The Beekeeper's Daughter by Santa Montefiore

From the #1 internationally bestselling author, her first book set in America, the story of a mother and daughter searching for love and happiness, unaware of the secrets that bind them. To find what they are longing for they must confront the past, and unravel the lies told long ago.

England, 1932: Grace Hamblin is growing up on the beautiful estate of the Marquess and Marchioness of Penselwood. The beekeeper’s daughter, she knows her place and what the future holds—that is until her father dies. Her childhood friend Freddie has recently become her lover, and she is thankful when they are able to marry and take over her father’s duties. But there is another man who she just can’t shake from her thoughts…

Massachusetts, 1973: Grace’s daughter Trixie Valentine is in love with an unsuitable young man. Jasper Duncliffe is wild and romantic, and in a band that might hit it big. But when his brother dies and he is called home to England, Jasper promises to come back for Trixie one day, if only she will wait for him. Grace thinks that Trixie is surely abandoned and tries to support her daughter, but Trixie brushes off her mother’s advice and comfort. She is confident that Jasper’s love for her was real…

Set on a fictional island off the coast of Massachusetts with charming architecture, beautiful landscape, and quirky islanders, The Beekeeper’s Daughter is “a multigenerational banquet of love…one of the most engrossing reads of my year” (Elin Hilderbrand).

Kindle Edition, 400 pages

Published April 14th 2015 by Simon & Schuster (first published April 1st 2014) 

ARC via netgalley

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Santa Montefiore had me at Secrets of the Lighthouse, that was an audio read for me and I loved it. 
With The Beekeeper's Daughter I was granted an arc from the publisher via netgalley and hoped my

anticipation level wasn't too high. 

This book alternated between 1930's England and 1970's USA.  Though the location in Massachusetts

is fictional the story line felt real and believable.  As you can read from the synopsis above young Trixie 

is in love but tragedy changes her plans for the future.  Jumping back to 1934 when her mother is young

and the advent of WW II shows how these two story lines connect.

The Beekeepers Daughter is a story of forbidden love, commitment, war and bees.  This is a book about 

relationships, between father/daughter, mother/daughter and husband/wife.   The author slowly reveals the

past in a sort of mesmerizing manner.  I had no problem visualizing the sights and smells described here,

my imigination took me over to prewar England, to the bee hives and gardens. 

   

Written with words that drew me in and kept my attention right to the end.  Fans of Lucinda Riley and JoJo Moyes will enjoy this also.