The Phoenix Ballroom

(Paperback, Export/Airside)

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Description

'Magical ... uplifting ... the Phoenix Ballroom feels like an old friend' Anton Du Beke

When it's time to face the music, all we can do is dance...

Recently widowed Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves is left with a huge house, a bank balance to match and an uneasy feeling that she's been sleepwalking through the last fifty years. Determined to live fully again, she embraces life with an enthusiasm and purpose she'd forgotten she could muster.

Buying the dilapidated Phoenix Ballroom and with it a drop-in centre and spiritualist church could be seen as reckless, but Venetia's generosity, courage and kindness provide a refuge for a touching cast of damaged and lonely people who find their chosen family. As their stories intertwine, long buried secrets are revealed, missed opportunities seized and lives are renewed as the Phoenix lives up to its name.

The Phoenix Ballroom is a story of hope and second chances across the generations.

'Will enthrall and delight everyone who reads it' Mike Gayle
'Packed with Ruth Hogan's trademark warmth' Matt Cain
'Every page is a joy' Pip Williams

Reviews

The ballroom is a magical place, and Ruth Hogan's love and warmth for all the things within it shine brightly in the pages of this wonderful story. She has created such an uplifting world, and the Phoenix Ballroom feels like an old friend of mine -- Anton du Beke
Pulsing with life, hope and full of characters that leap off the page and straight into your heart, The Phoenix Ballroom has all the right moves and will enthrall and delight everyone who reads it -- Mike Gayle
This is exactly the novel I wanted Ruth Hogan to write next. It's packed with her trademark warmth, populated by vulnerable characters she once again brings to life with sensitivity, and is bursting with dark secrets, unresolved tensions and unexpected plot twists - but this time it has added social commentary and takes a great big bite out of the zeitgeist! -- Matt Cain
Another gem from the queen of heart-filled storytelling, The Phoenix Ballroom is an enchanting tale of community, friendship and acceptance, illuminating the joys of living your life as your own true self whatever your age. With multifaceted characters, crystal clear prose and a luminous story, The Phoenix Ballroom sparkles as kaleidoscopically as the chandeliers that are alight once more. A hugely entertaining read. -- Sarah Haywood, bestselling author of THE CACTUS
Ruth Hogan's latest will make your heart soar and your eyes tear up as characters who feel like old friends find the courage to make necessary changes in their lives. I fell in love with Venetia, Kite, and Liberty. The Phoenix Ballroom is an uplifting novel filled with wit, heart, and humor and is as satisfying as a turn around the dance floor. -- Janet Skeslien Charles, bestselling author of THE PARIS LIBRARY
Ruth Hogan has brought a cast of lost and loveable characters together in The Phoenix Ballroom. Love, friendship and compassion abound - every page is a joy. -- Pip Williams, bestselling author of THE DICTIONARY OF LOST WORDS
A lovely, life-affirming story of a group of people overcoming various difficulties and disappointments to create a future filled with friendships and love for which they have been searching. Both poignant and inspirational, the novel has at its heart a promise: whatever has gone before, lives can change. I loved it. -- Elizabeth Buchan, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME
A sparkling, intensely moving story that sweeps the reader along. Full of hope, love and the power of new friendships. The Phoenix Ballroom is a triumph - a celebration of courage and optimism. I adored it! -- Celia Anderson, bestselling author of 59 MEMORY LANE
A rich and joyful story told with wit and heart. And the most glamorously-named protagonist ever. Look out for this sweeping waltz of a novel. -- Beth Morrey, bestselling author of SAVING MISSY
An unforgettable cast of characters, an involving story told with with warmth and wit, a world you won't want to leave. I loved it! -- Fanny Blake
It is always a treat to escape into Ruth Hogan's storytelling world. Her characters are richly drawn, her stories woven with magic and she has that wonderful ability to draw her readers close and leave them feeling uplifted and restored. The Phoenix Ballroom is a dazzling glitterball of a novel featuring a delightful cast of characters. Funny, touching and utterly gorgeous. -- Annie Lyons
A gorgeous book that made me feel better about the world. It is comforting, captivating and beautiful. I loved it. -- Eithne Shortall
Gorgeous, funny and tender -- Carole Hailey
An absolute gem, alive with loveable characters. A magical mix of laugh-out-loud humour, a colourful cast, mystery, joy and pathos. A totally charming book. -- Siobhan McGowan
Hugely compelling ... a wonderful read -- Kit Fielding

Author Bio

Ruth Hogan studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths College and went on to work in local government. A car accident and a subsequent run-in with cancer convinced her finally to get her act together and pursue her dream of becoming a writer. The result was her debut novel - The Keeper of Lost Things. She is now living the dream (and occasional nightmare) as a full-time author living with her husband and rescue dogs in a rambling Victorian house stuffed with treasure that inspires her novels.
Insta: @ruthmariehogan