The Bodyguard by Katherine Center was a fun and charming read. This was a fake dating bodyboard romance with a female bodyguard and I was all here for it. Hannah was determined and did not let others in easily. So, when she is assigned as Jack’s bodyguard, the very famous Jack, who does not want to worry his family. Hannah pretends to be his girlfriend. Easy right? I loved Jack. He was so caring and likable. I truly enjoyed reading their journey. It was fun and light and what I needed right now. They interactions were witty and delightful and I loved how his family broke down her wall. This one had me smiling all the way through.

Happy reading!

I WANTED to like this book more than I actually did. It was cute -- and there was nothing objectionable about it. I read it pretty fast, enjoyed it, and didn't hate anything. But Jack literally has no flaws and that's just not interesting. Hannah's flaws are all "saying-in-a-job-interview-that-your-big-flaw-is-that-you-are-TOO-detail-oriented" . . . . and she's the only one WITH them. She also just . . . . didn't really seem like a bodyguard for most of the book. Like it was a slapped-on job for a little gender role-reversing but the author couldn't quite make it feel authentic. And your mileage may vary on this one, but it's a clean romance -- or sort of is? The characters do sleep together before marriage but it's COMPLETELY closed-door. There's tension and then it just never has any release and so fizzles out fairly early.

I finally read my first @katherinecenter novel! Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC. The Bodyguard released yesterday and I finished it late last night. This one was soooo cute and I can’t wait to actually read my other two copies of her books!

If you’re in the mood for a cute, rom-com with some depth, pick this one up!

Hannah Brooks is an Executive Protection Agent, aka Bodyguard. She is assigned to a famous move star on hiatus due to a family crisis; the death of the brother that was a buffer for the family. Protecting one famous brother while he follows his mother’s wishes is in this recipe for a romantic comedy! Katherine Center, known as the “queen of comfort reads,” blends ingredients of witty banter, inner workings of a protection agency, and Hannah’s goal of remaining professional while in the presence of a handsome movie star with layers of childhood memories and disappointment, betrayal, and grief. The icing on the cake is swirled with Center’s delicious toppings of restoring friendships, the power of kindness, and refusing to give up on hope and optimism. There are plenty of relationship twists and tweaks to the recipe and readers will cheer for Hannah when she discovers that ‘love is something you do.” The Bodyguard is also a treat for the senses: exploring the views of the Brazos River and the ranch in Texas, delving into the harshness of brothers revealing disturbing feelings and tensions, to hugs that prove to Hannah she is lovable. A favorite sprinkle of wisdom: “People loving you for your best qualities is not the same as people loving you despite your worst.” Thanks, Katherine, for whipping up The Bodyguard during the Pandemic; a “satisfying, delectable dessert” for fans of romantic comedy.

𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 ‘𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗗𝗬𝗚𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗗’
———
★★★★

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the e-Arc.

This book was sooooo freakin’ cute! Although a bit different from Center’s previous heart wrenching books this one still delivers and it delivers us a new book bf – Jack Stapleton. I was excited to find out ‘THE BODYGUARD’ was a contemporary romance with a female bodyguard! This is definitely PG, so don’t worry if you prefer no steam. You will find witty banter, character growth, and a little drama.

P.s. Kingsley 🐶 and I resented reading that Jack’s stalker was a corgi-breeder (we don’t claim her) #CorgisAreLife!

This was such an amazing book about a woman who is a secret agent and needs to bodyguard a hot actor meaning she needs to fake date him to hide her cover. Katherine has an incredible writing style and I’m all here for it. Her writing caught my attention from book one and I couldn’t stop reading until the end. The setting was well done and I enjoyed the story plot line. The pacing was perfect and this book kind of ruined me in the best way possible.

This book is in Hannah’s pov and I enjoyed her character. She is a kind of a tom boy but the best agent in her division. Then there is Jack who is a hot and charming actor who’s privacy is being disturbed. I enjoyed both characters and had fun reading about them. Both characters have amazing character development especially Hannah. There are also amazing side characters in this book like Hannah’s best friend and Jack’s parents. The romance is fake dating but I’m sad to say that there is as no steamy scene though the romance was very slow burn which was good.

Throughout the ending I was honestly shocked with what was happening. Katherine was about to blow up my mind and I was legit about to cry but I kept on going with this book. It was honestly one of my favorite reads of 2021 and I’m so glad to have read this book. This book honestly receives more starts out of 5 because that was how good it was.

Guys, I have found my new favorite Katherine Center book!! The Bodyguard is sooo good! It is hilarious, cute, emotional and has so many lovable characters. If you liked her previous books, you will love this one!!!

I am not going to lie, I was hesitant to pick this up because it sounded kind of cheesy. A girl-next-door type hired to protect the biggest, hottest movie star in the world? I wasn't sure KC could make it work. But she totally did. The leading lady, Hannah, was a badass and totally believable in this role. And Jack, aka the movie star, was so endearing. The side characters, especially Jack's parents, were hysterical and so great.
All of her books are awesome, but there was just something about this book that stole my heart. I can't wait to read more from her!

The Bodyguard is out now. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the early copy!

I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did (as I'm not big on the celebrity relationship trope), but it was such a delight. I stayed up until 3am on my first night reading it and finished the book the next morning. Within the first few chapters we meet Hannah, an unexpected bodyguard, and Jack, a reclusive celebrity who needs protection from a stalker. They're at odds until she proves to him that she has what it takes to protect him — but there's a twist, of course. When Jack's mother becomes sick and he needs to visit, Hannah is convinced to play the role of loving girlfriend. What ensues is equal parts humorous, tender and entertaining.
The Bodyguard might be my favorite of Center's books so far. She writes about serious topics in a way that her audience can relate to and empathize with. Fans of hers will love it, as will people new to her work. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Note: Please be aware of the trigger warnings this book contains, including: death of a parent, death of a family member, cancer, domestic abuse, alcoholism, and drowning.

Welcome to your next favorite read!

THE BODYGAURD is this summer’s unstoppable force of wit, humor, and delicious romance.

An utter delight, THE BODYGAURD is filled with laugh out loud moments, heartbreaking ones too, and a dash of suspense towards the very end (I did NOT see that coming). This book is like a gift to romance readers. Center will keep you entertained with the savory banter, sweet flirtation, and the swift momentum of watching two people fall in love.

It’s a book that gets you pretty close to happiness.

I loved every page.

Now go read this book!

Happy Reading ~ Cece

After a devastating loss and personal betrayal, executive protection agent Hannah Brooks is assigned to protect movie star Jack Stapleton in Texas when all she wants to do is leave the country in The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. Written in the first-person POV of Hannah, The Bodyguard merges three of my favorite tropes—bodyguards, fake dating, and friends-to-lovers, which is why I was excited to read it. And I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this fun, charming novel. Keeping it real, from the moment Hannah’s boss begins discussing the assignment, nobody could tell me that Jack isn’t Chris Evans. Cause in my head, that’s who he is! And, surprise, surprise. I love Jack so much! But not because he makes me think of Chris. I love him because Center’s descriptive writing, excellent storytelling, and character development made me fall in love with him—Hannah and her story—along with Hannah when it is the last thing she’s looking for or expecting.

Center’s vibrant writing is rich with details, emotion, animated and snarky dialogue and character interactions, and her deft use of all the senses in her storytelling and narrative. I especially love how she uses the five senses to reveal how Hannah more freely connects with the world through her senses rather than her emotions. One of the things that capture Hannah’s notice/imagination first and foremost about Jack is his specific scent. Also, Hannah sees and prides herself on her observational skills. But her “vision” fails her when most needed. Center consistently comes back to these throughout the novel at pivotal moments.

Center wonderfully develops her complex, imperfect, relatable characters for whom you cannot help but want all the best. I couldn’t wait for Hannah to get this assignment she so clearly did not want but needed in the worst way! Hyper-observant, focused, intelligent, logical, sharp, and always ready to move on to the next assignment, Hannah excels as an EPA/bodyguard. However, there are sides to her she keeps tightly locked down because of childhood/parental baggage. Hannah’s also sarcastic, funny, kind, loyal, and a secret romantic and Jack Stapleton fan. But, to Hannah’s surprise, Jack is nothing like she expects. He’s so much more. Jack’s a down-to-earth, authentic sweetheart who’s funny, charming, gentle, and sarcastic. But he’s haunted by trauma—a tragic accident and loss he doesn’t talk about, clearly weighing on him and distancing him from his family.

I love the development of Jack and Hannah’s relationship and their humorous, snarky, sweet, and, at times, sexy banter and intimacy. But most of all, I love how seriously into Hannah Jack is, despite her inability to see or believe it. Though Hannah’s determined to keep her usual distance from Jack—even more so because he’s a movie star—he breaks down her barriers. Hannah and Jack’s lives couldn’t be more different, but their closely held personas, which few get to see/experience because they hide them from the world behind a façade, are not so different. That’s why, as unlikely as it seems, he and Hannah perfectly match. They balance each other, helping each other to heal. I also love Hannah’s interactions with Jack’s family.

While Hannah looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a ballpoint pen, dinner napkin, or a wine bottle opener, in reality, she’s an Executive Protection Agent—AKA bodyguard. She desperately wants an assignment for a mission to Korea or anywhere outside the US to escape her life ASAP! But instead, she’s assigned as primary to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from a middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker. After a family tragedy, Jack dropped from the public eye, going off the grid. But after his mom gets sick, Jack needs protection to keep him safe when he goes home to his family’s Texas ranch to be with her and his family.

However, Hannah must pretend she’s Jack’s girlfriend to keep his family from finding out about the stalker and his bodyguard. Jack, the person, is nothing like the superstar celebrity she’s expecting. Hannah’s used to guarding people and keeping her distance but spending time with Jack and his family undercover as his girlfriend is way out of her comfort zone. The more time she spends with Jack, the more she learns about him and herself. Her heart’s in danger because there’s nowhere for her to run this time. Hannah’s got Jack Stapleton’s back, but he’s got her heart. Can she keep him safe without losing her heart to him completely? Can they keep the secret they’re hiding without it blowing up in their faces?

The scenes with Hannah’s Executive Protection Agency co-workers meeting about the case and working together are hilarious. A fascinating group, their interactions with each other and Hannah are entertaining, offering insight into Hannah and contributing to her character development/evolution—particularly her boss, boyfriend, and best friend.

Exploring themes of family, self-discovery, self-esteem, hope, grief, loss, and trauma, The Bodyguard is a surprisingly romantic, suspenseful, sweet, charming, and funny, well-plotted contemporary romance with surprising twists and turns and beautiful moments that sneaks up on your heart.

CW: Parent death, alcoholism, domestic abuse, stalker, cancer, PTSD, trauma, death of a sibling

Advanced review copy provided by St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley for review.

- it took about a third until the fun story starts, but it’s so worth it. the last two thirds flew by and had me cracking up
- there were a couple times I literally gasped out loud. there was actual shock at some of the reveals 😂

this was funny and sweet. a quick, lighthearted read perfect for summer!!!

I kind of finished this feeling like there should've been .... more. more dialogue between jack and hannah while they were falling in love. more badass female bodyguard action. more depth overall. it felt kind of short and like some avenues weren't as explored as I wanted. overall though I loved this for what it was!

this absolutely should be made into a movie starring ryan reynolds. I would watch the heck out of that

This book was so fun and engaging it puts a smile on my face just thinking about it! Not usually one to read rom-coms, but gave this a try and am so glad I did. I'm already imagining the movie casting.. Hannah and Jack each have their own demons so it takes them awhile to realize they are perfect for each other.

Did you ever think you could be in love with a famous movie star and the feeling was mutual? Welcome to Hannah Brooks life! A executive security specialist and semi-workaholic, she spends her career never getting close to her clients. She's versed in all the ways to disable external threats, but never sees this internal one to her heart. Jack is a world famous gorgeous movie star that's in need of protection, and at first Hannah wants no part of it. Slowly, over the 4-5 weeks they spend together, they learn to respect and love each other. How will they make this work and keep their day jobs? You'll just have to read it to find out..

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for providing me with a eARC of this excellent book to read and review 🙂

The main character Hannah Brooks looks like a kindergarten teacher but is actually a kick ass bodyguard is hired to protect famous movie star Jack Stapleton. This premise could be flat and 2D with another author, but with Katherine Centre it becomes a delightful sweet yet humorous ride that you never want to end. The author is great at making characters, who are lovable but realistic (flaws and all). She also perfectly balance humorous moments with sweet moments to prevent the book from becoming too saccharine.

I would say that this book is a must read for lovers of rom-com and I personally am going to check out other titles from this author !

I thought that this was a fun read and I really enjoyed it. The burn is slow, but chemistry certainly sizzles as Hannah and Jack's story unfolds. The banter is clever and the story entertaining. A solid blend of drama, emotion, humor and heart fuels this book that reads smoothly and easily.

The Bodyguard by @katherinecenter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

HAPPY PUB DAY!! This books comes out TODAY and I need everyone to buy it, get it from the library, listen to it on audio, whatever you can do to get your hands on this book!!

Katherine Center NEVER disappoints and is quickly becoming an auto buy author for me. This book is full of adorable rom com, will they or won’t they moments and I loved the idea of the girl being the powerful one in the relationship. I just can’t get enough of these characters. The story is so much more than your typical romance, and dives so much deeper into family themes and forgiveness. It’s not the spiciest read but it’s adorable and worth the read.

Overall, you need to get this one ASAP!! It’s the perfect quick summer beach read!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC! ❤️

4.5 stars for this fake-dating, opposites attract rom-com!

I haven't read any of Katherine Center's other books, but I am adding them to my TBR IMMEDIATELY!

Hannah is an executive protection agent tasked with safeguarding superstar actor Jack Stapleton while his mother undergoes breast cancer surgery and treatment. Hannah must pose as Jack's girlfriend to keep his family out of the loop that his life might be in danger, so his mom can recover in a stress-free environment. Circumstances rapidly change, which raises Jack's "threat level." Because of this, Hannah and Jack have to stay on his family's ranch together for a few weeks to keep up appearances that they are together. As the days pass, Hannah and Jack grow closer than they should, while outside forces do their best to ensure they have no future together.

"The Bodyguard" is near-perfect, in my opinion. I could not stop reading it. I finished it in one day! It's funny, it's full of terrific banter, it's compelling, it's thrilling at times, and it's heartwarming and super sweet. I laughed; I cried; I even clutched my chest a couple of times. It's SO good! This book has a fair amount of action to go along with the romance and the comedy. I love how Hannah is written as a capable character who can hold her own under pressure. She's strong, badass, and clever, despite being vulnerable. The book also has a lot to say about moving on after trauma. It shows how you can embrace grief to move forward with your life. I wholly empathized with the main characters. I felt their bond grow stronger as time went on. I felt their pain, sensed their struggles, and craved their connection. Katherine Center does an outstanding job fleshing out her characters, even the secondary ones.

Overall, I loved "The Bodyguard." The story might feel familiar, but that doesn't stop it from being a wholly enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, and the author, for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated in any way for my review.

(potential TW: themes about illness and death)

I loved that this wasn’t about the typical make bodyguard but about a female one. I love Catherine Center. Love her writing style and this book hit the mark. The main character learning and experiencing an emotional self discovery throughout the book was new and felt real. It’s fun, heartwarming, romantic and everything I love about Katherine Centers writing style. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for a digital arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great book! I can't say enough how much I enjoyed it. The plot was good, the characters were charming and the narration on the audiobook was fantastic. I look forward to reading more books by Katherine Center.

4 Protective Turns Loving Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
This had a premise that most may think is unusual but in today's times, women are doing it all. The idea of a security person being a woman may not be the usual troupe and The Bodyguard used this to take the fake girlfriend on a different journey.

We have a top-level movie star being stalked by an obsessive woman. He needs to go home to his mom as she has cancer and he wants to be with her during her treatment. The production company insists on protection for him but the idea of his mother seeing all of this while she is going through the fight of her life causes the compromise of a woman security person for him.

This allows the two of them to decide on her being a fake girlfriend in front of his family. Both of these characters have serious relationship baggage and we get front-row seats, watching them work through all of it, and fall hard for each other. Yum.

Katherine Center has always been a favorite writer of mine. Her wisdom and emotional stories have satisfied me for years. But with The Bodyguard, Center seems to have found a different writing style and voice and it is incredibly entertaining! The adorable story, rooting for the underdog, quick and snarky dialogue which seems to make you fall in love with all the characters, well, most of them, is perfect. And I loved it!

Hannah Brooks looks like an ordinary no make-up wearing plain Jane who wears pants suits and cuts her own hair, (when she remembers). Someone who would not be noticed. Ever. Which is good because if you cross her, she can kill you with her bare hands, or a bottle opener which she carries on her person, somewhere. Hannah works for an exclusive Executive Protection Agency. It is an elite private bodyguard company. She is a bodyguard. A good one.

But having just lost her mother, she is told to take some time off. Something she doesn’t know how to do. Always series and by the book, Hannah does not know what the word relax, or rest even means. When she begs for a job to keep her mind off her life which seems to be suddenly blowing up on her, her boss gives her one. She says no… next. He says take it or leave.

So, Hannah finds herself as the bodyguard to a superstar, hunky, adorable, muscly actor named Jack Stapleton. But there are a few problems. Jack, whose mother is sick, and he is going home to their ranch in Texas does not want his family knowing that his off again on-again stalker, a woman who breeds corgis for a living is trying to track him down. He is not looking forward to the visit because he and his brother hate each other, and oh, he does not want his family to know he has a bodyguard, so they are to pretend to be a couple. Something which most of Hannah’s office finds delightfully hysterical.

Considering the threat level is low, and Hannah has been promised a plum assignment if she accepts this job, she agrees. She thinks she will be in an out and in Korea in days. Alas, she is wrong. As problems begin to heat up in Jack’s family and with Jack and Hannah who both could win Oscars for their acting skills, Hannah finds herself attracted to a family life she never saw or had growing up. But just when Hannah thinks she is free and clear of whatever her mind is trying to tell her, everything changes, and all is not fun and games anymore. As a matter of fact, they become deadly.

The Bodyguard is a charming story about a woman with a mind of her own, who does not care what others think of her, who takes on any challenge (even wearing a sundress), to protect her clients even if it means she could die. Along with the sassy exchanges and terrific comedic timing throughout the story, this book is a winner!

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #KatherineCentter #TheBodyguard for the advanced copy.