Using the familiar bodyguard trope, this contemporary romance delivers a strong narrative and likable characters. Zac is a prominent film star whose life in in danger. Kat is hired to keep him safe. When the danger escalates, can they deny their budding feelings to keep everyone focused on saving Zac’s life? There’s something for everyone in this book: friendly banter, suspense, action, and love.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Advance readers copy provided courtesy of #NetGalley for an honest review.

On a superficial level, Up Close and Personal is a fairly enjoyable read - the characters are likable enough in their own rights, the plot is decently compelling, and the light fluff aspect is there. However, I just found myself unable to care about the couple.

Starting from the initial meeting, I couldn't connect to the characters' romantic interest in each other, which all stemmed from an apparent instant attraction for the other person. For my tastes at least, there wasn't enough reasoning given to argue for an emotional link between the two. It appears that whatever was there was enough for the characters though, because they seemed to fall hard, fast.

I would like to take the time to acknowledge that my reception of the book may be colored by a personal preference for romances based in pre-existing relationships. I need an emotional epicenter to latch onto, and with cases of "instant attraction," that need becomes even more vital. Unfortunately, this book just didn't meet my bar with the first interaction, which automatically put it at a disadvantage from the start.

This ended up being a recurring theme though: either Kat or Zac would say or do something that seemed to spark a deep emotional reaction within the other, one that was far more excessive than I thought the situation called for. Consequentially, I remained detached from the couple's feelings for each other. Even when they met via Kat crashing into Zac, the given rationale for Zac being intrigued rather than upset by the woman is that Kat is so apologetic about spilling champagne on him and that the rambling apology is apparently amusing. He is "enthralled" to the point of being unable to move when she heads off to fix the problem she created. Yes, I see how this attraction works in theory, but it just seems to me that Kat was responding how any sane person would in that situation. The only explanation that makes sense to me for Zac's interest, then, is that it must be connected to his physical attraction.

And therein lies my issue. Over and over, the narration would try and convince me that Kat and Zac appeal to each other in an emotional capacity, but it would somehow do so in a way that only seemed to highlight their physical allure toward each other. There were even several occasions where a character's immediate response to an emotional confession by the other was to make out or have sex. I won't be so remiss as to try to claim that the two didn't have an emotional connection at all. There were times where I could agree that one of the character's words were indeed rousingly sweet and charming or that their actions were appealingly thoughtful. However, it just didn't add up to enough - the emotional connection just never even came close to the level of physical attraction that was described, and my overwhelming verdict by the end was that these two just didn't really make a good couple.

This conclusion came on the basis of four observations:
1. The disproportionate emotional responses the two had towards each other, coupled with the constant emphasis on their physical attraction made me feel like they were more in lust than in love. At the very least, it felt reminiscent of a "honeymoon phase" in perhaps a teenager's first relationship. Every emotion felt heightened, but in a "wow, you're being pretty dramatic" way.
2. Probably owing to the intensity of their emotions for each other, Kat and Zac seemed to be constantly letting instinct dictate their reactions. As a result, they were always misinterpreting each other's words or actions or expressions, letting their own emotions color their understanding of the situation (usually in a negative way). This was due to an immense amount of insecurity on both parts, which, while understandable, gets very irritating. Especially when both parties can't grasp that the other person is also insecure.
3. Which leads to my ultimate frustration: the two just don't communicate with each other. The two of them keep so much of their negative impulsive reactions to themselves, and it ends up manifesting in other negative ways, like lashing out at each other for things that aren't the reason they're actually upset. When the majority of a book's conflict could be resolved if the characters just communicated with each other, it doesn't speak well to how much I'm going to enjoy a read. I'm not asking that the two immediately reveal their deepest secrets in the name of love, but words as simple as "I'm not ready for a relationship due to something I'm not ready to talk about" would go so far in not making the other person - and the reader - want to tear their hair out. Instead, we have characters going through cycles of making bad decisions based on bad assumptions.
4. I'm just hard-pressed to find the two to be emotionally compatible. There is an inherent lack of understanding of the other's thoughts, needs, or wants (besides sex, apparently). Just looking on a fundamental level, Kat's way of showing love is through protecting the people she cares about, while Zac's is by doting on and spoiling others. Kat is highly uncomfortable with being showered with material things, while Zac hates the idea of Kat being put in danger all the time. They spend so much of the book being upset with one another over these key aspects of each other, and I'm not sure that by the end, both parties have compromised enough to convince me that this relationship can last.

Overall, Kat and Zac just didn't seem emotionally mature enough for this relationship. It speaks a lot that I often found the wisest character to be the fourteen-year-old niece (though even she was not immune to the insane emotional logic driving the couple's relationship). By the end, the only thing that I could believe this relationship had going for it was Kat and Zac's physical attraction towards each other, what with the amount of physical intimacy the characters employed in lieu of emotional intimacy. And even that can't be said with 100% conviction.

You would think that with the amount of stress that has been placed - intentionally or not - on the couple's physical chemistry that we could at least see it manifested when they have sex. Instead, in all but one instance, every lead-up to sex essentially ends in a "fade to black"-esque cut. Even the one "explicit" scene felt too general in description to establish what should be a culmination of the clear chemistry between the two. I'm not just trying to ask for smut, I swear. I would just like for some part - any part - of their relationship click for me. I don't want to come out of a romance novel having no faith in the future of the couple's relationship. And unfortunately, that's what happened. I existed in that weird space where I wanted them to get over all of their excuses for not being together already while not actually supporting their becoming a couple.

I'm highly aware that my dissatisfaction is in no small part magnified by my personal desire to see a relationship deeply rooted on emotional foundations. Someone in search of a lighter read may have no qualms at all with the development of Kat and Zac's relationship - it is fun and flirty after all, when they're not angst-ing over each other. Still, it doesn't change the fact that I spent so much of the time thinking how these two don't belong together that no amount of cheese or vague physical intimacy-induced pleasures or happy endings could save it. I was a client that this bodyguard couldn't protect.

A great romance with an entertaining story arc and well-developed characters.. I enjoyed the flipping of script from the concept in The Bodyguard, to reverse the gender roles and have Kat as the bodyguard and Zac as her client.

From their meet-cute till the last page of the epilogue I was engrossed in Kat and Zac's journey. Learning tidbits about each of their lives and watching them their relationship grow was deeply satisfying. I appreciate when romance novels don't gloss over the messy bits, the story was realistic in its consequences.

I enjoyed the role reversal, with Kat being the bodyguard and Zac needing protecting. Does it bother anyone else though that the book cover shows Kat as being blonde and not brunette?

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An exciting romance novel that kept me on my toes the whole time. The storyline was exceptional and the characters engaging and believable.

3 stars!

I so desperately wanted to enjoy this, and I JUMPED on this book immediately after getting approved, but I'm sad to report that my high expectations were not met. By no means is this a bad story, it has everything I LOVE for a five star read, and yet...the execution fell short.

Let's be real, the bodyguard trope is FOREVER a guilty pleasure of mine, but I've not read too many books where the bodyguard is the female, so you bet I was on board with Kat/Zac's story...but outside of the swoon worthy cover, I didn't find anything about the story to be swoonworthy/worthy of feels.

I will admit I'm not a huge fan of books told in third person, but some authors like Julie James, make it work. Perhaps this is because with 3rd person I find that there is a bit of distance between me and the main character, but the best 3rd person books are ones where the lead still has a strong voice and I can feel their personality through the pages...with Kat and Zac, I felt that they were both a bit bland and as a result, I was unable to connect with either of them, and as a result, I didn't really CARE how the story turned out because I wasn't vested in the character or their happily-ever after. Perhaps it's a me thing, perhaps not. Others seem to be enjoying this one so definitely still consider this book if you want a quick romcom that takes a spin on the bodyguard trope.

Up Close and Personal was a fun, distracting read. Zac is a movie star with a stalker and a secret past. Kat is his unexpected bodyguard, who also has secrets of her own. With a blend of mystery, suspense and romance, as well as likable characters, this was an enjoyable read, although at times I felt like the romantic scenes built and fizzled a bit just before reaching an apex.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Up Close and Personal, Kathryn Freeman

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance

I've enjoy novels from this author before, and this genre is one of my favourites but...I wasn't bowled over by this.
Zac was lovely but he didn't feel like “the latest heart throb” - I'd gave expected security to be every day for him if that was so. Kat is brought in because he has a stalker but again, I'd have though a team, not just Kat and her boss stepping in every now and then.
Kat was good, it was clear she knew her job and was tough enough to do it, and there are times a woman is an asset in security, the unexpected gives an advantage.
It seems they were both holding back though, and that affected both the job, and their relationship. I'm all for secrets but sometimes its wrong, and Zac was stupid ( IMO) for keeping his. Still, that made the story flow so was for the best ;-)
Its an easy read, pleasant and well paced but lacked the magic for me. I didn't find the stalker part tense enough, and just wasn't convinced by the romance. I did like the twist to the stalker – I didn't see that coming, but hands up, I felt some parts a bit dull so skim read them and may have missed a clue!

Stars: 3, an easy to read story, but lacked the connections and drama I needed for higher rating.

Arc via Netgalley

Up Close and Personal by Kathryn Freeman is a fun and easy read that sweeps you up into the world of Hollywood, movie sets and celebrity life.

The female bodyguard and the male actor is a refreshing take on a plot device used many times before. The story is bursting with romance, intrigue and quite a bit of angst which makes it the perfect page turner to sit and read in one sitting as you become so absorbed in the story.

I really enjoyed this book, more than I thought I would actually! At first I thought it just seemed like a gender swap of The Bodyguard but then I changed my mind and thought it was actually just a light fluffy read.

I was happy to be proven wrong on both counts as I felt both characters struggling with secrets of their past and with their feelings for each other.
Throw in the sinister twist and it makes for a bloody good read.

I think I need my own Zac Edwards!

"Up Close and Personal" has a surprising new premise: a famous actor and his female bodyguard. Along the way, this hardened, hurting bodyguard begins to succumb to his advances. I enjoyed the fresh new storyline, but I couldn't connect to any of the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Wow. This one blew me away. Zac Edwards is a movie star who has a stalker. Kat is an ex-army bodyguard with a past trauma whose job it is to keep him safe. In order to do that she needs to keep him at arm's length but the sizzling attraction between them is making it difficult. But there are other aspects that will challenge them both. It's funny, sexy and has elements of danger and mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat. I devoured this in one sitting, not only engaged with the attraction between the main characters but trying to figure out what was really happening and whether Kat would manage to figure it out and keep them both safe. I also really enjoyed the refreshing twist on the traditional bodyguard trope - with her being the kick-ass bodyguard and Zac feeling frustrated and inactive. However, she was portrayed to be very capable but still vulnerable which made her relatable and it was great to see Zac suffered from insecurity.. Sadly, it ended all too soon for me and I felt a little bereft when I got to the final page.

Freeman's "Up close and personal" is another Switzerland, a solid three stars read for me; some parts are enjoyable and some made me somewhat lose my interest.
Overall a soft, easy, heartwarming read with some angsty, heavy on drama parts, ideal if one wants to take a break from mind-numbing thriller of everyday life.