I almost read this in two sittings which is astoundingly rare for me. I just enjoyed this so much from page one as the story just continuously moved every page until the very end. My favorite thing about this book was there was no lag time. Pure enjoyment!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book from one of my favorite authors in exchange for my honest review. I always think the latest book from this author is my favorite, and she just keeps stepping it up another notch.

Katherine Center writes in a way that makes you want to sit down and not get back up until you get to the very end of the book. I LOVED the Bodyguard. I loved everything about it. Jack and Hannah were such well written characters and I adored the storyline, it was so different! I loved the growth of the two main characters and the supporting characters were a fun bunch too (minus Bobby). Katherine Center knocked it out of the park yet again. She could write an instruction manual and I would sit down and read it and love every single second. Her books are incredible!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book.

This is the 4th book by Katherine Center that I have read. I liked her previous books, and this one was more along the lines of What You Wish For.
Hannah Brooks, though she may not look the typical part, is a bodyguard. She is a workaholic, she doesn't let people in, and she she has unhealthy coping mechanisms. However, once she meets Jack everything changes. The main plot point was predictable, as most romances are, but there still a few moments in there that I wasn't quite expecting. This one really came around for mez as it grew on me chapter by chapter, after being a bit too sweet there at the beginning. I ended up really enjoying this one much more than her last book.

This book was Katherine Center at her finest, once again. Laughs, romance, action, and drama all rolled into one all at the right time and right doses. For some reason I kept picturing Jack as Ryan Reynolds (which didn’t hurt things one bit) and I loved how Hannah and Jack’s relationship evolved throughout the book. The only thing I didn’t like, besides Robby and his douchebag ways, was that I read the book so fast and now it’s over.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the arc.

A book where the female lead is a bodyguard?! Yes, please! I love anything Katherine Center writes and her newest book (out July 2022) is no exception!

Hannah Brooks is an Executive Protection Agent, a bodyguard. Her mother just passed away and her boyfriend has just broken up with her, when she gets an assignment most women dream of. She is assigned to protect Jack Stapleton, one of America’s most handsome actors. After a family tragedy, he has taken a break from the spotlight.

Jack returns to Texas when his mom gets sick and, against her will and better judgement, Hannah finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend in order to protect him without the knowledge of his family.

The first Katherine Center book I read was How to Walk Away in 2019 and I always love all of her books. This one might be my favorite! I couldn’t put it down

I love basically everything Katherine Center writes, AND “fake relationship” is one of my most favorite romance tropes. So, The Bodyguard checked off a lot of boxes for me, and it didn’t disappoint!

Not only was the story adorable and full of warm fuzzies, but the characters had a depth and development that can sometimes be lacking in contemporary romance novels. I didn’t want the story to end, and found myself thinking about them in my real life as if they were old friends (something that has only happened for me a handful of times in the past 10 years).

The Bodyguard releases July 19, 2022 and I think this will be the *perfect* feel-good read of the summer. Definitely add this one to your TBR stack—it was easily one of my favorite reads in 2021!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (out of 5 stars)

Ever since I read my first Katherine Center book, she became a must-read, drop everything author for me. So when The Bodyguard made its way into my hands eight months before publication, naturally, I dropped everything. As with all the other KC books I have read, The Bodyguard was everything I hoped for and more. All the feels in the all the right places, emotional where I needed it to be, heartwarming where appropriate and of course, the charm I've come to love from each and every one of Center's novels.

Katherine Center has done it again. She always finds a fresh way to write romance! I flew through this book and loved every page. It was the perfect read while traveling or lounging!

I always enjoy Katherine Center books and this was no exception. The main characters growth seemed a little rushed but it was still an enjoyable romance I would recommend!! I read it in just over 24 hours I enjoyed it so much!

Katherine Center's The Bodyguard was an enjoyable novel. It had everything...suspense, drama, comedy, passion, you really can't ask for more! Hannah is a funny, self deprecating character who doesn't quite fit the picture of a bodyguard, but could basically kill you with a tissue. Her mission is to protect a very handsome movie star who doesn't feel that he needs protecting. But of course, they each need to protect their hearts the most.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Once again, Katherine Center does not disappoint! The Bodyguard is a breath of fresh air that delivers romance, comedy, hurt and healing all at once. Hannah Brooks is a highly skilled executive protection agent (a.k.a. bodyguard) who spends her days protecting high profile targets all around the world. At first glance, she may not look intimidating, but Hannah herself says that if she is doing her job right, there will never be a need for her to use those "unique" skills. Hannah's life has turned upside down in the matter of days only to get worse by finding out her next job will be for Jack Stapleton, a famous actor with a crazy stalker, who upon meeting, mistook Hannah as his maid. After all confusion is cleared up, Hannah is able to proceed with her job of protecting Jack from his stalker but under one condition. his family cannot know. This complication leads Hannah to playing the role of Jack's pretend girlfriend. but something like that is easier said than done. With each turn of the page, the line between pretend and real becomes blurred and pretty soon, there is no pretend.

Katherine Center has a gift for writing charming and fun love stories with depth. The main characters in this one are the kick-butt female bodyguard and the handsome movie star she is guarding. But wait- his family can’t know he needs a bodyguard, so she pretends to be his girlfriend. Yes, we all saw this familiar trope coming, but it’s well done. Fans of Center’s other books will not be disappointed.

I’ve been a fan of Katherine Center’s since I read and fell in love with her novel “How to Walk Away.” That book set the bar high, as there was so much to love about it. I was eagerly anticipating her new book, and the “female bodyguard protecting the hot male Hollywood actor” premise seemed exciting and intriguing. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver as much romance, suspense, and entertainment as I had hoped for. I didn’t care for the first-person point of view. The entire story felt unrealistic to me. Robby the ex is outrageously awful, and Hannah’s personality just didn’t come across as a tough-as-nails protector. I pictured Matthew McConaughey as Jack’s character, especially in the Texas ranch setting, which made the novel more enjoyable for me. I’m still a fan of Center’s work, but this one was just a bit too predictable, uninspiring, and Hallmark movie-ish for me. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for an honest review.

It is fun to read a book about a woman with an interesting career -- Hannah is a private protection/security agent who works for a prestigious security firm. She is assigned to protect a famous actor, but part of the deal is that she has to pretend to be his girlfriend. The end result is pretty predictable, but that is okay -- readers will get so much satisfaction from this romantic story.

I laughed, I gasped, I got mad, I was surprised and I cried. I can’t believe the emotion this book brought out in me. I loved it so much and I related to Hannah in a way I never connected to a character in a book. I felt like I was her experiencing the things she did. I felt like I knew each character because the author made them real people to me. The story was unique and well written. I have loved every book written by Katherine Center. Add this to your book shelf you won’t be disappointed.

"I feel like I've been lost all my life until now- and somehow with you I'm just...found."


Katherine Center just does something to me. She has a way with words and what she writes just...works. With other authors it could seem cheesy, but she is perfect.

My all time favorite trope is celebrity/regular person - and I also love fake dating tropes so this book was meant for me. Add in the fact that I grew up in Texas and had a farm, and I was HOOKED.

I think this is such a creative spin on both of those tropes, though. A female bodyguard!! Yes, please.

I loved Hannah and her fear of being unlovable. I swooned over Jack Stapleton and his crooked glasses and broken heart. And together they were just wonderful. Like being home. It was such a privilege to see Hannah fall in love with his family and let her guard down.

This book was adorable.




Thank you to St. Martins for an advance copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

This new novel by Katherine Center is a fantastic romantic read with depth and heart. I loved reading Hannah and Jack's story. As movie star, Jack is threatens by a stalker and Hannah is assigned his case and must present herself to his family as his girlfriend. Hannah is an expert bodyguard, with a broken heart and a desire to figure out what love for herself and others truly is. Taking on the challenge of guarding a movie star, Hannah finds out that people aren't always as they seem and how important connection with other can be. I'm a huge fan of Center and she is a must read author for me. This new book took all the things I love about her books and added a little more rom-com vibes than ever before, but also held true to her serious, introspective moments for the reader. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This author does not disappoint. I was so so excited when I saw that I was able to read an advanced copy of this book. Wow! I absolutely loved it. I have recommended it to all of my friends. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Fun, romantic story. Typical Katherine Center although I felt this was slightly more cheesy. My favorites by her are Things You Save In A Fire and Walk Away.

Hannah Brooks is one of the best Executive Protection Agents (aka Bodyguards) around. She's dedicated to her job and loves the company she works for. But after the sudden death of her mother, instead of taking time off, Hannah wants to jump right back into the grind. Doubly so as a potential promotion is hanging in the air between Hannah and a fellow agent. Hannah's latest assignment has her guarding superstar Jack Stapleton.

Jack Stapleton left fame behind a few years ago after a family tragedy. Now, he's back in Texas after his mother falls ill. With the studios betting on a comeback, they're still quite invested in Jack, and due to some over-zealous stalkers in his past, they can't be too careful. Enter Hannah as Jack's bodyguard. Trying to keep his stalker, and need for a bodyguard, a secret, Jack asks Hannah to pose as his girlfriend.

What starts out as a simple job, ends up helping both Jack and Hannah heal in ways they didn't know they needed.

I'm not typically one to read an arc so far in advance, but I'll always jump to read what Katherine Center puts out.

From the onset, I felt like The Bodyguard was going to be different than what I've previously read from Katherine Center. In a way it is, I felt like it was a lot more comedic. You almost feel like with a title like The Bodyguard you're going to get something in the realm of superhero. At least that's how I initially felt when I read the title. And if I'm being honest, Hannah is very superhero-like. One of the elements that can always be counted on from a Katherine Center book is a strong central heroine. Whether trying to make it in a man's profession, pushing themselves past physical trauma, or standing up for and fighting for what they believe, they're all strong women. From her job, we know Hannah is strong. In this instance, it's the vulnerability that she needs to work on. Knowing that it's ok to grieve or not know how to grieve. Accepting that she doesn't have to be perfect always.

I loved the bonding that happens between Jack and Hannah. It's slight animosity at first, but they just naturally click with one another. Neither of them lets the other get away with their hand ups which, in Jack's case, is especially refreshing as he's typically surrounded by people who are only around to do what he wants. In that way, Hannah ends up helping Jack heal and helping his family heal as sometimes only a person coming into a situation with a different perspective can.

Seeing Jack and Hannah slowly work their way towards each other is near magical. I really enjoyed this one, and I look forward to revisiting it closer to publication. Katherine Center is an auto-read for me on a normal day, if you've new to her as an author, hurry now and pick up everything she's ever written.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.