- Shopping Bag ( 0 items )
Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Early on in her career, Johansen developed the habit of following characters from book to book, sometimes introducing minor characters in one novel who then become major figures in another. She developed families, relationships, and even fictional countries in her romance novels, which "stretched the boundaries of the standard formulas," according to Barbara E. Kemp in Twentieth-Century Romance and Historical Writers. In 1991, Johansen broke out of category romance (a term for short books written to conform to the length, style and subject matter guidelines for a publisher's series) with The Wind Dancer, a romantic-suspense novel set in 16th-century Italy. She followed it with two sequels, Storm Winds and Reap the Wind, to form a trilogy, then wrote several more stand-alone romance novels before The Ugly Duckling was published in 1996.
The Ugly Duckling was her first book to be released in hardcover -- and the first to significantly broaden her readership beyond her romance fan base. Since then, Johansen's plots have gotten tighter and more suspense-driven; critics have praised her "flesh-and-blood characters, crackling dialogue and lean, suspenseful plotting" (Publishers Weekly). Some of her most popular books feature forensic sculptor Eve Duncan, who first appeared in The Face of Deception in 1998. But Johansen seems equally comfortable with male protagonists, and her books have crossed the gender division that often characterizes popular fiction. Indeed, Publishers Weekly called The Search "that rarity: a woman's novel for men."
Many of her early novels were written for the Loveswept series from Bantam Books; bestselling authors Sandra Brown and Kay Hooper also wrote for the series.
Anonymous
Posted June 1, 2012
Don't waste your money! I am a huge fan of Iris Johansen, even when she gets a little odd with the paranormal characters. This was a huge waste of money. The actual story is less than fifteen pages, followed by the first chapter of the sequel. The story was flat, boring, and predictable. There was nothing at all to make me want to read the sequel. The characters had no depth. The premise is good, but falls flat, a cheap Mentalist rip off. The secondary character is so faithful to her students she goes to work when in crisis but then turns her back and walks away in the end? Dont bother, I have sophomores in high school who wrote better than this.
37 out of 42 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 5, 2012
I feel cheated. I thought i was buying a full-length novel but just ended up with a few disjointed pages. It ought to be illegal for B&N to deceive their customers in this manner!!
20 out of 23 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 3, 2012
What a waste of money!, big fan but quite annoyed that i spent money on 15 pages.
15 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 2, 2012
I am really disappointed, i love iris johanson but i didnt realize this book was only 30 pages. Why dont they tell you that when you read the details. I would not have bought it if i had known that.
15 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 5, 2012
The book itself had potential as the main character, Kendra, offered an interesting premise if the story had been well developed unfortunately it was not. Actually the story lasted only 16 pages with the additional pages through page 31 giving a sneek peak at the authors next book, Close Your Eyes, available in July. Not a very good way to introduce an upcoming book by limiting the current book and loosing the audience for the upcoming book.
14 out of 16 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 6, 2012
I can't believe I spent money on something that took 10 minutes to read...this was shorter than a free preview! Never again.
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 3, 2012
This is a total rip off... only 31 pages. I'm only giving it one start because I have to...
12 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 6, 2012
Cannot believe these few pages are all there are. What a waste.
10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 4, 2012
What a rip off
10 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.smullis
Posted June 4, 2012
Too short! Waste of money.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 4, 2012
31 pages - no ending, very disappointing.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 2, 2012
This is an extremely short story at 17 pages. Wish I had known before I ordered it. I do not suggest buying this.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 4, 2012
There really isn't even a story here. Just dumb.
8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 8, 2012
Thought I was getting a good deal on a story, however it was only 16 pages and very predictable and flat. I usually like this author but this was a waste of money and time.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 5, 2012
Normally enjoy the author but was very disappointed that i preorder a quick read to find out it was only 15 pages
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.DAinNY1
Posted June 2, 2012
What a great introduction to a new character. Kendra is on the case when her mentor’s life is turned upside. With her remarkable skills, Kendra is able to put the pieces together to solve the puzzling disappearance.
6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 1, 2012
Way too short wow
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 28, 2012
It was good to read
6 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 2, 2012
Great intro to a new character.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 8, 2012
I love this book i would recomend this book
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
An original short story from The New York Times bestselling duo, Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen. Blind for the first twenty years of her life, Kendra Michaels learned at an early age to become hyper-aware of her surroundings, perfecting the art of picking up the most subtle audio, olfactory, and tactile cues in the world around her. Kendra's astonishing powers of observation and analysis have made her a favorite of law enforcement agencies all across the country. She cares little for investigative work but ...