Standoff [Hardcover]

Sandra Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2, 2000

An ambitious female television reporter is driving through New Mexico when she hears that a Texas millionarie's teenage daughter has been kidnapped. Knowing the girl's father lives nearby, she quickly lines up an interview.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Some reporters have all the luck--especially plucky, ambitious, determined Texas TV news reporter Tiel McCoy, who walks into a convenience store on her long-postponed vacation and finds herself smack in the middle of the biggest story of her life. A couple of scared kids--an all-American boy and his very pregnant girlfriend, on the lam from her powerful, wealthy father who's determined to keep them apart--hold Tiel and a handful of other customers hostage. While Ronnie's brandishing the gun, Sabra goes into labor, and a mysterious, handsome stranger known as "Doc" takes over what soon turns into a life-threatening delivery. Only Tiel knows who Doc is: a brilliant, innovative physician who disappeared after a scandal involving the death of his wife. And only Tiel knows the identity of the gun-wielding boy and his girl, who are at the center of a manhunt the size of Texas. But there are some secrets she doesn't know, including the murderous reputation of two men trapped in the store with the rest of the hostages. As the drama unfolds, it becomes apparent that the kids would rather die than surrender, and the police, the FBI, and Sabra's father will precipitate a volatile end to the standoff.

Brown is a skillful writer, able to sustain suspense while fleshing out her characters. She saves the obligatory sex scene for the very end, but makes it worth waiting for. Tiel McCoy is an engaging heroine, and Brown fans will look forward to her return in another adventure after she wins the coveted promotion this dramatic exclusive will no doubt earn her.

From Publishers Weekly

Workaholic Dallas TV reporter Tiel McCoy thought she would take a well-earned vacation, but while driving to a secluded condo in New Mexico, she hears a radio report that changes her plans. Teenager Sabra Dendy, only daughter of Fort Worth multimillionaire Russ Dendy, has been kidnapped. Soon Tiel learns that Sabra, who's pregnant, has run away with her boyfriend, Ronnie Davison. Smelling a story, Tiel heads for the remote town of Hera to interview Ronnie's father, thinking the couple might go there for help. But when she stops at a convenience store for directions, Tiel encounters Ronnie and Sabra bungling a hold-up attempt. As Sabra goes into labor, Ronnie takes everyone in the store hostage, and Tiel and a handsome cowboy who seems to know a lot about medicine deliver Sabra's daughter. Tiel learns that the desperate young couple are fleeing to Mexico to escape Sabra's dictatorial father, who has vowed to separate them and put their baby up for adoption. He has even threatened to kill the child, and Sabra and Ronnie have vowed to commit suicide if they are thwarted. Bestselling author Brown (The Alibi) sets up believable conflicts (Ronnie once killed a puppy, rather than return it to an abusive owner). If the dialogue and sex scenes occasionally seem stilted, this popular author's tale still hits hard and keeps moving briskly to its satisfying conclusion.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1ST edition (May 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446527017
• ISBN-13: 978-0446527019
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #540,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sandra Brown is the author of sixty New York Times bestsellers, including RAINWATER (2010), TOUGH CUSTOMER (2010), SMASH CUT (2009), SMOKE SCREEN (2008), PLAY DIRTY (2007), RICOCHET (2006), CHILL FACTOR (2005), WHITE HOT (2004), HELLO, DARKNESS (2003), THE CRUSH (2002), ENVY (2001), THE SWITCH (2000), THE ALIBI (1999), UNSPEAKABLE (1998) and FAT TUESDAY (1997), all of which have jumped onto the Times bestseller list in the number one to five spot.

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into thirty-three languages.

A lifelong Texan, Sandra Brown was born in Waco, grew up in Fort Worth and attended Texas Christian University, majoring in English. Before embarking on her writing career, she worked as a model at the Dallas Apparel Mart, and in television, including weathercasting for WFAA-TV in Dallas, and feature reporting on the nationally syndicated program "PM Magazine."

She is much in demand as a speaker and guest television hostess. Her episode on truTV's "Murder by the Book" premiered the series in 2008 and she was one of the launch authors for Investigation Discovery's new series, "Hardcover Mysteries."

In 2009 Brown detoured from her thrillers to write Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.

Brown recently was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer's Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of time-Waste of money!, April 30, 2000

By 

paula_k_98 "paula_k_98" (Muskogee, OK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standoff (Hardcover)

First off, I was disappointed the moment I received this book. I didn't notice there was only 224 pages when I ordered. I still don't know how they got 224, my book only has 217 not counting the blank and title pages. I was expecting a hard hitting suspense packed book like Sandra Brown has produced in the past. What I got a little story that could have been printed in paperback and saved me money. It'll be a while before I put money down on another hardback by Ms. Brown.

The plot goes something like this, Tiel McCoy is a reporter taking her first vacation in a while when her editor informs her a newsbreaking story only three hundred miles away. Can she take the story? Of course she agreeds and goes for it. Supposedly a teenage couple are on the run from the girl's powerful father. Stopping at a little store in the middle of nowhere to call her boss for directions and an update, in walks the teenage couple who precede to rob the store. The girl, who has concealed her pregnacy for 9 months, goes into active labor. This begins the standoff. The FBI show up, one of the hostage is a mysterious hunk by the name of "Doc" who helps deliver the baby. They negotiate and so on.

This could have been a great story. Instead it is cheesy. I read the book in 1 and 1/2 hours. Not only is the book short, it has large print. Trust me you could probably read it in less time if you don't put it down to do other things. It left no impact on me. Personally I don't recommend this book to anyone unless they are desperate. Wait and borrow it from some poor fool (like me) who has already bought it. I don't even know if I'll pass it around to my group of friends.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Standoff, May 12, 2000

By 

Amber D. Fite ""Life is not fair, but you... (Hiram, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Standoff (Hardcover)

I own every one of Sandra Brown's books, but I have to say this book did not pack her usual punch. It was to short for the characters romance to develop and there was not really any resolution with the characters in the end.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Short story vs. Novel, May 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Standoff (Hardcover)

Sandra Brown has a talent with character development and can master any plot bringing the reader into the fold within the first pages. However, this novel was a disappointment. I felt like I finished a short story where the characters could have been anonymous because of the lack in development. The book ended when in reality it was just getting started. Its a good, fast read but not the quality I've come to expect from this author.