Thank you @netgalley @kensingtonbooks @christinadoddbooks for the #gifted ARC ofr A Daughter of Fair Verona.

I will literally read any and all books even loosely based on Romeo & Juliet. Throw in a gorgeous cover & I’m holding up my SOLD sign.

This cozy mystery was so bingeable and well written. In this story, Romeo & Juliet did not tragically die. They lived on & grew their family with 7 kids. This is the first in a new series in which the eldest daughter Rosaline/Rosie is at its center.

Rosie absolutely does not want to be betrothed to anyone. So, each time she is presented with a suitor, she sets off to find a better bride & succeeds in making the matches so that she may remain single. However, her latest match is a Duke who can’t be passed off so easily. He’s been married three times before & each of his previous wives died in mysterious ways. Rosie does NOT want to be the next. Lucky for her, at her betrothal ball, the Duke is found murdered & there is not shortage of people with motives for wanting him dead. Problem solved, right? Not exactly. Everyone associated with Duke begins to die, disappear or go mad soon after his death. Now we have a murder mystery that Rosie must solve before she meets the same fate.

This story is said to be like Knives Out meets Bridgerton & I couldn’t agree more. That is perfect mashup to describe this book. And it’s a great thing that I love both!

This is the single best retelling-inspired book based in the Romeo & Juliet world that I’ve read in a long time. Rosie was such a fun, clever & headstrong character. Dodd’s writing really shined with her exceptional humor & wit.

My only beef is that when I started this book, I did not know that it was going to be a series, so, I was left screaming at the end & I cannot want for Book 2!

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Thank you Erewhon and NetGalley for this ALC.

I really liked the premise of this "spin off"/ "retelling of Romero and Juliet. It's pretty refreshing to "see" what could have been. Which brings me to my next point, kudos to Dodd to the nod to scholarly texts that suggested that Romeo and Juliet could have been fine, if they had spoken to their parents, as some scholars suggest.

The plot is interesting, and fast-paced. Gender issues are at the forefront of this plot, however, in the end it kind of boils down to "one thirsty b against one thirsty b."

Rosie is the 1500 old spinster who needs a husband, finally finds a husband, and there is a twist with that that's pretty fun; however, it's the undermining of Rosie as the feminist that does it in for me.

The narrator pronounced a few words incorrectly that threw me off, but overall she gave a great performance!

Still, an overall good read.

Christina Dodd brings to us a tale of fair Verona, a continuation of the story of Romeo and Juliet. Unfortunately I have little to say of this work. I find the characters annoying, and the unoriginal repetitive work appalling. The only character I really liked was the young six year old boy Cezario. The rest I find annoying, boring, as well as basic. I wish I could have enjoyed this read, I was excited, and let down horribly.

A creative extension of the famous tale of star-crossed lovers introduces us to an intrepid young woman fighting to make her way in life. Rosaline is witty, fierce and clever and meeting her was a joy.

The overall feel of the book was one of modern sentimentality, but the historical period was still central to the story. This gave me a sense of disjointedness at times and kept me from really sinking into the setting. The romantic machinations felt a bit strained and the mystery element was almost superfluous.

I think you’ll love the feisty heroine, and the creative story. The narration was really well done. Thank you to NetGalley, author and the publisher for my copies. These opinions are my own.

I came across the synopsis of this book a few months ago, and with it being compared to Knives Out, I was immediately intrigued and added it to my to-be-read list. So when I received an audio approval from NetGalley, it was a pleasant surprise!

This was my first Dodd book, and I'm eager for this series to continue. At first, I had a hard time getting into the story, but around halfway through, I was fully invested. It's a cozy murder mystery with a touch of romance and humor. Rosaline's disdain for her parents love had me laughing out loud. And the "twist" at the end caught me off guard. Suzy Jackson did an excellent job as the narrator with her comedic timing and delivery. I can't wait for the next installment in this series. I believe it would also appeal to young adult readers, not just those who enjoy historical fiction/romance novels.readers.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher RBMedia

Christina Dodd's "A Daughter of Fair Verona" is a delightful and engaging novel that reimagines the lives of Romeo and Juliet, now parents to seven children. The story is told from the perspective of their eldest daughter, Rosaline, who finds herself caught in a mystery when her latest fiancé, Duke Stephano, is found murdered. Rosaline is a clever and independent young woman, and her journey is filled with wit, family drama, and a touch of romance. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is full of twists that keep you hooked. The historical setting adds a unique flavor to the story, making it a refreshing take on a classic tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator’s clarity, crispness, and spot on inflections made for a smooth listening experience.

The story itself was quite interesting. Set in a historical context, it presents an alternate narrative where Romeo and Juliet survive and have numerous children. The plot centers on their eldest daughter. Now at the age of 20 and still a virgin—a point emphasized perhaps too frequently—she hesitates to marry, not wanting to leave her family. However, when her fiancé is murdered at their betrothal party, she is accused of the crime, and a quest to uncover the true culprit ensues.

While the modern tone of the dialogue felt out of place for a historical novel, the overall story and mystery were engaging. I found this book much easier to listen to than to physically read.

Thank you, NetGalley and RB media for the advanced copy of this audiobook.

This was such a cute and witty rom com set in a Shakespeare play! The story is set after Romeo and Juliet did not die and ended up living happy lives with their seven children. Rosie is oldest and brightest of all the children who can't seem to keep her nose out of everyone's else business. Rosie doesn't want to get married until she finds true love and that might have just happened while also attempting to solve a murder mystery that is gripping her fair town of Verona.

The description of Knives Out meets Bridgeton is so spot on! I loved it when Rosie broke down the fourth wall and addressed her "dear readers" to bring the story to life. While I enjoyed Rosie's character and the overall story I felt that the it did dragged in some parts and the forced Shakespeare references was little overkill in some parts.

I listened to the audiobook and the performance by Suzy Jackson was absoultely amazing!

So, I picked up the audiobook of "Juliet's Daughter: A Verona Mystery" for a quiet weekend listen, and I couldn't stop! This book is like a rollercoaster of intrigue, humor, and silly twists.

The main gal, Juliet's oldest daughter, has this whole "spinster with a mission" vibe going on, trying to keep her eccentric family in check while avoiding disastrous marriage proposals – casual Tuesday stuff. Her parents, Romeo and Juliet, are still passionately dramatic, which adds a layer of hilarious chaos to the mix. Then there's the brooding Duke Stephano, whose three previous wives met unfortunate ends, and our protagonist can't, in good conscience, fall into that trap herself despite her betrothal.

The characters? They're a delightful mix of the absurd and the cunning. You'll find yourself wondering who's genuinely good and who's just really good at playing the game, which I think was wildly intentional on the author's part. There's a dash of romance and a hilarious murder mystery that keeps you guessing.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you love classical re-imaginings. If you're into a story where wit is a weapon, and romance is as unpredictable as the weather, this one's for you. Grab it, listen to it, and prepare for a delightful ride that's more comforting than a cup of hot cocoa on a rainy day.

If I had to sum up this book succinctly (not in one word, mind you, that's asking too much) in would be delightfully ridiculous. "A Daughter of Fair Verona" takes two concepts with potential (Period Murder Mystery and A R&J retelling) and combines them in the most over-the-top manner imaginable, leaning into pretty much every fun fact and stereotype we know about the period and the play without a hint of shame.

Truthfully, that strategy can be risky, but here it really worked. I warmed to the characters (The nurse is the true VIP) and had a great time listening to their exploits.

Speaking of which, seeing as this was an audiobook, it bears mentioning that the voice actress did a great job. I 10/10 recommend consuming the book in this manner.

Since I have been a young girl I have loved the story of Romeo and Juliet, call me a hopeless romantic, but I can remember the first time I read it thinking I needed a Romeo in my life, along with crying my eyes out.

Over the years I have read several adaptations of the story, everything from horror to dark romance and I for the most part enjoyed all of them, mostly because I loved seeing how the authors used their imagination to rework the story.

In a Daughter of Fair Verona, Romeo and Juliet survived their usual death and have a daughter named Rosaline ( if you have read Romeo and Juliet you will know who the original Rosaline is ). Rosaline is 20 and unmarried, something that is unheard of at the time, but she has not found a suitor she has felt deserved her.

She evidentially finds herself in trouble when she falls for a wedding crasher of sorts when she meets him at her official betrothal to a suitor her parents finally force upon her. Of course the unsuitable suitor winds up murdered and Rosaline is the prime suspect . She sets out to find the murderer and clear her name.

I really enjoyed the character of Rosaline, she was witty, clever, stubborn and funny. Romeo and Juliet are in the book, but the story mostly centers around Rosalina. I felt the author put a lot of thought into thee story and the characters and loved her take on them. I also think it kept it from being just another cozy mystery.

This book was so much fun and many times I found myself laughing out loud at its wit and charm.

This is also the first book in a new series by the author, and the story does end with a bit of a cliff hanger so I am anxious to see what happens next.

Be sure to pick this one up...it is a most enjoyable read !

A Daughter of Fair Verona By Christina Dodd is a romance-meets-mystery story about the eldest daughter, Roseline “Rosie,” of the iconic, star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet. Yes, you read that right! Imagine if the poison didn’t work on Romeo and Juliet missed when she used her dagger! Rather, R&J grow up and have a boatload of kids (and a very happy sex life)!

This novel follows the story of Rosie Montague, who is betrothed to a questionable match—whom she does not love. The plots takes off when her betrothed is found dead, and the plot turns into a murder mystery who done it in fair Verona, complete with another potential love interest (or two) and Rosie takin the lead to uncover the murderer.

While it is a fun, cozy(ish) mystery, the Shakespeare/theatre references were heavy-handed, which says a lot coming from a theatre scholar and professional. With nods to many other Shakespeare characters (and even a Greek tragedian), I felt myself rolling my eyes a bit at what seemed like forced, overuse of the references. Nevertheless, it was a fun read.

Since I listened to the audiobook, I want to give a shout out to the narrator, Suzy Jackson, who was great!

Since this is Book 1 in a series, I do plan to read the rest as they are released!

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥…

Thanks to this hilarious and witty story, we know. Yes, they are still madly in love, and they have children—lots of them, but their eldest, Rosie, is quite the handful.

Rosie is feisty and independent, but she’s getting to that spinster age (19). Where her parents' original story was angsty and unbridled, Rosie wants nothing to do with that mushy stuff; she doesn’t even like poetry.

Yet, Rosie finds herself betrothed to the creep Duke Stephano, even though her heart belongs to another. But when the Duke winds up murdered, Rosie is suspected. Now, she must clear her name and protect her family before the real killer gets to her!

I had so much fun with this one. Many of the original play’s characters appear, and I loved that Romeo, although aging, is still a romantic hottie. It was hilarious how Romeo and Juliet jabbed each other at their ill-fated attempt to die for each other. The narrative is filled with Rosie’s snark and humor and sprinkled with lines of Shakespearean verse.

Be prepared for a cliffhanger, as this is book one of a new series.

The audiobook narrator, Suzy Jackson, did a fantastic job with Rosie. Thank you @recordedbooks for this gifted audiobook.

Thank you, @kensingtonbooks and @christinadoddbooks for a gifted book.

Thank You, NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to listen to A Daughter of Fair Verona by Christina Dodd.

I enjoyed this tale of the daughter of Romeo and Juliet. I enjoyed this tale which stemmed from the alternate ending where Romeo and Juliet survive and go to have a family together.

Rosie Montague, the daughter of Romeo and Juliet, is 20 and unmarried, an old maid in that day and age. Every time there is talk of her engagement, the prospective fiance finds someone else to marry. Only this time, he ends up dead and Rosie finds herself amid suspicion.

Think Gossip Girl or Bridgeton with Cobra Kai but with knives. This one was a fun read, something light which could be finished in one sitting.

I would definitely recommend it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!!
Audiobook review 🎧
Historical retelling/ murder mystery/ rom com

What if Romeo and Juliet did not die but actually lived happily ever after with their 7 children? Their first born, Rosie, is the ULTIMATE eldest daughter, smart, sensible, funny, caretaker of all things in the home (Romeo and Juliet are very busy reciting impassioned poetry to one another)

I thoroughly enjoyed this and the narrator really was the cherry on top for a great audiobook experience. Shes so easy and entertaining to listen to. Christina Dodd delivers a witty laugh out loud story with enough twists and turns to keep me listening. I LOVED the cliffhanger ending. Now give me the next book please🤲🏻

I wanted to stop listening to this book within the first two chapters, then again about 25%. I pushed through, but finally had to stop at 58%. Maybe this would make a decent YA book, but I’ve read many YA books that weren’t this juvenile. It had some cuteness to it, but it was trying to be a romance and a mystery, and succeeding at neither. As much as I hate to quit reading a book before finishing, I could not force myself to finish. I wasn’t invested at all and didn’t care about the outcome.

(And for the record, it’s really weird for a young person to keep referencing their mother and father’s sex life.)

What a fun twist on an old classic! I am looking forward to reading more in this series! I thought the author did a wonderful job mixing the old story with a new one and included a lot of details from the old story that made this one even more special

This is one of the better Romeo and Juliet stories. It's told from the POV of their eldest daughter, Rosie. She has no desire to get married. She manages to find wives for every potential husband her parents send her way. Rosie is funny, smart and ahead of her time. I definitely recommend the audiobook with this one. Suzy Jackson is perfect for this book. She really brings Rosie to life. It's the first book in the series and I can't wait for the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Christina Dodd, and RB Media for the opportunity to listen to this book.

In all honesty, I was disappointed. I felt like the author wasn't quite sure what kind of story she was aiming for: a YA novel, a murder mystery, a rom-com, or just creative fanfic. She succeeded, to some extent, at doing all of the above, but I was left shrugging my shoulders. We learn that not only did Romeo and Juliet survive, but they lived happily ever after with abiding physical passion, economic prosperity, and a passel of well-adjusted and loving kids. Rosie, their oldest, was bizarrely named after Romeo's first love, (Rosaline) who was put aside, it turns out, for her abiding chastity. This odd explanation for her name continues to befuddle me, but no matter. Nurse is back, now tasked with keeping Rosie in line as she winds her way through Veronese society, still - act appropriately horrified - an unmarried virgin of almost twenty years. The reference to her advanced age is repeated countless times, and even Rosie herself jokes about how many times the word virgin is audibly uttered in her presence at social events. It turns out she's been tentatively betrothed a few times, but something always comes up, and her latest intended ends up dead early in the book - hence the murder mystery. Rosie was pleasant to spend time with, and the societal descriptions were interesting. I listened to the audiobook, which was well-done, but I was horrified by the numerous grammatical errors. I'm not sure whether the author, the editor, or perhaps the audiobook editing staff is to blame, but they should all know better. The story ends on a bit of a cliff hanger, but I won't feel compelled to seek out the next volume. I will not be sharing my review on other platforms.

I am a Shakespeare nerd, and therefore a sucker for a retelling and Daughter of Fair Verona did not disappoint. It imagines what if Romeo and Juliet survived the tomb and follows their eldest daughter Rosie, who, at the ripe old age of 20, is still happily unmarried. There is some drama, murders ensue, and it falls on Rosie to keep herself and her family safe.

This is a witty and funny murder mystery. The story pokes fun at and pays tribute to the poetic drama that Shakespeare is known for and I ate it up. Rosie and her family were all very endearing. Specifically with Rosie, I loved the juxtaposition of her using “old English” and conforming to gender stereotypes externally and internally using modern English and knowing that she can, and wanting to, break out of those stereotypes.

Thank you RB Media and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy.