I enjoyed this memoir from Ms. Houston’s bodyguard. I particularly enjoyed its lack of tabloid-like attention grabbing details. Instead, it felt like a story told from the heart and out of great love and respect for Whitney Houston.

Protecting Whitney
The Memoir of Her Bodyguard
by David Roberts
Narrated by Gildart Jackson

Be prepared to re-watch The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale after or while listening to this. Also, if you're like me and haven't listened to Whitney in some time, you'll likely be revisiting her music. What a sad, tragic tale. Protecting Whitney is the memoir of her longtime bodyguard, David Roberts. His writing reflects his professionalism as Whitney's bodyguard, and it is obvious he cared for her deeply. I've long thought that Bobby Brown was the worst thing that ever happened to Whitney, and this memoir confirms that meeting him was the beginning of her downfall.

As a kid growing up in the 80's, I enjoyed listening and getting some insight into Whitney's rise to fame and her life as a whole. She sounds like she was a truly lovely person with a heart of gold. Unfortunately, she had terrible taste in unfaithful husbands, and it still blows my mind that someone with the support that she had, and the talent that she had, would settle for someone that she KNEW wasn't faithful...but who am I to judge. This book isn't only about that part of her life though. It's informative and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to every bit of it.

The narration was a bit dry, but well done, though I wasn't expecting the accent! Overall, this was a book that I didn't want to stop listening to, even though I knew the ending. Thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC!

Thanks for the advance copy
This was a beautiful book and was so well written.
The narration was a little dry but the story made up for it.
Only reason why I didn’t give it 5 stars

Written by her long-time bodyguard, this book about Whitney Houston kept my attention. Like most, I adored her voice and felt a huge sadness about her death, which still seems needless and wasteful. I knew that she was well-liked in her field, but didn’t know much else aside of the lethal drug abuse.

David Roberts clearly admired and truly liked his boss. As her bodyguard, he learned her personality and habits fairly intimately. Overall, she seemed to be a kind and thoughtful human. He offered many examples of her consideration towards family, staff, and her beloved fans. I found it so sad to read all the examples of how she was taken advantage of by those she trusted most.

Though he doesn’t delve into it, it’s clear she was raised by a strict mother figure whose presence loomed large into adulthood. Perhaps that’s why she tilted so far in the opposite direction towards Bobby Brown. It’s quite clear that Mr. Robert sided with Cissy Houston when it came to their pairing. There is clear loathing in his words. If you are team Bobby, there’s no good news for you in this book. Some fairly damning evidence is presented about his sexual sidebars, and other contributions to Whitney‘s downward spiral. Much of his culpable behavior was cleaned up to protect Whitney‘s “brand.” Knowing that today’s books are well vetted to avoid lawsuits, I can’t even imagine what didn’t pass legal approval.

It was refreshing to learn that Mr. Robert continually reported his concerns about Whitney’s drug use and its impact on her voice and well-being. He was ignored, and let go. I wonder if Whitney might still be here if everyone around her had acted with such concern. Heartbreaking.

I listened to the audio version of this book, which did not include pictures. I’d certainly be interested in seeing them if any are included in the print copy. Of note, the narrator is not the author.
I appreciate that Dreamscape Media allowed me access to this audiobook via NetGalley per my request.

David Roberts, a former police officer from Wales and now a private security bodyguard took a job he said he would never do - work for anyone in the "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll world". He spent years as Whitney Houston's bodyguard and as most people in her world felt, a friend. He worked hard and professionally to protect Whitney from threats from the "outside" but it was a threat from the inside - her husband Bobby Brown - that he could not protect her from .

This book was an interesting inside look at her life, her career, and the many people who were in her world - some who truly loved her and some who used her fame and fortune for themselves - but the most deadly one one cost her her life and eventually her daughter's life.

It was a beautiful look at her life from someone who loved and protected her.

I enjoyed this audiobook and narrator Gildart Jackson.

My thanks to Net Galley, Chicago Review Press, and Dreamscape Media for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

It was interesting to get Roberts' point of view, as someone who really cared for Whitney. Providing protection for such a talent (and her entourage) must have been so difficult but laden with good stories.

I found this book extremely interesting and loved the point of view from the bodyguard. Like everyone, I am a Whitney Houston fan and found his story heartwarming. I wish we were able to hear her side of their relationship.

I went into listening to this book with a bit of skepticism. I wondered why we hadn't heard this story before now, and why it is coming out all these years after her death. I soon found that I couldn't stop listening and consumed it quickly. David Roberts has such compelling stories about his time protecting Whitney Houston that I truly didn't want this book to end. His Welsh sense of humor is infused throughout, and makes for a wonderful, entertaining read. I, like so many, was shaped by Whitney's music and was saddened greatly by her death. David's journey through meeting Whitney, protecting her, and ultimately saying goodbye was well told and brings her a little closer to us. He reveals what it was like to be her actual bodyguard in the time before, during and after the movie starring Whitney and Kevin Coster was filmed and released. He also makes it clear from the beginning of the book that he and Whitney had a strictly professional relationship, batting down any salacious wonderings from readers. David's account of the business side of her career and the family dynamic that formed it is fascinating. His details of Whitney's health crisis during the filming of one of her movies is heartbreaking, and his view of her relationship with Bobby Brown quite revealing. I found myself saying repeatedly "I had no idea..." during the reading of this book. I didn't want it to end, but have to credit David for not padding the book with unnecessary anecdotes just to make it longer. The audiobook was fantastic, and I loved Gildart Jackson's narration so much!