The Beekeeper’s Cottage by Emma Davies
Comforted by the gentle hum of the beehives at the bottom of the garden, Grace drains the last of her tea and walks slowly back towards the little hillside house she adores. Her marriage is over, but is it too late to start her life again?
Beekeeper Grace thought throwing out her cheating husband would be the hardest thing she ever did. But when she opens the door to a property developer one morning, it’s clear that keeping the beautiful home and garden – her only sanctuary throughout her miserable marriage – will be the greatest challenge of all…
Fleeing to her best friend at the farm next door, Grace blurts out all her problems, only to be overheard by Amos, a handsome, free-spirited visitor with a twinkle in his eye. Fascinated by Grace and her bees, Amos offers to stay in the village of Hope Corner, to help turn her home into a guest house in return for lessons on beekeeping.
As Grace shows Amos how to nurture a hive and harvest honeycomb without getting stung, he is charming but secretive. He never stays long in the same place after an incident in his past involving a mysterious woman named Maria. But as their eyes lock over a jar of homemade honey, Grace can’t help feeling that she’d really like him to stay…
Determined to dispel her growing suspicion that Amos is running from something serious, Grace goes in search of the truth about Maria. But when she finds it, will she still want Amos to put down roots in Hope Corner, and will they still have a house to return to?
No matter how far they travel, bees will always find their way home…
An absolutely perfect feel good romance for readers who adore Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Debbie Johnson.
My Thoughts
I was immediately drawn to The Beekeeper’s Cottage with the stunning cover which promises a truly idyllic country setting.
I love the relationship between Grace and her beloved bees. She spoke to them like friends and they soothed her troubles when she reached a turning point in her life.
When mysterious Amos turns up at Hope Blooms Farm looking for work I knew that he was just the person for Grace, but as always there are obstacles in the way. He is such a warm-hearted free spirit, I was intrigued to know more, and his backstory really kept the pages turning.
This beautifully written novel shows that with great friends like Flora and her family, Grace would be fully supported in any decisions she made. It shows that life can take unexpected turns but these can reveal wonderful opportunities if someone is willing to embrace change. The imagery is so vivid that you can almost smell the flowers, hear the bees humming and feel the warmth of the sun on your face.
It was a pleasure to read this gentle summer romance, learn about beekeeping, and join in Grace’s journey to a better life.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly.
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