I was completely swept away by this marvelous story right from the start. I always enjoy historical fiction set in this era of British history, and Above the Bay of Angels by Rhys Bowen delivered! Bella Waverly is such an admirable character. She takes the terrible situation she's forced into – working as a servant for a noble family – and transforms it into an opportunity for success. She’s determined, hardworking, and genuinely likable. She bravely navigates her way into the male-dominated wor...

Isabella Waverly is a lady, but her life takes a turn when her mother passes away and her father turns to drink. With no other options, she starts working as a scullery maid to support her father and younger sister, Louisa. The hours are long, the work is tough, but a kind Mrs. Robbins teaches Bella the ropes in the kitchen. Soon, Bella realizes she's trapped as a maid. To land a cook's job, she needs a reference, but her current employers won't give her one. Then, a young woman is hit by a bus...

*3-3.5 stars. A charming, cozy mystery set in Victorian England. Isabella Waverly was raised and educated in an aristocratic family until hard times force the family to take work as a servant for members of the nouveau riche. There she discovers a talent for cooking. One day, a tragic accident presents her with the opportunity to assume another's identity and interview for the position of under-cook in service to Queen Victoria. Carpe diem!Her delicious scones bring her to the attention of the Q...

In Victorian England, young Bella accepts a letter from a dying stranger on the street. Using the dead stranger's name, background, and letter of recommendation, she lands a job as a cook for Queen Victoria in Buckingham Palace. But as events unfold, Bella discovers she isn't the only one harboring a secret. Overall, *Above the Bay of Angels* by Rhys Bowen is a light and cozy historical fiction that gradually leads to Queen Victoria's stay at the Hotel Regina Excelsior on the French Riviera. On...

Isabella Waverly and her sister Louisa were heartbroken after losing their mother and then their father. Bella had been sent into service shortly before their father's death, so she had to continue working to support Louisa. Bella’s life and fortunes changed when she witnessed an accident and comforted the victim. Her new position was in Queen Victoria’s kitchen, under the name Helen Barton. She enjoyed her work and the camaraderie with the other members of the royal kitchen. She didn’t tell an...

Fate has a way of reeling you in, no matter how many wrong turns you make. Isabella Waverly believed she had everything perfectly aligned. Coming from a respectable family, with her father's service in India with the Bengal Lancers, she and her sister Louisa were well-educated and cherished by their mother. However, sometimes fate scatters those stars in all directions, drastically altering the original plan. Roddy Waverly abandoned his command with the Bengal Lancers and returned to London du...

I mostly enjoyed *Above the Bay of Angels* for its historical and geographical setting. The murder mystery that appears later in the novel was an added bonus, mainly used as a device to reveal the main character's secret.Isabella Waverley, an educated girl from an aristocratic family, is forced to work as a maid when her mother dies and her father squanders their fortune on alcohol. Discovering her passion for cooking, she trains in the kitchen of a grand house and, through a twist of fate, land...

Bella Waverly comes from a family with aristocratic connections, but a twist of fate lands her working 'in service' for a newly rich family. She's doing it to support her unreliable, alcoholic father and her younger sister. But amid all the drudgery, she discovers she has a real talent and passion for cooking and dreams of making a career out of it. The problem? The lady of the house recognizes Bella's skill and refuses to give her references, effectively trapping her in their household. Then, ...

Historical fiction is one of my absolute favorite genres, because when it's done well, you learn so much about another time and place. That's definitely the case with "Above the Bay of Angels" by Rhys Bowen, although I have to admit the story itself felt a bit slow and, at times, far-fetched. I genuinely enjoyed getting a peek behind the scenes of the royal household during the later years of Queen Victoria's reign. The start of the book was really promising, but the middle section just got bogg...

I always look forward to a new book from Rhys Bowen. Her historical fiction, in particular, consistently delivers a meticulously researched setting, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of the era. "Above the Bay of Angels" transports us to Queen Victoria's reign and unfolds a delightful, albeit slightly fantastical, tale of a servant who transcends her humble beginnings. Bella hails from a respectable family fallen on hard times. Through an incredible twist of fate, she lands a position at Buckin...