Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Bees in the Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang


Title: Bees in the Butterfly Garden
Author: Maureen Lang
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Published Date: June 22, 2012
Format: Paperback & Kindle

Buy on Amazon: Paperback or Kindle
Author Website: www.maureenlang.com

Synopsis from Back Cover:
     Raised at an exclusive boarding school, Meg Davenport has everything she needs but none of what she’s wanted most—like the love of a family, or a future not dependent on following etiquette and marrying well. So when she receives shocking news of her father’s death, Meg seizes the chance to break every rule that has governed her life. Especially when she learns John Davenport wasn’t the wealthy businessman she thought, but one of the Gilded Age’s most talented thieves.

Ian Maguire knows that John—his mentor—would never have wanted his beloved daughter to follow in his footsteps. Yet she is determined to carry on his legacy, and her talent for garden design has earned her an invitation to stay with one of Fifth Avenue’s wealthiest families. With friends like those, Meg could help Ian pull off his biggest heist yet.

But living in both worlds is more treacherous than Meg imagined. And as Ian’s concern for Meg turns to love, he finds himself torn between greed and guilt. Can they find the legacy they both long for, or in trying to gain everything, will they end up losing it all? 


My Thoughts:
Maureen Lang's, Bees in the Butterfly Garden, is Book One in the Gilded Legacy Series.  It takes place in the middle of New York High Society during the Gilded Age (i.e. 1883).  Meg, a graduate of the prestigious Madame Marisse's School, finds herself at a crossroads when the truth of her lineage is uncovered.  Her options become clear: return to Madame Marisse's to teach, find a suitable husband, or prove that her father was wrong to distance himself from her by following in his footsteps.  Meg, against the urgings of her father's closest friends, decides to jump head first into the 'family business.'

Ian has been intrigued by Meg since he was a small boy.  While Meg's father, John, sent her away to become a true Lady, he took orphaned Ian under his wings and taught him all he knew.  After John's death, Ian finds himself trying to both protect and distance himself from Meg.  When she comes up with a risky, yet brilliant, scheme, Ian has to decide if he will go along with it.  If he partners with Meg, her future could be at risk, however if he opts out it would allow Meg to follow through with her idea by partnering with a dangerous con man. 

Bees in the Butterfly Garden has many interesting characters.  My favorite was Evie, the teenage daughter of the family Meg decides to con.  Evie is not the well mannered, proper lady of the time.  She is instead a rebellious prankster who has a love for revenge.  However, she isn't an evil person, just a lovable character, flaws and all.  From getting kicked out of Madame Marisse's School, to having a crush on her older neighbor, the story is never boring when Evie is present.

Lang did a great job of painting the visual of New York in the late 1800's.  She had the language down, as well as the dress and etiquette.  At the start of every chapter, Lang included a quote about the rules of the time period.  More times than not, Meg would then turned around and do the opposite of what the quote had eluded to.  I think my favorite was the very first quote at the start of the Prologue, "A young lady of impeccable decorum never appears outside her home unchaperoned, uncoiffed, ungloved, or unhappy. (Lang, xiii). 

I really enjoyed Bees in the Butterfly Garden, however it was hard for me to believe that Meg really could turn her back on the friends she had stayed with all summer and betray them.  She found herself integrated into their household and for the first time in her life it felt like she was a part of a family.  For her to then turn around and stab them in the back seemed very out of character.  However, this was Meg trying to find out if she was truly her father's daughter.  I was glad to find that she was contrite when all was said and done.

The chemistry between Meg and Ian was great.  When they were in a scene together, I found myself hanging onto their every word.  I wish that they had more scenes together.  Little snippets and here there were not enough for me.  I'm hoping that I get more of these two in the 2nd book of the Gilded Legacy Series.

I definitely recommend Bees in the Butterfly Garden, by Maureen Lang.  It is a smart and fast read.  If you enjoy reading historical fiction then this is especially for you. 

Tyndale House Publishing has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, Bees in the Butterfly Garden, for the purpose of review. 

22 comments:

  1. The cover is very lovely, and nice review btw.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I adore historical romance and you've definitley sold me on that, I saw it earlier and thought it could perhaps be a tad rubbish but I might give it a try. Great review!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds cute -- a historical fiction with a more contemporary twists. I just added to my TBR. Thanks for the review!

    I am a new follower -- I found your blog via bookblogs. My blog is nickieanderson.blogspot.com :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the follow and I hope you enjoy the book!

      Delete
  4. love the blog hun! u followed ya bak xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello! Thank you for your lovely welcome to bookblogs! I'm following you now so if you'd like to follow me back my blogsite is http://eotezine.wordpress.com/ warmest regards

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like a lovely book!

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for following me at Healthy Mommy Healthy Baby, now following back. Hmmm...maybe I will find a good summer read here!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Interesting review. I loved the summery of it and had me sold, until I read that it was a historical novel. Not a major fan of the genre, but it seems interesting nonetheless. If it was set in present day, I'd totally go for it. lol. Thanks for stopping by and following. Returned the favor.

    ~ Livin' Life Through Books

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi, there!

    Thanks for visiting my blog, commenting on one of my posts, and then following! Now I'm doing the same back!

    By the way, I LOVE the name of your blog -- very unique and poetic! And the design is very pretty!!

    I really enjoyed reading your review, as well. I think I'lll do myself a favor, and pick up this novel. You've certainly made the book sound very intereting, and, from what you've written, I'm in for a rollicking good read! Thanks for the review!! : )

    ReplyDelete
  10. P.S. And thank you so much for complimenting my blog in your comment!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. Following back. Thanks for stopping by! Great review!

    Amber @ Fall Into Books

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Candace,

    I love historical fiction, so this one sounds amazing! Coupled along with a hot thief and how can I even resist? :D The quotes sound really interesting, and I think I'll have to get my hands on this novel.

    Thank you for dropping by my blog ;)

    I'll be staying tuned!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds good. Thanks for visiting my blog. Following back.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi!! Thx for visiting & following - I'm returning the favor! Love your blog! This is a great review. I haven't heard of the book before & I love your thoughts on the characters and setting. Intriguing!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I like the sounds of all the different characters. i really like reading about this time period.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I haven't heard of this book/author before. It seems to be like a great story w/heart. Glad you enjoyed it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ooh what a pretty cover. Never heard of this book. Thanks for a very well thought out review. Following you back as well.

    Grace

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love historical fiction so this is one that will look out for, it sounds really good! Great review and I am following you back.
    NC
    Truly Bookish

    ReplyDelete
  19. This sounds very interesting! Great review, and I am following you back!

    ReplyDelete