Will tea bags come between Claire and Richard?

It’s 1987 and Claire fears she’s losing her treasured tea shop to some of the latest health and convenience trends. With Halloween around the corner, she must bring her numbers into the black or risk closing her store by the end of the year. 

 

Seeing his wife struggle leaves Richard’s heart steeped in sadness as Claire refuses every offer of help. He takes one last courageous stand with Earl Claire, his wife’s favourite tea, but Claire loves his idea as much as the thought of drinking a cup of witch’s brew. 

 

Trick or Tea is the second short story prequel to Tea Shop for Two, the first instalment in the sweet romance series Love on Belmont. 

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Take a Peek...

This year had been rough on Claire, but she wouldn’t accept any money from his salary for her store. He’d even pitched it as a loan, and she said she’d borrow from the bank if absolutely necessary.
That comment had stung.
Richard loved Claire for her dreams. He brushed his hand over the counter as he remembered how Claire had charmed him with her descriptions of tea twenty years before.
He had never drunk tea before meeting Claire, but the way she described black teas with “notes” of apricot or sunshine changed his perspective on the world.
Yes, it had been that profound. He didn’t believe a cup of black tea could taste so beautiful, that taste and sight could sometimes cross their obvious boundaries, but he quickly learned to include similar descriptions when he sold homes.
“The neighbourhood imparts notes of roses and
lilacs, especially because of Mrs. So-and-So’s house down the street,” he would say. Or: “You’ll catch a note of apple in this home, because Mrs. So-and-So is renowned locally for her apple pie, which she bakes from premium apples. She’s selling her house because she and her husband have decided to move to something smaller and open a café.”
His clients’ eyes lit up when he described homes like that. “Notes” meant success. The tiny hints pointed to something extraordinary, and Claire’s Tea Shop was filled with extraordinary notes and run by an extraordinary woman.
Richard wouldn’t be himself without Claire, but he worried that Claire wouldn’t be Claire without her tea shop.

The Love on Belmont Series

Have You Tried the Prequel Short Stories to Tea Shop for Two?

Prequel 1: Claire's Tea Shop

She's opened his eyes to the delicious world of tea. Can she open her own heart to his love?

It’s 1967 and young widow Claire is living her dream as the owner of Claire’s Tea Shop, a dream she refuses to give up on again.

Richard is a successful up-and-coming realtor and believes his life is complete. Until he falls cup over saucer for Claire.

Both feel the steam in the room, but Claire fears falling in love again will force her to choose between a second flush on love and her beloved store. Can she find the perfect blend of romance and dreams?

Prequel 2: Trick or Tea

Will tea bags come between Claire and Richard?

It’s 1987 and Claire’s Tea Shop is losing business to herbal teas that promise health benefits, the doughnut shop that serves smokers, and Claire’s ultimate nemesis: tea bags that offer convenience. So intently focused on saving her business, Claire’s romantic feelings for Richard, her husband of almost 20 years, have all but evaporated.

Seeing his wife struggle leaves Richard’s heart steeped in sadness. She refuses his every offer of help but it’s almost Halloween and Claire must turn things around by Christmas or risk closing her store forever. Richard takes one last courageous stand: He suggests Claire sell tea bags.

Prequel 3: Oh, Christmas Tea

Can tea and Christmas magic mend a broken heart?

Claire and Richard are preparing Claire’s Tea Shop for the 40th Annual Christmas Sale and Tea Party. When Pauline, their oldest daughter, surprises them with news of a dream opportunity for herself, Claire and Richard know their family has been touched by Christmas magic.

Until they see that Pauline’s broken heart is holding her back from believing in herself.

Again.

Claire and Richard want Pauline to follow her dreams. Can their special blend of love flush out the hurt in their daughter’s heart?

About Lori Wolf-Heffner

Across the tracks and up a set of cement stairs from Lori's grandmother’s home was Belmont Village, a quaint shopping district with restaurants, a drug store, a convenience store, and several small businesses. The neighbourhood for Lori means family and romance, which is why she's set both her young adult and romance series there. 


Lori is also a former competitive dancer, dance teacher, and theatre manager, and was a member of the first Canadian National Tap Team, back in 1996, under the leadership of Bonnie Dyer, with choreographer Matthew Clark. Dance took Lori to competitions all over Southern Ontario, into the US, to Disney World, and to Germany. She has many fond memories of performing with her dance team. 


And that's why she uses dance as a backdrop in many of her stories. 
Oh! And she's also spent a day in Luxembourg and 15 minutes in Switzerland, and she can still do cartwheels.

Lori Wolf-Heffner holding a copy of Tea Shop for Two in front of the rusty bell sculpture mentioned in the book

Buy Trick or Tea

Canada

Indigo
Amazon
Kobo
Apple Books
Indie Bookstores

US

Barnes & Noble
Amazon
Apple Books
Bookshop.org

International

Choose Your Store