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Book Review By Penny Palin
The Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen

Nell Calder was a plump, nondescript woman whose world revolved around her four-year-old daughter, and her ambitious executive husband. While on an island outside of Greece, during a business party meant to propel her husband up the corporate ladder, she is brutally attacked. Her husband and child are killed.
Nell survives, miraculously, but without the desire to live…until she meets Nicholas Tanek, an ex criminal who feels responsible for what happened. Nicholas provides Nell with a new face, a new identity, and a reason to live: revenge. He informs her that the man who attacked her is above the law, and will never be punished.
Determined to avenge her daughter, Nell travels with Nicholas to his compound in Idaho. As he trains her in the art of deadly combat, they find themselves growing closer together. Nicholas wants only to protect her, but Nell cannot let go of the past. Not while her daughter's murderer still walks free.


Plot & Themes
Time/era of story
Action/suspense subplot? Yes
Action:
If one lover chases another... - he chases after her

Main Male Character
Profession/status:
Age/status: - 20's-30's

Main Female Character - 20's-30's
Profession/status:

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - West
Europe Yes
European country: - France - Greece
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related? - 40%
How explicit is the sex? - vague references only
Focus of story - equally on him and her
How much dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
How much sexing? - 1-2 sex acts
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