The Bodyguard was my fourth book by Katherine Center and far and away the lightest themed of them. Hannah is a personal security agent who works for a private contracting company. At the start of the novel, she is being placed on leave to deal with the recent death of her mother. Her boyfriend, fellow agent, Robbie, chooses the day after the funeral to break up with Hannah for many hurtful reasons, including that she "is not a good kisser". While Hannah is on leave, her boss gives Robbie and Hannah's best friend the next post that Hannah was supposed to have been assigned to. After finishing her leave and then hitting a new personal low, Hannah is put on assignment with movie star, Jack Stapleton, who is in town to help out his family while his mom is being treated for cancer.

The bodyguard is not a deep or dark story. In fact, it was so funny and feel-good, I was tempted to give it 5 stars. The only reason I didn't is that regardless of how much I enjoyed myself while reading The Bodyguard, it isn't the kind of book I am going to be pondering the details of outside this review.

Anyone wanting a good beach read, or a book that will help you recover from a traumatic read, The Bodyguard will be perfect.

The adorable cover sucked me in and the story kept me hooked. Hannah is a workaholic, she takes her job as an Executive Protection Agent (aka bodyguard) seriously and she loves what she does. So after the passing of her mother and the abrupt and brutal ending of her longest relationship finding herself sidelined at work is the cherry on top of her misery. Thus when she is finally put back on the roster for an assignment and finds that instead of jetting off to Europe or Asia as per usual she is stuck in Houston she feels like she's found her own personal brand of hell. All she wants is escape, but not in the form of the beautiful out of her league movie star that is her new charge Jack Stapleton.

The epitome of professionalism Hannah is determined to keep things strictly business. However the lines quickly get blurred as the assignment becomes more and more complicated and doing her job now means acting as though she's dating Hollywood's sexist man alive. Jack's acting is so good it starts to level her carefully built walls and she soon finds herself unable to detect reality from fiction.

This story was adorable, I loved the characters, the setting, the plot. All around a fun and quick read.

“Executive Protection Agent” (bodyguard) Hannah Brooks means business about pretty much everything in life. So when she’s assigned to heartthrob celeb Jack Stapleton, she initially refuses to be swayed by his charm, fame, or washboard abs. Throw in a little forced proximity, fake dating, and soul-baring, and it might be a bit more difficult for Hannah to maintain her professional distance than she thought.

The Bodyguard is a fun story that offers a lot of laughs and moves quickly. Definitely recommended for anyone looking for an entertaining vacation read and for those who enjoy their romcoms a bit lower on the spice scale.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the complimentary advance copy of this work! Opinions expressed here are my own.

Center takes a take of a celebrity and their bodyguard and flips it on its face-female bodyguard, male client, in this fun story. While not unpredictable, the characters were different enough from those in other rom coms to really make this one feel fresh. Recommend!

Every time I read a Katherine Center book I fall more in love with her stories. Hannah's job is her life. As a private bodyguard, many people don't know just how tough Hannah can be both on the inside and the outside. Hannah is used to protecting some of the world's top CEO's and other VIPS but when she's assigned to be the bodyguard for drop-dead gorgeous, superstar movie man Jack Stapleton she's thrown right out of her comfort zone.

The synopsis of The Bodyguard at first read sounds like a bad book cliché; Hollywood actor needs a protection agency and sends their best female agent/bodyguard. We’ve all read this story before, right? Well, at least in the alternate situation, girl star, boy bodyguard. In my case, I have previously read a couple of the author’s books and was not greatly impressed. It was a “meh” type of situation; I didn’t love them and I didn’t hate them. When I saw this book listed on NetGalley I thought it sounded interesting and decided to give the author one more chance and boy am I glad that I did!

Hannah Brooks is not the type of agent you would expect. She is not highly polished, or at least that is how she sees herself. While highly skilled, she wears a series of outdated, stifling pantsuits in an effort to look professional. She has recently been dumped by her boyfriend a fellow agent who has hooked up with another agent who just happens to be her best friend so her confidence is low.

When she is sent to the home of famous Hollywood actor Jack Stapleton for a first meeting all hilarity ensues. I won’t tell you why, but it is a great first meeting. I must admit I thought this story would be like so many others, but the relationship between these two was very different and refreshing. Jack takes Hannah to his family home where he goes to help during his mother’s illness. She must play his fake girlfriend – well that part is cliché, but well done. Feelings begin to develop on both sides but with her insecurities, Hannah is unable to trust Jack’s intentions. However, during all this, the interactions between the two, their bantering and loving looks were so much fun!

I think I have become a Katherine Center convert. If not, I certainly look forward to the next book and hope she continues to write books in this vein. I dithered as usual on how to rate it, but as always, I decided to go with how it made me feel and this was just so good! I gave it five stars! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much. The narrator did an excellent job with the different characters. The story line was great. I loved the romance. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes. When Jack told Hannah he basically disliked her, I was so mad at Jack but realized hannah was smarter than that and looked more into exactly what he said. Thank you so much for the early release of the book.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center falls into my category of I would one hundred percent read this book again. Even though I know the twists and turns. Even though I know the ending. I loved it! I didn't want it to end. Hannah Brooks is a little on the gruff side, a realist, a person who has been through it and in order to protect herself and others has rules and guidelines. In her line of work as an Executive Protection Agent, being on guard while reading body language and assessing all possible outcomes of a situation is what makes her amazing. Then enters Jack Stapleton. Her new assignment. He's a famous movie star who has some scars of his own and he completely throws her for a loop.

Katherine's style of writing Hannah's story drew me in and I did not want to put the book down. When it ended I sat in the glow of the story. It also had me Googling what else Katherine has written so I could add it to my cart!

A very sweet and emotionally charged book that I will happily recommend to everyone I meet! 😍

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader Copy for my honest review. I honestly love it and have ordered a copy for my bookshelf!

I have loved every book by Katherine Center and The Bodyguard was no exception .

The writing , the plot , the feel goods !

Did I mention how many times I laughed.

Well written flawed characters .

This book was just so good! 4.5 stars.

With a twist on the typical Personal Protection Officer trope, Hannah is the bodyguard for Jack. I would say this book has a slight grump and sunshine feel to it, Hannah’s snark feels fresh and hilarious, as Jack very well knows and appreciates.

This books revolves around grief, and finding a way forward to find peace.

This book really captured my heart and my attention, I had a hard time putting it down, these was enough suspense, and little mysteries to keep me flipping page after page.

This is a perfect summer read, characters that are not perfect, but you can’t help but root for. Suspense to keep you on your toes and a dash of romance to satisfy that HEA.

I think The Bodyguard is my favorite Katherine Center book which is saying a lot because I loved How to Walk Away so much that I had to buy a physical copy after I listened to it on audio. I will continue to read whatever she writes.

The Bodyguard is sure to be a hit this summer. Romance fans that love the fake relationship trope, this is your book. Hannah is a bodyguard that gets assigned to celebrity and heartthrob, Jack Stapleton. This brought all the feels and made me feel nostalgic for old celebrity crushes. I adored this book.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am continuously in awe of the way Katherine Center can write characters that you want to root for and want to know in real life. Another book she knocked out of the park, if she wrote an instruction manual on how to put together a piece of furniture, I am quite certain I would read and enjoy it. Thank you, Net Galley for the advanced copy, I was honored to read it!

Normally, I'm quicker to recommend this author's backlist but this newest novel is one I will be quick to suggest to friends this year. This book was a fun, new take on the old ordinary person meets superstar trope, and it was done so well. The characters had depth and integrity, as welling as compelling backstories, that kept me reading straight through till the ending. This is a perfect swinging in a hammock summer read.

This book was gifted to me by the publisher and Netgalley however all opinions are my own.

This book is a really sweet romantic comedy that has a very cute plot! The family, the idyllic ranch setting, and the tropes (fake dating! only one bed!) make a great story that is perfect for fans of The Proposal. I like the general outlines of this story, but also have to say that the writing style is not for me--I found the narrative style confusing, and also found that the constant narration interrupted the flow of the story. However, that won't be true for everyone! The narration reminded me a little of Lizzie McGuire's inner monologue--if that style of storytelling works for you, I think you'll love this book.

Fun escapist could-never-happen of Houston bodyguard protecting mega superstar actor at his parents' ranch and acting like his girlfriend so mom won't know that her son is being stalked. Hmmmm..... I wonder if they'll fall in love? If you're looking for some summer fluff by the beach or on the plane, this will do nicely.

What an engaging, satisfying read! There's action, romance, friends, family, suspense - and resolution. If author Center is known for her "comfort" reads, I would also add the adjectives "fun," "compelling," and "satisfying."

Main character Hannah starts off something of a mess, with good reason. I considered not finishing because she --and the story-- begins shallowly. But within a few chapters, I was pulled into her journey. I like straight-forward kick-ass dialog, as well as humor; The Bodyguard presents these beautifully.

I most liked the families that surround the characters and provide support. I also liked not having to navigate through steamy scenes that try too hard to create the romance. The relationship between Hannah and Jack seemed more organic, and it grew and deepened beautifully. Great ending to the book that ties up all those plot threads so happily.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley; this book deserves many happy readers, and I am one of them! Due outJuly 19, 2022.

The Bodyguard A Novel
by: Katherine Center
St. Martin's Press
Pub date: July 19, 2022
Genre: Women's Fiction

Author Katherine Center consistently fulfills my need for books full of joy and laughter. I always quickly bond with her original female leads, cheering them on through the always fresh and original plots.

Main character Hannah is a bodyguard, whose client, Jack, is a famous actor. Tougher than she looks, she is hired to protect him from a one of a kind stalker. Center's setting transports us to a ranch in Texas on the Brazos River. Here, Jack trades his celebrity lifestyle to help his sick mother and confront unresolved family tragedy. Keeping their professional relationship secret while faking a romantic relationship, Hannah and Jack embark on an adventure of romance, safety, and resolution of personal circumstances.

With the moods ranging from hilarious to heartfelt, Center's writing is grandly entertaining. I adored how Hannah and Jack tried to keep their affection for each other appropriate to the environment, while dodging in and out of dangerous events and professional upheavals. Center's books will always be on my bookshelf, in that corner especially saved for delightful reads.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press
for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.

I really liked the bodyguard. It was a really fun and different rom com. I loved the role reversal of the woman protecting the man and being such a strong MC. I also love the celebrity trope and the guy was great. I also liked that it was a slow burn, the waiting for the romance made it more worthwhile in the end. The climax was kind of dramatic and crazy but was a good plot twist of sorts.

This is probably one of Katherine Center's best books yet!

Hannah works for an elite protection agency as a bodyguard for some of the world's most rich and famous. Her innocent, ordinary, young looks work with her uncanny ability to knock down a person of any size in no time at all. After dealing with a breakup, that happens to involve one of the other men in the office, Hannah is given an assignment she truly does not want. She's asked to guard Jack Stapleton, one of the hottest men in Hollywood, as he comes to Texas to take his mother to cancer treatments.

Making matters more difficult, Hannah is asked to keep her job a secret as Jack doesn't want to bring more stress to the family. Jack and his brother are estranged, and Hannah's now stuck in the middle as Jack's secret girlfriend, pulling double duty as she puts on her acting chops and protects Jack. What she doesn't expect is falling in sync with his family, learning Stapleton secrets, and falling for her client.

How will Hannah get out of this one? Will she protect her heart or her clinet? Only time will tell as The Bodyguard will keep you turning the pages until the very last one!

Just when I think Katherine Center’s books could not get any better, along comes The Bodyguard. I was by turns cheering and sniffling through this book. The premise that a just over 5 foot female who is not comfortable with social interactions could be the bodyguard for a famous male actor is enough to raise the intrigue quotient exponentially. Throw in a corgi-related stalker and a hate-crazed brother, and you’ll be hooked for the full 300+ pages! A definite 5-star read!