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Life and Love on the Lam #1

The Escape Diaries

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Introducing the hilarious new heroine, Mazie Maguire, in Juliet Rosetti’s irresistible debut novel that follows the outrageous adventure of a woman on the run.
 
Wrongly convicted of killing her philandering husband, Mazie Maguire is three years into her life sentence when fate intervenes—in the form of a tornado. Just like that, she’s on the other side of the fence, running through swamps and cornfields, big box stores and suburban subdivisions. Hoping to find out who really murdered her husband, Mazie must stay a few steps ahead of both the law and her mother-in-law, who would like nothing better than to personally administer Mazie the death penalty via lethal snickerdoodle. With the Feds in hot pursuit and the national media hyping her story, Mazie stumbles upon a vast political conspiracy and a man who might just be worth a conjugal visit—if she survives.
 
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: The Devil’s Thief, Paradise Café, and The Perfect Catch.

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

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Juliet Rosetti

12 books53 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
Profile Image for Anna's Herding Cats.
1,274 reviews319 followers
August 23, 2017


Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2iqrMYV

Soooooo. Blogger Shame. Yes. The Escape Diaries landed on my review pile in, erm, 2013? And I'm just finishing it. LOL Oops!

The Escape Diaries is a madcap romp as Mazie--convicted of murdering her husband-- escapes prison during a tornado and leads the FBI and a slew of bad guys on a week long chase--picking up a motley crew of helpers (and a fan club) set on proving her innocence.

Okay so Mazie. I grew to like Mazie. She's spunky, full of determination and strength. The girl is constantly jumping from one crazy crisis to another and manages to hold herself together--mostly-- and keep going. She doesn't always make the best choices but, yes, she grew on me.

And I really liked Ben. Her helper turned love interest. A crafty cameraman from Canada who might have had a bit of a crush on her since her trial years earlier. He's a bit messy but totally one of those people you'd want to run to and squeeze for comfort.

The romance was way on the back burner since most of the book was Mazie on the run but there's a little flirtation and a little bit of heat, too. The rest of the series focuses on the two of them so I was okay with this.

The rest of it. So silly and over the top crazy. But also in a fun way. Bad guys, betrayals, running from the FBI, picking up helpers and a crazy fan club that was all on board with helping her escape and prove her innocence.

I did have a couple issues.

--I started it way back in the day and quickly set it down because Mazie and I had a bit of an issue at the start. She's not always the most ethical human and some of her lies and manipulations while escaping rubbed me real wrong-- ie: she led a lady to believe she was a near rape victim to get her help.

--Everyone who helped her...turned out to be an illegal alien. And that had me rolling my eyes.

--The bad guys basically got away with everything. I hate when that happens.

All in all, though, I did have fun with The Escape Diaries. It wasn't a perfect fit for me but it was a very easy read that made me laugh multiple times and in the end won me over. I'd read more from Rosetti, I believe. I wouldn't mind seeing what happens next for these two.
Profile Image for Nadia.
580 reviews201 followers
October 11, 2015
Not so long ago, reviewing one of those contemporary romances with single moms, I said how I'd like to read romance novels where the roles were reversed. Like the single parent would be the hero; the heroine would be a secret agent (police officer, firefighter, whatever) or a sports hotshot or a badass jailbird on the loose and the hero would be an innocent bystander (an artist, baker, craftsman, whatever, by profession) caught in trouble. Maybe it's my luck, but the books I read so far were not working the way I thought it would be. In fact they were awful.

The Escape Diaries restored my hope in finding something different but still readable in the romance genre. It is not the realest book out there, but then again it's categorized as chick-lit and you know how it's anything goes with chick-lit, so I tried not to look for sense and reason in everything happening to the heroine.

The beginning was captivating. I think I held my breath for the first 25% and I read that part in a second. It's when Mazie just escaped prison, and she has nobody to rely on to get away but herself. That first 25% were the strongest part of the story. Later on, it was fun and interesting to read, but as Mazie kept escaping the authorities always by a hair breadth, so did the suspense sort of waned down. Something crazy convenient would happen and she'd never get caught, no matter how close the police came.

The romance between Mazie and Ben felt sudden and out of place, like it was decided last minute to make them lovers. It was just weird .

I loved Mazie. She's awesome, she wouldn't take shit from anybody and she's hilarious. Following the story from her point of view was a hoot!

So, even though some events were a bit too unbelievable and I wished there just hadn't been any romance at all (gasp), The Escape Diaries was a wild ride and a lot of fun. Thumbs up!
Profile Image for meltem.
123 reviews145 followers
December 16, 2014

http://book-loving.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-escape-diaries-life-and-love-on-lam.html


I can't believe I never heard about this book before! This is a hidden treasure folks, come and read it!

Okay, let's get started. Mazie is in prison because she killed her husband. There is a video tape which shows the murder and there is her nightgown with her husband's blood all over it. But in fact she's innocent. When a tornado hits the city she escapes from the prison and she's determined to find her husband's real murderer. But the road has too many curves. Her pictures are everywhere, there is an award for any information about her and she has a revenge seeking mother-in-law and a US Marshall behind her neck...

I really loved Mazie! She was so sweet, clumsy and a little lost and clueless sometimes but she's brave. She was a loveable character and this is one of the most important things when I'm reading a book. I loved her relationship with Ben too. I really enjoyed her and Ben's little adventures and wished there was more of them. Overall the story was good too. There's no unanswered questions left at the end and I liked the way things resolved.

I have no idea what else to say about this book, I was expecting a enjoying read but I wasn't expecting this funny, suspenseful story with these witty characters. I was expecting something dull and this book has surprised me. Definitely recommended!
Profile Image for Julie .
4,247 reviews38k followers
January 1, 2013
A dazzling debut!
For the past three years Mazie has been in prison for killing her no good husband. When mother nature provides her with a freak opportunity to escape, Mazie seizes it. Little did she know it was the first of several escapes she would have to engineer over the next several days.
As the feds hunt for Maize so do reward seekers. She also becomes a media darling as half the population cheers her on. With a little help from a hunky journalist, Maize has an epiphany. She needs to find out who really killed her husband. This leads to a run in with her crazy mother in law, and puts her in more danger.

It's not easy to get a laugh out me . A smile or chuckle maybe, rarely do I laugh out loud at a book. But, this one really had me going. A break neck paced caper with loads of zany characters . A good mystery, a sweet romance, and a Happily Ever After! I hope Maize has more adventures in store for us in the future.
I still have a big smile on my face. Overall this one gets an A.
Profile Image for Colleen.
759 reviews161 followers
September 13, 2018
2.5 Stars

*This review contains minor spoilers.*

The Escape Diaries had some funny parts, but overall, it didn’t work for me. The more I think about it, the more creeped out I get.

This is the story of Mazie Maguire who was wrongly convicted of murdering her husband. One day when she is out on work detail, a tornado hits and she manages to escape. She goes on the run, attempting to avoid being recaptured while she tries to prove her innocence. Of course, that also draws the attention of the real killer and puts her in even more danger.

The story is sort of written like a diary with tips for surviving on the lamb, but she isn’t actually writing anything down, so it is more like stream of consciousness narrative.

There were funny parts but overall the story just didn’t quite do it for me. The love interest was farfetched. The mystery element took a backseat to the other malarkey going on in the story. But where the story really lost me was when it got a bit Deliverance and then tried to make attempted rape into a humorous situation. I don’t think there is such thing as a “funny” rape scene. Frankly, it was disturbing that the author tried to do that.

The love angle in the story wasn’t much better. He is basically a jail groupie / stalker. No amount of manliness or protectiveness was able to make me forget that. It was also instalove and not sexy. There is simply no way a “relationship” that started like theirs did would have any remote chance of lasting. Also, the loves scenes weren’t very steamy.

I briefly considered trying the next book in the series (for some unknown reason), but after reading the description for Crazy for You, I think I’m better off passing. There are plenty of other books to read.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 2 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 2 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 3 Stars
Originality: 2 Stars
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews631 followers
December 14, 2012
Who would ever think an escape from prison and running for your life while trying to find your husband's real killer could be so funny at times???

Mazie Maguire was falsely accused, convicted and imprisoned for killing her spoiled Momma's Boy, cheating husband. Not funny, he probably deserved it, anyway. right? Mazie sees an opportunity and escapes prison when a tornado hits and chaos is all around her. Her travels and escapades become the stuff of urban legends as she flees for freedom! She becomes a folk hero in the eyes of America and a thorn in the sides of both law enforcement and the real killers! Her perils and pitfalls to freedom are told through her POV with snark, humor and heart.

Our convict hides in a TV van that is returning to the city. So, she is now in the clear, right? Nope, Ben, a TV cameraman knows she is in the van, says nothing to his partner, being intrigued with her story since she was on trial 4 years prior. Ben becomes her cohort in crime, her savior, her hero and manages to steal her heart along the way with his gentle kindness, wit and brains.

Mazie manages to end up right where everything started in search of the truth, but not until she has stolen cars, bikes, and money, all while getting help from everyone from senior citizens to senior high students, as well as a hot cross-dresser. She even manages to uncover the reason for her husband's murder!

The irreverent way this tale is told by Mazie will have you laughing out loud and cheering for her all the way!

This copy was given to me by NetGalley and RandomHouse in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Pat.
1,374 reviews43 followers
December 10, 2012

Maizie Maguire is in a Wisconsin prison, for murdering her husband. She has been there for four years. Maizie still insists she 's innocent; no one is listening.
On a hot September day, our heroine is working garden duty. The sky darkens, there is lightning, and the winds become frightening. Before the prison officer can get them inside a tornado rolls through the prison yard. In the confusion, Maizie's on the run. Readers, hold onto your hats, it's going to be a very bumpy ride!
The rest of this crazy , funny story is like being dropped in an amusement park running! A harrowing drive in a stolen car ,lots of crazy characters, guns, explosions, and a dog. Oh I almost forgot, the police, and a very determined U.S. Marshall.
The one bright spot in this chaos, is when she is rescued by a reporter who actually believes she's innocent! Not to mention, each chapter is a different tip on escaping. We all need to escape at one time or another.
I laughed out loud, cringed, and sighed through this whole novel. It is a very enjoyable read, and I recommend it to anyone who wants a good laugh with their adventure. I am definitely going to read it again because I know I missed parts while I was laughing.
Pat Fordyce
Profile Image for Beth.
3,102 reviews301 followers
February 5, 2013
If Stephanie Plum Series and the Fugitive had a baby, you’d get something like “The Escape Diaries: Life and Love on the Lam. This was a fantastically humorous murder mystery.

Wrongly convicted convict, Mazie Maguire, is picked up by a tornado while in prison...kicking into motion Mazie’s unplanned prison break. Desperate to keep her freedom and to prove her innocence Mazie plight is a haphazard trip into a crazy and unbelievably funny adventure. Chased by a crazed plumbing store security guard, surviving a toilet avalanche and being chased by wieners is just of the few of Mazie’s escapades.

A good but not over done love interest, a cult fan club following, great characters, a marvelous plot, very funny antics and a strong mystery make The Escape Diaries and absolutely marvelous book. Don’t miss out on the Mazie Maguire experience.

This copy of The Escape Diaries: Life and Love was given to me by Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Claire.
2,324 reviews738 followers
January 16, 2014
3.5 Stars.

What a great start to a series.

The Escape Diaries is a little different from the norm, in that the main character Mazie Maguire starts out the book in prison for murdering her husband, but after a freak tornado, she manages to escape by means of an errant roof!

What follows are a few hilarious encounters, and a load of witty observations about how life has changed on the outside since her incarceration, while Mazie tries to prove her innocence.

Sort of like the Female version of Harrison Ford’s The Fugitive (which is referenced in the book a few times). Throw in a mad mother-in-law and a U.S Marshall (see I told you, it’s the female Fugitive) and you have a great story, that’s easy to read, with lots of likeable and funny characters.

For a first book Juliet Rosetti, displays an awful lot of talent. Looking forward to book 2 – Crazy For You.

ARC provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
Profile Image for Connie N..
2,790 reviews
April 7, 2018
#1 in the Life and Love on the Lam series

What fun! I had no expectations from this book and really didn't know anything about the series or the author, but now I'm a fan. At first I wasn't sure how I was going to like it since the main character escapes from jail right at the beginning. We don't know anything about her and don't know what to expect. But she turned out to be a regular trusting and naïve woman who got involved in something beyond her control. And her escapades are so over-the-top that they are hilarious (reminding me of Stephanie Plum). As Mazie amazingly eludes police, the FBI, and the bad guys, she becomes a cult figure through the country, occasionally being helped along the way, but mostly escaping from the worst of her problems by chance or dumb luck. There were definitely a lot of laugh-out-loud moments, and I smiled all the way through. The romance was secondary to the story, but just enough to keep things interesting. Lots of fun.
Profile Image for Thenia.
4,405 reviews180 followers
May 14, 2019
A quite original story of how an escaped felon tries to prove her innocence.

Mazie Maguire is serving a life sentence for the murder of her husband when a tornado hits at the right place at the right time and allows her a window of escape. With almost nothing to lose, she grabs the chance and flees, and we follow her adventures as she uses the wisdom of her former inmates to evade the police, makes new allies, uncovers truths and nearly dies a time or two.

She was a little naive to trust .

Fast paced and quite amusing, it kept me entertained throughout. Mazie's story continues in Crazy for You.
Profile Image for Margaret Fisk.
Author 21 books38 followers
July 8, 2015
Oh my gosh. This is a wild ride full of personality and laughs with hundreds of quotable lines to share with whoever happens to be around.

Mazie is not brilliant but she is gutsy. She takes chances and lives through disaster after disaster with the support of her favorite movie characters and an amazing number of people who are charmed by her innocent and enthusiastic nature. But don’t get the sense that this tale is all hearts and flowers. It’s not by any means. For every person Mazie meets who’s on her side, there’s someone else who wants to use…or kill…her.

Whether absorbing that a rich, handsome society man has chosen her to marry, a girl raised on a dairy farm, or suffering the consequences of being falsely convicted of killing her husband she adapts to her environment, makes friends, picks up an amazing collection of useful criminal tips, and takes the openings God, who she envisions as Atticus Finch, offers without more than a moment of hesitation.

With minor corrections for clarity and typos, the above review is what I wrote in the Notes section of my Kindle the moment I reached the last page, already regretting the end to my journey. The sourest note in my read was going back to the beginning only to read the dreaded “debut” in the blurb on NetGalley where I picked up my copy. This means there’ll be a wait before I can throw myself into another Juliet Rosetti title.

This book is a tribute to the changes eBooks have made to the publishing environment. Though traditionally published, it does not follow the traditions of romance novels, especially not in the female protagonist. I think it’s the flexibility of the eBook medium that led Loveswept to take a chance on The Escape Diaries. I could be wrong, but traditional publishing does not have much of a reputation for stretching the boundaries of genre as this book does.

The Escape Diaries offers an unusual, but very likeable, female lead in Mazie, and the romantic interest (who I’m not naming for fear of spoilers) comes into the book much later than you’d expect and with a deliberately unclear role. If you’re looking for a comfort read that allows you to predict the big movements with some certainty, this is not it. But if you’re open to off the wall humor, strange behavior, crazy decisions, and even crazier reasons for them, well, you won’t go wrong in spending your time cuddled up with Juliet Rosetti’s debut. My only suggestion would be to try and do your reading where you can share some of the lines you find precious, because a shared laugh is a laugh tripled.
Profile Image for Melody  May (What I'm Reading).
1,488 reviews24 followers
December 11, 2012
Also found on http://sillymelody.blogspot.com

Have you ever read a book that left you with a book high? I mean the feeling of wow that was an awesome book or wow I couldn't put it down. This is the case for Juliet Rosetti's The Escape Diaries. I started the book on Sunday night trying to finish the book before it came out, but life was against me. So, I was able to finish this book this morning. WOW! is all I can really say. With this kind of start you I'm beating you want to know what this awesome story is about.

Mazie Maguire was accused of murdering her husband Kip Vonnerjohn a few years back. Convicted and sent to prison, because of an incompetent lawyer. Now with no way of getting out, Mazie has accept her lot in life.

However, luck was on her side one day when a tornado struck the prison and she had found her way out. Now on the run and trying to out smart the law, Maize needs to figure out a plan. Fortunately, she might have a few accomplices. Especially, one handsome guy by the name of Bonaparte Labeck.

The story itself is intriguing, but the cast of characters make it so much fun. I mean with Kip's mother trying to kill Mazie in and out of prison. No love lost there. Then you have the set up and the references to The Fugitive (by the way if you haven't checked out that movie you might want to see it, because there are lot references to that movie). Plus, who wouldn't love a hero name Bonaparte Labeck, I mean the name itself is fabulous. Also you see her dog-nap one of Vanessa's (the mother-in-law) pooches, and you watch the transformation of Muffin. Last but not least is the chapters. Instead them being called chapters, they are number Escape Tips. For your information, there are 34 escape tips.

So, I will leave with a few of my favorite tips: 1) Be prepared. It's always good to be prepared, yet Mazie isn't at the time. 9) You can't go wrong with basic black. Accessorize with white. I will let you see what that tip is about. 14) Don't fall in the Radon. Just for your information Radon is a gas, not a liquid. Yet it's funny how many people don't realize that.

Overall crazy fun when you read The Escape Diaries. I really would suggest you getting this book if you are looking for some crazy fun in your read. Seriously, it left me with a book high. Love it from cover to cover. So, got out and have some fun.

Copy provide from Random House via NetGalley
Profile Image for Shelleyrae at Book'd Out.
2,613 reviews558 followers
December 10, 2012

In this lighthearted, funny, romantic caper, Mazie Maguire barely hesitates before scrambling over the fence when a tornado touches down in the prison yard. As she struggles through swampland, cornfields and cow herds, Maizie, wrongly incarcerated for the murder of her feckless husband, is determined to find the real killer and prove herself innocent.

The first tip in The Escape Diaries is to "Be Prepared", but Maizie's impulsive flight from the Wisconsin jail leaves her floundering. At first she is simply desperate to stay a step ahead of the Fed's on her trail, taking inspiration from Doctor Richard Kimble from the movie The Fugitive and using some handy skills picked up during her sentence from Vicki-Jean the Boosting Queen. Luck seems to be with Maizie, to a point, when she eludes a trigger happy security guard and an amorous farmer, and finds an unexpected ally in Ben, a news cameraman.
Maizie is a mixture of naivety and pluck which is endearing despite her missteps. She demonstrates remorse when she breaks the law during her escape and displays sense of loyalty to those that offer her help. The romance that develops between Maizie and Ben sizzles, despite being wildly inappropriate under the circumstances.
Though credibility is stretched a little thin, Mazie's adventures on the run are wildly entertaining. As Maizie is hunted by the FBI, her crazy mother in law and the 'Janitors', the fast pace and constant threat of being caught sustains the tension leading to an exciting finish.

The Escape Diaries: Life and Love on the Lam is a fun, quick read sure to be enjoyed by romance fans seeking a spirited adventure.
Profile Image for Lee.
382 reviews32 followers
June 30, 2014
Strap yourselves in because Juliet Rosetti takes us on one crazy ride in The Escape Diaries. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story of Mazie Maguire and her adventures and you will too. This book was a great blend of humor, suspense and mystery with a touch of romance.

Mazie has just escaped prison, courtesy of a tornado crashing through the prison fence, and she takes the opportunity to run. Mazie is a highly entertaining character and I loved her sense of humor and the way she looked at life. She was smart and funny, yet she had a very serious and life altering agenda, which was to prove her innocence and clear her name of the wrongful conviction of murdering her husband.

The way that Mazie channeled Dr Richard Chamberlin from The Fugitive movie was a great addition to the story and it really endeared her to me. She was quick thinking and resourceful, eluding the authorities at every turn, and she kept me smiling all the way through the book. The comedy and seriousness of her situation were woven together brilliantly and I was rooting for her to find out who framed her and to gain her rightful freedom.

I loved the way that Mazie became a folk hero of sorts and when she teams up with Ben, the adventures get even better. I loved their relationship, it was perfectly written and fitted in just right to the overall story and can't wait to read more about them in the next book in the series.

This series is going on my list of favourite books to make you laugh and feel good.

copy kindly provided by Netgalley and the publisher
Profile Image for Cocktails and Books.
4,143 reviews322 followers
March 3, 2013
Hilarious, well-written, sweet love story, interesting, are all appropriate when describing The Escape Diaries. Main character Mazie Maguire, convicted of killing her husband, escapes from prison during a freak tornado using tips she learned from her fellow inmates and from watching The Fugitive. What Mazie finds on the run is not what she expected. Instead of turning her in, people are cheering her on and helping her elude the authorities. One member of her fan club is an intrepid photojournalist/ jack of all trades and is the key to finding the evidence Mazie needs to clear her name. It doesn’t hurt that he is super sexy.

Mazie’s story is less romance and more mystery. Although Labeck shapes up to a valid love interest, what drives the story is not their relationship it is Mazie’s quest to find out who killed her husband and to stay out of jail. I loved Mazie as a character, she’s funny and resourceful. There are several places where I had to suspend belief, for instance the idea that the public would aid a convicted murderer with her escape plans and how she continually thwarts the authorities. However, those are minor issues and I have dealt with less believable plot devices for the sake of a good story. The murder subplot is pretty intricate and in some ways takes away from the relationship that develops between Labeck and Mazie but overall, The Escape Diaries is an enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Karon for Cocktails and Books.
Profile Image for Addictive Passions.
227 reviews
December 31, 2012
I adored this book. Mazi MacGuire is funny, independent, she knows what she wants, and she goes after it come hell or high water. The perfect chick lit heroine.
Mazi is on the run….and she’s not looking back.
After escaping prison during a freak tornado, Mazi decides to find her husband’s real killer just like her favorite movie escapee. What she doesn’t plan on is adding on to her single entourage with a yappy dog, a handsome electrician, and two Mexican teenage boys. Add to that the media coverage of her escape and subsequent fan base, and you’ve got one hell of a reason to stay out from behind a locked cage and find who your real friends are when the going gets tough. Did I mention her own personal God is names Atticus? That is just one aspect of The Escape Diaries that will have you reading until the very last page.
I expect there will be more stories from Mazi McGuire and crew, so I am excited about that. If your fans of Gemma Halliday, Krya Davis, or Meg Cabot; you will absolutely love The Escape Diaries.
Profile Image for Feminista.
872 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2012
Rating: 3 out of 5.

Mazie Maguire is wrongly convicted of killing her cheating husband. A well-timed tornado, three years into her sentence, provides her with the means of escape. She first attempts to keep ahead of the Feds and then tries to prove her innocence, with the help of a reporter who is quite taken with her.

The author managed to keep this novel light, even though Mazie is, in essence, an escaped convict. The prison humour was entertaining. Actually there was a part that I read wide-eyed, I was feeling somewhat horrified and amused. Also the actual murderer was not easy to identify, although that might have something to do with the fact that we are not introduced to that character until later.

The novel was also nicely structured with funny little escape tips at the start of every chapter. It allowed the novel to keep true to its title: The Escape Diaries.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group.
Profile Image for Gaele.
4,076 reviews85 followers
December 26, 2012
This quick, fun and slightly off the wall comedic story was the perfect antidote for a day in bed with the flu. With a wrongful conviction for the murder of her ex-husband, Maizie is determined to use any and every piece of information available to find the "real killer".

In a cleverly woven integration of film, television and desperation, Mazie and her cast of characters seem to travel from one near disaster to the next in her quest. From characters that will make you laugh out loud, to situations that just put you in the frame of an old rerun; this book is well worth the time to read when you need a pick me up.

I received an eBook copy from the publisher through NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Profile Image for Diane ~Firefly~.
2,200 reviews86 followers
May 25, 2025
Wow, this was a lot of fun to read. Poor Mazie was wrongfully convicted of her soon to be ex husband's murder and while on veggie picking duty at the jail, survives a tornado and escapes. Her adventures are far fetched but fun and I like that she has tons of second thoughts about being on the run as she really doesn't know how to survive it.

Somehow she becomes a heroine to the people during her mad-capped escapes from justice and runs into a guy who sort of believes her and wants to help her clear her name. Nothing that happens is likely, but it is fun to read and Mazie is an intriguing character.
151 reviews2 followers
May 29, 2014
This is an ebook written by an acquaintance of mine. Its setting is around here and Milwaukee. It is a hilarious story of a young woman escaping from Wisconsin's prison for women thanks to a tornado. She has been in prison for four years for the murder of her wealthy philandering husband. Of course, she is innocent. And once on the run decides to find out who really killed Kip. Read this is just a few days while on planes. I am looking forward to the second book in the series.
Profile Image for Emily Higgins.
1,922 reviews6 followers
July 20, 2014
Mazie Maguire is wrongfully convicted of shooting and killing her husband. After 4 years in jail, a tornado hits the jail farm where Mazie is assigned to picking tomatoes, allowing Mazie to escape. Using unorthodox methods, she is able to elude capture and attempt to find out who really killed her husband. This story is amusing and entertaining.
Profile Image for Stefanie Wille.
56 reviews50 followers
December 12, 2012
An extremely fun read!
I just wanted to keep reading until I finished the book, which I did, given some time for classes and eating.
I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the format.
There is nothing that I didn't like about this.
Profile Image for Mandy.
1,559 reviews234 followers
July 6, 2014
Funny book with a bit of a mystery. Mazie is hilarious! Looking forward to reading more in this series!
765 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2019
This was great! There was enough craziness to be fun but enough reality not to be stupid. I liked that there was a variety of people that Mazie comes into contact with: some who were crazy, frothing at the mouth fans, some who wanted to shoot her onsite, concerned citizens, and disgusting perverts. Mazie isn’t a superwomen with magical kickass abilities but she is a hardworking girl with gumption.
Profile Image for Kathy Davie.
4,876 reviews738 followers
April 26, 2015
First in the Escape Diaries* romance series. This story is set mostly in Milwaukee.

* I'm guessing here that Escape Diaries is the name of the series and that Love and Life on the Lam is the title.

The publisher has provided this story ARC.

My Take
LMAO, boob fighting?? This story was just too funny. A few weird bits, but on the whole, yeah, I'd buy this. It's just too funny, and I'm already wanting to re-read bits of it.

How dumb is Mazie that she never insisted on having the tape analyzed? She knew it wasn't her, so why not look for clues that would prove that?

Nah, I'm not buying Rosetti's excuse as to why Dumbo, I mean, Mazie, is taking off on Labeck. It's an excuse for drama. Although, it does open things wide for even greater and more terrifying adventures!

Okay, enough bitching, I really loved the characters Rosetti created. The good guys were an interesting mix of a handsome, handy Canuck, a Magenta from The Rocky Horror Show, and a couple of bright high school kids up for a lark. The bad guys were clichéd boss and his minions, although that mother-in-law. Oh. My. God. How has she managed to keep from being clapped up? I sure hope Purvis goes hog wild in the bitch's house.

Muffin "wiggled his way onto my lap and we had a petting fest for a while. I swear he purred.

'This is all the further I'm willing to go until we're married,' I told him.


What is her problem?? She's being stalked by two killers and she keeps yelping!

I think my favorite aspect of this story was the way Rosetti kept it honest and real-world even as she sprinkled in the crazy, whacked-out mother-in-law and her nutso dogs. Go Muffin! I just wanted to take Muffin home with me, poor thing. I would like to know how Mumsy felt about the true killer of her beloved idiot boy.

As for the Kopp's, naw, I'd go with Leon's custard any day of the week!

The Story
A sudden tornado provides Mazie with an escape route out of Taycheedah Prison in Wisconsin. Yup, life in prison teaches one all sorts of life skills, and Mazie keeps everyone's tips in mind as she lies, cheats, and steals her way into discovering the truth behind her husband's murder.

Of course, she does have a bit of help. The photojournalist who's been keeping tabs on her. The cousin and his friend who are part of the Mazie-mania fan club. Seems Luis was a practical-minded man with an eye to the future and his target is determined to prevent any hint from leaking.

An after-dinner burial, a baseball game, and locker-smashing at the pickle factory are just some of Mazie's madcap adventures as she pieces the truth together with just a little help from her friends.

The Characters
Margarita "Mazie" Maguire Vonnerjohn trusted, wrongly, in the system to find the real killer of her scumbag, cheatin' husband, Kip. Michael and Edith Maguire are her parents living in an assisted living facility in Florida while her brothers, Brendan and Jimmy, run the family farm.

Sterling Habenmacher was her lawyer; recommended to her by Kip's cousin, Senator Stanford T. Brenner. Mazie's most enthusiastic supporter throughout her trial.

Kip Vonnerjohn had a job with his mother's family's brewery in Milwaukee. Prentice Stogemore was the other woman. Freda Schmerhorn was Kip's secretary. Must have been a cushy job for her; she's paying for it now. Vanessa Brenner Vannerjohn is Kip's snotty, whacked-out mother; Purvis Jackson is her housekeeper. Muffin, Tufty, and Snookums are the shih tzu-bichon frises-from-hell.

Betty Winkler is the sweet lady who picks "Dorothy" up outside the woods. Wanda Kronenwatter deserves to have her van stolen. Norbert Lautenbacher captures her with visions of manure spreaders dancing through his head.

U.S. Deputy Marshal Irving Katz is the fed assigned to bring her back. Kim Jong Il and General Custer, a.k.a., Hemmings and Lor (or Lor and Hemmings??) are the Janitors. The clean-up crew who tidy up messes. They are not nice men.

Manitoba Moose, a.k.a., Bonaparte Labeck, is one of the camera crew for Action 13. Bob is his cameraman buddy. Peter Plifka is Channel 13's anchorman and a bit of a dimwit. "Magenta", a.k.a., Howard Pfluge, is one of Labeck's best friends and a fellow Canadian.

Luis Ruiz is Miguel's brother and he's seeking vengeance. Eduardo is Constanza Arguello's son and Luis' cousin; Rico is his best friend and they're both in high school.

The Cover
The cover is great and it would have been even better if it had been the blonde Mazie all dressed up in her silver floor-length gown with the tuxedo'd Boney instead of the red-head with the pearl-encrusted, low-backed red dress. I do like the humongous handcuffs she's hiding behind her back!

Only Mazie could live out that made-for-TV-fantasy of Love and Life on the Lam, and it's so much better than prison.
Profile Image for Emma.
4,958 reviews12 followers
September 15, 2021
3.5 stars
She didn't end up with the person I thought she would and so I'm disappointed. The solving of the case wasn't really interesting to me but I laughed so hard at the barn scene.
Profile Image for Yazmin.
523 reviews11 followers
April 22, 2014
In The Escape Diaries: Life and Love on the Lam by Juliet Rosetti, Mazie Maguire has been convicted of the murder of her lying and philandering husband. She has been in prison for the past three years paying for a crime that she didn’t commit and receiving the letters that come from her mother-in-law with the poisoned food she sends but luckily Mazie never receives. Now she is serving punishment in the garden of the warden for giving a cough drop to another prisoner. Something that is prohibited by the warden, for any and all medicine of any kind not used must be returned to the nurse immediately. But she had one cough drop left over from the last time she was sick and it was easy enough to give it to someone who needed it.
 
Now as a storm is beginning, she is still late into the afternoon in the garden working. She does not like storms but the guard does not want to take them inside yet. Until the tornado alarm sounds and everyone springs into action and wants to get inside. But as they are running, Maize sees what appears to be a house come towards them with the tornado. Next thing she knows she the roof of the possibly barn is embedded in the wall and everyone is scattered and unconscious. Now is her chance for escape. She may always do the right thing, but serving a sentence for three years has changed her.
 
As she escapes prison she expects and alarm to go off and someone to be at her heals. But luck is on her side for now and after running through the forest and discarding her prison clothes, she finds a ride into town while making up a story about being a young woman from college who was almost raped. But things get more interesting when her savior wants to take her to the police to report the incident. Luckily the older woman gets worried about her husband after the tornado and wants to check on him, something that Mazie plays to her convenience.
 
Now free and on the run, Mazie will do everything she can to find the real killer and bring that person to justice. But with the police on her heels, her mother-in-law offering rewards to turn her in and everyone looking for her, things will get interesting.
 
Seems like luck is just on Mazie’s side, plus a sexy reporter named Ben Labeck who wants to help her, but she does not know if to trust. There is not a lot of romance in this book, but the adventures are really fun. The attraction between Mazie and Ben is immediate, but things are not easy for them, for first they must find a way to keep her from getting caught and sent back to prison while they find the real killer. And convincing Mazie to give him a chance will not be easy for Ben.
 
I have to say, this book was really fun to read, the adventures that Mazie went through while trying to find the real killer may seem improbable and incredible, but at the same time they are too funny to care. From a little research I’ve done, it seems like Mazie will have more adventures ahead, I can’t wait to see what happens between her and Ben, I’m missing a true HEA here!
 
If you want a fun and entertaining read that will keep you wondering what happens next and unable to put the book down, don’t miss The Escape Diaries: Life and Love on the Lam by Juliet Rosetti.
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