Apr 24, 2013

Book Review: The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips



Title: The Great Escape by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Paperback reprint April 2, 2013; William Morrow
Genre: romantic fiction

Lucy Jorik was last seen running away from her fiance, her family, and her wedding in a previous book, Call Me Irresistible, a book that follows her disgraced maid of honor Meg and Lucy's left- at-the-altar would-be groom, Ted.

The Great Escape, the sequel to that book, is Lucy's story, of what happens to her after she takes off, escapes from her wedding to Ted and follows a stranger - the mysterious and scruffy-looking Panda. Panda picks her up on his motorcycle as she flees the wedding and tries to persuade her to return to her family, but Lucy is determined to stay away to think things over. She follows Panda to his island home on Lake Michigan and refuses to leave.

What happens is intriguing as well as predictable to some degree. I enjoyed the great escape and makeover that Lucy decides to give herself on the island, even down to her new nickname, Vixen. Too bad reality has to force its way in after a while and then a great lark of an adventure turns into more sobering experiences.

I enjoyed the book quite a bit but hated to have it turn too realistic towards the end. It seems the author was trying hard to make the novel relevant as the book started out as a good escapist romance. Nevertheless, a very good read. I recommend it for romance readers as well as for general fiction readers.

For more reviews, visit the TLC Book Tour schedule. Thanks to the publisher for a review copy of the book.


Susan Elizabeth Phillips soared onto the New York Times bestseller list with Dream a Little Dream. She’s the only four-time recipient of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award. A resident of the Chicago suburbs, she is also a wife and mother of two grown sons. Visit her website, susanelizabethphillips.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

6 comments:

  1. I would almost think that a book like this would need to throw in a dose of realism towards the end. I can see how such could be a downer after a story like this.

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  2. You've whetted my interest in this book and how reality "interferes" at the end. By the way, I really like the new look of your blog. (It's maybe not that new to you but I have not complimented it yet.)

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  3. I might like to read these. They sound kind of light and amusing, but also fun, and like Suko, I am intrigued by this bit of realism at the end. Very nice review on this one today. I need to get shopping!

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  4. I totally loved this review. It's strange how the author tried to change it up at the end. Pure escapism is perfectly acceptable!! :)

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  5. You have me intrigued about the ending now ...

    Thanks for being a part of the tour!

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  6. I've read all of her books and enjoyed this one, but it certainly wasn't a favorite.
    I liked the Vixen makeover too :)

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