This really was a delightful surprise. As Anton Du Beke is known for his dancing and humour, and with such a romantic cover, I think I expected light fluffy rom-com type material, rather than full-on historical novel. I loved the first half, the plot twist at that point felt a little too much, but I'd forgiven everything by the end.
1936, Ramond de Guise is principal dancer at London's Buckingham Hotel. Nancy Nettleton, the new chambermaid, hasn't quite got the hang of being invisible or knowing her place. And everybody but everybody has secrets.
Although I've seen this compared to Downton Abbey, and it does has the whole upstairs/downstairs set-up, I actually got more of a Dirty Dancing vibe in places. Du Beke has set this firmly in the politics of the time, the dangers of being open about your identity, the rise of fascism across Europe, and the fear of your country going to pieces. A good read!
1936, Ramond de Guise is principal dancer at London's Buckingham Hotel. Nancy Nettleton, the new chambermaid, hasn't quite got the hang of being invisible or knowing her place. And everybody but everybody has secrets.
Although I've seen this compared to Downton Abbey, and it does has the whole upstairs/downstairs set-up, I actually got more of a Dirty Dancing vibe in places. Du Beke has set this firmly in the politics of the time, the dangers of being open about your identity, the rise of fascism across Europe, and the fear of your country going to pieces. A good read!