Honeybee Sisters Blog Tour, Recipe and Giveaway!

Posted by abakersp in Amish / 5 Comments

The Honeybee Sisters Series Banner

 

About the Books

Sweet as Honey:

sweetashoney
Click to purchase

Smart, kind, and good-hearted, the three Christner girls are affectionately known as The Honeybee Sisters in the beloved Wisconsin Amish community where, under the care of their aunt, they’ve grown into skilled beekeepers–and lovely, sought-after young women. . .

Though she has blossomed into a beauty, Lily Christner doesn’t really believe it. Deep down, she still feels like a lonely, gawky teenager. Maybe that’s why she’s all but promised herself to Paul Glick, the one boy who never teased her in her awkward girlhood–unlike Dan Kanagy, whose creative name-calling left her in tears many a time. Now he’s back in town after two years away–and being surprisingly sweet, suspiciously attentive–and making Lily unsettlingly yet deliciously nervous. It seems Dan wants Lily’s forgiveness–and her heart. But can he convince her–not to mention her protective schwesters and aendi–that despite the past, her future lies with him?…

A Bee in Her Bonnet:

BEE
Click to purchase

Lively, determined, and independent, Poppy Christner isn’t about to let some vandal keep making mischief on her family’s farm. She’s been outrunning boys and standing up for picked-on children ever since she was a girl–no matter how much her prideful, arrogant schoolmate Luke Bontrager insulted her. So Poppy certainly doesn’t need his interference now, especially since he’s made it plain he prefers demure, ladylike companions. In fact, if Luke doesn’t stop helping her find the culprit–and growing humble and remorseful–she’ll be forced to notice how handsome his change-of-heart is making him. And that could mean falling in love–maybe for a lifetime…

 

Like a Bee to Honey:

LIKEABEE
Click to purchase

Shy, skittish Rose Christner is more comfortable tending to the beehives on the family farm and keeping her aunt’s unruly cats in line than attending social gatherings with the rest of the die youngie. A childhood trauma and secret shame keep her heart under lock and key, and Rose just can’t accept the sweet attention she’s receiving from a handsome neighbor. But the more she shies away from Josiah Yoder, the more their families sneakily plot to bring them together. And when a vandal who’s been plaguing the Honeybee Farm starts targeting Rose, Josiah’s steadfast protection—and patience—just may lead her into his waiting arms…

 

My Reviews

Sweet As Honey:

Who doesn’t love a good love triangle?! I so enjoyed reading the first book in The Honeybee Sisters Series, a story about Lily, Paul and Dan. I think Dan was my favorite character. He reminded me of a first grade boy who was trying to get the attention of a girl, by picking on her and calling her names. I don’t think that Dan realized the affect he had on Lily when he did call her names, and she obviously didn’t understand why he was doing it!

I loved how Jennifer unraveled the characteristics of Paul. The more time I spent with Paul, the less I liked him and saw his true colors. I’m glad that his true intentions and qualities were not given at the beginning of the book. It left this mysterious side to him, and when you learned new things about him you almost gasp to yourself because you didn’t imagine those things happening.

I recommend this to any Amish Fiction reader. You will love the innocence, plot twists, and spunkiness of some of the characters! I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit in exchange for an honest review which I have given.

A Bee in Her Bonnet:

I enjoyed the second installment of the Honeybee Sisters as much as the first. I have never met an Amish character as stubborn and different as Poppy. She is certainly not afraid to speak her mind and do what she feels is right in the moment. She has that “I can do anything” attitude, and I often wondered even in the first book how she would end up with a mate.

Enter Luke. He seems very arrogant and I must admit I did not like his character in the beginning. But the author did a wonderful job of showing you little glimpses of a different side of Luke, and he starts growing on you. I like it when an author gradually shows you a different side of a character. You get to know them in a real-time kind of way and it makes me appreciate them more.

The mystery bee hive tipper continues here too. It’s a nice sub-story to break up the “romance” a little bit. I can’t wait to find out more on this in the next installment! Hope you’ll join me in reading it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit in exchange for an honest review which I have given.

Like a Bee to Honey:

I think this was my favorite out of the three Honeybee Sisters stories. It showed forgiveness, patience, love, hope and joy. I’m so glad we found out who was behind all the shenanigans at the honeybee farm, but I will tell you I was completely surprised with the who, why, and even what happened when there was a confrontation. Jennifer wrote this scene beautifully, and it really touched my heart (sorry can’t give it away!).

I have been fond of Rose ever since book one. I always wondered what made her so shy and meek, and the answers are found in this book. It was so wonderful to see her grow and come out of her shell. I was rooting for poor Josiah the whole time. He was so afraid to go at Rose at full steam, and I think at times he was almost too afraid to speak his mind to her. But he had such tenderness, compassion and patience. A good reminder that if you really want something you need patience for God to intervene and help you along.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this series, and am sorry to see them over. Perhaps a fourth book will come out with a storyline for Aunt B!! That would be an interesting read for sure!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from CelebrateLit in exchange for an honest review which I have given.

 

About the Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer was nominated for the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award and the 2015 RITA® Award, and Huckleberry Hill won the 2014 LIME Award for Inspirational fiction. Both Huckleberry Hill and Huckleberry Christmas appeared in Examiner.com list of top ten inspirational books for 2014.

Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth. Jennifer has a degree in mathematics and a background in editing. She and her husband have been married for thirty years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and four adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

Guest Post from Jennifer Beckstrand

Lily, Poppy, and Rose Christner are known as the Honeybee Sisters in their Wisconsin Amish community because they keep bees and sell the honey they pull from their beehives. The orphaned sisters came to live with their aunt Bitsy when they were very young. Aunt Bitsy was an Englischer for twenty years, but she is trying to raise her nieces to be gute and devout Amish girls.

Still, Aunt Bitsy is a bit eccentric and has brought some of the Englisch ways with her to the Honeybee Farm. She wears her dangly earrings when she’s in a bad mood, sports temporary tattoos just for fun, keeps a shotgun by the front door, and has a cat named Farrah Fawcett. (Bitsy simply adored “Charlie’s Angels.”)

With the honey they pull from their hives, the Honeybee schwesters make all sorts of appeditlich, delicious, things to eat. Their baking and their beauty attract boys to the Honeybee Farm, so Aunt Bitsy has to keep her shotgun handy to ward off the would-be suitors.

Many of the Honeybee Sisters’ recipes are included at the back of the three Honeybee Sister novels. Many more can be found in The Honeybee Sisters Cookbook available on Amazon and other online bookstores.

I hope you’ll fall in love with the Honeybee sisters, Aunt Bitsy, and their incomparable Bienenstich (Bee Sting) Cake—which recipe is included in both the cookbook and Sweet as Honey.

Here is a recipe the Honeybee Sisters would definitely make. My dear friend gave me some of these caramels for Christmas last year, and they are heavenly. The honey is used in place of the more-common corn syrup and gives the caramels a rich, deep flavor. My favorite thing about these caramels is the coarse sea salt that gives the caramels a salty crunch. Yummy!

Honey Vanilla Caramels

1 ½ cup sugar

½ cup honey

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 cup heavy cream

½ cup salted butter, cut into bits

Coarse sea salt

 

Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. In a clay, enamel, glass, plastic, or stainless steel (non-reactive) pot, combine the sugar, honey, and vanilla extract. Mix everything together using a large rubber spatula or wooden spoon. Cook over medium-low heat until the sugar melts. When the sugar has melted, increase heat to medium and cook until the mixture caramelizes and is a deep amber color. Do not stir the mixture once it starts to boil. Instead, swirl it around occasionally with the pan’s handle. (This will help the caramel cook more evenly.)

While the caramel is cooking, place the heavy cream in a small saucepan on low heat. As soon as it reaches a simmer, remove pan from the heat and set aside.

When the caramel has reached a deep amber color, reduce heat to low and slowly whisk in the bits of butter. Whisk well until the butter is completely melted.

Add the warm cream and whisk until smooth.

Turn the heat back up to medium and cook until the caramel reaches a temperature of 245°. Carefully pour the hot caramel onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Let it rest for about 8 minutes, then sprinkle with desired amount of sea salt.

Cool completely (about three hours), before cutting into squares and wrapping with parchment paper.

(Adapted from http://www.unegaminedanslacuisine.com)

Blog Stops

August 25: A Reader’s Brain

August 25: Southern Gal Loves to Read

August 26: Smiling Book Reviews

August 26: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations

August 27: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS

August 27: Christian Bookaholic

August 28: Jeanette’s Thoughts

August 28: The Power of Words

August 29: Blossoms and Blessings

August 30: A Baker’s Perspective

August 30: Cassandra M’s Place

August 31: cherylbbookblog

August 31: Quiet Quilter

September 1: Rhonda’s Doings

September 1: Book Babble

September 2: Lighthouse Academy

September 3: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner

September 4: Bukwurmzzz

September 5: Donna’s BookShelf

September 6: His Grace is Sufficient

September 7: Blogging with Carol

Giveaway

giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away five copies of The Honeybee Sisters Cookbook! Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/a20d

5 responses to “Honeybee Sisters Blog Tour, Recipe and Giveaway!

  1. Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews. I am so glad you liked the books! Aendi Bitsy is so much fun. She will get her own love story Christmas of 2017. I laugh just thinking about it. I want to give her about 4 more cats to name. 🙂 Have a blessed day!

  2. Marilyn R

    I haven’t read Jennifer’s Honeybee Sisters books but loved her Huckleberry Hill series. These are on my TBR list.

  3. Loved your review(s), Jessica! I’m in the middle of the first book and absolutely loving it. I thought I would miss Anna and Felty so much that I couldn’t enjoy another series, but I was wrong. Do hope to see them again, though!