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NS

Lovely story, Stupid ending.

Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2016

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It should/could have been 5 stars but for the stupid ending of the book.
Most of Breathing Room is ESP at her best: engaging and self-aware H&h, (which I particularly prefer to those walking around blind to their feelings and only on the last page BOOM! we are in love!) believable story and evolving relationships with fun, wit and character.
But then comes the ending, the last 4-3 chapters - with witch craft, Lightning and Thunder and a heroine that runs amok. I can't think why ESP reverts to such a stupid, out of character (both for her and for her H&h) ending for which up to that moment were a reasonable, coherent, feet on the ground people. It was disappointing and left a foul taste in my mouth.

Jo Anne

Fun romance, set in beautiful Tuscany

Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2020

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Isabel is a self-help guru whose personal life is in shambles, which leads to her major career crisis. Lorenzo “Ren” is a drop-dead gorgeous movie star, who always plays the perfect villain, with a bad boy reputation to complete the image. A fun story, with witty dialogue and great characters, all framed in the perfect setting, a charming villa in Tuscany. The set up is a bit coincidental, but I easily bought into the charm of the story. The ending is over-the-top, but this author and these characters pulled it off.

Sheila M

Falling in Love with a Hero Who Sees Himself as a Villain

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2014

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BREATHING ROOM is a standalone contemporary romance novel.

Lorenzo "Ren" Gage is a well-known American actor who has made a career of starring as a psychotic villains who attacked and kill some of the most famous heroes and heroines in the movies. Ren has been dogged by rumors that he caused the suicide of his former girlfriend.

In Italy, Ren pretends be a non-English speaking Italian and meets a woman in a café and ends up having a failure of a one night stand. What he doesn't know is that his "French" woman is actually the Dr. Isabel Favor a self-help author and personality who is also pretending to be someone else. Isabel is a self-made woman who has lost her reputation, money, career and fiancé in quick succession.

When Isabel runs from the encounter, Ren and Isabel never expect to see one another again but, of course, they end up meeting up together when Ren goes to his Italian home and Isabel is renting a small house on the property. They are soon wrapped up in locals who are doing something strange on Ren's property, an ex-wife and her family and in their continuing attraction to one another.
I ended up loving this book even though I didn't initially believe I would. Isabel is uptight and seems cold and judgmental when the book begins. Soon it is clear that she has hidden her insecurities from her chaotic childhood in order and structure. Isabel's structured life has been decimated by betrayals of people around her. Her accountant stole her money and left her with an enormous IRS debt that required her to sell everything. Her fiancé has fallen in love with a woman who is Isabel's opposite. Her fired assistant has sold a negative story about Isabel to the tabloids.

Ren has been deeply hurt by his past. He is a good guy who doesn't see himself that way. Ren was a trust fund baby with an absent father and a drugged out mother. He drank, did drugs and had sex through his teens. After marrying and divorcing young, Ren has not had serious relationships. He takes roles as villains because in some sense, he sees himself as the villain. It is easier for him to seek out within himself the feelings and emotions of the villain than to see himself as the hero.

Through the relationship between Ren and Isabel and as a result of all the chaos happening around them, Ren and Isabel begin to see themselves more realistically. I really liked how the good side of Ren is slowly revealed, but even so, he is not by any means perfect. He has a creative and mischievous side that causes him create discord.

The romance is unexpectedly funny and sweet. Ren dresses up in various disguises in order to avoid fans and paparazzi and I laughed out loud at some of his getups. Phillips uses the fact that Ren is an actor to her advantage by allowing him to use that ability to create comic moments between Ren and Isabel. Their playacting allows Isabel to be herself and that translates into their bedroom play as well. This book does not shy away from light bondage and playacting between the characters, but it is always kept in a light tone.

The characters have a real chemistry and the storyline often moved in ways that I did not expect. Several times the action is built up to a point where a certain outcome is expected. It is at that point that the action turns and that makes the story feel more real, more grounded. This is not a book where difficulties can be resolved by characters talking. Just when it appears that the plot with turn that way, the characters actually talk and the plot moves off in a different direction.

The dialogue is clever and I was compelled to turn page after page. The book takes a risk by making the first sexual encounter between these characters to be an unmitigated disaster. I was surprised that this isn't a story about redemption. Both these characters have made themselves. They only need to recognize who they are apart from their image of themselves. One of the things I love about this book is how Ren and Isabel serve as mirrors for each other allowing them to grow beyond their stunted image of themselves.

Secondary romance often feels forced in books. Here it helps define the main couple much better. By bringing in a married couple with a bunch of kids, it allows both Ren and Isabel to see themselves as different than their usual roles.

The Italian location is romantic and the local color makes this a captivating choice. The language makes the setting feel lush, welcoming and it is clear how the characters can find the place healing.

I highly recommend this book. It is sweet and funny and ends in a wholly satisfying place.

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book William Morrow from in order to provide a review of the book. I would like to note that although I was provided a free paperback, I purchased my own copy of the book on Kindle in order to read the book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

jean

Narrator of the redone CD is awful

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2016

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I am very disappointed in the new reader. I owned the cassette and I loved the voice of the reader on the cassette. She was talented and captured the character of the main characters in her voice modulations. This new reader is overly dramatic, and at times she sounds like she is giving one character a Mexican accent when they are Italian. I was so disappointed when I listened to this version. I thought that a simple change of format from cassette to CD would be exact as in music cassettes to CD. After listening to the second CD, I had to stop. It was very bad. Now, I am going to buyva replacement cassette because "Breathing Room" is one of my favorite audio stories when read by a talented reader.

eav

Witty

Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2020

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This is one of my favorite books by this author, perhaps because the heroine prays or because the dialogue is witty. I don’t expect it to be realistic, just fun, with characters I like. It succeeds in making me happy whenever I need a touch of fiction to counteract reality in my life.

M. Logan

Pleasantly Surprised...

Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2007

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Unlike many of the other reviewers, I'm really not a SEP fan at ALL. I've read a few of her other books, and I was pretty unimpressed (although to the last one, they are really funny with great dialogue. Just not that interesting). I wasn't expecting much from this one either, but I had a long plane ride the next day so I bought it the night before. I was so pleasantly surprised. I had to force myself to put it down so I had enough to read on the plane! The reason I'm not a SEP fan is because I usually find her main characters either unlikable, unrelatable or unrealistic. Conversely, I thought the hero and heroine in this one were really refreshing and a little different from the run of the mill romance book staples. I really cared about Isabel's character and liked watching her journey towards accepting a little disorder. I also liked that both of them were at a point in their lives when they were doing a little introspection. Loved the subplot with Tracy and the kids. Wasn't too fond of the villager "mystery" subplot but it didn't detract too much and gave the main characters an excuse to spend time together. Also, SEP definitely has a way with writing and Ren practically sizzled off the page. After I read this, I gave SEP another chance with a vengeance but sadly, this remained the only one I really liked. Very good read and would suggest it to people who Aren't SEP fans because I think its different from her normal (which may be why I like it) but keeps her trade mark humor and excellent writing style.

Top reviews from other countries

Sophie H Morgan

Sexy, stunning and totally absorbing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2007

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Thanks to the doubtful reviews I almost didn't buy this book but I am so glad that I did. Isabel is not at all like me so it was interesting to identify with such a diffent character and Ren is just sexy...I don't like their initial encounter but I'm a hardcore romantic so that doesn't count! All hang-ups are explained...the part about oral sex is because she doesn't like to lose control. If you like SEP buy it because it's high up on my list of favourites and if you've never read SEP before if you are looking for romance, laughs and men you just want to take home with you BUY THIS BOOK!!!

Maria

I loved it!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2010

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I almost didn't buy this because of the negative reviews but I really enjoyed it. I love the dialogue and exchanges between the two main characters; they had a sizzling energy running between them. The story line is a bit daft but I don't read SEP for hard hitting reality.
One of my favourites.

Carol

good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2012

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I enjoy the writings of Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I have been reading her books for years.
This story is light reading and very enjoyable to just pass the time.

Reading Revelations

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2016

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My favourite SEP ever

Tanu

A nice coffee table read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 23, 2013

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This book is quite humorous, full of sarcastic retorts !! A definite read, however the ending is not as impressive as expected and hence I chose to give it 4 stars! otherwise this one for sure deserved a 5 star (first 3/4 part)

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