About the book
The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage by Christie Barlow is a contemporary romance novel with a guaranteed happily ever after. When Jinny Birdwhistle quits her job as a journalist for her father’s tabloid newspaper, she finds herself with a new job, a new home, and a quirky new car hundreds of miles away in the Scottish village of Heartcross.
Under the guidance of experienced beekeeper Gabe Warner, Jinny learns the tricks of the trade at Bumblebee Cottage where she makes chutney and honey for a living. But Gabe has a secret, and it isn’t long before Jinny’s journalistic instincts start twitching.
Jinny knows she should leave it alone, but she can’t help digging around in Gabe’s personal life. What she uncovers only raises more questions and forces her to confront uncomfortable truths about her own past.
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My thoughts
The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage is a story about a fresh start and freeing yourself from other people’s expectations. It’s book ten in the Love Heart Lane series, but can be read as a standalone novel. It’s the first book for me in this series and I loved it.
Chutney-making turns out to be a tricky task, and soon enough, Jinny’s charming cottage kitchen is covered in a lava flow of the stuff. I couldn’t help but smile at Jinny navigating her new job and at her attempts to conceal her fear of bees!
Jinny’s journey is engaging, as is the mystery she unravels. The village of Heartcross is beautiful. It’s definitely a place I want to visit again. I enjoyed this book so much I’ve gone back to the start and ordered book one – Love Heart Lane.
Buy the book
The Hidden Secrets of Bumblebee Cottage is a heartwarming tale of new beginnings within a supportive small-town community. Click here to buy from Amazon. The book is also included in Kindle Unlimited.