What a sweet story. Obviously, this is the first in a series, but I can guarantee you, I will be reading the next one. This book investigates what were to happen if Romeo and Juliet didn't die - and had a daughter as headstrong and independent as they were? Rosie, their daughter is independent, unmarriageable, and a spinster at almost 20 [LOL OMG so good]. Mix in intrigue by way of a murder, poisoning, all incredibly deftly crafted by the author. Such a fun romp, and easy to read even though it is based in Shakespeare. The writing was so good, the story such a fun and interesting idea, and the characters were great - definitely based on ones we already know but with more depth and far more interesting. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a fun chick lit book but also enjoys good literature - pick this book up!

This ebook was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I wish Shakespeare would have been this fun and accessible in high school!
Loved the characters (though there are a lot to keep track of) and the strong female character.
Highly recommend this! Especially good for historical fiction fans.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

The last time I laughed this hard while reading was while consuming a book by a literal comedian. Oh my gosh, this book was amazing! I was sucked in from page one and absolutely devoured the words. Rosie’s wit had me cracking up and making my kids side-eye me like I’d gone mad.

The Shakespearean-ish old-timey language just made it more entertaining. Rather than being bland and difficult to read, it made it feel light and somehow magical. I loved the twists and turns and all the accusations, the constant subtle humor and wacky characters, and the reimagining of Romeo and Juliet’s tale to give them the happy ending (and then some) I’m sure so many fans over the years have desired.

I’m both saddened and thrilled with the ending, because while I wanted more, surely this means more is coming. And I cannot wait!

I’d give this ten stars if I could.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Daughter of Fair Verona is a historical murder mystery set in an alternative universe where Romeo and Juliet survived and had lots of children - the oldest of whom, Rosalind - is sick of love and poetry and determined never to marry.

Rosalind or ‘Rosie’ is smart, capable and cynical - very much a character with modern sensibilities. I think the plot threw me early on, when Romeo and Juliet betrothed Rosie to Duke Stephano, someone who is decidedly unpleasant and is rumoured to have killed his other wives. I struggled to understand why loving and protective parents would do that and didn’t find the character’s reasoning made a lot of sense.

Luckily for Rosie, Duke Stephano is found murdered in the garden during their engagement ball - less luckily, Rosie is the one who discovers him, alone and in the darkness, and is quickly made a suspect. The only person who knows she didn’t do it is Prince Escalus, who was also in the garden.

The following murder mystery was entertaining, with lots of twists and turns. I thought Rosie’s tutelage in herbs for healing and poisons by Friar Laurence was a nice touch and added some intrigue and depth to the story.

The last few chapters were definitely page turners as the story raced to its conclusion and the mystery was solved, with lots of tension and peril along the way.

I’ve read a fair bit of fiction set in medieval or Renaissance Italy recently - this was definitely more lighthearted and fun, so if you’re after a cute holiday mystery with a bit of murder and revenge this could be for you.

I will share on my instagram @charlottereadshistory on 22 June

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!