Breathing Room

Rating:
Summary: Better than I had hoped for
Review: I had waited for Breathing Room with great anticipation and it certainly didn't disappoint. It was great! I closed it when I was finished and just sighed. The characters were wonderful. I feel that the secondary characters, a lot of times, can make or break a book, and Ren's ex-wife and her family were good. The whole cast of characters were people I wanted to read about, not skip over. I have read all of SEP books and I would have to rank this one at the top. I especially enjoyed Isabel's moral character. I love romance novels, but as a Christian, a lot of times I am a little disappointed in the morality in some books. Not in this one. I, unlike some other reviewers, appreciated the fact that Isabel prayed. At least she acknowledged a higher power. In a lot of books that is never even mentioned. Most of the reviewers liked this book (except one, and I don't know what book she read!!) and they liked Isabel and Ren. Well, her praying was what made her the kind of person she was. So, for a great book, pick this one up. You're guaranteed to like it.

Rating:
Summary: A sweet read
Review: This book excels at the things that SEP does best, intimate relationships and witty repartee. The two characters are exceptional people that you still are able to connect with because their lives are far from perfect. They are funny and you end up liking them without feeling too manipulated. The middle of the book was the best and the plot is a little contrived, but there is heat and warmth between the characters and in the end it was an all-in-one-sitting read.

Rating:
Summary: Susan comes of age!
Review: KINDLY REFER TO THE "AMAZON.COM" MASTER REVIEW BEFORE READING THIS CRITIQUE

Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been a great favorite--if not "the" favorite--of romance readers for several decades. With the publication of BREATHING ROOM, she now enters the mainstream.

BREATHING ROOM is a lush novel, set in Tuscany. The heroine is one of those media-types who quickly had evolved into an industy and the hero is the ultimate bad boy with the soft heart. There is no one, no one at all, who writes these bad boys better than Ms. Phillips does.

The story is far more complex and layered than Ms. Phillips' earlier novels, and it transcends the rigid parameters of romance writing. No question but that it is romantic, but it's also a lovesong to Italy, to that country's fascinating history, its people, its cuisine and, especially, its gorgeous terrain.

Not incidentally, there is no other author who writes the sexy scenes better; there is no other author who does a better "boy meets girl" opening. That situation in BREATHING ROOM took skill and vision to create, and a seasoned and assured author even to imagine.

Mainstream readers who like a unique story with, yes, a little romance, will enjoy BREATHING ROOM every bit as much as Ms. Phillips long-faithful fans. Reading BREATHING ROOM is the next best thing to a quick trip to Tuscany.

Rating:
Summary: A knock-your-socks off story with a fresh setting
Review: I give up. Somehow Phillips manages, book after book, to write stories I just can't wait to gobble up. I'm entertained, amused, touched--sometimes all in the same moment by her warm-hearted, sexy stories of women who lose everything and then meet the absolute baddest of the bad boys, like buttoned-up Isabel Favor and Lorenzo Gage in BREATHING ROOM. At the end of her rope, Isabel learns that surrendering to what life has in store for her is the ultimate secret. Yes, embrace the chaos and become emotionally richer as a result.

This theme is a consistent one w/Phillips, and it resonates for a lot of us in a world grown increasingly unmanageable, confusing--and, yes, chaotic.

Isabel Favor in BREATHING ROOM is a heroine so in control of every aspect of her life that I pictured her even folding over the corners of her own toilet paper! And my heart broke for her.

But, oh, and ah, and my, how delicious the future awaiting her just when she's lost everything and has nowhere to turn. Except into the arms of Ren Gage, Hollywood's really, really bad boy.

Except...he's no boy-man, and she's not a woman who's passively waiting for a knight on a white horse. Not totally-in-charge Isabel!

And all this delectablility takes place in the gorgeous world of Tuscan Italy, ripe with the smells of grapes and wine, warm with late afternoon sun--shoot, if I can't afford a trip out of town, let me spend another few hours reading BREATHING ROOM and visiting Tuscany vicariously.

I loved the characters, the setting, the poignant humor--everything. The secondary love story, for me, was richly drawn and equally affecting--a large cast of characters moving lightly, like sunshine on the leaves of the Tuscan olive trees.

SEP writes with such understanding of what it means to be a female in this culture, of struggling to be-all and do-all for everyone. As a result, her heroines are irresistibly winning. They speak for many of us. What they struggle with, we non-fictional women struggle with, too. We all need a little BREATHING ROOM. And Phillips translates that struggle into something charming, funny, and utterly delightful.

While I hate to weight down the charm of this book by mentioning that it also deals with big issues of life and how we deal with them, BREATHING ROOM touches on some really significant issues, though with such a light, deft hand that I am once again amazed by SEP's skill.

This is a perfect book for right now, for days when we'd all like to gather our scattered thoughts and not have to think about reality and how awfully, awfully real it can be. I'd rather live in the Phillips' BREATHING ROOM reality for a few hours and catch my breath for a moment. And then go back to real life with a smile on my face and a lighter heart. BREATHING ROOM is a real gift.

Rating:
Summary: same old, same old
Review: I'm starting to believe that SEP has a form in her head for her books and basically just fills in the blanks...if you've read one of her books, you've read them all.

Dr. Isabel Favor's life is going down the tubes at warp speed: her accountant has stolen all her money and the IRS has sent her a bill for over a million dollars in back taxes. Her fiance breaks up with her because he has been having an affair with a frumpy older woman whom he got pregnant. The ensuing scandal of her life has had a negative effect on her career and professionally she is becoming a has-been. So, Isabel sells all her assets to pay the IRS and leaves for Italy to start fresh. During her self-imposed exile, she plans to analyze "The Four Corner's," a self-help type of guideline that she has modelled her life after and which has been the basis of her career and success as a self-help guru (a la Dr. Phil.) But, all her plans are diverted when she meets and starts an affair with Ren Gage. Ren is a successful actor who's famous for playing sexy villains. He is a mess personally with tons of emotional baggage.

The thing is, the heroine, Isabel, would have been a secondary character in any other romance novel. You know, not villainous by any means, but the pious, annoying sister or cousin. Certainly, not the lead. The male lead, Ren, was just so idiotic. In one scene he humiliates Isabel by dancing and making out with another woman to show Isabel what a disreputable person he is so that she will leave him. It was such a juvenile and unbelievable scene.

I found myself rolling my eyes so much throughout the book that I was afraid my eyeballs were going to get stuck in the back of my head. The scene on the mountain in the rain with the statue I found especially hokey. The chemistry and sex scenes were lukewarm and not up to some of her other books.

Moreover, this book was overly preachy. One of the definitions in the dictionary for preach is: "To give moral advice, esp. in a tiresome manner." That definition pretty much sums up the book. I mean, when I am reading a romance novel, I do not want the heroine praying at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately, Isabel does this a lot throughout the entire book.

Lastly, why, why, why, does SEP always interject another major love story into her books. This page-filler type of writing is just disruptive and makes for choppy reading. I feel like I'm reading two books at once. It's doubly annoying because the secondary love story was more interesting than the main love story by far.

It seems to me that with SEP it's hit or miss. Try one of her other books like "Nobody's Baby But Mine" or "Heaven Texas."

Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER GOOD ONE FROM MS PHILLIPS
Review: It's hard to beat a good Susan Elizabeth Phillips book, but after THIS HEART OF MINE, I must admit I was getting a little worried. (I was a bit disappointed in that one.) However, BREATHING ROOM is very enjoyable--more like what you expect from Ms Phillips. If you haven't read Ms Phillips' previous books, do so immediately! Most of them are 5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Crackling Dialogue
Review: I loved this book. Susan is a wonderful writer and I've enjoyed her books
for years, this one is definitely one of the best. The character's repartee was sparkling, yet not forced or unrealistic. The characters are so
likeable and yet real. I'm sure people can relate to the Heroine with all her neatnik foibles. I have friends whose childhood was so chaotic they
too are huge control freaks, so I enjoyed seeing her loosen up!
And Ren? WOW. What a guy. The supporting cast make the story
even more interesting. I'm recommending this to all my friends. A
great summer read.

Rating:
Summary: BEST READ OF THE SUMMER
Review: Ms. Phillips has again surpassed herself. Although I work full time, I read this book in less than four days, you just can't put it down. Ms. Phillips' active and humerous dialogue, as well a her very likeable characters, are so entertaining!!! I have enjoyed all of her books and can't wait for the next one.

Rating:
Summary: I'm a HUGE!!! SEP FAN, BUT.......
Review: I started reading BREATHING ROOM with great anticipation, as I do all of Ms. Phillip's books. I discovered her work with NOBODY'S BABY BUT MINE (My favorite romance of ALL TIME-highly recommend if you've not read that one!!) and have been hooked ever since. But I must admit, I am a little taken aback by this book, as I liked everyone except ISABEL!! Very unusual for me, as Ms. Phillip's always makes her females quirky (all the better!!), but never shrewish or totally out of touch....

I spent the whole book waiting for Isabel to come down out of her ivory tower, and got discouraged along the way. I didn't like the way she ALWAYS knew what was best for everyone, but really did very little questioning of herself, and why she's so motivated to correct everything and everyone around her to her liking, as she saw fit....Ren didn't really call her on her attitude, not as she constantly commented on who she thought he and everyone else was and why they would only be much better people if they only followed her principles....yadayadayada....

To me, it made her unapproachable, and alot of times, unreadable. The constant self-righteous behavior wore on my nerves after a while....The praying? OKAY, WE GET IT!!!

Note: A mature woman who experienced explosive oral sex with a man, and then tells him "no more"?-NO WAY!!!! Her attitude and demeanor throughout most of the book just didn't seem to play out well...

Still, I love Ms. Phillip's work, and will continue to worry the bejeebers out of my local Border's waiting for her new titles. She is by far one of the best (if not the BEST!!) romance authors around, hands down.

Rating:
Summary: Susan Unfettered
Review: WOW. Now that SEP is writing books she wants to write, she's even better than before. I used to think Dan Calebow was her sexiest hero, but Ren Gage is HOT!! This is a sexy, mature romance which has humor and insight and poignancy. The maturity of SEP's writing takes my breath away. I just finished reading the book and took time out to write this review before I go back and re-read it. Just when you thought romance was getting a little stale, along comes a book that makes you rethink your attitude. I envy those of you who have yet to read this book.