Lisa Phillips (2)

Some books flicker for a moment. This one branded truth on my heart and lit up every place I’ve tried to carry what only Jesus can.

I expected danger. I expected suspense. But I didn’t expect conviction to hit like it did. Because somewhere in the middle of the smoke, the gunfire, and the wilderness, I found something stronger than adrenaline: a story soaked in grace, burning with faith, and steady under pressure.

The writing is sharp, the pacing fast, and the tension holds like a pulled show more wire—but what really hits is the truth underneath it all.

“Even if he’d been a good person before, the fact that he lived as a Christian now meant he always had Someone to rely on. A place to go for strength, wisdom, and true joy.”
That. That’s what stayed with me. Because it wasn’t about running from the fire—it was about knowing where to run when it comes.

And when everything inside one of the characters cracks open?
“Jesus was her Savior. Him alone and no one else.”
That moment stopped me. I’ve been there—when I finally let go of trying to save everyone else and realized I couldn’t even hold myself together without Him.

The flames in this story are mirrors. They expose what’s fragile. What’s been faked. What won’t hold up when the heat closes in. But they also ignite what’s real. What’s buried. What’s ready to rise.

This book not only stirred up adrenaline—it brought me back to the altar. Back to the truth that when my heart is burning, the answer isn’t escape—it’s surrender. It’s falling to my knees. Opening my hands. And finally letting Jesus be the only Savior in every story—in every moment.

If your faith feels faint…If your hands feel full of things you were never meant to carry…
If your heart is worn thin from trying to be everything for everyone—read this.

Let it remind you where to run when the heat closes in. Let it point you back to the only flame that never consumes:
Jesus. All while keeping you breathless with excellent writing and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

I received a digital version of this book from the publisher. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability. show less

Expired Promise is the third installment in the Last Chance Fire and Rescue series. This story centers around Andi and Jude. Andi is an EMT who is a probie firefighter as well and Jude is an ATF agent. What I really liked is that Andi and Jude grew up together so they had that history and comfort with one another, but they also had some issues from the past to work past. Jude comes home when he realizes during one of his cases that a drug cartel appears to be targeting Andi's family. The show more story has quite an explosive beginning that definitely hooks the reader. I had so many questions about why Andi's family appeared to be in the sights of these dangerous people so I stayed engaged throughout.

Thank you to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. show less

Cold Dead Night by Lisa Phillips is a 2022 publication.

Former FBI agent Kenna Banbury turned PI, finds herself at the center of a horrific serial killer case, despite her best efforts to steer clear of all things involving the FBI. With a killer leaving her business card at each crime scene, Kenna is the prime suspect. Kenna remains vigilant as she strives to identify the perpetrator before another crime occurs, all while trying to prove her own innocence as circumstances grow increasingly show more intense… and more dangerous by the second.

Billed as a Christian thriller, I was not expecting such an intense thriller… but that’s not a bad thing. I liked the premise, which is emotional, but also creepy and edgy. Kenna is a full- on rogue detective, working on her own, after losing everything and everyone she cared about.

The story is gritty, but not overly graphic. It has a heavy tone, plenty of twists and turns, and a little suspenseful action as the momentum speeds up towards the end.

As for the Christian elements, they are not obvious, but the story is clean, devoid of foul language and sexual content. Despite that, the novel includes very adult content, and some situations needed to be addressed more boldly for it to fit within the Christian category.

Overall, though, this is a solid, fast-paced thriller. I enjoyed it and will definitely read more books by Lisa Phillips in the future.

4 stars show less

Somehow, books by Angela Ruth Strong always end up on my favorites list. Granted, Finding Love on the Oregon Coast is a compilation of 4 novellas, three by other authors, but these all had such a strong story line tie-in.

One bride-to-be makes it minutes from the altar,only to realize that the man she is marrying isn't the person she needs. The reader is then whisked into the stories of her three bridesmaids, who one-by-one,find the man of their dreams when they let go of their own show more understanding and let God.

Finally, the reader returns to the runaway bride. Having read other romance novels by Angela Ruth Strong, I was nevertheless surprised to see that this one would include Dave Lake, another brother of a family of single men about whom Strong has been writing. The book was already good,but that really amped up my interest! Strong has a unique writing style that includes romance, angst, faith, and humor. My reading soul comes away from her books fully sated. Too bad there can't be about 20 Lake brothers!! show less