Tea Time Wasn’t Always Fun…

Victorians. They could ruin someone’s day with a simple cup of bad tea. The following books involve tea in one way or another. The first book is a rom-com where the tea is all good. The other book is a mystery. The tea in that book is hit or miss.

A Golden Gun and Balls of Steel

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton is Book 3 in the Dangerous Damsels series, a Victorian Historical Romance/Rom-Com. I love the whole series. Laugh-out-loud funny.

The first dangerous damsel was a pirate, the second a witch, and the third is a spy posing as a maid. Alice Dearlove is the top spy for her organization. She is called Agent A. She goes undercover on an assignment with a butler/spy who is the second best in the organization, Agent B. His name is Daniel Bixby. Both the characters appeared earlier in the series.

The duo must infiltrate a band of pirates, pretending to be a married pirate couple. Although a super spy, Alice is a bit naïve in the relationship department, which adds to the fun. If you like off-the-wall humor and general silliness, I recommend this series.

What Was Lost, Is Found

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is a historical fiction/mystery. The melding of past and present keeps the story unfolding secrets in every chapter. The story follows Nella, an apothecary shop owner in 1700s England at the time she meets twelve-year-old Eliza who is a lost soul and very interested in the apothecary shop and its wares. The story also follows present-day Caroline, visiting England from the States to work out what she wants to do with her life—specifically her marriage. This book is written from three point of views.

Mrs. Penner brings these fictional characters to life and paints a vivid picture of the world around them in their respective eras. It also sheds light on what apothecaries were created for initially and how they evolved.

An ancient apothecary vial starts Caroline’s quest on a road of twists and turns to uncover Eliza’s secret of two-hundred-years prior. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it if you like historical fiction.

I’m always looking for a book recommendation. Based on the two books above, if you know of a good book in a similar category (or paranormal), leave it in the comments.