The Bride's Bodyguard

I found this at a used bookstore and it's going on my keeper shelf. I loved how the two main characters developed their love and relationship over time. They didn't hate eachother on one page and jump into bed the next. I hate heroins who fall madly in love on the first page and throw themselves repeatedly at the hero only to be hurt over and over again. They each gave a little bit of themselves at a time and learned to love and trust eachother. Ross could be a bit brutish at times but I have yet to read an historical romance novel where the hero wasn't a jerk for at least part of the book. This book also had a good mystery element. I thought I had the murderer picked out and I was completely wrong.

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

An original plot, a real mystery not easy to unravel, a reluctant to fall in love hero and a heroine who is misunderstood by our hero from the beginning all combine to make this another great story from ET. Once again, her prologue grabs you and won't let go until you're finished.

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 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.