He Should Have Told the Bees - Amanda Cox

 

When Beckett Walsh loses her father, and fellow beekeeper, unexpectedly, she is left to follow the tradition of telling the bees of his passing, as well as figure out what life looks like moving forward without him.  Adding to the complexity of the situation is her fear of leaving the property, as well as a newcomer - Callie Peterson, who has inexplicably been added to the trust for the property. Can the two women work together to figure out the mystery, as well as form a relationship that may help heal them both from the trauma of their past?

This was my first book by this author, but I don't imagine that it will be my last.  She wove the separate stories of these two women, as well as the people in their lives, together so well that I cared for them both equally and could feel the tension of no perfect solution to their dilemma.  I thought the support characters were well done, lending strength and confidence to the women, but not overshadowing them.  I loved the addition of the little girl who gave Beck a distraction and a friend, even as she mentored the little girl and befriended her caretaker.

4 stars

You can find He Should Have Told the Bees HERE.
You can find the author HERE. 

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

A Beautiful Disguise - Roseanna M. White

 

When their father died, leaving them nothing, Yates and Marigold Fairfax had to find creative means to keep themselves, their estate, their retired circus performers, and their menagerie from starving.  They turned to clandestine investigations within society, and called themselves The Imposters.  With the combination of their status and their less-than-conventional upbringing in the circus world, they were able to move freely within the upper class and draw upon their athleticism to draw out information unobtrusively from the unlikeliest of places, drawing no notice to themselves.  Now, they find themselves investigating their neighbors and families of some of their childhood friends, upon the request of multiple clients.  Can they prove their innocence, or are there nefarious characters within their close circles?

I really enjoyed this cast of characters, and I look forward to seeing more interactions between them as this series continues to develop.  The self-inspection that Yate and Marigold must undergo as they look to deepen relationships lends a personal depth to what could have been simply a spy and intrigue pre-war novel.  But they must determine how much of their true selves to reveal, facing the fear of rejection balanced against the possibility of never being truly known, or loved, for themselves. 

While the mystery was a bit convoluted, and there were a lot of moving characters to keep track of along the way, at the core, I'm excited to follow this group of characters as they come to know themselves, and face the decisions of whom to let into their group and their lives.

4 stars.

You can find A Beautiful Disguise HERE.
You can find the author HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

The Love Script - Toni Shiloh

 

Neveah Richards dreams of being a hairstylist for a hit show, but finds herself in the news for a very different reason when a paparazzo catches her and the Sexiest Man Alive in what is being conveyed as a very romantic position.  While it may convey romance to some however, it creates disaster for Lamont Booker, the SMA, due to his desire to keep his newly Christian image intact in Hollywood, and the morality clauses included in his contracts.  Neveah, Lamont, and Lamont's agent/publicist decide the only way to save both of their reputations is to tell the world they're in a relationship.  Not wanting to lie to the public, Neveah and Lamont decide to date for real and see where it goes. Can that be enough to clear their consciences? Can Neveah handle that kind of spotlight? 

Once again, Toni Shiloh packs faith and faith filled friendships into a fun story that centers around finding God's will and seeking His direction for her characters' lives.  She does Christian friendships so well.  I loved the interaction between Lamont and his guy friends, Tuck and Chris.  Dare I hope their stories are coming?!? I only wished for Neveah to have her own confidante who challenged her faith, but that was part of her story - to realize her need for that sort of wisdom in her life.  And while she got bits of that from Lamont and Ms. Rosie in this story, I'm imagining her becoming fast friends with Piper, and finding a community of her own.

I give this book 4 stars, but I'm super hopeful that I'll get more of all of these characters in future books!

You can find The Love Script HERE. 
You can find the author HERE. 

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publishers, in exchange for my honest review.

Positively. Penelope - Pepper Basham

 

Penelope Edgewood has signed on as an intern at the failing Darling Theatre on the island of Skymar.  As she attempts to revive the theater, she finds that the family behind it needs a bit of reviving as well.  Having lost their grandmother and mother in the last few years, Alec, Gwynn, and Matthias Gray are all grieving in different ways, and their grandfather has essentially withdrawn from society and the theater. Can Penelope's sunshiny personality and marketing strategies help draw both the Grays and the theater back into the community's spotlight? And how is their competitor, The Emblem theater, learning about all of their ideas?

I am loving this series, and this group of siblings and cousins. I love that we still get to follow Izzy and Luke, and Josephine through the correspondence sections of the book, which add a fun flavor of their own.  Penelope's character takes a little while to develop for the reader, and I think that was a good thing.  As she delves into her job and her relationships, we learn that she's not *just* sunshine and fun hats and great shoes.  She sees people, and cares for them, and draws the best out of them on their own terms.

While I saw the mystery conclusion from the early pages, it was still well done, and fit the story well. I loved all of the side characters; even the ones who didn't play a large part were robust enough to get a sense of their personality and their connection to the town and story.

I cannot wait for Luke's story!

I give this installment of the Edgewood family stories 4 stars.

You can find Positively, Penelope HERE.
You can find the author HERE.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.