The Phoenix Ballroom

This is an absolute delight of a book. After all who could resist loving the main character who calls her German shepherd Colin Firth after she’s rescued him from a drug den! Her grandson Kite lights up every page he is on with charm and laughter and all the other characters are warm and so well written. . A truly lovely feel good read. Highly recommended.

4.5

The once glorious Phoenix Ballroom is now sadly neglected and down at heel, though if the light is right its once bright chandeliers cast a vibrant spectrum across the dirty floor.

Seventy four year old Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves attends the funeral of her husband Hawk around whom her world has revolved for the last fifty years, her dreams subsumed to motherhood, home and loyalty. However, despite the views of her son Heron, Venetia has decided it's time for a last tango in Bedford, a reinvention which includes a personal makeover, the employment of Liberty Bell (yes, I know!) as her PA/companion and she even gets a blooming great, soft as, German Shepherd, formerly known as Terminator and renamed Colin Firth. Don’t ask. A chance meeting with Evangeline whilst in the park with Colin, leads Venetia back into her past but also catapults to a different and hopefully brighter future. This is a novel of redemption, of reinvention, of embracing new challenges and the second chance lifeline it offers - a phoenix rising from the ashes.

A new Ruth Hogan leads to some highly appropriate happy dancing in Yorkshire! This is a very entertaining, feel good novel at a time when that’s exactly what’s needed although that’s not to say that some characters haven’t suffered or made sacrifices but they find their way to happier days. This adds layers to the storytelling and some back stories are sad or they shock.

Ruth Hogan is a wonderful writer who really makes me care about her often quirky characters and in her latest creation we meet some who are so colourful they jump off the pages. At the centre is Venetia whose generosity of spirit is easy to see as her household expands exponentially. However, it’s probably her ten year old grandson Kite who steals the show. He’s absolutely delightful and funny as he often tells it how it is and he too has a generous warm spirit. Another show stealer is Colin Firth - a big woof and a hug for him! Hawk’s eccentric sister Swan is also marvellous with her very individual and colourful outfits that make me smile. You watch Liberty grow and grow surrounded by this fabulous cast.

Overall, this is a captivating novel with terrific dialogue that is frequently funny. Although it is predictable in some ways but as it’s the outcome I want, who cares! It’s a reminder that just because characters have reached their 70’s it doesn’t mean they should purchase a bath chair just yet!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books, Corvus for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

What a delightful book! Ruth Hogan never lets her readers down. I loved this story and its quirky characters. I finished this in two happy sittings and would definitely recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

As one might expect from a book written by Ruth Hogan The Phoenix Ballroom was a totally delightful read. It was so easy to become immediately caught up in the adventures of Venetia, Kite, Liberty and Swan and their assorted family and friends. Cheering them on in their endeavours as they worked to solve the mystery of Liberty's mother's strange will and to return the ballroom to it's prime. Within minutes of beginning to read one cares deeply for this raggle taggle collection of people with their fears, hopes and secrets. A book I hope everyone enjoys as much as I did. If you're looking for the ultimate feel good read look no further. Recommended++++
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I can always rely on a Ruth Hogan book to see the positives in life and brighten up my day. This is exactly what "The Phoenix Ballroom" does. Many characters have their own troubles but they are all united in the church/drop-in centre/ballroom and they rescue it from being turned into flats and back into something amazing.

I absolutely loved it. I've not read any of Ruth's books before but will look for more.

I liked the characters, some really quirky like Swan and even Kite was a one-off!. The ending was what I hoped for and was pleased that Crow was brought into the fold.

Thank you Netgalley for this Arc.

What a wonderfully heartwarming book from Ruth Hogan. The characters were relatable and the story was compelling. I would recommend this to everyone. 5 stars.

I loved this book - I have given it a 5 star rating!

Heartwarming and inspirational.

Venetia has been left a wealthy widow with a lovely home, a delightful grandson and a feeling that she has missed out on life.

She agrees to purchase the Phoenix Ballroom with a vision to revive its fortunes and relive her youth.

She is joined in this endeavour by Liberty Bell - her companion - who has to prove she can also live her own life. Add in a rescue dog called Colin Firth and you have a lovely story in the making.

Delightfully quirky characters leave you with a smile on your face.

A really enjoyable read.

Wonderfully warm and full of joy, I love this author’s writing. There will be hardships and challenges but there’s always a happy ending.
The cast of characters are so varied and yet work so well together, Liberty’s story resonated with such sadness and I was so excited for her to find happiness. I also loved the found family that Kite assembled, he was so much fun.
This is the perfect hug in a book from one of my favourite authors, a definite recommendation.

The book opens with Venetia preparing for her husband's funeral. She is unhappy with the arrangements that her son has made for the catering and even in choosing her outfit. But she hasn't said anything. After the funeral he announces his plans for his poor, vulnerable mother. And this is when Venetia's life starts to change.
Lots of new and old characters enter Venetia's life, and I loved every one of them. Hogan is so good at writing about people.

I so enjoyed this book and absolutely demolished it!

I absolutely adored this wonderful book!

When Hawk, 74 year old Venetia’s husband of 50 year dies, her son Heron decides that she needs a “Granny Nanny”, a thought that fills her with utter horror!

Liberty, having recently lost her mother and found herself homeless, takes the position as Venetia’s personal assistant and companion.

They are soon joined by a huge German Shepherd called Colin Firth and Venetia’s young grandson, Kite.

As Venetia starts to navigate life as a widow, she soon realises that, in many ways, this is where her life begins. The story of Venetia’s life is both happy and tragically heartbreaking, for her and her late husband and a chance meeting with her old friend Evangeline leads them to recapture their youth in the old Phoenix Ballroom and reevaluate what they want from life.

Ruth Hogan’s writing is exquisite and the cast of quirky characters are a delight. Kite in particular made me laugh constantly as, in his innocence, he would tell it like it is, that is, when he wasn’t busy hunting for dead fly biscuits - I honestly thought it was just me that called them that!

I loved the small details too, like how the men in the family were all named after birds.

A brilliant read, highly recommended.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Ruth Hogan and Atlantic for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This book is a true delight! A wonderfully fulfilling and uplifting story a cast of characters it’s impossible not to love and a ballroom rising from the ashes of neglect and decay to shine once more as it had in its heyday. The writing here is so clever that every character leaves who they thought they were behind in order to become the person they were meant to be - all much happier and more comfortable in their own skins.

A book that warms your heart and fills it with joy. Utterly delightful, funny, moving, with amazing characters and an engaging storyline. Not that I expected anything less from Ruth Hogan. I have loved every single one of her books and this is no exception. Amazing.
Thank you to Atlantic Books - Corvus, NetGalley and the author for an early copy.
#ThePhoenixBallroom #NetGalley

Delightful from start to finish!

A nice easy read that had a bit of everything. The characters were great, especially Kite the Grandson and the ending was everything that I wanted.

I loved this beautiful and engaging novel. Filled with a mix of lively characters dealing with real life problems, I was engaged with the plotline from page 1. I found the idea of rediscovering oneself at age 74 uplifting and positive. Highly recommend.

I loved this from the start to the end. Completely heartwarming. Centred around two women - Liberty Bell (yes really) whose mother has recently died and after her will is read she has left nothing to Liberty who is now homeless. She gets a job as a ‘granny nanny’ with wealthy Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves who has been recently widowed. This book is full of the most wonderful characters, too many to mention but honestly I loved them all! The author has written such a lovely story with wonderful narrative I could feel myself falling into the story as if I was there.

Briefly, life with Venetia soon has Liberty coming out of her shell. With Venetia’s grandson Kite, her sister in law Swan and an Alsatian dog called Colin soon in residence Liberty finds herself accepted as part of the family. An unexpected encounter with old friend Evangeline, who runs a spiritual church and a drop in cafe soon has all the family volunteering at the cafe and Venetia get the idea to purchase the dilapidated Phoenix Ballroom, where she was a dance instructor prior to her marriage, and restore it to its former glory.

This was such a feel good story I could forgive some of more unlikely scenarios- it’s fiction so anything goes! I read this in a day it was so good I didn’t want to put it down. As a lady of a certain age I was 100% behind our ladies who were looking to bring back some colour into their lives and enjoy their remaining years. A wonderful story of friendship and second chances; did I say I loved it!

An excellent read.

Venetia is widowed, her son believes at the age of 70 she should be wrapped up in blankets in a care home.... Venetia has very different ideas.

When her son goes off to France with his wife to expand their business, she is left alone with a healthy bank balance.... a carer (not Venetia's choice of job title) and her very lonely sensitive grandson who is made to board at the local school.

In Venetia's early life she was a dancer, when she realises the ballroom which also doubles up as a community church and care centre is about to be turned into appartments, she sets about purchasing it and restoring it to its former glory!

The Phoenix ballroom by Ruth Hogan is the first book from the author I have read, and it won’t be my last.
Venetia is a 74-year-old widow and is deciding what to do with her life after her husband has just pasted. He has left her quite a substantial amount of money and wants to do something not only to enrich her life but other peoples as well. Her son Hawk thinks that she is ready for the knacker’s yard and hires her a Granny nanny to look after her.
Liberty Bell is also suffered a loss of her mother. Who has sent her cryptic clues through her solicitor. If she gets them right, she get something that’s left for her. But the clues are in an old phot album and Liberty is not sure what they mean.
Venetia decides to buy a ballroom which is above a spiritual church which was once a happy place for her in her younger years. As Ventia was a dancer. But now the Phoenix ballroom is a dilapidated and she wants to do it up to be grand again, like all the years ago. She gets help from not only Liberty, but sister Swan and grandson Kite and don’t forget Colin Firth the dog.
The is heart warming story of love, friendship and second chances. I loved every minute of this endearing and funny tale. It has a great storyline and characters especially Kite. I highly recommend 5 stars.

An enjoyable and warm story of a widow rediscovering herself after the death of her husband. Lost opportunities, second chances, new friendships and romance are beautifully woven together. I loved all the characters especially Kite. Ruth Hogan is a fantastic storyteller and I look forward to reading more of her work.

"The Phoenix Ballroom" centers around the ballroom which is at risk of being redeveloped into housing.

Liberty Bell, who finds herself homeless after her mother's death becomes a 'granny nanny' for Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves, a recently widowed, wealthy woman.
Venetia‘s home becomes a haven for Liberty, Swan, Kite and Colin Firth. I particularly loved the relationship between Venetia and her grandson Kite.

This is the perfect feel-good book about friendship, resilience, and new beginnings. It's an ideal summer read that will leave you smiling and uplifted.