Jane Orcutt All the Tea in China

All the Tea in China

Jane Orcutt

Revell, Jun 2007, $12.99

ISBN: 9780800731793

In 1814 Oxford, England, Lady Isabella Goodrich is bored with the only path a young unmarried female aristocrat can take. However, at a gala she meets Phineas Snowe of the London Missionary Society, who wants to see her famous Uncle Toby Fitzwater, Dean of Christ Church. Isabella thinks her calling is in missionary work under the tutelage of Phineas heading to China.

Her family tries to persuade her she is making a terrible error, but Isabella ignores their advice and sneaks onto the vessel taking Phineas to the Far East. When he finds her on board his ship, he is shocked and plans to dump her at the next safe port. However, instead he finds himself mentoring his stowaway as they journey by sea towards China.

The first Rollicking Regency inspirational romantic adventure is a terrific refreshing tale due in part to the locales and mostly the lead pairing. Whereas Phineas is an enigma to the heroine and readers, Isabella is a unique protagonist who believes missionary work to the less fortunate is her calling. Fans will appreciate the danger of such an endeavor in the early nineteenth century as many of the recipients find the White Man's burden arrogant and intrusive. Filled with twists, fabulous locations, and a romantic subplot between the two stars ALL THE TEA IN CHINA is a strong vivid historical.

Harriet Klausner