Every so often – and it’s so lovely when it happens – you come across a book that just gets everything right. Ok, it might have helped that the weather was glorious and I could indulge myself by spending the day reading this one from cover to cover in the garden – but the whole book was so infused with warmth and sunshine that it would have brightened the dullest day.

I loved Kayleigh from the very beginning – she’s feisty and funny, but life really hasn’t been doing her any favours – and she’s so desperate to turn things around that she’ll take any job going. That’s what makes her lie through her teeth while being interviewed by a bee (not a real one obviously – it’s a Zoom filter, and a computerised voice) for a job she’s entirely unable to do. And that’s how she finds herself appointed as beekeeper, looking after the sixty hives on the roof of the dilapidated, burnt out and perhaps haunted manor house of Elderflower Grove – with three days to deliver five hundred jars of honey, eagerly awaited by the community of Little Kettling.

The beekeeping bible she ordered online isn’t going to get her through this one – but there’s unexpected help at hand. When she explores the house – despite the dire warnings never to go inside – she comes across Carey, a distinctly gorgeous gardener, sleeping on the floor inside and acting as a very unofficial caretaker. Together, despite his aversion to being anywhere near the bees on the roof, they set about the task of producing the jars – and then go on to breath new life into the glorious grounds of the manor that have been a forbidding place behind locked gates for far too long.

This is a book that has a bit of everything. Of course, it’s a romance – you can really feel the chemistry between Kayleigh and Carey, starting as friends with a mission in common but slowly developing into so much more. But their path certainly isn’t a smooth one – there’s an intriguing mystery about what happened to the elderly and reclusive spinster who owned the manor, there are various shenanigans around the council’s attempts to acquire the building and its grounds and turn it into a theme park, but Carey has a few secrets he hasn’t shared too that make a happy ending look quite impossible.

There’s a lot of the loveliest humour – Kayleigh’s own distinctive voice, the exchanges between Carey and Kayleigh that crackle and fizz and sparkle, and the interventions of the Nectar Inspectors (some of the more eccentric residents of Little Kettling) are just wonderful. And there’s a fair bit of drama too – really edge-of-the-seat moments that have your heart in your mouth – but also some really emotional moments (and not all bee related) that have you on the edge of tears, but always followed by a smile. And those frequent nods to Jane Austen – so cleverly done, and yet another reason to smile. And goodness, I haven’t even really mentioned the bees – I really liked the bee facts that started each chapter, and certainly learned a lot (as did Kayleigh) about the work involved in their care.

The story is simply wonderful – I haven’t even started to get into its many twists and turns, and all its many surprises – and quite beautifully written. I fell in love with Elderflower Grove and its grounds too, and would have been ready to chain myself to the gates to protect it – the author’s descriptions are superb, the house a character in its own right. There are developments towards the book’s end that you really won’t be expecting – the pages just turn faster and faster, and I loved every single moment. This was a book I put down – rather reluctantly – when it was all over, smiled, wiped away a tear, and thought “that was just perfect”. Highly recommended – and definitely one of my books of the year.

How much do you adore this book?!!!

Let me count the ways……

The funniest opening to a book ever…..zoom calls with a talking Bee, not to be missed!

Gorgeous romance, but it’s not an easy one!

Fabulously realistic and very funny heroine!

Twist and turns with ruthless Bee sabotage (Nooooooo!!!)

A hero with a heart of pure gold!

Lots and lots of Bees ….we need more Bees in the world!

I could carry on but that would make this review just a long list of cringe-worthy babbling (on my part). I have read a few of Jaimie Adman’s books, not as many as I would have liked, (damn the toppling TBR pile) but enough to know I love her humour and heartwarming writing and definetly need to start collecting her backlist for my keeper shelves.

I loved the look of this book from the moment I set eyes on it, I adore the cover it’s so summery and cheerful, but it was the title that really captured my attention; The Beekeeper of Elderflower Grove, Just how charming is that! I have a huge love of Bees and am never one to shy away from a glass (or bottle) of Elderflower wine, put the two together and add in Jaimie Adman’s wonderfully feel-good storytelling and you have the perfect summer romance.

I was hooked with this book from the very first page, a job interview over a video call with a man disguising himself with a filter as a Bee. Yup, you read that right Kayleigh was being interviewed by a Bee. Even now I’m giggling! I instantly connected with Kayleigh she is your typical girl next door and I loved how we see the entire story told through her eyes, which gives a wonderful insight into her personility and her rather random thoughts.

Kayleigh hasn’t had the best luck of late, but that doesn’t put her off, after the breakdown of her relationship, the end of her business and having to move back home with her now Tinder-loving mother she needs a job. Any job! This is why she applies for the Beekeepers position and then throws herself into learning all she needs to learn, and I love that no matter what stands in her way she has so much determination and gusto she grabs every challenge with both hands and gets on with it.

I mentioned above that I do love those fuzzy little insects, but not everyone does and that is a real shame as Bees are so important to the world, they are an integral part of the ecosystem and aren’t valued or appreciated as much as they should be. So I was very interested to read this one, and oh boy does it do the hard work of both the Bees and Beekeepers justice or what? There is a huge amount of research and knowledge thrown into this book, we get a really insightful look into the work which goes into being a Beekeeper, which I found absolutely fascinating.

This is such an easy book, it’s so enjoyable and the pacing is absolutely spot on, I read it in one weekend (for a slow reader this says a lot). The Beekeeper of Elderflower Grove is utterly charming, it’s a sweet and magical love story of second chances and finding happiness in the most unexpected places, I cannot recommend it more!

The Beekeeper at Elderflower Grove by Jaimie Admans

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Having moved into her mum’s spare room after a disastrous break-up, Kayleigh Harwood is desperate for a fresh start. When she sees an opening for a new beekeeper at Elderflower Grove she jumps at the chance – despite not knowing a thing about bees…

The abandoned manor house holds a mystery of its own – the previous owner vanished years ago – and locals have been inventing stories about the manor ever since. Unable to resist the urge to look around, Kayleigh is shocked to find drop-dead-gorgeous gardener Carey living inside!

Carey explains that the house and surrounding land is at risk of being demolished, endangering the bees, and he has been staying there to protect it.

Having read this, Jaimie must have put a lot of research into this book. It is a very summery read and quirky but enjoyable. I have read a few books by Jaimie and each have been very individual books - you never know what to expect next. I was hooked from the start, I mean an interview with a bee had to lead to an interesting story. A beautifully written and charming book, with a lovely setting.

Rating: 4/5

A well written book, with a subject which is very topical at the moment. Heart-warming characters and plot, which makes for a lovely book.

The Beekeeper at Elderflower Grove was fun and engaging from the start. Kayleigh is interviewed online for the position of beekeeper by a bee! Well, not really of course but someone using a bee filter to hide their identity. They are impressed by her honesty and give her the job. If only she’d actually been honest about not knowing the first thing about bees! I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

I really loved the setting of Elderflower Grove with the abandoned old manor house proving to be not just a significant setting but really a character in itself. There is mystery surrounding the fire and presumed death of the previous owner and all sorts of rumours about it being haunted. Even before the fire, the elderly owner Josie kept herself to herself and really only had the irrepressible Gracie as a friend.

There was so much I enjoyed in the book from the references to Kayleigh’s beloved Jane Austen, to the interesting facts about bees at the start of each chapter, to the community spirit of the locals as they fight to save the house and grounds from redevelopment and council skulduggery, and there are a fair few moments of drama and danger.

This being a Jaimie Admans book there is of course a romance and from reading the book description you’ll not be surprised to know it features Kayleigh and the gardener Carey. I really liked the way their relationship developed from companionship into friendship and then into deeper feelings. Carey’s t-shirts made me laugh although I rather liked the sound of him all done up like an Austen character too. Carey had more than a few secrets of his own that once revealed threatened the future of their developing romance. Could they have their happy ending? Well, you’ll need to read it to find out.

So does The Beekeeper at Elderflower Grove join my list of five star reads from Jaimie Admans? Well, yes of course it does! It’s suffused with warm (dare I say sweet?) humour throughout, making this book a delight to read.

Perfect for this time of year, you can almost hear the buzz of the bees and smell the honey as you get lost in Elderflower Grove with Kayleigh. Jaimie Admans writes such great stories and her characters simply draw you into their worlds. This is a wonderful story to get lost in and I loved the fight Kayleigh showed in her life for herself and the Grove.

I absolutely love Jaimie Adman's books. Every time I read a new book that she has written I think that it is fantastic and my favourite book. Then I read her next new book, and somehow that is even better than the last one. This book is absolutely amazing and I can't fault it in any way. This is my favourite book that she has written and is easily one of the best books that I have read this year.
Bees are a very topical subject, and this book manages to highlight the plight of bees without being too serious. I loved the bee facts at the start of each chapter.
I also loved the subplot of Josie and I was eager to find out what had happened to her. I also wanted to find out more about Elderflower Grove. It was all very mysterious.
Kayleigh and Carey are both lovely characters and were very enthusiastic, I loved reading about their ideas.
This is such a warm and wonderful feel good read. It was very heartwarming and had a good helping of humour, and a sprinkling of magic. I adored this book and can't recommend it enough.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for a digital ARC of this lovely book.

“The Beekeeper at Elderflower Grove” is a story of new beginnings, the wonder of nature and particularly bees. Kayleigh is a 36yr old woman forced to live at home jobless after being swindled by her ex. She takes a job as a beekeeper in a local historic house. The house is abandoned, fire damaged, unsafe to enter and is reputed to be haunted. Desperate for a job she lies at her interview pretending she has experience with bees. She doesn’t! Armed with a book purchased on next day delivery she begins work. There mystery, magic and joy find her in the house she is forbidden to enter and the glorious unkempt grounds.

The secrets held in Elderflower Grove help Kayleigh to find new purpose. There is of course a love interest with a background as mysterious as the house. Secrets, lies, magic, mysteries & lots of bees kept me riveted whilst reading this delightful story. Each chapter begins with a fact about bees a kind of epigraph, which helps to contextualise the story and highlight the importance of bees in the ecosystem.

I highly recommend this book. Lots of love, magic & laughter is contained within. Enjoy 😊

After a disastrous breakup and the loss of her candle business, Kayleigh moves back in with her mum. With her mum dating again and a lack of space, Kayleigh is desperate for a job, any job...which leads her to telling an online "bee" all about her "very extensive" beekeeping knowledge. A couple of days later, furnished with a copy of "beekeeping for dummies", Kayleigh begins her new job at Elderflower Grove, tasked by the Nectar Inspectors (best name ever!) to begin the first honey harvest of summer...it'll be fine right? The fire, disappearance and probable death of the previous owner in the fire, the rumours of ghosts and what happened to the last beekeeper...well that's all just village gossip isn't it?

I absolutely loved it, I found Kayleigh and the other characters (except the obvious) very likeable and enjoyed the plot surrounding the previous owner cleverly woven into her story and I wanted to know everything!

It was funny, it was sweet, it was addictive and (sorry Sacha and Tav of the Post box at the North Pole) it's now my absolute favourite Jaimie Admans book.

Review also posted to Goodreads but unable to link account.

I really enjoy Jaimie’s fun and quirky writing style, and I was pleased to see this book was filled with both!
An interesting story that soon had me hooked and intrigued. I was constantly thinking about what was happening, who were the characters really and what had happened to the original owner. I didn’t guess anything!
Jaimie’s sprinkling of magic and mystery always catches my heart and attention , as does her lovely characters and beautiful settings.
Having grown up with family members who were actual beekeepers, I found the subject interesting and brought back happy memories from my childhood.
A super summer read that certainly got my imagination buzzing 🐝

A nice summer story and my first time reading a Jaimie Admans book.

I liked the mystery surrounding the fire at Elderflower Grove, the ghost stories and the disappearance of the owner. However I found the characters of Kayleigh and Carey a little immature for the age they were supposed to be in the book. They acted more like teenagers than adults in their 30's. I would have liked to see more from Gracie as she was a funny character.

I've given 3 stars as the book was entertaining and kept me reading until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy to read and review.

After what seemed to be a bit of a silly start with Kayleigh being interviewed by a bee, this book transformed into a lovely romantic story for the summer. Kayleigh has no job and is staying with her mother after breaking up with her long-term partner. Despite having no experience, she applies for the position of beekeeper at a local, very large, ramshackle nearby house which has been left derelict after a fire several years ago. The house is said to be haunted and Kayleigh is told not to go inside so she immediately attempts to get in. When she does, she finds a young man, Carey is squatting in the house under the pretext of trying to discover if the late owner was his grandmother. The story has many twists and turns as Carey attempts to uncover the truth about his grandmother and Kayleigh trying to prove that she does have experience of handling bees and not actually making a very good job of it. The added storyline is that the council plan to demolish the house and turn it into a theme park. The book has actually got a good plot and is poignant in places and quite funny in others, although the numerous puns about bees are a bit silly. The characters are charming, and this is a perfect sunny summer afternoon read.

Absolutely loved everything about this. Not only was the writing style easy and flowed brilliantly, the characters believable and endearing but the research on bees was solid with relevant quotes at the beginning of every chapter. As someone who has always talked to bees and ants in the garden, normally asking them not to invade my kitchen, I enjoyed the feyness ( I seem to have been inspired to also make up words recently) of the story. Congrats Jamie on a writing style that is enjoyable to read, easy flowing and doesn’t jar! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Love love loved it, read it in a day, a perfect way to spend a sunny day while using the excuse it was too hot for housework !
The bee information at the beginning of each chapter is a brilliant idea, I learnt things that I didn't know, plus further information throughout the story about bee keeping

Kayleigh needs a job. Any job will do - she's back living with her mum in the village she was brought up in and is desperate. When she is interviewed by a bee (read the book to find out what I mean!) for a position at neglected Elderflower Grove, she says anything that she hopes will get her the role. When she is given the job, she meets Carey - who is he and why is he at the house?

A fun read, even if a little unbelievable at times. Comical and emotional, a good light hearted way to spend a few hours.

“The Beekeeper at Elderberry Grove” was a beautifully written and charmingly romantic novel. Readers immediately meet Kayleigh, who is having to start all over when her long-term relationship ends, along with the business she built with her loser-of-a-partner. When she lands a job as a beekeeper, she meets Cary, a mysterious man living in the mansion no one is supposed to ever go into. As many love stories go, the two find their way to each other, pulled together by something more than fate… Together, they embark on a mission to save Elderflower Grove from falling into the hands of a crooked council. Not only was this a fun, breezy read, it also hit me on a deeper level, inspiring me to care more about the bees and what we can practically do to help the environment.

What I liked about this book was the descriptions of the setting at Elderflower Grove, the blossoming friendship between Cary and Kaleigh, and the humor that Jaimie Admans brings into each chapter. This book had a very pleasant blend of romance, mystery, and comedy that was very refreshing to read. I also appreciated the lack of steamy sex-scenes. It was a good, clean, wholesome book!

What I found myself disliking was the lack of description for Kaleigh. We are immediately introduced to her, but are given very few physical descriptions. I also found it hard to believe that our two lovers were in their late 30’s. Their vibes were giving me more early-mid 20’s! A factor that played into this was Cary’s weird obsession with children's show themed t-shirts. I was not a fan of these, but maybe that was just me. #creepy?

Altogether, this was a very fun read, and I enjoyed every page. I think any chick-lit lover should pick this book up to “bee” filled with all the warm and fuzzy feelings. Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read this advanced reader's copy.

5/5 Stars

#netgalley #arc

The Beekeeper at Elderflower Grove was a lovely read.

When Kayleigh broke up with her boyfriend she lost her candle business and house, so she went back sleeping at her mom's home at Little Kettling. She is desperatly looking for a job and her only chance is to become the new beekeeper at Elderflower Grove mansion, how difficult could it be to take care of the bees without any experience?

I liked Kayleigh since the first page, she is resourceful and fearless, she accepts this new challenge and she isn't easily discouraged, and she is a dreamer and a book lover. I was so glad to see her becoming a real beekeeper in the end.

If you are looking for a nice, sweet and Disney-ish story this is the right choice for you.
If you like bees and fairies this is the right story for you.
If you enjoy two unlucky main charaters that found happiness and comfort in each other, pick up this book right away.

This was my first Jamie Admans book but won't be my last. I was engaged with the characters throughout, and found them to be three-dimensional and unique (not easily achieved). I loved the storyline, too, and was delighted that Kayleigh eventually caught up with Josie and solved the mystery of Elderflower Grove.

I was particularly struck by the beekeeping element, and the research that must have gone into it. It felt authentic at all times.

Generally, a great story that kept me engaged and swept me along.

I loved this! I’ve never read any of Jaime Admans’ books before, but I certainly will now. This is the perfect summery read. It doesn’t have too many characters, it is witty and light, it has beautiful scenery described effortlessly - pure escapism. I love the facts about bees peppered throughout the book at each chapter, I love how the author slowly but surely crafts the blossoming relationship, I love the rawness of painful emotions, I love the element of whimsical fairytale. I even loved reading about the logistics of honey making - it’s made me wan5 to have a go! Would definitely recommend.

Thank you to HQ, HQ Digital and Netgalley for advance e-copy of this book to read and review.

Take a House in ruins ,along with a Roof top Apiary of sixty Beehives , magical grounds ,date night with a Vixen & her Cubs , & two love stories decades apart but with similar connections the biggest one being Elderflower Grove. A Beekeeper Kayleigh who has actually never kept or looked after Bee's before ,Carey who she finds hiding in the Ruins of the House , then becoming inter-twined with it's former owner ( as she's presumed to be dead ) Josie & the love of her life Guillaume .
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