Live to See Tomorrow

Catherine Ling, Book 3

By: Iris Johansen

Narrated by: Elisabeth Rodgers

Length: 12 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

Catherine Ling is one of the CIA’s most prized operatives. Raised on the unforgiving streets of Hong Kong, she was pulled into the agency at the age of 14, already having accumulated more insight and secrets than the most seasoned professionals in her world. If life has taught her anything, it is not to get attached, but there are two exceptions to that rule: Her son, Luke, and her mentor, Hu Chang. When Luke was kidnapped at the age of two, it nearly broke her. Now, nine years later, her son has astonishingly been returned to her and Catherine vows never to fail him again. But when her job pulls her away from home, she relies on the brilliant and deadly Hu Chang to safeguard Luke in her absence.

Now Erin Sullivan, an American journalist with mysterious ties to Hu Chang, has been kidnapped in Tibet. If Catherine doesn’t agree to spearhead the CIA rescue mission, she knows that Hu Chang himself will go, a possibility she can’t risk. But she will be facing a monster whose crimes stretch back forty years, always eluding the CIA. And the job grows even more complicated when Catherine meets Richard Cameron, a supposed ally who’s clearly not telling all he knows. Their attraction is immediate, but Catherine isn’t at all sure that he can be trusted. If she’s going to rescue this journalist with a story worth killing for, she’ll need to keep Cameron very close. From the treacherous landscape of the Himalayas to the twisting back alleys of San Francisco, the clock is ticking for Catherine and those she loves most. At every turn she faces a ruthless enemy who is determined to keep the truth buried, even if it means that none of them live to see tomorrow.

©2014 Johansen Publishing LLP (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Disappointed

I have read or listened to almost all of Iris Johansons books and I was very disappointed as to how weak and fragile Catherine Ling has become.

Could have been

Story line a bit weak. Strong characters for the most part. Cameron, Luke, Hochung, the courtesan--strong and interesting. Catherine seemed petulant, always saying no, wanted things her way. Chance for a great love story. Instead, I was tired of her whining:

One step away from a romance novel

What did you like best about Live to See Tomorrow? What did you like least?

It's easier to say what I liked least about it than best about it. I think it would be a tie between the difficult to believe mental telepathy angle and the romance novel feel it had to it.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was okay, but somewhat anticlimactic.

Would you be willing to try another one of Elisabeth Rodgers’s performances?

No, her attempts at accents were awful (and I'm not even usually sensitive to that) and her reading tended toward melodramatic at times.

Could you see Live to See Tomorrow being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Only on the Lifetime Channel.

Any additional comments?

I think Iris Johansen's books jumped the shark when she started delving into the supernatural. They're just becoming more and more unbelievable. She doesn't seem to be putting much effort into them, just churning them out fast to make money. I think this is the last one of hers I'll be getting.

I tried I really did

I listened to this much longer than I would have ordinarily. I liked the story line and hoped I could stand to listen long enough to hear the conclusion. I couldn't. This author wrote this story badly. First it is definitely a romance novel with a little adventure thrown in. Too much erotica and too little actual story. I think the romance could have been told with a lot less high drama. I felt like I was listening to a cheap soap opera. Like I said the idea of the story is fascinating but not enough to keep listening.

Really bad

I've read many of her books, most pretty darn good. But this one is one over hyped cliche character after another - one utterly preposterous chain of impossible events after another. You cannot fly a helicopter from Hong Kong to Tibet. A guardian with unlimited wealth, skills, and no flaws! A woman who is beyond beautiful, unlimited deadly skills, a free lance CIA operative! Please Iris, this is beneath you. Nothing original, just endless cliches of impossibly perfect people.

Couldn't even finish it.

I usually look forward to Iris Johansen's books and the character of the strong, independent Catherine Ling is great. Everything was going well until the telepathic visits started. That shifted the whole story from really cool to silly woo woo. I haven't even finished it and don't think I will.

Pointless

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Have an actual plot rather than a rant on getting into Katherine's pants

Has Live to See Tomorrow turned you off from other books in this genre?

Horrible

What didn’t you like about Elisabeth Rodgers’s performance?

Great

What character would you cut from Live to See Tomorrow?

Iris the writer

Any additional comments?

Should send this back. Horrible storyline unless I totally missed it.