Moonlight Over Mayfair: The uplifting and charming Sunday Times Bestseller from Anton Du Beke

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If you love downtown Abbey and strictly come dancing, with a splash of romance, drama, love and sophistication then this book is for you.

I particularly enjoyed reading Maynard Charles’ story with his arch enemy Abner Grant and Maynard’s partner Aubrey. It is an easy to read tale of the times, and those who are fond of sagas of the period will surely enjoy it greatly. After a successful debut the temptation might have been to maintain the status quo but instead Du Beke takes the risk of significant developments taking place in the lives of the primary cast and as a result the novel proves to be as engrossing as the first. Oh my, ever since I finished this book I keep hearing the music in my mind and sighing at an era that I simply adore. If you haven't already read the first in series, I would recommend you do that before starting this one - character development and backstory and all that!

It follows on from the successful “One Enchanted Evening”, but it stands alone in terms of a very readable novel. Vivienne is the stepdaughter of the hotel’s owner, but has spent her considerable resources and privileged position unwisely on alcohol and worse. I admit to reading the first chapter in Anton's voice but soon got over my adoration and enjoyed the book for its own merits. Although I felt the novel got off to a slightly slow start, and I feared that this second book would be a reprisal of the first when chambermaid Nancy Nettleton, took her first steps into the hotel with the lead character replaced with her easily embarrassed brother and page, Frank, this did not prove to be the case.

With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. Anton Du Beke (my favourite Strictly Come Dancing professional) has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. As Strictly's longest running professional dancer, achieving a remarkable decade in dance on tour with his professional partner Erin Boag, and as a much sought-after personality and presenter, Anton is the perfect author to lead the reader to the dancefloor as never before. Registered office address: Unit 34 Vulcan House Business Centre, Vulcan Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE5 3EF.The staff and guests of the Buckingham soon discover that in a hotel full of secrets, there's always someone listening .

It took me several attempts to “get into” this book as the start is so slow and the list of characters at the beginning was actually slightly overwhelming as there were so many that I was worried whether I would be able to keep up with them all! Seeing the name of the author you would expect this book to feature ballroom dancing, and you would be correct. Moonlight Over Mayfair” is the second novel written by Anton Du Beke and features the plush London based Buckingham Hotel and it’s Grand Ballroom. What an enchanting book, I was transported from sitting in my conservatory listening to the rain to this wonderful glamorous world of dance, where I could feel the music vibrating through the wooden floorboards and hear the swish of the women’s gowns - magical! She is sick and tired of this mundane whirl of frivolity which she must endure every single blasted day.

And it’s here that our hero, debonaire demonstator dancer Raymond de Guise, showcases his many talents.