What do you think?
Rate this book
The Security Experts #2
Lifeline
Only a former navy SEAL can help a woman who is convinced her deceased former fiancé is alive—and out for revenge in this exciting suspense, part of The Security Experts series from USA TODAY bestselling author Christy Barritt. “I did it for you.” The chilling words in the text message have Julianne Grace fearing for her life. She’s sure that her abusive ex-fiancé has killed two people—and that she’s the next target. But will anyone believe that her presumed dead ex is really alive? The only man who can help Julianne is cool, aloof security specialist Bradley Stone. Not only does she need his protection, but he’s also the link to finding answers about her ex-fiancé’s death. And the closer Bradley and Julianne get to the truth—and to each other, the angrier the madman after Julianne becomes. One wrong move and they could both fall prey to the killer’s deadly scheme.Experience more action-packed mystery and suspense in the rest of The Security Experts series by Christy WitnessLifelineHigh-Stakes Holiday ReunionFrom Love Inspired Courage. Danger. Faith.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
309 people are currently reading
320 people want to read
About the author
Christy Barritt
338 books1,664 followersChristy Barritt is an author, freelance writer and speaker who lives in Virginia. She’s married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado. She’s only won one contest in her life—and her prize was kissing a pig (okay, okay… actually she did win the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery also). Her current claim to fame is showing off her mother, who looks just like former First Lady Barbara Bush
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.
When she’s not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident prone she is.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
July 20, 2018
This author has written a lot of books. I first read two of her books some years ago, Hazardous Duty and Death of the Couch Potato's Wife. The first I really liked, the second less so. Since I heard that Hazardous Duty was being made into a movie I thought I would read another one of her books to see how she had evolved as a writer. I should have been forewarned as the CF series is called "Love Inspired Suspense". I should have known it would be a superficial love story emerging from a long string of murders and continual doubting on the part of the two emotionally crippled main characters.
I am not an editor but I would have loved to have gotten hold of this book before it was published. There were too many clichés and then too many awkward phrases in trying to avoid clichés. This phrased was used two times. "Her hand covered her mouth, covering the O of horror." What does that even mean? And then, "His gaze soaked her in." That hurts my eyes when I think about it.
A lot of things didn't fit for me or were unexplained. I don't have time for all of them. The first was how she got her Bible. She had hiked for miles, when her car ran out of gas, not even bringing a coat, but the next day she was sitting on the couch, in a borrowed apartment, reading her Bible. Where did that come from? Another was when Bradley showed Julianne a secret weapon, a small explosive that when lit would explode in five seconds. I think that is what it was supposed to do. Well, "it ignites", is that the same as explodes? Her response is, "That sounds amazing." That is not how I would respond. She later uses this secret weapon, that is just lying providentially in the car trunk, to get Bradley out of a sealed house that is full of gas! Beyond wondering how Bradley would fair in the explosion, I wondered how she got the trunk open so quickly and then how she found a way to light the explosive in the few seconds she had to save Bradley's life.
I have little patience with books which have so many murders that you lose count. At one point the book mentions "John's murder". Who was that again? I had lost track of all the murders. There were 7, no, 8, I think.
Bradley and Julianne are trying to keep a low profile, behind security guards and intricate home alarm systems, but they are talked into a bonfire on the beach by friends. They have a homicidal maniac, I mean, someone with an"oppositional defiance disorder", after them, who doesn't care who he kills. Talk about easy targets.
And then the not-so-sage advice about relationships, "Once you find the right one, all those old bad relationships are worth it." What? Let's think about this. Julianne is sitting there, terrified, stalked, emotionally and physically scarred her by a "bad relationship". That all goes away when you meet the right guy? All those murders are worth it?
Then in the final scene you have one of the bad guys saying, "...but I have never actually harmed a living soul". But apparently he did and when confronted he says, "I had to." Hmm.
When I was trying to find the publication date I saw that "Harlequin" was cleverly hidden from those of us who use a Kindle. Gasp! All is explained.
I am not an editor but I would have loved to have gotten hold of this book before it was published. There were too many clichés and then too many awkward phrases in trying to avoid clichés. This phrased was used two times. "Her hand covered her mouth, covering the O of horror." What does that even mean? And then, "His gaze soaked her in." That hurts my eyes when I think about it.
A lot of things didn't fit for me or were unexplained. I don't have time for all of them. The first was how she got her Bible. She had hiked for miles, when her car ran out of gas, not even bringing a coat, but the next day she was sitting on the couch, in a borrowed apartment, reading her Bible. Where did that come from? Another was when Bradley showed Julianne a secret weapon, a small explosive that when lit would explode in five seconds. I think that is what it was supposed to do. Well, "it ignites", is that the same as explodes? Her response is, "That sounds amazing." That is not how I would respond. She later uses this secret weapon, that is just lying providentially in the car trunk, to get Bradley out of a sealed house that is full of gas! Beyond wondering how Bradley would fair in the explosion, I wondered how she got the trunk open so quickly and then how she found a way to light the explosive in the few seconds she had to save Bradley's life.
I have little patience with books which have so many murders that you lose count. At one point the book mentions "John's murder". Who was that again? I had lost track of all the murders. There were 7, no, 8, I think.
Bradley and Julianne are trying to keep a low profile, behind security guards and intricate home alarm systems, but they are talked into a bonfire on the beach by friends. They have a homicidal maniac, I mean, someone with an"oppositional defiance disorder", after them, who doesn't care who he kills. Talk about easy targets.
And then the not-so-sage advice about relationships, "Once you find the right one, all those old bad relationships are worth it." What? Let's think about this. Julianne is sitting there, terrified, stalked, emotionally and physically scarred her by a "bad relationship". That all goes away when you meet the right guy? All those murders are worth it?
Then in the final scene you have one of the bad guys saying, "...but I have never actually harmed a living soul". But apparently he did and when confronted he says, "I had to." Hmm.
When I was trying to find the publication date I saw that "Harlequin" was cleverly hidden from those of us who use a Kindle. Gasp! All is explained.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2019
Julianne Grace's believes her ex-fiance is still alive but can she convince others to believe her? This book kept me turning pages to see the end.
July 25, 2013
Title: LIFELINE
Author: Christy Barritt
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
July 2013
ISBN: 978-0373445462
Genre: Romantic Suspense
“I did it for you."
The chilling words in the text message have Julianne Grace fearing for her life. She's sure that her abusive ex-fiancé has killed two people—and that she's the next target. But will anyone believe that her presumed dead ex is really alive?
The only man who can help Julianne is cool, aloof security specialist Bradley Stone. Not only does she need his protection, but he's also the link to finding answers about her ex-fiancé's death. And the closer Bradley and Julianne get to the truth—and to each other—the angrier the madman after Julianne becomes.
One wrong move and they could both fall prey to the killer's deadly scheme.
LIFELINE is the second book in Ms. Barritt’s Security Experts series, but it easily stands alone. Fans will want to read Key Witness though, simply because it’s a good book.
Bradley Stone thinks Julianne is crazy. How is a dead man possibly murdering people—and threatening Julianne’s life? Not possible—and yet, it is. The person behind the texts and acts claim to be doing it for love—but if you loved someone would you try to kill them? LIFELINE is nonstop action from page one. Readers who love suspense will want to read this one. A page-turner. $5.99. 224 pages.
Author: Christy Barritt
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
July 2013
ISBN: 978-0373445462
Genre: Romantic Suspense
“I did it for you."
The chilling words in the text message have Julianne Grace fearing for her life. She's sure that her abusive ex-fiancé has killed two people—and that she's the next target. But will anyone believe that her presumed dead ex is really alive?
The only man who can help Julianne is cool, aloof security specialist Bradley Stone. Not only does she need his protection, but he's also the link to finding answers about her ex-fiancé's death. And the closer Bradley and Julianne get to the truth—and to each other—the angrier the madman after Julianne becomes.
One wrong move and they could both fall prey to the killer's deadly scheme.
LIFELINE is the second book in Ms. Barritt’s Security Experts series, but it easily stands alone. Fans will want to read Key Witness though, simply because it’s a good book.
Bradley Stone thinks Julianne is crazy. How is a dead man possibly murdering people—and threatening Julianne’s life? Not possible—and yet, it is. The person behind the texts and acts claim to be doing it for love—but if you loved someone would you try to kill them? LIFELINE is nonstop action from page one. Readers who love suspense will want to read this one. A page-turner. $5.99. 224 pages.
October 24, 2015
Julianne Grace seeks out Bradley Stone for help as she has a feeling her ex-finance, Darrell, who is presumed dead is following her. As Bradley is sure he saw Darrell die he has a very hard time believing Julianne`s story. As you get deeper into the story it begins to appear like he just may still be alive and threatening those around Julianne. Throughout the story Bradley and Julianne learn that there is more to each other than what their first impression seemed of them was. This story kept my interest the whole time and I enjoyed reading it and will probably read it again in the future.
June 3, 2019
Anytime you're looking for a good story with romance and suspense in abundance, it's safe to choose a book by Christy Barritt. Some of her work is filled with humor, also, but Lifeline isn't one of those! To have a dead SEAL shadowing you, knowing everything you do and planning to keep you all to himself has to be one of the scariest situations anyone could be in. You'd need a hero, right? Luckily for Julianne Iron, Inc. security expert and retired SEAL Bradley Stone is available. Every scene is filled with tension, either romantic or fearful, and every scene pulls you in deeper. Second of three in this series and they have both been great!
November 28, 2020
A good clean mystery/Christian/romance with no gory murder scenes or sex scenes. Julianne is fearing for her life as threats from her thought to be dead ex-fiance Darrell pile up around her. With two friends dead she turns to her ex-fiance's former commanding officer in hopes that someone will believe her. Bradley works as a security contractor now & is drawn in by Julianne's unbelievable story. As threats mount and more murders happen, Bradley & Julianne must rely on their faith in God and each other as they try to solve the twisty murders and find out if Darrell is really indeed alive.
February 18, 2021
Lifeline (The Security Experts)
Julianne did not know who was watching her, following her, and then her friend and counselor suddenly turns up dead, with and energy. drink and an empty bag of chips next to the body. If she wasn't scared enough, this terrified her, it was something just exactly that her ex-fiance would do. Except, he was supposed to be dead. Friends were getting killed around her, but she had no idea why there seemed to be a target on her back. The only place that she might be safe is at the security agency Eyes, there is one man who can help her, if he will. She just had to get there while she was still alive! 👍GREAT READ!!!!
Julianne did not know who was watching her, following her, and then her friend and counselor suddenly turns up dead, with and energy. drink and an empty bag of chips next to the body. If she wasn't scared enough, this terrified her, it was something just exactly that her ex-fiance would do. Except, he was supposed to be dead. Friends were getting killed around her, but she had no idea why there seemed to be a target on her back. The only place that she might be safe is at the security agency Eyes, there is one man who can help her, if he will. She just had to get there while she was still alive! 👍GREAT READ!!!!
April 3, 2021
A lovely, but intriguing, story centered on faith and trust. In this case both of our protagonists, Julianne and Bradley, have been hurt in the past. So, each decides that they are better off alone with only God at their side. But God did not create men & women to be alone. He created others to support and love each other; to be there to listen and believe in them when they are in trouble; and to forgive when each makes mistakes. Julianne and Bradley need to learn that lesson, before they can find love. However, the question then becomes, can they survive long enough to make these discoveries?
A fun read for a snowy or rainy afternoon.
A fun read for a snowy or rainy afternoon.
April 25, 2021
Good story
This was a good story but I kept feeling like it was the third book in the series instead of the first. It kept distracting me from the story. I only recently started reading Christy Barrett so I wasn't aware of this having been previously published. Once I dug into it, I found there are two other books that probably should have been read first. There is a prequel and then the second book in the series - both of which are the stories for other two male characters. I plan on reading them next. I just wish I had read them first. It would have made this story better. I really hate reading books in series out of order.
This was a good story but I kept feeling like it was the third book in the series instead of the first. It kept distracting me from the story. I only recently started reading Christy Barrett so I wasn't aware of this having been previously published. Once I dug into it, I found there are two other books that probably should have been read first. There is a prequel and then the second book in the series - both of which are the stories for other two male characters. I plan on reading them next. I just wish I had read them first. It would have made this story better. I really hate reading books in series out of order.
May 14, 2021
An action packed mystery that will keep you guessing
I liked this one and wanted to love it, but it was too crazy. Can one person really wreak that kind of havoc in such a short amount of time? It made the conclusion very anti climactic. I had to flip back and forth between pages to make sure I hadn't missed something because suddenly they were hauling the bad guy away. And I could guess what diane's connection was, but not the reason for the jewelry. I was sad that wasnt explained like everything else was. Besides the violence, it was clean. Liked the references of and to God. There was no way they were getting out of that one without Him!
I liked this one and wanted to love it, but it was too crazy. Can one person really wreak that kind of havoc in such a short amount of time? It made the conclusion very anti climactic. I had to flip back and forth between pages to make sure I hadn't missed something because suddenly they were hauling the bad guy away. And I could guess what diane's connection was, but not the reason for the jewelry. I was sad that wasnt explained like everything else was. Besides the violence, it was clean. Liked the references of and to God. There was no way they were getting out of that one without Him!
July 19, 2020
Speed love
This book was okay enough. The suspense and thriller aspects of it keeps the reader turning pages. Less believable was the romance aspect, where Bradley suspected Julianne of all manner of mischief & conspiracy, but he did hold off a whole day before throwing a liplock on her. On her side, she waffled between hating him & planning their wedding. Christy Barritt has done much better in previous and subsequent books.
This book was okay enough. The suspense and thriller aspects of it keeps the reader turning pages. Less believable was the romance aspect, where Bradley suspected Julianne of all manner of mischief & conspiracy, but he did hold off a whole day before throwing a liplock on her. On her side, she waffled between hating him & planning their wedding. Christy Barritt has done much better in previous and subsequent books.
August 30, 2018
I enjoyed seeing Elle and Denton again in cameos, but Julianne and Bradley held center stage well. That said, the whole idea of Julianne running from her supposedly dead fiance took too long to get going. Also, Bradley went from cold and impersonal to comforting way too quickly. The drug cartel felt like one twist too many.
July 11, 2019
I borrowed this book from our local library and this is my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and the characters. Christy did a great job writing this book which keeps your interest to the end! I really like the way she weaves faith throughout the story line and her characters are very believable.
November 28, 2020
Mayhem Plus Love
Christy Barritt has written another extraordinary story that is extremely difficult to put down for even a brief time. She wove a powerful plot. Although everything looks bleak, the two main characters know that God is their hope. Christy Barritt at her best!!!
Christy Barritt has written another extraordinary story that is extremely difficult to put down for even a brief time. She wove a powerful plot. Although everything looks bleak, the two main characters know that God is their hope. Christy Barritt at her best!!!
April 7, 2021
I feel like this author is just rushing through the story and not really making sure it all makes sense. Also, so many errors but one time used a different character name from a different book! This could have been a really good storyline if more thought would have been put in it and a good editor. Disappointing.
November 30, 2021
Good suspense novel with all the twists and turns happening to Julianne. When people around her keep getting killed, Bradley is trying to believe Julianne is innocent and not behind the murders. Then it's as if he is the target also. How can the death of Julianne's finance and the death of Bradley's financee be connected? It all wraps up with a great ending.
March 3, 2022
Julianne's fiance was killed in a car explosion, or was he? Someone is out to kill her and she thinks her fiance is still alive. She goes to the one man that may have answers but does he believe her? So many questions and intricate details that don't seem to make sense make this quite the page turner.
November 6, 2023
This had a good story line. Don't let a three star rating be deceiving. I tend to prefer books a little deeper and more involved, however, I have periods of time where I need shorter and less involved books to read. It helps in those seasons of over the top busy, but still need to read seasons. I found the characters real and likeable.
January 29, 2019
Good read
This story really had me on the edge of my seat front the beginning! I had a hard time putting it down. However, I was a little disappointed in the ending. The story climaxed and ended kind of abruptly. Otherwise I really enjoyed it!
This story really had me on the edge of my seat front the beginning! I had a hard time putting it down. However, I was a little disappointed in the ending. The story climaxed and ended kind of abruptly. Otherwise I really enjoyed it!
February 17, 2019
An excellent mystery!
Exciting, confusing typical Christy with several twists. Julianne and Bradley must battle a "dead" man, suspicion, and a drug cartel among other things to survive.
Exciting, confusing typical Christy with several twists. Julianne and Bradley must battle a "dead" man, suspicion, and a drug cartel among other things to survive.
May 29, 2019
Excellent suspenseful read! The author was able to grab you right at the beginning and the suspense continued to build on every page. Very hard to put down! Highly recommended for those who enjoy excitement, mystery, and intrigue.
August 29, 2020
Started out decent, but defense nicely had some issues towards the end.....like the fact that Julianne was TOLD by Bradley where his files were, even though the author made it seem like she had no idea. The end was not as well tied together as I was expecting.
October 13, 2020
Action-packed and dramatic, this read will appeal to die-hard romantic suspense readers. Aside from the characters seeming a little two-dimensional, the novel read well. Fast-paced and twisty. Looking forward to more.
February 25, 2021
Fear and Hope
Christy Barritt has another great romantic suspense with Lifeline. As always, the story is well written with great characters you either love or love to hate. This is a story of fear, danger, hope and faith with just the right amount of romance.
Christy Barritt has another great romantic suspense with Lifeline. As always, the story is well written with great characters you either love or love to hate. This is a story of fear, danger, hope and faith with just the right amount of romance.
September 19, 2021
Lifeline - book 2 of The Security Experts
Lifeline - book 2 (or book 3 if you include the prequel) of The Security Experts is another great book by Christy Barritt. There is a lot of suspense and action in there along with a romance.
Lifeline - book 2 (or book 3 if you include the prequel) of The Security Experts is another great book by Christy Barritt. There is a lot of suspense and action in there along with a romance.
March 23, 2022
Lifeline
Good story. It's nice to have fairytale stories to crawl into and that the good people always win. We live in a evil, cruel world that it seems the good never win thank God He rules and we do win.
Good story. It's nice to have fairytale stories to crawl into and that the good people always win. We live in a evil, cruel world that it seems the good never win thank God He rules and we do win.
August 4, 2022
Great Suspense
Christy Barrier always keep me up late because I can't stop reading once I start one of her books. The combination of suspense with romance is just right with the killer staying just steps ahead of them. Looking forward to the next one of her books.
Christy Barrier always keep me up late because I can't stop reading once I start one of her books. The combination of suspense with romance is just right with the killer staying just steps ahead of them. Looking forward to the next one of her books.
March 1, 2017
I wasn't aware that these were Christian romances, but thankfully there was no preaching. I liked the setup and plot enough to stick with it, and it was certainly interesting enough.
August 28, 2018
A real page turner....lots of action and twists and turns. And of course love and an HEA ending. Loved this book!!!
May 17, 2019
dnf'ed 25%
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews