Heatwave

by Lisa Phillips, Voni Harris, Taylor S. Newport

Four exciting thrillers in one volume!

Coming August 2026!

709 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2026

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Lyn Herbohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A diverse but interesting collection of stories.

The first story brought me to tears. The second story dragged a bit but had enough action and suspense to keep me reading. The third one involved two characters trying to narrow down the suspect list before they became the next murder victims, and the last one…was kind of creepy. Like a ghost story, with a bit of a dual timeline in it, and lots of questions. I really liked it.

[Allyson Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heatwave was an excellent suspense anthology.
From Darkness to Light by Lisa Phillips is Avery Bennett and Beau Mitchell's story. Avery, a former US Marshal agent, returns home to Rend, Oregon. She and Beau, a deputy sheriff, investigate two missing teens and realize there is something more sinister going on. This was a fast-paced read with history between Beau and Avery as they work together. This was a well-crafted story with an unexpected surprise that I didn't see coming.
Finding Serenity by Voni Harris starts off with nonstop action and doesn't stop until the end. Serenity is being framed as guilty for a stolen artifact and her sister's murder. Her husband Todd, a FBI agent and soon-to-be ex, knows Serenity is innocent. Can they trust each other, work together to clear her name, and stop the bad guys, one which is Serenity's ex? Can they save their marriage? I enjoyed Jack and Gianna as they helped Serenity and Todd in proving her innocence.
In The Penrose Affair by Taylor S. Newport, journalist Felicity Pierce investigates her uncle's death. This story has a plethora of suspects, red herrings, and danger as someone doesn't want Felicity and her ex-husband, Detective Jack Marsden, to uncover the truth. Who is the killer and what was their motive?
The Gurdon Light by Terry Toler is based on a true story in 1931. This story has some breathless incidents along the railroad tracks, and the author did a fantastic job in adding Daniel Mercer and Melody Garrison as fictional characters, elements, and more to deepen the mystery and bring the story to life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Psusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heatwave is the second suspenseful Summer Thrillers Collection. This time stories by Lisa Phillips, Voni Harris, Taylor S. Newport, and Terry Toler are included. Just as great as the first collection it may have stories by new authors for the reader. There was one for me. Each is a clean suspenseful story with Christian beliefs implied sometimes shared as in Finding Serenity. All are action-packed stories, jumping right into suspense and danger. Yet each one in this anthology is different from the others. Still I found that each is compelling and a page turner.

From Darkness to Light by Lisa Phillips is a gritty story where the two main characters both wanted to help solve crime going on in their small town but were thwarted at every turn. This has a very shocking conclusion.

Finding Serenity by Voni Harris begins with a museum and a pocket watch but it goes much deeper than that in small town criminals. What also begins with divorce papers ends much differently.

The Penrose Affair by Taylor S. Newport is written by a new-to-me-author but it is an intriguing story beginning with a small town fire, moving quickly into a murder investigation by investigative journalist Felicity Pierce. This death was a personal loss for her. I will be looking to read more written by this author

The Gurdon Light by Terry Toler has another surprise in store for the reader. Be sure to read the author’s notes about the mysterious light. While this was a stranger story than the others, it was my favorite.

[Laura Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Simmer Thrillers Collection, Heat Wave, is again four authors, Lisa Phillips, Voni Harris, Taylor S. Newport and Terry Toler, one I know and three I don’t. I often find new authors to follow in these collections.

Lisa’s From Darkness to Light holds you captive with a surprising ending. Avery leaves the FBI to return home and follow up on a clue her boss dismissed. She teams with Beau, a Deputy Sheriff. Lisa writes with strong characters with just the right amount of suspense and excitement.

Voni is a new author to me, in Finding Serenity, I have to admit I didn’t care for Serenity. Serenity is self serving and determined to do things her way. Todd, her FBI husband was much more likable and equally determined to do his job. Overall the story was action filled and a page turner.

In Penrose Affair Taylor brought Felicity, a know it all reporter, with a police detective ex husband Jack. Felicity resents Jack’s job and is determined to solve the case before he does.

The Gurdon Light by Terry Toler is part truth and part fiction. Each year professor Mercer teaches a class, The Gurdon Light and Physics: Fact and Fiction, and takes a group of students to see the light as he tries to find the answer of what causes it. Terry givers a lot of physics information that was over my head but the story keeps you reading with anticipation.

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to leave a review. The opinion is my own.

[Joy Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology has all the vibes of several different tropes. I don't know if this will be a spoiler alert or not, but don't expect happy ever after in these stories. The first story takes you to Oregon where there is something sinister going on. Avery has been let go from the US Marshals and has went back to the only good home she had growing up. Has she only changed addresses to still be in the same danger or possibly worse? The second story takes you to Wyoming where Daniel Cruz catches a murder on film. He passes the evidence off to Sarah in an antique pocket watch. Then her sister Serenity is the witness to another murder. Just how far will the killers go and just how many people are they willing to get rid of to get that film back? Then the third story is set in NC, my homestate. Where Felicity is trying to figure out a possible arson case, when she finds herself right in the middle of her uncle's murder. With only seven suspects, who is the guilty party? Stories like this , is why I have trust issues. Even though these are fiction there is a lot of truth about how some humans act. The last story gave me chills up and down my spine. It's based on a true story that makes me want to take a trip to Arkansas. I received a complimentary Ebook from the publisher, but was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are what I thought of these stories.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Darkness to Light: Ms. Phillips has quite the talent writing mystery stories. Avery returns home determined to find who murdered her friend. The town is full of corruption and it's hard to determine who can be trusted. Even the Deputy Sheriff Beau may be in question.
Finding Serenity: Serenity is tired of feeling second in her marriage to FBI agent Todd. A visit to her sister finds her the chief suspect in sis's murder. And she is also considered a thief of Buffalo Bill's pocket watch. The problem is whether Todd will believe she is innocent and help her find the killer.
The Penrose Affair: I especially enjoyed this story. Felicity is an amateur sleuth who finds it hard to keep her mouth shut and stay away out of the investigation. She can't believe her best friend could be a murderer. Her uncle left her a puzzle as he liked to her whole life.
The Gurdon Light: I liked this one also a lot. Part of the story is based on truth which makes the story more fascinating.
All the stories are great reads. I was given a copy by the publisher. This is my voluntary opinion.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heatwave (Summer Thrillers Collection) includes four suspense stories, and I appreciated the different settings and plotlines throughout the book.

I enjoyed Finding Serenity the most. The tension and mystery kept me interested, and I liked the Cody, Wyoming/Yellowstone setting, the FBI angle, and the missing Buffalo Bill pocket watch. The criminal past/reconciliation elements also felt meaningful.

I also found From Darkness to Light, The Penrose Affair, and The Gurdon Light entertaining, with good pacing and enough intrigue to keep going.

I received this book from one of the authors, and the review is only my opinion.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this was a very interesting set of stories! Each one had things that were very unexpected like a main character dying and a ghost story (which isn't something I normally read). Every single one of the novella's kept me glued to the book and finished the collection in two days! I liked the variety of characters that were in each of the books. My favorite novella was "From Darkness to Light" and I will admit that "The Gurdon Light" kind of gave me the creeps (it isn't that scary, I am just a chicken!). Overall, I give the collection 4 out of 5 stars.

I was given this book by one of the authors - all opinions are my own.

[Vikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heat Wave Anthology is a variant of tropes, with suspense, thriller and mystery, along with the mix of characters and intrigue, keeping the pages turning. I received this book from the publisher as an ebook and had a wonderful introduction to two new authors. I have many books by Lisa Phillips and one of Taylor S. Newport, and am now happy to say I have been introduced to two new authors. I enjoy suspense and romance, with faith mixed in between, so was not disappointed. Well done to all the authors.

[Michelle Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant collection of Christian Romantic Suspense authors and stories! Each of these short stories will have you ready for more from these authors. Fast paced, edge of your seat with a touch of romance and woven with faith. Great to read in between other books, one story at a time or binge the collection back to back.

[Teresa Haugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Serenity by Voni Harris has a pulse-pounding opening and non-stop action. The story takes you through Serenity's journey of personal loss that is fraught with danger, but leads eventually to a satisfying conclusion. I'm looking forward to reading the other stories in this collection of thrillers.

[Tami Willard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This contains stories written by multiple authors. Not interconnected with each other but may interconnected with other books by the individual authors.
Some have HEA, some are open ended and some not so much
Romance
Suspense
Thriller
Forbidden
Based on true story

[Renee Helton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book. My opinions are entirely my own.
Interesting Book.
Unique Characters.
Full of action and plot twists.