Rhys Bowen always does a great job of transporting the reader to another time and place. Some of the story was predictable and perhaps hard to believe but that doesn't matter when it's an interesting story. It was an enjoyable read.

Historical Drama of Queen Victoria's Pastry Chef
This is wonderful historical fiction that is akin to the novel 'Sarah Crewe'. A self-made woman in Victorian England was virtually unheard of. The plot of this story is well done and quite believable. The depiction of the class struggle is given fair treatment. There is some romance with an arching storyline of drama. This book is one that I'll read again. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

A weak mystery and problematic history made Above the Bay of Angels my most difficult read of 2020 (so far). While I’ve loved previous novels by Rhys Bowen, this book was an absolute struggle to get through.

Bella (Isabella) Waverly’s childhood is idyllic. Her father is an aristocrat estranged from his family, but he’s landed on his feet, working as the manager of guest relations at the Savoy. “His ability to speak good French and mingle with crowned heads had made him popular at the hotel” until “the demon drink” overcame him. The family’s fall from grace is fast and furious and with her father unemployed, they quickly lose their home and all the little luxuries that had made life so delightful. Pulled from school, teenaged Bella is forced to work as a housemaid to make up for her father’s lack of salary. She hates having to rise at five to light the stove, despises carrying scuttles of coal and doesn’t like Mr. and Mrs. Tilley, her employers. In fact, the only thing she appreciates about the job is the food. The Tilleys eat very well, as do the staff, and Bella is able to take leftovers to her family on her afternoon off. Her appreciation for the cuisine extends to the preparation of it and she takes every opportunity to help in the kitchen until she is eventually promoted to assistant cook. She excels at all her lessons but her specialty is pastries. The mistress of the house is completely delighted with her, taking special joy in the fact that she has someone linked to the aristocracy working in her kitchen. She often has Bella serve the tea when she has guests over, gratified that she can tell her callers that a young lady of good family is serving them. Bella’s refined speech and elegant manners add a gentility to the home that the nouveau riche owners lack.

As her skills grow, Bella considers leaving, but Mrs. Tilley learns of her plans and advises her that she will never receive a reference from them; without that recommendation Bella won’t be hired elsewhere. Trapped, both by her employers’ cruelty and her family situation, Bella is despondently resigned to working as an apprentice cook for the foreseeable future, until fate intervenes. She is about to splurge on afternoon tea on her day off when a young woman is run over by an omnibus before her eyes. Bella races over to offer what assistance she can to the innocent victim, even though it is clear the lady is mortally injured. In deep distress, the girl pleads with Bella to go to the palace and gives her an envelope to take. Wanting to know what she is walking into, Bella reads the letter and learns it is an invitation to interview for an under-cook position at Buckingham Palace that day. Bella sees a chance to escape her own dreary lot in life and seizes this unexpected opportunity, presenting herself at the palace as Helen Barton, elated when she is offered the position but frightened as well. Pretending to be someone else, especially when employed by the government, is dangerous and the situation becomes even more perilous when Helen’s brother shows up and blackmails her. Luck intervenes once again; the Queen’s pastry chef suffers an injury just as her majesty’s retinue is to leave for Nice. Bella is able to go in his place, and hopes this means she is leaving her problems behind but of course, that’s not how life – or mystery novels – works. Count Wilhelm, a member of the party dies, supposedly from eatinh something Bella cooked. Now she must solve the mystery of what really happened while desperately hiding a secret that could get her sent to jail – or see her hanged.

What I’ve just described is the first seventy percent of the book. Lest you be concerned that I’ve given away the whole story line, let me assure you I haven’t. It is also, with a bit of added detail, the information presented in the blurb on the back of the book, so you could find most of this out simply by reading the material provided by the publisher. The impetus of the plot, of Bella becoming a cook for the queen, takes up only the first two chapters of the story, the mystery takes up only the last two chapters. The novel is mostly historical fiction, with details about the queen’s household, food preferences and the lives of the denizens of the palace taking up much of its 323 pages. The rest of the tale is about Bella’s thoughts and feelings about kitchen life and palace life. The strength of the story, for the historical reader, is the avid attention given to the details of the Victorian era, especially the gastronomical aspects of the period.

However, historical detail is also one of the problems I had with the book. The author presents the attitudes of the royal servants and household towards Abdul Karim, the queen’s munshi, very accurately; however the text presents him as involved with terrorists and being dismissed by the Queen as a result. The articles I read in Wikipedia, Vanity Fair, Smithsonian magazine, The Telegraph, Time and BBC News all agreed that he was a chief mourner at her funeral, and that it was her son Edward VII who unceremoniously sacked Abdul Karim as soon as he could afterwards. While the author says in her Historical Note at the end of the book that “Abdul Karim, his association with the leader of the Muslim League and his final fall from grace are factual” I could find absolutely nothing on the internet that supported her depiction of the events and unfortunately, the review copy I read did not have footnotes I could reference to clarify where the author got her information. I found that discrepancy, especially since it was in regard to the only character of color in the text, disturbing. Regardless, it wasn’t just the events which troubled me, but the manner in which they were presented. The character was written as such a villain and cad that the lack of nuance seemed harshly prejudicial, especially since he played a minor, completely unnecessary role in the narrative. The sole gay character in the text is also written in much the same way, as a bully and a brute with no redeeming value.

The second major problem I had was with the mystery. It is resolved so simply, with the guilty party essentially confessing after minor questioning, that its presence in the text was confusing. It does cause Bella to address a major issue but that could have been done very easily in another, more logical manner.

Finally, the romance was completely awkward. Bella falls in love after several very desultory conversations with a man whom she spends barely any time with. The page space from the mystery should definitely have been devoted to this aspect of the story, since the time that was allotted to it was far too sparse.

I had been looking forward to reading Above the Bay of Angels so it is with complete sorrow that I report that it was completely disappointing.

Having not previously read any work by this author, I had no idea of her style of writing. I enjoyed this historical novel as much for the knowledge of the era that I gained as for the storyline.
Though the ending for Bella was a little predictable, I enjoyed the process by which it was reached. All in all a satisfying escape.

A very enjoyable historical love story. Although this is not my usual genre, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set towards the end of Victoria's reign, it tells the story of Bella of aristocratic descent who falls on hard times ending up as a junior cook to Queen Victoria. I will certainly recommend it to my 14 year old granddaughter as it is a grown up story with innocent romance.

Rhys Bowen is the queen of historical fiction! In Above The Bay of Angels, Bowen introduces us to a young woman named Bella who finds herself in a unique position to become a member of the royal kitchen staff during Queen Victoria’s reign. Due to the circumstances, she must assume the identity of a woman named Helen Barton to gain access to this position. What ensues is an entertaining and at times suspenseful adventure for Bella that is filled with romance, blackmail, and even murder! Yet again, Bowen creates a novel fusing historical fiction, romance, and mystery in a way that pulls the reader in so that one feels they are living within Bella’s world. At one moment, the reader is in a royal kitchen and experiencing the difficulties of being a woman in an area of work where they have long been excluded, and the next moment the reader can almost feel the breeze from the water on the French Riviera outside of the queen’s hotel. Overall, this is the perfect novel for fans of Bowen and for those who enjoy their historical fiction with a side of romance and mystery!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

A pleasant well-researched new stand alone mystery book by Bowen. Bowen does a good job weaving a nice story of the main character with a few plot twist to keep you interested.

I really enjoyed reading this book .Above the Bay of Angels is set during the reign of Queen Victoria ,a lovely story of Bella who goes to work as a cook for Queen Victoria in Buckingham Palace .The story moves from London to Nice and the Riviera where the Queen has had a hotel built for her .The descriptions of Nice were very atmospheric I found it interesting to learn how being a cook in those days was and the recipes they had to cook it was very rare then for woman to have that job ! There was a mystery ,a murder and love what's not to like ?Altogether a very cosy and interesting read .I look forward to reading more from this Author .Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

Bella witness the accidental death of a young woman and try to comfort her in her last moment. She found herself in the possession of a letter of employment of that
young woman Helen Barton. Bella grow up in a good familly but her father lost his job and the familly situation started to dwindle after her mother’s death she is the one who have to work to help her father and her little sister.
Working like a servant for the Tilley she discover her passion for cooking and learn with the help of their cook. But Mrs Tilley doesn’t want her to leave to pursue her dream and give her a good reference. Helen Barton letter of employment is for an offer in the kitchen at Buckingham palace so Bella take her chance and pretend to be Helen to get the job.
She works at the palace for the Queen Victoria and her talents are very appreciate.
When the Queen leave for Nice she is among the group chosen to prepare their meals there. But one of the royal guest died after his last meal she is suspected of murder and she will have to prove her innocence and protect her secret.

It was an intereresting story with a lot of historical events about the Queen Victoria. I really enjoy reading it. Bella was a very audacious woman, who wanted a better life and pursue her passion.

Isabella Waverly, a young woman born into an educated family, had fallen on hard times brought on largely by her father's alcoholism. Forced into servitude, her future looked bleak. That is until serendipitous circumstances presented themselves. Bella recalling one of her father's favorite sayings, seized not only the day, but a new future as well, but would stepping into a future meant for someone else come back to haunt her one day? Might it lead to her being accused of murder?

Rhys Bowen placed me firmly into nineteenth century London and Nice. Through her delightful storytelling I caught a glimpse into the lives of British royalty and those who served them. I do wish that I had snuck a peek at the historical notes at the end of the book before reading the story as some of the characters and events I had assumed to be fictional were not! I am happy to have learned of this award winning author, and to have received a copy of Above the Bay of Angels in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review, and received no monetary compensation.

Rhys Bowen creates terrific characters and stories, and here is another fine entry.

Isabella Waverly was raised as an educated gentlewoman, even though her father was cut off from his titled family. But her mother's early death and her father's dissolute habits torpedoed their family, and Bella ends up going into service.

Bella is a very appealing character -- determined, honest and strong. She soon figures out that working as a cook is a major improvement over being a maid, and starts learning kitchen skills. But a chance encounter gives her an opportunity to work at Buckingham Palace in Queen Victoria's kitchen and she seizes the chance, although it involves some deception as to her real identity.

She soon makes herself indispensable and travels to the French Riviera as part of the Queen's entourage. But the death by poison of one of the royal party casts suspicion on Bella and she must work to clear her name and save her future.

Great historical mystery with a bit of romance and a lot of actual history thrown in. A very entertaining read. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Set during the reign of Queen Victoria, this is a novel based on an incredible chance meeting. Isabella Waverley pauses to help a woman on a London Street and it changes her whole life. She offers comfort as it becomes clear this woman is dying, In her last moments the woman passes Isabella a letter. It’s an offer of employment in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace and coincidentally Isabella is a novice chef. This letter is the difference between continuing life as a servant and living her dreams. Isabella decides to become Helen Barton from Yorkshire and starts work in the Queen’s household, the Queen enjoys her culinary creations so much, Bella is chosen to accompany the Queen on a trip to Nice.

Just as she is enjoying this new life there is a threat of blackmail and even worse, after eating one of Bella’s dishes a member of Queen Victoria’s retinue becomes ill and dies. Now there will be an investigation into the death and Bella is terrified of being accused of poisoning. At worst, if found guilty she would be executed. At best the investigation might uncover who she really is and her new life would come crashing down.

Once I’d suspended disbelief about the coincidental set up at the beginning of the novel I did start to enjoy the story. I loved the geographical and historical detail, and I could see the book appealing to people who enjoy Downton Abbey or the series Victoria. It has the same charm and a great cast of characters within the palace, including a lustful prince and the very contrary Queen herself. I also enjoyed the historical detail around the food - the fashionable dishes, how they were prepared and Bella’s free reign to create with no concern about cost. She is allowed, even expected, to be extravagant, When the court moves to a luxury hotel in Nice, the author gives us a wonderful sense of the French Riviera and Bella’s joy at being able to experience it.

We learn that Bella wasn’t born into a lowly position. Her father was a gentleman, but lost his money and status to drink. The freedoms the palace staff can enjoy in Nice allow Bella to experience things she has never dared imagine, The mystery of the poisoned dinner guest continues throughout with the usual twists and turns but it isn’t really the main point of the novel for me, I didn’t know that Queen Victoria made summer trips to Nice and Bowen has taken this piece of history and brought it to life. Bella is a likeable heroine and I enjoyed her tenacity in overcoming the suspicion of the Male kitchen workers. They are not used to a woman in their ranks but through her knowledge and passion for food she becomes part of their family. This is a well researched piece of historical fiction that is pure escapism,

Set in the latter part of Queen Victoria’s reign, Bella is at the right place at the right time for her life to change and she gets the opportunity to work in the Queen’s kitchens. Her adventure starts and we follow her to a France.
A complicated life for a girl who has to take on another’s identity.
A lovely read that shows us the differences in “class” and how women were thought of. Very enjoyable.

historical-fiction, women-s-fiction, England, France, coming-of-age

It certainly wasn't what I expected. It does have extortion and murder, but it's mostly a recounting of life among the servants in the Victorian era. If that's your thing you'll absolutely adore this one. It takes you from forced labor in London to Victoria's palace to a hotel built just for the royals in Nice. The characters are clearly established and very interesting as are their interactions.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley.

Isabella Waverley comes from an aristocratic family. She hasn't had the easiest of lives. Her fathers drinking puts isabella into servitude. She has to work as a scullery maid for a family with no breeding. Isabella goes to the aid of a young woman who was dying on a street in London. The woman gives her a letter and she asks Isabella to deliver it for her. It's addressed to Buckinghan Palace. The woman had been going for an interview for a kitchen position. Isabella takes the opportunity to replace the woman.

This is a cleverly written story that mixes fact with fiction. The story flows off the pages. The characters are well rounded and the scenery is well described. Bella (Isabella) is taken from London to the French Riviera. The author has done her research before writing this book. The pace is well set. We get an insight into the workings of the Royal household. The story includes blackmail, love and murder. An interesting and informative read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Rhys Bowen for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Taking risks!

Isabella Waverley takes a chance and like her 'not so dear' old papa used to say 'Carpe Diem'. Under false pretenses she and enters service as Helen Barton an apprentice cook for Queen Victoria. Of course nothing is smooth. Given the times, there are challenges for a woman in a man's world. Identity theft results in blackmail. What amounts to sexual harassment by a member of the upper class, and the divide of class distinctions.
A peeve for me was how Isabella kept (in her head) harping back to being educated and from an upper class background. It seemed to me she was repeating somewhat her father's mantra, albeit in a different way. That feeling of deserving more may have given her the courage to take risks. Her checkered upbringing, and having to make do to survive, meant she did have the ability to move seamlessly between the various groups of people she encountered.
What I did like about the story was the glimpse into palace life, the menu preparation and cooking skills involved. The presentation of Queen Victoria at home and her various starts that has her going from being a complete dictatorial autocrat, to childlike in her enjoyments, and singular in her demands, her fixations, and her moments of being just a woman. However which one people would meet was never assured.
I couldn't help but be drawn back to the PBS series Victoria and the happenings below stairs in the palace, and comparing that view to this novel.
The journey to Nice and the Riviera, the Hotel Regina Excelsior, the kitchen staffs and chefs of both the hotel and palace having to work alongside each other, and of course the dishy French Chef for the hotel, Jean-Paul Lepin. Isabella's forays into the Nice food market were well painted. I could imagine being there.
When a royal death happens and Isabella is being blamed she does some rather clever thinking and fancy footwork to have herself taken out of the firing line.
Disappointingly, I felt the end resolution of Isabella's future direction was reached far too hurriedly in terms of the storyline.
Despite all the interesting combinations of events, I didn't quite connect with the Isabella /Helen character. I have read other Bowen stories that I found more engaging.
Still, an entertaining cosy historical mystery with a somewhat different backdrop, if this is your cup of tea.

A Lake Union Publishing ARC via NetGalley

Although this is a light easy to read romantic historical novel you can appreciate that a lot of research has gone into it. The historical note at the end of the novel bears this out.

Another great historical fiction book from Rhys Bowen! This one is set in Buckingham Palace during Queen Victoria's reign. The main character, Bella, is born into a well-off family but setbacks have reduced her to working as a cook in the Palace kitchen, under someone else's name.
I loved the descriptions of the kitchen and life behind the scenes at the Palace. It's a fun and charming read, I recommend it.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen is a standalone mystery/love story revolving around the kitchens of Queen Victoria. Bella happens to witness the tragic accident, which caused Helen's death. As Bella leaned over her, trying to offer comfort, Helen murmured, "palace." She had an envelope in her hand, which Bella, unknowingly took with her. In it was an invitation to interview for a position in the kitchen of the Palace. Helen was a cook in a dead end job that she hated so she decided to grab the bull by the horns and become Helen and attend this interview. As luck would have it, the references and such had already been sent. She impresses the interviewer enough that she is given the position. Thus start the best years of her life. She is one of only three women in the kitchen. The rest of the positions are help by men. Things happen there, but she impresses the chef with her work ethic so she become successful and is able to accept more responsibility.

Bella/Helen was raised as a gentlewoman. He father was one step away from being an earl but he ruined his life and hers by drinking too much. When Bella is one of the staff members chosen to accompany the queen to Nice, her luck begins to change. She is able to get away sometimes and meets people and sees things. Life is freer at the hotel for Bella and for the royal family. She is put in a position to speak with several of them, and sadly to become embroiled in their lives, nearly losing her own to a charge of murder. She is a terrific character. Bowen writes good characters but she is also great at plotting. There are twists and turns aplenty in the lovely novel. As always, I was enthralled. I love Bowen's work. If this is your first time, you have a wonderful journey ahead of you. I
solidly recommend Above the Bay of Angels.

I received a free ARC of Above the Bay of Angels from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and inferences contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #abovethebayofangels

Rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4 solid stars

This is another good solid Historical Fiction book from the talented Rhys Bowen. There is even a mystery thrown into the story to sweeten the pot. The book opens in London, England toward the end of the reign of Queen Victoria in the late 1800’s. We meet our hero Bella Waverly, whose semi-aristocratic family fell on hard times. Due that fall, her father sent her into service at 15-years-old in order to support him and her younger sister.

From there we see her work hard and take her chances to better her life as they present themselves. She rises to be a cook’s helper and then take a chance to work at Buckingham Palace, if she’s willing to take on the identity of Helen Barton. In the palace, she continues to rise amongst the ranks, and even meets Queen Victoria who called her in to compliment her on her cooking. When the Queen decides to decamp to Nice, France to enjoy the warmer winter weather, Helen/Bella is unexpectedly including in the troupe of cooks sent out to Nice.

While in Nice, she is presented with other challenges and learning experiences. She is interested in learning to cook French food, and she has to be vigilant to evade the grasp of lecherous Prince Albert. To top matters off, she is accused of poisoning a royal who dies under questionable circumstances. There is a lot going on in this book!

I enjoyed the story telling. Since I recently visited Nice, it was easy imagine the areas being described. Who knew that Queen Victoria was so parsimonious that she required her staff to take the 3rd class overnight train to Nice? Really, she couldn’t spring for 2nd class, which at least has padded seats? I enjoyed the further insights into life in the royal household, and the social rules around the turn of the century. It was hard to believe that Helen/Bella would land on her feet solidly, each time she was faced with a challenge. When I could suspend that niggling inner voice of skepticism, I could relax into the book and spend a wonderful few hours ensconced in this world.

I would recommend this for fans of Historical Fiction, particularly those who are fans of British Royalty. This would also be good for readers who enjoy a Historical Mystery. Rhys Bowen has written another enjoyable book that I will unwaveringly recommend to my friends who are interested in these genres.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Lake Union Publishing; and the author, Rhys Bowen, for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.