The Escape by Lisa Harris is a cat and mouse chase. 

More suspense than romance. I suspect the romance may grow over the series.  There is also the unresolved aspect of who killed Madison’s husband. 
I liked the book more than I expected from the book description.  They were not in the woods the entire time. I enjoyed the character insight into the fugitive and how he was able to convince people to help him. Heck at one point I even wondered if he was set up. 

Plenty of action and thought provoking as you think through what would you do in his shoes to stay one step ahead of them. 

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are thrust into a high-profile case when they are called on to transport two prisoners across the country on a private plane. But when the plane experiences engine trouble en route from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado, the pilots crash-land the aircraft deep in the heart of the sprawling Salmon-Challis National Forest. 

When Madison and Jonas regain consciousness, they find both pilots and one prisoner dead--and one fugitive on the run. They'll have to negotiate the rugged and remote backcountry through Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado while tracking a murderer who is desperate to disappear--and will do anything to stop them.

This is an action packed book starting with a plane crash.  The pilots are dead, one of the prisoners is dead, one prisoner escapes.  Two US Marshals, Madison James and Jonas Quinn survive the plane crash and are on the hunt for the prisoner.  Madison has been a widow for five years and Jonas has recently broke up with his fiancee.  Neither one of them are looking for a relationship.  But the tension between them is something they can't ignore.  There is another story going on at the same time.  Who killed Madison's husband.  Some one leaves a black rose on his grave every anniversary of his death.  This year they got into Madison's house and left a black rose on her bed.  

This book is action packed as Madison and Jonas track down the escaped prisoner.  I recommend this book to all mystery lovers.  I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

I was given this book by Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.

This was the first time I’d ever read a book by (or heard of) author Lisa Harris, but she definitely didn’t disappoint with The Escape!  It was a fast moving, action packed book that kept me holding on to every word. I didn’t want to put the book down!  I loved the dynamic between the two main characters, Madison and Jonas. I’m super excited for the second US Marshals book to release and to continue with this story!

This action-adventure with a side of romantic suspense is marketed as Christian, but I’ll just note up front that it’s not overtly so. The religious side of thing is limited to saying grace before meals and mentions of church group activities, which frankly is a good thing. I really have a pet hate for evangelising in books that are supposed to be about something else entirely.

US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are partnered up to escort a prisoner transfer flight from Seattle to Denver. A plane crash leaves them stranded in the wilderness, with a dangerous prisoner on the run they have to track down before anyone gets hurt. Madison has a major backstory - her husband was murdered five years ago and his killer has never been caught - which is obviously going to play a significant role in this series, as the book ends on something of a cliffhanger.

There’s a lot to like about this story. Madison is extremely capable, brave and smart, and willing to step into tricky situations to give her team the best chance at achieving their objective. She calls Jonas on his tendency to try to protect her, too. She’s a strong female protagonist by definition.

Which is why it bothered me so much that it was always Madison who got hurt. She and Jonas both were going into dangerous situations but it was Madison who was shot, hit, fell into a river etc. Never Jonas. And that was conscious authorial choice, as it was for Jonas to be the one who actually got to get the final decisive action with respect to catching the fugitive, in effect stealing the moment Madison had worked so hard and suffered for. And then he also got to turn up in the nick of time to save her at the cliffhanger, too.

This really started to bother me after a while. It was contradictory; on the one hand here is Madison being capable and brave, and on the other, she’s being ‘punished’ for it by constantly getting injured and having to be rescued by Jonas on more than one occasion. I think the author might have some internalised issues to unpack there.

There are hints that a romance might develop between Jonas and Madison, mainly when we are in Jonas’ POV and he’s hinting that he might have romantic feelings for her, but it hasn’t developed into anything really by the end of this book. The plotline seemed pretty well resolved (though we never did find out why the plane crashed) with the overarching mystery of who killed Madison’s husband obviously going to continue through the series. Overall, a good read, but I’m marking it down to 4 stars because of the issues I had with the contradictions in Madison’s portrayal.

This novel has as much to do with a budding romance between Madison and Jonas as it does about catching an escaped murderer. I felt the budding character romance happened at the oddest times. An example is when Madison and Jonas are in an abandoned cabin while the fugitive is still loose nearby. The two comfortably chat away in front of the blazing fireplace, happily getting to know each other, neither one even periodically thinking to check if the fugitive has found them. Is it any surprise when the fugitive does find them and attacks? On another occasion the two are nearly kissing on a stake out when action occurs at the house they are watching. Come on. I would hope US Marshals are better than that.

I really liked the way Harris establishes the setting. Her descriptions are good and really places in the action well. Another aspect of the novel well done is describing how deceptive a fugitive can be, convincing people to help him.

This is a novel for readers who like character interaction and budding romance more than suspense. There is lots of suspense but it is a bit repetitive and some of it is caused by sloppy action on the part of the pursuers.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

The Escape by Lisa Harris was a first for us 2 chicks on lit by this author. While it wasn't our favorite Christian suspense book, it did hold our attention. 

U.S. Marshalls Madison and Jonas are put on detail to transport two fugitives from Washington to Colorado. It is a  half day mission, what could go wrong? As the private aircraft crashes into the national forest with one fugitive dead and one on the run, the assignment gets a lot harder and deadlier. Jonas and Madison, both with pain and hurt from the past will have to work together and overcome more obstacles than they set out for. There are several twists and turns that keep us guessing and we enjoyed getting to know these two along the way. We would have liked to see more faith come into play, and possibly more chemistry between Madison and Jonas. We were left wanting the second book now and that is always a sign of a good read.

Title:  The Escape
Author:  Lisa Harris

Ch: 35

Pg: 327

Series: US Marshals  

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense   

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Revell 

The Escape by Lisa Harris is the first book in the US Marshals series. When a prisoner transport goes horribly wrong and the place crashes marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn find themselves stranded in the middle of nowhere with a fugitive to catch.


I’m not going to lie this book me a bit of The Fugitive vibes with the plane crash and escaped prisoner. The book started off slow but picked up pace as the book went on. Madison was my favorite of the two characters . However both characters change and grow over the course of the novel. And as a reader who likes her romantic suspense to be more suspense than romance The Escape was the perfect balance between the two.


While the main suspense of the book wrapped up nicely the secondary suspense thread left a bit of a cliff hanger that allows for a possible set up for the second book in the series.

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher a part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

HIGH INTENSITY!

THE ESCAPE (US MARSHALS Book1) by Lisa Harris is nothing short of HIGH INTENSITY! Best Selling Author Harris has outdone herself with this compelling, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep your attention from the first page to the last.This is the mesmerizing story of US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn. They are tasked with transporting two two prisoners across the country on a private plane. Simple, right? Except for the nightmare experience of the plane having engine trouble causing a horrific crash. One prisoner dies and the other escapes. Madison and Jonas know what they must do and that is to find the escaped criminal who is wanted for murder.

Harris has created a superb plot. Because the plane crashes in the wilderness, she has the Marshals facing all manner of danger in pursuit of the escaped convict. Each time the Marshals think they are getting close to catching him, he manages to pull off yet another escape! With each passing hour, the convict’s actions begin to mimic those of a spider spinning its web and he is quickly drawing the Marshals right into his web! This murderous convict will stop at nothing to keep from getting captured and going back to prison! Harris keeps the the suspense in this story flowing to the very end! You will not want to miss a moment of this action packed adventure!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Revell. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

The Escape by Lisa Harris

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
______________________________________________________________
Story Notes

The first in the new US Marshalls series is pretty good. I loved the suspense of the story from page one and the case had enough twists to keep it from being boring. There were a few slow spots but not enough to make the story flat. Since this is going to be a multi-book series about the same characters, I liked that there was more backstory included that you usually see. I'm sure there will be more added but what I've learned about Madison and Jonas, I really like. They will be both good partners and good challengers for each other when it comes to work and relationships. They had plenty of hurt from the past to make them cautious about a new love relationship and I believe much of that will be sorted out in the coming books. The manhunt was well done and I loved that the ending wasn't what I was expecting. The fugitive was much more cunning and devious that I figured him for and that was a good surprise in the story. I am very much looking forward to the next in the series and will certainly be recommending it to others. 

 I received this temporary complimentary E-Book from Revell Publishing via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

In this newest release by Ms. Harris, readers will begin a new series called the U.S. Marshalls.  This book is all about an escape and one in which the U.S. Marshall’s are working to find their escapee after their transport plane crashes in the wilderness.  As a reader fan of Ms. Harris, I have been loving her books and the intensity of her recent releases’ storylines.  For suspense fans, you will love this book!  It is a high-intensity chase through the wilderness to find their fugitive.  The main characters of the book are U.S. Marshall’s Madison and Jonas.  Madison and Jonas discover several things about each other and themselves when they embark on their adventure.  They also learn to work together for justice to occur.  Their past stories added to this book and series.  I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series and hope it is as exciting as this one!  This series looks to be an intense, fast-paced journey for romantic suspense readers!  I highly recommend this book and know you will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.  This is my honest opinion.  Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.

I receive an arc of this book from NetGalley and the Fleming H. Revell Company in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

US Marshalls Madison James and Jonas Quinn are partnered up for a standard prisoner transport assignment. Two violent felons are being sent to Denver for trial. Something goes wrong during the flight and the plane crashes killing the pilots and one of the felons on impact.  Madison and Jonas wake up to find the second prisoner has fled into the wilderness.  A complicated game of cat and mouse spanning states begins as the pair race to catch their fugitive before he disappears.   

If this sounds like The Fugitive, you're not wrong. It feels like Harrison Ford could be playing our main antagonist. 

Fair warning- this book is the first in a new series by Lisa Harris and the second book is expected out sometime next year.  It did read like the first book of a detective/thriller series.  A lot of time was spent establishing our lead characters and the overarching storylines, but neither element detracted from the main plot.  One thing I didn't realize going in was that this could be considered "Christian Fiction". What I mean by that is the characters are very vocal about religion and their belief during the story.  It honestly didn't bother me since it was only obvious in a handful of scenes. 

Overall the book was fine. The central chase was interesting, the charaters were multidemensional and the series setup was good. My main compliants with the book were that the ending felt a little rushed and at times Madison comes off a bit Mary-Sue-esque. 

If you're looking for a quick easy read and a failry straight forward thriller/suspense novel- this book is for you.  
We'll see if I pickup the sequel to find out about the overarching story or not.

Lisa Harris kicks of her latest suspense series with her usual bang.  High impact and 
constant chills fill this story from start to finish.  Madison James and Jonas Quinn are US Marshals assigned to fly two felons to be expedited from Seattle to Denver.  But the flight doesn't go as planned, and Madison and Jonas find themselves wrapped up in a manhunt they never expected.

I appreciated that suspense was front and center and the little bit of romance definitely played in the background.  Turning pages as fast I could, Damon Barrick was one step ahead of Madison and Jonas every time they turned.  The MC's had such a great working connection as well as a personal one.  Both had been through tragic relationships and were still recovering.  The role the black rose played was really creepy, and I am frustrated to know that I have to wait until the next book to find out the story behind the rose.  

Highly recommended for all readers who enjoy clean, riveting suspense.  

**I received a complimentary copy of this book  from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Lisa Harris presents the first book of a series focusing on two US Marshals stationed in Seattle WA. The two US Marshals, Madison James and Jonas Quinn, are charged with transporting two fugitives from Seattle to Denver; but mid-way, the small plane they are on runs into a storm that brings the plane crashing down into the tree tops of the Rocky Mountains somewhere in rural Idaho. The two pilots and one of the fugitives dies; James and Quinn will spend the next week tracking the remaining fugitive, Damon Barrick, across much of the western US.

Their search will take them to Salt Lake City UT and to Houston TX, among other stops along the way. Their search will also allow the two US Marshals to become familiar with each other’s skills and gifts. A romance is possible - but not in this book. That is one of the hints that suggest another book or two is in the offing. The other hint is the unexplained death of Madison James’ first husband and subsequent threats against her life.

The story itself is a mixed bag of exciting and patient reading (i.e. sometimes slow). Lisa Harris has done a great job of describing the rural Rocky Mountain environment offering an inviting description of the area - leaving this reader wishing that he had the time and energy to explore a part of the country to which he has not been. As she weaves a bit of faith into the story, the reader begins to understand how God can meet people wherever they are or in whatever circumstances they find themselves.

I could easily see the story serving as the foundation for a TV series (CBS, are you listening). But it could just as easily belong in the church library or on the reading list of anyone who enjoys law enforcement thrillers. Though the book is faith-based, the reader does not feel that he has been drenched in unneeded spirituality, proving amble reason for also making room for it in the public library.
____________
This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I found this book very hard to get into. When I put it down, and then picked it back up again, I had a hard time remembering what was happening. I'm not sure why, but I think it's because the main characters felt one dimensional. We don't get a deep look at their inner thoughts. They rehash events that have happened in their pasts (replaying events in their own minds) but they never share their deepest thoughts concerning those circumstances. We just get the facts, like a police report. 

So many of the circumstances in the book were also too unbelievable. When Barrick jumps off the bridge, they lose him, again, and in no time flat he's seen at a local farmer's market. When they catch up to who they think is him, he still has on his hat, and he's not soaking wet, or injured. The man just jumped off a bridge with a hostage; how could they think he'd be dry already? How does this happen? Also, how is he keeping all the cash dry that Mary gave him? Keeping it where? I just got tired of the cat and mouse chase, and all the unbelievable things that happened in the course of the chase. 

The side story of Madison's husband being killed, and her sister being threatened wasn't really that compelling to me. Also, the slight romance between Madison and Jordan didn't interest me either. I just didn't really feel much while reading this book, except that it felt too long. I normally love suspense, and police books, but this one fell flat for me. 

I have read Lisa Harris's books before, and I would read a future book, but perhaps not in this series.

Clearly, I like suspense. I love novels that bring non-stop action and twisted plots with lots of drama. I can’t think of a single thing The Escape was missing when it comes to that crazy, intense, life-or-death suspense on every page. 

The story centers around two US Marshals, Madison James and Jonas Quinn. They are paired up for a prison transfer. Their plane crashes and one of the prisoners escapes. The Marshals must capture the fugitive before he kills again. The entire story is one epic man hunt through the mountains of the pacific northwest. Madison and Jonas have to rely on each other to get out of the woods, stay alive, and find the criminal before he manages to reach civilization and disappear. 

The action and near-death situations give this novel a fast-pace feel, but the characters are likable and aren’t just running for their lives (although there is plenty of that). Madison is struggling with grief from the loss of her husband, and Jonas has a similar issue with a relationship that didn’t work out. They have a compatibility and camaraderie that makes them a great pair, whether it be on the job or more of a personal relationship. 

Just a warning that this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but the story is so intriguing that I couldn’t put it down. I kept saying I would read until the end of the chapter, but then just kept on reading. I literally lost sleep over this book! This is going to be one of my favorite series, I can already feel it. But sadly, I must wait for book two. 

Overall: 5 stars (I loved it, couldn’t put it down)
Suspense: 5 stars (Non-stop edge-of-your-seat suspense from start to finish)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley and Revell. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I hate to be the one reviewer who didn't like this book, but unfortunately, it just didn't keep my interest. I DNF'd about two-thirds of the way through. While the story is amazing, I just couldn't relate to the main characters or root for them. Jonas just felt...flat. And while I enjoyed Madison's character, she just seems unbelievable.  When asked how she's feeling, she'll say how she's worried about her sister. But we don't get to see inside her mind, we don't experience the anxiety she claims to feel about her family's wellbeing. I think that's what made it hard to read, how unrelatable Madison and Jonas are. The inciting incident, the plane crash, is quickly brushed over and neither Madison nor Jonas experience any fears relating to air travel or crashing again afterwards, even though they have to fly several more times throughout the course of the book. If I'd just barely escaped a plane crash, you can bet I'd be sticking close to home and not be found near a plane for weeks after! 

The romance is barely there, which will suit readers who like the suspense without the fluff. As it centres around a fugitive on the run, there's a lot of action that will keep you up at night. Again, there's a lot to like about this story, but it just doesn't suit my tastes right now. 

Also, I would have to say, this is more of a clean read than christian fiction. Other than a few times where the character prays over an issue, there's little faith evident in their lives. But again, it's clean romance so it will still appeal to christian readers.

My thanks to the publisher Revell and the author for allowing me the chance to read and review this e-copy arc via Netgalley.

Madison James and Jonas Quinn are thrown together to transfer two dangerous criminals on a plane to Denver. The plane crashes, and one of the prisoners escapes, leading to a week-long chase across states for our two US Marshals.

Full of riveting suspense and close calls, near misses, dangerous situations for our two highly capable Marshals, this is classic Harris suspense. Over the course of the action we also get to discover more of the backstory of our duo where we learn both are still hurting and recovering from sudden unexpected losses in their love lives. The romance simmers between the two but is always in the background to the suspense.

I especially like Madison. She's gusty, vulnerable and passionate about family, her job and God. Jonas is kind, considerate and thoughtful. I'm excited to see how their partnership (in whatever form) develops in the next story.

I wondered if this would work better as a shorter story. I found there was repetition in the near misses and the "we'll get him this time!". I also wondered if this is quite often the case in real life, it just seemed the bad guy slipped away too easily sometimes or they lost his tail too easily.

The story ends with a bit of a cliffhanger that makes me want to read the next story, now!

I received an early ebook copy of The Escape from Revell via NetGalley with no expectation of a positive review.

The Escape was my first read of a Lisa Harris book. Yes I know, what

exactly was I waiting for?


Madison and Jonas are US Marshals . They've been assigned to transport two convicts but the plane crashes in the Salmon-Challis National Forest. One convict dies upon impact the other escapes.


The marshals must not only survive the elements but track their man who always manages to stay one step ahead of them through disguise sand help from those he knows.


Your adrenaline will be pumping as your read about elaborate schemes,kidnapping,terror and danger.
Who can you really trust to tell you the truth when you question others? Are they just pacifying you with the answers you want to hear while actually reporting back to the hunted one?


I literally could not put this down and read it in one day, just one more chapter turned into a night of reading. Adrenaline junkies you'll find your fix here!
I liked the slow burn in the romance as well between the marshals too,

nothing rushed.


She is still mourning the death of her husband and he's still getting over a breakup. They are letting God direct their actions and healing slowly and naturally but you can feel a spark will ignite in a future book in the series.
The Escape was an exciting book and I look forward to continuing this series.

Pub Date: 03 Nov 2020
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own

"There is a razor -thin edge between justice and revenge, where the two easily blur if left unchecked."

This is the first book in a new U.S. Marshals series and, based on this book, I'm already looking forward to book two.

U.S. Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are tasked with guarding two high-risk felons from Seattle to Denver. When their plane crashes somewhere in an Idaho national forest during a storm, they end up trying to track down a dangerous murderer who keeps adding to his killed list.

They go on a multi-state chase against this charismatic, crafty, violent murderer, wanting to find him and bring him in for justice.

I liked the two protagonists and their backstories. James' husband was murdered five years ago and the murderer has never been found. Hopefully we will read more about this in future books.

This is a good, solid thriller and I enjoyed it.

I received this book from Revell Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

"Their worse-case scenario—one they tried to avoid at all costs—had just become a reality.”

Two U.S. marshals. Two convicts. One downed plane. The chase is on...and where it will go will keep you on the tip of your toes. There are so many unexpected twists and turns that I was engaged from beginning until end. Then at the end, I couldn’t wait for the next book in the series. There is an underlying threat that had me hooked to know more of Madison’s story. This is the first book in the U.S. Marshalls series and it’s going to be a hit.

“There is a razor-thin edge between justice and revenge, where the two easily blur if left unchecked.”

Madison and Jonas made a great team professionally, as well as both overcoming past struggles with grief and loss. I’m excited to see where this series goes. I thought they worked well together and look forward to seeing their relationship develop. I loved how they worked out some of the issues around being a female U.S. Marshall. It seemed very realistic to the job.  I really enjoyed the adventure, danger, and light thread of romance that played a minor role to their relationship.  When the prison transfer went wrong, I was intrigued by the hunt and thought it gave a great picture of what it would be like as a Marshall. 

Lisa Harris delivers nonstop entertainment in her latest series “The Escape.” This is a promising start to a new series. If you love movies like “The Fugitive” and “U.S. Marshals,” I think you will really enjoy this series. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.