Standoff (Mass Market Paperback)

by Sandra Brown (Author) "I JUST HEARD THE NEWS BULLETIN ON MY CAR RADIO..." (more)
Key Phrases: freezer chest, Ronnie Davison, Russell Dendy, Agent Cain (more...)

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. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Vision (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446609617
• ISBN-13: 978-0446609616
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #163,610 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #52 in

  Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Brown, Sandra

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 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" (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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Standoff, May 12, 2000

By	Amber D. Fite "amberfite" (Austell, 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.

9 of 10 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.