Dreaming of Verona
by T.A. Williams

.Verona is the City of Love. But will Suzie find romance there or, like Romeo and Juliet, will it all end in tears?

When Suzie is hired to accompany spoiled, abrasive Lady Alexandra Tedburn on an all-expenses-paid holiday to Italy, she fears the trip will be a disaster.

But she soon discovers there’s more to Alex than shopping and tantrums, and she’s determined to help her realize her potential – against Alex’s authoritarian father’s wishes.

As they settle in Verona, Suzie can’t stop thinking about local artist Michael, who is still mourning the tragic death of his wife. With Suzie’s future uncertain, and Michael’s past holding him back, it seems there’s no hope for romance in the city of star-crossed lovers… or is there?

A gorgeously uplifting and moving story, Dreaming of Verona is the perfect read for fans of Holly Martin, Tilly Tennant, and Jenny Oliver.

Favorite Quote:

She and Alex had been getting on so well, she had even started to forget that they were staying in an exorbitantly expensive hotel, but this place brought back to her the fact that she was an insignificant speck of very ordinary cosmic dust at the edges of the glittering Milky Way inhabited by the rich and famous.

My Review:

This was my introduction to the smooth flowing and descriptive writing of T.A. Williams. I enjoyed his colorful writing style, which heavily featured lush and lavish depictions of the beautiful Italian scenery, environs, and delectable dishes. I appreciated his unique and enticing characters as well and was absolutely adoring Suzie until I found out she was most likely part demon during a scene in which she was interrupted when reading a beloved book and, “…Suzie folded the corner of the page…” how monstrous!   😉

The storylines evolved gradually and gently but I found I was losing my patience with the spoiled and entitled twenty-five-year-old designer-clad Alex when she was whining and bemoaning that her wealthy father would not allow her to make her own decisions or take art lessons and if she disobeyed he would cut off her allowance and credit cards and she would be destitute… I actually growled aloud to my Kindle, “Suck it up, Buttercup, and get a job!” Which she later did and redeemed herself quite well in fact.

I picked up three new additions to my Brit Words and Phrases List with: agony aunt – a British advice column like the American Dear Abby, blowing a hoolie – a raging storm, and happy as a sandboy – blissfully contented.