About Me I am a retired librarian and I now support books and authors through my reviews.

I have always loved to read and I was able to share that love through my work as a public librarian for 22 1/2 years. I now promote literacy by reading, and then writing reviews. I love to support authors by sharing my reviews with others!

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Covert Past (Hope Island Securities, #6) by Mary Alford

Covert Past: Hope Island Securities Series Book Six
ABOUT THE BOOK

It takes a spy to know one. . .

As the newest member of the Hope Island Securities team, Boone Langston knows a spy just by looking into their eyes. And Ellie’s reflects awful things . . . just like his. He’d spent most of his military career as a Navy SEAL working for the CIA’s Special Operations Unit. And the past three years trying to forget everything what he’d saw.

When he accidentally runs into Ellie at the small Hope Island coffee shop, the look in her eyes, the constant scanning of the foot traffic in front of the shop, seems to hint Ellie is living the nightmare as well . . . until Ellie’s past catches up with her removing all doubt.


Don’t miss the next Hope Island Securities Series Installment!


MY THOUGHTS....

For seven years, Ayla Galante's life has been one of looking over her shoulder and running just to stay alive! What would it be like to have a permanent home and a name that she wasn't constantly changing?

Author Mary Alford never disappoints me! She kept me turning the pages of Covert Past to see if Ayla, now known as Ellie Jamison, would finally have a chance at a normal life: a life without danger, deceit, and dodging bullets! Could the Hope Island Securities team help Ellie find her safe place and an identity that she could keep?

If you're looking for a book that you can't put down, grab a copy of Covert Past. It has twists and turns, a heartwarming romance, and an inspiring thread of faith woven into its plot! I recommend it to all who enjoy romantic Christian suspense!

I received a digital ARC from the author. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


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. 

Learn more by visiting her Website    Facebook    Twitter     Instagram     Pinterest

HOPE ISLAND SECURITIES 
Forgotten Past
Deadly Past
Sins of the Past
Chasing the Past
Shrouded Past
Covert Past




View all my reviews

Thursday, November 7, 2024

My Way Home by Holly Heaton: On Tour with iReads Book Tours


ABOUT THE BOOK 

MY WAY HOME by Holly Heaton 

Category:  Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7),  32 pages

Content Rating:  G: The book follows Kit on a whirlwind of an adventure trying to reclaim a precious item and return it home all while facing external dangers.
Book Description:

Enter the hidden realm of the Little Folk and follow Kit on a thrilling adventure. Can he reclaim an object precious to his people and return home to the Hollow Chestnut? Using his wits and environment, Kit embarks on this miniature odyssey through a lushly illustrated world.

MY THOUGHTS.....

Kit is a wee little boy, no taller than a pine seedling, who begins a dangerous journey to find a magical crystal that was stolen by a fierce fox. He is determined to get it back but also a little afraid that he may never get home safely. Will Kit ever see all of the Little Folk again?

Enjoyable text and beautiful illustrations make this story come alive and Holly Heaton is credited as both author and illustrator. The publisher states that My Way Home is for children between the ages of three and seven but I believe that the word count makes it a better choice for independent readers. My Way Home is part fantasy, part adventure, and total fun, so why not read it together as a family?

I received a complimentary copy from the author via iRead Book Tours. There was no obligation for a positive review.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Whether through pictures, words, or her dad’s castoff camcorder, Holly has spent her life telling stories. She can usually be found chasing exciting bits of history and spending time with her husband, sons, and dog, Wesser, in metro Atlanta.

Follow Holly on     Instagram     Goodreads


CHATTING WITH HOLLY

  1. What prompted you to write a book about tiny people?

A change in perspective can make the everyday and mundane suddenly exotic and exciting!  Growing up, I adored stories about little folk.  That love of the miniature has held firm.


  1. Is it difficult to write from the point of view of your characters?

Not difficult, but challenging.  It’s a lot like acting.  There’s a thrilling liberty when you attempt to abandon your perspective and background and take on those of another.


  1. Which is harder: writing or illustrating?

For me, illustrating.  I wrote and drew prolifically when I was young, but for about 15 years I spent most of my artistic expression in needlework.  So, when I set myself to serious sketching again in 2023, I felt a bit out of my depth.  Once I get a piece going, I start to feel comfortable, but initially, there is massive intimidation by a blank page.


  1. Where do you find writing inspiration?

By wallowing in history and reveling in nature.  The first provides excellent fuel for the imagination, while the second is a nursery where you can allow your imagination to run wild.


  1. What sparked your interest in history?

As a kid, I was always drawn to other times and places, but Michael Mann’s film Last of the Mohicans and Karen Cushman’s book “Catherine, Called Birdy”—though different mediums and vastly different stories—brought the past vividly to life.  They did what I think all good portrayals of history or historical fiction accomplish: they make the foreign relatable.


  1. Will there be more stories about Kit?

Absolutely.  Right now I’m storyboarding a children’s book with a different subject, but there are plenty of adventures for Kit and the little folk in the future.



GIVEAWAY



MY WAY HOME by Holly Heaton Book Tour Giveaway