Thank you @stmartinspress @netgalley for the free book!

📖 Hannah is a bodyguard. When she gets assigned to Jack, a Hollywood heartthrob, she’s a little reluctant to take the job. Especially when she finds out she’ll have to pretend to be Jack’s girlfriend in front of his family. But when her boss offers her dream job in exchange for the assignment, Hannah is determined to see the job through.

💭 This was such a fun romance. I found myself giggling and smiling multiple times. I loved the banter and the chemistry between Hannah and Jack. I also loved Jack’s family, especially his parents. I think this one is my favorite I’ve read of this author’s so far. This is a perfect spring or summer read if you’re looking for a sweet, fun romance.

📚 Read this if you like…
Celebrity romance
Fake dating
Forced proximity
Closed door romance
Slow burn
Family drama

✍️ How I rated other books by this author:
Hello Stranger- 4⭐️
Things You Save in a Fire- 4⭐️
The Bright Side of Disaster- 3⭐️

Closed door bodyguard where she’s the bodyguard. It was sweet and cute. Good banter and side characters

I received this novel as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I enjoy all novels by Katherine Center and this was one of my favorite. Perfect for fans of contemporary women’s fiction and romance.

This was a fun read! This was my first Katherine Center book. I had a vague understanding that it wouldn’t be very spicy, and, indeed, it is not spicy at all. I’d give it a 2 out of 10. However, I very much got into the “ramping it up” feelings. It was odd that it was 100% from the main female’s POV— I haven’t had one of those romances in a super long time. The biggest issue I had was the audiobook narrator mispronouncing Brazos and other Texas words/accent.

Hannah Brooks has been hired as a body guard for famous movie star Jack Stapleton… what could go wrong?

A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for granting me access to an ARC of this book, even if the review is extremely delayed.

I’ve heard good things about this book, which always makes me hesitant to read something, and I’m sad to say I was very disappointed. I felt like nothing happened in this book until it was 50% over. I also felt that, despite this being a romance novel, the two main characters had NO chemistry. We see very few scenes of Jack and Hannah together and then all of a sudden they’re in love? Given everything that had happened to Hannah up until that point, it was very hard to believe. She had more chemistry with Glenn than with Jack.

I also felt like the “twist” (if it can even really be called that) at the ending was unnecessary. I understand there hadn’t been much action until that point despite Hannah being a body guard but you could take that entire chapter out of the book and it been fine. The weird 4th wall breaks were also unnecessary, those can be done well in a book but I just felt like this wasn’t the book for it.

Overall, the book was good enough to finish, but i probably won’t think about it again. However, given the great reputation of Katherine Center, I’ll definitely be giving her other books a chance!

Thank you again to St. Martin’s Press for a chance to read and review this book.

I really liked this one! I enjoy the switch of the MFC being the bodyguard, and this one was a lot of fun. Things We Save In a Fire is still my favourite from this author so far, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one as well. There was a lot of humour and I felt the chemistry between the two main characters quite well. It's a great "read in one sitting" book.

I had some issues getting into this. I found the early plot to be packed with clichés and there were moments when I just couldn’t connect with Hannah. But once we got into her backstory and the family drama, I no longer had that issue. All in all, I thought it was a sweet popcorn read that’s a bit different from the author’s earlier works but still fun and enjoyable.

Despite how the book is marketed, there’s something almost YA-ish about “The Bodyguard.” The writing has a Meg Cabot-esque voicy quality, and the concerns seem influenced by early Cabot and Kinsella romcoms. Like many of those stories, this romance is a fade-to-black, but it lacks the fun, biting, and sexy undercurrent that feels inherent to all great romantic comedies. The banter and chemistry between the book’s MCs is effective at times, but ultimately, these moments aren’t enough to rescue the book from everything that weighs it down.

This was an enjoyable, quick read with lovable main characters that were perfectly flawed. I found myself laughing out loud a few times and enjoying the slow build romance between the two leads. What I didn't like was the first person writing as I found myself having trouble staying in the flow of the writing. I wish that we could of learned more about Hank and Drew.

I really loved this story. Katherine Center has a way of making me feel all the feels. This book was such a wonderful journey and learning to make the changes that you want to make for you.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center centers around Hannah Brooks who is an elite bodyguard who is hired to protect Jack Stapleton Hollywood heartthrob from his stalker. When Jack's mom is sick, he goes to his Texas ranch to be there for her. But he doesn't know what to do about Hannah so he tells everyone she's his boyfriend.

I enjoyed aspects of this book but there was a lot of banter but it felt awkward. I did enjoy the role reversal with the female bodyguard. Overall this book wasn't very memorable.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was an easy, breezy, light and fun read, but overall it was a little too cutesy and rom com for me. There was some substance to some of the story, but I felt it was glossed over to push the more romantic themes of the book. I don't mind romance, but some of it just seemed a little over the top and silly. All and all still an enjoyable book, just not one of her favorites for me.

Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard is a charming, feel-good romance that delivers humor, heart, and a refreshing twist on the classic love story. Hannah Brooks, a skilled bodyguard, finds herself protecting Hollywood heartthrob Jack Stapleton while pretending to be his girlfriend to keep his family in the dark about his stalker. The fake-dating trope is executed to perfection, with moments of genuine tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor woven seamlessly throughout.

Hannah is a relatable and strong protagonist, and her growth—both professionally and personally—adds depth to the story. Jack is equally endearing, with his blend of vulnerability and charm. Their chemistry is undeniable, and watching their walls come down as they open up to each other is pure joy.

Center’s signature wit and ability to capture emotional truths shine in this novel. The Bodyguard is a delightful escape, brimming with warmth and romance that will leave you smiling. Highly recommended!

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center is a heartwarming and entertaining read that blends romance and humor perfectly. The chemistry between Hannah and Jack is delightful, and their evolving relationship keeps you hooked. It’s a charming story that’s perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good romance with a bit of action. 📚💖

Delightful rom-com set in Texas. I hope to see more of these characters in future books! It was enjoyable to read about a female bodyguard to a male star. It was a nice change from the typical male bodyguard story.

Hannah Brooks isn't what she looks like she'd be. She looks like an ordinary young woman, maybe a programmer or a kindergarten teacher. But she's an Executive Protection Agent or what most of us would call a bodyguard. She's expert at hand to hand combat and knows all the secrets fans or those wanting to get close to a star or top businessman might use. She travels globally, in London this week, Korea the next and maybe a month or so in India. That doesn't leave much room for romance so Hannah has been dating a guy from work.

Then three things happen. After a long illness, her mother dies. The next night, her guy breaks up with her. Then her boss assigns her a job she definitely doesn't want, guarding Jack Stapleton. That Jack Stapleton, the current Hollywood heartthrob, the guy women everywhere swoon over.

Jack has been out of the movie business for a while ever since his younger brother was killed in a car accident while with Jack. The death has torn his family apart as his older brother blames him. But now his mom is sick and wants Jack to come to the family ranch. That means Hannah is headed that way also, pretending to be Jack's girlfriend. Most women would be thrilled but Hannah is most people. She gets shaky when Jack is around.

During their time at the ranch, Hannah starts to see the real Jack, not the Hollywood hype and impossibly, starts to have feelings for him. Why would she do that? She knows that Jack's attention is just part of the act he is putting on for his parents but it seems so real.

Katherine Center is my favorite romance author. Her books are the ultimate feel-good tonic and I defy anyone to read one of them without smiling throughout and closing the last page with an uplifted heart. Jack and Hannah and their slow growth to closeness is believable and rewarding. This book is recommended for romance readers.

This is such a sweet, heartwarming, and uplifting book. Is it a bit sappy and predictable, and are the characters all a bit too perfect? Yes, but that doesn't detract from the book for me at all. If you're looking for a delightfully funny yet poignant book, then look no further than Center's latest.

Hannah Brooks is a protection agent, otherwise known as a bodyguard. She may look petite and unassuming, but she can bring a large man down before he knows what's hit him. She is reluctantly assigned to protect movie star Jack Stapleton while he is in Houston visiting his family. He's just the kind of vapid, self-absorbed person she dislikes, and now she has to pretend to be his girlfriend. To her surprise, she falls for his family, and for Jack as well.

This book is just an utter joy to read. I listened to it as an audiobook and the narrator, Patti Murin, does a fantastic job of giving Hannah a voice and spirit. I urge you to pick this one up today, you'll be glad you did.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

This is a sweet wholesome romance and i love that the gender roles are slightly reversed in the sense that the woman is the protector. Watching them fall for each other was so sweet and his family was cutest.

The Bodyguard was very cute, if not a little cheesy, but also really fun. Overall, very enjoyable without it being too cringe or anything. There were definitely parts of the story I didn't love, and it won't be a super memorable read (as I write this review a month later, I recall almost nothing oops) but I know I enjoyed listening while I was in it!

This book was so entertaining and fun. Definitely a fun read! Definitely something different having the female the body guard. This was so focus on emotional development.