Description:
Chasing Justice
A daring escape by a dangerous fugitive puts US marshals Eric Hanning's and Hailey Shelder's careers and lives on the line. With the criminal vowing revenge, Eric feels duty-bound to protect his risk-taking partner. He doesn't agree with her methods, but he's drawn to the single mom who wants to prove she can make it in a demanding job. When her daughter is almost kidnapped, Eric and Hailey go from uneasy partners to a true team. But with floodwaters threatening the town and a killer on the loose, can their newfound trust survive the final showdown that awaits them?
Lisa Phillips is an ex-pat Brit who crossed the pond to attend Bible College. She and her husband have two kids, but there's only one bunny rabbit now (sad face).
Lisa got her start writing while waiting for her employment authorization card to come through, and studied the craft with the Christian Writers Guild.
She can most often be found with a cup of proper tea and her nose in a book. Find out more at www.authorlisaphillips.com
(Description and author bio from Amazon. Cover and author photos from the author's site. No infringement intended.)
My Review: 4 stars
What happens next?!
Manhunt is Lisa Phillips’ newest book. It comes after Star Witness and follows Eric Hanning, Aaron’s twin brother. I have immensely enjoyed Ms. Phillips’ previous books and was very excited when I realized this was Eric’s book. I love it when an author continues in something of a series and connects the books and characters, rather than leaving us hanging, wondering what happens to them. I can happily say that I loved this book!
Ms. Phillips does an excellent job with the details and descriptions, bringing the town and characters to life. It is very obvious that she did extensive research for this book to accurately portray the U.S. Marshal Service. I would have liked a few more character descriptions, but that probably would have made the book too long for this particular publisher.
I really enjoyed getting to know Hailey Shelder and her daughter, Kerry. Hailey is very strong and determined, a good trait for someone working what many consider to be a man’s job. I could easily relate to her desire to prove herself. She works around men all day who see her as a “little girl.” While she isn’t excited about getting a new partner, she does appreciate the fact that he takes some of the attention away from her. She is also a single parent and struggles to balance her job and being there for her preteen daughter. I liked getting to know her and learn who she is behind the U.S. Marshal badge. She has made mistakes in her past, but she doesn’t let them weigh her down. I appreciated her strength, but also her ability to be vulnerable, even though she does fight it at every turn.
Eric Hanning is an interesting hero. We met him in Star Witness as Mackenzie’s WITSEC contact, but after his position being revealed, he is transferred to fugitive apprehension. He is a somewhat reluctant hero in that he really doesn’t want to be there, in fact would rather be anywhere but there. Eric is also strong and stubborn, maybe more so than Hailey. He also has a soft side that he shares with few, but seems to come through whenever he’s with Hailey and her daughter. After being hurt in the past, he has shut himself off from almost everyone. I quickly fell in love with Eric and was anxious to see his wounded heart healed.
I really enjoyed Hailey and Eric’s relationship as well. The story covers a relatively short amount of time, but I was surprised to find that their relationship didn’t feel rushed. There is actually little in the way of romance in the story, which undoubtedly helped. It was more of them getting to know each other while trying to survive a flood, catch their escapee, and investigate a years old jewel heist. They don’t exactly have time for anything beyond that and most of their conversations revolve around everything that’s happening.
The spiritual element is always fairly low key in Lisa’s books, but it resounds just the same. They discuss forgiveness and both think about trusting God, though they each have their reasons for why they’re struggling. Despite the lack of page time, God is clearly woven throughout and I enjoyed Eric and Hailey’s spiritual journeys just the same. They both ask questions that challenge me and cause me to think.
Lisa definitely excels at suspense! This book kept me on the edge of my seat from almost the first page and I didn’t want to put it down. Things happen rapid-fire and just when you think nothing else can happen, she throws another wrench into it. I loved the guessing, trying to figure out what might happen next and when they might finally catch the villain. My only complaint is that one of the last chapters seemed a little like something out of an action movie and I didn’t find it overly realistic.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy suspense with a bit of romance!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you so much for coming by and taking the time to read my review! I hope you enjoyed it! If you're interested in checking out the book, or maybe purchasing a copy, here are some links to get you started:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book
Thanks again! I hope you're having a lovely day! :)
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