Tempest in a Teapot

by Kate Valent

Charlotte loves tea as much as the next person, but she never expected a magical teapot to choose her husband.  
 
When eccentric businessman and magician Martin Steepe hosts a tea party to find a wife, Charlotte doesn’t expect to be chosen. After all she’s only a baker’s daughter aspiring to be a penny blood author and the Steepes want to marry into nobility. Except he does choose her. With enchanted tea leaves. Unfortunately for Charlotte he doesn’t even know her name let alone that she isn’t nobility. And she isn’t entirely certain having the same favorite tea is a good basis for a marriage.  
 
As their awkward courtship evolves, she finds herself falling for Mr. Steepe’s honesty, his charming magic, and the tea he sells. But then his cousin discovers the truth of her standing and refuses to let Martin marry a commoner. With the fate of the Steepe Family fortune at stake, he is determined to end the engagement through whatever magical and non-magical means necessary. If she doesn’t put an end to his scheming he will ruin her engagement. If the truth doesn’t first.  

Bridgerton meets the whimsy of Olivia Atwater in this wacky fantasy romcom set in Victorian England.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Historical, Magic, Cozy Fantasy, Mystery, Victorian

Unknown Binding

First published May 2, 2022

About the author

Kate Valent is three cats in a trench coat masquerading as a writer. She lives in Pennsylvania. She loves tea, history, and magic.

Reviews

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tempest in a Teapot is a super-cute gaslamp fantasy/cozy mystery/sweet romance in the style of The Cecelia and Kate Novels: Sorcery & Cecelia, The Grand Tour, and The Mislaid Magician. The basic story and worldbuilding are easy to describe: Charlotte wrangles an invitation to the Steepes' garden party, where she meets and gets engaged to Martin Steepe based on what she can only assume is a misunderstanding. Soon she realizes that Martin is not just rich and eccentric, he's also a truly good guy. But Charlotte's parents are bakers, and while society seems to have more overlap than it would in a historical romance, she's still pretty sure he has no idea of her low social standing.

You see, Martin is single-mindedly focused on two things: tea and magic. (Although Charlotte soon lands on the list as thing number 3.) He's both good at and interested in magic, which in this world is related to runes rather than inherent magical ability. This helps explain why the aristocracy has more access to magic in general - they have the leisure and funds to invest in magical education. His goal is to make magic available to more people.

Although much of the romance of the book is focused on Charlotte's insistence on hiding her social origins from Martin, refreshingly it does not form the whole of the conflict. Instead, there's an evil cousin, the Great Exhibition of 1851, and lots of tea.

Highly recommended if the intersection of magic and historical romance sounds like (wait for it) your cup of tea.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

[Rosava Doshchyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Якщо по-чесному, це дуже затишна тризіркова романтична фентезюха. Але я додала ще одну зірочку тільки за це:

“Would you like more tea, Bertie?” Martin asked.
Betram settled his scathing look on his cousin.
“I’ve always preferred coffee.”
Martin’s face fell, a somber air overtaking him.
“Today truly is a dark day. I never knew you were hiding this many secrets from me.”

Я рідко бачу твори, де персонажі надають перевагу чаю. Всі зараз наче здуріли з тією кавою. Тому плюсики авторці, що написала цю абсолютно милу історію, де в центрі сюжету — чай і магічне чайне начиння.

Роман приємно нісенітний, любовна лінія — як я люблю, без надмірних страждань і кумедна, сюжет закручується довкола заздрісного кузена, який хоче підставити нареченого головної героїні, але він весь час з тріском провалюється. Мартін (якого й хочуть підставити) уперто ігнорує, що Бетрам йому заздрить й капостить, і висловлює своє розчарування тільки тоді, коли той зізнається, що більше любить каву. Я покотилася під стіл на цьому моменті хДДД

[Emma Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOD A MILLION STARS!!! Aaahh!!! Once in a while you come across a book that feels like it's been written just for you and Tempest in a Teapot is such a book. Charlotte, a baker's daughter, lives in a world where technology is for the common people, magic for the nobility. One day, she's invited to a country house party and is shocked to discover the teapot has recognised her as her host's perfect match. Martin is a sweet, lovely magician who only has two purposes in life - tea and marrying Charlotte.

This is the sweetest romance, it's got tons of charm and the only tension is with Martin's cousin who thinks he's marrying beneath him and Charlotte who doesn't want to ruin the magic by telling Martin about her background. This is SO precious. It has a bookish heroine who's obsessed with this world's version of penny dreadfuls - incidentally written by her best friend Mary under a pen name - and perfect bakes and it has gorgeous descriptions of tea and the comforts of home and taking care of people you love with food. It's light, cosy, warm and comforting and very funny too. This is so, so lovely. I can't believe this gem has been out there for years and I didn't know about it till now. WONDERFUL, THE BEST. More please!

[Dora · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of this book was an adorable cozy fun though when the need of PLOT reared its ugly head, it became less fun and more of... a drawn out mess. Charlotte and Martin were cute but very hollow (mostly on Martin's part since I felt his character did not posses much depth beyond the "cute and confused" bit)
I'm very interested in Mary's mystery vampire lover as well as Laoise demolishing Bertram's stuck up heart 👀

(thank you booksirens for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest review)

[Jeannine]

DNF at 16%. The writing just isn't impressing me at this time.

[HessaBookishgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book had me and it is one of the sweetest little romance books I have ever read. I read this story as quickly as I could, it was impossible to put it down. The main characters Lottie and Martin were just so hard not to love. Martin is my favorite of the two. One of the best book characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I only have one criticism and it's the way all the characters, besides Martin, were so comfortable with lying and taking advantage of people. I'm not a huge fan of romantic starting out with lying and deceiving.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shahista Swellam · Rating 2 out of 5]

i guess it was not my "cup of tea" after all. It wasnt a bad book but I didnt enjoy it, I neither felt connected to the characters not have I felt any connection or chemistry between Martin and charlotte .

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving this 3,5 stars because, after Sarah Winman's 'Still Life' and the pain it caused me, it was a relief to read.

The story's nothing special, the beginning is a bit silly and confusing, but I thought it got better as the story progressed.

And there's tea and magic. And it's cosy. A good book for when you want a read that is simple, but entertaining.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I NEED HALF STARS! Four stars is actually not enough, but five stars feels like a little much since I keep those for the REALLY mind-blowing books. And yet. When I scrolled through the BookSirens catalogue, since I can't always buy books when I have the urge to get new ones, and found this little gem I never expected to like it as much as I did. It sounded like something fun, like something light hearted, like something I'd just like.

But I think I fell in love. With the book, with the world, with the characters, with the subtle use of magic, with the way the story was told and written, with Martin, with how he dealt with society and life, with how he viewed life and how he had his own ideas and never let anyone else keep him from following the path he chose for himself. And Martin? I think picking your future wife based on her favorite tea flavor is absolutely the only right way to do it.

This book is every kind of book I want combined into one book. It has magic in it, the kind of magic where the magic isn't really the plot, but it's just there. But, it's also not JUST there being taken for granted, it's still seen as something unique and special. It also has a romance and one of the cutest kinds of romances ever. It might start in a slightly unconventional way, but it does show that love can grow if the right people cross paths by accident.

The book also has a bit of mystery. After all, someone is sabotaging the business. It's quite clear quite soon who that someone is, but it's a lot of fun to watch our heroine trying to catch the culprit and outsmart them. I'm glad that eventually it's a combined effort! And, it's also a love letter to books, publishers and female authors having to use a more male penname to actually sell their books and be taken seriously.

I can't wait for the next adventure in this world!

[Bo0kSLoth · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a daring prose, bold hints of magic, and quite a few cups of tea, this story harkens the reader to a regency England set just on the cusp of an Industrious Age where the whims of magic change the fate of two strangers.

In a world where the hierarchy is ruled, by blood, money, and magic, for some people it can be hard to find your place when forced in a box not of your own making. With a FMC who almost takes the lead from a Veronica Speedwell Mystery, you may soon be deciding whether you like her motives or not as these two unlikely people bungle (him more than her) through a series of occurrences that may end in disaster, for both of them.

Though Charlotte may have grown up with little money or magic as a baker's daughter, it didn't mean that's all she wanted to be. Resigned, she was soon faced with the fact that that was all society would ever let her be. That is until a cup of tea.

Martin never fit in with the ton. Always considered sickly and later an 'odd bird' for his fascination with tea, he was never really a hot with ladies and the mamas. Told he will need to marry and wanting to get it right when it comes to a wife, he decides to let magic give it a helping hand.

Thrown together by chance, but soon they find common ground (or leaves I should say). He is a ridiculous, eye rolling, helplessly, lovable mess. There were times I thought that he can't be that clueless, but the author doesn't a wonderful job making it believable and hilarious at the same time. I enjoyed their little courtship/ mystery and the touch of things they both loved - food and tea. I can't wait to try the recipe.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[꣑ৎ sue (hatter-pendragon version) ꣑ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book just didn’t do it for me. some parts were cute and funny, and i found martin and charlotte’s relationship wholesome and sweet, but other than that, i felt super disconnected with everything going on. i just wish there were more to it. i don’t know, maybe i wasn’t the target audience.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

cottage core cuddly

This is a novel to be savoured with your best tea and chocolate or your best scotch and chocolate. It is warm and delicious and delightful. I finished book 1 and purchased the rest immediately. Life is too short not to enjoy warm, cuddles from books.

[Rachel b00ksrmagic · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet, clean romance set in a gas lamp fantasy world of Victorian England. It included elements of cozy mystery as well. I liked the magical world the author created. However the main characters left something to be desired. They were honestly kind of boring. I never am one to go after bad boys, but I found myself rooting for the female protagonist to end up with the villain. He was more interesting! As it was, the plot was fairly predictable without much tension. In short, the book had potential, but I wish it had gone a whole different direction.

I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Adena Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

But charming, I do protest! I found this cozy mystery to be a lovely blend of the Tea Apocalypse anthology and Shereen Vedam's "Love Spell in London" with a hint of Tuppence (of Agatha Christie fame). Charming, just charming - both for the magic and for the story itself.

I received an ARC from Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[KL Caley · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Tempest in a teapot follows a young lady named Charlotte, a baker’s daughter she is both excited and nervous when she is invited to a party of the upcoming wealthy family the Steepe’s. However, everyone knows the Steepe’s are after a noble match to elevate their standing within society, so when Charlotte is selected by the (rather odd) heir to the Steepe family, Martin to be his fiancée, based purely on her favourite tea, Charlotte’s world turns on its axis.

✍️ This is such an intriguing little book. From the first page, I was quite drawn to it. Charlotte is a great character, a hard worker used to her family’s ways. She devours books (particularly penny bloods which are not the most suitable reading for the young ladies in society) and dreams of writing her own. After her surprise engagement, Charlotte crosses paths with the beautiful but frightening Bertram (Martin’s cousin) who is determined to break the engagement off and that Martin should be marrying someone within high society. Yet, the more time Charlotte spends with Martin and his intriguing, quirky ways, the more she actually starts to fall on him.

👓 This book is a fantasy book with much of the side story being around runes and their use (originally by the wealthy but with more and more making their way to the working class). The book is set in a somewhat historical Victorian setting (I suspect 1851 as there is a reference to Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition, but please don’t hold me to that!), with many of the traditions, mannerisms (and class systems) referenced from that time period.

👫 Great range of characters, both Martin and Charlotte were cute and sweet (and innocent enough to make the traditional love story elements of the book work. I enjoyed the side characters and storylines such as the spirited Hawke sisters (envious of being women in a man’s world), the straight-talking Laoise, and the misadventures of Oolong the dog.

🗺 Tempest in a teapot (American English), or storm in a teacup (British English), is an idiom meaning a small event that has been exaggerated out of proportion. One of the things I love about this book title is it is actually a direct quote from the book. There’s always a sense of satisfaction when the title makes sense.

💔 Any Negatives: I guess, perhaps the book is a little obvious. There is no great mystery about what is going to happen next. You know who the good guy is, who the bad guy is and that ultimately love will win. But I think that is endearing in itself and didn’t detract at all from the story. I can certainly see this tea-ing off (pun intended) a Bridgerton style series.

💭 Overall View: an enjoyable romp through a magical Victorian world (with tea and cakes!). What’s not to like?!

📣 Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


👍 Please leave a like if you think my review/feedback of the item was helpful to you. Alternatively, please contact me if you want me to clarify something in my review.

[Raj · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little gaslamp fantasy, cosy as anything, about a baker's daughter who goes the wrong (right?) tea party and finds that her host's magic teapot has selected her as his bride. Somehow she doesn't manage to tell the (rich, but not noble) Mr Martin Steepe (yes, really, a tea-obsessed man called Steepe) of her station in life, and spends the next three quarters of the book panicking about what he'll do when he finds out (even though it's clear that the answer will be "nothing"), and still continually failing to tell him. Meanwhile, his cousin does find out and schemes to stop the marriage, to make Martin marry up.

The main conceit does make me roll my eyes. I found the trope of one lover keeping secrets a bore when I was young; now that I'm older, it's just exasperating. But I liked our protagonist, Charlotte, and her somewhat scatterbrained beau, Martin, and this kept me engaged. Because of the whole baker's daughter thing, I kept imagining Charlotte and her family as the Dupain-Chengs of kids superhero show Miraculous, although Charlotte is clearly older.

I also liked Charlotte's new friends, Mary and Margaret, sisters of a family who own a struggling publishing house, that Charlotte was trying to sell some of her own writing to, and I believe that Mary is the protagonist of the next book in the series, which I shall be picking up soon.

One other gripe, beyond tropes that make me grumble, is the setting. I sort of wish that (especially American) writers would use a secondary world for this sort of thing, as opposed to Victorian Britain, since they inevitably get little things wrong from a British point of view (we don't put cream in tea, for a start, we use milk). And then there's the elephant in the room that yes, while the aesthetics are great, there's the source of the wealth that created that aesthetic. Empire and colonialism are never mentioned - and I can see that they wouldn't in a cosy romance story like this one. But if you're going to introduce magic anyway, then why not shift it to a secondary world, or even, for American authors, like Valent, set it in the America of that period, rather than Britain.

But, by and large, these are things that I can ignore. I enjoyed these characters (Oolong, the dog didn't get nearly enough screen time though!) and even if the magic system itself wasn't explored very much, I liked the idea that it's historically been an aristocratic pursuit, that is only slowly filtering down to the middle and working classes, who are finding new, and more practical, uses for it. I shall definitely be reading on in the series.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a complete and utter delight to read. Seriously. Just adorable.



Charlotte is a baker's daughter and ends up being invited to a party being thrown by Martin Steepe, who is looking for a wife. He's known to be a little eccentric and Charlotte learns this firsthand when she realizes he's chosen her as his future wife with the help of a magical teapot being used to serve tea to the women. Not only that, but he also makes the decision not even knowing Charlotte's name or anything about her. You know...like the fact that she's a baker's daughter. Charlotte, of course, realizes she has to set him straight but every time she seeks him out to tell him the truth she falls for him a little more. Eventually, she's fallen for him and wants to marry him, and is afraid of losing him.

Unfortunately, there's also there is also the villainous cousin Bertram who seems to vacillate between doing his best to get rid of Charlotte so that Martin marries into an appropriately noble family and just ruining him completely. Honestly, I'm not quite sure which he was really going for. Throw in a little blackmail, thievery, sabotage, and a talking teapot and you've got yourself a delightful few hours of a book.

Martin was unique as heroes go. Probably because the book was only from Charlotte's POV so the only time we really learned anything about him was when he was around Charlotte. And it's pretty well established that Martin isn't great around people. I'm not sure it should have worked, but it did. Somehow I fell under the spell of the adorably awkward, socially inept, forgetful Martin Steepe. The man would forget his head if it wasn't attached to his body and somehow my mind still went to a mushy AWWWWWW when he did something romantic.

All in all, I loved it. It's a well-written book that's light and fluffy with a dash of romance. It's not the steamy kind of romance, more of a sweet adorable kind of thing. I was excited when I saw that this is just the first book in a series, I'm really looking forward to reading the next one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

[Mc Chanster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tempest in a Teapot

Okay, so this was hella adorable and such a sweet romance.

Charlotte Graham is a baker’s daughter who wants to be a writer. An avid reader of penny blood books, she typically spends her days creating breads, pastries, and ways to murder her fictional characters. Marriage wasn’t at the top of her priority list, but after a rather… interesting tea party at the infamous Steepes, Charlotte finds herself engaged. Martin Steepe is quirky, slightly eccentric, and a little bit clueless, but he’s also kind-hearted, honest, and successful in his own right. When his cousin discovers Charlotte’s humble beginnings, she is determined to save their blooming, yet delicate relationship, no matter what Bertram throws at them.

This book was so damn sweet, and I loved Martin. Yes, he’s kind of all over the place, but it was clear that as soon as he met Charlotte, he wanted nothing but the best for her. Their awkward yet romantic meets made me smile and root for them all the more. I thought Bertram was a great villain, though some of his attempts at breaking up Charlotte and Martin felt clumsy. The ending also seemed a bit rushed, but overall, Tempest in a Teapot was a lovely, heart-warming read. I will also say here that I quite appreciated that Martin and Charlotte didn’t have “insta-love”. The closest they got in this book was a kiss and honestly, I felt that was perfect for them.

Thank you Voracious Readers and Kate Valent for my copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[C.L. Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte Graham is in a spot of bother: she just got engaged. This wouldn't usually be a problem for a young lady, were it not for the fact (1) she barely even knows her fiancé, because he chose her with the aid of an enchanted teapot (2) her fiancé is nobility and doesn't know she is the daughter of a baker (albeit the best bakery in town) (3) Charlotte isn't the best at social situations (4) her new fiancé has a dog and she (gasp!) doesn't like dogs.

BUT DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE DOGS, GENTLE READER! It will all work out in the end. That is, if Charlotte can defeat a dastardly villain intent on ruining her engagement via HIJINKS.

This was a cute novel that zipped along nicely. I thought it was more of a fantasy rom-com than a fantasy of manners (the latter can have sharp social commentary, but that wasn't present here). The side characters, awkward social situations and use of magic in aforementioned hijinks were all entertaining to read.

I thought Charlotte was a believable heroine, though I would have liked more of her inner life: the shy/awkward lower class heroine is a common trope, and aside from her baking skills there wasn't much to distinguish Charlotte from other fantasy rom-com protagonists.

All in all, if you like Victorian fantasy romances, sorta-accidental marriage proposals, tea and cakes (and who doesn't?), I think you'd enjoy TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book for free, in exchange for an honest review.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the insistence of her best friend, Charlotte attends a garden party. She is "of an age" and her father would like to see her married. Not in a mean way - just, happy. Her parents run a bakery and Charlotte helps out. Especially with the magic runes on the oven. Ah yes. This alternate Victorian England does have a bit of magic sprinkled about though not everyone trusts it.
Back to the party! While there, she drinks a lovely cup of tea and then finds herself engaged to a young man of nobility named Martin. His last engagement had been a bit of a disaster (though that was definitely not his fault) and so he decided to choose his next fiancee based on her tea preferences matching his own. Because tea is Martin's life. But Martin's evil cousin is doing everything in his power to ruin Martin and prevent the marriage.
Charlotte and her new friends are not going to let that happen! But how to explain to Martin that even though she is a baker's daughter, she's not just marrying him for his money?
Oh - Charlotte is also enthralled with penny dreadfuls and is trying to write her own - fortunately, one of her new friends owns a publishing house. Which is, of course, in a bit of trouble...

I liked this. I thought the ending was rather rushed. But I would not mind seeing where a second story goes. Charlotte is spunky but needs a wee bit of confidence. It comes and goes, which is true with most of us I suppose.

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! It is quirky, has wonderful characters, magical objects, Oolong and a bumbling villian. Oh, and tea…..lots and lots of tea! Martin, son of a rich businessman, and wealthy in his own right, decides to have a tea party to select his bride. His magic teapot points him in the direction of Charlotte, a baker’s daughter, and he announces their engagement right then and there. Martin’s obsession with tea is rather endearing, and at times comical. Unlike his cousin Bertram, Martin is genuine, unassuming, and sees the best in people. Bertram claims Martin’s talents are being squandered on his ‘common’ fiance and his tea business; and does everything in his power to destroy both of them. At first she is in shock, but as she gets to know him better, Charlotte discovers that she really likes Martin and does want to marry him. All she has to do is thwart Bertram. And so the stage is set. Mary, Maggie and Laoise, are Charlotte’s co-conspirators, adding friendship, support, and excitement. The author throws in several imaginative and outlandish magical objects which people just seem to take in stride. This is a clever story that is amusing, intriguing, exciting and heartwarming! I absolutely loved it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Berta Greenleaf Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read from this author and I love it. Can not wait to read the rest of her books. This book centers around different teas from around the world. Charlotte gets invited to a garden party and because of the tea she chooses from a magic teapot the son of the house makes her his fiancé. At first she is reluctant but the more she gets to know him the more she falls for him. Then she is afraid he will reject her when he finds out she is only a baker's daughter. Martin, her fiancé is a bit of an oddball but kind. He has a cousin who dislikes Charlotte and tries everything to break them up. There seems to be a lot of bad luck when it comes to the business aspect of Martin's life. Charlotte and some of her friends try to solve the mysteries revolving around Martin and his tea business. Martin's cousin gets what is coming to him and there is an HEA for Charlotte and Martin. The tea is made a main ingredient in this story, along with history and interesting information regarding tea. I liked that aspect of the story.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes romance, mystery and tea.

I received this book free as an advance reader copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jen Farias · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely charming book about magic, tea and mystery. Charlotte our everywoman stuck in a loop of rejection. I highly enjoyed the way Charlotte interacts with her parents and friends.
Reading her reads like a real person in their daydream. The way she tenderly casts magic speaks to how she appreciates magic as a resource, as opposed to other people in higher classes might take it for granted. The way she nostalgically talks and thinks about magic makes the world feel real. You can almost feel her frustration in her goals and situation with not just the bakery, but also during her efforts to correct a misunderstanding.
The author does an intricate job of interlacing world building with Charlotte's memories, and actions, and it does a fantastic job of sucking the reader in.
Now, if you weren't expecting a love story with classic tropes, this book is not for you. There are tropes, and it is a happily ever after, and if you enjoy that, read this charming book. There are puns, discussion of tea, and wonderfully written side characters that give this book depth. A guilty pleasure book, that would go well with a black tea, because the ending is very sweet.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sharon Bollen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from Book Sirens, this is a voluntary review.

This is a quirky historic fantasy set in a Victorianesque England where magic is part of every day life. The story follows our heroine Charlotte, a baker's daughter and aspiring writer who becomes engaged to a tea-obsessive after she is picked by an enchanted teapot. Misunderstandings and mishaps ensue.

The story was imaginative and told with humour and a lightness of touch that is charming in its way. I wasn't entirely convinced by the Victorian setting however, some elements just didn't work for me, namely the understanding of the British class structure, referencing highwaymen and Dick Turpin (Georgian England, all but unheard of in Victoria's day), a barroom brawl more fitting to a Western than a dockside tavern and a number of Americanisms "is all" instead of "that's all" being my most distracting.

All that being said it was a good, entertaining read that is worth checking out and judging for yourself.

[Korbie Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tempest in a Teapot was an utterly charming read! It’s one of those books where it is hard to describe fully what made me love it - it just was one of those moments where it was a really good book to reader match! I loved how the main characters felt so real, and like people I would want to be friends with. They were lovably awkward and caring and quirky, and their interactions felt very realistic. I loved how they all had varied interests and strengths. The overall plot was very sweet as well - enough going on to keep me interested in what was coming, without being unduly complicated.

My only complaint is that the antagonist was a little flat; there wasn’t a lot of depth to his character or motivations. This didn’t really detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Overall, a solid five stars! Any book that can keep me engaged while I’m up in the middle of the night feeding my newborn is well worth reading!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gaslamp fantasy world where magic and technology coexist. And tea. And sweet romance. Literally this book was made for me.

After baker’s daughter and aspiring writer Charlotte gets invited to a tea party at the Steepe estate, she finds herself mistakenly engaged to Martin Steepe after a magic spell identifies her as a good match for him, based solely on her tea choice.

What happens next is whimsical, delightful, heartwarming and humorous. Martin was very literal and I loved that about him. And he’s so sweet. And he adores tea. “A hot cup of tea always feels like a warm hug to me.” That’s literally something I told my therapist - and if Martin had said that to me, it would have been instant green flags.

Seriously, the writing in this is so cute. The description of dachshunds is perfection. This entire book left me with the warm cozy feelings that a cup of tea gives me. Oh! And there’s a recipe at the end!

[Debe Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very charming easy to read story about a ‘lowly’ bakers daughter who is able to use a bit of magic to help in the family bakery. By some fluke chance, she is invited to a society party and asks for a specific tea, which the society gentleman has charmed to show him who the right girl for him should be and he promptly tells everyone they are engaged to be married. Therein ensues all types of misfortunes for both parties until our heroine, Charlotte, confesses that she is not nobility and therefore beneath his station - which he promptly tells her is not the case at all. In the meantime, a shifty cousin has set out to spoil the wedding plans to keep the family money where he can get it. The mishaps along the way are very fun to watch unfold. If you are looking for a fairly light-hearted story, you won’t go wrong with this one.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Will Find a Way . . .

Charlotte gets hold of an invitation to attend Martin Steepe’s tea party. Martin is the awkward son of a wealthy businessman. He needs to be thinking about a wife, but he doesn’t want to leave it to chance when he can instead use magic to select the perfect bride.

With enchanted tea leaves, Martin’s magic teapot points him to Charlotte, who is a baker’s daughter, and he impulsively announces their engagement. But his unlikable cousin Bertram calls Charlotte “common” and tries whatever necessary to discredit both her and Martin’s tea business. Will he succeed? Or, realizing how honest, sweet, and good her fiancé really is, will Charlotte stand up for her own interests and fight back?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tempest in a Teapot is a whimsical, sweet fantasy about Charlotte, the baker’s daughter, and Martin, a wealthy though decidedly odd, businessman and magician. He's determined to marry the person chosen by his enchanted teapot, but his cousin Bertram has other ideas.

This is a charming, quirky Victorian era fantasy. It’s a fun quick read with interesting magic, sweet main characters, a talking teapot, and lots of tea. I enjoyed the fun dog sketches at the beginning of each chapter and there’s even a chocolate tart recipe at the end!

Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC. I am leaving an honest, unbiased review.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this is yet another "new to me" author and this story is good enough to get me interested in the series. The characters are full of life, very interesting, and a bit of romance is brewing in the wind. Charlotte a baker's daughter and Martin Steepe, a very rich merchants son whose interests lie in the different flavors of tea business adventures, and magic runes. The villain of the story is Bertram, Martin's cousin who throughout the story tries to undermine Martin and destroy the romance he has with Charlotte, citing that Martin should never stoop so low as to marry a baker's daughter instead of royalty. I definitely highly recommend this book.