Rating: 
Summary: Worth Reading Again
Review: I originally bought Breathing Room when it came out in hardcover. As with all SEP books, I was thrilled when I saw it waiting for me in my mailbox and couldn't wait to read it. And it's promise came through. Ren has so many private demons and Isabel is just the right person to help him. At the same time, Ren, with all the baggage he carries, manages to settle the ghosts of Isabel's past. I've re-read this book at least 3 times, and it gets more interesting with every read. Little nuances you miss in the excitement of the first read pop out at you the second and third times. For example, the background story on the real estate agent and tour director couple is touching as they try desperately to have a child. If you haven't read this story, don't wait. It's a romance you'll not want to miss. If you've read it, get your copy out, curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and spend a winter's day under the Tuscan sun.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous
Review: This is one amazing book. It's touching, clever, entertaining, sexy, poignant...perfect! Set in Tuscany, the love story between Ren and Isabel is like a great glass of wine--a balanced blend of tart and sweet.
Rating: 
Summary: Where Is the Love?
Review: I accidentally stumbled upon "Lady Be Good" when hunting through the grocery store rack for something light to read. It was FABULOUS...one by one I went out and purchased every other SEP book I could find and read them all (many of them in one day, and once I read through the night until dawn to finish it). In every one of them I ended up "falling in love" with the main man and feeling everything the heroine felt for him. It was terrific. Unfortunately, this book didn't sit that way. While it is a decent read, you just don't ever fully identify with either of the protagonists and that makes the book fall flat - for an SEP book. I never fell in love with Ren and while the book was worth finishing there were never the same fireworks there were before. Also, SEP is starting to lean towards kinky sex...something just a little too contrived if the main characters are "in love." Kinky role playing is best left for folks who have been married several years and need to spice things up a bit instead of doing the same old, same old, IMO. If you want a good book, read this. If you want a FABULOUS book, read any of the other SEP novels out there.
Rating: 
Summary: A Welcome Surprise!
Review: If you've followed SEP's career since her earliest of books and like me became increasingly disappointed with her lastest stories you'll be very happy with Breathing Room. It reminds me why her stories become automatic reads so long ago. Great character development, great setting...only wished the ending was allowed to develop a little longer.
Rating:
Summary: SEP Did It Again!
Review: I'm ready to pack my bags and head out for Tuscany! Wonder if there's any more of those hunks like Ren Gage littering the landscape? Isabel Favor is truly a delight. I had such fun reading about these two as they struggled their way toward love and stretching their individual views of themselves.
Their sparring was so much fun to read. And I loved the scene, near the end, where she puts on a red dress and wreaks havoc with his nervous system. LOL! What a joy. What a glorious book! Like a great meal, I wanted to devour it all over again as soon as I read the last page. It's definitely on my keeper shelf and will never be sent to the used book store or donated to the library sale. "Breathing Room" ranks right up there with all the "Stars" series. Thank you, Susan Elizabeth Phillips!
Rating:
Summary: My favorite Phillips!
Review: What a fun romp through the Italian countryside - sun, landscape, food, passion, and more. Interesting subplot underlies a not-so-mysterious mystery and a tale of passion between two seemingly incompatible people. I loved this book from the smoldering piazza scene, to Ren and Isabel's sun-lit grape tasting. A fun change of pace from previous Phillips books.
Rating:
Summary: Tuscany is just the place to find a little "Breathing Room"!
Review: ... readers seem to either love or hate this book. I fall somewhere in the middle, finding more to like than dislike in this overall enjoyable, often funny story of two very different people who turn out to be surprisingly right for each other. This is my first book by this author who seems to be so revered, and I was not disappointed, but neither was I overly impressed. Psychologist and self-help guru Dr. Isabel Favor's life is a mess. Her accountant took off with her money and left her with big trouble with the IRS, a disgruntled former employee has given an unflattering tell-all interview, and to top it all off, her fiance has just dumped her for another woman. Can things get any worse? Yes, they can! Decamping for two months to a rustic farmhouse in Tuscany sounds like the way to get back on track. But first stop is Florence where she engages in an uncharacteristic, fiasco of a one night stand with what she thinks is an Italian gigolo. And when she reaches the farmhouse it's no better since the locals seem to want drive her out. Demanding to speak with the owner, she barges into his villa and comes face to face with her "gigolo" - who turns out to be a movie star! Lorenzo "Ren" Gage is Hollywood's favourite psycho killer on the screen, and a self-indulgent, self-loathing cynic offscreen. He's taking some time off at his villa before shooting begins on his next film. But when Isabel storms into his life, the sparks definitely start to fly! They challenge, antagonize and annoy one another, but they are also extremely attracted. She convinces Ren that something is up with the locals and they play amateur sleuth to find out what's going on. And then Ren's ex-wife shows up with her children and emotional drama. It gives Isabel a chance to get back to the basics of her vocation and Ren the opportunity to see her in action and in the process she earns his admiration and respect. Though they've begun an affair, Ren knows she's just too good for a rotten guy like him. But can Isabel convince him otherwise - that there's a good man deep down inside him? I loved Ren! Not only was he handsome and sexy, he had a great sense of humour and his disguises to avoid being recognized were a hoot! Though Isabel is at first annoying and rigid, spouting her Oprah-esque psycho babble, once she started to loosen up, I started to like her. But I found the climax of the story a bit melodramatic, the conspiracy of the villagers a bit silly and, though I understood the purpose of their presence, I felt too much time was spent on the marital problems of his ex-wife and her husband. I wanted more of Ren and Isabel! Anyway, a flawed, but still recommended read.
Rating:
Summary: Not up to her usual standards...
Review: I'm a big fan of SEP but, like other reviewers here, I found these characters flat. The heroine was particularly unlikeable -- I didn't really care what happened to her because she is such an uptight, unsupportive, one-dimensional stereotype. I hope SEP can "come back" to her usual standard.
Rating:
Summary: yet another memorable notch on the bedpost
Review: I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and I have to say, this book didn't disappoint. She has refined her craft more and more with each book; here she has polished up and put together all of the funny, amusing, endearing things that I love about her writing, and delivered us a fun, sweet novel about unlikely lovers.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable read
Review: A lot has been written already so I will just say I agree with those readers who wrote: - The secondary story was more interesting.
- Isabel's acting out towards the end did not fit. I understand she had the last straw but it still seemed too extreme a change.
- The prayer references were distracting. If I was so inclined I would have picked up something from an inspirational romance line. Also, the gigolo scene at the beginning was not necessary. Too much of a coincidence when they would meet anyway as landlord and tenant. Now to end on a better note, what I liked was: - The writing style was great as always. The story kept moving smoothly. It all takes place in a few weeks.
- Funny when it had to be funny. Serious when it had to be serious. Some readers were annoyed by Isabel's self-righteousness but it was part of her control personality. She eases up on the Four Cornerstones and lets in some chaos at the end.
- There were three story lines going: Isabel and Ren, Tracy and Harry, and the stolen statue. I was able to follow the swiches in point of view easily.
- The kids were painted realistically. Irritating to Ren but not to the reader. This was not my favorite SEP but she is still an auto-buy for me. I look forward to reading Luv U 4-Ever.
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