Made of Steele

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

MADE OF STEELE

She keeps her feelings to herself...

When Teagan Steele faces her hardest challenge since taking over her family's security company, she has to dig deep to figure out how one of their clients smuggled antiquities into this country, and what they did with them. And she has to clear Steele Guardians of any charges of collusion and wrongdoing.

But a bold undercover agent changes everything.

When she comes face-to-face with undercover ICE agent, Drew Collier, who is deep in the smuggling ring, she has to work hard to keep her emotions in check and herself professional at all times. Despite her best efforts, Teagan and Drew grow closer, but a new threat soon puts their budding relationship to the test and their lives in grave danger.

My Review:

Honestly, I don't know how Susan Sleeman manages to apply fresh twists to each romantic suspense novel she writes. The antiquity smuggling is interesting all on its own but then she throws in another angle and I was, like, whhhaaatttt?! Gobsmacked all the way through. :-)

And her meet-cutes are some of the best. This one had me alternately wincing and laughing. Love hot-headed Teagan and the way she contrasts with easy going Drew...until she starts getting under his skin. There's some great banter as well as soul-searching dialogue about faith that made these characters vibrant and memorable. Oh...and there's a bit of a fake relationship trope in here as well which was all kinds of fun!

Of course, all the sisters and cousins provide a side of comic relief and angst, just to stir things up even more. This is the fourth book in the Steele Guardians series but reads really well as a standalone. Fans of the author will thrill at some cameos from previous series as well (Nighthawk  Security and Truth Seekers) which had me in full bibliophile fan-girling mode. 

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Whitney Dykhouse. I've come to associate her voice with Susan Sleeman's books so I always get a real sense of homecoming the second I start to listening.

Goal Update: #1 Read more Indie authors, #6 Stay current with a series, #8 Play author catch-up

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Made of Steele, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 10 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Dead Heat

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

DEAD HEAT

Tracing cyber criminals is his job...

When hackers breach hospital security to steal patient records and begin blackmailing them, Veritas Center's cybercrime expert, Nick Thorn is hired to locate security holes and patch the system. But he doesn't stop there. He wants to bring down the hacker and make her pay. Problem is, he inadvertently inserts himself in  FBI agent Piper Nash's sting to catch the same hacker, and Piper has no choice but to arrest him and force him to stand down.

But the job just turned personal.

Nick finds himself attracted to Piper and wants to copy, but when his grandmother falls prey to a cyber-attack by the same hacker, he takes the assault very personally and will stop at nothing to find the hacker. Not even stop for Piper's warnings to take care. They're in a dead heat to the finish line, but what Nick doesn't realize is the hacker has no intentions of going to jail, and she's reserved a bullet with Piper's name on it. With time ticking down can Nick partner with Piper to find the killer before a point-blank shot takes her out?

My Review:

published in 2020

I cannot tell you how much I loooovvveee Susan Sleeman's novels!!! I'm getting close to reading them all...well the ones in print anyway. And that will be a sad day though I won't be left in mourning for long since she keeps up a steady stream of new releases. :-)

Love this series -- the camaraderie and 'found family' vibe at the Veritas Center is the best. This is the fourth book in the Truth Seekers series but can be read as a standalone. I actually missed the third book though I've read the first two. Anyhow, each book has its own suspense and romance but with nice spill over with all the key characters at the Veritas Center. 

So...Piper and Nick...best meet-cute ever. Bwahahahaha!!!! And such a contrast in personalities. He's a bit (okay, sometimes a lot) flirty and he seems to have such an easy-going personality (but keep in mind that still waters run deep.) Piper is all work and no play and intense!!!! So, sometimes they clash spectacularly, especially when she finds herself attracted to brash Nick. :-)

The suspense is an intricately woven blend of police procedural and action/danger. Punctuated with light hearted moments of humour...and a few toe-curling scenes. Exactly the way I like my romantic suspense!

And I listened to the exceptional narration of Whitney Dykhouse who is the voice of most, if not all, of Susan Sleemman's audio books. Highly recommended.

Goal Update: #1 Read more indie authors, #2 Catch up on a series I'm behind in, #8 Play author catch-up (I have nine books to go -- do you think I'll make it before the end of the year?!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- Winner's Choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Dead Heat, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 26 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

Dead Silence

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ 

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

DEAD SILENCE

A child she'll do anything to keep.

After Kelsey Moore's husband dies, she wants only one thing. To adopt her husband's son who she has come to call her own. But as she begins the process that her husband had dragged his feet on, she learns a secret so shocking she begins to question everything she knows except for the love she feels for her son. The child is not her husband's biological child, her former husband never had legal custody of the boy, and no one knows where he got the child. Fearing she might lose her son, Kelsey just find his birth mother and convince her to give up her parental rights.

A danger she's never known.

But when Kelsey starts asking questions, she runs into a brick wall named DEA agent Devon Dunbar. Devon has been investigating an adoption/human trafficking ring with drug connections for the last six months, and he's not about to let Kelsey interfere in his investigation. But even if Devon brings out feelings she never thought she'd experience again, and he asks her to trust him, Kelsey can't even give him the benefit of the doubt. Not with the way her husband had lied to her and not even when her own life is on the line. If she doesn't succeed, she could lose the one thing that means everything to her -- her five-year-old son.

My Review:

published in 2019

Why yes, this is me trying to read every Susan Sleeman book before the year is out....and I'm getting so close!!! And enjoying myself immensely as I compulsively work at catching up with this author. :-)

Dead Silence is the second book in the Truth Seekers series but reads fantastically as a standalone suspense novel as well. There are recurring secondary characters from both this series and a previous one, but they are introduced in such a way that it's not overwhelming for a newbie reader. What you do get is the sense of camaraderie among the team at the Veritas Center and the various law enforcement agencies they work with. 

You also get an amazing suspense plot with so many twists and turns! Heart-stoppingly good! And I love the way there's a solid amount of investigative work along with some action scenes. Kelsey is a partner at the Veritas Center as a forensic anthropologist (think Temperance Brennan of Bones fame) and the author has included tons of interesting forensic details throughout the story.

The opening scene is fraught with eerie tension and sets the sense of desperation for the rest of the read. Love the way Devon and Kelsey are thrown together and then how they have to learn to work together -- Kelsey, the determined mother who just happens to have access to the latest forensic tools to aid an investigation and Devon, the world weary undercover agent who is tired of living a double life but driven to put an end to a notorious crime ring. Some clashing of wills and a whole lot of swooning ensues. :-)

Once again I listened to the audible edition, expertly narrated by Whitney Dykhouse. I've come to associate her voice with Susan Sleeman's storytelling and it always gives me a kind of homecoming thrill when I start listening to a new book.

Goal Update: #1 Read more indie authors, #2 Catch up on s series I'm behind in, #8 Play author catchup

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Dead Silence , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 24 2022 . Offer open to 

Dead Ringer

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ!

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

DEAD RINGER

She was hiding from her past...

Wen a local woman goes missing and Sheriff Blake Jenkins delivers her blood sample to DNA expert Emory Steele for analysis, Blake discovers Emory is a dead ringer for the missing woman. Blake's gut says the woman is related to Emory. But Emory rejects the notion, requiring a DNA test before she'll concede that she does indeed have a twin sister she never knew about.

Now she'll do anything to see it come to light. Emory joins Blake in a search for her missing sister, but when an attempt is made to abduct Emory as well, they begin to think the abduction is related to Emory's birth parents. Blake vows to keep her under his watch until they discover what this maniac is looking for and bring him to justice. But Emory balks at him wanting to keep her under constant surveillance as she's struggling to come to grips with a former brutal attack, ad she wants nothing to dow with a man who might want to get close to her. When it becomes clear that Blake is the only one who can keep her safe, will she let him get close enough to do so?

My Review:

published in 2019

Eeeep, picture me hopping up and down doing my version of a bibliophile happy dance as I not only embark on a Susan Sleeman new-to-me series adventure but come closer to achieving my goal of reading all her books by the end of the year. Skip. Hop. Twirl. And repeat. :-)

This series features the brightest scientific and investigative minds at the famed Veritas Center -- I say famed because I've been reading about this place and these characters as they crossover into other Sleeman series like Nighthawk Security and Steele Guardians. Cold Harbor too, if I'm remembering correctly.  So it's going to be really fun to get the inside scoop on folks I feel like I already know a wee bit. All kinds of book nerdy fun for me!

Having said that, all of this author's series can be read independent of each other so no worries about having to start back with Cold Harbor. I actually realize I still have two books left in that series. Yikes, but I'm getting side tracked and likely confusing you. All you need to know is that the Veritas Center has all kinds of state of the art equipment and the keenest minds working independently and for various law enforcement entities on all the crime solving techie/lab stuff. Think a private CSI.

Emory is one of the partners and a DNA expert and when Blake brings a highly time-sensitive sample to her well....let's just say surprise would be an understatement. And he's a whole lot steamed because he thinks he's being played and their 'meet-cute' doesn't turn out to be all that cute. :-) Because, unknown to Emory, she has a twin...a twin who has been abducted. Cue the creepy music because...

The opening scene -- the only one in the book not from either Blake's or Emory's POV -- is extremely intense and gritty. Rest assured, the whole book isn't like that, but, wowzers, Susan Sleeman sure got my attention!

And then the race is on as Blake and Emory join forces to find her sister. Expect emotional angst, toe-curling fireworks, and lots of uber cool (and often painstaking) investigative work. A consume-in-one-gulp kind of read.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Whitney Dykhouse and loved every minute of my 'read'. I've come to associate this narrator with Susan Sleeman's novels and I always get revved up the second I hear her voice. (Yes, I know that's weird, but I can't help myself.)

Goal Update: #1 Read more indie authors, #2 Catch up on series I'm behind in, #7 Start new-to-me series, #8 Play author catch-up

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy. Winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Dead Ringer, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 10 2022 . Offer open to 

Forged in Steele

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

FORGED IN STEELE

When a baby goes missing...

The ink was barely dry on the contract Bristol Steele had signed for Steele Guardians to provide security for a metro hospital when a baby is abducted from the nursery. Horrified and devastated for the family, Bristol puts everything in her life aside to find the abducted child and return her to her devastated parents. But when FBI agent Jared Wolfe steps in and tries to shut down her efforts, Bristol isn't prepared for the sparks that fly between them. 

She'll risk everything, even her life.

Bristol can't back down and soon finds herself working alongside Jared. She struggles to make sure her growing feelings for him aren't a distraction, but as she tugs at Jared's heart and he makes his feelings clear, she's not sure she's succeeding. Maybe she does need to back off for the good of the missing baby, but that might leave her company's reputation in the dirt and proving her abilities to her family has always been her driving force.

My Review:

I get positively giddy when a new Susan Sleeman novel releases. I especially love the way she builds a whole series around a family. The Byrd brothers (Nighthawk Security) might have the edge but these Steele sisters/cousins are nosing in pretty close. Their agency is very much a family affair and I love the occasional assist they get from their parents and grandparents too. These older Steeles add humour and wisdom and a healthy dose of faith to these stories.

Plus there's a bunch of cameos from a previous series -- Truth Seekers -- which I haven't read yet, but I have to now! One of this author's strengths is the ability she has to create a standalone novel within a series so you could totally jump in with this third book. But she also manages to add in former heroes and heroines from earlier series without losing readers who haven't met them yet. If that makes any sense. Like, rather than feeling overwhelmed when these characters pop up, I'm so intrigued I know I have to hit her backlist and read their stories too. 

Forged in Steele has an emotionally compelling suspense plot. Who can't empathize with distraught parents over the abduction of their newborn?! The investigative process was fascinating -- I could feel the impatience of everyone involved as they meticulously attend to every tedious detail in their search for the missing child. At times it felt like they were working in slow-mo and then they'd suddenly be catapulted forward with a new lead and it see-sawed back and forth that way for the whole read. Kept me on the edge right to very end.

Come to think of it, the romance was kinda like that too. Hellooo, reunion romance angst. Nothing like a chance to mend young love gone awry! More reasons that make this book unputdownable...

...or unstoppable, because I listened to the audible edition narrated by Whitney Dykhouse and I couldn't stop listening. 

Goal Update: #1 Read more indie authors, #6 Stay current with a series, #8 Play author catch-up (I'm just 2 series away from being caught up with Susan Sleeman!)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- Winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Forged in Steele, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 27 2022 . Offer open to 

Nerves of Steele

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

NERVES OF STEELE

One mysterious break-in...

As a middle child, Peyton Steele has always needed to find a way to standout. But coming to the attention of the head of security for her client's jewelry store when millions of dollars in jewels go missing is not the way to do it. She thinks the state-of-the-art cameras she'd recently had installed will make it easy to find the thief, but she's stunned when the video doesn't show the theft taking place.

Propels her into a level of danger she's never known.

The lack of video evidence is not acceptable to store security manager and former detective, Grant Logan. He's given up his law enforcement career to spend more time with his daughter and he's up for a promotion as security manager for the entire jewelry chain. To gain the job that will give his young daughter everything he wants for her, he has to prove his abilities by finding the thief at all costs. He'll out everything on the line to gain this new job, but how far will he go? Despite his growing interesting Peyton, will he risk both of their lives to succeed?

My Review:

It's time for me to do my Susan Sleeman happy dance because I get more than a tad shy of giddy whenever one of her books releases. :-) I love the way this author builds suspense while incorporating witty banter and family shenanigans -- in this case that would be the extended Steele family. Sisters and cousins run the show but they receive plenty of backup from parents and grandparents too. 

Like Sleeman's previous series, Nighthawk Security (eep, be prepared for some cameos from that clan), Steele Guardians celebrates the legacy of family while delivering topnotch suspense with a healthy side of faith. An all round winning combination for this reader!

This time it's middle child Peyton who is put through the paces as she grapples with a puzzling locked room mystery. And while she might be the security expert whose company installed the state-of-the-art camera equipment that didn't pick up a thing, she's forced to work with the store's security manager, Grant Logan, an ex-detective out to prove himself to his new employer. Woooo, talk about a great set up for some fireworks to go off. It's very much a case of opposites attract and I love the way they systematically work through all the stumbling blocks strewn in their happily ever after path. Never mind that pesky robbery that needs solving. :-)

High action, intense intrigue and thought provoking inspirational elements make this another five star read. Absolutely love this series and can't wait for the release of Forged in Steele this summer! (And don't you just love the clever titles in this series? So well thought out. I love that kind of attention to detail in my novels.)

I listened to the audible edition of this book narrated by Whitney Deckhouse and enjoyed every thrilling second.

Goal Updated: #6 Stay current with a series

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Nerves of Steeleleave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the Draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 28 2022. Offer open to International Readers.

Tough as Steele

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

TOUGH AS STEELE

Searching for an abducted woman...

Detective Londyn Steele is thrown into the deep end when she's assigned to find an abducted socialite. Problem is, her family's company, Steele Guardians, was supposed to protect the family matriarch at her eightieth birthday party when she disappears, and Londyn fears her investigation will expose problems in her family's company and bring them down. Especially when County Detective Nate Ryder declares jurisdiction over the scene, and Londyn must take a back seat in one of the most important cases she's ever investigated.

Could put them in a deadly killer's crosshairs.

Londyn has no choice but to work with Nate and bristles at his interference at first, but soon forms a working truce so they can combine forces to locate this missing woman before it's too late. As they search for leads, emotions he hasn't felt since before his service as a Navy SEAL come to the surface. He credits Londyn for unearthing the guy he used to before before his military service, and Londyn can barely fight her attraction for him. But when they fear the socialite was murdered and the killer is still hunting, seeking another prey, their feelings for each other have to put on hold to stay alive.

My Review:

There are no words to describe how insanely excited I am over this new Susan Sleeman series. And, like her previous series, it has a clever title (Steele Guardians) and features a family of law enforcement specialists, this time all women! And are these women ever a force to be reckoned with! Love the sisterly/cousinly vibes zinging their way all through the story. The author does a great job of introducing everyone in this first book without weighing the plot down with introductions.

In fact the pacing is impeccable. Sleeman really knows how to strike a balance between family shenanigans, suspense and romance. I've come away satisfied on all counts and yearning for more of the same in future books. And, yay, Nerves of Steele comes out in May so I won't have long to wait!

I almost felt sorry for Nate in the beginning because he has no clue how determined (aka stubborn) and relentless (aka unreasonably stubborn) and single-minded (aka completely, utterly stubborn) Londyn can be when her family's honour is at stake. :-) He's a fast learner though and after a bit of head-butting and, well, intense discussions (ahem), they settle into a truce of sorts but then, oh my, once they let their guard down sparks of a different kind start to flare. 

This is me still happy dancing over the sheer bibliophile bliss that comes from starting a new Susan Sleeman series!

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Whitney Dykhouse and enjoyed it tremendously.

Goal Update: #7 Start new-to-me series

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Tough as Steele, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 12 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Hours to Kill

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

HOURS TO KILL

Each passing hour brings them closer to a deadly showdown

Just as FBI Special Agent Addison Leigh reaches the pinnacle of her cybercrimes investigation into a firearms-smuggling ring, she's attacked and left in a coma with no memory of the incident -- or her estranged husband who rushes to her bedside.

Deputy US Marshal Mack Jordan may have let his past military trauma ruin their brief marriage, but Addison never gave up on their relationship, and he promises to Hunt down the man who attacked her. Mack failed her once when he bailed on their marriage, so he's not about to let her down again, especially after a second attempt on her life is made. Soon it becomes clear that something very sinister is going on, and the killer won't rest until Addison is gone for good.

My Review:

Intense suspense, hair-raising at times and intricate investigative work make this one enthralling read. Love the Red Team (Mack's elite squad) and since this is the third book in the Homeland Heroes series, I felt like I was back among old friends. The camaraderie is superb, fuelled with a mix of banter and teasing along with plenty of contemplative moments as well. Having said that, you could read Hours to Kill as a standalone too, but I think you'll get the nuances of each team member more if you've read the first two books. 

Now, let's talk about the whole amnesia thing, shall we? I used to be a huge fan but then this trope kept popping up in newly released suspense novels so often that I had to start picking and choosing which books to read lest I suffer from amnesia burnout...which I kinda did anyway. So, it's not my go-to any more except when it's a fave author pulling those amnesia strings. Like Susan Sleeman. And I have to say that she did a really good job working the amnesia angle throughout the story and I especially appreciated the way it wrapped up. So that just goes to show that I should never say never when it comes to popular tropes because there's a story somewhere that will prove me wrong every single time. :-)

I think Mack is my favourite Homeland Hero -- maybe because I've had so many tantalizing glimpses of him in the previous novels that I was on tenterhooks waiting to finally unpack his story. Love his dedication to God, but he's introspective enough to examine that relationship and whether he's allowing God to lead or wrestling for control. (I can totally relate to that!) And I love his scripture mantras that anchor him when things get tough. And the way he stoically watches over Addie...agh, his yearning is palpable...but he's too stubbornly noble to give into his heart. Lots of lovely romantical angst -- in between taking down a sinister mastermind!

Highly recommend this series and Susan Sleeman as an author if you enjoy high action, toe-curling suspense with a police procedural flare.

Goal Update: #2 Catch up on series I'm behind in, #8 Play author catch-up, #10 Give unloved tropes a second chance

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Hours to Kill, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 15 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Minutes to Die

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

MINUTES TO DIE

Only minutes remain until disaster strikes

It's intel every agent fears -- terrorists have been smuggled into the country, intent on unleashing the most deadly attack since 9/11. With the threat imminent, FBI agent Kiley Dawson and ICE Agent Evan Bowers are charged with taking down the terrorist cell. The only problem is Kiley blames Evan for the death of her former partner, and she can barely be in the same room with him. But with millions of lives on the line, she has no choice.

If it weren't for a bad call Evan made, Kiley's former partner would still be alive, and Evan has to live with that guilt for the rest of his life. When he starts falling for her, the agent's death seems an impossible obstacle. As the terrorist plot targets Kiley's family, the two are pushed to the breaking point to save countless lives.

Homeland Heroes / Book Two

My Review:

published in 2020

There are two reasons I've waited so long to read this book: 1) I'm not a huge fan of terrorist plot tropes and 2) I'm also not a fan of the heroine blaming the hero for her former partner's death. But, this is Susan Sleeman and I finally gave into temptation and am I ever glad I did because the author delivers a compelling read on both counts.

The suspense plot is tense and intricate and convoluted and takes every bit of energy Kiley and her team have and then some. I'll admit to sometimes being left in the dust over technical intricacies or multiple foreign names but that could have been because I listened to the audible edition and that kind of thing is harder for me to keep up with when I'm not seeing the words on the page.

I love Kiley's elite RED team -- their shenanigans bring welcome relief to all the intensity. Each member has a unique talent to bring to the table and they need to pool all their resources to get the job done. I like how Evan was able to fit in with the team, how they had his back even when Kiley was determined to give him the cold shoulder. Lots of interesting dynamics to work through there.

Sigh. And that brings me to Kiley. I wasn't a fan until very close to the end. She was so intent on proving herself in her male-dominated field that she was in danger of making her own costly mistakes (which is ironic since she's so unforgiving towards Evan.) Luckily she has the tough love backing of her team to defuse some intense situations. Mack in particular, got my attention in his adopted brother role and the way he wasn't afraid to call her out when she needed a wake-up call. He brought compassion and levity to some pretty high-pressure moments.

Then there's Evan. The kind of flawed hero I love to root for. He's constantly evolving and improving, anchoring his past, present and future with his faith. I guess I fell for him so hard that Kiley's attitude towards him really irked me. :-) She's on a journey though -- the spiritual kind that brings the cleansing comfort of forgiveness and the freedom to stop judging! Sleeman does a great job of threading all the pieces of Kiley's past together to give insight into why she is the way she is. Lots of character growth but I'm still disgruntled over her behaviour...Wait, does that make me judgemental and unforgiving? Oops!!!!

There's a blockbuster, action-movie-worthy grand finale that stole my breath away. I don't think my heart has settled down to it's normally sedate rhythm yet! And, hooray, the third book in the Homeland Heroes series stars Mack and I'm already in a fan-girling dither as I nudge him to the tippy-top of my TBR pile.

  

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Minutes to Die, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 11 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Night Watch

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

NIGHT WATCH

Everything points to suicide or accidental death...

Underwater crime scene investigator, Kennedy Walker is shocked when her mother dies and the police rule her death a suicide or accidental overdose. Her scientist-mother was on the verge of a scientific breakthrough, and Kennedy knows her mother would never end her life, but the detective won't listen. Kennedy moves back to her home town  and commits to finding her mother's killer and finishing her work.

And she must proves them wrong.

Kennedy digs deeper, garnering the killer's focus and he puts her in his cross-hairs. She can't give up on such an important project, so she swallows down her unease over the tumultuous breakup with Erik Byrd in college and hires Nighthawk Security, not only to protect her, but to help find her mother's killer. It takes only one look for both of them to know their feelings for each other haven't gone away. With so many people counting on her to complete the project, giving in to old feelings is a distraction neither she or Erik can afford, and they both need to keep watch. Especially in the darkest hours of the night, when the killer comes out to play.

My Review:

We've reached the fifth and final Byrd brother so why am I not boohooing into my lace hankie (aside from the fact that I don't have a lace hankie)? Because there's a sixth Nighthawk Security novel coming out in October and though it doesn't say anything about the Byrd brothers in the synopsis, I'm pretty sure these wily brothers will wrangle themselves onto the pages somehow. Such a nice way to ease a devoted reader out of a series. :-)

I've been looking forward to Eryk's story from book one -- him and his mysterious tragic romance history and here we are, with front row seats for all the reunion drama! Tension galore, and though the relationship ended on a misunderstanding, there's valid reasons for it -- ones which still have to be worked through...and forgiven. Loved the way Sleeman brings this couple full circle but allows them to finally have that happily ever after.

The suspense is intense and action-packed. Opening scene -- wowzers! Heart-in-throat and forgot to breathe until a certain handsome hero shows up to save the day...er night. There's a great balance between action and investigation which I really appreciate. The author always manages to slip in some interesting forensic or procedural details that are fascinating and add a bit of realism to the plot.

Of course, the whole Byrd clan and all the banter and teasing that come with a five brother band bring flashes of humour and a feeling of homecoming for this Byrdie (my official nickname for Byrd Brother groupies.)

As usual, I listened to audible edition (which I believe released earlier than the paperback and kindle copies again....not that I'm gloating or anything.) Whitney Dykhouse did a great job of portraying characters and plot in a breathtaking fashion. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Night Watch, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday August 21 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

 

Night Moves

GIVEAWAY

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

NIGHT MOVES

If you're in his sights...

County social worker, Natalie Dunn discovers a horrible secret about the father of her juvenile clients. The man not only killed one woman, but Natalie suspects he's killed several others. She plans to go to the authorities, but before she can, the killer turns his sights o her. Fearing for the lives of this man's children, she removes them from their home and calls in former U.S. Marshal, Drake Byrd of Nighthawk Security to protect her and the children and help her prove their father is a ruthless killer.

You're as good as dead.

As they investigate, Drake learns the father is a former elite sniper and assassin, and he has done a professional job of hiding any evidence of his wrong doing. Drake vows to protect Natalie and the three children -- all of whom he has come to care for -- putting everything on the line for them. When bullets start flying, can he save them all from a certain death?

My Review:

My heart is all a flutter and my temperature still hasn't returned to normal because....Byrd Brother alert!!!!  Yes, Drake and Natalie are front and center in Night Moves but these Byrd brothers stick together so we get tons of opportunities to bask in the banter and teasing and heart-to-hearts while revisiting all that past swoonaliciousness! Mercy, that's five stealthy, protective types to face plant into your fainting couch over! 

Plus Mom and Pop are on hand to mete out wisdom and calm and feed the hungry hoards. And a whole lot more besides -- I am firmly on the Mom and Pop Byrd team forever after finishing this fourth book in the series! And this is where I need to reassure any new to the Byrd Brothers readers that their books can be read in random order. The author does a fabulous job of reintroducing characters and setting without making it tedious for die-hard fans. Nobody will be bored or lost. :-)

Especially not with all the adrenaline-pumping suspense and toe-curling romance to lose yourself in! Sublime and edgy and sometimes a little creepy -- eeek! I wanted to speed listen to get everything sorted but I controlled myself because I didn't want my time with the Byrd family to end. And yes, I listened to the audible edition of this book expertly narrated by Whitney Dykhouse.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Night Moves, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday June 5  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Cold Pursuit

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

COLD PURSUIT

She's on the run...

When Whitney Rochester's brother-in-law kills her sister, Whitney fears for the life of her niece and nephew. She can't lave them in her murderous brother-in-law's care so she goes on the run with the children to be sure they're out of his reach. Or so she thinks until a killer shows up -- weapon in hand -- at the ski resort where she works and targets her.

But he's in pursuit...

Former Recon Marine Alex Hamilton is working an undercover investigation at the resort when a crazed man wielding a gun takes out a guy in close proximity to Whitney. Despite not having the support of the Backwell Tactical team, other than their forensic expert, Samantha Willis, Alex isn't about to let the shooter harm Whitney or anyone else. When a blinding snowstorm triggers avalanches in the area, it's too dangerous for the police to reach the secluded resort to stop the killer. Alex and Sam must protect everyone at the resort while they feverishly work to figure out if Whitney or the victim were the intended target. As Alex and Whitney grow close and the killer strikes again, Alex has to find and take down this madman even if it means risking his own life.

My Review:

published in 2018

Another edge-of-your-seat addition to Susan Sleeman's Cold Harbor series and I enjoyed every thrilling moment. Love the extra oomph the avalanche brings to the suspense 'cause it's bad enough knowing a gunman is on the loose but when you're cut off from the rest of the world in your very own snow globe, well, that's all kinds crazy tense!

 

There are lots of layers to the mystery which was fun to try and figure out along with enough potential suspects to keep this armchair sleuth on her toes. And watching Alex and Sam work the scene and long distant banter and plot with the rest of the Blackwell team made me all kinds of happy. I do love the way this author builds team dynamics.

And then there's Whitney, thrown into a nightmare that's rapidly snowballing (a little avalanche humour -- wink -- ) out of control. Love the way Alex and Whitney warily size each other up. Their meet cute is pretty funny...and intense. She's feisty and guarded and he's just plain smitten. That snap, crackle and pop you hear are the fireworks they're setting off 'cause these two definitely have chemistry.

But there's a killer to corner and back stories to deal with before a happily-every-after is in their sight line. And one of the best epilogues ever to enjoy once the excitement dies down. Sure to thrill Blackwell Tactical team fans.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Whitney Dykhouse and enjoyed every intense second.

Oh -- and I should add that though this is the sixth book in the Cold Harbor series it reads well as a standalone. Mind you, once you've met the whole team, you'll want to read every single book too!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Cold Pursuit, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday May 22  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Cold Case

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SLEEMAN, SUSAN

COLD CASE

When the one thing strikes that she never saw coming...

Former cyber security agent Eryn Calloway has successfully cracked countless complex cyber investigations. Her expertise is highly valued working as Blackwell Tactical's cyber expert. But when her computer is locked with ransomware, she suddenly finds herself facing the biggest challenge of all. She's brilliant when it comes to saving others, but this perpetrator proves he can outsmart her and threatens to kill her. The stakes are too high, and she can't take him down alone.

Can she let the one man who can protect her get close enough to do so?

Former Green Beret, Deputy Trey Sawyer wants to serve as her body guard while tracking down the criminal. Trey has been in love with Eryn for a year, but she's kept every man at arm's length since she lost her husband several years ago. Eryn has proved she is fully competent to take care of herself , but now her four-year-old daughter is in danger as well. When Trey and Eryn are thrown together in a race for life, Trey needs to convince her to overcome her past and truly rely on him or she won't make it out alive.

My Review:

Pulbished in 2018

Book Four of the Cold Harbor series

One of the things Susan Sleeman excels at in her suspense novels is team building. The way she showcases the camaraderie and friendship of these unique heroes and heroines while highlighting a particular team member in each book is sheer brilliance. I get giddy over the banter which also serves as some welcome comic relief from the intense moments.

Because the other thing this author does well is the heart-in-throat, nail-biting suspense. The action scenes are choreographed to perfection and the hair-raising danger brings an edgy thrill to each read. And there's a nice balance of police procedural and techniques that I find so intriguing.

And then there's the romance. Oh la la, but this one is fabulous! We have a bit of unrequited love going on here. Deputy Trey Sawyer has taken multiple law enforcement courses with the Blackwell team in order to enhance his skills. Well, that's what he says, but really, he takes every course he can fit into his schedule in order to meet up with Eryn. She's interested/not interested, by the way. Translation: attracted, yes, going to do anything about it, no. 

Until she gets a serious cyber threat and Trey appoints himself bodyguard. :-) Working in close proximity adds all kinds of romantical tension and leads to some swoonworthy moments. Happy, contented sigh. I'm still in full swoon mode.

I listened to the audible edition narrated by Whitney Dykhouse and loved every intense second.

Oh -- and I should mention that, while this is the fourth book in the Cold Harbor series, it can easily be read as a standalone novel. Though I predict that once you've read one, you'll want to read them all!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Cold Case, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday April 17  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!