This book reads like a Hallmark movie where the female lead is whisked away to the family home of the actor she’s providing service protection for. I liked getting to know his family and seeing how they interacted. I didn’t like the female lead’s interactions with her ex. I don’t think any women would tolerate that in the real world.

You absolutely cannot go wrong with the Catherine center book. I’ve never read a book by Catherine that I didn’t absolutely love! And this one was no different. Love the characters. Love the storyline easy read.

Genre: Romantic Comedy
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up to 5 on GR)
Current GR rating: 4.00
Format: Audiobook via @libby.app 🎧
Spice meter: 0/5 🌶 (not spicey)!
TW: death of parent

Nominee for Best Romance in 2022 on @goodreads 👏🏼

READ IF YOU LIKE:
💛Fake dating
🛏One bed
👩🏼‍🤝‍👨🏻Forced proximity
💵Rich/famous MMC falling for your “average” girl
🚪Closed door romance
🌟Hollywood
🐴Texas ranch setting

✨ Jack Stapleton is a Hollywood superstar… with a stalker. Jack travels home due to familial circumstances, but doesn’t want this stalker to become a problem; he decides to get a bodyguard, who shockingly enough, is a super cute FEMALE. As a cover-up for his family, they pretend they’re in a relationship. 🙊

☁️THOUGHTS
This was an amazing rom-com audiobook, oh my goodness!!!! I didn’t quiteeee get that solid 5 star feeling, but I can’t pinpoint why- I loved everything about this book & finished it in less than 24 hours. I absolutely adored both of our MCs, & loved the fun spin with our FEMALE main character being the bodyguard. I tend to go into my books blindly (w/out reading synopses) & have to admit that I 100% assumed the male was the bodyguard. Such a pleasant surprise- we love a strong female lead!!! 🙌🏼

I laughed, smiled (ear to ear!!!), teared up; just adored it! I read a previous Center novel (this is my 2nd), & liked it- solid 4 star; but this one was another level. The banter, quirkiness, & the amazing supportive characters. 🥹 The ending was predictable, but what else would you hope to happen in a rom-com?! 🤣💗 Love love love! Cannot wait to get to the rest of her backlist.

This was JUST the book of pure JOY that I was craving. 🫶🏼

“You can’t make people love you. But you can give the love you long for out to the world. You can be the love you wish you had. That’s the way to be okay. Because giving love to other people is a way of giving it to yourself.”
“When you’re not around, even for a little while, I feel like I have to go find you. I just feel this pull to be near you… I feel like I’ve been lost all my life until now – and somehow with you, I’m just found.” 🥹💗

So highly recommend!

Hannah has experienced loss to a degree that she feels completely alone. Her mother died. Then betrayal came next. This eliminated her boyfriend and best friend. Hannah’s profession as executive security takes her all over the world. Her next assignment is for the very handsome actor Jack Stapleton. Hannah doubts her ability to be loved and intentions of those around her. I adored this novel. The Bodyguard was a breath of fresh air. The narrators were perfect selection.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martins Press, NetGalley and Katherine Center for this ARC.

Cute, easy read. Picked it up as a palate cleanser and it definitely kept me interested. No spice, but that didn't take away from the story for me. Overall, this was the feel good, fun, cheesy romcom I didn't know I needed!

such a fresh take on the bodyguard trope. i truly enjoyed seeing a woman in what isa heavily male dominated career both on and off page. the was a wonderful read and i could see myself picking it up again in the future

I’m a big fan of Katherine Center’s writing. Each time I think this is the best book so far and then the next is somehow even better.

I love the sweet, romantic plots that are entirely realistic. Her writing is perfection, not over the top with silliness or romantic situations. Each of her books has had me grinning at different points out of secondhand embarrassment and also laughter. I never see the twist coming, I’m always too caught up on the rest of the story. I love that part the most, keeps me on my toes.

Absolutely loved this cute romcom! The perfect combo of silly, love, suspense, and finding yourself. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend if you love a good romcom!

Very fun read!! I loved the female bodyguard - turning the trope over and enjoyed the dynamic very much. The final showdown is fantastic.

Just wrapped up "The Bodyguard" by Katherine Center, and let me spill the tea – Jack and Hannah's chemistry is next-level amazing. It's this slow-burn magic, but I couldn't help but wish for a bit more romance. A tiny bit more spice, and it would've been perfection.

The story is all about Hannah, this kickass bodyguard, pretending to be Jack's girlfriend to shake off his stalker. The drama is real, and I was totally sucked in. But, here's the thing – the ending felt a bit hurried, including the epilogue. I wanted a touch more closure, you know? Nevertheless, "The Bodyguard" is a wild ride with an epic plot, and the connection between the characters is downright addictive.

Katherine Center never disappoints and THE BODYGUARD is no exception! She has become an auto-buy/read author for me and I can hardly wait for her next novel

Loved the dry sense of humor and banter so so much.

This is the first of Katherine Centers books that I’ve read and I really enjoyed her writing style! I have a hard time with books that are just one long paragraph after the next and having the short paragraph/fragmented thought style of writing. That’s how my thoughts usually are and the way my brain works so this was great for me.

The storyline was very cute and I love the reversal of your typical ‘the bodyguard’ scenario.

Overall I give this 4.5 stars.

I love Katherine Center’s books, and this one did not disappoint. It was fun and witty and such a great time! I love the strong FMC!

I was absolutely obsessed with this one. The sexual tension and dynamics of the characters were heart clenching.

Absolutely loved this book! It was so beautifully written. It had everything I could possibly want in a romance book: great chemistry, slow burn, fake dating, humor and emotional connections to the characters.

My first reading of this author - and I loved it! The main character is fun and a little quirky. The book made me smile and the writing kept me engaged throughout. The interactions between the characters are believable - which I appreciated. The novel has references to grief. I plan on reading this author's backlist.

The Bodyguard

The Bodyguard had my attention from the first page. Hannah Brook’s life is falling apart. After losing her mother, her boyfriend and her next work assignment all in one week, her life starts to look pretty grim. When Hannah gets assigned to protect a very famous actor here in her hometown in Texas, she is not as enthusiastic as the rest of her team. Hannah was really looking forward to travelling across the world for her next assignment, but now her world is turned upside down when she is assigned to protect Jack Stapleton from a stalker, by pretending to be his girlfriend. Hannah’s heart is broken right now and trying to pretend to be in a happy relationship is a challenge for her. As time goes on, Hannah is faced with the idea of letting someone into her life, which also means healing her heart. This book is quick paced and filled with personal struggle and growth. I found myself connected to the characters and rooting for Hannah and Jack in different challenges. This book also explores the reality of family struggles, loss, grief and illness. Katherine Center did a great job and encompassing all these topics with grace and love.

This was so cute and fun! It definitely gives Miss Congeniality vibes. I love the Texas setting and the grumpy(female)-sunshine(male) trope. Also, the forced proximity is *chef’s kiss* I definitely recommend this one.

I absolutely loved The Bodyguard by Katherine Center! I couldn’t stop reading once I started.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

This was a pleasant surprise of a romance novel. Nothing in the book felt forced, like so many romance novels often do. It was comical too which lightened the mood and I honestly think that made it so much more relatable. So many romance books want you to take the romance seriously even though it’s either a trope you’ve seen a hundred times (hallmark talking to you) or it’s entirely unrelatable/unlikely (think 50 Shades of Grey or 365).

This book took what could be a squishy and mushy trope (female bodyguard protects hot movie star man) and made the characters real. Really real. Her job as a bodyguard and how she takes it serious, it felt genuine, his family being fairly down to earth (I think I’ve met these people before). They all felt real and that’s what made the romance part of it feel real. An excellent book, I look forward to reading more from this author.