<i>“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 want to know what you’re thinking, and what you’re up to, and how you feel. I want to take you places and show you things.”</i>

I love the concept of this book! I think the fact that Hannah is a bodyguard alone is amazing. Sadly the relationship felt like it never took off for me. It was sweet and had a lot of potential but overall I didn’t feel what I hoped I would.

But I loved the growth of our main characters, the banter was funny and Jack Stapleton seems like a true dream guy!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC!

3/5⭐️

4/5 ⭐️

thank you st. martin’s press for this arc! this book will be released in july 19th, 2022!

i really enjoyed this book! i was a quick and fun rom-com that was a pretty quick and easy read. i loved the banter, the tropes (one-bed, bodyguard romance, fake dating) and the characters. i loved hannah and jack so much and i enjoyed how much each of their characters development and how their relationship together flourished. i also really enjoyed the supporting characters in this book and how developed they were as well! i feel like this book also had a very light thriller component, so that was unexpected but very nice. overall, i really enjoyed this light and fun read!

“the people we love help teach us who we are. the best versions of who we are, if we’re lucky.”

Foremost, I would like to think NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of the audiobook.

On a side note, I don’t do book reviews any very much anymore because I just don’t have the time to read and the only way I get any “reading” done is to listen to audiobooks.

Let’s address the narration. The narration was most excellent. In fact, I think if I had been reading the book the protagonist would not have been as likable if I had not been listening to the audiobook because the narrator Patti Murin made the book for me.

Let’s move onto the book itself. I have written a blog posted with viral about How To Walk Away. I read Things You Save In A Fire and What You Wish For, and I loved these books.

Why did I love them? Because they were rich in details about the characters. Their past was relatable. You had enough information about the protagonist that it made you cry when you read their painful memories. It helped with the character development.

The problem with The Bodyguard is it’s lacking that. I’m not saying that the book isn’t good. It’s lacking the rich details that were in Katherine Center’s previous books that made you feel something. You don’t know enough about Hannah and Jack. You’ve got some details here and there, but it was just wasn’t enough. The reveal for Jack’s most painful memory that we needed to know was too late in the book.

I teared up at maybe two points, and that was it. Katherine Center books usually have me sobbing and weeping to where I’m going through tissues like crazy and this did not happen with The Bodyguard. I just didn’t feel for the character. It entertained me for sure, but I was not feeling for the character.

Despite lacking rich details, the story was fun, and it flowed quickly. It was too much of a romance book for my liking. It’s almost as if they envisioned this being adapted into a movie already and wanted it to be like the perfect romantic comedy.

Long story short, this flows like a Hallmark movie. There’s honestly nothing funny in this book. I think that’s the problem with it. If there was some comic relief, it would’ve balanced things out a bit more. Instead, you get this character that’s been through all this trauma and instead of feeling sorry for her and feeling like you could empathize with her, you can’t. Because you don’t know enough about Hannah to feel invested in Hannah.

And Jack you do not really know enough about him until it’s too late in the book and by then you’re not that invested in his character.

It pains me to leave this review because honestly Katherine Center’s previous books made me cry. I could totally relate to those characters. Honestly, I found the previous books to be entertaining, and I couldn’t put them down and when I did I went to pick them back up again as soon as possible. I actually went two or three days at one point where I didn’t listen to The Bodyguard audiobook, and that just says a lot.

I give this book four out of five stars solely because it is entertaining in the narration was very good. Once again, if I was reading an actual hard copy of the book, I might not have nicer things to say. The narrator made the book. She made Hannah better.

I have noticed that with some books that the audiobook version is leaps and bounds better than the actual book because the narrator makes an ok book great, and I think this is one of those cases.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center is an amazing story I wanted to laugh and cry and hate Robby. but from the beginning I loved Jack Stapleton. Read the story their is love, understanding and amazement at the bodyguard story.

I love Katherine Center books. Are they a bit cheesy sometimes? Yes. But mostly they are broken characters who find a new chance at love. Perfect for when you want a sweet and light romance.
The Bodyguard features Hannah, who works as a bodyguard, hired to protect swoon worthy movie star Jack Stapleton. Jack has his own set of complex trauma and family pain to sort out two years after his brothers death, and along the way Hannah discovers he’s a real person, not just a movie star. Hannah has to confront some of her own demons, while trying to ignore the fact that maybe, just maybe, she’s falling for Jack. Is there anything better than a movie star and his bodyguard falling in love? With some fake dating trope thrown in? Predictable, but perfect. My perfect read for a sick day.

This is the best book!! Laugh out loud funny. The perfect summer read that you can recommend to ALL of your friends! This will be on my top 10 of the year for sure.

Thank you so much @StMartinsPress & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 19 July 2022)

SYNOPSIS | Hannah is an Executive Protection Agent aka a bodyguard. Her latest client is a well known movie star (Jack) except this assignment is a little unusual as she needs to pretend to be his girlfriend so his family doesn't find out that he is being stalked.

WHAT I LIKED:
- that the female MC was a bodyguard
- perfectly bingeable writing

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- overall it was a bit too lighthearted & romcom feel good vibes for me
- the "bad ex" was over-the-top & a cliché villain
- Hannah's actions (eg screaming at being licked by a cow) just didn't match up with how she was portrayed as this badass experienced bodyguard
- I was definitely missing the dual POV
- There is slow-burn & then there is kissing at the 85% mark...

My first book by this author and surely not my last!

If you are a romance reader you have read this trope before - superstar falls in love with their bodyguard but Katherine Center did it a little differently and it's probably why I enjoyed this so much!

Hannah is the Executive Protection Agent (bodyguard) and Jack Stapelton is the superstar!  Hannah's character is strong, determined, and a bit of a badass.  She's had a tough time personally but she's up for the challenge.  She had no idea that by agreeing to be Jack's bodyguard that she would also have to be the pretend girlfriend.  But hey, pretending to be in love with a hot movie star can't be that awful right?

The banter between Jack and Hannah was sweet and flirty and Jack is one swoony guy.  As much as Hannah tries to keep it professional, it's hard when Jack is a genuinely nice guy!

Watching these two characters. become friends and more was a delight!

This narrator was new to me but I feel as though she did a great job of bringing the characters to life!

This was one of the most easily enjoyable books I've read in a long time. It sucked me in right away and had me smiling until the last page.

Was the plot realistic? Not really. In fact, I found it very far-fetched, especially the workplace shenanigans. But honestly, I didn't care because this book was SO DAMN CUTE

This book was such fun. From the premise (aka tiny is tasked with protecting big and could probably take anyone), to the characters and the situations they all found themselves in.

Jack was a swoony hero and I loved all the references to his previous work (iykyk) and I just love the heck out of the man, okay? I too, would go to unparalleled lengths to protect him. Hannah was also very funny, though not in the way you think, and she was a blast to read about. My only wish i regards to their relationship would be that we had gotten to see them together in page some more, you know?

That being said, this is a prefect light and funny read that is sure to keep you entertained. It is perfect for summer or if you’re looking for a little bit of outrageous fun.

“I felt his gaze like a physical sensation-like sun rays on my skin”

The Bodyguard was a lighthearted, funny, and charming read! It’s a fake dating/forced proximity trope but with all sweetness, very little spice. It was lovely. I definitely recommend. I wish it wasn’t a stand alone - I wish I got more of Jack and Hannah! They’re both so genuine.

Hannah is reeling from recent losses in her life and gets stuck protecting famous, superstar actor Jack Stapleton. She tried to be immune to his charms but failed because Jack is actually a really sweet, charming, and down to earth gentleman. Jack has been hiding away from his famous life after a personal tragedy. Hannah was exactly what he needed to bring him back to life. He laughed so much with her. They’re so good for each other!!

Jack and Hannah’s relationship was a slow burn and yet I could tell they were smitten with each other from day one. They each put the other first. That was my favorite part of this book, their actions spoke louder than their words. They showed their love long before they spoke it. I loved their banter and the dialogue. They took such good care of each other.

“Maybe love isn’t a judgement you render - but a chance you take. Maybe it’s something you choose to do - over and over.”

I will read whatever Katherine Center puts out and I'm so glad I was able to read this one.

Like with all of her books you are torn between laughing and crying for a lot of the book. She tackles such heavy topics with such grace.

Definitely recommend.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the eARC!

RATING: 4/5 stars
PUB. DATE: July 19, 2022

Wow y’all. I did not expect to love this one as much as I did. This was the first book I’ve read by Katherine Center and it certainly will not be my last.

If you’re looking for a super fun, summer read look no further! I loved Hannah and Jack’s relationship so much. If you love the fake dating trope like I do, you will enjoy this one!

Overall, I highly recommend! Such a good read!

I am struggling writing a review for this book. This may not be fair, but because I have read Katherine Center a few times before , I had high expectations for this book. Parts of this book were very light, unbelievable and almost funny. Other parts were deep issues each of the main characters were dealing with. Some times I felt like I was being yank between a light summer read and a deeper look into two people trying to work through some issues.

There were a few things that I did like - I appreciated the bodyguard was a petite woman ( instead of a large man ), I liked that it was not insta-love and I liked that the physical relationship took time and was behind closed doors. I do enjoy the fake relationship sub-genre.

The epilogue was pretty long and included a lot more information than I felt needed.

So this was a weird one. It's definitely a romance. But I felt like the romance between Hannah and Jack took way too long to get going. I wasn't picking up any he's really into her vibes at all in this until a key point in the book. It also as some have pointed out felt like a very slapstick book. I mean I laughed a lot. Robby was a mess. Taylor could kick rocks. Glenn was a hilarious boss who was tired of everyone dating and breaking up. But the central romance was not the real focus it seemed. I did like how things wrapped up in this one, we kind of jump forward by 5 years at least in the end (you have to read the context clues) but you don't get to really "know" a lot of things that you may have questions about. I definitely liked this one better than "What You Wish For" and by the way, I am still annoyed by that book. 

"The Bodyguard" follows Executive Protection Agent, Hannah Brooks. Hannah is reeling from the sudden death of her mother. Her boss refuses to let her come back to work, so she's left behind while her boyfriend goes off on a client trip. He of course breaks up with her before he goes (because Robby sucks beyond the telling). Hannah is still dealing with this weeks later, but when Glenn gets a new client, he ends up assigning it to Hannah. She's being asked to pretend to be the girlfriend of Hollywood movie star, Jack Stapleton for a few weeks. Jack is in town because his mother is ill, but he has a stalker that is threatening him. Due to this, Hannah is going to have to be up close and personal with him. 

So Hannah. I really liked her. She has a good sense of right and wrong. I also liked that she refused to forgive people who did crappy things towards her. Look, I am not one of those live, laugh, love people. You screw with me I am going to do my level best to 1) never speak to you again and 2) chuckle when karma comes back to slap you in the face. I think that women often are treated as being unreasonable when we cut off people from our lives who do not enhance that. Screw that. Anyway, Hannah has a good sense of boundaries, and I maybe chuckled at the end that you find out that she's still holding a relationship at arms length years later and honestly I don't blame her. I liked her interactions with other characters and just genuinely laughed a lot during many of the scenes we get.

Jack felt a bit paper thin to me for way too much of this book. Things get going with him as I said, at a key point and then you can see "something" there between Hannah and him. I just felt like for a while that there was so much of Hannah's office antics going on, that you didn't get to spend too much time with the central romance. 

The other characters like Robby (needed beat with a hammer), Taylor (needed pushed into the ocean), Glenn, Kelly, and others really do build up this book though. The office side of things had me wishing that this was a comedy show I could watch. Everyone is highly unprofessional with each other I thought and were messes! I would never hire this firm. 

The writing was good and the flow too. I did think things got really draggy in the end though and there's a whole thing that gets tossed out that would have been better left out I thought. It was not needed and it felt like filler. 

The ending was sweet though. I really enjoyed it.

The Bodyguard by Catherine Center

Hannah is a bodyguard. Not your typical bodyguard. And not just because she's a woman.

Hannah is at a low point in her life at the moment. Her mother recently passed and then her boyfriend dumps her. The last thing she wants is to be charged with protecting some famous actor with an inflated ego. But if she wants to have a chance at the new role at her workplace, then she must take this job.

Things do not start out well when her new subject mistakes her for a cleaning lady. Well, that is until she proves him wrong. Jack is only in Texas to be near his ailing mother and so far the public doesn't know he's here. It won't be that difficult to protect him, right?

The Bodyguard tackles some serious subjects and some humorous ones too. I liked both main characters and the secondary ones as well. As their backstories unfold, you can't help but feel their pain. But you also get to feel their joy too.

Catherine Center does not disappoint. I'm looking forward to what she writes next.

Many thanks to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

Wow, just wow! I’ve been a big fan of Katherine Center for quite a while, and this has got to be one of my favorites from her thus far. With another strong female protagonist and a heart-warming plot, she captured my interest from the very beginning—I pretty much read this in one sitting. Beyond the love story, Center delves into discovering one’s self worth and finding one’s true family. 5/5 big stars! I will read anything that Center writes!

The bodyguard

Another cute but expected romance but I loved the twist of a female bodyguard. Just hated that they called her average, “average” is real and Kennedy Monroe was anything but. Proposing to a man is just gross in my eyes, screams pick me when the man does not want you.
She was the least of anyone’s worries, the Corgi stalker was too easy, too simple. There had to be someone else, using her diversions to get to him.
This was more than a bodyguard falls for her principal but about people who just want to be loved. Who believe that they are unworthy of love, of course the infamous Wilbur getting away with attempted murder and living happily ever after is only something that can happen in a rom com. I must say I expected more from Center. I’ve read a few of her books before and I was left in tears. This book was cute but not something I would pick up again.

The Bodyguard was a feel good, light-hearted rom-com with two likeable main characters. Hannah is the private bodyguard assigned to protect Jack, the handsome, charming, world famous movie star, from a fan who has turned into a stalker. The story is told from Hannah’s viewpoint, using the first person perspective, which I found effective as it really served to let the reader know Hannah. The relationship between Hannah and Jack unfolded at a good pace and there were several funny and adorable moments between them. I also liked that the author did a good job of exploring different aspects of love including parental love, friendship, romantic love, and self-love. The novel was just as much about Hannah and Jack falling in love as it was about Hannah learning about and appreciating herself. An enjoyable read!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book! I loved the reversal in the gender roles, having the woman be the protector of the man, it was such a fun and empowering twist. Hannah is such a powerful leading lady, she doesn’t take crap from the narcissistic and overpowering men she is surrounded by. She is the perfect match for Jack, the troubled Hollywood hotty who is needing protection during a family matter. I loved the push and pull of their relationship, the banter back and forth and the truth in their relationship. It may have been fast attraction but it wasn’t a quick relationship, it took time, trust and a lot of faith. The Bodyguard was such a sweet read, I definitely recommend!