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Friday, October 18, 2019

HALLOWED GROUND release and Giveaway! By Mary Alford



Hi everyone! I’m so excited to share with you my new release, HALLOWED GROUND, Book 1 in The Cost of Redemption series.

I’m giving away a print copy of HALLOWED GROUND to one winner (U.S. Only), or an eBook copy to those outside of the US. All you have to do is comment if you want to be entered in the drawing, and please leave your contact information.

When we’re little, we all have things we want to be when we grow up. Some we may accomplish. Others we simply let go.

As a child, I went through the normal career choices of my generation. I wanted to be a teacher, then I wanted to work in a large office, (I’m not sure what that was about!), followed by my desire to become a nurse. But when I was around seven years old, I decided I wanted to be a spy and go behind enemy lines to protect my country. It just kind of came to me out of the blue with no particular inspiration.

You can imagine the look on my mother’s face when I told her this. Thankfully, I later decided I wanted to be a writer. I’m sure my mother was relieved by that decision. But it was many years later before I finally realized I wasn’t equipped for the world of espionage.  


Though I didn’t become a spy, I still love living out my childhood fantasy in the books I write about them. There’s just something about serving your country by going behind enemy lines, and knowing that your next mission might be your last. The heart-pounding life and death decisions spies must make every single day they are undercover. Not to mention the possibility of having your cover blown at any minute. For a suspense author, this is a virtual treasure trove of ideas.

What about you? What was your childhood career choice? Did you accomplish it, or decide on something else?

Comment below for a chance to win!



HALLOWED GROUND is a spy story that starts with the death of CIA agent Erin Sandoval’s partner, and leads Erin and Agent Jax Murphy on a tangled journey through lies and misdirections as they seek to find out the truth behind their fallen partner’s death, and soon learn nothing is as it seems.

I hope as you read HALLOWED GROUND, you’ll come to enjoy the shadowy world of spies as much as I do.

Here’s the blurb:
After a terrorist attack claims the life of her best friend and partner, CIA Agent Erin Sandoval finds herself caught in a nightmare that won’t end.

When the killer’s trail suddenly turns ice-cold, Erin’s unit is deployed to Afghanistan to find the elusive terrorist the CIA believes responsible for taking Blake’s life. Yet from the start, the mission proves to be a setup.

As the only survivors of a bomb attack, Erin and Agent Jax Murphy must stay one step ahead of the unknown threat stalking them if they stand a chance at finding the real killer’s true identity. Yet cutting through the wealth of lies surrounding the mission proves nearly impossible while running for their lives, and the biggest threat to their survival might just prove to be their growing feelings for each other.

Can Erin and Jax escape the shadow world's deadly undertow and find their happiness together in the sun? Or will they be silenced forever by a threat that runs much deeper than anyone imagined?

Thanks so much for joining me here today. I hope you’ll stop by my website at MaryAlford.net and sign up for my newsletter to receive updates and behind the scenes exclusives.

What reviewers are saying about HALLOWED GROUND:

“Wonderfully written tale of adventure, suspense and never knowing who is the good guy. On the run in Afghanistan is only part of the problem as they are running from an unknown enemy who is closer than they know. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.”-Gina Johnson

“Another great book by Mary Alford that has you guessing until the end. The CIA has someone gone dirty in the team. But is it someone in the team or not? You will have to find out.”- Muriel Brumley

You can buy the book on Amazon.

Until next time, 

Blessings always!


Mary Alford 



59 comments:

  1. As a child I wanted to work anywhere that had a cash register. My sister and I had our grandma talked into buying one for Christmas until my parents put an end to it lol. I then wanted to be a teacher. Other than a couple of office jobs, I have pretty much been a stay at home mom. I raised 3 children and then had 2 more (4 & 6) and a granddaughter I stay home with now. With all the homework over the years and homeschooling, I pretty much pegged the teacher goal lol.
    nstotts@sbcglobal.net

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    1. I think you did, too, Nicole. What an amazing accomplishment.

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  2. I have always loved children so it was only naturally that I became a teacher.
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. That's a wonderful goal to have. Our teachers are a true blessing.

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  3. While I was growing up, my goal was to run an orphanage. Who knew that I would be working with special needs children and adopting my 2 cherished daughters?!
    Janice
    pjrcmooore@windstream.net

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    1. Aw, that's amazing, Janice. So happy for you and the blessing I sure your daughters are.

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  4. I always thought I wanted to be a computer programmer but I realized this wasn’t the job for me because if the computer was going to mess up it always did with me and I could never figure out how to fix it. I still have computer issues to this day. šŸ¤£ I’m actually in a job now that I love. Although most people don’t like to see me. šŸ˜ I’m a mammographer. I’m the one that does mammograms. I love my patients though.
    janeen dot bair at gmail dot com

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    1. A very important job, though, Janeen. Thank you for your effort in making a scary situation better.

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  5. I wanted to do secretarial work, which I did except for the years I stayed home with my children.
    lhanberry1 at gmail dot com

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    1. I did the same thing. Its my belief that the secretary really runs the office.

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  6. I remember as a teen I wanted to join the FBI. I thought it would be so exciting! But that never happened! I became an element school teacher!
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    faithdcreech at gmail dot com

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    1. I can imagine being an elementary school teacher can be just as challenging as an agent sometimes.

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  7. When I was a kid I wanted to be a teacher. As I got older I realized I’m not patient enough for that. Medical science was my thing so I became a certified medical coder.
    ktpoole at bellsouth dot net

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    1. That must be intense at times, Katie and challenging.

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  8. Oh, wow! this sounds so intriguing. I can't wait to read it and it's next on my TBR table or rather my Kindle!!

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  9. I forgot to say I wanted to be a cowboy. Although I've owned horses, I haven't become that cowboy yet.

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    1. You're close, Patricia. Coming from Texas, we live in the country and have owned horses, but I haven't ridden in years. Go figure.

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  10. I wanted to grow up/live on a horse ranch. I also wanted (and still do) to have a family.
    racheltirzah@gmail.com

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    1. I hope you get that family. And the horse ranch if its still part of your dreams.

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  11. I wanted to teach preschool or kindergarten. (I didn't finish school for it.) I did teach kindergarten for a year in a Christian school. I ended up working as a nurse in the local children's hospital.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Being a nurse to children must be incredibly rewarding and difficult. It takes a very special person to do that.

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  12. Forgot my contact info.
    duellonlysis(at)aol(dot)com

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  13. I wanted to be a veternarian as a teenager. Fortunately, science and biology was not my string suit plus I became allergic to animals as an adult.
    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com
    Perrianne Askew

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    1. Oh now, Perrianne. It's good that you didn't become a vet. It's funny how God works things for our benefit.

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  14. I always wanted to be a vet because of my love for animals. I ended up working over twenty years with a newspaper in the print department also delivering the newspaper too. Now I'm a stay at home Mama with a dog and way too many cats outside. šŸ˜‰ If it was up to my kids we would have a dozen cats. Can't wait to read your new book! jbtommiejo@gmail.com

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    1. Love cats, myself. We have two outside kitties are so much fun.

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  15. First grade I loved my teacher so that was my initial choice. Later I wanted to be a nurse and even started nursing school only to realize that wasn’t for me. I did work many years in the medical field in the secretarial aspect. Ironically my son is an RN working in mental health.
    I enjoy reading books that keep you guessing. Yours sounds right up my alley.
    tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. It's interesting the way things turn out in life. I believe God knew I would not be cut out to be a spy and he directed me in a different path, just like he did you, Gail.

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  17. I forgot to mention I will announce the winner one week from today, on October 25th!

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  18. Hi , your book sounds intriguing and like a very good page turner! I love the cover. When I was growing up I wanted to be a nurse. I did not become a nurse , instead I got a job in an office right after I graduated , later on I had different jobs, but I never did go back to college for a Nursing degree. Well, my daughter went to College and she became an RN, and she married her husband who is also an RN, I have been blessed with 2 nurses in my family. I was especially blessed because I got to be home to raise our 2 children while they were growing up and that makes me very happy that I was able to be home with them . Have a Great weekend. God Bless you.

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    1. Being able to stay home and raise your kids is the best job ever!

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  19. I wanted to be a nurse, it didn't happen though. I can handle blood and all that but I can't stand barf. Instead I became an office assistant and I love it!

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    1. That would be hard to handle, Amelia. Loving your job is an amazing thing.

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  20. something else
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  21. As a child I wanted to be a scientist. Haha
    Thank you so much for the chance. Blessings
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  22. I wanted to be a teacher. I worked as one for several years, until I quit to stay home with my kids. Now we homeschool and I teach them!

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  23. It was said that I wanted to be a nurse, and a missionary serving the Lord; lo, and behold, my husband and I are Christian missionaries in Deer Lodge, MT, where he is a pastor. And I am a CNA, ministering to people that way:) Thanks for the opportunity to enter a giveaway! Would love to win a print copy, especially this genre! God bless! Lual Krautter krautter12ATbresnanDOTnet

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  24. I wanted to become a police officer, but became a teacher
    Now I tutor young men (women) who need help with the ASVAB test. . I have 9 grandchildren...8 granddaughters, 1 grandson who is a Marine.

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  25. I don't remember what career I wanted. I became an executive assistant.

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  26. I wanted to be a teacher. Taught first grade one year, and decided it wasn't for me. It was more the parents than the kids :)

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  27. email: marcus802001(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  28. I wanted to be a nurse or teacher. I did get to be a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher.
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
    Maryann

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    1. Those are both great talents. I loved my Sunday School teachers growing up and Vacation Bible school was so much fun thanks to the teachers.

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  29. I can't wait to read this!
    When I was little my mom would take us to the library and remember thinking, I like to sit behind a desk and scan books. I do have an associates in library science and was giddy when I interned at an old town library that still uses scanner šŸ˜†. However my city libraries have the new tech stuff were you set the books on a pad and they scan. While I currently work at a lab i have this to fall upon. Even if it doesn't include scanning books for patrons.

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    1. There's just something about being in a library. All those books!

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  30. In 4th grade I wrote a report on wanting to be a scuba diver and/or a helicopter pilot. The student teacher told me I could NOT be either one, and said I had to re-write my report. I refused, and she told my Mother at the parent teacher conference about my refusal. Mom didn't make me re-write my report b/c she knew I loved the water & swimming--YES, I did become a SCUBA diver in 1970; it was later in life when I 1st rode in a helicopter & loved it--however, the price of owning a helicopter was a bit of a detriment to owning & flying a helicopter! Badawson16 at aol dot com

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    1. I can't believe the student teacher told you that you couldn't be a scuba diver or a helicopter pilot. Good for you for proving them wrong.

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  31. This sounds so good! I wanted to be a mom and have a wonderful marriage. And yes going on 42 years of marriage and 2 wonderful sons and 7 grandchildren . I am truly Blessed.
    Blessings
    Diana Lynn

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  32. When I was 7 I decided I wanted to be a nurse so I could help people and take care of them. I did become an RN and am now retired.
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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    1. That's amazing. Good for you, Linda. I'm sure it was very rewarding.

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  33. Amazing!! Thank you for the chance!!

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  34. And the winner is...Diana Montgomery! Diana, I've emailed you. Thank you all for joining me in celebrating the release of Hallowed Ground. It's been so much fun!

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