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#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs returns to sun-drenched Bella Vista, where the land's bounty yields a rich harvest and family secrets that have long been buried.
The B&N exclusive edition contains never–before–seen material from the Bella Vista Chronicles that reveals a deeper understanding of life within the world of Bella Vista and Archangel, California. Readers will gain insights into the intriguing background of the main characters, and enjoy a special look at Isabel’s childhood at Bella Vista. Don’t miss this premium edition, which offers a glimpse into the creative process from the writer’s perspective — and an extra recipe from the author’s kitchen! — available only from Barnes & Noble.
Isabel Johansen, a celebrated chef who grew up in the sleepy Sonoma town of Archangel, is transforming her childhood home into a destination cooking school—a unique place for other dreamers to come and learn the culinary arts. Bella Vista's rambling mission-style hacienda, with its working apple orchards, bountiful gardens and beehives, is the idyllic venue for Isabel's project and the perfect place for her to forget the past.
But Isabel's carefully ordered plans begin to go awry when swaggering, war-torn journalist Cormac O'Neill arrives to dig up old history. He's always been better at exposing the lives of others than showing his own closely-guarded heart, but the pleasures of small-town life and the searing sensuality of Isabel's kitchen coax him into revealing a few truths of his own.
The dreamy sweetness of summer is the perfect time of year for a grand family wedding and the enchanting Beekeeper's Ball, bringing emotions to a head in a story where the past and present collide to create an unexpected new future.
From "one of the best observers of stories of the heart" (Salem Statesman-Journal), The Beekeeper's Ball is an exquisite and richly imagined novel of the secrets that keep us from finding our way, the ties binding us to family and home, and the indelible imprint love can make on the human heart.
Anonymous
Posted Thu Jun 26 00:00:00 EDT 2014
11.99 is too high for an ebook!!!!!!
8 out of 17 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sun Aug 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014
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As usual, Susan Wiggs writes another book that I am sorry to finish. Its like I have to leave my good friends, again! Hopefully she will somehow continue with this series as I really want to be with all my friends again and soon please. Well written, wonderful story line that you can enjoy even if you hadn't read her previous books. I love Susan Wiggs - She makes me want to visit that part of the country. Where she wrote it the area is incredible. She had so much interesting facts on bees. I did a unit on that subject when I was teaching school. Wish I would have had those great recipes for my class. This is a book I didn't want to end. We need a sequel to it! Great book. Its a keeper.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I enjoyed this book as much as I did The Apple Orchard. It was a book I had a hard time putting down, a very easy read. It's the kind of book you can't wait to see what happens but at the same time you don't want it to end. The characters seem very real and you either really like them or you don't like them at all. There were only a couple I didn't like in this book. I can't wait for the next book in the Bella Vista Series to come out and hope it's not too long of a wait. I am anxious to see what happens next! This Series is a great read!
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Jun 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Wonderfull book exciting and couldnt put it down love all her books
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.special thank you to Harlequin MIRA and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy, in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.
I enjoyed Susan's "The Apple Orchard" (Bella Vista Chronicles, #1), and was delighted to receive an advanced reading copy of "The Beekeeper's Ball" (Bella Vista Chronicles #2), as a continuation of thirty year old Isabel, as she transforms her childhood home (Bella Vista), a gathering place for friends and family, for reunions and celebrations. In addition her dreams, the Bella Vista Cooking School--a unique place for other dreamers to come, and learn the culinary arts--all while she leaves her past behind with controlling Calvin.
As a chef, she is turning the magical Bella Vista's rambling mission-style hacienda, apple orchards, bountiful gardens and beehives, into an idyllic venue, while she forgets the past. All sorts of fun things: magazine covers, gourmet cooking, literary agents, wedding plans, photo shoots, stylist, vintage items, delightful cuisine, local gourmet markets, antiques, wine, honey, figs, plus more in this blooming Sonoma setting (I want to be there-like now)!
Everything is going as planned until delicious and sexy Cormac (Mac) comes into the picture (EpiPen included), to dig up old history of Magnus Johansen (Isabel's grandfather-a key player in the Danish Resistance) sent by Tess. He has traveled to many places in his life from war-torn places of the world, airports and grimy cities, and long barren stretches of scorched earth in the foreign lands; however, none compare to the lush and seductive Bella Vista.
His goal was simple after his injury--- heal, gather the information about Magnus the war hero turned orchardist, then settle in and write his story, as after all this is what he does well. As this hunk slowly lets down his rough outer guard to soften and enjoy the pleasures of this sleepy small town, along with Isabell's charm in the kitchen- a man worth getting to know.
From the 1940s in Copenhagen to the present time, Susan seamlessly blends the old with the new with an incredible, magical, and inspiring story-- keeping you reading well into the night.
Would definitely recommend reading both books in the series; however, they could serve as a standalone; hoping for a third to come!
As a longtime fan of Susan, her books and writing style, she has a way of drawing her readers into the setting, with strong family historical dynamics and romance. A delicious read, well-written, with family secrets, adventure, summer days and nights, a family wedding (Tess/Dominic), a Beekeeper's Ball, and unexpected love.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Lola_Ann
Posted Mon Aug 25 00:00:00 EDT 2014
First, I bought the Nook version and I loved the story so much that I bought the hard copy. Susan Wiggs masterfully intertwines two stories and you hope the pieces will eventually form a beautiful quilt...Wiggs does not disappoint. My book club is planning our next meal based entirely upon the recipes!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Fri Aug 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Nice to read in between mysteries and crime dramas.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Thu Aug 21 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I have read all of Susan Wiggs contemporary novels. This is the best one yet. It has love, romance, history, recipes, and information about honey. It's one that I know I will re-read. That's how good it is.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Tue Aug 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Susan Wiggs creates amazingly vivid and unforgettable imagery with her writing, while still showing a horrific and ugly time in history, and the people forced to live in that world, tenderness, respect and a beautiful compassion. Both books were fantastic reads! She writes with a precision; painting absolutely amazing pictures while never becoming overly wordy or tedious, an extremely sensitive balance (at least for me), that relatively few authors can accomplish. I adore the characters in these books, feel like their my friends and adopted family, and long to follow them and learn more of their lives! I so, so, SO hope there will be further books in this series! I want to learn what happens to some of the other characters and how all of their lives intersect and grow! Shannon, the kids, and there just HAS to be more about Mac's hunches and discoveries to tell!! I completely loved reading these books, and will definitely be adding them to my read-again-and-again section of books!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Enjoyable, predictable, the perfect beach book!
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014
In love with this series so far. Cant wait for the next!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Beach-reader02
Posted Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2014
As with book 1, in this series, this one did not disappoint! We have another winner. The way she weaves her characters into a complex storyline is awesome. Am totally surprised that these are keeping my interest, as I'm not usually into the "romance" novels, however, as stated above, the storyline is intreging and draws you in, making you feel as if your part of what's happening. Well done Ms. wiggs, well done... Can't wait till the next one!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted Sun Sep 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I really wanted to read this book, but $19.79 is way out too much for an ebook!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I will be back tomorrow afternoon around 3:30 pacific time!
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Posted Thu Oct 02 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Waits
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I really enjoyed this book and the second book in this trilogy! I learned some things about history I was not aware of and the setting for the book was so lovely, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Susan Wiggs is a wonderful story teller!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.mosesmom
Posted Sat Aug 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I enjoy Susan Wiggs' use of characters and the beautiful surroundings to give us a picture of love.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Aug 08 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This is a continuation from her first book in this series. I couldn't wait to read it and find out what was next. It's all about family, following one's dreams and finding love when least expected.
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Posted Mon Aug 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014
love the book from the very beginning! The story is so well written and the love story between Mac and Isabel was so sweet. It was nice to hear about history tied into the story.
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Posted Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Read The Apple Orchard first and then the Bee Keeper's Ball, both good stories and learned things I didn't know about Denmark and the Danes during WWII. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
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Overview
#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs returns to sun-drenched Bella Vista, where the land's bounty yields a rich harvest and family secrets that have long been buried.
The B&N exclusive edition contains never–before–seen material from the Bella Vista Chronicles that reveals a deeper understanding of life within the world of Bella Vista and Archangel, California. Readers will gain insights into the intriguing background of the main characters, and enjoy a special look at Isabel’s childhood at Bella ...