Bees in the Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang

Raised in an exclusive boarding school among Fifth Avenue’s finest, Meg Davenport has all she’s ever needed . . . but none of the things she’s wanted most, like a family or a future not dependent on following etiquette and marrying well. So when her distant father dies, Meg seizes the chance to break every rule that has governed her life. Especially when she learns that John Davenport wasn’t the wealthy businessman she thought, but one of the Gilded Age’s most talented thieves.

Poised to lead those loyal to Meg’s father, Ian Maguire knows the last thing his mentor would have wanted is for his beloved daughter to follow in his footsteps. Yet Meg is determined, and her connections to one of New York’s wealthiest families could help Ian pull off his biggest heist yet.

But living in both worlds is more treacherous than Meg imagined. And as Ian's concern for Meg turns to love, he finds himself torn between greed and guilt. Can they find the legacy they both long for, or in trying to gain everything, will they end up losing it all?

Bees in the Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang was a very interesting and enjoyable novel that kept me spellbound. Over 400 pages long, it was a still novel that I did not want to end. The plot line was well written and detailed. There were instances of sadness, humor, mystery, and suspense. There was plenty of description of both characters and scenes, and the tone of the novel was varied.

The characters were also well developed and realistic. Meg Davenport and Ian Maguire were both complex and interesting characters who both were headstrong, independent, and running from God. I loved seeing their growth in understanding about God, morality, friendship, and trust. The supporting characters like Kate, Geoffrey, and the Pemberton family were also created in an enjoyable and interesting way and added tension, suspense, and some crazy pranks to the novel. I was greatly surprised by the beautiful, godly characteristics of the older two Pemberton siblings, considering Meg's remembrance of them, and I enjoyed seeing their influence on Meg.

The themes of the novel were clear, well thought out, and added greatly to the story. Some of these topics included love, trusting others and God, doing what is right even when it is hard, and living in a way that brings glory to God.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel, and I cannot wait to read other books by Maureen Lang. I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review by Tyndale House Publishers.