Boston, 1773Emma Malcolm’s father is staunchly loyal to the crown, but Emma’s heart belongs to Noah Winslow, a lowly printer’s assistant and Patriot. But her father has promised her hand to Samuel Clarke, a rapacious and sadistic man. As his fiancée, she would have to give up Noah and the friends who have become like family to her–as well as the beliefs she has come to embrace.After Emma is … Emma is drawn into the treasonous Boston Tea Party, Samuel blackmails her with evidence that condemns each participant, including Noah. Emma realizes she must do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means giving up the life she desires and becoming Samuel’s wife.Present DayLieutenant Hayley Ashworth is determined to be the first woman inducted into the elite Navy SEALs. But before her dream can be realized, she must return to Boston in order to put the abuse and neglect of her childhood behind her. When an unexpected encounter with the man she once loved leads to the discovery of a tea chest and the document hidden within, she wonders if perhaps true strength and freedom are buried deeper than she first realized.Two women, separated by centuries, must find the strength to fight for love and freedom. . . and discover a heritage of courage and faith.
more
Captivating from the first page. I couldn’t read this novel fast enough, and yet the beautiful writing compelled me to slow down and experience every line. Dual tales of courage, love, and freedom proved even more poignant for being woven together as one. Steeped in timeless truths and served with skill, The Tea Chest is sure to be savored by all who read it.
What a skillfully woven tale! Heidi wove the stories of Emma and Hayley beautifully with their struggles and fears being very similar despite the over 200 years separating them. The story overall reads quickly(at least for me) but it wasn’t the easiest read for me due to some of the heartbreaking moments as well as a couple of other plot points that happen during Emma’s story line. I enjoyed the mystery for Hayley and Ethan to find out more about the Tea Chest and learning about Noah and Emma in the process. Both women’s journeys were interesting and held my attention. All in all, an enjoyable read-just be warned there are a couple scenes not for the faint of heart.
I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own
This story is an impressive work of art. Filled with emotion and bold characters who are unapologetic in their beliefs and relentless in their pursuit of liberty. The abundant life breathed into these characters and the authentic attention to historical details all came together to create a vibrant story that is sure to stick with you long after you’ve read the last words on the page.
I fully enjoyed my time spent with this dual-timeline story. If you had asked me early on I would have said that the historical timeline was my favorite. But after reaching the end of the book and getting to know and understand Hayley better, I’m not hard-pressed to give an answer because I find that I love both timelines equally.
A few times I had to put the book down and look up a historical detail just to assuage my curiosity. Now more than ever I want to take a trip to Boston and see the sites for myself. I highly recommend this fantastic story!
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I am not required to write a positive review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.)
I so enjoyed this book. I really couldn’t put it down. The author writes with great detail that immerses you in revolutionary Boston as easily as modern day California. I was struck by the amount of research that she must have done to create the Navy Seal training scenes. As a lover of historical romance, the historical thread was probably my favorite. As a woman in the 18th century, Emma Malcolm didn’t have many choices but when put to the test, she chose to follow her own convictions when it came to both love and politics. The patriot, Noah Winslow, was a totally swoon worthy hero. Chivaroli’s contemporary heroine, Hayley Ashworth, was multi-dimensional and flawed, and I couldn’t help rooting for her to overcome her past and learn to trust in something bigger than herself. I loved the spiritual elements of this story– that freedom is found when we surrender our lives, our plans, and our future to God. Both of Chivaroli’s heroines come from somewhat dysfunctional homes and both characters are searching for somewhere to belong. I thought it was very clever that the author had Hayley learn this lesson from her distant ancestor, Emma, through Emma’s private writings. I think all of us yearn to belong, and everyone will be able to relate to the struggles these characters face.
The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli is a split time novel. It features two strong women from two different centuries. Emma Malcolm is interested in politics despite being told it is unladylike and inappropriate. While her father is loyal to the King in 1773 Boston, Emma sides with those who are against the tyranny of the crown with their endless taxes. Emma has fallen for printer’s apprentice, Noah Winslow. Unfortunately, her father has betrothed Emma to Samuel Clarke whose father is an importer. Emma finds herself making a terrible choice if she wishes to protect those she loves. Hayley Ashworth is in the Navy and will soon begin SEAL training. She wants her mind clear for the upcoming rigorous training, so she journeys home to Medford, Massachusetts to talk with her mother (a drug addict). Hayley runs into her old flame, Ethan which brings up feelings that she has buried for the last six years. After being gifted an old tea chest, Hayley discovers a secret hidden within it that sends her searching for answers. Hayley learns about the tea chest and so much more. I enjoyed reading The Tea Chest. It is a compelling novel featuring two women who must have strength if they are get through what lies ahead for them. I thought The Tea Chest was well-written with developed characters. The author captured the 1770s beautifully with the language, the clothing, and people’s attitudes. Heidi Chiavaroli depicts the events that led up to the American Revolution. We see people tired of the excessive taxes, tarring and feathering, the Boston Tea Party, and Bunker Hill. It was a violent time and the author did not hold back. Faith is interwoven into the story. Emma is a woman of faith along with Noah, while Hayley still needs to find God. I like how we are shown the importance of prayer and believing in God. It is wonderful how the two sections came together into one complete story. The Tea Chest is a riveting novel that will have staying up into the wee hours to finish it (prepare for book hangover the next day). The Tea Chest has an unfeeling father, a tea chest, a reprobate husband-to-be, an intrepid printer’s apprentice, a round robin, and heroic women.
I found The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli to be captivating and hard to put down! Imbued with timeless truths, the two interwoven stories gave me much food for thought. Just exactly the type of book I like to sit down and get lost in. It was a bonus that historical fiction with dual timeline stories are my favorite type of stories. I didn’t know many of the details of the Boston Tea Party, and Author Heidi Chiavaroli made that time period come alive for me. She did not shy away from difficulties and I loved how these strong women in both stories journeyed through their trials while searching for courage and purpose, finding so much more along the way.
I have many underlined quotes in this book, but this one is so completely sigh-worthy. “Go chase your dreams, but remember, you are not alone. I am waiting.”
Love the author’s note on the true history at the end. Now Boston and the surrounding area is on my history trip bucket list. I highly recommend The Tea Chest!
“Which is more honorable – loyalty or liberty?”
With powerful authenticity, award winning author Heidi Chiavaroli takes readers on an emotional and highly compelling journey to the birthplace of the American Revolution in her latest novel, The Tea Chest. This time-slip novel follows the historical storyline of Emma Malcolm, the daughter of a Loyalist, during 1773 in Boston and the present-day storyline of Lieutenant Hayley Ashworth, who is determined to overcome her past and become a Navy SEAL. A mysterious chest found in a Boston antique store weaves the past and present together, as the fight for freedom reveals courage and strength through the grace of God.
Heidi Chiavaroli is known for writing incredible time-slip novels that tackle difficult topics while, at the same time, drawing readers closer to their faith. She authentically depicts events leading to the American Revolution, including the increase in violence and cruelty from both the Patriots and Loyalists, while sharing the message that our God-given worth is found inside of us rather than where we come from. The Boston Tea Party is an extraordinary part of American history, and this novel is one that readers do not want to miss.
In my opinion, all four of Heidi Chiavaroli’s novels are 5-star quality, but The Tea Chest has earned a place as my new favorite novel of hers, with Freedom’s Ring being my second favorite. The Tea Chest is highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, women’s fiction, and readers who enjoy time-slip novels. The Tea Chest is on my top ten list of books for 2019 (even though it is not officially being released until February 4, 2020).
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
In this time split novel, I admired Emma for standing up against her parents who were extremely loyal to the crown. A favorite quote from the book from Emma: …”how the contents in one’s cup were capable of tearing apart a town—nay, an entire kingdom.” I can’t imagine the weight on her shoulders as she goes with her conscience as a patriot and against her very own family.
At first I related better to Hayley who had the strength to try and become the first female Navy Seal. I began to see her struggle with any decision making, and most especially with her decision to attempt to make amends with her difficult and addicted mother.
Both characters had more strength than the average woman. It was easier to see this in the life and death situations that Emma encounters. Hayley was a harder charcter to grasp since she seemed to waver on most of her important decisions. Ultimately, both women were so strong in different ways that they both really left an impression on me.
I won this book on a blog giveaway and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Oh my! What a thrilling tale. It makes me want to look for a forgotten family item and research its connection to the past. The American Revolution is treasure trove of possibilities for adventure. Well done!
The Tea Chest is exactly what I’ve come to expect from author Heidi Chiavaroli. It’s an emotional, gripping dual timeline story, and I couldn’t put it down.
In present day, Hayley is attempting to make it into the Navy Seals, while Emma is struggling to place her loyalties–to the crown, like her domineering father, or with love interest Noah and their friends, who are Patriots. I loved how the author links the women together with a tea chest from the Boston Tea Party.
The author is skilled at juggling dual timelines with two characters sharing similar struggles in vastly different worlds. Hayley’s strength keeps her safe but separates her from others, including her ex-boyfriend. Emma must examine what she believes and decide where her heart lies. Both women need to summon courage as they face their future and question all they thought they believed.
Both stories are vivid and engrossing because of the author’s lyrical way with words and meticulous research. Emma’s in particular moved me as she fought for freedom for her country and struggled to wade through the dangerous birth pains of our country.
I appreciate that the author doesn’t sugar coat the physical and emotional anguish those who founded our country experienced. I highly recommend The Tea Chest and eagerly look for Heidi Chiavaroli’s next story.
I enjoyed this timeslip novel very much. Emma’s story, set during the American Revolution at the time of the Boston Tea Party, was my favorite of the two storylines. Heidi Chiavaroli is a master at writing timeslip fiction. I highly recommend this book.
With The Tea Chest, Heidi Chiavaroli dives into an important moment in American history and brought it to life for readers. I really liked learning more about the Boston Tea Party and seeing the struggles from the character’s perspective. This is why I enjoy diving into historical fiction because I always learn more from the story than a texbook. Even though I enjoyed the historical time line, there is also a contemporary timeline trying to solve the mystery of what happened with the historical timeline. Both characters are brave and have the time to show that and believe they are brave through their actions. Both characters transform by the end of the story. Overall, The Tea Chest is a delightful read. Chiavaroli really did her research. I highly recommend this story for fans of American history. Maybe even pass it on to younger readers who are bored with history. Maybe they won’t find history so boring anymore.
I received a complimentary copy of The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli through Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
What a wonderfully written story! And so very interesting! I laughed, I cried, I held my breath and I was giddy at times. Exciting enough that I couldn’t read fast enough but such a wonderful story that I wanted to slow down and enjoy every page. This is a dual timeline story that comes together so beautifully in the end.
I recommend this story to everyone!
Simply put, The Tea Chest took my breath away. Once again Chiavaroli has managed to pen a stunning, captivating, and poignant novel. It not only transports readers back in time, but takes them on a riveting present day journey as well. Readers will find themselves drawn to the vivid settings, welcoming characters, and extraordinary story lines.
I found Hayley’s story to be quite fascinating. First of all, I now realize that there is no way I would make it as a Navy SEAL. Chiavaroli’s ability to research, and put her findings in a story always astonish me. Watching Hayley go through training, and the rigorous regiment of daily life in a SEAL-in-training was something I couldn’t tear away from. But then as she started her journey in learning about the chest, I found out so much more about her character. She seemed to come alive, in ways that even surprised Hayley.
The romance factor was there, but that wasn’t what intrigued m in Hayley’s story. It was more of Hayley finding herself and what she wanted from the world. I think quite often people have this dream, that might not truly be their own dream, but something to yearn for. Only to discover that perhaps there is a little something more to life than that one goal.
Emma’s story just blew me away. The whole family versus beliefs story was one that really struck a chord with me. I can’t say I would have reacted the same as Emma. I’d like to think I would of course. But how many people are faced with that decision? If you think about it – everyone who has lost family members. You have to decide whether to follow the Lord, or follow your family. Reading Emma’s story reminded me how important it is to follow what you know is right.
To add to the depth of this already amazing novel, Chiavaroli effortlessly weaves a faith theme that will speak to your heart. You see a character relying on the only One who can truly help them in a situation. Not only is this encouraging, it’s enlightening. It reminds readers of how important it is to go to the Lord first. I love reminders like this in the novels I read.
The Tea Chest is a must read for 2020. It gives readers romance, adventure, history, second chances, and faith. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
“You don’t have to be afraid to face your past if you’re certain of what you’re about now.”
Two women, living centuries apart, are uncertain of who they are. Caught between loyalty or liberty, Emma Malcom’s British roots are deeply embedded, yet it’s an handsome Patriot who causes her heart to sing. Could she? Would she?
Fast forward to Lietenant Hayley Ashworth, a woman whose loyalty to the U. S. Navy prompts her to seek what no other woman has ever achieved; inducation into the Navy SEALs, promising a military career over the freedom to reach beyond its boundaries. Emma and Hayley’s lives become inextricably entwined when Hayley is gifted with an antique tea chest that has valiantly preserved the voices of the past and offers her an opportunity to unlock the doors of her future.
“Liberty. ‘Twas a strange notion. . . . . . . I hadn’t pondered the full extent of the sacrifices . . . . If I tallied them up, . . would it be worth the cost?” – Emma
“I had refused to fail, and yet, what if failing – surrending – was the beginning of finding my true self, of finding real strength?” – Hayley
What a wonderful book!
This is the first book I’ve read by Heidi Chiavaroli and I can tell you this it was a highly anticipated read for me and it lived up to and surpassed my expectations.
The author can really work that dual time line , each time period was fully researched with much attention to detail and the characters blend together perfectly from the dual time line.
The research was impeccable, which I always appreciate in a historical book because I learn a lot from reading them. The history behind the Boston Tea Party was very interesting.
The lead female characters in each timeline was an impressive woman, strong yet graceful and compassionate. These woman must fight an uphill battle for love and freedom without giving up the true sense of who they are, along the way they make discoveries about themselves that helps them grown in their faith and adds to the wonderful layers of the story.
Highly recommended book.
Pub Date 04 Feb 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
The Tea Chest was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, and it was well worth the wait. I’m convinced that Chiavaroli is the queen of dual-time narratives. Both the contemporary and the historical narratives are compulsively readable. There’s never a point that I desired to be back in one when I was in the other, rather I was always eager to “be” in whatever part of the story I found myself in. I couldn’t put the book down, but at the same time, I tried my best not to rush through it, wanting to savor the experience.
Hayley Ashworth is a strong woman. Determined to be the first woman to make it through BUD/S to be a Navy Seal, she returns home to make peace with a negligent mother and to mentally prepare herself for the intense training ahead. What she doesn’t bargain for is running into her first love, Ethan, nor discovering the engrossing story of Emma Malcolm, a woman who lived during the Revolutionary War. Coming face to face with her own past is harrowing enough, and she finds connection in Emma’s story.
Emma’s strength is of a different sort; not always strong physically, she possesses a mental and spiritual fortitude that propels her to join a cause in direct contention with her family. I loved the historical details about the Boston Tea Party. I honestly felt like I learned while reading this story, but never felt overwhelmed by information. Everything just flows so well, and both timelines intertwine masterfully. Emma’s story was especially poignant to me; despite being a historical character, I had many similarities with her – certainly not anything I would have chosen, but I adored her strong vulnerability.
I think what I am continually impressed by in Chiavaroli’s stories is she turns failure on its head. Whatever the worst thing it seems like the character could face, she presents them with that. The worst possible outcome shouldn’t be desirable, right? But this is where they shine. This is when they dig deep, surrender not to an external force, but rather their tight-fisted hold on what they feel their life should be and the inability to undo the decisions that lead them to the moment. Because that’s what life is sometimes, getting to the end of yourself and realizing that, yes, it is more than you can bear, but there is a God that meets you at the end of yourself. And in that surrender, there is a precious freedom because no circumstance or pain can take that away.
The Tea Chest is the first novel of the year to make it onto my 2020 favorites shelf. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up, especially if you enjoy dual-time narratives, strong characterization, and authentic history. Highly recommended!
LOYALTY OR LIBERTY?
I’m a new reader of Heidi Chiavaroli’s novels. After reading THE TEA CHEST, I have become a fan! THE TEA CHEST is a time slip novel, detailing the lives of Emma Malcom in 1773 and her role in the Boston Tea Party and the present day life of Lieutenant Hayley Ashworth who is determined to be the first woman inducted into the elite Navy SEALs. Both of these women are strong, but due to circumstances that face, they become stronger than they ever thought possible. Chiavaroli created characters that are believable and the time slip story she weaves is one that will stay with you long after you’ve read the last word of this novel. Her writing is engaging and you will quickly find yourself deep into this novel with a “Do Not Disturb” flag posted around you! This novel will make you think about what choices you might have made if you found yourself in either one of these women’s situations as they fought for love and freedom. Also, I hope readers won’t miss the characters discovering a heritage of courage and faith. I highly recommend this book! It has become on of my Bright Stars of 2020!
I quite enjoyed this book. Both the present day story and the historical story were gripping and thoroughly researched. I really appreciated the question posed in the book about what is more important – liberty or loyalty? I’ll be thinking about that for a while. If you enjoy inspirational romance and/or historical fiction, this book is definitely recommended.
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes but the opinion of the story is totally mine.
Whatever you call them, time slip or dual timeline, this is very quickly becoming a favorite genre, and even before this read Heidi Chiavaroli held a place on my “must read authors” list. She writes with such vivid imagery (without going overboard) that it feels as if you’ve stepped right into the setting yourself.
Something unique about this read compared to most other books I’ve read in the genre, is that there were several chapters in between jumping between the timelines. Instead of switching back and forth every chapter, it was more like every three or 4 chapters. Sometimes I liked it because I could spend more time in each timeline before moving on, but at other times I felt like I would have liked to bounce between them more. I don’t know if I could share any strong opinions either way on this. I think it’s more your individual preference as a reader.
I’m honestly not sure which timeline was my favorite in this one. I think I might go with the historical however in many ways I could resonate with Hayley’s personality so much that I couldn’t help but feel a connection with her. Our pasts are not the same, but our personalities are. Like Hayley I’m a runner. When things get tough I run instead of facing whatever is causing pain. It wasn’t hard for me at all to get behind her and hope that she could overcome her fears to find healing and happiness.
Yet while I could resonate more with Hayley, Emma’s story captivated my attention. It had the most action, excitement, and danger. Full warning there were a few scenes with some graphic injuries described but they also could have been worse. Emma did not have an easy road and I found myself clinging to hope for her future happiness. Her timeline was rich with real history and I came away feeling a deeper appreciation for times and the people who were responsible for it all. It left me intrigued to know more.
As with Heidi Chiavaroli’s other books, I really enjoyed this read. It’s clear that she has a deep appreciation for history and shining light on it through story. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!
*I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House through Netgalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone