The Beekeeper’s War

Pru and Jean are World War I nurses in 1917 who fall in love with wounded aviators. Much of the book covers this time, moving along slowly as they deal with cantankerous matrons, class differences, and mysterious missions. One bad decision leads to grief.
I had thought this would be a dual time story. It is not. Rather, it jumps from 1917 to 1940 as the characters grapple with the beginning of World War II and the revealing of secrets.

This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. Written by a talented and gifted author, it is a book of historical fiction. Well researched, this story is a cannot put down...it brings the past to us...reminds us of a time when things were not as they should have been...characters who are likable and want to serve...characters who look forward to a future...in the midst of war...I liked this book. I look forward to more by this author. Enjoy.

This poignant and captivating novel is told in dual narration and dual time frame. The two main narrators and are a mother, Pru and her daughter Emma, who both travel from their Guest House in Jersey to England, Pru in World War 1 and Emma in World War 11. The settings are mainly in Dorset, on a beautiful Estate where the rich and privileged Manor house owners have agreed to share their house and have the majority of the large mansion repurposed into a hospital for the wounded service men who need medical care.
Pru le Cuirot and her friend Jean decide to leave their homes in Jersey to help with the war effort in England during The Great War of 1914 – 1918. They are both Nurses and when they arrive they are sent to Ashbury Manor in Dorset, where they are billeted with another Nurse called Milly. They share a small attic bedroom with scarcely any free space with the three beds already in the room. They are allocated to Ward 2, a ward for those who have been repatriated for surgery, respite care, illness or recuperation. In 1916 Pru meets an American pilot called Jack Garland who is visiting a friend on Ward 2. They are immediately attracted to each other and so begins a relationship and an enduring love story, until Pru’s friend delivers tragic news and she is forced to returns to her family home.
Fast forward to 1940 and now Pru is the owner of the family Guest House. World War 11 sees inhabitants of Jersey leaving the Island in droves because the German soldiers are already advancing through France. The Channel Islands may be the next target. Pru’s daughter Emma pleads with her mother to evacuate with her to England where they have relatives that will take them in. Pru’s husband Peter has recently passed away and Pru is still grieving for her loss and does not want to leave just yet. Reluctantly Emma sets off alone to the home of her Aunt and Uncle who now owner Ashbury Manor in Dorset. She misses her mother and writes to plead with her to stay safe and move away from Jersey before it is too late. Emma meets her cousin who is a trainee pilot and when he has his first leave they surprisingly bond, especially as she had disliked him so much as a boy and dreaded his visits with his Mother to Jersey. When Pru decides to evacuate from Jersey and is successfully reunited with her daughter, secrets are spilled and the two time frames collide. The story continues with suspense, tension, tender moments and an impassioned revelation.
I enjoyed reading this novel so much. The storytelling is wonderful and the pace of the novel even and emotive. I thought that the characters were cleverly envisaged and develop so you cared about what they were going through. I also thought that they were true to life, an eclectic mixture of people doing their best to overcome the trials of war and survive the hardships. There was not a single character that I disliked. The storyboard was gently handled because the characters themselves obviously care about each other. There were shocks, misguided information, poignant moments, all based on one character that saddened me and fuelled my empathy. I loved the descriptions of the settings: Ashbury Manor with its beautiful Manor House, gardens, beehives and folly and Jersey for its wealth of irresistible, stunning vistas and local friendliness.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher One More Chapter through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. I recommend this novel as a riveting read and my review supports this. 4.5*

This was the first book that I have read by the Deborah Carr. I think she is a very gifted writer. The characters came alive during the story and I cared about them very much.

The plot was believable and well thought out. I did feel the first part of the book moved slowly, but I realize sometimes that is need to lay the foundation for the story.

From the book summary, I did expect this to be a dual timeline book, but it is not. Since a dual timeline is not my favorite, I wanted to clarify for others like me.

I enjoyed this wonderful book full of emotion, difficult decisions made, and meant to be love. I will definitely be reading this author’s other books in the future.

I want to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

I loved this novel by Deborah Carr. Very easy to read and follow and I was quickly drawn into the lives of the young nurses who tended the wounded soldiers and see how they are affected in there own personal lives with heartbreak and love.
Definitely a recommendation from me.
Thanks to#NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

The Beekeepers War is interesting from beginning to end. It feels like you are really in the book there are so many details that make you feel like you are there it's amazing. The author let's you connect with so many great characters. This is an incredible book. I highly recommend reading it.

Another brilliant book by Deborah Carr. I was so excited to be invited to read and review this book by Harper Collins UK and Netgalley.
The story starts in 1916 and focuses on Nurse Pru le Cuirot as she leaves her home in Jersey to care for injured soldiers at Ashbury Manor,Dorset. Whilst caring for the injured soldiers she meets Jack Garland an American pilot.
The author has many surprises in store for the reader as the story develops and takes us on an incredible sometimes poignant journey.
This is a beautifully written book which I loved from the opening page and you will not be disappointed.
I would highly recommend reading it

THE BEEKEEPER'S WAR BY DEBORAH CARR.
Having just finished this beautifully poignant tale, set between Dorset and the Channel islands, with a dual timeline set during the great war or 1st World War and 1940.
Friends Milly Jean and Pru all from the Channel Islands take us on a journey of love and loss during horrendous times that often the motto was live for today, as tomorrow is not guaranteed, I want to give nothing away and spoil this most beautifully written account of hiw life was for them, I shed many tears along the way the ups and downs with Monty Jack and Peter. I can't praise this book enough and can highly recommend for a 5 star read✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

This was a delightful read.It transports you back to 1917 and the trials of war. The characters were engaging and storyline and made me read well into the night.This book is a nice tonic to the crazy world we live in. If you are looking for a comfort read then I would highly recommend this book.

a story about word war 1, and how it affects the lives of two people, really enjoyed this book, this was the first time i have read this author, will read more of her books

Absolutely could not put this book down. Loved the characters and the storyline was well written a lovely story of a love finally reunited once again even after many years down the line

The Beekeepers War by Deborah Carr

A first time read by this author and a brilliant read it was.
During WW1 Pru a nurse , meets and falls in love with Jack and we follow their sort of love and loss.
We then turn to WW2 and we now go through those war years through the eyes of Emma , Pru & Jack's daughter and how the experiences of both womens loves and family secrets entwine at a special place to both of them.

Thanks to One More Chapter | HarperCollins and the author Deborah Carr for this engrossing story of life on and off the Isle of Jersey in both WWI and WWII.

From Publisher :' " 1916 At the onset of war, Nurse Pru le Cuirot left her home in Jersey to care for injured soldiers at Ashbury Manor, Dorset. She wanted to do her bit but she never expected to meet American pilot, Jack Garland, so unlike any man she has ever met."
and "1940 .. another war and Pru’s daughter Emma comes to Ashbury Manor. As Jersey falls to the Germans, Emma is fearful for her mother back home. When she meets the mysterious beekeeper who lives in the grounds of the manor she finds herself caught up" in both the past and the present.'

I'm in book clubs and review books for authors but this is a book I read straight through- It was that engrossing! I've read many of this author's books and very much enjoyed them but this book makes me hope that more will be written about this time.

From the bare bones I posted from the publisher, I've laid out some of the book but it was a heartwarming and entrancing read! All the characters were vibrant and remained so and were joined by a new young generation in 1940. The Channel Islands and especially Jersey and it's wartime saga(s) over centuries make me want to read more! I'm planning to read "The Poppy Fields" next!

I can not express how fortunate I feel to have obtained and early copy of The Beekeeper's War. I am writing this review in hopes that others will find the story as touching and wonderful as I did. A few days have past and I still can't stop thinking about everything that happened in the story. The Beekeeper's War has left of lasting impression. It is a fantastic story that begins in World War One and ends as the Germans are invading the Island of Jersey in World War Two. Grab the tissues you are going to need them as you travel back in time to the horrors of war.

Part One takes place during World War One. I admit I have not read near as many books about that war as I have World War Two. I need to rectify that error. The atrocities that the British soldiers endured were heart wrenching. The struggles of those in England were extreme. The Ashburys putting up their home as a place to recover was inspirational. I never realized until I was checking facts that hundreds of Britain's stately homes were turned into makeshift hospitals during World War I.

Pru and Jean were nurses that worked in the makeshift hospital on the Ashbury estate. They were on their feet, working their fingers to the bone yet still found an escape--love. The author was brilliant in using their budding romances as a way to tie in the pilots fighting for Britain and what they went through. The reader experiences the torture inflicted on British soldiers and the strength of those like Pru and Jean that accepted them as they were.

In today's society, illegitimate children are not Shunned. Unwed mothers are not cast out into the unknown. During WW1 things were different. The Beekeeper's War illustrated one solution. I am not sure I would have the strength that Pru, Monty, Jean and Jack had to keep a secret for over 22 years. As the world faces another war; truths are exposed.

When I started Part Two I had to stop and look at the clock. I needed to know that I had enough time to read it straight through without interruptions. The suspense was killing me. There were so many ways that the story could have gone.

Truths were about to be brought into the light. The horrors of the Great War linger. As England prepares for invasion, bringing Pru to safety is all that matters. Promises had been kept but now it is time to tell a story that will change everything.

The Beekeeper's War was a very emotional read. The story grabbed my interest and didn't let go. Any book that makes me think is fantastic, but this book was phenomenal.