Tearoom Mysteries

Inspired by their grandmother, cousins Elaine and Jan decide to open tea for two, a lakeside tearoom where they can serve up cups of comfort to their patrons. When they buy a teapot at a flea market, the dealer tries to buy it back, and then a woman starts snooping around their house. Is she after the teapot, or the elegant piece of jewelry the electrician found in a wall? Then a would be thief nearly gets away with stealing their property from a restorer's shop. When Elaine is threatened by a midnight burglar, it's time for extreme action. Determined to make a success of their venture, the cousins press on in faith, uncovering many surprises and family secrets as they settle into the community and grow their new business together.

After helping to host Tea for Two's first "Teas around the World" tasting, Rose Young approaches the proprietor/cousins, Elaine Cook and Jan Blake, in distress. Rose's mother died recently, and in going through her belongings, she found a death certificate-for herself! What could this document mean? What happened when Rose was a year old? The cousins' search for truth behind this unsettling and reaches far beyond Lancaster, Maine, to a pivotal point not only in Rose's life but also in history. Meanwhile, as the town prepares for its Fourth of July festival, much is at stake in the selectman election. Can Rose's father, Clifton, win and preserve the charming character of Lancaster, or will greedy big-city outsider J. Eisley Segouri prevail with promises of big-box commerce? And Jan's son, Brian, makes a tantalizing discovery that might help the cousins decipher the story of the sapphire ring found in one of the tearoom's walls.

Business is booming at Tea for Two, so cousins Elaine Cook and Jan Blake decide to hire more help. When Elaine interviews a dapper Englishman with a resume full of important jobs around the world, she can't help but wonder, why does he want to work here? As the tearoom readies its first wedding, Elaine's concerns are quickly over shadowed by the groom's sudden disappearance. Cold feet or foul play? The distraught bride turns to the cousins, who spring into action to find the missing groom. To make matters worse, a local bank is robbed. Could the two incidents be related? Elaine and Jan set out in different directions to solve the mystery- even taking Jan to the town's biker bar! Before long, it becomes clear that the cousins are unraveling the same thread from different ends. The question is, will they meet in the middle?

When an opportunity arises for the tearoom to host a special event with famed puzzle maker Bill Markham, Jan is elated! The event brings in puzzle lovers from all over Lancaster, Maine, but at Tea for Two, mystery often lurks in unexpected places. When Katelyn Grande begins her puzzle, she quickly realizes that it was made specifically for her-as a declaration of love! As Jan and Elaine set out to discover who the would-be paramour might be, they quickly find the clues more challenging and cryptic-than any of Bill's legendary puzzles. Meanwhile, when Jan's granddaughter Avery begins practicing her cello after school at the tearoom, she confides in Elaine about problems she's having with a friend. Can Elaine draw on the wisdom she gained raising her own children to help the girl navigate the difficult waters of preteen angst?

As Jan prepares for a group tea one autumn afternoon, she glances out the window and sees a plume of smoke arising from one of Macy Atherton's Green Glade cottages! Macy's desperate plea for Jan's and Elaine's help is followed by the appearance of Deputy Sheffield, who seems intent on questioning their sometimes difficult neighbor and customer. Arson? With Macy as the prime suspect? But not everything is as it appears. As Jan and Elaine follow the trail of clues, they uncover a much deeper mystery, with ties even to World War II. Meanwhile, Jan's daughter, Tara, reaches an exciting milestone with her jewelry business and Elaine discovers some enticing information about the family that owned the mysterious sapphire ring they found. But how did it end up in the tearoom's walls?

It's Christmastime in Lancaster, Maine, and it's an occasion for carols, ornaments, and...poison? When a well-known food critic visits Tea for Two and becomes ill, Jan and Elaine set out to learn what put her there. Has someone tampered with their teas? And if so, who and why? With the critic in the hospital and the tearoom closed for a toxicology screening, the cousins have much riding on their investigation! Meanwhile, Elaine tries not to be envious that Jan's children will be with her for the holiday and hers will not. They each look for the perfect gift for the other, but their searches hit a disappointing-and seemingly insurmountable-obstacle. Can they find just the right gift in time for Christmas?