Queen Bee: A Novel

Written by Dorothea Benton Frank

Narrated by Shannon McManus

“If I could only read one writer from now until the end of my life, it would be Dorothea Benton Frank."" —Elin Hilderbrand, the New York Times bestselling author

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of New York Times bestselling author Dorthea Benton Frank’s Carolina Lowcountry in this evocative tale that returns at long last to her beloved Sullivan’s Island.

Beekeeper Holly McNee Kensen quietly lives in a world of her own on Sullivan’s Island, tending her hives and working at the local island library. Holly calls her mother The Queen Bee because she’s a demanding hulk of a woman. Her mother, a devoted hypochondriac, might be unaware that she’s quite ill but that doesn’t stop her from tormenting Holly. To escape the drama, Holly’s sister Leslie married and moved away, wanting little to do with island life. Holly’s escape is to submerge herself in the lives of the two young boys next door and their widowed father, Archie.

Her world is upended when the more flamboyant Leslie returns and both sisters, polar opposites, fixate on what’s happening in their neighbor’s home. Is Archie really in love with that awful ice queen of a woman? If Archie marries her, what will become of his little boys? Restless Leslie is desperate for validation after her imploded marriage, squandering her favors on any and all takers. Their mother ups her game in an uproarious and theatrical downward spiral. Scandalized Holly is talking to her honey bees a mile a minute, as though they’ll give her a solution to all the chaos. Maybe they will.

Queen Bee is a classic Lowcountry Tale, warm, wise and hilarious, roars with humanity and a dropperful of whodunit added for good measure by an unseen hand. In her twentieth novel, Dorothea Benton Frank brings us back to her beloved island with an unforgettable story where the Lowcountry magic of the natural world collides with the beat of the human heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: May 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9780062861245

Dorothea Benton Frank

New York Times bestseller Dorothea Benton Frank was born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. Until her passing in 2019, Dorothea and her husband split their time between New Jersey and South Carolina. A contemporary voice of the South, Dorothea Benton Frank was beloved by fans and friends alike since her debut novel Sullivans Island. Readers from coast to coast fell for the quick wit and the signature humor that permeated her many bestselling novels.

Reviews for Queen Bee

[Sally Outen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book! Just so sad to know this was the last book by Dorothea Benton Frank. Loved all of her books.

[SherryKirkland · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've never read a book of hers I didnt love!!

[Lisa Voelker · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Morals accents bee facts love for kids, loved the southern culture

[lillian franck · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Funny and honey bee wisdom, too! Great story and well read!

[Suzanne Rose · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was great. A charming tale from South Carolina’s Low country, by the amazing author Dorothea Benton Frank. Highly recommend it!

[amine zeghba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This Dorothea Bentos Frank book is so cleverly written! Great storyline, as usual, but educational as well, teaching the reader about honey bees and superbly explaining a group of people highly stigmatized in our world. Well done!

[Carol Paynw · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Started off a little slow but it picked up with love winning out in the end!

[Kathryn Alexander · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I just love her books! I’ve not read a bad low country novel by this author-funny and touching!

[nyiper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book---I had seen two authors recommending it as a book "not to miss" and it really was delightful. I would happy to hear MORE from this family of characters, just in case Dorothea wants to add more beyond the epilogue......

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am incredibly lucky to have received a free copy of Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank. This lovely story alternates between two sisters: Holly and Leslie. Their mother is Katherine, the ultimate Queen Bee. Holly leads a dull life tending her bees and catering to her mother with her only joy watching the two young boys of her widowed neighbor. I love Holly and her blind acceptance of her servant existence to her mother and her sister and her neighbor, Archie. Where is her determination to find her own pleasure, but instead she divulges her secrets to the bees? Leslie has her own problems in that her husband has decided to be a performing female impersonator and where does she fit in this equation. Of course, the iced tea cools all the heat and steam of these family dilemnas. The relationships and petty arguments flood each chapter. And I love the facts concerning honeybees presented at the beginning of each chapter. What a lovely way to end a writing career with a heart-warming story that love abounds.

[nwieme-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love her stories. The characters, the setting, the story itself... but this one had one little flaw for me. I couldn't get past the whole cross-dressing, Vegas plotline (or I would have given it a 5).

Still cute- and worth reading, for sure!

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 stars.

Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank is an entertaining novel set in the South Carolina Low Country.

Holly McNee Jensen is a dutiful daughter to her demanding and insulting mother whom she and her sister, Leslie, refer to as the "Queen Bee". Holly is thirty years old, single and crushing on their widower neighbor, Archie MacLean. She is devoted to his young sons, Tyler and Hunter, a precocious pair who manage to steal every scene they appear  in.  Holly is patiently waiting for a teaching position to open up at the local elementary school but she keeps busy tending her bees and volunteering. Tired of always playing second fiddle to Leslie, she has decidedly mixed feelings about her sister's unexpected return when her marriage to Charlie hits a rough patch. Holly is further disappointed when Archie makes a shocking and unexpected decision. When Leslie and the Queen Bee head to Las Vegas to support Charlie's unanticipated career change, will Holly finally find her path to happiness?

Holly is a delightfully charming young woman with a big heart. She is a bit shy and lets life happen to her instead of forging her own path. She dearly loves Tyler and Hunter and she would like nothing better to be in a relationship with Archie.  She is content to sit back and wait on him to ask her out when life hands her an unexpected blow. Despite her unhappiness with the situation, Holly is committed to protecting Tyler and Hunter but will Archie believe her concerns for his son?

Leslie is the complete opposite of Holly and she lives life out loud. She is a force to be reckoned with as she tries to come to terms with Charlie's shocking revelation. With the future of her marriage hanging in the balance, Leslie returns home and tries to figure out what comes next for her and her husband. Unexpectedly supportive of his unusual career, can Leslie and Charlie salvage their marriage?

Before Leslie's return, the Queen Bee aka QB whiles away her days languishing in bed and ordering Holly around. She treats Holly horribly while singing Leslie's praises. As soon as Leslie returns home, QB finds the wherewithal to rejoin life which is of course, quite hurtful to Holly. But since Holly is the forgiving kind, she welcomes the changes in QB and she is somewhat surprised when her mom becomes a little softer, kinder and more compassionate. Even more stunning is how quickly QB embraces helping Charlie as he embarks on a new career path. The QB is swept off her feet by a new man in her life but what will happen to their unanticipated relationship when she returns to Sullivan's Island?

Queen Bee is a truly captivating novel that is wickedly funny and stars an outrageously quirky but (mostly) likeable cast of colorful characters.  The dialogue is pitch perfect with thought-provoking discussions and laugh out loud one-liners.  Peppered with interesting honeybee facts, the storyline is absolutely compelling with heartfelt interactions. Sullivan's Island is the perfect setting for this marvelous novel and  as always, Dorothea Benton Frank brings the Low Country vibrantly to life. This engaging story comes to a heartwarming conclusion that readers are sure to love.

[lbswiener · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Queen Bee is a lovely story that has a beginning middle and an end. It keeps its southern charm all the way through. There are interesting characters, good character build up and good descriptions of the locations that one can follow along easily in one's mind. A charming story that deserves four stars. Highly recommended.

[bookczuk · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Farewell Dottie. Your wit and humor never failed to make me laugh, particularly in person. You taught me things, loved our beloved lowcountry and shared it with so many. I didn’t alway like your books, but they always provoked a reaction and I’d always pick up the next one. You were a highlight at the book and authors luncheon which you hosted with the Post and Courier Newspaper. And you were an Ashley Hall girl as am I. I shall miss you, your books, and your unfailing love of the lowcountry. Rest In Peace, Dorothea Benton Frank. May the wings of angels carry you home.

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

***** Five more stars for the last book we will have by a favorite author of mine, Dorothea Benton Frank, I loved this book as I had everything she has ever written. The family on the little island gets along at a leisurely pace and takes care of their own, whether good or bad, that's what family and friends are for. She will be forever in our hearts, I wish I was one that could reread books, too many on my TBR shelf for that, but I ENVY anyone who will discover her and get to do that. Bless her family.

[terrylynn_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of Frank's better ones..and they are all great southern fun.

[simplykelina · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There was something addicting about this story. I could not really pinpoint why, but I was loving it. I stated this one night and I did not want to stop.I really loved the beginning half of this story especially with Holly and the boys next door. I was not expecting the story with Leslie, but enjoyed that part as well but did find myself drawn more to Holly. I did like the first half of this story better than the second half, but it was all still done well. There was a little bit of everything from romance to villains to female impersonators. I cannot wait to read more from this author.

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dorothea Benton Frank writes a summer book every year usually set in the Low Country of S.C. While I was a little disappointed in her last several books, this book is back up to her usual high standards! I loved every minute and every word of her newest book for the Summer of 2019! Be sure and treat yourself to this wonderful "beach book" this summer! Holly raises bees, Leslie, her sister comes home after a "situation" with her husband and with their mother, the Queen Bee, we have a recipe for a fun summer romp! Highly recommended!

[susan0316 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have been a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank since I read her first book twenty years. When you start her books you know that you'll be back in the Lowcountry of South Carolina with a bunch of quirky characters and a great plot that will make you want to pack your bags and head to the beach.Queen Bee has a dual meaning -- its what sisters Holly and Leslie call their mother - a grouchy woman who has pretty much given up on life since her husband left her years ago. Even though Holly and Leslie are in their 30s, they are both struggling with their lives. Leslie lives with her husband in Ohio but when he tells her that he wants to perform as a drag queen, she is so upset that she returns home. Holly has stayed at home to take care of her mother. She has a crush on the man across the street and loves his children. She is also a beekeeper who talks to her bees (the other reference of the title) and her bees seem to listen to her. Her life is on hold - she is waiting for a job to teach at the elementary school, she spends a lot of time with her neighbor's two sons and she takes care of her mother even though her mother doesn't appreciate what all she does. When Leslie comes home, the dynamics in the household change considerably and begin to move the three women out of the ruts that have become their lives.There are two other important parts of the book that I need to mention - one is the setting. The lowcountry area of SC is described so beautifully and life on Sullivan's Island sounds wonderful. The other is the mention of the food that is cooked - fried chicken and green beans and lots of cakes and most important of all gallons of sweet tea are consumed through out the book.I really enjoyed the characters who felt like people that I know in my life. I especially liked Holly and all of the changes that she made throughout the book. I also enjoyed learning more about bees and beekeeping in this book which is always interesting to me since we have bee hives on our property (but I don't talk to the bees like Holly did)This was a wonderful new Dottie Frank book to get the summer of 2019 started.

[bookchickdi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After a few detours in her recent books, Dorothea Benton Frank returns to Sullivans Island off the coast of Charleston in her newest book, Queen Bee.Thirty-year-old Holly Jensen lives with her critical and demanding mother, whom she and her sister Leslie have dubbed Queen Bee, or QB for short (and behind her back). Holly volunteers at the local library while she anxiously awaits for a teaching position to open up at the local elementary school.Holly is a beekeeper, with a huge hive of bees in the backyard. She uses the honey from the hives as gifts for family and friends. She also has a (not-so) secret crush on Archie, the recent widower who lives next door with his two young sons, Tyler and Hunter. The boys love Holly, and she loves them, often keeping them after school, helping them with homework, and baking them cookies.The wheels start to come off the bus when sister Leslie shows up with a tale of marital woe. At the same time, Archie quickly marries Sharon, a local dentist and evil stepmother who gives Cinderella's stepmother a real run for her money.Queen Bee has Frank's trademark humor, with a few scenarios that are downright giddy. We have female impersonators, a trip to Las Vegas, Cher's long-lost "sister" Char, and bees who appear to listen to the woes of Holly and take revenge on her enemy. (I just saw Cher in concert, so I really got a kick out the Char storyline.)In addition to the humor, there is romance and and pathos. As the mother of two sons (now grown), I really felt for Tyler and Hunter as they mourned the loss of their mother and tried to understand their evil stepmother.There is also a lot of character growth in this novel, with the Jensen women taking stock of their lives and finding new paths forward.If you're looking for a good summer read, pour yourself a large iced tea, grab a copy of Queen Bee, head out to the most comfortable chair on your porch, and prepare to lose yourself in sunny Sullivans Island for a few hours.

[cats57_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! What a blend of characters and tales.I had a tiny bit of difficulty getting into this book, but once in it, I could not put it down. The author managed to blend three separate stories and lives into one complete book without me being annoyed or feeling as if the book was more of a series of novellas. This is something other authors have a lot of trouble with.We have Holly who considers herself as a spinster at the age of thirty who is in love with her across the street neighbor. He is just soooo wrong for her, but as their story-line unfolds you will enjoy, be unhappy, be angry and then be relieved with how this all plays out.We have Leslie whose life is becoming more and more bizarre and has just left her husband, but I can't tell you why because this was not discussed in the synopsis and I don't want to spoil it for you. Let's just say it all works out. And that this was one of the most unusual and intriguing parts of this book and teaches us great lessons in learning to live with those we may find a tad 'different'.Then we have the Queen Bee also known as QB (which I kept mistaking for Quarter Back!) -this is Holly and Leslie's mom. She starts out as the typical Southern Diva, but her character grows tremendously and she becomes one of the funniest and wise characters in this book. Then there are the bee's - the honey bee's to be specific -I learned a lot about them and I found the relationship between them and Holly (the beekeeper of these hives) to be a remarkable one.I loved this book and even though I have read this via an ARC, I will be buying my own copy AND I will also be reading more by this author.HEA's abound and that makes me a happy camper -not much angst, (a little bit at the start) not enough to make me want to stop reading; self-reflection...well Holly does a lot of that but she finally grows to accept herself for who and what she is.Great summer read. Happy reading!*ARC supplied by the publisher.

[dknight0918 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. Can’t wait to buy a copy for my collection. Hoping I can see her on her book tour again soon. I learned a lot about bees and honey. I know fans of Southern literature and Dottie will love this book.