The Beekeeper's Daughter

Written by Santa Montefiore

Narrated by Lucinda Clare

England, 1932: Grace Hamblin is growing up on the beautiful estate of the Marquess and Marchioness of Penselwood. The beekeeper's daughter, she knows her place and what the future holds - that is, until her father dies. Her childhood friend Freddie has recently become her lover, and she is thankful when they are able to marry and take over her father's duties. But there is another man who she just can't shake from her thoughts. Massachusetts, 1973: Grace's daughter Trixie Valentine is in love with an unsuitable young man. Jasper Duncliffe is wild and romantic, and in a band that might hit it big. But when his brother dies and he is called home to England, Jasper promises to come back for Trixie one day, if only she will wait for him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media Audio
• Release date: Apr 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781633798663

Santa Montefiore

Santa Montefiore’s books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages and have sold more than six million copies in England and Europe. She is the bestselling author of The Temptation of Gracie and the Deverill series, among many others. She is married to writer Simon Sebag Montefiore. They live with their two children, Lily and Sasha, in London. Visit her at SantaMontefiore.co.uk and connect with her on Twitter @SantaMontefiore or on Instagram @SantaMontefioreOfficial. 

Reviews for The Beekeeper's Daughter

[bell7_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

*Free e-book ARC provided by the publisher through Edelweiss/Above the Treeline in exchange for an honest review. No money or other goods were exchanged, and all views are my own.*In 1973, nineteen-year-old Trixie Valentine meets and falls in love a British musician, Jasper, who is visiting the island of Tekanasset - a fictional Nantucket - where she lives. Their love seems doomed, however, when Jasper's brother dies and he unexpectedly has to return to England to run the estate. Trixie's parents, Grace and Frankie, with their own secrets in the past of World War 2, hurt for their daughter but know better than most what heartbreak she may suffer when up against the duty and expectations of a Lord.The plot goes back and forth between the 1930s and 40s and the narrative present (mostly the 70s), telling both Grace's and Trixie's stories of love and loss. I'm no great fan of narratives that primarily rest on the fact that the characters can't just have a conversation to clear everything up (okay, yes, it's often more complicated than I'm making it sound, even in real life), so I often found myself irritated with the characters and their choices. The details about beekeeping and descriptions of landscapes were the strongest parts of the story, while the characters felt flat and the dialogue stilted and often peppered with advice that sounded like the wrap up of a Full House episode. The actions and feelings of the characters were simply told in the narrative or dialogue, so it felt more like puppetry and less like I was watching real people and their decisions. I started out somewhat interested but never fully invested in Grace or Trixie's story, which as time went on grew more and more sappy. Finally, the ending was so abrupt I didn't buy it. I want to get so enmeshed that I feel like the way the story unfolded was inevitable, and that never happened here. Disappointing.

[Hope Borchardt Meyer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The characters are so real I found myself loving them, feeling happiness when they were happy and crying when there was sadness. Santa Montefiore is an amazing storyteller! I always say I couldn’t love a book anymore than the book I just read, until I read another book of hers. I hope she keeps on writing books so I will always have one if hers to read! You should read this and all of her books!!

[jbarr5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The beekeeper's daughter by Santa MontefioreAlways interesting to learn the career/trade of others that use their hands.Starts out with Grace and her friend Big talking about how her daughter left to go to Cape Cod to spend the weekend with her friend. They fear it was a boy.Big told her to forbid her daughter from leaving Tagganasett Island for the rest of the summer she knows she must do it.Problem is Grace is a beekeeper and her past is catching up to her. Trixie is in love with Jasper, the guitar player who's from overseas.Beatrix (Trixie) wants to go into the fashion industry but at 19 she just waits tables on the island. Her dad, Freddie comes home and has already heard of Trixie behaving like a slut. He works in the cranberry bogs.Story goes back in time to 1930's when Grace was a teen...Interesting discussion of the cure of arthritis and garlic will cure a bee sting.Really enjoyed how their lives are lived and the story is told. So many more interesting names for books the author wrote that I hope to read some day.Really liked this book because it took me to new places and described them so well and I learned new things.I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[squirrelhead_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was not familiar with this author prior to reading The Beekeeper’s Daughter but I will certainly try another of her publications after this story. What attracted me to this book was the description on Goodreads and the inside flap of the book:“England, 1932: Grace Hamblin is growing up in a rural idyll. The beekeeper’s daughter, she knows her place and her future – that is until her father dies and leaves her alone. ”The setting of rural Devon had me interested and I had hoped it wouldn’t be a flat-out romance. I don’t mind some love interest woven into stories but I’m not a big fan of the romance genre. However, stories set in the British Isles and Ireland attract my interest. This is a multigenerational story which flips between 1932 England in 1932, Massachusetts in 1973 and ending with Massachusetts in 1990.The book starts in Massachusetts – it’s 1973 and Grace’s daughter Trixie (Beatrix) is tired of the small community life. She takes up with an aspiring English rock musician, Jasper Duncliffe, and plans to tour with his group across the USA. Straight off I have to say, I wasn’t invested in Trixie’s character at all. However, her mother Grace is an interesting character and I became fully absorbed with her backstory. That’s what kept me reading at first. Too much more about Trixie and I would have called it a loss, picked up another book.Anyway, a family emergency arises for Jasper and he has an obligation to return to England but promises to send for Trixie. It becomes clear to Grace and Freddie which family Jasper is from, they both know their daughter will be forgotten. How do they know this family, you ask? Well it will be explained in Grace’s backstory.When we start reading about Grace she is married to Freddie Valentine, living in Massachusetts, employed as a landscape designer and keeps bees. When her backstory starts she is only 14 years old and Freddie is her best friend. So you have certain spoilers right off such as knowing who she will marry and knowing her beloved father dies while she is still living in England.The scenery and dialogue are very detailed and you have a feeling of viewing the countryside rather than reading about it. Great descriptive prose. If the research about beekeeping is correct then you will learn so very much about bees and how they are handled, winterized, how to collect honey and more. I personally enjoyed reading those passages. It flowed smoothly, it wasn’t a tutorial at all.This book isn’t a romance but there is romance and family upheaval in the plot. There are betrayals, mysteries, sorrow and love.The bees had a supporting role in this story so I choose to make a dish with honeyed chicken tenderloins. This is a light meal which may be prepared in under a half hour. A cold Rose went well with this meal.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I just finished reading The Beekeeper’s Daughter by Santa Montefiore. The book starts out in 1973 on Tekanasset Island, Massachusetts. Trixie (Beatrix) Valentine is 19 years old and is eagerly sowing her wild oats! Trixie is headstrong and rebellious. She is in love with Jasper Duncliffe. Jasper is British and the second son (which means he does not inherit the estate or title unless something happens to his brother). He is also an up and coming rock musician and singer. Trixie is always sneaking off to spend time with him. Jasper is going to go on tour in the fall and Trixie wants to go with him (instead of going to college). Everything is rosy until Jasper receives word that his older brother died in an accident. Jasper has to return home to Walbridge. Trixie wants to go with him, but Jasper asks her to wait and he will send for her. They exchange letters (remember it is 1973 and people still communicate via snail mail) frequently at first and then slowly Jasper’s letters slow down to a small trickle. Then the last letter arrives breaking things off between them. Trixie is crushed. She leaves the island for New York and a career in fashion journalism. Grace Hamblin Valentine is Trixie’s mother. Grace and her husband, Freddie are originally from Walbridge (in England). They moved to the island after World War II. Grace remembers her time in Walbridge with her father and Rufus Melville. Grace goes back to 1932 and remembers when she met Rufus. The book goes back and forth between 1973 and the 1930’s. We learn about Grace’s father, growing up learning about bees and gardening, a love of literature and falling in love. Trixie’s parents never talk about their past or where they grew up. In 1990 Trixie decides to find out more about them and visits Walbridge. What Trixie uncovers not only helps her but her parents.I give The Beekeeper’s Daughter 3 out of 5 stars. I found the book to be long. Longer than it needed to be. With some editing, I think this could be a much better book. I started enjoying The Beekeeper’s Daughter more in the second half of the book (it is just getting to that part that is hard). I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.