In a year where we can't travel freely for our holidays, books like this are the perfect escapism we all need. I loved being transported to Lisbon with Seren as she embarked on her new life at the gallery.

A story of passion, love and hope, I loved how Lucy bought Lisbon to life on the pages with the bright and vibrant descriptions for both the scenery and the mouth watering food. I truly felt like I had stepped off the plane and was soaking up the atmosphere around me.

The insight into the art work and how the art was being transformed for the fashion show was visual and demonstrated the wonderful descriptions throughout this story. The culture of Lisbon was well represented and this has made me keen to visit and soak it all up first hand after enjoying this light hearted read.

Is it just me that can feel the warmth coming from the cover for The Villa of Dreams? Well that warmth is within the pages too I'm delighted to say, as the book is set in Lisbon and even though it isn't necessarily during the hot part of the year, just by being in Portugal I felt warmer!

I loved just what Seren and her new team were trying to create, such an innovative vision for her new art gallery, to combine art, textiles and fashion in such a way to create a massive event that I would have loved to have been a part of.

It is also clear quite early on that Seren has clear chemistry with Reid, but his situation is tricky and Seren can't ignore the connection, nor does she expect things to last. I liked seeing how their connection deepens, as the book progresses, while being mindful of Portuguese customs and thoughts.

I loved the occasional words of French and Portuguese spotted about the book, and what really gave this story a great sense of place, was how Lisbon was described. How Reid showed Seren some places and the way you could really picture it.

There are of course plenty of secondary characters which with one rather obvious exception I tended to really enjoy, and seeing how their stories would progress.

It's a really enjoyable story and with a stunning backdrop It's made me dream for the day where travel is possible again but until then I will continue to enjoy the armchair variety.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

An openhearted Seren is drawn to Lisbon away from her family in England! She is a fledgling bird ready to soar , but she has scars that makes her tentative!

Reid an established artist coping from a painful divorce, but still fighting an ex who has tentacles that are trying to squeeze him into a squid.

Will these two soulmates break free of their barriers and create one life together or is it just to late for one and the other is just beginning?

The author has such flair and intoxicating descriptions of the country that no wonder Seren fell in love with Lisbon! I love the area and the characters and the storyline and the freshness and depth and they are so poignant and believable! I could walk up to them and have a conversation!

I definitely would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Loved the story from its characters to the beautiful backdrop of Portugal it's a lovely, enjoyable story.

Seren has moved to Portugal, away from her family so she can live life in her own terms.
She meets Reid when he is asked to participate in an event she is organising at the gallery where she works. They have a connection, but are their dreams for the future too differnent?

Seren escapes England and heads for Portugal. She falls in love with the place and then Reid comes into her life.

I adored this book. I am a big fan of Lucy Coleman and no matter where it's set it's always paradise. I loved the characters and warmed to them quickly. The story flowed well and I didn't want it to end. Beautifully written and so uplifting. Now I need to escape England and go to Portugal!

Lucy Coleman writes superior chick lit and "The Villa of Dreams" is no exception. I have always wanted to visit Lisbon and this novel brings the city to life. The characters are lovable and the story unfolds, slightly predictably, at a steady pace.

Recommended.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this ebook.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this book and made me think of hot sunny days when things were normal. Great characters, lovely location and a good storyline.

Seren moves to Lisbon, Portugal, to escape her domineering father to become events coordinator for an art gallery. She brings up the idea of a fashion show based on the works of an artist, Reid, and starts forming a relationship.
The descriptions of Lisbon are amazing, it sounds really picturesque and I would love to visit one day although some of the streets sound a bit steep. I'm not a follower of fashion, as my wife will attest, and my knowledge of art is limited so an interesting insight into those worlds. I did struggle more with the potential romance between Seren and Reid, although the friendship between Seren and her coworkers was heartwarming. From the story it did appear that the Portuguese views upon workplace romances are different to ours in the UK.
Overall a book to help you to escape to sunnier, more open times.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

This was an enjoyable escapist read. The scenic setting in Portugal was well portrayed and you were transported to the beautiful sights with the descriptive writing. I don't know a lot about fashion design and modern art so it was an interesting read too. I normally love Lucy Coleman books , this was very good but lacking something , I didn't connect with the characters this time in the way I have in her past books. Even so, i would recommend this as a lovely read if you want to lose yourself for a few hours in a beautiful setting. 4 stars

It took me a long time to get Into this book. Even then, I could not find a rapport with any of the characters. What I liked the most about it was the setting. I liked the physical descriptions Coleman provided about Portugal, especially about the villa. I struggled to stay interested in the rest of the story. It just wasn't for me.

I love this author's books and this one was a really special read.

Lucy takes you on a special journey of love and understanding in this book and it was just lovely and it one of the best books that I have read in 2020.

The detail is amazing, she has done a brilliant job at bringing the plot, location and the characters to life and I have to say that it was superb all around and I couldn't give this one anything other than 5 stars!!

A pure delight - very highly recommended!!

Another absolutely fantastic read by a truly wonderful author. I cannot say anything negative about this book. It’s been a perfect read. I have loved it.

Full review to follow on blog tour.

A beautiful and touching romance novel that will please all lovers of the genre! The characters were engaging and the storyline flowed seamlessly. Highly recommended!

The Villa of Dreams Takes you on a journey to Lisbon where you can experience the sights, sounds and food through Seren Maddison’s eyes. She has left London to work in Lisbon, a place she has come to love. Through her work she meets Reid, a talented artist and although there is mutual attraction between them his life is complicated.

I always love Lucy Coleman books and this was no exception. I have never been to Lisbon but enjoyed being transported there I felt Seren was a likeable main character who deserved happiness but Reid has so many problems in his life that she had difficult decisions to make

I received an advance copy of, The Villa of Dreams by, Lucy Coleman. I usually love book by Lucy, but I could not really get into this book. The characters were ok, the setting was nice. Seren moves to Lisbon from Britain, and meets Reid. The chemistry was ok. Someone else might like it better then me.

Pour yourself a glass of Tinto de Ânfora Grande Escholha (a red wine meaning ‘great choice’) or a bica (what Lisboetas call a cup of coffee), put some delicious golden Pastéis de Nata (famous egg tarts) on a plate and get comfortable because Lucy Coleman is going to whisk you away to Portugal in, The Villa of Dreams, to be published December 1st, 2020. With travel restricted worldwide, this is a perfect armchair travel!

Leaving rainy Britain and an overbearing father behind, Seren Maddison pulls up stakes and starts over in sun-drenched Portugal. Seren, having made the decision to focus on her career, is enjoying her new job and making progress with a new language. Thrown off course when she meets local artist, Reid Henderson, she’s forced to reconsider her plans.

You’ll love how Coleman paints the rich, vibrant scenery and brings life to her characters through her engaging storyline. Her writing flows effortlessly and you’ll feel like you are part of Seren’s life. What I love most about Coleman’s books is that her flawed characters embark on a journey of self-improvement. This time we see Reid and Seren exploring the concepts of being honest in a relationship, taking the time to do more of what makes them come alive, deciding to work on their future with less input from their past, and, as the title suggests, not giving up on their dreams.

Linn B. Halton, writing as Lucy Coleman, specializes in feel-good fiction and allows both characters and readers to experience the more ethereal side of life. She definitely captures the joy of reading by encouraging pure escapism. In today’s pandemic world, isn’t that a welcome invitation?