i got this as an arc and dnf’ed at 11%.

while the premise of this seemed interesting enough for me to request it, the dialogue and style of this novel just aren’t for me. it’s painfully ya, disguised behind a 20 year old protagonist. i can appreciate that the author didn’t completely butcher the original but i was bored out of my mind and life is too short to force yourself to read bad books

I didn't know what to expect from this story. What I got was a fun adventure that I didn't want to put down. The characters are great, especially Rosie. Rosie is an old spinster virgin at the age of 20. She is happy with that, but her family keeps trying to betroth her to different men. she just finds them another option. Then came along one that she could not put off, but during their betrothal ball, her betrothed is stabbed. Now everyone thinks Rosie did it. By the end of the story, Rosie is cleared of the murder, but she has a big decision to make. I can't wait to see where this story goes.

Romeo and Juliet - who didn’t die in this story! - hardly know what to do when their daughter Rosaline - one of their seven children - has reached the Greatly Advanced Age of nearly 20 and has consistently thwarted all their attempts to wed her off.

A proposal she isn’t able to push off leads to a betrothal party ending in murder, and the following days only have an increase in danger. Rosie resolves to find answers before at best she ends up with a reputation in tatters, or at worst falls victim herself.

All this while juggling the attentions of her newly discovered love and the Prince (who is very determined to find answers himself. For reasons…)

I was surprised because the premise was golden, but it took me about 50 pages to really get into the story. But just past that there’s a bet made, and from that point on I was totally invested in where things were going. After that the book flew by!

Rosalyn is an energetic and flighty fourth wall breaking force of nature. Like a lot of teenagers she’s half embarrassed over her parents most of the time - from disdaining the ill-advised drama of her their love at first sight story to their continuing open ‘admiration’ of each other.
But no worries, that doesn’t stop her from dropping straight into her own whirlwind of a situation!

I was especially entertained by everyone stepping up to try and help her protect herself - How many knives can one girl hold at once?
Many. Many knives.

Possibly because I’m out of practice at mysteries, I did not see the twist/reveal coming. That only made the villain monologue type moment even more enjoyable though.

The ending made me happy but still left me wanting more, so I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book!

Thank you to the author and Kensington for the ARC!

A clever entertaining spin off of Romeo and Juliet featuring 20 year old Rosie- the oldest daughter of that famed couple. She's been the manager of the family but now her parents want to see her married but she's not liked any of the options, especially the most recent. Duke Stephano is a big no not only to Rosie but to someone else as well and that person murdered him. Now Rosie's off looking for answers and she's skirting around the idea of romance. I know some Shakespeare fans might be offended or quibble with this but it's a fun read written by someone who clearly respects the Bard's work. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A fun read.

“A Daughter of Fair Verona” (Daughter of Montague, #1) by Christina Dodd
A Rom-Com to Relish ! !
I was not sure what I would find when I turned to Chapter 01 and began my journey with Christina Dodd in Rosie’s story. But I loved this story of love, romance, and sudden mysterious deaths. I enjoyed this adventure so very much I am rather hoping there will be another adventure in Verona (in the near future?). Have fun trying to figure out the (who, how, why, etc) before the answer(s) are disclosed. Happy Reading ! !

Dodd imagines what it would be like to grow up with the over-the-top dramatic duo as your parents and nails it with her trademark wit. I loved Rosie’s pragmatic responses to her family’s drama and her quick banter as she navigated the turmoil of power and love in Verona. Solving the murder involved twists, turns and plenty of possible suspects and added to the delight of this story. While by no means historically accurate, I enjoyed details such as plucking hair to raise your forehead, lacing cuffs on sleeves, and ghostly superstitions. Dodd hooked me on the first page. If you’re in doubt try it - Rosie’s voice will capture you, too. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Romeo and Juliet died at the end of Shakesphere's play, right? Or did they? Christina Dodd's novel, A Daughter of Fair Verona, tells the outcome of a different ending. Not only did they survive, but they have a family. I loved teaching Romeo and Juliet to 9th graders for many years, and I love this take on that story and its continuation. If you are a fan of Romeo and Juliet, you should definitely read this book,
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

would like to thank Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC. This book is hard to classify. I see that it is labeled as historical fiction, but it is not quite that. It is a re imagining of Romeo and Juliet- almost a Sci-fi "what if". The bare bones are this-what if Romeo and Juliet did not die-bad poison, poor knife skills, etc. What if they lived, stayed married and had a family? And what if their oldest daughter, named Rosaline ( for Romeo's jilted fiancee) was not like her parents, what if she was pragmatic, non romantic and sensible? And what if her parents keep trying to marry her off, but she finds other brides for the men? So, at the ripe "old age" of almost 20, she is still unmarried and not in love? That is the basis of this book. It is wildly convoluted, with poisonings, and stabbings, and plots. Rome and Juliet, Friar and Nurse are all there from the play, along with various others in the city of Verona. I liked it at first, but as it went on, I became more confused by the goings on. And the end was really non conclusive. When I first applied for the book on Net Galley, it was not clear that it was meant to be the first in a series. The lack of ending made it clear however. It was a clever idea, funny in spots , but I am really not sold on it as a series.Again, thanks for the chance to read this.

I don't read historical romance. Period . Then why did I pick up A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd? Two things : The cover and the whole concept of next generation of Romeo and Juliet! And then I fell in love with the author's witty refreshing take on the classic. The hilarious and detailed characters. The accidents and incidents. The sharpness of the humor mixed with a bit of murder mystery. Rosie or Rosaline made me laugh and smile and I absolutely admire her personality. I don't regret picking this book out of my usual way.

So this is set in the city of Verona where Romeo and Juliet are very much alive and thriving behind their tragic love story. With hald a dozen kids! The explanation was pretty awesome and from the first page, I knew this is a gem. Rosie is their eldest and her parents are very much worried about her spinster status at age of 18. They reluctantly agree when Duke Leir Stephano of the house of Creppa ask Rosie's hand. He is much older and notorious and generally disliked and his previous wives all died under mysterious circumstances. But he is found dead in the betrothal part in Cassa Montague and Rosie is a suspect. Then start a series of murder, wild accidents and love filled hilarious incidents....involving Rosie and Prince Escalus Leonardi the younger, the podestà of Verona and Lysander of the house of Marcketti. Complicated? It is.

Rosie is like the binding force of the house. She is fierce and sassy and independent. Her parents adore her and trust her and love her. But her father also taught her fighting skills and her mother gave her all the wisdom. She is intelligent and intuitive and brave. She avoided the foolish matters of love and marriage so far but she is dragged into a scandal now and she is in danger too. She developed a weakness for charming Lysander but the Prince is a complex factor here! Oh Rosie! She got so confused and angry with the turn of the events at the end and I don't blame her. She fancy Lysander but the Prince has manipulated his way into a marriage proposal that must be accepted. I am not sure I fully underhand the Prince. His family has faced mutiny and loss and he is very dedicated to his family and his responsibility. But I found it oddly sweet that he protected Rosie from the slander and accusations while admiring her unique qualities. Lysander is your typical man who is blinded by love and I am not sure what Rosie's heart will finally decide. I was lost in the city with the vivid description and the old time scandals and the plotting and the twists. Rosie is a firecracker and her POV made this book extra delicious.

Ps who knew ankle and knees are such erogenous spots...

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

What if Romeo and Juliet didn't die tragically, but had an adorable boisterous family? A Daughter of Fair Verona is about their eldest daughter, Rosaline (Rosie), who has thus far successfully gotten out of a few marriage betrothals (by setting up the prospective grooms with other potential brides). She knows her parents are in no way equipped to run their own household; they're too busy canoodling and being in love. Anyway, when the awful Duke Stephano, who's prior brides have all met tragic ends, decides Rosie will be bride #4, Romeo and Juliet cannot refuse him.
Anyway, since Rosie can't get out of this one, she decides to soldier on with the engagement party. However, during the party, Rosie stumbles upon the body of the Duke with a knife in his chest. And as people with connections to the Duke keep dropping like flies, Rosie must figure out what's going on before she becomes a victim as well.
This was adorable and ended on a teeny cliffhanger so I'm hoping this might be a series? Hopefully? Maybe?

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-arc.*

I found this book imagining the continued lives of Romeo and Juliet and their family very charming. I really enjoyed it, but I’m taking a star off because the ending wasn’t completely satisfying. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was cute. A silly little spin off of Romeo & Juliet. We meet their eldest daughter, Rosie, who has NO intention of getting married. Her parents constant swooning after one another makes her sick, and their recent attempts to marry her off have been foiled again and again.
She's an old spinster at the ripe age of 20+, and prefers to stay that way.
When her parents announce a new suitor she is less than enthusiastic. Worse yet, she becomes the main suspect when he winds up dead. Rosie now uses her keen mind , sarcasm and wit to play detective and maybe, maybe.... stumble upon true love.
With all the romance and silliness, I never solved the murder until it was revealed. Also, this ends in quite a cliffhanger- and no next book yet!! Really looking forward to the next!

This was a five-star read for me until the the last few chapters, with their lack of consent and cliffhanger ending. I can’t recommend this book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
What a fun and unique book! This has the fun romp vibes of a romcom/murder mystery which is a mash up I happen to really enjoy when done right and this was. Add in the fresh take on Shakespeare and I’m sold!
I do wish it hadnt ended on a cliffhanger as I’d hoped, like many of the books this reminded me of, it would instead wrap up neatly with a nice HEA. Instead, the romance element was lacking more than I’d hoped. Still fun though.

What a fabulous story! Taking Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and turning that story on its head was brilliant! Giving an updated spin to Rosie, her forward thinking views, her spinsterhood, and GASP her virginity, had me laughing out loud a few times. Adding in the suspicions of the day and the deference that people gave to the Prince and the clergy, this book was just a rollicking ride through death, dying, marital customs, the lack of sanitation, and women surviving in a man's world, but allowing the men to think they were in charge.

Part murder mystery, part romance, all fun! I enjoyed this book from start to finish and the bit of a cliff hanger on the last page? Amazing. I can't wait for the next book in this series!!

Romeo and Juliet didn't die—they survived their dramatic ordeal, had a whole bunch of kids, and are still madly in love! Their oldest daughter, Rosaline, has been secretly playing matchmaker for every suitor her parents push her way. The drama unfolds when her latest fiance ends up dead at their engagement party and people start pointing the finger at her!

This was a cute and witty whodunit! "Romeo and Juliet" is one of my favorites, so it's nice to see them get a happy ending! Our main character, Rosaline, is the perfect heroine—she is smart, brave, and can stand up for herself! This story ends on a cliffhanger, so we won't know if Rosie gets her own happy ending. I guess I'll just have to wait!

When I read the plot for A Daughter of Fair Verona - I was definitely intrigued. Can you imagine being the daughter of Romeo and Juliet and being seen as a spinster for not having married by age 20? Sounds like a nightmare! At the start, I loved getting to know Rosie’ the FMC and I really appreciated her wit and intelligence. Add in a murder mystery, and I had a good feeling about this book.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed near the end of the book. Though there were plot twists, due to a lot of foreshadowing, I had expected many of them. The scene in the crypt felt underwhelming, and after all the revelations, I was shocked that it was left on such a cliffhanger. Though there was some romance in the book, it wasn’t the focus. And perhaps that was where it fell flat for me since I saw several opportunities for relationships to develop and I never felt that they did.

Nonetheless, I truly appreciate having received an advanced reader copy from the author, NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.

I had hoped from the description of this book that I would like it, but just how much I liked it took me by surprise!

Having dispatched multiple fiancés (by finding them more suitable matches), Rosie finds herself engaged to someone who is under suspicion of murdering his previous three wives. Needless to say, she is distraught and eager to find a solution to her predicament. Lucky for her, he ends up dead the night of their betrothal party. Unlucky for her, everyone suspects her.

An unexpected highlight of the book is the family dynamic - Romeo & Juliet are fun to see imagined as parents, and the cast of sibling characters are relatable and add an extra dimension to the story.

The romance I guessed early on, the murderer I did not. If you’re looking for a headstrong heroine with a fun cast of characters and a mystery to solve, definitely check out this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Christina Dodd for this ARC! I know it’ll be a bit of a wait but I am already looking forward to the next one.

Romeo and Juliet have not perished, but instead had a family living in Verona. This story is told from their daughter Rosie's point of view. She finds herself in an arranged betrothal to a cruel man, Duke Stephano, whose previous three wives have all perished almost certainly setting the scene for her impending demise. She runs into an enemy of the family, Lysander of the house of Marcketti, at her betrothal ball and thinks she falls in love at first sight (a Romeo and Juliet romance like her parents). Prince Escalus tries to salvage her reputation and becomes her savior. Danger is around every corner, and Rosie must protect herself while trying to find out who means her harm.

Witty rom-com, whodunit, masterfully told! I had a grin on my face pretty much the whole time I was reading this amusing story. Rosie is such an endearing character and very likable. I loved the different characters throughout the story and especially fell in love with her family! This was such a refreshing take on an old revised story. I can't wait to read more about Rosie in her next adventure!

This was a fun murder mystery, with light romance! What if Romeo and Juliet survived? They'd pop out a bajillion kids cause they are so thirsty for each other! Rosaline, is the eldest daughter of the famous lovers and as such, is a cynic who hates poetry and gags at her parents obsession for each other. She was delightful! So independent, funny, logical, and above all, fiercely protective of her family. This kinda read like that other book/show Rosaline where it's kinda modern sounding but old timey, very wink wink at the camera kinda thing. I didn't actually like it in that show but I really loved it here because it never felt obnoxious or too much. The mystery itself was suspenseful and I was actually caught off guard which does not happen very happen! It does end on a cliffhanger which I was not expecting because I thought this was a standalone but I will definitely be reading book 2!