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 … 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.
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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.*
Wow! This book is fantastic! Love these characters…everyone plays really well off each other…like a family. It’s so easy to get pulled into the story and it’s very hard to put down. Thank you, Susan, for another great book!
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
I love books where I learn a lot of things and this book was packed full of fascinating things regarding a world I really don’t understand. I was intrigued when one of the characters stated,
“Most people didn’t have a clue that only five percent of the internet was available for public viewing, with the many private, hidden layers making up the remaining percentage.”
I’m not familiar with the dark web, but I do know it’s out there and a very real thing. I’m also not familiar with WITSEC or all the agencies out there to keep us safe.
However, I can tell that Susan Sleeman has done her research because I know of many of the places she mentioned in this book and her descriptions are spot on.
The way the author has written this book will keep you on the edge of your chair. I was captivated from the very first page until the end and I thought I knew who the bad guy really was, but NO, I was wrong. Boy, can this author twist things around so you really must finish the story just to breathe!
I am loving reading Susan Sleeman’s books! They are packed with suspense, intrigue, action and some twists and turns along the way, plus a bit of romance. (Okay, wait . . . maybe a little more than a bit!) All the characters in this story learn important lessons that will change their lives. Wow! This was a great book to start the new Homeland Series!
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman is book one in her Homeland Heroes series. When criminals hack into the Witness Protection database, U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills and FBI Agent Sean Nichols are thrust together to solve the case. The problem is, Taylor knows all of Sean’s deep, dark secrets and he’s reluctant to work with her. As usual Susan hooks you with her first sentence and keeps you on the line all the way to the end! I loved the interaction between all the members of the Red group. The author does a great job explaining how different branches of law enforcement works without getting too technical. Because of past experiences both Taylor and Sean had a lot of issues to work through; Trust being the main one. Once they realized that God had always been there for them it was easier to trust each other. The action was pretty intense at times and you never knew what was going to happen next!
I received this book from the author for my honest review.
I adore books that are hard hitting story lines from Federal Agencies! I think the men and women that work for these agencies are not given enough credit for all they do for our country. Most of what they do is behind the scenes and we never hear of the heroic actions they do on a daily basis (which is as it should be) but reading about it, even in a fiction book, lets us into their world and gives us a glimpse of what their life is like. I know I couldn’t do it but I’m so glad there are people that CAN! They keep me, my family and our country safe. In this book we have a dangerous hacker who exposes the WISTEC database and starts auctioning off the personal details to the highest bidder. I can’t even imagine it. Here are vulnerable people who have already been through a huge life change, going into the witness protection program, and now, their lives have been exposed and threatened by bad people. The clock is ticking to find this person and RED team must do it ASAP! FBI agent, Sean Michaels leads the RED team and is under the gun to find the hacker but he must do it with the help from U.S. Marshall, Taylor Mills. They have been corresponding for months online but have never met. They have become almost cyber-best friends but find that meeting each other in person is a whole other ballgame! Can they stop this criminal in time to save innocent people? Can they even work together? A wonderful book that I recommend! I even learned a lot along the way!
I can honestly say I am ready for the next book I want to know what’s the team is up to next. I found Dustee had her moments sometimes she acted like a child and other times like the adult she is, she kind of was borderline annoying. The author did a good job keeping you guessing and wondering what was going to happen next. That being said there was a part towards the end that kind of dragged for a chapter or two but over all I found the book hard to put down. I was not a fan of the epilogue I won’t give the reason why as it will ruin what happens in the book. I will say that this is a clean read and there is so much suspense you will want to finish it in one setting just to find out what happened. I would totally recommend this book and I really can’t wait to read more about what’s happening next with the Montgomery Three. I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion
Dramatic start to the story. You feel the intensity of it pretty quickly. There’s a clever, cruel villain out there that won’t be easy to find let alone stop.
I liked that the two main characters have only known each other for six months. Well, they have communicated online for six months but haven’t met yet. But this case is something that changes that. They have shared some pretty private challenges in the anonymity of being online. But now, it’s going to be a bit awkward as they meet face to face. It leads to some frictions while they are on the job. It also has a low key romance which they are fighting.
Some of the people that Taylor is responsible to protect those who follow the rules in WITSEC. Dustee just didn’t happen to be one of those. It is putting her twin sister and herself in even more danger. Taylor will still go to the mat when it comes to protecting them and that also puts her in the line of fire.
This was an intense, emotional, action story with twists and surprises. It even has touches here and there of faith in God being shown.
Some of the most dramatic surprises awaited me towards the end of the story. The identity of Phantom had to be one of the biggest.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Keeps you guessing:
This was an interesting book with many twists and turns as the team endeavored to find the hacker. I enjoyed meeting the different RED team members and think that the author has set things up well for the rest of the series. However the writing style made it difficult for me to settle into this book. It was slow going especially as the action and discovery tended to be more reactionary than proactive.
Sean and Taylor were authentic and complex characters. They were each grappling with issues such as fear,betrayal and lying and had to figure out how to forgive and trust so that they were no longer held back from living life to the fullest. Unfortunately they were like oil and water continually butting heads and misunderstanding each other. It was not a feel good romance but more of a slow grind as they fought against becoming more than just friends. It felt a bit depressing at times and I think the story could have done with more humor or good times to lighten things up a bit. I was however most relieved to find that they finally resolved some of their issues and there is the promise of a HEA!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
As I turned the first page, I was hooked, and with my heart in my throat I wondered if the victim would survive. Not knowing the story behind the chase, I was quickly pulled in.
There is a bit of sweet romance here, between two hurting individuals, but most of this story is about catching a murderer and computer hacker.
When they say “Big Brother is watching”, it may not be who we think it is, and why? We are dealing with elite government agencies, and they seem to work miracles, but as the facts begin to unfold, wow! Surprises abound, and some I really didn’t see coming, and you wonder how this is all going to end!
Be ready for a page-turner, you won’t be able to put this one down until you have answers!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
Exhilarating!
Wow! There were a dizzying number of twists and turns in this story! I absolutely didn’t see any of them coming and felt that the resolution at the end was very satisfying.
I felt that the main characters both grew a lot and we got to know them very well as they were well developed. Secondary characters also had a strong presence and will likely take on greater roles in upcoming books in the series (this is the first in a new series).
This is a Christian romantic suspense with the premise being criminal hackers and the witness protection agency with marshals and the FBI working together to try to catch a dangerous hacker/killer. It is very well edited and I did not see any spelling or grammatical errors at all.
I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy this genre. It is well-written and a captivating read.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
3.5 stars
“Help. Oh, help. . . . she’d made a huge mistake.”
When one of U. S. Marshall Taylor Mills’ witnesses breaks protocol and is hunted down by a vicious criminal, the tip of the proverbial iceburg breaks through the surface. Not only has Dustee’s whereabouts been comprimised but the notorious “Phantom” has managed to breach the entire database of the Witness Protection Program. Frantic to protect those for whom she is responsible, Taylor relunctantly agrees to join forces with an elite FBI RED team, (Rapid Emergency Deployment). However, the lead agent on the case is none other than a man she has only known in cyber-space; Sean Nichols.
Glimpsing Taylor Mills in person for the first time nearly takes F. B. I. Agent Sean Nichols’ breath away. They know each other so well, and then again they don’t, since their only conversations have been through various emails back and forth across the country. How interesting has this case become, when not only are the lives of dozens of innocent people at stake, but rapid fire emotions are threatening to rise to the surface as well.
As the team rushes to stay one step ahead of a deranged hacker, Taylor and Sean struggle to find a middle ground through some of the tough decisions that a high profile case demands. In the end, who may have “seconds to live”?
What an interesting story line, especially for those who have a profound understanding of technology and how dangerous criminal infiltration can be when exercised at the highest levels. The two main characters spend a lot of time in their own heads analyzing their relationship from every possible angle, which may slow the story down for some readers or it could have the opposite effect . . . . an enhanced satisfaction in the end.
I received a book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
“One Mistake. That was all it took to put Dustee’s life on the line—death right on her heels.”
And that right there is the explosive start of another stellar suspense written by Susan Sleeman! Someone hacked the Witness Protection database or WITSEC and now lives are at stake. FBI Sean Nicols and US Marshal Taylor Mills must put their skills to the test protecting Dustee while trying to bring down a criminal name Phantom, who has eluded law enforcement every step of the way.
One thing I can say for Sleeman, she never lets go of the reader once she hooks you with that first page! The pace rarely lets up and just when you think everyone is safe—bam!—she writes another twist into the plot. I also love the team effort of everyone involved—fellow FBI agent Kiley Dawson, Deputy U.S. Marshal Mack Jordan, and FBI Analyst Cameron Linn. I truly admire this team’s skills, personalities, and how much of themselves they put in to catch a criminal & protect a witness. Sleeman is one of the best at pulling differing characters together seamlessly! The push pull romance between Sean and Taylor adds an angsty layer of tension upping the suspense. Both were burnt in love, had rough childhoods and are wary of trusting another person, thus putting a wall up between them. Something God loves to tear down in lives!
“We have the same problem, you and I. We can’t trust ourselves, because we can’t trust others or God. We spout the words. Go through the motions. But actually trusting? Naw, we don’t succeed.”
I love seeing how everything culminates at the end as they bring down the Phantom, work out trust issues and once again rely on the Lord to get through every day. I can’t wait to read the next books where I hope we get each of the team members’ stories. Especially Mack, he fascinates me with his big personality to go with his big Texas drawl…getting him to open up will test Sleeman’s writing skills I think!
*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House on behalf of the author and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions stated are my own. *
I selected this from NetGalley, so it had some places where the print went from one chapter or section into another without a break to let the reader know there was a change. That being said, this was a good story by Susan Sleeman. I did not guess who the culprit was before the revelation at the end. The romance was a bit wishy washy for me, but I liked Sean and Taylor’s characters and their interaction with the rest of the team, even Dustee the brat! The pacing is good and plenty to keep the reader guessing. I think there could be a series written about the WitSec Marshalls if Ms. Sleeman wanted to go in that direction.
‘Trust me, I know what I’m doing. I have more training and experience than any of them.’
When a cybercriminal hacks into the WITSEC program and begins auctioning off personal details to the highest bidder, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals must race to try and uncover the identity of the hacker before all the witnesses in the program are compromised or killed.
FBI Agent Sean Nichols must work with U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills, and they only know each other from an online presence. They now have to work against the clock and form a bond that will help them catch this devious hacker and now murderer before more people die.
Susan Sleeman is a go-to author for me for suspense. She is good at what she does, no doubt about it. I love how she brings in the technical details of each branch of law enforcement into the mix to make it even more interesting. The story builds excitement with each chapter and races to an exciting conclusion. I highly recommend this book. I am now eagerly awaiting more in Sleeman’s Homeland Heroes series.
*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a preview copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions stated here are entirely my own.