This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the first book in the Toure Security Group series. I found myself lost several times while reading this book, and that I was missing something. The beginning of this book was a little slow to get going. I think some being the first book in the series the relationship between the characters could have been laid out better for the reader. I did enjoy all the action and the ending of the book was really good. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Romantic Suspense) or author (Patricia Sargeant) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This was a fantastic romantic suspense novel. It perfectly blended the romance with the suspense. Patricia Sargeant is a new to me author and I cannot wait to read more by her.

Patricia Sargeant brilliantly blends action, passion, danger and intrigue in an irresistible tale of romantic suspense that will keep readers up all night: Down to the Wire.

Cyber security expert Malachi Touré is on the trail of a hacker. Determined to leave no stone unturned to find his prey and stop them from wreaking maximum havoc and destruction, Malachi is flabbergasted when he uncovers the identity of the hacker who is the only woman he ever let close whom he has never managed to get over: Dr Grace Blackwell.

Medical researcher Grace is desperate. She needs to find whoever had stolen a potentially deadly formula from her computer – before hell is unleashed. Grace was already at the end of her tether – and her stress levels explode when she comes face to face with Malachi! Fate might have wrenched them apart, but long-buried feelings quickly come rushing back to the surface.

Grace had broken Malachi’s heart once before and he isn’t sure whether he is willing to go through all that agony again. But with a killer on the loose intent on getting rid of Grace for good, the two of them need to work together to defeat a vengeful enemy – and failure is simply not an option!

Is a future for Grace and Malachi possible? Or is their love simply not meant to be?

Romantic suspense fans are in for a treat with Patricia Sargeant’s Down to the Wire. Tense, exciting and unpredictable, this nail-biting page-turner will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they find themselves completely gripped by this addictive and engrossing tale.

Down to the Wire is a superb romantic suspense novel that is a struggle to put down and I cannot wait to read the subsequent novels in the Touré Security Group mini-series by Patricia Sargeant.

This book had everything that I needed to read, second-chance romance, murder mystery, smart female main character and a band of protective brothers?? I couldn't devour it fast enough. I love the writing and being able to read both the female and males POV's. Grace and Malachi's coming together was sweet and I am happy they got their HEA. I would love to see stories happen for Malachi's brother's as well. While I guessed the person behind it from the beginning I still enjoyed the ride and was surprised by some of the other players that were involved. Recommend for a casual enjoyable read.

A good mix of romance suspense and second chance romance.

This story definitely is slow to start so in this humble readers opinion, it’s hard for readers to stay interested. We do get a bit of a pick up towards the end of Down to the Wire though. Still, these are interesting characters with a decent plot. An okay good read.

I love a good romantic suspense story, and prolific author, Patricia Sargeant, has written one that hits all the buttons. First, the heroine, Dr. Grace Blackwell’s life is in danger, and her nearest relative, Grandmother Melba Stall’s life is also at stake. Second, there is a long list of suspects who start to drop dead like flies, and a callous murderer on the loose responsible for those deaths. Third, the hero, Malachi Touré, stands out as the perfect protector and lover.

Grace Blackwell, a medical researcher, is on the brink of discovering a cure for diabetes when a formula she is working on transforms into a substance that has the potential to be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands. However, before she can solidify her research, her computer is hacked, and mayhem begins. Grace needs protection because of her findings, for her and her grandmother. Enter Malachi “Mal” Touré, co-owner of the Touré Security Group with his brothers, Hezekiah and Jeremiah. The manner in which Mal becomes involved is one of the many plot twists that occur in this intriguing story. I’ll allow you to discover how their paths crossed. Did I mention that Grace and Mal have history? And the plot thickens. Not only is there an urgency for protection, but there is also an urgency to find a killer who is responsible for a slew of dead bodies including Grace’s mentor and friend. The tense, suspenseful storyline is balanced with some very steamy love scenes as Grace and Mal examine and acknowledge their feelings for each other.

The side characters, Mal’s brothers and Grace’s grandmother, have key roles in contributing to the intrigue of the story and the development of the main characters. DOWN TO THE WIRE also sets the stage for future stories of the Touré brothers, Hezekiah and Jeremiah. I look forward to reading their stories. The “who-dunnit” element is masterfully handled when Grace is confronted by the killer. No spoilers, fans. This page-turner will keep you guessing to the very end. I love Mal and Grace’s HFN. It is a woosah moment after a chaotic situation.

DOWN TO THE WIRE is an engrossing and entertaining story that effectively combines danger and passion. I recommend it for your reading pleasure.

Reviewed - Brenda Larnell for Romance in Color

Dr.Grace is a medical researcher who realizes her information was being hacked which is pretty much a major problem since she's the one with access to a deadly formula she accidently found while on her research. Malachi is a IT security expert who was on the trail of the hacker and manages to run into Grace someone who he hasn't gotten over. Both work together to figure out what happened to her friend who she believes was murdered and looking to get the proof when someone who doesn't want her to look further starts to strike out against her and those she loves.

This was a pretty good read really fast paced or maybe I just read to quickly because I was just that into this book. I like getting to know the characters and I really love a good second chance at love senario. Grace was too focused on her work and just wasn't interested in a relationship they can only complicate and distract her and Malachi really cares for her but what could he do she's pretty much made up her mind and it was interesting seeing that side of Grace start to loosen up and change. It was interesting seeing them investigate what's going on and I liked that there was a bit of twists and turns around here and there to keep things interesting. Overall this was a pretty good book I really enjoyed it.

In Down to the Wire, Book 1 of Patricia Sargeant’s new romantic suspense series The Touré Security Group, a dangerous hacker’s theft of a potentially deadly formula unexpectedly unites two former lovers. Sargeant’s descriptive writing incorporating all the senses, her suspenseful multilayered and original story, and her colorful, authentic dialogue drew me into her compelling novel from the first scene. She deftly develops her complex, likable, and fallible characters with emotional, funny, and snarky interactions. I love how Sargeant explores and portrays the relationships between Grace and her Gram, Mal and his brothers, and Grace and Mal. They’re one of the novel’s best parts besides the romance and suspense, and they contribute to Mal and Grace’s development and evolution. With the development of Mal’s brothers and their stories, Sargeant also starts laying a foundation for future novels in the series.

Dr. Grace Blackwell’s diabetes research is interrupted when her computer is hacked, and her research documents and formula are stolen. Her attempts to discover the thief’s identity lead her to IT security expert Malachi Touré, who is tracking the hacker with his family-owned firm. Malachi, Grace, and his business partner brothers reluctantly agree to work together in a race against time to track down the hacker who endangers Grace’s life.

Malachi has yet to get over Grace, even after she left him without explaining why four years ago. He can’t believe she’s the one who hacked into his client’s company. Grace is a medical researcher, not a hacker. Even if it’s been years, and she’s made it hard to trust her with her abandonment and silence. Unfortunately, the moment Malachi sees and is near Grace again, he discovers that their connection and attraction are as deep as ever and still simmers fiercely between them, making it difficult to be around her. While Mal still has lingering doubts about trusting Grace again, he will do whatever it takes to keep Grace safe when a killer sets his sights on her. But can Grace balance her essential work and living a life filled with Mal and love?

Sargeant develops Mal and Grace’s relationship through steamy, intimate, sexy, passionate love scenes and snarky, funny, and emotional conversations and interactions that reveal and evolve their characters, relationships, and her story. Intense, caring, protective, and intelligent, Mal is gifted with a knack for seeing the big picture. But since losing Grace, he’s closed off, and while he’s been physically present, he’s checked out emotionally. Grace’s return brings him back to life, out of his shell, back to his old self. Malachi can no longer deny how much he’s hurting because she left without an explanation and didn’t trust him. Most of all, he might want a second chance. The past and things she can’t control haunt loyal, committed, intense, and brilliant Grace. After her sister’s death, she became obsessed with making diabetes treatments less expensive and shut herself off from the world to focus on her research. In a fog, Grace is weighed down by guilt and a sense of failure because she didn’t see her sister struggling with her disease and needing help. Grace sacrifices everything for her research, including her love for Mal and their life together.

I love how Sargeant balances Grace and Malachi’s romance with the mystery and suspense elements in this fast-paced romance. Down to the Wire is a suspenseful, sexy, funny, angsty, steamy, thrilling second-chance romance exploring the themes of self-discovery, grief, guilt, finding balance in life, learning to trust, doing what you love, sibling rivalry, and healing and recovery. I look forward to continuing the series, which is off to an entertaining and suspenseful start.

Advanced review copy provided by HARLEQUIN - Romance via Netgalley for review.

I have been a Harlequin Romance Fan for as long as I have been reading romance novels. In fact they are some of the first romance novels that I ever read. As such I was extremely excited to have received the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy off Down to the Wire by Patricia Sargeant.

This novel tells the story of Grace and Mal as they try to solve a series of murders and hacks. Grace and Mal also have a history that must be faced as they try to figure out who done it. As an overachieving medical researcher, Grace has put too much pressure on herself, in her effort to cure the disease that took her beloved older sister from her. Its that research, rather the attempted theft of her formulas, that bring Mal back into her life.

A novel about second chances and finding balance, Down to the Wire is an enjoyable read that reminds me of all the reasons that I adore Harlequin romances.

Good combination of second chance romance and suspense. The story opens as Grace, a medical researcher, opens an email that immediately hacks into her files. Several files are stolen, which could be dangerous in the wrong hands. She also learns that her mentor, Dr. B., died in a fall the night before he supposedly sent her the suspect file. Grace sets out to discover who hacked her computer by doing the same thing in reverse.

Mal, one of three brothers who own the Touré Security Group, was hired that day to discover who hacked into a defense contractor's computer system. He's stunned when the hacker he's chasing sends him a message accusing him of being the hacker. After an unsatisfactory exchange of messages, they agree to meet. Mal is shocked when the hacker who shows up is his ex-girlfriend.

Mal and Grace have a history together. They met in Chicago four years earlier and had an intense relationship. But when Grace's older sister Pam died of diabetes-related complications, Grace was riddled with guilt. She felt she'd allowed her relationship with Mal to interfere with her diabetes research, so she walked away from him. They've never forgotten each other, and now they are thrown together as they race to find out who stole Grace's files.

There were many times I wanted to grab Grace by the shoulders and shake her. The attraction and connection between her and Mal is still there, but she refuses to believe that she can do her work and have a relationship at the same time. Whenever she and Mal seem to get closer, she pushes him away. Grace also has significant trust issues, which become more apparent as they look for suspects.

Mal is a good guy who is reluctant to risk his heart with Grace again. Her departure four years earlier devastated him. He has closed himself off from people, preferring to do his work with the company via email and texts rather than face-to-face.

The rekindling of their relationship was complicated. Both are wary of getting involved again. However, the sparks and connection are so obvious that everyone around them can see them. I liked Mal's protectiveness as the danger intensified, and I appreciated that Grace trusted him enough to accept his protection. As their feelings for each other grow stronger, they must consider whether they are willing to risk their hearts again. It takes straight talk from their loved ones to let go of their fears and take that leap of faith.

The suspense of the story was good. The number of suspects grew as Mal and Grace dug deeper into who would benefit from the theft. The twists and turns of the investigation kept me hooked as the body count went up, and they got closer to the truth. The final confrontation came as a surprise and turned intense very quickly. I loved Grace's coolness and presence of mind as she faced off with the killer. The resolution was well done and believable.

I enjoyed getting to know Mal's brothers, Zeke and Jerry. The dynamics among the three brothers were interesting and showcased each one's personality well. Mal is the quiet one and the peacemaker who finds himself refereeing the arguments between Zeke and Jerry. Zeke is the oldest and tends to be a little bossy. Jerry is the youngest and appears to have a great deal of resentment toward Zeke. However, they put aside their differences to keep Grace safe. They also extend their protection to her grandmother. I loved Melba, a feisty old lady in an assisted living center in Florida. She has a great relationship with Grace and is blunt in advising Grace about her lack of a life outside of work. I laughed out loud when Jerry was sent to be Melba's guard because she got into the cover story with so much enthusiasm.

This was a nice second chance romance. Bodyguard and a crime mystery. Murder and more. It was a nice web to untangle. This is a new to me author. There were a few steamy scenes.

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I was very invested in both the crime and the romance. Grace and Mal clearly still love each other four years later despite how things ended between them. They are so protective of each other and I loved it. I kind of wish there was an epilogue because I wanted to see more of them.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Down to the Wire by Patricia Sargeant is the beginning of the romantic suspense series titled The Toure Security Group. I found the story to be a slow starter. The pacing really does not pick up until late in the book. I never found myself immersed in the book (which means I kept wondering if I was near the end yet). I thought the concept was interesting, but I felt the final product was lacking. The characters needed to be developed and there needed to be action. I know it is a romantic suspense, but I wanted more action and less attraction. There are detailed intimate scenes and foul language. There are repetitive details as well. I wanted to like this second chance romance, but it was uninspiring. While Down to the Wire was not for me, I suggest downloading a sample so you can judge it for yourself. Down to the Wire is a tame tale with a dreary doctor, bickering brothers, a pilfered formula, a mysterious murder, and a second chance romance.

This is the 1st book in “The Touré Security Group Series.” This is an entertaining, second chance at romance, suspenseful, action packed, drama filled, mystery, mayhem, secrets, murder, romance, great characters and an intriguing plot that held me captive. This is the journey of Mal and Grace along with Mal’s brothers Jeremiah and Hezekiah whose parents left their security company in their hands. Each brother has a different role in the Touré Security Company. Grace is a research scientist doctor. Mal and Grace met in Chicago and had a brief affair 4-years-ago. Grace explained everything in a letter to Mal which left him bitter but he never forgot what he and Grace shared. Grace and Mal are back in Ohio where they meet up again after someone has hacked into Grace’s computer. The hackers have taken a file that Grace has been working on that she desperately needs to get back. The file has components of a drug for diabetes but some how with one wrong ingredient that Grace added it can be used as a weapon for mass destruction. Grace was working diligently to right a wrong. Grace is in need of Mal and his brothers to help get her formula back, keep her grandmother safe and protect them both. In the process people are killed, attempted kidnapping, secrets are revealed as Mal and Grace work their way back to a second chance at romance. Can’t wait to see which brother that Patricia Sargeant writes about next.

I received an ARC via NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Harlequin Romantic Suspense Multicultural Interest | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

(3.5)Provided suspense with a surprise at the end. I was wrong about the head honcho and intrigued they turned out to be the guilty party. I was intrigued and invested in Mal and his brothers, I am curious to their back story. Grace did not give me the warm fuzzies, I kept trying, I understand where she was coming from, we are all our own worse enemies, but there is tenacious and then there is stubborn. Some steam commenced. Many thanks for the arc. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #DowntotheWire #PatriciaSargeant #HarlequinRomanticSuspense #NetGalley

HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Harlequin Romantic Suspense and NetGalley provided an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

I enjoy romantic suspense books but this was hard to get through. Both the second chance romance and suspense elements seemed to be clumsily executed; they didn’t make walking around sense. I’d recommend skipping this one.

An intriguing romantic suspense. Interesting family dynamics. A nice variety of characters. I did skip over the intimate scenes. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

3.8 Stars
Malachi is working a having case when Grace pops back into his life.
Grace's research has been stolen and it has the potential to be deadly.
A quick read.
I needed more on the backstory of Mal and Grace.
A decent read that I would recommend. Looking forward to more on the Touré brothers.