Product 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #265882 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 480 pages

From Publishers Weekly
At the start of this scintillating slice of romantic suspense from prolific bestseller Roberts (Sweet Revenge), Lt. Phoebe MacNamara, the chief hostage negotiator for the Savannah, Ga., PD, meets Duncan Swift, a sports bar owner, as they both try to prevent a suicidal bartender Duncan fired from jumping off a roof on St. Patrick's Day. In the aftermath, a romance develops between Phoebe and Duncan, though in typical Roberts style the enigmatic Phoebe's devotion to career and family, who include a young daughter and an agoraphobic mother, creates tension in their relationship. After Phoebe survives a vicious attack within her own precinct house by an unknown assailant, it becomes clear that someone is intent on harming Phoebe and those close to her. A courageous protagonist, deft plotting and the sultry Savannah backdrop all add up to another winner for consummate storyteller Roberts. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Savannah-Chatham police lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara is one of the best hostage negotiators in the business, and her latest mission involves talking down a suicidal jumper from a building owned by Duncan Smith. Impressed by her cool, courageous actions and intrigued by the sexy woman herself, Duncan charms Phoebe into meeting him for a drink. As a single mother with family demands and a career woman working in a testosterone-dominated field, Phoebe doesn't think there is any time in her busy schedule for romance, but all of her famed negotiating skills can't convince Duncan to give up on a chance for a future with her. When Phoebe becomes the target of a psychopathic killer out to destroy her professionally and personally, Duncan turns out to be just the person Phoebe wants by her side. The always reliable Roberts continues to find new and clever ways to flawlessly fuse thrilling suspense and sexy romance into captivating stories. High Noon will enthrall readers with its irresistible combination of superbly crafted characters and a danger-rich plot. Charles, John
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
Nora Roberts is the number-one New York Times-bestselling author of more than 150 novels, including Northern Lights, Birthright, Chesapeake Blue, Three Fates, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. Roberts has more than 280 million copies of her books in print.

Customer Reviews

"I Do Not Know What Fate Awaits Me"
Phoebe MacNamara's life was irrevocably changed as a young girl when she was forced to make some pretty tough decisions, life and death decisions concerning her small brother and mother. Years later those decisions help shape her into the woman she is and the career she has. After a brief stint with the FBI Phoebe came home to Savannah and the local police department and is now a Lieutenant and the top hostage negotiator.

When the fiery red headed Lt. walks onto the scene of a jumper, Duncan Swift has several thoughts about the woman in charge, all making him to want to know more about the sexy woman with a badge.

The chemistry between Duncan and Phoebe is more subtle than usual; there is a mutual attraction at first then it slowly builds, with a more natural and realistic progression. Phoebe is a single mom and has her reservations, having been burned a time or two in the past. Duncan is confident, persistent and utterly charming. Their relationship kicks up a notch after Phoebe is attacked. After the attack, Phoebe starts receiving strange offerings at her doorstep and soon discovers someone is out to harm her and those she loves.... And so the mystery begins.

At first I thought Phoebe was going to be another ultra independent, cool, detached heroine, like Eve Dallas. But Nora ended up writing a tough woman with a soft heart. Duncan was a loveable hero who didn't take any crap from the heroine. The side characters were just as intriguing. Phoebe is surrounded by tremendous family with a lot of personality; Duncan has a family built of friends.

I gave it the 4 star rating because the conclusion seemed a little rushed and left a few loose ends. Also the book didn't flow like I am used to with a Nora read, on this rare occasion I could actually set this book down and come back to it. The book was good it just lacked the usual pull her reads typically generate for me. The mystery portion was excellent. I really thought I knew who was behind the terror... Huh, foiled again! What I love about a Nora book is that you are guaranteed an enjoyable read, she never disappoints. I was thoroughly entertained and it leaves me completely satisfied while waiting for the next Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb tale.

Not her best
I waited a week to write a review. Mostly because my review differs so much from all the others. But I read Linda Howard's latest and Julia Quinn's latest and Cherry Adair's latest since reading this one and they all are so great (5 stars each) and better than this one. I love Nora Roberts books. I have read nearly all, I believe. I love the In Death series also. What stands out for me in a typical Nora Roberts book is the fantastic painting of the scenery. Also the great characterizations and relationships. I felt this book lacked in those areas. The h/h just seemed to be thrown together, their relationship less personal for the reader. I liked the secondary characters almost better than the main characters. What I did really like, though, was the ending (here I also differ). It was suspenseful and nail-biting.

Now, for the reason I gave it only 3 stars. Nora Roberts, of late, has taken to writing her characters speaking in incomplete sentences. For instance, instead of something like, "that will never happen", she would write, "never'll happen". This book was so riddled with that kind of dialogue, practically the whole town of Savannah spoke that way. People don't naturally speak that way. I could believe one or even two characters speaking that way but not constantly. But this was throughout the whole book. It is annoying and very distracting. It makes the characters sound tough, or too cool for the reader. I thought of Eve Dallas whenever Pheobe would speak. I thought of Eve whenever Liz would speak. Heck, I thought of Eve whenever Duncan would speak. Catch my drift? If this is a writing gimick that is supposed to be the hot new thing, then I am disappointed to say the least. I wish Nora Roberts would just write the same great way she has always without this new gimick.

High Noon
Phoebe MacNamara is a a hostage negotiator for the police department in Savannah. While she works to help a young bartender who is determined to end his life, she meets his former boss Duncan Swift. As they work together to save a life, sparks fly between Phoebe and Duncan. Duncan is living the dream many would envy. He is very wealthy, but Duncan didn't inherit it or earn it, he actually won the lottery.

As Duncan pursues Phoebe, he learns the reasons she doesn't want to get involved with anyone. She has an ex-husband that has dropped out of her daughter's life, and a mother that is home bound by choice. As Duncan invades Phoebe's life, she learns he really is fond of both her mother and daughter.

When she is targeted and terrorized, Phoebe must solve the mystery behind it before her family or Duncan are lost to her.

What a good read! The characters are well written, and the story is wonderful. I haven't read many stories about hostage negotiators, and I learned a lot. It was a little more violent than I am used to, but it was important to the story.