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The Bride's Bodyguard
With his striking good looks, Ross Trevenan was one of the most attractive men Tessa Lorimer had ever seen. But five minutes in his company convinced her he was the most arrogant, infuriating man alive. That's why it was such a shock to discover Trevenan's true hired to escort her out of Paris and back to England, he had sworn that he'd do anything to keep her safe--even if he had to marry her to do it. Now, finding herself a bride to a devastatingly attractive bodyguard seems more hazardous than any other situation she could possibly encounter. Yet Tessa doesn't know that she holds the key to a mystery that Trevenan would sell his soul to solve...and that a vicious murderer will kill to keep.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Elizabeth Thornton
61 books160 followersMary Forrest George, née Baxter was born and educated in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she taught school for a number of years before establishing her own nursery school, St. Swithin Street Nursery School, an institution that is still going strong today.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
She and her husband then emigrated to Canada with their three young sons. She taught kindergarten and Grade One for a number of years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before becoming lay minister at a Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg.
As part of her continuing education, she enrolled in evening classes at the University of Winnipeg to study Classical Greek. Five years later, having completed an Honor's thesis on Women in Euripides, she received her B.A. (Classics Gold Medalist).
After reading her first romance, a Regency by Georgette Heyer, she was captivated by the genre. Hereafter, writing became her hobby. In 1987, her first book, a small Regency entitled, Bluestocking Bride, was published by Zebra books.
She is the author of twenty-four historical romances, and two novellas. She has been nominated for and received many awards including the Romantic Times Trophy Award for the best New Historical Regency Author and Best Historical Regency. Seven of her novels have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America Rita awards, Scarlet Angel, Strangers at Dawn, Princess Charming and The Perfect Princess, Shady Lady, The Marriage Trap, and The Bachelor Trap. Her books appear regularly on national best-selling lists and have been translated into many languages.
Elizabeth's hobbies include reading (particularly mystery and suspense novels, biography, and history), and traveling to do research for her novels. She is also an avid Harry Potter enthusiast.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 1, 2025
Read:1/25/25
Reread: 6/20/26
Setting: Regency England, France
Trope: MOC, kidnapping, guardian/ward, widower
3.5 stars
I didn't enjoy this book as much the 2nd time around. The story was still good but the flaws were more obvious
******** orginal review ****
What a horrible title, but a great, fun story!
4.5 stars
Reread: 6/20/26
Setting: Regency England, France
Trope: MOC, kidnapping, guardian/ward, widower
3.5 stars
I didn't enjoy this book as much the 2nd time around. The story was still good but the flaws were more obvious
******** orginal review ****
What a horrible title, but a great, fun story!
4.5 stars
August 23, 2021
An underrated gem! I saw a review stating that this book wasn't well-received when it came out. Could it be due to the super-cringey title? (Who came up with this sort of title anyway?).
Anyway, as all Ms. Thornton books that I've read, this was a page turner as well. It had a nice mystery thrown in together with the romance. Ms. Thornton had a great way of weaving the mystery without disclosing the villain earlier in the book. I couldn't guess the villain right until the unveiling. Oh, well. I'm not partial to sleuthing anyway.
The hero, Ross wasn't as high handed as Gareth from To Love An Earl but still super alpha. Don't expect a beta hero from Ms. Thornton. Tessa was childish and impetuous, but courageous. A bit TSTL but with good intentions. Ross had to act as part guardian towards her. The romance and mystery were both equally compelling.
Overall, another great read from Ms. Thornton!
Anyway, as all Ms. Thornton books that I've read, this was a page turner as well. It had a nice mystery thrown in together with the romance. Ms. Thornton had a great way of weaving the mystery without disclosing the villain earlier in the book. I couldn't guess the villain right until the unveiling. Oh, well. I'm not partial to sleuthing anyway.
The hero, Ross wasn't as high handed as Gareth from To Love An Earl but still super alpha. Don't expect a beta hero from Ms. Thornton. Tessa was childish and impetuous, but courageous. A bit TSTL but with good intentions. Ross had to act as part guardian towards her. The romance and mystery were both equally compelling.
Overall, another great read from Ms. Thornton!
dnf-too-early-to-mark-it-read
January 17, 2025First DNF of the year...
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October 13, 2025
Extremely enjoyable and kept me on my toes. I love a rebellious heroine. This is enemies-to-lovers done right. And as far as the murder mystery goes, I had narrowed it down to two suspects and was wrong! I was surprised up until the last minute about who the murderer was.
As others have said, super cringey title, and not at all representative of the storyline. I also feel like the last chapter was a bit of a let down… just boring at that point.
As others have said, super cringey title, and not at all representative of the storyline. I also feel like the last chapter was a bit of a let down… just boring at that point.
Did Not Finish
April 14, 2024When your trade-ins are worth more than you thought you end up getting... interesting novels at the used book store. This is not in my wheelhouse - old school romantic suspense - but I hung with it as long as I could. At 262 pages I feel like I did alright, considering.
The story isn't outright bad, but definitely of its time, with the heroine being referred to and treated as a '(mere) girl' while men determine the direction of her life for her. The romance is meh, and while the whodunit aspect is neat that was never going to keep me engaged in the first place. All of which means, I'm putting this down after a month plus of trying.
The story isn't outright bad, but definitely of its time, with the heroine being referred to and treated as a '(mere) girl' while men determine the direction of her life for her. The romance is meh, and while the whodunit aspect is neat that was never going to keep me engaged in the first place. All of which means, I'm putting this down after a month plus of trying.
March 29, 2016
Možno som už dlho nečítala knihu, kde sa hrdinovia najskôr nemôžu ani zniesť; on ju pokladá za rozmaznané decko, ona jeho za "kliatbu svojho života". Jej starý otec Alexandre Beaupré ho však uznáva a svoju drahú vnučku s ním vyšle do Anglicka ako jej poručníka a vie, čo čitateľ iba tuší - že tí dvaja sú si súdení a ostanú spolu ;-)
A možno som už zabudla na klasickú líniu dobrej romantickej knihy - dvaja hašteriví hrdinovia, intrigy, pomsta, láska, napätie, happyend.
Ale možno je tá kniha - napriek všetkým predchádzajúcim možno - jednoducho skvelá.
A možno som už zabudla na klasickú líniu dobrej romantickej knihy - dvaja hašteriví hrdinovia, intrigy, pomsta, láska, napätie, happyend.
Ale možno je tá kniha - napriek všetkým predchádzajúcim možno - jednoducho skvelá.
March 23, 2015
Romantisko trashu latviski lasīt ir tik jocīgi... ir frāzes, kuras nekad nevajadzētu tulkot.
Bet jāatzīst, kriminālais sižets mazliet atsvaidzināja banāli romantisko.
Bet jāatzīst, kriminālais sižets mazliet atsvaidzināja banāli romantisko.
October 2, 2019
Ross and Tessa's story. Ross held on to the belief that he could only love his dead first wife a little too long for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2025
Wanted to love this book so much. Fell in love with the plot but alas, the execution was not satisfying. There's no chemistry between the MCs.
August 19, 2012
Reading this book again brought back fond memories for me. This was my first Elizabeth Thornton book, and to this day I can recall the tempestuous relationship between Tessa and Ross very well.
Both H/H are forceful characters and have very strong traits of pride, stubbornness and loyalty towards family. It was also why Tessa felt so betrayed about being used as a bait for the murderer, even though she recognized that this is necessary to flush the criminal out. What really chafed was that she wasn’t given a choice to volunteer to be the bait, hence she felt left out. Her struggle to reconcile her love for Ross, and the insecurity of their marriage under the shadow of Ross’ ex-wife’s tragic death, is another point of conflict that was powerfully portrayed.
Ross ranks up there as one of my favourite Thornton heroes, together with Richard Maitland (The Perfect Princess) and Hugh Templar (Whisper His Name). He may be ruthless in his hunt for his late wife’s murderer, at first for vengeance but later as a desperate attempt to ensure that Tessa is safe, but when he capitulates to his intense feelings for Tessa, his surrender is total.
I enjoyed the gripping suspense that I eventually come to recognize as one of the hallmarks of Thornton’s works. That and her seemingly ordinary villains.
Read this again in 2007 and posted the review here.
Both H/H are forceful characters and have very strong traits of pride, stubbornness and loyalty towards family. It was also why Tessa felt so betrayed about being used as a bait for the murderer, even though she recognized that this is necessary to flush the criminal out. What really chafed was that she wasn’t given a choice to volunteer to be the bait, hence she felt left out. Her struggle to reconcile her love for Ross, and the insecurity of their marriage under the shadow of Ross’ ex-wife’s tragic death, is another point of conflict that was powerfully portrayed.
Ross ranks up there as one of my favourite Thornton heroes, together with Richard Maitland (The Perfect Princess) and Hugh Templar (Whisper His Name). He may be ruthless in his hunt for his late wife’s murderer, at first for vengeance but later as a desperate attempt to ensure that Tessa is safe, but when he capitulates to his intense feelings for Tessa, his surrender is total.
I enjoyed the gripping suspense that I eventually come to recognize as one of the hallmarks of Thornton’s works. That and her seemingly ordinary villains.
Read this again in 2007 and posted the review here.
March 18, 2013
I liked the mystery parts of this book better than the romance.
The basic plot behind the romance is a murder mystery, 4 girls go swimming one night one drowns supposedly accidentally but the girls have all died in 'accidents' that the parents do not accept.
Ross Trevanan is helping his friend investigate, one of the girls had been his wife. Tessa Lorimer was supposed to be a witness but she has blanked it from her mind and has no recollection of the event.
Fearing that Tessa is in danger her dying grandfather places Tessa in Ross's care and the romance follows from that.
I didn't see the chemistry between the pair really but then I didn't like Tessa very much so that's probably why.
She doesn't think things through, acts too impulsively and annoyed me by her constant aggravation, whatever Ross said she immediately accused him of lying and wouldn't trust him at all.
The villain of the piece is a little obvious or at least was to me as soon as he was introduced I knew he'd turn out the bad guy and I was right.
The ending is dramatic and fast paced but doesn't make up for the rest so it's another one for eBay
The basic plot behind the romance is a murder mystery, 4 girls go swimming one night one drowns supposedly accidentally but the girls have all died in 'accidents' that the parents do not accept.
Ross Trevanan is helping his friend investigate, one of the girls had been his wife. Tessa Lorimer was supposed to be a witness but she has blanked it from her mind and has no recollection of the event.
Fearing that Tessa is in danger her dying grandfather places Tessa in Ross's care and the romance follows from that.
I didn't see the chemistry between the pair really but then I didn't like Tessa very much so that's probably why.
She doesn't think things through, acts too impulsively and annoyed me by her constant aggravation, whatever Ross said she immediately accused him of lying and wouldn't trust him at all.
The villain of the piece is a little obvious or at least was to me as soon as he was introduced I knew he'd turn out the bad guy and I was right.
The ending is dramatic and fast paced but doesn't make up for the rest so it's another one for eBay
January 3, 2017
Tessa è una ragazza che io trovo insopportabile (quantomeno nella prima parte del libro) nonché bellissima. Vive in Francia con il nonno che la tratta come una piccola principessa sfortunata perché Lei ha un triste passato alle spalle.
Ross è un uomo bellissimo, ricchissimo e soprattutto biondissimo ed infatti, come potete vedere dalla foto, in copertina campeggia l’immagine di un uomo moro e per giunta di una bruttezza indecente. Anche lui ha una storia tristissima alle spalle e di lavoro fa “quello che si deve occupare di malavoglia della piccola, fastidiosa, viziata, bellissima Tessa.
Lei deve essere protetta perché un pazzo omicida la vuole far fuori.
Il resto è, come si suol dire, storia.
continua su
https://laleggivora.wordpress.com/201...
Ross è un uomo bellissimo, ricchissimo e soprattutto biondissimo ed infatti, come potete vedere dalla foto, in copertina campeggia l’immagine di un uomo moro e per giunta di una bruttezza indecente. Anche lui ha una storia tristissima alle spalle e di lavoro fa “quello che si deve occupare di malavoglia della piccola, fastidiosa, viziata, bellissima Tessa.
Lei deve essere protetta perché un pazzo omicida la vuole far fuori.
Il resto è, come si suol dire, storia.
continua su
https://laleggivora.wordpress.com/201...
February 22, 2020
On the whole I enjoyed this book quite a bit, although there were a few things which had me gnashing my teeth. My main issue, somewhat connected to another point, is how the heroine is consistently treated as a child or at any rate someone incapable of comprehending that the situation is serious. This is related to the age difference between the two main characters, which would not be an issue if the hero were not so condescending and dismissive. The heroine does occasionally live up to the expectations, which is annoying as well. This being said, if the others had only put Tessa in the picture she would not have made some of the mistakes she did. I was able to get beyond those annoyances, but I much prefer heroines who do not behave like little girls, and are treated with respect and seen as equals.
July 6, 2018
Lu et relu. Le héros est parfois un peu trop paternaliste avec Tessa. Heureusement elle ne se laisse pas faire. L'intrigue policière est intéressante et les personnages secondaires me plaisent beaucoup.
March 10, 2025
Bello. Raramente lo dico di romance contemporanei, ma devo ammettere che questo libro mi ha catturata fin dalla prima pagina.
Elizabeth Thornton (1940-2010) era di Aberdeen ed ha vissuto in Scozia fino al 1969, quando si è trasferita a Winnipeg, Canada, assieme al marito e ai suoi tre giovani figli. Ecco, il fatto che sia britannica e che lì abbia vissuto tutta la sua giovinezza (ivi inclusa, quindi, l’età scolare – anzi, ad essere precisi la Thornton fu anche insegnante di elementari ed ottenne una laurea in Lettere antiche con una tesi su 'Le donne in Euripide'), influisce molto positivamente sulla sua scrittura, perché sapeva bene quello di cui parlava (troppo spesso autrici americane buttano giù romance ambientati in Inghilterra o in Scozia senza conoscere lo stile di vita dell’epoca, la moda, le tradizioni, etc.).
Sul suo sito la Thornton racconta di aver deciso di provare a scrivere un romanzo regency dopo essersi innamorata di Georgette Heyer, e forse in qualcosa questo romanzo la richiama: la Heyer (che io adoro) scriveva spesso romanzi con un pizzico di giallo (tra tutti, 'Talismano d’amore' ripubblicato recentemente da Astoria come 'L’anello').
Tuttavia la Thornton ha anche una forte personalità e il suo romanzo è alquanto originale e trascinante. Il mistero che si nasconde dietro alla morte della prima moglie di Trevenan e i richiami ad un antico lago conosciuto in una scuola lontana nel tempo delineano i dettagli poco a poco, come un sogno che si cerca di catturare al mattino. Le carte sono mescolate con grazia, alternando tensione a dialoghi pungenti, ricordi a sottili venature di invidia e malizia.
I personaggi sono abbastanza ben delineati, con particolare attenzione anche a ruoli secondari (in special modo Sally Turner, amica – ma realmente lo è? – di Tessa). La descrizione dei luoghi è incantevole, soprattutto della villa in Francia del nonno di Tessa (ma quanto è bello il giardino con il gazebo?) e dell’istituto per signorine dove Tessa forse un tempo ha visto qualcosa, anche se…
La scrittura scivola via veloce, e si avrebbe voglia che il mistero non si dipanasse troppo in fretta per restare in compagnia dei vari protagonisti.
Per leggere la recensione completa visita il mio blog: https://dilettanicastro.blogspot.com/...
Elizabeth Thornton (1940-2010) era di Aberdeen ed ha vissuto in Scozia fino al 1969, quando si è trasferita a Winnipeg, Canada, assieme al marito e ai suoi tre giovani figli. Ecco, il fatto che sia britannica e che lì abbia vissuto tutta la sua giovinezza (ivi inclusa, quindi, l’età scolare – anzi, ad essere precisi la Thornton fu anche insegnante di elementari ed ottenne una laurea in Lettere antiche con una tesi su 'Le donne in Euripide'), influisce molto positivamente sulla sua scrittura, perché sapeva bene quello di cui parlava (troppo spesso autrici americane buttano giù romance ambientati in Inghilterra o in Scozia senza conoscere lo stile di vita dell’epoca, la moda, le tradizioni, etc.).
Sul suo sito la Thornton racconta di aver deciso di provare a scrivere un romanzo regency dopo essersi innamorata di Georgette Heyer, e forse in qualcosa questo romanzo la richiama: la Heyer (che io adoro) scriveva spesso romanzi con un pizzico di giallo (tra tutti, 'Talismano d’amore' ripubblicato recentemente da Astoria come 'L’anello').
Tuttavia la Thornton ha anche una forte personalità e il suo romanzo è alquanto originale e trascinante. Il mistero che si nasconde dietro alla morte della prima moglie di Trevenan e i richiami ad un antico lago conosciuto in una scuola lontana nel tempo delineano i dettagli poco a poco, come un sogno che si cerca di catturare al mattino. Le carte sono mescolate con grazia, alternando tensione a dialoghi pungenti, ricordi a sottili venature di invidia e malizia.
I personaggi sono abbastanza ben delineati, con particolare attenzione anche a ruoli secondari (in special modo Sally Turner, amica – ma realmente lo è? – di Tessa). La descrizione dei luoghi è incantevole, soprattutto della villa in Francia del nonno di Tessa (ma quanto è bello il giardino con il gazebo?) e dell’istituto per signorine dove Tessa forse un tempo ha visto qualcosa, anche se…
La scrittura scivola via veloce, e si avrebbe voglia che il mistero non si dipanasse troppo in fretta per restare in compagnia dei vari protagonisti.
Per leggere la recensione completa visita il mio blog: https://dilettanicastro.blogspot.com/...
October 2, 2025
This was okay, but he traumatized her and used her as a pawn to flush out his first wife’s murderer. Their whole relationship felt like a lie. He and all his friends used her, and then he just expected her to get over it. She didn’t find out they had all lied to her until about 92% into the book, and he admitted he would do it all again because it worked to catch the killer. I mean, yes, the killer was after her too, but that was only because he and his friends went to France to manipulate her into giving them information. Then he brought her back to England, which put her on the killer’s radar. He basically lied to her the entire book about his motivations. I just felt like it was all for Cassie, and Tessa was a consolation prize. I really like this author’s books, but her heroes are characters I don’t like most of the time, and they never really develop into more likable ones.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2026
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I can’t get enough! I love her stories. I can’t want for her next book. I’m so glad I found her because I needed another great author after reading all of Joanna Lindsey, Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood, Lisa Kleypas, and Marsha Canham. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 30, 2023
I don’t read romances. But I really enjoyed this light romp with a serial killer and a wayward high-spirited young lady.
October 24, 2022
I thought this was my all time favorite book! The barn scene is still one of my favorites! Yet rereading it years later I was so disappointed! Tessa frustrated me so much!
I can see why I loved it. It has all of my favorite tropes in it. (enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one room at the inn, marriage of convenience, memory loss). Only by now I’ve read so many better books with the same tropes. This is why I am such a huge Dramione fan lately I guess. Manacled is so much darker, but for the adult me it has way more depth with similar (not all) tropes. I guess an adult version of me likes darker stuff. Way darker.
It felt like eating cotton candy when I prefer super dark chocolate.
I can see why I loved it. It has all of my favorite tropes in it. (enemies to lovers, forced proximity, one room at the inn, marriage of convenience, memory loss). Only by now I’ve read so many better books with the same tropes. This is why I am such a huge Dramione fan lately I guess. Manacled is so much darker, but for the adult me it has way more depth with similar (not all) tropes. I guess an adult version of me likes darker stuff. Way darker.
It felt like eating cotton candy when I prefer super dark chocolate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2010
Four stars are only for male protagonist.
I read this book a considerable number of times just for him!! Really!!
Very very strong and beautiful man. I like it so much.
He knows what he wants, knows how to get it that wants to know how things go. Apparent calm, fire and ice!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
I adore the granfather's Tess, too. He aunderstand all in 4 minutes!!! Great old man!!
I read this book a considerable number of times just for him!! Really!!
Very very strong and beautiful man. I like it so much.
He knows what he wants, knows how to get it that wants to know how things go. Apparent calm, fire and ice!
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
I adore the granfather's Tess, too. He aunderstand all in 4 minutes!!! Great old man!!
December 12, 2012
I absolutely loved this book. It grabbed my attention from the beginning. It is a love story that is formed around a mystery that everyone is trying to solve. I thought the characters were well developed. I rarely read a book twice but this is one that i had to read again because I enjoyed it so much. I highly recommend it.
May 1, 2015
Don't remember very much about this book other than I did not like the heroine. She seemed very immature and she would not trust her protector.
What I liked about this author is the suspense and action in her stories. Ms. Thornton was the author who introduced me to historical romance suspense.
The dialogue is witty, with backstory and good action scenes. Never any brooding heroes.
What I liked about this author is the suspense and action in her stories. Ms. Thornton was the author who introduced me to historical romance suspense.
The dialogue is witty, with backstory and good action scenes. Never any brooding heroes.
Did Not Finish
June 25, 2007the hero and heroine were driving me nuts, so I quit. no sense in reading a love story between people I don't like if that's all there is to the book.
June 7, 2009
i didn't realize but i have already read this book! i read the first chapter and remembered everything!
September 14, 2009
Have re-read. The mystery is better than the romance.
Read
March 28, 2016I am annoyed by the heroine just by reading a few reviews. No to a woman who is contrary just because.
September 9, 2016
h was prideful and sassy which was fun to read but she was too immature for the H. did not see what he saw in her besides lust. he was too good for her
January 22, 2014
fun and romantic
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews