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Hope Island Securities #4
Chasing the Past
The past is the last place he wants to return.
Yet the past still haunts Hope Island Securities member Eli Warren every night. His last mission as an Army Green Beret will be forever branded on his heart. Most nights, he can still see her face. The woman who was more than his asset. She called herself Sashi. She’d provided critical Intel for his unit in Afghanistan until she was unknowingly compromised.
No one knew the terrorist his unit had been hunting discovered Sashi was working for the US until it was too late. Before Eli could save her, Sashi was forced inside a building. Seconds later, it exploded, and Eli’s world crumbled around him.
When Eli spots a woman on Hope Island, Maine that is the spitting image of Sashi, he can’t believe his eyes, or the woman’s reaction when he confronts her.
Badly injured, Asal Noor escaped the collapse of Afghanistan and was flown to Cairo, Egypt, where she remained in a coma for weeks. When she awoke, her fiancé was there at her side, and she had no memory of him or her past.
Traveling with her fiancé Omar to Hope Island, Asal meets a man who claims to recognize her by another name. Meeting Eli brings terrifying flashbacks of something dreadful that doesn’t align with what Omar told her about her life.
Can the former soldier who claims to love the person he believes she is help Asal fit the missing pieces of her past together before the terrorist who tried to silence her once returns to complete his deadly mission?
When you’re all out of options
When there’s no place else to turn
There’s hope.
Hope Island Securities Series Book
Forgotten Past – Available now!
Deadly Past – Available now!
Sins of The Past – Part of the Small Town Danger Collection Coming April 25, 2023.
Chasing The Past
Shrouded Past
Covert Past
Tangled Past
Stolen Past
Yet the past still haunts Hope Island Securities member Eli Warren every night. His last mission as an Army Green Beret will be forever branded on his heart. Most nights, he can still see her face. The woman who was more than his asset. She called herself Sashi. She’d provided critical Intel for his unit in Afghanistan until she was unknowingly compromised.
No one knew the terrorist his unit had been hunting discovered Sashi was working for the US until it was too late. Before Eli could save her, Sashi was forced inside a building. Seconds later, it exploded, and Eli’s world crumbled around him.
When Eli spots a woman on Hope Island, Maine that is the spitting image of Sashi, he can’t believe his eyes, or the woman’s reaction when he confronts her.
Badly injured, Asal Noor escaped the collapse of Afghanistan and was flown to Cairo, Egypt, where she remained in a coma for weeks. When she awoke, her fiancé was there at her side, and she had no memory of him or her past.
Traveling with her fiancé Omar to Hope Island, Asal meets a man who claims to recognize her by another name. Meeting Eli brings terrifying flashbacks of something dreadful that doesn’t align with what Omar told her about her life.
Can the former soldier who claims to love the person he believes she is help Asal fit the missing pieces of her past together before the terrorist who tried to silence her once returns to complete his deadly mission?
When you’re all out of options
When there’s no place else to turn
There’s hope.
Hope Island Securities Series Book
Forgotten Past – Available now!
Deadly Past – Available now!
Sins of The Past – Part of the Small Town Danger Collection Coming April 25, 2023.
Chasing The Past
Shrouded Past
Covert Past
Tangled Past
Stolen Past
- GenresMystery Thriller
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2023
About the author
Mary Alford
328 books1,320 followersMary Alford is a New York Times and 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 books have garnered several awards and nominations. Mary lives deep in the heart of Texas with her husband, two cats, and a dog. Discover more about Mary and her books at www.maryalford.net.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 29, 2025
Good potential, sad delivery - SPOILERS!
Okay, so this was the third book in this series that I read. I know, it's technically book four but book three didn't seem that interesting to me so I skipped it. The author does a great job of coming up with an intriguing story (singular because it feels like wash, rinse, and repeat now that I've read three of them) with a twist - however, she sadly doesn't write the story to it's full potential in my opinion. These books are really short, barely a novel, but she has a story that needs to be a novel in order to be fully developed.
There are details that she hints at or includes and then never touches again. It's frustrating to see the potential but not get a follow through. A perfect example was Rafiq - he's a bad guy who's plotting to take over the evil empire and the author says in a brief interlude from Rafiq's perspective that he has a female assistant who kills for him. Then he disappears, and as an afterthought is suddenly found dead in Gavin's trunk? What happened to his plans and people? What happened to his deadly female assistant? What about luring the Panther to a location and killing him so Rafiq can take over, like he planned? Decent build up but no delivery is frustrating.
Also, how in the heck did Tahir, a man assassined YEARS ago, have the dates and GPS coordinates to the attacks in the US? Also, how did Gavin fly to Langley (in the DC region BTW!) then suddenly appear on Hope Island, in MAINE? Look, the East Coast states are smaller than the western states, but they're not that small. And especially not in a nor'easter storm. Nope. Also, DNA lab results NEVER happen that fast. I get that the author wants things fast-paced for suspense but the miracles of instant lab results is annoying, sorry.
Also, I know that Maine has some pretty severe weather, but the crazy storms in every book, climaxing right as the killer is about to make his move? It worked for the first book, but the second and third it was too convenient. Please switch it up because it's too predictable now.
Okay, so this was the third book in this series that I read. I know, it's technically book four but book three didn't seem that interesting to me so I skipped it. The author does a great job of coming up with an intriguing story (singular because it feels like wash, rinse, and repeat now that I've read three of them) with a twist - however, she sadly doesn't write the story to it's full potential in my opinion. These books are really short, barely a novel, but she has a story that needs to be a novel in order to be fully developed.
There are details that she hints at or includes and then never touches again. It's frustrating to see the potential but not get a follow through. A perfect example was Rafiq - he's a bad guy who's plotting to take over the evil empire and the author says in a brief interlude from Rafiq's perspective that he has a female assistant who kills for him. Then he disappears, and as an afterthought is suddenly found dead in Gavin's trunk? What happened to his plans and people? What happened to his deadly female assistant? What about luring the Panther to a location and killing him so Rafiq can take over, like he planned? Decent build up but no delivery is frustrating.
Also, how in the heck did Tahir, a man assassined YEARS ago, have the dates and GPS coordinates to the attacks in the US? Also, how did Gavin fly to Langley (in the DC region BTW!) then suddenly appear on Hope Island, in MAINE? Look, the East Coast states are smaller than the western states, but they're not that small. And especially not in a nor'easter storm. Nope. Also, DNA lab results NEVER happen that fast. I get that the author wants things fast-paced for suspense but the miracles of instant lab results is annoying, sorry.
Also, I know that Maine has some pretty severe weather, but the crazy storms in every book, climaxing right as the killer is about to make his move? It worked for the first book, but the second and third it was too convenient. Please switch it up because it's too predictable now.
October 19, 2026
Okay, this book took me on a journey... from secret identities, dirty agents, a mystery that spanned countries and years and yet... two people divided by both stayed in love with each other through it all!
Sashi was Eli's asset but also a woman he fell in love with... until she was killed in an explosion right before his eyes. But when Eli spots a woman that looks identical to her things stop adding up. She is supposedly Sashis sister, engaged and has never heard of him. But the more time they spend around each other the more confusing it gets. Both are drawn to each other, but nothing adds up and certainly falling for Sashi's sister was not the plan. But when her life seems at risk Eli is determined to find out her true identity, find out who/why Sashi was killed and this time he refuses to let the woman he’s falling for die.
This was a tad bit confusing, it almost seemed at times too convoluted to make it all line up properly. By the end Mary found a way to tie it all together. I do question the timing of some of the events that happened especially when the memory returns at convenient times. But all in all, still a great story! The romance was super sweet, but it did feel like it was happening too soon in the story as well... given the memory loss/missing identity/trauma, etc. That said, still, a VERY good story!
On to the next one!
Sashi was Eli's asset but also a woman he fell in love with... until she was killed in an explosion right before his eyes. But when Eli spots a woman that looks identical to her things stop adding up. She is supposedly Sashis sister, engaged and has never heard of him. But the more time they spend around each other the more confusing it gets. Both are drawn to each other, but nothing adds up and certainly falling for Sashi's sister was not the plan. But when her life seems at risk Eli is determined to find out her true identity, find out who/why Sashi was killed and this time he refuses to let the woman he’s falling for die.
This was a tad bit confusing, it almost seemed at times too convoluted to make it all line up properly. By the end Mary found a way to tie it all together. I do question the timing of some of the events that happened especially when the memory returns at convenient times. But all in all, still a great story! The romance was super sweet, but it did feel like it was happening too soon in the story as well... given the memory loss/missing identity/trauma, etc. That said, still, a VERY good story!
On to the next one!
June 22, 2023
Oh that was so good! I really enjoyed it. The past still haunts former Green Beret member Eli Warren every night. The love of his life had been shoved into a building in Afganistan just before it blew up. And he can't forget her. Eli now works with friends at the Hope Island Securities team in Maine.
Asal Noor was in a dreadful accident that left a huge scar and caused her memory loss. A man name Omar claims to be her fiance and takes care of her. "Traveling with her fiancé Omar to Hope Island, Asal meets a man who claims to recognize her by another name."
What a page turning mystery, I read it in one day! I enjoyed every minute of the twists and unexpected turns of this story.
I highly recommend Chasing the Past by Mary Alford! Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
It is wonderful to know that this is part of a series, I can't wait to check into the rest of them!!
Asal Noor was in a dreadful accident that left a huge scar and caused her memory loss. A man name Omar claims to be her fiance and takes care of her. "Traveling with her fiancé Omar to Hope Island, Asal meets a man who claims to recognize her by another name."
What a page turning mystery, I read it in one day! I enjoyed every minute of the twists and unexpected turns of this story.
I highly recommend Chasing the Past by Mary Alford! Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
It is wonderful to know that this is part of a series, I can't wait to check into the rest of them!!
July 10, 2023
Forgotten Past is filled with excitement, mystery, romance, suspense, faith, and loyal friends and teammates. The main female character suffers from amnesia, and Eli suffers from guilt and a broken heart. Can they help each other? The plot has plenty of twists and turns that kept my interest level very high. Author Mary Alford has a writing style that's easy to read. The dialogue flows well. I plan to read more by this author and more in the Hope Island Security series. I recommend this to readers of clean and of Christian romantic suspense.
I got my copy through KU and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Deadly Past.
I got my copy through KU and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Deadly Past.
July 4, 2023
Chasing The Past ( Home Island Securities #4 )
Mary Alford
Chasing The Past is the fourth book in Home Island Securities series. Mary Alford does not disappoint. Suspense and fast-paced action keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. A man has a sad part in his past he can’t get over. He is protecting someone who reminds him of his past. Can he protect her? I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Mary Alford
Chasing The Past is the fourth book in Home Island Securities series. Mary Alford does not disappoint. Suspense and fast-paced action keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. A man has a sad part in his past he can’t get over. He is protecting someone who reminds him of his past. Can he protect her? I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 12, 2023
Wow. Just. Wow! My heart was rapidly beating, my mind was racing, in an attempt to discover the truth behind the lies, so many lies, so much intrigue, suspense…..this author really brings it home, gripping the very soul of the reader, involving him or her in the plot in such a way, you feel as if you are experiencing each scenario right along with the creatively portrayed characters!
June 12, 2023
Mary Alford makes reading suspense so enjoyable and does an excellent job of keeping you on the end of your seat! As a man confronts a sad part of his past, he is thrown in to protecting someone who had ties to that time in his life. Running from a dangerous man, terrible terrorist plot, and bad storm keeps them on their toes! Alford never disappoints!
July 19, 2023
Breathtaking!!
Chasing the Past is another incredible book in the Hope Island Securities series. I loved the main characters - laughed and cried with them - a very emotional read but a really really good one!
Thank you Mary for another wonderful book - looking forward to what comes next.
Chasing the Past is another incredible book in the Hope Island Securities series. I loved the main characters - laughed and cried with them - a very emotional read but a really really good one!
Thank you Mary for another wonderful book - looking forward to what comes next.
August 8, 2023
A Riviting Action Packed Story
A woman who can’t remember her past and a man who can’t forget the past. As they come together to solve the mystery of who she is and what is happening they work together to find out what is going on before the terrorists can carry out their plans. Mary Alford has woven a story that you won’t be able to put down until the end.
A woman who can’t remember her past and a man who can’t forget the past. As they come together to solve the mystery of who she is and what is happening they work together to find out what is going on before the terrorists can carry out their plans. Mary Alford has woven a story that you won’t be able to put down until the end.
December 24, 2023
Gave this series another try although, annoyingly, #3 isn't available for me to read. This one had a lot of content to cover and the end came too swiftly, with numerous inconsistencies/plot holes along the way as the second in the series had. Oh well. Her writing could be really addictive if it weren't for the plot hole road bumps!
June 28, 2023
quick read
This was a quick read that brings you in with a good plot twist that keeps you from being feeling like you’re reading the same clean romance novel again with just the names changed.
This was a quick read that brings you in with a good plot twist that keeps you from being feeling like you’re reading the same clean romance novel again with just the names changed.
October 17, 2023
A Very Compelling Book!!
This was a fast paced book that I read in one sitting. So many twists and turns that just when you thought you had it figured out then Bam it would move in another direction. So much suspense that it had my heart racing. The ending was shocking and great all at the same time. I can’t wait for the next one in this series to come out!!
This was a fast paced book that I read in one sitting. So many twists and turns that just when you thought you had it figured out then Bam it would move in another direction. So much suspense that it had my heart racing. The ending was shocking and great all at the same time. I can’t wait for the next one in this series to come out!!
November 28, 2023
I've been reading through this series. I think each book is so good until I get to the next one and I think it is better than the previous one. I am very much enjoying this series. Great Job, Ms. Alford.
June 20, 2023
A wonderful book of steadfast love with lots of action. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
June 20, 2023
Wow, a true edge of your seat thriller. Loved it!
July 26, 2023
Mary has a way of capturing your attention at beginning and holding through to the end. This one was even better.
January 27, 2024
What a great read! Loved the suspense!
February 9, 2024
wonderful book
I enjoyed the writing by this author. She kept my attention the whole time. I will be looking for another book by her
I enjoyed the writing by this author. She kept my attention the whole time. I will be looking for another book by her
November 22, 2024
Quick easy read
March 18, 2026
Easy to Read - Drew on Afghanistan War
Very interesting story about members of Americans who fought in Afghanistan War. Lovers who were separated and how they were reunited!
Very interesting story about members of Americans who fought in Afghanistan War. Lovers who were separated and how they were reunited!
March 18, 2026
This is a short book full of good guys, bad guys, and spies. It's a carefully woven entertaining story that has a happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews