Into the Fire

Lisa Phillips presents Book One in the Last Chance County Series. 

Expired Refuge begins with ATF Special Agent Mia Tathers showing up at her dad's place to heal up from injuries sustained in a take down of a criminal who she was forced to shoot dead. Technically she's on vacation, but her dad's off hunting or something, and she has his house to herself. Not that she's happy to be back in the hometown she couldn't wait to leave. In fact, she can't wait to get away once she's whole and cleared of the necessary shooting. Last Chance County holds bitter memories of her older sister's death and now her younger sister is hooked up with the area's number one dope and weapons peddler (Ed Summers) who both she and the Interim Chief Conroy Barnes hold responsible for the death of her sister Mara back in high school. But really Mia holds Conroy Barnes directly at fault for Mara's death since he was Mara's boyfriend,  and Mia's giant grudge shows no signs of weakening even when Conroy does his best to talk with her about a lot of things. 

Suddenly it seems both of their lives are in immediate danger with an explosion, a home invasion, a terrible attack by a drugged dog, and a kidnapping. Still, Mia bites at Conroy every chance she gets in spite of his efforts to keep her safe which get harder by the minute. Finally they have to put their heads together to figure out exactly which one of them is the target and if it's Ed Summers or someone else behind these deadly attempts. 

Mia's determined not to trust Conroy no matter how hard he tries to keep her safe. Her ATF associates back in Seattle proved to her that her value with them was limited, and since she blames Conroy for Mara's death, it's always in the forefront of her thoughts and reactions. What she doesn't know is critical to adjusting her attitude, and to Conroy's credit, he keeps trying to reach her in spite of her cutthroat words. 

Turns out her younger sister Meena is a mess and certainly can't be trusted. It's painful for Mia to realize, but it's only when she comes to terms with her unforgiveness that she's able to fall back on her Christian values and figure out how to forgive. 

The back and forth drama of the developing relationship between Mia and Conroy is filled with the prickly personality of the ATF Special Agent's stubbornness and determination to do what her physical injuries won't allow her to complete. Her endangerment brings her dad home and causes Conroy more difficulties than he expected. His admiration for her develops into more than he anticipated while taking the jabs she hurls at him repeatedly. 

Expired Refuge is a good story and well written. Perhaps the internal thoughts during critical moments might have interrupted for a bit too long, and the extenuated doubts about motives concerning Conroy seemed a bit misguided, but that didn't take away from the grit and narrative required to provide those intense moments of real danger. Lisa created interesting and unique characters injecting them into a battle of wills and a whole bunch of dangerous episodes. 

Father, please continue to bless Lisa and her stories. Fill her up with inspiration and provide what she needs to write for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.