I don’t have much to say about this book, other than I enjoyed settling down and reading it. The way all the characters came together into the story, was as the title says, a chance in a million. It is just one of those really good books.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
This is not the first book I have read by this author, and in a similar romantic genre it provides a pleasant, interesting, undemanding read - you know what you're going to get! I enjoyed the atmosphere of the setting, both Venice and the hills, and the characters were interesting. The story was unusual with an army background for the main characters, although it relied so heavily on everything that happened 2 years ago (even the dog is 2 years old!) that I was wishing for a different number! There are some odd turns of phrase (absolutely full, managing to find the strength to ask for a little espresso - why does requesting a drink require strength? - and knowing David had every right to dig into her background - he is not her employer, he does not have the right to do anything of the sort, and a 'help yourself buffet' - isn't that what a buffet is?) . Much is made of the mass of hair David has and whilst this is important to the storyline I thought it was a bit overdone, becoming rather repulsive at times making me think of a beard containing hundreds of old crumbs of food.
However, if you enjoy a light read this will certainly fit the bill.

A Chance in A Million
By TA Williams
SUMMARY
Having left the army to recover from a traumatic experience, Captain Jane Reed is on her way to Venice to assist Lady Veronica Cooper, a world-famous writer who has lost her mojo. Plagued by grief and sleepless nights, Jane soon finds a kindred spirit in Veronica, coping with her own loss after the death of her husband.
When the two relocate to Veronica’s villa in the countryside to escape the summer tourists, Jane meets the rest of the Cooper family – including Veronica’s brooding son, David. With his own tragic past, David has resigned himself to a life of solitude. Jane finds herself determined to bring joy back into his life, even if it means finally spilling her secrets.
Can Jane and David help each other heal, and find love in the process, or are some scars too deep to treat?

MY REVIEW:
Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate is a predetermined course of events or is it? I really enjoyed this book because it had all the ingredients to make me happy, optimistic, encouraged and convinced that ‘in the face of adversity, hope often comes in the form of a friend who reaches out to us’. The story has a formidable opening and engages immediately with the reader as we learn that Captain Jane Reed has been severely wounded, physically and emotionally whilst on active duty.
“Weeks in hospital, months of convalescence, Post Traumatic Disorder and a broken heart”
Jane must somehow rebuild her life and that is where the story begins. Her road to recovery takes her to Venice and a job as a PA for a successful if yet reclusive author. We learn that Veronica (Lady Cooper) has not written anything since the death of her husband. Grief in the form of melancholy and depression have taken hold and she has shut herself away from the world. The relationship between them sets off cautiously and gingerly but gradually, the sorrow of both women wanes and they embark on a mutual healing process. The common bond is a love of writing.
When Lady Cooper and her household move to their summer residence, to avoid the intense summer heat and bustle of Venice, we meet other interesting characters. Veronica’s mother-in-law, the rather colourful and eccentric jean-wearing and bike-riding Signora Flora, 95 years young. Two daughters, Diane and Beatrice and a granddaughter called Linda. Jane finds herself interacting with these family members who express kindness, care, concern, nurture and attention. Another casualty of war is Veronica’s son David. After a traumatic event while he was in the army, he too has become a loner and hides himself away at their country villa. Two damaged souls trying to understand and accept that the events which caused their trauma have passed and the worst is over but to move forward means opening the heart. For me, one of the messages is that tragedy does not define you, it shapes you. Trauma does not disqualify anyone from love but David doesn’t know how to be around people and they don’t know how to be around him. He needs someone with empathy and I will leave it to the reader to discover whether Jane is that person!

Why I recommend this book
, or Venice's near neighbour which was the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Gondoliers serenade their clients as they punt along the water. Wandering the cosy, cobbled lanes of Venice is one of the pleasures of a visit to this beguiling city and the shimmer of the water at the end of an alley or far corner of a square is as enticing a sight as you’re likely to behold anywhere on earth. How could romance not blossom here? The author’s effortless description of places is expertly and artistically done. Jane’s first glimpse of Venice.
“It was a scene that Jane had seen many times in books and on the TV. An unforgettable assortment of light cream-coloured stone buildings whose intricate maze of exotic Byzantine arches gave them an almost lacework appearance”
There is a lightness to the flow and way of writing. It is imaginative and reflective. This is Jane’s story so we are reading it from her point of view. The author, TA Williams, whom I interviewed some months ago is rather amused that some of his readers think the author must be female. Strangely, this is utterly plausible, Female writing is considered to be more ‘involved’ as it reflects a deeper interaction of the writer with the readers. Indeed, there are some wonderful threads running through the story which add a touch of glamour and sophistication such as Lady Cooper’s collection of Hollywood iconic dresses. Jane wears an evening dress which once belonged to Ingrid Bergman at a charity auction at Venice Casino.
“Had this dress really belonged to the star of Casablanca? It was a delicate off-white colour, quite sheer and unmistakeably pure silk. It was as light as a feather and shimmered in the light of a chandelier”
A comforting and enjoyable read. TA Williams uses escapism as a literary device to the best possible effect!
“She took a deep breath and hoped for the best. This job would be a chance in a million to work alongside a world-famous author and experience life in the unique surroundings of a seventeenth-century palazzo alongside the Grand Canal”


AUTHOR BIO:
TA Williams studied languages at university, then lived and worked in France and Switzerland before going to Italy for seven years as a teacher of English. He and his Italian wife returned to the UK with their little daughter (now long-since grown up) where he ran an English language school for many years. Now he lives in a sleepy little village in Devonshire. He has been writing almost all his life but it was only seven years ago that he finally managed to find a publisher who liked his work enough to offer him my first contract.
The fact that he writes escapist romance is something he still find hard to explain. His early books were thrillers and historical novels. He says that maybe it’s because there are so many horrible things happening in the world today that he feels the need to provide something to cheer up his readers. His books provide escapism to some gorgeous locations.

BOOK BLURB:
Published by Canelo Escape (15 Sept. 2022)
Paperback and e-book available on Amazon
https://tawilliamsbooks.com/
OTHER BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR:
Second Chances in Chianti
Secrets on the Italian Island
Dreaming of Italy
Dreaming of Tuscany
Under a Sienna Sun
A Little Piece of Paradise
Dreaming of Rome
An Escape to Remember
Dreaming of Verona
Dreaming of St Tropez

A great escape read! I loved the atmospheric setting.
Many thanks to Canelo and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

T A Williams returns with a gentle, escapist and emotional Italian-set contemporary romance that ticks all the right boxes: A Chance in a Million.

After a traumatic experience, Captain Jane Reed had left the army in order to recover and recuperate from all the anguish she had endured. Jane is looking forward to making a fresh start, so she is on her way to Venice where she will be helping Lady Veronica Cooper, an international best-selling author who has lost her mojo. Jane might have left the army, but the demons that persecute her still haunt her and torment her and she finds herself battling with sleepless nights and paralyzing grief. With Veronica having recently lost her husband, Jane finds a kindred spirit in another woman who is also experiencing trauma of her own.

Keen to avoid the swarming tourists, Jane and Veronica head to a countryside villa and Jane makes the acquaintance of her employer’s son, David, who has his own demons to contend with. Brooding David has resigned himself to a lifetime of solitude and loneliness, but when a determined Jane vows to bring joy back into his life, he quickly realises that the former army captain has managed to breach the barricades he had built around his heart.

Will Jane and David find the second chance they had long given up on? Or will they continue to be held hostage by the past?

With A Chance in a Million, T A Williams has once again written a wonderfully romantic and highly enjoyable contemporary tale that will make readers laugh and cry. Enchanting, emotional and so entertaining, I was completely immersed in Jane and David’s story and I didn’t want this book to end.

A lovely read from a writer who always delivers, A Chance in a Million is the latest must-read romance by T A Williams.

Get ready to virtually visit Italy and the fantastic sights
As well as restaurants with delicious delights.
Explore the locations, meet folks for whom you'll care,
All are so superbly described it is as if you're there!

This story has an explosive start,
One that injures Jane and breaks her heart.
Nightmares, PTSD, grief and healing
Are a lot of things with which to be dealing.

A fresh start, somewhere different and new
A job assisting Veronica, a famous writer, will certainly do!
Even better there'll be a total change of scene, too,
Living in Venice is a dream come true.

However, Veronica is grieving after her husband died
Now she's struggling to write again although she's tried.
Her son, David, is endeavouring his secrets to conceal.
Can these three help each other to heal?

A story of grief and healing and letting others in
Helping heal yourself and them so you all win.
A beautiful read filled with love and romance
Shows time is a great healer, we just need to give it a chance.

An emotive, moving story I enjoyed throughout
So about highly recommending it I have absolutely no doubt.
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I throughly enjoyed reading it and this is my honest review.

Absolutely amazing read! Such a captivating read! Amazing cover art that was super eye catching would definitely recommend to all!

This is such a charming, inspiring, and romantic love story about healing after trauma. I loved how Jane helped Veronica heal her grieving heart and inspired her to start writing again. I also liked the connection between Jane and David because of their similar experiences in the military. This book leaves the reader feeling uplifted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I just finished this book and in record time, given I could not put it down once begun. T.A. Williams never disappoints when it comes to romance. In this book, Jane, who has recently left the British Army, finds a job as a PA for a famous novelist in Venice. She needs a change to recover from serious injuries suffered when a bomb exploded, killing her lover. And, the novelist (Veronica) has been mired in depression following the death of her husband. As Jane gets used to her new situation, she also gets to meet Veronica's family, including her troubled adult son David who also has experienced some unknown trauma. The book follows the effect they all have on one another over the course of a summer.
I loved this book because the story was interesting and not overly focused on sex. The characters are believable, yet unique enough to endear them to the reader. It also includes a lovable dog who adds humor to the story. The descriptions of the settings, both in Venice and the hillside summer estate, make the reader feel as if they are experiencing it themselves. I'd highly recommend this book!

I can always guarantee an escape from everyday life when I pick up a book by T.A. Williams and A Chance in a Million is another great example of this. The opening chapter instantly grabbed my attention and definitely made me root for Jane. Although to be fair I couldn’t help but be charmed by all the characters in this book. A special mention has to go to Dino, another brilliant canine creation from T.A. Williams.

I was fully immersed into the setting of Italy with stunning descriptions. At its heart though was a sweet romance that had a wonderful slow burn feel. It was lovely to see the characters grow and go from strength to strength. Along with beginning to put their pasts behind them and begin to focus on the future. There are also other important themes such as grief that is explored that added an extra depth to the story.

I enjoyed how the characters personalities were revealed, it was done in a careful way especially with their difficult pasts. I have to say because of this it did feel as if I really got to know them. It was very easy to wish that Jane and her new friends would find happiness and brighter futures. A Chance in a Million is a heartwarming story about new beginnings, friendship and romance. The kind that transported me to Italy and swept me away with wonderful characters!

Love love love this author. His novels are just so easy to read and I find myself not wanting to put them down. This one was great and I loved the setting as well as the characters.

Good read. Great characters, enjoyed the setting, lots of side stories weaved into it and it flowed really well. A good read for a rubbish day. Will make you feel better!

A Chance in a Million by T. A. Williams
(Love from Italy Book 3)
Having left the army to recover from a traumatic experience, Captain Jane Reed is on her way to Venice to assist Lady Veronica Cooper, a world-famous writer who has lost her mojo. Plagued by grief and sleepless nights, Jane soon finds a kindred spirit in Veronica, coping with her loss after the death of her husband. When the two relocate to Veronica's villa in the countryside to escape the summer tourists, Jane meets the rest of the Cooper family – including Veronica's brooding son, David. David has resigned himself to a life of solitude with his tragic past. Nevertheless, Jane finds herself determined to bring joy back into his life, even if it means finally spilling her secrets.
This story is a heartfelt love story; it's compelling and entertaining. I enjoyed the genuineness of the characters, the stunning descriptive settings, and the plot's intricacies. I want to thank Publishers Canelo Escape, the author T. A. Williams and Rachels Random Resources for a place on tour and for a copy to read and review.

One of my most favourite things about reading TA Williams books is always how vividly the author manages to bring the location to life. It is no exception in this case. I felt like I was smelling the river, and walking the cobbled stones of Venice. I could see the sun shining and invisage the characters in technicolour.

There are always so many layers to TA Williams books and this one is no exception. On the surface the book looks like a nice light and fluffy read and in parts yes it is. But it is also so much more than that too.

In this book we meet Captain Jane Reed who is a army veteran who had to leave due to a traumatic experience. Jane has now got a new job helping Lady Veronica Cooper, who just happens to be a world famous writer. But she has sadly lost her writing spark and is in desperate need of inspiration. Both women are plagued by their own trauma, their own grief and their own nightmares. Which is what ends up bringing them together and they soon find that they have found a kindred spirit in each other.

Jane and Veronica decide to escape the summer tourists who have began to flock to the streets, and have fled to the countryside. It is here that Jane meets David. Who has also known his fair share of trauma, grief and tragic life events. Jane is determined to bring some sunshine and a smile back into David's life. And it is through this connection that not only do they each find love. But they each find a new meaning to life too.

Don't be fooled by the cover. This book is so much fun and get layers.
The destination combine with the characters are amazing. Under T.A.'s pen Venice is alive, it vividly in front of me, like I live in there. Characters are fun. Italian grandma make me fall in love. HAHAHA... The book is also dealing with PTSD, grieving and healing.
The book is well written. I finished it in one day. Yes, it is that good.

This is my first book of T.A Williams, it wouldn't be the last for sure. bty, this is the third book in a series, it can be read as a standalone..

Gorgeous scenery, lively characters with interesting back stories, a lot of romance and an adorable labrador. Yes it has to be another novel by TA Williams! This story is set in and near Venice and you feel the place come alive as you travel with Jane along the canals and through the countryside. Jane and David both have elements of their past which resonate and there is a spark from the start. They both need to heal after traumatic events and there seems to be something special in the venetian air.

Family is important with David's supportive relatives helping Jane too to move on. All the people Jane meets come alive on the page, especially his grandmother who I can totally visualise. Jane is a thoroughly likeable character who shows courage as she fights the demons from her past. You always feel hopeful that she will be able to this. She is also without vanity and certainly does not take anything at face value but can look beneath the surface to appreciate people's finer points. Well worth a read, it is always good to escape from the present with a TA Williams romance.

In short: love in Venice
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

I enjoyed this sweet book but, it did drag at times and the pace was slow. The story was interesting and I enjoyed reading about the dresses . My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Ah, where do I even start with this book? I feel like every time I review a book by TA Williams that I go off into raptures and people will feel that I’m exaggerating, but if you’re also a fan of his books you’ll know that all praise is fully justified and that it’s difficult to do them justice in a review.

Right from the start this book swept me away. It starts with quite a gripping prologue, one which caught my attention straight away. It’s clear that Jane is a strong character, but that it’s now time for her to take a step back and live a more gentle life.

The opportunity to go to Italy comes at just the right time for her and, like many people, she finds this beautiful country to be balm for her soul, even in busy Venice.

With just the right amount of romance, wonderful depictions of stunning settings, gastronomical delights and fine wines, and thankfully the ubiquitous Labrador, this book held me completely captivated from beginning to end. Yet another wonderful novel from Mr Williams. Highly recommended.

Any regular readers of my blog will know how much of a fan I am of T A Williams’ books, so I was really excited to read this latest offering, especially as it is partially set in Venice which is my favourite place in the world!

You know exactly what you’re going to get from a T A Williams book. Relatable characters, a real sense of place through enchanting descriptions of landscapes, food and wine and of course, an obligatory adorable Labrador!

A Chance in a Million certainly ticks all the boxes and is a great addition to the ‘Love from Italy’ series. Another perfect, escapist romance!

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources, Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advance copy ahead of publication.

Another delightful book by TA WIlliams. This has been a refreshing and enjoyable read, although emotional in some parts.