When a catering job goes awry in Los Angeles, Bailey
Sterling decides to move back to her hometown of Icicle
Falls, Washington, a quaint little mountain town that is a
tourist destination. The family welcomes Bailey with open
arms until a business venture with Todd Black has Bailey's
sister Cecily up in arms. Cecily is a little older than
Bailey and is still trying to find Mr. Perfect. She's
struck out twice already. Cecily is now dating two
different men at the same time.
Luke Goodman is the production manager for the Sterling's
family-owned chocolate factory, Sweet Dreams, and Todd runs
a tavern, The Man Cave, just outside of town. Cecily knows
she should choose Luke, but bad-boy Todd really zings her
strings. Todd offers to front the money for Bailey to open
a tea shop in an old Victorian he just purchased. While
working together, a friendship begins to bud and blossom
between Bailey and Todd that seems to be so much more in
Cecily's eyes. Can Cecily decide which man is the right one
before it's too late? Or will Bailey steal Todd from her
sister?
What a delightful story! This is my first visit to Icicle
Falls, but I'm sure I will visit more often. THE TEA SHOP
ON LAVENDER LANE is number five in this series by Sheila
Roberts. The characters are fascinating. There couldn't
be more of a contrast between Luke and Todd, yet each is a
strong, dynamic character. The town sounds charming, and
Ms. Roberts makes you want to pack your bags and take a
trip to the Northwest. The storyline moves along at just
the right pace and keeps you completely engaged. Small-town
gossip helps to develop the plot, as does the sage wisdom
of Muriel Sterling, as Bailey reads her mother's book. The
end of this book includes notes to the reader on serving
tea and some wonderful recipes mentioned in the story.
When it comes to men, sisters don't share!
After a fake food poisoning incident in L.A., Bailey
Sterling's dreams of becoming a caterer to the stars
collapse faster than a soufflé. Now Bailey's face is in all
the gossip rags and her business is in ruins. But the
Sterling women close ranks and bring her back to Icicle
Falls, where she'll stay with her sister Cecily.
All goes well between the sisters until Bailey comes up with
a new business idea—a tea shop on a charming street called
Lavender Lane. She's going into partnership with Todd Black,
who—it turns out—is the man Cecily's started dating. It
looks to Cecily as if there's more than tea brewing in that
cute little shop. And she's not pleased.
Wait! Isn't Cecily seeing Luke Goodman? He's a widower with
an adorable little girl, and yes, Cecily does care about
him. But Todd's the one who sends her zing-o-meter off the
charts. So now what? Should you have to choose between your
sister and the man you love (or think you love)?