A wonderful place where dreams can come true, but which dream to follow?

Synopsis

A second chance to realise her dreams…

A classically trained pianist, Steph works as a recording engineer for a small studio when she’s offered the job of a lifetime – travel to the Italian Riviera to help world-famous band, Royalty, record their reunion album after a decades-long hiatus.

Steph could definitely do with the distraction. Her boyfriend – who also happens to be her boss – is increasingly unreliable and erratic, and she’s awaiting news from her doctor after a recent biopsy. So an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy is the perfect escape.

What she doesn’t expect is an instant connection with Rob, the son of Royalty’s lead singer. With her career – and her heart – at a crossroads, what path will Steph follow?

My review

Steph is a classically trained pianist who is working with her boyfriend as a recording engineer for a small studio. When the opportunity of a lifetime rises, to help recording the reunion album of the famous band Royalty, and that on the Italian Riviera, Steph grabs it with both hands.
Especially as she needs the distraction herself, with an unreliable boyfriend, and the fear of hearing the results of a recent biopsy.
Working with Royalty not only brings her in contact with people she admired for years, but it also gives her the chance to elevate her own career. And then there is Rob, son of the lead singer, which she has an instant connection with. But with her career and her heart pulling her in different directions, which is the right path to follow? 

Oh my God, how much I love this author and his stories! Each time I am on a different adventure, and each time I fall in love with the characters and each time I feel at home with the Italian link. 

When we first meet Steph, she is already at one crossroads. She feels that her relationship is going only for the worse and as the boyfriend is also her boss, things are even more complicated. So what is the best thing to do? To hang on to a man she loves, but has changed so much? Or end things, risking to also lose a job she loves doing?
And there is also the health issue, as Steph discovered a lump and needs more tests to check out what it is.
Well, I know for sure that in that instant I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes! 

And when the opportunity of a lifetime comes, the book really takes off…
Obviously I knew that this talented author would make it possible to let the readers envision perfectly the scenery. And once again I felt like I was walking side by side with the characters. I could see the beauty of the place, I could almost smell the sea and I got actually hungry with each new plate that appeared! 

But this story isn’t about the scenery or the food, it’s about Steph and her wonderful opportunity. I was happy for her when she got to meet the band she admired for so long, and I could sense her excitement! Just imagine how you would feel if you were able to collaborate with your idols!
To make things even more amazing for Steph, all the members see her talent too and things go even beyond her wildest dreams! 

I could also perfectly understand her new dilemma… She gets the chance of a lifetime, with Royalty, but now that she has met Rob, what is the right thing to do? Follow that opportunity or follow your heart? Once again, I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes…
Because even if Rob initially was standoffish, at the verge of being even rude, slowly Steph and us too, get to know the real Rob. And the real Rob is just an amazing, wonderful and talented man. And he is an understanding one, in more than one occasion. Add the fact he is the owner of lovely Waldorf, what more can you ask from a man??? 

While things are evolving between Steph and Rob, I liked it how T.A. Williams didn’t let the characters get away with their feelings. Yes, even if at moments I wanted that kiss to be happening now instead of later. But that only gave me a greater satisfaction when it finally did! 

The final outcome was the one I was hoping for, yet the ‘how they got there’ saddened me a bit, as it was not that a magical wand appeared and made everything work, but it was somehow at a cost… So gullible Tizi was wondering why Steph couldn’t have her cake and eat it too…  

This was again a marvellous book from a very talented author. He took me again on a journey together with great characters. It’s a story about making the right choices, on more than one level, knowing when it’s time to put a halt to things and knowing when it’s time to move forward. And realizing that for some things, it’s never too late…
As this is only the start of the Beneath Italian Skies series, I cannot wait to read the rest!