The Tea House on Mulberry Street [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Sharon Owens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2005

Muldoon's Tea Rooms, beloved for cozy atmosphere and luscious desserts, is looking a bit outdated - and the same could be said for proprietors Penny and Daniel Stanley. After seventeen years, their marriage has started to wear a little thin, even as their shop bustles with customers seeking refuge from their own dilemmas. But behind the cherry cheesecakes are the stirrings of a revolution . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A dilapidated tea house in Belfast, Ireland, is second home to a handful of down-in-the-dumps locals in this flat-footed debut, a bestseller in Owens's native Ireland. Brought together by a common fondness for Muldoon's Tea Rooms—and the establishment's luscious cherry cheesecake—the members of the motley cast have little else in common. Occupying center stage are the shop owners, Daniel and Penny Stanley, whose very different dreams threaten their 17-year marriage. Penny longs for beautiful things and exotic vacations, but Daniel pinches pennies and worries over a long-held secret. Then there are the regulars—starving artist Brenda Brown, who believes her boring name is holding her back in the art world and spends her time penning love letters to Nicolas Cage; wealthy bookshop owner Henry Blackstaff, who escapes his imperious Brontë-loving wife to spy on Rose, the florist across from the tea house; and magazine editor Clare Fitzgerald, who returns from New York periodically to search for her lost childhood love. Owens strives to craft rounded characters with weaknesses and flaws—Daniel is revealed to be a former petty thief; Brenda makes an unexpected decision about her blossoming career—but manages only to create disjointed figures whose motives are hard to credit. Even Belfast is a pallid presence, little more than a stagy backdrop for this unsatisfying medley of tales. Agent, Helenka Fuglewicz at Edwards Fuglewicz.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Muldoon's Tea Rooms on Mulberry Street in Belfast is the crossroads for a vibrant cast of characters, each of whom is at a crossroads in his or her own life. From the proprietors, Daniel and Penny Stanley, to the winsome florist across the street, the starving artist next door, the philandering businessman across town, his plump little doormat wife, the spinster sisters down the road, and the pretentious society matron, everyone who enters the tearoom for a scone and some Earl Grey leaves a bit more resolved to make changes in his or her life. Must be the ingredients they use, for the tea shop itself hasn't changed a whit since the Stanleys inherited it from Penny's parents. But when a tragic accident nearly destroys the restaurant, the Stanleys undertake the most drastic changes of all. Owens, a best-selling author in her native Ireland, makes it all unfold as smoothly as the shop's cherry cheesecake in her charming debut novel, which will surely appeal to fans of Maeve Binchy and Rosamunde Pilcher. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (April 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786274964
• ISBN-13: 978-0786274963
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,919,876 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet but not Cloying, May 19, 2005

By 

A. Freeman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tea House on Mulberry Street (Hardcover)

This is a refreshing, sweet book that is miles above the usual "chick-lit" fare--it is indeed similar to the writing of Maeve Binchy, and that's a good thing! The characters are charming and multifaceted, and the setting of Northern Ireland is interesting. Not sure why the reviewer above referred to this book as "flat-footed"; in my opinion it fairly skips along! The prose, characters and story lines are engrossing, and I found myself racing home from work each day to devour a little more of The Teahouse on Mulberry Street. There's a segment involving an under-employed artist who gets a gig in a supermarket that had me laughing out loud (anyone who has ever worked at a grueling "menial" job will empathize.) I highly recommend this sweet novel!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY UNEXPECTED NICE READ - WELL DONE, June 12, 2005

By 

D. Blankenship (The Ozarks) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tea House on Mulberry Street (Hardcover)

I very much enjoyed this one. Character developement was wonderful and the story or stories held my interest throughout the book. I read the review by Publisher's Weekly on this one, as as per usual, I am not real sure the reviewers even bothered reading the book. Where on earth to they find these people to do their reviews? Anyway, this is certainly one of those books that should not be judged by it's cover. My one and only complaint is that the cover and the quote on the front of the book are quite misleading. This is not a typical cozy chick book, full of crumpets, tea and the like. It is a rather good collection of character sketches and situations that go far beyond. Had not my wife first read the book and recommened it, I probably would not have given it a second glance. Thank goodness for an alert wife! The writing is quite uncomplicated and quite readable. The stories are interesting and intertwine in a wonderful way. There is some bitter sweet sadness to some of the stories which is off set by some hilarious situations. If you are looking for a good, simple read about outwardly simple people, then this is for you. If you are looking for a cookbook and pages and pages of descriptions of various food groups and tea settings, then you will probably be a bit disappointed. All in all I recommend this one highly and certainly, like a couple of the other reviewers, would like to see more of the same from this author. Thank you Ms. Owens.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing and right up my alley!, August 21, 2005

By 

Tonya Speelman "Hoarder of books" (Goldendale WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Tea House on Mulberry Street (Hardcover)

This book is so full of everyday people, with everyday problems. All deal differently, and what they do. This book will have you laughing, thinking and sad all at the same time.

So many different characters, and some good, some naughty. I enjoyed every one of them. Sometimes it doesn't work out and everyone is happy at the end, and they all get back together.

I enjoy books where people find comfort in tea and food. I enjoy books where there isn't a lot of filthy language and meaningless talk. If you enjoy the same, you will love this book! This is an author to keep an eye on!