The Seafront Tearoom

Happy Bake Cookies Day!  If you need to bake some cookies for the holidays, today is the day to do it!  I still need to make some iced sugar cookies and the children (my dogs) would love some more peanut butter cookies!  Do you make treats for your animals?  Liz Mugavero's A Pawsitively Organic Mystery series has great pet recipes at the end of every book.  

The Seafront Tearoom by Vanessa Greene is a British novel about friendship.  The Seafront Tearoom is owned by Letty.  It has been in her family for over a hundred years.  It is a local gathering spot in Scarborough and the people that know about it like to keep it quiet (and so does the owner).  Kat Murray is twenty-six and lives nearby with her son, Leo.  She was living with Jake but they are better off apart.  Jake is now trying to set up a new business in Scotland.  Kat is having trouble making ends meet and is looking for a job.  Seraphine Moreau is twenty-three and just got her teaching certification.  She wants to teach English to teens in France.  She has decided to visit England to improve her conversational English.  She will be staying with Adam and acting as his au pair.  Seraphine has a secret that she has not told anyone and she is not sure she will be able to share it.  Charlotte “Charlie” Harrison is a writer and features editor with Indulge magazine.  She has decided to write an article (actually a spread) on tearooms.  She will visit her sister and her new baby while she is in the area.   

These three women meet and The Seafront Tearoom.  Charlie wants to feature the tea shop in her article, but Kat asks her to reconsider.  Kat and Seraphine offer to help Charlie with her article by finding other tea shops for her to write about.  The three set out on their adventure indulging in tea, sandwiches, and sweet treats.  They will become fast friends who can discuss anything with each other.  They help each other discover what they want out of life professionally and personally as well as help each other out during the good and bad times.

I give The Seafront Tearoom 3.75 out of 5 stars.  The Seafront Tearoom has romance, friendship, break ups, secrets, and more.  There are a lot of descriptions of British desserts with unusual names (it is interesting how different countries call the same item different names) and enough tea to fill a giant lake.  The books pace slowed down in the second half, and I felt the story could have ended much sooner (went on too long).  There was a nice twist that I liked and a lovely ending (these types of books always have a good ending).  If you are looking for a light, fluffy book to read, then you will enjoy The Seafront Tearoom.  If you are looking for a novel with depth, then skip it. Now and then I enjoy a nice, light book to read.

Another book by Vanessa Greene is The Vintage Teacup Club.  I received a complimentary copy of The Seafront Tearoom from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading e-Murderer by Joan C. Curtis.  Are you ready for the holidays?  Presents bought and wrapped, tree decorated, and the stocking hung?  I have to admit that I do not have the main tree finished nor are my presents wrapped.  It is hard getting in the Christmas spirit this year (I miss my father).  Good luck with your holiday preparations!  Make sure to take time out for yourself (to de-stress).  Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader