After reading Dreaming of Italy, I know where I want to go on my next international vacation. T.A. Williams wrote a beautiful descriptive book of two couples falling in love in Northern Italy. I could picture the sites, the architecture and the food, oh the food. The four main characters were wonderful. they were extremely well-developed and oh so likable. Rich, the son of the studio owner had been
through a lot in his 27 years, but between Italy, the acceptance of his ability by Emma and the gorgeous Italian guide, Marina he blossoms. Emma is a woman in her 30s who has never been in love. At one point she is referred to as an Ice Maiden, married to her job, but that is the persona she gives off, at least for the first part of this story. Mark had some surprises up his sleeve that added a bit of excitement to the story and Erasmus, the eccentric director was a bit of a hoot. I know it seems cliche to fall in love in Italy, but that seems to be the case in this story. All did not go smoothly though and this book forces the characters to make some difficult decisions and determine what they really want out of life.

This is a heartwarming romance, an entertaining story to escape into and a wonderful tour of lesser known areas of Italy complete with delicious food and wine. Throw in an adorable Lab, who adds some humour due to his antics, a little Hollywood magic with superstars and a seemingly endless supply of money, some moonlit nights, romantic walks and you have a book that is swoon worthy. I definitely recommend this one, then plan you vacation for when this pandemic is over. Another great story T.A. Williams.

A book from a prolific writer who knows his geography very well. Apart from the romance angle, the book was almost a travel memoir covering Piedmont, Umbria, Assagio, Florence, Pisa and every town and village in between.

Although the story revolved around Emma a senior administrative officer in a film unit, hell bent on her career and doing the best she can, love hits her unexpectedly on her travels in Italy trying to scout out locations for their new best seller film. She has to focus on that, and having the boss's son with her on training adds to her responsibilities. Richard seems like a sensible guy but he has a "history" and Emma has to keep that also at the back of her mind. On top of that the arrival of Mark as a guide and historian who is knowledgeable about the areas does not help her sensibilities. He is a distraction she could do without considering that she has to also balance two hugely acclaimed actors at the same time and prevent them having any spats (which they are inclined to do). We also have an eccentric director on the scene who comes out with statements which are ludicrous but because he is brilliant, everyone just tries to appease him and move on.

I liked the story mainly for the travel descriptions part. It was ideal for me an armchair traveler right now who dreams of places like this and this author does make it seem very real.

This book is a great tour of some beautiful places in Italy. A sweet, and  easy read! 

Emma works in film productions and the company that she works for decides to send her to Italy so that she can scope out some amazing places for filming their next hit movie. Emma loves her job and can't wait to spend some time in beautiful Italy soaking up the atmosphere, taking in the sites, and exploring the rich history and food. This trip if all goes well could land her a dream vice president role. 

Then Emma meets Mark but does he feel the same way about her too?

I also enjoyed seeing Rich and Marinas relationship blossom. Throw in an eccentric movie director and two Hollywood heavyweights and you have a sublime cast to read about! 

A lovely escapism book for the times as they are at the moment when you have to stay where you are.

A bittersweet week to be publishing this title…  I enjoyed this nostalgic look at an Italy that I have loved for over 50 years, and wish with all my heart that I could return to.  Dreaming of Italy is a great “grand tour” with a likable cast of characters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a sweet, easy read! 

Emma works for a movie production company and loves her job. When she is sent to Italy to scope out scenes for filming what is expected to be the the "big hit" movie for her company, she is under pressure as she has been promised a promotion to Vice President but is also taking Rich, the bosses son with her. When she meets Mark, she feels an instant connection - something Emma isn't used to feeling. 

I loved Emma as a character. I admired her boss lady career and everything she stood for. She was realistic, and also came across as being a genuinely nice person which was great as you don't read many stories of big shots working in Hollywood being lovely people. 

It was interesting to see Emma's feelings for Mark develop, as she was so career driven, and hadn't really even been in "true love" before. Mark seemed like a lovely guy too, but it was hard to grasp whether he had feelings for Emma too. 

I loved the Italian setting - Italy is a country I have always dreamed of visiting and it was really brought to life in this story. 

I also enjoyed Rich and Marina as side characters, and their budding relationship was also great to read about. Throw in an eccentric movie director and two Hollywood heavyweights and you have a sublime cast to write about! 

It was great to see the relationship between Emma and Mark slowly evolve into love. The only thing I wish was different is that they realised their feelings for each other sooner so we could have had some more scenes with them being together. 

Overall, a lovely book that was super relaxing to read with awesome scenery. 

Huge thanks to Canelo Escape and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

T. A. Williams is a go-to romance author for me. His writing exquisitely describes Italy and brings the delightful places, delicious food and amazing characters he creates to life. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book by this author that I didn’t enjoy. This was easily another 5* read that I devoured reading in a day.

Emma’s life has centred on working her way up the job ladder in a major Hollywood film company. She’s such a workaholic she hasn’t thought much about romance or love at all. When her boss sends her on a tour of Italy scouting potential locations for a new blockbuster film, it seems like romance has a way of finding her after all. The gorgeous historical adviser for the film, Mark, is the biggest distraction she never counted on. Suddenly, work isn’t the main driving force for Emma as she finds herself contemplating whether being focussed solely on work was the right idea after all.

Emma’s a relatable protagonist and seems to have let work take over her life whilst not really trying to. She’s a really strong character and I could definitely empathise with some of the choices she was having to make. Her independence and inner strength throughout are brilliant – I love a strong female protagonist. It’s lovely to see her attitudes towards work change during the story, there’s some brilliant character growth.

There isn’t just one romance happening in this story and it still works seamlessly. I feel like I’ve been whisked away around Italy whilst confined to my own home. There’s even a black labrador, a classic T. A. Williams touch. I really can’t say anything else other than I loved it!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Netgalley and Canelo Escape for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

Yet another Williams book that I enjoyed, and this one set in Italy. I feel like the novels that I got to read for him have given me a fun time exploring some of the places that I’ve always wanted to go, Italy definitely being high on my list. The imagery that Williams shows in this novel, even though it may seem like those within the novel may not appreciate their surroundings as much as we would like. Well think about it: if you have the chance to be in a country like Italy like it’s a regular thing, would you see every day as a blessing even though you’ve seen it over and over? Probably not.

Now Emma is in Italy trying to find the ideal location for a new movie. She has Mark assisting her, a historical adviser that can appreciate the beauty that is Italy, although Emma can’t see the beauty in Mark. Not yet, anyway. Since Emma needs to make sure that she finds the perfect location or her career is in jeopardy, and she made a promise to herself that love would not get in the way of her career, she’s not going to fall for Mark or anyone else for that matter. Or is she?

Again this was a lighthearted novel that would be sure to give you a break from the uncertainty of today’s times, and make you want to celebrate the things around you while you can. If you’re in Italy while reading this, I’m even more jealous of you. Wherever in the world you are, just remember to stop and enjoy it. Something that hopefully Emma and Mark will remember to do more often.

A lovely story told from an interesting viewpoint that is different to the norm. Keeps you hooked from start to finish and show cases beautiful areas of Italy on its way. Definitely recommended.

I love this series and I loved this instalment.
It was liked travelling and seeing places through different eyes.
I think it's an enjoyable and entertaining read. 
I rooted for the well thought characters, liked the setting and the plot kept me hooked.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Favorite Quotes:

JM did have his ever-present right-hand man, conveniently named Dexter, perched on a stool at his side to fill him in if her name should escape him. With his minute stature alongside his six-foot-six employer, Dexter had always reminded Emma of one of those little fish who swim around sharks, even venturing into their mouths to remove parasites and keep the predator healthy.

Where do I start? He eats everything with a spoon. Doesn’t trust forks. Seriously, you should see him with steak. He drinks half a pint of black coffee for breakfast out of an old tooth mug that’s rumoured never to have been washed. He carries the mug around with him hooked to his belt wherever he goes. They say he meditates for ten minutes before and after every bowel movement. He never wears green. I forget the rest, but you’ll love him. He’s a hoot.

A little quirky?? You really like understatements, don’t you? Erasmus is looking at quirky in the rear-view mirror. I’ve got a poodle that’s saner than he is.


My Review:

This is the second time I have a perused a gentle, sweet, and satisfying read courtesy of T.A. Williams, and both stories featured Brits who were traveling through Italy, and as luck would have it, I adored them both.  The storylines were cleverly interconnecting, pleasantly enjoyable, slowly building, and easily relatable, while cast with likable characters I wanted to root for.  And oh, what a drudgery, the characters were tasked with scouting locations for a romantic movie to be shot in Italy.  The writing style was easy to follow, colorfully descriptive, and flowed smoothly with interesting and amusing little twists and teases to pluck at my curiosity and keep my interest primed.  The only problem I encountered was the uptick in my appetite due to mouthwatering descriptions of the sumptuous meals ingested and enjoyed by the lucky characters.  I may have gained a few pounds from all that delicious pasta.

Loved this book - perfect in this isolation time; it was my companion. It gave me some insight into searching for film locations which I had naively thought would be already in the writer’s mind and ended in Venice where I have been and could equate with the places and descriptions. Coupled with a simmering romance it was a well deserved 5 star

This may be the last book in the 'Dreaming of ...' series but what a wonderful finale! The reader is taken on a virtual tour of Italy, the writing bringing alive the scents and tastes of Piedmont, The Cinque Terre and Tuscany. For several hours I thought of nothing except rolling hills, delicious Italian food and would Emma and Mark get together. Just what we need in these times - a glimpse of a happier time and place.

I really enjoyed this sweet book.

This is not the first book I have read by T.A. Williams and it definitely won't be the last.

Emma is a workaholic. While working for a major Hollywood film company, Emma gets the opportunity to travel to Italy to look out for the perfect location for their movie. While in Italy Emma meets Mark, a historical advisor. He slowly gets into Emma's head and heart, so much so she realizes there is more to life than a job.

T.A. Williams has an amazing writing technique, I could really visualize Italy and the characters. Mark is so sweet and extremely caring. He has this mysterious side to him that I really wanted to get to know of him more! I loved him! 

Overall I enjoyed this book!

Emma has a high profile role in a Hollywood film studio her boss asks her to find the perfect Italian locations for a major film. Her career is her main focus in life. Love not a priority until she meets Mark, the historian.  

The journey through Italy is atmospheric and full of vivid imagery. The author's knowledge of Italy shines through and lets the reader escape. The glamour of the film industry gives the story its glitz, especially when two A list stars visit the locations and Emma's assistant is the studio owner's son.

The gentle romance between the characters echoes the screenplay. The last scenes in Italy are particularly poignant. The ending is worthy of a Hollywood romance.

I love reading this series with its well-researched setting uplifting romance and humour.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Canelo via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was the first novel by this author that I have read and since I happened in Italy, I was really curious about it.

In this story we follow Emma and Mark, exploring Italy and falling in love with the characters and the scenery. And of course there are other characters that appear, giving us some much need interaction and creating a good realism to the story.

Plus since there is a Hollywood film involved, it kind of gives an interesting extra element for the plot and allowing more characters and interaction. I loved that part of the story, not only did it allow more the relationships between the various characters, but it also gave some context to the plot.

The fact that this book happen in another country, one that I have always wanted to visit Italy, is kind of a dream like story. With the current situation, it allow us to visit all the landscapes and historical places without leaving the comfort of our home. It opened our mind and transport us with brilliant descriptions. It almost felt like being there. Seeing, smelling and listening everything. And of course it leaves even more curious, adding names to my list of places to visit.

Overall, it was a warm book with a great storytelling that makes us feel as though we are there. A fantastic novel and I'm quite curious about other works by this author.

During these times of uncertainty in our world which is full of negativity resulting from the all too real Coronovirus outbreak it is a small relief to be able to enter the world of ‘make believe’ if only for a short time. We may not be able to alter the outcome of the disease but it gives our brains a little ‘closed’ time & I can think of nobody better than Trevor to be able to whisk me away from reality.

I have read so many of his books & he never fails to disappoint me, no matter what my personal circumstances might be. I can rely on a book/story full of hunky men, a leading lady, a whole wealth of knowledge revolving around the specific countryside setting in which we are immersed & of course a beloved faithful labrador woofie.

This time we follow Emma who works for a large Hollywood film company whilst she researches some stunning scenery & niche holiday spots in Italy which could be suitable locations for the latest movie, bearing in mind there is rather a tasty promotion riding on these details so Emma is keen to please Mark the historical info guy but that might be a lot easier if she wasn’t letting her heart rule her head!

I have been to Italy a few times but haven’t travelled the coast the film team are exploring so it was a wonderful scenic history tour for me, not to mention the mouthwatering food at the same time as reading what in time will be the film title .. Dreaming of Italy.

I fully enjoyed this novel & any fan of this author’s work knows there will be a suitably entwined romance in the book, so just curl up with your favourite beverage & sit in the sun to read or if you are in the not so sunny UK just imagine the sun is shining & you are basking near a pool big enough for the woofie to get her paws wet. This can be read in it’s entirety in a day if you allow yourself to become absorbed & have the time available to do so. 

I have no hesitation in recommending Dreaming of Italy & thank Canelo, Netgalley, Trevor & Rachel from Random Resources for my copy which I read & reviewed honestly & voluntarily.

Thank you to Rachel for letting me take part in the Publication Day Push and to Canelo for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I have nearly all of Trevor's. books on my TBR list but this is the first on I have read. 

Emma is a workaholic. While she loves her job she really needed to learn to switch off. IT was really great to see her relax over the course of the book and realise while work is important there are more things to life than just work. I was pleased that although this journey happened that Emma didn't lose her core principles. 

Mark was a great character. He had just the right amount of mystery to make me want to find out more about him. He is gorgeous, obviously, but there is more to him than that. He is so genuine, caring and humbled. I fell in love quite quickly

I absolutely loved the descriptions of all the different locations in the books. They were so vivid and detailed. I want to go and visit all of them! This is a perfect book for being in lockdown because you can easily imagine yourself there. It was the perfect escape from my sofa, not that I don't love my sofa it's just we are 7 weeks into the lockdown now! 

This book was heartwarming and beautiful. It is exactly what we all need right now and I know that I will be clearing my TBR pile of more of Trevors books.

Sit back and enjoy a virtual tour of Northern Italy with Emma and Richard.

Emma's spent her entire working life in Hollywood working for J.M. Global Productions (JMGP). She's devoted her life to working hard, as she climbs the corporate ladder within the film industry. The sacrifice is her lack of someone significant in her life. When her boss, Dexter tells her she's going to Italy as a location manager, she's both surprised and delighted and embraces the responsibility to find the perfect places to shoot an upcoming blockbuster. Accompanied by Dexter son, Richard, the pair fly to Turin, where life has an unexpected turn for them both.

It's easy to presume what happens to Emma as she's guided around Northern Italy, looking for unique settings for scenes. Yet, the narrative is as surprising as the hidden gems discovered as the perfect backdrops for the film she's working on. The hero, like Emma, is British, not Italian but still sexy and very likeable.

I'm a nerdy reader, so I got my atlas to follow Emma's journey. I've visited some of the more well-known places mentioned therefore I enjoyed revisiting them through the eyes of the wonderful cast of characters. The author does a magnificent job in describing the places visited to bring them alive capturing the essence of what makes them special.

I've always thought brains are sexy, and Mark is a man who is both attractive and intelligent. The historical advisor is a welcome distraction and I enjoyed him getting to know Emma. Their relationship highlights the difficulties couples have to navigate when faced with the geographical challenge of living on different continents. It acts as a catalyst for them both to evaluate their lives and to decide what is important to them.

Overall, this novel ticked all the right boxes for me; a fabulous location, lots of fascinating facts and lastly, a heart-warming romance with a happy ending.

***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Canelo Escape via NetGalley***

There are few things guaranteed more to cheer you up more than a new T.A. Williams book, and this one could not have come at a better time.

In a time where we cannot travel, we can take a gorgeous trip to Italy in our imagination through this book.

I liked Emma as a character, and in fact, I found all the characters likeable. The author has great skill in creating very real characters.

The locations, and descriptions of them, are stunning. It’s just so authentic and so well depicted, and you can so easily imagine all these wonderful places.

Be warned also, the descriptions of the beautiful food will leave you longing. Sumptuous Italian meals are described in glorious detail.

This book is such a pleasure to read, with beautiful settings, great characters, and a gently weaving and highly entertaining plot. For anyone familiar with this author’s books, I’m also happy to report that there is a labrador, adorable as always!

The perfect piece of escapism, highly recommended.

Dreaming of Italy came at a good time for me as I had just visited the country for the first time back at the beginning of February, although I went to the one place they avoided in the book due to the crowds – Florence.

The plot revolves around workaholic Emma who works for a film company in Hollywood and was just about to start filming on a movie when she is asked to travel to Italy to find some locations for the companies big upcoming movie featuring two leading Hollywood stars.

She isn’t happy about leaving her other movie in the hands of someone else but she knows that this is the chance to climb the corporate ladder and make a name for herself. Just before she leaves for Italy she is told that her boss’s son, Richard, will be travelling with her as her assistant and for her to show him the ropes.

The movie they are finding locations for is set just before WWI and so they need someone who knows the history of the country to guide them to the best locations, welcome rich, sexy Mark who has Emma’s heart all in a flutter. As the pair spend more and more time together Emma finds herself more attracted to Mark, but she is there working and making a name for herself in Hollywood not to find love, isn’t she?

Dreaming of Italy is such an adorable book. I loved the characters and the setting so much. Author T.A. Williams obviously knows the country very well as you feel like you are there with the characters visiting these beautiful places and eating the exquisite food. There were even a few places I’d never heard of before that I had to google and boy are they gorgeous.

From the first page, I was captivated and flew through the book quickly. The characters all felt very realistic which made the story so enjoyable. The pace throughout was constant, no fast or slow parts and there weren’t many big reveals, except for who Carmen is, but the lack of shock moments works in a book like this.

This is a light-hearted read that is the last in the authors ‘Dreaming of’ series. The writing is sublime and had me invested in the book from the very first page. This is one of those books that you want on a cold dark rainy day to cheer you up or to take to the beach and relax with on your sun lounger. It just makes you feel happy whatever your situation.