Customer Reviews

The Bride's Bodyguard

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tessa must leave her grandfather and France, and return to England. She leaves with her grandfather's secretary, Ross. They have had an adversarial relationship. She is spoiled, and willful. He is strong and bossy; and, he has secrets. Their relationship, will lead to a marriage of convenience. Their marriage of convenience leads to a tempestuous romance.

The Bride's Bodyguard starts with a murder, in the very first chapter. You immediately know, that you're reading a special historical. It is one that has a mystery, a slow-developing love story, and quite a few supporting players. Each player is well defined. Each, has a role in the mystery, as well as in the romance.

Tessa and Ross are beguiling leads. Tessa is both childish and mature, while being a strong heroine. Ross is the enigmatic, tortured (with good reason) hero. Their love scenes together, are sexy, and wonderfully written.

This is a complete read, for me. It is a book, that has all the ingredients I need, in a romance. It has a great plot, strong leads, a good supporting cast,and sexy love scenes.

I loved the book and enjoyed it very much. I also loved the characters
The only thing that frustrated me was that I have just finish to read 300 pages in which Ross lied to Tessa, deceived and cheated her, and in general treated her like a stupid, untrustworthy little girl. The amazing thing was that it took her less then 5 pages to forgive him. Come on !! Get real !!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book about a spirited young woman (Tessa) in Napoleon-era France (then England) and her interesting and often stormy relationship with a man who is appointed to maintain her safety. I enjoyed how they marry for convenience and safety and their love develops later. The mystery in the background of the story, which provides the tension and keeps Tessa in danger, was interesting, and a different twist for a romance. It wasn't clear to me if this book was part of a series or an independent title, but it stood well on its own. I will definitely be looking for more by this author. She has a good touch with characters and with keeping things unique, interesting, and believable.

Tessa Lorimer was spoiled rotten by her long sought after French grandfather that she had finally discovered after escaping from her guardians in England. She had always been a handful and had been requested to leave from more private schools than you could count. But one thing she knew, since finding her way to France, her grandfather loved and doted on her - every one did, with her beautiful looks, her love of life and laughter - life was good. Well, that was until Ross Trevenan, gloriously handsome, arrogant and infuriatingly self-righteous, had come to be her grandfathers secretary and confidante. Within minutes they had both taken an instant dislike to one another.

Set during the upheavals of Napoleons reign, her grandfather was in failing health and believing that she would be safer in England, he and his old friend Ross, actually the Marquis of Sayle, were set upon smuggling her back into England for her own safety. That of course was just one of the reasons, but the other was that Ross, feared for her safety and the knowledge that she held the key to why several young women had been murdered, including Ross' wife Cassie.

An elaborate scheme had been set in motion for her protection and without her knowledge to spirit her back to England - only Tessa, independent and stubborn, was not about to go anywhere with this arrogant, infuriating man. After a few attempts to escape Ross, he finally did get her to England where she learned the truth of who he was! Ross had given Tessa's grandfather his word of honor that he would protect her - even if it meant marrying her!

The story is an edge-of-the seat fast moving romance and mystery that is difficult to put down. The sexual tension is real just enough to give you a taste, but not overly explicit. Throw in numerous well drawn out secondary characters, including a very vindictive ex-mistress of Ross', a mysterious drowning, and the tense cat and mouse mystery of who is murdering young ladies, and you are in for a real treat. Very good story.

I compare every book that I read to books from best selling author Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. This one not only compares well, it competes and holds its own! Beautifully written with a twisting, surprising and suspenseful plot. This story has depth...the characters are well developed and three dimensional. I particularly was impressed and touched by the way Ross's relationship to his late wife, Cassie, is honored and respected even though he is drawn to Tessa. His love for Tessa is not diminished by his love for Cassie, rather it is enhanced by it. We understand how Ross's first relationship made him the way he is today and why he reacts the way he does in romantic situations. We also follow Tessa's development and can feel her humiliation and embarrassment at the beginning of the novel as she goes through an awkward growing up period in her life. We can empathize as we look back on our own lives at that stage. And as Ross and Tessa's lives become inextricably linked, we grow with them as their relationship changes. True character development here!!! I truely loved this book and look forward to re-reading it many times in the future.

A wonderful book by a great author. I was intrigued from the beginning since the opening chapter was described vividly by a mysterious murder. The hero, Ross Trevenan is a bodyguard to Tessa Lorimer. He and Tessa couldn't even stand each other presence. Tessa considered Ross as man who always keep knowing her affairs and Ross regard Tessa as spoilt and childish. Tessa's grandfather passed away, and in no time, Tessa was suddenly under the care of Ross. Tessa was stalked by a murderer and only she holds the key to the unsolved mystery. As Ross feel that he should protect her, they dealed with a marriage of convenience to ensure Tessa is safe. Ross also hide a dark secret from her, that because of a brutal murder, his life was meaningless. Tessa eventually helped him to search for the killer but Ross still could not tell her about his secret as he feel it will affect their relationship. At the end, Ross did realise about his love on Tessa.

This book is not as intriguing as 'You Only Love Twice', but if you would like to give a try on Elizabeth Thornton's book, this book will be a good choice. It was suspenseful and darkly woven.

I bought this book based on all the 4 and 5 star reviews.
I was very disappointed with the story or Ross and Tessa. In fact I started this book several months ago and just couldn't get past how much of a jerk Ross. I was bored this weekend and I had nothing to read and decided to give this book another try. I still could not finish it. I made it through about 100 pages but the interaction between Ross and Tessa just didn't work for me. Ross was overbearing and cruel and he justified his behavior because it was for her safety and he had her grandfathers approval. Tessa was young but she had the right to know that she was in danger. Instead Tessa was treated like a simple minded child.

I prefer romance novels where the heroines are not teenagers and the heros are not jerks. Arrogance in a hero of a romance novel is expected but Ross was just to much for me. If you like romance mixed with a mystery try Amanda Quick's Mistress.

The Bride's Bodyguard by Elizabeth Thornton is a fantansic writer. In this novel a group of women have been murdered because they witnessed a drowning when they were young. Tessa is the last of witnesses living happily in france with Grandfather until Ross Trevenan changes everything. If you enjoy this genre, I would also check out The Lady Lies, The Lady Killer and The Lady's Code by Samantha Saxon

As I said I found the story slow at first but then wow. The heroine, in my opinion, was a bit silly. I suppose she had to be that way so that there was a reason that the hero (and all of his friends) didn't let her in on the murder and mystery puzzle. The hero stuborn. The suspense perfect, it really built up towards the end of the book. I do recommend reading the book if you like suspense and romance.

I liked this story about a mystery that had happened long ago. It was interesting to see the hero and heroine get together in this story. Both are strong characters that over time have had to overcome a lot. Tessa has been sent from person to person until she escapes to her Grandfathers home, while Ross has lived with the torment of the death of his wife whom Tessa might hold the key to the killer. I liked how the characters were human etc... In this one they basically use Tessa as bait, when she would have gladly done it herself... See how this turns out...