I didn't have high expectations of this one after reading and very much not liking Center's most recent book prior to this one, however, I really enjoyed this book!

I thought the plot was something different than what I've read before in a romcom and enjoyed the difference in characters.

It was a quick and engaging read

Sweet Home Alabama meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Hannah Brooks has a problem. She can't deal with problems, she runs from problems. That's not her only problem. Katherine Center spins an engaging, funny, romance with a strong female lead. Watch Hannah grow and self-actualize in this sometimes cheesy, frisson-filled rom-com read. Easy read that can be picked up and put down quickly without losing your train of thought. Though, trust me...you won't want to put down this title.

I loved the premise of this book, but the plot didn’t do it for me. I expected her to be this badass bodyguard who took no shit and prisoners or however the saying goes. Instead, I found her to be naive and clueless. The characters were very immature and the plot felt a bit blah. I couldn’t connect to the characters, and the romance felt forced. I also felt the grief trope was being pushed, but it didn’t hit the way it was supposed to. It felt like a plot device and not a compelling part of the story that added depth. Overall, this was just an okay read for me.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the eArc.

I love Katherine Center, and this book is no exception. What a fun premise that had be smiling and laughing as I turned the pages. I will absolutely be looking out for Center's next release! Her books are always charming, full of laughs, and completely heartfelt.

Hannah has a job working as a bodyguard, or rather an executive protective agent. She gets assigned to Jack, a famous movie star. Jack is home to see his mother who has been ill. He doesn’t want her to know he’s in danger, so he wants Hannah to pretend to be his girlfriend. Soon Hannah is in the middle of way more than she expected as she takes on her assignment. I have always enjoyed the way the characters and their relationships are portrayed in Katherine Center’s books, and this new release did not disappoint me. There was humor and emotions throughout.

The BODYGUARD
By Katherine Center

I am a huge fan of Katherine Center because of her wonderful representation of women in atypical roles, and The Bodyguard is one that I enjoyed thoroughly. Center never disappoints and her stories just keep getting better and better. This was a slow burn romance with a fun fake girlfriend and close proximity trope. Hannah Brooks is the Executive protective Agent aka bodyguard for the sexiest man alive, Jack Stapleton. What may be a cutesy romance actually delves with deep themes of loss and family, and this one is so good, it is impossible to put down.

Get ready to swoon and fall in love, we all need this.

Katherine Center is special. Simply put. Just when I think she can’t outdo herself, SHE DOES! The Bodyguard is everything I want in a romcom. And more. I smiled, I squealed, I swooned. Perfect 5 stars for The Bodyguard!

3.5 ⭐️ Cute bodyguard, fake-dating romance

WHAT TO EXPECT:
✨ strong, capable bodyguard FMC
✨ hunky, sweet movie-star MMC
✨ fake-dating
✨ city girl ends up on a ranch
✨ client to friends to lovers
✨ one-bed trope
✨ emotional baggage
✨ crazy stalker drama
✨ fun banter
✨ zero spice


I liked the story. It was fun, sweet, and had some exciting moments near the end.

While there were some heavy topics (death of a family member, past childhood trauma/parental alcoholism), they didn’t weigh down the story, and it remained light-hearted for the most part.

I enjoyed seeing the character growth of both Jack and Hannah. They had a lot of big things to work through and did that on their own and together. I love how they were there for each other as friends, and it was sweet watching them blossom into something more.

Jack’s mom, Connie, is my absolute favorite! I wish we got even more scenes with her!

Jack and Hannah were cute, but I wasn’t 100% convinced of their chemistry. He mentions how ordinary and plain she is to his brother, but then when she confronts him about it, he’s like, “yeah, and I like that about you.” But that’s not really a compliment. We want the love interest to find the MC attractive in some capacity, but he never says anything to that degree. It’s also brought up 3 different times (by her ex, Jack, and Jack’s fake celebrity girlfriend) that she’s nothing special, which rubbed me the wrong way. Idk I would have liked for them to have some sort of obvious physical chemistry or at least have it mentioned a little.

But the best part about these two was Jack’s teasing and their banter! It was so stinking cute and made me smile. ☺️

The pacing was sometimes off for me. It was hard to get into at the beginning because one bad thing after another kept happening to Hannah, and she was constantly complaining about her work assignments. But once she got to the ranch, things picked up for me. So around 25% of the book. And I know some people said the ending came out of nowhere, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! Nothing like a little conflict during the last 10%!

Overall, this is a cute romance I’d recommend if you want something fun and quick to read.

Katherine Center has quickly become an autobuy author for me. I love the way she writes romance. It's more than just the relationship of the characters, but discussions of real life topics and issues is key as well. I didn't think I would like this gender-swap trope of female bodyguard with male client, but it worked! And was an enjoyable read for sure! Can't wait to see what Center writes next!

Loved the premise behind this charming rom-com and it's a great vacation read. Fans of Emily Henry and Jasmine Guillory will love this one! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Sweet closed door romance that is very fun to read! This book made me laugh so much! It made me so happy.

Hannah is a bodyguard for the rich and famous, based in Houston, Texas. Not the big and burly type, but rather the informed and trained type, she usually excels at her job and maintains the proper protocols. When her boyfriend dumps her the night after her mother's funeral, all Hannah wants to do is escape and work. Her boss has other plans and assigns her to a local movie star named Jack Stapleton. She must pretend to be his girlfriend while protecting him from a stalker since his mother is unwell and getting treatment for cancer. The only thing Hannah does not expect is to enjoy her time with Jack and his family. With ever changing circumstances bringing them together, Hannah has a decision to make between maintaining her professional distance or finally finding enduring love.

I enjoyed this book so much, especially the humor and the encouraging quotes about life and love. The plot was relatively fast-paced and never lacked interest or suspense. The characters seemed so realistic and it was easy for me to root for Hannah as she faced the cruelty of her ex and her grief for the loss of her mother. The quotes about having confidence in yourself in spite of the way other people treat you really spoke to me, as well as the focus of living each day by making the most of your opportunities and relationships. I didn't care for the profanity and thought the narrative would've been much better without it. Other than that and some innuendos, I highly recommend this book for its heart and humor. I would love to see a follow-up story with the same characters!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This was a fun, whimsical romance that I didn’t want to end! I love a good happy ever after and this author so it did not disappoint! Katherine Center just might be one of my most favorite authors. I loved this book from start to finish!

4 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a really sweet and warm read, a little more cliched at times than I am generally used to from Ms. Center and some parts were a "tad" hard to believe, but I really enjoyed this novel overall.

A Rom-Com with a female bodyguard...definitely a first for me.
Hannah appeared somewhat neurotic for how I imagine a bodyguard to be... but I still really liked her "lots" and also Jack (a cheerful and humble actor that Hannah gets tasked with protecting).
We have a little "fake romance" action going on as Jack doesn't want his family to know that he has either a stalker or a bodyguard.


Lots of good banter.... an emotional, fun, and heartwarming romance . It was entertaining and I didn't want to put it down.
Katherine Center is an automatic go-to author for me...she never lets you down!!!!

This was my first KC book, and after only a few chapters, I went and added all of her books, that I don’t already have, to my wishlist. I didn’t read the synopsis before diving into this book, so it shocked me a little to find out who the bodyguard was. This book was so much fun to read. The banter between Jack and Hannah was great, and I couldn’t stop reading their story. I loved how KC gave us an nice, detailed epilogue at the end. I hate when I’m left hanging at the end. I lot of times I find myself wanting more, so I’m glad the author didn’t do that with this book and tied up some loose ends! The ending also threw me for a loop; there was a plot twist in there that I just did not see coming! This book was good, and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

The Bodyguard is the first book that have read by Katherine Center and it won’t be the last. It is about a famous actor who is in need of a bodyguard because he has a stalker situation. Enter the bodyguard except Jack mistakes them for the new cleaning person because he is a she for one and she is on the smaller side too. You know the saying never judge a book by its cover, well the same goes for bodyguards in this story. Hannah may be tiny but she is mighty, underestimate her at your on peril. While staying with Jack and his family 24/7 pretending to be his girlfriend, pretend quickly turns to real. Hannah may be a pro when it comes to protecting her clients from harm, but what about protecting her heart from being broken? Read The Bodyguard to find out how Hannah and Jack’s story ends. This story is about finding out what love is and how to deal with loss, and the damage secrets can cause.

'The Bodyguard,' by Katherine Center is a well-written romance. The characters are enjoyable, as is the story!

Katherine Center is back again! This book is right up there with her previous work as a cute romantic book that makes you want to curl up in bed and read it all day.
Hannah Brooks is a Bodyguard. It turns out, you don't have to be huge to be one, just blend in so people don't notice you and know how to work with what you have to de-esculate or remove a situation. Hannah just got hired to work with Jack, a huge movie star who lately has dropped out of the public eye. Now, with a stalker and his mom sick, he needs to return to his hometown, with a bodyguard. He doesn't want to worry his family so him and Hannah pretend to be a couple to throw everyone off. But what happens when the chemistry is real?

I think the book should have been longer and the twist at the end could have been fleshed out better. But overall, a good book to read!
I recommend this book for fans of Katherine Centers previous books, rom-com fans and for people who want a cute story about an opposites attract couple.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how a female was the Bodyguard not the male and she broke the barriers.

Absolutely loved this book! I was hooked from start to finish and i adored their connection even the MC seemed blind to it ha! I think it’s relatable to a lot of women tho. Especially after having a bad relationship hurting your confidence making you question others being genuinely interested. I also loved the family and their relationships even the bad ones.
This book really got me in all the feels. It had me tearing up and laughing within moments. There’s some heartbreaking moments where they discuss heavy feelings. I just thought this novel was so well done and really enjoyable.