Warm, with a puzzling mystery and a bit of romance - what's not to like?

Isabella Waverley hasn't had the easiest of lives, but when she goes to the aid of a young woman on a London street in her dying moment, she agrees to take a letter from her and deliver it. Addressed to Buckingham Palace, the contents show that the young woman was heading for an interview for a kitchen position; as Bella herself works in a kitchen she seizes the chance to replace the dead girl and further her career.

This is a cleverly written tale, entwining fiction with fact and creating an enticing read. The characters are beautifully rounded, the scenery well described and the whole story flows from beginning to end. It's worth reading the author's piece at the end of the novel to find out what brought about the idea - I always enjoy getting the inside track! An enjoyable book, well worth four stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - of course - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I discovered Rhys Bowen through her 1930s Her Royal Spyness Mysteries series, but I think I like her stand-alone historical novels a little more. I've read them all except for In Farleigh Field (though it is on my ereader). Among her stand-alone novels, Above the Bay of Angels is a little different. The others I've read have revolved somehow around WWI or WWII. This novel is set in Victorian England and features a main character whose family has fallen from the ranks of the aristocracy.

While there is a little bit of a mystery towards the end of the story, Above the Bay of Angels is definitely a character-driven drama.

Bella is the oldest daughter of a man who was the second son of an earl. After his schooling, he held a military commission in India but his wife could not tolerate the climate and they moved back to England where he found a decent job at the Savoy Hotel (it would be a decent job to us but in Victorian England it is a bit disgraceful for a member of the peerage). He consoled himself with a bottle and soon found himself without a job. After the death of his wife and no means of support himself, he sent his eldest daughter into service to support himself and her younger sister. Needless to say, Bella is not happy about being "sold" into servitude. Her placement in a home a nouveau riche family just adds to the insult.

With her father dead and her sister engaged to a well-to-do tradesman, Bella finds her earnings her own for the first time. She decides to treat herself to tea at Fortnum & Mason. It turns out to be her lucky day. As she goes to cross the street. a young woman is struck by a hansom carriage. Bella rushes to comfort the dying woman and the woman thrusts a letter into Bella's hand and whispers her last words, "Tell the Palace". The woman, a cook, had just received word that she had been granted an interview to work in Queen Victoria's kitchen. Bella is also a cook and knows that this is the only way out of the house she currently works in. But what will happen if they discover Bella isn't really Helen Barton?

As a fan of both Downton Abbey and Victoria, I enjoyed the story.

Bella is a delightful character. While she is living a lie, she also tries to do the right thing. Her struggle of finding happiness in her circumstances is a familiar struggle. Readers will identify with Bella as she attempts to discover what she truly wants in life. Does she want to be her own person, perhaps own a restaurant, or does she want to be restored to her rightful place in society with a title included?

Bella's fellow servants in the palace are interesting and serve to provide opportunities for Bella to grow as a person. The backdrop of the French Riveria is lovely. The description of the market is detailed and appeals to all the senses that it feels like you are there.

Everything is wrapped up nicely and Bella gets a happily-ever-after. Though things perhaps work out a little too neatly. However, I loved Bella so much that I overlooked the improbability of everything working out so well for her in the end.

Above the Bay of Angels is a lovely, little story that fans of Victoria will love. You will fall in love with Bella and won't be ready to say goodbye to the character when you finish the last page.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday, Feb 11 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/02/above-bay-of-angels-by-rhys-bowen-review.html

Above The Bay of Angels is a charming surprise from Rhys Bowen. Our leading lady is Bella Waverly, whose aristocratic father's spendthrift ways have brought the family down to near poverty levels, forcing her to be the sole provider of income as a scullery maid. She does,however, find happiness in learning to cook and when an unexpected opportunity comes for a position in the kitchens of Queen Victoria, Bella takes more chances than one to claim it.

Slowly but surely, Bella makes a name for herself (even though she has to use another person's name and cut what ties she has left with her own family) among the male dominated staff, gaining a bit of praise from Her Royal Highness to boot.

The promise of becoming a pastry chef and the possibility for romance is within her sights but when joining a royal trip to France ,Bella's entire future is threatened by a regal guest fatally succumbing to a mushroom dish that she played a small part in preparing. Can Bella find the killer and clear her name, only to have more of her true secrets revealed?

This is an engaging page turner that puts me fondly in mind of the PBS series Victoria, particularly that story line with Her Majesty's maid falling in love with the talented and ambitious chef. If you like Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness series(and yes, I do!), this stand alone novel is a wonderful addition to her literary legacy.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen is a stand alone novel that combines history, royal intrigue, and a touch of romance. Isabella Waverly’s family has fallen on hard times and her father more or less sells her into servitude to support the family. A chance encounter with a dying Helen Barton leads her into the opportunity to work in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace during the reign of Queen Victoria under the name of the unfortunate young woman. As Helen Barton, she learns to thrive in the royal kitchens, even travelling to the French Riviera with the Queen’s entourage. When a member of the royal party falls ill and dies after consuming food that she prepared Isabella must deal with blackmail, solve the mystery, and fend off amorous gentlemen. I enjoyed reading this book and do recommend it. Publishing Date February 11. 2020 #NetGalley #AboveTheBayOfAngels #RhysBowen #LakeUnionPublishing #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #HistoricalRomance

A light, easy read for fans of Downton Abbey

Fifteen year old Bella Waverly needs work. She has a lucky break when she comforts a dying girl and assumes her identity, taking the girl's new job in the kitchens of Buckingham Palace. The title refers to Nice, where her job takes her with Queen Victoria's retinue one winter. The plot is implausible at times, with some amazing coincidences. A good book to read on a train or plane, when you need an undemanding but absorbing read.

As historical fiction goes Above the Bay of Angels is an incredibly lighthearted easy read which I devoured in two sittings. The first part of this novel had a Downton Abbey type feel to some of the scenes set in the kitchens of Buckingham palace, with vivid descriptions of life downstairs, making you feel part of the hustle and bustle of this environment.
Bella Waverley finds herself at the bottom end of the social ladder when her family experiences a fall from grace. The death of her mother sends her father into a downward spiral of drinking that forces Bella into service. Whilst horrified at such a change in circumstances, Bella is a resourceful and resilient young woman and a likeable character. A fortuitous piece of luck one day sees her leave the service of the Tilley household and land a job as an under cook in the palace kitchens and here Bella’s story really begins.
Set in the later years in the reign of Queen Victoria, this is a pleasant, enjoyable read loosely woven around historical facts when Abdul Karim was a constant companion to the Queen. I think the storyline portrays well the position women held in society at that time. Although obviously more educated than her mostly male counterparts in the kitchen, the only expectations for Bella would have been to marry into a good family and lead a sedate life of luncheons and teas within a circle of other well to do ladies. Bella is ahead of her times in this respect,a hard worker who discovers a passion for cooking that makes her believe that a settled,married life may not be her main ambition. Though she isn’t without attention from men, even batting off the unwanted advances of the Prince of Wales! Confronting obvious prejudices within her new environment, Bella begins to prove her capabilities to such an extent that she is one of the royal household who accompanies the Queen to Nice, where a hotel has been built especially for her.
Such an amazing opportunity for this young woman and the second part of this novel takes a different turn, with our leading lady turning into a miss marple type figure!! The French Riviera is a wonderful part of the world, a playground for the rich and famous as well as for the royal household in this novel. With a number of possible suitors providing a dollop of romance to the storyline and also furthering her education in terms of the dedication and hard work required to become a chef, Bella is a well respected member of the team. This makes events that follow disheartening for Bella who somehow becomes accused of trying to poison a member of royalty.
In my opinion, some of this storyline is rather far fetched, in terms of Bella’s conversations with princesses and the Queen herself. Plus accusations of attempted murder are wrapped up rather conveniently, whoever the culprit truly is. By no means a challenging read, Above the Bay of Angels has plenty of ingredients to make this novel a great way to while away a few hours and lose yourself in another world entirely. It’s well constructed and flows well with a central character that has many admirable traits although the royals are painted in a less than desirable light.
Having not read anything by this author before I am now encouraged to seek out other titles.
My thanks as always to the author and publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this new stand alone book by Bowen. I really like her Lady Georgiana series and this reminded me a lot of it. There is a connection to the Queen, Victoria, in this one. The heroine, Isabella Waverly, is an aristocrat that has fallen on tough tines and is supporting herself as a cook.

Through unfortunate circumstances, Bella is given an opportunity to cook for the Queen. She has to pretend to be someone else, Helen Barton, but that's just one hurdle she has to jump. It's very difficult to get a job as a woman chef but with a little luck and lots of nerves, Bella now Helen, gets the job. It's difficult to get accepted but she does and with another accident gets to travel with the royal party to Nice France.

There she meets the head chef of the hotel and he starts teaching her some French cooking. This is hard because the Queen has strict food rules like no garlic or onion, two ingredients featured prominently in French food. Luckily, the Queen has become a fan of her scones and biscuits so Helen has some leeway.

This is a cozy mystery and you have to suspend logic with a lot of the story. As Helen falls into opportunity after opportunity and mingles with French royalty with ease, you just suspend belief and go along for the ride. When two of Queen Victoria's daughters pick her to confide deep dark secrets into, you just smile and go along with it without pointing how unlikely this is. If you want logic and believability, this is not the book for you. If you just want to have fun, then sit back and enjoy yourself. It's a fun ride.

I hope this becomes a new series. I like a rollicking good time and the mouth watering food is an added bonus. Thank you Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

I'm a little hesitant to call this novel a mystery because the mystery only appears in the last quarter of the novel, and it is resolved quickly and relatively easily. However, Bella's story of joining the queen's household as a cook and finding her vocation is engaging, and she's a strong character. As I was reading it, though, I did keep wondering when it was going to get started.

I liked this book very much never dreaming in the beginning that Bella would have such an opportunity as to go to the South of France in Quenn Victoria's company no less. Although this was at the expense of poor Helen Barton's life which was nothing to do with Bella, she managed to turn this to her advantage. Ms Bowen has a wonderful wsy of describing events and transporting the reader to the exotic locations featured in this book. In the end I was reading until the early hours of the morning to see what happened to Bella as she turned her lfe around.

Thank you for this Arc and the chance to read an enchanting story.

3.5 stars. This was a relatively light and quick read. Despite many misfortunes early in her life, Isabella Waverly seems to float along with good luck falling on her side more often than not. The details of the various dishes served to Queen Victoria were interesting and made me look up a few recipes. I like how with The Tuscan Child and now this book, Rhys Bowen introduces readers to new cuisines and uses them in the narrative to create a vivid sense of time and place.

Aside from the short-lived mystery in the last quarter of the book — involving attempted assassinations and poison, no less — I would have liked a little more drama or suspense throughout. I enjoyed reading the historical details, but Bella herself seemed too passive for much of the story and bordering on Mary Sue territory (I usually hate that term but here it seems appropriate). This was still an enjoyable story with a unique setting, but not my favorite from the author.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Above the Bay of Angels is great historical fiction combined with mystery. This was a very entertaining read.

I enjoy books about the royals but this had a different twist a bit of the queen downtown abbey upstairs downstairs and mystery all in one reading

Rhys Bowen never disappoints! Another great book. I love how she describes characters and makes you love them and root for them. Even though these are fiction she always has historically correct content included which is fun to learn as your being entertained. I loved seeing Queen Victoria’s life through the view of a servant. And getting to know the main character and others in a great story line. Thanks Rhys I always enjoy your books.

Rhys Bowen writes another compulsively readable book!

Isabella Waverly’s life has been one thing going wrong after another. Watching another woman die in front of her in the street should have been just one more thing. But when she goes to comfort the dying woman, who hands her an introduction to Buckingham Palace to interview as a cook, Bella seizes the moment and embarks on a life-changing masquerade. Bella’s new life takes her from behind the green door London to the French Riviera. The descriptions of the Victorian era kitchen and table are colorful, well researched, and entirely intriguing. Bella and her beaus are delightful.

I’m a big fan of Bowen’s series fiction, especially the Molly Murphy and Her Royal Spyness books. Sign me up for any standalone, now. This was terrific.

Isabella had the rug pulled out from under her thanks to her father's descent into alcoholism but she lands on her feet when a dying woman presses a letter into her hands. That letter leads her to Buckingham Palace where, as Helen, she become a cook for Queen Victoria- who takes her along to Nice. She's happy as can be until German member of the Queen's coterie is poisoned and she's the main suspect! Victoria, who is near the end of her life, is a hoot, the descriptions are well done, and I really liked Bella. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. As unrealistic as this can be in parts, it's a really nice read.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. In fact, I liked it best of Bowen’s stand-alone novels. I was rather hoping it might turn into a new series, which I’d have been sure to follow. Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

I have read all of Rhys Bowen's historical fiction novels and loved them all. This one did not disappoint. An enjoyable look at what happens when a twist of fate puts a servant girl in the kitchens of Queen Victoria., A fun historical fiction mystery that will be enjoyed by all. Definitely 5 stars for me.

Isabella Waverly and her sister Louisa had been devastated to lose first their mother, then their father. Bella had been sent into service not long before their father died, so she had to continue to support Louisa. It was when she witnessed an accident and comforted the victim that Bella’s life and fortunes changed. Her new position was working in Queen Victoria’s kitchen – her new name Helen Barton.

She enjoyed her work and the camaraderie with the other members of the royal kitchen; she told no one of her previous life as she didn’t wish to lose her position. When Queen Victoria and her retinue were heading to Nice for a few months away from London’s winter, Bella was chosen to accompany the other cooks. Her delight was infectious – but trouble was looming, and her secret was in danger of becoming known. What would be the outcome when Bella was accused of murder?

Above the Bay of Angels is my first book by author Rhys Bowen and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well written, beautifully descriptive, I enjoyed the journey to the Riviera as much as Bella 😊 I really enjoyed the character of Queen Victoria, especially in her interactions with a forthright Bella. A great read which I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Above the Bay of Angels is a perfectly good book, just that, a good book. I found it to be an interesting story, and I found the main character to be curious, and I admire her strong sense of who she is and what she wants from life. I can see fans of Downton Abbey, and Upstairs Downstairs enjoying this book. While it was a good book, it just didn't grab my attention.

Rhys Bowen introduces us to Isabella Waverly, who is the second daughter of a second son of a British earl. While he is not wealthy, Bella’s father can afford to send his two daughters to a private school where Bella thrives. When he loses his job due to demon drink, he forces Bella to go into service as a lowly housemaid for a crass nouveau riche couple with ambitions. A stroke of luck or fate itself gives Bella a second chance when she uses the letter offering someone else a job as a cook in Queen Victoria’s kitchen. Her euphoria doesn’t last long, though.

This is a well-written historical with interesting characters, and a little bit of everything else, including a death that someone is trying to pin on Bella. Bowen takes her time in introducing Bella and her descriptions are detailed enough to keep the reader in the story, but not a research-dump. She even introduces a love-to-hate blackmailer to complicate Bella’s life even more.

If you love historical books with a strong, resourceful woman main character, this is the book for you. It deserves be at, or near, the top of your to-be-read list. Don’t let this one slip by you.

My thanks to Lake Union and NetGalley for an eARC.