Lake Union Publishing The Beekeeper's Promise

I first discovered Fiona Valpy by reading her novel The Dressmakers Gift and quickly ordered Sea of Memories and this novel, A Beekeepers Promise. She has quickly risen to one of my favourite historical fiction authors ever. This book is a wonderful story, weaving back and forth between modern day and war-torn France. Elegant vivid prose and beautiful characters, like Mrs Valpy's other works, she draws you into the world. I couldn't put this book down. Gripping and unforgettable, brought me to tears in spots. Recommend this book and this author!! Huge fan!

L'histoire est originale, la vie d'une apicultrice pendant la 2e guerre mondiale. Par contre, c'est assez fleur bleu et surtout très éloigné de ce qu'a pu etre la guerre à l'époque. Les anecdotes sur la résistances sont peu crédibles, le fait qu'il reste tant d'hommes jeunes encore en activité en tant de guerre carrément improbable, bref l'auteur n'a pas du beaucoup se document sur la période ou a trop laisser s'exprimer sa plume romanesque...

It was a good read

Loved this story. Beautifully written, lovely journey to the French countryside, historical experience of the common folk during German occupation of France ( but war itself is not the focus ). Purchased her next novel " The dressmaker's gift" as the unofficial sequel that includes one of the characters in this story. A great find!

I very much liked this book. Finishing it was a little like finishing a good meal. When you’re through, you’re content, but sad that it’s over ... knowing, however, that the memories will likely stay with you for awhile. Good books like this one are more rare than a good meal ... they don’t come along every day. The main story takes place in a country setting in east-central France. The time is from 1939 to the liberation in June 1944. It’s historical fiction. The town and the people are fictional, but the history is reasonably accurate. A sub-plot involves an abused, recovering female living at the Château Bellevue in the present day (2014). As she becomes acquainted with the story of the people who lived there some 70 - 75 years ago in WWII, she is able to rediscover her lost soul ... to finally be able to move on. Whether you’re a WWII history buff or not makes little difference as I think everyone can identify on some level with what it was like to have a sadistic invading force occupy your homeland to turn your life inside out. You get to experience, up close and personal, what being in survival mode does to those you've known all your life. All are forced to make painful choices ... ones they'll have to live with the rest of their lives. Predictably, the central theme is getting through all that without losing yourself. You have to remain true to yourself. Main lesson learned: preserving your humanity requires the preservation of the promise of love. There is no one I've found, other than Valpy, who is able to use detail (feelings, light, smells, sounds, wind, water, etc.) to craft the perfect setting for the desired emotion to be experienced within the reader’s mind. Sometimes, when that happens, my eyes get a little misty making it hard to continue. Parts of the book were hard to read.