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Dancing with Bees
Sunny Moritz needs a change. She's thirty-three, single, weary of tedious romances with the wrong kind of men and, according to her disappointed parents, drifting about like a tumbleweed. Her former high school crush, orthopaedic surgeon Adam Harrison, might be meeting all her physical demands (and requiring a subtotal of zero emotional headspace), but what about the rest of her life?
When Sunny decides to start beekeeping, the man with the information she needs is an odd, enigmatic and indecently sexy Antarctic scientist. Surely, though, she's way too pragmatic to be affected by his magnetism ...
But as her hunger for meaning starts to bloom, Sunny begins to think that maybe it's not too late to reconnect with her parents, maybe it's time to start dancing again and maybe even she could have a lasting relationship.
Dancing with Bees is easy to read, but hard to put down. In the tradition of Emily Henry and Marian Keyes, this delightful novel bubbles with charm, warmth and humour, but also speaks of the important things in life - like love.
PRAISE FOR DANCING WITH BEES:
'a romance as sweet as honey with observations as sharp as a bee sting.' STEPH VIZARD
'A laugh-out loud funny debut that's both sexy and heartfelt. A real winner!' MAYA LINNEL
'A book that weaves together everything from love and lust through to family and friendship into a story that's familiar and entertaining, light yet deep. I couldn't put it down.' HANNAH MOLONEY
'Fun, funny and tender. This bittersweet rom-com pulses with music, friendship and love.' KATIE MCMAHON
When Sunny decides to start beekeeping, the man with the information she needs is an odd, enigmatic and indecently sexy Antarctic scientist. Surely, though, she's way too pragmatic to be affected by his magnetism ...
But as her hunger for meaning starts to bloom, Sunny begins to think that maybe it's not too late to reconnect with her parents, maybe it's time to start dancing again and maybe even she could have a lasting relationship.
Dancing with Bees is easy to read, but hard to put down. In the tradition of Emily Henry and Marian Keyes, this delightful novel bubbles with charm, warmth and humour, but also speaks of the important things in life - like love.
PRAISE FOR DANCING WITH BEES:
'a romance as sweet as honey with observations as sharp as a bee sting.' STEPH VIZARD
'A laugh-out loud funny debut that's both sexy and heartfelt. A real winner!' MAYA LINNEL
'A book that weaves together everything from love and lust through to family and friendship into a story that's familiar and entertaining, light yet deep. I couldn't put it down.' HANNAH MOLONEY
'Fun, funny and tender. This bittersweet rom-com pulses with music, friendship and love.' KATIE MCMAHON
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
About the author
Anna Maynard
2 books29 followersAnna Maynard’s experience as a writer had largely been restricted to medical letters and discharge summaries through her years of medical training. So after sitting her specialist medical exams she decided to turn her hand to romance.
When she’s not dreaming up fictional heroines and swoony love interests, Anna can be found working in the hospital, pottering in her garden or playing songs with her pop band.
Anna lives in Tasmania with her husband and children. Anna published her debut novel, Dancing with Bees, in 2025. Flowers in July is her second novel.
When she’s not dreaming up fictional heroines and swoony love interests, Anna can be found working in the hospital, pottering in her garden or playing songs with her pop band.
Anna lives in Tasmania with her husband and children. Anna published her debut novel, Dancing with Bees, in 2025. Flowers in July is her second novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
April 17, 2025
Sunny Moritz is a gorgeous character. A debut novel, yet the entire experience reflected nothing of greenness. It was sunny (I can't use another word, it really was that type of read) and serious, contemplative and spontaneous, and completely substantial and delightful.
Sunny was beginning to feel bereft in her life, although very smart and altogether capable, she was adrift and slowly waking up to the fact that she had more to offer in life. Being 15 years older than the character, I quite liked her various jobs, I didn't think she was quite unmoored as the blurb may have led us to believe.
She was cool, a beautiful friend and fiercely independent, but I think after one too many hook ups and the realisation that no strings sex was becoming increasingly acceptable in her world, she began to take stock of her world.
Dealing with life events all at once showed her to be a strong woman in the reckoning of her relationship with her parents, the quickening intolerance for her career choices and instinctively knowing she was worth more than her lingerie loving life that she was currently careening through.
This is a beautifully written love story where Sunny learns about loving herself, reconciling her familial relationships and believing and discovering her worth. I loved her to bits - 'Sunny surprise' as she was known to the 'Bee man' Al, the banter between these two knocked my socks off. Their email correspondence while separated by distance, each learning about the other, and the love scenes were erotic, sensuous yet completely pg rated. The description of dance, and being taken to another world while doing so made me feel like I myself could dance (I really can't).
The self discovery in this novel, and the beautiful character building throughout the ensemble, were truly breathtaking. I loved this book, and it will be one of my highlights of the year. I can't wait to see what the author writes next. Also of note, the author wears many hats - she's a doctor, a mother (writing her story with a baby strapped to her chest at times) and a musician. Love it all!
Sunny was beginning to feel bereft in her life, although very smart and altogether capable, she was adrift and slowly waking up to the fact that she had more to offer in life. Being 15 years older than the character, I quite liked her various jobs, I didn't think she was quite unmoored as the blurb may have led us to believe.
She was cool, a beautiful friend and fiercely independent, but I think after one too many hook ups and the realisation that no strings sex was becoming increasingly acceptable in her world, she began to take stock of her world.
Dealing with life events all at once showed her to be a strong woman in the reckoning of her relationship with her parents, the quickening intolerance for her career choices and instinctively knowing she was worth more than her lingerie loving life that she was currently careening through.
This is a beautifully written love story where Sunny learns about loving herself, reconciling her familial relationships and believing and discovering her worth. I loved her to bits - 'Sunny surprise' as she was known to the 'Bee man' Al, the banter between these two knocked my socks off. Their email correspondence while separated by distance, each learning about the other, and the love scenes were erotic, sensuous yet completely pg rated. The description of dance, and being taken to another world while doing so made me feel like I myself could dance (I really can't).
The self discovery in this novel, and the beautiful character building throughout the ensemble, were truly breathtaking. I loved this book, and it will be one of my highlights of the year. I can't wait to see what the author writes next. Also of note, the author wears many hats - she's a doctor, a mother (writing her story with a baby strapped to her chest at times) and a musician. Love it all!
April 17, 2025
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Heartwarming, Laugh Out Loud Funny
- - -
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - Echo Publishing knows how to pick a winner. If I could rate this higher than 5 stars you can bet I would!
When I picked this one up, the cover had me thinking I was diving into contemporary or historical fiction, but what I actually got was the sweetest rom-com I’ve read in ages.
Set in beautiful Tasmania, Dancing With Bees delivered all the rom (in a genuinely sweet, non-cringey way) and all the com. Like actual laugh out loud, snort laughing, kind of funny. From hilarious descriptions to fake texts and cheeky one-liners, Anna Maynard had me in stitches giggling. She's giving strong Dolly Alderton / Genevieve Novak vibes.
But it wasn’t all just laughs, this book had heart ♥️ There were tender and quiet moments, sad parts and reflective ‘am I doing life right?’ bits. It truly was the whole package.
Honestly, if I know you, I’ll be forcing this book into your hands. If you’ve got a birthday coming up, guess what - you’re getting this book. I couldn’t love it more.
Vibes: Heartwarming, Laugh Out Loud Funny
- - -
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - Echo Publishing knows how to pick a winner. If I could rate this higher than 5 stars you can bet I would!
When I picked this one up, the cover had me thinking I was diving into contemporary or historical fiction, but what I actually got was the sweetest rom-com I’ve read in ages.
Set in beautiful Tasmania, Dancing With Bees delivered all the rom (in a genuinely sweet, non-cringey way) and all the com. Like actual laugh out loud, snort laughing, kind of funny. From hilarious descriptions to fake texts and cheeky one-liners, Anna Maynard had me in stitches giggling. She's giving strong Dolly Alderton / Genevieve Novak vibes.
But it wasn’t all just laughs, this book had heart ♥️ There were tender and quiet moments, sad parts and reflective ‘am I doing life right?’ bits. It truly was the whole package.
Honestly, if I know you, I’ll be forcing this book into your hands. If you’ve got a birthday coming up, guess what - you’re getting this book. I couldn’t love it more.
August 3, 2025
So so lovely! An Aussie romcom which is original and romantic and just lovely
Should have WAY more reads
Should have WAY more reads
March 16, 2026
Tender, beautifully bittersweet and funny.
’I was finally able to see the beauty that had been around me all along.’
I loved the Tasmanian setting and the insights into bees. Sunny Moritz is a wonderfully memorable character, with such a sharply observant wit.
’allowing ourselves to show our weaknesses and to learn that we’re all just fumbling, confused, tender humans, working our way through it alongside one another.’’
This is a charming debut novel and I loved reading the acknowledgments, particularly to her family.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
’I was finally able to see the beauty that had been around me all along.’
I loved the Tasmanian setting and the insights into bees. Sunny Moritz is a wonderfully memorable character, with such a sharply observant wit.
’allowing ourselves to show our weaknesses and to learn that we’re all just fumbling, confused, tender humans, working our way through it alongside one another.’’
This is a charming debut novel and I loved reading the acknowledgments, particularly to her family.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
September 10, 2025
A novel of self discovery and love, Dancing with Bees is a witty and heartwarming read from Tasmanian first-time author Anna Maynard.
Never one to deny an impulse, and still casting about for a direction in life, thirty-three year old Sunny (Sara Marie) Moritz is charmed by the idea of keeping bees. An enthusiastic text to the Hobart Beekeepers Association links her with Al, who Sunny imagines is an elderly rolypoly gentleman eager to teach her the ropes, not the dimpled Adonis that turns up on her doorstep while she’s wearing felt antlers and the world’s most hideous jumper.
I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sunny and Al. Sunny’s slightly eccentric personality contrasts well with Al’s more reserved character, and Maynard writes convincingly of their chemistry, it’s not quite an ‘opposites attract’ thing but it’s close. Their banter is a delight, and the more intimate, serious scenes between them are sincere and satisfying.
Al’s entry into Sunny’s life coincides with her creeping awareness that she might want more than she’s allowed herself to have thus far, including a career instead of a passel of part time jobs, a relationship rather than a string of casual flings, and a better rapport with her parents, especially when her mother reveals a terminal diagnosis.
Sunny’s journey of self discovery is well crafted and even inspiring, it’s not about changing who she is but about acknowledging what she wants. I found the negotiation of her relationship with her mother to be particularly realistic and moving. Sunny’s interactions with her dance group of wayward teens are also touching as well, as entertaining.
An impressive debut, Dancing With Bees is as sweet, rich, and golden as honey.
Never one to deny an impulse, and still casting about for a direction in life, thirty-three year old Sunny (Sara Marie) Moritz is charmed by the idea of keeping bees. An enthusiastic text to the Hobart Beekeepers Association links her with Al, who Sunny imagines is an elderly rolypoly gentleman eager to teach her the ropes, not the dimpled Adonis that turns up on her doorstep while she’s wearing felt antlers and the world’s most hideous jumper.
I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sunny and Al. Sunny’s slightly eccentric personality contrasts well with Al’s more reserved character, and Maynard writes convincingly of their chemistry, it’s not quite an ‘opposites attract’ thing but it’s close. Their banter is a delight, and the more intimate, serious scenes between them are sincere and satisfying.
Al’s entry into Sunny’s life coincides with her creeping awareness that she might want more than she’s allowed herself to have thus far, including a career instead of a passel of part time jobs, a relationship rather than a string of casual flings, and a better rapport with her parents, especially when her mother reveals a terminal diagnosis.
Sunny’s journey of self discovery is well crafted and even inspiring, it’s not about changing who she is but about acknowledging what she wants. I found the negotiation of her relationship with her mother to be particularly realistic and moving. Sunny’s interactions with her dance group of wayward teens are also touching as well, as entertaining.
An impressive debut, Dancing With Bees is as sweet, rich, and golden as honey.
April 20, 2025
Wow!! Hugely entertaining, yet raw and real in unexpected ways. Brilliant debut!
March 17, 2025
Big thanks to Echo Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
A certain age will represent a turning point in the navigation of life, where decisions and new directions will forge ahead.
For Sunny Moritz this was 33.
Change was needed and a new form of happiness and closure was beckoning.
The decision to keep bees in her yard was prompted by her love of honey and the wholesome benefits it would deliver both culinarily and environmentally. Meeting the bee specialist an added bonus to the whole project.
Sunny never felt she measured up to her mamas expectations.
She decided to remedy the strained relationship that characterised her adult life before it’s too late.
Zero substance was no longer acceptable as she built relationships and indulged in her passions.
Without bees we have no life and without happiness and fulfilment we also have no life.
Like a jigsaw the pieces connect once you decide to act on changes.
The realism and familiarity of this narrative evokes happiness, humour and sadness.
It is a snapshot of life most can relate to.
Sunny was an amazing character and her journey entertained and enlightened me.
An apt title on a gorgeous cover invites readers to indulge in this read.
A certain age will represent a turning point in the navigation of life, where decisions and new directions will forge ahead.
For Sunny Moritz this was 33.
Change was needed and a new form of happiness and closure was beckoning.
The decision to keep bees in her yard was prompted by her love of honey and the wholesome benefits it would deliver both culinarily and environmentally. Meeting the bee specialist an added bonus to the whole project.
Sunny never felt she measured up to her mamas expectations.
She decided to remedy the strained relationship that characterised her adult life before it’s too late.
Zero substance was no longer acceptable as she built relationships and indulged in her passions.
Without bees we have no life and without happiness and fulfilment we also have no life.
Like a jigsaw the pieces connect once you decide to act on changes.
The realism and familiarity of this narrative evokes happiness, humour and sadness.
It is a snapshot of life most can relate to.
Sunny was an amazing character and her journey entertained and enlightened me.
An apt title on a gorgeous cover invites readers to indulge in this read.
August 14, 2025
Boy meets girl. Boy has bees. Girl meets bees. Girl likes bees more than boys.
I have a theory. My theory is...I don't like romance novels. Every so often, I like to test my theory by actually reading a romance novel. But OMG! This is a romance novel written by a TASMANIAN! As any mainland Australian will tell you: Tasmanians are all inbred and usually have starring roles in movies like Deliverance. (Just kidding. Tasmanians are an endearing/enduring lot.) Anyway, my wife and I go to Tasmania every Christmas to escape the heat of Brisbane, but mainly to escape the family get-together with all its awkwardness, bickering and inappropriate presents.
The writing style engages you like a big, friendly hug. I found myself looking forward to reading what Sunny gets up to in the next chapter; what hilarious situation she'll stumble into next. Will she be a successful apiarist? To bees or not to bees? Anyway, even if I'm not a fan of romance novels, I learned a whole bunch of new words, a couple of good songs and some nice places to visit when we go to Tasmania next time. The writing style is bloody brilliant! For a first go at creating novel, Anna Maynard gets an A+. The ending is a triumph. Pity it wasn't Horror or SciFi.
Anyway - my grand experiment has proven that I still ain't no fan of throbbing hearts and throbbing dicks, romantically inclined novels.
I have a theory. My theory is...I don't like romance novels. Every so often, I like to test my theory by actually reading a romance novel. But OMG! This is a romance novel written by a TASMANIAN! As any mainland Australian will tell you: Tasmanians are all inbred and usually have starring roles in movies like Deliverance. (Just kidding. Tasmanians are an endearing/enduring lot.) Anyway, my wife and I go to Tasmania every Christmas to escape the heat of Brisbane, but mainly to escape the family get-together with all its awkwardness, bickering and inappropriate presents.
The writing style engages you like a big, friendly hug. I found myself looking forward to reading what Sunny gets up to in the next chapter; what hilarious situation she'll stumble into next. Will she be a successful apiarist? To bees or not to bees? Anyway, even if I'm not a fan of romance novels, I learned a whole bunch of new words, a couple of good songs and some nice places to visit when we go to Tasmania next time. The writing style is bloody brilliant! For a first go at creating novel, Anna Maynard gets an A+. The ending is a triumph. Pity it wasn't Horror or SciFi.
Anyway - my grand experiment has proven that I still ain't no fan of throbbing hearts and throbbing dicks, romantically inclined novels.
June 4, 2025
Dancing With Bees is the outstandingly entertaining debut novel from Australian author Anna Maynard.
I originally thought this was going to be a friends to lovers romantic comedy and although it does have these qualities there are also some deeply emotional elements within the story such as death by cancer and attempted suicide.
I enjoyed Sunny's growth and how she decluttered her life and started doing more meaningful things with her time and doing what gave her joy.
Dancing With Bees was an emotional roller coaster; funny, sad, meaningful with a touch of spice.
Dancing With Bees is the whole package!
I originally thought this was going to be a friends to lovers romantic comedy and although it does have these qualities there are also some deeply emotional elements within the story such as death by cancer and attempted suicide.
I enjoyed Sunny's growth and how she decluttered her life and started doing more meaningful things with her time and doing what gave her joy.
Dancing With Bees was an emotional roller coaster; funny, sad, meaningful with a touch of spice.
Dancing With Bees is the whole package!
June 5, 2026
Dancing with Bees by Anna Maynard
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @annamaynardauthor @echo_publishing
Wow another unputdownable book by the amazing Anna Maynard and another book crush with "Al" aka Allan 😬🤣🫣🙌💜💚
I am a bee keeper- one of my hives 🐝🍯 in the photo, so this book connected to me on so many different levels. 🥰🥰 This book had themes of greif, difficult family relationships, finding happiness and friendship. Even though the ending was full of sadness this book was a warm hug on a cold day.
I am not a romance lover (or maybe I am 🤔😫💀😬), so Im unsure what is happening to my heat and head reading Anna Maynard's novels. 📖❤️
I was unsure if this book would live up to being as fabulous as Flowers in July, which I absolutely loved wholeheartedly 💚💙🩵💜, but it did. 🙌👏🏆
Do yourself a favour and devour this beautiful easy to read "just one more chapter- but read for another hour" book.
"Sunny Moritz needs a change. She’s thirty-three, single, weary of tedious romances with the wrong kind of men and, according to her disappointed parents, drifting about like a tumbleweed. Her former high school crush, orthopaedic surgeon Adam Harrison, might be meeting all her physical demands (and requiring a subtotal of zero emotional headspace), but what about the rest of her life?
When Sunny decides to start beekeeping, the man with the information she needs is an odd, enigmatic and indecently sexy Antarctic scientist. Surely, though, she's way too pragmatic to be affected by his magnetism …
But as her hunger for meaning starts to bloom, Sunny begins to think that maybe it’s not too late to reconnect with her parents, maybe it’s time to start dancing again and maybe even she could have a lasting relationship."
Highly recommend. 🙌🙏💛🍯🐝🥰
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ @annamaynardauthor @echo_publishing
Wow another unputdownable book by the amazing Anna Maynard and another book crush with "Al" aka Allan 😬🤣🫣🙌💜💚
I am a bee keeper- one of my hives 🐝🍯 in the photo, so this book connected to me on so many different levels. 🥰🥰 This book had themes of greif, difficult family relationships, finding happiness and friendship. Even though the ending was full of sadness this book was a warm hug on a cold day.
I am not a romance lover (or maybe I am 🤔😫💀😬), so Im unsure what is happening to my heat and head reading Anna Maynard's novels. 📖❤️
I was unsure if this book would live up to being as fabulous as Flowers in July, which I absolutely loved wholeheartedly 💚💙🩵💜, but it did. 🙌👏🏆
Do yourself a favour and devour this beautiful easy to read "just one more chapter- but read for another hour" book.
"Sunny Moritz needs a change. She’s thirty-three, single, weary of tedious romances with the wrong kind of men and, according to her disappointed parents, drifting about like a tumbleweed. Her former high school crush, orthopaedic surgeon Adam Harrison, might be meeting all her physical demands (and requiring a subtotal of zero emotional headspace), but what about the rest of her life?
When Sunny decides to start beekeeping, the man with the information she needs is an odd, enigmatic and indecently sexy Antarctic scientist. Surely, though, she's way too pragmatic to be affected by his magnetism …
But as her hunger for meaning starts to bloom, Sunny begins to think that maybe it’s not too late to reconnect with her parents, maybe it’s time to start dancing again and maybe even she could have a lasting relationship."
Highly recommend. 🙌🙏💛🍯🐝🥰
May 29, 2026
Absolutely loved this. Best book I’ve read for ages. Made me smile, giggle and cry all at once. Really heart warming. Loved it. Chance read with a pretty cover on Libby ending in a Tassie author find. 🙏🏻✨
March 26, 2025
3.5⭐️
April 13, 2025
A contemporary romance full of life, love and spectacular levels of awkwardness, Dancing With Bees absolutely kills it!
It was so much fun to read, and I adored that the main characters were all so humanly flawed and complex.
My thoughts (no spoilers):
-Cover is gorg
-Love the prologue
-We stan a 30+ FMC 👏
-LOL THE JOCK BEING AN ORTHO BRO CLASSIC
-Yes girl get your life together
-I am living for the awkward embarrassing encounters with sexy bee man
-Devouring this book
-“There is meaning in what you love.”
Thank you to the publisher for this stunning review copy!
It was so much fun to read, and I adored that the main characters were all so humanly flawed and complex.
My thoughts (no spoilers):
-Cover is gorg
-Love the prologue
-We stan a 30+ FMC 👏
-LOL THE JOCK BEING AN ORTHO BRO CLASSIC
-Yes girl get your life together
-I am living for the awkward embarrassing encounters with sexy bee man
-Devouring this book
-“There is meaning in what you love.”
Thank you to the publisher for this stunning review copy!
October 21, 2025
The best book I have read all year. I devoured it! I couldn’t put it down. I want more, more, more from Anna Maynard!
March 31, 2025
Funny, heartwarming and with a raft of the best side characters, Dancing with Bees is a fanastic debut novel by Aussie author Anna Maynard.
It had me laughing out loud, cringing from third hand embarrassment and by the end bawling my eyes out! I now also know a lot more about bees!!
Sunny and Al have the best slow burn chemistry and banter…I loved these two so much! Throw in a dash of open door spice, a chaotic best friend with a yoga loving husband and three free spirited children. A group of delinquent youths and a strained relationship with her parents and it makes for a delicious read!
Thank you to Echo Publishing for a gifted copy to review.
It had me laughing out loud, cringing from third hand embarrassment and by the end bawling my eyes out! I now also know a lot more about bees!!
Sunny and Al have the best slow burn chemistry and banter…I loved these two so much! Throw in a dash of open door spice, a chaotic best friend with a yoga loving husband and three free spirited children. A group of delinquent youths and a strained relationship with her parents and it makes for a delicious read!
Thank you to Echo Publishing for a gifted copy to review.
February 11, 2026
It is a lovely, light-hearted story of finding our way in life, how we perceive ourselves as teenagers, and truly understand what we want in our adult lives even if it's in a different direction than others.
I loved this page turner, which makes you contemplate how life thinking changes in different stages of your life.
Thrown in is humour and laugh out loud moments. You will also learn heaps about keeping bees.
Loved it 📚💖
I loved this page turner, which makes you contemplate how life thinking changes in different stages of your life.
Thrown in is humour and laugh out loud moments. You will also learn heaps about keeping bees.
Loved it 📚💖
September 23, 2025
I have avoided leaving a star rating for this one because its a small Tassie author and I love to see it but unfortunately I just did not connect with this book. I felt the characters weren't super well developed and I didn't connect with them. There felt to be a lack of chemistry between them and I couldn't force myself to care about whether they got together or not.
December 28, 2025
Genuinely adored this book! Read after seeing some other book club reviews and couldn’t have found a better book for the holidays. Love bees, love Antarctica, love Vera Blue and love T2 crème brûlée tea - what more could a girl want?
July 29, 2025
Cute, fun, Antartica all my favourite things! Thanks El
November 8, 2025
Couldn't put it down! Beautiful and reflective - and a fantastic Aussie story.
January 16, 2026
A heart-warming Australian story with characters whose lives I became invested in. This lovely read was very though provoking about growing up, changing family relationships and what is really important in life.
April 16, 2025
A beautiful read. Hard to believe this is Anna’s debut novel. I also love the Hobart backdrop. Highly recommend.
May 5, 2025
What an amazing debut! Just loved this book and it's so well written. Itr's raw and real and moved along at a great pace. A real feel good read and highly recommended.
September 7, 2025
I wanted to love this, but it just didn't do it for me.
May 28, 2026
This book had good reviews and seemed interesting, so I decided to give it ago. I'm only up to chapter 7, and it has been slow and arduous so far. I'll try finish the book, but so far I haven't been able to relate
April 23, 2025
Dancing with Bees by Australian author Anna Maynard is a beautifully romantic work of fiction with plenty of emotional sensitivity, realism, and sweet moments.
Thirty-three-year-old Sunny Moritz feels a strong urge to change her life, she has a hunger for happiness and satisfaction. She is tired of soulless romances and disappointing her parents who feel like ads though she is floating through life without any clear plan or goals. With an interest to keep bees in her backyard she seeks help.
Alan is determined to go back to the Antarctic to further his career, in the meantime he assists people in beekeeping. When he receives a message from Sunny to help her get started in beekeeping, he is more than happy to share his vast knowledge.
Though starting over feels difficult for Sunny, she is lucky to have a new challenge in beekeeping, especially when it takes an interesting turn when she finds herself developing feelings for the handsome scientist. Is she ready to give life and love another chance?
The storytelling is a thorough blend of steamy romance, humour, and unpredictability. The writing style is simple, and the dialogues flowed freely with an engaging plot that has depth and held me spellbound until the end.
Maynard has written some incredibly clever, likeable, and interesting characters who more than endeared themselves to me. Each brought something new to the story, they are well developed with flaws and questionable decisions that made them human and relatable.
Sunny is a woman that I could not help but like, even though her life is having no direction she acknowledges and has the insight to make necessary changes, I found myself rooting for her many times. I loved the profound exploration of her interest in beekeeping and taking steps to change her life and reconnect with her parents.
Alan is delivered with just as much compassion and realism as Sunny and given his own standing in the story, rather than just being an accessory to it. He is strong, determined, successful and has so much patience with Sunny, I enjoyed the development in their relationship.
I thoroughly enjoyed the beekeeping element, it is a fascinating process to plan, organise, control, coordinate and operate apiaries whether done as a hobby or professionally. It must be such a rewarding job to produce honey and other products and to care for such beautiful insects. The beautiful Tasmanian landscape was perfect for the setting.
The cover is beautifully executed with a gorgeous design, colour palette and large font. It is bold in its quietness and suits the subject perfectly. It is a definite stand out on the shelf to peak reader’s interest.
Dancing with Bees is a very well-written story that will thrill readers to the last page. It is funny, sassy, and energetic story. Anna Maynard is a skilled, exceptional writer that fans of romance books will be happy to discover. I will be looking for more books by this wonderful author. I highly recommend.
Thank you, Beauty & Lace and Echo Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review.
Thirty-three-year-old Sunny Moritz feels a strong urge to change her life, she has a hunger for happiness and satisfaction. She is tired of soulless romances and disappointing her parents who feel like ads though she is floating through life without any clear plan or goals. With an interest to keep bees in her backyard she seeks help.
Alan is determined to go back to the Antarctic to further his career, in the meantime he assists people in beekeeping. When he receives a message from Sunny to help her get started in beekeeping, he is more than happy to share his vast knowledge.
Though starting over feels difficult for Sunny, she is lucky to have a new challenge in beekeeping, especially when it takes an interesting turn when she finds herself developing feelings for the handsome scientist. Is she ready to give life and love another chance?
The storytelling is a thorough blend of steamy romance, humour, and unpredictability. The writing style is simple, and the dialogues flowed freely with an engaging plot that has depth and held me spellbound until the end.
Maynard has written some incredibly clever, likeable, and interesting characters who more than endeared themselves to me. Each brought something new to the story, they are well developed with flaws and questionable decisions that made them human and relatable.
Sunny is a woman that I could not help but like, even though her life is having no direction she acknowledges and has the insight to make necessary changes, I found myself rooting for her many times. I loved the profound exploration of her interest in beekeeping and taking steps to change her life and reconnect with her parents.
Alan is delivered with just as much compassion and realism as Sunny and given his own standing in the story, rather than just being an accessory to it. He is strong, determined, successful and has so much patience with Sunny, I enjoyed the development in their relationship.
I thoroughly enjoyed the beekeeping element, it is a fascinating process to plan, organise, control, coordinate and operate apiaries whether done as a hobby or professionally. It must be such a rewarding job to produce honey and other products and to care for such beautiful insects. The beautiful Tasmanian landscape was perfect for the setting.
The cover is beautifully executed with a gorgeous design, colour palette and large font. It is bold in its quietness and suits the subject perfectly. It is a definite stand out on the shelf to peak reader’s interest.
Dancing with Bees is a very well-written story that will thrill readers to the last page. It is funny, sassy, and energetic story. Anna Maynard is a skilled, exceptional writer that fans of romance books will be happy to discover. I will be looking for more books by this wonderful author. I highly recommend.
Thank you, Beauty & Lace and Echo Publishing, for the opportunity to read and review.
September 25, 2025
"Dancing with Bees" by Anna Maynard is one of the worst books I've had to misfortune to stumble upon in recent times. I was duped by the beautiful cover and charming blurb to think this novel would be right up my alley (I love honeybees!), but the actual story was mind-numbingly boring, and worst of all, every character is either despicable, one-dimensional, or both.
The protagonist has an appalling mean-girl mindset, targeting nearly everyone around her, including but not limited to:
- women who breastfeed
- women in humanitarian work
- women with visible muscles
- men who practice yoga
- men who meet friends for coffee
- teenage girls in "sexy" outfits
Some illustrative quotes:
"Highly effeminate taste you're displaying here" (said by the protagonist to her male friend)
"I just didn't think you were such a girl" (said by the protagonist to her male friend)
"He's a total girl."
"It's Pete's fault for doing yoga. He's such a girl."
"Man-slut pretending to be sensitive"
"contrary to the ninety-nine per cent of all females present, she somehow looked like a babe rather than a sex worker" (said by the protagonist about a 16-year-old girl she's supposed to be coaching)
This book promotes toxic masculinity and perpetuates the cattiness of women shaming other women: for breastfeeding, for having muscles, or for simply existing as a young woman. Such behaviour has no place in a 2025 publication.
And then there’s the homophobic subplot: one of the protagonist's friends seduces a gay man and smugly celebrates “turning him straight.” Imagine the gender-swapped equivalent: a man joking about seducing a lesbian and congratulating himself... it’s appalling. This storyline is deeply harmful and outdated.
In short, this novel is not only boring but actively damaging, disguised under the false pretense of humour and wit. Let this be a warning: never judge a book by its (alas, lovely) cover.
The protagonist has an appalling mean-girl mindset, targeting nearly everyone around her, including but not limited to:
- women who breastfeed
- women in humanitarian work
- women with visible muscles
- men who practice yoga
- men who meet friends for coffee
- teenage girls in "sexy" outfits
Some illustrative quotes:
"Highly effeminate taste you're displaying here" (said by the protagonist to her male friend)
"I just didn't think you were such a girl" (said by the protagonist to her male friend)
"He's a total girl."
"It's Pete's fault for doing yoga. He's such a girl."
"Man-slut pretending to be sensitive"
"contrary to the ninety-nine per cent of all females present, she somehow looked like a babe rather than a sex worker" (said by the protagonist about a 16-year-old girl she's supposed to be coaching)
This book promotes toxic masculinity and perpetuates the cattiness of women shaming other women: for breastfeeding, for having muscles, or for simply existing as a young woman. Such behaviour has no place in a 2025 publication.
And then there’s the homophobic subplot: one of the protagonist's friends seduces a gay man and smugly celebrates “turning him straight.” Imagine the gender-swapped equivalent: a man joking about seducing a lesbian and congratulating himself... it’s appalling. This storyline is deeply harmful and outdated.
In short, this novel is not only boring but actively damaging, disguised under the false pretense of humour and wit. Let this be a warning: never judge a book by its (alas, lovely) cover.
June 3, 2025
“There is meaning in what you love. You can bring joy and passion to other people by living your life with joy and passion.”
There’s something incredibly charming about Dancing with Bees—it reads like a nostalgic ’90s rom-com in the best possible way. The visual writing brought every scene to life, and I found myself smiling, laughing, and even tearing up by the end.
Sunny (Sara) felt like a real person to me—flawed, funny, and navigating some big, heavy life moments. Watching her rebuild her relationship with her mum during such a difficult time was tender and beautifully done. I really appreciated how the emotional depth was balanced with lightness and warmth.
Her love life was messy, relatable, and genuinely entertaining. It added to that classic rom-com vibe, but with a grounded, modern twist.
This is a short book that packs a punch. If you’re after a wholesome, heartfelt romcom that’ll leave you with a smile (and maybe a little lump in your throat), this one’s worth picking up.
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨:
“I want for you to be yourself, and to find happiness in that. Thats all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
“The connection between us grew quickly, and even though we were all completely different people, living different lives, there was something incredibly powerful in the way we came together in dance that had me feeling a closeness and a deep appreciate for every one of them.”
“I understood the bump that had caused ripples without me even realising, sending us down paths of misunderstanding that had led to where we were now.”
“It was inferno-like, being that close to him. I feared for my dress - silk is highly flammable after all.”
There’s something incredibly charming about Dancing with Bees—it reads like a nostalgic ’90s rom-com in the best possible way. The visual writing brought every scene to life, and I found myself smiling, laughing, and even tearing up by the end.
Sunny (Sara) felt like a real person to me—flawed, funny, and navigating some big, heavy life moments. Watching her rebuild her relationship with her mum during such a difficult time was tender and beautifully done. I really appreciated how the emotional depth was balanced with lightness and warmth.
Her love life was messy, relatable, and genuinely entertaining. It added to that classic rom-com vibe, but with a grounded, modern twist.
This is a short book that packs a punch. If you’re after a wholesome, heartfelt romcom that’ll leave you with a smile (and maybe a little lump in your throat), this one’s worth picking up.
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨:
“I want for you to be yourself, and to find happiness in that. Thats all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
“The connection between us grew quickly, and even though we were all completely different people, living different lives, there was something incredibly powerful in the way we came together in dance that had me feeling a closeness and a deep appreciate for every one of them.”
“I understood the bump that had caused ripples without me even realising, sending us down paths of misunderstanding that had led to where we were now.”
“It was inferno-like, being that close to him. I feared for my dress - silk is highly flammable after all.”
May 25, 2026
Recently I was sent Anna Maynard’s latest release for review and I absolutely loved it! I discovered that she had another book from last year and so I managed to grab that from my library to read as well. And I really enjoyed this one too.
I really liked the character of Sunny. She grew up the daughter of immigrants, both with good jobs and her brother is also a high achiever. Sunny however, works a few odd types of jobs, she works at a gallery and teaching kids to dance. She helps out at a market stall. She hasn’t really found that niche, that one thing that fulfils her. Her brother is also married with children but Sunny hasn’t sorted out that part of her life either. At the moment she’s just content with a casual hook up that takes care of her physical needs but doesn’t require any emotional input.
On a whim, Sunny messages a man for help with learning to keep bees, assuring him that yes, she has done all her research, has the necessary equipment and is absolutely ready (she is definitely not). From his text replies and name, she imagines an older man, brusque but kindly…..and is quite unprepared for him to be young and good looking. Very good looking. A scientist who has spent a lot of time in Antarctica, he’s now back in Tasmania for personal reasons.
Al and Sunny were great together and I really enjoyed their budding friendship with that undertone of something else. Sunny gets some bad news around the same time she meets Al and he provides a listening ear and the two of them end up confiding a lot of their deepest thoughts to the other. This is a slow burn, which I really enjoyed and although I didn’t love this as much as I loved her second novel, I still had such a fun time reading it. I loved the characters, Sunny’s friends are great, she has nicknames for the people she socialises with in group settings, who are less her friends I think and more friends of her friend? I don’t think Sunny is a person that lets people in easily, except her best friend, who is married and has three chaotic children under 5. She’s also close to her brother, even though she has these feelings about him being the favoured child that did everything right, that did the good degree, got the well paying, respectable job (he’s a doctor), got married, had the children. It’s not something she resents him for, but she’s very aware of the fact that she feels like her parents very much see her as a big failure and disappointment. She’s not close to either of them, always feels like time in their company results in pointed remarks about finding something that is more stable.
As someone who is also not the ‘golden child’ in the family, I related quite hard to Sunny’s position in hers. Or her perceived position in hers. I felt like the book handled the direction it went in really well and that Sunny’s struggles to connect with her parents, her mother in particular, felt so genuine. It was quite an emotional part of the story, the way she learned more about her mother as a person and in doing that, her father, their relationship and also herself.
I also loved Sunny’s story where she’s given a bunch of teenagers to teach to dance as kind of a……government funded initiative for kids at risk or maybe with less opportunities. They’re a bunch of sassy teenagers who don’t really want to be there but Sunny finds a way to engage with them, to connect with them, especially one of the girls. It unfolded in such an appealing way and I was so invested in the concert they were working towards. Watching Sunny find her place with them as well, felt very satisfying.
The romance was less engaging for me but it still worked, I think, for Sunny. It felt very much she wasn’t ever going to want that traditional ideal and what she was building with Al worked for them. I also found myself quite amused by Adam, her teenage crush that she reconnects with at the beginning of the novel (but in a way that reads very obviously temporary). Adam was kind of hilarious and this is a situation I normally wouldn’t love but in this case, I found it a fun part of the story.
Highly enjoyable. Also this book is a love story to T2’s Creme Brûlée and I can forever get behind that.
I really liked the character of Sunny. She grew up the daughter of immigrants, both with good jobs and her brother is also a high achiever. Sunny however, works a few odd types of jobs, she works at a gallery and teaching kids to dance. She helps out at a market stall. She hasn’t really found that niche, that one thing that fulfils her. Her brother is also married with children but Sunny hasn’t sorted out that part of her life either. At the moment she’s just content with a casual hook up that takes care of her physical needs but doesn’t require any emotional input.
On a whim, Sunny messages a man for help with learning to keep bees, assuring him that yes, she has done all her research, has the necessary equipment and is absolutely ready (she is definitely not). From his text replies and name, she imagines an older man, brusque but kindly…..and is quite unprepared for him to be young and good looking. Very good looking. A scientist who has spent a lot of time in Antarctica, he’s now back in Tasmania for personal reasons.
Al and Sunny were great together and I really enjoyed their budding friendship with that undertone of something else. Sunny gets some bad news around the same time she meets Al and he provides a listening ear and the two of them end up confiding a lot of their deepest thoughts to the other. This is a slow burn, which I really enjoyed and although I didn’t love this as much as I loved her second novel, I still had such a fun time reading it. I loved the characters, Sunny’s friends are great, she has nicknames for the people she socialises with in group settings, who are less her friends I think and more friends of her friend? I don’t think Sunny is a person that lets people in easily, except her best friend, who is married and has three chaotic children under 5. She’s also close to her brother, even though she has these feelings about him being the favoured child that did everything right, that did the good degree, got the well paying, respectable job (he’s a doctor), got married, had the children. It’s not something she resents him for, but she’s very aware of the fact that she feels like her parents very much see her as a big failure and disappointment. She’s not close to either of them, always feels like time in their company results in pointed remarks about finding something that is more stable.
As someone who is also not the ‘golden child’ in the family, I related quite hard to Sunny’s position in hers. Or her perceived position in hers. I felt like the book handled the direction it went in really well and that Sunny’s struggles to connect with her parents, her mother in particular, felt so genuine. It was quite an emotional part of the story, the way she learned more about her mother as a person and in doing that, her father, their relationship and also herself.
I also loved Sunny’s story where she’s given a bunch of teenagers to teach to dance as kind of a……government funded initiative for kids at risk or maybe with less opportunities. They’re a bunch of sassy teenagers who don’t really want to be there but Sunny finds a way to engage with them, to connect with them, especially one of the girls. It unfolded in such an appealing way and I was so invested in the concert they were working towards. Watching Sunny find her place with them as well, felt very satisfying.
The romance was less engaging for me but it still worked, I think, for Sunny. It felt very much she wasn’t ever going to want that traditional ideal and what she was building with Al worked for them. I also found myself quite amused by Adam, her teenage crush that she reconnects with at the beginning of the novel (but in a way that reads very obviously temporary). Adam was kind of hilarious and this is a situation I normally wouldn’t love but in this case, I found it a fun part of the story.
Highly enjoyable. Also this book is a love story to T2’s Creme Brûlée and I can forever get behind that.
April 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dancing with Bees
Author: Anna Maynard
Source: Hoopla - Orlando Public Library e-book
Kindle Publication Date: January 13, 2026
DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY
FICTION
BEES
ROMANCE
Sunny zooms through life at the pace of a hive of bees. She is aimless and trying to find her “purpose” although in her early thirties. She is a sweet, sexy, and funny girl but she has never had a true meaningful relationship and struggles to find reconnect with her parents.
When Sunny decides to tend to a bee hive, she is helped by the sweet and funny Alfonso “Al” who expects nothing from her and is fascinated by her personality. Sunny comes to realize that her inability to have solid people in life comes from her inability to be open to life instead of always protecting her heart. She his a snag when her Mom develops cancer and with limited time to connect, she learns truths about life.
This book is really not about bees, it’s about connection and realizes that life is sweeter when you lay down your guard and allow people to love you. It is also a charming reminder that joy comes in unexpected ways and no one family has perfect relationships. Life is hard, life is work, but life can be caring and loving each other.
I don’t remember how this book got on my radar but I had to check it out via Hoopla. If you are looking for something life-affirming, you won’t go wrong with ‘Dancing with Bees.’
#DancingWithBees
@annamaynardauthor
@openroadmedia
#openroadmediaromance
@openroad.media
Dancing with Bees
Author: Anna Maynard
Source: Hoopla - Orlando Public Library e-book
Kindle Publication Date: January 13, 2026
DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY
FICTION
BEES
ROMANCE
Sunny zooms through life at the pace of a hive of bees. She is aimless and trying to find her “purpose” although in her early thirties. She is a sweet, sexy, and funny girl but she has never had a true meaningful relationship and struggles to find reconnect with her parents.
When Sunny decides to tend to a bee hive, she is helped by the sweet and funny Alfonso “Al” who expects nothing from her and is fascinated by her personality. Sunny comes to realize that her inability to have solid people in life comes from her inability to be open to life instead of always protecting her heart. She his a snag when her Mom develops cancer and with limited time to connect, she learns truths about life.
This book is really not about bees, it’s about connection and realizes that life is sweeter when you lay down your guard and allow people to love you. It is also a charming reminder that joy comes in unexpected ways and no one family has perfect relationships. Life is hard, life is work, but life can be caring and loving each other.
I don’t remember how this book got on my radar but I had to check it out via Hoopla. If you are looking for something life-affirming, you won’t go wrong with ‘Dancing with Bees.’
#DancingWithBees
@annamaynardauthor
@openroadmedia
#openroadmediaromance
@openroad.media
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