The Ballroom Blitz

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The book only lost a star for me because I felt the repetition of full names of characters was unnecessary and a little inconsistent.

I loved getting to know the characters and despite not having read the others, it didn’t hinder me too much. Those who survived Dunkirk, including Raymond de Guise and Billy Brogan, are struggling to come to terms with their injuries and the loss of comrades. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. The members of staff at The Buckingham Hotel, London are carrying on as normal for all the guests staying there. Set in the war post Dunkirk and mid London blitz we are introduced to a catalogue of characters from behind the scenes.

This is clearly part of a series, but does also stand alone as the reader is soon brought up to speed.

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As usual they approach a member of the team who they feel might be a weak link and easily exploited. Yes this is book 5 of the Buckingham series, but you do not need to have read any of the others to delve in and enjoy this book. It took me a chapter or three to settle into this novel, there are a lot of characters to familiarise yourself with. As publication date approaches for my new novel, The Ballroom Blitz, I’m delighted to let you know that I’ll be appearing at a marvellous selection of literary events over the coming weeks to talk all about it! As Strictly's longest running professional dancer, and now Judge, Anton is the perfect author to lead the reader to the dancefloor as never before.

To feel that he is still doing something for the war effort, he decides to join the ARP and spends his evenings going towards the bombed areas rather than running away from them. From its beautiful cover on the hardcover edition I had this story pulled me into the glamour of the Buckingham, the ballroom and dancing, along with the horror of the war. The full line-up of dates has been released by my publishers – hopefully there’s an event near you… but if not, by the marvels of technology you can still attend virtually as Henley Literature Festival will have a livestream – you can enjoy it from your armchair!The Buckingham Hotel is a haven for waifs and strays - posh ones, wealthy ones, exiled ones, and the staff, thinned down as you would expect, are still expected to maintain the luxury they guests demand, including the Grand Ballroom. In 2018, he realised his boyhood ambition and published the first in a series of bestselling novels set in the 1930s world of the exclusive Mayfair hotel, The Buckingham. Along with community spirit and people pulling together there are those out to to take advantage of the system and feather their own nests.

There are changes afoot in many aspects of The Buckingham, look forward to reading the next instalment. The story is of Raymond Du Guise, who in 1940 is home from the war for a spell having injured himself. Raymond de Guise, home on leave and still affected by the death of his brother, is desperate to help so he joins a night watch.I do hope you can come along – or stream along – to one of these special events, they really are such fun (as you know, I could talk for hours! Unfortunately I was only able to give this book 3 stars because it was edited so badly that I almost couldn't read it. My only criticism would be that it might be difficult to read this as a stand-alone novel, you really have to read the whole series to get the best understanding of the characters and their relationships. I was immediately swept up into the glamour of the ballroom and the dramas of London wartime during the blitz. I know he's started writing a different series, so I hope I don't have to wait too long for another Buckingham Hotel book.