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

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I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Raymond de Guise is the show dancer with a growing reputation for being the most able dancer of his generation. I found it very unsatisfying that Raymond sacrificed his dreams to stay with Nancy in London, and she didn't seem to have the slightest idea how heart-breaking that must have been for him.

I just wanted to let you know that my son has received his gift pack in York and he was really touched!

Meanwhile, she finds herself embroiled in upper class Vivienne Edgerton's scheme to help the less fortunate of society. Separated from chambermaid Nancy he keeps her abreast of his shenanigans via frequent correspondence. As society in London and internationally struggles to come to terms with potential disaster, the other side of London life is revealed. 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. A cracking good read of the interwar years and of the build up to WWII with all the glamour of the ballroom and gossip and shenanigans of "Upstairs downstairs" or "Downton Abbey.The story is set in 1937 and staged around the prestigious Buckingham Hotel in London with most of the characters being staff. Glamorous, enchanting, and beautifully detailed, MOONLIGHT OVER MAYFAIR by Anton Du Beke is sure to delight historical fiction fans around the globe. There are some references to events in the recent past and it was only midway through that I discovered through Google that Moonlight Over Mayfair is actually a sequel; it therefore works perfectly well as a stand alone novel.

Du Beke is not afraid to discuss the racial inequalities and political situations that existed in the 1930s and beyond. Moonlight Over Mayfair’ has been compared to ‘Downton Abbey’ and although I can’t comment on that because I don’t watch ‘Downton Abbey’ but what I will say is that ‘Moonlight Over Mayfair’ would be perfect for adaptation for television. Although she desperately hopes that her brother will also begin to share her enthusiasm for London with her, there is another fly in the ointment which is making Nancy rather blue: the absence of the man she has grown to love, demonstration dancer Raymond de Guise, who is noticeable by his absence from the Grand Ballroom of the hotel.Continuity and change are key themes throughout the book and I felt that Anton du Beke treats these subjects sensitively.

The ballroom is very centre stage in the story and the dancers that put on a show that says everything is normal here, while outside the undercurrents of unrest in Europe is never far away. Though this book does start off a lot slower than its previous counterpart, it does pick up towards the end and rollicks to a satisfying conclusion. I also got all wrapped up in Hotel Manager Maynard Charles' story which was, at times, heartbreaking. From the upper echelons of society to the downstairs chambermaids, their lives and the world of dance comes alive on every page and you will get caught up in all of the drama, secrets, betrayals, and emotions that echo through the corridors of this prestigious hotel.It is made so dramatic by an excellent feeling for character and the twists and turns of fortune that affect their lives. And upstairs, Vivienne Edgerton is desperate to do something worthwhile with her time and her step-father's money, rather than spending it on dresses and frivolities - but will this land her back in trouble? Right from the book cover to the delightful and endearing characters this book oozes class and warmth. Many other characters throng a hotel with a reputation for glamour and excellence, but it is 1937 and the shadow of war is once more falling on London and Europe as a whole. In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Moonlight Over Mayfair’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.