Cover Image: Dreaming of Florence

Dreaming of Florence

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Member Reviews

As a fan of the author I know how well he writes, and this book was no exception. He has the ability to transport the reader to whatever part of the world he wants to take them to with the simplest of words. Yet the way he weaves those words together will have you seeing exactly what he wants you to. Another brilliant story.

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I’m traveling to a Florence in a couple months so I was really looking forward to this book. It was cute. At times it was predictable, but there were some twists. The book was very descriptive of the city, so I’m excited to see it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for this advanced copy.

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As I am Italian I was curious to read how my country was described. The book did a good job in describing Florence and it is a really enjoyable and fun read.
Well written and with likeable characters.
Recommended if you want a light but interesting read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo

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No-one manages to evoke the sense of a place quite like T.A.Williams does. I love the way he describes everything so well that the reader can lose themselves in the places he writes about. His food descriptions make me hungry and I adore the addition of the Labrador (which I recently discovered is in all his books!)

However, I personally struggled with the romantic storyline in this book. I didn't find it very believable personally and that meant that I didn't enjoy it as much as I had anticipated. I found the conversations a little stilted and awkward at times and it just didn't click for me.

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5☆ Was Swept away with the Romance and Charm of Florence. A Must Read!

Dreaming of Florence was simply the most perfectly warm, cosy, and enchanting read.
Trevor swept me away with the magic and ambience of Florence, and I Instantly fell in love with it and the Characters within.
Simply exquisite!

English Teacher Debbie is simply unlucky in love! Nursing a broken heart she seems somewhat distracted.
So much so..... When she crashes into Pierluigi whilst on her bike, the charming and very handsome DR helps her up after she lands on him.
He escorts her home and the following day Pierluigi turns up with a brand new bike to replace the one that crashed.

You see Pierluigi is from Florence and Debbie has always dreamed of travelling to Florence ever since she was younger and received a postcard from a school trip.

After a whirlwind romance, Pierluigi has to return to Florence.

Love sick Debbie's job is under threat, so she decides to follow her heart and take the plunge and visit Florence with her best friend Alice by her side.
Whilst she is there she decides to look up Italian Schools looking for English teachers.

When she returns home she finally gets the news she's been waiting for... a job... A Director of Studies. Teaching English.
So she hands in her notice in London & packs up ready for the next chapter in her life. Moving to Florence, Starting a new career, pursuing love!
But are things going to be that easy?
Is Debbie heading for more heartbreak?

I can't give any more away, except to tell you things just keep on getting better.
Prepare to accompany Debbie on her quest to start a new life, as she grows in confidence, overcomes heartbreak, deals with the ups and downs, discovers new friendships, learns to love herself, learns to love again, and meets fantastic quirky characters.

I adored Debbie, she was extremely brave to follow her heart and jump in at the deep end, I loved her innocence, yet she was very loyal to her friends and work, she never gave up. So much determination was very admirable.

I just want to also mention one loyal, loveable pup Byron. The relationship between Debbie and Byron was sooo cute. Byron wasn't Debbie's dog but he adored her and their little bond was so heartwarming. Being a dog lover myself I can relate to the bond they had. Any book with a dog is a winner for me!!

Trevor's books are always beautifully descriptive. He has this way of capturing the very essence of Florence and if you closed your eyes you could literally be transported there.
 The ambience, the rich history, the smells, the buildings, the scrumptious food, the delightful Italian language every single little detail has been thought of.

Dreaming of Florence has literally had me doing just that....daydreaming!

If you are looking for a book that will capture your heart, transport you to stunning Florence, is Passionate, Enchanting, Heart Warming and has memorable Characters and an adorable pup.... then... Dreaming of Florence.... is the book for you!

Definetly a Must Read, Highly recommend!

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This was a lovely, escapist read on what turned out to be a foggy January day. It was brilliant to be immersed in the beautiful city of Florence and to be reminded of the breathtaking views which I saw when I visited some years ago. The strongest part of the book for me was how it evoked all the colours, sounds and smells of the city.
I totally bought into the story and felt I got to know everyone, especially Debbie who had such a connection to Florence. It was easy to empathise with her as she tried to decide whether to take the plunge and follow her dream. I also liked the way the characters weren't stereotypes but had distinct personalities with faults as well as virtues. Of course as a (sadly) former black labrador owner, I loved Byron's part in the whole story. He added such exuberant joy as black labs do.

In short: heartwarming romance with a touch of humour.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

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This is a fantastic holiday read be it in the summer or winter it transports its reader to beautiful Florence with all its renaissance wonders.
Debbie has a happy place. It is a picture of Florence and when ever she feels sad in her mind she goes to her happy place.
She has done this since a teenager and now an adult she dreams of going to Florence to see it fort real.
An English teacher in Cambridge on her way home from school a gorgeous Italian man knocks her off her bicycle and with him spends the best week of her life until he returns home to Florence.
With redundancy looming in her present mod Debbie gets a job offer to go to Florence and decides to take the chance to change her life and also see for herself her happy place and also find her Italian lover.
A real feel good read which will brighten even the darkest winter day.

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T A never fails to please. His descriptions take you with him and his characters on their journey. I fell in love with them the scenery and the story. Just perfect.

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*Book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Believe it or not, but this was my first T.A. Williams book. I don’t know why it took me so long to read one of his books, but I’m very happy I did. I love Florence and just really liked the sound of this book.

My favourite part was by far Florence. Williams captured the city atmosphere beautifully and with a lot of detail.

We follow English teacher Debbie Waterson, who dreams of going to Florence. However, she is not sure whether it will live up to her expectations.

She crashes into handsome doctor Pierluigi on her bike and suddenly seems to be interested in men again. It’s partly because of him that she decides to go to Florence and she is not disappointed and decides to stay.

She finds a job and meets a lot of new people. A lot is happening and that makes the storyline very exciting. I have to say that certain things in the storyline didn’t make sense to me, but on the whole it’s a wonderful story.

The authors style is very warm and charming and I’m definitely planning to read more of his books.

Rating: 4.5/5

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This is the first book by T.A. Williams that I have read. I’ve admired his books for a long time, but with a huge TBR list I’ve never actually gotten around to reading one, until now.

Open up the gorgeous cover and you will step into a delightful, heartwarming story which has been perfectly executed. The characters are a joy to spend time with, and that scenery is to die for. I’ve never been to Italy, but it felt like I was standing in the heart of Florence.

T.A. Williams has in essence written a ‘Guide to Florence’ hidden within a beautiful story. Not only do you get to visit the tourist areas, but he takes you to places off the beaten track and has you tasting divine food, and sipping delicious wines.

At the centre of this book is a woman who took a chance on fulfilling her dream. Debbie for so long had wanted to follow her heart, but never had the courage. When the opportunity arose, and with a little push from her best friend, she took that chance. If this book teaches you one thing, it’s to stop putting off following your dream, start living it before it’s too late.

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Debbie has always dreamed of going to Florence. After a fling with an Italian doctor, she decides to move to the city. It ends up being the best move she ever made, but only after a few false starts. Quite a lot of different characters, som more likeable than others, but overall a very enjoyable read.

It also bought back nice memories of my holidays in Florence, which added to my enjoyment of this book - and made me want to head off to Italy again!

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There were so many parallels between Debbie's life as a TEFL teacher and my own that I immediately identified with her, although my experience was in Greece and hers of course is in lovely Florence. This book is a delight, both in the descriptions of the city and in the storyline. There are a few twists which I enjoyed as just when you think it's obvious, you're taken in another direction. It's a literary feast for the soul, beautifully written and if you don't want to visit Florence after reading this book then I will be very surprised. Naturally, there are a few events which could appear contrived but somehow it all works. An absolute joy and it proves that men can enjoy and write romantic fiction just as much as women.

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Debbie is cycling home from her job at a Cambridge language school when she has an accident and meets tall, dark and handsome Pierluigi, an Italian doctor. Debbie (like a lot of us) has always fantasised about some day going to Italy, and especially Florence (or Firenze) in particular. She works out a way to get to her dream city, but will it live up to her expectations? Is there a spark between her and Pierluigi, and will things work our for them?

Read this delightful book to find out! Dreaming of Florence by T.A. Williams conjures up everything Italy is said to be and more. Scenery, culture and good food and wine combine with romance and a search for happiness in this read that is so feel-good it begs to be read or listened to. I really felt as if I were there living out the adventure. It's so real. So totally realistic and the pace is very natural and enjoyable.

T.A. Williams really brings the story and characters to life, and if you weren't sure whether to go to Italy before you read this, you will want to afterwards. It's a gem of a book!

Thanks to T.A Williams and Canelo for my ARC in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

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Absorbing, enchanting and beautifully written!

Dreaming of Florence is a charming, romantic story about taking chances, overcoming challenges, developing new relationships, finding happiness, and falling in love.

The prose is light and incredibly atmospheric. The story is warm, engaging and full of tender moments, dramatic events, humorous hijinks, betrayals, acts of kindness, self-discovery, and friendship. And the characterization is spot on with a cast of characters that are fresh, endearing, and quirky, and a setting, the City of Lilies, that is a character itself with its Renaissance architecture, lush landscape, and must-see monuments. 

Overall, Dreaming of Florence is another sophisticated, sweet, entertaining tale by Williams that once again highlights his phenomenal ability to bring a city to life through his remarkable knowledge and passion for its food, culture, and history.

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This is one of Trevor's best books so far! I was fascinated by the references to Florence and actually got a map to hand as I read it, so I knew where the characters were! Debbie was such a fun character and I was rooting for her all the way through!

I love being sidetracked in a book by a sub-plot and this one was perfection! ! got it completely wrong.

Lovely book and roll on the next one!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I have never been to Italy before and, to be perfectly honest, I only have google images to see what the incredibly popular holiday destination looks like. However, after being transported to Italy via T.A.Williams' delectable storytelling, I felt like I was taking steps around Italy with every turn of the page. Obviously I would love to see the country for myself, but, seeing as this author brought the country alive with his storyline, I would quite happily settle with books like this for the near future.

The phrase 'falling head over heels' where romance is concerned has never been more apt, especially seeing as Debbie Waterson managed to do that in front of a doctor. Well, she crashed into him when she was on her bike; same thing though, right? 

I gelled with Debbie's character from the get go. Her feistiness with a hint of naivety was a breath of fresh air as it made Debbie come across more likeable. Plus, she made me giggle a few times as well which always helps!

Debbie has always dreamt of going to Florence but, because of job and the lack of never-ending funds, Debbie had to put her dream on hold. As soon as a chance to fulfil her dream arises, Debbie is filled with nerves - what if the reality of Florence doesn't match up with her dreams?

I really don't want to give anything away, so please do excuse my vagueness! That said, Debbie's adventure in this book makes excellent reading, as it highlights the importance of going after your dreams and living in the moment instead of just....being. Despite Debbie's character starting off a little bit shy, it was great to see her come out of her shell when she realised the world was her oyster and other people needed her help.

'Dreaming of Florence', despite being fiction, gave me a well needed kick up the rear and made me realise that my dreams won't come true unless I actually go and do something about them.

Once again T.A.Williams has brought beauty to readers doorsteps, courtesy of his delightful new book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Debbie's journey and I am sure you will too.

Enchanting, heart-warming and beautifully written, 'Dreaming of Florence' is the book which will turn a blue January into a majestic January.

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I've been meaning to read a book by T.A. Williams for a while now. With titles like Dreaming of Venice and To Provence, With Love, there was enough to tempt me just there. So when Dreaming of Florence appeared on my radar I thought it was time.

Debbie Waterson is the heroine of the story. She works at a language school in Cambridge but has dreamed of visiting Florence since she missed out on a school trip many years earlier. Colliding with a handsome Florentian man called Pierluigi puts the dream firmly at the forefront of her mind.

So Debbie goes to Florence. I'm obviously not to going to tell you what happens next but suffice it to say that she finds it an utterly enchanting place. One of the things I loved most about this book was the descriptions of such a beautiful and historic place and it was clear that it's somewhere the author is very fond of. I have never been to Florence but it sounds incredible and I was imagining myself there, eating in the little restaurants that Debbie visits and looking out over that incredible skyline.

The writing is quite undemanding, no great drama to it even when what's happening to Debbie must be quite dramatic for her. But this is what was nice about reading this book - it was easy and light and yet I still cared about Debbie and what happened to her.

A word about Dario, who you'll only find out about if you read the book. I'm going to say the word 'swoon' and leave it at that. He's one of many really lovely characters in the book and easily one of my favourites.

This is one of those books where you know things are going to work out in the end, everybody is mostly very polite and nice, and things are mostly agreeable, with the odd unpleasant episode providing contrast. It's a lovely romance story, a real pleasure to read and I raced through it. I'll definitely be reading more by T.A. Williams.

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If you ever need an escape from every day life I really can't recommend the books written by T.A Williams enough. With fabulous descriptions he never fails to bring the story to life along with creating some characters who end up close to your heart. Even though I hope to eventually travel to Italy it is still very much a dream at the moment. So I love that this book is set in Florence that way even though I don't get to travel so much anymore I had a wonderful experience of the region all the same. T.A Williams easily brings the sights to life with a lovely descriptive writing achieving just the right amount of detail to pull you right in to the story. I have to give a special mention to the delicious food that was in this story I think I may have put a stone on just listening (oh okay drooling) at the wonderful meals and drinks described.

Debbie is such a likeable character who decides to take a chance on a fresh start in Florence and I loved her bravery for taking the plunge. Along with a range of minor characters who all bring something to the story from a best friend to new friends and of course the perfect romantic lead. Debbie goes on quite a journey and I love how she takes everything in her stride both the good moments and bad. Of course I can't forget a certain Labrador named Byron he definitely added a lovely sweet touch to the story.

Uplifting and heart warming with a gorgeous dash of romance. Making it the perfect story to bring a smile to your face so just sit back relax and let Dreaming of Florence whisk you away!

Five stars from me.

With thanks to Ellie at Canelo for the invite to join the tour along with Netgalley for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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I was so excited to read this book and be whisked away to Florence which sounds like a truly beautiful place. 

The descriptions in this book where absolutely spot on and made it so easy to imagine, the smells, sights everything when I was reading this I really did believe I was there with Debbie.

Debbie was a brilliant character I just loved her from the very start and its so nice cause she is getting a chance to go to Florence a place she always dreams of visiting. I was so happy to see how things progressed for her throughout the book! I really did have a smile on my face!

Reading this has made me want to book a flight straight to Florence for a holiday!

I just love reading T.A William's books you can just feel the amount of passion he puts into his novels and it is such a pleasure to read them!

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