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Book Review of Deadline

Deadline
23dollars avatar reviewed on + 432 more book reviews


My very first adult novel was a Sandra Brown romance called TEXAS CHASE. I was 12 years old at the time and I haven't been without a book in my hand since! I've also been a faithful Sandra Brown reader since then. I really enjoyed BREATH OF SCANDAL, THE WITNESS, EXCLUSIVE and a more recent book of hers, RAINWATER.

The trouble now is that for me her writing feels sophomoric and I think I've just outgrown Sandra Brown.

DEADLINE has a high-quality opening, establishing the plot with an engaging shoot-out that took place in 1976. I was drawn into the story right away. I had to know what happened with the outlaws; but the execution of the plot proved a huge disappointment. It just didn't match the caliber of the openingat. all. It's as if one writer wrote the opening chapters but another less capable one took over from there.

Despite a couple of clever plot twists I didn't see coming, the overall execution was wrought with gimmicks and suffered under a "spoon-feeding-the-reader" writing style. Moreover, there was very little chemistry between the leads, Ameila and Dawson.

I give this one a C+ and I'm sad to say that I think it'll have to be my last Sandra Brown novel. I think higher quality writers like Patricia MacDonald do this genre more justice and Sandra Brown should stick to writing stories like RAINWATER, where her writing abilities truly shine!