Minutes to Die by Susan Sleeman Once again proves she is at the pinnacle of Christian romantic suspense. Filled with characters you’ll come to love and scenes that will have you holding your breath and wondering could this really happen. Minutes to Die is book 2 in the Homeland Heroes series but can be read alone. Susan‘s books keep getting better and better.

Kylie Dawson is an FBI agent who starts suspecting that something is going on with terrorist. Her case ends up colliding with her former partner Evan. Evan is an ICE agent who has found a shipping container that hints at terrorist activity. Kylier has always blamed him for the death of one of their friends and partner from many years ago. She has to come to grips with that and work with Evan.

I’m astonished at the research Susan must do for these books. It was an edge of your seat action thriller. The RED team is fascinating with their skill set and I love the respect and banter between them.

There’s an underlying story that weaves through all three of the books about three missing girls.

I definitely recommend Minutes to Die is you are a fan of action packed romantic suspense with a good Christian message.

Minutes to Die by Susan Sleeman – Suspense and Intrigue that Grabs Your Attention

Minutes to Die was the first book I’ve read by author Susan Sleeman. It’s the second book in the Homeland Heroes series. The storyline is what drew me in.

FBI Agent Kiley Dawson was meeting with a confidential informant on a foggy night in Washington, D.C. Her trusted source had information about a terrorist attack planned for the anniversary of 9/11. As Kiley was arranging for witness protection a gunshot pierced the night and Firuzeh was dead. Now what? Soon Kiley and her team were headed to Tacoma, Washington, and looking into a different case. A container was found at a shipyard that had been used to transport terrorists into the Country. Kylie is reunited with ICE Agent Even Bowers as they join forces to stop a terrorist attack. But the only thing they know for sure is the date of the attack, September 11th, and the clock is ticking.

Minutes to Die got my attention from the get-go and didn’t let up until the end. It’s fast-paced as the characters worked to try and put together the pieces of the puzzle. What kind of terror attack is planned? Where will it occur? Who are the bad guys planning to bring terror and destruction to untold millions and where are they now? Is this case somehow tied to the murder of Firuzeh?

I liked the main characters, Kiley and Evan, and also the team members. Each one has their area of expertise and they worked well together to try and stop the terrorist attack. The team has been together for a while and they know, respect, and trust each other and have each other’s back. They are an asset to Kiley as she takes the lead for the first time in an investigation. The odd man out is Evan. Kiley and Evan have a history and she’s not sure she can get past it.

The details of the investigation were fascinating and it was interesting to learn about different technologies available to help process evidence.

I struggled a bit with Kiley as she seemed to hang on to resentment toward Evan and her mother. Towards the end of the book she does work through the issues she’s been holding on to.

I would have liked to have seen the Christian faith developed greater with Kiley and Evan, something more than just brief arrow prayers in times of danger. There seemed to be an overemphasis on their physical attraction. It seemed a bit much especially in light of the impending terrorist attack.

Despite the things I struggled with, I did like Minutes to Die by Susan Sleeman. It was very suspenseful, interesting, and it held my attention to the end. I came away from this wanting to read more of the author’s books.

If you like suspense and intrigue give Minutes to Die by Susan Sleeman a try.

I would like to thank Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of Minutes to Die by Susan Sleeman. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

The second installment in the Homeland Heroes series gives readers another fast pace tale with relationships between characters both tense and emotional until the very end.

FBI Agent Kiley Dawson loses her Confidential Informant to a murder right as she is about to give her information on a terrorist attack being planned on U.S. soil. The attack is supposedly going to be the deadliest attack since 9/11 and Kiley knows she has her work cut out for her. She teams with ICE Agent Evan Bowers in charge of figuring out how to take down the terrorist cell. Evan and Kiley have a difficult past, she blames him for the death of her former partner and doesn’t know how she can work with a man she doesn’t trust. Somehow, they have to work around their differences to protect the lives of millions and stop a terrorist from attacking America once more.

Minutes to Die is another action-packed romantic suspense thriller from Susan Sleeman. Sleeman does a fantastic job of crafting characters that readers will want to see succeed even as they are placed in the most precarious of situations. With so many aspects of the investigation, it could be easy to get lost in the technical jargon and lose sight of what the story is trying to tell us; luckily, the story is written in such a way that readers will follow along and feel as if they are part of the investigation with Kiley and Evan and the rest of the team. For me, I enjoyed fast pace of the story, but there was more romance than I would have liked. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good romantic suspense but not when the romance comes on too strong, which is my only complaint. I would have preferred the romance down a notch. That can also be a double edge sword, when the romance is a bigger part of the story, it can lead to more tension between the characters. By the end of the story I was so invested in the relationships that when one character found themselves in harm’s way and the other was scared for their life, I found myself holding my breath as the pages turned to see if they would make it out okay. Both books in this series have been enjoyable and easy to read, which leads me to believe the third will be a welcome addition to the series. I recommend this to readers that enjoy romantic suspense with heart pounding action and great heart-warming story throughout.

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

I’m a big fan of Susan Sleeman‘s books, but Minutes to Die, the second book in her Homeland Heroes series, might be her best one yet. Impossible to put down and filled with incredible detail, it follows the RED Team as they attempt to stop a deadly attack before the anniversary of 9/11.

Kiley Dawson began her career as a shy computer nerd, but when her first confidential information is murdered in front of her, she wants lead on the investigation into the information her CI attempted to bring her. Details that lead her team into a race against time.

Evan Bowers has liked Kiley Dawson for years, even when a failed operation put a wedge between them. Now she and her team arrive at his crime scene to take over his investigation. He steps up to make himself invaluable to the team so she can’t box him out of chasing down the bad guys.

As I read Minutes to Die, it amazed me how deep and tangled the web of the investigation becomes. Kiley and her team felt it, too. And the ending! Wow! The research it took to make this story possible is an art in and of itself!

If you’re a fan of suspense, this is the book for you! It has threads of romance and faith, too. With an unbelievable plot that will keep you wondering whether the team will be able to figure out who the bad guys are and what exactly they are planning. Before times runs out.

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I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers and the author in order to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have 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.”

The second in Susan Sleeman’s Homeland Heroes series, Minutes to Die begins with a shooting of, RED team member, Kiley’s confidential informant. The case swiftly expands to a national terrorist threat and Evan, an ICE agent and bomb specialist, joins the team in this race against the clock.

The plot is well-thought through with interesting characters, multiple sub-plots and an unexpected conclusion. Susan had me guessing the whole way through. The agents run into several dangerous situations and the pace is swift!

In addition to the investigation, there is a budding romance between Kiley and Evan which died six years ago when their team member died on an op Evan was leading. Kiley holds him responsible. Throughout the novel, the characters wrestle with forgiveness, of others and one’s self. They are challenged by God’s forgiveness of us and Susan writes the complexities around this well.

Whilst I recommend reading book one, it’s wonderful, it’s not necessary. I liked Kiley in it though and she grew in this book into a woman easy to relate to! I really enjoyed Evan too, he is more than the “tough guy” persona often cast in this type of role and I enjoyed Susan’s more nuanced approach.

If you enjoy a criminal thriller with a great cast, this one is for you! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale and highly recommended.

This is book two in the Homeland Heroes series. I believe it is a stand alone book, however you do miss a little history of the RED team. You do not have to read book one to understand book two (you would miss a good read though).
I love the writing style of Susan Sleeman. She does a lot of research and packs her books full of action, mystery, suspense, FBI/Police and romance. This book is no different. Kiley and Evan have a history they both must overcome all while working together to stop a terrorist attack. I love the sparks between them and the friendship of the RED team. I can't wait to read book three.

This is a very intense romantic suspense novel!

I love both of the main characters in this book. Kiley and Evan are incredibly well developed. They both have things from their past that make it difficult for them to work together. There is self blame and unforgiveness that needs to be worked through. I loved seeing both of them as they progressed through the journey in the midst of the very dangerous case that they are working on that needs their full focus.

The plot of the case is amazing! It has so many twists and turns that kept me sucked in. I was fascinated by all of the different people of interest that Kiley and the rest of the team were trying to track down to find the actual terrorists involved in their case. The amount of details that were included in the case and the activities each agent was handling was fantastic. It was very apparent that the author did a lot of research before and during the writing of this book.

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

ICE Agent Evan Bowers has found a shipping container with deadly implications. FBI Agent Kiley Dawson receives a lead from a CI on a terrorist attack of 9/11 scale and damage. Their present lives collide in this fast paced romantic suspense novel. They both must work through their past in order for their romance to survive.

The book has the full gamut:action, romance, cyber crime/hackers, a race against time, heroes working through personal angst, and mom issues. The book had me from the get go. I had never read anything by Susan Sleeman and will definitely be exploring more of her writing. I didn't realize that the book was part of a series (I will definitely be reading book 1.) however, it can stand alone. There are a couple of references to a cold case they are working on. This was worked into the book that the reader would believe that it was just a side plot, or something to be worked out in later novels.

Thanks to #netgalley for the advance copy for an honest review.

I liked this novel of suspense incorporating operatives from a number of government agencies. It was interesting to see how the agencies work together. I was a little surprised at the heavy use of surveillance videos in finding the bad guys before they managed to kill millions of people. I had no idea so many businesses and municipalities had so many cameras on street locations. I was also surprised at the advances made with DNA. It can be used to provide physical characteristics which can be compiled into a composite sketch. It is not an exact science and cannot be used in court but what an amazing advance in police procedure.

The characters were developed well in this novel. The main ones, Kiley and Evan, get off to a rough start as they work together on this investigation. That is because this is the second in a series and both characters still have strong feelings from events in the first novel. While this one can be read alone, the full impact of the development of their relationship will not be appreciated without reading the previous novel.

One pet peeve from this reader. Kiley “marched” several times to her next location. I should have counted them but I noticed at least twice in two chapters, 13 and 16. And I cannot tell you how many times Kiley had acid in her stomach during a tense time. A little editing of those repetitive aspects would had helped my enjoyment of the author's writing style.

All in all, this is a good romantic suspense. While there are a couple of desperate prayers to God during the last heightened suspense, there is nothing else really Christian about the novel.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

East Coast based FBI Agent Kiley Dawson receives intel from a confidential informant that terrorists have planned an imminent attack on the United States. West Coast based ICE Agent Evan Bowers discovers a shipping container modified as living quarters—maybe for terrorists.

The two agents get teamed up to avert the crisis before terrorists harm hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens. The problem? Kiley and Evan used to work together and Kiley blames Evan for the death of her former partner.

They always seem one step behind the terrorists as they search for clues to when and where the attack will take place. Kiley’s attraction for Evan battles with her perceptions of who caused her partner’s death and threatens to interfere with the investigation.

Evan has wanted to start a relationship with Kiley for years, and the confidant team leader acts nothing like the shy agent he used to know. She has issues with her family of origin, though, and Even wants to make sure that if he starts a relationship with someone, they can begin it without baggage from the past.

Who Will Love This Book

If you love edge-of-your-seat suspense, you’ll love this second installment in Susan Sleeman’s Homeland Heroes series. The characters have relatable flaws that make the reader think about past personal narratives and how forgiveness can change one’s life.

Readers of Cara Putman, Colleen Coble, and Kelly Irwin will enjoy Sleeman’s books.

An enjoyable race back and forth across the US to stop a terrorist attack. Kiley and Evan's past colors the way they react to the crisis of the moment. This book edges on a thriller with it's tight pacing and high stakes. Loved being back with these characters.

Minutes to Die is the second book in the Homeland Heroes series by Susan Sleeman. Each story can standalone on it's own just fine. There are of course familiar characters, and one common case that has been mentioned throughout the series, but enough background is given that you won't be lost.

In Minutes To Die, Kiley and her team learn of a planned terrorist attack that will be more catastrophic than 9/11. The problem is they have no idea who or what the plan involves. They are in a race against the clock to figure it out before the plan is played out.

While it sounds absolutely intriguing,I must admit it took me a little while to get fully invested in this story. There are many characters--- both on the team and suspects--- introduced in this story and it was certainly a lot to keep up with. I also found that I really didn't seem to connect with Kiley's character too much. This book was very procedural, which was interesting still, but perhaps this was why I didn't find myself connecting as well. The romance with Evan was there, but definitely took a backseat, which I didn't mind at all. It wasn't until about halfway through that I really found myself unable to put it down. I would still give it a solid 3.5 stars, but I do wish I could have enjoyed the characters a bit more. Still, I look forward to reading the next one, There is a case again mentioned throughout the first two books and I can't help but think it's leading to something big and great.

If you enjoy a Christian/clean suspense with a more procedural feel, this is definitely one to check out.


**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

The first book in this series, Seconds to Live, was my introduction to Susan Sleeman's books. It wasn't my favorite, but something changed with this book, and I absolutely loved it! The intensity and action drew me in from the beginning, and I had a hard time putting it down!

The chemistry and relationship between the main characters, Kiley and Evan, seemed much more authentic than the first book. The plot was gripping, which is to be expected in a story about terrorist plot, but I thought the balance between the action and quieter moments was really well done. I enjoyed the unique focus on the RED Team and their camaraderie, and I can’t wait for the next book!

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

Minutes to Die is Susan Sleeman's second book in her "Homeland Heroes" series. This is a book filled to the brim with excitement, strong characters and lots of danger and suspense. FBI Agent Kiley Dawson and ICE Agent Evan Bowers are teamed up together once again. They had previously work together and one of their team was killed.  Kiley has secretly blamed Evan, so she is not keen to be partnered with him again.  Kiley has received info from one of her informers that there will be another attack  on the anniversary of 9/11, that will kill millions of Americans.  Can they find the perpetrators in time? As time rolls on toward 9/11 anniversary, you will be holding your breath reading as it all unfolds.  Loved the Christian thread throughout the book and also the budding romance as Kylie learns to trust Evan again..........Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

“Exposed. Kiley felt exposed. Standing there. In the dark. Waiting. Waiting.”

And with that, we're off to another explosive installment to the Homeland Heroes series! Smuggled terrorists, a threat bigger than 9/11, and a race against time is what FBI agent Kiley Dawson and her team face in this fast-paced suspense novel. She also must face ICE agent Evan Bowers, the very man she blamed for the death of her former partner years ago. But when the truth comes out, can she also fight the attraction that's been under the surface? Only time will tell if she can stop both the threat against the country & her heart.

Sleeman has a way with words that makes my heart race when reading her suspense novels. She keeps up the pace with each new development the FBI RED team uncovers & the list of suspects grows. You never know who's really behind it all until the very end, and even then she still surprised me! That's a good writer to me, one that can keep you guessing throughout the book. I also love the camaraderie between each team member and how they worked well together. It's like they can read each other’s minds and their skills mesh perfectly to get the job done. Kiley made a great leader! I like her ability to stay calm when things got tense and kept a sharp focus in spite of her emotions trying to sway her. It was a struggle for her at times, but that's when the team really came together to help. I also loved the moment she was able to forgive Evan & her misconceptions shattered when the truth about the day her partner was killed came out. It freed her heart to love again, and Evan was SO worth the wait. These two were meant to be, in my mind!

I truly enjoyed “Minutes to Die” ; it's everything I love in a romantic suspense. The pacing was perfect, the romantic angst was balanced with the high octane adrenaline of the suspense, and the conclusion was a surprise to me. It kept me on my toes and reading far into the night. Sleeman is a top suspense writer for me and a highly recommended author for lovers of this genre!

*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House through Netgalley and was not obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *

This book was so captivating I really enjoyed this book the author has a way of drawing you in from page one and keeping you there till the very end. I loved Kiley she jumped in with both feet and would stop at nothing or let nothing stop her from finding the truth. Evan he was more in your face, but but he also sought the truth and would stop at nothing to find it even f it meant he had to come face to face with the past that he was ready to let go of a long time ago I really enjoyed reading this book and this group of characters and I really can't wait to see where the author goes next.

Minutes to Die is the second book in Sleeman's Homeland Heroes series, and I enjoyed it even more than the first. Kiley Dawson has her first opportunity to take lead on a case being run by the elite Rapid Emergency Deployment (RED) team, made up of inter-agency law enforcement officers. For her the case quickly morphed from wanting to solve her friend's murder to the need to protect millions of people from an imminent threat. Kiley was less than thrilled to have ICE Agent Evan Bowers join the team, still blaming him for the death of her colleague, Agent Olin Foster, during an op gone bad. Can the pair put aside their personal issues in order to thwart the worst threat to the county since 2001? This fast-paced romantic suspense story will keep you up searching for the answer to that question and more.

I am grateful to have received a copy of Moments to Die from Bethany House via NetGalley with no obligation. All opinions stated here are my own.

Minutes to Die is the second book in the Homeland Heroes series and it was a heart-pounding thriller! I found myself drawn into the story early on and I couldn't read fast enough. I loved the main characters and how they had issues from the past they had to overcome.

The mystery was so good! I loved that there was a bit of decoding in the story and enough twists to keep you guessing. The ending was intense and nearly unputdownable. I also loved the heartfelt moment (won't go into details). ;)

All in all, Minutes to Die was amazing and I recommend it. I am looking forward to the next book!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above 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 and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

FBI, terrorist cell, and high suspense will keep you glued to this book. Kiley Dawson and the Red Team work with ICE Agent Evan Bowers to take down a terrorist cell. Of course there is some background with Kiley and Evan. The tension can’t be missed. You won’t be disappointed. Don’t miss this 2nd book in the Homeland Heroes Series!

Four bombs, sixty minutes - or goodbye dam; goodbye Arizona.

And that is six chapters. Most of the rest of the book is just as intense as the FBI’s RED team had to track the terrorist that had entered then USA via a container through the Tacoma WA harbor. They also needed to track the killer of Kiley’s Confidential Informant in Washington DC, and those responsible for the kidnapping of three girls in Montgomery AL. And Kiley was responsible for her first assignment as the team lead.

The book was one this reader could not put down - Susan Sleeman has written a great faith-based thriller to follow-up her earlier Seconds to Live. Moving across the country with Kiley and her team with limited time to prevent the deaths of million of Americans makes for an intense nine hours of reading.

I will be looking forward to the next book in the series - though only hinted at in the final moments of the current book. One can hope.
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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.