To a Tea

Tearoom Mysteries #3

by Vera Dodge

Business is booming at Tea for Two, so cousins Elaine Cook and Jan Blake decide to hire more help. When Elaine interviews a dapper Englishman with a résumé full of important jobs around the world, she can’t help but wonder, Why does he want to work here?
As the tearoom readies its first wedding, Elaine’s concerns are quickly over shadowed by the groom’s sudden disappearance. Cold feet or foul play? The distraught bride turns to the cousins, who spring into action to find the missing groom.
To make matters worse, a local bank is robbed. Could the two incidents be related? Elaine and Jan set out in different directions to solve the mystery—even taking Jan to the town’s biker bar!
Before long, it becomes clear that the cousins are unraveling the same thread from different ends. The question is, will they meet in the middle?

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

274 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2016

Reviews

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

About this book:

“Business is booming at Tea for Two, so cousins Elaine Cook and Jan Blake decide to hire more help. When Elaine interviews a dapper Englishman with a résumé full of important jobs around the world, she can’t help but wonder, Why does he want to work here?
As the tearoom readies its first wedding, Elaine’s concerns are quickly over shadowed by the groom’s sudden disappearance. Cold feet or foul play? The distraught bride turns to the cousins, who spring into action to find the missing groom.
To make matters worse, a local bank is robbed. Could the two incidents be related? Elaine and Jan set out in different directions to solve the mystery—even taking Jan to the town’s biker bar!
Before long, it becomes clear that the cousins are unraveling the same thread from different ends. The question is, will they meet in the middle?”


Series: Book #3 in the “Tearoom Mysteries” series. Review of Book #1, Here! and #2 Here!


Spiritual Content- Prayers; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches & church going; A few mentions of angels; A couple mentions of a crucifix; A couple mentions of blessings.


Negative Content- Gunfire (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of addictions (but getting help), alcohol, drinking/drinks, & bars (Elaine & Jan go to two for information); Many mentions of a robbery, thief, & threats; Many mentions of tattoos & tattoo parlors; Mentions of nightmares & suicidal thoughts (not-detailed); Mentions of violence, wars, & fights; Mentions of guns aimed, shooting, & gunfire; Mentions of crimes, criminals, crime scenes, & records; Mentions of jail & arrests; Mentions of car accidents & injuries; Mentions of cigarettes & smoking; Mentions of hunting; A few mentions of blood; A few mentions of lies; A couple mentions of rumors; A couple mentions of drugs; A mention of blackmail; A mention of a skeleton;
*Note: A couple mentions of car brands.


Sexual Content- Two cheek kisses; Touches & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); A few Blushes; A bit of Noticing; two ‘baby’s; Many mentions of dating, dates, fiancés, girlfriends, boyfriends, exes, romance, & possible cheating; A few mentions of touches; A few mentions of honeymoons; A couple mentions of kissing; A couple mentions of blushes; A tiny bit of love, falling in love, & the emotions.

-Elaine Cook, age mid-50s
-Jane Blake, age mid-50s
P.O.V. switches between them
261 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 (and a half)
Oooh! This one had a bit of action in it! I liked how both cousins were working on separate mysteries that were tied together. There was some Russian history that was interesting, but I also liked seeing all the veteran parts.


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.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elaine and Jan ,owners of The Tea Room in Lancaster Maine, are getting ready to have their first wedding held on their Lake front property. As the wedding date draws nearer Elaine is kept busy working with the beautiful bride to make all necessary arrangements for the big day. But then a week before the wedding the groom suddenly seems to be missing.
Oh where oh where has the groom gone? The bride is Very anxious as to be expected. The groom's mother has no idea where her son has disappeared to. Should they call off the wedding or continue on with preparations in hopes that he shows up on the wedding day? Is the groom in some kind of trouble? Why did he leave so suddenly?
To be honest the groom's disappearance isn't the only thing happening lately in Lancaster . The bank's been robbed and police suspect Jan's best friend's son of doing it. He's had trouble in the past but swears his innocence. He also happens to be the groom's best friend. Then the suspected robber disappears ! Are both the groom and suspected robber together?
Jan and Elaine get involved with helping the bride and the suspected robber's mother to solve this mystery. This is a cute ,funny and sometimes sad story. A very easy and clean read with just a touch of romance added. I have always loved these Guideposts cozy mysteries.
Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries will love To a Tea. I'm reading four different series of these Guideposts mysteries. They never disappoint this reader. You won't be disappointed either.
I borrowed a copy of To a Tea from the local Library. A review was not requested. All opinions shared here are my own.

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

I really am enjoying this series. I love me a good cozy mystery and these are hitting the spot.

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

Tea for Two is becoming a successful place for lovers of tea. Jan and Elaine are presented with a chance to host a wedding. During the planning the groom mysteriously disappears. At the same time the local bank has been robbed. Are the two connected?

This series is a bit different from other cozies I have been reading. Plenty of mysteries to solve while filled with hope and all things cozy. It makes for a very calm and joy filled reading experience.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after reading the others so it was interesting to get more of the back facts. This book tells how they got the dapper Englishman to help in the tearoom. They are getting ready for a wedding when the groom disappears and the local bank is robbed. Elaine starts looking for the groom and the robbers.

[Jo Ann Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series, but having several different authors write it makes it seem like different stories at times. This one I didn't like as much as the others because Jan and Elaine were at odds with each other in this one and pretty much work separately on solving the same mystery. Hopefully the next book will get back to normal.

[RebekahAshleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"To a Tea" is the third book in the Tearoom Mystery series. I've really been enjoying this series so far. "To a Tea" had a good mystery and it wasn't predictable at all. I was more then halfway through the book and still couldn't guess what was going on.
I can't wait to read book 4!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the different plot lines running throughout this book. So much to keep you engaged.

Again, I just love this setting and of course throwing a wedding in the mix makes it even more beautiful.

I am enjoying this cozy series and meeting up with these two spunky cousins.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cozy mystery, which is the third book in The Tearoom Mysteries series by Guideposts.

[Sharon Bezrutczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book as much as the first two. I am looking forward to the next to see where Jan and Elaine end up and how their new employee works out.

[Cammie Arneson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading this series. Jan and Elaine are the kind of friends that make up a quaint small New England town.

[Kaziah Mustard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was good, but my personal opinion is that it's not quite as good as the others. This one felt obvious that it was a different author. Specifically in the way she portrayed the cousin's relationship. It felt more immature and competitive than the camaraderie of the previous books

[Salena Moffat · Rating 3 out of 5]

🍁🍁🍁 out of 5 🍁s
#ToATea by #VeraDodge
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I'm giving this a lower review than I gave the first two books in this series. It just didn't quite fit with the atmosphere or world of the first two books.
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The third book in the #TearoomMysteries series published by @guideposts.books was much edgier (the storyline includes drugs, addiction, and biker bars) than the first two. We do see our heroines, Elaine Cook and Jan Blake, take on deeper personas as they grapple with unfamiliar issues, which is a plus. Not a plus is that we also see them become snippy, angry, easily irritated and almost twitchy.
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Soon to be bridegroom Ryan disappears shortly before his wedding to Felicia, which is to be the first wedding held at Tea for Two, the tearoom/Victorian home owned by Elaine and Jan. At the same time, Elaine and Jan's former landscaper Reggie is accused of robbing the local bank and also disappears.
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I found it hard to get through this installment in what is, so far, a really good series of cozy mysteries. It just felt...off, somehow. I have high hopes for book 4!
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#bookstagram #readersofinstagram #bookishness #bookstagrammer #cozymystery

[Violet]

In this reread of the book"To a Tea", I enjoyed it more this time around. Like the other two rereads I again caught the nuances that I missed the first time around. The nuance that stuck in my mind the most is how checking accounts and credit cards can trace a person's whereabouts and timelines of where you have been. It shows if you want to disappear only use cash and do not take your cellphone with you.

What Vera Dodge wrote at the beginning of the book is a true dedication to our service personnel. It shows how "Guidepost" cares about our service personnel overseas and home deployment in areas of our great nation. Some of my best friends served in Vietnam and they didn't have "Wounded Warriors" back in the "60's" or "70's" to adjust to civil life after what they saw in Vietnam and do in Vietnam. I also can relate to the sometimes forgotten war of Korea because my first husband was a disgraced soldier of that war because he hit his commander when came back from a mission that was ordered by the previous commander and he had nightmares and tried to strangle me in his sleep when we were first married back in the "70's".









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[Claire Barfell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these Tearoom Mysteries! I just want to go to see Elaine and Jan and have a cup of tea with them and some of those yummy desserts! This story is about a disappearing groom and both Elaine and Jan try to find him for his fiancée Felicia. Ryan and Felicia want to get married in the tea room and in the middle of all the plans, he is not to be found. Elaine and Jan try in separate ways to help.
Also, they are interviewing to increase their staff and one of the applicants "Archie" is really interesting.

If you enjoyed the last two books in the series, you will not be disappointed in this one.

[BlueJeansAndTeacups · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean, cozy mystery with a touch of faith. Good, not great, but a pleasant way to pass the time. My favorite thing is the tea and tearoom aspect. Since several authors take turns writing each book, they don't always convey the same feel for the characters. In this book, Elaine was a little more - judgy - perhaps🤔. I found her harder to connect to under this author's pen. The mystery aspect was interesting and again, did not involve a murder which, I appreciated.
There are several more books in the series (at least 27 I could find 🙄) but at this point, I could take them or leave them. The first 3 were gifts to me and all opinions are my own without compensation of any kind.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK. Took me a while because I just couldn’t get into it. Very small town if people are willing to chat about their personal lives w/complete strangers.
Two cousins opened a tearoom, and they’re doing so well they’e looking to hire more help so they can go do other stuff outside the tearoom. Why did they open the tearoom if they don’t want to work there? Who knows. They’re hosting a wedding for the first time, but when the groom goes missing, they try and help solve his disappearance, which overlaps with a local bank robbery, suspected to be perpetrated by a sometimes gardener/odd job man of the tea room.

[Jo Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed in this story. There really wasn't a plot. However, Jan's adventure at the biker bar, Buzzards, made the story worthwhile and gave me a good laugh.
Something that has been bothering me--this is the third series from Guideposts that I've read, and I must say, you folks need a new copy editor. All the series' books have typos, missed words, duplicated words and sentences but the Tearoom series has the most. The books are so lovely that it's disappointing to see the carelessness in the editing.

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the series so far, this is my favorite. I had noticed that the relationship between the cousins was nearly perfect. They rarely disagreed or argued. And you know the saying about close quarters and all that. Well, this book shook things up a bit. There were heavy disagreements and some sharp words. Don't get me wrong, arguing isn't good, but it really made the characters more realistic. The mystery for this book was also baffling and I really enjoyed it. Onto book 4!

[Jenn O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

From the start, it is apparent this book in the series is written by an entirely different author. In the first two books, the cousins are a team working together. In this story, the are almost entirely apart and, to me, seemed like they were snapping at one another. Whereas the other two books are chockful of townspeople characters and the teashop, there is little of that in this book. Not a bad story, but not my favorite in this collection.

[Myra Marquis Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

"To a Tea" was the third book in this series. I have enjoyed reading this series however with that said if I had read this one first I may not have continued with the series. Not that it was a bad book it wasn't it was good...just this author's writing style isn't my favorite. On to book 4 "Crosswords and Chamomile"

[Debbie Koester · Rating 3 out of 5]

"To a Tea" by Vera Dodge. It is third in the Tearoom mystery series. Jan and Elaine are still curious about the jewelry they found in the wall and although they received another couple of clues, the saga continues on. However, in this tome, they help find Ryan who days before his wedding disappears. This includes a visit to a biker bar as well as a trip to cabin.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story focuses on a superficial level on the problems that some veterans face upon returning from combat. It talks about seeking help, denying the need for help, and friends helping friends. It is refreshing to see Elaine and Jan at odds. People living and working together naturally have conflicts arise. A quite enjoyable read.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a "cozy" mystery, this one had a lot of depth of plot and things you might not expect of the characters, which I loved. Vera Dodge is an author that's new to me. I'll be watching for more of her stories. I inherited a whole bunch of this TeaRoom series from my mother-in-law and I have enjoyed them all so far.

[Lynne Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all the Tearoom mysteries with the cousins, Elaine and Jan and their Tea room in mythical Lancaster, Maine on Lake Chickadee. This book did not disappoint. Good mystery, good values, good characters, believable and entertaining. I purchased the entire series and will enjoy them one by one.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really disappointing book in this cute cozy mystery series. Almost the entire book had nothing to do with the tea room or even really the main characters of the series. I realize that different authors write each book, but this one was really not very good at all.

[Shadava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am definitely enjoying the Tearoom Mysteries series. While each novel so far has been written by a different author, this is first time it was noticeable (for me). This is not a criticism, merely an observation. I will be continuing the series, and I highly recommend it.

[Nola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somehow, this mystery was not as good as the first two. I am not sure why. However, I will keep on reading the series as I do find it interesting. I feel as if I am right there with the characters as I read the book.

[April Rudolph · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one wore on me. The characters were all clueless and kind of annoying. The questioning in their head was excessive too. Kind of hope they get better because I was excited for mysteries at a tearoom.

[Melissa Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoopla bonus borrow -- cute cozy mystery -- with a bit about understanding for people in the service who defend our country. I will for sure pick up more from this tearoom mystery series because of this one!