**The Epic Stand-alone Finale** Born into a legacy, Eliana must find her own brand of justice.
After moving to Chicago to work at the mysterious Shrine museum, Eliana is determined to uncover the family secrets she’s never been told. When she stumbles upon her first ever dead body, everyone around her believes she should try and solve the murder. But taking cases isn’t what she came here for. Despite her plans, things are about to turn far more sinister, and the path she’s on seems determined to drag her back into a nightmare.
Chicago PD Officer Carlos Ryson was born into a legacy of his own. He’s here to look for his missing sister, Luci, and wants to enlist Eliana’s help. This is a family problem, and only family working together can solve it. But Eliana has never forgotten the way Carlos shredded her heart. If he wants them to team up, he’ll have to confront the damage he did and find a way to repair it.
While the city around them descends into a chaos that resembles the end times, someone has seized the opportunity to get what they want from the Shrine. Only Eliana stands in their way, but if she’s going to figure this out she’ll need to trust that the people around her have her back.
Before it’s too late.
Now Until Forever is the stand-alone finale to the Brand of Justice series, and is set in the near-future. It features a happily ever after romance mixed with high-stakes suspense in this gripping crime fiction story.
Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, 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.
Book 16, the standalone series finale of Lisa Phillips’ Brand of Justice series, spotlights Eliana Hope Banbury Jaxton, Kenna Banbury and Oliver Jaxton’s daughter.
The standout feature of this installment is the fantastic interplay between family influence (her parents are an investigative duo) and personal agency. As Eliana wrestles with whether to follow in footsteps or forge her own path, she realizes how crucial trust is.
I appreciated a pacey narrative that sheds light on the heavy weight of our past, our desire to outrun secrets, and the importance of finding places where the light can shine in the darkness. This was a fantastic culmination surrounding the question: What is justice? What does it look like?
I’d recommend this series for anyone wanting an edgier, grittier, darker mystery series to devour. While Phillips examines the darkness, she balances it with characters who search out God and create opportunities for the light to shine.
I was gifted his copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Eliana is searching for her own identity, apart from her almost-superhero crimefighting (well, private investigating, too) parents. Who've sought to shield and protect her from the wickedness and cruelty of the world. Who is she, though, apart from Kenna Banbury and Oliver Jaxton?
Well, she's in Chicago, trying to find out. She's working as a security guard at the Shrine. That seems good. Protective. Not quite a cop, but still serving and protecting. What Eliana doesn't know is that there are secrets that are apparently worth killing for -- to someone, anyway, as one of the Shrine's scientists unfortunately finds out.
But that's not all. The boy she loved in high school is in Chicago too. She's sure he's trying to protect her. But she doesn't need, or want, his protection. Carlos is keeping an eye out for Eliana, but he's also searching for his missing sister.
Murder. A missing person. A cult. A dangerous app. Carlos and Eliana may not get out of this alive.
Lisa Phillips' newest is a fantastic mystery, filled with unexpected twists and turns and appealing characters. Highly recommend!
I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions shared here are my own honest ones.
I haven’t read all the books in this series, so I felt a little lost at times, since it is set in the future and there have been some major changes to the internet and how information is used. I still was able to enjoy the book and the mystery that Eliana finds herself a part of. I felt like there was still some room for another book, since I still had questions about a few things, but perhaps that would be solved by going back and reading all the books in the series. I liked that there was a lot going on with multiple mysteries. I enjoyed Eliana and Carlos!
I received this book from JustRead. This is my honest review.
Eliana has grown up in the shadow of her family's legacy, constantly told that she shouldn't ask questions about it - and now finally she's out on her own and deciding to learn more by going to the source: the Shrine. But when she finds a dead body at work, not only does she face the expected horror and uncertainty, she also meets the man who once broke her heart. Worse, Carlos' sister, her friend, is apparently missing, and investigation ties her to a mysterious group known as the Reverence Sisters. Can she really work with Carlos despite their past? And will their joint efforts be enough to stop the person/people or group(s) who seem determined to plunge the city into chaos?
I've read and enjoyed many books by the author in the past, so I had high hopes of this one. Unfortunately I was left disappointed, for a few reasons. - The story felt like it needed another edit, not for typos but for things that didn't quite hang together - for example, we're told that two cops kidnap someone, but a watching character only sees the person taken away in a car; then, suddenly, said character knows or takes it for granted that it was two cops. How? Unless I missed something, by magic. They were all small things, but they combined to leave me constantly a little on edge. - There were too many questions left unanswered - for example, various things about the Reverence Sisters are never really explained. (The compound, why it was empty, what happened to them all, etc.) - I found the ending very unsatisfying, and even somewhat uncertain. I didn't feel like I understood how things were 'solved' or why it was done that way. Don't want to give specifics to avoid spoilers! - This last one may be silly, but the book talks a couple of times about an aura of evil hanging around places, and to some extent I actually felt like that about the book, though I can't say why. The book does have a lot going on and cover a lot of territory, so I can sort of understand the first two points, but the result was that I never really connected with any of the characters or felt like I fully understood what was going on. In fact, the last point even left me a little uncertain that I wanted to understand what was going on. Sorry, for me this was a 'wanted to like it'.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book 15 of this series ended the Kenna/Dominatus saga in a satisfying way, so I was surprised to see an “epic finale” afterward. I was also surprised the book description said the point-of-view protagonist would be Kenna and Jax’s daughter instead of Kenna herself. Unexpected book and heroine aside, of course I wanted to read it.
I’m left… unsettled.
It had taken me a while to warm up to Kenna but loved her in the end. Now she was largely MIA, and I had to warm up to her daughter. Given the chip on Eliana's shoulder regarding her parents (who I spent 15 books getting to know and love), it was hard to warm up to her. Not to mention she was so different from her mother. Most of what I’ve come to expect in this series was turned on its head. I guess I just don’t adjust well.
I was happy to see cameos by a lot of favorites but missed seeing others. Carlos (who was just a boy at the end of book 15) features heavily in this story, and I adored him. While I seem to struggle with getting to know and like the female leads in this series, I can’t say that about the men. Phillips wrote a large cast of guys I wish would come to life and visit me regularly.
This book takes place in the not-too-distant future, and the world seems more bleak than ever. I didn’t really enjoy that version of Chicago and hope it never comes to fruition. There were different factions of villains, and I also hope never to meet them. One, I think, was supposed to be a huge surprise, but I saw it coming. Even so, it was a nice touch. Unusual and impactful. The climax resolved in the only way it could have, which I appreciated, and the ending seemed to be going for a mic-drop moment that didn’t shock me. Instead, it kind of rushed character development/arc fulfillment a bit. A slower pace and a few more novels would have made it feel much more organic.
This is supposedly the end, but I could see this series continuing. I don’t think it’s going to, but it could. Even though I’m not a huge Eliana fan, I’d definitely keep reading.
So, long story short… unsettled. There were amazing hits and a few near misses, so I’m struggling to review this. I’m not sure if it should be rated as one of a series of sixteen or one on its own, and I’d rank them very differently based on which category it fell under. Assuming this truly is the last book, I almost wish I’d skipped it and let the characters from the first fifteen books live their future lives they way I’d imagined. But they aren’t my characters. They belong to Lisa Phillips, and she told the story she wanted to tell. I have to respect that even if it wasn’t what I expected.
Again… unsettled.
In any event, I’m glad I went on this sixteen-book ride. 3.5 stars rounding up to 4.
Now Until Forever is the 16th and final book in this series. The entire series (except for this book) follows Kenna Banbury as she navigates life as the daughter of a famous man. But it’s so much more than that. She learns who she truly is, she deals with grief, with love and loss, finds family, and faces betrayal. Kenna lives a life of danger and prefers to go it alone.
That is, until she doesn’t. I just want to give you some backstory for this novel. You see, this one follows Kenna’s daughter. Well, Kenna and Jax. You really, really need to read this series in order. Yes, that’s sixteen books. And yes, it will be worth it. I firmly believe you’re going to feel lost and like you’re missing pieces of the puzzle if you don’t. I’ve read them all, and I still have questions!
Eliana is the daughter of Kenna and Jax. She’s also the star of the show. Well, she has Carlos as her backup. Carlos is the son of Kenna’s friends, Javier and his wife. He’s referred to as Ryson often in the stories. And now there’s a little Ryson on the Chicago PD! It’s like it’s all come full circle. Eliana finds out who she really is through solving a case, and Ryson is helping her.
As a fun teaser, in book 15, Kenna tells Ryson that they might need to arrange something between his son and her daughter. Ryson doesn’t say no! And the two have grown up together. But now there’s danger and death and a murder to solve.
Can Eliana follow in her mom’s footsteps and solve the case? This book is fast-paced. You’re going to need to hang onto your seat. You might even want to take notes or make a murder board of your own. There’s suspense and bad guys galore.
While I did love this novel, I do have to say I was disappointed to have another book in the series and not have Kenna as the focus. I was expecting more Kenna and Eliana tackle and a case, not Eliana, maybe tackles a case because she’s tried to separate herself from everything her parents have done and stood for.
It really felt to me like, yeah, she might have felt that way. She had notoriety because of who her parents are. But Kenna had that too. I’m a huge Kenna fan, so not being full of Kenna was a letdown. Still a good novel. Yes, I still give it five stars and fully recommend the series and this finale. But it was a sad parting for me.
As an author, Lisa Phillips is one I track and follow and never miss a novel from.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Now Until Forever Brand of Justice #16 By Lisa Phillips
First off this is the sixteenth book in the series but it can totally be read without reading the previous books first. Eliana Jaxton has moved to Chicago seeking information about her family and their past. She decided that if no one would answer her questions, she'd find the answers herself. But her quest for answers leads to her discovering a body. A murder in a place that is supposed to be secure. And from there everything starts going really strange.
Carlos Ryson is in Chicago looking for his missing sister when he gets called to The Shrine for a murder. He's just a police officer and not involved with the actual investigation. But he knows Eliana from before and he needs her help discovering what happened to Luci. Of course, he needs to get past the fact that he broke Eliana heart and that she wants nothing to do with him.
All of this starts Eliana and Carlos looking into a cultish group that has a shadowy leader only known as The Mother. And then there are the protesters who don't like The Shrine. It's a whole big ball of coincidence and mess. But no one really believes in coincidences, do they?
This was an intense read that definitely left one wondering who would survive to the end of the book. There was a brutal murder scene and few other Eww moments dealing with dead bodies, but overall, this was a fairly good read. The romance was definitely in the clean category. I liked that the "villain" wasn't an early reveal. Only near the end did I wonder, could it be? But I did this with a couple of people so, yeah, the suspense continued to build.
And the ending, I know this is supposed to be the series finale, but it could definitely lead into another story or spin-off series.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Back in January, this author came out with the 15th and last novel in this series. Then she announced there was going to be one more book. This one is different from the other fifteen. At the end of the last book, Kenna and Jax (Oliver Jaxton) had just given birth to a daughter, Eliana. This book is 20 some years later and features Eliana and Carlos Ryson, child hood friend and who was also a little baby at the end of the last book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. There were little updates occasionally about Kenn and Jax, plus they made an appearance later in the book, but it was mostly Eliana and Carlos that were the focus of the story. I liked both characters, and was cheering on their possible relationship. It was different reading a book in this series where Jax and Kenna were not the main characters, but it was a great way to end the series.
As with the rest of the series, there was a lot of suspense and plenty of bad guys - and you weren't always able to tell which was which - such as Tony....who once his nickname was revealed, I realized who he was. (Not giving that away) :)
I have been looking forward to this book ever since Phillips announced it was going to happen, and it definitely did not disappoint. This series has been a wild and suspenseful ride that started in August 2022, and has finished almost four years later with this book about the daughter of Jax and Brenna. Awesome conclusion.
Special thanks to the author for an advance e-book copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
Now until forever brand of justice book 16 Y'all won't want to miss this one!
We had what was "the end" of brand of justice in the traditional sense in book 15, this book jumps ahead and we get to see Eliana and Carlos all grown up. Challenges abound as Eliana Hope Banbury Jaxton works to find out "who she is" in a world where her parents tried to let her do just that, often shielding her from the dangers they faced until she finds herself in danger of her own as the suspense builds and the "twists and turns" abound we also get to revisit many of the characters before. Just wait till you figure out who "Tony" is! I realized immediately but, it may not be as obvious to some. I really enjoyed this book and especially the entire series! I was introduced to Lisa Phillips with the witsec town series and through many other wonderful series, witsec town stayed my favorite until brand of justice came along, in the beginning I was dubious anything would knock witsec off the top for me but brand of justice definitely stole that top title! I hope to see a good many spin off books from this series 🤞 Long story short, you won't want to miss this finale installment of brand of justice! You can grab your copy today :) Lisa Phillips, thanks for a wonderful series! Looking forward to what is next!
Christian Thriller genre is always intriguing to read. Now Until Forever by Lisa Phillips is Book 16 in the Brand of Justice Series. I have not read any of the other books in this series, although this is a Stand Alone novel.
The storyline of this novel had me hooked from the beginning. The 2 main characters are Eliana Hope Banbury Jaxton and Chicago PD Officer Carlos Ryson. Eliana has recently moved to Chicago for a job opportunity at the Shrine Museum and to get out on her own. She is in her mid 20's and needing space away from her parents who has guarded her against dangers for most of her life. Carlos and Eliana are childhood friends and Carlos enjoys his job as a CPD Officer. The one thing that Carlos wants to do is find his missing sister and he is hoping Eliana would help him with that case. Eliana reluctant to do so, at least until Carlos makes good on how he hurt Eliana in the past. The novel has so many Action Packed twists and turns that I could not put the book down for 3hrs. The story gets really interesting when Eliana and Carlos begin to show interest in each other romantically. I also enjoyed reading 20 years into the future from the previous book. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Action Packed Thriller with Romance. FANTASTIC BOOK!
Ok, this story had me questioning so many things. First off, please be aware this is the 16th, yes, the 16th in a series of what seems to be a most gripping futuristic crime series. How did I not know that this existed? Now you do dear reader, so don't be like me, start from the beginning. And if you have been following this series all along, wow.
I won't get too much into this story as there are probably many spoilers. I was very intrigued by this crime solving family who seem to have had to deal with so much over the years. From secret cult like organizations, trying to preserve the truth of the past, to some people wanting to do away with technology, this story packed quite a punch. There was a lot happening in this story, from a serial killer case in Alaska to a missing person's case and murder in Chicago. And Eliana's family is somehow involved in everything.
Now I have a mission, read the series starting with the first one. Because if the rest of the series is anything like this last book, I am hooked.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.
My mind is completely blown. I also know that I have a lot of reading to do since I will now have to read the first 15 books in this series. Even though this is a standalone book, I have fallen down the rabbit hole of the Brand of Justice series, which means I have to start at the beginning. I am still wondering how I have missed this series. It is right down my alley.
The intensity in this book was enough to make me grit my teeth. There is constant chaos and danger. Eliana is not safe anywhere. It is set a couple decades into the future, and the world is a strange and eerie place. The group of people that Eliana and Carlos are hunting are sinister and disturbing. It is a gritty thriller that grabbed my attention early in the book.
Though evil still exists, the author makes sure to show that light will always shine. Lisa Phillips flawlessly incorporates a faith element that speaks loud and clear.
Thank you to Just Read Tours and the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Oh my stars…talk about an epic finale to a series! Anyone who reads my reviews know I am beyond thrilled when there’s an epilogue. To me, the whole of Now Until Forever acts as the BEST kind of epilogue to finish out the Brand of Justice series by author Lisa Phillips. Set 20-odd years after Every Last Step, this book focuses on Eliana Jaxton and Carlos Ryson. You met them both as babies in the previous book. Now Until Forever is truly a stand-alone, but trust me when I say this series is FIRE. You’ll want to dive in if you haven’t already. This story is action packed, has twists and turns, and a great love story. As always, though, is the faith element that the author so thoughtfully and seamlessly includes in each of her stories. Pick up a paperback, download an e-book, or listen to an audible version. It’s fantastic! My thanks for the complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are entirely my own.
I have read several Lisa Phillips books and I have not been disappointed yet, and it still stands true. I loved Now Until Forever! It shows the author intertwining the investigation that Eliana’s parents are doing with what is currently going on with Eliana. It does not take away with the story. This is the 16th book in the series, and you can read the book without having read the first book or even chapter or two. The author keeps you in the dark on who was the main person behind the kidnapping Luci and what she really got herself into. The only thing is, it got a little confusing between the several points of views. You have the coaches from the opposing side and then the people from within the story. But, it didn’t take away from the story. Overall, this is a book I would highly recommend to my family and friends to read.
Lisa Phillips opened Now Until Forever with instant intrigue and an unexpected twist. Twenty-five year old Eliana Hope Banbury Jaxton was at a point in her life where she wanted a life of her own. She was trying to escape the notoriety that her parents left behind -- because it followed her everywhere she went. Throughout this story, Eliana tries her best to create a life that is good and just hers alone. As problems and corruption evolve within the new world she's created, she questions if she should've relied on lessons learned. I loved how people from her parents past popped into her everyday life, just under the guise of just checking in -- all throughout the chaos she's finding. I'm giving Now Until Forever 5 stars - from beginning to end. As Eliana's story wrapped up through the pages, the lessons learned should last her a lifetime.
This story was a fast paced ride, full of action, suspense, twists, and turns! There’s also a slow burn romance that’s more in the background. I’ll be honest, I suspected almost everybody in the story as villains at one point or another, except the two main characters, and her family! Well written with multiple layers to the story, and great characters who leap off the page into your heart. I loved watching Eliana grow and mature as I read. This book is the 16th book in the series, an epilogue in the future from the previous books, but it can be read as a standalone. I have only read one other book in the series but I didn’t have any problems keeping up with this book. And I hope it’s the first of a spinoff series! Definitely recommend this one!
As an ARC reader I was given a complimentary copy of this novel and all views expressed in this review are my honest and voluntary opinion.
This is the first book in this series, and by this author, that I have read so far, and let me tell you, it’s fantastic and, I would buckle up and hold on tight because, it’s fast paced and extremely suspenseful. You also don’t know who you can trust and what’s going to happen next so be on guard and learn the ropes as you go. There’s of course more suspense than romance but it’s in there as well. If you enjoy Christian romantic suspense then I definitely recommend that you read this book. I believe you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I did and now I want to read the rest of the series.
I have read all 15 previous books in this series. I loved it until the Dominatus stuff started. It ruined the whole series for me. I loved it when Kenna was just a PI and Jax was just fbi.
I didn’t have high hopes going into this book and that was a good thing. Honestly I don’t even know what to say. The book just dragged on. I wasn’t a huge fan of the storyline or how things played out. I find it hard to believe that Kenna and Jax just let Eliana go off on her own without giving her all the facts. Kenna was big on people not keeping things from her and then she just kept everything from her daughter? It doesn’t add up.
*I was sent a complimentary copy with no expectations for a favorable review.
This author has a knack for coming up with terrifying yet plausible scenarios. There was a thrilling and non-stop plot, characters who could be friends or foe and people with their own agendas. We found out what happened to familiar faces since the last book. I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t stop, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Hopefully there will be stories featuring some of the secondary characters because I don’t want to say goodbye!
Frankly, I was disappointed with this book. It was not up to par with the 15 preceding ones which I greatly enjoyed. I know it's hard to write a sort of sequel that's set 25 years after the last book, but this book was all over the place. It was hard to follow unless you have one of those minds that remembers everything in the previous part of the story. The subplot about Kenna and Oliver and what they were up to was almost totally irrelevant. If there were more books in this series, I don't think I would read them. If I never read about Dominatus again, I'll be a happy person.
This book #16 in the Brand of Justice series but can be read as a standalone book.
This takes place 25 years after book #15 and it catches you up with characters from the series and introduces you to Kenna & Jax's daughter Eliana who was just being born at the end of book #15.
Lots of suspense and plenty of bad guys to make it an action packed book.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. The review expressed here is my honest opinion.
It was hard to get into simply because Elaina was now all grown up. In this last Brand of Justice book, Elaina came into her own. I hated to put this book down to help my sister move and to do the mandatory house cleaning.🤣
It was hard seeing what Elaina went through, but v exciting to see she took on the challenges without hesitation to do what she felt was right, albeit there were TOUGH decisions.
I feel this book was left a bit untended even though it’s the last book of the series. I was left wanting more!!
What a seriously amazing finale to the Brand of Justice series. Eliana tried so hard not to be like her parents, but I’m glad she finally realized that she really was like them, but still could be her own person. It was nice to see what “the family” dynamic looks like years later. I definitely liked seeing what happened to Maizie and that yes, Jax was still looking good.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Wow. That was intense. This book leaned more futuristic and was probably a little more creepy than the other books. It is a wild way to conclude the Brand of Justice series. I had so much fun getting to know Eliana and Carlos. They made such a fun pair as they worked together to solve a mystery connected to the past. Highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. All opinions and views expressed are my own.
This book is set 25 years in the future from when Eliana was born in the last book. I was surprised that many things were the same, although the cyber world has made great advances. I can't help but thus a spin off series will come from this book. This one was really good. I'll be anxious to see what happened to Eliaba's old nemesis!
I have liked this series. This story, however, I had a time getting through. The Eliana character was just way to whiney through the whole thing. I get where Lisa was going with it but could have stilled arrived other without the character being quite so whimpy. It just didn't track for me.
After reading the previous 15 books in this series this last book was a disappointment. It was hard to get through. It didn't have the same flow as the previous books. It would have been better to end with book 15. It was like watching an entire series and then they mess up the finale.
Eliana has moved to Chicago to work and her parents are on a case in Alaska. when there is a problem at the shrine where she works the police are called and she finds out the carols is now a policeman now in Chicago. they do not get along but have to work together. this is a good ending to the series i would have like to see more of some of them but it was good
If you are expecting Kenna, Jr, you won't find her! Eliana is her own person, but you are going to love her as she journeys to find out who she is meant to be.
I have read every book in this series and loved them. The final book was a bit disappointing. Too many rabbit trails to follow. However, The ending redeemed the final book of the series spectacularly.