Friday, May 18, 2012

Book Beginning & Friday 56: What Doesn't Kill You by Iris Johansen


Happy Friday everybody!!


Book Beginnings

Book Beginnings on Friday is now hosted by Rose City Reader.
Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. 
If you like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.

The Friday 56
Rules:
  • Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
  • Turn to page 56.
  • Find the fifth sentence.
  • Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Freda's Voice
  • Post a link along with your post back to Freda's Voice
Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

I was in the mood for some romantic suspense so I grabbed What Doesn't Kill You by Iris Johansen off the top of my TBR mountain. I have been reading her books for years and usually find I can rely on her for a good read.

Here is the description:
Catherine Ling was abandoned on the streets of Hong Kong at age four.  Schooled in the art of survival, she traded in the only commodity she had: information.  As a teenager, she came under the tutelage of a mysterious man known only as Hu Chang—a skilled assassin and master poisoner.  As a young woman, she was recruited by the CIA and now, she is known as one of their most effective operatives.  Having lived life in the shadows, Catherine is aware of the wobbly moral compass of her existence and even more aware of just how expendable she is to those she deals with. When her old friend Hu Chang creates something so deadly, and completely untraceable, the chase is on to be the first to get it.  With rogue operative John Gallo also on the hunt, Catherine finds herself pitted against a group so villainous and a man so evil that she may not survive the quest to protect those she cares about.  Iris Johansen is at her page-turning best in this novel that takes you from the corridors of Langley to the alleyways of Hong Kong, and the darkest places of the human soul.
Beginning:
"Where the hell are they?" Venable, deputy director of the CIA, had his binoculars focused on the small cottage in the valley below. "Special Ops were supposed to go in from the rear fifteen minutes ago and take Hu Chang out of there."
Friday 56:
She put the paperback down. "It's Atlas Shrugged. Some of it I don't understand, but I like it."


6 comments:

  1. I was so excited to see what you posted here. I love Iris Johansen!! Thanks for the little snippets :) Happy Friday!

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  2. I have had my eye on this one...it looks and sounds very exciting!

    The p. 56 made me grin....the character is reading Atlas Shrugged and doesn't understand it.

    Here's MY FRIDAY MEMES POST

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  3. Interesting 56! Heard of that book mentioned, but my eyes are drawn to the cover and the Angelina Jolie look-a-like.

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  4. This sounds like an interesting book! Thanks for stopping by mt blog and commenting. Have a great weekend!

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  5. Hi Kathy,

    This is not an author that I have come across before, but this sounds like a book that I would really enjoy.

    Would I have read it on the those first lines alone ... yes ... but having all the extra info. was great and made the decision much easier.

    Hope that you enjoy this one and thanks for such an interesting post.

    Yvonne

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  6. I've never tried one of her books. But I like the Rand mention, so maybe I should try one.

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