Happy Friday! I hope you’ve all had a great week! Are you ready for Christmas yet? 🙂 I think I’m just about done with my shopping… if you’re still shopping for any book lovers in your life, Hoarding Books’ First Line Friday linkup is a great place to look for ideas! Today I’m sharing the first line from Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman:

“One mistake. That was all it took to put Dustee’s life on the line — death right on her heels.”

Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman

The Basics

Title: Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman

Series: Homeland Heroes (Book 1)

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: 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.

My Thoughts

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

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

Another Friday, another book review! I’m linking up with First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books every Friday. Head over to the linkup if you want to read more first lines! 🙂 Today I’m sharing a book by a new-to-me author, David Rawlings. Keep reading for my review!

“Eighty-eight years of life reduced to a vintage, cracked briefcase sat before Daniel Whiteley.”

The Camera Never Lies by David Rawlings

The Basics

Title: The Camera Never Lies

Author: David Rawlings

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

From the Back Cover: Daniel, Kelly, and Milly appear to be the perfect family. But an old camera will expose secrets no one wants developed.

Daniel Whitely is a successful marriage counselor and bestselling author, yet his own marriage is in crisis and his daughter is drifting further away each day. To make matters worse, the deadline for his second book has come and gone, and he still hasn’t written a single word. 

When Daniel inherits an old camera from his grandfather, he notices an inscription on the bottom: “No matter what you think you might see, the camera never lies.” 

Daniel begins using the camera, but every time he develops his photos, they threaten to reveal secrets that could sabotage both his marriage and his career—exposing him as a fraud and destroying the life he has worked so hard to build. 

He’s faced with a choice: keep his secrets and save his career or come clean and possibly save his family. Which will he choose? Which would you choose? 

My Thoughts

This is a unique story, with a bit of a supernatural/allegorical element. While the story centers on Daniel, a marriage counselor, and his struggling family, the “main character” is definitely the camera! It only takes pictures that show the truth – the real truth about its subjects’ thoughts, feelings, and motives, even and especially when the truth is not visible on the surface. The story deals with themes of honesty, trust, and family in a fresh, thought-provoking way. It’s an easy, enjoyable read, perfect for curling up by the fire with this winter!

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

What’s the first line in the book you’re currently reading? Let me know in the comments and head over to the linkup on Hoarding Books for more!