The Beekeeper's Ball (Bella Vista Chronicles)
*Starred Review* The unconscionable incident with Calvin Sharp caused Isabel Johansen to leave culinary school and flee to her family’s home, Bella Vista, nestled in the Sonoma wine country. Isabel continues to hone her culinary skills while turning Bella Vista into a destination for food lovers. She even adds a cooking school and is eagerly planning Bella Vista’s first major event, her sister Tess’ wedding. But Isabel’s hard-earned happiness is shattered when Calvin, now a famous TV chef, chooses her town as the venue for his new restaurant. Things get even more hectic and complicated when former war correspondent Cormac O’Neill comes to town, ready to write her grandfather’s biography, including his role in the Danish Resistance during WWII. As much as Isabel denies it, she’s getting more and more attracted to Cormac, something that’s definitely not on her “to do” list. Wiggs’ carefully detailed plotlines, one contemporary and one historical, with their candid look at relationships and their long-term effects, are sure to captivate readers. The second of Wiggs’ Bella Vista Chronicles, after The Apple Orchard (2013), features a nice bonus: a delightfully unique boy-meets-girl opening. Librarians will want to stay with this entire series. --Shelley Mosley