I have been a huge fan of the Domestic Diva Mystery series by Krista Davis and was elated when I won an early copy of THE DIVA SERVES HIGH TEA! Shortly after receiving the book my 11-year-old granddaughter, Emory, came to spend a long weekend with me. We browsed through Krista’s recipes together but it only took her two seconds to decide we HAD to make the Lemon Tarts and have a tea party! Lemon has long been Em’s favorite flavor and these Lemon Tarts will become a much requested dessert from here on out. The tarts were easy enough for Em to make on her own with a bit of help from me rolling out the dough and providing a few tips. I liked that the filling did not have to be baked but instead, cooks quickly on the stovetop. The tartness of the lemons and zest perfectly compliments the sweetness of the luscious filling, while the shortbread style cookie crust provided a tender and flaky bite. Thank you, Krista, for allowing me to share such a delicious recipe with my granddaughter and on my blog!
Synopsis
Sophie Winston’s nemesis and ex-husband’s girlfriend, Natasha, is frantically organizing the Tea, Brie, and Skeleton Key fundraising event. The new tea shop in town, The Parlour, is hosting the event and Sophie and her friends gather to support the charity. Numerous antiques have been donated to the cause and Robert Johnson, owner of the antique store in town, is in charge of the auction. Many of the ladies in town have crushes on the handsome man and he has developed quite a reputation.
The day after the auction Sophie drops by Robert’s house and finds him lying on the floor, barely conscious. He doesn’t survive and it is determined that he died from botulism. The Parlour is shut down and the new owner is devastated by both the loss of life and the loss of her business, but she’s sure her food isn’t the cause. Not long afterwards a young mother, with ties to Robert, is found murdered and her son begs Sophie to find out who killed her. When Sophie’s ex-husband, Mars, comes down with botulism poisoning, Sophie decides it’s time to take action and find out who is behind the crimes since the police aren’t any closer to stopping the killer. Can she stop the culprit before they strike again or will she be the next victim on the list?
My Review
THE DIVA SERVES HIGH TEA by Krista Davis is book ten in her Domestic Diva Mystery series and I think her best book by far! The preceding books in this series have all been great and I eagerly anticipate each new release, but THE DIVA SERVES HIGH TEA captivated me from the very beginning. The first page starts off with a bang and the fast-paced story continues throughout. I literally kept saying ‘just one more chapter’ even though my sleep-deprived eyes begged for rest…it is a true page turner of a story and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it!
Aside from a terrific plot with many complex (in a good way) characters and suspects intertwined, Krista writes with humor. I truly enjoyed beginning each chapter with the Dear Natasha or Dear Sophie letters, and then got a chuckle when Sophie gave opposite (correct) advice to Natasha’s answers. It takes a very creative writer to think to put Natasha and chickens in the same sentence…the results are hilarious! And even though Natasha can be an annoying character, it was nice to get an inside peek at why she’s become this way and she’s earned some sympathy from me. It was a bittersweet moment when I closed the book after finishing the very last sentence…it’s much too long of a wait for the next book in the Domestic Diva Mystery series!
A very special thank you to Krista Davis for providing an autographed copy of THE DIVA SERVES HIGH TEA! (U.S. residents only.) Please use the Rafflecopter box located below the recipe to enter. Contest ends Friday, June 24, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. Winners will be announced on this page and on Cinnamon & Sugar’s Facebook page, as well as notified by email (so check your spam folder!) If you are a new commenter, please be aware that your comment won’t post until I approve, however, your entry will still be valid. Since I am traveling the end of this week there may be a delay in comment approval.
Lemon Tarts
Ingredients
Pastry
1-3/4 cups flour, plus extra for rolling out
7 tablespoons cold butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cold egg
Filling
6 tablespoons butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
Garnish
Whipped Cream
Instructions
Pastry
Cut the butter into 7 pieces.
In a food processor, whir together the flour and the butter until the butter disappears.
Add the powdered sugar and pulse to combine.
Add the egg and whir until it starts to form a ball.
Place the dough on a piece of wax paper and shape into a ball, then refrigerate for 1/2 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out the dough and cut into 3 – to 4-inch circles.
Tuck the circles into the wells of a cupcake pan and bake 12 – 15 minutes until baked and light golden.
Filling
Cream the butter with the sugar in a stand mixer.
Beat in each egg.
Add the lemon juice, salt, and lemon zest (if using) and beat.
In a heavy-bottomed saucepan, cook over low heat until it begins to bubble, roughly 10 minutes.
Pour into the baked shells and refrigerate until firm.
Garnish with a swirl of whipped cream if desired.
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I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest opinion. All thoughts and views are my own.
The tarts looks delicious, what a fun project to do together! I enjoy this series too, can’t wait to read this one! I am a fan of good old English Breakfast tea when I am looking for a bit of caffeine, or Jasmine green tea for something lighter.
My favorite is Teavana’s Golden Monkey black tea. I love it hot, with a bit of honey and milk or drink it plain in iced tea depending on the weather.
This book sounds exciting. It would be nice to win a copy. Thanks for the chance and the recipe.
That looks so good, thanks am looking forward to reading this,
Penney
Cinnamon stick tea is a favorite. But do drink several. Recipe looks good. Going to have to do that one sppm
I usually drink green tea. Thanks for the giveaway!
These looks so simple to make! And who doesn’t love miniature sized treats!?!?! 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win!
OMG!! Lemon is my favorite flavor and tarts are the best little treat to accompany a nice cup of tea. I am a “Domestic Diva” myself and greatly enjoy Krista’s version…fingers crossed!
I don’t have a favorite as I am not a tea drinker. Although I love all the treats that go with it and love the cups and everything I just don;t like flavored water at all. I am looking forward to reading this book as it sounds so good and I love to read and review at a few places!
Anything lemon is always good. I have tried a variety of teas but I always come back to Tetley’s English Breakfast for good old Lipton. Thanks for the giveaway.
I enjoy good ole’ southern sweet tea. 🙂
My favorite tea is a little weirder than most. You see, everytime as a child I was sick, my mother would give me a regular brand of tea which would make me sicker, so I took a dislike to any tea, BUT now…I like a mix of Cinnamon-Apple with Lemon-Ginger. Strange but good!
This would be delightful with a cup of my second flush Darjeeling tea.
Earl Grey. My favorite
I love chai tea lattes, but am going to start branching out to try so many of the wonderful teas out there!
My absolute favorite tea is Twining’s Orange Bliss black tea. 🙂
Also, I love lemon, and make lemon curd all the time – your recipe is very similar, and I’m adding it to the top of my “to be baked” list, which is almost as long as my “to be read” list – lol! Thanks for sharing it, and your book review as well!
Nicole 🙂
These look yummy! And perfect along side a warm cup of constant comment tea.
I don’t have a favorite tea. But would love to win a Signed copy of The Diva Serves High Tea.
The tarts look delish! I have read a couple in this series and enjoyed them both. Thanks for a chance to win this one.
Any tea with a little bit of honey will work for me! And these lemon tarts to go with it would be wonderful!! Yum and cute book!
I’m not a tea drinker but the lemon tarts would be amazing with coffee or all by themselves! Krista’s books are always terrific.
I love Taylors of Harrogate Green Tea with Jasmine
I drink ice tea, half tea and half lemonade. The lemon tarts look amazing, such a refreshing dessert for the summer. Can’t wait to read “The Diva Serves High Tea”.
Peach tea is my favorite.
I have two favorite teas. Northwest Breakfast Tea from Seattle and the other is from The Tuck Box in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
I don’t care for any kind of hot drink. Tea or coffee. But I do have two glasses of peach ice tea in the morning to get my caffeine. Unsweetened !!!??
Mmm, these look delicious. I love lemon desserts in the summer, they’re so refreshing. My favorite tea is from Red Rose, it’s a vanilla biscotti black tea.
Yum! What a great recipe. Gotta have them with coffee, though. And I love Krista’s books, too.
Peach tea is my favorite.
I don’t have a favorite tea—but I tend to like those with a bit of citrus flavor.
Blueberry tea!
My favorite tea is always Earl Grey. Thanks for the tart recipe. I love to read a book while trying one of the recipes it gives.
I love any cold tea with lemon, peach, strawberries, or most any fruit.
I love lemons in the summer, and this year I am growing my own Meyer Lemons on the patio, so I may just give this a try.
I like lemon tea, tension tamer, Lavender English breakfast and orange pekoe. Thanks for the opportunity.
My favorite tea is Seattle Spice. However, I drink all kinds
I’m a simple, black tea with cream & honey type of person. Thanks Kim for having the give-a-way! Good luck everyone!
I like Cinnamon tea best. I have Bigelow tea. I only like hot tea, not iced tea. I take it plain.
I enjoy drinking herbal peach tea. I also like the peppermint tea. They both go very well with muffins or cupcakes.
I love southern sweet tea but when it’s cold, I like herbal peppermint tea with orange blossom honey.. I also love all things lemon so I will add this recipe to my collection.. Thanks for the review, recipe and chance to win…
Thank you for the recipe, which I’ve pinned for future reference. I love the flavor of lemons but lament that many baked goods containing this citrus delight just aren’t “lemony” enough for my palate. These tarts will be fun to share! As to tea, my favorite is oolong, preferably hot though iced can hit the spot during the summer.
My favorite tea is White tea with pear, and it’s very good! Thank you!