Dreaming of Christmas

Transformative Holiday — Audiobook Review — This book opens very dramatically, showing our heroine being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend on Christmas Eve because he wants to be with another woman. You can't help but feel sympathy for her from this very first scene and as we see little moments as she goes through the next year adjusting to her new life. Most of the book, however, is set in a fancy hotel/resort in Austria the next Christmas. A former university housemate—the nerdy, quiet guy, Billy—has done very well for himself in the tech industry and invites all the former housemates to stay at this resort over Christmas. While she is at first reluctant to go because she knows the ex will be there, she—with a little help from her friends—decides to go. I never reread a book's description before I read the actual book, so for quite a long time, I wasn't sure if this was going to be a Christmas romance, chick lit, or something else. It seemed to be chick lit for quite some time, but the author did a fantastic job giving every housemate a storyline that the heroine I was deeply involved with, as she was the compassionate ear everyone turns to. Each character grew or changed, usually for the better. Quite remarkable in a book with a large cast of characters! Billy made the experience of an Austrian Christmas wonderful for everyone. I enjoyed just hearing about what they were going to do each day. I read a lot of romance and other fiction, and the twist at the end genuinely surprised me, which I love! I was so happy about it, but I wished the author provided an epilogue to give a brief glimpse into the characters’ futures. For the most part, I thought the narrator did a good job giving unique vocal stylings to each character. She even managed to capture the joy and awe of the little girl during her Christmas vacation. The only voice I didn't like was Billy's, as it sounded like he was mumbling or whispering all the time. I thought he should have had a stronger voice. All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and recommend it. — I received a free copy of this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.

An absolutely charming Holiday tale! T.A. Williams does an amazing job setting the stage for Zoe’s Austrian holiday. I enjoyed the descriptions of the lavish hotel, the picturesque surroundings, and the sophisticated events the friends attended. More a self discovery, hurt/comfort story than a traditional romance, Dreaming of Christmas is the story of Zoe’s personal journey. Reuniting with school friends, coming to terms with her breakup with her ex, and refocusing her goals for her career come first. With brighter prospects for her future on the horizon, this is an uplifting tale. Anne Marie Piazza does a lovely job with the narration. There is a wide range of characters and accents, plus a number of traditional Austrian words, and Ms. Piazza keeps the story flowing.