Beauty in the Binding: Author Interview: Ambush in the Mountains by Mary Alford

Ambush in the Mountains JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Ambush in the Mountains by Mary Alford, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Ambush in the Mountains
Author: Mary Alford
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: July 23, 2024
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Innocent lives at stake…

Can a former soldier and his canine save them?

Helping a pregnant woman he comes across in a mountain storm puts Axel Sterling right into the path of ruthless human traffickers. Now it’s up to the ex-soldier and his dog to keep Summer and her unborn baby safe from the abductors she’s finally escaped. But between the icy wilderness and the armed gunmen following them at every turn, one wrong move could cost Axel and Summer their lives.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Excerpt

The door flew open. Summer shot up from her chair, the knife poised as a weapon.

Axel stood in the open space, watching her wield the knife.

She sank back down, relieved.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. The wind blew the door from my grasp.”

Summer willed her heartbeat to return to normal. “No, it’s okay. You didn’t...” But he had and the tremor in her voice mocked her words.

Axel slipped into the rocker beside her and petted Camo absently.

The frown on his face had her worried. “Something happened.”

He turned slowly. “Yes.”

Summer’s grip tightened on the arms of the rocker while she waited and prayed their location hadn’t been exposed.

“There was a car on the road.” Axel told her about the window being down and the light searching around the darkness for signs of them. “They mentioned my name, Summer. They obviously ran my plates and know that I live somewhere down this way. Hopefully, with the weather and the fact that I don’t have a mailbox on my property, they won’t be able to find us.”

But she could tell he wasn’t sure. He couldn’t give her the guarantees she desperately craved. Could they take that chance?

About the Author

Mary Alford

Mary Alford is a USA Today bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the reader can't put down. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne Du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog.

Connect with Mary at maryalford.net to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Author Interview

Q: What inspired you to write Ambush in the Mountains?

Mary: The inspiration for Ambush in the Mountains came about after I read so many heartbreaking accounts of innocent victims who have survived the growing epidemic of human trafficking. It’s something that I’ve covered briefly in previous books, but when I set out to write Ambush in the Mountains, I knew I wanted the heroine to be on the run from her traffickers. Summer is not only courageous enough to risk escaping at eight months pregnant, but she is also determined to help those who are still left behind.

Q: How long did it take to write this book?

Mary: Ambush in the Mountains took a little over a month to create the rough draft. During the rough draft process, I give myself the freedom to just write the story and not worry about fixing mistakes. After the rough draft is finished, then the real work begins. The next stage of my editing process is where I layer in more details about the hero and heroine and flesh out the storyline. For me, this is the hardest part of the writing process.

Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?

Mary: A couple of things surprised me. First, in researching human trafficking, the sheer numbers are staggering. It’s estimated 49.6 million people are in modern slavery worldwide, and 12 million of them are children. And secondly, the stories of those who escaped are heartbreaking and reveal the courage and the will to live of the women who have survived this nightmare. It makes me want to do everything in my power to shine a light on this atrocity.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Ambush in the Mountains?

Mary: Like Summer, Axel Sterling, the hero of the story, has his own past he’s trying to overcome. He lost the woman he loved in a military battle and has lived with that loss for years. This is a quote from Axel’s point of view that shows his growth since believing in God.

Axel’s hands tightened around his coffee cup. When he thought about what Summer had been through at the hands of the man she called Ray, all the anger he thought he’d buried with the man he’d once been resurfaced. He wanted to do bad things to this person who’d caused her so much pain.
But that was the old Axel. Now he prayed and trusted God to fight his battles.

Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Mary: Honestly, it is hard to pinpoint an exact time—I think probably after I read my first Nancy Drew book and wanted to create my own adventures just like the ones Nancy went on. I didn’t actually try my hand at writing until I was a pre-teen when I wrote my first book.

Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Mary: Most readers may not know that I’m a huge, huge, huge, Longmire fan. This is the TV series that was out a few years back based on the books by the same name written by author Craig Johnson. It’s one of my favorite series. I’ve watched every episode multiple times.

Q: What are you currently reading?

Mary: I’ve been on a bit of a thriller kick lately. I’m currently reading Her Dying Secret by Lisa Regan. So good.

Q: What is your favorite genre to read?

Mary: I love anything romantic suspense, but I’ve branched out to thrillers now so that opens up a whole new group of books to read. I’m loving it.

Q: What is your favorite hobby?

Mary: Other than reading, I’d say gardening, though I must confess, I’m terrible at it and I DO NOT have a green thumb at all. Still, it’s digging in the dirt and planting—hopefully watching new life sprout from the ground—that’s what I find most enjoyable.

Q: What is your favorite season and why?

Mary: Fall wins out hands down. After the long months of summer here in Texas, I’m always excited for fall and the cooler weather. Plus, the trees are changing colors. I can wear sweaters again. And of course, pumpkin everything from pie to latte.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a $50 Amazon gift card and a print copy of Ambush in the Mountains!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 22, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 29, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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