The Beekeeper's Ball

Bella Vista, Book 2

By: Susan Wiggs

Narrated by: Christina Traister

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times best-selling 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.

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.

©2014 Susan Wiggs (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Great!

Would you listen to The Beekeeper's Ball again? Why?

I love historical fiction, and although this probably isn't considered that, it still weaves a story about the characters that happened during WWII. Excellent story and excellent performance!

Enjoy that

A truly sweet love story lot of heartache but latergood humor I really enjoyed it thank you Susan

Interesting, but much repitition

Where does The Beekeeper's Ball rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Maybe a 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.

What other book might you compare The Beekeeper's Ball to and why?

This was a sequel to The Apple Orchard, but with a lot of repeated "recollections". There was much potential for more interesting story line, like detailed information regarding Isabelle's parents (instead of repeating the same stories from the grandfather that were written in the first book). I found the repetition boring.

What does Christina Traister bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A pleasant voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No.

4 Stars from me

Great overall story, altho for me, too much about the war time. I don't care for that, too depressing. The rest of the story is so good and so interesting, thanks Susan.
The narrator, Christina is really good, she did an excellent job. I'll look for more books with her.
I just have this on audio, don't have this book. I do have the first in the series only in book form, it is Excellent !
Love Susan Wiggs books.

excellent romance and multiple storylines

The overarching storyline of Magnus and WW2 along with the family's current romantic adventures made this a very interesting tale to listen to. I look forward to the next installment!

Awesome story

this is book2 An incredible story of life,love old n new. romance and memories of war back to the present. with hints for a third book of rediscovery and family reunion .

Even better than book 1

Book 2 really continues the saga here. The characters feel like real people. The history and flashbacks help build the story. I do wish there was a little less of the flashbacks and a little more about the people living in the now. Overall it is a 5 star read for me. This is my second read of this, about 5 years apart. The audiobook is really well done.

fabulous I love these books

I love all Susan Wiggs books, this was such a great story.
keep them coming

Loved the first two, where's the third??

Loved the Apple Orchard and Beekeepers Ball. However she teased out a plot twist at the very end of Beekeepers... which was not necessary to the storyline... and left us hanging with no third book to resolve it. There were also two relatively minor characters that she also just left hanging. that's what brought my stars down to 3.
Come on, Ms. Wiggs! Give us the ending!!!!

An excellent way to relax and unwind!

Loved this series! Recipes are awesome! Please write more! Looking forward to the next book...in any setting or family, Susan writes beautifully!