August was a slow reading month for me, but I give all the stars to “He Should Have Told The Bees” by Amanda Cox. She’s a Christian writer who adds bits of faith and scripture to her well-developed characters with complex emotional stories. I like that it isn’t cheesy Christian fiction, but storytelling that gets right to the heart of matters while the plot unfolds with some secrecy. Her website says she writes “poignant stories of hope, healing, and home,” which is a perfect description of this book as well as her others.
In this particular story, I also liked the beekeeping aspect. That creates an enjoyable set of circumstances and analogies.
About the book
Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business—one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her in the position to lose everything they built together.
When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she’s never heard of, she’s not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie’s financial situation rather precarious. She’s sure she has no right to someone else’s farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she’s always craved.
As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets—and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.
“He Should Have Told The Bees” by Amanda Cox is a 336-page paperback book and is available now in various formats from Revell.
About the author
Amanda Cox is the author of “The Edge of Belonging” and “The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery,” both of which I recommend and were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Bible and theology and a master’s degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with her husband and their three children. Learn more at AmandaCoxWrites.com.
*****
I received a free, advanced copy of this book from Revell Reads in exchange for a review, but these opinions are mine and I genuinely recommend this book.
