Amanda Cox is coming to my town this weekend! Squee! She writes such wonderful books full of relatable characters and heartfelt stories. In preparation for her appearance at Turning A New Page Book Festival, I read He Should Have Told The Bees. It’s another winner! See below for details and my thoughts.
Uncovering long-held family secrets may sting at first–but the result can be sweeter than honey
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 into 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.
Before becoming a stay-at-home parent, Amanda Cox spent her time counseling children, families, and individuals through life’s challenging moments. Now she uses those same skills to develop layered characters and stories, bringing them on a journey of hope and healing. A journey she hopes her readers experience in their own lives as they read.
A few of her favorite things are the sanctuary of the great outdoors, the feeling of pen on paper, the sound of her children’s laughter, and exploring new places with her husband of 18 years. (Oh, let’s not forget good fiction and good coffee. She’s addicted to both.)
You can stay connected with her latest writing updates athttp://www.amandacoxwrites.com. You can find her on social media by searching Amanda Cox Writes.
My Impressions:
He Should Have Told The Bees is another outstanding general fiction offering from Amanda Cox. Family dynamics play a large part in Cox’s novels, and this one is no exception. Navigating a messy family is not easy, but it is especially difficult for Callie Peterson and Beckett Walsh. Unknown to each other, they discover their histories are wrapped in more layers of secrets than they anticipate. A mysterious trust established by Beckett’s father, throws the two together to navigate what looks like a future of broken dreams and loss of identity.
The unfolding of Callie and Beck’s lives creates lots of questions that I and the main characters were anxious to answer. 😉 But Cox takes her time in bringing various characters’ actions and motives to life. The slow pace of the novel is necessary to really get to know who Beck and Callie are. Beck deals with issues of abandonment, while Callie feels an obligation to rescue — all relating to their mother. It’s a sad story in many ways, but Cox brings about healing and wholeness. The provision and care of God is displayed throughout the narrative, often unknown and unsuspected by the characters. The ending is a dramatic and powerful look at how God can take what we want from life and make a better plan.
He Should Have Told The Bees is a book to be savored. Take your time with this one — it’s a gem.
Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(I purchased the audiobook version from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Great review, I loved this one as well!