Breathing Room

by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Paperback, 2002

Status

Available

Call number

813.54

Genres

Romance

All Topics

Fiction

Collection

* Donation

Publication

Avon Books (2008), Edition: Reprint, Mass Market Paperback, 392 pages

Description

Fiction. Romance. HTML: America's Diva of Self-Help, Dr. Isabel Favor, just lost her fianc� to a disorganized earth mother, her accountant has absconded with her hard-earned money, and the empire she's built is in shambles. Seeking emotional shelter, she flees to Italy to find some peace. But for Isabel, the biggest disaster lies just ahead�in the gorgeous form of Lorenzo Gage, Hollywood's favorite villain. Before they know it, wine will flow, sparks will fly, and hearts will meld�.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Amy_Atwell

Isabel Favor watches her world crumble and has to rise from the ashes, a stronger, more complete person.

Lorenzo Gage must face the idea that maybe he’s worthy of being a hero.

Solid characterizations, concrete examples of what these two face. They both arrive in Tuscany, a little battered by their

lives, and decide to have an affair.

Toss in a subplot of Ren’s ex-wife’s fifth pregnancy and splintering marriage and a small Italian town turning itself upside down in the search of an Etruscan artifact, and you have a lovely view of 3 weeks in Tuscany.

A self-help guru and a movie-star villain. “Sometimes you just know that God has a sense of humor.�Â?

Light and fun, the characters had some depth to them. Nice job of integrating the subplot and having it drive the main plot.

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12 more

LibraryThing member magst

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is at her romantic, sexy best with "Breathing Room." You'll fall in love with Tuscany, the food, the atmosphere, the people. Isabel, the heroine, is funny and flawed and you just might recognize yourself in her. As for Lorenzo Gage, I haven't come across a hero this funny

and sexy in far too long. After years of reading romance novels, I thought I'd read just about every way there was to write a sexy scene, but Ren and Isabel in the vineyard with a single grape was one of the most erotic scenes I've ever read.

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LibraryThing member LesaHolstine

Dr. Isabel Favor is America's favorite advice guru until she loses everything. Lorenzo Gage (Ren) is the actor everyone loves to hate as a villain. When they meet in Tuscany, sexual sparks fly.

LibraryThing member siubhank

This is the first of Phillips' books that I read. In addition to a great romance and beautiful descriptions of Italy, this book has one of the best lines I've ever read in any book; "He watched her moving through the crowd. Because of his years of doing soap operas, he knew exactly what was

happening. Isobel's evil twin had come to town." I go back to the book and read that chapter over time and again, just to get the impact of those lines.

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LibraryThing member ImBookingIt

Light and Fluffy. Never tries to be anything else. Lots of fun and escapism.

LibraryThing member lrobe190

Isabel Favor is a life-style coach whose life is falling apart. Her accountant has run off with her money, her reputation is in tatters and her fiance has just dumped her for an older woman. Isabel needs to escape so she heads for Tuscany determined to find a little perspective - breathing room -

and start over. Instead she ends up in a hotel room with Hollywood bad boy Lorenzo Gage. He makes his living killing people...on the screen at least. Ren's reputation is blacker than black. But when you're everyone's favourite villain, it goes with the territory. Isabel's always prided herself on her neatly ordered life. But look where being good has got her. Maybe it's time to live a little...? (Amazon desc.)

This is trademark Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Lots of romance, humor and colorful secondary characters. Highly entertaining.

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LibraryThing member FlanneryAC

After my two/three week binge on SEP last year I took a long break before reading another one. Though I didn't love it as much as some of her heavy hitters (AKA my favorites This Heart of Mine, NBC, and Match), this book was still entertaining. I enjoyed both lead characters but I felt like their

back stories weren't described in enough detail--the reasons for their respective holdups were never really explored. Also, I felt like the townspeople/statue storyline was pretty contrived. (and the sex scene with the statue and the fiery dress at the end was totally ridic)

All in all, I still enjoy reading all that SEP writes...but this one was just okay.

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LibraryThing member dd196406

Excellent book. Love this author!

LibraryThing member cranberrytarts

Breathing Room is one of those romances I could finish and immediately start again. I adore both Ren and Isabel. They have amazing chemistry and their dialogue is fantastic.

The romance is one that blossoms over time and we really get a sense of the two of them in the meantime. This isn't a two-day

whirlwind romance. I love that.

The secondary characters are just as wonderful. Plus, I adore the setting. This book never fails to make me want to visit Italy. Definitely a must read.

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LibraryThing member msralways

I absolutely loved it! SEP has an amazing potential to create the most incredible characters, with a lot of different sides to their personalities. Ren and Isabel had a fun, hot and sexy relationship, but when the deep stuff came along, everything just got better. Loved the epilogue.

LibraryThing member Dawn772

What a great book set in Italy about psychologist Isabel who loses everything - money, fiancée, reputation then meets actor Lorenzo (Ren) who always plays the villain. This story had humor, steam and even mystery. I enjoyed the witty banter, the moral messages and the dramatic ending.

LibraryThing member MyaB

Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Audio Edition)
Narrated by Anna Fields

I didn't finish this book... I loved Lorenzo..but couldn't seem to stick it out for just him.

Ren (Lorenzo) had a funny sense of humour.. he game me some good chuckles.

Isabella - she kinda annoyed me. She was a good

character, but her “holy than thou” attitude bugged me.. and every time she “Shrunk” someone.. ugh… too much of that.

There was more religious references then I would have liked.

Also the whole Tracy and Harry - parts were a bit much.

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LibraryThing member treehorse

Fun to read about Tuscany, but the romance felt subpar. Less humor than I expected from a SEP book.

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