Rating: 
Summary: Reasonable
Review: I expected more from this book, but it was still decent. It's not a book that you can't put down, put it still holds interest. The beginning and end are very good, but the middle gets somewhat slow and can lose some interest. Overall, this book has a good story, it just isn't packed with action the whole time, which I prefer.
Rating:
Summary: Good (but not great) fiction
Review: I enjoyed this book. I loved how Nell transformed from a mousy doormat of a housewife into a strong woman. She and Nicholas Tanek are well-developed characters and I loved how their romance slowly developed. I liked how that while Tanek honestly admitted he was attracted to Nell's new appearance, he'd still love her even if she looked like her old self. However, I think maybe the story puts too much emphasis on the female protagonist's physical appearance. I think the story would have been better if Nell had transformed without plastic surgery.The whole miraculous plastic surgery thing belongs on a soap opera, not a well-written, mature piece of fiction. It's was too farfetched for me. Also, if Nell transformed from a frumpy wallflower into an attractive, strong-willed woman without cosmetic surgery, it would reveal a certain truth---our physical appearance depends a lot on how we feel about ourselves. Maybe the real reason the "before" Nell was homely was because her mentally abusive mother kept telling her she was "an ugly little mouse" over and over again. I loved the plot twist concerning her husband. That one surprised me. The only other reservation I have about this book is that Nell becomes a kind of vigillante with the help of Tanek. The whole "take the law into your own hands" message doesn't sit well with this reader. Yet I still recommend this book and I want to read more books by this author.
Rating: 
Summary: A definite page turner!
Review: You won't want to put this book down. It keeps moving
Rating: 
Summary: The Ugly Duckling
Review: Sadly, the more likeable characters of this novel are not the main characters. Oh, the main characters are not horrible, but they're boring in comparison to their friends. I picked this up recognizing Iris Johanson as a romance writer and this isn't really a romance. I was very disappointed that the hero NEVER tells the heroine that he loves her. That he slept with another woman after developing feelings for her didn't help either. The majority of the time Nell was thoroughly unpleasant to be around. The author killed off two characters after letting the reader form an attachment to them. I recommend checking this one out from the library before committing to a purchase.
Rating:
Summary: What if .... you could come back different?
Review: After a rough start, our hero, who had been a plain-jane all her life, is now remade into a beauty. No one who knew her would recognize her. Such Power! And to put it to good use, to bring down the bad guy, to face the man who dumped you, to fit in with the crowd who teased you ... never having been pretty, I wonder what my personality would have turned out to be had I been one of the drop-dead gorgeous women instead of the ever pudgy woman I am, was, and ever will be.
For sheer thinks, this book is worth it, but the story holds you. The think stays, the story keeps your mind working, and this one tends to stay after finished for quite some time.
Applause, I would say!
For anyone with vision problems, the Iris Johansen novels I have read have had a font that is easy one the eyes, leaving less strain, and more time for the actual story.
The older I get, the more important that becomes!
So ... what would You do???
~Mariance
Rating: 
Summary: Great book, and I am always a very critical reader
Review: This book was great. Although the plot reminded me of other stories the author does a great job adding a few twists and surprises. The writing is excellent from start to finish, you are never left hanging or disappointed. I usually do not enjoy books of these types (I am a big Fantasy genre fan) but after simply reading the Prolouge I was hooked.I recommend this book to anyone who is literate. I am trying to think of one bad element to the story but it is all solid. The story may be an old tale but the way Iris Johansen writes will keep you on your toes. Go get it now!
Rating:
Summary: Five Stars
Review: I saw The Ugly Duckling named as a "must" on a reader's List Mania, and I agree. Iris Johansen's ability to create a believable metamorphosis of Nell, an unattractive and shy woman living in a world full of beautiful and outgoing people whose life is changed through tragedy and reconstructive surgery, takes true talent. The book is well-written and enthralling...a true keeper.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
Review: The Ugly Duckling is one of my favorite books. This book made me love reading. The characters in this book are amazing. And this book has a great story. About the struggle of a woman to avenge her daughters death. With the help of a dashing ex-con. With so many twist about Nell's and Nick's adventure.This is such a GREAT book!!
Rating:
Summary: Exciting Story but Unrealistic Characters
Review: I started out liking this book, but by the time I got half-way through the characters were too unbelievable to continue. I finally threw the book away from frustration.
Rating:
Summary: Iris Johansen Strikes Again!
Review: I have always loved Iris Johansen's novels as I enjoy suspence thrillers and can usually only take small doses of romance mixed in. This book has it all and is definately one of Iris Johansen's best written novels. It features a woman of a rich upper class who is married, has a daughter but also has some mental problems as well. Ever since Nell Calder was a girl her mother repeatedly told her that she was basically nothing (the Ugly Duckling) because she was not the prettiest or best of the bunch. Then what appears to be a nightmare comes true. At a high-class social gathering, her husband and daughter are killed and then the killer himself turns towards her. Here she gets her face cruely slashed up. Yet, she survives, goes through extensive plastic surgery and becomes the beautifull swawn she never dreamed of becomming. Now, with a new reason to live, she goes after the killer to avenge her little girl's violent death. During this, she meets a man who proposes to help her and in a way the novel becomes a new great romantic suspence thriller (and in my opinion the best ever!). The end has a twist in the plot which will have you sitting on the edge of your seat until the last few pages are read. Buy it, read it, and I promise it will not let you down....
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