Series:
Cat's Paw Cove (Book 24)Not all that buzzes is a bee…
Elva Boyd, an extroverted elf, uses bees and honey to
treat patients in pain. Art Klarastos, an introverted demi-god, beekeeper, and
inventor is her best friend. When Elva’s beehives disappear, Art beelines to
her to deliver the news. Distressed, Elva pleads for his assistance with the
mystery of the missing boxes. Kit Kat, his matchmaking talking cat, makes a
deal with Elva: Art will help her in exchange for a real date.
Art is mortified, but Elva agrees without hesitation.
While they attempt to deduce why someone might want to steal her bees’ homes, a
couple arrives and claims to be Elva’s long-lost parents. An orphan raised in
Cat’s Paw Cove by her aunt and uncle, Elva is ecstatic. Suspicious of these
unknown elves, Art shares his concerns—but Elva tunes out his buzzing.
When her parents declare they have come to take her home
to Scotland for her contractually obligated wedding, Art is devastated. Will
his best friend leave with her newfound family and soon-to-be-husband? Or will
he be able to convince her that he is the beekeeper of her heart?
A fun novella that I read in one sitting. Elva is an elf
who her aunt and uncle raised in Cat's Paw Cove after her parents disappeared.
She's the only kid at the Feline Fine Retirement Home, which she describes as "like
living with dozens of grandmothers and grandfathers." When she's ten years
old, she meets ten-year-old Art, who has just arrived in town with his parents.
They buy a home to use during the summers, and Art and Elva immediately become
best friends. I loved that first meeting, with Art's astonishment at everything
from Elva's pointy ears to the talking cats.
When Art was eighteen, he permanently moved to Cat's Paw
Cove and set up his inventing business. Elva became a healing elf who uses bees
and honey to treat her patients. Art is just as shy now as he was twenty years
ago. He's in love with Elva but doesn't think she feels anything more than
friendship for him. He's about to get a little help. When Elva's beehives are
stolen from her yard, Art is the one she looks to for help. Art's feline
companion, Kit Kat, tells her to go on a date with Art if she wants his help,
while her cat, Romeo, mutters, "About time..." Art is shocked but
thrilled when she agrees since he has no idea that she is in love with him too.
Just as he's leaning in for a long-awaited kiss, they are interrupted.
At the door are two people claiming to be Elva's
long-lost parents. Stunned but happy, Elva is full of questions. Art is
skeptical and has reservations about this couple. I loved his protectiveness
and how he watched out for Elva from the very beginning. Elva received another
shock when her parents claimed that she is betrothed to
Prince Scott and the wedding is in two weeks. I loved her reaction when she met
Prince Scott, who turns out to be something of an over-age frat boy.
We quickly learn that things are not always what they
seem. Something fishy is going on, and it seems to have something to do with
the King of the Dark Elves. I was fascinated by the twists and turns and
revelations as Art and Elva looked for the truth. I loved watching Elva's
family and friends go all-in in protecting her while Art's Uncle Hermes looks
into the missing hives and whether her parents are dead or not. Later on,
combining Prince Scott and too many bottles of mead led to the whole thing
falling apart. I loved watching everything unravel and laughed out loud at many
parts.
I loved the ending. The truth is exposed, and Elva stands
up for her choice of husband. I loved the surprise waiting for Elva after delivering
some hives to some friends at the retirement home.
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