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Заложница на любовта
Ранди Прайс и шестгодишният й син Скот са отвлечени от маскирани бандити. Оказва се, че похитителите са индианци, които искат да си върнат заграбената им от безскрупулни бандити сребърна мина. Вождът на племето — Хоук О’Тул, убеждава Ранди, че няма да им се случи нищо лошо, ако изпълняват заповедите му. Младата жена не му вярва, плаши се и от магнетичните му сини очи. Скоро Ранди разбира, че индианците са жестоко манипулирани от бившия й съпруг сенатора Прайс, организирал отвличането. Въпреки всичко Ранди се опитва да избяга, но не успява. Само предизвиква гнева на О’Тул и пробужда неподозирана страст у него…
Paperback
Published January 1, 1988
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About the author
Sandra Brown
343 books19.3k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).
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 over thirty languages.
In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown 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.
Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).
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 over thirty languages.
In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.
Brown 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
February 1, 2015
Good enough read. Tough, hero. Spunky, heroine. Cute kid.
"If you want to handle something hard and deadly, Mrs Price, I'll be glad to direct your hand to something just as steely and fully loaded as the pistol."
"What are you thinking about?"
"My life, my mother, my father, ... my grandfather. The Irishman who took an Indian girl for his wife and left me with those anglo eyes."
February 8, 2017
Lol. Uber cheesy. But still good.
April 24, 2017
Weak heroine. Scumbag hero. Spawn of Satan child.
I'm usually good with children in books (although I prefer not to have them) but I swear to god, I wanted to fly-kick Scott 90% of the time. 6 years old or not, I hated how his loyalties changed from his loving mother to his kidnappers. He fought tooth and nail whenever Miranda tried to escape with him because he just loved it there so much. He also liked to abandon his mum and compare her to other women ("Ernie's wife makes better biscuits than you!"). Fuck you too, kiddo.
As for Hawk, he was a pig and a hypocrite. He kept calling Miranda a slut and repeated how many men she slept with (based on a slandering newspaper article written by her scumbag ex-husband), yet he was the "different woman every night" type. He also kept saying how weak she was and how she would willingly fuck anything that moved, yet he was the one who kept touching/kissing/fondling/grinding against her. She always said no so it was sexual harassment. But no, it was all Miranda's fault for making him horny with her good looks and obviously she owed it to him to do something about that. He also kept assuming she was racist for not liking his hands on her body. Yeah Hawk, the reason she didn't want you feeling her up without her permission was because you have dark skin and it offended her "Anglo sensibilities". Plus she was a slut, so technically he had a right to touch her any way he wanted to. It's not rape if it's given freely to others anyway!!
He also called Scott a "sissy" for not knowing how to survive in the wilderness/gut fish/ride a horse/shoot a gun by the age of 6. SIX. Fuck off.
And when Miranda told Scott they were playing a game so he would go to safety willingly with his own mother (because the little traitor wouldn't have gone otherwise), Hawk treated her like scum and told her "What kind of mother would deceive her child into thinking he was playing a game?".
Are you shitting me?
Hawk kidnapped and held them in less than stellar places, he kept sexually assaulting Miranda and continuously blackmailed her into doing what he wanted by using Scott's safety as leverage. What kind of mother wouldn't do everything to get her child away from a fucking psycho?
Miranda was pathetic. Occasionally she attempted to fight back but she mainly chose to whine and sulk (and lust after Hawk). I hated how she accepted Hawk controlling her son and taking over her role as a parent because clearly being an Indian and in touch with nature, he knew better. I don't have kids but I know if someone even thought about doing that, I would be digging a shallow grave for them in my backyard.
*Godzilla roar*
I'm usually good with children in books (although I prefer not to have them) but I swear to god, I wanted to fly-kick Scott 90% of the time. 6 years old or not, I hated how his loyalties changed from his loving mother to his kidnappers. He fought tooth and nail whenever Miranda tried to escape with him because he just loved it there so much. He also liked to abandon his mum and compare her to other women ("Ernie's wife makes better biscuits than you!"). Fuck you too, kiddo.
As for Hawk, he was a pig and a hypocrite. He kept calling Miranda a slut and repeated how many men she slept with (based on a slandering newspaper article written by her scumbag ex-husband), yet he was the "different woman every night" type. He also kept saying how weak she was and how she would willingly fuck anything that moved, yet he was the one who kept touching/kissing/fondling/grinding against her. She always said no so it was sexual harassment. But no, it was all Miranda's fault for making him horny with her good looks and obviously she owed it to him to do something about that. He also kept assuming she was racist for not liking his hands on her body. Yeah Hawk, the reason she didn't want you feeling her up without her permission was because you have dark skin and it offended her "Anglo sensibilities". Plus she was a slut, so technically he had a right to touch her any way he wanted to. It's not rape if it's given freely to others anyway!!
He also called Scott a "sissy" for not knowing how to survive in the wilderness/gut fish/ride a horse/shoot a gun by the age of 6. SIX. Fuck off.
And when Miranda told Scott they were playing a game so he would go to safety willingly with his own mother (because the little traitor wouldn't have gone otherwise), Hawk treated her like scum and told her "What kind of mother would deceive her child into thinking he was playing a game?".
Are you shitting me?
Hawk kidnapped and held them in less than stellar places, he kept sexually assaulting Miranda and continuously blackmailed her into doing what he wanted by using Scott's safety as leverage. What kind of mother wouldn't do everything to get her child away from a fucking psycho?
Miranda was pathetic. Occasionally she attempted to fight back but she mainly chose to whine and sulk (and lust after Hawk). I hated how she accepted Hawk controlling her son and taking over her role as a parent because clearly being an Indian and in touch with nature, he knew better. I don't have kids but I know if someone even thought about doing that, I would be digging a shallow grave for them in my backyard.
*Godzilla roar*
August 26, 2010
This book was awesome!
1 – Seriously, did you get a load of the title? Look at it again. Say it three times in a row. Out loud.
2 – This is a Native American-kidnaps-a-white-woman-romance. And it’s contemporary. Seriously?!?!? Seriously!!!!
The hero of the story, Hawk O’Toole, was a d-bag and the heroine, Miranda “Randy” Price, was generic and whiny. Except for that, I’d have been seriously tempted to give the book four stars for humor reasons alone. The main thing that saved the story from the unlikable characters was the fact that I never thought I’d read a Native American kidnap romance that was set in the modern day. I found that surprising and hilarious!
Hawk O’Toole is a chief in his tribe and he kidnaps Miranda Price, the ex-wife of a local politician and her young son in an attempt to force the reopening of a mine that his people need to work in order to support themselves. She doesn’t like him because he kidnapped her. He doesn’t like her because she’s white. So it sucks for them when sexual chemistry comes a-knockin’.
Endearing and Meaningful Facts About Randy:
--She has green eyes.
--She doesn’t leech off her ex-husband.
--She takes her son on sightseeing train tours.
Endearing and Meaningful Facts About Hawk:
--He has blue eyes because one of his long ago ancestors was an Irishman who married an Indian Girl after surviving the American Civil War.
--Scott, Randy’s son, and Hawk go out to pee in the woods together and Scott sees O’Toole’s tool. Scott dutifully reports back to Randy that Hawk’s manhood is way bigger than daddy’s.
--Hawk isn’t afraid to drink breast milk.
In the end, Randy saves the day and everything is tied up with a neat, tidy bow. Then they all live happily ever after on the reservation.
1 – Seriously, did you get a load of the title? Look at it again. Say it three times in a row. Out loud.
2 – This is a Native American-kidnaps-a-white-woman-romance. And it’s contemporary. Seriously?!?!? Seriously!!!!
The hero of the story, Hawk O’Toole, was a d-bag and the heroine, Miranda “Randy” Price, was generic and whiny. Except for that, I’d have been seriously tempted to give the book four stars for humor reasons alone. The main thing that saved the story from the unlikable characters was the fact that I never thought I’d read a Native American kidnap romance that was set in the modern day. I found that surprising and hilarious!
Hawk O’Toole is a chief in his tribe and he kidnaps Miranda Price, the ex-wife of a local politician and her young son in an attempt to force the reopening of a mine that his people need to work in order to support themselves. She doesn’t like him because he kidnapped her. He doesn’t like her because she’s white. So it sucks for them when sexual chemistry comes a-knockin’.
Endearing and Meaningful Facts About Randy:
--She has green eyes.
--She doesn’t leech off her ex-husband.
--She takes her son on sightseeing train tours.
Endearing and Meaningful Facts About Hawk:
--He has blue eyes because one of his long ago ancestors was an Irishman who married an Indian Girl after surviving the American Civil War.
--Scott, Randy’s son, and Hawk go out to pee in the woods together and Scott sees O’Toole’s tool. Scott dutifully reports back to Randy that Hawk’s manhood is way bigger than daddy’s.
--Hawk isn’t afraid to drink breast milk.
In the end, Randy saves the day and everything is tied up with a neat, tidy bow. Then they all live happily ever after on the reservation.
January 23, 2012
Awful. An angry Native American activist named Hawk kidnaps a child (and inadvertently, the child's mother) to make a statement about conditions on the reservation. He treats the woman horribly. He's physically, emotionally, verbally and sexually abusive, stopping just short of rape. He treats the child well, thank goodness. At the end of this, we're suppose to be convinced she comes to admire him and stand up for him. We're also suppose believe the governor of the state would listen to the woman during an armed stand-off and give a full pardon to Hawk's actions.
Published in 1988, but even that doesn't excuse the excesses of the plot. Can I just say it again? Awful. :::shudders:::
Published in 1988, but even that doesn't excuse the excesses of the plot. Can I just say it again? Awful. :::shudders:::
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2011
Horrible! Kidnapped woman is treated like garbage, he calls her a slut, insults her motherhood and subjects her to even more mental cruelty, ok, that's all to be expected...but wait.... she can't wait to "make a passionate love to him" what a joke!
April 4, 2019
An earlier Sandra Brown published under the Loveswept brand in the 80's.
Even taking into account the time it was written the slut shaming by the hero (and of course she wasn't anyway) and the insta lust/love Stockholm Syndrome plot line was just too much for me in this one.
Even taking into account the time it was written the slut shaming by the hero (and of course she wasn't anyway) and the insta lust/love Stockholm Syndrome plot line was just too much for me in this one.
March 3, 2012
Ok, so I loved Honor Bound. This is just... plain stupid. It's wrong on so many levels. A second-hand try. Complete waste of effort. It feels like it was hastily started, and even more hastily finished.
The second star goes solely to Hawk's member. That says it all.
The second star goes solely to Hawk's member. That says it all.
February 13, 2009
Ohkay so it's a classic and the guy tends to be pushy. And the whole Stockholm syndrome thing. I despise the male protagonist for being pushy and condescending. And I find it hard to sympathize with the female protagonist who lets the guy push her around.
August 18, 2009
Loved this book...read it in one night!
June 16, 2020
Just one word. Stupid.
June 10, 2024
I bought this from a secondhand book sale for 50p because I wanted something ridiculous and over-the-top. That’s what I got. It’s definitely of it’s time and, objectively, the story isn’t good and the writing has lots of issues. This was first published in 1988 and this copy is a reissue from 1997 and the language, as you might expect, is very much outdated in parts.
But it was an easy read. Completely ridiculous, but I couldn’t stop reading it. I didn’t really buy the romance and the pacing is far too fast but it kept me entertained for the 1 ½ hours it took me to read it.
Content Notes: Hate-to-love, forced proximity.
Warnings:
Other: .
But it was an easy read. Completely ridiculous, but I couldn’t stop reading it. I didn’t really buy the romance and the pacing is far too fast but it kept me entertained for the 1 ½ hours it took me to read it.
Content Notes: Hate-to-love, forced proximity.
Warnings:
Other: .
December 15, 2021
O poveste tipica Sandra, frumoasa, dar totusi i-a lipsit ceva.... "indragosteala" lor e pusa in planul secund, cam lipsita de detalii. Povestea e concentrata pe cum se poarta Hawk cu Randy, pe consecintele pe care trebuie sa le suporte si apoi dupa o cearta pac! se love-love si devin amanti fara planuri, fara discutii, fara nimic.
Desi Hawk nu e in totalitate indian, e totusi sef de trib, un barbat dur care lupta sa pt supravietuirea tribului si mai exact pt redeschiderea minei de argint Puma- singuratica. Pt a ajunge problema la guvernator, Hawk face o intelegere cu politicianul Morton Price si pun la cale rapirea fiului acestuia, doar ca mama copilului Randy se opune cu toate fortele ei răpirii si asa ajunge sa fie si ea luata ostatica. Copilul e in afara oricarui pericol si chiar vede totul ca pe o vacanta, dar Randy fiind mereu gata sa caute o solutie de fuga e lasata sa flamanzeasca, legata si jignita de catre Hawk cu fiecare ocazie in care el nu se poate abtine sa nu o sarute. O doreste, dar crede ca e o adulterina si tot ce a mai zis fostul ei sot despre ea plus ca e alba.
Cu tot comportamentul lui jignitor si toate cate indura, Randy se transforma in foc lichid de cate ori o atige🙈 Se indragosteste de rapitorul ei si al fiului sau, dar acesta e posibil sa ajunga la inchidoare in urma acestei actiuni....
⭐⭐⭐
Desi Hawk nu e in totalitate indian, e totusi sef de trib, un barbat dur care lupta sa pt supravietuirea tribului si mai exact pt redeschiderea minei de argint Puma- singuratica. Pt a ajunge problema la guvernator, Hawk face o intelegere cu politicianul Morton Price si pun la cale rapirea fiului acestuia, doar ca mama copilului Randy se opune cu toate fortele ei răpirii si asa ajunge sa fie si ea luata ostatica. Copilul e in afara oricarui pericol si chiar vede totul ca pe o vacanta, dar Randy fiind mereu gata sa caute o solutie de fuga e lasata sa flamanzeasca, legata si jignita de catre Hawk cu fiecare ocazie in care el nu se poate abtine sa nu o sarute. O doreste, dar crede ca e o adulterina si tot ce a mai zis fostul ei sot despre ea plus ca e alba.
Cu tot comportamentul lui jignitor si toate cate indura, Randy se transforma in foc lichid de cate ori o atige🙈 Se indragosteste de rapitorul ei si al fiului sau, dar acesta e posibil sa ajunga la inchidoare in urma acestei actiuni....
⭐⭐⭐
October 18, 2025
Good writing, shitty characters. Weak heroine, Hawk is a d$, and most men in this book can f right off. Ugh!
TW: Sexual assault, kidnapping, child endangerment and some language.
TW: Sexual assault, kidnapping, child endangerment and some language.
September 29, 2016
Lowest review I have ever gave a book and I really love Sandra Brown. I do not find anything romantic about abuse, tying someone up to keep them as a hostage, physically hurting them, emotional hurting them, keeping their child away from them as a punishment. Hawk is a horrible man to Miranda and just because he is good to everyone else doesn't make it okay. I realize it a book and I was even fine with the kidnapping of Miranda and her son but the rest was really horrible. And she falls in love with him, HOW?
June 3, 2017
One of Sandra Brown's earlier books, originally published under the Loveswept romance line. Miranda Price and her son are kidnapped by a group led by Hawk O'Toole. Stockholm Syndrome? Maybe.
Anyway, it was fine for what it was. Hawk was a bit rougher than I'd prefer but this was written in the 80s and that's how the alpha men were normally written back in the day.
Anyway, it was fine for what it was. Hawk was a bit rougher than I'd prefer but this was written in the 80s and that's how the alpha men were normally written back in the day.
June 14, 2014
4 Stars
In my opinion Sandra Brown it's in a class by her self and with each book she proves why she is so known and why she is one of the best. I loved Hawk O'Toole's Hostage and re read so many times and i just can't get enough.
In my opinion Sandra Brown it's in a class by her self and with each book she proves why she is so known and why she is one of the best. I loved Hawk O'Toole's Hostage and re read so many times and i just can't get enough.
July 30, 2018
i cant believe it has 3+ stars, he abused manhandles and ridiculed her and nowhere in the story does he even apologize for his error or treatment yet she gives herself to him and stays on afterwards without even a promise from him. 1 star not even good enough. definitely not down my alley
June 16, 2010
fav book
recheck-em
January 23, 2020The way the H behaves with the h is so horrible.
This review says it all.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This review says it all.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 13, 2020
You cannot fall in love with a man that treats you like that and calls you names. It is just wrong.
August 29, 2022
Update:
45%...
Holy Stockholm Syndrome Batman!
This thing is... pretty offensive on a lot of levels. We have racism from both leads, misogyny from the MMC, weird intrusive parenting from the MMC, who is (and this cannot be stressed hard enough) a kidnaper, and the FMC is a bit of a "Smother" -- although not as bad as the book wants us to believe (I'm not a parent, but I don't think it's all that strange to not want your six-year-old to be messing with knives or taught to ride a horse when a near-stranger puts him on it and smacks the horse on the rump).
Currently, the MMC is lecturing the FMC on how her 6-year-old son doesn't really love her, he just relies on her for food and comfort, but eventually, he's going to want sex and he won't give two shits about her anymore. I mean, not only is this whole lecture misogynistic, but thinking about how a 6-year-old is someday going to have sex (and yes, I'm aware that most 6-year-olds eventually do grow up and have sex -- it just feels gross to type that out, guys) is just weird to me. It's like that time my boss had a baby and when she came home from the hospital with the infant in one of those vibrating chairs, the husband made a joke about how that was his brand new daughter's "first vibrator." (He's in jail now, btw.)
I'm not DNF-ing (yet), but seriously, yeah, I definitely understand the other reviews saying they understand why this hasn't been re-released. So far, it isn't even a guilty pleasure. I just feel kind of... uncomfortable.
100% done:
Yeah, not a win for me. I am discovering that I like gamma heroes, but with the caveat I have to like something about them. I don't think SB understood his characterization other than "angry Native American." All Hawk did throughout the book was call Randi a whore and paw at her, while simultaneously insulting her parenting. There were no get-to-know-you moments in the meantime where I felt like he was anything but an 80s macho-man stereotype. And then suddenly they're having sex and I get that Randi liked him at that point, but I sure still didn't.
Also, regarding the kidnaping-as-a-way-to-get-something-done-politically, has that ever worked? Like, has anyone ever captured a child so that a politician will enact a change, and once the child comes back safe and sound, was that change ever completed? I mean it doesn't work with the way our governmental system works? At best, even if the politician drafts the bill, the rest of the representatives expected to vote to pass that law are going to give that politician the side-eye and say no way because he was coerced because his kid was kidnaped. The whole scheme honestly made Hawk seem... pretty dumb. Or at least someone who was ignorant of how the government worked. (Also I need more information about how that mine was sold from a small Native American tribe to a corporation -- especially not by one guy without any input from the rest of the tribe. Is that a thing that can happen? If the land is on a reservation, I thought that land was federally protected and can't be sold.)
I'm pretty sure I own this paperback somewhere but since this was an audiobook, I'm adding this both to my library shelves and my own shelves. I'm going to rate the audio at three stars. He was competent, but the narrator didn't really have different voices for anyone other than the little kid. And in addition, he just never sucked me into the story. I really found myself wishing that Morgan Fairchild could have done the whole thing instead of an abridged version. I really liked her narration, crappy sound quality and all.
Original review:
Going to return the Audible for credit when I can. Morgan Fairchild is and always has been amazing...
(^^^ She's probably a nightmare in real life, and if she is, I don't want to know, because ever since I was a kid, I've freaking LOVED her!)
... but despite Morgan's eternal awesomeness at reading it (and actually, I was really loving her narration), the audio quality of this book is tinny and sounds like it's coming from far away. I would have overlooked that if the book wasn't abridged. That's right, this audiobook was freaking abridged, something that should only be allowed if your name is S. Morgenstern. I feel like "abridged" books should have that word in the title to make it easier to figure out that you're only getting a partial book.
I did some Library Fu and discovered that there was another audiobook in 2015, with a male narrator (which is pretty disappointing because I would have loved a full Morgan version) that is available on Hoopla, so I'm going to give that a shot.
45%...
Holy Stockholm Syndrome Batman!
This thing is... pretty offensive on a lot of levels. We have racism from both leads, misogyny from the MMC, weird intrusive parenting from the MMC, who is (and this cannot be stressed hard enough) a kidnaper, and the FMC is a bit of a "Smother" -- although not as bad as the book wants us to believe (I'm not a parent, but I don't think it's all that strange to not want your six-year-old to be messing with knives or taught to ride a horse when a near-stranger puts him on it and smacks the horse on the rump).
Currently, the MMC is lecturing the FMC on how her 6-year-old son doesn't really love her, he just relies on her for food and comfort, but eventually, he's going to want sex and he won't give two shits about her anymore. I mean, not only is this whole lecture misogynistic, but thinking about how a 6-year-old is someday going to have sex (and yes, I'm aware that most 6-year-olds eventually do grow up and have sex -- it just feels gross to type that out, guys) is just weird to me. It's like that time my boss had a baby and when she came home from the hospital with the infant in one of those vibrating chairs, the husband made a joke about how that was his brand new daughter's "first vibrator." (He's in jail now, btw.)
I'm not DNF-ing (yet), but seriously, yeah, I definitely understand the other reviews saying they understand why this hasn't been re-released. So far, it isn't even a guilty pleasure. I just feel kind of... uncomfortable.
100% done:
Yeah, not a win for me. I am discovering that I like gamma heroes, but with the caveat I have to like something about them. I don't think SB understood his characterization other than "angry Native American." All Hawk did throughout the book was call Randi a whore and paw at her, while simultaneously insulting her parenting. There were no get-to-know-you moments in the meantime where I felt like he was anything but an 80s macho-man stereotype. And then suddenly they're having sex and I get that Randi liked him at that point, but I sure still didn't.
Also, regarding the kidnaping-as-a-way-to-get-something-done-politically, has that ever worked? Like, has anyone ever captured a child so that a politician will enact a change, and once the child comes back safe and sound, was that change ever completed? I mean it doesn't work with the way our governmental system works? At best, even if the politician drafts the bill, the rest of the representatives expected to vote to pass that law are going to give that politician the side-eye and say no way because he was coerced because his kid was kidnaped. The whole scheme honestly made Hawk seem... pretty dumb. Or at least someone who was ignorant of how the government worked. (Also I need more information about how that mine was sold from a small Native American tribe to a corporation -- especially not by one guy without any input from the rest of the tribe. Is that a thing that can happen? If the land is on a reservation, I thought that land was federally protected and can't be sold.)
I'm pretty sure I own this paperback somewhere but since this was an audiobook, I'm adding this both to my library shelves and my own shelves. I'm going to rate the audio at three stars. He was competent, but the narrator didn't really have different voices for anyone other than the little kid. And in addition, he just never sucked me into the story. I really found myself wishing that Morgan Fairchild could have done the whole thing instead of an abridged version. I really liked her narration, crappy sound quality and all.
Original review:
Going to return the Audible for credit when I can. Morgan Fairchild is and always has been amazing...
(^^^ She's probably a nightmare in real life, and if she is, I don't want to know, because ever since I was a kid, I've freaking LOVED her!)
... but despite Morgan's eternal awesomeness at reading it (and actually, I was really loving her narration), the audio quality of this book is tinny and sounds like it's coming from far away. I would have overlooked that if the book wasn't abridged. That's right, this audiobook was freaking abridged, something that should only be allowed if your name is S. Morgenstern. I feel like "abridged" books should have that word in the title to make it easier to figure out that you're only getting a partial book.
I did some Library Fu and discovered that there was another audiobook in 2015, with a male narrator (which is pretty disappointing because I would have loved a full Morgan version) that is available on Hoopla, so I'm going to give that a shot.
January 4, 2025
Hawk O'Toole's Hostage opens with a band of outlaws storming a train. In today’s world, such an event would likely be dismissed as a staged act or a hoax. With passengers letting their guard down, the captors easily carry out their kidnapping.
This is my first read featuring a mix of steamy scenes and a growing connection between the captor and a woman who intervenes to protect her son. While the kidnapping is driven by a noble cause, the romance gradually leans into cheesiness, rooted in hostility and resentment. It’s an example of flawed characters navigating an impossible love situation that challenges readers to question their decisions. While not the first story to provoke such ridicule or reflection, it remains an okay and quick read.
This is my first read featuring a mix of steamy scenes and a growing connection between the captor and a woman who intervenes to protect her son. While the kidnapping is driven by a noble cause, the romance gradually leans into cheesiness, rooted in hostility and resentment. It’s an example of flawed characters navigating an impossible love situation that challenges readers to question their decisions. While not the first story to provoke such ridicule or reflection, it remains an okay and quick read.
November 30, 2025
2.5 stars
Definitely a product of its time (1997). I thought it was interesting that it was a contemporary take on the abducted women by a Native American tribe. But I never completely warmed up to Hawk. I thought he took too much control of her son from her. I wanted to like them more but I just don't think they really connected with each other. Hawk was a bit too sleezy for me. We didn't need to know about all his trips into town...
The conflict also wrapped up way too quick to actually make sense. It left me with more questions than answers.
Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.
Definitely a product of its time (1997). I thought it was interesting that it was a contemporary take on the abducted women by a Native American tribe. But I never completely warmed up to Hawk. I thought he took too much control of her son from her. I wanted to like them more but I just don't think they really connected with each other. Hawk was a bit too sleezy for me. We didn't need to know about all his trips into town...
The conflict also wrapped up way too quick to actually make sense. It left me with more questions than answers.
Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.
March 31, 2018
I’m giving this book four stars simply because I liked it so much. It’s one of Sandra Brown’s early novels. There’s not much of a plot but it’s a warm story about interesting people. Nice fluff.
October 24, 2024
I love Sandra Brown but I must say this isn't 1 of my favorites it was alright
October 15, 2024
Not my typical read, but it was a book club selection. It was cheesy, but overall not too bad.
November 29, 2024
Many Moons Ago = 4 stars
2024 = +1 star for good reread
An oldie and still a goodie!
This romantic suspense is both sexy and satisfying. I was engrossed from start to finish and only wish the happy ending had been a bit longer. Unlike Honor Bound, published two years earlier and a re-read failure, this book is written clearly and concisely.
Similar to the heroes written by Anne Stuart, the hero here is a dark, dangerous alpha male, who's willing to do whatever it takes to complete his mission, even if it means endangering the heroine. Although my Anne Stuart phase is over, my love of this hero-type is not.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Hawk O'Toole, a mining engineer and tribal chief, is determined to correct the mistakes of his late father. In a drunken lapse, his father was tricked into selling the tribe's mine—their primary livelihood—to a group of investors. Due to feelings of guilt and blame, Hawk is driven to make things right at any cost.
His hardened, cold exterior, hides a lonely man with a sad backstory, who's afraid to show any weakness.
Miranda/Randy has suffered because of two selfish men who prioritized themselves and their careers—her late father and her ex-husband. The only real love she's known is from her 6-year-old son, Scott. She works in a land surveyor's office to support them both.
State Rep. Morton Price, Randy's ex-husband, cheated on her during their marriage and ruined her reputation during their divorce by falsely accusing her of infidelity. To secure sole custody of Scott, Randy remained silent and endured the slander.
The story starts with Randy and Scott on a train excursion. Hawk and several tribe members stop the train and kidnap Scott, to use him as ransom to get the mine reopened. Randy refuses to leave his side and is also taken. Hawk treats her roughly for several days—threatening her to make her comply, twice holding a knife at her throat, and kissing & groping her.
Despite being treated cruelly by Hawk—who believes the lies and calls her a slut—Randy is attracted to him. Although Hawk dislikes and distrusts white men, he is drawn to Randy. As they try to resist the growing flames of desire, they eventually succumb to it. There are two, short sex scenes—at the hot springs and then in Hawk's cabin.
Randy makes two unsuccessful attempts to escape, worried for her son's safety. Meanwhile, Scott acts like he's on a fun vacation, fishing & hunting while he stays with Ernie, Leta and their son, Donny.
Randy learns why Hawk took Scott:
How Randy saves the day:
Randy and Hawk share tender moments. Hawk's deep care for his people and the weight of his solitude and sadness is revealed. Randy finally met a man who put others before himself.
The Ending:
The Epilogue:
2024 = +1 star for good reread
An oldie and still a goodie!
This romantic suspense is both sexy and satisfying. I was engrossed from start to finish and only wish the happy ending had been a bit longer. Unlike Honor Bound, published two years earlier and a re-read failure, this book is written clearly and concisely.
Similar to the heroes written by Anne Stuart, the hero here is a dark, dangerous alpha male, who's willing to do whatever it takes to complete his mission, even if it means endangering the heroine. Although my Anne Stuart phase is over, my love of this hero-type is not.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆:
Hawk O'Toole, a mining engineer and tribal chief, is determined to correct the mistakes of his late father. In a drunken lapse, his father was tricked into selling the tribe's mine—their primary livelihood—to a group of investors. Due to feelings of guilt and blame, Hawk is driven to make things right at any cost.
His hardened, cold exterior, hides a lonely man with a sad backstory, who's afraid to show any weakness.
Miranda/Randy has suffered because of two selfish men who prioritized themselves and their careers—her late father and her ex-husband. The only real love she's known is from her 6-year-old son, Scott. She works in a land surveyor's office to support them both.
State Rep. Morton Price, Randy's ex-husband, cheated on her during their marriage and ruined her reputation during their divorce by falsely accusing her of infidelity. To secure sole custody of Scott, Randy remained silent and endured the slander.
The story starts with Randy and Scott on a train excursion. Hawk and several tribe members stop the train and kidnap Scott, to use him as ransom to get the mine reopened. Randy refuses to leave his side and is also taken. Hawk treats her roughly for several days—threatening her to make her comply, twice holding a knife at her throat, and kissing & groping her.
Despite being treated cruelly by Hawk—who believes the lies and calls her a slut—Randy is attracted to him. Although Hawk dislikes and distrusts white men, he is drawn to Randy. As they try to resist the growing flames of desire, they eventually succumb to it. There are two, short sex scenes—at the hot springs and then in Hawk's cabin.
Randy makes two unsuccessful attempts to escape, worried for her son's safety. Meanwhile, Scott acts like he's on a fun vacation, fishing & hunting while he stays with Ernie, Leta and their son, Donny.
Randy learns why Hawk took Scott:
How Randy saves the day:
Randy and Hawk share tender moments. Hawk's deep care for his people and the weight of his solitude and sadness is revealed. Randy finally met a man who put others before himself.
The Ending:
The Epilogue:
Read
September 6, 2017Miranda Price was on vacation with her son when they were taken off the sightseeing train they were riding on with other vacationers. It was first thought to be a hoax but she quickly found out that the Indians were after her son. She refused to let him go so they took her along with them.
Miranda soon found out that her husband had arranged the kidnapping. She told Hawk that it was to increase his popularity with the voters rather than a promise he made to the Indians to use Scott as leverage to get their mine reopened.
Hawk O'Toole was the chief and Ernie was his best friend. Ernie was married to Leta and they had a son Donny. Scott and Donny played together during the time they were with the Indians. Scott was having fun playing with their goat, learning to ride a horse and going fishing. He wasn't afraid of Hawk and liked being with the Indians. Hawk had even given him a knife of his own to use if he ever felt threatened. Scott didn't want to leave and was jealous when he found out Donny was getting a new baby and asked Miranda if they could get one too.
Miranda was attracted to Hawk but not as strongly as he was attracted to her. Hawk read the newspaper reports of Miranda and thought she had cheated repeatedly on her husband but soon found out that wasn't true. He treated her harshly at first as if she had slept around.
Hawk's father had been a drunk and had been swindled by some investors and lost the mine the tribe needed for its livelihood. The mine was closed and it put a lot of the Indians out of work. Hawk felt responsible and wanted to get the mine reopened. He thought with representative Price on his side that he could make that happen. Miranda told him that he was wrong and had been duped. Price just wanted the publicity so Hawk contacted the governor directly and agreed to turn himself in. Miranda had discovered a problem with the deed of the property and the governor agreed to look into it after he turned himself in and released Randy and Scott.
The police arrived after Hawk and Miranda had slept together and Miranda confronted the governor and told him what her ex-husband had done and that he was responsible for her being kidnapped. The governor was furious and released Hawk so he was not taken to jail. Hawk was proud of Miranda for speaking up on his behalf. No one really ever took his side before and loved him enough to stand up for him.
A year later, the mine had been restored to the Indians and Miranda was married to Hawk. She didn't make him leave the reservation so the Indians were slowly learning to accept his marriage to a white woman. Scott was happy to have a new baby brother. Ernie was a little disappointed that Hawk's son was larger than his own.
Miranda soon found out that her husband had arranged the kidnapping. She told Hawk that it was to increase his popularity with the voters rather than a promise he made to the Indians to use Scott as leverage to get their mine reopened.
Hawk O'Toole was the chief and Ernie was his best friend. Ernie was married to Leta and they had a son Donny. Scott and Donny played together during the time they were with the Indians. Scott was having fun playing with their goat, learning to ride a horse and going fishing. He wasn't afraid of Hawk and liked being with the Indians. Hawk had even given him a knife of his own to use if he ever felt threatened. Scott didn't want to leave and was jealous when he found out Donny was getting a new baby and asked Miranda if they could get one too.
Miranda was attracted to Hawk but not as strongly as he was attracted to her. Hawk read the newspaper reports of Miranda and thought she had cheated repeatedly on her husband but soon found out that wasn't true. He treated her harshly at first as if she had slept around.
Hawk's father had been a drunk and had been swindled by some investors and lost the mine the tribe needed for its livelihood. The mine was closed and it put a lot of the Indians out of work. Hawk felt responsible and wanted to get the mine reopened. He thought with representative Price on his side that he could make that happen. Miranda told him that he was wrong and had been duped. Price just wanted the publicity so Hawk contacted the governor directly and agreed to turn himself in. Miranda had discovered a problem with the deed of the property and the governor agreed to look into it after he turned himself in and released Randy and Scott.
The police arrived after Hawk and Miranda had slept together and Miranda confronted the governor and told him what her ex-husband had done and that he was responsible for her being kidnapped. The governor was furious and released Hawk so he was not taken to jail. Hawk was proud of Miranda for speaking up on his behalf. No one really ever took his side before and loved him enough to stand up for him.
A year later, the mine had been restored to the Indians and Miranda was married to Hawk. She didn't make him leave the reservation so the Indians were slowly learning to accept his marriage to a white woman. Scott was happy to have a new baby brother. Ernie was a little disappointed that Hawk's son was larger than his own.
May 21, 2015
A paixão inesperada entre uma refém e o seu sequestrador. Apesar do tema polêmico Sandra Brown conseguiu me prender nesta trama.
Uma mulher tem seu filho sequestrado e no desespero luta com todas suas forças para manter seu filho com ela, mas perde e é forçada a ir junto com um bando de descendentes índios para sua reserva. O chefe do bando descendente de indio com branco Hawk O'Toole deseja apenas que a mina do qual sua tribo depende seja reativada e por isso para chamar a atenção do governo num ato de desespero sequestra o filho de Miranda e do ex-marido dela, Price - um representante do governo. Mas por trás deste sequestro há bem mais coisas que poderão vir á tona.
Hawk sempre foi discriminado por todos e sempre lutou para uma vida melhor por seu povo. Então, ao conhecer Miranda se sente atraído por ela, e a julga uma mulher aventureira que traía o marido e se ressente da enorme atração que sente por ela, pois sabe que uma relação desigual como a deles (entre um descendente indigena e uma mulher branca) nunca dará certo. E não se permite se apaixonar e entregar-se a este amor avassalador.
Mas Miranda conhece e sabe como usar as armas para ganhar essa luta para que o amor triunfe enfim.
Um romance envolvente onde as diferenças são aos poucos derrubadas para que o amor possa triunfar.
Uma mulher tem seu filho sequestrado e no desespero luta com todas suas forças para manter seu filho com ela, mas perde e é forçada a ir junto com um bando de descendentes índios para sua reserva. O chefe do bando descendente de indio com branco Hawk O'Toole deseja apenas que a mina do qual sua tribo depende seja reativada e por isso para chamar a atenção do governo num ato de desespero sequestra o filho de Miranda e do ex-marido dela, Price - um representante do governo. Mas por trás deste sequestro há bem mais coisas que poderão vir á tona.
Hawk sempre foi discriminado por todos e sempre lutou para uma vida melhor por seu povo. Então, ao conhecer Miranda se sente atraído por ela, e a julga uma mulher aventureira que traía o marido e se ressente da enorme atração que sente por ela, pois sabe que uma relação desigual como a deles (entre um descendente indigena e uma mulher branca) nunca dará certo. E não se permite se apaixonar e entregar-se a este amor avassalador.
Mas Miranda conhece e sabe como usar as armas para ganhar essa luta para que o amor triunfe enfim.
Um romance envolvente onde as diferenças são aos poucos derrubadas para que o amor possa triunfar.
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