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Hey! Sorry to be sharing this so late in the day... Things ran a little late. Anyway, it's time to start the Christmas season... I love sharing books that are set around Christ's birthday and have a focus on the real reason for the season.
To start off with have an interview with Mandi Blake along with a review of her Rescued by the Hero which kicked off the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series back in 2020! First off though, here's the review!
About the book
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.
Visit Freedom, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters of the Heroes of Freedom Ridge in this Christian Christmas romance.
This one is for all of those Hallmark lovers.
Rescued by the Hero is a Hallmark movie in book form, but better!
This was my second, maybe even third, time reading Rescued by the Hero and I really enjoyed it.
It was light hearted, had a good plot line, and even a bit of suspense woven in with the sweet romance. There were some sad points… It deals with a past character’s death and a time of drifting away from faith but Mandi Blake wrote a wonderful novel of returning to your faith, a new start, and opened the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series with a lovely little town.
Warning: there is a slight plot line dealing with a stalker but it’s pretty clean and nothing truly violent.
*Read on Kindle Unlimited*
How has writing helped you grow in your walk with God? Has it shown you more about Him?
Yes, in so many ways! I pray over every book each time I sit down to write. My hope is that He will give me the words to write to bring glory to His name. With that request comes an expectation to write characters and situations that will reflect His word and purpose. I study scripture more, I pray more often, and I have been blessed to meet so many people who have become friends through the books. The whole journey has been a blessing.
Do you prefer writing a series or stand-alone, is it easier to write a series or a stand-alone, does one or the other make you more attached to characters?
I love writing series. I don’t believe it’s easier for me to write one more than the other, but series give me a chance to add more layers to each story. The building is both restricting and freeing. I know that seems like a contradiction, but it creates a fun challenge.
What is the most interesting thing you came across in researching your book?
That’s a good question. I don’t have a good answer for my latest book, Hope for the Hero, but I have one from my cowboy romances. One of my favorite bits of information actually came from my dad. Since I write a lot of cowboy romance, I ask him questions all the time about working with cattle. I grew up on a cattle farm, and the men in my family still raise cattle there. My dad mentioned that larger ranches sometimes use helicopters to herd cattle! Being from a smaller cattle farm, I would have never guessed helicopters could be used for herding.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
I love reading the story of the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve. Every year we sit down by the tree, and my husband reads from the book of Luke. It’s a wonderful reminder of the reason we celebrate.
What is your favorite flavor of coffee or tea when you are writing? And would you prefer to wrap up in a blanket or sit in front of a fireplace while reading?
I love drinking coffee with vanilla creamer while writing in the mornings. I get up early so I can have an hour to read my Bible, read my devotional, and sip my coffee before writing, and the peace has really changed my attitude. I’m happier, calmer, and not nearly as stressed as I have been in the past. I also love to wrap up in a blanket when I’m writing at my desk. If I get to write in the evenings, I love sipping on cinnamon tea!
When I’m reading, I like to be snuggled up in bed with my Kindle. It’s the perfect way to unwind at the end of the day.
What is your favorite Christmas treat to have while reading?
Peppermint bark! I love it so much, and I actually reward myself with treats while writing. If I hit my goal for the day or the writing session, I get a piece of peppermint bark.
What was your favorite thing about Christmas fiction?
As a writer, I love that I’m usually writing Christian books in the middle of summer. The Alabama summers are incredibly hot and humid, and I have to dig deep to recall the parts of the Christmas season I love most.
As a reader, I love the joy the Christmas season brings to the story.
Who or what inspired you to write this story?
I started planning Hope for the Hero over a year before I wrote it. I had written Guarded by the Hero featuring Heath and Claire. Tessa, the main character in Hope for the Hero, is Heath’s sister and Claire’s friend. She had such a huge personality that I worried she was taking over the book that wasn’t even about her! So her story was born, and I enjoyed every bit of the writing process.
Who is your favorite author of Christmas fiction?
Oh, I’d have to say my friend, Tara Grace Ericson. Her books in the Heroes of Freedom Ridge series have really captured my heart. They have just the right amount of suspense and action while keeping the true meaning of Christmas at the forefront of the story.
Be sure to enter the giveaway... It's a giveaway for both Seize the Night's release and for the 31-for-31 Christmas Book Reviews!
I hope you enjoyed this post, I really loved getting to see Mrs. Blake's answers and I hope you did as well.
Merry Christmas,
Abigail