Rate: 3.5 stars~The Plot~America's Diva of Self-Help, Dr. Isabel Favor, just lost her fiance 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.~My Thoughts~Quite honestly, I thought this book was more than a little... weird. I certainly found myself enjoying it, but the whole statue and spirituality thing did not work for me. In fact, it was so ridiculous I found myself confused and more than a little disappointed. I'm really not sure what SEP was trying to do there, but I would prefer she stick to a more conventional way of resolving the lovers' dispute. "She had no concern for her safety, but he did, and he pulled the statue from her stiff fingers. He began to toss it to the ground where it could no longer serve as a lightning rod. Instead, he found himself staring at it in his hand, feeling its power vibrating through him. She wasn't the only one who could make a covenant, he understood. It was time for him to make one of his own, a covenant that went against every male instinct he possessed.He turned as she had, faced outward, and lifted the statue back to the sky. First she belonged to God – he understood that. Next she belonged to herself, no doubt about that. Only afterward did she belong to him. This was the nature of the woman he'd fallen in love with. So be it."... Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...Apart from the strange spiritual enlightenment and self-discovery elements of the book, I really loved the hero - Ren was just so dreamy. Isabel, on the other hand, was a heroine who was much too self-aware for my liking. I know, SEP was trying to represent her as strong and fiesty but I would've liked to see Isabel show more vulnerability and self-doubt. Most of the time her mentality came across as superior, bordering on arrogance. SEP's wit once again kept the book together and made it a reasonably enjoyable read even though I thought most of the plot and characters were a bit messy. I guess the plot showed a lot of potential, but the introduction of Tracy and her five kids, along with the mysterious 'curse' and statue search just made the story seem trivial which made it hard to emotionally connect with the characters.Despite this book's shortcoming I have to say, the epilogue was in another league and definitely my favorite part of the book.The wicked principessa had been lusting after her poor but honest groom for months, but she waited until a stormy February night before she summoned him to the master bedchamber at the Villa of the Angels..."You're merely a peasant, and I'm a principessa. If you don't submit to me, I will have the village burned to the ground.""You would burn down the village merely to satisfy your evil lust?""In a New York minute.""Well, then, I suppose I must sacrifice myself.""Darned right.""On the other hand..." Without warning, the wicked principessa found herself upended on the bed with her scarlet skirts tossed over her head."Hey!"
What do You think about Breathing Room (2003)?
What a delightfully engaging romance!!! This was full of humor and sass, and the dialog between Isabel and Ren (the two main characters) throughout the book was simply fabulous (not to mention they had great chemistry). It didn't hurt one bit that it was set in beautiful Tuscany with vivid descriptions that made you feel as if you were right there. The secondary characters had their own story as well, which seems to be a fingerprint of this author. I fell totally in love with two of the little kids- they were beyond adorable. The only bad thing I can say about this is that I didn't want it to end- it was that good!! You sure can't go wrong with this one!!
—Piper
No es para nada de lo mejor que ha escrito la SEP. Reconozco que el principio me confundió, ya que comenzar con el personaje que interpretaba Ren en vez de con el Ren verdadero no me lo esperaba. Isabel no me ha gustado. Me parece una loca perteneciente a una secta, una gurú con más problemas que nadie y la mujer más inestable que he conocido en la vida. No pude sentirme identificada con ella para nada, ni con su forma de pensar o actuar ni con el final que culminó en las ruinas del castillo. Repito, si yo la conociera, me parecería una loca con ideas muy claras para hacer que el mundo obedezca, con una moral excesiva para juzgar al resto de sus conocidos, pero completamente ida. Creo que es la típica que te mira por encima del hombro y parece que juzgue y critique cada acción que lleves a cabo con su elevada y perfecta moralidad... Y Ren... no me gustó hasta casi el final. Aunque me he reído mucho en algunas escenas, no es de lo mejor que he leído de esta mujer y no me ha dejado muy buen sabor de boca.
—Nícky
This one was great. I really enjoyed it. She's Dr. Isabel Favor, America's diva of self-help.He's Ren Gage, Hollywood's favorite villain.Sometimes you just know that God has a sense of humor. “He pushed the steelframed glasses up on his perfect nose. “I don't pay much attention to the selfhelp movement, but even I've heard of you. Is the doctorate real or phony?”“I have a very real Ph.D. in psychology, which qualifies me to make a fairly accurate diagnosis: You're a jerk. Now, leave me alone.” Set in Italy. What's not to love? The scenery, the food, the wine ... Belissimo.As with SEP, we have a few side stories going and I loved them too. She was a gift - a gift he nearly hadn't found the guts to claim. Now, as he watched her standing fearless against the elements, her power stole his breath ... she was everything to him. He silenced her with a kiss. “She threw up her hands. "All right. Why not?" "Why not?" "Sure." His arms fell to his sides. "That's it? I pour my heart out. I love you so much I've got freakin' tears in my eyes. And all I get in return is 'Why not'?" "What did you expect? Am I supposed to fall all over you just because you've finally come to your senses?" "Would it be too much to ask?"...He'd begun to glare at her again, his eyes growing stormier by the minute."When do you think you might be ready? To fall all over me, that is.” And I got an epilogue!!
—Mo
