When the WITSEC database is hacked and the lives of federal witnesses are put in jeopardy, U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills works with FBI Agent Sean Nichols and his team to find the hacker, recover the witness information, and keep an already-exposed witness safe. Mills & Nichols have a tenuous online friendship, which is put in turmoil when they meet for the first time to work on this case together.

Right off the bat, this book introduced a character in a way that painted her in a terrible light, and it never really recovered from there for me. The police procedural-type story was all right, but the romance was strained and the characters and dialog were wooden.

I never really did like the female MC. After she ignored calls from a witness in danger because she was too put-upon, I just couldn't understand why she is touted as an amazing U.S. Marshal the rest of the book. (Honestly, if she's so overworked that she needs an hour in the tub that badly, which she got into after missing 2 calls from a witness, who she knows could be in danger...maybe it's time to find another job.) The male MC wasn't too bad. As far as side characters went, I think that if the other FBI team members had been given more time in the spotlight, it would have helped. Instead, we got the ridiculous Dustee (the federal witness) and her childish attitude.

The federal agents searching for the hacker before thousands of witnesses were compromised could have been a decent story. Unfortunately, their emotions got in the way. Every. Step. Of. The. Way. Every other thought the two MCs had was about each other and how they felt about the other, how they just wanted to stare at the other, how they didn't know how to proceed when neither of them really wanted a relationship. And how they both had such hardships in their past that they couldn't really trust anyone. It permeates so much that it drags down the action & suspense side of the book.

Besides what I already mentioned about the romance, it was far too much about the physical for my taste, especially in a Christian novel. Don't get me wrong--there is no sex, and not exactly a lot of touching. But there is a lot of gazing, staring, even (in my opinion) leering. Too much narration about watching hips and legs...and it all became so repetitive. And there was so much discussion at inappropriate times, in the middle of important parts of the investigation.

There was an interesting twist near the end, which I suspected only shortly before it was revealed. I liked the explanation for that twist and the real-life science behind it. I also did find myself wanting to know who the hacker was along the way, and what it would take to catch him. When the MCs weren't coming across as incompetent because they spent more time thinking and talking about their non-relationship than they did working on the case, I liked the way the case was presented and solved. I expected a little more in the way of twists, but it's not billed as a thriller, so that's probably my own issue.

I don't think the book was bad, exactly, I just had some irredeemable issues with it. If you're a fan of drama-filled procedural stories, you very well may enjoy this. It's clean overall--no language and light on the violence--and though the Christianity in it is a little light, it's probably worth checking out if you aren't bothered by the things I mentioned above. There are plenty of reviews in favor of it, so be sure to read some of those too.

Seconds to Live was written by Susan Sleeman, and is book one in the Homeland Heroes series.
Summary: The witness protection database has been hacked, and witness locations are being sold to the highest bidder. The main suspect is a murderous hacker by the name of Phantom.
Will the FBI and the US Marshals be able to track down Phantom before witnesses begin to die?
My Thoughts: This book had plenty of action and I enjoyed the plot. However, I was a little disappointed in that the book went back and forth between action that was really good, and the main characters constantly wondering what the other person was thinking of them. It felt like two high schoolers who like each other, and don’t know what to do. It would have been fine once or twice, but this reoccurs throughout the book, and takes away from the suspense of the story line.
I wish the book would have stayed more focused on the action and suspenseful plot, than on the characters’ insecurities towards each other.
That said, there is great suspense and action in this book, and if you can get past the other, it is pretty enjoyable.
I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Thank you.

This book piqued my interest when I saw that it involved the US Marshals Service, an agency I worked for years ago. It did not disappoint. Loved the characters and camaraderie of the team that is put together to take down the Phantom, a cybercriminal who has hacked into the WITSEC database and targeting/killing protected witnesses. My only ding is that I found the constant inner thoughts/push and pull of Taylor and Sean a bit monotonous. Clearly they had a history and were drawn to each other, but I thought the author reminded me of this too many times.

I'm sorry but this book went into archive before I could download it so I won't be giving a review.
I have however asked my library to order this book so someone else can enjoy it.

I'm giving this a 3.5 star rating. The plot was good, the characters were interesting, subtle romance and very subtle faith aspects. As a suspense/crime novel it was pretty good, but I just couldn't get pulled into the story.

Sean was fantastic! My favorite character by far because I got to see many sides to him. Taylor was a bit annoying. Dustee was comical! I loved the entire RED team.

The whole phantom ordeal was insanely good! I found myself interested in wanting to know who the Phantom was and then that ending with the plot twist through me for a lovely loop.

Definitely good enough read for me to want to continue on with the series, but it wasn't something that pulled me into the story.

Let's not waste any time - Seconds to Live is a page turner that is so worth the read! The FBI RED team is on the hunt for a cybercriminal who has hacked the US Marshal's Witness Protection database. Phantom is the hacker who has evaded law enforcement in the past and isn't afraid to commit murder to keep others from talking. Dustee, a witness in WITSEC, is the FBI's chance at finally tracking Phantom down. But the US Marshall (Taylor) protecting her will do anything including risking her own life to keep Dustee safe from potential harm. When the FBI Agent (Sean) is put in charge of the investigation, he is willing to go to great lengths to put Phantom away for good. But will Sean and Taylor be able to trust each other enough to work through their differences and focus on tracking Phantom down before another death occurs? Can't add any more details without potential spoilers!

What I found most intriguing was the storyline was believable down to the most intricate details. On top of that, the villain is not revealed until the very end and it will keep you guessing. Several plot twists, believable characters, Oregon setting, all made this read one that was unforgettable. The details regarding the hacking were excellent and informative, not glossed over or unrealistic. In order to make a cyber crime work, the reader needs to understand what the crime entails - Susan Sleeman did this so well!

The Homeland Heroes series is going to be one not to miss! I'm already anticipating the next book in the series. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves cyber crime with a bit of faith and romance mixed in. It won't disappoint.

The author had me at the first line. “One Mistake. That was all it took to put Duster’s life on the line – death right on her heels.”

Suspense from the start as Duster runs from the Phantom because she’d broken the first rule of being in the witness protection program. Never make contact with your past life.

I enjoyed getting to know U.S. Marshall Taylor Mills who gave her all to the people she helped in the witness protection program. She was quite surprised by the F.B.I. stepping in to help with a recent case. Even more surprised when it turned out to be F.B.I. Agent Sean Nichols. They had never met in person, but they knew each other very well on-line. They were friends, encouraged each other, could relate to their work situations. They never thought they’d meet because they lived in different states.

I liked how the author talks about on-line relationships and how that translates to getting to know someone face to face. There’s a struggle at interacting with one another face to face. There is so much to a person you don’t observe on-line. But both Taylor and Sean are pleasantly surprised at the feelings they have for one another when they do meet for the first time. Both would sweep their feelings aside and do the job at hand. They needed to locate the bad guy going by the name “Phantom” This person has managed to hack the entire Witness Protection database Program. No one in the system was safe.

Both Sean and Taylor see a serious side of their personalities as they both do their job in tracking down the hacker. I enjoyed that part of the story too. I liked the natural faith message both Sean and Taylor struggle with. The chase to find the Phantom with its action, drama and suspense as they try to protect people on the list. There were some surprising twists and turns at the end that led to a satisfying ending. This novel reminded me of a TV series I watched a while back titled In Plain Sight. I recommend this for your next book club pick there is so much to talk about.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. 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”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

A fun read! I didn't know what to expect when I started this one, but I liked the cover, and the blurb sounded fun. I really enjoyed it, though, and am glad I got the chance to read it! I enjoyed the characters, and the story was well written! I loved the action and danger level in this one, and the suspense was spot on!

It's a race against the clock to find a killer hacker...

I've been a fan of Susan Sleeman's for awhile now, from her smaller Love Inspired Suspense books to her longer indie-published novels. So, I'm sure you can imagine how excited I was to hear that she had a series coming out with what can arguably be called my favorite publisher, Bethany House. Seconds To Live is the first book in the Homeland Heroes series featuring an elite team with a variety of different skills who take down the biggest of the bad guys.

To say that I enjoyed Seconds To Live would be a big understatement. From the dramatic minimalist cover through some very tense and fast-paced reading to the very last page. I really liked the tech thread throughout the story, it's not every novel that has it to the same degree. You can definitely tell that Susan Sleeman had a lot of research into this book.

The characters were good, not shallow, and I liked how they were realistically portrayed. Yeah, these characters aren't always perfect, they are sometimes short-tempered, can get irritated by one particularly obnoxious person, don't always realize when they are being controlling and high-handed, and they do let their fears control their decisions. But, you knew there would be one, those things only made them more real and more likable. Plus they had some really redeeming qualities as well.

Whether you love romantic suspense or techy novels Susan Sleeman expertly delivers both in her new page-turner, Seconds To Live. What are YOU waiting for.....?

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

I really loved certain aspects of this novel. The team/family atmosphere with Sean's RED Team, the rush to catch Phantom, and the twists and turns of the story and not knowing who was trustworthy all kept me flying through the pages. This is a well-plotted and paced suspense novel!

The one aspect that didn't quite work for me was the romance. Taylor and Sean—as a romantic pair—just annoyed me. They both questioned their friendship/relationship multiple times, and they had some (probably valid) reasons for why they wouldn't work as a couple. Trust was a major issue for both of them, and after the way Sean reacted to something near the end, I couldn't believe how quickly things turned around. I can't imagine they would actually find a "happily ever after," at least not right away. That said, this is book one of a series, so maybe they will have some issues down the road.

Overall, though, I did enjoy this book, and I would happily read others in the series. I really liked Sean's team, and I'd enjoy learning more about them.

I loved this book! From the first page, the introduction was action packed and drew me into the storyline.
As a whole, the witness protection agency is not a subject that gets a lot of attention so I enjoyed learning about the actual agency.
The writer did a good job balancing the romance part with action and mystery. The ending was unpredictable; fantastic! I love reading stories that I can’t predict.

Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Susan Sleeman’s newest series begins with a major attack on the US Marshals and will require several agencies to work together to find the person responsible – even if it means it’s one of their own.

Susan Sleeman’s newest series is off to a great start with this story that is non-stop from the first page. FBI Agent Sean Nichols is the lead of the RED team that tackles crimes that target federal law enforcement. The latest attack is against the US Marshals and their witness list – someone has hacked their database and is offering up witness locations for a fee. Sean has an ongoing online friendship with US Marshal Taylor Mills, comparing cases and swapping stories. They have kept things low-key, preferring not to meet so things don’t get complicated but all that is about to change. Sean’s lead on the culprit leads him to a witness who knows her way around the cyber world and who also happens to be in the care of Taylor. His sudden arrival throws up walls between him and Taylor as they try to walk the oft-blurred line of following the rules and keeping everyone safe. While they both have the same goal, neither is firstly willing to give on their way of doing things. But this cyber criminal is prepared for all their usual tricks and has a few of his own to show before they catch on to his real intent. Both Sean and Taylor will have to use all their teams’ combined skills and knowledge to catch the culprit and keep all the witnesses safe. They will also have to set aside past hurts and experiences if they are to move beyond the quiet friendship they have built thus far into a deeper relationship together. This story had so much good detective work and excellent dialogue between all the characters. While the focus was mainly on Sean and Taylor, the other characters were not left to the background. I really enjoyed getting to know Sean’s team and watching their dynamics. I’m pretty sure there will be future stories that may make each of them the main focus and I’m excited to read them. And even though the witness in danger, Dustee, acted like a brat the whole time and had no appreciation for the protection everyone offered her, I did like that she gave depth to the story and the other characters. She might even grow up a little throughout the next books. A secondary case seems to be weaving itself through the series and I’ll be curious to see how it plays out. I love when authors bring a tie like this in so that it’s just under the surface of the current situations and inspires deeper conversations. The ending of this story was well done as well with the perfect solution of the main case and several important discoveries for the underlying case. I’m very much looking forward to the next in this series to see who will be the next character of focus. I will certainly be recommending this intriguing story in the hope that others will find it as thought provoking as I did.

I received this temporary and complimentary E-book from Bethany House Publisher’s via NetGalley in order to provide an honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Hold on tight because you are in for a ride with this book! Susan Sleeman has done it again! She has written a book you just won't want to put down. I know I didn't!
Cybercriminals, U.S. Marshal's, FBI Agent's... hackers, secrets and more... throw in a little romance!
If you have never read a book by Susan Sleeman you are in for a treat!


I received a complimentary copy of this book on behalf of the Author and Publisher Bethany House and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

In Seconds to Live, the first in the new Homeland Heroes series by Susan Sleeman and from Bethany House publishing, US Marshal Taylor must teem up with her professional ally and pen pal, FBI Agent Sean, before the appropriately named hacker and killer Phantom strikes again. After years of necessarily being constantly vigilant, Taylor is feeling the strain of her job. One of her current protected witnesses, Dustee, has proven to be less than sensible and is constantly in need of Taylor’s time and intervention skills. However, the one time Taylor doesn’t answer the phone is when Dustee needs her the most. Phantom has caught up with Dustee and is eager to get revenge at whatever the cost and more than willing to dispose of anyone who gets in the way.
While Taylor and Sean have developed a deep connection through their written communication, they struggle to find the same balance while working together in person. During their frantic attempt to stay one step ahead of Phantom, they must also push against the emotional barrier that separates them from fully trusting each other, both personally and professionally. Scars from the past are disturbed and brought to the surface while they fight to protect Dustee and the many innocents who have unknowingly crossed Phantom’s path.
I enjoyed the author’s subtle explanation of computer terms and how naturally she wove them into the dialogue. Too often, these asides can feel condescending or patronizing. Additionally, she also does a stellar job at portraying just how emotionally taxing the witness protection program is, both for the witnesses and their handlers. Unfortunately, the reader is taken away from the action a few times due to unrealistic choices made by Taylor and Sean. I also found a few of the side dramas concerning fringe characters unnecessary and out of place, though I believe they have been included to help set the scene for future books. These issues brought this book from its four-star potential down to a three, but thanks to the quick pacing and stunningly unique forensics, it’s a pleasurable and thrilling book for anyone looking for a well-balanced combination of suspense and romance.
Thank you to Bethany House and Netgalley for the complimentary book. Receiving it in exchange for my review had no impact on my opinion.

An intricately-plotted thriller featuring an FBI RED team (I don’t see enough of that in fiction) and a US Marshal. I really enjoyed this more-unique pairing of law enforcement branches and I’m always a sucker for witness protection stories. (Witness protection fascinates me.)

I was expecting a lot more from this book than I got, I think. The first 40% was plagued by multitudes of sentence fragments and unlikely, stilted, or fragmented conversations that often didn’t even make sense. However, the second half of the book was better, as though the author finally hit a groove with her characters and they started “living” better. That said, the side characters remained mostly wooden, so I’m leaving the rating at three stars (“good”) despite liking the wrap-up between the MCs more on a “very good” level. Hopefully the other characters will thaw more in the next book, which I definitely plan on reading.

I did have trouble accepting that any Christian would recommend hypnotism as a valid option, and that an FBI person would consider it as any way scientific. Hypnotism is something we shouldn’t be playing around with.

Also, I love this cover design! So classy and snappy and portraying the suspense well.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

I loved the testimony about Taylor from one of the people in her custody. "She’s never come out and said she’s a Christian, but I can tell she is.”
God was using her to draw people to Him.

If you've watched CSI Cyber, you'd love this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Filled with neckbreaking action, suspense, faith in God, forgiveness, learning to trust again after being hurt and lied to, second chances...

The story was well written and presented. So believable.

The RED team was after a hacker that took them to work again with the outstanding Taylor. She was a force to be reckoned with. Her love and loyalty to her job and people entrusted into her care was so admirable. But also fueled by a tragedy that happened in her childhood.

Sean! The fearless leader! I admired his zest for the victims under his care, his leadership skills. The chemistry between him and Taylor was electrifying and I was happy they were able to walk through their difference and be together.
They were both two opposites but despite their troublous childhood they had to learn to let go and trust God no matter how much they wanted to control everything.

I loved how the author gave each character their individual and unique personalities.

You'd enjoy this book of you love action, suspense, crime stories, computers and a good love story.

I received a copy of the book and this is my honest opinion.

Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman is book 1 in the Homeland Heroes series. This book is all about the FBI and the US Marshalls' Witness Protection Unit. Agents are trying to solve a case of cyber crime. The Phantom is out of control and the list of suspects keeps increasing. The suspense in this novel never ends. It is an exciting read from start to finish and it will keep you up late at night! I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Seconds to Live is an interesting suspense that focuses on cyber crime. When hackers access the files of the Witness Protection program and auction them off, several law enforcement groups must work together to quickly solve the case and prevent the possible deaths of many vulnerable witnesses.

Although I think of myself as fairly proficient with computers, I was fascinated by the details of the case and the methods the experts used to discover the person behind the attack. I loved how the different agencies were able to work together for a common cause, even allowing non-agency and sometimes questionable people to help. The plot moves along at a steady pace with plenty of surprises in store along the way. A reasonable amount of action takes place although much of the investigating takes place at headquarters. Of course there is a romantic thread that is woven through the story and it has some interesting developments of its own.

I personally enjoyed Seconds to Live very much. If not intimidated by a few details relating to solving computer based crime, please take a chance on this book. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman gave me an excellent first glimpse into the non-stop action, suspense, and real issues faced by characters in Ms. Sleeman's intricate plots. In Seconds to Live US Marshal Taylor Mills faces danger in her daily routine as she protects the many witnesses under her care. Yet, Taylor experiences a new level of danger with the nearly deadly attack on one of her witnesses by the infamous Phantom, an intelligent hacker with a strong violent streak. What Taylor and the cyber specialists at the FBI soon discover is that the US Marshals' Witness Protection database has been hacked by the Phantom and now the witnesses' personal information is being sold on the dark web to the highest bidders. Not sure of exactly which witnesses under the protection of the US Marshals have been compromised, the US Marshals call in the help of the FBI's RED Team. Sean Nichols is the leader of the FBI's RED Team, basically a governmental group of brilliant experts in the cyber field, law enforcement, as well as in criminal investigation, giving them an edge on taking down this famed and violent hacker. 
With the stakes exceptionally high, Sean and Taylor must work together despite their differing areas of expertise along with their opposite pace and methods of attack.  Although there is some discord between the two agencies at first, Sean and Taylor each push through the difficulties in order to take down the criminal. As Sean and Taylor investigate the massive compromise to the Witness Protection database, they interview some people associated with the Phantom. To their horror, Sean and Taylor see the violent paranoia of the Phantom, as the hacker-turned-murderer attacks mere spectators to the crimes.  Both Sean and Taylor struggle to believe that any of their trusted co-workers could be in on the hacks, but the evidence points.  Can they catch this person before more innocent lives are taken? Can they even trust their own teammates? Will Taylor be able to protect those under her care? 
Overall, the depth and various twists of the plot impressed me and definitely gave an added interest to keep the reader turning the page. I appreciated each of the characters, the depth that Ms. Sleeman gave them, allowing the reader to relate to them and learn from their struggles and triumphs.  I thought that another interesting and well-written aspect of the book was the topic of cyber crime, which is not as common in the Christian fiction world. It was refreshing to have a new perspective on both the US Marshals and the cyber crime fighting agencies.  I definitely enjoyed this book and would enjoy reading more of Ms. Sleeman's excellent writings. I hope that you have the chance to pick up this book and read it. If you are looking for a fast-paced, adventure with a real sense of the fight for justice as well as sweet story of romance, then this book is for you! 
Disclaimer: Bethany House Publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.

“One mistake. That was all it took to put Dustee’s life on the line—death right on her heels.” - Opening lines from “Seconds to Live” by Susan Sleeman

“Seconds to Live”, by Susan Sleeman, opens with a witness in danger, Dustee, and US Marshall Taylor Mills trying to save her. The action doesn’t stop from the opening page and this suspense thriller has it all. FBI agent and RED team leader, Sean Nichols, arrives on the scene with news that the Witness Protection database has been hacked explaining how Dustee was discovered and now thousands of lives are at stake as they work to discover who is behind the breach whilst simultaneously protecting Dustee from a dangerous killer.

Taylor and Sean both battle with trust issues and wrestle with what it means to trust God and walk in His will. Susan does a phenomenal job of putting into words this complex topic and the characters’ growth through the book is my favourite aspect. She has rooted their development in Biblical truths which are applicable outside of the novel.

Catching the hacker is no easy feat and the story unfolds in interesting and unexpected ways, I flew through it in one sitting. Taylor and Sean are supported by the RED team which is full of more interesting characters and I’m glad this is a start of a series, I’m looking forward to the next one and getting to know each member better!

If you enjoy a good crime thriller, this is one to get! It’s a five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale and highly recommended.