Hannah Brooks is an executive protection agent, hired by Hollywood hearthrob, Jack Singleton's producers against his protests. He needs to be guarded from a stalker, but who's going to protect his heart from Hannah? Laugh-out-loud funny, thesis a great beach read for everyone. Recommended. #TheBodyguard #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthors

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center confirms that romance novels still do it for me.

Hannah Brooks is not having a good week. The next day of her mother's funeral, her boyfriend dumps her and he cites 3 reasons. The last one is like a knife to the chest.

"You’re a bad kisser".

For Hannah, the only way to deal with all of it is to immerse herself in her work. She is an Executive Protection Agent, a bodyguard. She begs her boss for a new assignment but the boss tells her she has to grieve and grounds her.

After a month, she is finally about to go back to work. She’s excited to leave Texas behind and go anywhere else. The joke is on her when her boss Glenn tells her, she is staying and she is going to be the lead bodyguard for Jack Stapleton, a famous actor.

Jack and Hannah's first encounter is not a perfect one. He confused her with the cleaning lady and by the end of the interview, she has left him on the floor after he told her to prove to him she could take him. Things get more complicated when Jake doesn't want his mother, who has been diagnosed with cancer, to know his life might be in danger and he wants Hannah to fake being his girlfriend. Hannah doesn't want to do it but she is competing for a new position and she will do it to keep her job and win the post.

After days of spending time together, Hannah realizes she has developed feelings for Jack and Jack seem to be reciprocating them. But is it for real or is Jake acting instead?

I loved both characters. They were both dealing with things from their past and carrying the guilt with them. It was nice to see how they complemented each other and helped the other one heal. Their banter was outstanding and the way their relationship develops felt real and believable. Best was the amazing epilogue which answers everything I wanted to know.

The Bodyguard proves once again why I love Katherine Center's writing so much.

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center does it again!! I love her books, her characters….everything!

The Bodyguard is about Hannah Brooks who is…you guessed it, a bodyguard. Hannah’s life is a mess. Her mother just died. Her boyfriend broke up with her. And worst of all, now she’s in a competition with her ex for her dream job.

In walks Jack Stapleton, a handsome movie star that needs protection while he is in town visiting his sick mother. Hannah has to pretend to be his girlfriend so his family won’t find out that there is even a small amount if danger in Jack coming to visit.

Hannah has to put away her pantsuits and pretend that she is in love with America’s heartthrob.

Secrets are revealed, family drama ensues, maybe a little romance and action to round out a great story.

I was provided this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

How can readers not fall in love with EVERY SINGLE ONE of Katherine Center’s books??? The Bodyguard is touted as “a warm hug,” which is beyond an apt description.

Hannah Brooks, Executive Protection Agent—you read that right, SHE is the bodyguard (Yay for girl power!)—will have you laughing and cringing with all her missteps embarrassing moments. She’s so endearing you will quickly become her biggest cheerleader. Hannah’s also a bada$$ who can take down a full-grown man before he knows what hit him.

Jack Stapleton—household name and swoon-worthy movie star—certainly didn’t see her coming. Troubled by his own demons and tragic past, he ditches the spotlight to focus on righting past wrongs and concentrating on what’s truly important in life. There’s also that tiny niggling detail of the stalker he’s trying to keep secret. But, minor detail, right?

By the end of the book, Center’s characters inevitably turn into people we wish we were friends with in real life—one of the biggest compliments you can give an author.

Another fabulous, funny, touching, and unputdownable read by one of my absolute favorites.

Name something that is easy to love… I’ll go first: Katherine Center books! I just could not get enough of her latest book… I’ve read it twice already and it doesn’t get released until July 19th! And yes… I’ll be rereading it again!

I adored the role reversal of the bodyguard and client! Hannah’s first meeting with Jack is so hilarious. Their back and forth banter is so quick and fiery I love it! It’s such a delicious slow burn… it has heat and sizzle! I just love them so much!

I love when characters are written so well it takes all of your strength not to dive into a book and punch them… once you’ve read this book you’ll understand that Robby is just punchable… I’m not normally a violent person either!

This is a book where all of the elements have been written perfectly perfect and once you are done it makes you want to reenact Maria spinning around in the Sound of Music… such is your joy!

Have you ever wondered what it was like to be in a pretend relationship with a movie star? Hannah Brooks certainly didn't see herself as being a believable girlfriend to THE Jack Stapleton, but it's part of the job as a secret service agent. So, when asked to go undercover for Jack and protect him, how could she say no? You will have a hard time not falling in love with the characters. The dialogue is delightful and humorous. Katherine Center has a way of writing that is both witty and uplifting. I feel the best kind of story can make you laugh, cry, and get angry. The Bodyguard had me laughing in moments and crying in others. I didn't want the story to end. I must also add, on a personal note, that I loved that one of the little towns that I am near was a vacation destination in this book.

This is my 9th Katherine Center novel and I am still her biggest fan!

Center's latest book focuses on Hannah, an Executive Protection Agent, aka bodyguard. At a little over 5 feet, she's not your average bodyguard but that's what makes the story more interesting. Hannah's new client is Jack, a handsome movie star who is being pursued by a stalker.

As the story progresses, Hannah must go undercover as Jack's girlfriend in order to stay near him. Hannah and Jack grow closer but both are dealing with insecurity and past heartbreaks. How will they fare? I highly recommend you pick up a copy to see how the story unfolds. Center is adept at weaving interesting storylines, multi-dimensional characters, and laugh-out-loud humor. But she elevates the story even further by going deeper with the storyline and the characters.

I loved every minute of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

I'm not big on romance novels, but Katherine Center always gets the right mix of romance and comedy that has me coming back for more. I also love that all of her female protagonists are so independent that really, that guy is a bonus, not a necessity.

4.5 Rounded up to Five!
This book was everything I love in women’s fiction and romance. I really appreciated Hannah’s story. She learned to stand up for what she deserved in a relationship and in life. Also, she didn’t go fully the opposite way of “men are trash” and I loved that balance.

Jack carried a lot of grief and guilt with him. In a different way then Hannah, he discovered what he deserved to have out of life. Together they were amazing and every so swoony.

I loved the ranch atmosphere and Jack’s mom and dad were the best! The bodyguard plot was also fantastic and had me addicted.

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What a fantastic read!
This is my first book by Katherine Center and this one blew me away. Centers writing and storytelling has this ability to draw me in and her books become instant favorites for me. After reading this, my heart was so full and I couldn’t stop smiling.
I love a good romance more than most, but sometimes it’s nice to read a book that has other elements as well.
Overall this was such a wonderful read for me and I can’t recommend it enough!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Hannah Brooks is in the protection business. She is tough and capable, yet she is also small and is often underestimated. She is also a work-aholic, and she doesn’t know how to slow down. She gets an adrenaline rush from her job and from being ‘on’ all the time. When her mother dies, Hannah isn’t quite sure how to behave, because all she knows is work. Her boss gives her a local assignment this time, and her assignment is Jack Stapleton-- a famous actor. Unfortunately, he has a stalker; additionally, his mom is fighting cancer, so he decides to go to Houston to be with her as she goes through the surgery and recovery. An additional complication is that his brother is very angry at him, because their other brother drowned while in Jack’s car after it crashed through a bridge. The deceased brother united the family. Now that he is gone, everyone is trying to figure out how to be together again.

This is a sold story, and one that is enjoyable to read. Jack is especially likeable as a character and is noble as well. He is grounded, and unafraid to be courageous. Hannah is a mess at the start of this book! She is incapable of relaxing and ends up sleeping curled up on the floor of her closet most nights. She can’t remember her last vacation and gets much of her identity from her job. She may be more difficult to relate to for normal people who maintain a healthy work/play balance in their lives. Nevertheless, she finally figures out what is important, and she is able to step back enough from her own feelings when it is necessary to be able to make some tough decisions, in spite of the danger.

This author has written some poignantly beautiful books. This one was enjoyable, but not quite in the same category as her more recent books, “What You Wish For,” and “Things You Save in a Fire.” Nevertheless, Ms. Center always leaves readers thinking about her characters, and about the story long after they are finished reading.

Katherine Center crafted a sweet, witty, fun romance novel. I was delighted and found myself finishing this book in one night.

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5🌟 1🌶

Please check CWs!

What I LOVED: I randomly craved for a bodyguard romance and this was the next best thing so I just had to read it and what’s more amazing is that the heroine is the “bodyguard” which I think I’ve never encountered before.

To start off, Hannah’s narration in this felt so personal as they were moments when she would talk to reader and that made it feel intimate and easy to feel connected to her. It was as if I was friends with Hannah and we were having a fun catch up 🤣

As I’ve mentioned, it was refreshing to have the heroine be the “bodyguard” this time around. Her job as an “Executive Protection Agent” was as badass as it sounds but it was fascinating to actually learn what that title entailed from the high stakes situations involved to the boring paperwork related. Despite her “epitome of ordinary” looks, she kept on proving that she’s more than what people think of her! (Who needs Hollywood approved looks when you can flip a man twice your size? 😝)

Jack Stapleton is botfriend goals. I know I’m not alone when I say that I’ve always dreamt of dating my celebrity crush in hopes of seeing a side of him you can never see as just a fan. This book did justice in showing exactly what I would think having a secret relationship with a celebrity woild be like! It was all swoon and heart eyes every moment with him! I learned that he loved his family so much, he’s suffering from trauma and that he’s more than what you see of him in movies. (Who knew horse gynmastics was a thing and that Jack was a master at it? 🤣)

Their romance was especially cute! I loved their banter, immediate chemistry, witty conversations and even their “fake” dates. Despite all the pretending, I love that they slowly realized how perfect they were for each other and that they were exactly what each other needed. Their bond was something else as they helped each other heal from their trauma and tragic pasts one way or another.

What I LIKED: I enjoyed how this had both the found family trope on Hannah’s side and an amazing family dynamic from Jack’s side. The wholesome way they included her into their family and showed her how a loving family should be like, given her complicated past made me cry at times! I especially love Jack’s parents 🥺

Hannah’s team had lots of fun members as well! They were equal parts skilled, chaotic and filled with banter so I enjoyed every scene witn them. Glenn’s character was probably my fave!

What I DIDN’T ENJOY: I hated Hannah’s asshole of an ex and Jack’s Hollywood “girlfriend” with a passion. The best friend and ex-boyfriend going behind her back narrative was annoying as well and made me angry cry. It was also scary how the stalkers storyline in this evolved to something life threatening which added a nerve wracking conflict.

THIS BOOK IS PERFECT IF YOU LOVE:
- bodyguard heroine x celebrity hero
- bodyguard romance, celebrity/non celebrity romance
- fake dating, forced proximity
- found family trope

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was such a fun and exciting read for me. And, I really loved every single second of being immersed in this book. It was a clean romance but the heroine’s wit and candor, the sizzling chemistry between the MCs was everything I could ask for!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a feel-good story! I haven't met a Katherine Center story that I didn't absolutely love, and The Bodyguard did not disappoint!

I read this in 2 sittings, over a 2-day period. In that time, I felt all the feels! Thank you again!

I just love Katherine Center’s books! The characters are charming and flawed and believable! Locations become characters in their own right. This charming rom com finds Hannah, a personal protection specialist, assigned to protect super hot actor, Jack Stapleton. He is in Houston to support his mom who is undergoing treatment t for cancer. The two find themselves “acting” as boyfriend girlfriend and living at his parents ranch. What could go wrong? Grab your boots and saddle up for a romance that will warm your heart and have you laughing out loud!

This was the warm and cozy hug of a book that's perfect for the time. I love Katherine Center's ability to write some powerful female characters who are thriving in a male dominated world. She writes characters who still find the kind of love self possessed women are all hoping to find, one that honors their awesomeness, strength without being intimidated by their success. While I did love her other books a tad more, I was really happy to read a book that gave me the happy ending I was looking for.... clean, fun, simple, escapist and it was perfect.

Thank you so much for the chance to read this advanced copy!

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center is a book that made me laugh, angry, and realize the importane of loving yourself in order to have others love you. The novel revolves around Hannah whose job is to protect the handsome actor, Jack. Stapleton. Hannah has always felt unloved due to an unstable childhood, is dedicated to her job an doesn't feel she can ever be loved. She is no nonsense woman. She finds herself being attracted to her client, Jack, which isn't allowed by her company she works for or her personal guidelines. Will Hannah's life be forever changed by Jack's attention? Can she protect him and do her job even though she has feelings for him? I would like to thank Netgalley for allowing me to read The Bodyguard before its publication date in turn giving a honest review.

first of all thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read and review this novel! when i first saw i got an arc of this book i was so excited. i have been in slump so this really helped. i read a lot of celebrity/bodyguard romances so i was thrilled with to receive a copy of this. the couple was so cute, and i loved the slowburn aspect of this. the only thing i would say though is i wish that the two main characters met a little earlier in the story. other than that this was a wonderfully written book and i definitely recommend. :) 4.5**