Thankfully we’ve got some much needed escapism to look forward to as the nights draw in, with Strictly back on our screens – and of course… a particularly good book to curl up with! When you purchase through links on our site we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For series thirteen, Du Beke was partnered with newscaster and presenter Katie Derham they made it to Du Beke's first final in all thirteen series and were eliminated in fourth place. It was daunting to see the first two pages were a list of the characters in the book, and it did take a good chunk of the first stave (book was split into 8 sections or staves) to get my head around them all. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products.

The staff at the Buckingham hotel must go on as normal and keep the guests happy but behind the scenes they are all scared of what is to come. There are some beautifully observed scenes depicting Ray,Artie and Billy’s struggles to reach home shores which really pack an emotional punch. A year was a long time to wait to read the follow up to A Christmas to Remember but it was worth it. It follows the lives of Nancy and Raymond, a newly wed couple and an array of different character, all of their lives entwined with the Buckingham Palace, all finding themselves in uncertain times as well as a few other characters who we meet along the way. He has just married his sweetheart, hotel chambermaid Nancy but he feels it is his duty to fight for his country and enlist.This quartet of books about the Buckingham hotel were intriguing, romantic and leading up and into the 2nd world war. With profiteers skulking the London streets, and devious rivals plotting the Buckingham's downfall, the hotel staff must all hold onto what matters most- and decide where their loyalties lie.

I'm not sure that the stave format of Pigeonhole suited this book, with it's huge cast of characters. Do keep tabs on our Events page as we’ve some wonderful dance breaks lined up – a Christmas special with Donahey’s, and fabulous weekend breaks with Warners and Donahey’s in Spring/Summer next year. Nevertheless, keep tabs on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and my mailing list to stay in the loop with all the news and announcements! Lots of plot twists and all set against a hotel background, exploring the difficulties of running a luxury venue in an era of rations and shortages.In Week nine, Du Beke received his first 10s in all seventeen series for their American Smooth; the couple received a total of fifteen 10s during the series. Set during the years of the Second World War, the series tells the tales of members of staff at The Buckingham Hotel in Mayfair. Not only from the real evil enemy and their bombings, but also closer to home from looters and profiteers.