The Phoenix Ballroom *DNF*

The Phoenix Ballroom by Ruth Hogan *DNF*

G👀dread

It’s never too late to start dancing again...

For fifty years, Venetia Hargreaves’s world revolved around her husband. She built their life around his big career, with dinner on the table at six, a lovely home, and a dutiful son just as business-minded as his father. Now Venetia’s a wealthy widow left with a beautiful but empty home, an enviable bank balance, and a distinct feeling that she missed the boat. Once upon a time, she was a dance instructor who dreamed of opening her own ballroom school with a fellow teacher who won her heart. Instead, Venetia chose the safer path.

So, at seventy-four years of age, Venetia declares her independence, first with a makeover, and then by adopting a new dog. But something is still missing...until on one of her dog walks by the river she passes by a building she remembers all too well. In her youth it was the spectacular Phoenix Ballroom, where she used to teach waltzes and tangos. These days it’s a community center and spiritualist church, funded by a mysterious benefactor who only pays for the upkeep.

Eager to revive at least one meaningful thing from her past, Venetia buys the Phoenix Ballroom, and finds a supportive and loving community of lost souls who become a delightful multigenerational family-by-choice.

As the ballroom regains its former glory, the community and Venetia’s humdrum life are revived as well...proving wonderful things can come from the darkest of places.

Genre: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance

,-*' ^ '~*-.,_,.-*~ ĎｉĐ.,_,. ŇⓄ𝕋.,_,.ŦƗη𝓘ⓢħ ~*-.,_,.-*~' ^ '*-,

I don't rate books that I don't finish, but I will say WHY when I've gone past the 20% mark.

👟 Pace? TOO S L O W 

💻 Tidbits ~ At the 30% mark, still no ballroom in sight. A slight mention of the building and quick flashback. So far, nothing uplifting or heart warming as promised. No "I can't wait to see what happens next" but "get to the part where she buys the building and turns it back to it's former glory and gets back to dancing already". 
I get character development, but I've had enough of that already, on with the story. 

I did enjoy that when they hired a helper/companion for her after her husband died they called her the "Granny Nanny"! 

This might be a good one for a comfort reader but I prefer chaos! 

🎧 Narrator: Jane Copland

🎧10.0  hours 🕮 320 (Morrow) ~ 368 (Corvus) pages (depending on source)

What I was expecting

How I felt

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