The Beekeeper's Bullet

Wind in the Wire #1

by Lance Hawvermale

American Ellenor Jantz lives in rural Germany in 1917, the Great War raging only a few miles from where she works as a beekeeper for a wealthy loyalist. When a British airman crashes behind enemy lines, Ellenor must choose between aiding him or handing him over to the German authorities, who have just moved a squadron of flying aces into the manor house where she is staying.

Injured pilot Alec Corbin-Dawes, Royal Flying Corps, finds himself at Ellenor's mercy. Yet he is determined to make his way farther into Germany to rescue his sister within the next four days. How can he travel all those miles in time, now that his plane is downed, and still avoid capture behind enemy lines?

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Germany

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2019

About the author

Under the female pseudonym of Erin O'Rourke, Dr. Lance Hawvermale published the thrillers SEEING PINK (2003) and FUGITIVE SHOES (2006). His poetry and fiction have garnered numerous awards. He is an alumnus of AmeriCorps, performing his service on tribal lands in Oklahoma.

Hawvermale holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership and has worked as a college professor, an editor, and a youth counselor. He lives in Texas with his family and their honey bees.

Hawvermale is represented by the Jonah Straus Literary Agency of New York.

Visit his website at www.lancehawvermale.com.

Reviews

[Cynthia Catts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Voracious Readers Only and I'm so glad I requested it! I really enjoyed this novel, by first-time author Lance Hawvermale. I was instantly drawn into the the story (an American woman in WW1 Germany, a downed Allied pilot, bees!). I read it in almost one sitting, as I was so anxious to see if they were successful (no spoilers here!).

I see that it's the first in a series - I hope we find out what happens to Father, Ellenor, Alec and all the rest of the characters (even what happened to her bees!).

Looking forward to reading more from this author!

[Tara Rugg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
I found the story of Alec and Ellenor's journey through World War I Germany quite interesting. I read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but have not read much set in WWI.
I look forward to continuing to read the series in the future.

[The Book Elf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege to receive this book from Voracious Readers and was hooked from the start. An expertly written love story from start to finish with the sub plot of the bees linking in with the progression of the story. This is the first novel I have read by Lance and it will not be the last.

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beekeeper's Bullet is the first book in the Wind in the Wire series by Lance Hawvermale.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I am happy to say that it won't be the last. The story was fast-paced, informative without being boring, and the romance was just right for a story based during a war. So what did I learn about? On the lighter side bees and beekeeping, on the not so light side warplanes and bombs. Both were subjects that I would never have thought to learn about but am glad I have been enlightened even if only at a beginners level.

Of course, apart from the book being educational to me, the suspense and the excitement of it kept me on the edge of my seat. As you would have read in the 'blurb' about the book, Ellenor Jantz, an American in Germany comes to the aid of Alec Corbin-Dawes an English airman after his plane literally crashes in front of her. The man is on a mission outside of his official duties and as soon as he is able he needs help from Ellenor to have any chance of fulfilling that mission. Agreeing to help him puts her life in danger, but she agrees to it. Once the mission begins so too does the excitement. They have a short amount of time to succeed and are very much on the run. A German officer has made it his goal to catch them even though he has no idea what they are planning.

I won't say any more about the plot because I don't want to spoil it for you, suffice to say that nothing is a foregone conclusion in this book. There are surprises and twists, and one character's actions shocked me so much I had to stop reading for a minute to contemplate it. There really wasn't any moment in the book that I found dull, it just kept getting better and better with each turn of the page. I'll admit I haven't read many books set during the Great War but if they are all even half as good as this one then I will endeavour to read some more.

I am very happy to recommend this book and hope that you will find it as enthralling as I did.

[Dwina Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellenor had been up to the hill to take care of her bees. Last year she had gotten a bounty of honey, but for some reason two of her hives had died. As she drives back to the house where she lives as the governess, she is trying to figure out why the bees died, and she is almost hit by a British airplane that crashes nearby. This is unusual because it is WWI. Not many women drive; there are not many if any British airplanes around; and Ellenor is an American living in Germany. Ellenor shoots the pilot, and as he passes out, he said, "I have to....to find her." Ellenor puts him in the back of the truck, takes him back to the barn, enlists Josef to help bind his wounds and hide him. This gets even more complicated when she learned that a group of German pilots will be billeted at their farm.

The flyer, Alec, is on a mission to get his sister out of Metz before it is bombed by the Allies in five days. With Ellenor's help, they go on quite an adventure. I could hardly wait to see what happened next. I also enjoyed the flying scenes. Can they find Alex's sister, Sarah, and get her out of Metz in time? Can Alex and Ellenor get out with their lives? It's worth the read. I enjoyed this book immensely!

[Abby Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent this book for free in return for an honest review.

‘The Beekeeper’s Bullet’ is a historical fiction set in Germany during the First World War. Our story centers on two main characters - Ellenor Jantz, an American and aspiring beekeeper working as a tutor on an estate in the German country side. She left her home in America seeking adventure and it surely finds her when British pilot Alec Corbin-Dawes crashes (literally) into her life. A soldier for the Allies, Alec crosses enemy lines on a solo mission to save his twin sister, who works in a town deep in the heart of Germany, which happens to be a target for the French in an upcoming air raid attack. Wounded from his near miss with death, Alec must now convince Ellenor to help him complete his mission, dragging her away from the life she knows into the adventure she’s been wishing for.

This book was a quick read - I finished it in a single sitting in about 5 hours. This book was a little outside my typical choice in terms of reading genre, but it was very refreshing in that regard. I enjoyed the historical elements this story utilized; I feel like I might actually know a little bit about WWI-era fighter planes. The author does an excellent job with dialogue, the back-and-forth between our story’s characters remaining incredibly witty and charming throughout the duration of the book. I feel like it took me some time to feel like the story had “taken off” (no pun intended). The first several chapters moved along at a good pace - I still felt thoroughly engaged - it just sort of felt like the trailer previews before a feature movie. I enjoy those trailers and am still entertained, but at some point, I’m just ready for the main film to get underway. Once Ellenor and Alec’s journey gets underway, perhaps a third of the way through the book, the pages fly by (oops, I did it again) as the race to victory and freedom begins.

The relationship between Alec and Ellenor felt a LITTLE insta-lovey, but I honestly don’t mind those so long as they’re done tastefully. Alec and Ellenor’s romantic evolution and interactions with one another felt genuine to their characters, so I’m not going to consider that a ding. And honestly, with what they’re going through at a tumultuous time in history, perhaps fast love isn’t as far-fetched as some people might argue it to be.

I would give this book an eager 4.5 rating and would recommend giving this story a look! I thoroughly enjoyed it and with keep an eye on this author for future publishings.

[Sherise Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beekeeper’s Bullet by Lance Hawvermale is a delight to read. Placed In 1917 during WW1, a British Ace crashes near an expatriot American who is tutoring a German landowner’s children. Despite being situated close to the western front, the Germanic household has maintained its bucolic existence and Ellenor was quite content to remain employed there where she was allowed to be an amateur beekeeper, harvesting honey and wax for the house. However, when the dashing pilot, Alec crashes practically at her feet, she decides to help him steal a German bomber so he can continue with his mission and is thrust headfirst into the war.

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The story is full of suspense, but the author allows plenty of time between the action scenes for character development and building the romance between the two MC’s. I couldn’t put the book down and can only hope the author will have many more books in the future.

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Thank you to the author for the complimentary review copy courtesy of Voracious Readers Only.

[Jayne Southern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mea culpa - I received The Beekeeper's Bullet some time ago as a 'read in return for an honest review' - and I found it two days ago in my downloads file, forgotten and unread. What a massive faux pas on my part. Whilst the cover would not have tempted me to buy the book, it was a read-till-it-ends experience. How grateful am I! The author fills the pages with pitch, pace, passion, poetry and a cornucopia of splendid characters, dialogue, atmosphere, events and fascinating information about bees - and their correlation with human behaviour - and flying. He does so with enviable skill, making the way he keeps up the tempo and surprises seem simple, a skill to envy. I did notice one or two flips between American English and British English and question whether the British pilot would have used the expression but it was a read I will relish for a long time.

[Barbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how The Beekeeper's Bullet is such a fitting title for this novel. I like that this book is not heavy with war tragedy and was told from a pilot's perspective. Strong characters boldly take action when faced with difficult circumstances and are not overcome when faced with possible defeat and death. Even the antagonist is honorable. I enjoyed not only the plot, characters, and relationships in this story, but I also enjoyed learning about beekeeping and fighter planes. Such a good read. I look forward to reading other titles by Lance Hawvermale. I received a complimentary copy of this title from the author through Voracious Readers Only.

[Corey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was truly a fantastic read. Hawvermale immerses readers into an intriguing story that keeps the pages turning through the end. Throughout the book, I felt an attachment to the main characters and found myself caring about them. At times, I forgot I was reading a novel because the author included excellent factual details. The plot was superior, with suspense and action-packed portions weaved with lighthearted and sometimes serious moments. The book held my attention from the first page until the last and left me feeling satisfied. I am already looking forward to Book 2 of Hawvermale's Wind in the Wire series.

[Carly Flis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest and objective review.

During World War I, American Ellenor Jantz is living on an estate in Germany, working as a tutor to the children. One day she is coming back from the beehives she keeps when a plane carrying an English soldier crashes in front of her. Ellenor makes a quick decision to take the soldier with her, a decision that will lead her into an adventure she never thought possible.

This story was amazing! A suspenseful romance story set in the middle of the war. What makes this book different than every other war story? The characters are very relatable, the story has a great climax, and the historical facts included help boost the story. There were many historic events that occured at that time, including the Russian revolution. Flying was also a very new thing, and many people didn’t expect airplanes to last. Hawvermale was able to show the general attitude toward planes and flying quite well: “...A man strapping himself into a wooden bird with a motor attached deserves whatever he gets.” , as one man states.

There are three main characters whose point of view is in the book, which allows for a more expansive story, and a deeper understanding of each person’s view of the war. It is a great way to write a well-rounded story.

I have to give A Beekeeper’s Bullet 5 stars for a suspenseful, well-rounded story with great characters. Although I have never read any of Hawvermale’s books, I look forward to reading more!

[Britanee Cosens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! This was really hard to put down. The writing style was engaging. The characters were loveable (I must admit I liked the antagonists as much as the protagonists) If you are a fan of war books/movies - this is a great read. Focusing on the fighter pilots aspect of war, this takes place during the First World War in Germany, the story starts right into the main Plot- which I appreciate. I would definitely recommend this to family and friends. Looking through the authors other books right now for my next read :-)

[Sophie Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only, and was pleasantly surprised with it. While the author has clearly done a lot of research into weapons and the aircraft of World War I, the book doesn't read like a dry old history book. It's full of adventure and well-drawn characters who I found myself looking forward to spending time with as the book progressed. By the time I got to the final act I was gripped and reading well into the night! Highly recommend this interesting, fun and romantic romp.

[Helena Schrader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is light entertainment based on an implausible plot. Although I suspended disbelief early on, thinking it might still be a fun story with some surprising characters, the number of impossible developments (a hand pierced by a bullet that completely heals in a few days without the slightest impairment? Wandering around in WWI Germany and being feasted with food?) just kept detracting from the story. I persisted because I rather liked the three main characters. I was particularly pleased that the German character was a charming, respectable and honourable man -- until he brutally murders a civilian for no good reason. I also liked the growing (if obvious) relationship between the heroine and the hero -- until they abruptly tore off their clothes and had sex. All in all, while mildly diverting, the book failed to engage either my mind or my emotions, and the mounting number of silly plot twists and inaccuracies finally overwhelmed my waning interest.

[Petrina Peile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Voracious Readers Only.
I very nearly didn't read this book as my fear of all species of hymenoptera meant the title did not appeal to me at all. I am happy that I did get it though and I bravely read through any mention of bees to find a story that engaged me from start to finish. It was a fun adventure with a touch of romance.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing insight into old times where this possibly may have happened.. all the characters were well linked and the story flowed without any flaws.. there was many times where you think you know what is coming up next and then the story changes and your like oh... I got a chance to read this book through voracious readers

[Pina Mangion · Rating 4 out of 5]

After receiving my complimentary copy from Voracious Readers Only, I couldn't wait to sit down and read it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down, wanting to know what was going to happen.
An easy read after a long day.

[Nicholas Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lance has a way of drawing in his readers with interesting characters and situations. Set in WWI, the characters are, at first, merely going through life, but by the end of the story, the stakes are much higher and involve an airplane dogfight in the dark. Very cool novel.

[Tab Urban · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a big war reader , if you are , you will enjoy this more than I did. I got because with the bees it's different and figured I'd learn something new.

[Kat M · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was an enjoyable read, i loved the historical setting the author chose and enjoyed the characters in the story. It actually had a good amount of suspense for me and I enjoyed that.

[Lisa Nahary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the First World War I book I’ve read. The main character is an independent woman that doesn’t follow cultural norms of her gender.

[Lynne Stoppard-jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bee Keeper’s Bullet

A beautifully written story. What does beautiful mean?
To me it means creatively designed characters set in realistic environments within a story which flows. There aren’t any abruptly portrayed events which leave the reader thinking how did we arrive here. The story is warmly written if that makes sense and envelopes you in the happenings. I suspect the cleverly introduced humour creates that warmth.

This is not Birdsong, but neither is it heavy and is more enjoyable.
The Great War isn’t far away but it isn’t the main story, more a background to the tale of two people who accidentally meet who find themselves on the same wavelength.

I’m half way through & find I’m looking forward to going to bed so that I can continue reading this book, to discover what on earth is going to happen to the main characters. Whatever it will be I’m sure it will be realistic and enjoyable......

And, it was, very excitingly enjoyable. You feel you are with the characters experiencing their tension, fear and decisions, which is just as the writer intends. The story ends with a powerful flourish which is very satisfying. A flourish of proposed normality and promise after the incredibly engulfing excitement.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beekeeper's Bullet by Lance Hawvermale is a wonderfully written World War II romance. The author creates a story about a young woman who crosses paths with a downed pilot. While she almost kills him she ends up helping him in more ways than one. She keeps him alive after his crash and then further assists him so that he can try to get to his sister to save her life and get her out of the war zone and dangers that loom.
The Beekeeper's Bullet is the first book that I have read by Lance Hawvermale and I was truly surprised by how quickly the author captivated me with this story. The author immediately introduced me to Ellenor, an American, living in Germany being a tutor to a German's children teaching them English and their lessons. She also keeps bees as is pondering what could have been the cause for the failure of two her hives. Then the author drops a surprise in on both the reader and Ellenor as well with Alec, a pilot for the British, is dropped out of the sky practically on top of her. the surprises don't stop there as Ellenor almost shoots him dead when he surprises her. My first thought reading all of this was that he was just a hotshot pilot out trying to make a name for himself. Turns out that he's on a dire time-sensitive mission to rescue his sister before she is a casualty of war. Things only proceed to become dangerous for both Ellenor and Alec as the man she works for whom she calls Father receives a letter stating that the Germans will be occupying their residence. The way that the author lures readers to the edge of their seats is beautifully done and with true sophistication. You can't help but be drawn in as Alec's life is once again put in danger by this coming occupation. Piece by piece the author brings the story together and keeps the reader captivated with each turn of the page.
The amount of research that the author had to have done to write this story truly shines through. The amount of detail written into this book is perfectly done and you can just see yourself there as a spectator as the scenes play out one by one. The drama is engaging and the danger is suspenseful but not at all overdone. I love the attention to detail that the author uses with this book. Everything is so well done from beginning to end.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. There isn't a thing that I would change about this book. If you love historical fiction novels that take place during a truly dramatic/traumatic war that shows you a different side of things then this is the book to pick up. I look forward to reading what it is that this author writes next!

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellenor’s life will never be the same.

Ellenor and Alec meet in a most unusual and certainly memorable way! When Alec’s plane crashes, Ellenor makes a life changing decision. Rather than handing Alec over to the authorities, she decides to hide him. While I completely agree with her decision, I was surprised at how quickly she threw her fate in with Alec’s. I had anticipated a bit more deliberation on Ellenor’s part. Yet, she quickly commits to not only helping Alec recuperate from his crash, but also in aiding his plans to go further into Germany. Ellenor doesn’t seem to have strong feelings about the war, and the German family who employs her are like family to her. I admit I was shocked at how quickly Ellenor turned away from it all to aid a man she knows nothing about. Even if this did strike me as a bit unrealistic, it did give the story a sense of urgency that piqued my curiosity and kept me turning pages.

Ellenor and Alec are very likable characters, but I must admit their romance didn’t feel quite right to me. Everything happened so fast. They were in a high-pressure situation, and their lives depended on trusting each other. That kind of intensity surely bonded them and could certainly be the beginning of a relationship. I just wish they’d had a bit more time to explore their budding feelings for each other. Despite my misgivings about the speed at which their relationship became serious, I do think they have the potential to be a great couple.

Mr. Hawvermale takes the suspense up another notch in the last third of the book. Alec and Ellenor are so close to completing Alec’s mission. However, unbeknownst to them, they have been followed by Gustav Voss, a captain in the German air force. I can’t give away details without spoiling the story, but I will say that Alec and Ellenor find themselves practically cornered by Voss. I had absolutely no idea how Alec and Ellenor would escape, and I was on the edge of my seat racing through the pages! I must say I was thoroughly surprised and pleased with how the situation played out.

I’m glad I had the opportunity to read The Beekeeper’s Bullet. Anyone looking for a historical romance filled with suspense would do well to pick up a copy.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would it be like to be an American living in Germany when World War I broke out? Ellenor, a beekeeper, is an American, working as a tutor for a German man’s kids. Alec, an Englishman, crashes him plane near her. She shoots him, but not fatally, feels bad, then brings him back to the home she’s working at. Nothing could go wrong, or could it? Learning German soldiers are due there the next day, Ellenor tells Alec he must go. He needs to find his sister who works in a German factory due to be bombed by the French. By accident, Ellenor gets pulled into his daring and risky rescue mission.

There are funny moments mixed in and many good historical details, visually painted for the reader. We get to hear a lot of fascinating things about those early planes, plenty of mechanical details to satisfy curiosity. As an interesting addition, readers also get to learn about beekeeping.

There are also exciting getaways, filled with the possibility of death. Trouble mounts, and new, more serious problems arise. Since Alec intended on rescuing his sister and taking her out of the country, but Ellenor had to get in the plane to escape, somebody will have to be left behind. When Ellenor helped Alec, she gave up her life and job in Germany. She can’t go back to the farmhouse where she was working...ever.

Ellenor, says some great one-liners, and there are twists and turns to keep you guessing with enough intrigue to up the pacing. There are graphic details about what it was really like in the war trenches, enough to make you cringe.

While all this is happening, Ellenor solves a minor mystery related to the death of some of her bees. It seems the answer gives her ideas for their much bigger problem. The connection is intriguing.

The story never lets up, not until the exciting and satisfying ending. Readers of this book will walk away, having been entertained and learning what it was really like to be in the trenches and in the skies during the Great War.

[Jacqui Huntley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essentially a World War 1 romance set in rural Germany on the borders with France. A somewhat unusual heroine for the times, Ellenor - beekeeper to the local loyalist lord of the manor, she drives, is well read and determined, but she is American. Worrying about the cause of her loss of two hives, dead bees, she almost runs into a crashed British plane and shoots the pilot, Alex, by reflex. She determines to help him against her better judgement and things get complicated when a squad of elite German pilots are billetted in the manor. It turns out that he has essentially stolen a plane and off chasing his sister in Metz which is about to be bombed by the Allies. She helps him steal one of the German planes but is forced to join him in the plane otherwise is likely to be shot by the Germans chasing them. The majority of the story is about their flight to Metz, his sister and her compatriots, destroying enemy defences prior to the Allies' attack and becoming romantically involved. An interesting story and well researched in terms of the attitudes of the times. The main characters didn't really feel right to me but I can't say why to any degree. Neither seemed real and I kept thinking 'oh for goodness' sake'. The bees certainly provide a different perspective but, other than a short bit where the deaths of the two hives are thought of in terms of death of the underdogs (they not being strong enough to gather sufficient food for the survival of their colony) perhaps an analogy with human behaviour I don't see where they fitted into the story. Ellenor could equally have been a cook or a nurse! It's well written overall but just didn't quite make it to the four stars for me. Thanks to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beekeeper's Bullet opens in Germany in 1917. Ellenor Jantz is young American woman working for a wealthy German as a tutor to his young children. In addition, she tends to her bees. The war has not impacted her life much. Then, one day a British plane falls from the sky. The pilot, Lieutenant Alec Corbin-Dawes, has entered Germany for a specific mission. Ellenor and Alec have a bit of a contentious first meeting. Even so, Alec needs help and he turns to Ellenor for help. Once she agrees her life changes drastically.

Well crafted and fast paced, the novel grabs hold of readers from start to finish. Ellenor is an intriguing character. An adventurer at heart, she left her New Mexico home to make a new life. She is content with her job and her bees. Suddenly uprooted, she becomes who and what she needs to be. Alec is a man who does what needs to be done and in his current predicament he is faced with his most dangerous mission.

This is an exciting page turner. Filled with tension, danger and purpose, this book is well worth reading. Highly recommended.

[BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't quite get into this book the way I wanted. I liked the characters, but not enough to truly connect with them. The premise of the story was very interesting, but I just never felt invested the way I wanted to.
It's World War 1, and Ellenor, an American, is living in Germany. An English plane (the enemy) crash lands right by her and she ends up taking the very injured pilot (Alex) captive. Once she gets him home, she is given news that some of the German pilots will be staying on their estate. She has to move her captive pilot, and in the process, gets to know him and understand why he is there. He must find and save his sister from a planned bombing of the factory she works in. The remainder of the book focuses on the escape from the estate and the travel to save Alex's sister.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for offering me this change to read and provide my honest review.

[Irene S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellenor , an American, enjoys tutoring two German children, learning to cook German dishes, and keeping bees in the German countryside. Ellenor lives a quiet enjoyable life far from war until Alec, a British pilot, crashes into her. Even though Ellenor has mixed feelings about helping Alec, she is hiding Alec and helping him escape to save his sister. Before long, both Ellenor and Alec are caught up in more than either expected. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgallery. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I really enjoyed this suspenseful book because it focused on Ellenor and Alec, two strangers that get caught up in a war rescue. I also liked that it was set in WWI Germany and showed their mixed feelings towards war and warfare and their love of flying. I loved this book and look forward to reading more by this author.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rural Germany, an western American tutor/apiarist, a small patriotic farm family, a RFC pilot with shortsighted plans, and danger in the skies and on the ground. This presents the war from a different perspective than others I've read and that makes it even more interesting. The pilot's plane nearly decapitates the beekeeper in its death spiral, she shoots him in the hand (that part is too peculiar for me) but later assists him to steal a plane with the purpose of rescuing his sister from a secret danger. The plot is a bit odd, but the writing is good. In spite of a lot of head shaking on my part, I liked and enjoyed it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from The Wild Rose Press via NetGalley.