Breathing Room

By: Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Narrated by: Kate Fleming

Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Sometimes in life you need a little breathing room, especially when your life has just fallen apart. Dr. Isabel Favor, America's diva of self help, knows this all too well. She's lost her fiancé to a disorganized earth mother, her accountant has absconded with her money, and her self-help empire is in shambles. She flees the country to Tuscany, waiting for life to settle down, but the biggest disaster lies just ahead. On one unforgettable night, she's about to meet Lorenzo Gage, Hollywood's favorite villain.

©2002 Susan Elizabeth Phillips (P)2002 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Phillips has created a very modern and textured tale: witty, moving, passionate and tender." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Stunningly vivid descriptions and some of her most complex protagonists to date." ( Library Journal)

Opposites Attract in a beautiful Italian setting.

What did you love best about Breathing Room?

The way the author gave the characters background and showed the way human experiences can shape a persons character and personality. Enjoyed the analysis that "Dr. FiFi" gave of several characters and the way she handled her emotions and handled conflict.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Breathing Room?

When Ren and FiFi were in the vineyard before getting distracted.

Have you listened to any of Kate Fleming’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really, but I did enjoy it as a fun "get away" in my mind.

Any additional comments?

Kate Fleming did an excellent job of giving each character a vocal personality.

Pleasantly surprised!

Based on the many disappointing reviews, I pondered this purchase for quite a while. I expected only a fair SEP book. What I heard was a great book. It's one I'll be listening to again.

Tuscan adventure

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

This wasn't my favorite SEP title. It seemed dark at the beginning--our heroine was really burdened with problems and our hero didn't seem like the solution to any of them. The book seemed long and didn't hold my interest. The subplot was also too dark for my taste. But I did finish it.

Would you be willing to try another book from Susan Elizabeth Phillips? Why or why not?

I have loved several of her books, and enjoy the humor in them.

What about Kate Fleming’s performance did you like?

She does a good job of capturing both male and female voices and also the Italian accents were convincing.

Fantastic! Breathtaking!

This book was awesome. I really felt like I was in Italy experiencing the joys and sorrows and feelings of the characters. The sex "scenes" were hot yet tastefully presented.

Breathing Room

Fun and adventureistic story. Very fun and keeps one captivated in the country, people and story.

All the stars

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read and reread this book over the years, but I can never get enough. This time was my first time listening to it, and it was no less amazing. One of my first forays into romance, I love, love, LOVE this book, and it is one of the reasons why romance novels are such a huge part of my life.

Dr. Isabel Favor is the self-made self help guru of America, but her life has come crashing down around her ears because of a series of unfortunate events. Ren Gage is a Hollywood heartthrob, known for playing the villain on the silver screen, and a little bit in real life. Their paths cross and keep crossing in the breathtaking Tuscan countryside, Sparks fly, hate and eventually love ensues. But it’s absolutely not that simple. Polar opposites, Isabel is the only one with the guts to confront Ren’s demons, and Ren is totally up for teaching Dr. Favor a thing or two about living, while getting rid of her sexual hangups. There’s local mysteries, crazy townsfolk, a secondary love story (as was a feature in many SEPs), a passel of kids, and all the drama! It’s funny and sexy and even cheesy and weird in parts, but it’s all part of the charming package of this book.

While old school for all intents and purposes, this one holds up remarkably well. And is a fabulous showcase of how SEP is the OG queen of so many tropes we read and love to this day; enemies to lovers, opposites attract, the redeemable alpha jerk hero, A plus banter, and sparkling, heady chemistry between the leads. Seriously, I may be a bit biased as regards this book, but I maintain that every romance reader must give this book, and SEP a try.

I loved this, my favourite SEP book yet

Where does Breathing Room rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was a very predictable story, but it was just a lovely story and romance. I loved the characters.

Would you recommend Breathing Room to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, but only as a ligt read nothing extrodinary.

What does Kate Fleming bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I really enjoy her style, her accents etc I have read/ listened to a few of her books now and look for books she has narrated.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes, I read it all in 2 sittings, loved it.

Different

A slow start, didn’t like heroine very much. I liked hero since I’m a sucker for bad boys. It’s different from her America books. I just read another series set in Italy so understood the differences in cultures somewhat. Loved the narration.

My Two Cents

I actually had to FORCE myself to finish it. And it was ONLY because they will not post a review on a book unless you finish the complete book. So I did listened to the entire book...
The first negative was the narrator. She voice was a bit too mature to be the voice of the main character who was in her mid 30's. The second negative was when the female narrator spoke in the male voice, it was just plain distracting and just plain silly.
I wanted to like that character but I didn't find her too likable.
I do not recommend this book.

Not her best work

I've just started listening to her books, while I have loved them all I was disappointed with this one. I normally fall in love with the heroine but this one I thought was a spoiled brat who just went on about psychology, rather frustrating. The actor was just as annoying. I love the witty dialogue that SEP writes but I could find none of that here.
I guess I should go back to the football stories.