I would like to thank netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story with the changing politics as a background for the dancing. The cast of characters were more diverse than I was expecting, and the all add interest.

I wanted to like this, but actually I thought it was awful.  The writing style is laboured, so many characters with alliterative names (Nancy Nettleton, Billy Brogan) and always referred to by both names. So many long winded descriptions. So little plot. Actually maybe that's related - the repetition and the the full naming is to help hit the word count.  It's melodramatic, cliched and just flat out irritating. Like Anton on Strictly (mostly anyway!) - don't like his writing!

This is not my usual kind of book, but I was intrigued because it was written by the lovely Anton during Beke, and Strictly is one of my favorite programmes because I love ballroom dancing. In the beginning I thought it was a bit predictable, nothing special, and I struggled to pick it up. But as I got further into it, I started to get involved with the characters and care about what was happening, so that by the time I finished the book I was sorry to leave them and their world behind. An enjoyable read.

I picked this one to read purely as a fan of Strictly. I wasn't sure whether it would be a book by someone who genuinely wants to be an author or a ghost written celebrity fluff piece like many seem to do these days. I'm still not 100% decided. They say write what you know and you can see that has been done - there are some delightfully descriptive scenes of dances and costuming and everything glitzy but I couldn't quite get to grips with the story. For me it was a bit weighty, too much description and not enough action. I have to admit though, it's not my favourite time setting and as much as I like historical dramas this isn't far back enough in history for my own personal tastes so when reading this era I really need the author to nail the story. 

I think overall it's not a bad debut but I was left feeling a bit flat.

Great debut novel.  Sometimes when you see a celebrity has written a novel you think oh dear this is going to be bad, but the man can write as well as sing and dance.

Set in a top London hotel in the past it tells the stories of guests and staff with an underlying political and social backdrop of the time,  As well as a love story or two it shows that if you have money you can be unhappy and if you have no money you can be happy and families are complicated!

Enjoyed this book and the pre wartime setting. A great set of characters all involved with the glamorous hotel and the addition of the ballroom is perfect for any Strictly fans. I wasn't sure what to expect from the author's first foray into writing but I will look out for more (if they're forthcoming). It took me a little while to get into but I'm glad I stuck with it.

What a stunning book. I enjoyed this immensely. Was it a romance? A mystery? I'm still not sure. I just know that it was fantastic!

As a huge fan of Anton Du Beke and Strictly Come Dancing I jumped at the chance to read this debut novel. I wanted to love it I really did, but although enjoyable, sadly it did fall a little bit short for me.

There was no real depth to the characters and even though the glamorous setting was fabulous, I found myself not quite warming to the main players.

That being said this is a light, easy read that is perfect to curl up with on a cold winter night. Although not quite my cup of tea I am sure there are plenty of other readers out there who will love it. 

3 stars.

4 1/2 stars, the book was just short of top marks for me, maybe needing one more twist/surprise to get it there. However, it made me forget to disembark from the train at some point and close another couple of times so must have been captivating! I would definitely read it if he wrote another book.

I loved the setting and the glamour but at times the writing failed to grab me, however I enjoyed this book and would consider reading more books by this author.

Even a few weeks after I finished One Enchanted Evening I still don't reaaly know what to think of it. I requested the book from Netgalley, because I have been a fan of Anton's since I started watching Strictly and I was curious. I expected a (historical) romance novel, judging from the cover, which is not what I usually go for.

What I got was something different, but what exactly, I'm not sure. Yes, there was an air of romance due to the setting and the characters, but the main romance itself was rather thin and the players went from new friends to couple without a big romantic moment. The alliterating names got on my nerves especially since they were so often repeated in full. 

Besides the romance part there were some interesting historical and political lines that the author could have done more with. Set in the 1930's with the anti-semitism and Hitler gaining power, the Buckingham Hotel is a great place to watch the ruling classes deal with the political changes.

I think this novel could have been more and better if the political angle had been more prominent. The book is dressed up as a romance, while the romance aspect is not convincing and it's other themes are present enough to be interesting, but left in the background without the attention they need. 

Okay read, I felt like it could have been so much more, if the author and perhaps the publisher had dared to take it further.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. 
The book is well researched, good characterisation and an engaging storyline. Set in the 1930's it deals with social issues and politics of the times.
All in all a delightful story.

A really lovely read.
A book you can just escape into.
Many thanks for the chance to read. I thoroughly recommend this book.

One Enchanted Evening by Anton du Beke

5 Stars

Strictly historical hotel ball dancing!

Raymond du Guise was the leading ballroom dancer at the Buckingham Hotel in London. Lord Edgerton was the major shareholder and Maynard Charles was the operations director. Raymond’s dancing partner was Hélène Marchmont. 

Nancy Nettleton was a new maid with a lame leg.

During the summer, Nancy had permission to have a night off and went to the “opium den” (nightclub) with her colleague, Billy. She saw Raymond giving a dancing show with Hélène and there was the violent calamity with the gangsters resulting in casualties.

Vivienne, Lord Edgerton’s step-daughter, was a very jealous woman. She planned to steal the New Year’s Eve ballroom party with her lover, Nathaniel White to ruin Raymond and Hélène’s night.

Meanwhile, there was a rumour that the hotel was associated with the Blood Shirts (British Fascists) with sympathies for Nazi Germany.

This is a brilliant story set in 1936. Well done, Anton du Beke!

Caesar XIII

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

A delicious, detailed, dance orientated novel, which unfolds against a background of class division, an unprecedented threat to the monarchy and a cosmopolitan hotel whose outward glamour hides a web of secrets.

The characters are believable and vividly depicted, they draw the reader into the story and engender empathy and dislike according to their behaviour. The setting epitomises polite London society in the 1930s. The ballroom's importance, as a place to see and be seen, is a core theme of this story and is the focal point for the action and dialogue between the main characters.

Like 'Upstairs Downstairs ' and 'Downtown Abbey', society's class division is marked. The 'lower class' characters'lives are difficult and provide a thought-provoking reminder of poverty and hardship.

The political unrest in Europe and England make living life the limit a given, for those able to do so. When secrets unfold and people's livelihood and reputations are in danger, the true heroes and villains emerge.

I received a copy of this book from Zaffre via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Professional Strictly dancer Anton De Beke's debut novel does not disappoint! As a matter of fact it reads very much like the work of a more experienced author.
The story is set in 1930's Mayfair, London around the Buckingham Hotel ballroom. Unsurprisingly it centres around the ballroom dance world and is a lovely, charming read.
If you are looking for a historical romance with some vivid characters and some beautiful scene setting then this will be the perfect read.
Not my usual genre but as an Anton fan I was keen to read this and I am very glad I did.
A solid 4 stars and hope this is not the last written effort from Mr Du Beke.
Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the ARC.

Lighthearted and frothy. Anton Du Beke turns his hand to writing about dance, creating some lovely descriptions in the ballroom. Enjoyable read.

Loved this book.  It is beautifully written.  Very gentle at first about the Buckingham Hotel at the time of King Edward’ VIII’s abdication. The hotel was planning to give a New Year’s ball which the King was due to attend.  Because of his abdication, there are fears that the hotel’s fortunes will suffer.  

I felt that I got to know each character and was interested in their lives from the demonstration dancers to the chambermaid.    What started off as a light frothy story of the Grand Ballroom becomes darker with fascism and the threat of war.  

I was not an Anton du Beke;s fan but his writing skills surprised me.  I am so glad I read the book and  will be recommending it.

It struck me when I heard that Anton du Beke of Strictly fame had written a book, that it’s extremely difficult to write about dancing, especially to the level of Mr du Beke’s knowledge and get it across to a reader successfully.  Well, according to my mother, he has done a fabu-lous job in his debut novel.

Thinking it would appeal to my mum, I was very pleased to hear she loved it, especially as she has distant memories from the late 30s and 40s.

She loved the title and found it very easy to read. In fact, she whizzed through it, saying it never dragged (high compliment I can assure you) and found all the detail about the period and the wealth gap - how tough the poor really had it – very interesting.  It seemed particularly well-researched.  

The characters were likeable and believable with the personal touch of Anton’s background providing lots of lovely little additions.  She was surprised about the drugs storyline in that era and initially she thought it came to a bit of an abrupt ending, however, I think that was because enjoying it so much, she didn’t want it to end.  On further probing, she admitted the narrative was resolved neatly and everyone got their just deserts.
It will certainly appeal to those of a certain age who were around in the earlier part of last century who enjoy a feelgood storyline with an emphasis on the working class, albeit in a high-class hotel.  But it sounds as though it would have a far broader appeal to everyone who loves period romance with a touch of scandal in a tale which leaves you smiling.

She would definitely read his next novel and I am looking forward to reading this one!

Love Strictly so I thought it would be interesting to see how Anton fares as an author. This book proved to be a lot more than a tale of dancing. The story is set in London in 1936 and references the Spanish Civil War as well as the rise of Fascism, Hitler and Moseley. In addition, there are characters from different strata of society as the setting is a posh hotel. All in all it proved to be much more than I was expecting.