The Beekeeper’s Son Book Review by Kelly Irvin

 

A strange, mystical place allows Deborah and Phineas to see themselves and others with new eyes.

When Deborah Lantz arrives in Bee County, Texas, she expects to find a great oasis of citrus groves and olive trees. Instead, she finds a tiny Amish district struggling to make ends meet on a barren, drought-stricken land.

Deborah longs to go home to the lush, green countryside of Tennessee, but she wants her mother, a widow with six children, to be happy again. Even if that means accepting Stephen as her future stepfather. She can’t believe God created such an ugly place filled with strange animals, twisted, stunted trees, and not a drop of rain for months.

Then she meets the beekeeper’s son. Phineas King’s face is disfigured by scars from an accident that killed his mother and destroyed his trust in God. Through their encounters both begin to realize the beauty in all of God’s creation. Deborah walks through the strange land of figs, Mexican squash, and wild cucumbers to see Phineas, who finds solace in his work keeping the bee hives and harvesting honey for his father. Both are rarely alone, but always lonely. Deborah begins to see Bee County through Phineas’s eyes and Phineas learns to see himself through hers.

About the Author

Kelly Irvin is the author of the Bliss Creek Amish series and the New Hope Amish series. She has also penned two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine. The Kansas native is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism. She has been writing nonfiction professionally for thirty years, including ten years as a newspaper reporter, mostly in Texas-Mexico border towns. She has worked in public relations for the City of San Antonio for twenty years. Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for twenty-five years. They have two young adult children, two cats, and a tank full of fish. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories and read books by her favorite authors

My Thoughts:

Being a beekeeper got me pretty excited to read this book. I also enjoy Amish fiction.

One of the characters is Phineas King who was in a terrible accident that killed his mother and left him disfigured and with emotional scars. The accident has made him a loner who prefers the company of his bees rather than people. He is use to people staring at him, feeling sorry for him, and the look of shock on his badly scarred face. He doesn’t see how anyone would ever love a man that looks like he does. Phineas is a gentle and kind man who truly notices God’s creation.

Phineas then meets a new woman who has relocated to the community Deborah Lantz. Deborah is not so happy about moving to Bee County, Texas as she is leaving behind her dreams of a life with Aaron. Her widowed mother Abigail and siblings are planning on starting a new life with their soon to be step-father, Stephen.

Abigail has a change of heart after spending time with Stephen and meets Mordecai who is spirited, compassionate man who captures her and her children’s heart.

Overall, this is a wonderful story that shows God’s love in all things. Predictable plot, but a fun story regardless.

The only thing I didn’t like was that I was expecting more on beekeeping. Beekeepers are very passionate with their bees. I was hoping for more details and facts to educate others about bees and in keeping bees. There were some open doors to give out tidbits of bees and beekeeping without overwhelming another person who knows nothing about bees or beekeeping. That is my only complaint as I feel passionate about educating and telling others about God’s amazing creation with bees.

Disclosure of Material Connection: BookLook Bloggers-Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me this Book free as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have or my own.