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BlackThorpe Security #1

Guarding Her Heart

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GUARDING HER HEART is book one of the Christian romance series, BLACKTHORPE SECURITY by Kimberly Rae Jordan. Follow the lives of the men and women working for BlackThorpe Security as they face the challenges of life, faith and love.

The BlackThorpe Security series is a spin-off from the Christian romance series, The McKinleys. If you haven’t read those yet, check out book one - THIS TIME WITH LOVE - and meet some of the characters who will continue to appear in the BlackThorpe Security series.

Lindsay Hamilton has watched as people around her have fallen in love and gotten married. She knows she needs a change in her life, but she also knows it doesn’t involve romance or love, let alone marriage. When their church announces a two-week mission’s trip to the Philippines, Lindsay feels that this may be the change she needs. Plus, it will give her the opportunity to see the world beyond the one she’s lived in her whole life. The only problem is her mother. Having almost lost one child, Lindsay’s mother is distraught at the thought of her only daughter trekking halfway around the world by herself. In order to give her mother peace of mind, Lindsay agrees to allow a bodyguard to accompany her.

Than Miller is the consummate ladies’ man. He loves to spend time with them and to make them feel good about themselves. Unfortunately, that very approach to life has made the one woman he’s most interested in hold him at arm’s length. When her older brother comes to BlackThorpe Security to hire a bodyguard for a trip she’s taking, Than quickly agrees. Surely he’ll have the opportunity to convince Lindsay to change her opinion of him during their trip together.

Though Lindsay has accepted Than’s role as her bodyguard, she’s the one in charge of guarding her heart. And guard it she will. But when disaster strikes and she finds herself completely out of her element, Lindsay has to face her own vulnerabilities. As her faith in God deepens, will she be able to let down her guard enough to let Than in?

Usually, Than has no trouble keeping his emotions detached from his job, but this time around he’s finding it more and more difficult. And it’s not just because he’s responsible for Lindsay. In the midst of disaster, he comes face to face with a faith he’s never experienced before. Will he give his heart to God even as he waits for Lindsay to give hers to him?

Or will the experiences Than and Lindsay shared on the trip be just a memory when they get back home?

Stayed tuned for the next book in the BlackThorpe Security series due out the end of June 2015.

If you enjoy heartwarming Christian romance with a focus on love, faith and family, be sure to check out these other books and series by Kimberly Rae Jordan.

Other series by Kimberly Rae Jordan:

The McKinleys
Home to Collingsworth
Those Karlsson Boys

Other books by Kimberly Rae Jordan:

Faith, Hope & Love
Marrying Kate

245 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 19, 2015

655 people are currently reading
198 people want to read

About the author

Kimberly Rae Jordan

84 books481 followers

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5 stars
636 (62%)
4 stars
284 (27%)
3 stars
72 (7%)
2 stars
23 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Profile Image for B. D. Mann.
664 reviews21 followers
April 12, 2018
Contrary to custom let me begin with the negative first and end on a high note. This observation applies mostly to the dozen previous books I have read by Ms. Jordan and only to a lesser degree to this offering. Ms. Jordan needs a new group of proofreaders! To a greater or lesser degree, every one of the books I have read was plagued with grammar errors, typos, dropped words, or other errors good proofreaders should identify before publication. Ms. Jordan’s writing talent is exceptional and should not be diminished by failure to complete this final polishing process. This book, however, had relatively few such errors.

That said, I must agree with the vast majority of reviewers that this offering is a fabulous story in the best tradition of clean Christian oriented romance. The tale of Than and Lindsay is not casual in describing the changes that take place in a person’s life when they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and make Him a part of their life. Ms. Jordan did an outstanding job of getting this message across without being preachy.

I loved that high moral standards were on display from beginning to end. Two quotes stood out for me. The first was a statement by Barb as she counseled Lindsay about the chemistry between two people. She said, “Physical attraction can be a good thing, but it’s only one part of a relationship because if it’s based only on that, it can burn out.” The other was when Than explained the symbolism of the stones in the engagement ring he offered Lindsay. He said, “The large stone represents God, and the smaller stones on either side represent you and me because I know now that it’s the only way to be in this relationship with you.” [Note: This quote has been adjusted to correct for punctuation errors.] These two profound statements typified the overall message of this book.

I have read thirteen books by this talented author and rate this as the best so far. I look forward to all that follow.
118 reviews3 followers
May 26, 2015
I don't know where Kimberly Rae Jordan keeps getting these fantabulous stories, but she should be an emotional wreck... I know I am when I get through reading them. (only in a good way). Than and Lindsey's story was thought provoking and pulled you right in (especially if you're read any of the other books, but not a requirement to sense the undercurrents) to every nuance, emotion, and thought they had concerning each other. Watching their story unfold and seeing them gain a deeper understanding of each other and themselves at the same time was inspiring to say the least. I am a great fan of anything this author writes, but in all honesty, her work keeps getting better and better. I can hardly stand it!
Profile Image for Sarah.
575 reviews8 followers
February 4, 2021
One of my All-Time Favorite series!

Than and Lindsey make a beautiful start to this amazing series. I love how Kimberly Rae Jordan’s series interconnect. I enjoy getting to know all of the characters, watching them grow in, or discover, their faith, and, of course, fall in love!
62 reviews
May 22, 2015
This story was packed with just the right amount of romance, drama and good endings.

I have truly enjoyed each story Kimberly has written but this one was special. We met Than and Lindsay in the story where Lucas fell in love with the woman his brother had gotten pregnant, left and then was supposedly killed. Than found him and brought him home only Lincoln had amnesia. Than was intrigued and asked Lindsay for a date but never got a second one. Lucas hired him to protect Lindsay on a mission trip and both of them grew in ways neither could have expected. A very good read and better understanding about mission trips and what happens to those who go on them.
Profile Image for Dianne Sidebottom.
1,433 reviews15 followers
October 12, 2015
I had a look back in previous books to remember characters that were in this book n know they are going to continue on which I like as a bonus when reading. Lindsay n Than know each other from family/business gatherings. God inspired her to go on a mission trip (as prayers had been asked my family for conversions n relationships) these two found out that prayers were being answered. God worked out a plan n circumstances came together. (this is good n see that it is the same for real as written here in a fiction story)Who is praying for you?
Profile Image for Chase.
130 reviews2 followers
May 21, 2015
A powerful story about Faith and love

In this book you will find raw emotions. Passion and fear of being hurt.Longing and uncertainty and amidst the turmoil a man comes to know the love of God while finding his soulmate
Profile Image for Ugochi Akwiwu.
330 reviews6 followers
June 4, 2016
Amazing tale of how God uses the most unexpected situations to draw us closer to him.
Profile Image for Mark Reeder.
76 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2022
Take Brooke McKinley's (pre-Lucas) disdain for men, add Heather King's wealth (minus Heather's willingness to spend it on others), and throw in a dash of nominal Christian faith. Congratulations, I introduce to you Lindsay Hamilton.

But after seeing Lucas find marital happiness with Brooke, and the near loss of Lincoln (as told in the story Forever My Love), Lindsay wonders if perhaps she needs to make some changes in her own life. So to everyone's surprise (including her own), she decides to join her church's upcoming mission trip to the Philippines.

There is, however a problem: mom. After nearly losing Lincoln she insists her only daughter must have a bodyguard. Lucas thinks he has the perfect person in mind: Nathaniel (Than) Miller (even more so after learning that Than is half-Filipino). Than (the consummate "ladies man" and "serial dater") and Lindsay dated one time, a total disaster. So, the only thing Lucas needs to concern himself with is that Lindsay doesn't send Than home in a body bag and that she can survive two weeks in a third-world country, right?

Can the pampered princess survive the crushing hordes of Manila, poverty surrounding her everywhere she looks, and an early season super typhoon (not to mention endless hours in economy class and actually watching a home birth)? Will the simple act of burping a baby, thinking about applying makeup, or remembering her fancy coffee machine back home, cause Lindsay to take a look at her own life in light of the world around her? Is Than the answer to a prayer nobody knew they needed at the outset? And will the trip cause Than to re-examine what he truly believes, not only about Lindsay, but about faith in general? Does a middle-aged woman hold the answers?

This is one of her best books. Sprinkling in a few phrases from Tagalog (the national language of the Philippines) helped add a touch of realism. Seeing Lindsay change from pampered princess who wanted to immediately go home, to telling her family that she's staying for the long haul, showed that sometimes we need to leave our comfort zone to grow in our faith.
2,227 reviews12 followers
January 8, 2023
Guarding Her Heart

When Lindsey announces her intention to join a group of people from her church on a mission trip, her family insists she can only go if Nathaniel “Than” Miller from BlackThorpe Security is allowed to go as her bodyguard. She quickly agrees. When disaster strikes they both have to adapt to the circumstances. After her experience of a previous broken engagement and Than being known as a ladies man, will Lindsey be able to guard her heart until they return?
Profile Image for Catarina Águas.
2,354 reviews207 followers
May 21, 2023
I liked this book but it's 3,5 stars. Than was so sweet, you could see he was totally smitten with her, he just wanted for her to see him for who he really was. He deserved more effort than she put for him, I didn't feel like she did enough for him. I like Lindsay but she irritated me when she always thought the worst of him, he didn't deserve that. I liked them as a couple but yeah, some effort would be good
512 reviews1 follower
June 15, 2021
Kimberly Rae Jordan's Series are far more fascinating

It's something about her series that gets you hooked. Usually, I don't look for the next book in a of of Lindsay. I believe that Rae Jordan captured the culture of the Philippines and highlighted the poverty of the area. Barb was an element of wisdom.
Profile Image for Carol and Gary Curtis.
886 reviews13 followers
January 30, 2017
Fantastic story. Excellent plot with great characters. Really enjoyed this book. However, I must state that the religious subplot was bit much by the end. Since I'm not overly familiar with the series, I'll read another title in the series just to be sure.
Profile Image for Julie Holdsworth.
264 reviews
May 6, 2017
Another winner

I really enjoyed this story. Kimberly Rae Jordan does her research and brings her characters alive. Her stories line up with my experience as a Christian involved in church and missions.
1,224 reviews2 followers
January 21, 2018
Outstanding Book

I rated this book a five because I like the way it is written. The plan of salvation is greatly done. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. This author, Kimberly Rae Jordan, does a wonderful job writing books.
1,135 reviews16 followers
May 31, 2018
GUARDING HER HEART

I liked Lindsay from the McKinley series, in this book she shines. Enjoyed their trip to the Philippines, Lindsay was able to see Than at work - and the rest is history.
4 reviews
August 30, 2019
Creation values

Enjoyed reading a book which promotes healthy values and examples. I'm an era where being in sync and balance with our creator is considered outdated this series is refreshing
Profile Image for Delma Wright.
388 reviews
April 27, 2024
Guarding Her Heart

I absolutely loved this story! So sad about the Phillipino babies and the storm they had to endure. But loved how it ended. I actually thought she would end up adopting Maya! ❤️
294 reviews
October 15, 2017
Wonderful tale of growing Faith

Keep writing Ms Jordan! We all carry our problems and deal with them differently. Thanks for a quick look and in sight Into how other lives grow.
Profile Image for Margaret Nelson.
1,616 reviews
March 24, 2019
I enjoyed this book. Having lived in Asia, visited the Philippines, and experience typhoons, I was pleased that it was all authentically written. Good spiritual content too.
145 reviews
May 2, 2020
I enjoyed all the books I've read so far from this author. I think she does a good job on the things she write about. I think the trouble Than and Lindsey have and work though with the help of God is well written. Her stories have bible scriptures in them which I like. Hope you enjoy the adventure of their romance as they get together.
Profile Image for Sandra.
1,133 reviews47 followers
December 2, 2015
This is a beautiful, clean story with a nice romance,although somewhat predictable, well developed characters, and some interesting family interactions. All the characters were well-developed and made the reader want to get to know them better, and to follow their lives in future books in the series.

As I have also been on Mission trips, I especially enjoyed the portion of the book which involved the main characters, Lindsay and Than, going on the Mission trip to the Philippines and the unexpected typhoon. I like how the author went into detail describing some of the local scenery, the homes, the culture and the local people.

The story also has some great Christian concepts without being overly preachy, and even though the ending was somewhat predictable, it had some cute twists which made me smile.
Profile Image for June.
1,542 reviews17 followers
May 23, 2015
I've just recently discovered Kimberly's books and am absolutely in love with them. I'm happy to see we only have to wait a couple of months for the next one. Her stories contain such emotion and a passion that just draws your heart into the story. I get butterflies just reading them. The characters are so real I just wish I knew where to find these people because they would be the sort of people I would want to hang out with!

Both Than and Lindsey had me wondering how things could ever work out between them, but I was cheering from page one. Masterfully accomplished!!!
1,399 reviews7 followers
March 17, 2016
Lindsay and Than's story is amazing. Lindsay was afraid to get close to a man after her past relationship and the way her father was years ago. When she felt drawn to go on the mission trip her life drastically changed. Than is a amazing person the way he protected Lindsay and the others on the mission trip is truly remarkable. Watching these two grow closer to each other and to God is beautiful. You won't be able to stop reading this book. The author will have you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. This book deserves a higher rating than a 5 star.
Profile Image for Tasha.
45 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2015
I have been waiting for this book for what feels like forever! When Lindsay met Than and those sparks flew, was the first time I wanted so badly to have the story of a pair of secondary characters. Thank you Ms. Jordan for delivering! This book had all of the elements I love most in Ms. Jordan's books. The characters felt like real people, with real struggles, and real life faith. And a great love story! This book was another great read. Loved it!
Profile Image for Maritza.
307 reviews10 followers
August 25, 2015
Yes

I absolutely love everything written by Kimberly Rae Jordan....I have read the Karlsson boys series, the Collingsworth series, McKinley series and have begun this one. I was so excited to read about Lindsey and Than since they were introduced in book 2 of the McKinley series. I was not disappointed. The chemistry between them is electrifying, and the story takes you where you least expect. Cannot wait til the next one....hmmm what's Marcus's story?!
Profile Image for Barbara Anderson.
109 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2015
Another awesome book

I absolutely love everything that Kimberly writes. This book is just as awesome as all the rest of her writings. Than and Lindsey are so great. Both come from strong family backgrounds and value their families. The mission brings challenges that neither one of them have dealt with before and opens their eyes to new experiences in their lives.
Profile Image for JANE.
352 reviews2 followers
June 11, 2015
Guarding her heart.

One great book.I was with my wonderful guy for 55 years He's with our daughter in God's beautiful garden.and watch ing over me..I have another book of yours on my kindle. Can't wait to get started. God bless you and yours.Will be waiting for the one to come out in July.+
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews

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