who is Mr. Spence?

All these questions and more will be answered. This book makes me want to visit their tearoom and sit down and talk to Elaine and Jan.

[Debbie Koester · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Tea Rose" by Erin Keeley Marshall. It is second in the tearoom mysteries by Guideposts. Although I knew this series wasn't fine literature, this second book was tough to get through. Jan and Elaine who run the tea room help Rose find out about her past, a past she wasn't even sure about. In the first book a ring was found and although it was mentioned in this book, it still has not been solved as to why the ring was in the wall the house where they have the tea room.

[Lynne Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quality reading with good values. Not an over the top GREAT novel, but, an easy read before bedtime or just to relax with a cup of tea. Cousins, Elaine and Jan, run a Tea room together in an old Victorian house in mythical Lancaster, Maine on Chickadee lake. Every book in this series is an interesting mystery, some not being solved in the book they start in. So, it keeps me interested and reading. I enjoy the books.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved meeting back up with Jan and Elaine and their tea room. From the beginning of this book we are thrown into a new mystery and my mind immediately tried to figure out. But with each new discovery I thought of a new possibility. I also liked reading about the family history of Rose.

Overall an enjoyable read with a wonderful setting that will make you long for summer.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

2nd book in series. Rose, Jan and Elaine's employee and friend finds a death certificate for herself among her mothers belongings. She recently died and Rose is now confused about this. Her dad says he knows nothing about it. Rose goes to Jan and Elaine for guidance and help to solve this mystery.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Tearoom Mysteries, another good story. Elaine and Jan’s employee, Rose, has just lost her mother and found some puzzling papers. The cousins try to help her untangle things, and even though they get the whole story, I was still kind of confused. Still a good book, and I can’t wait to read the next one.