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Ellie Dwyer's Great Escape
You're never too old to run away from home
Ellie Dwyer, 61, is convinced bad luck comes in threes, and not just garden-variety, oh-well bad luck. How many people have to flee not one, but two natural disasters? And in between the wildfire and the hurricane, her husband of nearly forty years suddenly up and left her for no reason she could fathom, disappearing from her life without a clue to his whereabouts.
Determined to reinvent her life, Ellie sets out on a journey across the country – her own “great escape.” Along the way to nowhere in particular, she buys a camper, becomes friends with a remarkable older woman, and starts to believe that good luck might also come in threes.
Or does it? That depends on how she defines good luck.
Ellie Dwyer, 61, is convinced bad luck comes in threes, and not just garden-variety, oh-well bad luck. How many people have to flee not one, but two natural disasters? And in between the wildfire and the hurricane, her husband of nearly forty years suddenly up and left her for no reason she could fathom, disappearing from her life without a clue to his whereabouts.
Determined to reinvent her life, Ellie sets out on a journey across the country – her own “great escape.” Along the way to nowhere in particular, she buys a camper, becomes friends with a remarkable older woman, and starts to believe that good luck might also come in threes.
Or does it? That depends on how she defines good luck.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2019
1535 people are currently reading
503 people want to read
About the author
Diane Winger
30 books91 followers I describe myself as a “retired software geek” who loves hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, camping, and cross-country skiing when I'm not reading, writing, or watching cat videos.
I'm a passionate volunteer with several organizations which focus on literacy projects in my community.
My husband, Charlie, and I are co-authors of several guidebooks on outdoor recreation. I was born and raised in Denver and we currently reside in western Colorado. I write fiction featuring strong, adventurous female protagonists.
Please follow me on BookBub to receive notices of new titles, books on sale, and for book recommendations by other authors. http://tinyurl.com/FollowDiane
I'm a passionate volunteer with several organizations which focus on literacy projects in my community.
My husband, Charlie, and I are co-authors of several guidebooks on outdoor recreation. I was born and raised in Denver and we currently reside in western Colorado. I write fiction featuring strong, adventurous female protagonists.
Please follow me on BookBub to receive notices of new titles, books on sale, and for book recommendations by other authors. http://tinyurl.com/FollowDiane
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
February 16, 2019
This is a wonderful chick lit/love story. At the beginning, Ellie Dwyer has counted herself one of the world's great losers--she and her husband had to evacuate from a California wildfire, they move to South Carolina and her husband leaves with no explanation, and then she has to evacuate again due to an approaching hurricane. She has no family, very limited funds, no where to live, her car and a few belongings. And the bad luck isn't over.
My favorite things about the book: Ellie's growth as a person is slow and steady with a few backslides but forward progress none the less.
The other characters in the book are well drawn and diverse. And there are no stereotyped 'elderly.'
The descriptions of nature and the campgrounds Ellie visits are spot on.
The typical campground happenings sprinkled throughout the book are true to life and provide lots of light moments.
This book should be a Hallmark movie.
My favorite things about the book: Ellie's growth as a person is slow and steady with a few backslides but forward progress none the less.
The other characters in the book are well drawn and diverse. And there are no stereotyped 'elderly.'
The descriptions of nature and the campgrounds Ellie visits are spot on.
The typical campground happenings sprinkled throughout the book are true to life and provide lots of light moments.
This book should be a Hallmark movie.
February 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this story on a lot of levels. As someone who travels part-time in a van I really enjoyed watching someone go from never having had the experience on their own to becoming a seasoned traveler, and I really enjoyed those aspects of the story. I also was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns in Ellie's personal backstory. I found all the characters very likable and I wanted to learn more about them and know them more.
Even though I didn't intend to, I found myself reading the whole book throughout the day, wanting to keep reading and learning more. I would have to say that the only criticism I have is that I feel like there could be another whole book that could be written for the time frame between the last chapter and the epilogue. I really wanted to know more about that time frame, those people and their adventures. I was sorry to put the book down when it ended. I think that anyone who enjoys descriptions of nature, especially the desert and the southwest will really enjoy this book. Anyone who's exploring the possibility of traveling in an RV would appreciate this story. I really enjoyed it, and I'm happy to hear that Diane has written other books too. I look forward to reading more of her work. Check this out, you'll like it!
Even though I didn't intend to, I found myself reading the whole book throughout the day, wanting to keep reading and learning more. I would have to say that the only criticism I have is that I feel like there could be another whole book that could be written for the time frame between the last chapter and the epilogue. I really wanted to know more about that time frame, those people and their adventures. I was sorry to put the book down when it ended. I think that anyone who enjoys descriptions of nature, especially the desert and the southwest will really enjoy this book. Anyone who's exploring the possibility of traveling in an RV would appreciate this story. I really enjoyed it, and I'm happy to hear that Diane has written other books too. I look forward to reading more of her work. Check this out, you'll like it!
April 16, 2022
Loved it until she ran into her husband. Totally unrealistic. Would have been so much better had they reconnected in a different way. No way he would have been camping and what are the odds of them being in the same campground. Very small chance. Felt like the author took the quickest easiest way to end their story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2020
This could have been four... but it faltered in a couple of major ways, sad to say.
First of all, not much happens for about the first two-thirds of the book. Ellie Dwyer is catapulted out of her apartment due to a hurricane, another disaster after her husband's inexplicably leaves her. Thrust out of her home with the bare necessities (which are quickly stolen), she's plunged into figuring out how to make do with almost nothing.
Eventually she adapts the camping and then RVing lifestyles, following a nomad-like existence from one place to another. She makes a close friend and things start to look up.
It's wonderful, uplifting stuff to see Ellie come into herself, to nurture herself, to find her way. The book teeters on dull, but the punchy narrative (told from Ellie's first person point of view) keeps the story interesting enough. Plus there's the one question that hovers over everything: what had happened to her husband?
I was drawn to this book because of the RVing theme (full disclosure: my husband and I are full-time RVers, which is what Ellie becomes in the course of the book), and I was glad that the details of RVing were authentic (the author has done a fair amount of RVing and writes about a rig she knows well). This is a lot more than I can say for many of the other books I've read featuring RVers.
But the book ran aground for me when a huge coincidence drives the story to its conclusion. Coincidences like this in fiction are verboten... because they're just deflating, which is how I felt when I came across it. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil things, but I really wanted more from this book; I expected more, actually, based on how well the book was written otherwise.
First of all, not much happens for about the first two-thirds of the book. Ellie Dwyer is catapulted out of her apartment due to a hurricane, another disaster after her husband's inexplicably leaves her. Thrust out of her home with the bare necessities (which are quickly stolen), she's plunged into figuring out how to make do with almost nothing.
Eventually she adapts the camping and then RVing lifestyles, following a nomad-like existence from one place to another. She makes a close friend and things start to look up.
It's wonderful, uplifting stuff to see Ellie come into herself, to nurture herself, to find her way. The book teeters on dull, but the punchy narrative (told from Ellie's first person point of view) keeps the story interesting enough. Plus there's the one question that hovers over everything: what had happened to her husband?
I was drawn to this book because of the RVing theme (full disclosure: my husband and I are full-time RVers, which is what Ellie becomes in the course of the book), and I was glad that the details of RVing were authentic (the author has done a fair amount of RVing and writes about a rig she knows well). This is a lot more than I can say for many of the other books I've read featuring RVers.
But the book ran aground for me when a huge coincidence drives the story to its conclusion. Coincidences like this in fiction are verboten... because they're just deflating, which is how I felt when I came across it. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil things, but I really wanted more from this book; I expected more, actually, based on how well the book was written otherwise.
February 20, 2019
This book was very easy to read and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed it tremendously. I too have an A-liner and enjoyed the parts about camping. I could relate to the characters, as I too, am an older single woman. I think this would appeal to the romantic types; mostly women. Not sure a man would enjoy the story, but I could be wrong. The story entertained me very much since I could relate to a lot of it. Thank you Ms. Winger! I will be checking out your other books.
March 13, 2019
Reading Ellie Dwyer‘s Great Escape was an enjoyable escape for me. It took me into a life totally outside of my own experience and allowed me not only to observe but feel a part of the journey, caring deeply for the characters as the story unfolded. I experienced many emotions as I followed the story and particularly enjoyed the resilience, courage and strength of the main characters. It was sad to leave them at the close of the book but I was left with a sense of hope and satisfaction.
March 4, 2019
Excellent and Fun Read! I can relate to Ellie as I'm an older, female camper too. Ellie takes off on a cross-country adventure by herself to find out what she wants to do with the rest of her life. This book is an inspiration to all women. It's an easy read that was hard to put down and a disappointment when it was over....I wanted to keep camping with her!
July 17, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It flowed well and was funny and heartbreaking but had a great ending. What more can you ask for?! I devoured it but then hated to come to the end. I'm going to find more of Ms. Wingers books to read!
March 2, 2019
A wonderful read, interesting perspective on long term camping. I love camping out west and have camped in the areas described in the book. It was so well written that easily visualize the scenery described in the book. It was a book I couldn’t put down until I got to the end...
June 14, 2025
This is a lovely book about Ellie, a 65-year old woman who is trying to find herself after her husband Franklin walks out on her a few months earlier, with no explanation. On top of that, a hurricane ripped through their area and her house was destroyed. She travels and begins to stay at various campgrounds and sleeps in her car. She enjoys the great outdoors, but has a lot to learn about living the camping life - especially without a camper. It's a really interesting story to watch her grow through her adventures, to make friends, learn to camp, and overcome a number of things in her life.
February 16, 2019
Easy read. A bit more "chick-lit" than I normally like, but upbeat and pleasant. Well written. One of the few reads where I didn't need to take out my red pen and make corrections 🙂. Enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
January 11, 2020
This book follows the adventures of Ellie after some unfortunate events in her life. She decides it's time to move on and I really admired her strong spirit. She doesn't realize how very strong she is until farther in the book. Ellie decides she is going to camp until she figures out what to do with the rest of her life. As a senior woman who is also an rv'er I really enjoyed the camping part. I actually found myself laughing out loud at some of her actions. I felt like I was right there in the same campground with her. During her trips she meets an octogenarian that becomes the kind of friend everyone needs. The last part of the book gets a little dark but I did suspect something similar would happen. It is a great ending for Ellie but it was a disappointing ending for me because I was hoping it would be the first book in a series of camping adventures with Ruth and Ellie but it is a stand alone book. I do plan on buying more books by Ms. Winger and hope she has more camping books in her writing future because I really enjoyed this one.
September 3, 2022
61 year old, Ellie Dwyer has had a helluva time recently, first her home in California burned down in a forest fire, then her husband of 40 years left her with no explanation and then a hurricane forces her from her home in North Carolina. Ellie escapes taking everything she needs with her in her jeep.
Ellie quickly realizes that her savings will last longer if she camps while she figures out where she wants to settle and what direction she wants her life to go at this point.
She wonders:
What would it feel like to be strong and fit like those two? To look in the mirror and see myself as an energetic and confident woman? To flaunt my gray hair like a crown of honor?
This is about me. I’m tired of being tired. I’ve started on this journey and I’m ready to redefine myself."
It was a fun journey traveling with Ellie through Colorado and Arizona while she redefined herself.
I really enjoyed this light-hearted book, but wonder if I want to continue reading the series or if the one of will do for me.
Ellie quickly realizes that her savings will last longer if she camps while she figures out where she wants to settle and what direction she wants her life to go at this point.
She wonders:
What would it feel like to be strong and fit like those two? To look in the mirror and see myself as an energetic and confident woman? To flaunt my gray hair like a crown of honor?
This is about me. I’m tired of being tired. I’ve started on this journey and I’m ready to redefine myself."
It was a fun journey traveling with Ellie through Colorado and Arizona while she redefined herself.
I really enjoyed this light-hearted book, but wonder if I want to continue reading the series or if the one of will do for me.
March 3, 2019
Fun adventurous journey. A feel good story of tragedy, triumph and growth. It is a good read. Great introduction to the camping community. Good information on "women coming of mature age". Characters seem real. I enjoyed reading it.
October 3, 2021
https://book-bucket.com/2021/10/03/el...
I chose this because I needed a book with a character with my name for one of The Fiction Cafe reading challenge questions. I’m not sure I would have come across it otherwise and that would have been a pity because I loved it❣️
Ellie’s life has really come unstuck since her husband walked out after 40 years of marriage and completely disappeared from her life. A hurricane has destroyed her home and she is living out of the back of her car when she makes friends at a camping ground and discovers the joy of being a permanent RV nomad. Her journey of self discovery and recovery from the tragedies that befell her, with the help of the wonderful people she meets along the way, is authentic and triumphant. I loved reading about the RVing experience, the mistakes and learning curves, the beautiful places she visits, and her personal transformation from careworn to confident.There were some very poignant moments too, and one which left me in tears. But overall the book is uplifting and inspirational and I’m so glad I came across it.
I chose this because I needed a book with a character with my name for one of The Fiction Cafe reading challenge questions. I’m not sure I would have come across it otherwise and that would have been a pity because I loved it❣️
Ellie’s life has really come unstuck since her husband walked out after 40 years of marriage and completely disappeared from her life. A hurricane has destroyed her home and she is living out of the back of her car when she makes friends at a camping ground and discovers the joy of being a permanent RV nomad. Her journey of self discovery and recovery from the tragedies that befell her, with the help of the wonderful people she meets along the way, is authentic and triumphant. I loved reading about the RVing experience, the mistakes and learning curves, the beautiful places she visits, and her personal transformation from careworn to confident.There were some very poignant moments too, and one which left me in tears. But overall the book is uplifting and inspirational and I’m so glad I came across it.
November 29, 2022
I needed something available now from Libby while waiting for reserved books to come. I liked the idea of the book, woman in search of what next after her husband leaves her and a hurricane makes her home inhabitable. Enjoyed her journey as a newbie camper. Pleasant enough but the equivalent of a Hallmark movie where everything neatly wraps up at the end. It does make me want to check out an a-frame camper!
May 1, 2025
I downloaded this because my husband and I (when he was alive) had a camper and for a few years before his passing we went on "adventures" in it. Also, the cover with the older woman (like myself) and her being a writer (as I am) intrigued me. I really liked the story and the writing. Diane is a good writer. I really enjoyed the novel.
July 20, 2025
Boring boring boring 🥱🥱🥱🥱
I don't understand how this achieved 4 1/2 * status! I was interested in this as we are nearing completion of our own campervan conversion & looking forward to many adventures! Crikey, if life on the road is as mundane & non descript as Ellie's, I'll drive it off a cliff right now!!
I don't understand how this achieved 4 1/2 * status! I was interested in this as we are nearing completion of our own campervan conversion & looking forward to many adventures! Crikey, if life on the road is as mundane & non descript as Ellie's, I'll drive it off a cliff right now!!
September 26, 2019
This was a decent read. I loved the camping aspect of it and the fact that it revolved around the older generation. A few unnecessary words (use of deity). It even had me looking up A frame campers on YouTube.
Rating:R (language)
Language: use of deity
Recommend: yes
Rating:R (language)
Language: use of deity
Recommend: yes
October 14, 2019
I really enjoy Diane's writing and her stories. This one I have to admit made me feel like I was with Ellie all the way. Even makes me wonder if I would enjoy the cute little A-frame. Looking forward to Diane's next book.
April 6, 2020
Well-named for certain. Husband deserts her; she heads west and ends up at a campground in Colorado. As Colorado was home, it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. Struggling for money, Ellie buys a tiny A-frame camper as home and finds good friends and a good life in campgrounds where she least expected it. The book ends happily, but definitely not in the way I expected. I think I would like to try a little camping Ellie style.
February 24, 2023
Probably 3.5 stars. It wasn't what I was expecting. Looking forward to reading the second book and see where it goes.
May 17, 2019
So-so, formulaic.
August 8, 2020
Enjoyable read for a certain age group with specific hobbies; over 55, camping and hiking.
July 13, 2025
Good book! I will read all 7 books in the series. I love and can relate to the characters so much!
April 22, 2022
I felt as though I was reading 2 different books. The first part I enjoyed. It was inspirational to see a senior woman take control of her misfortunes and try to change the path of her life.
The second part where she randomly runs into her missing husband all the way in Tucson who also just happens to be living in a camper while he's also dying of cancer I did not care for at all. It took the book in an entirely different direction and I almost didn't finish it. Definitely not a fan of this part.
So 5 stars for the first part and 2 stars for the second part.
The second part where she randomly runs into her missing husband all the way in Tucson who also just happens to be living in a camper while he's also dying of cancer I did not care for at all. It took the book in an entirely different direction and I almost didn't finish it. Definitely not a fan of this part.
So 5 stars for the first part and 2 stars for the second part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2022
Slow, slow, slow
I'm 67, long divorced, and recently retired. I've considered traveling the country in a camper/RV, so I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this series. I typically read 3-4 novels a week. But this book took me a week to finish. I kept waiting for something to grab me, but shopping for a sleeping bag and used hiking boots just didn't do it. I still might strike out on my own escape, but at least I'll know if I journal about it, no one else will find it interesting.
I'm 67, long divorced, and recently retired. I've considered traveling the country in a camper/RV, so I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon this series. I typically read 3-4 novels a week. But this book took me a week to finish. I kept waiting for something to grab me, but shopping for a sleeping bag and used hiking boots just didn't do it. I still might strike out on my own escape, but at least I'll know if I journal about it, no one else will find it interesting.
May 30, 2021
Hard to follow
This book was very hard to follow and I couldn't figure out what the author was trying to achieve, too many different directions. Was it about homelessness, a cheating husband, a travelogue, a camping trip, how to operate an RV, meeting strangers and getting financially involved, and on so very sad. I wasn't able to finish it, felt like I was lost in a maze with no way out.
This book was very hard to follow and I couldn't figure out what the author was trying to achieve, too many different directions. Was it about homelessness, a cheating husband, a travelogue, a camping trip, how to operate an RV, meeting strangers and getting financially involved, and on so very sad. I wasn't able to finish it, felt like I was lost in a maze with no way out.
September 26, 2022
61-year-old Ellie Dwyer escaped wildfires in CA, and now is escaping Hurricane Janelle in SC, but this time, without Franklin, her husband of nearly 40 years, who walked out with no explanation nine months earlier. With this latest natural disaster claiming her home, Ellie decides to hit the road west. After someone breaks into her car and steals all of her remaining worldly goods, she decides to car camp to conserve money. and heads to Colorado. She discovers that people in campgrounds are friendly and great at giving camping advice. After several mis-steps, she finds someone that knows someone with a small A-frame camper for sale. After several more uncomfortable nights, she purchases the trailer and things start looking up. When she meets 79-year-old Ruth at the campground in Flagstaff, they immediately hit it off. Ruth is also spending her time camping alone and the two start going to the same places. Although 80, Ruth looks and acts much younger and challenges Ellie to get back in shape and enjoy the experience. When they hit Tucson, she discovers a familiar, but very changed man in the campground - her husband. The discovery that Franklin left after a Cancer diagnosis to "spare" her caring for him. Ellie is there for the last few weeks of his life and her life goes on, with Ruth. At 90, Ruth is still splitting her time between a couple of RV resorts, and Ellie has found another widower, Barry to spend time with, and everyone is happy. Fun and unusual story of an aging woman who takes over the trajectory of her life despite the curves it has thrown at her.
2022 - 52 book challenge #3 Title starting with the letter "E".
2022 - 52 book challenge #3 Title starting with the letter "E".
March 29, 2024
I enjoyed almost everything about this book. I was not enthralled with the rather boring descriptions of every little detail--but I do understand why the author included such detail.
The story begins with a broken hearted woman who faced three extreme tragedies: wildfires, a hurricane that destroyed her home, and her husband leaving her. She weathered the wildfires and hurricane, but the husband was another matter. She thought they had a happy thirty-seven year marriage--but one day he packed a bag and told her he "needed space" and left. He did not tell her where he was going. He divided the marriage funds in half and paid her rent for six months. And that was it. She was on her own. After the hurricane destroyed her home, she decided she had almost no choice but to take to the road--just travel until she found the place she wanted to be.
That is the Great Escape. An escape from the life that she had to another more fulfilling one that included many friends and adventures. And, along the way, many self-discoveries about herself. The one thing she did not have, however, was "discovery" about her husband. She had no idea why he left and no way to find out as he did not even tell his brother.
I must say that I was not very far into the book before I more or less guessed the ending. It was not hard to do. I am sure most readers knew what was going to happen--but that did not take away from the excellent story-telling, the poignancy of Ellie's adventure, or the way she learned to make a new life. In fact, knowing (or suspecting) the ending made the story even more compelling.
An excellent way to spend your reading time.
The story begins with a broken hearted woman who faced three extreme tragedies: wildfires, a hurricane that destroyed her home, and her husband leaving her. She weathered the wildfires and hurricane, but the husband was another matter. She thought they had a happy thirty-seven year marriage--but one day he packed a bag and told her he "needed space" and left. He did not tell her where he was going. He divided the marriage funds in half and paid her rent for six months. And that was it. She was on her own. After the hurricane destroyed her home, she decided she had almost no choice but to take to the road--just travel until she found the place she wanted to be.
That is the Great Escape. An escape from the life that she had to another more fulfilling one that included many friends and adventures. And, along the way, many self-discoveries about herself. The one thing she did not have, however, was "discovery" about her husband. She had no idea why he left and no way to find out as he did not even tell his brother.
I must say that I was not very far into the book before I more or less guessed the ending. It was not hard to do. I am sure most readers knew what was going to happen--but that did not take away from the excellent story-telling, the poignancy of Ellie's adventure, or the way she learned to make a new life. In fact, knowing (or suspecting) the ending made the story even more compelling.
An excellent way to spend your reading time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews