The Traveling Tea Shop

Praise for the novels of Belinda Jones

“Fast-paced, enthusiastic, good-hearted . . . [A] wise and witty read about the secret desires deep within us.”

—
Marie Claire
(UK)

“There’s something about Belinda Jones’s writing that takes you away to whatever beautiful setting she’s evoking and leaves you there right until you reach the last page.”

—
Daily Express
(UK)

“Great gags but undercut with genuinely moving emotion, this is a cut above most romantic comedies. A gem.”

—
Woman’s Own
(UK)

“Definitely worth cramming in your suitcase.”

—
Cosmopolitan
(UK)

“You’ll be laughing out loud from your sunbed.”

—
Wedding & Home
(UK)

“A glitterball romp.”

—
Glamour
(UK)

“Essential for that girls-only summer trip.”

—
Company
(UK)

“Deliciously entertaining.”

—
Heat
(UK)

“Fun, romantic, and set in various exotic locations, it’s the perfect escapist read.”

—
Closer
(UK)

“Perfect.”

—
B Magazine
(UK)

“A sparkling read.”

—
OK!
(UK)

Dearest Reader,

What an utterly yummy experience it was writing this book for you—because of you I got to sample an abundance of sweet treats and call it work!

My first experience of The Wonder of Cake was eagerly waiting for my mum to let me lick the mixture from the bowl as a kiddywink, so it seemed appropriate that I set out on the research trip with her. The only snag is that she really doesn’t have a sweet tooth, so as I would be marveling at all the exquisite fondant-swirled delights on offer, she would be ordering a bowl of carrot soup. (Though I have to say, she did succumb to the Boston Cream Pie!)

Of course, there’s more to
The Traveling Tea Shop
than cake! With four leading ladies, there is an abundance of emotions to explore, as well as the idyllic setting of New England. I knew it would be leafy and picturesque but I was amazed how different each state was, though it was the littlest—Rhode Island—that captured my heart. That said, I look forward to hearing where you would most like to have afternoon tea!

In the meantime, cozy up with a cuppa and a cupcake—you are welcome to leave little smudges of frosting on the pages as you turn them!

Your author,

Belinda xx

THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

Published by the Penguin Group

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Copyright © 2014 by Belinda Jones.

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eBook ISBN: 978-0-698-18791-7

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Jones, Belinda (Belinda C.)

[Travelling tea shop]

The traveling tea shop / Belinda Jones.—Berkley trade paperback edition.

pages cm

Previously published as The travelling tea shop. London : Hodder, 2014 and Hodder & Stoughton Canada, 2013.

ISBN 978-0-425-27960-1 (paperback)

1. Tour guides (Persons)—Fiction. 2. Television personalities—Fiction. 3. New England—Fiction. 4. Domestic fiction. I. Title.

PR6110.O56T73 2015

823’.92—dc23

2014040139

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Hodder & Stoughton mass-market edition / May 2014

Berkley trade paperback edition / March 2015

Cover photos:
cutting board
© sprng23/Thinkstock;
Chocolate lower case type
© istarif/Thinkstock;
Chocolate upper case type
© istarif/Thinkstock;
torte
© Mi. Ti./Shutterstock;
tea pot
© grafvision/Shutterstock;
cupcakes
© Jane Rix/Shutterstock;
whoopie pies
© AnjelikaGr/Shutterstock;
bus
© Dario Lo Presti/Shutterstock.

Cover design by Sarah Oberrender.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To Kate Gordon
(Every author should have such a fabulous champion—who also happens to be an ace baker!)

A bumper batch this year . . .

My first book was dedicated to James Breeds, and in a way they all are. Thank you for the most splendid week in NYC, my sweet-toothed soulmate.

Cream-swirled gratitude to this tasty bunch: Charlie Romano & David Garcelon at the Waldorf Astoria New York, Warren Brown of CakeLove, Paul Drumm at Kenyon’s Grist Mill, Amanda Bryan at The Newport Sweet Shoppe, Kim Houdette at AD Makepeace, Scott Cunningham of ScottCakes, Tuoi Tran and John Murtha at the Omni Parker House Hotel and Robert Alger, Jennifer Vincent and Sam Messer at the Trapp Family Lodge.

A generous slice of appreciation to the travel experts: Andrea McHugh at Discover Newport, Andrea Carneiro at Newport Preservation Society, Tai Freligh of Visit New Hampshire, Charlene Williams of Nancy Marshall Communications and Kathy Scatamacchia at Discover New England. (And I highly recommend you do!) Thank you so much for guiding me to so many gems!

The hosts with the most: Nancy and Bill Bagwill at Cliffside Inn, all at the Castle Hill Inn, Rauni Kew at Inn by the Sea, Mary Jo and Michael Salmon at the Hartstone Inn, Zorina and Larry Magor at the Omni Mount Washington Resort and Sam von Trapp at the Trapp Family Lodge.

Cupcakes galore to my U.S. publishers The Berkley Publishing Group, in particular the exuberantly wonderful Jackie Cantor and lovely publicity mastermind Courteny Landi.

My fabulous, inspiring new agent Madeleine Milburn and lovely assistant Cara.

My dreamy mother Pamela (always) and character-inspiring Charles. You two were always worthy of a romance novel! Dad Trefor and Suzanne for their weekly Skype sessions, Brother G for summer memories at Dartington and Sam Adam for the ultimate teatime treat at the Wolseley!

Special canine love to Bodie, who tagged along on the road trip to help me walk off the extra calories and relished every dropped crumb.

And finally, my husband Jonathan, who no doubt is still wondering how I could spend a year immersed in baking and still be utterly without skill in the kitchen.

I never really understood the appeal of Prince Charming. Yes, he has that flippy hair and a fancy line in epaulets but for me it was always The Candy Man.

—Laurie Davis