Thirty Seconds at a Time

by Tracy Bilen

Kate’s dad was a cop. And now he’s dead. Killed in a random shooting in the quiet suburb of Maplewood, where random shootings never happen.

Before he died, he gave Kate a piece of paper and left very explicit instructions: Don’t read it. Don’t show anyone. Burn it.

But when Kate discovers a quarter of a million dollars her dad hid inside her guitar case, she discovers his secret. Her dad wasn’t just a cop. He was also a thief.

The last thing Kate ever promised her dad was that she wouldn’t tell. Not her mom. Not the cops. No one. So when her mom takes a job at a ski academy in Vermont, Kate hides the money and tries to forget.

Kate is more than out of her league at this mecca for competitive skiing—she doesn’t even know how to ski. That is until Ryan, the school’s shining star, takes her onto the ski slopes and skis off with her heart.

Just as things are heating up on the slopes, the past hits Kate like an avalanche. Random accidents are becoming commonplace and the people she cares about are being hurt. When a mysterious package arrives with a reminder to stay quiet, Kate and Ryan are forced to search for answers with the only clue Kate has left: everything she promised her dad she would forget.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult

Paperback

Published October 8, 2024

About the author

Tracy Bilen writes romantic thrillers for young adults. She is the author of What She Left Behind (Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster) which VOYA called “truly a remarkable story of resilience.” Her second novel, Whisper (Mirette), was named a Notable 100 Book in the 2021 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition. Tracy’s October 2024 release, Thirty Seconds at a Time (BHC Press), "begins and ends with a bang." (Kirkus Reviews).

Tracy is a high school French teacher in Michigan where she lives with her husband, children, and mini Bernedoodle. She studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and loves biking, traveling, and red velvet cake. Tracy enjoys talking about the writer’s journey with teens and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and Greater Detroit Romance Writers (GDRW).

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME!!!!!!

GOODNESS GRACIOUS THIS WAS ONE CRAZY THRILLER

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 8th 2024 WHEN THIS BOOK RELEASES😱😱!!!!!!!

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent YA novel. There are certainly moments that get your heart rate going, and those were great. However, to me, it read a little younger…not quite middle grade, but not quite all the way up to YA. Also, everything got explained a little too neatly and easily at the end. In my opinion, a really great YA book will make you forget that it’s YA…it’s just a fantastic story that happens to have a teen main character. Or at least those books are what I prefer when I read YA.

I’m just not the target audience here. I’d much rather have more jump scares, mysteries and thrills than a slow burn romance, although I do appreciate that the author kept it clean. However, if you’re into teen romance with a little excitement on the side, this will be right up your alley!

Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for the eARC. All opinions are mine.

[Apple˚✧ (ia-study) · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK FINALLY ARRIVED ON GOODREADS IM SO HAPPY RN. This was my first arc and it was SO GOOD, naturally it will have a special place in my bookish heart.

❆ I LOVE THE SKIING REFERENCES
❆ those things that happened at the end... NEVER could've guessed
❆ Ryan.

❆ The writing I read it within 24 hours as it was fast paced and just so captivating right from page one. Just after reading a single page it wants you to know more, to read more. Even the writing style made it easier to read quick, it's so simple yet so thrilling. It's a short novel and perfect for cozy read or a road trip I would say.

❆ The plot Oh I love the story so much. The book is mainly based on plot and not on the other irrelevant details. But the skiing references add a touch to it. Out of everyone I would have NEVER guessed it was THIS person who was hiding in that address, so that part just made my jaw drop. Kate, after her father's death shifts to other city 11hrs away and try a fresh start, but also trying to find answers, just after some 'event' she realizes it has gone too far and it is indeed related to her father.

Ryan is such a book bf like he gave up everything (literally) for her. He has potential to top my list ngl

[Mandy K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

A thrilling start leads to Kate losing her dad in an attack with too many new questions and no answers. The story then transitions into a budding teenage romance on the ski slopes of a private boarding school. The thriller action doesn’t really pick again until the 70% mark, but then doesn’t stop until the end.

This was a quick, cozy, winter YA read. The whole book is told through Kate’s POV and a straight forward timeline. I enjoyed this for being a YA book. If it wasn’t advertised as YA it would have rated lower due to the simplicity, but it fits for the intended audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Pub Date Oct 08 2024

[med_ksiazkara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for approving me to read this arc.

The story starts when our main characters - Kate - dad who works as a cop is shot and he leaves his daughter with a lot of hidden in her guitar case money and the promise to not tell anyone about this and burn all things. The girl and her mother move to another city after his death to start a new life but the incident is following them since Kate didn't listen to her father and she is keeping this secret alone.

To be honest it felt like a typical Wattpad story. We have teenagers dealing with police corruption which is completely ridiculous and for the majority of this book we don't even focus on this whole secret of Kate's dad because there is a teenage romance going on. I mean it was a fast read, and I didn't feel a lot of cringe but I will forget this book next week and there are so many better options to choose instead of this book.

[Rylee Hagberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD I READ IT IN A DAY

[Nurse Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a YA novel that was a quick read and finished in one day. This story follows a young Kate, who watches her detective father die from a drive by shooting. In his last breath, he left her with a breadcrumb of information, but without context. In the days following the funeral, Kate finds more a substantial amount of money hiding in a crawl space while packing to move to Vermont. Following her dying fathers wish, she keeps the secrets- that is until the secrets start to leave a trail of death leading right back to her. Meanwhile, Kate is falling in love with Ryan, while attending a prestigious private ski academy in Vermont. Everything is going according to plan, until more people close to Kate end up dead. Kate and Ryan set out on a road trip to put an end to the threats and save her mom’s life.

This crazy story is unrealistic, but perfect for a YA thriller. Romance, suspense, independence, and thriller all in one book. There’s the excitement of new love, but without crossing boundaries; escapades of young love, dealing with grief and death, and a clear heroine.

Thank you to NetGalley and BHC Press for the eARC. The review and opinions are mine and are unbiased.

[Melanie Hooyenga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirty Seconds at a Time is my first book by Bilen, but it won't be my last! Kate's life is upended when her dad is killed, then she and her mom move halfway across the county for a fresh start. She wants to forget the horror of her dad's death and the secrets it unearthed, but that becomes impossible.

The characters felt real and as a life-long skier and snow lover, I really enjoyed the outdoor scenes. Ryan is a swoon-worthy love interest with more to him than first meets the eye, and his adventure with Kate keeps the reader guessing until the final pages.

*I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

[Season Pizzey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book had me sucked in from the first chapter. I thought I would read a few chapters before bed… well that wasn’t smart because I ended tossing and turning thinking about the book until I finally got up and continued reading.

I couldn’t put it down until it was finished. The story was emotional and captivating. I felt like I was on a roller coaster, a nice moment followed by an oh no what’s next?! I loved it!

Also love me a nice big twist near the end to really give you that well rounded feel. I’m so excited to have this book as my first ARC and can’t wait to read more of Tracy Bilen.

I highly recommend it. Definite five stars from me.

[Heather Meloche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thirty Seconds at a Time is a fast-paced mystery/thriller that will really appeal to YA readers. The writer creates immediate suspense and then steadily increases it until the very explosive end. The romance between Kate and Ryan nicely offsets the shocking discovery of clues and constant action, Ryan is a fabulous book boyfriend, respecting, helping, and loving Kate in a way that will make readers swoon, and Kate is a character made of strong ideals, good intentions, and a good amount of bravery. A strong story overall!

[Liz Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in just a few hours and I enjoyed it for the most part.

Positives:
I was entertained almost the entire time and once I was involved with the story, I found it easy to read.
The romance bit was fun and unexpected and I liked how Ryan wasn't a total hero. Sure he helped her get off the ski lift but then he gets kidnapped in Canada. Like he is just a kid wouldn't be some superman at that point.

Critiques:
The chapters in the beginning were a bit harder to get through and I had a hard time getting engaged but once I was there weren't other dips.
I felt like the whole story was there, including necessary details, but sometimes they felt more like an after thought that had to be thrown in to keep the story moving forward, like Kate knew how to use a gun, which only comes up when she's asking for a gun. Her dad was a cop, so it does totally makes sense that he taught her, but that could've been a story she had a flashback of, or something like that and not just thrown in randomly.

I have not recorded my reviews for online yet but I will and they will be available in about a week :)

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a decent YA novel. It was short and snappy with a good pace and several plot twists which kept the intrigue going.

Kate’s dad was killed in a seemingly random shooting in their hometown. He left her with a message and an oath of secrecy which Kate is determined to uphold. As she and her mum move across the country, Kate’s promise follows her, starting as a shadow of unease and grows unrelentingly.

The characters were likeable and felt sufficiently well-rounded. Parts of the story were entirely unrealistic but that added to the drama of the plot and it remained enjoyable.

[Mel Stanton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fast paced, gripping story. It was shorter than most, but that doesn't take away from the story. It leaves you guessing all the way through. I loved it.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Cassidy]

Thanks to BHC Press and NetGalley for this ARC! Thirty Seconds at a Time by Tracy Bilen comes out on October 8, 2024.

[Amy Rupp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got through this book very quickly. I was invested in the story from the very first couple of pages as it starts off with a POW! There are a number of twists which kept me guessing. I do think that the romance development was pretty fast given the timeline. This is a YA thriller so I needed to remind myself of that a couple of times when I thought that it was unrealistic that teens would be solving the case. Overall it was a fun read.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirty Seconds at a Time has all the young adult elements - there's intrigue, romance, curfew, sneaking someone's back, genuine curiosity that could be harmful - and on the adult side there's crime (lots of it), lies and mystery. The story is well-written and kept me entertained, the descriptions of skating and skiing the slopes let me wondering if I could do it, as they seemed so real!
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate didn't understand why her father was packing her clothes. She told him that there were two weeks until Christmas break. As she was trying to unpack the suitcase, he was hurrying to pack; she heard gunshots. She ran down the stairs only to find her father in a pool of blood. She tries to stop the bleeding but can't. He hands her a piece of paper and tells her to burn it and tell no one. Kate's mom finds her at the hospital where she learns of her husband's death. Once allowed to return to the house to get some of their things, Kate discovers her guitar case full of money. This is the beginning of a great mystery. Kate and her mother move away. Her mother takes a teaching job at a private school where Kate will learn to ski. However, she can't let her father's murder go.

Kate meets Ryan, who always seems to be in trouble. He inadvertently gets pulled in to all of this mess. Can Kate extricate herself before someone else gets hurt? What is she to do with the money? Who keeps leaving her cryptic messages? What is with the address her father gave her before he died?

All of these questions lead to one of the most fulfilling mysteries I have read in a long time. Throw in a snarky roommate, a good looking young man and a lot of twists and turns in this wonderful book. One my students will definitely love as much as I did.

[Jaid · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was an interesting experience. If you are looking for a young clean romance with a mystery background, this will be a quick and easy read for you! If you are looking for an engaging and thrilling mystery focused plot, look elsewhere.
It had a thrilling start concerning the main character and her father which sets up an intriguing mystery for the reader to follow.
However, the rest of the book failed to hold my attention due to the focus on a budding romance between two characters and several other improbable factors within the story.
In addition, the writing felt a bit young, even for a YA book. This story was reminiscent of Wattpad writing intended for slightly younger readers, which led to a quick read in the beginning but unfortunately just did not hold my attention.
Pros:
I loved the cozy aspect of the setting and the thrills at the beginning!
Cons:
The writing read younger than the listed audience, the ending was somewhat too predictable/unrealistic, and the romance was too much of a focus and distracted from the rest of the story.
Thank you so much to Library Thing and BHC Press for the eARC. All opinions within this review are mine.

[Sofia M Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book back in March and due to some health issues, I was only able to reach back to you today.

This book was so addictive! The writing was very fast-paced and I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours. It's a very difficult book to put down once you start reading it. This book is mainly based on the plot and doesn't add any other irrelevant details - however, I enjoyed the skiing references since they added a touch to it. I also enjoyed Kate's relationship with Ryan, it gave the book such a nice touch.

This book is an excellent YA thriller - it's a very crazy and unrealistic story but the book checks all the tabs: romance, suspense, thriller...

Thank you NetGalley and BHC Press for the eARC - I loved the opportunity to get to know Tracy Bilen as an author!

[Purnima Kar · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all , I want to say thank you for such a beautiful book. I have been going through a hard time in my life, so this book couldn't have come at a better time. The story starts with heartache but slowly, it makes it's way through healing, resilience, friendship, love and most importantly, closure. The book kept me hooked because I was desperate to know if the lead characters got the ending they very much deserved. And it didn't disappoint. The story ended on such a satisfying note. Thank you 💜.

[Dawne Webber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty Seconds at a Time is one of the best YA thriller/mysteries I've ever read! When Kate's police officer father is gunned down in their home, he leaves Kate with a few cryptic clues and a quarter of a million dollars in her guitar case. Soon after his death, Kate's mom gets a job teaching at a ski academy, and they move to Vermont. Although sparks fly when Kate meets Ryan, a hot champion skier, their romance isn't the typical insta-love. They have a connection in that they both lost their fathers and they bond over that.

The thriller/mystery aspect was very well done. I suspected EVERY character, and wasn't certain whom the killer was until the end, and I enjoyed how it all played out.

[A.S. Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the very first page, I was pulled in—practically grabbed by the throat!

The writing is energetic. The teen banter is realistic, and the romance element was sweet and natural. But what really held my interest was the mystery and feeling of impending danger.

The mystery itself slowly unwinds, but the pacing of it is perfect. This book has everything I look for in a YA romantic suspense novel. I read it one sitting!

[Kristin Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Tracy Bilen’s first two YA novels and was excited to read an advance copy of this new one. Thirty Seconds at a Time captured my interest from the very start and kept me turning the pages until the satisfying conclusion. Fast-paced and compelling, this story has it all - a unique setting (a ski academy in Vermont!), characters to root for, adventure, mystery, and sweet romance.

[Linda Kish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts off fast. You are involved with the first sentence. It moves quickly and keeps you engaged. I realize it is a YA book but adults will enjoy it as well, I think. A quick read and very entertaining.