386 pages April 7,2021 publication date Bookouture Buy Link
About The Book
Corbello, Italy, 1947. A woman and a little boy stagger into the ruins of an old house deep in the forest, wild roses overwhelming the crumbling terracotta walls. Since the war, nowhere has been safe. But they both freeze in shock when a voice calls out from the shadows…
For young mother Fosca Sentino, accepting refuge from reluctant British war hero Richard – in Tuscany to escape his tragic past – is the only way to keep her little family safe. She once risked everything to spy on Nazi commanders and pass secret information to the resistenza. But after a heartbreaking betrayal, Fosca’s best friend Simonetta disappeared without trace. The whole community was torn apart, and now Fosca and her son are outcasts.
Wary of this handsome stranger at first, Fosca slowly starts to feel safe as she watches him play with her son in the overgrown orchard. But her fragile peace is shattered the moment a silver brooch is found in the garden, and she recognises it as Simonetta’s…
Fosca has always suspected that another member of the resistenza betrayed her. With Richard by her side, she must find out if Simonetta is still alive, and clear her own name. But how did the brooch end up at the house? And with a traitor hiding in the village, willing to do anything to keep this secret buried, has Fosca put herself and her young son in terrible danger?
An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking standalone historical read that explores the incredible courage of ordinary people in extraordinary times. Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen, The Nightingale, and anyone longing to lose themselves in the mountain landscapes and olive groves of rural Tuscany.
My Thoughts
This is my first read by this author. I have always enjoyed reading historical fiction and this one was no exception. If you like a well-researched and very descriptive book, then this one is for you. The book goes back and forth between time periods explaining things happening now were caused by things happening in the past. The characters, you could really feel their emotions coming through strongly. The book is mesmerizing, emotional and uplifting as well. A compelling read you won’t soon forget about once you are done with it. Though this is my first read in this series I feel the need to go back to read more of this series.
Pub Date 07 Apr 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Author
Welcome to my author page – “benvenuti”!
I live in the beautiful Italian Apennines for several months each year. Such an inspiring location.
My love affair with Italy was born at the age of seven when I moved with my family to Rome where we lived for six years. My father worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and he made sure we learned Italian and visited many places during that time.
Later on I studied Italian at the University of Kent at Canterbury and afterwards worked in Sicily, where I met my husband. His Italian mother and British father met in Urbino in 1944 and married after a war-time romance.
I wanted to write “The Tuscan Secret” not only for my amazing mother-in-law, Giuseppina, but also to make people aware of the courage of the resistance fighters and the generous hospitality shown by the poorest of families, including relatives of our Italian neighbours in our corner of war-torn Tuscany.
This is my first novel and is a story about ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times. (Please note it is a revised version of “Never Forget” and “Tuscan Roots”). I was signed by wonderful BOOKOUTURE for a two-book deal and one of these was a slight re-write of “Tuscan Roots”. The new title is “The Tuscan Secret” and has more tension and intrigue to the story. I am so proud to be a part of this publishing “family”, as they describe themselves, who have patiently helped me to polish the original. It is available on Amazon and has reached the bestseller slots.
A sequel to this original book was self-published way back, at the end of April 2017. “Now and then in Tuscany” features the same family that appeared in “The Tuscan Secret”. The background is the transhumance, a practice that started in Etruscan times and continued right up until the 1950’s. STOP PRESS: This has a new title: A TUSCAN MEMORY, re-published by BOOKOUTURE SEPTEMBER 7TH 2020.
Watch out for another Tuscan, war novel. “The Tuscan Girl” was published on February 25th 2020, inspired by the many ruins I see on my walks in the Apennines. Each dilapidated house holds a story for me, whether true or invented. I’m delighted to announce that my publisher, Bookouture, has commissioned another two Italian novels from me for 2021 and 2022. Watch this space, as they say.
How many of you have read an Angela Petch book? What were your thoughts? I really have enjoyed my first read by her and have several more in my files of hers to read.
The Boy Adopted by the Police Officer Who Responded to His ‘Horrific’ Child Abuse Is Now a Straight-A Student
Jody Thompson knew he had to foster the boy from one of the worst calls he ever responded to, and when the parents had a baby in jail, he and his wife adopted her too. He shares the family’s updates in his own words
Poteau, Oklahoma police officer Jody Thompson lives in the house he was raised in with his wife of 22 years, high school sweetheart Jeannie. On April 28, 2015, he was off duty, but heard a child abuse call come over the police radio that he thought he may be able to assist thanks to his background in investigating child abuse cases for the district attorney’s office, prior to joining the police department.Unable to walk away from the terrible abuse he saw, he ended up adopting the boy, John, and his infant sister, Paizley, in 2017. This is his story, told in his own words to PEOPLE.
Jody and John Thompson. POTEAU POLICE DEPARTMENT
Once I went into the house, I see this little boy, he was facing me, sitting on a couch, I’ll never forget. He was shivering, the kid he was shaking so bad, I guess probably shock and cold because he was soaking wet. He had a knot on his head the size of a tennis ball that that I’ll never forget.
He was obviously malnourished, you could see every rib in his body, and he was in bad shape. His hands were bound by belts, it was a pretty horrific scene. An ER doctor later testified that he couldn’t find a two-inch square on John’s body that didn’t have a cut, a bruise, an abrasion in some stage of healing.
I was with him for mere seconds when I scooped him up, got him in my car and put him in protective custody. I took him to the emergency room, and he weighed just 61 pounds. They went ahead and decided to put him in intensive care.
I stayed with him, never left his side. I had separated from the law enforcement side of it. I’d realized that I’d already gotten too involved in this to be objective. I’ve done some crazy cases in my career, but this was one of the craziest. It was bad.
Jody Thompson.
I learned that at his mom and dad’s they started water abuse with a shower head, spraying him in the face. When he got bigger, they’d put him in a small gray storage bin with anything out of the freezer, juice or cold peas or frozen vegetables, to make the punishment more severe.
And then we find out mom comes up with the idea to put a good sized trashcan inside the house and they’d raise the water up to about his nose level and put cold articles in it from the freezer.
But that day was different. They tied his hands together. He was held by his feet and put in headfirst until he quit fighting. They put the lid on the trashcan that day and put stuff on top of the lid. They told John they was going to the store to get ice.
As soon as he heard the truck leave, he just stood up, got out of the trashcan. He was locked in from the outside so he climbed out of a window and went to the neighbor’s house [who called the police].
The parents would each be charged with two crimes, child abuse by injury and neglect, and each were sentenced to 35 years.
Thompson family. JODY THOMPSON
After about two days John was released from the hospital and he went to a traditional foster home here in Poteau. And I couldn’t get him out of my head. I couldn’t stop thinking about him, if he was being treated right, if he was getting taken care of. There was no way that I’d ever be able to relax until I knew he was safe. And the only way I could guarantee him being safe was with me.
At the time, me and my wife, we had two sons of our own: Ryan was 16 and Charley was 8. I made some phone calls and filled out an application to become a foster parent and three days later they let me pick him up.
John and Paizley. JODY THOMPSON
Jeannie: And then two days later, we found out that we were pregnant with our third son.
When we brought John home, we’re trying to get as normal as we can get. John and my son Charley, they’re only six weeks apart in age. So they’re the same age, same grade, two second graders. They were best friends and all that. But it didn’t take long for the sibling rivalry to kick in!
Jody: On November 3, 2015, I was with John’s caseworker on a separate child welfare case, when she gets a phone call. She said, ‘I just got word that John’s mother had a baby in jail. What are we going to do?’ I said, ‘What do you mean what are we doing to do? I’m going to pick her up.’ The very next day, on the 4th, we picked her up from the hospital.
Jody Thompson.
Jeannie: And I was about six weeks out from having Zaven, he was born December 14th, 2015.
Jody: Early on, it was panic mode. I was one of six, and I always thought my parents were crazy having that many kids. So when John came along, I was comfortable that we were led by God in the right direction to do this, I wasn’t fearful then. But when Paizley came along, that was the first sign of panic. I thought, ‘We might have overdone this.’ But we just figured out a way.
My police department, this entire town of Poteau, Jeannie’s co-workers at the crisis center where she had been a domestic violence counselor, my family, my siblings, just everyone rallied around us and we’ve never had an issue.
Paizley and Zaven act like twins. They play like twins. They’re inseparable. They love each other. They worry about each other. I think that’s probably what they needed at the time. God knew that, they’re doing really well.
John and Paizley Thompson. JODY THOMPSON
We formally adopted John on August the 18th of 2016, and Paizley on February 16th of 2017. Paizley just turned six and she doesn’t have a clue what happened. That’s what we’re working on with counselors and with professionals.
Jeannie: When is the right time? Because we just want her to be mature enough to understand it.
Jody: We’re really working hard on John to let him know that this, it was a bad thing that happened, but it doesn’t define who he is.
Jeannie: John did go through some trauma therapy and did really well with that. We obviously had to deal with hoarding of food, with him being malnourished and not knowing when his next meal was going to come. He’s doing much better now with the food issue.
Jody: Jeannie and I both promised him, ‘You’ll never have to worry about food in this house. It will always be there.’ He’s a straight A student now and pretty active. He does marching band and drama and the thespian group and all of that. He is doing really well.
John: This happening has given me a lot of opportunities to do the things that probably I wouldn’t have gotten to do, find the things that I like and have the ability to pursue what I like. And my parents, they care.
Thank you for stopping in for my positive post for the day. There is Beauty in Every Day.
The Polish Girl: An utterly heartbreaking and gripping World War 2 historical novel (The Secret Resistance Series) by Gosia Nealon
Poland, 1944. “Please, officer, I beg you—”, I cry. But my father has already fallen. “Don’t leave me, Tata,” I whisper, rushing to desperately cradle him close. As the kind, loving man who raised me takes his last breath, I weep into my hands and promise to fight to end this terrible war, no matter the cost…
Although it won’t bring her beloved father back, twenty-three-year-old Wanda vows to honour his memory and all he stood for. Throwing herself into the Polish resistance, she risks her life on the dangerous mission of transporting ammunition for the underground network’s uprising against the Nazis.
Slipping through the night-time shadows of an empty park to meet an informant—one who could provide crucial supplies in the battle for what’s right—the sight of the man waiting turns Wanda’s blood to ice. Even in the dim light, she instantly recognises him as the soldier who killed her father.
The soldier claims he is a double agent, working for the resistance. Questioning everything, Wanda’s heart races as she is forced to make a split-second decision. Believe the man who she thought was the enemy? Or endanger the lives of her network—and their secret plans to fight the Germans?
Can Wanda trust the man she hates most in the world? Did her father die in vain? Or if she fights her every instinct, will she truly change the tide of the war?
Fans of The Alice Network, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will adore this utterly heartbreaking page-turner. You will not forget this unputdownable story of love, loss, and the courage it takes to hold on to hope in darkest times.
Previously published as The Last Sketch.
My Thoughts
This book is excellent. I could not put it down once I started it and read it past my bedtime, finishing it in one day. Twin brothers, identical twins, raised together by the same parents. Vastly different, one is gentle and compassionate taking after the mother. The other, like the father is a brutal killer, a German soldier. Wanda Odwaga feels safe in her home with her mother and her father, a retired surgeon. One evening her, Tata, (father) is killed before her eyes there. Looking into the eyes of this killer she vows she will get her revenge. As she then starts to see this murderer everywhere she goes, she is sickened and confused. He whispers to her, “I am not who you think I am.” An orphaned little boy is adopted into her family, and he is a wonderful addition to the story, he is so smart too. Poland, 1944, it was such a turbulent time, rationing was in full force, there was a curfew, the Germans had invaded. No one was safe on the streets, especially a woman alone. Some risked their lives to be in the Polish resistance using code words to pass messages. We see the characters going through such turmoil in this unputdownable book but yet they persevere and show such strength in the darkest of days because they know strength and courage brings the light. Heartwarming will not be soon forgotten.
Pub Date 24 Feb 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
While Gosia Nealon is a proud New Yorker, she was born and raised in Poland. Her journey to the Big Apple revealed a wealth of cultural differences, but also the values that connect us all. Like the fierce desire to protect family, find love, and ultimately, discover who we are and why we’re here.
Gosia’s award-winning short stories have always delved into life’s biggest questions, but it was the drama, sacrifice, and tragedy of WWII that led her to pen her debut novel, which won a gold medal in the 2022 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY).
Growing up in Poland, Gosia heard many firsthand accounts of the war, told from a perspective rarely captured in mainstream literature. She was compelled to breathe life into two young people falling in love in the midst of the most terrifying conflict of our time.
When Gosia isn’t tapping away at her laptop, she’s often walking the streets of New York. With her husband and two young sons in tow, they search for the most succulent pierogi, transporting them back to the cobbled streets of her childhood.
Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
We’ve all heard the great debate—which is better, coffee or tea? While we may never be able to put the debate to rest, we can take a look at a few tea and coffee statistics that lovers of these beverages can take with them into the new year. This will help you know where your favorite stands and whether you’re willing to give the other beverage a try due to how others feel about it. Read on below to learn all about tea drinker versus coffee drinker statistics.
The 30 Tea Drinkers vs. Coffee Drinkers Statistics
Tea is considered the second most popular drink of choice worldwide.
You’re welcome to use our images, but we require you link directly to this site for credit (ex. Image from Coffee Affection)
Tea is considered the second-most popular drink of choice worldwide.
(World Tea News)
While coffee is a preferred drink in many countries, when looking at worldwide beverage consumption statistics, tea is the second-most consumed beverage. The beverage making the top of the list is packaged water.
Image Credit: jsbaw7160, Pixabay
Black tea is the most consumed tea around the world.
(NCBI)
Black tea is considered the favored type of tea worldwide. In the United States alone, nearly 90% of all tea consumed is steeped from black tea leaves.
297 billion liters of tea were consumed worldwide in 2021.
(World Tea News)
The worldwide consumption of tea has been on the rise. In 2021, 297 billion liters of tea were consumed worldwide. This is an increase of 63 billion liters since 2013.
Image Credit: stux, Pixabay
In 2020, China dominated the tea market with 78.7 billion US dollars of revenue.
(Statista)
When it comes to the tea industry, China is predominately the leader in all areas. In 2020 alone, the country earned what translates into 78.7 billion US dollars in revenue from tea production. Brazil and India found themselves taking 2nd and 3rd place by earning 16 billion and 15.8 billion, respectively.
5.In 2018, bubble tea made a 3,000% jump in orders throughout the Southeast Asia region.
(The Asean Post)
The bubble tea in the Southeast Asia region made an incredible leap when it came to orders in 2018. With the popularity of this tea continuing to rise, this number is expected to continue growing, especially as bubble tea becomes a global trend.
Image Credit: RODNAE Productions, Pexels
Worldwide, the wholesale price of tea rose 50% in 2020 due to the pandemic.
(Forbes)
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge effect on the price of tea around the world. On average, consumers were paying up to 50% more for wholesale tea, bottled tea, and tea bags across the globe.
US Tea Statistics
7.75%–80% of tea drank in the United States is iced tea.
(Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc.)
Popularized in the Southern states, iced tea is quite popular in America. Many enjoy this type of tea throughout the year but it is a beloved staple during the warmer months, especially in those states with long, hot summers.
Image Credit: makafood, Pexels
Americans consumed 85 billion servings of tea throughout 2021.
(Tea Association of the U.S.A. Inc.)
Throughout 2021, people in the United States consumed 85 billion servings of tea which equates to more than 3.9 billion gallons.
9.In 2019, 48% of tea consumed by Americans took place at food service locations.
(Euromonitor International)
Before the pandemic, most Americans enjoyed their tea while at restaurants or other locations that served food. This is where 48% of the country’s overall tea consumption took place.
Image Credit: Marta Dzedyshko, Pexels
Worldwide Coffee Statistics
10.Worldwide, more than 50 countries contribute to coffee production.
(National Coffee Association)
With the growing demand for coffee, more than 50 countries throughout the world are now producing coffee in some form for distribution.
11.In 2019, Brazil accounted for 44% of worldwide coffee exportation.
(International Coffee Organization)
Brazil, as expected, was the leader when it came to coffee exporting in 2019. They were followed by Indonesia, which reported roughly 8% of export sales.
Image Credit: Diego Catto, Unsplash
In 2020, worldwide coffee sales decreased by 3.8% in comparison to 2019’s reported numbers.
(International Coffee Organization)
The year 2019 was bigger in terms of worldwide coffee sales than 2020. In 2020, sales decreased by 3.8% and have bounced back yet.
Coffee Industry Statistics to Know
13.Coffee sales in 2023 are expected to reach over $100 million
(Global News Wire)
With more young people becoming fans of coffee, sales are expected to reach upwards of $100 million by 2023.
Image Credit: Pixabay, Pexels
The Netherlands was responsible for the highest coffee consumption in 2020, reaching 8.3 kilograms per capita.
(Espresso Coffee Time)
People in the Netherlands love coffee. In 2020, they were the world leader in coffee consumption.
15.In 2019, the world reported the lowest coffee prices per pound in more than a decade.
(National Coffee Association)
2019 was a great year for coffee drinkers. Prices were at the lowest per pound than they have been in over a decade, but pandemic impacts have bumped the prices back up and have yet to match 2019 levels.
Image Credit: Ri_Ya, Pixabay
US Coffee Statistics
16.The United States ranks 25th in the most coffee consumed per capita.
(World Atlas)
While people in the US may love coffee, when it comes to per capita consuming the country ranks 25th. This comes out to roughly 9.26 pounds per person.
17.In 2020, there were over 37,000 coffee shops or cafes in the United States.
(World Coffee Portal)
The US is well-known for coffee shops. In 2020, more than 37,000 coffee shops were active in the country. Imagine if we included all the places that simply served coffee but weren’t labeled cafes, the number would likely be 10 times as big.
Image Credit: Charlotte May, Pexels
On average, US coffee drinkers consume two to three cups of coffee each day.
(Statista)
The love of coffee in the United States is clear. However, on average, coffee drinkers in the US consume two to three cups of coffee each day, which is somewhat tame compared to some European countries.
19.59% of Americans consume coffee every day.
(National Coffee Association)
According to a 2019 study, more than half of Americans over 18 years of age drink at least 1 cup of coffee per day. This number is down from 2013, when 63% of Americans drank 1 cup of coffee per day.
Image Credit: Engin_Akyurt, Pixabay
Finland is the top coffee drinker in the world.
(World Atlas)
Finland is the top coffee drinker globally, with the average person drinking more than 26 pounds of coffee per year. Norway is the second biggest drinker, with the average person drinking a little more than 21 pounds per person. Many Americans think that they are big coffee drinkers, but the U.S. is actually in 25th place, behind France, Germany, Austria, and Canada.
21.Seniors drink more coffee than young adults.
(Statista)
The amount of coffee that we consume in the United States varies by age. For example, you might expect that young adults burdened with college and work would consume the most coffee, but it turns out that seniors are the biggest drinkers, with some studies showing a steady increase as we age. Currently, 70% of seniors consume coffee regularly, while slightly less than half of young adults do.
Young people are more likely to visit coffee shops.
(Statista)
Research shows that more than a 1/3 of Americans ages 18–29 recently purchased coffee from a coffee shop, while only a 1/4 of older people did. Older Americans also prefer to use traditional drip machines, while younger people are more open to experimenting with other forms, like the French press, AeroPress, and cold brew.
29% of people drink coffee to relax.
(Statista)
When asked why they drink coffee, 29% of people said that they like to consume it to relax, so they enjoy it in the afternoon or early evening instead of treating it as a pick-me-up during breakfast.
24.There are almost 20,000 people producing coffee in the United States.
(IBIS World)
19,849 people are working to produce coffee in the United States as of 2022. This number has increased steadily since 2019 and should continue to rise at a rate of 3% for the next several years.
25.Starbucks is currently the most popular coffee shop.
(World Coffee Portal)
Starbucks is currently the most popular coffee shop in the United States and is responsible for 40% of the market. Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) is in second place with 26%.
Image Credit: Adrianna Calvo, Pexels
Tea is one of the oldest beverages in the world.
(Food and Agriculture Organization)
Some experts say that humans started drinking tea somewhere around 2700 B.C., and there are more than 1,000 varieties available.
27.China and Japan drink more than 40% of the tea produced each year.
(Grand View Research)
China and Japan consume more than 40% of the tea made each year, which is the most in any region. Experts expect tea consumption to grow in other countries in the region, like Thailand, Indonesia, and India, which will enable them to control an even larger market share.
28. 33% of people in the United Kingdom drink four to five cups of tea per day during the week.
Statista)
While surveying tea drinkers in the United Kingdom in 2019, researchers learned that 33% drink more than 4 cups per day during the week. This number should increase in the coming years.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Researchers expect the tea market in the United States to grow by more than 5% each year.
(Statista)
Researchers expect the tea market in the United States to grow by more than 5% each year from 2022 through 2025. Currently, the average person spends around $30 per year on tea.
30.Seattle, Washington, consumes the most coffee in the United States.
(Caffeine Informer)
Seattle, Washington, has the highest rate of coffee consumption in the United States. Other cities that make the top 10 list include Portland, Oregon; San Jose, California; Denver, Colorado; and New York City, New York.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tea Drinkers vs Coffee Drinkers
Which has more caffeine, coffee or tea?
While tea leaves have more caffeine than coffee beans, it is the brewing process that makes all the difference. More coffee beans are used when making a cup of coffee, therefore brewed coffee has more caffeine content than seeped or brewed tea. (Healthline)
Who prefers sugar in their drink more? Tea drinkers or coffee drinkers?
According to a survey conducted by OnePoll, most coffee drinkers prefer their beverage black. When it comes to tea, however, most people want sugar added. (SWNS Digital)
Which drink do people prefer most in the mornings?
When it comes to waking up, coffee is the clear winner for those that need the caffeine jolt. Yes, people enjoy tea in the mornings, but most caffeine lovers consider coffee the stronger of the two and the most likely to supply the surge needed to get their day started.
Image Credit: Engin_Akyurt, Pixabay
Are Tea and Coffee Bad for You?
One thing every tea or coffee drinker wonders is whether their drink of choice is bad for them. Each beverage brings something different to the table so let’s take a look at each one below.
The Good and Bad of Tea
Whether you’re a fan of hot tea, iced tea, sweetened tea, or tea with honey the most important question is what will it do to your health. One of the biggest things to keep in mind when you’re drinking tea is the amount of caffeine it contains. Each type of tea is different. Black tea contains more caffeine than green tea. Plus, the caffeine level in tea changes according to how it’s brewed. However, tea also includes L-theanine, which helps metabolize the caffeine it contains. This is why most people who drink tea feel more sustained energy than coffee drinkers.
The Good and Bad of Coffee
While coffee contains a lot more caffeine than tea, that doesn’t mean it’s bad for you. Coffee is a great way to wake up in the mornings, but it also offers more antioxidants than tea. Antioxidants are good for the body and can help fight against several diseases and disorders. By consuming the proper amount of caffeine recommended daily, coffee drinkers can use the love of their favorite beverage to help improve their health in some ways.
Do More People Drink Tea or Coffee?
While tea is the most popular beverage worldwide, coffee is close, especially in Finland and other European countries. It’s not quite as old as tea, but it’s still much older than many modern beverages, and it’s becoming more popular with the invention of specialty products, like espresso. These beverages aren’t going anywhere, and experts expect sales to continue to grow until at least 2027.
Is the coffee and tea market growing?
Yes. Experts believe that the coffee and tea market will grow by at least 5% annually from 2022 to 2027. The anti-aging properties of tea and the increasing popularity of both beverages among the youth will help boost sales. In addition, a growing preference toward non-alcoholic beverages and an increase in consumption of ready-to-drink beverages will also help drive sales. (Digital Journal)
Why is tea the most popular drink in the world?
It’s hard to nail down a specific reason for the popularity of tea. That said, people have been brewing it for thousands of years, long before most modern beverages, and there are currently close to a thousand varieties available. Tea has anti-aging properties, and it can also improve brain function, protect against cancer, and reduce the risk of heart disease, among other health benefits that help make it popular. It’s also a traditional drink in China and Japan, two countries that not only have huge populations but are also responsible for growing much of the tea that we drink. (Healthline)
Image Credit: Pixabay
What kinds of tea are available?
There is a wide variety of teas available for consumption in the United States and abroad. Traditionally, the most popular type is black tea, but recently, green and oolong tea have become popular. Green tea is especially sought after due to its health benefits. You can also find white tea, yellow tea, and Pu-erh. All kinds of tea come from the same plant, the Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to China. The difference between them is a result of the harvesting and preparation process.
What kinds of coffees are available?
Unlike the different kinds of tea, which generally come from the same plant, there are several varieties of coffee trees, and each can affect the final flavor. Environmental concerns like rain and sunshine can also affect the finished product. However, most people purchase their coffee primarily by its roast. A light roast will have a gentle, earthy taste, while dark roasts have a burned flavor that many people enjoy. Dark roasts also tend to have more caffeine and pack more of a punch to help you get moving. The standard coffee from Dunkin is a medium roast, while Starbucks specializes in dark-roasted coffee.
Conclusion
As you can see, tea may be the better selling beverage, but the love for coffee is steadily growing. When it comes to money, coffee is clearly the bigger industry. Whether you’re a fan of a morning cup of joe or a nice cup of tea to unwind, one thing is constant, great taste. Each beverage has caffeine and can be sweetened to your liking so enjoy your coffee or tea and remember to be open-minded when someone offers you something different. You may end up becoming a fan of a drink you never imagined you’d like.
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Joanna Kosinska, Unsplash
What country are you in and what is your beverage of choice and is that hot or cold?
I am in the US and my beverage choice is tea, hot or cold but I also enjoy iced coffee. I won’t touch hot coffee though.
Thanks for stopping in and enjoy that beverage of choice soon!
320 pages Montlake publisher June 28,2022 publish date
About The Book
A talented baker and a small-town sheriff forced into a fake relationship decide whether to take a chance on love in this delectable romance from Joy Avery.
Baker extraordinaire Rylee Harris has a recipe for everything—except love. It’s been five years since she lost her husband, but romance is still a struggle for Rylee. In her small hamlet of Honey Hill, North Carolina, Rylee knows she’ll be the talk of the town when she finds someone new.
To ease her mother’s worries about her love life, Rylee impulsively invents a fake relationship with the only man who’s caught her eye: the town sheriff, Canten Barnes. It’s supposed to be a secret, but secrets don’t last long in Honey Hill. One bit of gossip leads to another, and soon the whole town thinks Rylee and Canten are an item.
As Rylee and Canten embark on a make-believe relationship to save face, they slowly realize that their feelings for each other aren’t fake at all. Can Rylee and Canten keep the charade going—or will the town’s prized baker and respected lawman take a real chance on love?
Sweeter than Honey is a book you just need to read. I fell in love with Rylee Harris, a baker in Honey Hill, North Carolina and sheriff, Canten Barnes. Both have lost a spouse and though not ready to move on romantically they “secretly” have been attracted to each other. Rylee’s mother tries to set her up with other people, so she tells her she is dating, Canten. Canten agrees to it for his own reason, the ladies in town just won’t leave him alone. The sexual tension is there when they are together. Will this “fake” relationship last much longer before it becomes “real.” The book is filled with humor. I loved seeing the camaraderie between Rylee and her best girlfriends. Talking about laughter, oh the things these ladies talk about and get into. The book is so charming, I just loved the characters. You’ve got to love Canten, as the sheriff he arranges his schedule so he’s able to drive past the bakery when Rylee is working at 4:30 a.m. just to be sure he safe. Canten and Rylee each have a dynamic relationship with their parents and each other’s parents. This couple is sweet, sassy and everything in between and I will now need to read more by this author.
Pub Date 28 Jun 2022 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
By day, Joy Avery works as an engagement manager. By night, the North Carolina native travels to imaginary worlds–creating characters whose romantic journeys invariably end happily ever after.
Since she was a young girl growing up in Garner, Joy knew she wanted to write. Stumbling onto romance novels, she discovered her passion for love stories; instantly, she knew these were the type stories she wanted to pen.
Real characters. Real journeys. Real good love is what you’ll find in a Joy Avery romance.
Joy is married with one child. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, crafting, collecting glitter and Sharpie markers, and driving her husband insane.
13-Year-Old Boy Opens Bakery and Gives a Cupcake to the Homeless for Every Treat Sold Michael Platt bakes dozens of treats each month, and even makes special creations to honor civil rights leaders
PHOTO: KATHERINE FREY/THE WASHINGTON POST VIA GETTY
Ever since he was little, Michael Platt has loved to bake.
The 13-year-old boy, of Bowie, Maryland, has also been passionate about advocacy against childhood hunger and income inequality, according to the Washington Post. Two years ago, he decided to combine his two loves and founded Michaels Desserts, a bakery in which Michael donates a treat to the homeless and hungry for each cake, cookie or cupcake sold.
“I always wanted to have a purpose for what I do,” Michael told the Post. “It’s all about helping people — not just having a purpose for yourself, but thinking about, ‘How does this touch other things?’ ”
He sells about 75 cupcakes a month, offering four for $15, the Post reported. With that, he makes more than 100 treats to give away and drops them off twice a month at locations including transitional housing, domestic violence shelters and McPherson Square in Washington, D.C.
Earlier this month, Michael handed out cupcakes in the square and met people from all walks of life.
“There was a man sitting in the park. He was wearing, like, a suit and tie,” Michael recalled to WJLA. “We gave him a cupcake and he said that he hadn’t eaten in three days. So we learned that hunger doesn’t really look like anything.”
He’s even teamed up with No Kid Hungry, a nonprofit organization working to end child hunger in America, according to the station.
“I knew that I wanted to make a business, but I knew I didn’t just want to make money — I also wanted to help people at the same time,” Michael told WJLA.
He bakes out of his family’s home and lends his culinary skills to events like birthdays, anniversaries and weddings, according to the Post.
Michael, who is now home-schooled, withdrew from public school after he was diagnosed with epilepsy and began suffering severe seizures in sixth grade, Platt’s mother, Danita Platt, told the Post.
“It was a very, very difficult time,” Danita said of the period after Michael was diagnosed. “He had to stop everything he loved: gymnastics, climbing trees, diving. So that’s when he kind of threw himself into baking.”
Michael has been able to show his creative side through baking and offers a new “chef’s choice” each month in which he carefully creates a themed cupcake, he told the Post.
He calls these his “freedom fighter cupcakes.”
“So I choose a person to base a cupcake off for each month,” Michael said. “And each month I have a flavor that represents them — and I’ll tell their story on my Instagram page.”
The special cupcake for June is a banana pudding cupcake made to honor Maya Angelou, according to the publication. He plans to make edible creations in tribute of Harriet Tubman and Nelson Mandela.
He’s honored Marin Luther King Jr. with a cupcake full of sweet potato pie filling twice, he said.
374 pages Revell publisher February 7,2023 publish date
About the Book
When the Germans march into Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt exchanges his nobility for anonymity, assuming a new identity so he can secretly row messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden.
American physicist Dr. Else Jensen refuses to leave Copenhagen and abandon her research–her life’s dream. While printing resistance newspapers, she hears stories of the movement’s legendary Havmand–the merman–and wonders if the mysterious and silent shipyard worker living in the same boardinghouse has something to hide.
When the Occupation cracks down on the Danes, these two passionate people will discover if there is more power in speech . . . or in silence. Bestselling author of more than a dozen WWII novels, Sarah Sundin offers pens another story of ordinary people responding to extraordinary circumstances with faith, fortitude, and hope for a brighter future.
There are many, many authors that write WWII fiction but when I want to read the best researched facts in a book, I read Sarah Sundin. Her books are the most realistic of any of this type I’ve read. A very compelling read, I could not put it down. The characters draw you in, some make you root for them, some really fooled me with their actions and some, well they are the perfect villains. A Baron trades his nobility for several different identities to avoid being detected as the one rowing messages for the Danish Resistance across the waters to Sweden. This is a love story, an intense love story between a baron and an American physicist, Dr. Else Jensen. Henrik and Else know how dangerous the work the other one does and if they get caught it could involve death. It was heartwarming seeing how protective they are of each other. The story is full of courageous characters and loyalty, you can just feel the tension in the book and the lengths they go to to stay one step ahead of danger. Though the book is full of dangerous circumstances you can still feel the strength and perseverance these characters have as they look forward to a brighter future they know is coming. I highly recommend this book to you!
Pub Date 07 Feb 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling and Christy Award-winning author of The Sound of Light (February 2023), Until Leaves Fall in Paris (2022), When Twilight Breaks (2021), and several World War II series.
Sarah’s novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. Until Leaves Fall in Paris received the 2022 Christy Award, When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were finalists for the Christy Award, and The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award.
A mother of three, Sundin lives in Southern California and enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers’ groups. Sarah serves as Co-Director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference. Please visit Sarah at http://www.sarahsundin.com, on Facebook at SarahSundinAuthor, on Twitter at @sarahsundin, and on Instagram at @sarahsundinauthor.
I hope you’re having a marvelous day. Thank you for stopping in.
Lindsay Buchanan was walking to her car to head to work one morning when her neighbor rushed up to her and told her she’d noticed a cat swimming in the nearby bay in front of their neighborhood. The bay is surrounded by a very tall sea wall, making it nearly impossible for even a human to climb out if they’ve fallen in, let alone an animal, meaning it was definitely an emergency situation.
“She had been watching the water with binoculars and saw ‘two little triangles’ sticking out of the water,” Buchanan told The Dodo. “She kept watch while making calls to get help for about 40 minutes, but everyone she spoke to said that wasn’t in their job description to do water rescues for animals. She had been watching the cat swim aimlessly, pulled along by the current, meanwhile birds were circling and swooping down. She then went outside to find help when she saw me and told me what was happening. I immediately alerted my family to hurry outside as well while keeping my eye on the cat’s location in the water.”
Buchanan’s sister was just about ready to jump into the water to grab the cat and figure things out from there when they remembered they had another neighbor who owned a ladder — one that he had purchased for just such an occasion — and a paddle board. They quickly alerted him to what was happening and enlisted him to paddle out and rescue the cat.
“I kept my eyes trained on the cat’s location with binoculars in case he went under,” Buchanan said. “It was nerve-racking watching the neighbor paddle out, but he finally got there, grabbed the cat and placed him on the paddle board. The cat didn’t struggle. He was exhausted and meowing loudly the whole ride back to the sea wall. We were all so relieved and thankful he was saved!”
Buchanan rushed the cat, later named Baby, back to her apartment to get him dried off and cleaned up. She figured he would be pretty out of sorts after his ordeal, but he was actually strangely calm.
“He was acting totally fine — friendly and exploring the room,” Buchanan said. “He didn’t act at all like he’d just survived a near-death experience!”
After a trip to the vet, they discovered that Baby was actually blind, which may be how he ended up in the bay in the first place. Unfortunately, they also found that he’d contracted a flesh-eating bacteria from the water, and it took quite a long time for poor Baby to heal from that. After tons of medication and lots of rest, though, he was finally healed and could actually start to enjoy his life post-rescue.
“We searched extensively for his owners to no avail,” Buchanan said. “When it became clear there wasn’t a loving home to return him to, I couldn’t resist making him a member of my family! I love animals and had bonded with him immediately. I wanted to give him the great life he deserved!”
Baby is now all settled in and loving his new life. His blindness doesn’t affect him at all, and he has become the leader of the family’s cat pack. He went from struggling in the bay to being cuddled up with daily with all of his loved ones, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
I just love doing these posts. It’s always so much fun reading everyone’s comments. First Line Friday is hosted by Reading is my Super Power . It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line or so. Today I’m featuring the first line ofIrish Coffee Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross. Now I’ve never read books by any of these authors so if you have do you have any recommendations for me?
And the first line is………
“Spring in Tinker’s Cove, ” grumbled Lucy Stone. “It’s an oxymoron. There is no such thing.”
About The Book
311 pages Kensington Publishers January 24,23 publish date
You don’t need to be Irish to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in Maine, where the chilly March weather offers the perfect excuse to curl up with an Irish coffee. But someone may have spiked this year’s brew with murder . . .
IRISH COFFEE MURDER by LESLIE MEIER Part-time reporter Lucy Stone is writing a piece for the Courier about four Irish step dancing students from Tinker’s Cove on the cusp of making it big. But the story becomes headline news for all the wrong reasons when one girl’s mother is found dead in her bathtub. Did a stage mom take rivalry too far, or is some other motive at play?
DEATH OF AN IRISH COFFEE DRINKER by LEE HOLLIS As owner of Bar Harbor’s hottest new restaurant, Hayley Powell offers to cater the after-party for popular comedian Jefferson O’Keefe, who’s playing his old hometown for St. Patrick’s Day. But it’s no laughing matter when Jefferson keels over after gulping down his post-show Irish coffee, leaving Hayley to figure out who decided this joker had gone too far . . .
PERKED UP by BARBARA ROSS It’s a snowy St. Patrick’s Day in Busman’s Harbor. But when the power goes out, what better way for Julia Snowden to spend the evening than sharing local ghost stories—and Irish coffees—with friends and family? By the time the lights come back, they might even have solved the coldest case in town . . .
What are the first lines of the book closest to you?
Have a great day. Thanks for stopping in.
How many of you remember the show the Powerpuff Girls?
Pia Temple has always had a soft spot for Jackson Moody following a passionate teenage love affair that burnt out over one long summer, more than ten years ago. First loves can be hard to forget, and the devastatingly gorgeous Jackson, is harder to forget than most.
After putting aside her ambitions while she cared for her parents, it is finally time for Pia to think about herself. So, when she’s offered the perfect job running the social calendar at Primrose Hall, with a dreamy flat included, how can she refuse? There’s only one problem… The new owner of the refurbished seventeenth-century manor house set in the idyllic Primrose Woods, is none other than Jackson, the man she’s thought about every day for years.
In a whirl of weddings and craft fairs, literary festivals and tea parties, Pia blossoms in her new role. But with the delectable Jackson a daily distraction, maybe this isn’t the dream job after all – especially when Jackson’s unfeasibly beautiful ex-girlfriend Tara, comes back to visit the hall…
Dreams Come True at Primrose Hall is the perfect feel-good love story to brighten even the darkest day. Just right for fans of Cathy Bramley, Heidi Swain and Julie Houston.
The characters have jumped off the pages and become friends. I’m about to pop in and have tea with them. Primrose Hall sounds marvelous. I can see how anyone would feel comfortable living there. And the spacious grounds sound ideal as well. I am getting ahead of myself though. Pia continues to live in her home after her parents’ death and her mother’s best friend, Wendy lives next door. Pia has known Wendy her whole life and she sees her as a grandmotherly figure. With Wendy’s increasing mobility issues Pia pops in and takes her dog Betrice for a walk daily while checking on and having a visit with Wendy. This comes to an end when Wendy has a bad fall and she has to go the hospital and then will have a long recovery. Pia has to move out of her house, and she doesn’t want to leave Wendy’s dog. An ex is looking for a help mate at Primrose Hall and it looks like the perfect solution for Pia, a home and a place for Betrice. This book follows Pia as she adjusts to living at Primrose Hall while having her own flat there. Seeing her ex and him being her boss can get rather awkward. Jackson Moody seems to be everywhere Pia looks and it just brings to the forefront their long-ago romance. If only he wasn’t so nice, and she wasn’t falling for him all over again. After meeting Daniel and going on several dates with him, she isn’t sure who to choose for a boyfriend and it becomes a bit of a love triangle. I know who I chose before she chose, and I think she made the right choice. I enjoyed this book so much. Meeting Wendy the grandmotherly woman, the wonderful Bertie that everyone loved and did not want to see go to her old owner and I loved the sweet romance this book had. This feel-good make you happy book is perfect for sipping your tea and totally relaxing after a stressful day.
Pub Date 22 Feb 2023 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
About The Author
Jill Steeples is the author of many successful women’s fiction titles – most recently the Dog and Duck series – all set in the close communities of picturesque English villages. She lives in Bedfordshire.
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