UC_Held Hostage: The True Story of a Mother and Daughter's Kidnapping

by Michelle Renee

The true-crime shocker no one would believe-if it hadn't really happened.

Kidnapped by intruders, bank vice president Michelle Renee and her young daughter are taped with explosives and given an ultimatum: rob her own bank or she and her daughter will be blown to bits. But when authorities suspect the young mother herself of orchestrating the crime, Michelle's nightmare really begins.

Genres: True Crime, Crime

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2006

About the author

A teen runaway who escaped a violent, traumatic childhood, Michelle beat the odds when she rose up from being a part-time bank teller to a respected Regional Sales Manager, Vice President, and Branch Manager in her 13-year career. A violent home invasion kidnapping, hostage, and bank robbery crime carried out against Michelle and her daughter ended her career. After retreating to Alaska to heal, and prepare to endure the criminal trials of their attackers, Michelle earned a degree in Mass Media Communication.

She launched VERB Media Group in 2009. Michelle closed VERB’s doors in 2012 following her daughter’s MS diagnosis to become her full-time caregiver. During that time Michelle began to study video production, digital marketing, and social media for business. With her lifelong passion for creative storytelling, VERB relaunched in 2014 as a video, photo, and podcast production agency focused on compelling event and video podcast content. Today VERB is a thriving boutique agency.

Reviews

[Alivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Held Hostage by Michelle Renee is a novel based on a true story. This novel is about the suffrage her daughter and herself went through. Renee, along with her daughter were kidnapped, in which she was put into situations in which her decisions became crucial matter in survival. Renee is faced with a difficult choice, Renee must rob the bank she manages or be blown to pieces by her captor. After robbing the bank in order to survive she and her daughter had to endure an even worse nightmare than before. Renee makes her nightmare come to life with details that allow the reader to feel that the reader is right there with Renee and her daughter. The purpose of this novel was to inform the readers of her story and to prove that when it truly matters our survival instincts take over. The Theme of this novel is that sometimes in life one must sacrifice a little to receive the bigger and better outcome. The novel is written in chronological order, making the novel easier to understand when and where the novel took place. The author, Michelle Renee really grabbed my attention with suspenseful scenes. She left me gripping my book and anxious. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves suspense! The only thing I did not like about this book was when I turned to the last page bringing what I felt was my own journey to a close.

[Kati Clendening · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and terrifying look into violent crime and our justice system. Well written, thought provoking book.

[Stacey Kimery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m confused as to why this book is literally impossible to get your hands on? Help?

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Based on a true story, the kidnapping of a bank vp and her daughter, I was immediately drawn to the story (even though the idea scares me to no end). But unfortunately the story I was hoping for and the story that I got were very different. The book was actually very little about the crime with even less about their lives before hand and so much more about the trial, and the aftermath of their ordeal. I found the writing repetitious and also felt that their wasn't very much cohesion to the story itself - as though to much was trying to be added just to fill pages.
I did give it a two star rating - only because I did push myself to finish it - however if not for a book club I would have put it down unfinished and given it a one.

[Mel Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I applaud the author for sharing such a tragic experience and even more so for the good that she has done since. Turning her bad experience into something that is making a difference for others is truly heroic. The story writing did leave me with questions and there did seem to be holes that I would like to know. I appreciated understanding how the judicial system worked/failed in her case and how she fared through it. Kudos to her and her new efforts to help other victims.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though the crime that was committed is unthinkable - this story didn't catch my attention. The flow of the story was a little choppy making it hard to focus on the story itself. I think the real heart of the story was lost when the author ventured off onto other topics of her personal recoveries that didn't necessarily connect to the kidnapping and robbery.

[Courtney (Life as a Convert) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew I would not be giving this story a 5 star rating when I had only read a few chapters in and already finish the whole "hostage" part of the story. A lot of information in this book could have been left out.

[Hema Khadun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel for the victims. Thank you for sharing your experience. Being at peace with what happened is what will really help you go through. It's an excellent book vividly described. May you and your daughter continue helping others!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but I think it talked alot more about her past than the actual violent crime she was a victim of.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful stuff, unhappy life, story seemed to go on longer than necessary. Non-fiction actual events, yet I couldn't relate to the author or the story - all seemed too dysfunctional.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

re reading it.