book data
738 ratings, 3.92 average rating, 43 reviews
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published
December 1st 1996
by Bantam
binding
Mass Market Paperback, 432 pages
isbn
0553569910
(isbn13: 9780553569919)
description
If fate suddenly made you more beautiful that you ever dreamed possible, would it be the beginning of a fairy tale, or your worst nightmare?
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 887)
Read in January, 2008
Iris Johansen has created and romance, mystery,and thriller all combind into one work of art. The story plot is amazing the why she plans out everything to be reveald just at the right moment.
Nell Calder tricked herself into believing she loved Richard. So she settled as being a trophey wife. She thought she could not get better. She loved being home with her daughter Jill. Jill was and will always be Nell's life. After Jill and Richard had died, she had no reason to live. Tanek didn'...more
Nell Calder tricked herself into believing she loved Richard. So she settled as being a trophey wife. She thought she could not get better. She loved being home with her daughter Jill. Jill was and will always be Nell's life. After Jill and Richard had died, she had no reason to live. Tanek didn'...more
Read in July, 2007
not one of the best of her's that i've read so far, but certainly WELL worth reading! very gripping "tale"!!
i must admit, tho, i'm beginning to wonder if the woman (Iris Johansen) has had some unpleasant dealings w/ the CIA or something in her life?! except for 2 of the books of her's i've read, she's involved some governmentally abc'd agency, if not more, in her plots, and they've not all been "clean" characters that are SUPPOSED to be protecting us and are SUPPOSEDLY...more
i must admit, tho, i'm beginning to wonder if the woman (Iris Johansen) has had some unpleasant dealings w/ the CIA or something in her life?! except for 2 of the books of her's i've read, she's involved some governmentally abc'd agency, if not more, in her plots, and they've not all been "clean" characters that are SUPPOSED to be protecting us and are SUPPOSEDLY...more
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Read in January, 1999
Nell Calder is a plain looking, mousy wife of a successful international businessman. All she really cares about is her daughter but she tries to be the trophy wife. Then her daughter and husband are killed by terrorists and she is horribly maimed. A brilliant plastic surgeon gives her a traffic stopping new face and she uses it for revenge. I'd never heard of this author before - found the book on a table at a charity sale. It was a really good story - different but good. Then I did some resear...more
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This book got me hooked on Johansen. It was the first of her books that I read and I loved it. A woman taking charge of her life and getting sweet, sweet revenge. =)
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Read in February, 2004
recommended to Dawn by:
My Momrecommends it for: Anyone who enjoys romantic suspense.
This was a powerful story filled with romance, action & drama. This was the first book I read by Iris Johansen & I look forward to reading many more.
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This really was the transition for Iris from "romance" to intrigue and she did a phenomenal job! I've re-read this one more than once.
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Read in January, 2008
I loved this book. It was interesting the plot was good it was filled with action, drama, and romance. You fall in love with the characters and you can relate to them.
Its about a woman, Nell, who happens to be a plain. But then something happens and she is goes to plastic surgery and is turned into a "Helen of Troy". Her main goal in life after the trajic thing happened to her is revenge. She meets Nick Tanek who is also after revenge for his own reasons.
Its about a woman, Nell, who happens to be a plain. But then something happens and she is goes to plastic surgery and is turned into a "Helen of Troy". Her main goal in life after the trajic thing happened to her is revenge. She meets Nick Tanek who is also after revenge for his own reasons.
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recommends it for:
anyone who has ever wanted to get revenge
This book is heartbreaking at the beginning, but the way this woman fights to survive a traumatic ordeal and then toughens up to kick ass and get revenge is such a powerful story. It made me want to take up martial arts or something so I could be a bad ass like her. But the best part about it is that she is just a normal everyday, shy woman who was driven by circumstances to become stronger, tougher, and more brave than she ever thought she could be.
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I think this is the first book that I read by this author, and I can't get enough of her. Her female characters are always strong, but they almost always have to overcome some huge obstacle or struggle in her novels. I would recommend any of her works with Eve Duncan. They are fantastic, but like I said, you can't go wrong with any Iris Johansen novel. Happy reading!
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I have loved all of Johansen's books. She writes thrillers. They aren't Stephen King scary, but they are enough to keep you up at night trying to get to the end to make sure everyone is okay! This one had a twist I wasn't expecting, so it was kind of fun. She writes tightly, so I like that there aren't a lot of loose strands or shallow characters.
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Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.
Dumb. And poorly written. No character development, description, imagery. Also medically ridiculous in every way imaginable.
I was so angry I was stuck with only this book. And that I chose to read it instead of just throwing it away and staring at the wall.
Dumb. And poorly written. No character development, description, imagery. Also medically ridiculous in every way imaginable.
I was so angry I was stuck with only this book. And that I chose to read it instead of just throwing it away and staring at the wall.
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Read in March, 2000
I read this book while I was in the hospital recovering from an appendectomy. I've never had any interest in reading anything else by Iris Johansen so I don't know if I can attribute my enjoyment of this novel to the author or to my morphine pump.
It was probably the morphine.
It was probably the morphine.
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Read in July, 2006
I loved how the main character evolved in this story. She went from wall-flower to a woman in control of her life. the events that propelled her to change and act differently were sad but I think that she was made better for it. And it's true, revenge is a dish best served cold...
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This gets a four-star but for what it is. It is not trying to be an "Oprah's Book Club" book. It is trying (and succeeding) to be a leave-your-brain-at-the-door, take-on-vacation-and-read-at-the-beach book. It was a fun mystery and had some great plot twists.
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Johansen did it again with this book, and the plot is perfectly wrapped up in the high-octane world of fashion and beauty. A very, very good book, and while the ending makes you think that it'll be crappy, once you read the epilogue, you're cheering. :P
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Actually, this is for most of her books. I found myself trying to figure out characters, so started at the beginning and have read at least 17 of the books. They are quick reads for me ( 4-6 hours)
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Read in September, 2005
I liked this book a lot until I realized that Iris Johansen uses basically the same plot and characters for all her mystery/suspense novels, and only changes the details. Cop out.
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One of my favorites by Iris Johansen. Not one of the series, so it can be read alone. in fact, i just bought another copy because I can't find mine. My mom like this one
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My first Johansen book. Loved it from the start in Minneapolis, to the staged murder and then seclusion in Montana. Great book that cruised from start to finish.
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Read in April, 2008
This book was utterly predictable (with one exception) and utterly unenjoyable. Didn't do anything for me and reminded me why I don't read mystery and suspense.
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