Caffeinated Reviewer | Of Owls and Oolong by Shari L. Tapscott
2nd Jul
I was in the mood for a cozy fantasy and was delighted by the chance to review Of Owls and Oolong by Shari L. Tapscott, the first audiobook in the Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances series. A young summer fairy finds she has inherited her great aunt’s cottage and tea shop in Moss Hollow, Vermont—a magical community. Of course, there are stipulations and rules. I quickly found myself all in.
Of Owls and Oolong
by Shari L. Tapscott
Series: Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances #1
Narrator: Natalie Duke
Length: 7 hours
Genres: Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible | Libro.fm *affiliate
Rating: 
Heat Level: 
The author of A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening and Obsidian Queen brings you a lighthearted fantasy full of humor and romance, set in a cozy contemporary fae town in Vermont. Welcome to Moss Hollow.
There are three things you need to know about my great aunt—she’s eccentric, she’s rich, and she’s dead. No, make that four things. She also named me as the sole beneficiary of her fortune. There are, however, a few stipulations.
1. I must move into her cottage in Moss Hollow, Vermont—a magical community that values tradition and tourists.
2. I must keep her beloved tea shop open and running for at least three years.
3. I must take care of her tiny owl, a prickly creature by the name of Rowan. He’s moody, opinionated, and he used to be a mage.
He doesn’t like me, he doesn’t like my dog, and he really doesn’t like the handsome fae councilman who starts hanging around as soon as I arrive in town.
But for a small fortune, Rowan and I are going to learn to coexist long enough for me to figure out how to turn him back into his normal self with my “cute and worthless” pixie magic—preferably before he ruins my dating life or drives me insane.
Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances is a rom-com style contemporary fantasy. The perfect lighthearted escape, this story is sure to delight readers who enjoy cozy magic and humor.
The books in this series feature smoldering-but-sweet, closed-door romance. (Passionate kisses and some innuendo, but no spicy scenes.)
This was a delightful start to the Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances series. Kathleen, or Kit as she prefers, is surprised when she finds out she has inherited her great-aunt’s estate. Kit is a summer fairy and arrives in Moss Hollow, Vermont with her cat and a list of stipulations regarding her inheritance. One of those is that she cares for her aunt’s owl, and another is that she must run the tea shop for three-years.
Moss Hollow is a hidden fae community that sells its wares to humans who come daily to shop and experience the town. No cars are permitted, and the magic of the town is kept secret. The residents comprise fae, fairies, shifters, and mages.
When she enters the cottage with its overflowing gardens and homey feel, she is both nervous and excited. Here she meets her roommate, an owl. His name is Rowan. Imagine her surprise when he talks to her. He is grumpy and must be close to her aunt’s age. I will leave you to discover his story, which I found fascinating. Kit meets Ash, a high fae who works for the city council, when he arrives on her doorstep asking if she has read the town’s rules, etc. There is a spark between them, and Kit shimmers.
The tale that unfolded was the perfect start to this series/trilogy as Kit navigates her new home, learning about teas and community. All while dealing with Rowan, her budding attraction to Ash, and a few other surprises.
I loved the cozy small-town, and we met some of the townsfolk. I am looking forward to meeting more of them. The story was well-paced, and the overall arc of the series was established. Natalie Duke did a wonderful job of giving voice to Kit, Ash, Rowan, and others. Her performance enhanced my enjoyment, and at just seven hours, this is perfect for a summer road trip.
*kindleunlimited
About Shari L. Tapscott
USA Today bestselling author Shari L. Tapscott writes romantic fantasy adventure and contemporary romance. When she’s not writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, making soap, and pretending she can sing. She loves white chocolate mochas, furry animals, spending time with her family, and characters who refuse to behave. Tapscott lives in western Colorado with her husband, son, daughter, and several extremely spoiled pets.
About Natalie Duke
Natalie Duke is an Emmy and SOVAS award winning voice actor. A lifelong voracious reader, Natalie is inspired by excellent writing, complicated characters, and dark humor. She loves a snarky, strong, sarcastic heroine.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat.
