All the Tea in China by Jane Orcutt Review

 Good Morning Sweet Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you've taken the time to join me (Kirby) here on The Preppy Book Princess for another book review.

Life has gotten tough lately hasn't it? I honestly have the thought nearly every single day that I don't know how people get through things anymore without faith. I'm so thankful that our Heavenly Father is always right beside us no matter what we face, and I pray you find that same peace in whatever situation you are currently finding yourself in.

Alongside Bible study, spending time outdoors, cooking and baking, spending time with my hubby and watching Youtube vlogs, one of my favorite things to do to get a break from all of life's craziness is reading fiction titles. I particularly love reading fiction that honors our Lord and Savior, and I'm excited to tell you guys all about a title I recently finished.

I hope you'll all keep reading down below for today's full review.

All the Tea in China by Jane Orcutt:

Source: Bought at the Used Bookstore for Myself

Publisher: Revell

Publication Date: June 1st, 2007

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

The good young Englishwoman knows that her destiny depends upon a good marriage match. But Isabella Goodrich is not your typical good young Englishwoman. After an encounter with those less fortunate than she, witty and fun-loving Isabella makes a shocking decision. Against everyone's advice and wishes, she is going to become a missionary in the Far East.

Fighting against cultural expectations, common sense, and a mentor who is not as he seems, Isabella leaves her predictable Oxford life behind and sets sail to a new world fraught with danger. Can she trust the mysterious missionary Phineas Snowe? Or will her adventure end before it even begins? This first novel in the Rollicking Regency series will delight readers who like high adventure, twisting plots, and a fun bit of romance.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

I stumbled upon this title several years back at my local used bookstore and decided to pick it up and give it a try. Of course, unfortunately, after purchasing, it proceeded to sit unread on my bookshelves for many years, but I finally got around to reading it, and I have to say this sweet, interesting story was nothing like I was initially expecting and I ended up immensely enjoying it.

We follow Isabella Goodrich, a young Englishwoman who is not your typical society girl. She's quickly closing in on spinster status, and her beloved uncle has allowed her some unusual hobbies, like learning to fence. When she stumbles upon a young man named Phineas at a ball, the sparks are certainly flying, but not in the traditional sense. Isabella can't stand his arrogance, and he can't seem to stand her period. However, a revelation leads her to follow him sneakily aboard a ship to try and bring the Gospel to a country that desperately needs it, and in the process, they might just find there's more to each other than originally meets the eye.

While I did expect from the title that this would take place more in China than it did, it was a wonderfully written tale about unexpected love, the importance of faith, and adventures on the high seas. Isabella was a quirky, but likeable protagonist who isn't quite what you'd expect from an English society gal. While Phineas grated on my nerves for the first part of the story, he grew on me, and I especially enjoyed hearing about his values and why he felt compelled to make the choices he had.

I applaud the author on her originality with this story as it's truly unlike anything I've ever read before within the Christian fiction genre, and I loved how sweet and slow burn the romance truly was. 

All in all, I felt it had a few plot holes and that the ending was much too rushed which left me wishing there had been a sequel, but a lovely story nonetheless and one I'd definitely recommend if you like faith based historical romances about unconventional characters and atypical settings.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.