The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows

Do not judge this book by its cover, okay, it's about a couple of middle-aged ladies who wear a lot of trousers while they maintain bee hives and/or are covered in ink while they run successful printing companies, fight against the strictures and machinations of the local aristocracy, discuss the rights of women in marriage (or lack thereof) and political and historical events in 1820s London that I absolutely had to Wikipedia, and also pine for each other, and it rules.

Distaff side printing house and beekeeping -- what is not to love here? Adored it -- loved the irascible main characters, the romance centered on older ladies, the print shop, the very well done explanation of the political landscape and the role of pamphlet printers before the free press, the sweet and sizzling romance (did I say that already?), learning more about beekeeping, and the small village shenanigans -- from gossip to late night pranks to negotiating with hostile men in power. It's just full of great stories, and the printing side was accurate, which is an achievement in its own right.

The writing here is excellent and pleasant to read. The author has really mastered the art of the "slow burn" romance. (It's about two-thirds of the way through the book before anyone quite realizes there's any falling-in-love going on at all.) The action takes place in the early 1820s, I believe. There's a lot of stuff going on here and we see especially the development of a delightful friendship way before any romantic entanglement or stray limbs or such become issues. I won't summarize the plot here, but will say there are also important and absorbing side-plots. The story touches on beekeeping and printing, but also some libelous ballad singing, nice civil disobedience, national politics involving the king wanting to divorce his show more queen. Oh, and an unexpected little "ghost story", too. By the way, the copy-editing and other aspects of editorial hygiene are quite excellent, as we would expect from a major publisher (Avon). And yes, I've already bought the third book in this 3-part series and it's on my queue for this coming winter.

If I were casting a film adaptation of this, I'd start with Fiona Shaw (Agatha) and Billie Piper (Penelope), in fabulous period costumes. YMMV. Yes, I know they're not in the same generation, but dreaming is free. show less

The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows was a delightful read! It definitely had great promise and I had some high expectations after loving the first one ( I five starred it) so I was expecting some things with this one and I will be honest while it had some factors that I did enjoy, it just didn't quite work for me. The biggest issue that I had with this one here is that there is cheating. One of the protaganists is married, and even though he is a ocean away, they are still legally married so I did struggle with that aspect all the way through the book. In fact, it really put me off. I just don't care for cheating at all no matter the circumstance. Then another factor is the modernisms in this book. There were some situations in here show more that are not historically authentic at all. Like for example, the situation with Agatha's son and refusing to marry and the fact that so many people that Agatha talked to agreed with her son and his girl. I am sorry but that wouldn't have been the case in historical times when marriage would be expected or they would practically be shunned by society. This would even be the case even 20-30 years ago let alone a couple hundred years lol And there were some phrases here and there that just wouldn't have been said back then. So while I did enjoy this story as a whole, it just didn't quite do it for me. I still plan on reading the third book though, I am hoping that it is much better than my experience with this one here. I did enjoy the actual romance between these two though, and this author definitely knows how to write sensuality in such a beautiful way. I absolutely loved those moments and seeing the small moments between these two that was so tender and sweet! show less

This book took FOREVER to go anywhere and I think there was just too much going on. I loved the first book in the series but as much as Agatha and Phoebe were a great couple and I loved their story, I think all the sub plots took away from their relationship and made me less interested. The sex scenes were FIRE but the political commentary was too much for me and it makes me sad to say that. Will still happily continue to read the series and this author but this is not my favorite entry.

**Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy**

Set in 1820s London and a nearby village, this 282 page novel is a “best romances” selection of the Washington Post’s new best books of the year format, a welcome change to the ancient, staid, tired “50 (notable) fiction, 50 non-fiction blah blah blah" – check it out. “Waspish Widows” (WW) focuses on two middle age, attractive, career women (maybe 100 years ahead of their time ?), Agatha and Penelope. Agatha is a widow who runs a print shop, and Penelope is (kinda) married to a sea man who is away on the briny sometimes for a few years; she’s a beekeeper. Eventually Agatha and Penelope meet – and sparks fly……slowly, very slowly, very slowly. As you get into the book and start a new chapter you think “aha, maybe show more this is the chapter….” but no, at most for the longest time you get little more than a hot look. And quite an education about bees, printing, a bit of history and some olde government. Very interesting stuff though, and a well written book. Then finally, and again, and again. WW is actually the 2nd in a series of three. show less

I received an ARC of this book to read through Edelweiss+ in exchange for a fair review. The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows is the second book in Olivia Waite’s delightful Feminine Pursuits Series. The books in the series can be read as stand-alones, but I really enjoyed The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics and do recommend reading it also. Widow Agatha Griffin discovers a swarm of bees has infested a storage area in her print shop and seeking to remedy the situation she is referred to beekeeper Penelope Flood who moves the swarm and sets Agatha up with her own hive. While learning about how to care for that hive from Penelope, a friendship develops and gradually over time becomes something more. The story is lovely with a show more strong cast of supporting characters and takes place in a tumultuous historical period, shortly after Peterloo and during the time George IV was trying to divorce his wife, Caroline. Steam Level: Very Steamy. Publishing Date: July 28, 2020. #TheCareAndFeedingOfWashpishWidows #OliviaWaite #historicalromance #FFRomance #bookstagram #HarperCollinsCanada #AvonRomance #HarperCollinsPublishers show less