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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I love this book! Due to knowing history, you know some of what will happen in the book... but the story that goes along with the known history is what sucks you in. The characters are very well developed. I loved Eliane, and I loved Abi and how she obviously developed a love for Eliane as well. Highly recommend this book!!
WWII historical romance told in two timelines, Eliane in 1938 and Abi is present time. Abi’s story reminds me of Frances in “Under the Tuscan Sun” when after her marriage fails, Abi takes up a job caring for the beautiful Chateau Bellevue in rural France to heal her body, mind, and soul. In 1938, Eliane is a beekeeper that takes care of the beehives in the same Chateau Bellevue. The two timelines go back and forth, and through it comes growth, resilience, strength, and having courage to face the future.
I had really high expectations of this book based on the high reviews. It was good, didn't wow me but I did enjoy it. Didn't blow me away. I did like how the story went back and forth, tying a connection to modern day that wasn't a family connection.
3.5 stars. I loved Eliane’s chapters. I resented spending time on Abi’s chapters, whose storyline I found less engaging. The French countryside made a very comforting setting, despite the subject matter, and I always like getting a new perspective of WWII. I felt like some of the relationships in this book were not fleshed out enough, so that’s probably why I couldn’t rate it higher. Still, I look forward to reading this author’s other books!
Enjoyed the history of a place that I have visited.
Rating this one is difficult for me because there were a lot of pieces of this story I loved but as a whole I didn't like it.
The Beekeeper's Promise is set up much differently than I thought it was going to be. You have two very different timelines that don't really have too much to do with each other besides the fact that our modern day character, Abi, is staying at the same location our historical character, Elaine, used to live.
I think if Valpy has stuck to this book being two distinct stories and didn't try to force them together it would have been a lot better. It felt so forced to have a modern day timeline randomly spattered throughout in a historical fiction novel.
Elaine's story was really captivating and I did enjoy these pieces most. When it comes to Abi's story it did have a lot of potential of being a book similar to that of Colleen Hoover's It Ends with Us. If not even more interesting.
The Beekeeper's Promise is set up much differently than I thought it was going to be. You have two very different timelines that don't really have too much to do with each other besides the fact that our modern day character, Abi, is staying at the same location our historical character, Elaine, used to live.
I think if Valpy has stuck to this book being two distinct stories and didn't try to force them together it would have been a lot better. It felt so forced to have a modern day timeline randomly spattered throughout in a historical fiction novel.
Elaine's story was really captivating and I did enjoy these pieces most. When it comes to Abi's story it did have a lot of potential of being a book similar to that of Colleen Hoover's It Ends with Us. If not even more interesting.
Two stories, but only one told with emotion while the other fell flat and monotone
The story about WWII France was beautiful and the performance of those portions flowed well. The characters were written with dialogue and actions that that gave them emotions and a fullness to their beings instead of just supporting lines for what the protagonist was going on about. I fully enjoyed the varying accents and intonations for different characters in these parts of the book.
The story about Abby took a bit long to develop and still felt lacking. Even though the character states that she is going to (vague reference here so as not to spoil) tie things up in the end, there are some questions left unanswered for the reader about from events at the beginning of the book. I felt Abby's story was told in a bland tone the entire time, except for only a few moments toward the end. I started dreading going back to her portion of the story because of the performer's switch to a dull and bleary description of everything with few supporting characters using their voices enough to change the feel of the mood.
I wouldn't have read/finished reading this book had I started it in hard copy or ebook format. The beginning chapters piqued my interest in Abby but at the same time the WWII story was just a sappy love story that I didn't feel like reading.
I am not an Audible or audiobook regular. It's hard for me to concentrate if the narrator doesn't match the voice I hear when I think of the story. This pairing was a perfect match! I enjoyed Ms Meire's soft and smooth voice. She was comforting in parts where the history was frightening. I would listen to more books read by this narrator.
The story about WWII France was beautiful and the performance of those portions flowed well. The characters were written with dialogue and actions that that gave them emotions and a fullness to their beings instead of just supporting lines for what the protagonist was going on about. I fully enjoyed the varying accents and intonations for different characters in these parts of the book.
The story about Abby took a bit long to develop and still felt lacking. Even though the character states that she is going to (vague reference here so as not to spoil) tie things up in the end, there are some questions left unanswered for the reader about from events at the beginning of the book. I felt Abby's story was told in a bland tone the entire time, except for only a few moments toward the end. I started dreading going back to her portion of the story because of the performer's switch to a dull and bleary description of everything with few supporting characters using their voices enough to change the feel of the mood.
I wouldn't have read/finished reading this book had I started it in hard copy or ebook format. The beginning chapters piqued my interest in Abby but at the same time the WWII story was just a sappy love story that I didn't feel like reading.
I am not an Audible or audiobook regular. It's hard for me to concentrate if the narrator doesn't match the voice I hear when I think of the story. This pairing was a perfect match! I enjoyed Ms Meire's soft and smooth voice. She was comforting in parts where the history was frightening. I would listen to more books read by this narrator.
The author does a beautiful job creating a sense of place and context for this novel, but the characters were simply flat and undynamic. It was difficult to summon interest in the plot since the the characters lacked substance.
Fantastic read
One of those books you just can’t put down. Author has taken the horrible years of WWII and turned them into a riveting story of love, loss, and strength and survival.
One of those books you just can’t put down. Author has taken the horrible years of WWII and turned them into a riveting story of love, loss, and strength and survival.
A fairly easy read. The story was engaging, and I enjoyed it. Nothing spectacular, though. Maybe I've read too many WWII-based historical fiction novels lately?