This sweet and charming new novel is exactly what fans of Katherine Center have come to know and love about her books. New readers will enjoy her characters and wit and quickly recognize that this story could be another film adaption (hello the casting opportunities!). A perfect read for a summer release.

The Bodyguard is an entertaining and heartwarming story. It centers on Hannah, a personal bodyguard who is dedicated to her job. In fact, Hannah is so consumed with her job she doesn’t have time for anything else in her life. Everything is going well in Hannah’s life, until it all falls apart and she is left feeling adrift and confused.

I decided to read The Bodyguard because It sounded intriguing. Jack is a famous actor and I love reading stories revolving around Hollywood. Hannah is a bodyguard and I liked the idea of a woman protecting a man, especially a hot Hollywood actor. I liked Jack and Hannah and I enjoyed their story, however, at times, I had a difficult time connecting with them. Overall, I liked the premise of the book and the characters but it just felt like something was lacking.

Another home run by Katherine Center! I loved this tender tale of Hannah and Jack.
I appreciated Center delving into Hannah and Jack's personal issues as they got to know each other. This gave depth to their characters and made the book more intricate than the average rom com.
I would've liked more information about some things, such as how Hannah got started in her job, her relationship with her mother, and more of her life outside her job.
Overall, a great read!

I read this book quickly and found it charming, gently funny, and light, perfect for summer reading. I genuinely enjoyed the witty back and forth between the two main characters. It was overall a sweet book that at times teeters on the edge of saccharine but still manages not to tip over. On the whole though I found myself not jotting down ideas as I was reading, which I try to do so that I can write a review at the end. There is little in this book that surprised me or felt innovative, and it did seem as if new events or developments could be seen coming well in advance. Too many supporting characters felt stereotypical, including Hannah's ex - the despicable Robbie -- or Jack's ex -- the vapid, plastic Kennedy.

Jack is a jaded movie star who feels cynical about fame and the superficiality of being a celebrity. That state of mind coincides with the unexpected death of his brother and leads him to a hiatus from the public. Enter Hannah, a jaded bodyguard who covers up her loneliness and cynicism by immersing herself in her work. I was a little disappointed that when she is assigned to be Jack's personal protection officer at his family's Texas ranch, we learn that she, along with all the other women in her office, are huge fans of his and find him dangerously attractive. Hannah, as we are told repeatedly though, is very ordinary, and Jack is not, thus setting up an unequal dynamic between them - as if his being a multi-millionaire celebrity wasn't enough of one. Her martial arts skills, impressive as they are to Jack, weren't enough to create enough parity between them. Hannah though is also blessed with the skill of making Jack laugh. He laughs a lot, sometimes at her and sometimes with her. Many of these moments fell into montage territory where a flurry of moments take place quickly via Hannah's narration. I could hear the imaginary soundtrack if this was a film. Jack gives Hannah piggyback rides, teaches her to throw horseshoes and to fish, all with lots of laughing. So, I didn't dislike any of this at all, but I also didn't feel pulled into their romance.

There is a predictable ending to the stalker plot that creates the need for Jack to need a bodyguard and there is a requisite happy ever after. This is my first book from this author, and I think I might prefer her women's fiction going forward.

I was hesitant going into this one because I really disliked Katherine Center's previous novel. However, this one was a delight! It was a super quick read and I really enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters. Cute without being cheesy or over the top. Fake dating usually bothers me as a trope, but it made a lot of sense in this context which helped me I think.

"Those women from my past-- they're the 'befores' and you... you're the after."

OMG I loved this book sooo much !! This is my second book from Katherine Center and I want to go back and read all her backlist !! This is such a cute book and I loved every page !!

lets talk about some of my favorite things !!
🔹 I loved the characters !! Hannah was so fun and I thought it was great that Katherine normalized a female having a job that is usually considered to be "male" Job. She was a fun character to read about and watch her grow as a person. and JACK !! He was just so sweet and down to earth and I really loved how Hannah and Jack brought out the best in each other !!
🔹 This book was super funny and I laughed many times!! STUMPY!! OMG !! I died... ( you have to read it now just so you can figure out what that is)
🔹I also loved the family dynamics of this book and the small, farm town atmosphere!! It was just so cute !!!
🔹 Fake dating is always so fun !! You know they are gonna fall in love.. duh but its fun to read about it happening !!!

This was definitely a favorite of the month and cant wait to read more from her!!

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Katherine Center for an ARC of this book !!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc.

This was the first book I've read by this author, and I have to say, I feel hesitant now to pick up another book by her. The MC in this was just so juvenile, I felt like this was a debut, not written by a seasoned author. I wanted to love this so bad after reading all the glowing reviews, but unfortunately, this just didn't work for me.

DNF at 40%

Another 5-star read from Katherine Center. Center has a magical way with words and characters, and creates realistic situations, with events and people that you can believe in, and root for. I have a soft-spot for the "fake relationship" trope, and this one delivers in spades. Hannah is strong and confident in every way that matters, and I appreciated that her role as a bodyguard is portrayed in a believable manner. Can't wait for the next book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought that this book was fantastic! This is only the second Katherine Center book that I have read but I am convinced that I need to get busy reading the rest of her books after finishing this one. I was hooked by this story! Once I started listening to this book, I did not want to put it down because I was hooked. This book was the perfect combination of funny, romantic, and exciting, and I loved all of it.

Hannah and Jack were perfect together. This story is told from Hannah’s point of view and I felt for her at the start because she was really having a hard time. She was pushed into taking the lead in protecting Jack Stapleton, who is a famous movie star. Jack is in town because of his mother’s health and doesn’t want to worry his mom so he convinces Hannah to pretend to be his girlfriend instead of his bodyguard.

I fell in love with these characters and finished the book with a giant smile on my face. Hannah and Jack were perfectly matched and I really enjoyed their banter. It was great seeing them spend time with each other and start to fall for one another. This book had some great moments that I know will stay with me for a long time.

This is the first time that I have listened to Patti Murin’s narration and I think that she has earned a spot on the list of narrators that I will look for. She did such a great job in bringing these characters to life and I thought that she delivered the humor in the story expertly. I am convinced that her narration added to my enjoyment of this delightful story. I will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen and hope to read more of this author’s work very soon.

I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and purchased a copy of the audiobook.

There were raving reviews about this book early on, so I was so ready to read this when I received the eARC. And I was not disappointed at all. If you ever watched Miss Congeniality, then you are going to love The Bodyguard as I did. It gives out the same vibes.

I just loved it that the main female character, Hannah, is a badass bodyguard expert. You would think she is an average character with her 9-5 job, but nope. She can kill you in many ways before you expect it. And that’s what comes in handy when she has to fake date her client, Jack, when he visits his hometown.

They are totally opposite from each other since she is a bodyguard and he is a famous actor. But the chemistry that they have for each other is off the charts. They are truly meant to be with each other. Who cares if they are the total opposite of each other? It works either way. That’s why they call it the opposite attracts romance trope.

This is a sweet and clean romance that takes what many assume about being a bodyguard and turns it on its head. Our main character, Hannah, is hired to protect a mega-star, Jack, which he thinks is laughable considering her size and lack of scary features. She quickly dispels his assumption and shows him exactly what he's capable of. And though the premise is about her protecting him, it's really about how they both grapple with loss. Each of them is dealing with the loss of a loved one that's left them reeling and trying to cope. He's hidden from the world and her instinct is to run. Because of the job and Jack's family obligation, both of them are given an opportunity to work through some problems and find some happiness, which both do,

Predictable, funny, and easy to read.

Another heartfelt and swoony novel by one of my favorite traditionally published authors. This one is a fake dating bodyguard romance where the female is the security detail and the male is the famous actor. Full of forced proximity situations and the trials that come with being famous, Center adds a unique spin to the bodyguard trope giving us a look inside what it’s like to be a female security guard in predominantly male world. A spirited and wholesome romcom that I would love to see on the big screen!

After losing her mom and getting dumped by her boyfriend, Hannah Brooks will stop at nothing to get a security assignment as far away from her ex as possible. But much to her dismay, Hannah’s boss gives her an assignment in town with famous actor Jack Stapleton. Hannah is forced into a fake dating relationship with Jack in order to hide her job from Jack’s mom. The two quickly build a relationship that feels authentic, so when the assignment is done Hannah can’t tell if Jack is acting.......or not.

The best part of this book was watching the forced contact between Hannah and her ex and Hannah and her fake famous boyfriend. There’s always underlying tension that builds slowly resulting in an explosion of confrontations and spilled feelings. There’s little to no steam in this book, but Center gave me enough sexual chemistry to satisfy my romance loving heart. This was a fun and easy read with a lot of heart.

Hannah Brooks can’t seem to catch a break. Her mother has passed away, her boyfriend dumped her, and she’s being forced to compete against him for a permanent spot at a new office in London. When an opportunity to provide protection (aka be a bodyguard) for a world famous actor comes up, Hannah is less than thrilled to be put on the job. But to get the escape she needs she must complete the mission, even if it means pretending to fall in love with Jack Stapleton. But at what point do you stop pretending? In a fun, quick, yet predictable read, “The Bodyguard” allows the reader to fall in love with the characters and root for them the entire time.

I absolutely loved this sweet romcom! MC Hannah, who is the last thing you'd think of when thinking of a body guard, is assigned to protect a well known rock star, Jack. The assignment comes because Jack is being stalked by a fan and needs protection. Fast forward to the pair having to "act" like they are involved for Jack's family and sparks start to fly. I loved the characters and the realness of them. This book had me feeling SO much and that's hard to do in a romantic comedy for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion. Definitely a 5-star read and highly recommend.

This book was so fun and sweet! Hannah is the bodyguard in this story and she protects a handsome movie star. This was different than most stories I read where a bodyguard is involved and I loved it. I laughed out loud more times than I can count and swooned a few times. This was such a great story!

Thank you #Netgalley for providing me an early read of #TheBodyguard

I love every book I've read by Katherine Center. There are not many authors I can say that about. She immediately pulled me in with Hannah's sense of humor, even while terrible things were happening to her. I love that Hannah's profession is one you wouldn't expect for a young petite woman. I love the big scene toward the end of the book where Hannah is so kind and so wise even after what she's been through. I finished this book in two days, which is saying a lot with how busy work has been. Center continues to be a "go to" and "autobuy" author for me. While her books are so easy to read, they are not simplistic. They are delightful reads which make me teary and laugh out loud. There is a lot of heart and wisdom in her writing which definitely comes across to this reader. I highly recommend this book as well as Katherine Center's backlist. You won't be disappointed. Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Omg this was so cute, so manny emotions , love it , amazing story, strong characters , totally will recommend

Jack Stapleton is a famous actor who has returned to his Texas home to be with his family as his mother recovers from cancer. There’s a tiny issue though—Jack has a little bit of a stalker issue and he doesn’t want his family to know. His agent has insisted he have a security team while there, and Hannah is assigned as his primary bodyguard. How will Jack explain this interloper to his family while not sharing that he may be in danger? Why, she’ll have to keep her cover by playing Jack’s new girlfriend of course!

This is my second book by Katherine Center. I recently read Things You Save In A Fire this past year, and noticed there are some similarities between the stories. Both feature a strong female protagonist who work in male dominated fields. And both stories had the main character in forced physical proximity to an unlikely love match.

Since both books had such similar formulas, I’m wondering now if all of her titles follow this same kind of storyline. I did enjoy this one (as I did her previous). It was a light, feel-good kind of romance, and I do like that the women are written as strong, independent characters. I’d recommend this if you’re in the mood for something light, and especially if you are a fan of this type of romance trope.

Hannah’s alcoholic mother has just died which seems to her boyfriend, Robby, to be an ideal time to not only dump her but to humiliate her in the process. And instead of being sent to London for work, she is instead assigned to protect Hollywood heartthrob Jack Stapleton from a middle-aged stalker.

Sure, Jack’s good looking with perfect abs but it’s not really the career building assignment she needs. When her ex returns from Madrid with a new lover—Hannah’s former best friend—and she has to go under cover to Jack’s parents’ ranch, Hannah is near despair.

But Jack’s parents are adorable, Jack is charming, and even older brother Hank has some redeeming qualities.

While the story line might sound unoriginal, Katherine Center’s ability to craft incredibly likable (or despicable, in some cases) characters sets her work apart. And the snappy dialogue moves the story along. Katherine Center is the rare writer who creates unputdownable novels that make you feel better about the world. Her books are like giant hugs. #TheBodyguard #NetGalley

Huge thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Books for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a bodyguard story based a female bodyguard, Hannah, and her principal Jack, a famous movie star arriving back in Houston to attend to his sick mother. Tensions have been high since the loss of his brother Drew and older brother Hank would not let him forget it. As her last request, Mama Stapleton requests all her boys to come stay with her on the ranch leaving Hannah no choice but to tag along and play girlfriend to Jack and the story goes from there.

This was good summer read if you need a break from reality. Some parts of the plot were stretched and exaggerated for action purposes but I was good with it. Hannah could hold her own in fight however I didn’t like the dynamic of her and Jack. He was unnecessarily mean at times but then showered her affection. Hannah is written as insecure and timid when it comes to relationships. This creates an unhealthy dynamic. I didn’t get behind them as a couple so it made it hard for me to root for them. However, I liked the bodyguard trope so that kept me reading. The side characters were interesting and that’s really what kept me engaged.

Overall, I’m giving this 3 stars on account of the side characters. However, I wouldn’t read this again and probably wouldn’t recommend it.