Review: The Great Escape

The Great Escape
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Contemporary Romance
Wynette, Texas Series/Book 7
William Morrow/July 10, 2012

"Where do you run to when your life has fallen apart?"

Lucy Jorik is a champ at never embarrassing the family she adores--not surprising since her mother is one of the most famous women in the world. But now Lucy has done just that. And on her wedding day, no less, to the most perfect man she's ever known.

Instead of saying "I do" to Mr. Irresistible, Lucy flees the church in an ill-fitting blue choir robe and hitches a ride on the back of a beat-up motorcycle plastered with offensive bumper stickers. She's flying into the unknown with a rough-looking, bad-tempered stranger who couldn't be more foreign to her privileged existence.

While the world searches for her, Lucy must search for herself, and she quickly realizes that her customary good manners are no defense against a man who's raised rudeness to an art form. Lucy needs to toughen up--and fast.

Her great escape takes her to his rambling beach house on a Great Lakes island. Here, she hopes to find a new direction . . . and unlock the secrets of this man who knows so much about her but reveals nothing about himself. As the hot summer days unfold amid scented breezes and sudden storms, she'll also encounter a beautiful, troubled beekeeper; a frightened young boy; a modern-day evil queen; and a passion that could change her life forever.

Yep, been waiting for this one.  Was the wait worth it?  Oh, yes.  This is the other side of the story - the would be bride's side of what happened on that fateful day when the highly televised wedding came to a sudden stop.  

Lucy Jorik is very good at being perfect.  She is the perfect daughter, the perfect professional, the perfect fiance.  Then Lucy decides it's time to stop being so perfect and start being herself.  One thing I can say about Lucy - when she rebels, she goes all out!  I liked what I read of the young Lucy in First Lady and I liked her even more after she's all grown up.  After trying to bury her childhood insecurities and rebellious side for so long it was good to see Lucy simply be Lucy.  It turns out she's very likeable without being perfect.  

Panda, if ever there was a classic hero name, that's not it!  But oddly enough it suits him.  He is opposite of the men Lucy is accustomed to and he's exactly what she needs.  He doesn't let her get away with anything but instead treats her like Lucy, the person instead of Lucy the public figure.  He does have a job to do and can be an ass while doing it, he's still turns out to be this funny, smartass and very likeable hero.  

Lucy's escape from perfection to her true self has her meeting up with some very unusual characters along the way.  They all help Lucy with her transition into finding who she really is and what she really wants out of life.  Panda is right there with her, not always happy to help, instead trying to get Lucy to go back to her old life.  He's not a firm believer in the new Lucy and he does take some convincing.   Of course the convincing comes in many forms one being physical, which turns out Panda and Lucy are very good at!  

Along with the romance is the classic humor of SEP.  From the slapstick comedy to the witty dialogue, there is such a well defined flow it, making the reading almost effortless.  It's not all laughs, Lucy, Panda and their friends take on responsibilities they don't always feel comfortable with.  There were a number of issues discussed and tackled and while I sometimes found myself wanting to get back to some of the lighter moments, the relationships were all so very interesting, I didn't want it to end.

Rating:  A-