I picked up a free copy of Sharon Lynn Fisher‘s Tea & Alchemy on Amazon. I think it might have been a First Reads book, but I’m not sure about that.
Cornwall, 1854. The people of Roche have always whispered about the recluse in the black granite tower that looms above the moorland. But one young woman is driven to discover the truth behind the old tales.
Her life overshadowed by family tragedy, Mina Penrose escapes her lonely days by working at The Magpie, a cozy tearoom on the village’s edge. Lately she’s been seeing shapes in the sodden leaves that hint at the future. After one such omen, Mina stumbles upon a murdered man on the heath. Villagers immediately suspect Harker Tregarrick, a living, breathing mystery who never ventures beyond the bounds of his centuries-old estate.
Until the day after the murder, when the handsome and compelling recluse visits The Magpie…leading to a meeting that will change both their fates. Captivated by a man around whom danger and rumors of death swirl, Mina has never felt more alive. Can she uncover Harker’s heartbreaking history—and the truth about the murder—before tragedy strikes again?
I found this enjoyable in a sort of bland, inoffensive way. As in, I enjoyed the story, but there isn’t much conflict or high tension in the plot. The only friction is between the FMC, Mina, and her brother, which I appreciated. It added a level of complexity that the rest of the story lacked. But there isn’t a lot otherwise. Everyone is just so bloody nice all the time (which is something I only later realized is exactly what I said about the last Fisher book I read). But Fisher created a sweet story around a woman unwilling to shrink herself and a man unwilling/unable to stretch his circumstances. This is worth picking up for those looking for a cozy vampire story.
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