Bee Stung

by Theolyn Boese

Trying to build a new life for herself, Rienne moves to Oracle Island to be closer to her cousin Cass. But the island isn't anything like she thought it would be; the residents are suspicious and Rienne is drawing more attention from the local bachelors than she knows what to do with. Just healing from a bad relationship, she isn't sure she wants to date anyone at all, let alone all four men who all seem to be vying for her attention. Even more confusing is that two of them seem more interested in each other than in her!

Foxglove is drawn to the sad-eyed woman the moment he sees her. With so much competition he worries he doesn't have a chance. But a few shy smiles and stolen dances convince him that, perhaps, this time he won't just fade into the background.

Lonely after generations of guarding his people, Shiloh finds a sense of home and comfort in Rienne. The more time he spends with her the more he wants her. Now if he can just convince her being with him doesn't mean giving up Foxglove.

Genres: Shapeshifters, Fantasy, Menage, Romance, Fae, Erotica, Paranormal

171 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2013

About the author

The name Theolyn Boese is a pen name with a bit of history behind it. Theolyn, pronounced Thay-o-lyn, is my great grandmothers middle name on my mothers side of the family. The closest we've come to finding a definition is "divine lightning" or "power/ruler of the lake/pool/waterfall." It is Old English, but mom's family is from Norway. Boese, pronounced Bay-zee, is my grandmothers maiden name on my fathers side. Dad's family is a tad more colorful. They are from Germany and his grandfather told him that one of the definitions is 'bad'. *grin* From the stories I've heard over the years it is very fitting.

I live in Oregon in the Columbia River Gorge. I started writing when I was in the fourth grade. I was taking special education courses to help me with my dyslexia when my primary teacher decided to have a talented and gifted class for poetry. My S.E. teacher thought it would be good for me and stuck me in it as well. It surprised everyone, including myself, when I took off with it. I've been writing ever since.

I have a Border Collie named Fuzzbutt, two cats, Goblyn and Wisp and assorted freshwater snails and guppies.

Reviews

[Shari-amor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've waited over a year to read this book and was not disappointed. I cant wait to check out other titles by Boese.

[~ Lei ~ Reading Is An Adventure ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★☆½
A delightful, unique read with lots of sexin'. Rienne comes to Oracle Island a broken woman, and in no time at all, has brought light, love and laughter to a dying paradise.

I loved the story and the characters and I just thought it was really fun. Cass and Rienne's family are crazy, especially Aunt Sophie who reminded me just a bit of Nix from IAD, certainly Cass and Aunt Sophie's catchy-phrase t-shirts reminded me of Nix.

I marked off a half-point because I thought the ending was abrupt, the epilogue should have had how Rienne's new family was working out and that rat bastard, Tyler, should have gotten his come-uppance. I think we need a post-epilogue to cover these items. Otherwise, a very enjoyable read for the first of 2014.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

A queen bee who entices males to lick her honey pot and pollinate her is the saviour of a magical island. Ms. Boese is a new-to-me author who is a must read. Her storytelling is completely captivating. I am spellbound by her characters and the world she invites us in.

Rienne is a shifter from a family of unusual shifters. Outsiders do not know exactly what kind of animals they are because it isn't hereditary. They can be any type of animal or insect. Rienne is hiding from the world as her self-confidence has been shattered by an abusive, jealous and selfish ex-lover. Trying to recover, she flees to her cousin, Cass, who lives on an island. The reception Rienne receives from the residents is colder than a winter day. Fortunately, a couple of males decided to welcome her in a very friendly way.

This story is magical. There is no other word for it. I loved each of the characters in this book. They all had their own stories and Ms. Boese does a great job of giving enough highlights to weave a dark picture of hopelessness. Light shines when Rienne enters this slowly dying community. All the little hints dropped here and there culminate into a wonderful happy ending.

I want to gush about all the little nuances I loved in this story, but I don't want to give any spoilers. The different magical creatures in this story are adorable. The shifters in this story are hilarious. The men are dreamy and the women are horny.

Ms. Boese does a great job of infusing humour and sex into this book. What more can a woman want? Great sex with multiple men is a good start. And a man who can make a woman laugh is to be treasured. The men who surround Rienne boost her self-worth and it's a delight to watch.

The sex in this story is smoking hawt. Don't be surprised if it causes a bit of panty moistening goodness. This secret garden romance is highly recommended to those who love happily ever afters.

[♂♀♂ Mary's Menage Reviews ♂♂♀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

REVIEW IN PROCESS

[Duetro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some weird stuff, but I guess that's fitting for fey creatures. Overall it was interesting, but a bizarre scene near the end of the book really put me off. For a spoiler-y explanation:

One of the bee men, or small fey, is a bit of an asshole. His name is Clover. He isn't one of the love interests, but he comes up a few times in the book and has his own arch. He's a widower.

Dandy to Shiloh, two of the love interests: "Clover also said you and Foxglove are treating Rienne like a whore. Something about passing her around like a party favor and when did he get a turn."

Clover about Dandy and Thistle, two male small fey who are in a relationship: “You never had a woman to lose or mourn, Dandy,” Clover snarled in sudden anger. “Just your unnatural fixation on Thistle’s ass. My Rose was not some toy I can replace with a new one.” He slapped Dandy’s hand off his shoulder and stalked from the room."

So he's established as a homophobe and a misogynist and just an all around hateful, bitter guy. At the very end of the book we get the reveal that Rose, his partner that had died years ago, was actually murdered by Clover.

He has a flashback while looking at a young fey: “Should have been my baby,” he muttered, running his hands through his hair and pulling handfuls sharply. Then he froze as he seemed to notice Apple. His mouth worked. “Filthy whore!” he screamed. “It should be my baby! Not Dandy’s!”
Everything seemed to slow down as Clover began to move.
Clover took two long steps and snatched Apple up in a punishing grip. The tiny woman screamed, struggling to break free of the too tight fingers. Her face contorted into a mask of agony as Clover squeezed and shook her violently.
“You’re dead! You can’t come back, Rose,” he screamed at her. “I killed you and Dandy’s baby! You don’t get to come back!”

So we find out that Clover murdered Rose out of jealousy, since she told him that she was pregnant and Dandy was the father. Clover's response to this was to murder Rose. He gets sentenced to "death" (a small fey's version of death which is just like dissolving into sparkles). That makes sense, right?

Except everyone's response to this news is 'wow Rose is kind of a bitch tho.' Like, they sentence Clover to death but are also like 'Rose deserved it.'

Clover stopped at the base of a rose with pink-and-yellow-striped flowers. It was the exact colors of Rose’s hair.
Foster remembered Clover spent three years growing the rose to offer it to her as a mating gift. It pained him to see such a loving man brought so low. Clover had made Rose his entire world, and woman (sic) had repaid his devotion by playing vicious games.
The small fey fell to his knees and raised his tear-streaked face to the sky.

UMMMM "such a loving man"?? In what way? Please elaborate. In the way that he called his "friend's" same-sex relationship unnatural? Or was it the way that he talked about the female lead as if she were a fleshlight to pass around? Or could it be the way he MURDERED HIS PREGNANT WIFE? Who by the way, was pregnant with Clover's child. Yeah, she lied when she said Dandy was the father. Was it fucked up? Yes. Is murdering your pregnant wife more fucked up? YES.

It was like a bizarre Twilight Zone scene with the way it handled this reveal, and it put a massively bad taste in my mouth. I don't even understand the point of trying to lionize him and say that the pregnant wife that he murdered provoked him into murdering her, so he's really not that bad of a guy. He spent the whole book being a hateful prick. Just let him die like one without blaming his victim for his crime.

But beyond that, it was an interesting world. That scene just really rubbed me the wrong way.

[Sue Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bee StungTheolyn Boese

Reviewed by SFF Dragon

A very different type of shape shifter...

I had never come across this author before, but was intrigued enough to get this book, I'm so glad I did. I loved this book. It was not at all what I was expecting. It is a very different type of shape shifting with an unexpected sting in the tail which, unusually, kept me guessing about what was going on right up until the moment I got hit with it. I did keep hoping the seriously nasty and brutal ex would get what was coming to him, in spades, but this was not covered in the book.

Although this was the first book I have read by this author, it is chronologically the second story. I enjoyed this one so much I got the first story and devoured it in a matter of hours. Like this one, I couldn't put it down. I have read, literally, hundreds of books about shape shifters of all types (or so I thought until i read this one), Fae and other magic users, this was so different it gripped me from the very first page and I really can't wait for the next book in this series. Please make it available soon as I am getting withdrawal symptoms. Yes, for me it is that good.

If you enjoy this type of fantasy fiction with HOT stuff, and are prepared to travel a path that is not already beaten, then I highly recommend this book.

[Diane T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

After taking a break from writing (due to personal reasons), Theolyn Boese is back and I am thrilled! In , her writing is tight, characters fully developed, and her plot has more then one surprise. I'm hoping this is just the first of many new works from Ms. Boese.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first time I have read anything by this author and I really loved it. It was a totally different fantasy book. I will definitely be reading more of this authors books. Thank you for a great read.

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it better the second time...and I still LOVE Aunt Sophie!

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great little book. Sweet story with a couple of twists. Ménage and more.