The Phoenix Ballroom” opens with Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves attending the funeral of her late husband, Hawk, a popular, well-respected, and wealthy barrister. Venetia would miss her husband “in the way that one misses a comfortable cardigan that was shrunk in the wash and became too tight to wear.” Venetia’s son, Heron (an unfortunate name for one deficient in stature and grace, but his grandfather had been an amateur ornithologist and named his children Hawk, Osprey, Nightingale and Swan), was working abroad and wanted his mother to have a companion or, as Venetia’s beloved grandson, Kite, referred to it, a “granny nanny.” Venetia was 74, younger than Cher as she observes, and she simply wasn’t ready to be old.

Enter Liberty Bell. Liberty had an affair with her married boss for 14 years until it ended painfully and messily along with her employment when Graham announced he was letting Liberty “go” because he owed it to his wife to try to “reinvest emotionally” in his marriage. The affair had caused Liberty’s social life to evaporate because she refused endless invitations in case her lover was able to get away for a couple of hours. Liberty was “held hostage by hope.” Then, her mother passed away and she learned that she had been left nothing in the will — not a penny and soon to be homeless. Liberty applied for the position as Venetia’s live-in companion and was hired on the stop by Venetia.

Venetia adopts an enormous German shepherd she named Colin Firth. While walking Colin, Venetia meets Evangeline who tells Venetia that the property where her church is housed is being converted into luxury apartments. The old ballroom on the ground floor was the where Venetia had first met Hawk, and where she used to teach dance. On a whim, Venetia decides to purchase the building which she restores while embracing her new independence and a crew of lost souls.

Ruth Hogan has crafted a charming novel with endearing characters. This story of family, heartbreak, hope and renewal is lovely. This is a novel that will appeal to fans on Siegfried Nunez. Thank you William Morrow and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this heartwarming tale.

Charming! That's the word for The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan! Lovable characters galore. Sweet storyline. Yep, charming!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for access to this endearing ARC.

Plot: An elderly woman named Venetia is newly a widow. Her son decides to hire a woman, Liberty, to be her “granny nanny.” But Venetia has quite a bit of spunk and decides to purchase an old ballroom where she and her husband met when she taught him dance lessons, and she enlists Liberty to help her do so. Through the process, they build a community and learn more about themselves and life along the way.

My Review: This book was a warm hug! I loved each of the characters, and I was intrigued by each of their stories. The story was simple and predictable, but not in a bad way. The only thing I didn’t love was the pacing. I felt like there were several storylines that didn’t get enough attention, and the ending felt a little abrupt when compared to the rest of the book. But overall, I loved this story, and I absolutely will be reading more from this author!

4.25🌟

Ruth Hogan's newest novel, The Phoenix Ballroom, is the story of a group of people that come together, each in their time of need. The characters each have their own struggles that they work to overcome through the book. Some start out as strangers, some are even already family, but they grow together as they heal and develop bonds.

I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them, so was excited to get the email letting me know I’d been approved to download and read the ARC of The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan. While I enjoyed this story of the various characters coming into their own, there were a few small issues I had with the story. One of the main things is that given the description I assumed the book would center more on the ballroom itself which I thought would be interesting, but it didn't even come into the story until about the last third of the book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, as I have her others, and grew to love each of the characters, flaws and all. I recommend this to those who have enjoyed her other books, as well as similar stories of people coming together to form a community and overcome their past issues.

Thank you to William Morrow for the gifted ARC copy provided through NetGalley.

The Phoenix Ballroom is a delightful, cozy, inspiring, feel-good light read. We have two amazing women who are both saying goodbye to loved ones. One is 74 and has just lost her husband, and the other is a 45-year-old who just laid her mother to rest. Liberty Bell is thrown for a loop when, at the reading of her mother, she finds that she basically gets kicked out of her home and is left with some test she needs to pass to gain her inheritance. But unfortunately, she was not told what this test entails. Venita is a widower who is lost and adrift after her husband dies. Her son is taking the reigns of her life and assigning her what her grandson calls a granny nanny. The connection between these two women and the sweet outcome of this book tugged at my heartstrings, and I was thrilled to see myself in the character Liberty Bell and how she rides out life after her mother's passing—a great summer read.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for access to this arc.

When I requested this novel, I thought from the blurb that I was going to be getting something very different. I’d never read any of Hogan's books but there seems, from other reviewers’ comments, to be a pattern of character focused, lower stakes stories. I have to agree with another person who dubbed this book “relentlessly positive.”

There’s also a lot more religion in the story than I was expecting from the description. At first the “church” seemed more of a community center of lovely, endlessly caring people, ready with cups of hot tea and digestive biscuits to solve the world’s problems but then Christmas arrives and they’re all filled with even more sugary sweet community love. And Kite’s just a wonder with all these old folks. Even Vanetia’s rescue German Shepherd dog – saved from a neighborhood “grow house” and honestly he’s just so good tempered – gets along with everyone. The only fly in the ointment is Vanetia’s slightly overbearing son but he only rarely pops into the narrative and because he doesn’t, things are actually better!

In the second half of the book, lots of background information on these characters is unloaded on the reader as long info-dumps. Venetia (who has been left oodles of money and is conflicted about this as she never did anything to earn it) agonizes over whether to buy the ballroom building because is this all about her memories of her youth or a chance to assist the community. Her sister-in-law Swan is like aristocratic Maggie Smith without hearing aids and speaks mostly in exclamation points (and never suffers “mornings after” despite the quantities of gin she slugs back). She urges Venetia to do what she wants with her money because why can’t Venetia’s plans be both good for her and the community? Liberty’s mother’s will has the solicitor checking up on Liberty looking for things he can’t tell her in order to inherit something he also can’t tell her but the overall feeling I got was that this would end up well for her.

Even though they’re not, the plot points come across as just very low stakes – speed bumps in the road (the kind you don’t even have to slow down much to get over) instead of roadblocks. There’s no sense that anything will end badly for these people. No tension and no spice. For readers looking for a book that is the equivalent of a dozen sugary donuts, washed down with sweet ice tea while gently swinging in a hammock on a not too humid or hot day, this should fit the bill. But, knowing that I’m going to sound like a curmudgeon for saying this, I struggled to stay interested in something that is basically a Christmas Hallmark movie. It does have a gorgeous cover, though. C

The Phoenix Ballroom isn't the only thing reborn in this lovely story about hope, kindness, and second chances.
The cover of this book caught my eye, and the story captured my heart. After her husband of almost 50 years passes away, Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves realizes she let her marriage subsume her. Once vibrant and beautiful, a professional dancer, she let her life take the backseat to her husband's, then her son's, but now she is ready to stand up for herself and create a life she wants to live. Her son, however, thinks of her as an elderly woman in need of a "granny nanny" to take care of her, and one of the women who applies for the position is Liberty Bell. Liberty's life has also recently fallen into shambles after her boyfriend dumps her and her mother passes away and leaves Liberty nothing. The story follows the rebirth of both women, as they find things to be passionate about and change not only their own lives, but those of the people around them. The characters are wonderful and the story is both funny and heartwarming. This is my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last!

Everything changed when Venetia Hargreaves’s husband of fifty years passed away. Shortly afterwards, her son Heron announced that he and his wife were moving to France to oversee a new work project, and thy were putting their son Kite in boarding school (much to Kite's dismay). Heron also announced that he didn't feel as if his mother was capable of living on her own anymore and needed a companion (or granny nanny as Kite called it). This made Venetia dismayed, because she knew she was perfectly capable of living alone, and that her son was just being controlling. Used to capitulating to the men in the family, she agreed to interview some women, and she decided to hire a delightful young woman by the name of Liberty Bell, who is also at a crossroads in her life. As soon as Heron & his wife move away, Venetia declares her independence , and with the help of Liberty, she does a complete makeover of her life. One of the items on her agenda happens to be purchasing the ballroom where she once gave ballroom dancing lessons, and spent so much time with a man that she was very much in love with,

I have loved every book that this author has written, but this is definitely my new favorite. There were delightful & quirky characters, women proving that you are never too old to change your life or follow your dreams, a dog named Colin Firth, and happy endings all around. I highly recommend this one for anyone who is looking for a story that will make their day a little bit brighter.

The overall story was good and I loved the sense of community and redefined family that existed in the story. There was a bit too much swearing for me and there were a couple of things that seemed odd to the rest of the story, but overall I enjoyed it.

The Phoenix Ballroom was a balm for the soul! Unlike most character-driven stories I mostly don't care about, this one had me utterly charmed. The characters? They're the kind you want to invite over for tea and gossip. Sure, the plot simmers gently, and sometimes I would have loved the story a bit more fast-paced, but that's exactly what makes it so heartwarming. The book tackles tough topics without becoming too heavy, leaving you with a smile and a feel-good sentiment at the end. If you're looking for an uplifting escape, The Phoenix Ballroom is your happy place.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins Publishing for an early copy of The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan

Author Ruth Hogan has provided a stellar opportunity for readers to grasp some of the myriad ways ordinary people come together and form new kinds of families. While former ballroom-dancing queen Venetia is the center of the story, several additional characters make her story one of growth and change not only for Venetia but for everyone around her.

Recently widowed, Venetia's son Heron insists they hire a "companion" to stay with her while he and his wife spend extended time in Paris. Venetia's life is about to change when this delightful and positive influence gives Venetia the strength to open her home to her grandson, help out with a local church group, intervene in the life of a homeless man who becomes a hero and eventually bring back to life the ballroom where she spent some of her happiest moments. Venetia will also find the courage to confront a calamity from her past.

The Phoenix Ballroom is witty and sharp, caring and nostalgic. This is the book that will be recommended to others for an engaging and thoughtful reminder of how dynamics can and will change.

What an inspiring, feel-good, comfortable read! The Phoenix Ballroom centers on two fabulous women: 74 year old, recently widowed Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves and 46 year old Liberty Bell, who recently lost her mother, her job and her 14 year relationship with a married man. They are brought together by their new life circumstances as each is looking to start anew and find some footing while healing from loss. As time goes on, Venetia and Liberty become surrounded by a wonderful group of people (and dogs) in their daily lives who are supportive and supported by them. Much of their time is focused on backing a spiritual church, drop-in center which helps those going through hard times, and a special, but abandoned and run-down ballroom - all housed in the same building. In addition to superb friendships, The Phoenix Ballroom addresses how life changes when loved ones die or move on, and how the past does not have to define the present and future. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the digital ARC.

I always enjoy Ruth Hogan's books and The Phoenix Ballroom is another gem. After the death of her husband, seventy-four-year-old Venetia decides to buy the ballroom where she taught dancing fifty years ago. The book has a cast of Venetia's quirky family members, the "granny nanny" and many newfound friends. Family secrets are revealed, and the book has a touch of mystery. Thanks to the author, William Morrow, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Any book that Ruth Hogan writes is a book that I want to read. I still remember how much I loved The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes. I also enjoyed Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel, and The Moon, The Stars and Madame Burova. Common to all of these novels are characters for whom readers will care and good stories. That excellent trend continues in The Phoenix Ballroom.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be widowed at a certain age? Does life end or do new experiences come to one? Does it have to be that adult children think they know what is best for one? These are some of the themes in this story.

Venetia is seventy-four when her husband dies. Around the same time, her son and his wife plan to move to France leaving their young son, Kite, behind in boarding school. He is not happy there. Additionally, Venetia’s son, Heron, wants her to have someone nearby. This leads to Liberty Bell’s arrival.

Liberty has her own story. When her mother died, she did not receive the inheritance that she expected. She was left a copy of The Lady magazine which is where she saw the ad for Venetia’s position.

Kite, Liberty and Venetia will all develop and grow in these pages. Readers will adore spending time with them, other characters, and Venetia’s dog named Colin Firth. They will also watch to see what happens to the ballroom of the title.

Anyone who loves a good and charming story should pick this one up. It is very highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan mainly follows Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves, a recently widowed 70-something year old woman who doesn't quite know how to live without her husband of 50 years by her side. As she navigates through her new normal, she meets new friends, reconnects with her family and rediscovers her passions and the real way she wants to live life.

This was my first novel by Ruth Hogan and I enjoyed it! It was easy to read, but still full of emotion and a few laugh-out-loud moments. I loved the overarching message that carried throughout and that all of the characters realized - it's never too late to start living the life you've dreamed.

There were some plot points that felt a bit rushed and not fully developed before suddenly being resolved and I found that to be a little disappointing. However, it didn't take too much away from my overall reading experience and the central theme of the story.

Overall, this was a feel-good story that I would recommend to readers who enjoy themes of found family, quirky characters and happy (somewhat predictable) endings. Thank you William Morrow Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a story of transformation. A group of people who are completely different from one another form a friendship, and eventually a family! It was nice to see how each individual grew and became a truly happy person!

As a previous resident of Bedford I have read all of Ruth Hogan’s novels. I love that she mentions the streets and places that are so familiar to me. I also love that her characters are older, and they are still funny, attractive and full of adventure. They are relevant and their stories worth reading about. Older women in novels tend to be almost invisible, just side characters to younger, sexier people. Ruth Hogan gave us multiple characters in the Phoenix Ballroom, all glamorous, funny, and go getting but coupled with emotive histories and battles.
This was a sweet, easy read.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

The Phoenix Ballroom was a nice break from my usual genre of thrillers. This was a feel good story with characters who you can fall in love with. The focus is more on the characters and their development rather than a plot. Usually I don't care for these types of stories, but this one I really did enjoy. The story addresses some heavy things, but in a light way. Overall, it's just a very uplifting and enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow | William Morrow Paperbacks for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this story! The characters were amazing and very well written. The setting was interesting and overall a very well written book. I would recommend this book.

This was like a low stakes cozy palate cleanser. A story of family friendship and relationships, with a handful of mysteries. Enjoying characters, plot, pacing and writing.