From an unlikely pairing of romantic leads, Susan Elizabeth Phillips crafts a stunningly beautiful story, at times silly, at others poignant, and occasionally both at once. Isabel Favor is taking time out in Tuscany to try and regroup after her self-built, self-help empire has crumbled. Ren Gage, famous movie villain is taking time off, incognito, before starting the most challenging acting job he's ever been given. A one-night stand with assumed identities is less than successful, but what starts in pretense on both sides has the potential to become life changing for them both.

I often shy away from books where relationships appear to be based on intentional falsehoods and assumed identities. All too often in romances a large helping of the tension is based on such two-dimensional contrivance, but because BREATHING ROOM is written by one of my favorite authors I persevered and was delighted to find that nonsense was dispensed with very quickly, allowing the elegant structure of the main story to form.

There are so many things I enjoy about BREATHING ROOM. First the location and descriptions of Tuscany, not just of the beautiful views, but the tastes, sounds, smells of that magical area are brought to life through Phillips's gift. Hand in hand with that are the people who live there and interact with the main characters. They are not in any way caricatures of people in the Italian countryside, but vital individuals who play a large part in the book. Most importantly Susan Elizabeth Phillips brought me into the hearts and minds of Isabel and Ren, two characters with whom I might have had a hard time identifying with except for her talent.

Long before BREATHING ROOM reached its midpoint, I was deeply hooked in Isabel and Ren's tale, and wasn't at all sure how it was going to play out. That is enough to make this one of my top reads, but the ending! The fabulous amazing and electrifying ending Susan Elizabeth Phillips crafted made the tiny hairs on my arms feather, not with fear or suspense but with unadulterated delight. I read the final sentence with a sigh of mixed happiness and regret. I regret having to leave Tuscany behind but was glowing from the happy ending, which is so perfect. I just might have to re-read BREATHING ROOM once a year or so, to bring it all back.