Lovers and Madmen

By: Nichole Van

Narrated by: Jodie Bentley, Paul Costanzo

Florence, Italy. Summer, 1982.

Judith Campbell prides herself on her level head. She's a scientist with a 10-year plan, a well-managed bank account, and a clear understanding of what she wants out of life. Currently, that means a summer of fun touring Europe with her friends. She intends to see some amazing scenery, flirt with a cute guy or two, and return home ready to settle down for good. Falling madly in love with an Italian playboy is definitely not on her life goals to-do list. But then her eyes meet those of Cesare D'Angelo across a crowded piazza.

Cesare is everything Judith never knew she wanted. Handsome and charismatic, he challenges her assumptions and forces her to rethink her logical approach to everything. Case in point - Judith finds herself falling for him, hard and fast. Definitely not her most carefully thought-out decision. But Cesare keeps devastating secrets that will challenge Judith's very understanding of reality. And soon Judith finds herself facing the most difficult decision of all....

Would you still choose to love someone even if your time together would be brief? Would you accept a relationship, knowing that only heartbreak and grief awaited you in the end?

©2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC (P)2020 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Wished it shared more

I really enjoyed the whole series, so my only bummer on this one is that it was not longer.

Do not listen to this first

Unless you've already read the series in print, do not read the prequel first. It's not that there are too many spoilers. There aren't many actually. It's that the pace of the story is very slow. It's a detailed account, moment by moment, of Judith falling for Cesare. There is no mystery to be solved. There is no immediate danger. There's a young woman with a very scientific mind who does not believe in romantic love, discovering love for herself. Unlike the other books, this one is entirely from Judith's point of view.

The book was published after the third book and before the final. I recommend listening to it then. It is not critical to understand the final book, but it might make one scene a little more meaningful.

The narrator does a pretty good job, although I found her voice for Cesare lacked the same vocal range she gave Judith. Still, it was easy to listen to.