What do you think?
Rate this book
An Invitation to Tea
London, 1908 — Stella Craven thought she had her whole life planned out, even if it was against everything her mother wanted for her. She would marry her childhood best friend and dedicate her life fighting for the right for women to vote. That summer threatens to turn upside down all of her plans when her mother forces her to make the trip to London to look for an acceptable husband. William Pemberton, the future Earl of Wraughtley, has little time or inclination for a marriage. What he does care about is his lands and the people who live on them, and he's willing to do just about anything to keep the estate in the family, even if that means entertaining the idea of marrying an American heiress for her money. An Invitation to Tea is a stand-alone sweet romance novella set in the world of A Lady Thea Mystery .
- GenresHistorical Fiction
ebook
Published June 8, 2021
About the author
Jessica Baker
10 books68 followersNamed for the famous fictional mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, Jessica Baker picked up a pen when she was in elementary school and never set it down.
Jessica lives in sunny Central Florida and is a member of Sisters in Crime. When she’s not writing, she freelances as a camera assistant in film which provides plenty of inspiration for her stories.
To learn more about Jessica and her books, visit her at https://www.jessicabakerauthor.com/ and for the latest information, subscribe to her newsletters.
Jessica lives in sunny Central Florida and is a member of Sisters in Crime. When she’s not writing, she freelances as a camera assistant in film which provides plenty of inspiration for her stories.
To learn more about Jessica and her books, visit her at https://www.jessicabakerauthor.com/ and for the latest information, subscribe to her newsletters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 28, 2021
Much like the main Lady Thea series, An Invitation To Tea has the same, cozy vibe, this time in the tone of romance. Stella and William have a sweet relationship, though it’s not without a great deal of miscommunications and assumptions. Overbearing family members provide plenty of conflict as well. I also loved the rich setting of England in 1908. A spectacular read as always!
August 6, 2021
I enjoyed this book, it was a fairly quick read, but well worth it. Stella is an independent, free thinking, and openly spoken women in a time when she shouldn’t be. All I can say is you won’t regret diving into this story with the Craven women.
June 22, 2021
Stella and William have nothing in common other than their mothers have arranged for them to get married. Stella’s mother will get a title in the family and William’s mother will get the family much needed money. Loved watching the characters develop and their relationship change. The first part of the book takes place in London in 1908 during the Franco-British Exhibition, the women’s fight for the vote, and the Olympics so lots of interesting bits of info to read. A pleasant quick sweet romance that features Stella, the cousin of Lady Thea from the mystery series.
June 12, 2021
Quick read with fun facts from 1908 England and the events happening at that time (Franco-British Exhibition, Olympics). Stella is very angry at having to participate in an arranged marriage. William is not thrilled but his family needs the money. Nice quick read.
December 14, 2021
Delightful
This is a thoroughly charming story. Set in early 20th Century England an American girl is there to marry a title, not that she wants it, and a Vice Count needs her money. How they overcome their biased to each other and fall in love makes for an enjoyable read.
This is a thoroughly charming story. Set in early 20th Century England an American girl is there to marry a title, not that she wants it, and a Vice Count needs her money. How they overcome their biased to each other and fall in love makes for an enjoyable read.
February 14, 2023
Stella Craven is visiting London from America in order to find a suitable titled husband. She deplores the process of husband-hunting and chafes against her mother's total control. Stella's best bet for freedom it to marry her pal Cal back in Chicago. He promised he would marry her and rescue her. Stella just wants to go home and live her own life. Unfortunately, her mother is still in charge and has written to the Countess of Wraughtley on Stella's behalf to invite the Countess for tea with her and her son, Lord Pemberton. Viscount William Pemberton hates his title and resents his father and previous generations for doing nothing to bring money in to save the estate. With all movable assets gone, it's up to William to secure a bank loan. If the bank says no, he'll be forced to marry a spoiled rich girl. When he meets a young lady on the verge of tears at Claridge's, he tries to cheer her and offer support. When that young lady turns out to be the one his mother has picked out for him to marry, William is amenable. Stella seems different than all the others. For one thing, she wants nothing to do with him. Can Stella ever be free from her mother? Will William save the estate he cares about?
This is a short novel or long novella in the vein of a Downton Abbey prequel. You have pretty much all the elements of a traditional period romance: dollar princess heroine with pushy mother, titled but broke hero trying to save his family estate, even a haughty grandmother. Much is missing though. Too much in the middle is told rather than shown. We're told a lot about how the characters are feeling but don't always see it. There's a family tree at the beginning you might not want to take a look at because it's more obvious where the story is headed if you peek. If not, it's still obvious.
I feel intense sympathy for Stella. She knows there's no way out of her situation and it's so heartbreaking. Her mother doesn't care about Stella except as a way to enhance her own social status and stick it to the old money people who sneer at her new money. Stella is a pawn in her mother's social climbing game. Ethel Faust Craven is such an awful mother. She criticizes Stella's every move, picks out Stella's clothes and plans every minute of Stella's life. No wonder Stella wants to escape to a passionless marriage. Calvin Wright, a young lawyer, is Stella's best friend. They used to attend baseball games and have fun together. He promised to marry her and they've been in touch since Stella came to London but he isn't there to whisk her away. Stella's only confidante is her maid, Jeanette, who may be more loyal to Mrs. Craven than Stella. Jeanette doesn't understand Stella any more than Mrs. Craven does but I think she cares enough to want to see Stella happy.
The Countess of Wraughtley seems nice enough but a little vague. The Earl is terrible. He has his head in the sand regarding finances, gambles away what little they do have and is so snobby, he doesn't feel he should be chasing down tenants to pay their rent. No wonder the estate is in trouble. How did William turn out so well? Stella wonders and then concludes he must have had a loving nanny. William is a good guy. He's a bit proud but more proud of who he is as a son and a landlord than PROUD like his father. He loves the estate and the tenants. He appreciates his legacy and is trying hard to save it but it's difficult. William is less stubborn and more easy going than Stella which does not help matters much. HE knows what he has to lose if Stella refuses to marry him but is he prepared to pay the price of losing his heart in the bargain? No he is not.
The Dowager Countess of Wraughtley is just as awful as Stella's mother but snobby. She's no Lady Violet! THIS Dowager has no heart of gold, only constant criticism of Stella, her mother and Americans in general. She does not approve of her grandson perhaps marrying an American. She seems determined to torment these upstart Americans no matter what they do to try to please her.
William's pal Bertie is a hoot. He's untitled but wealthy and tries to help William out any way he can, including playing matchmaker. William's sister, Lady Margaret, is also funny. She seems to either intuit more than she lets on or she's so oblivious, she's happy to do her own thing and ignore her brother's romantic drama.
I liked this story but I only read it as a prequel to Thea's stories. I don't think it was very relevant or necessary though.
This is a short novel or long novella in the vein of a Downton Abbey prequel. You have pretty much all the elements of a traditional period romance: dollar princess heroine with pushy mother, titled but broke hero trying to save his family estate, even a haughty grandmother. Much is missing though. Too much in the middle is told rather than shown. We're told a lot about how the characters are feeling but don't always see it. There's a family tree at the beginning you might not want to take a look at because it's more obvious where the story is headed if you peek. If not, it's still obvious.
I feel intense sympathy for Stella. She knows there's no way out of her situation and it's so heartbreaking. Her mother doesn't care about Stella except as a way to enhance her own social status and stick it to the old money people who sneer at her new money. Stella is a pawn in her mother's social climbing game. Ethel Faust Craven is such an awful mother. She criticizes Stella's every move, picks out Stella's clothes and plans every minute of Stella's life. No wonder Stella wants to escape to a passionless marriage. Calvin Wright, a young lawyer, is Stella's best friend. They used to attend baseball games and have fun together. He promised to marry her and they've been in touch since Stella came to London but he isn't there to whisk her away. Stella's only confidante is her maid, Jeanette, who may be more loyal to Mrs. Craven than Stella. Jeanette doesn't understand Stella any more than Mrs. Craven does but I think she cares enough to want to see Stella happy.
The Countess of Wraughtley seems nice enough but a little vague. The Earl is terrible. He has his head in the sand regarding finances, gambles away what little they do have and is so snobby, he doesn't feel he should be chasing down tenants to pay their rent. No wonder the estate is in trouble. How did William turn out so well? Stella wonders and then concludes he must have had a loving nanny. William is a good guy. He's a bit proud but more proud of who he is as a son and a landlord than PROUD like his father. He loves the estate and the tenants. He appreciates his legacy and is trying hard to save it but it's difficult. William is less stubborn and more easy going than Stella which does not help matters much. HE knows what he has to lose if Stella refuses to marry him but is he prepared to pay the price of losing his heart in the bargain? No he is not.
The Dowager Countess of Wraughtley is just as awful as Stella's mother but snobby. She's no Lady Violet! THIS Dowager has no heart of gold, only constant criticism of Stella, her mother and Americans in general. She does not approve of her grandson perhaps marrying an American. She seems determined to torment these upstart Americans no matter what they do to try to please her.
William's pal Bertie is a hoot. He's untitled but wealthy and tries to help William out any way he can, including playing matchmaker. William's sister, Lady Margaret, is also funny. She seems to either intuit more than she lets on or she's so oblivious, she's happy to do her own thing and ignore her brother's romantic drama.
I liked this story but I only read it as a prequel to Thea's stories. I don't think it was very relevant or necessary though.
March 16, 2023
A delightful story!
Charming characters and a sweet budding romance (no sex)…..just a delightful way to spend a morning in a comfy chair with a cup of tea. Wish there were more of her stories. Please write more Jessica Baker!
Charming characters and a sweet budding romance (no sex)…..just a delightful way to spend a morning in a comfy chair with a cup of tea. Wish there were more of her stories. Please write more Jessica Baker!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews