Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖 
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋 
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔 
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡ 
Romance: 💞💞💞💞 
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋 
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 
Humor: Just a bit 

(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club on facebook) 

Should I read in order?

I did not read the first book and this one is absolutely perfect as a place to dive in. I don’t think the first couple is mentioned in this story? 

Basic plot: 

Agatha finds a swarm of bees in her work area and she is introduced to Penelope. They develop a friendship that slowly evolves into more. 

Give this a try if you want: 

- Regency time period – story begins in spring of 1820 

- There is a small period of letters exchanged between the two mains that I thought was extremely sweet and touching 

- Older heroines – I believe Agatha is 45 but I didn’t catch Penelope’s age 

- Slow burn, medium steam – You have to wait forever to get it, but when Waite brings the sex it’s hot 

- F/F romance 

- Working women – one runs a printing press and one is a beekeeper 

- A touch of forbidden love and heaviness – the society structures of the time, judgement, marriage laws are a factor in their relationship 

- A bit of a grumpy/sunshine feel 

My thoughts:

I’m so conflicted about this book! There was so much emotional punch and sweetness, hot sex, and important and heartbreaking issues dealt with. But there was also a lot I didn’t need or want. 

I loved the aspect of bee keeping. How fun is that! And I thought the printing press was also quite interesting. Our heroine’s had such love and understand for their careers and it gave them extra depth to their characters. The letters exchanged between our heroines were my favorite parts. The worry of what to put on paper and the uncertainty of how it will be received in the first blush of a relationship. As an introvert that has strengthened many bonds solely through written text to others, I really loved this. 

I’m sure if you’ve seen me talk about books you know I’m not a huge fan of outside plot filled books. I love the focus to be on the relationship and in this one, there was kind of a lot of other stuff going on. I will say the heroines were together for much of the book so that was a big plus for me too. 

There was kind of a strange side plot related to the exiled queen returning that I really had no interest in and could have done without. 

It’s very much a slow burn and you’ll be waiting until after 70% of the book for even a kiss. There is a lot of wanting, longing, thinking of each other and wondering, waiting, analyzing all the little touches that prelude physical intimacy that was nicely done. When the sex happens I found it pleasantly hot and explicit – they have fun with fingering, oral and dildos. 

I’m glad I read I read this one even though it wasn’t a favorite for me. And I would definitely try another by Waite in the future. (This was my first by her) 

Content Warnings: 

Talk of animal cruelty in relation to bees and their care 

Levels of infidelity – Penelope is still married when they begin their relationship, though it’s explained why she’s okay with having other relationships 

Imprisonment of a side character in stocks 

 

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: 

72% - kisses, fingering, oral 

76% - kisses, touches, dildo sex 

95% - kisses, fingering/sex