This book had me at the cover! A gorgeous house set in a gorgeous garden - it's my idea of heaven! And with the character of Grace I also found a kindred spirit! She's always happiest when she's in her garden! She understands the role it plays - both in nature and in her wellbeing! The peace it gives her from the stressful world around her, and the stressful situation she finds herself in when she calls it quits on her marriage of 32 years. How she stayed with Paul for that long is beyond me, as his behaviour through the book had me shouting at him on numerous occasions! But she's finally had enough and stands up for herself and wants to take back control of her own life.



Her dream is to keep her home where she tends her beehives, but her ex has other ideas for the future of the house so she is left to turn to her good friends for advice and help in thinking up ways to try and keep her dreams alive. When Amos arrives in town he has everyone talking, not least Grace and she finds herself letting him help her - he's not one to give much away though and she finds herself intrigued by him and his backstory as he's always quite vague when people ask him. I found myself wondering what he was hiding too!



I adored the setting and the characters of The Beekeeper's Cottage - the scenery was brought to life so stunningly that you could almost hear the hum of the bees and the scent of the flowers in the garden! In her ex you have the perfect villain to get you on the side of Grace and it was lovely to have slightly older characters as the main focus of this story showing that you can follow your dreams whatever your age! A wonderful read!!

I was not aware until after I had read the book, that this was a sequel to another. That would explain a few gaps in character development/explanation at the start but really it didn't detract from this being a heart-warming summer read - perfect for by the pool/sitting in the garden etc.
The characters are good, the storyline is quite typical, but its the little details that make this book something a little special - the descriptions of the gardens are glorious, you can almost taste the homemade lemonade or the sticky honey & the bees add to the charm of the countryside story. Delightful!

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own

I absolutely adored reading this book. I couldn't put it down once I started to read it. It is such a heartwarming and feel good book.
The book features the mysterious and magical Amos Fry from Merry Mistletoe, one of the tales from Appleyard books. We are also reunited with Flora and family from the farm at Hope Corner, as they work to help Grace keep her cottage after her divorce.
It is wonderful to be reunited with previous characters, but this book can also be read as a standalone novel.
Everything about the book is lovely, the cover, the characters and the storyline. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Having read Emma Davies' work since her very first novel, I have come to expect warmth and compassion in her novels, and I'm never disappointed!

Grace has the most beautiful country home with a large garden in a gorgeous setting where she keeps her beehives. The only blot on the landscape is her lying, cheating husband - and she has decided their marriage has come to the end of the road. What she didn't expect was him to threaten to sell the house from under her ...

With Emma's trademark warmth, this is a lovely read which will seep into your bones and leave you with a feeling of happiness and contentment. I hadn't realised - until I began reading - that it was a follow-on to The House at Hope Corner and whilst this is an excellent stand-alone read, your pleasure can only be doubled by reading that one first. With the main character named Grace, and the dog called Brodie, this book felt as if it was written just for me!

With a most glorious country setting and a splendid array of characters, this is an absolute joy to read, and with the terrific weather we've been having recently, I could feel the sun beating down on me just as it was in the book. An excellent structure, well-planned plot combined with a couple of twists and turns and a secret or two all contribute to this novel excelling in the genre. A superb addition to Emma's writing, I recommend this to all lovers of a feel-good read and, as such, it's absolutely a solid five star read.

Grace has a special relationship with her bees – they tell her things, she talks with them, and everyone manages to benefit from that connection. But a stranger has appeared at the flower farm run by her friend Flora and her husband, in the form of an itinerant worker, Amos, who seems to be drawn to the places and people who need him most, in his efforts to atone for some long-past issues.

Amos and Grace are drawn to one another, even as she’s battling her husband for a divorce and the ownership of the cottage she has so lovingly decorated and maintained. Spending years helping him to entertain and progress in show business, he’s now trying to sell the house out from under her -because he can. But Amos, Flora and the gang are determined that Grace should stay and find a way to make the cottage and her skills bring in income.

Emma Davies has a way of making you a part of the story as you sit at the farmhouse table or out in the garden, just taking In the sights, scents and atmosphere. We care about the people because they are people we want to know and befriend, and their homes and lives are often ones to envy – even when things are tough. More importantly, the stories are life-affirming and hope-affirming, sure to leave you with a smile and some slowly formulating plans to move to a cottage somewhere in the country.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-auX/”> <a> I am, Indeed </a>

"The Beekeeper's Cottage" by Emma Davies is the perfect summer read. This book is the sequel to "The House at Hope Corner" but it can be read as a standalone book easily..

Comforted by the gentle hum of the beehives at the bottom of the garden, Grace drains the last of her tea and walks slowly back towards the little hillside house she adores. Her marriage is over, but is it too late to start her life again?

Beekeeper Grace thought throwing out her cheating husband would be the hardest thing she ever did. But when she opens the door to a property developer one morning, it’s clear that keeping her beautiful home and garden – her only sanctuary throughout her miserable marriage – will be the greatest challenge of all…

Fleeing to her best friend at the farm next door, Grace blurts out all her problems, only to be overheard by Amos, a handsome, free-spirited visitor with a twinkle in his eye. Fascinated by Grace and her bees, Amos offers to stay in the village of Hope Corner, to help turn her home into a guest house in return for lessons on beekeeping.

As Grace shows Amos how to nurture a hive and harvest honeycomb without getting stung, he is charming but secretive. He never stays long in the same place after an incident in his past involving a mysterious woman named Maria. But as their eyes lock over a jar of homemade honey, Grace can’t help feeling that she’d really like him to stay…

Determined to dispel her growing suspicion that Amos is running from something serious, Grace goes in search of the truth about Maria. But when she finds it, will she still want Amos to put down roots in Hope Corner, and will they still have a house to return to?

No matter how far they travel, bees will always find their way home…

This is a light easy read for a lazy summer day. I instantly fell in love with the village of Hope Corner. The characters are wonderful which makes reading even more pleasurable.
I highly recommend this novel to all who love Romance/Chic Lit novels.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy from the publisher and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This book is the sequel to The House at Hope Corner. We return not just to Flora and Hope Corner, but more specifically Flora’s neighbour and friend, Grace. Whilst it is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone book easily. I loved the first book and was really enthralled by Flora’s story. I had already met Grace so already knew her back story of being in a loveless marriage to a womanising TV personality. Grace was such an interesting character in the first book, so was really happy to be reading her story this time around!

Grace’s husband in this book was just as obnoxious and unpleasant as he was in the first. I really felt for Grace particularly when her husband arranges for the house to be put up for sale without her agreement, but then after a while I figured she was certainly better off without him. Amos was my favourite character of the book! He was just so magical, almost a male version of Mary Poppins!! The writing conjured up such great images of him, and whilst being older than the usual romantic interest in books like this, his character was still very likeable. Turning up at Hope Corner offering his work for free in return for accommodation was unusual, but as Amos’s story progresses you begin to understand why he lives the life he does.

The aspect of bees and beekeeping obviously play a big part in the story – the title of the book is a bit of a giveaway!! It was really interesting and completely different to have bees feature in a storyline and I found myself captivated by how hives work, how the bees live and how you look after them (I also found myself with newly found respect for the honeybees I currently have nesting in my extractor fan vent!). The images of the fields of colourful flowers, bees collecting their nectar and big old Amos in his beekeeper’s suit will stay with me for a very long time!

Of course, we all know that this is also about the birds and the bees (a terrible pun, I know!) and as in books of this genre, there is always going to be a romance. We can also guess quite quickly as to who the romance will be between, but there is always going to be some secrets and past histories which will need to be worked through first! It was obvious there was more to Amos than meets the eye and when his story is revealed it certainly bought a tear or two to my eyes!

I loved this book just as much, if not a little bit more, than the first one! The story was captivating and the characters were absolutely perfect! I have since read that Amos also features in a kindle short read by this author, Merry Mistletoe, which I will definitely be looking out for! A heart-warming wonderful tale of good old fashioned romance! This perfect summer read will leave the aroma of the flowers and the buzz of the bees warming your heart for a good while after you’ve finished reading it! Highly recommended!!

It was so great to be back in Hope Corner again. There is something about this fabulous setting that just transports you away from real life to this idyllic location. Even though I am not a fan of bees, I so enjoyed finding out more about them through Grace. Though don’t worry, bee’s are only a very small part of the story.

Amos I was drawn to as soon as we meet him. He has an air of mystery and I was dying to find out his history. He seems to have a habit of turning up just at the right time and for Flora and her family as well as Grace, it certainly couldn’t be anymore perfect.

Grace I loved getting to know better. She has a lot going on in her personal life and has some serious decisions to make. She takes things in her stride though and her friendship with Flora, Ned and his parents is a great comfort.

The Beekeeper’s Cottage is such a gentle read that totally absorbs you. There is so much to love about this novel, from the wonderful setting, to the characters and all thanks to the fabulous writing style of the author. You really feel a connection with this place as well as the characters and have to say that this is one book that even if it had 1000 pages, it would never be enough as I could easily keep on reading about the residents and life there. The perfect book to read anytime full of friendship and hope.

Grace thinks she's finally going to live the life she wants to live - but her ex-husband is still out there poking at her. She's living in her cottage and keeping bees but that's not going to make enough to keep the wolves, and the property developed at bay. Luckily (for us as well as her) she lives next to Flora and her flower farm. Don't worry if you didn't read the first book because Davies gives you enough of Flora's story without overwhelming Grace's. That's where Grace meets Amos, whose ideas and assistance are invaluable and who is, well a heart throb. He's got a secret, though, and Grace, braver than many of us might be, decides to seek out Maria. These are great characters and the plot is delightful. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. A very good read.

A beautiful story about two people finally finding the freedom they deserve, this book is very well written. I felt at home right from the very first page. The sense of tranquility and place is lovely.

As well as the wonderful love story (and slight mystery) at the centre of this book, I particularly enjoyed the scene when Amos shows the estate agent around Grace’s house, which made me chuckle several times. The information about bees was fascinating, and I appreciated the way they fitted into the story.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a summer romance with a touch of humour and mystery. And, of course, a satisfyingly happy ending!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in this series, this is the story of Grace and Amos.

Grace has just asked her cheating husband for a divorce, and the only thing she wants to keep hold of is her cottage. When he threatens to sell it, she knows she has to stop him. Her friends are keen to help her, as i newcomer Amos. No one know much about him, but soon he comes to mean a lot to Grace.

Great read.

What a fantastic book I loved it from the beginning to the end. A book with everything, strong characters beautifully described countryside and information on bee keeping.

Grace is a kind gentle lady married to a pretty unlikeable character. After telling her husband she wants a divorce he is determined to make her life a misery. Amos arrives at the farm next door looking for work in exchange for a place to stay and he becomes a good friend to Grace

This is a story about second chances, love, kindness and giving without expecting anything in return. I’m so glad I got the opportunity to read it

This is one of the most delightful books I've read in a long time. Not only was the setting glorious (Grace's cottage sounds divine and that garden is to die for), but I learnt a little about bees, too.
The story is a mixture of gentle middle England and the cut-throat world of TV. The contrast between the two men in Grace's life is well executed, and the moral to the story is that the good guys do sometimes win.

I wasn't expecting the ending (I was expecting the complete opposite) but it fitted the story perfectly. And I particularly loved the hint of 'otherness' about Amos and his intuition.

All in all, a lovely wonderful read!

(The review ill be published on my website on 6th Aug)

First thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! This book was so good. I loved the character development, the scenery, the plot and the mystery. I could literally imagine walking through the gardens and near the bees and smelling all the flowers. I could taste the food and imagine sitting and having tea with the characters. Thank you for such a lovely book!

I am happy the author took me back to Hope Corner where we were treated to Flora's story in a previous book. This time it's her neighbour Grace who is in the spotlight.

Both books can be read as a standalone, but it's always nice to know what happened before. :)

Every book I have already read by this author has a hugh amount of romance in it, but she adds a lot of depth by tackling a more serious matter as well. 

How long do you have to remain trapped in the situation you are in now? Isn't it time to take your life in your own hands and do something about it? But are you prepared to conquer the consequences? Are you strong enough to face them? 

It's so much easier to battle when you have the support of friends and a godfather of the fairy kind. But when it seems he has his own problems to deal with it's time to return the favour. :)

It was also interesting to get a peek into the buzzy live of some little flying insects.

This book is about letting go, taking control of your life, friendship and love. 4 stars.

Thank you, Emma Davies, Bookouture and Netgalley.

This book had a great concept. I really liked the characters, although the plot did seem to meander a bit. Overall, my favorite parts were the descriptions of the setting, which was truly idyllic. The romance seemed a bit convenient, but I think this is a great book for a beach read.

Emma Davies has done it again with a book which captures you from the start, where you can hear the hum of the bees working in their hives, you can feel the tension that emanates from the cottage and you can feel the love that is clearly everywhere to be had.

Grace, who we meet first in The House at Hope Corner as Flora's closest neighbour is the main protagonist in this story. You do not need to have read this book to enjoy the story but I knew from prior reading that Grace's life was a difficult one and she had been in the shadow of her husband for a very long time. Her beekeeping was her life.

Grace decided that her life needed to change and getting rid of her philandering husband, a local TV celebrity whilst being one of the toughest decisions and hardest to make - it is in fact the aftermath which is going to prove even more of a challenge.

Grace's husband, is not going to go quietly and therefore to make the most noise he wants to take the cottage that has been grace's home and sanctuary for many years.

Grace has a battle on her hands and she is prepared to fight.

But she is not prepared for the appearance of a wandering stranger who pitches up at the Flower Farm next door to help Flora and who suddenly develops an interest in beekeeping.

Amos, handsome, in curious bright red Doc Martens and an air of Mary Poppins about him - there when needed and gone when not, has a past which he is clearly running away from. But Grace has done something to him and it looks like perhaps Amos has finally found to a place to stay.

Of course this book is full of romance, but this is steeped in tragedy from difficult pasts that need laying to rest until new futures can be created. Emma Davies does it so subtly that you are so invested in these characters it is almost heartbreaking to stop reading about them and their lives.

An excellent summer rad, full of warmth and the sweet taste of honey. Highly recommended and I would love to revisit these characters at some point.

Wow!!! What a fantastic page turner. I devoured this book in one sitting. Great characters which you feel yourself pushing one. Want to go and spend time with these great people. Extremely well written with a few tear jerking moments loved it. Highly recommended

A really lovely summer book that I enjoyed reading in my garden! Lovely characters and plot line, I really recommend this!

An excellent read for a lazy summer afternoon. It made me feel good, it's engrossing and entertaining.
I appreciated the well written cast of characters, the plot that flows and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.