I don't believe I've ever given a Katherine Center book less than five stars, and The Bodyguard was no less.

It was everything I expect out of her stories, sweet yet quirky, slow burn yet fulfilling and most of all emotionally intelligent and focusing on realistic positivity. The laughter was there, so were the tears, and OMG that kissing scene - just perfect. I agree there are a few unrealistic parts, but guys, it's fiction, it's supposed to make you feel good, so I have no complaints.

I can't wait for her next book to come out, and meanwhile I'll go reread her backlist.

Is there anything Katherine Center can't do?

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the copy to review

A romcom at its finest. Center taps into eccentric characters, fun dysfunctional workers, love, family, and just an all around feel good book.
The characters are exceedingly witty and likeable, while the plot wasn't over the top or "cheesy", as some romcoms tend to be. Witty and smart banter kept me laughing and turning pages day in and out.

Loved this story!

I'm torn between giving this 2 or 3 stars.. This was pretty much just ok but i'd recommend it if you're looking for something to kill time and liked the premise..

The Bodyguard is a completely charming romantic comedy that I can absolutely see as a future movie. Hannah is a badass bodyguard who lives to protect others and Jack, a famous, handsome actor, is her latest client. In The Bodyguard Hannah must balance her professionalism in her field, needs of her client, and wants of her heart. It's such a sweet, entertaining read that it makes me sad I finished it so quickly.

The chokehold that this story has on me. The Bodyguard had me laughing out loud from the first chapter! Our introduction to Hannah Brooks captivated me and I wanted to know more about her. It was clear that she was a complicated character and I loved the growth that we see throughout the story. And of course, I'm a big fan of Jack. The fake-dating trope is one of my favorites and this one did not disappoint!
A great mix of emotion, romance, and humor, this was a wonderful read!

I love that I always get what I expect from Katherine Center! I'm still a big fan and I enjoy her rom/coms for light-hearted and easy read.

I have finally read all of Katherine’s books. This book was amazing, in giving you all those amazing feelings you get from reading about well thought out characters..

Absolute must read!!

What a job to be a bodyguard for a famous hunk. She doesn’t look like one so most don’t believe her. She just came of a relationship and doesn’t want another one. But she meets a family she adores and it wears her down. Fun story with plenty of laughs.

I loved this book. I read this one at the right time. I needed a sweet romance, and I got one. Hannah is a plain girl working as a bodyguard for a protection agency. Think Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality. The book opens with Hannah being at rock bottom since her mother has just died and her boyfriend has just broken up with her. To make things worse, he works with her too. Things seem to get worse when her boss assigns her to act as a love interest to be a the bodyguard for a gorgeous movie star that is coming into town to be with his mother. Hannah is the least likely love interest in the agency to be matched with Jack Stapleton, the movie star. But, she does it anyway because she wants the promotion he is offering. What follows is a great romance. Thank you Katherine Center!

I loved how this turned gender expectations on its head with HER being HIS bodyguard. I thought it was cleverly written and I absolutely loved it.

Thank you to the publisher for an early release copy of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. I was hesitant to pick this one up for some reason -- I've loved everything I've read by this author so I'm not sure why. It only took a few pages for me to kick myself that I hadn't read this earlier. This was a great easy read that kept me reading until I finished it. The premise seems familiar, but I guarantee you that the author makes it her own. Katherine Center does a wonderful job in building the 2 main characters so that you really see them. I highly recommend this book!!

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I recommend sunflowers and The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. Her books really do make me smile. This author’s style just fits me. I look forward to her books because I know I will be entertained with a good story and characters that feel real to me.
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I loved that the bodyguard/ personal protection agent is a woman, and she has been assigned to keep a male movie star safe. And she hates the assignment. Plus, as a city girl who loves to travel, being stuck on a Texas ranch is the last place she wants to be. This was a great premise for a workplace/close proximity romance.
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Is this a deep novel that makes you question everything and brings out all the emotions? No, but it made me smile and even laugh a couple of times. That is exactly what I needed this week.

This was a summer read that will really make your life easier, and more enjoyable. The bodyguard is a book that will not make you feel bad, or will not make you feel any angst. If you're looking for a light read that will keep your smile popping at all times this is the perfect book for you.

Hanna wasn't your typical woman walking to buy groceries or picking up the kids Hannah was a character that looks like every woman walking in the middle of downtown and you won't even imagine she could kill you in a second.

Hanna works for a very private security agency, where she is working with people that she thought were close to her or even love her but she soon will find that this is not the case making her take a decision that will put some distance between these people and won't hurt her more than her heart could ever handle.

Jack is a very famous man that needs to be taken care of as he is having some problems with a fan that is not willing to let things go and give jack his own private space.

Hanna has a new job and a new person to protect, even if that means lying to his parents and pretending to be someone that she is not.

Hanna and Jack's story has a lot of great situations that will keep you very hooked to your place and will want to keep reading and going until the end.

this was a great surprise and a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the advanced copy of The Bodyguard in exchange for an honest review.

I love this author, so I was very excited to read this book! It did not disappoint! I loved the whole premise of having a female bodyguard, I sort of wish we could’ve seen more cool scenes from her showing her skills off.
I loved the characters so much, and the setting. I thought the stalkers were hilarious, which is a sentence I never thought I would write! And of course, I loved the epilogue.

This book!! I don't have enough good things to say. I walked into reading this book thinking that it would be like any other bodyguard / celebrity romance book and I was absolutely blown away. It was nothing like what I imagined it would be because it ended up being far better.

Hannah Brooks is an unassuming woman who has an interesting job, being a bodyguard. She is the perfect bodyguard because she's able to blend in which helps her to no end when protecting her clients. When her company is contracted to protect movie star Jack Stapleton, she's unprepared for what's about to happen.

Hannah and Jack are both broken from past trauma. They find a friend in each other and the friendship and love that builds throughout this book is beautiful. I rated the book so high because of the author's writing and for Hannah and Jack, but I can definitely say that there are some plot holes throughout the book that don't feel tied up by the end of the book. This does not deter from the book at all and if one is focusing solely on Hannah and Jack and their evolution, it's not difficult to ignore some of the issues with the book.

I cannot recommend this to enough people. It's such a different take on the typical bodyguard / celebrity romance book especially with it being set in Texas as opposed to Los Angeles and the celebrity not being caught in the spotlight at all times. The reader (and Hannah) is actually able to enjoy getting to know the real person instead of the facade.

I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

Oh, how I loved this book! Ever since I finished it yesterday, I've been thinking about why it is so freaking great. And I've decided that what is truly fantastic about THE BODYGUARD is that it defies your expectations at every turn...in the BEST way possible.

Hannah is a badass bodyguard/security specialist. She is very petite, but could kill you with a corkscrew. She can take down a tall, muscly guy (and does). Expectation defied.

Hannah is also repeatedly described as plain, average looking, a dull dresser. At one point the story sets you up for the impending makeover in order to pass as a movie star's girlfriend. And then...she refuses. She never gets a makeover. Never waxes her eyebrows or embraces make-up. Expectation defied.

This freaking sexy movie star and his badass security guard evolve and grow in this book, but never change to suit the other. They stay themselves, but fit together. He stays a messy slob. She stays make-up free and "plain". Expectation defied.

Even the final chapters and a scene of conflict turn out to be both funny and meaningful and flawed and hopeful and just...perfect. Expectation defied.

I loved this book even though I wanted to rip the door off of this closed-door romance and revel in a pages-long, steamy, sex scene. But, I loved this book, closed-door and all. Expectation defied.

THE BODYGUARD is refreshing and funny and sweet and truthful and real and I freaking loved it.

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated PG / Kissing and awareness that characters sleep together. Closed Door.
𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦: cancer, past death of family member, death of parent, cheating ex, past drunk driving
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 3/5 - You will definitely feel some feels.

I’ve always been a big Katherine Center fan, and have read all her books so when a new one is released it immediately gets onto my TBR list.

I did not know anything about this book when I started it and it caught my attention right as I started reading it. The main character was unique - a petite bodyguard to the rich and famous (or not famous, depending on her assignment). I liked right away that she was a badass and I wasn’t surprised that she had a tough exterior and a workaholic.
The story followed her and her latest assignment and all it’s challenges. This newest book from KC did not disappoint and I enjoyed it as a quick (for me) read!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

I greatly enjoy Katherine Center's works. In her latest novel, Hannah is forced to pretend to be a movie star's girlfriend when in reality, she is his executive protection agent, working with a team to keep him safe from a stalker while he finally visits his family in Texas due to his mother's health issues. As always, this is not your typical romance with Center, both Hannah and Jack have family issues to deal with.

TW: child abuse, alcoholism, cancer, death

This was the best book I've read in a while and exactly what I needed right now. It was laugh out loud funny and adorably sweet. Just pure happiness in book form.
I fell in love right along with Hannah and Jack. There were so many swoon worthy moments that I couldn't get enough of.
Katherine Center's writing is heartfelt and amazing. I loved it so much!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

At first glance this might seem like it will be too trope-y to be any real fun, but this was a great romance. Yes, Hannah Brooks is thrown together with a low-profile keeping a-list star with a mystery in his recent past. And yes she falls for said a-lister. But what makes this romance so great (and unique) is Hannah's kick-ass profession and personality. It was very refreshing to read about a woman comfortable in her own skin, who is not only great at her job but loves it. When she has self doubt it is believable and makes her feel more like a real person. Also the growth of the relationship between Hannah and Jack felt believable and not rushed or out of character. The side characters were fleshed out just enough to add to the story and help the main characters along. All in all a great read.