Let me just sum it up for you: not awful, but not great either. The premise sounded interesting, but the substance was a bit of a let down. The team that the protagonists worked with were touted as being the best of the best, yet they let their own preconceptions keep them from figuring some rather obvious things out. There was a twist at the end, but I wasn’t as surprised as the author probably expected me to be.
The dialogue had moments where it flowed and was well done, but there were also a number of places where I felt like I was watching whats-her-name on Bones: things got a bit stilted and monotone. And the action scenes could definitely benefit from a good polish: they tended to be either so fast you miss that something happened or so awkward you wonder how anything did happen.
The protagonists drove me a bit nuts with their inabilities to see past their own problems, especially Taylor. Taylor is more than willing to think the best of her witnesses — people who have proven their lack of trustworthiness by their actions which led them to be in WITSEC in the first place — yet she constantly judges Sean and others for their actions and gets her feelings so easily hurt, I can’t imagine her being in law enforcement. Sean can’t stand people who lie and expects everyone around him to fit a mold he has dreamed up for them, but is very good at doing his own thing and keeping his own secrets, no matter how it will affect his team, even though he is supposed to be leading the investigation. It was so blatantly obvious that they would *not a very big spoiler alert* end up together, but I seriously don’t think they should have. They are both train wrecks. Maybe the next book in the series will show some true character growth, but I doubt I’ll read it to find out.
Overall, if you want a relatively quick read and don’t care about details too much, feel free to grab this one. It was an okay read, but I have definitely read better books. Bummer.
Thanks to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for this ebook for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

HIGH ANXIETY!!

If you’re looking for a great Romantic Suspense author, Susan Sleeman never disappoints! Her latest release, SECONDS TO LIVE, is is a prime example of that statement. One look at the bold cover design let’s you know this new series is going to be dynamic! My first thought was: BOND, Jane Bond.

Individuals who are brave enough to testify against some of the worst criminals are often put into the US Marshal’s Witness Protection Program. This program has worked well for years until someone hacked into the database and started auctioning off personal details about the witnesses. Can you imagine the chaos that will ensue because of this major hack? Think of how many lives are immediately put in danger! FBI Agent Sean Nichols is put in charge of the case and needs the help of one of the WITSEC’s under the care of US Marshal Taylor Mills. Mills is extremely dedicated to taking care of the witnesses under her care so will she give in and even allow such a collaboration to take place knowing that it could draw the “phantom” straight to them? Nichols isn’t the easiest person to work with either. Will it be possible for the two law enforcement officers to find a way to work together to protect not only this one witness but all of the others included in the stolen database? Sleeman provides readers with another action packed book filled from cover to cover with much trepidation. Bottom Line: I highly recommend this book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

Seconds to Live is a pretty good start to Susan Sleeman's new series, Homeland Heroes. I give it four and a half stars.

An exciting, top notch read that kept me up late turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. Romantic suspense fans will not want to miss this one.

After the US Marshals’ Witness Protection database is compromised and personal information of the witnesses is set to be auctioned off, FBI Agent Sean Nichols and his RED team are called in to investigate and find the hacker. One of the witnesses is already a target and barely makes it out alive before the RED team gets involved. Sean believes a hacker named Phantom is involved, but this is no ordinary hacker as he has outwitted many before and to crack this case Sean is going to need the help of the attacked witness.

Taylor Mills, the US Marshal in charge of protecting this witness, and Sean have a history. They have never met in person but have been talking online and gotten to know each other very well. Sean and Taylor must work with each other to stop Phantom before he takes out their witness and many others.

Sean and Taylor are both strong characters that are devoted to their jobs, which leaves little room for anything else. Even though they have gotten to know each other chatting online, working together is an entirely different ball game. I read through this incredibly fast and enjoyed it so much, especially the ending. The action and suspense gripped me so tightly I couldn’t put the book down. I loved all the bad and good guys throughout this book, each one had all the right qualities to make them believable and help carry the story along. The end does have a great twist to keep readers guessing and involved with the characters. Having a character in the US Marshals office was a nice change of pace, it’s not as common as seeing an FBI Agent or someone in another branch of law enforcement. Sean and Taylor are both experts in their fields and want to do their very best for the people they are trying to protect and help making them characters that are easy to root for and want to succeed. It may be one of the last books I’ve read this year, but it is going to make its way to my best of the year list. This is the first in a new series and I for one can’t wait to see what comes next. I recommend this book to readers that enjoy a great romantic suspense books with wonderful twists and intriguing characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

When a cyber criminal hacks into the Witness Protection Database an auctions off the information the highest bidder, FBI agent Sean Nichols and US Marshal Taylor Mills must work together to protect the witnesses and catch the hacker responsible for releasing the sensitive information.



Taylor and Sean had previously met while working together online, but have never met face to face. Online they find a friend to confide in, who understands the stress of a high pressure job. When they meet in person, things are understandably awkward at first, and it takes time for them to truly trust one another as they learn to work together and track down the hacker who is on the loose and ruining lives.



Fast paced and filled with action, I liked the high stakes original plot and how it brings Taylor and Sean together. Sean is a Christian and tries to live his faith in his life everyday. Taylor has a troubled past and blames herself for a family tragedy.



Overall, I really enjoyed this high stakes suspense, great characters and a fast paced plot that kept the pages turning. Great start to a new series, with adventure, action, suspense, faith and romance.



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Witness Protection Program has been hacked and the new identities of people and families are in jeopardy. The first person on the list is Dustee and her agent Marshal Taylor Mills will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. That includes cooperating with her online confidant and friend Sean Nichols who is more handsome than she imagined.

This book is full of action and a little bit of romance Taylor, Sean and the team helping them discover the identity of the hacker, aka Phanton, work hard to ensure the safety of the people whose identities have been changed for their safety. The clock is ticking and they unravel the clues to save lives.

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of action from the first page until the last. I loved the camaraderie of the characters and their drive to do their jobs well. This book helped deepen my appreciation for the people who work behind the scenes to keep people safe.

This book is Christian fiction with non-graphic violence and kissing.

Source: I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills, assigned to the WITSEC detail in Portland, OR, must work with FBI Agent Sean Nichols, assigned to the RED (“Rapid Emergency Deployment”) team from Seattle, WA, to identify and apprehend a hacker using the alias of Phantom. Phantom’s crime - hacking the WITSEC database containing the names of thousands of individuals being offered protection by the U.S. Marshals Service. Phantom’s first target appeared to be Dustee and Dianne, twin sisters. Dustee had a nasty habit of not following the WITSEC rules designed to protect their charges, and now the twin’s lives were in danger.

Solving the clues would take the technical IT and forensic skills of both the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI’s RED team. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep most readers of faith-based romantic thrillers happy and engaged. The romantic component was a bit more than what this reader usually likes, but the book still is easily a 5-star read.

This book could easily find a home in many reader’s personal libraries, a local public library, or the church library.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed “Seconds to Live” by Susan Sleeman. In fact, I think this was my favorite novel by Susan Sleeman. I pretty much was hooked from the first couple pages and couldn’t wait to see who the criminal was. There was a slight twist and a little romance thrown in.

This book centered around a cyber-hack in the Witness Protection program. And one of the witnesses in the program is being threatened. I was impressed with how in-depth the author went into the world of “cyber-hacking”. She must have done a lot of research for this novel!

I definitely recommend this book if you like good, clean, romantic suspense.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Susan Sleeman’s brand of romantic suspense is one of the best at putting readers right in the middle of investigations while educating them on police procedures, and Seconds to Live does not disappoint.

The first book in the Homeland Heroes series takes a technical and detailed look into cybercrimes and the people who protect citizens from them daily. This series debut gives us an introduction to the FBI team I hope to see more of in future books.

As Sean and Taylor work together to find the person who has put the names of those in witness protection up for sale, they must also navigate their friendship in a face-to-face environment. There are new challenges to work through, especially when one of them is the lead on the case.
Sleeman keeps the story moving with twists I didn’t see coming.

Disclosure statement:
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The opening chapter of this latest release from Susan Sleeman had me turning the pages as fast as I could read them. There were moments of intense suspense, and others where the story seemed to slow right down as the main characters grappled with issues they seemed hard pressed to resolve by story’s end.

A cyber-hack into the Witness Protection information database is definitely a story worth examining.

I quite enjoyed the action and suspense bits, but the romance was distracting. I know, this is supposed to be a romantic suspense novel, but there was something about the two main characters that had me thinking they’d be better off alone or make better friends. It’s a bit heavier on the romance side than I’m used to reading when it comes to the genre, but that isn’t to say it isn’t enjoyable.

Secondary characters provide some side entertainment, though Dustee is quite immature for her age (but it’s no secret to the main characters since they discuss that very thing).

There were some interesting turns in this story, and nice set ups for the rest of the books to come in this series.

I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

SECONDS TO LIVE is seriously Ms. Sleeman's best book to date. I fell in love with Taylor. Both she and Sean are strong-willed take-charge individuals which caused automatic clashing even though they were cyber friends living on opposite sides of the USA before they met.

Both Taylor and Sean have serious issues to work through but they both profess a faith in Jesus. Learning to trust Him to handle all our problems is a issue I struggle with too.

There were some major plot twists I never saw coming, a relationship black moment that was pretty obvious, and I never guess who the informant might be.

Great book. Fantastic author.

I was given copy free. All opinions are my own.



SECONDS TO LIVE is seriously Ms. Sleeman's best book to date. I fell in love with Taylor. Both she and Sean are strong-willed take-charge individuals which caused automatic clashing even though they were cyber friends living on opposite sides of the USA before they met.

Both Taylor and Sean have serious issues to work through but they both profess a faith in Jesus. Learning to trust Him to handle all our problems is a issue I struggle with too.

There were some major plot twists I never saw coming, a relationship black moment that was pretty obvious, and I never guess who the informant might be.

Great book. Fantastic author.

I was given copy free. All opinions are my own.

Suspense. I'm not sure how you feel about it, but I usually try to avoid books that are mainly suspense. I don't mind a little suspense here and there to keep a book interesting, but a book that is actually considered suspense? Not really my kind of book. However, I decided to try something new and actually read a suspense book. So I chose Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman. Was I pleasantly surprised? Might I decide to read more suspense occasionally? Or did I find it too stressful for me and decide to never read another suspense book? Keep reading to see to my opinions. 
First, I liked the romance between Taylor and Sean. I like how they were really good friends before they ever met and found out there was something more between them. The romance was really sweet even amidst the drama and suspense of the actual story.
Second, I liked the fact that while it was a suspense book, it never got too overwhelmingly scary for me. Most of the time when I try to read a suspense book, I get too scared and can't finish. But I actually read this book from beginning to end. So, even, though there were scary parts it never got too intense I couldn't keep going. Although, I did probably read this book in what felt like seconds to see what happened.
Third, I liked the interesting twists that kept getting thrown in. It really made the story interesting and more suspenseful in a good way.
I didn't really care for the fact that I learned there is actually an illegal part of the internet. I actually thought it was a fictional thing made up for the book, but when I told my husband, he said it was actually a real thing! I really did not need to know that because that is rather scary to think about. 
So, I actually was pleasantly surprised to find that I could read a suspense book. Does that mean, I'm going to go read all suspense books? Not really. Maybe an occasional one, but I still think I prefer historical fiction/ comedy/ romance to suspense. But I may try to read a little more suspense occasionally. 
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense. It had a good amount of suspense without being too suspenseful, even for someone as sensitive to suspense as me. 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first of Susan Sleeman’s books I’ve read, and I have to admit, the cover was a big part of why I wanted to read it 🙂 I enjoyed some parts of the story; the focus on the RED team and on cyber crime was really interesting and unique. The hack of the WITSEC database provided plenty of action and suspense with a surprising twist at the end, but I just couldn’t connect with the two main characters. Some of Taylor and Sean’s interactions, both personal and professional, were awkward and unnatural, and the romance seemed a little forced. The other members of the team seemed a little more interesting, and I’m looking forward to giving the next book in the series a try when it comes out next year!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I liked the premise of this book, but felt like it dragged some. I loved the characters, especially the RED team, and hope that we find out more about each of their stories as the series progresses.

Thank you to Bethany House for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed parts of this book and did not connect with other parts completely. So, I am going to start off with what didn’t work for me. I know for some reviews that I have seen are super positive in this aspect, so I recommend reading more than just mine, to see if you’re interested, because it is just my one opinion.

Where this book lost it for me was in the relationship aspect. I think that it felt forced and unbelievable. I think there needed to be much more development to believe that this relationship was viable. One minute they were hot and the next cold. Relationships are complex, and the lack of complexity just didn’t do it for me.

However, I really enjoyed the other plot aspects of this book: a witness protection program, hackers, and a RED team charged with catching the hacker. I think that this book hit on how easy it is for a skilled hacker to gain access easily to critical information and the difficulty of the job of those whose job it is to get the information back. I enjoyed the hunt for the hacker and the forensic scientist in this book.

This is an incredible romantic suspense!

I love the strength and dedication to their jobs that both Sean and Taylor exhibit. They are very well developed and easy to connect with. They each have issues from their past that make it hard to trust.

Trusting and forgiving are the two areas that are discussed throughout the book. These are great areas for all of us to mature in and I love it when characters in books are going on emotional journeys that are so relatable.

The plot is intricately woven and kept me on my toes trying to figure it out. There was an amazing twist near the end of the book that totally floored me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

When cybercriminals hack into the US Marshals' Witness Protection database and auction off witnesses' personal details to the highest bidders, the RED Team led by FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. But before he can even get started, the first witness is targeted and barely escapes with her life. Sean believes Phantom, an obsessed hacker who previously outwitted the top minds in the field, is behind the attack, and Sean needs this witness's help, as she's the person who has come closest to discovering Phantom's identity.

Trouble is, she's a witness under the care of US Marshal Taylor Mills, and Sean is reluctant to work with the captivating marshal who knows his deepest secrets. But Phantom claims he knows where the witness is hiding and will kill her, so to stop the hacker, Sean and Taylor must work through their personal pain and learn to trust each other. . . . The seconds are ticking down before someone dies.

Sean and Taylor have never met in person but they have had an e-mail relationship where they have connected. When Sean needs help with a person that is in witness protection, he discovers that Taylor is in charge of her.

I'm not sure how to review this book. I liked it and it kept me guessing. I've read most of Ms. Sleeman's books and have enjoyed this one. The story was great and the mystery wasn't solved until the end of the book. But I think there was too much internal reflections. I skipped some of that as it seemed repetitive. I recommend this book for those who like a great mystery.

I was given this book by Bethany House Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

Dustee and her twin sister are in the Witness Protection program. Dustee is a hacker who has worked with the person known as Phantom. The last known partner of Phantom was brutally murdered so it is imperative that Phantom is caught. Taylor is a WITSEC deputy in charge of keeping Dustee and Dianne safe. Now someone has hacked into the WITSEC computers and may be selling the names and locations of witnesses. FBI Agent Sean Nichols and his team are sent to work with the marshals to find Phantom and secure the leak. Sean and Taylor have had an online friendship for awhile now, but this is the first time they will be meeting and they
are both nervous about what it will mean to their relationship. With Phantom desperate to find Dustee and seek revenge all of their lives are in danger, will they find who they are dealing with before anyone else is murdered?

From the opening paragraphs to the very last paragraph, SECONDS TO LIVE was a roller coaster ride of excitement! There is so much suspense and danger, just like I like! We don't know who Phantom is until the end so that adds to the suspense of the story. Sean and Taylor's relationship is sweet, I like that they had an online relationship so that they at least sort of knew each other when they finally met in person. Both Sean and Taylor had trust issues from circumstances in their pasts and that added another dimension to what I like about author Susan Sleeman's books, there are always spiritual lessons to be learned from her characters. As they learn to trust and put their faith in God, the reader too can relate and hopefully do the same.

A FAVORITE QUOTE:

"One thing he'd forgotten, an important thing: God didn't betray. Didn't turn His back. He was always the same loving God. Always wanting the best for His children."

A great reminder both for the characters and for the reader.

This is book 1 in the Homeland Heroes series. I'm excited to read more!

Wow this book is fast paced and hooks you right away. I had a really difficult time putting this down and couldn't wait to pick it back up.

I felt like I was right in the story for every heart racing event. I loved these characters and was able to relate to them.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian suspense.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of the book mentioned above in the hope that I would review it on my blog. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

For readers who enjoy FBI stories, this novel will be a hit. FBI agent Sean Nichols is trying to find an unknown computer hacker who has become a murderer. WITSEC Marshall Taylor Mills just wants to keep her witness, Dustee safe. This story takes readers into the world of computer hacking and the dark web as both teams join together to find the Phantom. Lots of computer technology to sort through but an interesting story. Looking forward to the next book in this new series but I do hope Dustee is not included.