U.S. Marshal John Mason gains full custody of his son and is transferred to Sanctuary, a witness protection town that isn't on any map. When the town's first ever murder occurs, John's plans to reconnect with his boy are derailed by the investigation. Andra Caleri gave up her old life a long time ago, but someone wants her out of Sanctuary--to pay. As accusations fly and John uncovers a conspiracy that stretches all the way to Washington, Andra's past comes back in a true test of the mercy she received. Can John give up what he wants the most to bring the truth to light?
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.
After a string of light beach-read romances I was ready for something with substance. This did the job.
My first Lisa Phillips book and I'll be looking for more. As far as romance goes, it was squeaky clean... I don't even think there was a kiss.
But it was suspenseful and at times violent, and round-about wording that would lead an adult to understand that a man had relations with several women, but it wasn't blunt in the least.
John was a US Marshal on an assignment in a secret town of 182 people all living there under witness protection. Shortly after arriving, a murder occurred. The town recluse was immediately blamed. John didn't seem inclined to take the accusation seriously until he found out what she did for a living before she came to "Sanctuary" as one of the protected.
Plenty of action and suspense, always keeping the reader guessing. So many people could have done it, as so many townsfolk were unkind. It was a good read.
If I had a criticism it had to do with the faith issue. Oh, the female lead, Andra, knew and loved the Lord, was grateful that God had offered her mercy and grace, none of which she felt worthy of. But the male lead, an unbeliever who didn't think God dying and coming back made much sense, was far too trusting of Andra right off the bat, and fell in love way too fast, even before she showed any sign of reciprocal feelings. Plus, she was a believer and he wasn't, so them being together at the end bothered me - - unequally yoked. This dropped a star for me.
Also the last few chapters might leave you scratching your head.
But it was well written and had me wondering the whole time. Nice surprise ending!
However unlikely the idea of an entire WITSEC community hidden away in a nearly unreachable valley, I found myself drawn into the concept and enjoyed my first Sanctuary adventure.
Though, fair warning it's super edgy, including some graphic violence, so this suspense might not be for everyone. More for readers who like a little grit with their mysteries. And I had a hard time relating to the heroine's past -- let's just say my understanding of mercy and forgiveness was stretched to capacity...which isn't necessarily a bad thing. :-)
Love the way we are introduced to the town through the eyes of the new sheriff and his young son. I can see all kinds of potential for future novels -- both in the romance and the suspense department. Looking forward to reading more. Well, listening to more since I bought the audible version. :-)
I ran across this author by Amazon suggesting her books. I decided to give her books a shot and ordered two. I could not put this one down. I love the idea of a secret town full of people in the Witness Protection Services. I loved the plot, characters, suspense and action. The author is unafraid to make her books Christian and pulls of a great Christian suspense novel which should put her up with the authors who have been writing this gene' for years. I highly recommend.
**Read this a second time today, and forgot how good it was. Excellent read.
Thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced and Christ-honoring suspense novel. This author did an excellent job of engaging this reader and keeping me emotionally involved the entire way through.
I love WitSec stories so when I found this one within my recommendations I had to find out if I like it - especially since it is a Christian novel and I read it straight through. The story begins with a wonderful and very strong action scene. Until the very end the book is a page turner with medium until fast pace. The characters are mostly very interesting and there is enough time for their development. I love especially the concept of a clandestine WitSec community deep within the mountains. I loved this one so much I had to start the second book immediately when I finished this one :-)
Edit 1/30/22: I re-read this book in the last days and noticed some issues I missed the first time around. I still like it very much but due to some highly questionable acts I'm not able/willing to support change the rating from 5 to 4 stars now.
Sanctuary is a great suspense read with a unique setting. A US Marshall with his young son relocates to be the new sheriff of a remote, hard to access Wit-Sec town. Sheriff John Mason has to figure out who the real killer is when there's a murder in Sanctuary while raising and getting to know his son Pat whom he has custody of. This is a fast-paced read with plenty of action, wonderful characters, and a great plot line.
Great start to a series! Lost Sanctuary is the first book of Lisa Phillips’ new series, WITSEC Town. When I first heard about this series, I was very intrigued. It is about a town that the U.S. Marshals service created for those in witness protection. It is completely “off the grid,” no one knows about it, and is a lot like an old West town. When one of the residents is murdered, fingers are pointed and the new sheriff must find out who the killer is while fighting against biases, secrets, and pressure from all sides to make an arrest. Oh, and did I mention lack of evidence, no real resources, and the moonshine and weed problem? Sounds like fun, right? This book started out a little slowly, but as I got to know the characters and figured out who was who in Sanctuary it picked up and became a quick read. I didn’t want to put it down! The mystery held my attention, with so many twists and turns, that just when I thought I knew who did it, another wrench would be thrown into the works and I would have to find a new suspect. And I was still wrong in the end! Which I actually really enjoyed. I love a book that can stump me and keep me guessing. John Mason is our main character and hero. I wasn’t sure what to make of him at first. He really wants to be a good father to his son, whom he hasn’t seen in over a year. He also has to balance working on the murder case, protecting a suspect who all the town is convinced it guilty, along with taking care of his son. I felt his son got the raw end of the deal at times, because of how busy John was with everything else. John was an interesting character, though, and seemed very realistic. I really liked the voice Lisa gave him - he is honest, a little sarcastic, and strong. He stands up for what he believes in and for those he loves. Andra Caleri is the heroine. I really liked her character and was able to connect with her quickly. Like everyone in this town, she has a past, though hers is worst than most. Because of that past, she chooses a life of solitude and only has a couple friends, despite having lived in Sanctuary for 10 years. She is an anomaly to everyone in town and most of the town folks don’t like her simply because she doesn’t fit in. She is also strong, but it is a quiet strength that we learn comes from her faith in God. There were several times that I really wanted her to stand up and defend herself, but she didn’t. Instead, she trusted that God would fight for her. I really enjoyed the spiritual aspect of Sanctuary Lost. Andra has such a strong faith, which contrasted with John, who has little to no faith. She has a better understanding than most of mercy and what it means to be redeemed, while John doesn’t like the word mercy because he felt mercy meant there was no justice. Andra’s struggles with her faith really hit home with me. She wanted to trust that God had a greater plan in everything that was going on, but at the same time, was concerned that His will might mean she faced Him a lot sooner than she hoped. I really like this quote, because it illustrates where John and Andra were spiritually, “She’d given God control of her whole life. Who just surrendered like that?” - John Mason, page 155 (quotation used with permission from the author) I should probably now explain why I’m only this book 4 stars, instead of the 5 stars I would really like to. There were two things that bothered me. One, was that the romance seemed a little unbelievable. They only knew each other a short time and by the end of the book were talking about marriage. The other thing is that while Andra had this great faith, John’s was shallow. Even at the end, he only prayed in extenuating circumstances and still knew little about God. I’m hoping that if he is in the next books, Lisa will expand on that a bit more. All that said, I am looking forward to the next book and am really excited to find out what happens next in Sanctuary! I highly recommend this book if you enjoy fast-paced mystery and suspense! I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to give a positive review and have not been compensated for it in anyway. All opinions expressed are my own.
I love a good, clean romantic suspense. Just based on the premise, I thought it could end up being ridiculously implausible or totally unique and intriguing. I’m happy it was the latter. Just when I thought I had things figured out, more people came into play and the action kept coming and coming. I found myself frequently checking how much was left in the book just because I felt like it could be finally all coming together, and then, BAM! More action, more craziness, and more excitement. I really enjoyed it.
If I had one critique, it would be the unnecessary extra perspectives. I mean, they were well written but didn’t necessarily add to the story a whole lot. The same ideas could’ve been told from just John, Andra, and maybe Pat’s POVs. Otherwise, thoroughly engaging and mostly believable.
Oh, last thing—I’ve read the blurbs on the rest of the series, so if you’re not a fan of spoilers I don’t recommend doing that until you’ve read each book’s predecessor, in order, to get the whole story arc, even though each couple’s story is its own book.
This is the second time that I've read this series. John and his son Pat move to Sanctuary, to be the new sheriff. Sanctuary is a secluded home for people in Witness Protection. It is here that we meet Andra who is accused of murder because of her of her past. And Aaron who comes to live with them.
My review today is on the romantic suspense, Sanctuary Lost. This is the first book in the WITSEC Town Series. I always enjoy Lisa's book and this is an interesting concept, a town made up of only people under WITSEC protection. A town no one knows about but the US Marshals. This story is well written, full of twists, and full of faith. I know you are going to love this one.
US Marshall John Mason has been undercover for over a year when his investigation blows up in his face. His boss the director and also his brother offers him a position in the town of Sanctuary. A town no one knows about but his brother considers his own. John's ex-wife drops off their son and has him sign the paper give him guardianship and then leaves. His brother tells him that his life and that of his son is danger. John agrees to go to the town as their sheriff for a trial period of a month. He no more than gets there when the mayor's wife is murdered. He must find the killer. Everyone in town thinks it's the woman that John is attracted to. Who is framing her up and why
Andra Caleri was once forced to be an assassin. She gave up that life ten years ago and turned states evidence. Now she live in Sanctuary. She has been born again but refuses to have much to do with the people in the town. She's a loner and lives quietly. She is sadly attracted to the new sheriff and loves his son but when he finds out about her background he will never want her to be a part of his or his son's life. When a woman is killed the whole town turns against her. She refuses to fight for her life. God will fight for her.
God has a plan for these three, no matter how bad it looks He has a plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too. Better than you could ever imagine. Give Him your heart and watch Him move in your life.
I have owned Sanctuary Lost on my Kindle for years. I wish it had not taken me so long to get to Lisa Phillips's book, I really enjoyed it.
I love the unique plotline of the story. 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) even knows the town exists. When U.S. Marshall John Mason is sent there to be the sheriff, he is told nothing ever happens there. Well, on his first night there, everything changes with the town's first-ever murder.
While I easily figured out one of the bad guys, the other ones were a little harder to figure out. I wasn't completely surprised when it was revealed, I feel like I should have known. There is a bit of graphic details related to the murder (which is easy to skip), and a light romance.
I loved John's bond with his brother's and how he was trying to be a good father to Pat. Pat was a sweet kid who had been dealt a few hard blows, but was fairly resilient.
Overall, a good story, and I want to continue reading the series to see what happens next.
This book was recommended by an author friend and finally found the time to read it. Well, I just couldn't put it down. The story and writing is fast paced and you need to hold your breath to hold on tight to the happenings at Sanctuary. We are immediately thrown into solving a murder, mysterious happenings occurring and within a few days of John arriving as Sheriff, a murder has taken place. I was entranced as I was flipping pages as fast as my eyes could read. A special town created for special people under special circumstances. I wonder if such an isolated town could exist in our world, with strict enforcement of permanently being under the radar with minimal technology with strict control on access and time. Isolated people with strange affiliations. All I know is I want more Christian books from Lisa Phillips and will be following her for updates and releases.
This story really stood out for me. The isolation of Sanctuary, the finality of cutting your life off from your past, from every familiar person and memory made this book unusually effective. Sometimes I did not identify with the motivations of Audra, the romantic lead but her life was so brutal I guess that's not a surprise. The sheriff had issues, too, which were not helped by having to solve a murder in a big hurry. The bullying by the townsfolk was painful to behold but gave me some time to ponder group-think. All taken together, this book had everything I look for in a mystery --- unusual setting, thought-provoking story and well-drawn characters. I will be following up with the next book in the Sanctuary series.
Interesting story with the premise of a complete town that is made up of Witness Protection families and individuals. The story begins with a new sheriff and his son moving to the town and the interaction and activities that follow. It held my interest in wanting to see how it would end, although there was a bit of predictability with the ending. The version I had (Kindle) also included several chapters of the next book in the sequel which pulled me in so I'm hoping to read the next book in the series.
A mystery with changes, new chances, murder, love and a protected town.
Can people change their philosophy of life when given the opportunity? This story has graphic violence and shows some of the corrupt sides of crime and the criminal system. With a sheriff who is honest, a young son who looks up to him good things can happen. Adding a chance of love, good and bad people in a close community, greed, boredom, and revenge anything can happen and does.
I enjoyed this unusual concept for a witness protection location & the people that were allowed to be there. People will be people accusing someone of wrong without investigating for the facts & because they don't like someone. Secrets abound in this community also. John has his hands full trying to find the truth & protect Andra. It was a total surprise who the killer was. A long story but a good mystery.
Sheriff Mason finds his new job is definitely not the quiet one he expected
Sanctuary is a community of the Witness Protection program. The new sheriff and his son are giving themselves a month to determine if they will stay there. The journey to their final decision is exciting and wonderfully written.
Action and angst With all my experience as a reader of mysteries/suspense (lol) I felt there were so many procedural mistakes throughout this story. However, that did not not stop me from enjoying the interesting characters and imaginative story of living in witness protection forever. I am looking forward to more stories revolving around the Mason brothers.
I liked this book, a lot but I had some issues. I liked John and Andra's connection but it escalated to love too fast in the end. John took a long time to see that Palmer was dirty, like it was obvious. I hated how everyone treated Andra, all of them, a bunch of hypocrites, and like who you were it's not you are now most of the time
I have enjoyed books by this author in the past. This one not as much.
After much build up through the whole book, wondering who murdered the mayors wife, the end wrap up was a let down. It also felt unrealistic to have the new mayor of the town fall in love so quickly with the woman accused of the murder, it didn’t seem realistic. All in all,, I’m not sure I loved the book.
This was my first read of a Lisa Phillips book and it will NOT be the last. Loved the setting and the characters. I mean, what's not to like? Tortured heroine✔ Hunky solo dad✔ A mystery to solve✔ Throw in action and suspense, a redemption ARC and a cast of intriguing characters and I'm one happy Christian Romantic Suspense reader.
Cyan had something the enemy wanted. This character was interesting, making me want to know more about her. The plot was thick, causing me to turn the pages faster.
I loved the drama and the suspense. This was a five-star read.
I didn't know what to expect from this book. But, there was danger, suspense, love, and forgiveness. I'd actually give this 3.5 stars if I could. The idea of a witness protection town is intriguing, and the ideas throughout the story were thought provoking.
Sanctuary turns out to be a place where the crimes of the people come to light and less of the place of safety. For Andra and John God's forgiveness and mercy is there all the time.
This book was extremely good reading for me. I liked the mystery and suspense.. Just when you thought it was all over, help was there. I highly recommended this book for anyone who loves to read..
There are books you can put down and others you can not, Sanctuary Lost is an all night read. Author Lisa Phillips hooks you at the beginning and does not let you off the hook until the end. If you like twists and turns in a plot, get reading.
I must say that I enjoyed the storyline but often found Andra frustrating in the walls she left up which could have led to John's and her deaths. Sanctuary was an interesting concept.