Rhys Bowen strikes again! I really enjoyed this book and it may be my new favorite of hers. The writing style, as always, is beautiful. I loved following Bella's story and appreciated that Bowen wasted no time jumping into the storyline. Bella's story, while a little far-fetched, is fascinating and griping. What a brave, impressive young girl she is - thrust in to adulthood at such a young age. I love reading historical fiction, but Queen Victoria era isn't one I'm very familiar with, so I loved getting to go back in time to England and then to the French Rivera. I wish this would be made in to a movie so we could see the costumes and architecture! The only things I didn't like were some of the far-fetched story lines (Bella getting her position the way she did, the accusations against her in France, her so quickly falling for the French chef, her randomly running in to her cousin she's never met). Also, it got a little repetitive how many times Bowen brought up her innocence and how oblivious Bella was to some things.

A long awaited book by Rhys Bowen, that is not part of a series. This story tells the tale of a gentle born girl who is forced to become a servant. Through an accident, she becomes an under cook to Queen Victoria and travels to France with the Queen's party. The story is interesting, and the historical facts are also very interesting. Definitely recommended for a cold winter read.

"Above the bay of angels" was a truly delightful read. Even though the blurb implies this is a mystery, it's more historical fiction than mystery but I didn't resent that at all. It's a well researched novel, bringing to life the Victorian era through life in court, but specially in the palace's kitchens and its cooks. Some of those dishes descriptions were yummy! It left me wanting to learn more about that period.

I thought the story moved along nicely, being entertaining at all times, and that's thanks to a well developed main character. I found interesting that even Bella comes from a well positioned family she doesn't jump to go back to her former status when the chance arises.

An interesting insight into the workings of a royal household, with a touch of blackmail, murder and even love.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book.
A great story with lots of historical facts with a mystery added in as well.
Lovers of Victoria the TV series will adore this book.

This was an enjoyable and entertaining read. I particularly enjoyed the historical aspect. The mystery added value to the story and wrapped up well. Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Enjoyable book about a young woman who sneaks her way into the service of Queen Victoria. Bella desperately needs the work and takes advantage of an unfortunate situation to land herself a position in the kitchen. She aspires to be a serious chef and earns respect for her skill. She finds herself in a hot water however when a member of the royal family is murdered by poison and her white lies could be construed as much darker and more malicious than they ever intended to be. This book is labeled as historical fiction, and certainly there are plenty of historical figures and facts referenced throughout. However, it is quite light in tone and reads more as a historical cozy mystery. The descriptions of Nice and the food were fantastic, I just wish we had more gotten to know more about the characters. 3.5 stars

I've been aware of Rhys Bowen for many years but only read 2 of her books (the first 2 of Molly Murphy Mysteries). I realise that she's quite a prolific writer and her books are mostly historical mysteries which I do like to read. As I found Above the Bay of Angels being available to read via NetGalley, I thought I'd give this a go.

Above the Bay of Angels is a stand alone novel. Set in the beginning of the 20th century, main protagonist, Isabella Waverly, is seeking for a life of independence but what can a single young gentle woman do? Her circumstances were so reduced that she became a servant at the house of a nouveau riche yet fate intercedes when she was first given the opportunity to approach the royal kitchen as an applicant. It may not be under her own name but 'Carpe diem'!

Things did not go quite smoothly for Bella but yet many times, fate intercede again and again she kept to her philosophy to 'seize the day!' It appears that Lady Fortune continues to bless her for no great disaster fell upon her.

A likeable protagonist and a beautiful setting make an enjoyable read but I do feel that I must suspend some disbelief at certain points of the novel. Thinking that I was reading a historical mystery, I also expected the crime being committed near the beginning of the novel but it did not. It didn't happen until quite later on in the piece and therefore, had to be solved rather quickly. I felt a little cheated but c'est la vie.

Above the Bay of Angels is an historical fiction feast with a splash of mystery and a dash of romance. And oh, be prepared to be hungry while reading!

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing via Netgalley for ecopy of book in exchange of honest review

Brought up in an educated home of privilege, Isabella Waverly is forced to go into service at 15 after her mother dies and her alcoholic father can no longer take care of her and her younger sister. Bella soon learns that she has a talent for cooking and especially bakery but she cannot leave her employer who refuses to give her a reference.
By chance Bella is in London when a young girl is killed in a road accident on the street – and she is carrying an introduction for an amazing job at the Palace of Queen Victoria. Taking a huge risk, Bella takes on a new identity and works her way through the male dominated royal kitchens right through to meeting the Queen face to face and forming a relationship with her.
The historical details of this novel were very compelling and the impact of social position and money on women’s lives very apparent. As a pretty young girl in a male household she must learn to fight off advances and take chances to make her own way forward.
I did find it very unlikely that Bella would have been given the opportunities described in such an enormous royal household and the ending is sweet but both too short and too perfunctory.

Historical fiction set in the time of Queen Victoria. Bella Waverly was brought up in an aristocratic family, but after her mother died she had to work "in service" to support her alcoholic father and her younger sister. She went to work for a family that treated her poorly, but Bella found she loved to cook and had a talent for it. When she wanted to leave and try her luck elsewhere the family refused to provide recommendations. Then one day she saw a girl hit by a bus and goes to help, but the girl is dead. She had a letter in her hand that was a notice to interview for a job as as cook at Buckingham Palace. Bella takes the letter and decides to impersonate the girl and interview the job. This is the story of Bella and her life as a cook for the Queen.

I enjoyed the book - mostly the parts about learning the inner-workings of cooking for the Queen and for the palace. But there is no in-depth character portrayal here that made me fall in love or hate with any particular characters. I do recommend it as kind of a cozy mystery and for the historical aspects in the novel.

Thanks to Rhys Bown and Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

When her parents die, aristocrat Isabella Waverly is forced to go into service. She becomes a chef in the Queen's household and chosen to accompany the queen to Nice. Then the threat of blackmail shadows Bella to the Riviera, and a member of the queen’s retinue falls ill and dies.

I enjoyed the historical background but the story and characters were a bit unrealistic. I would put this more into a cozy read genre.

2.75☆

What I ejoyed the most were the historical details and the descriptions blended with historical characters. How quickly Bella manages to move up the 'career ladder' and prove such useful skills (or superpowers) - speaking French, solving murders - sounds like a fairy tale. Hence, the happy ending!

Fate pulls you in no matter how many mistaken paths you take.

Isabella Waverly thought she had all her stars aligned. She came from a good family with her father having served in India with the Bengal Lancers. She and her sister, Louisa, were well educated and adored by their mother.

But sometimes that Big Dipper allows those stars to spill out in all directions in the heavens vastly changing the original intent. Roddy Waverly left his command with the Bengal Lancers and returned to London due to his wife's inability to withstand the harsh heat of India. He soon becomes a drunk who can't hold a job and his wife dies from neglect. Isabella is forced into working as a maid at the age of fifteen in order to support her sister. The lights seem to have gone out.

But at times the unexplainable happens. Isabella witnesses a carriage accident which crushes a young woman in the streets of London. The dying woman thrusts a letter into Isabella's hand and tells her to follow through with this. It's a letter of introduction to Buckingham Palace for employment. And our story begins with Bella becoming Helen Barton.

Rhys Bowen always delivers with her historical fiction. She gets a nugget of an idea from an unusual experience of her own (See Author's Notes) and the premise of the book is born. Bella/Helen becomes a first ever female cook for Queen Victoria. We feel her struggles as she tries to establish herself in the queen's kitchen among a majority of male chefs. Bowen also whets our appetite with menus from the past. It's a clearly unusual lead character with the introduction of a cook who is struggling with her own personal identity along with that of a newly found career in the Victorian Era.

Bowen heats this one up with a touch of blackmail and a fatality from poison tracked backed to the royal kitchen. Will Bella have had a hand in it all along or was someone trying to frame her? Another enjoyable offering from the talented Rhys Bowen.

I received a copy of Above the Bay of
Angels through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to Rhys Bowen for the opportunity.

I enjoyed this mostly for it's historical and geographical setting. A murder mystery late in the novel was an added bonus, used mainly as a device to bring the main character's secret out in the open.

Isabella Waverley, an educated girl from an aristocratic family was forced to work as a maid when her mother died and her father squandered everything they had on the demon drink. Discovering that she enjoys cooking, she manages to train in the kitchen of a large house and through a twist of fate lands a job in Queen Victoria's kitchen where she starts to specialize as a pastry cook.

Isabella is lucky enough to get taken with the Queen’s entourage to Nice for the summer when the pastry cook is injured and falls in love with the beautiful town, the markets and French food. However, when a member of German royalty falls ill and dies, Isabella is suspected of poisoning him.

This is a very pleasant read, a little slow perhaps, but entertaining. Queen Victoria is towards the end of her life in this novel and is depicted as a little rotund women in the black garb of mourning who loves her food. Isabella as the main character was appealing as she stuck to her principles despite all she had been through (and the deceptive way she got her job in the palace). I did think more could have been made of the made of the murder mystery and perhaps not had it solved quite so quickly by Isabella finding all the clues herself.

2.5 stars. I've really enjoyed some of Rhys Bowen's standalone historicals in the past, but this wasn't one of my favorites. I did really like the premise and the character of Bella, and the descriptions of food were great. If you're someone who likes reading food-centric books you may like this one. After the promising beginning (where Bella takes a letter from a dying woman and uses it to get a job cooking at Buckingham Palace), the story just wasn't compelling enough. It sounds like a mystery, but the murder doesn't occur until 80% of the way through, so there's a lot of pages to fill before that, and some parts are quite boring. The ending was satisfying if a bit pat and unrealistic.

I could really round either up or down, because there certainly were parts of the story I liked, and the historical details had me constantly turning to Wikipedia to learn more about certain historical figures who appeared. But I'm rounding down because Rhys Bowen has yet again made the only gay character in her story into a boorish lech, something which happens not infrequently in the otherwise delightful Royal Spyness series.

Historical Fiction at it's best, attention to historical details amazing! A young girl wanting to better herself, and the path she chooses to accomplish her goal. Deceit, blackmail, proven passionate culinary abilities, and finally truth will set her free. Set in the royal kitchens of Queen Victoria, historical details of the time are true and accurate.

Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen is another delicious Historical Mystery Romance. What seems to be a simple little deception continues to complicate everything until the worst happens, a suspicious death. Delightful anecdotes about British Royalty at home and during a Continental Trip. I enjoyed the depictions of various social classes including the merchants, working class and servants as they fight for advancement. Mystery with a special Rhys Bowen twist.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

Anything involving the history of the British monarchs has always held my interest, so when I saw the opportunity to read an ARC for Above the Bay of Angels I knew I had to request it. I ended up enjoying it even more than I thought I would.

The story follows Isabelle Waverly, whose family falls apart and loses its fortune and standing in society because of her father’s drinking problem. She has to go into servitude to provide for her parents and her sister. After her parents pass away and her sister marries into a trader family Isabella is finally free to choose her own life. When an opportunity presents itself she changes her identity and starts working as an under-cook in Queen Victoria’s household in Buckingham Palace. She enjoys cooking very much and even has a talent for it. Shen ends up going tot he Riviera with the Queen and experiences many things – good and bad – while there.

The story might seem quite boring at first glance, but Bowen really managed to capture and hold my attention through the beautifully worded and rich descriptions as well as little elements of suspense that are offered throughout. The writing style and plot really set the mood for a wonderful story.

The mani character of Isabelle – Helen Barton when she changes her name – is a captivating one as well. I had a hard time making up my mind on whether I liked her or not. During the times when she is so happy and grateful to be a cook and experience so many new things she is absolutely brilliant and completely likeable. However, in the moments when she pities herself for having fallen so far I think she is utterly insufferable. This difference in character and behaviour does add another element of interest tot he story, so I didn’t mind much.

An interesting story which highlights the role of women in late Victorian society. This was a time when people were only just starting to holiday abroad in any numbers, as opposed to the few who undertook Grand Tours. At the heart of the tale is a well brought up young woman who must make the best of the limited choices available to her. Some parts of the story seem a little far fetched, but all in all it is very readable.

Above the Bay of Angels is the latest stand alone novel by Rhys Bowen. The author doesn’t disappoint - as always, the character development is strong. The descriptions of Nice nearly puts the reader there in the story. This was a delightful read, and the only reason I didn’t give five stars is because it felt like the murder plot started much too late in the novel and had to be wrapped up very quickly.

Bella Waverly is born into an untitled aristocratic family, but through a series of unfortunate events finds herself 'in service' to a nouveau riche family. Here she discovers a love of cooking and aspires to use this to launch her own career. But the lady of the house who recognises her talent refuses to give her references, essentially binding Bella to her household.
Through an unfortunate accident Bella finds an opportunity presents itself and if she is prepared to take on the name of another girl she may be able to make her on way at last. But will this indiscretion came back to bite her? Can she continue to get away with pretending to be another person?
A delightful insight into the workings of a royal household. This is a lovely historical fiction story set in the later years of Queen Victoria.
Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity the read this uncorrected digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.