It seems fitting that this book popped up during my summer of Christmas reading. Ironically, I started this series and did not clue in that it was all Christmas-themed until after I began reading and wondered why so many titles had to do with Christmas 😄 I was a little slow on the uptake, but now I get to prolong the season even further!
This series is called the Heroes of Freedom Ridge, which I first heard about from one of my favourite authors, Liwen Y. Ho. I'm only a few titles in but I'll see how far I can get with all 18 books (!).
I finished the first book, Rescued by the Hero by Mandi Blake, and it was a wonderful introduction to this world and cast of characters based in Freedom, Colorado. One of the benefits of reading a long series is that I will get to revisit this setting time and again. If the remaining books are anything like the series opener, I will be in for a great ride this year. Overall, I would recommend the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series based on how many authors are involved in it, the messages of faith I have come across, and of course, the mountain setting.
Book Synopsis
The hardest part about this fake relationship is hiding it from her brother. Especially when it doesn't feel fake.
Joanna Drake can’t wait to escape to Freedom Ridge for the holidays. She needs to put hundreds of miles between her and her creepy coworker who won’t seem to take no for an answer. When she runs into her brother’s best friend at the ski resort, every relationship gets complicated.
Aiden Clark is shocked to find out that his best friend brought his little sister along on vacation, especially when he finds himself interested in getting to know her. When she asks him to play along as her boyfriend to ward off an unwanted pursuer, he wholeheartedly agrees despite his friend’s warnings to stay away from her.
Between hiding their fake relationship from her brother and flaunting it in front of her pursuer, Aiden and Joanna find themselves wishing the relationship was as real as it seems under the mistletoe. When their ruse is exposed and Joanna is in danger, Aiden will have to put it all on the line to bring her home.
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
In this book, Mandi was able to capture the Hallmark Christmas vibes while introducing some suspense, which made for a captivating read. Joanna and Aiden's story was heartwarming while set amidst a very real concern and danger that women can face. This story was perfectly balanced between frightening situations and the developing love story, propelling me through the pages in short order.
The staff at Freedom Ridge Resort came across as caring and competent professionals, which makes me excited to find out how many of them will have their own stories. The only unlikable person was a particular sibling, but even then, I had to bite my tongue in case they might be the main character of a future book. While I was grateful that this character experienced some self-realization, it felt like they could have done more considering all the danger they introduced. Other than that minor detail, the rest of the book was faith-filled and adventure-packed. This brother's best friend story with some fake dating helps set the stage for what's next in the series!
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📱
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
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