Flee the Night

Team Hope #1

by Susan May Warren

Ex-CIA operative Lacey Montgomery is a liar, a murderer, and a fugitive—or is she? Former Green Beret Jim Micah must either prove her innocence or bring her to justice. Too bad his heart won't stay out of the way. With a little girl's life and national secrets hanging in the balance, Jim and Lacey must trust God to help them flee the secrets of the night.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Romance, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

I can't help be amazed at the gifts God has delighted me with - a wonderful husband, four amazing children, and the opportunity to write for Him.

I've been writing as long as I can remember - I won my first book writing contest in first grade! Over the years, writing has become, for me, a way to praise God and see Him at work in my life.

Although I have a degree in Mass Communications from the University of MN, my real writing experience started when I penned the The Warren Report - a bi-monthly newsletter that detailed our ministry highlights.

Living in Russia meant I never lacked for great material - and those experiences naturally spilled out first into devotionals and magazine articles and finally into my first published story, "Measure of a Man," in the Tyndale/HeartQuest, Chance Encounters of the Heart anthology.

Susan and husbandI grew up in Wayzata, a suburb of Minneapolis, and became an avid camper from an early age. My favorite fir-lined spot is the north shore of Minnesota - it's where I met my husband, honeymooned and dreamed of living. The north woods easily became the foundation for my first series, The Deep Haven series.based on a little tourist town along the shores of Lake Superior. I have to admit - I'm terribly jealous of Mona, the heroine of my first full-length book, Happily Ever After, a Christy Award Finalist published in 2004 with Tyndale/Heartquest.

Our family moved home from the mission field in June 2004 -- and now we live in the beautiful town I'd always dreamed of! God has amazed me anew with His provision, and blessings -- and allowed me a season when I can write full time for Him.

I 'm delighted you've stopped in to visit. My hope is that you'll be blessed and encouraged by soul-stirring stories of regular people interacting with a God who loves them.

I'd love to hear from you! I love getting mail, especially from readers and I welcome your questions and comments. Write to me at susan@susanmaywarren.com. And, if you're interested, sign up for my newsletter, a quarterly sneak peek into upcoming releases and projects. Thank you for your interest and support.

God Bless and Happy Reading!

In His Grip,
Susan May Warren

Reviews

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first novel from Susan May Warren.

I loved the mystery/suspense part that followed Lacey. I enjoyed the CIA/NSA portions and suspense kept me reading with a few unexpected twists.

I loved the Bible verses intertwined through out the whole story and how Micah and Connor explained some Christian principals to Lacy.

The romantic plot between Micah and Lacey, I enjoyed but sometimes found a bit frustrating. I liked the fact that their story build as trust was build between and I loved the way the author gave us glimpses of the past in between to understand them better.

A enjoyable Romantic suspense and I would definitely finish the Team Hope series.

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“God’s very character is mercy. He yearns to show it to us. That’s what the Bible is all about—God showing us mercy in the sacrifice of His Son. It’s not about us deserving it—we never will. It’s about His giving it just because of His love. We don’t get to turn our back on God—because the suffering of Christ demands we confront this mercy. Turning away would be like a wounded person slapping away the nurse’s hands.”
...Or a prisoner refusing redemption.

When Lacey's daughter went missing after a train crash, the one person she knew could help her was her childhood friend Jim Micah. But he had no idea what intrigue this path would take him down, nor how life-endangering his renewed relationship with Lacey would be. And can he trust her after he's believed for years she murdered his best friend, the father of the very child he was sent to retrieve? For that matter, who from his past military missions could he trust?

The one thing he could count on was the Lord. His life hadn’t been easy, but the Lord pulled him through all of it. Now he's faced with finding and protecting both a woman from his past and her child, who had apparently been abducted.

Lacey, on the other hand, had left her faith when she went into a life of espionage with her husband, John. Lacey'd been in the dark ever since, and Micah's greatest desire was to show her that light again, to show her the way "home".

Micah discussing Psalm 107 —

... "The next passage is about people becoming fools and suffering because of their iniquities. And the next, God stirs the waters, causes the storms, then brings the people to safety. There is constantly the paradox of free will versus an all-sovereign God. And the only answer is—both are right.”... “I know it’s impossible for our brains to wrap around that. We like to think in linear patterns. Especially people like you and me. We want to solve problems, whittle down the scenarios, and egress without casualties. But we’re not going to win this battle. Whenever our confusion and God’s Word go toe-to-toe, God’s Word will always win. Because it is from the mind of God. He is light and all knowledge. We see only darkly through the prism of ourselves and our experiences.”

Darkness is ready to swallow us up as we walk away from Him. But there's light and freedom within reach.

Psalm 107
Regarding the prisoner
“Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, miserable prisoners in chains. They rebelled against the words of God, scorning the counsel of the Most High. That is why he broke them with hard labor; they fell, and no one helped them rise again.” (v. 10-12)
Hope and resolution
‘LORD, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains.” (v. 13-14)

I highly recommend this book. Suspenseful, but not just for a thrill. The messages within were the greatest delight for this reader.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like mystery thrillers based on people who let God work in their lives, Susan May Warren's Team Hope series is a fast paced, riviting read.

[Wendy Sparkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

#1 Team Hope

A boatload of mistakes and regrets. That’s what Lacey Montgomery has.

She’s wandered so far from God she doesn’t believe He could love her anymore.

If she turns to the light, she just might get burned.

She needs to get out of this mess. Herself. Alone. Again.

Jim Micah also has a heart full of regrets. But maybe God is giving him a second chance...a chance to be the man Lacey needs...a man who instead of wanting that wet fleece that proved Lacey wouldn’t hurt his heart, instead takes the Romans 5:8 route and tells her as well as shows her that he loves her, even if that means rejection – and sacrifice.

I loved how Scripture was woven seamlessly into this story and wonderfully brought to life, and how the theme of redemption, and coming out of the darkness into the light, shone throughout.

I also loved that Sarah sang Christian songs, particularly when under stress. For someone who loves singing, that was something I really connected with. I wasn’t sure about Hank to start with, but he grew on me and I really hope he considers her a treasure worth fighting for, and that I find out more about them in the rest of the series.

Favourite Quotes

Well, I had several parts that I highlighted throughout the story. These 2 are the short ones that I want to share:

“It’s not about deserving though.”
Whether it is God’s love or love of family/friends/someone special – it’s a gift we have the opportunity to accept and treasure. I appreciated how that was brought across.

“God showed me that His light was mercy and healing. Not horror.”
So often, even as Christians when we mess up we forget about the mercy and healing of His light, rather seeing the light showing up our ugly parts and making us want to run and hide.

I love this series so far!

Team Hope
0.5 1. 2. 3.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is mainly just a note to myself since I only got a few chapters in before deciding to quit. The hero believes the heroine killed her husband (who was his best friend) despite her being cleared for it. He despises her for this, yet still loves her and can't stop thinking about her. But when she asked him to find her missing, young child--daughter of the best friend--he still said hurtful things and turned her down. (Though, obviously, he'll change his mind for some reason.) For that matter, why in the world is everyone just ignoring her request to search for a child who's just been in a train wreck? And how come she didn't even know there was a bodyguard watching out for her when they act like she knew? And that nurse was so unprofessional (ripping the call button from an injured woman's hand and throwing it out of her reach) that I just couldn't believe it. If I have this many problems in the first three chapters, I doubt I'll like the rest of the book.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've said in many of my reviews of inspirational books that I'm disappointed with the state of Christian/inspirational fiction. I've found many Christian fiction books that have been poorly written, not engaging, lacking an actual Christian or inspirational message, or, on the other extreme, overly preach-y or too biased to one denomination's beliefs. Then I pick up a book by someone like Dee Henderson, Nicole Baart, or Susan May Warren and I am comforted by the fact that there IS worthwhile Christian fiction out there.
Flee the Night is a solidly written Christian fiction book. I have a few gripes about the book, but overall, I was very pleased with it. One of the things I didn't care for in this book was the constant rehashing of Lacey and Micah's love/hate/trust/distrust of one another. I understand that was the whole premise of the book, but after awhile I grew tired of reading about their doubts regarding each other's trustworthiness and faithfulness. I was also confounded by Lacey's willingness to turn the Ex-6 program over to the "bad guys." Granted, I am not a mother, so I can't say that my loyalty to country wouldn't be in jeopardy if my child's life was on the line, but I'd like to think that I would keep in mind all of the potential devastation that could be caused by turning something of such importance over to the dark side. I also wondered if Lacey was such a math and computer brain, and since she wrote the Ex-6 programming herself, why she couldn't come up with a better decoy copy to give to the bad guys?
Some things I really enjoyed about this book were the religious discussions the characters had. It's clear that Susan May Warren knows how to argue for faith and she makes her case clearly and eloquently. I appreciate how she introduces discussions on faith without being over the top with proselytizing.
I'm looking forward to reading the other two books in this series. So far, I prefer Ms. Warren's "Mission Russia" books, but I'll see what the other two "Team Hope" books have in store.

[Loraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book more stars, but it just kept dragging on and on. Not so much the story, but the relationship between Lacy and Micah. Goodness! Just decide whether your trust/love/care about/want to be with each other already!! There were WAY too many instances when they turned to each other for comfort/love, just to turn their backs on, and mistrusted each other again. It got very old, very fast. The story was okay, but I didn't think they developed the characters well enough. I kind of felt like I was wondering what the main characters were really like. Maybe because they were so fickle?!
Yeah. I finished it, but kind of wish I'd abandoned it. There are way too many really amazing books to read. And not enough time!!

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audio book. The problem with an audio book is that you cannot easily scan-read to finish up the book.

Some of these inspirational books have an identical effect on me. I start out liking them and being interested in the characters and plot. Then, my goodwill begins to gradually go downhill when the plot seems to flatline while the characters work out their salvation and preach. This book seemed to grind and grind over the characters' regrets. Eight years later......well, I think both of them needed heavy counseling. By the time I finished this about one last night, I regretted having read it at all.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

Big disappointment. I couldn't even finish it. The plot was amateurish, the writing was hackneyed, and the romance/desire was way overblown. This is supposed to be the first of a trilogy about a search and rescue team but there was none of the exciting adventure that such a premise would lead you to expect.

[Tressa (Wishful Endings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the opening of this one and the fact that the two main characters had some good friction. This was my favorite of this series. A little preachy in parts, but I enjoyed the story.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fairly well written Christian mystery/suspense novel with somewhat interesting characters. I liked the story, but it was written in a way that made it seem long and slow to me. There really wasn't much action in the story, which I was expecting. Now, don't misunderstand what I'm going to say next; normally, I love novels with a lot of character development and a good backstory, but I don't expect there to be so much of that in a book that's meant to be a suspense novel, and so, the fact that there was so much character development and backstory revealed in this suspense novel got on my nerves. Anyhow, while the pace of the story did pick up a little bit as it reached the end, and I had gotten rather fond of the characters along the way, I was just not that impressed by this novel or by the author's writing style overall, especially since she spent so much time on revealing how attracted the two main characters were to each other in comparison with how many conversations she recorded them having; moreover, they never really hashed through all their past misconceptions and problems that had begun when they were teenagers, and besides, she had only just turned back to having faith in God and had only just begun to deal with her anger towards and mistrust of God and a few people by the end of the novel when they are suddenly a solid couple planning marriage. In any case, I just don't think I will be reading any more of this series or really anything else by this author either.

[Barbara Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been listening to some of Susan May Warren’s later series. And the narrator is amazing. That’s a lot of drama and action in his narration.

So I had a little bit of trouble getting into this book because one the narrator, who is good, is very different from the one I’ve been listening to for a while now. And two it’s a whole new set of characters and I’ve been sitting with the Marshall family for a while.

This is also an older book so it reads a little different. But I’m super glad I stuck with it. Overall, it was a really good story and the beginning of what I think will be a good series.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lacey is accused of being a traitor and a murderer but is that really true? As she flees her demons Micah has to figure out if he can trust her before he falls hopelessly in love with her.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. .

Excellent mystery with lots of twists and turns. Kept me reading til the end. Very good author. I can't wait to read the next one.

[Terry Houchin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how I missed this book!

I thought I'd read all of Susan May Warren's books, but I completely missed this whole series. Good news...Now that I've read the first book there are two more in this series. Score!

I enjoyed the drama in this book. There was so much suspenseful stuff going on the entire time. I knew how things would end up, but watching them get there was so much fun.

Lacey was a mess and a bad*** all rolled up into one. She did so many things that were off the wall. Which you'd kind of expect since she was CIA and all. Since her daughter was kidnapped she was reacting emotionally as well.

Micha was the perfect hero, swoon worthy. I loved  led his group in prayer before they headed out on an assignment. I also loved how even though he was a faith filled man, he had moments of doubt.

I loved this book and am ready to settle into the next book in the series Escape To Morning.

If you haven't already discovered this series, I highly recommend it. If you like a suspenseful love story, this one is just the ticket.

[Teresa Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars.

I really didn't care for Lacy, was frustrated by Micah always getting hurt or wounded --- even in her new series that he's in.

Good ending.

Hopefully book two is better.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did really enjoy this book, but it was sad. Both the main characters had 20 years of regrets and pride. It all worked out in the end and the point was that the Lord is in control even when we make bad choice after bad choice and can redeem us even when we leave him and sink into the pit. The only thing that bothered me was how bad she made Lacey's first husband. They kept saying John was a good man blah blah blah. But he wasn't. It bothered me that John would be Micah's best friend, even without faith in God and continuing after he kept cheating on Lacey. They were together for 13 yrs and he was cheating on her pretty much from the beginning. Micah is madly in love with Lacey, so why did he never confront John about his suspicions? So why would a man of God consider the man who is cheating on the girl he loves his best and closest friend? I'm not saying that Lacey and Micah wouldn't have each loved John in there own ways our that either of them would have cut him out of their lives, but it just seems like Micah at least would have been closer to a man like Conner from the very beginning. I know it is fiction and it doesn't really matter, but that part cheapened it a bit for me.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is really easy to get sucked into her books and characters. They are easy to identify with in one form or another. Lacy is a CIA agent who is blamed for her husbands death and who is being tracked for a decryption device that she is working on that can save many lives of many people trying to protect the USA. Jim Micah is paying his penance with the green b arias for now having the guts and faith to tell Lacey that he loves her for the past 13 years. They were best friends in HS, until his silence allows his best friend to come in and snatch Lacey away with the adventurous lifestyle of a CIA agent. When Lacey's husband is killed and her daughter goes missing, she called in the one person she can trust Micah.

[Leorah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so if I we were required to title our reviews like you have to in some websites, my title would be "Blank."
Blank because honestly, I don't have words to describe how much I love this book. My mind is just blank in trying to come up with something! I read it in four hours, in one sitting, and was completely sucked into it from the first chapter. It wasn't until I got to the last chapter that I realized I was almost finished and man was it such a big disappointment! This book was just so captivating and exciting and just oh! What to say?!?!
Long and short of it all, I LOVED THIS BOOK and CAN'T WAIT to read more from this series as well as author! Do. Not. Miss. Out. (!!!) ♥

[joyce lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

not my first time w/ this author, but IS my first time w/ one of her suspense novels.

she's got a GOOD balance of romance, mystery, intrigue, and ... hope.

didn't realize til i was already reading the book that it was part of a series. now i'm waiting for the other books to show up from another library so that i can officially start the series, and then end it. i want to see where some of these characters developed from, and where some of them end up.

like this book enough, too, that i'm going to check out a few more of this writer's "stuff"

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read a Christian book about government spies before this one. It was fun with a message of hope. I have read some other books by this author and those were good, but a little wordy and I found myself skipping lots of the narative. This was not the case here. The author did a good job of keeping the story moving, inserting background information to give insights into the situation.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I think I have a new favorite author in Susan May Warren. This book was very fast past and before I knew it, I was sucked into the plot and halfway through it. The plot was detailed and intrique, though easy to follow alone. All while the romance between Lacey and Micah was sweet though strained and somewhat forbidden, but ultimately fulfilled. Can't wait to read the rest of the series, as well as Warren's other books.

[Eldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you can get through the first couple of disjointed chapters it's not too bad a story. Sometimes I got annoyed by the endless, repetitive introspection but then again I suppose I'm not really the target demographic anyway. I would have thought most people would have gotten the point before the author thought they would though. I plan on reading the next book in the series however if that helps put my grousing into perspective.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read from Susan and I really enjoyed it. I like that her female characters are strong women. I love the Christian theme and spiritual undertones throughout the book. We all need to depend on God and she has her characters depend on Him. An entertaining read, I love not knowing what will happen next. Definitely worth the read.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. I'm looking forward to reading more of Warren's fiction. It was clean and had a good message as well. The only thing I had a hard time with was the constant back and forth that one character experiences throughout the book. It was a bit over the top but it worked itself out in the end.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clean. Audiobook. This was a Christian romance that has some suspense along with it,which was a nice change! I did find it annoying that the Micah (main hunk) kept going back to the idea that he couldn't trust Lacee. Way too many times. This would have been better as a regular read so I could skim the slow parts more easily.

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book before but that was about 10+ years ago. Susan's next book coming out Smoke Jump Team 2nd book 2016 has Connor n Lisa's story and suggested we reacquaint ourselves with Connor. we find he is apart of Hope Team who help in rescue services. He depends on God n prays before during after a mission. Lacey, Micah plus Emily hopefully they are doing well.

[Brenda Klaassen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered a new series of books. The series is "Team Hope." These are Christian based romantic suspense. The characters were really interesting. The storyline really held my attention. I plan to read the whole series.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It had plenty of suspense and action without going over the top and a bit of romance. The characters really struggle with trust and who to trust. It has a trust in the Lord theme that is not over done. It was clean and had a good message. The ending was complete.

[Dawn Traylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

This was a good book but it did have a somewhat predictable ending. I enjoyed the overall storyline and the theme of true forgiveness and mercy. I look forward to reading the next in the series to learn more about the Team Hope members and maybe have a deeper storyline.