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T-Minus
A terror with no answer needs a girl with no limits.
I am the daughter of the first female POTUS, and today is about to become the longest day of my life…
24 hours—that’s how much time I have to save my mother before terrorists assassinate her. But now my father and brother are missing, too. This goes deeper than anyone thinks. Only someone on the inside would know how to pull this off—how to make the entire First Family disappear.
I can’t trust anyone, so it’s up to me to uncover the conspiracy and stop these madmen. Because little do they know, they picked the wrong person to terrorize.
My name is Sophie Washington, and I will not be a victim. No one, I repeat no one, is taking me or my family down. But the clock is ticking…
I am the daughter of the first female POTUS, and today is about to become the longest day of my life…
24 hours—that’s how much time I have to save my mother before terrorists assassinate her. But now my father and brother are missing, too. This goes deeper than anyone thinks. Only someone on the inside would know how to pull this off—how to make the entire First Family disappear.
I can’t trust anyone, so it’s up to me to uncover the conspiracy and stop these madmen. Because little do they know, they picked the wrong person to terrorize.
My name is Sophie Washington, and I will not be a victim. No one, I repeat no one, is taking me or my family down. But the clock is ticking…
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2019
About the author
Shannon Greenland
22 books474 followersShannon Greenland is the award-winning and best-selling author of Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult books. She grew up in Tennessee where she dreaded all things reading and writing. She didn’t even read her first book for enjoyment until she was twenty-five. After that, she was hooked! When she’s not writing, she's usually traveling or hanging out with a rogue armadillo that frequents her backyard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
September 30, 2019
T-Minus by Shannon Greenland is a young adult thriller in which the teenage main character is the daughter of the current US President which happens to also be the first female president. We all know of the secret service and how they protect the president along with their family members and this story begins with a bang when a new threat happens.
Sophie Washington is the presidents daughter and she finds herself right in the middle of danger when she’s awakened to find her family has been ordered into protection only her brother is missing. Worried about her brother’s safety Sophie defies the orders to be taken off away from her family and begins to investigate on her own.
T-Minus was one of those books that survive and thrive on the pure adrenaline thrill that begins immediately and never really let’s up. Of course our main character is told to trust no one so she’s then drawn to hiding from everyone and finding out how to rescue her family on her own which sometimes can feel a bit over the top but not so much so it took away from the action and adventure.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Sophie Washington is the presidents daughter and she finds herself right in the middle of danger when she’s awakened to find her family has been ordered into protection only her brother is missing. Worried about her brother’s safety Sophie defies the orders to be taken off away from her family and begins to investigate on her own.
T-Minus was one of those books that survive and thrive on the pure adrenaline thrill that begins immediately and never really let’s up. Of course our main character is told to trust no one so she’s then drawn to hiding from everyone and finding out how to rescue her family on her own which sometimes can feel a bit over the top but not so much so it took away from the action and adventure.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
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July 23, 2019There was a lot to like in this YA thriller--and some bumps in the road that kept me from loving it.
First the things I liked. The central mystery as it unfolded was interesting, and avoided black and white hats. It was a believable issue, with creepily believable reactions on the part of those taking said action.
The pacing overall was fast, accelerating steadily as the teens drove the action. I liked the main character, daughter of the first female President. I mostly enjoyed the voice, finding our narrator appealing and engaging.
Things that held me back--that's harder to discuss without
Another issue was the frequent flashbacks. A couple of them would have been okay, but for a book depending on a fast pace, there were far too many of them. As the story accelerated they seemed more and more awkwardly placed, jerking the pacing to a halt.
I also had some minor issues about procedure, but I'm willing to cut a lot of slack for those, especially in a YA, if the story is served. The twists and turns certainly kept things hot for our heroes!
Overall, it certainly kept me reading!
Copy provided by NetGalley
First the things I liked. The central mystery as it unfolded was interesting, and avoided black and white hats. It was a believable issue, with creepily believable reactions on the part of those taking said action.
The pacing overall was fast, accelerating steadily as the teens drove the action. I liked the main character, daughter of the first female President. I mostly enjoyed the voice, finding our narrator appealing and engaging.
Things that held me back--that's harder to discuss without
Another issue was the frequent flashbacks. A couple of them would have been okay, but for a book depending on a fast pace, there were far too many of them. As the story accelerated they seemed more and more awkwardly placed, jerking the pacing to a halt.
I also had some minor issues about procedure, but I'm willing to cut a lot of slack for those, especially in a YA, if the story is served. The twists and turns certainly kept things hot for our heroes!
Overall, it certainly kept me reading!
Copy provided by NetGalley
September 3, 2019
With a title like T-Minus and such a gripping cover, I had no doubt that this was going to be one long adrenaline rush of thrills and twists and I was not mistaken. I did have to remember to keep in mind that this fell in the Young Adult genre so I would cut it some slack a few times, but, at other times, like when the danger got deadly, I blinked in surprise that this was young adult making this book something of a captivating crossover between the two.
T-Minus begins with First daughter of the United States, Sophie Washington waking up to discover that her brother has disappeared, her mom got a terrorist threat on her life, and the family is being broken up to each their own secret service teams and safe houses. Her dad's last words to trust no one are ominous and rattle around in her head just before they all split up.
Sophie's not one to hide and let things happen especially when there must be someone on the inside for things to have gone down the way they did. She and her talented, skilled group of friends set out to get to the heart of the terrorist organization who have a revenge agenda because of an op gone wrong that cost lives that Sophie's mom ordered during her term as governor. There's a deadline drawing near and they have to get to the terrorists before the terrorists achieve their goal.
I think I read through well over a third of this book before I was forced to stop reading. I kept thinking that I'd stop when there was a break in the action, but when it came some twist came and I was off and reading again.
I loved this one and I loved Sophie as a heroine from the get-go. She has teenage thinking at times, but she has also had to grow up fast. She's even had some training that will help her for just such a situation. It seemed everyone Sophie encounters is not who they said or don't give her more than bits of the truth. She ditches her handlers to go rogue and help as a result. But, she's not alone and has a pack of equally intrepid friends. I enjoyed seeing them all working together and getting stuff done, sometimes by the skin of their teeth. The whiff of romance for Sophie was present, but did stay in the background much of the time which made sense since this is a suspense story at the the heart.
I was a little startled at the grittiness of this one as the body count piled up when I remembered this is a book for teens, but, it would have felt even more unrealistic than it did if the danger wasn't kept in front of the reader. Okay, and a few of those deaths had my eyes burning a bit with tears.
The unrealistic aspect was the fact that teens were tracking down and taking down these terrorists who had a deadly plan in place. I wasn't buying that supposedly skilled and trained adults like the CIA officers and analysts couldn't seem to figure this stuff out and only Sophie and her friends could.
That said, I did root the little group on and was speedily flipping pages as they went after this group who just needed to be taken out before more innocents were killed. I was happy to hate on the lot of them and a lot of what is in this book hits close to home so my emotions were right there.
YA Warning- moderate-extreme violence
So, it lived up to my early anticipation. I was thrilled to note the author has a backlist of espionage-type stories. This is Young Adult, but I think those who enjoy adult thrillers might appreciate this one, too. Definite recommend for those who enjoy fast-action, gritty and twisting YA thrillers.
My thanks to Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
T-Minus begins with First daughter of the United States, Sophie Washington waking up to discover that her brother has disappeared, her mom got a terrorist threat on her life, and the family is being broken up to each their own secret service teams and safe houses. Her dad's last words to trust no one are ominous and rattle around in her head just before they all split up.
Sophie's not one to hide and let things happen especially when there must be someone on the inside for things to have gone down the way they did. She and her talented, skilled group of friends set out to get to the heart of the terrorist organization who have a revenge agenda because of an op gone wrong that cost lives that Sophie's mom ordered during her term as governor. There's a deadline drawing near and they have to get to the terrorists before the terrorists achieve their goal.
I think I read through well over a third of this book before I was forced to stop reading. I kept thinking that I'd stop when there was a break in the action, but when it came some twist came and I was off and reading again.
I loved this one and I loved Sophie as a heroine from the get-go. She has teenage thinking at times, but she has also had to grow up fast. She's even had some training that will help her for just such a situation. It seemed everyone Sophie encounters is not who they said or don't give her more than bits of the truth. She ditches her handlers to go rogue and help as a result. But, she's not alone and has a pack of equally intrepid friends. I enjoyed seeing them all working together and getting stuff done, sometimes by the skin of their teeth. The whiff of romance for Sophie was present, but did stay in the background much of the time which made sense since this is a suspense story at the the heart.
I was a little startled at the grittiness of this one as the body count piled up when I remembered this is a book for teens, but, it would have felt even more unrealistic than it did if the danger wasn't kept in front of the reader. Okay, and a few of those deaths had my eyes burning a bit with tears.
The unrealistic aspect was the fact that teens were tracking down and taking down these terrorists who had a deadly plan in place. I wasn't buying that supposedly skilled and trained adults like the CIA officers and analysts couldn't seem to figure this stuff out and only Sophie and her friends could.
That said, I did root the little group on and was speedily flipping pages as they went after this group who just needed to be taken out before more innocents were killed. I was happy to hate on the lot of them and a lot of what is in this book hits close to home so my emotions were right there.
YA Warning- moderate-extreme violence
So, it lived up to my early anticipation. I was thrilled to note the author has a backlist of espionage-type stories. This is Young Adult, but I think those who enjoy adult thrillers might appreciate this one, too. Definite recommend for those who enjoy fast-action, gritty and twisting YA thrillers.
My thanks to Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2019
I have been a fan of Shannon Greenland's books that she has written under this name or the initials S.E Green. I have read nearly all of them, ever since 2011-2012 when I first discovered her series The Specialists which were a group of teen spies, this was my first introduction to a theme that I found myself loving for many years to follow and still to date. So when I saw T-Minus offered on Netgalley and for a tour, I knew I had to read it. T-Minus takes us into the life of our main character Sophie Washington whose mother is the President of the United States and she lives with her family in the White House. One night, she is given instructions that her family is to get to a safe house as her mother has been threatened by terrorists. Over the course of the next 24 + hours, Sophie's life will turn into a nightmare and all her CIA training will have to kick in as someone is out to kill her family, friends and her parent's acquaintances. Sophie and her friends are about to learn the truth about an incident that happened years ago and were covered up and that many innocent people died and now they want revenge. The incident reminded me of the Waco incident in Texas with that little community and I wonder if this was the inspiration behind the story. T-Minus was definitely as it got along, a complicated web of a story as everyone seems to be not who they say they are as Sophie and her best friends uncover and untangle a group and plan that has been in the making for years. Can they solve who is behind it and save the day before many more have to die? Find out in T-Minus by Shannon Greenland, fans of Ally Carter's various series will love and feel right at home with T-Minus.
August 3, 2019
This was an absolutely fun read. I left all my analysis aside and read the book for the pure thrill of it. Sophie was the daughter of the first female American President. A terrorist threat forced her family to separate out. Her brother Erik was missing and soon kidnapped by a terrorist. Sophie had to use all her skills and her intelligence to get to the truth along with the help of her friends.
My first book by Shannon Greenland was a pure 3 hours of adrenaline. The book didn't give me time to think. The story kept its fast pace and forced me to jog along with it, trying to keep up. Some of the secrets and people involved could be guessed. But I left that aside just to enjoy the ride.
Sophie as the main character thrilled me at times and sometimes left me exasperated. It was thrilling to see what she could do in 24 hours to save her family. I liked knowing about her life in flashbacks, and it was obvious how much she loved them.
My niggles popped up soon. I liked the kickass heroine, but if she was pondering over a boy in a race against time, it simply irked me. Romance could be done post danger. So I felt.
The author's writing was a web of deceit which involved the past and dragged it onto the present in a seamless manner. Reading the book was like watching a three dimensional thriller movie with popcorn, I would say.
My first book by Shannon Greenland was a pure 3 hours of adrenaline. The book didn't give me time to think. The story kept its fast pace and forced me to jog along with it, trying to keep up. Some of the secrets and people involved could be guessed. But I left that aside just to enjoy the ride.
Sophie as the main character thrilled me at times and sometimes left me exasperated. It was thrilling to see what she could do in 24 hours to save her family. I liked knowing about her life in flashbacks, and it was obvious how much she loved them.
My niggles popped up soon. I liked the kickass heroine, but if she was pondering over a boy in a race against time, it simply irked me. Romance could be done post danger. So I felt.
The author's writing was a web of deceit which involved the past and dragged it onto the present in a seamless manner. Reading the book was like watching a three dimensional thriller movie with popcorn, I would say.
February 24, 2020
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
This book was one that I read on one of the sea days on my cruise last year, and it was such a quick and easy read. Being the daughter of the first female President, Sophie is no stranger to how dangerous her life may be. Her and her brother have been taught everything that the experts think they need to know to protect themselves, but when the First Family are warned of an imminent threat, and told they need to bunker down in different locations for safety, Sophie doesn't trust this is right, and skips her 'protection' in order to find her brother, who she discovers is missing. Using all of her know how, and with a little help from her friends, she goes off the grid, and has less that 24 hours to save her entire family.
Like I said, this book was a quick read, and that was partially because of how fast paced it was. It starts off a little slow, with us meeting the family, and seeing the issue for the first time, but then as the tension racks up, so does the speed of the action, and the plot. Sophie is mainly level headed for most of the book, and when she has a wobble - quite understandable with the amount of death and destruction she is seeing - she relies on her friends, who are there for her, no matter what. Yeah, it was a bit unbelievable that this rag tag group of teenagers - albeit very clever and skilled teens - were able to stop the terrorists when the actual government agencies - CIA, etc. - were struggling, but all in all, a proper enjoyable read, which hooked me from the first until the very end.
This book was one that I read on one of the sea days on my cruise last year, and it was such a quick and easy read. Being the daughter of the first female President, Sophie is no stranger to how dangerous her life may be. Her and her brother have been taught everything that the experts think they need to know to protect themselves, but when the First Family are warned of an imminent threat, and told they need to bunker down in different locations for safety, Sophie doesn't trust this is right, and skips her 'protection' in order to find her brother, who she discovers is missing. Using all of her know how, and with a little help from her friends, she goes off the grid, and has less that 24 hours to save her entire family.
Like I said, this book was a quick read, and that was partially because of how fast paced it was. It starts off a little slow, with us meeting the family, and seeing the issue for the first time, but then as the tension racks up, so does the speed of the action, and the plot. Sophie is mainly level headed for most of the book, and when she has a wobble - quite understandable with the amount of death and destruction she is seeing - she relies on her friends, who are there for her, no matter what. Yeah, it was a bit unbelievable that this rag tag group of teenagers - albeit very clever and skilled teens - were able to stop the terrorists when the actual government agencies - CIA, etc. - were struggling, but all in all, a proper enjoyable read, which hooked me from the first until the very end.
August 8, 2019
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.
I can finally take a breath.
I volunteered to read this book because it was labeled as a young 24, and I was such a fan of that show. Well this is exactly that, and boy does it deliver an emotional punch. A fantastic set of characters. Nonstop action. Cute romance. Smart plot.
Love love love.
I can finally take a breath.
I volunteered to read this book because it was labeled as a young 24, and I was such a fan of that show. Well this is exactly that, and boy does it deliver an emotional punch. A fantastic set of characters. Nonstop action. Cute romance. Smart plot.
Love love love.
August 1, 2019
Thank you to Entangled Teen for a providing a copy of the ARC in exchange for a fair review.
Sophie wakes up to her Dad calling her inside the house. She knows that today is going to be a bad day. Little does she know just how bad it will be. Her brother is gone, and her mother is about to be taken somewhere else and so is her dad. They all have be separated because a threat has been made against her mother. The first female POTUS. When her dad says goodbye he tells her to trust no one, that the threat is coming from inside their circle.
Sophie wonders if she should trust her long time bodyguard, but when she gets a weird text from her brother, and then a phone call from his girlfriend saying that she should come alone and trust no one. Sophie knows that there is more to what is going on then what she realizes. Thankfully she her friends from Teen CIA program to rely on. She is going to need them and her skills to figure this out.
This really wasn't on my radar when Entangled Teen sent me a copy, but I am glad they did. I will say what I don't like about first, it felt like a season of 24 crammed into 24 hours... so there was a lot going on and some of it not entirely believable. Plus she did a lot in 24 hours all over Virginia... which traffic wise doesn't make it seem real. That is sort of a joke, but anyone who has driven around any major city in Virginia will get what I am saying.
All of that being said, I did enjoy the plot and story line, that was very plausible and well done. I don't know how I feel about teen spies fixing everything, but hey I wasn't mad at it either. I did like Sophie even though she made several mistakes, some of them costly. T-Minus is coming out next Tuesday so if this is in your wheelhouse you don't have a long wait at all.
Sophie wakes up to her Dad calling her inside the house. She knows that today is going to be a bad day. Little does she know just how bad it will be. Her brother is gone, and her mother is about to be taken somewhere else and so is her dad. They all have be separated because a threat has been made against her mother. The first female POTUS. When her dad says goodbye he tells her to trust no one, that the threat is coming from inside their circle.
Sophie wonders if she should trust her long time bodyguard, but when she gets a weird text from her brother, and then a phone call from his girlfriend saying that she should come alone and trust no one. Sophie knows that there is more to what is going on then what she realizes. Thankfully she her friends from Teen CIA program to rely on. She is going to need them and her skills to figure this out.
This really wasn't on my radar when Entangled Teen sent me a copy, but I am glad they did. I will say what I don't like about first, it felt like a season of 24 crammed into 24 hours... so there was a lot going on and some of it not entirely believable. Plus she did a lot in 24 hours all over Virginia... which traffic wise doesn't make it seem real. That is sort of a joke, but anyone who has driven around any major city in Virginia will get what I am saying.
All of that being said, I did enjoy the plot and story line, that was very plausible and well done. I don't know how I feel about teen spies fixing everything, but hey I wasn't mad at it either. I did like Sophie even though she made several mistakes, some of them costly. T-Minus is coming out next Tuesday so if this is in your wheelhouse you don't have a long wait at all.
August 7, 2019
Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
T-Minus
By: Shannon Greenland
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you read T-Minus, a suspension of disbelief is required because it's improbable without it. A TIA (teen CIA) group go rouge and save the world??
So, accepting the narrative at face value, meet Sophie Washington, daughter of the first female POTUS. Sophie wakes to a credible threat against her mother and protocols that require separation of family members for safety. Sophie learns her brother has actually been kidnapped. She eludes her protection detail so that she and her friends can solve this puzzle before time runs out. There is action aplenty in this story. It's a non stop situation. Because of the before mentioned training, these teens have skills and abilities to access what they need and fend off attackers. Sophie is a strong, intelligent, female lead, and that's inspiring for girls. She is fierce and loyal. Her friends are the kind everyone wants because they are a solid group right in the action with Sophie regardless of the danger. It's a ticking clock situation which makes the entire story more compelling and intense. The thrill is the ever present what if time runs out scenario. Sophie finds out a lot of information she didn't previously know, including details about past events. It's a game of secrets and lies. Who can she trust? Let's hope, for her family's sake, that Sophie is successful. If she fails, what becomes of them? Of her? This story is definitely great for a teen audience, and adults who love YA. Just don't think about the logistics, and enjoy the entertainment value and thrilling aspects of the story instead. The countdown is on!
T-Minus
By: Shannon Greenland
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you read T-Minus, a suspension of disbelief is required because it's improbable without it. A TIA (teen CIA) group go rouge and save the world??
So, accepting the narrative at face value, meet Sophie Washington, daughter of the first female POTUS. Sophie wakes to a credible threat against her mother and protocols that require separation of family members for safety. Sophie learns her brother has actually been kidnapped. She eludes her protection detail so that she and her friends can solve this puzzle before time runs out. There is action aplenty in this story. It's a non stop situation. Because of the before mentioned training, these teens have skills and abilities to access what they need and fend off attackers. Sophie is a strong, intelligent, female lead, and that's inspiring for girls. She is fierce and loyal. Her friends are the kind everyone wants because they are a solid group right in the action with Sophie regardless of the danger. It's a ticking clock situation which makes the entire story more compelling and intense. The thrill is the ever present what if time runs out scenario. Sophie finds out a lot of information she didn't previously know, including details about past events. It's a game of secrets and lies. Who can she trust? Let's hope, for her family's sake, that Sophie is successful. If she fails, what becomes of them? Of her? This story is definitely great for a teen audience, and adults who love YA. Just don't think about the logistics, and enjoy the entertainment value and thrilling aspects of the story instead. The countdown is on!
August 7, 2019
Thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
T-Minus
By: Shannon Greenland
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you read T-Minus, a suspension of disbelief is required because it's improbable without it. A TIA (teen CIA) group go rouge and save the world??
So, accepting the narrative at face value, meet Sophie Washington, daughter of the first female POTUS. Sophie wakes to a credible threat against her mother and protocols that require separation of family members for safety. Sophie learns her brother has actually been kidnapped. She eludes her protection detail so that she and her friends can solve this puzzle before time runs out. There is action aplenty in this story. It's a non stop situation. Because of the before mentioned training, these teens have skills and abilities to access what they need and fend off attackers. Sophie is a strong, intelligent, female lead, and that's inspiring for girls. She is fierce and loyal. Her friends are the kind everyone wants because they are a solid group right in the action with Sophie regardless of the danger. It's a ticking clock situation which makes the entire story more compelling and intense. The thrill is the ever present what if time runs out scenario. Sophie finds out a lot of information she didn't previously know, including details about past events. It's a game of secrets and lies. Who can she trust? Let's hope, for her family's sake, that Sophie is successful. If she fails, what becomes of them? Of her? This story is definitely great for a teen audience, and adults who love YA. Just don't think about the logistics, and enjoy the entertainment value and thrilling aspects of the story instead. The countdown is on!
T-Minus
By: Shannon Greenland
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟
If you read T-Minus, a suspension of disbelief is required because it's improbable without it. A TIA (teen CIA) group go rouge and save the world??
So, accepting the narrative at face value, meet Sophie Washington, daughter of the first female POTUS. Sophie wakes to a credible threat against her mother and protocols that require separation of family members for safety. Sophie learns her brother has actually been kidnapped. She eludes her protection detail so that she and her friends can solve this puzzle before time runs out. There is action aplenty in this story. It's a non stop situation. Because of the before mentioned training, these teens have skills and abilities to access what they need and fend off attackers. Sophie is a strong, intelligent, female lead, and that's inspiring for girls. She is fierce and loyal. Her friends are the kind everyone wants because they are a solid group right in the action with Sophie regardless of the danger. It's a ticking clock situation which makes the entire story more compelling and intense. The thrill is the ever present what if time runs out scenario. Sophie finds out a lot of information she didn't previously know, including details about past events. It's a game of secrets and lies. Who can she trust? Let's hope, for her family's sake, that Sophie is successful. If she fails, what becomes of them? Of her? This story is definitely great for a teen audience, and adults who love YA. Just don't think about the logistics, and enjoy the entertainment value and thrilling aspects of the story instead. The countdown is on!
June 12, 2019
This is a younger version of the show 24 and it shows.
“T-Minus” finds Sophie ripper from her life and forced into seclusion following the news that a domestic terrorist group is after her mother, the President of the United States. With the news that her brother is missing, Sophie skips out on her security detail to uncover the truth behind the attacks and save her family.
If you can ignore the many logistical errors that surround the way the CIA and Secret Service act in this book it will probably be something you will enjoy because the plot and motivations behind everything is really interesting and probably the only thing I enjoyed but the overall execution is where this book suffered. So many things happened that I literally stopped because I couldn’t see anyone getting away with half the stuff she did let alone with that ease when it came to security and the mechanics behind hiding the first daughter.
This is a problem that ripples out to the characters as well because yes there are some twists that make some of the end results make some sense but it’s hard for me to believe that a bunch of teenagers were able to crack this plot before any other trained professional and perhaps that’s just me being nit picky because I love shows like 24 and Designated Survivor where these intricate moves are being made to cover up the threat and allow it a chance to succeed in its goal to upend the country but this is, no pun intended, very much a house of cards and it didn’t take long before it fell apart.
I feel like a lot of people will enjoy this and that’s great but anyone looking for something that has a bit more grit and structuring to it will most likely run into the same problems I did and to them I would recommend skipping this one.
**special thanks to netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“T-Minus” finds Sophie ripper from her life and forced into seclusion following the news that a domestic terrorist group is after her mother, the President of the United States. With the news that her brother is missing, Sophie skips out on her security detail to uncover the truth behind the attacks and save her family.
If you can ignore the many logistical errors that surround the way the CIA and Secret Service act in this book it will probably be something you will enjoy because the plot and motivations behind everything is really interesting and probably the only thing I enjoyed but the overall execution is where this book suffered. So many things happened that I literally stopped because I couldn’t see anyone getting away with half the stuff she did let alone with that ease when it came to security and the mechanics behind hiding the first daughter.
This is a problem that ripples out to the characters as well because yes there are some twists that make some of the end results make some sense but it’s hard for me to believe that a bunch of teenagers were able to crack this plot before any other trained professional and perhaps that’s just me being nit picky because I love shows like 24 and Designated Survivor where these intricate moves are being made to cover up the threat and allow it a chance to succeed in its goal to upend the country but this is, no pun intended, very much a house of cards and it didn’t take long before it fell apart.
I feel like a lot of people will enjoy this and that’s great but anyone looking for something that has a bit more grit and structuring to it will most likely run into the same problems I did and to them I would recommend skipping this one.
**special thanks to netgalley and the publishers for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
July 8, 2019
Amazing!!!! Another must read from S. E. Green you won't want to miss! This action packed novel will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
August 10, 2019
**Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
Sophie is awakened in the middle of the night by her assigned secret service guard with the information that there is a potential terrorist threat against her mother, the president, and that her brother is missing. Soon begins the longest, most dangerous and challenging day of Sophie's life as she is thrust into the middle of something she doesn't understand and lives are at stake- including her's.
T-Minus is the second book I have now read by Shannon and I feel like I can say with confidence that she is the master of YA standalone thrillers. She can make an entire story come to life within one book which is an art form in it's self. When I originally read the synopsis for T-Minus I thought it sounded interesting but once I realized that Shannon is the same author of the book Watching You (which I adored) I knew that I needed to get my hands on this book. T-Minus was equally exciting and stressful, taking place in roughly 24 hours with non-stop action, shocking twists and a super engaging mystery.
The book is narrated by Sophie, a normal seeming girl who is not so normal after all. She is the daughter of the first female president, which that alone makes her unique. But really, what makes her special in my eyes is her kick-ass spy/special agent skills, including shooting, hand to hand combat, hot-wiring cars, analytical skills as well as keeping a cool head in the most stressful of situations. And boy, was Sophie in some dangerous, terrible situations that I wanted to call a time out and give her a hug. I loved that there was a background for why Sophie and her three friends were so amazing and poof, there was the best reason! A teen training/spy bootcamp that simulates real life scenarios and skills that came in perfectly handy when it came to battling a terrorist group.
This review is super short for me but that is due to me not wanting to give anything away! T-Minus is something you need to experience for yourself, but be prepared for some crazy dangerous situations, highly trained teens, death and destruction, conspiracy, betrayal and a dash of romance. I highly recommend reading this story in one sitting if you can because I found myself sitting and stewing about the mystery and danger, worrying for Sophie's well-being and hoping for some sort of romance to blossom with her crush, when I should have been adulting. Shannon is great at sucking her readers in with a great plot and realistic feeling scenarios, making her books come alive.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.
Sophie is awakened in the middle of the night by her assigned secret service guard with the information that there is a potential terrorist threat against her mother, the president, and that her brother is missing. Soon begins the longest, most dangerous and challenging day of Sophie's life as she is thrust into the middle of something she doesn't understand and lives are at stake- including her's.
T-Minus is the second book I have now read by Shannon and I feel like I can say with confidence that she is the master of YA standalone thrillers. She can make an entire story come to life within one book which is an art form in it's self. When I originally read the synopsis for T-Minus I thought it sounded interesting but once I realized that Shannon is the same author of the book Watching You (which I adored) I knew that I needed to get my hands on this book. T-Minus was equally exciting and stressful, taking place in roughly 24 hours with non-stop action, shocking twists and a super engaging mystery.
The book is narrated by Sophie, a normal seeming girl who is not so normal after all. She is the daughter of the first female president, which that alone makes her unique. But really, what makes her special in my eyes is her kick-ass spy/special agent skills, including shooting, hand to hand combat, hot-wiring cars, analytical skills as well as keeping a cool head in the most stressful of situations. And boy, was Sophie in some dangerous, terrible situations that I wanted to call a time out and give her a hug. I loved that there was a background for why Sophie and her three friends were so amazing and poof, there was the best reason! A teen training/spy bootcamp that simulates real life scenarios and skills that came in perfectly handy when it came to battling a terrorist group.
This review is super short for me but that is due to me not wanting to give anything away! T-Minus is something you need to experience for yourself, but be prepared for some crazy dangerous situations, highly trained teens, death and destruction, conspiracy, betrayal and a dash of romance. I highly recommend reading this story in one sitting if you can because I found myself sitting and stewing about the mystery and danger, worrying for Sophie's well-being and hoping for some sort of romance to blossom with her crush, when I should have been adulting. Shannon is great at sucking her readers in with a great plot and realistic feeling scenarios, making her books come alive.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this title.
August 6, 2019
Warnings: gun violence, physical violence and torture, bomb blasts, mentions of mass murders
Rep: Main character is a Cuban-American
A fast-paced story about a First Daughter who has to save her family from a domestic terrorist plot, T-Minus has Sophie fighting against time to prevent more deaths. When she is first taken to a safe house following a terror threat, Sophie doesn't know how much her family and the people close to them are in danger, but she knows that there is a mole on the inside and the identity of the person betraying them is not known. With everyone suspect, she has fewer options to choose help from when she finds out her brother has been kidnapped; she can only trust her friends, who while having undergone the same training under a fictitious CIA teen program, aren't exactly seasoned field agents. She is blackmailed, betrayed, shot at, witness to murders, and has to make difficult choices, because she knows there is no room to negotiate.
Now, while this book definitely delivers on the fast-paced action, it otherwise doesn't really have anything else of substance. I wish I could say I really cared for the characters, but I didn't. The frequent flash-backs which I suppose were to give relevant backstory were just annoying interruptions to the scene, as many of them weren't really that important to the plot. The reason for the terror plot was a surprise, so I will give it that. The identity of the 'insider' was not, even before suspicion was first cast on that character. There is a minor romance but even that felt unnecessary. The ending was resolved well, though I didn't really get the reason for the long 'epilogue'-like chapter; I skimmed over it because nope, not interested in a spelunking fic. Overall: its a fun, fast-paced read.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Entangled Teen, via Edelweiss.
Rep: Main character is a Cuban-American
A fast-paced story about a First Daughter who has to save her family from a domestic terrorist plot, T-Minus has Sophie fighting against time to prevent more deaths. When she is first taken to a safe house following a terror threat, Sophie doesn't know how much her family and the people close to them are in danger, but she knows that there is a mole on the inside and the identity of the person betraying them is not known. With everyone suspect, she has fewer options to choose help from when she finds out her brother has been kidnapped; she can only trust her friends, who while having undergone the same training under a fictitious CIA teen program, aren't exactly seasoned field agents. She is blackmailed, betrayed, shot at, witness to murders, and has to make difficult choices, because she knows there is no room to negotiate.
Now, while this book definitely delivers on the fast-paced action, it otherwise doesn't really have anything else of substance. I wish I could say I really cared for the characters, but I didn't. The frequent flash-backs which I suppose were to give relevant backstory were just annoying interruptions to the scene, as many of them weren't really that important to the plot. The reason for the terror plot was a surprise, so I will give it that. The identity of the 'insider' was not, even before suspicion was first cast on that character. There is a minor romance but even that felt unnecessary. The ending was resolved well, though I didn't really get the reason for the long 'epilogue'-like chapter; I skimmed over it because nope, not interested in a spelunking fic. Overall: its a fun, fast-paced read.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Entangled Teen, via Edelweiss.
September 9, 2019
Chasing Liberty meets 24, as the daughter of the country’s first female president finds herself embroiled in a terrorist plot to take down the administration. On her seventeenth birthday, Sophie Washington is doing anything but having the time of her life. Her brother is missing, her family is separated, and she has been told she cannot trust anyone, not even Frank, her secret service detail who has been with her much of her life. With minimal training in a teen CIA program for the offspring of operatives, she stumbles her way through an ever-changing game. Recruiting her best friends from the program, Jackson, Zeke, and Callie, she attempts to do what she believes no one else will, only to become a pawn in the biggest conspiracy to ever target the United States. Without knowing who is working against her mother, Sophie is isolated and terrified, but finds something within herself to rise to the challenge in this pulse-pounding young adult thriller.
Plot
T-MINUS is a plot-driven tale, and the plotting is near perfect. The pacing provides plenty of page-turning action and just enough breaks to allow us to catch our breath before careening into the next big moment. The author keeps us guessing the entire time, allowing us to feel like Sophie, unable to trust anyone. One twist follows another, and layer upon layer of intrigue is expertly woven to create a story worthy of the big screen. In fact, I’ll be shocked if this isn’t turned into a blockbuster movie at some point.
Characters
The characters are great, but pretty much in line with the story. There is no new ground broken here, but I love Sophie as the somewhat risk-averse teen who is forced to step so far outside her comfort zone, she hardly recognizes herself. The cast surrounding her provide just the right balance, and because I don’t want to give anything away, i won’t say anything more about them.
What I Loved About T-MINUS
1. The Pacing. The story unfolds at the perfect pace and I devoured it.
2. Twists. So many twists and turns, I never knew what was going to happen next, but all of it was perfectly foreshadowed.
3. Sophie. The reader gets to see her in a way she never envisions herself, making her both sympathetic and someone to root for and a kick-ass heroine.
4. Intrigue. I’m a political-thriller junkie, and this book has all the same elements that made No Way Out one of my favorite movies of all time.
5. Zeke. Her fellow TIA member and secret crush, he’s completely swoon-worthy.
Bottom Line
A page-turning thriller with a strong female lead who also happens to be utterly relatable.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Plot
T-MINUS is a plot-driven tale, and the plotting is near perfect. The pacing provides plenty of page-turning action and just enough breaks to allow us to catch our breath before careening into the next big moment. The author keeps us guessing the entire time, allowing us to feel like Sophie, unable to trust anyone. One twist follows another, and layer upon layer of intrigue is expertly woven to create a story worthy of the big screen. In fact, I’ll be shocked if this isn’t turned into a blockbuster movie at some point.
Characters
The characters are great, but pretty much in line with the story. There is no new ground broken here, but I love Sophie as the somewhat risk-averse teen who is forced to step so far outside her comfort zone, she hardly recognizes herself. The cast surrounding her provide just the right balance, and because I don’t want to give anything away, i won’t say anything more about them.
What I Loved About T-MINUS
1. The Pacing. The story unfolds at the perfect pace and I devoured it.
2. Twists. So many twists and turns, I never knew what was going to happen next, but all of it was perfectly foreshadowed.
3. Sophie. The reader gets to see her in a way she never envisions herself, making her both sympathetic and someone to root for and a kick-ass heroine.
4. Intrigue. I’m a political-thriller junkie, and this book has all the same elements that made No Way Out one of my favorite movies of all time.
5. Zeke. Her fellow TIA member and secret crush, he’s completely swoon-worthy.
Bottom Line
A page-turning thriller with a strong female lead who also happens to be utterly relatable.
Disclaimer
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2019
Once I got past the rather eyebrow-raising premise of this book and let myself go with the flow, so to speak, I had a good time watching Sophie fight back when the unthinkable happens to her family. What makes her story so intriguing is that her family is the First Family, not your everyday family in the local neighborhood. To say the stakes are much higher is not an overstatement.
Mind you, Sophie isn’t entirely alone in her fight against whoever the bad guys are. In fact, a strong and very appealing element here is the connections among Sophie’s friends and, of course, her family. Trust is in short supply among the people who are supposed to protect her family but she reaches out to the teens in a special training program that she believes she can count on.
As you might expect in an action adventure tale, the potential outcome is high risk as is the level of tension and the pace is unrelenting. Occasional flashbacks gave me a few moments to calm down just a little and I appreciated that although perhaps they occurred a little too frequently. There are plenty of false leads and red herrings along the way but I have to say the ending held some surprises (that’s a good thing) as well as satisfaction,
With today’s attention to domestic terrorism, this story packs an especially vivid wallop, whether it’s realistic or not. Sure, an attack of this type on the president and her family is less likely than an attack on a school or food festival but the point is that literally nothing is beyond possibility when extremists have an agenda. Frightening stuff, indeed.
Mind you, Sophie isn’t entirely alone in her fight against whoever the bad guys are. In fact, a strong and very appealing element here is the connections among Sophie’s friends and, of course, her family. Trust is in short supply among the people who are supposed to protect her family but she reaches out to the teens in a special training program that she believes she can count on.
As you might expect in an action adventure tale, the potential outcome is high risk as is the level of tension and the pace is unrelenting. Occasional flashbacks gave me a few moments to calm down just a little and I appreciated that although perhaps they occurred a little too frequently. There are plenty of false leads and red herrings along the way but I have to say the ending held some surprises (that’s a good thing) as well as satisfaction,
With today’s attention to domestic terrorism, this story packs an especially vivid wallop, whether it’s realistic or not. Sure, an attack of this type on the president and her family is less likely than an attack on a school or food festival but the point is that literally nothing is beyond possibility when extremists have an agenda. Frightening stuff, indeed.
July 28, 2019
Have you ever seen those posters where it’s the body counts for all of the Shakespeare plays? I haven’t read a lot of Shakespeare, but I think that if you added this book on there, it would take the cake for most deaths. Honestly, the characters just kept dropping like flies. The author broke my heart!
This book was right up my alley if you take away the tons of deaths. I love me a good spy/action book so this was perfect. Plus, throw in just the tiny bit of romance and it becomes so much better! The author had me guessing what would happen next and she always surprised me. I couldn’t believe some of the things she did with this book!
There were many lovable characters, and you have to love Sophie. Despite all the things she went through, she survived and came back stronger than ever. She’s the perfect protagonist and all authors should aspire to create a character like her. Besides Sophie, I loved Sophie’s gang. The only thing better than a kick-butt heroine is a tough and fearless group behind her. After reading this book, you’ll want friends like Sophie’s.
Shannon Greenland has some guts to kill off so many people in such ways. But she is also a genius. Greenland played with my emotions, and I imagine she’ll do the same to you. I recommend this book to people who love a good thriller and what is hopefully the beginning of a fantastic new series.
This book was right up my alley if you take away the tons of deaths. I love me a good spy/action book so this was perfect. Plus, throw in just the tiny bit of romance and it becomes so much better! The author had me guessing what would happen next and she always surprised me. I couldn’t believe some of the things she did with this book!
There were many lovable characters, and you have to love Sophie. Despite all the things she went through, she survived and came back stronger than ever. She’s the perfect protagonist and all authors should aspire to create a character like her. Besides Sophie, I loved Sophie’s gang. The only thing better than a kick-butt heroine is a tough and fearless group behind her. After reading this book, you’ll want friends like Sophie’s.
Shannon Greenland has some guts to kill off so many people in such ways. But she is also a genius. Greenland played with my emotions, and I imagine she’ll do the same to you. I recommend this book to people who love a good thriller and what is hopefully the beginning of a fantastic new series.
July 29, 2019
Overall, this was a pretty good story with lots of potential!! I was hooked to find out how and why it all went down. However, I felt like it lacked some background information about the characters and the country for me to be fully emerged into and engaged with the the story.
June 29, 2019
I do love a good teen covert op story; I also wish I had friends that would ( or could even) hunt down the bad guys with me as we save the free world.
Read
June 1, 2021That book really drew me in...HOWEVER after less than an hour in and a few sh)$^, ahole, and finally an F-bomb I was done.
August 14, 2019
* I have volunteered to share my review and all the opinions are 100% my own *
This is the story of Sophie Washington, the daughter of the first female President of the United States and she has 24 hours to save her mother before the terrorists assassinate her.
Sophie is given instructions to get to a safe house with her family as her mother has been threatened by terrorists. This sets in motion a turn of events over the next 24 hours that will change Sophie's life forever.
Having to use her skills from CIA training in the TIA to get through this and then also learning about an incident that her parents were involved in when they were in the military.
This story has a lot of mystery and suspense and will keep you on your toes right to the end and finding out who is actually involved in these events.
Great story by Shannon Greenland and look forward to the next instalment.
This is the story of Sophie Washington, the daughter of the first female President of the United States and she has 24 hours to save her mother before the terrorists assassinate her.
Sophie is given instructions to get to a safe house with her family as her mother has been threatened by terrorists. This sets in motion a turn of events over the next 24 hours that will change Sophie's life forever.
Having to use her skills from CIA training in the TIA to get through this and then also learning about an incident that her parents were involved in when they were in the military.
This story has a lot of mystery and suspense and will keep you on your toes right to the end and finding out who is actually involved in these events.
Great story by Shannon Greenland and look forward to the next instalment.
July 24, 2019
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Thriller
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Shannon Greenland's T-Minus is being sold as 24 for teens. Pretty good description. This espionage thriller sets a tight ticking clock and high personal stakes that will keep readers turning pages until the end. 17-year old Sophie Washington's mother is the first female President of the USA. One night, there is a legitimate threat against her mother which protocol dictates that the Secret Service separate all four members of Sophie's family to secure locations. Her father leaves her with a curious message, "Do Not Trust Anyone." Anyone could be a threat.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult, Thriller
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Shannon Greenland's T-Minus is being sold as 24 for teens. Pretty good description. This espionage thriller sets a tight ticking clock and high personal stakes that will keep readers turning pages until the end. 17-year old Sophie Washington's mother is the first female President of the USA. One night, there is a legitimate threat against her mother which protocol dictates that the Secret Service separate all four members of Sophie's family to secure locations. Her father leaves her with a curious message, "Do Not Trust Anyone." Anyone could be a threat.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
July 8, 2019
This fast-paced young adult thriller was exciting to read. This is a great high interest book for young adult readers who are looking for a political thriller with lots of action.
The story takes space over the span of one action-packed day. It is full of thrilling twists, and readers who can suspend some disbelief will have a great ride. This is a book for readers who would enjoy a story about teens and young adults having to take on and defeat terrorists, including some who have infiltrated the highest levels of government. This is a book for readers who would accept that there is a teen intelligence training agency that is a affiliated with the CIA.
I enjoyed the main character, Sophie, who is the daughter of the first female President of the United States. I also thought the portrayal of her relationships with her family and friends was realistic, I especially enjoyed the storyline about her romantic interest in one of her male friends, and I think it will be relatable. Another thing I really liked was the portrayal of the young people as being competent and being able to face dangerous, scary, unknown, and sometimes unthinkable situations.
There may be some slight content warning as there are some violent situations including weapons, torture, and death. However, I don't think this is anything that will overly disturb mature young adult readers who are aware of the storyline. In fact, I think this adds to the adrenaline inducing tone and the realistic nature of this book. I am happy to have a high interest political thriller to recommend to young adult readers.
The story takes space over the span of one action-packed day. It is full of thrilling twists, and readers who can suspend some disbelief will have a great ride. This is a book for readers who would enjoy a story about teens and young adults having to take on and defeat terrorists, including some who have infiltrated the highest levels of government. This is a book for readers who would accept that there is a teen intelligence training agency that is a affiliated with the CIA.
I enjoyed the main character, Sophie, who is the daughter of the first female President of the United States. I also thought the portrayal of her relationships with her family and friends was realistic, I especially enjoyed the storyline about her romantic interest in one of her male friends, and I think it will be relatable. Another thing I really liked was the portrayal of the young people as being competent and being able to face dangerous, scary, unknown, and sometimes unthinkable situations.
There may be some slight content warning as there are some violent situations including weapons, torture, and death. However, I don't think this is anything that will overly disturb mature young adult readers who are aware of the storyline. In fact, I think this adds to the adrenaline inducing tone and the realistic nature of this book. I am happy to have a high interest political thriller to recommend to young adult readers.
September 18, 2020
T-minus
The novel T-minus, by Shannon Greenland, is a realistic fiction story about the conflicts erupting after an accident the first female president of the United States was involved in. The story is told under the view of the president's daughter, Sophie Washington, and how she becomes the hero at the end of the day. After Sophie finds out her older brother, Erik, is missing, she takes the initiative to leave her secret service agents and find him on her own, believing that he was kidnapped by someone “on the inside”. As Sophie goes out in the middle of the night searching for him, the kidnappers trap her and blackmail her into harming the President, Vice President, and other important leaders in the Government, threatening to kill her brother on camera and make her watch it if she does not listen to them. Sophie tells her friends, who come on the journey with her and help her abide by the Kidnapper's rules while trying to do the least amount of damage to the Government. While following the instructions of the Kidnappers, Sophie and her friends end up on a long adventure and they eventually discover that the rest of the Washington family had been kidnapped too, including the president. Sophie and her friends lead their way to the facility where the first family was being held hostage, dismantling bombs and dodging bullets on the way there. In the end, she ends up saving her family and other important government officials. I chose this book after a friend recommended it, and was very interested in the plot on the back of the book. As I kept reading, I enjoyed the book more and more and looked forward to reading it every day.
Throughout the book, the author implements a trend of mysterious disappearances again and again, especially with people who know important information or clues. Sophie gets frustrated over this pattern and expresses her anger saying “If only I could just figure this all out. Yet every clue leads to more unanswered questions, and just when I think I'm about to solve the puzzle, something else happens ”(Greenland 148). Sophie says this right after she and her friends discover Erik’s best friend, Danforth, dead on the ground in his apartment. Danforth was with Erik the night Erik disappeared. Questioning him was the key to finding out where Erik was. Danforth's death was a huge discouragement to Sophie because his information could have given them a big lead to who and where the kidnappers are and more importantly, where her brother is. This is only one of many times Sophie comes across a great potential clue, and then discovers it destroyed or dead. This pattern frustrates Sophie and her friends and is a battle they fight throughout the book.
The bond Sophie and her brother had was irreplaceable and meant the world to both of them. When Sophie witnesses her brother blown to pieces from a bomb after she survives it, the pain of losing her brother rushes through her. As her sob intensifies, her favorite memories of him flood her mind. “I shiver, and the image of my brother being blown to pieces ricochets across my mind. Memories wash over me -- me and my brother racing motorcycles across our property; making homemade butter on our grandfather's farm; raking our yard and getting into a leaf fight, and all the times we snuck cake into our bedrooms late at night” (Greenland 138). Sophie’s favorite memories take over her mind as she grieves the loss of her brother. As she thinks about him, a bawl hitches through her as she repeats “He's gone, he's gone, he's gone” (Greenland 138). The author uses the description of memories to describe the pain Sophie experiences after losing her brother.
As Sophie tries to rescue her whole family from the kidnappers, she comes across choices that are impossible to choose. While Sophie was thrown into the choice of rescuing her father or her mother, the author implements the signposts words of the wiser, to help Sophie understand who she should save. While Sophie comes across her dad being held hostage in the vault, Sophie immediately tries to help untie him and rescue him. Her father stops her under the theory that if he is missing, the kidnappers will go into lockdown. Sophie responds with frustration saying “ if I don't rescue you now, I will never see you again”. Her father responds with wiser words, saying “ I love you, and I'm so proud of the young women you have become. You will continue to do grand and wonderful things in this world. You will make a difference. No matter what happens, always remember those words. Now, you must rescue your mother over me. Leave me here, she is the President of the United States. The people need her more. I love you” (Greenland 241). Sophie's father expresses these wise words to her as an encouragement to save Sophie's mother instead of him. He also tells her that he believes in her and is proud of all that she has done. Mr. Washington's wise words were much needed and gave Sophie the confidence to save the President.
In the book T-minus, the author uses many fiction signposts to give dramatic and expressive feelings in specific situations. These signposts include, Again and Again, Memory Moments, and Words of the Wiser. However, Shannon Greenland is not the only author to use these strategies. Authors use Signposts all the time, and they can be commonly found in books such as The Giver, Little Women, When, The House on Mango Street, and other popular books. While I was reading T-minus, I made many connections to the world we are living in today. In our country, the idea of having a first female President is a big deal and is a very popular topic in politics. This is the same idea in T-minus because Sophie's mother was the first female president and everyone was making it a big deal. Another connection I made between the book and our Country’s history is how they both have involved attempts to assassinate Presidents. For example, in our Country, Theodor Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan have both survived attempted assassinations while serving as president. In T-minus, President Washington, Sophie's mother, survived an attempted assassination. Because this book made many connections to our country, I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading mysterious, high action, and entertaining books. I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about politics or how the secret service works. In conclusion, the author uses many different strategies to keep the book engaging and exciting. These strategies include signposts and making connections to real life.
July 16, 2019
First off, thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!
Second, that cover is gorgeous!
Rating: 3.5 Stars
This book was a fun and wild ride! I found myself throughout the whole book holding my breath and waiting for what I was going to read on the next page. This book has such a unique and different concept and plot that when I read the synopsis of what this book was about, I immediately wanted to read it. Going into the story, I expected high stake thrilling moments and a race against time. This novel delivered just that.
Right off the bat, the author throws the reader into the action and I had a hard time putting this book down. The main character Sophie was likable and well flushed out. I enjoyed reading from her perspective. Although there were times that I questioned the thought process to some of Sophie's decisions. I felt as though there were certain instances that were unrealistic and problematic. Even though the novel is far fetched at times it still made for a unique and quick read.
What I enjoyed:
- The plot! It was fast paced and very hard to put the book down. The plot was by far my favorite part and I believe it was well rounded and I liked that the book ended without any loose ends left to tie up.
- The action! We need more books like this!
- Sophie, while I wish she was more flushed out at certain times, overall I enjoyed her commentary and being in her head throughout the story.
What I didn't care for:
- The romance: I might be the outlier on this, but I just didn't really care for the romance that was added into the story. I thought it was very one dimensional and it felt forced at times. I'm not a big fan of insta love, but the love interest in the story just didn't seem that invested as Sophie was.
- Lack of character development: As I had mentioned above, the reader is thrown right into the story. The reader receives no background but the author put in flashbacks to try to help this aspect. I thought the flashbacks weren't enough to aid in the character development. I wish we could have seen more of Sophie and Eric's relationship and her parents. It left much to be desired.
-Unrealistic choices and outcomes: Sometimes choices that were made by Sophie made no sense, and were not realistic. It frustrated me how easy certain situations worked out for the main character.
Overall: I enjoyed reading this engaging story and would recommend to others wanting a fast paced, action packed thrill ride.
Thank you again to Entangled Teen and NetGalley!
(I received an electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review)
-
Read
July 15, 2019(I received an electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review)
First off, thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!
Second, that cover is gorgeous!
Rating: 3.5 Stars
This book was a fun and wild ride! I found myself throughout the whole book holding my breath and waiting for what I was going to read on the next page. This book has such a unique and different concept and plot that when I read the synopsis of what this book was about, I immediately wanted to read it. Going into the story, I expected high stake thrilling moments and a race against time. This novel delivered just that.
Right off the bat, the author throws the reader into the action and I had a hard time putting this book down. The main character Sophie was likable and well flushed out. I enjoyed reading from her perspective. Although there were times that I questioned the thought process to some of Sophie's decisions. I felt as though there were certain instances that were unrealistic and problematic. Even though the novel is far fetched at times it still made for a unique and quick read.
What I enjoyed:
- The plot! It was fast paced and very hard to put the book down. The plot was by far my favorite part and I believe it was well rounded and I liked that the book ended without any loose ends left to tie up.
- The action! We need more books like this!
- Sophie, while I wish she was more flushed out at certain times, overall I enjoyed her commentary and being in her head throughout the story.
What I didn't care for:
- The romance: I might be the outlier on this, but I just didn't really care for the romance that was added into the story. I thought it was very one dimensional and it felt forced at times. I'm not a big fan of insta love, but the love interest in the story just didn't seem that invested as Sophie was.
- Lack of character development: As I had mentioned above, the reader is thrown right into the story. The reader receives no background but the author put in flashbacks to try to help this aspect. I thought the flashbacks weren't enough to aid in the character development. I wish we could have seen more of Sophie and Eric's relationship and her parents. It left much to be desired.
-Unrealistic choices and outcomes: Sometimes choices that were made by Sophie made no sense, and were not realistic. It frustrated me how easy certain situations worked out for the main character.
Overall: I enjoyed reading this engaging story and would recommend to others wanting a fast paced, action packed thrill ride.
Thank you again to Entangled Teen and NetGalley!
First off, thank you to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review this book!
Second, that cover is gorgeous!
Rating: 3.5 Stars
This book was a fun and wild ride! I found myself throughout the whole book holding my breath and waiting for what I was going to read on the next page. This book has such a unique and different concept and plot that when I read the synopsis of what this book was about, I immediately wanted to read it. Going into the story, I expected high stake thrilling moments and a race against time. This novel delivered just that.
Right off the bat, the author throws the reader into the action and I had a hard time putting this book down. The main character Sophie was likable and well flushed out. I enjoyed reading from her perspective. Although there were times that I questioned the thought process to some of Sophie's decisions. I felt as though there were certain instances that were unrealistic and problematic. Even though the novel is far fetched at times it still made for a unique and quick read.
What I enjoyed:
- The plot! It was fast paced and very hard to put the book down. The plot was by far my favorite part and I believe it was well rounded and I liked that the book ended without any loose ends left to tie up.
- The action! We need more books like this!
- Sophie, while I wish she was more flushed out at certain times, overall I enjoyed her commentary and being in her head throughout the story.
What I didn't care for:
- The romance: I might be the outlier on this, but I just didn't really care for the romance that was added into the story. I thought it was very one dimensional and it felt forced at times. I'm not a big fan of insta love, but the love interest in the story just didn't seem that invested as Sophie was.
- Lack of character development: As I had mentioned above, the reader is thrown right into the story. The reader receives no background but the author put in flashbacks to try to help this aspect. I thought the flashbacks weren't enough to aid in the character development. I wish we could have seen more of Sophie and Eric's relationship and her parents. It left much to be desired.
-Unrealistic choices and outcomes: Sometimes choices that were made by Sophie made no sense, and were not realistic. It frustrated me how easy certain situations worked out for the main character.
Overall: I enjoyed reading this engaging story and would recommend to others wanting a fast paced, action packed thrill ride.
Thank you again to Entangled Teen and NetGalley!
June 11, 2019
This was a fun, fast paced book that I finished quickly. I love books like this because you don't want to put them down.
Sophie is the daughter of the first woman president. She has an older brother, and a small group of friends that she met through a program for teens who want CIA training. She is close to them, and majorly crushes on one, her family, her brother's girlfriend, her security, Frank, and the VP and his husband. Sophie hates all the security and wants freedom, but she obeys her family pretty well. Her brother, Erik, sneaks out all the time. Usually for parties or to be with his girlfriend, Britta.
There is a terrorist threat and everyone has to leave to separate places. This threat is serious for the president. Sophie realizes that Erik is missing again, but she has no time to grab anything except her necklace and phone. Before leaving, her father told her to trust no one. They think the threat is coming from inside.
Sophie is desperate to find her brother and does something she never does. She sneaks out. She recruits her friends, Zeke and Jackson to help find Erik and figure out what is going on. Their other friend, Callie, is not around. When things get really bad, they call her to come home and help. The kids quickly realize things are way worse than they thought. One of the terrorists gets in touch with Sophie. He uses her brother as blackmail to get her to help them. Jackson is trying to crack into a drive that her brother had hidden at his girlfriend's. There were plans for years and there are a lot of people involved. Throughout the book, Sophie has little flashbacks to training or just nice times with her friends and family. She has no idea if anyone will survive the day. And it's her birthday.
I found this fast paced and easy to read. I did figure out some of the people involved, but there were still some surprises. I read more than half the book in one day and finished it early on the second day. While I liked the romance, I think it would have been better left until late in the book. I felt that Sophie shouldn't have been thinking romantically about a boy while running for her life.
Warnings for torture, betrayal, talk of panic attacks, claustrophobia, terrorism, blackmail, and deaths.
I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to Entangled Teen and Edelweiss for my review copy.
Sophie is the daughter of the first woman president. She has an older brother, and a small group of friends that she met through a program for teens who want CIA training. She is close to them, and majorly crushes on one, her family, her brother's girlfriend, her security, Frank, and the VP and his husband. Sophie hates all the security and wants freedom, but she obeys her family pretty well. Her brother, Erik, sneaks out all the time. Usually for parties or to be with his girlfriend, Britta.
There is a terrorist threat and everyone has to leave to separate places. This threat is serious for the president. Sophie realizes that Erik is missing again, but she has no time to grab anything except her necklace and phone. Before leaving, her father told her to trust no one. They think the threat is coming from inside.
Sophie is desperate to find her brother and does something she never does. She sneaks out. She recruits her friends, Zeke and Jackson to help find Erik and figure out what is going on. Their other friend, Callie, is not around. When things get really bad, they call her to come home and help. The kids quickly realize things are way worse than they thought. One of the terrorists gets in touch with Sophie. He uses her brother as blackmail to get her to help them. Jackson is trying to crack into a drive that her brother had hidden at his girlfriend's. There were plans for years and there are a lot of people involved. Throughout the book, Sophie has little flashbacks to training or just nice times with her friends and family. She has no idea if anyone will survive the day. And it's her birthday.
I found this fast paced and easy to read. I did figure out some of the people involved, but there were still some surprises. I read more than half the book in one day and finished it early on the second day. While I liked the romance, I think it would have been better left until late in the book. I felt that Sophie shouldn't have been thinking romantically about a boy while running for her life.
Warnings for torture, betrayal, talk of panic attacks, claustrophobia, terrorism, blackmail, and deaths.
I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to Entangled Teen and Edelweiss for my review copy.
July 24, 2019
3.5 stars
T-MINUS is a fast-paced YA thriller that is billed as 24 for teens. Sophie Washington, the character from whose perspective we view the world, is the daughter of the first female POTUS. The book begins when she is woken at night for a security protocol due to a terrorist demand for her mother. Soon, she learns that it may be organized by people on the inside, and she is not safe with the special security guarding her. Furthermore, her brother is missing, and Sophie may be the only one who can find him.
Thanks to her TIA (teen CIA) training, she and her friends have all the abilities they need to dig deeper into the terrorist organization and hopefully save her family. Everything in the book happens very quickly as Sophie searches for her family and works with her friends to figure out who is behind it all.
The book will appeal to younger readers who will buy in to the TIA training of hotwiring cars and pretty much doing everything spies can do while also accepting the fast pace of uncovering clues and figuring everything out while also facing several characters' deaths. This is definitely a thriller with an overall very quick pace. The text is broken by italicized flashbacks that could mostly be skipped, as they do not add much and slow down the plot. Sophie's character is built through her actions and thoughts about other characters, though the flashbacks were attempting to connect more to her history.
In terms of the romance, it was a little rushed/very background, and I was not so into it, but it was also a very minor part of the plot so it didn't come across as unbelievable or instalove (they had a history which was mentioned a bit/in flashbacks).
The strongest parts of the book are the quick action, the overall mystery that needs solving, and the decisions Sophie must make as she navigates her new, scarier world. Sophie felt like a very believable character (even though with some maybe unbelievable training- though, I admit, I wish I could have been in the TIA!), and I was totally hooked in wanting to save her family and learn more about the terrorist organization/plots. I would recommend for people who like thrillers with a strong mystery.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
T-MINUS is a fast-paced YA thriller that is billed as 24 for teens. Sophie Washington, the character from whose perspective we view the world, is the daughter of the first female POTUS. The book begins when she is woken at night for a security protocol due to a terrorist demand for her mother. Soon, she learns that it may be organized by people on the inside, and she is not safe with the special security guarding her. Furthermore, her brother is missing, and Sophie may be the only one who can find him.
Thanks to her TIA (teen CIA) training, she and her friends have all the abilities they need to dig deeper into the terrorist organization and hopefully save her family. Everything in the book happens very quickly as Sophie searches for her family and works with her friends to figure out who is behind it all.
The book will appeal to younger readers who will buy in to the TIA training of hotwiring cars and pretty much doing everything spies can do while also accepting the fast pace of uncovering clues and figuring everything out while also facing several characters' deaths. This is definitely a thriller with an overall very quick pace. The text is broken by italicized flashbacks that could mostly be skipped, as they do not add much and slow down the plot. Sophie's character is built through her actions and thoughts about other characters, though the flashbacks were attempting to connect more to her history.
In terms of the romance, it was a little rushed/very background, and I was not so into it, but it was also a very minor part of the plot so it didn't come across as unbelievable or instalove (they had a history which was mentioned a bit/in flashbacks).
The strongest parts of the book are the quick action, the overall mystery that needs solving, and the decisions Sophie must make as she navigates her new, scarier world. Sophie felt like a very believable character (even though with some maybe unbelievable training- though, I admit, I wish I could have been in the TIA!), and I was totally hooked in wanting to save her family and learn more about the terrorist organization/plots. I would recommend for people who like thrillers with a strong mystery.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
August 10, 2019
Don't expect anyone not to die. Shannon Greenland's YA political thriller has a larger body count than I expected, but that's what makes it exciting, right?
Sophie Washington: teenager with a crush on her best friend, daughter of the first female POTUS, skilled member of the TIA (like the CIA but for kids). Now she can add America's only hope to that list.
What starts off as a normal day for Sophie and the rest of the First Family, turns into a terror attack, masterminded by someone inside the White House. No one is safe and no one can be trusted, including the Secret Service. It's left up to Sophie and her TIA friends to get to the bottom of the conspiracy to kill the Washingtons. Oh, and the catch? She's only got 24 hours.
T-Minus is a high-stakes novel that reads very much like a movie, with fast action, danger, and plot-twist galore. Like I said before, just because it's a YA novel, don't expect the death toll to be non-existent. I was actually surprised by nonchalant frequency in which some of the character were terminated, but it just added to the drama and intensity of the situation.
What took me out of the narrative was the abundant and sometimes ill-timed flashbacks. There was a least one per chapter, used as a device to introduce history and character relationships outside of the 24-hour time frame of the novel. But they seemed heavy-handed and many didn't flow naturally, especially when I was much more interested in the present. I get the sentiment of needed flashbacks and it would have worked cinematically, but here it was distracting. It also didn't help that the flashbacks were in italics and I don't know about your eyes, but I find that hard to read after a while.
The end of the novel included some character bios that I actually wished would have preceded the story as an easy introduction to the cast. It wasn't until I read that part that I realized Sophie was Cuban American-- a detail not mentioned in the narrative at all.
Overall, I was entertained and interested. I sped through this read faster than I expected, but in a couldn't put it down kind of way. After all, the country was a stake, right?
4/5 Stars.
I received a free e-ARC of T-Minus from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie Washington: teenager with a crush on her best friend, daughter of the first female POTUS, skilled member of the TIA (like the CIA but for kids). Now she can add America's only hope to that list.
What starts off as a normal day for Sophie and the rest of the First Family, turns into a terror attack, masterminded by someone inside the White House. No one is safe and no one can be trusted, including the Secret Service. It's left up to Sophie and her TIA friends to get to the bottom of the conspiracy to kill the Washingtons. Oh, and the catch? She's only got 24 hours.
T-Minus is a high-stakes novel that reads very much like a movie, with fast action, danger, and plot-twist galore. Like I said before, just because it's a YA novel, don't expect the death toll to be non-existent. I was actually surprised by nonchalant frequency in which some of the character were terminated, but it just added to the drama and intensity of the situation.
What took me out of the narrative was the abundant and sometimes ill-timed flashbacks. There was a least one per chapter, used as a device to introduce history and character relationships outside of the 24-hour time frame of the novel. But they seemed heavy-handed and many didn't flow naturally, especially when I was much more interested in the present. I get the sentiment of needed flashbacks and it would have worked cinematically, but here it was distracting. It also didn't help that the flashbacks were in italics and I don't know about your eyes, but I find that hard to read after a while.
The end of the novel included some character bios that I actually wished would have preceded the story as an easy introduction to the cast. It wasn't until I read that part that I realized Sophie was Cuban American-- a detail not mentioned in the narrative at all.
Overall, I was entertained and interested. I sped through this read faster than I expected, but in a couldn't put it down kind of way. After all, the country was a stake, right?
4/5 Stars.
I received a free e-ARC of T-Minus from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2019
I'd give this a 3.5 rating (rounded up to 4, since GR doesn't do half stars). There were a number of things I really liked, and a few that didn't work as well for me.
What I enjoyed:
~the premise -- as soon as I read about it, I knew I wanted to read and find out how it would go.
~the overall story -- this was definitely good, and I was engaged from beginning to end.
~the likable characters -- even though the characters didn't have the complexity I personally wanted to see, they were all likable. I especially liked the main group of 4.
~the pacing -- despite my dislike of all the flashbacks, the rest of the pacing was solid (other than the Epilogue), and I felt like the tension built nicely throughout the story.
What I didn't like as much:
~the flashbacks -- as mentioned above, I found these irritating. One or two can work, but using them every couple of paragraphs to add information and emotion seemed...clunky? to me.
~the lack of depth -- Sophie just seemed to take everything in stride, and I kept wishing to see a little more of her inner feelings. I think the flashbacks were supposed to fill that role, but since it didn't work for me, I felt like things were a little too surface-y.
~the romance --
~the Epilogue -- what was that? It was probably my least favorite part of the book. It went on forever, and I didn't feel it added anything at all to the story.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, but I doubt I'll read it again.
What I enjoyed:
~the premise -- as soon as I read about it, I knew I wanted to read and find out how it would go.
~the overall story -- this was definitely good, and I was engaged from beginning to end.
~the likable characters -- even though the characters didn't have the complexity I personally wanted to see, they were all likable. I especially liked the main group of 4.
~the pacing -- despite my dislike of all the flashbacks, the rest of the pacing was solid (other than the Epilogue), and I felt like the tension built nicely throughout the story.
What I didn't like as much:
~the flashbacks -- as mentioned above, I found these irritating. One or two can work, but using them every couple of paragraphs to add information and emotion seemed...clunky? to me.
~the lack of depth -- Sophie just seemed to take everything in stride, and I kept wishing to see a little more of her inner feelings. I think the flashbacks were supposed to fill that role, but since it didn't work for me, I felt like things were a little too surface-y.
~the romance --
~the Epilogue -- what was that? It was probably my least favorite part of the book. It went on forever, and I didn't feel it added anything at all to the story.
All in all, it was an enjoyable read, but I doubt I'll read it again.
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