Another wonderful love story by Katherine Center! Loved the strong female lead character. This one needs a sequel!

I typically do not enjoy books where there is a "rockstar/actor" falls in love with a "normal" person trope. But gosh darn it I LOVED THIS ONE so much! Katherine Center is just mesmerizing with her writing and skills. This one drew me in and I couldn't put it down. I needed more of Hannah and Jack. Super sweet, swoony moments, laugh out loud funny, closed door romance - highly recommend this one!

Hannah Brooks is a personal protection agent and she gets assigned to protect mega-movie star Jack Stapleton. Reeling from the death of her mother, a break up and a betrayal from friend, Hannah undertakes a job like no other. Was it predictable? Yes. Did I keep reading? Yes. Did I enjoy it? YES!

Katherine Center has a fantastic way to weaving a story that's full of personality, humor, and emotion. Her characters are always a hit with me, as they are relatable in one way or another. "The Bodyguard" is full of healing, love, and kindness - something we all need a little more of in 2021.

Hannah Brooks is such an unique character: she's a total badass, broken in ways she doesn't exactly know how to fix, and is looking for her place to fit in this world since her mother's death. When her work assignment lands her protecting a Hollywood movie star, her life is turned inside out. Jack Stapleton isn't what you expect from a movie star and his character ARC is beautiful to witness. Both Jack and Hannah's friendship turns into a beautiful second chance for both of them. Honorable mention to Jack's mother, Connie. I loved her so so much, she brought me to tears many times.

Center is such a wonderful writer. I am always so eager to get my hands on her work.

I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. I laughed. I cried. I didn’t want it to end. I just loved that Hannah was a little woman, but she was a badass bodyguard.

Hannah is a bodyguard assigned to protect world famous movie star Jack Stapleton. When Jack asks how a short, petite woman can protect him she demonstrates by taking him down on the pavement before he can blink. It’s nice having a strong kick ass female character who is vulnerable at the same time.

Hands down now one of my top three favorite romance novels. It’s a funny, sweet and steamy love story before there's sex, or even a single kiss. The dialogue is the foreplay. You can “ hear” them falling in love with each other. I found myself rereading the dialogue between Hannah and Jack aloud just to hear it again, which I never do, The dialogue alone is worth the read.
I had a few issues with the ending but nothing that mars the perfection of this wonderful and delightful book. Another hit from Katherine Center!

This novel follows bodyguard Hannah following a toxic breakup with a work colleague as she is assigned to superstar Jack Stapleton. It is classic Katherine Center in terms of delightful characters and a sweet (albeit not quite believeable) plot. I enjoyed the story but wasn’t quite as attached to the characters as I have been with Center’s novels in the past.

An elite bodyguard, Hannah needs a change of scenery after her boyfriend, who is also a coworker vying for the same position as her, breaks up with her on the same day of her mother’s funeral. Famous actor Jack Stapleton has been out of the spotlight ever since he was involved in a car crash that killed his younger brother. Jack plans to return home to Texas and help his mother while she deals with a health issue. Because of Jack’s celebrity status and past encounters with stalkers, Hannah is hired as his bodyguard. Jack isn’t thrilled, and he insists she acts as his girlfriend so as not to alarm his family. As the lines between reality and pretend blur, Hannah realizes there is more to Jack than meets the eye. She has a hard time keeping her feelings in check. Does Jack feel the same way?

The Bodyguard is such a fun and engrossing contemporary romance! I loved that the female protagonist is the bodyguard, and the male protagonist is the one who needs protection. It’s a role reversal that I haven’t often seen in romance novels. The heart of the story is the romance between Hannah and Jack. However, the other storylines, including Jack’s mysterious backstory, the fake dating ruse, and Hannah’s work and relationship struggles, are equally intriguing. There is also a bit of suspense as Jack’s overeager fans become more of a threat than anticipated.

Hannah is such a strong and brave woman, and I love her take-charge personality. She goes through so much, both in her personal and professional life, throughout the story, and she learns a lot about herself, which I liked. Hannah struggles with the death of her mother, her recent break-up, a friendship in tatters, uncertainty at her job, as well as her growing and confusing feelings toward Jack, and it’s interesting to see how she deals with all of the challenges she faces.

Jack is handsome and charming, and he also has a lot of depth. Kind, caring, and riddled with guilt and secrets, Jack struggles a lot with the past, his family, and his role in his brother’s death. Jack is still grieving, and his strained relationship with his family weighs heavily on him. He is a really interesting and deep person who, much like Hannah, hides and ignores his feelings. I enjoyed his character arc and how he evolves and opens up as the story progresses.

The highlight of the novel, of course, is the wonderful, chemistry-laden romance between Hannah and Jack. I love the fake dating trope, and Hannah and Jack make it look good! They have the best banter, and the way they tease and play off each other is so natural and electric. They are so funny together, and the way they cajole, relax, and have fun with each other is fantastic! There are so many laugh-out-loud scenes when this pair is together, and I love that they bring so much happiness and levity into each other’s lives.

I really enjoyed this story. It’s fun and funny at times and emotional and moving at others, and the characters are layered and interesting. The story includes themes of self-acceptance, forgiveness, the need to belong to something bigger than yourself, and taking a chance on love, and there are some incredibly poignant and touching moments, especially as Hannah gets to know Jack and his family. I would definitely recommend The Bodyguard to readers who like rom-coms or contemporary romance and am so thankful to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my gifted review copy.

I just love Katherine Center’s books and this one was no exception. She has a way of creating such likable and complex characters and taking what at first seems like a simple and maybe predictable storyline to the next level. Her ability to incorporate tiny yet profound bits of wisdom into her easy to read and fun plots is my favorite part of her writing.

This book follows Hannah, a small framed yet fiery “bodyguard” who is assigned to protect a world famous heartthrob and actor. When the job requires Hannah to also start acting- as the infamous Jack’s new girlfriend, she finds herself on a whole new type of assignment.

I especially loved the sub storylines of self-love, brotherhood, and contradicting stereotypes. I was even surprised by a twist at the end- another thoroughly enjoyable read from Katherine Center! I know this will make the perfect book to throw in your beach bag, and I look forward to sharing more about this title on my social media feeds a bit closer to it's July 2022 publication date.

Katherine Center does it again. In another hit novel she draws in another heroine Hannah, who is a bodyguard for all types. This time, her target, Jack Stapleton, who is known in all households. Like it or not, her boss is forcing her to do the assignment if she wants a promotion.

Jack has been off the grid for sometime, but will be returning to Texas to see his mom while she endures treatments for her illness. Hannah is coming off a break-up. as well as losing her mom. Will sparks fly or will she be able to fight off the feelings for Jack?

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins for the advanced copy!

I read a couple of chapters of this book, then got a bit distracted for a few days, and then binged the rest of it in one sitting. I've loved all of Katherine Center's books (my forever favourite is Happiness for Beginners and this one was no exception. It was wonderful! So well written, so emotional at times, funny at other times, it made my heart clench and soar and it just felt like a cozy hug coming home to brand new but somehow still familiar-feeling characters. How does she manage to accomplish this through her writing?!

In this book, we quickly meet Hannah, who works as an executive protection agent (aka a bodyguard). She mainly works with oil tycoons in Texas but a new assignment is thrust upon her in the form of protecting WORLD FAMOUS actor Jack Stapleton from a crazy stalker woman while he is home in Texas with his family. Hannah is a strong and admirable woman (with such a cool job that she does so well!) but there are a lot of layers to her character. She and Jack end up having more fun than either of them expects and the story takes off from there.

I loved the way this story played out and like I said, I found it really easy to connect with all of the characters. I know this will be a big hit for this author next summer and I can't wait to witness all of this book's success. :)

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the VERY early ARC :) I appreciate it so much because this book made my entire month :)

A fun breezy read that is a little outside what readers may come to expect from Katherine Center. In this romance, Center flips the script with the protagonist as a body guard hired to protect a sexy movie star.

Hannah Brooks and her ex are in competition for a London promotion within their executive protection agency, and much as she wants to turn down the new assignment, she can’t.

Mega- movie star, Jack Stapleton is in Houston to support his mother, who is going through a cancer scare. He doesn’t want or need a bodyguard, but his contract says he has no choice- enter unassuming Hannah Brooks.

Forced into close contact, Hannah learns there’s a lot more to Jack than his washboard abs, and Jack finds himself fascinated by the bodyguard. Much as she appears confidant and assured, Hannah has a soft inner shell that Jack is drawn to, and she makes him laugh.

A surprise ending adds a delightful twist to this funny, heartwarming read. Katherine Center is at the top of my list of favorite authors and this book will make her a top read for you, as well!

HOLY COW I LOVED THIS SO MUCH! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Katherine Center writes the best characters. I loved the whole ensemble of Glenn’s crew and Jack’s family. Jack and Hannah were both just wonderful. This book was laugh out loud funny, sweet, and touching. I didn’t want it to end!

Huge thank you to st martins for the ARC!

Thank you netgalley and St. Martins Press for providing me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Center is one of my new go-to authors for fun, lighthearted romances about adults falling in love. I love how unique each of the protagonists in her books are. No cookie-cutter females here. And the dynamic between the two main characters in this novel, a bodyguard and a celebrity client, is so charming and swoon worthy. Definitely would recommend this to my friends and anyone looking for a sweet and passionate summer romance with a lot of heart.

This was the perfect slow burn I have been searching for forever! The character development was so real and refreshing. I stayed up way past my bedtime reading this book because I just couldn’t put it down. Katherine Center scores again! I absolutely love her books.

I have loved all of Kathleen Center’s novels, and her latest work - “The Bodyguard”, is no exception! I really enjoyed the “gender swapped roles” with the female protagonist, Hannah, portraying the bodyguard to celebrity hottie, Jack. The “fake romance” angle is also a familiar trope & one I also enjoy reading. The female lead is a strong woman in a male-dominated profession - something that Ms. Center has done before, but it works again very well - the story is tender & charming. Recommend to all rom-com lovers. My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher & author for the complimentary DRC, which did not affect my review or opinions.

Hannah recently lost her mother, and her boyfriend dumped her immediately thereafter. for her best friend. She needs a change of venue to put her troubles behind her, which shouldn't be a problem since her job has provided many foreign assignments. You wouldn't know it to look at her--Hannah admits she is the "least lethal-looking person in the world"--but she is a seasoned bodyguard.

Jack is a charismatic, wildly attractive movie star who has been hiding out in North Dakota ever since he and his younger brother, Drew, were in an automobile accident that ended in Drew's death. Now he needs to return to Texas when his mother is scheduled for cancer surgery, but recent death threats from a persistent stalker call for extra protection from this rabid fan.

Hannah's personal security company insists that she take the assignment. Unfortunately for her, it will not provide her with a change of venue from her home state. What follows is a contemporary romance with the "faux romance" trope. Hanna and Jack must pretend to be in a relationship while she keeps him from harm. Fans of this type of romance will enjoy the over-the-top story since we know it will end happily. Personally, I would have liked a bit more depth and nuance to the main characters.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and honestly review this book.

I could not put this hook down. I thought it was a little Nicholas Sparks and a little JoJo Moyes but most importantly it was all Katherine Center. Well put together. It will give you all the feels. Do not waste time. Preorder this wonderful book today.

Oh how I love Katherine Center's books. The Bodyguard is a great rom com that has so much heart and depth that you will fall in love with Hannah and Jack. Both Hannah and Jack are a bit broken from issues in their past, but they are resilient in spirit. A joy to read. Uplifting and hopeful. A fabulous read. On a personal note, I was thrilled to read about a town that I lived in, Katy, TX, and I could picture the lay of the land.