Average customer rating:
- One of Her Best!
- A little disappointing
- Eve Dallas steps back in time
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- Fantastic. Kept me reading Page after Page
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High Noon
Nora Roberts
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ASIN: 0399154345
Release Date: 2007-07-10 |
Book Description
Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara found her calling at an early age when an unstable man broke into her family's home, trapping and terrorizing them for hours. Now she's Savannah's top hostage negotiator, defusing powderkeg situations with a talent for knowing when to give in-and when to jump in and take action. It's satisfying work-and sometimes those skills come in handy at home dealing with her agoraphobic mother, still traumatized by the break-in after all these years, and her precocious seven-year-old, Carly.
It's exactly that heady combination of steely courage and sensitivity that first attracts Duncan Swift to Phoebe. After observing her coax one of his employees down from a roof ledge, he is committed to keeping this intriguing, take-charge woman in his life. She's used to working solo, but Phoebe's discovering that no amount of negotiation can keep Duncan at arm's length.
And when she's grabbed by a man who throws a hood over her head and brutally assaults her-in her own precinct house-Phoebe can't help but be deeply shaken. Then threatening messages show up on her doorstep, and she's not just alarmed but frustrated. How do you go face-to-face with an opponent who refuses to look you in the eye?
Now, with Duncan backing her up every step of the way, she must establish contact with the faceless tormentor who is determined to make her a hostage to fear . . . before she becomes the final showdown.
Customer Reviews:
One of Her Best!.......2007-10-01
Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors. I often wonder how she sleeps at night what with all the stories that must be running rampant thoughout her head and "High Noon" is one of her best. For those of you who avidly follow Ms. Roberts, you will enjoy this book. For those of you who do not follow her, this is a good novel with which to begin your Nora Roberts Journey.
A little disappointing.......2007-09-26
While "High Noon" has a an engaging plot line I found the characters rather superficial for a Nora Robert's novel. I usually enjoy her fully developed characters. These are not her usual deep personalities. If you are a fan of her JD Robb series than this will disappoint you since much more of the book is on relationships than on the investigation or hostage negotiation, as the case would be. Other reviewers have compared the main characters to Eve and Roarke but I see very few similarities. Very different personalities. I was also disappointed that none of the dialogue was written in the southern dialect. While the story takes place in the South there was not even a y'all in the conversations. Makes if very difficult to get a feel for the environment of the story. So while it is a good plot I would definately wait to buy it in paper.
Eve Dallas steps back in time.......2007-09-26
Nora Roberts or J.D. Robb? This was a tougher book for me to enjoy than Nora Roberts last few novels. The main character was so out of place with the other characters until I realized it was because she was really speaking with the voice of Eve Dallas, from Ms. Roberts futuristic series of books. Lieutenant MacNamara had the same clipped speech patterns and prickly personality of Eve Dallas. Same type of horrific childhood memories. Rich, capable boyfriend. The extreme violence is also a hall mark of the J.D.Robb series. Also, not once did she come across as a life long resident of Savannah. This book, despite it's length did not have full enough or original main characters to keep me interested.
Nora Does It Again!.......2007-09-24
I think I've finally figured out why Nora Roberts' writing appeals so much to me. She writes with "soul." I love her stories that feature close family ties - and most of them do. Either close family members or close friends. Nora knows exactly how to weave the family bond in a way that makes the reader feel as if they know the family, personally.
And High Noon is an example in point. Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara is the cog of her family wheel. She's the glue that holds the family together. Her mother, Essie, her daughter, Carly, the family friend, Ava, who lives with them, and even her brother, Carter, depend on Phoebe to be "the strong one."
But sometimes Phoebe needs to lean on someone. Duncan Swift is just that person, but will Phoebe allow herself to lean on anyone except herself?
This story has it all. Romance, suspense, intrigue, family dysfunction...
Very good.
Fantastic. Kept me reading Page after Page.......2007-09-21
Nora Roberts rarely disappoints me with her wonderful stories. Maybe it's because the plots of her books are very engaging. I have been and continue to be a big fan of NR and in my opinion High Noon is one of her best books. Nora applies just enough to put you in the moment and I loved the characters Duncan and Phoebe. I couldn't help but root for them. High Noon had many twists to it, especially the ending which I won't ruin for you. There was one point in the book that made me cry while I was reading it, but then I am a softy. I just thought it was a wonderful book to read.
Speaking of rooting, check out the terrific Women's Fiction novel Gathering of Cans by Robert L. Saunders and you'll find yourself rooting for Zoie Baker. In this story Zoie is the heroine and a dreamer that feels right down to her bone that she can build a swimming pool by gathering aluminum cans along the country roads. In this stunning, and warm story each unique can, i.e, Nehi, Mountain Dew, etc takes the reader on a trip into the fascinating life of Zoie. I almost cried when I finished the last page. Don't miss this one! Enjoy.
Book Description
From the best-selling author of Black Hawk Down comes a riveting, definitive chronicle of the Iran hostage crisis, America’s first battle with militant Islam. On November 4, 1979, a group of radical Islamist students, inspired by the revolutionary Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini, stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran. They took fifty-two Americans hostage, and kept nearly all of them hostage for 444 days. In Guests of the Ayatollah, Mark Bowden tells this sweeping story through the eyes of the hostages, the soldiers in a new special forces unit sent to free them, their radical, naïve captors, and the diplomats working to end the crisis. Bowden takes us inside the hostages’ cells and inside the Oval Office for meetings with President Carter and his exhausted team. We travel to international capitals where shadowy figures held clandestine negotiations, and to the deserts of Iran, where a courageous, desperate attempt to rescue the hostages exploded into tragic failure. Bowden dedicated five years to this research, including numerous trips to Iran and countless interviews with those involved on both sides. Guests of the Ayatollah is a detailed, brilliantly re-created, and suspenseful account of a crisis that gripped and ultimately changed the world.
Customer Reviews:
The First "War On Terror" (or should have been)........2007-09-28
This book provides an excellent explanation of the crisis, which partly cost Jimmy Carter the election and where America should have conducted its first "War On Terror" (perhaps, that would have dealt with the current "president" of Iran and the others with him sooner, rather than later, and he wouldn't have come to the U.S.). True, the U.S. shouldn't have let the Shah in, but it wasn't right for the "students", including the current "president" of Iran to take people hostage. I applaud all those who stood up to these thugs, and Bowden gives great detail. He also provides excellent notes and descriptions of what happened to the hostages, after their release. I have my own thoughts about what should have happened, after our people arrived safely in the U.S., but I won't go into them here. Suffice it to say that if anyone wants to understand why we are having the troubles we are with Iran, read this. I wouldn't have wanted to have been in former President Carter's position. I think it was a betrayal, after what the hostages went through, that the U.S., in the succeeding administration, did "deals" with these people, and admitting this "terrorist thug" [Ahmenejad] into our country recently; a former hostage taker, but this is an example how our political system works. [Sometimes, we're our own worst enemy.] Anyway, an important book.
War on Terror.......2007-09-20
The author is correct in his use of the term "inapt" for the phrase "war on terror." It was indeed inapt prior to 9/11 and certainly was not in use in 1979. But it's appropriate use since 9/11 means that finally after nearly 30 years we are taking the threat seriously and have finally begun to wage this necessary war.
Good book, heavily biased.......2007-09-14
An excellent blow by blow account of the Iranian hostage crisis. Bowden's bias knocks a star off. He basically sides with the hostage takers--describing them as just a bunch of goofy misguided kids engaged in mere horseplay. The hostages weren't tortued and beaten that bad, and plus they "mistakenly" referred to their captors as "ragheads." How ignorant! Perhaps Bowden thinks they should have stayed there a little longer just to make up for such transgressions?
In an attempt to make Jimmy Carter look competent, he wisely spends little time on the President's futile attempts to resolve the crisis--keeping the focus on the hostages themselves. But it's still a factual account--and the facts don't lie; Carter was a horrible negotiator. It was only a year into the crisis he figured out what "contingency" meant. Bowden's sly parallel of Ronald Reagan with the Ayatollah at the end of the book is also not lost.
Well-written and thought-provoking.......2007-09-06
What more could there be to say about a crisis that happened a quarter century ago? As it turns out, there are some very important things to say about it, and Mark Bowden's masterful history of that crisis says them.
First, this is an absolutely first-rate "you are there" account of what the American hostages went through as Iran descended into chaos and near madness after the ouster of the shah. You will literally feel their anger, fear, and depression, and you will feel their pride when they can defy or denigrate their captors, even fleetingly. However, you will feel the smugness and religious certainty of their captors, too. Make no mistake: Bowden clearly sees the American diplomats as victims of an outrageous act; there is no moral relativity here.
Second, the book is thought-provoking in ways I didn't expect. The ostensible trigger for the crisis was the decision by the US to admit the shah to this country for treatment of the cancer that would eventually kill him. However, that decision was sold to President Carter by his Secretary of State, Cyrus Vance, who in turn was sold on it by Henry Kissinger and David Rockefeller. As the years roll on, it's interesting how many disastrous US foreign policy decisions come back to Kissinger.
Further, the CIA was no better then at understanding and predicting events in the Islamic world than they are now. Shortly before the crisis erupted, the agency reported that the religious radicals would soon be relegated to the background there, so the US could deal with an emerging secular state with confidence. In reality, the country degenerated into a hurricane of religious nuttiness that soon swept aside all of the secular leaders. Quite literally, no one at all was really in charge of anything in Iran, and that's the reason the crisis dragged on for over a year.
This brings us to the role of President Carter. Nearly everyone felt at the time that he was too weak and vacillating to resolve the crisis. Not so; he tirelessly attempted to find a way to deal with the situation, but every attempt failed when the connection at the Iranian end fell apart. No one could have done much more, which is why presidential candidate Ronald Reagan continually criticized Carter, but never offered a word of explanation about what he would do.
The failed rescue attempt was blamed on Carter, too, but as Bowden makes clear, it had little chance of succeeding, mostly because the equipment available at the time was inadequate, and the situation was impossible. Even if Delta Force had made it to Tehran, it's likely that most or all of the hostages and rescuers would have died in the operation. Carter and the troops deserve credit for daring the attempt, even in the face of near-certain failure.
This book is must reading as the authoritative account of the first battle in the war with the "Islamofascists." And it's worth reading as a rich account of the courage that the hostages and their would-be rescuers displayed in very trying circumstances.
Excellent telling of the Iran Hostage Crisis.......2007-07-10
For those interested in history and especially the history of the relationship between Iran and the U.S., this book is essential. This book is well written, fine storytelling, and appropriately detailed without belaboring the point. Probably the best one source history of the hostage crisis. Some may find it a little too charitable to President Carter, but it appears to be a fair portrayal.
Customer Reviews:
October Surprise: America's Hostages in Iran and the Election of Ronald Reagan.......2007-05-21
An intriguing look at teachery and treason by the Republican Party. I have never understood the interest that Republicans have in running for elected office; they have little or no knowledge or understanding about how a modern government should work and less interest in the subject. Their dependence upon misogyny, free ranging corporations, inflated dollars, social slavery, outright corruption and pagan material idolatry stymies me. They would regulate the poor and warehouse the rich in gated communities and are loathe to remember that both heaven and hell are gated communities. Never has there been a political party with such base intentions and such great appeal among the nouveau riche.
This story is probably true but now unindictable like the crimes of 9-11; it typifies the arrogance and modus operandi of the GOP. To have negotiated and extended the hostages' captivity in Tehran for any reason whatsoever is the height of immorality and inhumanity but standard political expedience for jumpy political losers like the GOP. They are cut from the same cloth as the kidnappers themselves and thus their nascent ability to negotiate with them. But this is the same party that two decades later suspended our civil liberties, tortured prisoners and took us to war for no credible reason. At this point (2007) if you are catching up on your political research, this book is a great sequel to anything written about Watergate or Richard NIxon's plumbers and an ominous prophecy to the political horrors that follow.
A Well-Documented Must READ!!!.......2005-11-27
If this work were fiction it would be an exceptional read, unfortunately, it is just HORRIFYING!!!
Casey is the ominous voice & Bush is the corrupt clown behind the curtain strategizing & manipulating his way to the White House.
Liberals will love it, Conversatives will repel its Republican blasphemy, and everyone else will appreciate the sliver of light exposing this political cancer.
Gary Sick writes a fabulous tale of factual American political corruption, deceipt & manipuation...painfully it carries the burden of being a history book...and for its contents, I am ashamed.
A mishmash of proven lies and half truths.......2005-10-08
I read this book years ago when it was first published. Mr. Sick allowed himself to be taken in by a collection of Iranian liars as well as some phonies claiming to have experience in intelligence. Some of the people Sick listened to were shown in the Iran-Contra hearings to be con artists who also took in Ollie North and Bill Casey. These con artists are experts at saying what the listener wants to hear. One guy claimed to have been in Special Forces and was an eyewitness to one of VP-candidate Bush's flights to meet with Iranians. It turns out that he was not in Special Forces at all and he had been dishonorably discharged from the US Army. In addition, he could not have been an eyewitness to the event he claims to have seen because he was in jail at the time. The phony intelligence specialists have also been proven to be liars with no experience in intelligence or anything resembling national security work. By the time I finished this book, I actually felt sorry for Sick because he had allowed himself to be taken in by these jokers. He clearly wanted to believe that what he was being told was true.
This book does not prove anything except that even an experienced researcher can be fooled if he really wants to believe. Subsequent investigations by a Democratically dominated Congress proved that there was no October surprise.
Completely Discredited - Fast And Loose With Facts.......2004-04-23
The irony of this book is that it changes the meaning of what "October Surprise" actually meant. The phrase was actually invented by the Republicans (Bill Casey, Stu Spencer, and VP candidate Bush) as a warning as to what Carter would try to do with the hostages. Yet now a former Carter administration member writes a book and hangs the term around the necks of his opponents.
The thesis simply doesn't work. A Congressional investigation spent over a million dollars and released a 968-page report that refutes the claims in this book. (I would add to those who see everything through partisan eyes that the Democrats controlled Congress and all the committees at that time).
The most obvious question is this: how did Ronald Reagan and his team get ahold of the equipment necessary to pull this off? Supposedly, an SR-71 Blackbird flew Bush to Madrid to negotiate for the hostages to be kept until after the election. But SR-71s don't just fly themselves, so who flew it? And what commander signed off for the plane to be missing from his fleet for a couple of days? Did Bush really have time to do that since the polls were showing a close election?
Sick has a well footnoted book, but it fails all across the line. Just because there's a footnote doesn't mean we know who actually said what. We don't know if the antagonists had been in contact with each other (the Congressional investigation showed they were - which ruins their credibility).
The book appears to be a retroactive attempt to say the reason Carter lost was because of the hostages. While there is no doubt that is one of the reasons, it is simplistic to say that such is the ONLY reason. How, after all, can you blame Reagan for the helicopters that didn't work in the bungled rescue attempt in April 1980? And let's not forget that half of the Democratic voters in the primary didn't want Carter to run again anyway.
This book is an attempt to besmirch a Presidency solely because the author disagrees with that man's ideology. It is a shame and a disgrace that this can be done. Reagan won, Carter lost. And it wasn't even close. Please get over it, Mr. Sick.
Totally Discredited Book.......2002-07-18
Gary Sicks' bizarro theory that George Bush flew to Paris in an SR-71 to meet with the Iranians to convince them to keep the hostages until after the election in 1990 is just plain crazy. Congress investigated this and found no basis for Sicks account. This is better fiction though than most spy stories but no one should take this silliness seriously.
Average customer rating:
- Major Castillo returns to rescue THE HOSTAGE
- An Entertaining Read
- Not a complete waste of time
- The good guys wear white hats!
- A true understanding of SF Attitude.
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The Hostage
W.E.B. Griffin
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RETREAT, HELL!
ASIN: 0515142409
Release Date: 2006-12-26 |
Book Description
The second novel in W.E.B. Griffin's new bestselling series finds Presidential Agent Charley Castillo investigating the death of an American diplomat in Argentina, the kidnapping of the diplomat's wife, and a scandal tying the United Nations to Iraq.
Customer Reviews:
Major Castillo returns to rescue THE HOSTAGE.......2007-08-18
From the mind of prolific author W. E. B. Griffin comes The Hostage, the second installment of his "Presidential Agent" series.
United States Army Major Charlie Castillo, the special aide to the Secretary of Homeland Security, is once again placed in harm's way as he operates under direct presidential orders. Taking place nearly a year after the events in the first book, By Order of the President, Castillo is sent to Argentina where an embassy official's wife has been taken hostage until she can reveal the whereabouts of her brother, a diplomat from the United Nations who is involved in the Iraqi food-for-oil scandal.
In his previous assignment detailed in the first novel, Castillo's presidential-level authority has caused some strife in his relationships with Central Intelligence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. When he assembles his team in Buenos Aires, it is members of both these organizations he must rely upon for assistance in bringing about the solution to the problem. Under orders, Castillo identity must remain out of the public eye, but when both the CIA and the FBI are looking to dirty his good name with the President, Castillo is not only facing down the kidnappers, but elements of his own team as well.
Griffin's ability to craft a believable story within the area of military and politics is well-established. He has five other series of novels, covering the Army (Brotherhood of War), the Marine Corps (The Corps), and the men and woman of the Philadelphia Police Department (Badge of Honor). The Hostage continues to prove his prowess in the genre of political and war-based thrillers. Although his previous series often used a historical backdrop, such as the eras of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, this series marks the first time he has ventured into a contemporary setting... and he does not disappoint.
With his skill, Griffin immediately interests the reader in the plight of his characters, and he does not stop with one or two. He immerses the reader into a world where tens of thousands of people work every day, and he has no trouble involving a cast of hundreds to define that scope. Rather than diluting the story with such a cast, each character fits seamlessly into his narrative. From Major Castillo to the President of the United States, every character possesses a depth that compels the reader to not only read the action, but learn more about the people involved.
The perspective of Griffin's narrative is nearly monopolized by his protagonist, Castillo. However, the inherent conflict within the novel is placed against the world-view defined through the magnifying glass of all the characters involved. In this, the author maintains a level of realism to the story by introducing facets of personality and circumstance that make it a complex tale of deception, wit, and sometimes unmitigated guile.
The Hostage is swift, exciting, and a highly enjoyable read, providing a fascinating insight into the world of intelligence and international politics that only Griffin and his peers can manage.
An Entertaining Read.......2007-07-27
I enjoyed the CD Audio version of this book.
However I agree with one reviewer that much of the dialogue does have to do with hotel and flight arrangements. Nevertheless I enjoyed it.
I think that readers need to read the predeccessor to this novel. otherwise like me they may wonder why Charlie is given so much power and favor.
Not a complete waste of time.......2007-07-02
I was ready to put this down quite soon as it seemed to suffer the same weaknesses as the later Clancy books: tedious details of no consequence to the plot, extremely sloppy storytelling, embarrassing love stories, and unfunny macho language. But I found this to stop somewhere around page 650, and from then on the book had some of the charms of the early Clancy books: interesting background related to current events, historical background that connects history to current events, almost no love stories (albeit because the girlfriend gets shot, but anything is better than cringing our toes at the two agreeing to say "wiener schnitzel" for "I love you" when they are on a non-secure line), and action involving garrotes and guns. If you are good at skimming you will finish this in a very short time as you scan the page for information moving the plot along. Otherwise, you will quickly learn, or, of course, give up.
This book has the potential of 3 or 4 stars if the 70% fat is cut away. Further value could be had if the myopic, anti-European posturing was balanced some. Actually, a major character does provide the counter arguments, but the author does everything to antagonize him so the effect is lost. This is a shame, as we could otherwise have had the quite compelling core story happen alongside a debate about the role of the U.N., the European, and especially the French reaction to the Iraq war, as well as other acutely important topics. Opting for a one-sided view makes this work an example of opportunities missed. As examples of getting it right, apart from Hunt for Red October and other cool-to-the-core clancy books, I suggest anything by Martin Cruz Smith or Jan Guillou. Both authors portay the world not in black and white, but in credible greys.
The good guys wear white hats!.......2007-05-08
After having completed the entire inital Brotherhood of War series of books I felt like I was losing my best friends, the characters were that compelling. Since then I have eagerly awaited each Griffin novel. The Hostage is no exception. Filled with details that only comes from indepth research each story keeps you entranced. But what makes these Griffin's books so absorbing is the fact that there is little doubt as to who the good guys are and who are the baddies. Don't get me wrong, the characters are not thin. Human interest wrapped up in a good ole manly story.
It doesn't get any better!
A true understanding of SF Attitude........2007-04-12
Griffin's understanding of the Special Forces community comes through 5x5. His Communications NCO's can handle the most advanced and technically sophisticated equipment around, and one of them is cross trained as a Medic which is not uncommon on an SF A Team. He is one of the few authors who really understands the difference between the Special Forces and the other Special Operations troops, and he treats them all with the dignity that they deserve. The only thing that tends to bother me with his writing is that the officers tend to get the majority of the glory. In my own experience it was the NCO's that actually got things done. I have known some officers that held my respect beyond what the manual said I should give them and Griffin mentions one of them often. General Don A Starry is still a man that I would gladly follow, again. The plot moves well and kept my interest till the end, it also made me wonder what next.
Book Description
2004 ECPA Gold Medallion winner!
Soon after September 11, the news media stepped up its coverage of the plight of Martin and Gracia Burnham, the missionary couple captured and held hostage in the Philippine jungle by terrorists with ties to Osama Bin Laden. After a year of captivity, and a violent rescue that resulted in Martin's death, the world watched Gracia Burnham return home in June 2002 with a bullet wound in the leg and amazing composure.
In this riveting personal account, Burnham tells the real story behind the news about their harrowing ordeal, about how it affected their relationship with each other and with God, about the terrorists who held them, about the actions of the U.S. and Philippine governments, and about how they were affected by the prayers of thousands of Christians throughout the world.
Customer Reviews:
Modern Day Heroes.......2007-09-24
It's hard to express how much I admire Martin and Gracia Burnham. It's been at least two years, I suppose, since I read this book but I still remember most every chapter. So, if it's a riveting on-the-edge-of-your-seat book you're looking for, here's a good one.
However, if you're looking for God working incarnate, this may be where to start. God took two "ordinary" people and made something most extraordinary out of their tragedy. Two things I especially appreciate from the book are 1) Gracia's brutally honest, no-holds-barred look at herself during the ordeal and 2) Martin's "speaking" through the book though he didn't physically write a word.
I would love to meet Gracia someday and would have loved to have met Martin. Read this book and you'll still somehow carry them both around with you.
Great Book.......2007-07-04
This is an excellent book written by a courageous woman. The main reason that I bought it was to learn more about the insurgents that captured Gracia and her husband. Gracia did a very good job in portraying the trials and tribulations endured by all of the hostages during her year in captivity. She also provides invaluable insights into the insurgents and the faults in their beliefs in Islam that did not match what is written in the Koran.
Burnham Story in Print.......2007-05-02
I found this book fascinating. It's definitely the words of a missionary, as Christianity is celebrated throughout the ordeal in print. Martin Burnham is revealed as a true man of men and he kept Gracia grounded throughout the book, she makes sure of it. Their story was tragic. The book was written quite simply and I finished it in 2 sittings. I could not put it down and it was put very clearly and simply. It was less biased in print than the interviews I've seen with her. She is certainly entitiled to her views of the Philippine government and US support. It was a delicate dance for the U.S. and she acknowledges this. The whole situation was unfortunate. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING.
I was surprised to see so much about Islam itself and why her captors did such rational and irrational things while she was in captivity. It's biased at times, but being written by a Christian missionary it should be. Thats accuracy of HER JOURNEY.
encouragement.......2007-04-28
Gracie recalls, in amazing detail, her year in the jungle as a hostage. This book is a must read for anyone who is ever bothered by their own problems.
More Al Quieda activities.......2007-03-07
This book is about the kidnapping of Christian Missionaries Martin and Gracia Burham in the summer of 2001. The Phillipino Abu Sayyaf branch of Al Quieda was responsible. Taken with a group of rich tourists from various foreign countries, their abduction was originally done for quick randsoms. But, the American government refuses to participate in this so they were in captivity for over a year! Other tourists were either killed or their ransoms were paid. No other source I've read mentions this as one of the financial operations of Al Quieda.
I loved this book because it really makes you think about what is important in life.
Book Description
This is the first book to provide objective methods for establishing that a child has been brainwashed by one parent against another. It is based on a ten-year study of 700 cases in the authors' counseling and evaluative work with children of divorced couples.
Customer Reviews:
Children Held Hostage.......2006-10-07
Children Held Hostage is the very best book for help in understanding and identifying PARENTAL ALIENATION. It should be in the hands of every Lawyer, Guardian ad Litem, Psychologist and any one working with children. It, also, is very beneficial for parents to read, who are suffering from this disorder. Parental Alienation is cruel and breaks the bond-of-love between a parent and child. Before allowing a Guardian ad Litem or others to intervene, he/she should read this book. I cannot praise it enough.
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Hope for the hopeless.......2004-07-22
This is the most in depth book on the market for someone in a hostile custody battle involving parental alienation syndrome. The authors have addressed significant issues in great detail. They have provided useful tools to combat the issues at hand and given hope to those embroiled in the battle.
data filled book.......2004-03-05
One of the best studies of the damage of alienating parental behaviour in divorce does to children. This was a pre-cursor to Gardner's terminology of Parental Alienation Syndrome, but all that here discusses is here. This book will help many divorced
parents monitor their own behaviour, as well as help their children, with the knowledge of how the children are being impacted. Expensive, but very informative.
An eye-opening, surprising, frightening divorce possibility........1999-02-04
I was given this book to read after 3 months of weekly counseling with my husband. It was clear to our counselor that my stepdaughter was being programmed and brainwashed for the past 14 years by her mother and step-father of 14 years. (I've been in her life for the past 8 years).
What I read was very disturbing in that it hit home in so many places. The process and definitions were clear and easily identifiable.
The book helped me understand what's been going on and how it happened. In our case the history has been many many years and the programmers'/ brainwashers' support group includes the mother, stepfather, half and step-siblings and grand- parents (among others).
I suspect that this behavior is very common in divorce situations (with children) in varying degrees. This book should be given to all parents who separate/divorce in hopes that they do better by their children and work together to put their children first.
Average customer rating:
- Gripping read on the whole
- "Hostage" provides little chemistry or sizzle
- I Loved this book!!!!
- The Hostage
- How a tradegy can change ones life
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The Hostage
Susan Wiggs
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Contemporary
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Wiggs, Susan
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| Romance
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ASIN: 1551667568 |
Book Description
A sweeping tale of love born from the ashes of revenge. . .
October 8, 1871 -- One small spark ignites the entire city of Chicago, sending its residents into panic. But amid the chaos, a chance encounter leads to an unexpected new love.
Unaware of the fire sweeping toward them, Deborah Sinclair confronts her wealthy, powerful father, determined to refuse the society marriage he has arranged for her. Suddenly, out of the smoke and flames, a stranger appears -- gun in hand, intent on avenging an unforgivable crime. As fire consumes the elegant mansion, the ruthless man takes the fragile, sheltered heiress hostage.
Swept off to mist-shrouded Isle Royale, Deborah finds herself the pawn in Tom Silver's dangerous game of revenge. Despite her horror at being kidnapped, she finds herself drawn to the people of the close-knit community and to the startling beauty of the island. As she engages in a battle of wits with her brooding captor, she begins to understand the injustice that fuels his anger, an injustice wrought by her own family. And as winter imprisons the isolated land, she realizes she's a hostage of her own heart. . .
Customer Reviews:
Gripping read on the whole.......2005-09-24
This book had a few things I didn't particularly like about it, but it did make me cry!
Be warned that the characters are a tad stereotypical and the motives for their actions and behavior not very credible. The heroine is the usual delicate flower, indignant to the hero's abuse but nevertheless "strangely attracted" to his blatant masculinity. She is at times irritating. The hero tends to overdo the gruffness bit, overreacting in most situations. Minor characters in this book are likewise one-dimensional stereotypes with little development or drawing power.
The book's saving grace is its plot. *Very* romantic situation on the whole, and you won't want to put down the book until you find out what happens to Tom and Deborah (the hero and heroine) at the end. What Tom does for Deborah and how he professes his love for her are worth all the other book's shortcomings.
It's a good read, not perfect, but still captivating and romantic. The main characters are somewhat more developed towards the end.
"Hostage" provides little chemistry or sizzle.......2005-01-17
While the character of Deborah is charming, she transforms from a kind-hearted debutane to a kind woman who learns to love the real world beyond her guilded cage. Great charcter development (although not as thorough on the hero, Tom Silver). The major element lacking here is chemisty and sexual tension. I was surprised at this since this is a romance, i'm not used to reading such chaste romance novels! (I've read regency and earler romance novels that had so much romance & sizzle it really put this book to shame.) The character's stll have not even kissed by page 279. If you want more sexual chemistry, i'd look elsewhere.
I Loved this book!!!!.......2003-10-02
This was my first Wigg's book, and I absolutely loved it. From the beginning to the end, I was never bored once. She is very romantic, and the sex is not as important, as other romance books. So what you get is more of a STORY to read, not a bunch of sex to take up half the book, so you are wide eyed, involved, to the very end. I even looked up on the internet more information about the great fire of Chicago 1871. It was such a good read, I bought the other two books of this series, and I am snuggled and happy right now. This is romance at it's best.
The Hostage.......2002-09-18
Didn't find it very exciting. Just another romance with boy meets girl and falls in love. Not sizzle to it.
How a tradegy can change ones life.......2002-06-10
This is a great story about how a tragedy and the things that come after it can change your way of life. This story has the main character kidnapped on the night of the great Chicago Fire. She was already wondering what she was going to do with her life do to another personal tragedy, she figured she was only trained to be "pretty" and not to even dress herself. This kidnapping teaches her a lot about herself. It is really fun to read about her change in attitude etc... and laugh as she learns things the hard way. At the same time it teaches her kidnapper a bit about himself, as well as a distant town learns not everyone with the same name is "evil". In the climax of the book you also learn alot about survival in the later 1800's and how things differ today. An excellent read. Not too much emphasis on the sensuality.
Book Description
For breathless action, gripping suspense, and intense romance, bestselling author Linda Howard never misses a beat–and her thrilling new novel will have your heart racing.
In the charming rural town of Trail Stop, Idaho, accessible to the outside world by only a single road, young widow Cate Nightingale lives peacefully with her four-year-old twin boys, running a bed-and-breakfast. Though the overnight guests are few and far between–occasional hunters and lake fishermen–Cate always manages to make ends meet with the help of the local jack-of-all-trades, Calvin Harris, who can handle everything from carpentry to plumbing. But Calvin is not what he seems, and Cate’s luck is about to run out.
One morning, the B&B’s only guest inexplicably vanishes, leaving behind his personal effects. A few days later Cate is shocked when armed men storm the house, demanding the mystery man’s belongings. Fearing for her children’s lives, Cate agrees to cooperate–until Calvin saves the day, forcing the intruders to scatter into the surrounding woods.
The nightmare, however, is just beginning. Cate, Calvin, and their entire community find themselves cut off and alone with no means to call for help as the threat gathers intensity and first blood is drawn.
With their fellow residents trapped and the entire town held hostage, Cate and Calvin have no choice but to take the fight to their enemies under the cover of night. While reticent Cal becomes a fearless protector, Cate makes the most daring move of her life . . . into the very heart of danger.
Customer Reviews:
Slow and Boring .......2007-09-03
I'm usually never disappointed with a Linda Howard's books. I usually love both the female and male characters, but the heroin in this book is so annoying, she keeps going on and on about her late husband enough already we get it you miss him. No matter how much I read on I just never liked her.
On the other hand the hero of this novel was wondeful strong silent type quick witted, smart, brave and down to earth I like that. when I finished it I felt sorry for him he was stuck with her.
Ahhh my hero! fun read!.......2007-08-08
We don¡¦t think anybody needs to be encouraged to read Linda Howard, but just in case you¡¦re a newbie, she is soooo worth it! This is a terrific story about a shy, mumbling handyman, Calvin Harris, who falls for hard-working Trail Stop B&B owner, widowed mother Cate Nightingale. When one of Cate¡¦s customers leaves ¡V through an upstairs window without paying his bill or taking his clothes ¡V Cate reports it. But no crime¡¦s been committed, no accident¡¦s been reported, so the police don¡¦t do anything. Then ¡V shockingly ¡V armed men storm Cate¡¦s place, looking for something the man left behind. Oh, goody. You know what¡¦s coming next, don¡¦t you? Drool... Cal morphs into a quiet but deadly alpha the nano-second his woman is threatened, mowing through the baddies with his lethal bare hands ¡V oh, and a gun ¡V to get to her. Who knew? We did! º Not that Cate knew she was ¡¥his woman¡¦ until then, but whoa¡K she sure did after that. The action doesn¡¦t stop there; that¡¦s the prelude before the hailstorm of bullets, bombs and shootings hit Trail Stop. It¡¦s the modern-day equivalent of a Medieval siege, and no-one knows exactly what the villains want. Here¡¦s the thing. Quiet, unassuming Cal has a few secrets up his sleeve ¡V along with lots of hunky he-man muscles, stealth, and brilliant tactical know-how for war games. Settle in and watch the villains get theirs, and Cal get Cate.
A great read.......2007-07-19
A well plotted book with a small town full of memorable characters. Cate Nightingale, a widow with young twin sons, is trying to make a living as a bed and breakfast owner in a remote corner of Idaho. Cal, the local handyman, has been in love with Cate for 3 years but only conditions created by inept villains staging a terrorist attack on the area shock Cate into noticing Cal as a man. Was their romance created by extreme conditions, or would it have happened anyway? (Note Cate starting to notice Cal's strong hands in the beginning of the book, and her repeated attempts to make conversation with him.) The villains' reasoning which led to their attack on the area was so ludicrous, I wouldn't be surprised it it were based on a real news event. A great book- I would love a sequel.
Cover of Night by Linda Howard.......2007-07-10
Widow Cate Nightingale runs a bed and breakfast in Trail Stop Idaho, an isolated community boxed by mountains and a dangerous river. Cate's guests are sparse, consisting of rock climbers, hunters and fishermen, and Cate struggles to make ends meet. If it weren't for shy handyman Cal Harris, the B&B would fall apart and Cate would be bankrupt. But Cate is determined to raise her four-year-old twin boys in a safe environment and this charming town seems the perfect place.
Cate's nightmare begins when one of her guests climbs out of a window and disappears, leaving behind his personal effects. A few days later, two men show up and demand she turn over the man's belongings. Held at gunpoint, Cate fears for her life until Cal intrudes and forces the men to leave. Cate hopes that's the end of it, but soon she and the entire town find themselves held hostage by these two men, with the aid of four others. And there's no way to escape; the road leading into town has been blocked and the bridge over the river has been blown up. Cate and Cal team up to try to save their community. Their forced camaraderie leads them into not only danger but reveals the two share a hidden passion for one another.
Linda Howard is tops at romantic suspense. Although holding an entire town hostage seems implausible, she manages to make it real and provides a good read along the way. The chemistry between Cate and Cal is fun as it unfolds over the course of the book. With plenty of suspense, great characters, and a fast pace, Cover of Night will provide plenty of entertainment.
So very, very bad..........2007-06-29
Linda Howard, what happened????
I've noticed a strange trend in the last few years, where romance plots are getting heavier on thriller/mystery content and the romance part is becoming an afterthought. I wish authors would remember that if we didn't want 300+ pages of a love story, we wouldn't be shopping in the romance section to begin with.
This book was horrible. I guess it would have been okay if I had never heard of Linda Howard and didn't know what compelling love stories she could write. And if I had picked this up in a bargain bin somewhere, I guess...
I'm taking Linda off my "buy as soon as it hits the shelves" list, although I still highly recommend Drop Dead Gorgeous and To Die For. The fact that those are the two most recent LH books after this one make the mediocrity of this last effort even more perplexing.
Amazon.com
Veteran hostage negotiator Kate O'Malley has seen humankind at its worst. In fact, she has become something of a legend for her ability to parlay a successful outcome from even the most desperate situations. FBI special agent Dave Richman, introduced in Henderson's Danger in the Shadows, has every reason to have lost faith. But he hasn't and Kate has. From their first encounter during a bank holdup, these two very disparate people are inexplicably drawn to each other. But can they overcome the obstacles? Dave's Christianity is as much a part of him as his desire for Kate, while Kate claims no particular belief in God. And can Dave relinquish his need to protect Kate when it is her job to place herself in danger? But Dave may not have a choice when a secret from Kate's past returns to haunt her--or kill her. Full of surprises, Dee Henderson's The Negotiator is a walk on the wild side and readers will love every thrilling minute!--Alison Trinkle
Book Description
FBI agent Dave Richman from Danger in the Shadows is back. He's about to meet Kate O'Malley, and his life will never be the same. She's a hostage negotiator. He protects people. He's about to find out that falling in love with a hostage negotiator is one thing, but keeping her safe is another!
Introducing the O'Malleys, an inspirational group of seven, all abandoned or orphaned as teens, who have made the choice to become a loyal and committed family. They have chosen their own surname, O'Malley, and have stood by each other through moments of joy and heartache. Their stories are told in CBA best-selling, inspirational romantic suspense novels that rock your heart and restore strength and hope to your spirit.
Download Description
In this dynamic re-release of The Negotiator, FBI agent Dave Richman from Danger in the Shadows is back and about to meet Kate O'Malley. A hostage negotiator in Chicago, Kate is a legend on the force, willing to walk into any situation. Dave is a Christian, but Kate isn't. Their relationship is going to be a challenge. Kate's family, the seven O'Malley, were orphaned or abandoned as children; they chose to become their own family. But an airline bombing, tragic family news, and the appearance of a brother Kate didn't know she had will change her family's life and her own forever.
Customer Reviews:
The Negotiator.......2007-08-23
I read this book in just a few days it was exciting and what I liked the best is there were no bad words, This book was written in good taste, and kep't my attention to were I couldn't put it down. Would like to read more books like this. Dawn Doxey
Wish I was an O'Malley.......2007-08-04
A friend of mine recommended Dee Henderson's The O'Malley series to me, and I was hesitant about it. I decided to give The Negotiator a try, and LOVED it, I wish I could give this book more than 5 star because it deserves it! I like Kate she is my favorite so far with all of the siblings. I highly recommend this series to anyone. It's a clean, page-turner that will keep you guessing till the end.
Suspended Belief?.......2007-08-02
This book and the complete series are written at less than a professional level. I am not capable of suspending the amount of belief that is required to make Dee Henderson's "Negotiator" enjoyable. The O'Malley Series is about a family based on the premise that seven orphans decided to become a family and all change their name to O'Malley. The family members include a doctor, EMT, U.S. Marshall, hostage negotiator, etc. They come to each others' aid when troubles start. The family seems to be more functional that most nuclear families. Unfortunately, the characters lack dimension. I couldn't relate to them. They are presented as perfect, successful, beautiful, etc. The relationship with the hostage negotiator, Jennifer, and Dave, an FBI Agent, is a major part of the plot and is significantly overplayed.
I am a Christian and enjoy reading Christian fiction. Sadly, I would not recommend this book nor this series. I would, however, recommend picking up "The Puritans" by Jack Cavanaugh. His "An American Family Portrait" series is published by Victor. He develops character, plot, action and conflict that asks for little, if any, suspended belief.
Excellent plot .......2007-05-02
With its plot unfolding in a mysterious yet believable way, The Negotiator weaves the story of a strong woman who has fought to escape her painful past. The main character is intriguing, andI think this work could stand strongly on its own. The action is dynamic and this book far outweighs the second book in the O'Malley series. Truly worth reading.
The Negotiator opens at a run!.......2007-03-08
You are immediately thrust into Kate O'Malley's world. She is a crisis negotiator with the Chicago Police Department. Dee Henderson introduces the O'Malley Family very well in the beginning of the book, setting up the subsequent O'Malley novels. The relationship developing between Kate O'Malley and Dave Richman (you'll remember him from Henderson's "Danger in the Shadows") is weaved nicely throughout.
There is plenty of action, suspense, drama and even a little comedy. The characters are supremely likeable. I highly recommend every book in this series! They are all real page turners.
The other O'Malley novels are: The Negotiator, The Guardian, The Truth Seeker, The Protector, The Healer, The Rescuer. Each is a wonderful read!
Book Description
According to author Frederick J. Lanceley, known as one of the world's foremost crisis negotiation authorities, negotiators must train and train regularly. For just as the legal field constantly evolves, so does the field of crisis negotiation. The new edition of his On-Scene Guide for Crisis Negotiators reflects this fact. A bestseller in its first edition, this book offers practical advice with regard to the theory, procedures, and techniques of crisis and suicide intervention and hostage negotiation. Two new chapters cover negotiation with people under the influence of drugs or alcohol and how first responders can contain the situation until a negotiator can arrive. With a suicide intervention flow chart, a checklist for investigators assisting negotiators, and an on-scene guide for crisis negotiators, this indispensable book provides the tools you need to conduct successful negotiations and 'make nothing happen.'
Customer Reviews:
Review of On-scene guide for crisis negotiators.......2002-07-24
Good 1st book to read on those wanting to be Negotiators in the Law Enforcement field.
A Worthy Addition To The Field.......2000-04-22
Frederick Lanceley's "On-Scene Guide for Crisis Negotiators" is a long needed compendium of technique and definition in the field of crisis negotitations. Mr. Lanceley's vast experience has enabled him to provide techniques based on real-life situations not just theory. The volume is arranged in a concise, easy-to-reference format which should be a part of every negotiator's "Ready Kit". One of the most important points about this book is the fact that it addresses the types of situations faced daily by police negotiators. Suicide intervention, long a subject ignored in many negotiations seminars, is given in-depth treatment. In addition, the entire book is an interesting read. His account of his involvement at Ruby Ridge is fascinating. I would recommend this book to anyone involved in the field, police commanders and anyone interested in crisis intervention.
On-Scene Guide for Crisis Negotiators.......1999-12-07
Recently retired FBI Special Agent Fred Lanceley gives us the benefit of his expertise in this highly detailed book on the actions a crisis negotiator must take in the field. Lanceley describes techniques that will be of benefit to any police officet, tactical dispatcher, hostage negotiator or crisis counselor who is confronted with a barricaded subject, a mentally disturbed individual or a potential hostage taker. These people are encouraged to read Lanceley's book and to include it in your current training. Dave Larton, Member, California Association of Hostage Negotiators
Every Chief and Tactical Commander should read this book........1999-07-13
Excellent basic text which covers practical aspects of Crisis Negotiation. Solid, contemporary content and a great reference resource.
Books:
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- I Like You
- In Cold Blood
- Judge & Jury
- Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith
- Kaleidoscope: Ideas And Projects to Spark Your Creativity
- Kill Me
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