I never review a book more than five months before its publication time because it just seems like anyone who reads my review might forget about the book by the time it makes its appearance. But, if you hand me a Katherine Center book, well, all bets are off. And, they indeed were with The Bodyguard her new novel that will be birthed to the world on July 19, 2022 (and who knows how many times I will read it before then!).

Like all of the Katherine Center novels I’ve read, The Bodyguard ably runs the gamut of emotions from making me laugh hysterically (mostly at Hannah’s snarky comments) to swoon (oh, Jack is so much more than a Hollywood movie star) to cry (Hannah’s backstory/Jack’s backstory) to just feel good about the world and (most of) the people in it (the epilogue that is as touching as an epilogue can be).

It doesn’t hurt to spend your life with people who see what’s great about you–in a way that you maybe never would have on your own.

The people we love help teach us who we are.

The best versions of who we are, if we’re lucky.

The Bodyguard throws stereotypes on their ears. First we have 5’4″ Hannah who looks like your typical girl-next-door but can undo a man a foot taller with one swift move. She’s a bodyguard. Who’dathunkit? She’s snarky, funny, and underneath all of that snark and attitude so, so vulnerable that you know you will find her to be an engaging heroine.

And, there’s a hysterical scene in which Hannah comes face-to-face with a (wo)man-eating cow. 😉

Jack is not a typical Hollywood movie star. In fact, it mostly seems like he’d like to be someone else especially when he’s stalked by one of his fans and events turn dangerous.

And, let’s not forget about Jack’s family who are fantastic. His parents are the embodiment of what everyone would like their parents to be. Jack has an older brother who, if he’d been about 30 years younger would probably have been played by Sam Elliott. I could almost hear Sam Elliott speaking the lines.

Like all of the Katherine Center novels I have read, The Bodyguard is filled with heart and love and optimism. It’s the kind of book that feels like a warm hug while also giving you laughs and tears. Yes, we need more hugging books. I just wish Katherine wrote faster, but who would want to mess up her writing by pressuring her? Not me.

A definite must read and enjoy.

I received an ARC (many, many thanks you wonderful people at St. Martin’s press) in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing! Loved it and will for sure be reading more by this author! Will make sure to tell others about it as well!

I've been craving a sweet read, so I dug into my ARC of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. She's written a few of my fave emotional reads so I was really excited for this one! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my ARC!

Pub date: 7/19/22
Genre: women's fiction with romcom elements
In one sentence: Hannah is an Executive Protection Agent who could kill you with a ballpoint pen - but her toughest job is playing girlfriend to Hollywood megastar Jack.

Anyone else love fake dating stories? I personally find them hilarious since they make for fun and awkward situations. I loved seeing the traditional man-protecting-woman story flipped on its head here - Hannah is a jiu jitsu master and excellent bodyguard, and she proves that in their meet cute. Her banter with Jack and their time spent with his family made me smile. Jack carries some emotional trauma, and I was glad to see Hannah support him in dealing with those issues.

I would say this one is less of a tearjerker than Center's previous books, but I'm interested to see if others felt the same way. It's also a great option if you like sweet over steamy romance - this one is closed door!

I think this will be a great summer read - it certainly brightened up my winter! If you haven't read anything by Katherine Center, I recommend Things You Save in a Fire and How to Walk Away - just be sure to have tissues handy!

Anything by Katherine Center is an auto-read for me, and this one was no different! Such a cool and different storyline, I loved the take of the female bodyguard for a male celebrity. As always, the characters were dynamic and relatable. 10/10 would recommend!!

This was a delight. Seriously an adorable delight! I loved the twist on gender roles, the adorable banter, and the interpersonal friend/work dynamics. Basically I loved everything about this book. Katherine Center did a delightful job with this book. I was rooting for Hannah and Jack before they even spoke a word to each other. I completely devoured this book in one sitting, No seriously, I could not put it down. From this day forward I will read everything she writes.

Thank you to #NetGalley For the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Katherine Center did not disappoint with this one!! Absolutely killed it. I was constantly giggling while reading this because I truly felt like I was there. What a fun concept of a woman acting as a bodyguard but not in the traditional sense that we think about. Not only that, but the plot twist at the end! Well done.

My favorite part is how the sarcasm and jokes shine through the story. You can't deny the chemistry you feel in the book between everyone as the way everyone responds, just seems so natural. I myself am full of sarcasm so I really relished the storyline and everyone's interactions. Such a fun read!!

If someone asked me to name one thing about this story that I didn't like, I couldn't. Just could not do it. Because this was such a fantastic book. Just everything I need from a great story to elate and excite me. I'm just sitting here smiling while typing thinking about my adoration for the characters and their plight.

From beginning to end, The Bodyguard was one of those heart warming reads that just envelops you in its warm embrace and engages you with its wit and charm. Told from the often hilarious, always serious, and adorably lost point of view the heroine, I found myself just so happy to be reading. The banter between H/h was literally laugh out loud funny. It was charming as all get out to bear witness to their flourishing friendship through a fake relationship. The vulnerability and the trust, the adoration and the skepticism shined through every interaction, every page.

Katherine Center took a tried and true romance trope and gave readers a story that takes that trope, gives a few unique twists to make it her very own and the end result just soars. Her first person POV writing flows so beautifully, never lingering, allowing the reader to feel as though they're an intimate part of the journey. Pure escapism and fun even though there were cloudy and murky tribulations to deal with - it just felt so good and so full of hope. I'm really, very excited about this book and think all women's fiction/romance lovers have something special to look forward to and will love it so much too.

I really enjoyed this story, although parts of it seemed a little unrealistic, wouldn't Jack's parents wonder why their house has security cameras popping up all of the sudden? And would hostage negotiation on a rooftop really go that smoothly (minus the GSW)? And would Glenn really speak to employees the way he did? All that to say, I was thoroughly entertained and rooting for the sweet couple till the end. And I always love watching a protagonist be pulled in by a large, loving family.

I wanted to like this book, I love the fake dating troupe, but I just could not get into this book. I found Hannah so annoying. I know she was supposed to be a grown adult but she always sounded like a 17 year old. It just never came together for me, and the asides where Hannah seemed to talk to the reader just became annoying and unnecessary.

Y'all, I love a Katherine Center romance, and I was so excited to have the chance to get an early look at her newest one! First of all, I loved that the bodyguard referred to in this title was a woman, and this role played a central role in driving the plot. Second, I just loved the couple at the center of this one. As they pretended to be a couple in the name of safety and security, I was rooting so darn hard for them. In addition to the love story, the nature of the bodyguard dynamics meant this one had some thrills in addition to its feels. This is just such a great blend of romance and twists and a captivating plot with characters that will just sweep you away!

This was a captivating and engaging book. It is beautifully written and grabbed my attention right away. 
The Bodyguard is an amusing, delightful tale with a splendid cast of characters, beautiful scenery, delicious romance, and delectable treats that is undeniably the perfect choice for any sunny, summery day.
Once I started reading The Bodyguard I could not put it down.
I loved the writing, the characters, the story - everything.
It was just the right balance of everything I was hoping for here.
If you love vivid writing, romance, humor, and characters who are so alive, you just have to meet them, read this book.

St. Martin's Press,
Thank You for this eARC!
I will post to my platforms closer to pub date!

You gotta love Katherine Center. She knows how to write emotions better than most, and I was actually surprised that at no point during this book did I cry even a little bit—but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You get to know the characters so well and you really feel what they’re feeling. At one point, there was a twist that literally had me gasp out loud and quickly wonder where the story was going, which make it all the more enjoyable. I really don’t want to spoil anything by writing too much, so I’m just going to say that fans of Center won’t be disappointed, and anyone looking for a love story with great characters and a full range of emotions should pick it up when it hits shelves on July 19—which is so far from now, but worth the wait.

4.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE everything Katherine Center. I felt that this book was different, interesting, new, and thoroughly entertaining. The combination of a little suspense wrapped up with the warm fuzzy Hallmark Movie feeling. Consistently, if I am stressed out with day-to-day life and need an escape, I am confident that one of her books will do the trick. If she writes it, I will read it.

Hannah is a bodyguard who travels the world protecting clients. She is assigned to Jack, a well-known actor, who comes back to Texas to help his mom who was diagnosed with cancer. Jack doesn't want to worry his mom and let her know that he has a bodyguard so he asks Hannah to pose as his girlfriend. Along the way Jack and Hannah develop a strong connection. Is Jack acting? Or are his feelings real?

I love the fake dating troup so I was ready to love this book before I even picked it up!

Hannah is sent to be Jack's bodyguard to protect him from a crazy stalker. The two have to stay on Jack's family farm for a few weeks so they pretend to date so they don't worry his family.

this was such a cute rom-com and could be easily adapted to one of your favorite netflix movies.
I enjoyed every minute of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book.

This was so good, I am never let down by Katherine Center and this title held up to that! Such a sweet story line with a love to hate character, and a very fun plot.

Katherine Center, I LOVED THIS BOOK! The Bodyguard is about Hannah Brooks who is working as an Executive Protection Agent who is living the dream until it comes crashing down around her. With a new post abroad on the line, Hannah knows she has to prove she's the best for the job. However, Jack Stapleton, famous actor, is not at all who she is expecting to be guarding. Jack is as unwilling as they come and worse, he thinks the threats he's receiving are low-level pranks. He genuinely takes it all with a light-hearted attitude. To protect him best, Hannah is forced to pose at Jack's bodyguard as he returns home to see his ill mother. Jack hasn't been seen much in years and family secrets start to bubble close to the surface with Jack's return. Are you interested yet? You should be. Sprinkle in the fact that Jack is a hottie and Hannah is a force to be reckoned with and things quickly get interesting.

This is the first novel by Katherine Center that I have read and I sure plan to read more since this was such a fun book to read. I've been really striking out with novels recently and The Bodyguard fixed that! I stayed up well into the night to finish reading it. I couldn't put it down. The characters are fun, the banter is enjoyable, and the sizzle is hot. The only thing I could have done without was the epilogue. It was just a bit too unrealistic for me. The way these two find ways to get to know one another is pure joy to read within the pages of this book. I highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I cannot wait to see what Katherine Center writes next!

Katherine Center just keeps getting better & better! Loved this book and couldn't put it down. I really enjoy the author's focus on females in male dominated industries. The love story was great and really believable despite the movie star angle. Had fun imagining who would play the characters in a movie version:)

This book was exactly what I needed!!!
I devoured this book- I couldn't put it down. I LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED LOVED it!!!!!

The Bodyguard is a clean romance filled with drama, acceptance, A lister client and a kick a** female bodyguard!
I loved Hannah and Jack so much. I smile so big thinking of them and their unique start to their arrangement.... which neither of them want. Especially-- Hannah who wants to be on another assignment completely!

If you're looking for a truly amazing book you will want this one because it's filled with:
Page turning moments,
Amazing family (Jack's - one of a kind!)
FUNNY moments (COW COW COW and More COW) HAHAHAHA
Awesome Action
likable characters
and ROMANCE!!

I highly recommend this book! As it also deals with self acceptance! What a wonderful book all the way around. Can't stress enough how much I loved this book from start to finish!!!

6 stars from me! (Can I give 6? Idk... but I just did!!)

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for an early copy for me to read/review!!!

The Bodyguard is a cute story that feels a bit grumpy meets sunshine. The characters were delightful, though I found to plot to be predictable at times. While it’s generally light, it does go into tough topics like grief.