The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Hannah is an Executive Protection Agent, though she looks nothing like one. That is what makes her so great at fading into the background. But when she gets hired to protect Jack Stapleton she must step into the spotlight and pretend to be his girlfriend.

Hannah’s got a lot going on, her mom just died, her ex is a major jerk, and she has some unresolved trauma that keeps popping up. Work has always helped her to run away from it all but now she might be falling for Jack’s act. How is she suppose to protect her heart and continue to do her job?

My favorite Katherine Center book yet! Think Miss Congeniality, but the romance is wayyy better. I love that murder hornets made it in 🤣

Did I cry happy tears at the epilogue? Yes, yes I did. And I loved listening to the audio. It was very well done.

Content Warning: explicit language, suicide attempt, childhood trauma, drinking and driving.

Gah. I just love Katherine Center. I’m not really one to say an author “can do no wrong” because I feel like that is setting myself up for disappointment…but this puts me pretty close to that statement.

I could NOT put it down. I listened to it in a day and a half. Me! If you know me, then you’ll know that is practically impossible with my lifestyle. And it is better than I even expected it to me. So cute. Such a perfect little book. Every character was perfectly portrayed. Every little twist was *insert your favorite synonym for perfect here*.

I loved that Hannah was the bodyguard. I loved her spunky personality. I LOOOOOOOVED Jack. And I loved that he wasn’t a jerk that changed because of her. That’s been so overdone. He was cool and smooth and down-to-earth from the beginning. I loved their chemistry. I loved their banter. I loved how realistic her uncertainty of him was (because most of the time I find it completely ridiculous in these kinds of books but Hannah’s made sense). And I L-O-V-E-D Jack’s family and his emotional backstory. Ugh. Rip my heart out, why don’t you.

And for me that is a very difficult thing to do in audio. Chemistry is often lost in narration for me. But not this time. The narrator did a fabulous job connecting me to Jack. I even teared up when he would touch on his backstory with Drew. And almost never happens for me in audios. Bravo.

Okay, I won’t risk overusing the word loved or perfect any more. I’ll just say this:
I don't know if it's my favorite of hers.....but at the moment it is!

If you are looking for a fun read this summer, I highly recommend The Bodyguard. The story begins with the main character, Hannah, who has been hired as an Executive Protection Agent for Hollywood A-lister, Jack Stapleton. The problem is that Jack doesn't think he needs protection: his only stalker knits sweaters with his face on them and raises corgis.
This fun, fast-paced romance has a heroine who doesn't want to be seen as weak, a charming leading man with a secret, and a creative group of side characters that genuinely made me laugh. I think this book would be perfect for fans of Stephanie Plum or anyone looking to escape into a novel.

Welcome back, Katherine Center!

You nailed "The Bodyguard"!

TRUE CONFESSION: After being disappointed with Katherine Center's last two releases, my expectations were "guarded" when I requested this ARC to review.

No need to worry: this rom-com soared, sizzled, and "captured" my heart.

The characters were multi-dimensional, endearing, and relatable.

The book was fast-paced with over-the-top witty banter.

What I especially loved about this book, however, was its fresh dialogue.

Never before had I read a book about a petite "Plain Jane" Executive Protection Agent (bodyguard).

The bodyguard's assignment? To protect a swoon-worthy male client from crazy stalkers and the paparazzi. And to pretend to be his girlfriend, too.

I listened to the audiobook and narrator Patti Murin did an outstanding job with the narration.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The Bodyguard" is scheduled to debut in July 2022 and it's the perfect beach read for the summer.

I have always been a Katherine Center fan and I look forward to listening to this talented author's future titles.

Hannah Brooks is an Executive Protection Agent. What is that? Oh, just a professional bodyguard. When she is given the assignment of protecting movie star Jack Stapleton, it couldn't have come at a worse time. Her mother just died and then the night of her funeral, her boyfriend breaks up with her. Guarding Jack Stapleton should be an easy job, maybe just what she needs. But Jack doesn't want his family to know he needs a bodyguard, so she needs to pretend to be his girlfriend. What could go wrong?

This is a fun, quick, funny book, with plenty of action and "will they won't they" to keep you going. It's pretty clean too, so don't worry if you're listening to it on audio in your car with the windows down (like I did.) Hannah is bold but still insecure and somehow it worked. Jack is obliviously handsome and loves his family. Swoon. There's of course a secret and a conflict, and it all tied together so well. Don't miss this!

The narrator was really good! Great pacing, and the voices were just different enough without being comical.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available July 19. 2022.

Thank you for the publisher for an advanced audio.
It was a cute and fun read.
Alot of sub-plots going on!
The heroine is a body guard and the hero a famous movie star.
Cute and fun read.
The narrator: Patti Murin was fantastic! She definitely made the story easy and fun to follow.

I got this book as an audiobook arc from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. I loved this story! I think it's brilliant to make the girl the protector and the bodyguard in the story. I'm a sucker for the famous/ordinary person trope and the fake dating trope. I thought this was so cute and well done. The narrator, Patti Murin, is so great. The Bodyguard was a fun listen with great characters and a loveable storyline!

The newest Katherine Center does NOT disappoint ! I'm always a huge fan of Ms. Center's books and she quickly made her way to the always pre-order list - I don't even need to know what the book is about anymore!
Hannah is a total baddie and is used to doing things her way, unfortunately - she's in a super vulnerable position - her mom dies, her crappy unworthy boyfriend does crappy unworthy boyfriend things and her bff - isn't so B (as in best, but certaily earns the B in other words...). Against her will, she's "forced" to take lead on a job for a super hot, super popular (damaged in his own way) Jack. I loved this laugh out loud book - and appreciated the slow build to a happily ever after ending. It was narrated by Patti Murin - one of my favorite voice artists! I was given an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion from Netgally.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

Possible mild spoilers:

I liked this book way more than I thought I would. I don't normally read rom-coms because they are predictable and often quite cliché. However, I am having some issues in my personal life and wanted to veer from the thriller genre I normally read and read something light hearted. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance. While this book did have the typical rom-com tropes, I found the characters to be loveable (except Robbie) and realistic (including Robbie). I loved Hannah. I loved her non-conventional job as a body guard. I loved the movie star character Jack. I loved that he had normal people struggles like family issues and grief. He wasn't portrayed as the larger than life celebrity, which made him relatable. I loved the deceitful friend and what happens to her. I just loved the story in general. It was predictable, but that goes with the territory. It wasn't, however, too predictable that I lost interest in the story. Rom-coms tend to follow a certain outline and this one did not stray from that, but it had enough of it's own unique energy to hook me. This is the first book by Katherine Center that I've read, but it won't be my last.

As for the audio, it was good. Not fantastic, but not bad either. The narrator sounded like what I pictured Hannah to sound like. But what I really want to know is, how many other people pictured Chris Hemsworth when reading about Jack Stapleton? ;) Four solid stars for this one!

I got an ARC of the audiobook and just devoured it on my commutes to and from work. Fans of "Miss Congeniality," "The Proposal", and Whitney Houston's "The Bodyguard" will love this. I thought it was a fun concept and loved this fake dating troupe. Hannah and Jack had great banter and chemistry. Patti Murin narrated the audiobook and did a fantastic job. She gave each character a voice and personality. Highly recommend for contemporary romance lovers!

Did I read this in one day because I couldn’t put it down? Yes. The Bodyguard is an emotional rom com reminiscent of Miss Congeniality and is everything I want in a book, from deep discussions to lighthearted banter. Hannah and Jack just fit together so well and I love how their relationship developed over the course of the book. This was a really fun one! The Bodyguard is my first Katherine Center book and I’m already planning to read her entire backlist after this! I need more! I highly recommend the audio narrated by Patti Murin - she did a fantastic job.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

This was a fun romcom. It was nice to see the woman saving the day for a change. It had a bit of a Miss Congeniality vibe. Beyond that it was a fairly generic romcom. At times the banter felt a bit forced, but it worked. If you enjoy romcoms, this is a fun pick.

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

A bodyguard + A Hollywood Heartthrob = A hard to put down, put-a-smile-on-my-face read!

Hannah Brooks does not look like a bodyguard. She looks like a librarian or a schoolteacher. But she works as an Executive Protection Agent. Her assignment is none other than Jack Stapleton, a Hollywood actor who is uber handsome and a nice guy to boot!

Jack is in town to visit his mother, but his team wants him protected as he has a stalker. Hannah has been assigned the job and must pose as his girlfriend to fool his family and anyone who is keeping eyes on Jack.

Going home can be hard especially when you and/or your family have secrets.

I loved this book. I was gripped in the very beginning. There are so many likeable characters in this book as well as one that is a royal jerk and one that is selfish. Boo Hiss. They both deserved each other and yet....

Katherine Center knocked it out of the ballpark with this tone. I loved the banter between Jack and Hannah. At times I shook my head thinking that for a woman who is trained to see everything, Hannah misses key things at times. But then again, it was fun watching/reading when she realized what was what.

Katherine Center fans and those who enjoy romance will enjoy this book. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Highly recommend.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Bodyguard
by Katherine Center
Pub Date: 19 Jul 2022

Review: Wow, ok I GET the Katherine Center hype! I had seen this was one of the most requested e-ARCs on Netgalley and, for that reason plus the brilliantly colorful cover, I thought, "What the heck, let's try it" and my request was promptly denied LOL. When the audio ALC became available I hoped against hope I would get a chance to enjoy it. Yahoo, approved! I was so excited, I pressed play without even reading the description--I was hungry for a positive energy injection from an author folks seem to love and wow was I pleased. I had naively assumed that this was going to be about a fun female protagonist who falls in love with her bodyguard--I know, Emily, read the jacket it's the least you can do! Guilty as charged, I had totally misperceived the plot with my own assumptions and fell into the age old cliche of judging a book by it's cover, derrrrp. In a *fun twist for me, and probably me only* I immediately realized our kick ass no nonsense narrator was a female body guard who, of course, is eventually assigned a movie star handsome client with whom there is a delightful will they won't they woven throughout a clever and easy listening plot; super funny and swoon-worthy. I just loved it.

Read if you love:
🏡Laugh out loud banter
🏡Will they, won’t they
🏡Bad ass female lead
🏡TWIST in the final 50

Thank you to @macmillan & @stmartins for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

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I read a lot of romance and I'm OK with a lot of different scenarios, tropes, kinks, etc. My two rules, though, are that I have to believe the chemistry and they need to have decent boundaries. This book is very readable and the characters are likable, but unfortunately it breaks both my rules. Even though I like both Hannah and Jack, I don't believe that they like each other. And the boundaries.....are pretty terrible. It's what I hated about Katherine Center's last book. And I hate it in this one too. It's not just poor boundaries that the character works on, or necessary for character growth. These are just objectionable, unhealthy boundaries. I'm adding a star for readability and because it's set in Texas.

Katherine Center does it again! The Bodyguard brings together humor and real life struggles for a story full of depth and heart. I loved Hannah. She’s prickly and tries her best not to get personal, but she has a soft heart and actor Jack Stapleton is the perfect man to work his way beneath her armor. The audiobook narrator does a wonderful job of bringing this story to life. I listened to it in two days and loved every minute of it.

*Thank you to Katherine Center, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This is an absolutely adorable, fun, and romcom-esque read that I absolutely devoured! The story centers on learning to find your worth set alongside a movie worthy plot. Hannah, our main character, is so well rounded and an overall badass. Jack, our hero, is a movie star who just underwent personal tragedy. The characters are absolutely heartwarming with personal growth through out the story. I’d highly recommend for a fun summer read! The audiobook narrator was phenomenal as well! She was insanely talented!

I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher and I am providing my own honest opinions on the book.

Great story! Very While You Were Sleeping vibes. I really enjoyed the characters and most of the plot. I felt like the book dragged a bit at the end. The author seemed intent on giving the reader a Moment™ coupled with a life lesson, but didn't fully seem to understand that they already had. The "big finale" as it were felt somewhat out of place and unnecessary.

All in all though, a very enjoyable read.

*some of the phrasing is a little awkward in the audio. The narrator doesn't pause or provide a change in voice to indicate parentheses or commas and so sometimes the wording or dialogue can be a bit confusing. Did not really detract from my enjoyment of the book though, usually just made me laugh where I don't think I was supposed to.

Love love love this book! Katherine Center can do no wrong. What could have easily been campy and cliched ended up entertaining and witty. I love a well-done rom-com and this one checked all the boxes.

Hannah is not your average bodyguard, she is average height and build; but knows how to take threats out. She has traveled the world to protect high stakes clients and now she is hired to protect a celebrity, but not just any celebrity… Jack Stapleton. Jack has returned to Texas because his mom fell ill. There is a lot of tension and Jack is held accountable for an accident that happened years earlier. Can Hannah keep Jack from being harassed by his stalker and can Jack make amends with his family?

Narrator: I really liked the narrator for this novel. I believe they did a great job capturing the characters personalities in their voice. The differentiation between characters was also well done. I just wish there was a little more of a twang to the voices, most Texans don’t have one, but there are some words we tend to drawl out. Overall, I would rate the narrator a 4.

The story: As a fellow Texan, who is very familiar with the ranch life and state geography. I enjoyed the realism in some of the actions of the characters – shooting glass bottles for fun (I have done that on several occasions at the ranch). The concept was good, but many times the dialog was “he said”, then “she said”, then “he said”, then “they said.” Could we find a different verb than said? I also just didn’t like the ending. I found it very anticlimactic. Overall, I would rate a 3.

Total rating: 3.5 (round up to 4)

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC. A good, quick, summer read. Entertaining story. Some of the deeper context might lead to a good book discussion on forgiveness and family.