I enjoyed the book and learning about Queen Victoria and her visits to Nice. Bella has strong values so pretending to be someone else is very challenging for her.

A pleasant read. ( )

For some reason it took me awhile to get into this book. I did enjoy it and now I'm missing the characters. Lovely narration. Not terribly believable scenario, but fun nonetheless. I'm not sure I understand the title. Rhys Bowen is a favorite author of mine, but this isn't my favorite of hers. ( )

Difficult to explain why this book is so wonderful, since the story is simple: a woman from a good but discredited family takes on another's identity and becomes a chef in Queen Victoria's household, then goes with the court to the French Riviera. Her observations and the way she makes things work is simply a delightful read. My first Rhys Bowen book, and so extraordinarily well-written I intend to read more! ( )

Combining historical mystery and romance, ABOVE THE BAY OF ANGELS tells the story of Isabella Waverly. She'd been raised a gentlewoman until the death of her parents forces her to enter service as a kitchen maid for a well-to-do family. Her talent for cooking looks to be a way for her to make a living for herself except her mistress won't supply a reference if she leaves her employment.

Feeling trapped, Bella seizes an opportunity when she comforts a young woman struck down on the street and discovers that she has an interview at Buckingham Palace to work in Queen Victoria's kitchen. Bella decides to try for the job herself under the name of the victim Helen Barton. Bella gets the job but has to hide her true identity and battle prejudice against woman chefs which would be bad enough, but then Helen's brother shows up with blackmail in mind.

When Bella gets a chance to travel with the Queen to Nice, Bella is pleased both for the chance of adventure in a new country and to get away from her blackmailing "brother." Of course she's also happy to get away from the Prince of Wales who has taken a fancy to her.

But when one of the courtiers dies Bella is threatened again. The first opinion is that he died of eating a poisonous mushroom which Bella added to one of her menu items. A Scotland Yard detective called in to investigate the murder, is looking way too closely at Bella and threatens to uncover her hidden identity. Bella investigates herself to try to find out what happens and clear her name.

There are also various romances going on. In London, she attracts the attention of another of the cooks who want to court her. And in Nice, she meets a nobleman who happens to be her cousin though he doesn't know that. And she also is attracted to the French chef who is sharing the kitchen with the English cooks who have come with Victoria.

I enjoyed this story and liked Bella despite her being a little too class conscious. I liked that she found a life she enjoyed and managed to find her way to happiness. I liked that real historical figures were woven into the story. And while I doubted that an undercook would ever interact with the Queen of England, I enjoyed the parts where Bella spoke to the Queen. ( )

Difficult to explain why this book is so wonderful, since the story is simple: a woman from a good but discredited family takes on another's identity and becomes a chef in Queen Victoria's household, then goes with the court to the French Riviera. Her observations and the way she makes things work is simply a delightful read. My first Rhys Bowen book, and so extraordinarily well-written I intend to read more! ( )