Afternoon Tea with Maisie Bloom and Friends by Jessie Cahalin

This week Jessie Cahalin who has just (4 March 2025) released her novel A Gift for Maisie Bloom shares details of her book and an afternoon tea …

A Gift for Maisie Bloom is a romance with a twist of cosy mystery. Maisie inherits Tanglewood cottage in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales village of Heatherbridge. She is expected to fill her late aunt’s shoes in the community, and that involves hosting afternoon tea for neighbours Camellia and Nora.

The afternoon tea event in A Gift for Maisie Bloom was inspired by a tradition started by my mother to celebrate birthdays. Mum organised the sandwiches and homemade pork pie and pickles. My grandmother provided cakes. I was expected to present tray bakes and fairy cakes and involve my younger brother. Dad and everyone else simply ate the food and told a few jokes. It was a fun way to bring the extended family together to ensure we had our favourite treats.

My grandmother passed on her battered folder of recipes to me, and over time I have adapted some of the old favourites. I still love inviting friends for afternoon tea and use my gran’s vintage tea set, and I am sure she would have giggled at my re-imagining of chocolate cake and Victoria sponge.

Maisie’s aunt has left a folder of old recipes, so she bakes a gin and tonic drizzle cake and it’s a great hit. But why did Aunt Ada leave ingredients out of the recipe and add copious amounts of brandy to the teapot? And why do Nora and Camellia ask so many questions about her aunt?

You’ll need to read the story to find out what is going on …

If you fancy a recipe for Ada’s famous gin and tonic drizzle cake, then follow the link below:

https://www.janespatisserie.com/2018/01/08/gin-tonic-drizzle-cake/

About Jessie:

Jessie is a northern writer who has lived in Wales for over half of her life. She writes romance books with an enthralling mystery to hook the reader.

From an early age, Jessie spun elaborate stories to explain why her father wore cowboy boots and owned many rusty cars. Writing has always been her perfect escape destination, and she was thrilled to encourage her pupils to love the power of words and follow their dreams.

More about A Gift for Maisie Bloom

You’re not supposed to fall in love when investigating your aunt’s disappearance.

When Maisie Bloom inherits her aunt’s cottage in Yorkshire, life is perfect, including her two love interests. But when mysterious mail and blog posts arrive, she discovers Aunt Ada was investigating the disappearance of a prolific author in Paris.

Was it murder? Soon Maisie is hot on the trail.

But can you sleuth in Paris without falling in love?

Early reviews of A Gift for Maisie Bloom:

‘Readers are going to fall in love with Maisie.’

‘This wonderful mystery is a gift for readers who enjoy cozy crime, intrigue and romance.’

‘Refreshingly different! Laugh-out-loud humour laced with whimsy, eccentric characters and delightful glimpses of the Yorkshire countryside and romantic Paris.’

‘I defy you not to laugh out loud at the antics of the nosy neighbours.’

‘A curl up on the settee and read the winter blues away novel.’

It’s a gorgeous cosy mystery mashed up with romance and is all about books, love and family, starting in a Yorkshire village and then whisking you off to Paris.’

‘Enjoyable read … great cast of characters.’

Jessie’s books are available to buy here:

Amazon Kobo Google Play Apple Barnes and Noble / Nook