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All the Tea in China
The good young Englishwoman knows that her destiny depends upon a good marriage match. But Isabella Goodrich is not your typical good young Englishwoman. After an encounter with those less fortunate than she, witty and fun-loving Isabella makes a shocking decision. Against everyone's advice and wishes, she is going to become a missionary in the Far East. Fighting against cultural expectations, common sense, and a mentor who is not as he seems, Isabella leaves her predictable Oxford life behind and sets sail to a new world fraught with danger. Can she trust the mysterious missionary Phineas Snowe? Or will her adventure end before it even begins? This first novel in the Rollicking Regency series will delight readers who like high adventure, twisting plots, and a fun bit of romance.
349 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2007
31 people are currently reading
831 people want to read
About the author
Jane Orcutt
22 books34 followersAward-winning Christian author Jane Orcutt was born on January 25th, 1960, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Born with a serious heart defect, Jane faced surgeries and long recoveries from the age of five. But these solitary times only strengthened Jane’s love for reading, and her dream of one day becoming a writer.
Jane achieved that dream with style, not only as a popular Christian novelist with fourteen published books to her credit, but also through her mentorship of many young writers.
Throughout Jane’s life, she enjoyed writing about her home state of Texas. She was particularly talented at breathing life into historical time periods and she brought a fresh view of the bluebonnet state to her readers worldwide.
As a University of Texas graduate, she possessed a broad range of writing and editing skills, which she used in her own writing, as a production worker for an Austin television station, and as an editor for a Forth Worth publishing company.
In 1982, Jane married Bill Orcutt. They had two sons, Colin and Sam, whom Jane homeschooled until they reached high school. Jane often stated that this accomplishment was her pride and joy. She was passionate about helping her sons explore their interests and intellect while allowing them to grow into individual men of their own account.
Jane was a loyal and loving wife, mother, daughter, and sister, a witty and sought-after friend, a powerful writer, and a tender pet owner. Most of all Jane was a follower and lover of Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, March 18, 2007, after a long battle with acute myeloid leukemia, Jane stepped into the arms of her Savior.
She now rests safely in His arms, while her powerful legacy lives on through her family and through her books.
Born with a serious heart defect, Jane faced surgeries and long recoveries from the age of five. But these solitary times only strengthened Jane’s love for reading, and her dream of one day becoming a writer.
Jane achieved that dream with style, not only as a popular Christian novelist with fourteen published books to her credit, but also through her mentorship of many young writers.
Throughout Jane’s life, she enjoyed writing about her home state of Texas. She was particularly talented at breathing life into historical time periods and she brought a fresh view of the bluebonnet state to her readers worldwide.
As a University of Texas graduate, she possessed a broad range of writing and editing skills, which she used in her own writing, as a production worker for an Austin television station, and as an editor for a Forth Worth publishing company.
In 1982, Jane married Bill Orcutt. They had two sons, Colin and Sam, whom Jane homeschooled until they reached high school. Jane often stated that this accomplishment was her pride and joy. She was passionate about helping her sons explore their interests and intellect while allowing them to grow into individual men of their own account.
Jane was a loyal and loving wife, mother, daughter, and sister, a witty and sought-after friend, a powerful writer, and a tender pet owner. Most of all Jane was a follower and lover of Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, March 18, 2007, after a long battle with acute myeloid leukemia, Jane stepped into the arms of her Savior.
She now rests safely in His arms, while her powerful legacy lives on through her family and through her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
December 24, 2009
When I saw this book at a yard sale last summer, the captivating picture of a sword-wielding lady on the cover, coupled with the knowledge that the book is a romance by an evangelical Christian author, convinced me that this read would be right up my wife's alley. I wasn't wrong; she was initially skeptical of the historical setting (being more into modern settings), but once she got into it, she "couldn't put it down." She in turn recommended it to me; and obviously my reaction was positive as well!
The chronological setting here is 1814; the geographical setting moves from Oxford, England to the high seas, and finally to China. So we begin in the milieu of a Jane Austen novel, move in effect to the world of Hornblower (the sailing ship carrying our characters to China isn't a naval vessel, but the Napoleonic Wars are going on and it's fair game for French privateers), and winds up in a cultural setting from which the later one in Pearl Buck's The Good Earth hasn't greatly changed. Broadly speaking, this is a "Regency romance;" but Isabella isn't typical of heroines in that type of literature. Raised by her uncle, a rather unworldly Oxford dean, she's a "bluestocking," just as learned as most Oxford students of that day, and inclined toward blunt directness in speech, in a society that valued neither trait in women. More scandalously, she was humored in a desire to be taught fencing from a very young age, and is quite good at it. So Orcutt departs here somewhat from formula --though she follows it in another respect; it's probably no spoiler to say that when a man and woman in a romance novel begin their acquaintance with a mutual antipathy, you can usually guess that they're made for each other. :-)
This book isn't without its flaws, which cost it a fifth star. Some of Orcutt's plot devices are strained: why Phineas employs some of the subterfuge he does, and what role he expected Julia Whipple to play in his plan --perhaps none; but in that case, confiding it to her would be spectacularly stupid!-- isn't explained effectively (or at all). The logic of Isabella's opposition to his plan, once she knows about it, escapes me; it seems to be so groundlessly stupid as to be out of character. And the verbal sparring between the two when they met had a forced quality, IMO, disproportionate to the situation. While comparisons to Austen and Forester are natural because of the settings, the author's prose skills and ability to evoke a milieu in depth isn't equal to theirs. She uses first-person narration to provide a pretext for a style that's somewhat similar to early 19th-century diction, but not so elegant as Austen's --for instance, she uses contractions, though rarely, which Austen doesn't at all, and constructions like "Did I not?" or "Can you not?" where Austen would have said "Did not I?" or "Can not you?" Also, while she explains nautical terms better than Forester does, she tries to give her writing a period flavor by using undefined archaic terms like "modiste" or "verrucas" --which Austen did not, with the unlikely result that the modern writer is much more apt to send you hunting for a dictionary than the 19th-century one. (I still don't know what "verrucas" are, and from the context I'm not sure I want to! :-)) In fact, one result of reading the book was to remind me (again) how much I want to read the rest of Austen's novels and the rest of the Young Hornblower omnibus, sooner rather than later!
However, there are considerable offsetting strengths here. The major characters are round, and developed well enough to capture the reader's interest and goodwill. Isabella herself is a likable protagonist. She's not perfect and not a super-woman --her impulsiveness can be very ill-advised (the stunt that landed her on the Dignity was so irresponsible and hare-brained that I wanted to shake both her and Orcutt, until I recalled that the heroine of my own novel did something just as irresponsible and hare-brained, which provided some perspective :-)); she's not immune to female vanity, and she can get seasick, cry out with fear at times, and whimper when she's drenched with icy rain. But she's got a good heart, she cares about people and shows it, and when the chips are down, she has the guts to fight to protect herself and others. (There's not much in the way of action scenes here, but there are some.) And she takes her Christian faith seriously, but not ostentatiously. Orcutt also deals (where Austen does not) with the darker realities of Regency society: poverty alongside of wealth; prostitution; laudanum addiction --and the monstrous trade in opium, smuggled illegally into China in return for the tea the English market coveted so much. She also makes you feel the stifling atmosphere of the English social world of that day, where Isabella is a 25-year-old spinster just because she has qualities any sane man should have appreciated (and where society women think cattiness is an art form, and turn it against any woman whose willingness to be who she is reminds them of their own artificiality), and the nauseating horror of exactly what Chinese foot-binding did to a woman's foot. There's a strong note of equalitarian feminism here that's refreshing in Christian fiction. I also liked the inter-racial romance (Isabella's love interest proves to be half Chinese, though he conceals the fact), and the cross-cultural theme. So, all in all, a good, rewarding read!
The chronological setting here is 1814; the geographical setting moves from Oxford, England to the high seas, and finally to China. So we begin in the milieu of a Jane Austen novel, move in effect to the world of Hornblower (the sailing ship carrying our characters to China isn't a naval vessel, but the Napoleonic Wars are going on and it's fair game for French privateers), and winds up in a cultural setting from which the later one in Pearl Buck's The Good Earth hasn't greatly changed. Broadly speaking, this is a "Regency romance;" but Isabella isn't typical of heroines in that type of literature. Raised by her uncle, a rather unworldly Oxford dean, she's a "bluestocking," just as learned as most Oxford students of that day, and inclined toward blunt directness in speech, in a society that valued neither trait in women. More scandalously, she was humored in a desire to be taught fencing from a very young age, and is quite good at it. So Orcutt departs here somewhat from formula --though she follows it in another respect; it's probably no spoiler to say that when a man and woman in a romance novel begin their acquaintance with a mutual antipathy, you can usually guess that they're made for each other. :-)
This book isn't without its flaws, which cost it a fifth star. Some of Orcutt's plot devices are strained: why Phineas employs some of the subterfuge he does, and what role he expected Julia Whipple to play in his plan --perhaps none; but in that case, confiding it to her would be spectacularly stupid!-- isn't explained effectively (or at all). The logic of Isabella's opposition to his plan, once she knows about it, escapes me; it seems to be so groundlessly stupid as to be out of character. And the verbal sparring between the two when they met had a forced quality, IMO, disproportionate to the situation. While comparisons to Austen and Forester are natural because of the settings, the author's prose skills and ability to evoke a milieu in depth isn't equal to theirs. She uses first-person narration to provide a pretext for a style that's somewhat similar to early 19th-century diction, but not so elegant as Austen's --for instance, she uses contractions, though rarely, which Austen doesn't at all, and constructions like "Did I not?" or "Can you not?" where Austen would have said "Did not I?" or "Can not you?" Also, while she explains nautical terms better than Forester does, she tries to give her writing a period flavor by using undefined archaic terms like "modiste" or "verrucas" --which Austen did not, with the unlikely result that the modern writer is much more apt to send you hunting for a dictionary than the 19th-century one. (I still don't know what "verrucas" are, and from the context I'm not sure I want to! :-)) In fact, one result of reading the book was to remind me (again) how much I want to read the rest of Austen's novels and the rest of the Young Hornblower omnibus, sooner rather than later!
However, there are considerable offsetting strengths here. The major characters are round, and developed well enough to capture the reader's interest and goodwill. Isabella herself is a likable protagonist. She's not perfect and not a super-woman --her impulsiveness can be very ill-advised (the stunt that landed her on the Dignity was so irresponsible and hare-brained that I wanted to shake both her and Orcutt, until I recalled that the heroine of my own novel did something just as irresponsible and hare-brained, which provided some perspective :-)); she's not immune to female vanity, and she can get seasick, cry out with fear at times, and whimper when she's drenched with icy rain. But she's got a good heart, she cares about people and shows it, and when the chips are down, she has the guts to fight to protect herself and others. (There's not much in the way of action scenes here, but there are some.) And she takes her Christian faith seriously, but not ostentatiously. Orcutt also deals (where Austen does not) with the darker realities of Regency society: poverty alongside of wealth; prostitution; laudanum addiction --and the monstrous trade in opium, smuggled illegally into China in return for the tea the English market coveted so much. She also makes you feel the stifling atmosphere of the English social world of that day, where Isabella is a 25-year-old spinster just because she has qualities any sane man should have appreciated (and where society women think cattiness is an art form, and turn it against any woman whose willingness to be who she is reminds them of their own artificiality), and the nauseating horror of exactly what Chinese foot-binding did to a woman's foot. There's a strong note of equalitarian feminism here that's refreshing in Christian fiction. I also liked the inter-racial romance (Isabella's love interest proves to be half Chinese, though he conceals the fact), and the cross-cultural theme. So, all in all, a good, rewarding read!
July 27, 2017
by Andrea Renee Cox
What a story! All the Tea in China was a romp across the globe that took twists and turns I could never have seen coming. It will be difficult not to spoil anything for you, but I shall try. This was probably the best-done first-person POV book that I’ve ever read, though I did get annoyed at the occasional “dear” and “dear friend” comments directed at the reader. It was quite an enjoyable perspective, and I am eager to read another book by this author, who was new to me this time. The characters were delightful, the plot adventurous, and the cultures beautifully shared. I found two or three English words that were overly large and difficult to understand; they seemed plucked from a thesaurus to impress the reader, but the opposite affect was achieved for me. I loved the inclusion of some Chinese words and their meanings. Sometimes the definitions were given in such an obvious way that it felt school-like rather than in a good and natural flow within the story. One question I had after finishing the book was what happened to Uncle Toby and Flora? It seems they were forgotten in the final pages. I was a little disappointed that there were only a couple of really good sword fights, particularly since the lady on the cover wielded a sword. I thought this would be a larger part of the plot. That being said, I enjoyed this story and its adventure enough to consider this book a keeper. I look forward to reading it again soon!
Content notes:
*drug usage (handled well)
*woman of loose morals (handled well)
*loose talk of the devil
I was not compensated for my honest review.
What a story! All the Tea in China was a romp across the globe that took twists and turns I could never have seen coming. It will be difficult not to spoil anything for you, but I shall try. This was probably the best-done first-person POV book that I’ve ever read, though I did get annoyed at the occasional “dear” and “dear friend” comments directed at the reader. It was quite an enjoyable perspective, and I am eager to read another book by this author, who was new to me this time. The characters were delightful, the plot adventurous, and the cultures beautifully shared. I found two or three English words that were overly large and difficult to understand; they seemed plucked from a thesaurus to impress the reader, but the opposite affect was achieved for me. I loved the inclusion of some Chinese words and their meanings. Sometimes the definitions were given in such an obvious way that it felt school-like rather than in a good and natural flow within the story. One question I had after finishing the book was what happened to Uncle Toby and Flora? It seems they were forgotten in the final pages. I was a little disappointed that there were only a couple of really good sword fights, particularly since the lady on the cover wielded a sword. I thought this would be a larger part of the plot. That being said, I enjoyed this story and its adventure enough to consider this book a keeper. I look forward to reading it again soon!
Content notes:
*drug usage (handled well)
*woman of loose morals (handled well)
*loose talk of the devil
I was not compensated for my honest review.
April 28, 2010
I read this book, funnily enough, in China. It definitely provided some entertainment and the story, at first, is fairly engaging. however, and its a big however, midway thru the story it gets to the point where all of a sudden the lead male is described as having weird slit eyes. Suddenly Oh No! We then discover, after reading about him for half the book, that he is half Chinese! As if no other English characters in the book, would have detected that, by looking at him at first sight. I laughed out loud at these turn of events in the book, and from that time on the book slipped down hill. For that, I have to give it only one star. Bad character development.
April 9, 2019
Refreshingly unique! I really enjoyed how different this book was from others that I have read. The setting, plot twists, and especially the characters were a refreshing change. Phineas Snowe was definitely one of a kind and quite an intriguing character.
July 6, 2020
This book was really good. I enjoyed reading a little bit about the Chinese culture.
March 6, 2019
This book has been on my list for a long time. I'm so glad I finally read it. My senior essay at UC Berkeley was about women in China in the 1920s. This story is set much earlier, but it has the atmosphere I was looking for. The story starts in Regency England, then moves to a sea voyage and finally China itself.
There's much to love here--witty writing, plot twists and turns, and a heroine with a very unique skill set. I enjoyed the story and am glad I read it.
Recommended for readers interested in unique settings, China, bold heroines, clash-of-culture stories, sea adventures, and complicated family ties.
There's much to love here--witty writing, plot twists and turns, and a heroine with a very unique skill set. I enjoyed the story and am glad I read it.
Recommended for readers interested in unique settings, China, bold heroines, clash-of-culture stories, sea adventures, and complicated family ties.
September 30, 2011
Orcutt shows some talent but she lays on the Jane Austin a little too heavily. Improbably shipboard actions, especially how our protagonist got shipboard. Would have to try a contemporary work before I could judge either way.
On the other hand, the tale itself is well thought out and engaging.
On the other hand, the tale itself is well thought out and engaging.
September 15, 2017
This is the second time I've read the book, and it still greatly entertained me. It's definitely not one's average Regency romance, since it takes place primarily at sea on the voyage to China, and many of the popular social situations of the Regency era do not apply on an ocean voyage. Isabella is hardly the average Regency heroine, being not only scholarly but also athletically inclined, and actually desirous of marriage (whereas so many bluestocking spinsters tend to be in denial). For that matter, our hero is far from the suitable, traditional Englishman one comes to expect in the genre.
It's a lively, light-hearted book that nevertheless touches on some serious subjects, such as prejudice and loving those who persecute you, but in a gentle, compassionate way, not sermonizing. And I like the romance, how it kind of creeps up on Isabella and suddenly we see her perspective shift.
I wish the author had lived to write more Rollicking Romances.
It's a lively, light-hearted book that nevertheless touches on some serious subjects, such as prejudice and loving those who persecute you, but in a gentle, compassionate way, not sermonizing. And I like the romance, how it kind of creeps up on Isabella and suddenly we see her perspective shift.
I wish the author had lived to write more Rollicking Romances.
January 28, 2016
This is a most unusual story, and could never be perceived as 'predictable' (something I hear readers complain about so often-and find the term rather annoying). At times I felt like I was living in Isabella's dream, because some of the paths she took seemed rather outrageous to me. However, I loved the dialog between characters and thought it to be a very cleverly written story with some laugh out loud moments. I was a little bit disappointed in the ending.... just fell a little flat to me.
April 28, 2015
Added 12/13/2009
1/16/2015 - I read a sample of this book at:
https://play.google.com/books/reader?...
I read this book in January 2015. Enjoyed it a lot.
1/16/2015 - I read a sample of this book at:
https://play.google.com/books/reader?...
I read this book in January 2015. Enjoyed it a lot.
June 27, 2025
I stumbled upon this title several years back at my local used bookstore and decided to pick it up and give it a try. Of course, unfortunately, after purchasing, it proceeded to sit unread on my bookshelves for many years, but I finally got around to reading it, and I have to say this sweet, interesting story was nothing like I was initially expecting and I ended up immensely enjoying it.
We follow Isabella Goodrich, a young Englishwoman who is not your typical society girl. She's quickly closing in on spinster status, and her beloved uncle has allowed her some unusual hobbies, like learning to fence. When she stumbles upon a young man named Phineas at a ball, the sparks are certainly flying, but not in the traditional sense. Isabella can't stand his arrogance, and he can't seem to stand her period. However, a revelation leads her to follow him sneakily aboard a ship to try and bring the Gospel to a country that desperately needs it, and in the process, they might just find there's more to each other than originally meets the eye.
While I did expect from the title that this would take place more in China than it did, it was a wonderfully written tale about unexpected love, the importance of faith, and adventures on the high seas. Isabella was a quirky, but likeable protagonist who isn't quite what you'd expect from an English society gal. While Phineas grated on my nerves for the first part of the story, he grew on me, and I especially enjoyed hearing about his values and why he felt compelled to make the choices he had.
I applaud the author on her originality with this story as it's truly unlike anything I've ever read before within the Christian fiction genre, and I loved how sweet and slow burn the romance truly was.
All in all, I felt it had a few plot holes and that the ending was much too rushed which left me wishing there had been a sequel, but a lovely story nonetheless and one I'd definitely recommend if you like faith based historical romances about unconventional characters and atypical settings.
Final Rating: 4/5.
We follow Isabella Goodrich, a young Englishwoman who is not your typical society girl. She's quickly closing in on spinster status, and her beloved uncle has allowed her some unusual hobbies, like learning to fence. When she stumbles upon a young man named Phineas at a ball, the sparks are certainly flying, but not in the traditional sense. Isabella can't stand his arrogance, and he can't seem to stand her period. However, a revelation leads her to follow him sneakily aboard a ship to try and bring the Gospel to a country that desperately needs it, and in the process, they might just find there's more to each other than originally meets the eye.
While I did expect from the title that this would take place more in China than it did, it was a wonderfully written tale about unexpected love, the importance of faith, and adventures on the high seas. Isabella was a quirky, but likeable protagonist who isn't quite what you'd expect from an English society gal. While Phineas grated on my nerves for the first part of the story, he grew on me, and I especially enjoyed hearing about his values and why he felt compelled to make the choices he had.
I applaud the author on her originality with this story as it's truly unlike anything I've ever read before within the Christian fiction genre, and I loved how sweet and slow burn the romance truly was.
All in all, I felt it had a few plot holes and that the ending was much too rushed which left me wishing there had been a sequel, but a lovely story nonetheless and one I'd definitely recommend if you like faith based historical romances about unconventional characters and atypical settings.
Final Rating: 4/5.
January 7, 2014
This book was enjoyable! Fun and lighthearted, it sucked me in pretty quickly. The romance was fun and the characters' growth was fun to watch...but...
The reason for the 3 stars is that 1. Some of the characters' actions didn't seem super logical or fitting with their character (i.e. Phineas' whole story) and 2. The presentation of their Christian faith was SO weird. Phineas did not seem like a Christian at all until magically it is revealed he is. Why would a Christian pretend to be a missionary when they aren't? Why would he arrange for a prostitute to be taken to a foreign country...to continue to be a prostitute (especially when he cannot stand the thought of importing opium...) Also, any book that ends with "we decided to preach the gospel, but only use words when necessary" does NOT understand the gospel. Faith comes from hearing!! And I highly doubt a completely Christ-less culture would understand the substitutionary atonement of Christ's life, death, and resurrection gospel just by randomly washing someone's feet. I know you have to take culture into account when serving as a missionary and she was trying to show growth in her character but only using actions to preach the gospel is just silly. 3. There were several loose ends--like, what did her family ever think of it? Did they just think she died?! Did they get her letter?? How could someone be half-Chinese and you not notice it for like 5 months?
In the end, a fun read. I'll look for more Jane Orcutt novels, but won't expect a theologically accurate lesson.
The reason for the 3 stars is that 1. Some of the characters' actions didn't seem super logical or fitting with their character (i.e. Phineas' whole story) and 2. The presentation of their Christian faith was SO weird. Phineas did not seem like a Christian at all until magically it is revealed he is. Why would a Christian pretend to be a missionary when they aren't? Why would he arrange for a prostitute to be taken to a foreign country...to continue to be a prostitute (especially when he cannot stand the thought of importing opium...) Also, any book that ends with "we decided to preach the gospel, but only use words when necessary" does NOT understand the gospel. Faith comes from hearing!! And I highly doubt a completely Christ-less culture would understand the substitutionary atonement of Christ's life, death, and resurrection gospel just by randomly washing someone's feet. I know you have to take culture into account when serving as a missionary and she was trying to show growth in her character but only using actions to preach the gospel is just silly. 3. There were several loose ends--like, what did her family ever think of it? Did they just think she died?! Did they get her letter?? How could someone be half-Chinese and you not notice it for like 5 months?
In the end, a fun read. I'll look for more Jane Orcutt novels, but won't expect a theologically accurate lesson.
November 30, 2013
3 1/2 stars.
Saw this in my favorite used-book store and thought I'd give it a shot. So much potential in this novel! The main characters are likeable over time, though their Christian/spiritual maturity of was a bit lacking (and is a weak point of the novel). However, it is the unique plot that kept my interest. Also, having a [spoiler regarding Phineas] was very exciting to me. The ending seemed like it could have used a couple more chapters for a more satisfactory conclusion, but all in all, a very unique storyline will keep this tale in my collection of Christian Regency novels.
Saw this in my favorite used-book store and thought I'd give it a shot. So much potential in this novel! The main characters are likeable over time, though their Christian/spiritual maturity of was a bit lacking (and is a weak point of the novel). However, it is the unique plot that kept my interest. Also, having a [spoiler regarding Phineas] was very exciting to me. The ending seemed like it could have used a couple more chapters for a more satisfactory conclusion, but all in all, a very unique storyline will keep this tale in my collection of Christian Regency novels.
July 10, 2014
I truly enjoyed reading this book upon having it recommended to me by a writer-friend of mine. Being that I write historical romance from first person point of view, I am always on the lookout for such books to read. I loved that it was written strictly from the point of view of the heroine, Isabella, and that the reader gets to know Phineas Snow right along with her.
For the first 75% of this book I was COMPLETELY in love with it. I loved the characters, the writing, the plot... but then the last 25% was so much more telling, and mainly about the hero's mother and the heroine. It was still a good story to the end, but it just seemed like a much different book during that last quarter. What I liked most was that it was written in the kind of first person POV that I love best--at least for most of it.
I do wish there were more of this kind of book in the Christian publishing market. All the Tea in China was published back in 2007, and soon after that the author unfortunately passed away. I bought this book (here) because I adored that first 75% so much.
For the first 75% of this book I was COMPLETELY in love with it. I loved the characters, the writing, the plot... but then the last 25% was so much more telling, and mainly about the hero's mother and the heroine. It was still a good story to the end, but it just seemed like a much different book during that last quarter. What I liked most was that it was written in the kind of first person POV that I love best--at least for most of it.
I do wish there were more of this kind of book in the Christian publishing market. All the Tea in China was published back in 2007, and soon after that the author unfortunately passed away. I bought this book (here) because I adored that first 75% so much.
September 13, 2012
I truly enjoyed this fast-paced read, esp. the British/Chinese setting--unusual for the CBA. I looked up Mrs. Orcutt, hoping to find more of her books, and was so saddened to learn she has died at a younger age. Truly, she used her talents for the Lord.
September 6, 2016
I found All the Tea in China to be well written but a little boring. I also found the main character, Isabella, somewhat aggravating. For a woman of 26 she made a lot of naive decisions.
January 8, 2018
I have to say that I picked up this book simply because I had finished all the others I had requested from the library and had received no new ones in this past week's delivery of holds.
It fit my historical Christian fiction interest, and the Regency era with China Missions interest, so I picked it up. I must say the first few chapters were almost frustrating. For all her spunk, and book learning, and her no longer secret vice of fencing, she came across as naive, superstitious and impulsive. I was glad I finished the book, for the adventures that her spontaneous and impulsive nature landed her in, combined with her deeply rooted faith and moral convictions ended up helping her to grow and develop as a young woman. She ended up being up for the challenges and proving herself to be brave and committed to seeing her perceived calling through.
I enjoyed the introduction to China and the negative influences that the East India Trade company had on the people in their greed for tea, wealth and power.
Good story over all.
It fit my historical Christian fiction interest, and the Regency era with China Missions interest, so I picked it up. I must say the first few chapters were almost frustrating. For all her spunk, and book learning, and her no longer secret vice of fencing, she came across as naive, superstitious and impulsive. I was glad I finished the book, for the adventures that her spontaneous and impulsive nature landed her in, combined with her deeply rooted faith and moral convictions ended up helping her to grow and develop as a young woman. She ended up being up for the challenges and proving herself to be brave and committed to seeing her perceived calling through.
I enjoyed the introduction to China and the negative influences that the East India Trade company had on the people in their greed for tea, wealth and power.
Good story over all.
November 30, 2018
Typical Rom-com. There were some funny moments, but overall great skim read. I find it hard to believe that Isabella could make it on to the ship without 1)anything bad happening to her since she was unchaperoned, 2) could find the ship in port, 3) make it on the ship without a ticket, 4) stay on the ship (2x) and nobody noticed?! I don't think so. I get that she is stubborn, but on a ship filled with men, and they don't notice a single lady? It was interesting to read about the three-ish interesting facts about the East India trade company and how much tea was exported. Along with the tid-bit about the opium trade.
June 8, 2017
This book was an excruciatingly slow start and didn't really speed up as it went along. There is a very fine line between a detailed description of events, and pointless minutiae. I feel like this book flirted heavily with that line and crossed it more times than necessary. There were some great lines in it though and it did manage to keep my interest and somehow captured my imagination. I had no problems putting it down and not picking it back up again for days. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I recommend it? Nope. 2 1/2 stars.
February 2, 2021
In Regency England Isabella Goodrich, 25 year old spinster and bluestocking, sees a bleak future ahead. Then she meets Phineas Snowe who is traveling to China as a missionary and decides that she will join the expedition and give her life to God's service. However Phineas is not what he purports to be. Isabella determines to continue with her plans anyway and continue on the 5 month journey to China. Lots of adventures at sea, eye opening discoveries and personal growth ensue. This was a fun book with a religious theme but not a preaching read.
March 21, 2023
Tbh I only read the first chapter of this but the fact that they’re all Christian is honestly a turn off and I don’t want to read anymore
I myself am an atheist and I just wanted to read a romance with a girl boss that carry’s a sword but one chapter in and it seems like a lot of their personality is that they are religious
Idc if someone is religious or not I’m just saying that I don’t think I would enjoy reading a romance book about two Christians
With that said I will be stopping on page 29. Good day.
I myself am an atheist and I just wanted to read a romance with a girl boss that carry’s a sword but one chapter in and it seems like a lot of their personality is that they are religious
Idc if someone is religious or not I’m just saying that I don’t think I would enjoy reading a romance book about two Christians
With that said I will be stopping on page 29. Good day.
August 16, 2024
|| 2.5 ⭐️ ||
I’m not a huge romance fan to begin with, especially not romance set in this era. So I found this book to be rather cheesy, and yet mildly entertaining at the same time. I thrifted it simply because there was tea in the title. I wasn’t expecting much, and maybe it even delivered more than I thought it would. The story could’ve gone a lot deeper in certain areas… it felt like we were going from one thing to the next too quickly. Also full of really strange and spontaneous decisions on the main character’s part.
I’m not a huge romance fan to begin with, especially not romance set in this era. So I found this book to be rather cheesy, and yet mildly entertaining at the same time. I thrifted it simply because there was tea in the title. I wasn’t expecting much, and maybe it even delivered more than I thought it would. The story could’ve gone a lot deeper in certain areas… it felt like we were going from one thing to the next too quickly. Also full of really strange and spontaneous decisions on the main character’s part.
November 26, 2016
In this book, set in 1814 the main character, who is unmarried at age 25 and thus considered on the shelf decides that she is meant to be a missionary in China. She sneaks aboard a ship to join some missionaries going back to China. However, she soon learns that things are not as they seem. One begins to wonder what is the truth about the lead male character. However, it is an enjoyabe book and the first one by the author that I have read.
August 31, 2017
I always try to read AMWF novels when I can because I find them more relatable since I am a white woman engaged to an Asian man. I was intrigued because the male lead is half Asian and that is definitely less common. That said, I found the main character unbelievable and boring. I wanted to like the book but I just couldn't get into it. I have to say that this is one of the few that I have just given up on.
April 25, 2020
Don't let the description fool you, this book is more than "rollicking" fluff. Isabella is sure that marriage is not for her and so she decides to devote her life to being a missionary in China. Phineas Snow presents himself as a missionary from China, but he is not quite what he says he is. There were a few dangling storylines that make me wish for a sequel, but in general this was a thoughtful look at being a missionary, marriage and relations between China and Great Britain or America.
July 24, 2022
I honestly loved this book! I wasn’t sure I liked it in the first few chapters but by the time I was getting close to the end, I was literally gripping on to the book! I couldn’t put it down. I love how the author writes, it’s so fast paced and makes it so easy to read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good Christian romance and I want to read more books from this author too!
August 14, 2024
I thrifted this book many many years ago, and finally got around to it. I have to say that I was easily entertained and invested while reading it. Overall, would give it a 3 stars. It was a good book to read and finally take off my physical TBR, but I have a few questions or unanswered thoughts at the end of the book. The biggest without spoiling is - What about her uncle? If you read the book, then you might understand.
June 27, 2018
Glad to see that the main character, Isabella, actually uses her fencing skills. I did wonder about the people she left behind without a word of good bye in England. Do they ever learn what became of Isabella?
March 10, 2020
Very interesting book. Not too romancy and lovey dovey. This story takes such unexpected turns you could never predict by just reading the back of the book. I greatly enjoyed this book! It was a refreshing change to the normal Romance stories😀
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