Mia is at loose ends when her long-time boyfriend, Ethan, pulls out a ring and then puts it back in his pocket, telling her he just can't go through with it. Her baking internship ends abruptly and she is adrift. She has a great relationship with her grandmother, Alice, and is encouraged to take a chance and maybe change her life.
Rosie, Mia's friend, suggests that Mia apply for a mission/humanitarian aid program. To her great surprise, Mia is chosen and goes off on a big adventure. Teammates have a range of personalities, though Mia is drawn to Kai. Each person in the program is supposed to have a "how to help people" platform. Mia has applied with a lie of wanting to work in the medical field. When pushed into that at a refugee camp, it becomes apparent to everyone that medicine is not her thing.
Mia is a baker at heart and needs to learn to embrace it.
I greatly enjoyed this story!

5 Stars!

I just finished The Enlightenment of Bees shortly after midnight last night. I found it refreshing, engulfing, and moving. It was different than most things that I read, and it took me a little longer than usual to finish it. I was pulled in to Rachel Linden's descriptions and paintings with words after only a handful of pages.

This book was the perfect recipe for me. There are so many threads in this book that I think most readers would be able to pick it up and identify with it. I was mostly interested in the humanitarian theme in the book, and Mia's stirring to create a new life for herself after her plans crumbled (pun intended).

Mia loves to bake the way I love to read. However, growing up she felt that baking wasn't grandiose enough to make a difference in the world. The book carries her overseas where many times her life is in danger and she finds herself wondering just how in the world she will ever find her path. The ending is wrapped up nicely with a bow, and the journey from the beginning to end is so meaningful and thought-provoking for me as an RN turned Industry Consultant.

My favorite quote from the book was probably the one that everyone loves. "Your place in this world is the space where your greatest passion meets the world's greatest pain." I found that I made more highlights on my kindle with this book than any other I've reviewed so far. And, it's probably one of those that needs a place on my physical shelf, as it took up a lot of space in my heart. Rachel's gift for description is unlike anything I've read in quite awhile. She uses familiar smells associated with home and warmth and sprinkles them throughout the book, anchoring the reader in a profound way. I LOVED IT!

Thank you @Netgalley #netgalley and @thomasnelson for the opportunity to read, review, and love this book! @rachellinden_writer I'm going to be a lifelong lover of your writing. I see you are just starting on a brand new one. I'm excited to read your previous works and am looking forward to the ones unwritten. #theenlightenmentofbees #loveabook #5stars #bookreviewer #mustread #greatbook #thomasnelson #movingbook

This was cute and romantic, but a bit white savior like, even while it tried to address that issue it still was lacking.

The premise of an eccentric billionaire sending entirely unqualified people out in to world to try and help, felt a tone deaf for our current reality.

With that said its still a light enjoyable/up lit kind of read and the final message of listening to your own voice was lovely.

Mia West has her life figured out. Although she’s 26, she knows that any day her college sweetheart will propose and they can start the ideal life they planned together. She as a pastry chef, he as an Internet start-up genius. They’ll live the perfect life together in Seattle in a Craftsman home near Greenlake.

What happens instead shreds her plans. Ethan has the ring, the romantic spot, but not the commitment to pop the question. He claims he needs time away. Within the week, Mia finds life as she knew it crumbling like a week-old cookie.

On a whim, she embarks on a humanitarian adventure with her roommate Rosie, who helps her create a little white lie during her interview. What she doesn’t bargain for is the power of the trip to shake up her world and make her reconsider her passions and how they fit into the bigger picture. Can a gal change the world as ‘just a pastry chef?’

While her heart slowly heals from Ethan, she finds herself attracted to Kai, one of her teammates on the adventure. As each adventure unfolds, Mia questions whether flipping pancakes in Mumbai will really make a difference. When their team gets called to Hungry to help out with the refugee crisis, Mia’s little white lie catches up to her and she finds herself assisting the refugee camp doctor.

She also doesn’t bargain for her grandma’s ability to use Twitter (nor the embarrassing tweets she sends out). Nor does she think her grand adventure would spark a change in her bee-farmer parents.

By the end of the trip, Mia returns to Seattle with a plan she never imagined, but one that feeds her soul.

Everyone from Millennials to those battling a mid-life crisis will enjoy the message of this book. Readers will also think long and heard about humanitarian efforts and our place as Christians in supporting them (or just dedicating ourselves to humanitarian endeavors at home).

While this was a nice light romantic story it just didn’t really work for me. I had a hard believing some of the plot points and I didn’t like the main character for most of the book. There was some good character development that was redeeming but not fully. The writing was good, the cast of characters interesting and the settings all well done. Even with all of that I was bored throughout much it. A lot of people really loved it though so its still worth giving a shot if it sounds like a good fit for you.


*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All opinions are my own.*

I have to be honest and say that I'm still not sure about the title of this one. The bees seemed to be random add-ons in the book, and I couldn't tell how they fit into the story. 

The thing that kept me most hooked to this book was the fact that that the main character, Mia, and I had absolutely nothing in common. While she wanted to do greater things with her life than just to have a husband and a little home, that's my greatest aspiration in life. However, the story was really good, so I kept reading. I actually enjoyed the conclusion and Mia's realization about serving others using your skills and talents.

After Mia's boyfriend breaks up with her, she decides to leave on a six-week humanitarian mission. She'll travel around the world providing aid in three very different countries. However, just a few weeks into their trip, Mia's group gets sidetracked and sent to a Hungarian refugee camp, where she is faced with the reality of the refugee crisis.

As Mia's eyes are opened to the ways of the world, she must find her place. Is it the life she always thought she wanted? Or is there something greater than she ever knew waiting for her?

I think any time you start talking about issues like the refugee crisis the conversation can turn political. But Rachel did a great job of presenting the issue in a way I'd never seen before. 

I found this book to be so inspiring, and it really made me start thinking about my "sweet spot" in life. (Spoiler: you can still make a difference where you are!) I ended up loving this book--bee confusion notwithstanding.

This may be one of the most round-about reviews of a book I’ve ever written, so please stay with me as I get to my full impression of this book:

This book took me on quite a reading journey. I was intrigued by the first couple of pages and instantly liked the author’s writing style. But as I read a couple of more chapters in the book, I almost decided to give up on it. To read about a humanitarian team’s training including social drinking at an exclusive resort seemed shallow to me. However, I could not even begin to figure out what was going to happen next with Mia, the main character in this book, so I kept reading. About halfway through, there’s a section of this storyline that shows the team as they begin to serve in a refugee camp. And that’s where I finally understood the author’s intentions of contrasting a shallow and artificial life as opposed to real world problems. From that point in the book, I was completely sold on the story. The close relationship of Mia and her grandmother underscore everything that happens in this story, and the ending was heart-touching. So, yes, I ended up really liking this book.

Since I review mostly Christian fiction, I want to add this for those of you who read my reviews: I know this book is published by Christian publisher. But truthfully, I think it classifies more as “cross over” fiction or “women’s fiction” more than in the Christian fiction genre. It’s clean book with no foul language or sultry scenes. I love the author’s writing style. The theme of the book of compassion and serving others is great. But there’s not really an overriding theme of faith to it. And I know that many readers of Christian fiction would have a problem with the social drinking aspect. Just making note of all of this for all of you who are thinking about reading the book. Will I read another book by the author? Yes, I will.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me engaged the entire time. I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I would highly recommend to all my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!

Mia West is excited to see, Ethan.This was their 6th anniversary. She felt in her 26-year-old bones that today was the day he’d propose. Dreams of today filled her mind as she worked at The Butter Emporium bakery as an intern.

Things were going slow in the beginning of this predictable story. Then Mia’s whole world turns on end. Her roommate helps her get into a humanitarian trip around the world she is going on that is funded by a reclusive billionaire. Mia has a face time interview, then fills out paperwork, tells a fib or three and she’s off with her friend to travel the world. Mia eventually is confronted with the realities of life, love and relationships as she tries hard to not let her feelings run her life.

Rosie and Mia get more than they bargained for on this trip. This is a coming of age novel and one of self-discovery that starts out in Seattle and moves along from the slums of Mumbai to a Hungarian border camp filled with refugee’s during the refugee crisis.

Mia quickly realizes the thing she has been dreaming about doing is not what she thought it would be; frankly Mia’s dreams of helping people around the world gets scary. Her eyes are wide open to the realities in life she’d only read about, now Mia was in the middle of a life-threatening crisis. It gets overwhelming.

This book goes into places I was surprised about and so was Mia. This is a slow paced story as Mia has some revelations on who she is, what makes a relationship work, and where she wants to go in life. She discovers that there is value in being yourself, helping others and it pays to tell the truth. I think this would make a good YA summer read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Catalogue front page www.bookfun.org

Mia West has her life planned out when the book opens. She is set on a career in baking, and after 6 years, she is convinced her boyfriend is about to propose. She loves living in the Pacific Northwest, where her parents run a lavender farm, and her Nana Alice, who taught Mia to love baking, lives close by, in a retirement home. On a picnic celebrating their 6th anniversary, her boyfriend prepared even with a ring, in the last second decides to end the relationship, and then, Mia's position in the bakery is cut. Mia's best friend, who is going on a Humanitarian Mission, mentions that one person backed out and there is one space open. Mia, who has always dreamed of doing her best to help the less fortunate, jumps at the opportunity to leave the cozy comfort of home to volunteer in India, Thailand and Mexico. Mia's trip is one full of discovery (especially, she discovers what life as a #refugee is like), and "enlightenment", and, along the way, her understanding of herself in the world changes.


Rachel Linden, author of the book, is an international Aid Worker, and has travelled to over 50 different countries. I appreciated the detailed descriptions of the places that Mia travelled to and the people that she met along the way. Linden grew up baking with her own Grandma (Sally), on whom Nana Alice from the book is based, and like Mia finds baking an activity that both, connects her to her past, and, allows her to connect with others. She took what she loves about life and put it all together in this wonderful book #theenlightenmentofbees. I loved it. Thank you #netgalley for giving me a digital copy for my personal review.

I loved this book from the first chapter! The author writes "delicious foodie lingo", because Mia loves to bake, and this is definitely only one of the many things that captured my attention!

Mia is a delight. I felt for her sorrow as she is dumped by her boyfriend of six years. She's left adrift, floating along in her life without purpose. Then she is reminded of her earlier desire to travel...and away she goes! (Yes, travel is also a dream of mine, so I gladly went along for the ride!)

This traveling...Mia's best friend Rosie is going on a humanitarian trip, and so she asks Mia to go along.

I'm still trying to decide what I thought of this whole trip. It seemed just a bit fancy...or ritzy...or something...for people who are traveling on a trip of this nature. Maybe not entirely realistic?

Mia is trying to find her new purpose in life. How can she best use her interests to help others? I enjoyed seeing her growth throughout this book.

And what about those bees?! Yes, this is definitely a question I was asking at the beginning. I was a bit surprised as to how those were tied in. I think I'll leave it at that.

If you enjoy stories about food...about baking...or about travel, you might enjoy this book!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

“In a romantic adventure across the globe, The Enlightenment of Bees beautifully explores what it means to find the sweet spot in life where our greatest passions meet the world’s greatest need.”

4 Bee-utiful stars 🐝🐝🐝🐝
Encouraging and uplifting, The Enlightenment of Bees is a lighthearted summertime read about main character Mia finding the right direction for herself while helping others. And that’s what she sets out to do. In a snap, Mia, along with her friend, volunteer as aids with a global humanitarian group. It’s a great story with some romance, but also has hard hitting issues such as Hungarian refugee camps and Mumbai’s Indian slums.

The author uses current global issues vividly detailed through main character Mia’s experiences, her challenges and the changes they make within herself. Rachel Linden’s powerful message is pretty straightforward. Lead by your passions while making an impact in the world. As lovely a story, as the bees on its cover!



Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing and Rachel Linden for this complimentary ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I just visited Seattle and was excited to come across a fiction title set there! Unfortunately this wasn't for me. I'm not a huge romance fan, and couldn't get into this title. Did not finish.

What a wonderful story!! Well written. I laughed, cried, cringed, and couldn’t stop reading. I connected with the book so much being a baker myself. I also love the setting. This book went straight to my must reread shelf! You don’t want to miss it. More details to come soon.
I received a copy as part of the launch team. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

I find myself in a slightly unusual position as I begin this review: I can tell you I was drawn into this story from the beginning, but I’m not sure I can tell you exactly why. This is my third book by Rachel Linden, and I’ve found that her prose is always an effortless read, but there was something about Mia’s story that grabbed me in a way Linden’s previous two books didn’t. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy her previous two books, because I did. But there was something about this story that I found more engaging. Something I can’t quite put my finger on. See my dilemma?

In many ways, this is a coming-of-age story, although Mia’s a little older than your average coming-of-age protagonist. She’s always wanted to find a way to make a difference in the world, but how do you do that when baking is the only real skill you have to offer? I found my attention wholly captured as Mia embarked on her humanitarian trip, partly because Linden recreates the sensory delights (or undelights, as the case may be!) of Mia’s travels in vivid detail, but also because the trip was so different than Mia expected. In fact, the answer to the question “How can I make a meaningful difference?” seemed to be more elusive than ever just when it should have been coming into focus.

Perhaps the key to this story’s engagement for me was simply that I was as clueless as Mia how her story would end. Or perhaps it was the fact that there is something uniquely satisfying about the way disappointment and adversity can tumble us to a place we would never have thought to look for otherwise. Whatever the reason, I found it difficult to put this story down until I’d reached the last page.

If you enjoy women’s fiction, especially with an international flavour, this is definitely worth picking up.

My Review of The Enlightenment of Bees:
All right, this is an interesting idea for a story and the parts I read I enjoyed but I did not finish this book, I skipped to the end . . . Why? Because I didn’t like all of the talk about drinking, or the descriptions of Kai. I read the second half of the book and enjoyed it quite a bit. Mia’s story is intriguing and sweet.
I didn’t finish it but what I read was wonderful!
I didn’t necessarily agree with everything in this novel but it was nice which is why I’m giving three stars with a nineteen up recommending. Maybe I one day I’ll chime back to this book but not right now.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This book is amazing. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It was wonderful to watch Mia’s growth and be along for the ride. This is incredibly well written and a book you don’t want to put down.

Mia is young and has her whole life planned out with her boyfriend Ethan. After six years of dating she is ready to get started on their life, when he decides that he needs space and that they are going in different directions. Devasted she realizes that she has put all her hopes and dreams in the hands of someone else.

When her friend Rosie tells her that there is an opening on a humanitarian trip that is sponsored by a reclusive billionaire, Mia decides to join her and embark on an adventure of a lifetime. From the slums of Mumbai to a Hungarian refugee camp Mia has experiences and meets people that will leave her changed forever.

This story was Mia’s own version of eat, pray, love. As an avid traveler I really enjoyed this story. There are many characters that you meet throughout her adventure that play an impact on her trip and life. This reminded me of when I studied abroad in Hungary. I was not at a refugee camp but staying just south of Budapest in dorms with other students from all over the world was a huge eye opener for me. It was the first time I had ever left the country and it changed my life. Mia’s learns so much about herself and realizes that the experiences and people are what really matters, which is why I choose to spend my money on travel and continue to get my passport stamped.

"Your place in this world is the space where your greatest passion meets the world's greatest pain." This quote reminds me of main character Mia's beloved Mother Theresa, who famously told the world "If you can't do great things, do small things with great love." I do love the notion of doing the most good right where you are.

This was a delightful, easy to read story. And as a digital ARC, it was perfect for spending hours in airports and airplanes one weekend. When Mia's boyfriend of six years dumps her just when she expected him to propose, she feels lost and adrift. An international service program seems like the perfect opportunity for Mia to explore her own passions and decide what she really wants out of life.

The writing was strong and the descriptions of life in a Hungarian refugee camp were vivid and realistic. There's a little romance and a lot of adventure for Mia that is packed into these pages. And I adored Mia's elderly Nana Alice.

I did struggle with the Rosie and Lars relationship, which seemed very one dimensional and unrealistic. And really, the only bees were the ones in Mia's dreams spurring her into action. I thought they might play a larger story in Mia's life and decision making.

That said, he was a sweet coming of age tear jerker that kept me interested and invested in Mia's story.

I absolutely adored this book. A finding yourself journey after your plans fall apart. Mia takes a trip with her housemate and ends up meeting multiple people along the way that help her change and grow. She is given a chance to figure out the things she wants and what life is throwing at her.

I absolutely loved the dynamics of the other characters introduced. It provided so much diversity to the plot. The different countries and backgrounds of each character really add depth to the novel. This book is a very clean and wholesome read. It is very relatable in the feelings, Journey, and change of life. This was a cute read and I highly recommend it.