About the Book

Book: Amish Wilderness Survival

Author: Mary Alford

Genre: (Amish) Romantic Suspense

Release date: March 28, 2023

To stay alive, she must escape a killer’s clutches. . .

When her brother goes missing, Leora Mast will do anything to find him…even if it means putting her life in danger. Upon arriving in Montana, she finds an ally in Fletcher Shetler, but almost as soon as they meet, they’re running for their lives. With Fletcher’s help, Leora must unravel the truth about her brother’s disappearance…before the man who wants them dead tracks them down.

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About the Author

Mary Alfordgrew up in a small Texas town famous for, well not much of anything really. Being the baby of the family and quite a bit younger than her two brothers and her sister, Mary had plenty of time to entertain herself. Making up stories seemed to come naturally to her.

As a preteen, Mary discovered Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt and knew instinctively that was what she wanted to do with her over-active imagination.

She wrote her first novel as a teen, (it’s tucked away somewhere never to see the light of day), but never really pursued her writing career seriously until a few years later, when she wrote her first inspirational romantic suspense and was hooked.

Today, Mary lives in Texas with her husband and loves to create characters who face dangerous situations with faith on their side.

Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook, Twitter, or any of the social media platforms listed at maryalford.net.

More from Mary

Before the Story Begins

Every good Christian romantic suspense has a beginning where the hero and heroine are introduced to each other and to the danger they’ll be facing, followed by an ending where everything (usually) is tied up nicely.

In Christian (and Amish) romantic suspense, there must equal amounts of danger, romance, and faith.

As a reader, one of my favorite parts of the book is when the hero and heroine have backstories that draw me in and have me pulling for them to overcome their pasts as well as the villain chasing them.

In AMISH WILDERNESS SURVIVAL, the heroine, Leora Mast has a heartbreaking backstory. As a teenager, Leora’s and her twin brother Tanner’s parents were killed in a fire that was later ruled arson. They relocated to Colorado to be closer to their aunt and uncle and grandparents. Soon after, Leora’s brother left the Amish faith and joined the marines.

As an adult, Leora has gone through 2 separate rounds of breast cancer. She’s just finished the final round of chemo when her brother goes missing and Leora travels to West Kootenai, Montana to find Tanner’s marine lieutenant hoping to get answers about her brother’s disappearance.

Instead of finding her brother or Ethan Connors, she runs into Fletcher Shetler and the danger unfolds quickly from there.

Fletcher Shetler’s family has seen their share of heartaches as well. They have lived in West Kootenai for several generations. Fletcher’s grandfather started the furniture making business and the family mill their own timber for the pieces they create. Fletcher has a big heart and has been taking care of his mother since his father passed away.

Fletcher can’t imagine living anywhere else but his West Kootenai community and being part of a close family. But that loyalty cost him the love of his future bride when she chose to leave the community and break his heart.

Both Leora and Fletcher must put aside their pasts to try and find out what happened to her brother and Ethan before it’s too late.

From facing down armed kidnappers, to almost being swallowed alive by a sinkhole, to being forced to hideout in a cave in order to avoid being captured, Leora and Fletcher face one trial after the other, and yet they persevere thanks to each other, Ethan’s K-9 German Shepherd dog, Molly, and their faith in God that is unshakable.

My Impressions

“…Gott had brought them together for a reason.”

In Amish Wilderness Survival, Mary Alford brings us back to the Amish community of West Kootenai, Montana. I fear this may be a crime-riddled area instead of the peaceful Amish community I once believed it to be, given the number of romantic suspense plots that take place with its members.

Alford’s middle name just might be “non-stop suspense.” It is incredible how many situations she can put her characters (Leora Mast and Fletcher Shetler, in this case) through in one reading experience. You will be sorry if it takes you more than one sitting to finish this book, as the adrenaline rush is high. Why are the men after Leora? Why are they after her brother, Tanner? What secrets could he possibly be hiding? Can Fletcher and Leora find her brother and Ethan before those chasing them? Perhaps the biggest question of all, is God present in the difficult times, and can His leading be trusted for one’s life?

I was captivated by the suspense aspect and the involvement of a SAR dog. I sure didn’t want Molly to get hurt.

Logically, my head agreed that the forced togetherness and trauma Fletcher and Leora experienced could result in a romance, but I had a hard time connecting with the story on this level. I believe this issue to belong solely to me, although I did feel like we were told, more than shown, the romance.

Please, get your own copy of Amish Wilderness Survival and see how your heart rate soars!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“It isn’t your fault, Leora—none of it. You are not responsible for what bad men choose to do.”

“Family was what bound the Amish together… Now, at times, it felt as if death was the one thing to hold her and Tanner together.”

“Sometimes animals are better than humans in these situations. At least they won’t betray you.”

My Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great! Unstoppable suspense!

Blog Stops

Betti Mace, June 3

Blossoms and Blessings, June 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 4

Texas Book-aholic, June 5

The Avid Reader, June 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 7

Holly’s Book Corner, June 7

Lighthouse Academy Blog, June 8 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 9

,Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, June 10

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 11

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 12

Splashes of Joy, June 13

Bizwings Book Blog, June 13

Simple Harvest Reads, June 14 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, June 15

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, June 16 (Author Interview)

Books I’ve Read, June 16

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/263ee/amish-wilderness-survival-celebration-tour-giveaway