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Review: Guarded by the Hero - Heroes of Freedom Ridge #7

Guarded by the Hero book cover on blue background

It's been a while since I've continued with the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series, so with Christmas around the corner, it made sense to get back into it. Guarded by the Hero is the seventh book in this series, and is the second book by Mandi Blake.

Book Synopsis

His job is to protect her, not to fall in love with her.

Heath Mitchell learned his security skills during his time in the US Marine Corps. After spending his first few years in the civilian world as the head of security for the Freedom Ridge Resort, he’s ready to branch out and help form a security firm. Things are just getting off the ground when he meets his sister’s friend. When a hit and run breaks into their meeting, she becomes his first client instead of his girlfriend.

Claire Odom has grown accustomed to a quiet life in the small town of Freedom. The perils of her past seem long gone until they resurface when she meets Heath. Determined to protect her, he becomes her full-time bodyguard. His good looks and the security he brings make it hard for her to remember he's only there because she hired him.

Heath and Claire grow closer as they fight to outrun their unknown enemies. Loyalties are broken, and unlikely alliances are formed as the quiet town of Freedom bands together to protect their friends this Christmas season. But is their new found love just a reaction to the fear or was it always meant to be?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

It was really nice to return to a Mandi Blake book, and to have that element of suspense while learning more about Heath and Claire's story. I thought that the author did a great job of conveying Claire's past and her present circumstances in a sensitive manner. It was understandable why Claire acted the way she did, and I thought that Mandi dove into a dark topic with both grace and hope offered. Heath was such a patient man, and I appreciated how well he took care of Claire. He definitely lived up to the name of the book by keeping an eye out for any security risks. I also loved how they brought out the best in each other throughout the book.

It's always interesting reading American books about former or current military members. I learnt what the name of Heath's security company meant and got a glimpse into information on firearms. I liked that even though this world is mostly foreign to me, the book was also educational in that regard. It also introduced me to different ways that artists can be inspired and how they capture art. The scenarios felt believable, and the characters were endearing. Guarded by the Hero was well balanced between action and character growth, and I look forward to Mandi's next installment in the series.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📱
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍

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