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WITSEC Town #3

Sanctuary Breached

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Lieutenant Sam Myerson’s latest mission goes horribly wrong when his SEAL team is betrayed and he is kidnapped. But the problem doesn’t end there—it stretches all the way to the secret witness protection town of Sanctuary…and Sam’s wife.
Beth Myerson is on a mission of her own since her parents were assassinated. Nothing feels right, and it doesn’t get better when Sam shows up determined to protect her and their unborn son. Someone has discovered her location, and they won’t stop until they get their hands on what Beth is hiding.
When the real reason Beth was sent to Sanctuary is revealed, Sam puts the pieces of the puzzle together. But the enemy is closing in.

* A Christian Suspense/Romance novel *

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 10, 2015

157 people are currently reading
172 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Phillips

167 books871 followers
Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 80 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Lisa is a worship leader, tea aficionado, and dog lover of two crazy Airedales.

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5 stars
305 (61%)
4 stars
141 (28%)
3 stars
41 (8%)
2 stars
8 (1%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Agnieszka.
541 reviews
April 5, 2022
I think this is my favorite book in this series by now though so intense and suspensful I had to set it aside for a while to recuperate.

Most important stuff (thought a list is better than no review at all :-D)
- many different elements & genres - especially in the last third of the book - working well together
- secret (well-hidden) witness protection town in the mountains of Idaho
- fast paced, especially in the last third
- very complex with many vital character supporting the two main characters of this book and those introduced in the previous novels, as well as setting stage for those whose stories are yet to come
- witty style despite tough/grave topics

What I struggled with/didn't like:
- Beth (I liked her much more in the previous book in series)
- a few way too unrealistic scenes

Since it's not possible to give partial ratings: it's actually more of an almost 4.5 than 4 star rating
Profile Image for Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner.
1,513 reviews90 followers
November 10, 2024
Sanctuary Breached is the third book in the series and I highly recommend reading the books in order. Each story builds upon the previous one.

Fair warning, Sanctuary Breached leaves on a cliffhanger and I was SO glad I had the next book so I could just keep on reading! I love the unique plotline of the story. It is a WITSEC town that you can only get to by helicopter. No one can easily get in or out. No one (other than a few select people outside of Sanctuary) even knows the town exists. Except, maybe they do judging by the title.

In a WITSEC town, it is hard to know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. This was even more evident in this book! There is a lot going on and quite a bit to keep up with, but having read the first two books in the series, I was able to keep it all straight. Phillips's writing gets stronger and more engaging as the series goes on.

It is hard to say too much more without giving away spoilers. I was surprised by all that was revealed in this story.
Profile Image for Sarah Vanscoyoc.
344 reviews
June 12, 2015

First thought: it’s over?! NO!!! (4.5 stars)
Caution: Words like “love” and “adore” and “awesome” and “amazing” will probably be overused in this review.
I should also note that I’m a huge fan of Lisa Phillips’ books, so that undoubtedly will make this a slightly biased review. I have adored all of her books, so of course, I jumped at the chance to review this one, as well. Her stories grab my attention from page one and don’t let go until long after the final page, and this one is no exception! I didn’t want to put it down and read late into the night more than once, trying to find a good stopping point. If you pick up this book let me make it easy for you - there are none! Every time I would start to put it down, something else would happen!
“Edge of your seat” doesn’t adequately describe the suspense in this story. It’s more like “fall out of your chair, did-that-really-just-happen?!” suspense. And I loved every minute of it! Lisa’s books always keep me guessing and I’m never quite sure what will happen next! She’s one of the few authors that can still make me gasp with surprise - then bust out laughing on the next page. I love the dialogue, because it’s so realistic and something I might actually say. The descriptions are excellent, without being overwhelming. There is a great balance of details, descriptions, and dialogue. The town of Sanctuary comes to life within each book and I love the new details she adds with every story.
Though this is the third book in a series, they don’t have to be read in order. There are pieces of the stories that carry over into the next book, but each can stand alone. Lisa fills in plenty of the blanks with little reminders of what happened in the last one so that it isn’t confusing. Though, I would highly recommend reading the other ones, because they were great too!
I adored the characters, too! Well, except the villain. I really just wanted someone to shoot him. But they are all so realistic and I could easily relate to them! We go through several view points throughout the book and I did find it a little difficult to keep up with at times, but on the other hand, I really enjoyed getting the story from several places and opinions. It would just take me a moment or two to switch over to the new position. I appreciated the extra information this allowed the author to incorporate and it kept me up to date with everything going on without adding umpteen conversations about it.
I was a bit surprised that Beth Myerson became a little more of a minor character toward the end of the book, but looking back over it, I understand. There are so many things going on and so many details to cover, that focusing on her would have taken away from the rest of the story. Especially since she isn’t in the middle of the action constantly, like the other characters. I did enjoy getting to know her and seeing the world through her eyes. Her thoughts add a depth to the rest of the story and give clarity to several things. We also get to see Sam through her eyes, which was great. I loved Sam. If he wasn’t fictional and already spoken for . . . . *sigh*
As already noted, I loved Sam Myerson! He is an awesome hero! He is strong and brave, but there is also a crack in his armor. His faith. He struggles to make sense of everything, on top of figuring what he believes and where to go from there. He kind of has the wounded warrior thing, but I loved how he kept chasing after Beth and striving to make their marriage work. I also appreciated his commitment to taking care of the residents of Sanctuary, as well as finishing the mission for his team.
The romance is pretty low-key, which actually works great for this book. If there had been more, I think it would have been overdone and would have taken away from the rest of the storyline. I have to give Lisa major credit for knowing where to draw the line and not following the set pattern for romantic suspense novels. Her books are always so unique in how she chooses to handle each situation with her characters. I appreciated that she stepped away from the mold to do what would be best for this particular story.
Lisa does something unique with the spiritual side of the story (big surprise there, right?), which I found I really enjoyed. Sam struggles with how to trust God in a position where he has no control, while John Mason prays almost continually because he knows only God can truly handle the situation. I loved this contrast of opinions and faith. It was interesting, seeing how each man dealt with the circumstances. Honestly, I could see myself in both of them, which was probably intentional. I want to be like John, who relies on God, while doing everything he can. But I tend to be more like Sam, who doubts and tries to do it all on his own, and when he’s at wit’s end, turns to God. While there are some other important questions of faith, this is definitely the largest part of the spiritual aspect of the story that stuck with me. It definitely made me think, which is always something I look for in a book.
Though I’ve nitpicked here and there, I have to end with saying that I did love this story, which is why the rating is up to five stars. The things that bothered me were seriously just me being picky and wanting things a smidge different. But, that’s the wonderful part of reading - authors allow you the privilege of getting to meet the amazing characters they have created. They open themselves up to criticism from readers who don’t always see things quite they do. So, while I may have changed a thing or two, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be that brave, so ignore my nitpicking and I hope you love this book as much, if not more than I did.
I received an advanced 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.
218 reviews
January 2, 2019
Sam & Beth’s fight to reconnect after much tragedy to their lives by the Syndicate.

An excellent romantic suspense read with the main characters Sam, a seal whose team was murdered and captured by the Cartel, and Beth, his wife of ten years, pregnant and hiding in sanctuary, a Witness security town for persons who might standout in normal civilian town.
The book has many different support characters that add to the mystery. Happy reading.
Profile Image for Lisa.
619 reviews25 followers
June 17, 2017
Endings & Beginnings

Wow this brought to close the shooting of the President and First Lady. It brought Sam and Beth together permanently. Sanctuary will it thrive? God is with the citizens.
Profile Image for Kem Verner.
22 reviews4 followers
September 16, 2017
Love this series!!!

The Sanctuary series is a clean, Christian, romantic thriller. Lisa Phillips has continued to develop the characters which keeps the reader engaged and ready for more. Thank you Lisa Phillips for your thoughts and insight you have included in each book.
1,831 reviews12 followers
February 12, 2023
It's amazing what all happens in this story. It centers around Beth & reveals why she & her mother really came to Sanctuary. Sam shows up & encounters a number of surprises about this community. The action never stops.
Profile Image for MileHighSunshine.
358 reviews2 followers
April 20, 2023
This book was fabulous! Just when you think you know what is happening, a new revelation leaves you stunned. This a must read book for all who love action and suspense.

While it can be read as a standalone, I suggest you start with book 1 of the series.
Profile Image for Renee Helton.
868 reviews2 followers
November 4, 2023
Great Story

Love the series and characters.
Full of action and plot twists.
Looking forward to reading more books in the series.
Profile Image for Dawn Jones.
97 reviews
March 26, 2025
I’m in love…

I am completely in love with Sanctuary and it’s residents! It’s no surprise since I love everything that Lisa Phillips writes…so it’s on to the next book from here!
Profile Image for Tamara Tilley.
Author 10 books23 followers
January 12, 2017
SANCTUARY BREACHED, book three in the WITSEC Town Series, is the most suspenseful to date.

Beth Myerson, the president’s daughter, sits in Sanctuary trying to unravel the threads of her life. Her parents have been assassinated, her husband—Navy SEAL Lieutenant Sam Myerson doesn’t even know she’s carrying their child, and Beth continues to hide the real reason she has come to Sanctuary. Determined to finish what she and her mother started, Beth continues with her plan.  But with no one to confide in Beth definitely feels she is on her own. All she wants is a life with her husband and child, but not knowing her husband’s location or if he is even alive begins to erode any hope Beth has of getting out of Sanctuary alive.

Sam Myerson doesn’t understand what went wrong. All he knows is his SEAL team has been compromised and he’s been taken captive. When a few pieces fall into place, Sam realizes his abduction has something to do with his wife and the town of Sanctuary. Once Sam arrives in Sanctuary, his number one priority is to ensure the safety of his wife and unborn child. But, when he finds out the welfare of the entire free world rests on him, he must find answers before it’s too late.

SANCTUARY BREACHED was a rollercoaster ride of action and suspense. After reading books one and two, I’ve become attached to the characters. When it appears they all are in jeopardy, I had to keep reading to make sure they all made it out alive. The twists in this book were plentiful, and there were several hold-your-breath-moments. I definitely recommend this series to anyone who likes action/suspense, mixed with romance.

Though book four, SANCTUARY DECEIVED, is now available on Kindle, I will wait until it is available in paperback in order to complete my collection. I say that now, but time will tell.
Profile Image for JoAnn.
137 reviews
June 24, 2015
I was very excited to pre-order this book, and just couldn't wait to see where the story lead, but I was somewhat disappointed with it. It was a good book, but there were so many 'main' characters and people that all of a sudden were involved, I kept loosing track of it all and who was most important. Which seemed to change by each page. Plus, there was so much going on at once, so many 'important' story lines, I kept getting them confused.

I did like the characters and how she continued on with the story of this town. And if she continues this series, I will read the next one.
Profile Image for Pamela.
748 reviews
June 14, 2015
Wonderful

Fantastic romantic suspense, this is Matthias and Frannies story and it is really good. There is so much in this story that you must read it yourself. Loved how Frannie came to know the Lord and how Matthias came to a closer relationship. You have to meet Frannies family to see how awful they are. And meet the rest of the town. Wonderful plot and extremely well written.
Profile Image for Mark.
2,488 reviews51 followers
August 13, 2023
Another awesome book in this series. It was great to again visit Sanctuary and be caught up in the suspense and drama of this fictional town and its characters. This one was the most suspenseful of the series and had the most surprises. This was a book I couldn't put down, but read until I finished it, only to be disappointed that it was done. Hoping the author writes at least one more book in the series. Definitely worth reading.
Profile Image for Connie Harris.
1,532 reviews3 followers
May 30, 2022
I can't put my Kindle down!

Sanctuary's story continues in each book. I am so hooked I can't wait for the next installment. This book brought Sam back after Ben rescued him. Sam has been updated on his wife. Beth is pregnant, her parents have been killed and she is living in Sanctuary for her protection. All in all it's a very exciting, revealing story.
2 reviews
July 5, 2015
Jumbled

I have really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series. However, I thought this one tried to take too many twists and turns and it was just long and confusing. It had too many people trying to do too much.
23 reviews
September 3, 2015
Sanctuary is a surprising little town.

I would definitely recommend this book to someone who has Avery agile mind. There is many different situations going on at the sometime and with characters from past books.
250 reviews2 followers
July 19, 2016
Loved it! I have read most of series to date. The plots are just suspenseful enough to hold your interest without being scary or too graphic. My only complaint is that they are not long enough. Great character development too.
61 reviews
February 24, 2025
This novel was marvelous.....it had a good plot, the story moved very quickly.....and it was gripping. I couldn't put it down. I have read the first two Sanctuary books in this series and they are amazing. I would highly recommend them......they are deserving of a 5+ star rating
Profile Image for Deb.
160 reviews9 followers
June 30, 2015
Despite a rough start with Amazon delivering the wrong e-book, I thoroughly enjoyed this third installment of the WITSEC series. I hope the series continues.
Profile Image for Andrew Service.
100 reviews
June 25, 2015
Awesome

Storylines is amazing. The character giving something more to the story. Mrs. Lisa Phillips can't wait for next book thank.
Profile Image for Bree.
664 reviews8 followers
April 4, 2016
Really liked this book. Lots going on, maybe difficult to keep up with characters if haven't read previous books.
282 reviews8 followers
April 17, 2017
I recently hear about Lisa Phillips as an author on a Facebook blog. They were giving her books 5 star rating. They also mention one of her books that was free on Amazon. I went and downloaded the book. The first in the Sanctuary Series. I couldn't put it down.

Non-stop action, suspense, murder, quirky & zany characters (mafia men in WITSEC?),humor, romance and couldn't put the book down. Absolutely loved this book. The first book was so good that I bought the rest of the books in the series. I hope she will write another book about Ben. There is so much mystery about him and everything he does in each book. He needs his own story.

I highly recommend all of the books in this series. All are absolutely 5 stars. No one asked me to write this review. I only give 5 stars to books that are page turners, touch my emotions or actually make me cry. Love this book.
Profile Image for Cindy .
699 reviews2 followers
April 23, 2017
Great characters, great story, impossible to put down!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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