The Beekeeper's Ball (The Bella Vista Chronicles, 2)

I very rarely write book reviews. I am generally finishing books at 1-2am and up way past my bedtime and by the next day I am on to the next book. I also don't like to write a review on my kindle, so the book has to really stick with me in order for me to get online later and review it. Susan Wiggs is a writer who I adore, and I can tear through her books reading one every day. I have read most of her books but not all at this point. I have read the entire Lakeshore Chronicles, the Tudor Rose trilogy, Chicago Fire trilogy, and many stand alones. My favorites are those that use each book in the series to tell an individual's story, while still weaving together a whole family, town, or event in time. The Bella Vista Chronicles are one of my favorite sets of Susan Wiggs Stories. I do not default to Romance Books, but rather to Historical Fiction. This book, and it's counterpart in the Bella Vista Chronicles, are amongst my favorites, because of the historical fiction component, which skillfully weaves a story of a family (or multiple families) across history. It brings the past together with the present and sets up a bit of a mystery to be unraveled. Well written, excellent characters and setting. I was hooked and tore through both books immediately and was (and am) waiting for what could possibly be a third. Great read, if you enjoy historical fiction you will love The Bella Vista Chronicles.

I know when I pick up a Susan Wiggs book I'm in for a great read with wonderful characters who lead real lives with all that brings. The Beekeeper's Ball is the second in the Bella Vista Chronicles series, but since I read the third one, The Lost and Found Book Bookshop first, not knowing it was in a series, this one was my last in the series and it was as great as the other two!This one finds us back in the Sonoma Valley, CA in the sleepy town of Archangel where Isabel Johansen a chef whose returned to Bella Vista, an apple orchard and estate she's always called home, except for her brief stint at cooking school which didn't end well. She's a "homebody" who enjoys showing her love for others through her cooking and is always found in her kitchen throwing together wonderful delicacies that thrill her family and guests. Because of her skill and love of cooking she's decided to open up her own cooking school on the premises and is in the middle of renovations, but she's also in the middle of planning her sister's wedding. Tess is nothing like Isabel, but since meeting her while they were both in their 20's they've grown very close. Isabel is going above and beyond to make her sister's wedding the perfect day for her. Planning not only the event, but the food, the flowers the music and everything down to the last detail.Isabel also has an interest in beekeeping, a dream her grandmother had, but was never able to accomplish. She's famous for using honey in many of her recipes, nothing like fresh made honey to go with that hot cup of tea or warm fresh scone, right? She hires a homeless, pregnant woman who's obviously down on her luck, but has a real talent for beekeeping to help her out. Jamie soon moves into the estate and becomes another member of the family, which often happens when people arrive at Bella Vista. Isabel comforts and cares for those in need, not only with her food, but also with her heart. Jaimie turns out to be just what Isabel needs not only for her bees, but also in her life at the time. Someone to care for and take her concentration off herself.Isabel has had her heart broken and has vowed to not let love get in her way, she avoids it at all cost, until a writer shows up to document and write the story of her grandfather, whose story involves resistance activities he performed during WWII. Cormac O'Neill, "Mac" is everything her former love interest is not, he's caring, considerate, maybe a little overconfident, but gorgeous, so she will allow him some slack. She struggles with her feelings throughout the book. I don't want to spoil the book, so I'll just say you really need to read what happens with this storyline, it's frustrating as a reader, but really good too! As Mac begins listening and documenting her grandfather's story the two girls, Isabel and Tess are right there hearing it in it's entirety, something neither one has ever heard and both are stunned. They had no idea! They both have a complicated background and here their grandfather was explaining and answering all their questions at once.The setting in this book is awesome. I could vividly picture this apple orchard, beekeeping estate set in the beautiful Sonoma Valley. I've been to the Sonoma Valley and it's as beautiful as the book portrays, with gorgeous skies and beautiful roaming lands filled with orchards, green valleys, majestic mountains in the distance and the people are as kind and welcoming as Isabel seemed to be. Wiggs must have intimate knowledge of the area to be able to write such an accurate description is all I can say. The characters in this whole series were amazing, I've gotten to know them all over the course of the three books. Each book centers on one in particular, but they're all at least mentioned in the others, so you've heard of them and who they are before you read their stories. One big happy book family. It's always comforting to pick up a book and know before you start it that it's going to be one you're going to enjoy. That's Susan Wiggs for me. I've only got a handful of authors I can say this about. I'm sorry to see this series end and hope Wiggs has plans for more, we'll see. I recommend this one and the whole series to anyone who enjoys great women's fiction or historical fiction which is also a big part of this one because the story of her grandfather and what he did during WWII is stunning. I say grab this one quick and hang on for the ride! Happy Reading!

This is the second book in the Bella Vista Chronicles series. You could read this as a stand alone but the book makes more sense if you read the first book in the series THE APPLE ORCHARD before you read this one. THE BEEKEEPER'S BALL is the story of Isabel, one of the two grandaughters of Magnus. Isabel has never been far away from the apple orchard owned by her grandfather and is busy planning her sister's wedding and setting up a cooking school when Cormac arrives to write her grandfather's biography. The novel is about the present day and the grandfather's life in Denmark during WWII. It's a very good book and keeps you interested, especially the parts about WWII. I didn't like the way that the author brought up something right at the end that will lead into another book. I thought that it was handled very abruptly and seemed very fake. Other than that minor problem, I really enjoyed the book and have enjoyed all of Susan's books in the past.

This is the sequel to The Apple Orchard. I LOVED both of these books. I was given The Apple Orchard by a friend to read. I’m so glad she did because it it such a great story. I will read all books by Susan Wiggs that I can get my hands on!

I have so enjoyed the multi-generational and multi -family storyline with the daring WW II connections of the characters. Looking forward to Book 3!!

I read book 1 of the Bella Vista Chronicles and looked forward to Isabel’s story. The characters were well defined and very likeable. Again, the backstory was touching and so well-meshed with the present. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and the setting sounded so beautiful, it made me want to go there.

Good follow on story with some depth. Romance and recipes. Not full of soft porn and that’s a welcome relief from a lot of books labelled “romance” these days. There is actually a story not just bedroom padded out by a thin story line.

Great read. Combined history with a good family story and romance. what more could you want.

Leisure

Good read but need next book to follow hope there's one to follow