I was pulled into this wonderful story from the beginning. I enjoy historical stories from this time period in British history. Bella Waverly is an admirable character who takes the terrible situation that she is thrust into as a servant from a noble family into one of success. She is determined, hardworking, and likable. She fights her way into the world of male chefs to work in the kitchen of Buckingham Palace and then with the queen's entourage on the French Riviera. The way is not smooth, bu...

Isabella Waverly’s a lady, her circumstances change when her mother dies and her father starts drinking. Faced with no other choice, she starts working as a scullery maid to support her father and younger sister Louisa. The hours are long, it’s hard work and a kindly Mrs. Robbins teaches Bella how to cook. Soon Bella realizes she’s stuck being a maid, to get a new job as a cook, she needs a reference and her current employers won’t give her one. A young woman’s hit by an omnibus, Bella comforts ...

*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 for the family require her 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 attentio...

In Victorian England, young Bella takes a letter from a dying stranger in the street. She uses the dead stranger's name, background, and letter of recommendation to obtain a job working as a cook for Queen Victorian in Buckingham Palace. But as events transpire, Bella realizes that she is not the only one with a secret.The overall story is a very light and cushy historical fiction that slowly builds up to Queen Victoria's stay at the Hotel Regina Excelsior on the Riviera in France. Once they arr...

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 n...

Fate pulls you in no matter how many mistaken paths you take.Isabella Waverly thought she had all the 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 hi...

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 la...

Bella Waverly is born into an untitled aristocratic family, but through a series of events finds herself 'in service' to a nouveau riche family in order to support her alcoholic father and younger sister. 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...

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, because when done right, one learns a lot about a different time and place. Such was the case in this book, although the story was a bit boring and far-fetched. I did enjoy reading about the inner workings of the royal household in the late years of Queen Victoria's reign. The beginning of the book was promising, but the middle parts got bogged down. I pushed myself to finish it and I'm glad I did, but overall it was not a "page turner."Thank you ...

I always enjoy a book from Rhys Bowen. Her historical fiction in particular never fails to be appropriately set, creating the right atmosphere for the period. Above the Bay of Angels takes place during the reign of Queen Victoria and presents a slightly fantastical but very enjoyable story about a servant who manages to rise above her current position in life. Bella comes from a good family but is impoverished and due to an amazing stroke of luck finds herself working at Buckingham Palace. A ser...