We are still living in difficult Covid times even though things are better than they had been. This means that I am still such a fan of escapist fiction. Give me a good setting, interesting characters, a plot, and some relationships, and I am good to go.

This story begins in Cambridge before moving to Florence. It is a beautiful city and I was delighted with my (virtual) trip there.

Protagonist Debbie meets Perluigi when she literally crashes into him. Where will their relationship go from this (in)auspicious beginning? Their collision leads Debbie to make the decision to travel to Florence. Enjoy visiting the city with her and Perluigi and watching as she hopes for her happily ever after.

This is a light read. It will be welcomed by romantics who like to escape.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Debbie Waterson has just ended a long relationship and is trying to figure out what is next for her. She is a teacher at a private school, not making a lot of money. She uses an old bicycle to get arounad and wen she crashes into handsome doctor Pierluigi, she wonders if her luck has changed. Her bike is damaged and when he buys her a new one and takes her to dinner, she is under his spell and they spend a wonderful night together. After a whirlwind romance, Pierluigi has to return to Florence. It brings back her wish to always want to go to Florence. Her best friend, Alice, and her go on a quick vacation. Whilr she is there she decides to look up Italian Schools looking for English teachers, as her job in at risk. When she returns home, she is contacted from a private school in Florence and she gets it. Off to Florence she goes for her new beginning.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were wonderful. Debbie is normally a quiet, shy type, but she takes a chance on herself and new experience. She is a kind and caring person, who wants to help others and wants to see them happy. I loved her interactions with the school Administrator. She was a rather grumpy sort, but Debbie never stops trying. Alice is so supportive and is a great friend who helps her take those risks. All the people she meets in Florence were wonderful to her and I just wanted to be on this journey with her. I enjoyed seeing her interactions with Byron, a black lab that adopts her as a favourite of his. I really enjoyed my trip to Florence. Trevor Williams writes wonderfully descriptive stories, so that it seems like you are there. The scenery, the food, the language and the ambience are all there and add so much to the story. Of course there is also the romance, but you will need to read this story to find out all about that. If you enjoy a contemporary romance, armchair travel and a story about following your dreams, then you definitely need to pick this book up.

I didn’t enjoy this book. It wasn’t a romantic comedy as I wanted and the characters weren’t particularly interesting or endearing. But T. A Williams is still very much an author I’m a fan of.

I really loved this! It was a lot of fun, well written and the characters were well developed! I highly recommend this for others!! This was an important read and I found the book to be so great!

Sunny skies, warm weather and a beautiful city to explore - sounds idyllic, doesn't it? Dreaming of Florence is the perfect story to take away your blues and instantly get you dreaming about your next holiday.

The story starts in Cambridge before following Debbie across to her new life in Florence, incorporating plenty of surprises along the way. It seems that when you begin teaching at a prestigious language school, nothing is as it seems and a quiet life is certainly not on the cards for Debbie! However, all this excitement makes for a fast-paced read with plenty to keep you turning page after page.

However, this fast-paced nature does not detract from the imagery and level of description present in the story. From deliciously-described meals to a garden view so perfect you can almost see it in front of you, these small details really helped to bring the story to life.

As she navigates the winding path through her new life in Florence, Debbie meets a whole cast of interesting, vibrant individuals. From her new boss and the language school's grumpy secretary to her flatmates, neighbours, and some of her students, Debbie's social life is filled to the brim with people who have their own stories to tell. This larger-than-life cast of characters fills each page of the book with the colour and passion you could only expect in a beautiful city like Florence.

A lovely light summer romance perfect for holiday reading or in the garden. Finished it in only a few days and enjoyed the setting for the book.

I always have time for a new T. A. Williams novel as all the titles I’ve read are an absolute delight. Womens’ fiction gets a bad rep, but who on earth would not appreciate escapism and wish fulfilment – especially in the current climate??

Dreaming of Florence is part of of Trevor’s ‘Dreaming of…’ series, which takes us on a multi-stop trip around Italy and France and introduces us to a group of women who need a little more direction and excitement in their lives. And dare I say it? Love too…

Aside from Debbie’s story, Dreaming of Florence also gives us a fairly detailed depiction of Florence, which is evocative and – from what I remember of my one visit to Florence – fairly accurate. It’s clear that Trevor’s done his research (whether from experience or t’internet) and he writes the setting beautifully into his plot. I can almost see an Italian country villa, desperate to be renovated…

The ultimate driving force of the novel is, of course, to get Debbie all she dreams of and a love affair to boot, but knowing this doesn’t make the journey any more predictable as her path does not run smooth and she is such a likeable character that we feel her ups and downs keenly.

If I was to make a list of summer reads, just right for poolside reading, then this book would definitely be on it. It was, and is, a pleasure to read Trevor’s work and I can’t wait to move on to his next in the series, Dreaming of St Tropez.

Today I am pleased to welcome T A Williams to my blog to celebrate the publication of 'Dreaming of Florence', which is a fantastic book that takes the reader on a tour of Florence. I have never been to Italy, let alone Florence, however while reading 'Dreaming of Florence' I could feel the Italian sun on my skin and the gorgeous scenery surrounding me. The author's writing allowed me to experience the sounds, smells and tastes of Florence from the comfort of my own home. I really enjoyed the story and felt it brought some of the Italian sun to my life during England's dull and gloomy winter months.

This was a lovely, escapist read, warm-hearted and unputdownable. This is the third book I have ready by T.A. Williams and it did not disappoint. I loved Debbie and her obsession with Florence. With a slow start this book warmed you up for the story and gripped you until the last page, as well as tugging at your heart strings. Overall, a great read and would definitely recommend

Deborah is a teacher at a prestigious school in Cambridge. She is cycling along and runs into a handsome Italian Dr called Pierluigi and they begin an affair. Things end when Pier goes home to Florence and they continue to communicate by text. Debbie's school is in financial trouble and so she starts looking around for another job. She had always dreamed of going to Florence and so applies for a job as a TEFL teacher at an established Florence school, she gets the job and moves over there and hopes to pick things up with Pierluigi but he has a fiancee and has lied to her so Debbie just concentrates on her job and her new life. When something happens to the principal of the school, Debbie steps up and as a result meets a whole bunch of new people and falls head over heels.

I have never read this author before but i like their style and will be buying their back catalogue!

If you’re looking for a perfect beach read, I would definitely recommend packing this in your suitcase. I have always wanted to go to Florence and the descriptions of the breath-taking locations and architecture did not disappoint. The wealth of supporting characters is brilliant and I found myself hoping for their happy ending as much as Debbie's, which itself is rather wonderful. I was thrilled to discover there are more titles by this author and will definitely be seeking them out.

I'm usually extremely good at picking up on male or female author vibes. Without 'knowing' I knew that all books by Jonathan Tropper, Harlan Coben, Peter James e.t.c were written by men, I could just tell. Therefore I was immensely surprised to begin my review of this book and therefore research of the author to find that T.A is Trevor, and Trevor is a man! Trevor, understandably, chose an Androgynous name to write by because as he says, 65% of books are read by women. I rarely find a breezy, summery, chick lit type read that's written entirely by a man. Trevor, you've done a fabulous job. In our Summer reads we want warmth, we want a beautiful setting, we want a romance and we want strong protagonists - T.A Williams gives us exactly that in Dreaming of Florence.

English teacher Debbie Waterson has had an obsession with Florence ever since missing out on a school trip to the city as a child. She often daydreams about the place, but has never visited, too scared that it won’t live up to her expectations. Whilst once again riding her bike and dreaming about basking in the Italian sun, a man steps out in front of her, knocking them both to the ground. Enter Pierluigi - a Doctor who sweeps Florence off her feet? Or not... you'll have to read to find out. Heart-warming and romantic, this book will have you charmed, often laughing and definitely hooked!

I absolutely loved this one. T.A. Williams is a favourite of mine and this might be one of his best books yet. The setting and characters were perfect and I can’t wait to reread this one again sometime soon.

Dreaming of Florence by T.A. Williams is a vacation in Italy without leaving home. The book is so beautifully written, you will envision Florence clearly while you’re reading it. The book is written in Debbie’s point of view only and I personally missed some other perspectives. Debbie is a brave young woman who goes to a new country to experience a whole new set of experiences she could not get at home.

This is a feel-good book that transports the reader to Florence and to “experiences by Debbie”.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

When Debbie bumps into the gorgeous Italian doctor Pierluigi is it fate? She is soon living her dream in Florence but can she get over her past bad romances and move on?

Another lovely book by this author, you are immediately drawn into the story and the feel of Florence, you are really transported there, and of course it wouldn't be complete without the inevitable black Labrador! Definitely worth reading

This was a really charming and cosy read. I really liked the easy plot line and the engaging characters, of course the added bonus was the dogs - which I can never resist.

It was a really feel good, happiness conquers kind of story and I had a good time reading it.

Dreaming of Florence is a lovely 'feel good' read. Perfect for a summers day or holiday. It's a fluffy tale of Italy, love, deception, friendship and as light and fizzy as a perfect Prosecco.
Many thanks to netgalley and Canelo for the opportunity to preview.

Debbie Waterson has always felt her life should be spent in Florence, ever since she was unable to go on a school trip her dreams were that one day Florence would be her Home one of her school friend brought her a postcard and she treasured that. That was her special place.
One day after a teaching class she was cycling home in Cambridge when a gorgeous man in a trance walks out in front of her resulting in a collision where she ended on top of him.
Imagine her surprise when she discovers not only is he Italian he’s from Florence he is a doctor doing training in a Cambridge hospital over the Summer. They hit it off Debbie tells him she has always wanted to visit Florence.
When the school Deb works for need to cut costs herself and her friend Alice decide to take a trip to Florence see if there is any teaching jobs there, she also wants to find her secret place and possibly meet up with Dr Masino.
A beautifully told story of romance, friendship, adventure and much more it will keep you guessing until the end. Will Debbie find her Happy Ever After?

This book is a slow starter, but once it got going I loved it. The characters are well rounded, and very likeable. The descriptions of central Florence were amazing, I felt like I was there. A lovely story, especially if you love Italy.

I give this book 3.5/5 stars.

Dreaming of Florence is one of those books that instantly falls into the feel-good category.  It’s a light and charming read.  Debbie is delightfully drawn and we see how she develops through each challenge that life brings her.  Although she comes from a loving home, finances were always a struggle for Debbie and her family.  She works hard, is never frivolous and is appreciative of all she has and has accomplished.  Her dreams really do come true when she finally makes it to Florence, in fact, you can almost think of the city as her fairy godmother.

There are some cute, almost clever, plot twists as the story unfolds.  There is the mystery of Pierluigi to unravel and there is the elusive rose garden to find.

The story is told in the third person but from Debbie’s viewpoint alone.  The reader is only allowed to see Debbie’s perspective on what’s going on.  After reading several multiple POV stories recently, I enjoyed this change.  Interestingly enough, it is still easy to spot when Debbie’s opinions/ perspectives of someone else are unfair or biased.

I wish some of the other characters were as well drawn as Debbie was, but perhaps that’s just a result of the singular POV.  Her friend Alice, goes through a transformation but I would have liked to get to know Alice a bit more.

While I really liked this book, I can’t say I loved it.  T. A. Williams uses very pretty words and put together lovely sentences but sometimes the flow just didn’t seem quite right.  I felt disconnected from the story very often.  I didn’t feel as if I was experiencing everything with Debbie.  I liked her, I wanted her to be lucky in love.  I really wanted to know what happens next but I didn’t feel.  I didn’t get scared for her or angry on her behalf or giddy with happiness for her.  I felt a little disconnected. This story didn’t bring the feels. But it still made me happy while reading.

Overall, I enjoyed this book.  It was cute and sweet and made use of a couple of plot twists.  If you are looking for something quick and light to put a smile on your face, try it.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Canelo for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.