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Saving Texas
“A terrific brew of romp, murder, and intrigue.” –Tony D’Souza, author of Mule
“[Reporter] Annie Price seduces and leaves us breathless, begging for more.” –Stefan Kiesbye, author of The Staked Plains
Houston reporter Annie Price is looking for a career-defining story when she profiles Tom Marr, the state's first secessionist candidate for governor. But the big Texas story comes with more than she bargains for – a corrupt college president, a dangerous ex-CIA agent and a beautiful, deadly Peruvian assassin. Before long, Annie must grapple with two murders, political shenanigans and a love triangle that will test the limits of her ethics and her heart. Will she be able to get the story before her struggling newspaper implodes or her ruthless enemies get her?
Author Nancy Stancill, formerly a reporter for the Houston Chronicle for 15 years, has created a crackling thriller that goes behind the headlines and deep into the gritty heart of journalism and politics in today's Texas.
“[Reporter] Annie Price seduces and leaves us breathless, begging for more.” –Stefan Kiesbye, author of The Staked Plains
Houston reporter Annie Price is looking for a career-defining story when she profiles Tom Marr, the state's first secessionist candidate for governor. But the big Texas story comes with more than she bargains for – a corrupt college president, a dangerous ex-CIA agent and a beautiful, deadly Peruvian assassin. Before long, Annie must grapple with two murders, political shenanigans and a love triangle that will test the limits of her ethics and her heart. Will she be able to get the story before her struggling newspaper implodes or her ruthless enemies get her?
Author Nancy Stancill, formerly a reporter for the Houston Chronicle for 15 years, has created a crackling thriller that goes behind the headlines and deep into the gritty heart of journalism and politics in today's Texas.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2013
29 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Stancill
4 books15 followersGrew up in Radford Virginia. Graduated from University of North Carolina School of Journalism.
MFA from University of Tampa.
Worked as journalist for 38 years in Virginia, California, Texas and North Carolina.
My favorite newspaper job was investigative reporting for the Houston Chronicle and Charlotte Observer. Some of those experiences gave me ideas for my first book, Saving Texas. I wrote it living in London from 2009-2012. I wasn't working, so I had the time to write. I discoveered I loved crafting suspense novels and have written three, plus a memoir.
Deadly Secrets, which comes out in December 2024, is my first book set in North Carolina. Since much of it involves the mountain area, I'm donating half its proceeds to a hurricane Helene disaster fund.
MFA from University of Tampa.
Worked as journalist for 38 years in Virginia, California, Texas and North Carolina.
My favorite newspaper job was investigative reporting for the Houston Chronicle and Charlotte Observer. Some of those experiences gave me ideas for my first book, Saving Texas. I wrote it living in London from 2009-2012. I wasn't working, so I had the time to write. I discoveered I loved crafting suspense novels and have written three, plus a memoir.
Deadly Secrets, which comes out in December 2024, is my first book set in North Carolina. Since much of it involves the mountain area, I'm donating half its proceeds to a hurricane Helene disaster fund.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 16, 2013
This book was written by a personal friend of mine. I am so proud of her for saying she was going to write a book and actually doing it. BUT not just a book but a great story too. Annie Price is her lead character who I believe has a little of Nancy in her. Annie is bright articulate curious and brave. I love reading historical fiction and did not know anything about the Sucessionists movement in Texas. It became a fascinating part of the story along with a little romance in between. I think Nancy Stancil has a winner on her hands and I look forward to more stories about Annie Price.
October 4, 2013
Let me say right off the bat that this gripping tale of investigative reporting of a secessionist Texas gubernatorial candidate with creepy, behind-the-scenes string pullers grabs you from the first sentences and holds you until the end. Nancy Stancill is a thriller author's author. Her experience in the real world of news reporting shows in her authentic handling of plot and characters.
Stancill's main protagonist, Annie Price, is a heroine of intelligence and sexiness. She has flaws. She misjudges some people, and she doesn't always make the best choices. She does, however, learn from her mistakes, and when she is on her mark, she takes no prisoners. Annie Price is a heroine in the league of Kay Scarpetta, and I can easily see Annie investigating cases many novels into the future.
The author knows Texas history, including an ugly episode in 1997 when some secessionist nut cases with an arsenal of weapons grabbed headlines during a stand off with law enforcement. What makes this novel so credible is not only that secessionist movements are a part of Texas history, but also the fact that once Texas was an independent Republic that avoided being part of Mexico and the United States. In "Saving Texas," the gubernatorial candidate who wants to see Texas as an independent nation is a charismatic, credentialed politician who actually makes sense. This is where Stancill has done her homework, and her portrayal of the gubernatorial candidate and his two campaign lieutenants chills to the core.
"Saving Texas" is best seller caliber that delivers to the very end. My hope is that a sequel or another novel centered around Annie Price comes quickly. Grab a copy of this novel. Just make sure you have a clear calendar, because nothing else is going to happen until you finish this book!
Stancill's main protagonist, Annie Price, is a heroine of intelligence and sexiness. She has flaws. She misjudges some people, and she doesn't always make the best choices. She does, however, learn from her mistakes, and when she is on her mark, she takes no prisoners. Annie Price is a heroine in the league of Kay Scarpetta, and I can easily see Annie investigating cases many novels into the future.
The author knows Texas history, including an ugly episode in 1997 when some secessionist nut cases with an arsenal of weapons grabbed headlines during a stand off with law enforcement. What makes this novel so credible is not only that secessionist movements are a part of Texas history, but also the fact that once Texas was an independent Republic that avoided being part of Mexico and the United States. In "Saving Texas," the gubernatorial candidate who wants to see Texas as an independent nation is a charismatic, credentialed politician who actually makes sense. This is where Stancill has done her homework, and her portrayal of the gubernatorial candidate and his two campaign lieutenants chills to the core.
"Saving Texas" is best seller caliber that delivers to the very end. My hope is that a sequel or another novel centered around Annie Price comes quickly. Grab a copy of this novel. Just make sure you have a clear calendar, because nothing else is going to happen until you finish this book!
October 26, 2021
This story revolves around the concept of secession for Texas from the United States in order to form an independent country. The group of powerful men who have teamed up to set this dream in motion will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Annie Price is a newspaper reporter who was dragged into this story as others close to the situation turn up dead.
It wasn’t a bad read, but there were a few things that prevented me from rating this higher. First, the assassin for the secession team is possibly the most inept assassin I’ve read in a book. She has a very distinct appearance, and yet doesn’t disguise herself at all while spending the evening in a bar with one of her female marks before following her home. She then has sex with the woman before killing her, which would certainly have left DNA evidence at the scene (a strand of her long beautiful hair, perhaps?). And, at another murder scene, she leaves her purse with an ID behind. What assassin brings a purse with ID to a murder? She is then overpowered by one potential victim who has zero fighting experience. She just became increasingly unbelievable as an assassin the further into the book I read.
Besides that, the amount of sexual harassment in professional settings was frustrating. It felt like it was set in another generation entirely rather than modern day. It seemed like every man who meets Annie is attracted to her and has to throw either an Innuendo or a direct proposition her way. Her long legs were mentioned multiple times by characters and it was cringy.
The plot definitely had potential, but the execution could have been better. There was so much foreshadowing that nothing was a surprise and there are no unexpected twists or turns. If you enjoy quick and easy reads with a bit of mystery and spice, you might enjoy this book. I think it would make a good beach read.
It wasn’t a bad read, but there were a few things that prevented me from rating this higher. First, the assassin for the secession team is possibly the most inept assassin I’ve read in a book. She has a very distinct appearance, and yet doesn’t disguise herself at all while spending the evening in a bar with one of her female marks before following her home. She then has sex with the woman before killing her, which would certainly have left DNA evidence at the scene (a strand of her long beautiful hair, perhaps?). And, at another murder scene, she leaves her purse with an ID behind. What assassin brings a purse with ID to a murder? She is then overpowered by one potential victim who has zero fighting experience. She just became increasingly unbelievable as an assassin the further into the book I read.
Besides that, the amount of sexual harassment in professional settings was frustrating. It felt like it was set in another generation entirely rather than modern day. It seemed like every man who meets Annie is attracted to her and has to throw either an Innuendo or a direct proposition her way. Her long legs were mentioned multiple times by characters and it was cringy.
The plot definitely had potential, but the execution could have been better. There was so much foreshadowing that nothing was a surprise and there are no unexpected twists or turns. If you enjoy quick and easy reads with a bit of mystery and spice, you might enjoy this book. I think it would make a good beach read.
August 16, 2019
Saving Texas
Very entertaining and interesting storyline about political intrigue and the newspaper reporters who cover it. A little romance thrown out to make the plot tingle.
Very entertaining and interesting storyline about political intrigue and the newspaper reporters who cover it. A little romance thrown out to make the plot tingle.
March 15, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, could have been better, more believable {this coming from a sci-fi geek who suspends belief and reality all the time}, characters and situations a bit more believable regardless. It is worse than saying 'what might have been' when it's what should have been; it had potential, real potential, and dropped it somewhere along the way.
March 15, 2017
Texan Good Read
As a native West Texan I loved reading a book when I've travelled to all the places written about. Don't believe in secession but the war at our border with Mexico is real
As a native West Texan I loved reading a book when I've travelled to all the places written about. Don't believe in secession but the war at our border with Mexico is real
June 15, 2016
This was such a clever and interesting book to read. A great story that really captured my attention. It’s also quite realistic that places around the world that have, or would like to become independent from the current Country they belong to. Alicia Perez owns a Sales Business at a Mexican market selling art and pottery, and is also a part time Assassin. She really is a ruthless and efficient killer, being able to kill so easily one moment, then before the body even drops to the ground, she is walking away deciding on what she is going to have for lunch. Plus she is training a group of 700 men for her partner Dan Riggins, who owns the Republic Security Company, which will become the Army & Security force for Texas. They are doing this in preparation for Texas becoming independent from the USA, if the secession plan succeeds. With Annie cooling things on the romantic side with Jake because it looks like he is going back to his wife, she finds it hard to resist the extremely good looking and charismatic governor candidate Tom Marr. Annie is a reporter for the Houston Times, and conflicted as she is meant to be writing a story on Tom, not getting romantically involved with him. Ex-CIA agent Riggins feels that the Times reporter Maddy Daniels is getting too close to learning more about the Military contracts at the College, and he may need Alicia to take care of her. Tom Marr might be above board with his plans to become Governor and his plans for Texas, but unfortunately his friends will do anything they can, including murder, kidnapping and drug distribution to get what they want. Annie will need to be careful that she doesn’t become a casualty, by getting too close to what’s really going on. I enjoyed some of the history that the Author has touched on in this story. It certainly added to what was already a great book. This is definitely worth a read.
October 9, 2013
Annie Price is a beautifully drawn protagonist who quickly pulls you into this face-paced story of politics, corruption and the perils of human relationships. The author's experience as an investigative reporter shows and not only brings credibility to the story, but also gives the reader an interesting helping of Texas history, especially on the topic of secessionism.
"Saving Texas" pulls you in quickly and keeps you turning the page. I was quickly invested in many of the characters and enjoyed the story's many twists and turns. The ending has a perfect cliffhanger. I can't wait to see what happens next.
December 11, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by my friend and former UNC pal, Nancy Stancill. With its colorful variety of characters, layered plot lines, and strongly evoked setting, it really pulled me in. I enjoyed the insider's view on how investigative journalism really gets done--the tedious persistence involved as well as the sense of adventure. The whole secessionist movement plot line was fascinating, and I thought the book did a great job of showing why it might be appealing to idealists as well as what is truly scary about it. I was glad to see that the ending left room for a sequel, and I look forward to reading it!
July 24, 2016
I bought a copy of Saving Texas at a conference last year, started reading it on the flight home, and quickly finished it. It's highly entertaining, with lots of sex and violence! The character at the center of the book, Annie Price, is a journalist, and the sections of the novel that focus on her work and her mindset certainly ring true to me as a reporter, though of course I haven't been involved in situations involving murder and efforts to turn a U.S. state into a breakaway republic. This is a very enjoyable read.
June 24, 2014
I really enjoyed this mystery about Houston Times reporter Annie Price who finds murder, corruption, love and betrayal in a Texas campaign to secede from the union. Author Nancy Stancill did a great job with the plot twists and character development. It's a good read and as the action heated up near the end, I couldn't put it down!
July 21, 2015
I saw the author speak at this year's Investigative Reporters and Editors conference and downloaded the book out of sheer curiosity - fiction by a former investigative reporter. Glad I did- this was a fun read and I'm looking forward to future books about the adventures of Annie Price.
March 28, 2017
Exciting
Good story. Looking forward to more. Good plot and characters. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Good stuff.
Good story. Looking forward to more. Good plot and characters. Kept me on the edge of my seat. Good stuff.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews