Kat retired from the military and joined a private security firm, where she is assigned to be the bodyguard for Zac Edwards, a gorgeous movie star, who is being stalked. They've got great chemistry, but Kat wants to keep their relationship strictly professional. Most of the book is a will they/won't they which frankly I found a little boring. Toward the end of the book, they both open up about their past and how it is affecting their present relationship and that's when the story got better. I'd probably rate this book 2.5 stars - rounded up to three. Up Close and Personal is the second book of Kathryn Freeman's I've read and I really like the previous one (The New Guy) but I found this story to drag. The second half of the book was a big improvement over the first, which is what made me round my review up to 3 stars.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review. My Amazon review has been submitted and is pending approval.

I never know how to review adult romance books, since it is not really my normal genre. Although I’ve been reading it more lately. And I really needed this quick easy read at the moment!
This was a really slow-burn romance. You know it will happen, but it takes most of the book to develop! Which I really enjoyed!
I really liked that Kat was Zac’s bodyguard, instead of the other way around!
I appreciated to easiness and quickness of this book. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the drama at the end of the book. Can’t really go into details, since it would really spoil the book!
Definitely recommend if you want an easy romance!

Good Lord was I blown away with this book In the beginning, I went kind of blind into this because I didn’t remember the synopsis of this and I am so glad I did. I truly believe that the characters are so interesting because I loved that the female character was a woman, it reminded me of a beloved Korean TV drama for me. I was sold and on the way to giving this a 5 stars say no more. But about halfway when the characters fall in love they tended to make silly and sometimes immature decisions that they started to look less charming and quirky. I do believe that I liked them so much in the beginning, their first meeting was so full of chemistry and sizzle but my the end I was just kind of rolling my eyes.

Sarcastic yet damaged bodyguard meets misunderstood yet charming actor when disturbing notes start appearing that has the studio worried enough to hire a security team to watch over him. Little do they both know is how much and how fast the attraction begins which tests both of their willpower to keep things professional. He loses this battle first but she fights to remain focused on keeping him safe though the temptation is fierce.
Drama and suspense surprisingly find them and shifts the story where we find out the darkness they are both hiding.
A great read with a strong, female lead who you hope gets some sense knocked into her as quickly as possible.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest review.

I received this book from NetGalley, One More Chapter for an honest review. Thank you!
4.5 stars

Up and Close Personal is my first book read by Kathryn Freeman. Up Close and Personal is a sweet rom-com love story between an actor and his female bodyguard. This the first time when I read a book where the woman is a bodyguard and she protects the man.

Zac is an actor who has a stalker and because of that, he needs protection and he finds out that a woman will protect him. At first, he didn’t like the idea to be protected by a woman but he realizes that Kat is a woman that was in the army and she is a professional. I liked Zac because he was funny, respectful, and a sweetheart.

Kat is a professional and for her, the opportunity to protect Zac is very important to prove her boss is ready for more cases. She likes a Zac but she is trying to do her job and to make sure that he is safe. Even if she had feelings for Zac, she didn’t want to risk her reputation because she works in a man world.

I liked the playful relationship between Zac and Kat and I liked how they work together. I liked how Zac pursue her and he didn’t give up on her. Zac fought to be with her and to prove to her that their relationship deserves a chance.

They both had a difficult past but both of them decided to face the past and at the same time to let go of the past and to look forward. I loved Zac because he is a sweet guy and I loved the relationship between Zac and Kat. I liked Up Close and Personal and I recommend to everyone who wants to read about a woman as a bodyguard.

“You’re perfect for me. It’s me who isn’t good enough for you, but I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to be”

I received a copy of Up Close and Personal by Kathryn Freeman from One More Chapter via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book. 

I was looking forward to reading this one, it sounds fun and excited and I was sadly disappointed. The romance felt off and I wasn't able to connect with the characters fully. 

Up Close and Personal follows Kat Parker as she starts to protect her new charge; Zac Edwards. Zac is the lastest British heartthrob and has a stalker. When things start to get serious, Kat becomes his close protection officer. But being this close both Kat and Zac start to fall for one another - but Kat must stay professional. 

I wanted to love this book so much. It sounded like something that I would enjoy. But everything fell flat for me. Kat was a decent protagonist, but I just could not connect with her fully. I felt everything that she was holding back from Zac and that made it even harder to connect with her as a reader. I felt the same with Zac. Both characters lacked something and I can't put my finger on it. 

Because of this, I did feel that the romance felt off. I also felt that we didn't get enough of it. Or connection. At first, the reader can see the tension, but then it stayed on that level, until the end. There was just this whole part that felt missing and I wanted more of that. 

In saying all this I felt the tension and stakes in the book were good and I did enjoy that aspect. I did guess some fo the things that were going to happen but then I was surprised by other things - which I found fantastic. 

Overall, Up Close and Personal by Kathryn Freeman was an okay read. I won't be talking about it again, but I didn't hate it. I wish the romance was focused on more and the reader was able to see it grow a lot more. Both Kat and Zac felt a little flat for me and I do wish they were a little more fleshed out.

I really liked the plot of the story. I thought it was unique how there was a girl body guard and she didn't let anybody tell her she wasn't good enough just because she was a girl, etc.  I liked the idea of the forbidden romance going on, and how Kat's niece had a good head on her shoulders about one of the plots that happened later on in the book. Don't want to say what because that would be a spoiler.

Up Close and Personal started off strong once I managed to forget the fact that it was a PDF book originally, but it did seem to get slower later on in the book and I wasn't as into it as I originally was.

This was a three star rating which means I still liked it. A three star rating isn't bad.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

This contemporary romance is the perfect distraction when you need a quick book to read. It would make a great summer read too. The story centers around Zac Edwards and Kat Parker. Zac is a hunky actor who has been receiving strange notes from a stalker that are starting to cause concern. Kat is hired by his production company to provide constant security!

These two characters had chemistry from the moment they met. Their banter and endless innuendos were fun and entertaining to watch especially since they are polar opposites in many ways. Kat is a slob, ex military, and F1 fanatic. Zac is well spoken, tidy and living the life of an actor quite well. It gave me all of the Houston and Costner vibes from The Bodyguard, but in a great role reversal kind of way.

Of course the mystery of the stalker slowly builds over time as you catch glimpses of who it might be, but there was a better mystery going on in the background. Both lead characters had a past history that continued to haunt and shape the way they acted as adults now. Once you thought you had everything figured out, another layer would be revealed causing you to feel even more sympathy for them. It definitely had an intense finale.

The romance was there, but remained light and just enough to give you a little tease of wanting extra details. It was more about their forbidden relationship and how they needed to work through their troubled past so they could be confident and honest with one another.

Never question a man who has a tea kettle collection. I had a feeling that explanation would crush me and I was correct.

The epilogue definitely left me smiling.

I didn't know too much about this book before going in but it is more of a romantic suspense and I really enjoyed it! Every now and again I will read a romantic suspense book and I always find myself gripped which I definitely was by this one. I enjoyed this more than The New Guy as there was so much more romance in this book which is what I am here for! The suspense aspect to this is a little over the top but regardless, I really liked it!
I really liked Kat and the fact that she was his bodyguard in this, we love a strong woman. I also really liked her niece, she is a typical teenager but she bought some light and laughs to the story. Zac was so swoony with everything he did for Kat as well as for her niece! Zac and Kat's relationship was a little slow burn which I always appreciate and there are some steamy moments.
This book was a little long but having said that, I didn't find it boring even though it was a little repetitive at times, I wish he would have been more upfront with his past with her much quicker into the book. There is a lot of depth and backstory to the characters but it was easy to follow and I didn't expect Zac's past in the slightest, especially when it all came out at around 70% in. This was a fun read and I would recommend it if you are looking for something fun with a little drama!

A gender switch on The Bodyguard, I was excited to read Up Close & Personal, and unfortunately pretty disappointed. The story line was fine, though predictable and it felt really repetitive.

Something that also bugged me was the short names - Kat. Zac. Wes - maybe daft, but surprisingly irritating. The back and forth between two thirty something characters was so frustrating, I wanted to knock their heads together, they were worse than some YA characters I've read.

I did however manage to finish the book, and I rate it 2.5.

Up Close and Personal was marketed as a gender-bent inspriation of the movie The Bodyguard, one I enjoy and have watched several times. That was what called to me about this one. British movie star Zac Edwards is being stalked and hires Kat Parker as a bodyguard.
From the moment these two meet by accident at a swanky party, I knew this book wasn't going to be what I wanted it to be. I have to stop being drawn in by these adorable illustrated covers because it happens to me again and again. Their meet-cute happened as Kat, whose supposed to be this super tough, ex-military woman, as she spills champagne all over Zac's super expensive shirt. Their banter immediately made me roll my eyes so many times. It's this weird almost insta-love scenario, which is one of my LEAST favorite tropes.

As their relationship develops, Zach tries time and time again to get Kat to go out with him...even though he's her boss but okay...and she's reluctant to enter into a romantic relationship because of her past. She has PTSD from a traumatic experience in the army - I cannot speak to if this type of situation is done well because I have never experienced PTSD - but it just felt like that wasn't explored well enough. It felt like a huge inconvenience that she had to get over just so she can fall in love, you know..instead of working through it for her own mental health.

I did appreciate this wasn't just a silly rom-com and the author chose to add more depth to these characters and make them more vulnerable emotionally. While it wasn't for me, I think others who like more serious rom-coms might enjoy this. These characters were just not for me, when they were together they were very immature and childish. The conflicts did not intrigue me, the romance wasn't what I wanted it to be. Overall I gave this 2.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this fun read! I have been finding a new love for Romcoms lately and although this wasn’t as funny as others it was still a pleasant read with a twist. I enjoyed it!

The premise was fun, I am always here for a strong female protagonist and Kat fits the bill. She is charged with protecting Zac, a Hollywood star, from a stalker. Kate is ex-army and tries to keep things between her and Zac professional but of course things don’t go as planned.

I read this book in about a day simply because it was interesting and fun! I related to Kat and of course found myself cheering on the relationship.

Thank you to @harpercollinsuk @onemorechapter and @netgalley for an advanced copy of the book for my honest review.

It's a fast and easy read but I couldn't connect to the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This romance novel is about a bodyguard Kat Parker who was hired to protect a famous British actor Zac Edwards from a stalker.

I didn’t really feel a connection to the book or characters. I didn’t find myself smiling or laughing at any of the dialogue. When the characters finally kissed or got together at the end, I didn’t feel anything. The way it was written, sometimes I got confused as to who was speaking and I had to skim back and reread. I found myself skimming through a lot of the book just to get to an end I didn’t really care about..

Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Up Close and Personal was a fast and easy read. The idea of a gender swapped version of The Bodyguard is what drew me in to begin with but the storyline was slow in some parts and at times didn’t hold my interest.
Also to note the way the main character Kat is described in the book is nothing like how she is portrayed on the cover.
Thank you to One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second book by Kathryn Freeman, and it just didn't have the same spark as the first one.

I was so intrigued by this gender swap of The Bodyguard, and although the plot is certainly there, there's something I can't quite my finger on missing.

British Actor Zac Edwards is getting creepy notes from a stalker, and until the culprit is behind bars the film studio he works on wants him to have security 24/7. Enter Kat Parker, a quirky ex-military that will be his new bodyguard.

I like both characters separately, and their romance is cute, but the overall pacing dragged and it was quite repetitive. I still think it was a sweet story - I just wanted that something extra.

Thank you Netgalley and One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK for approving me for an ARC on exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this different take on a bodyguard romance, it made me laugh and the characters were enjoyable. However I did find the characters very repetitive, rehashing the same issues and conversations many times. I also found some comments made a bit old fashioned and sexist which made me eye roll on a number of occasions.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Despite loving the premise, this wasn't what I expected. Like others have mentioned, I assumed there would be a slow burn, but the main characters meet and begin flirting immediately. I prefer to learn more about the characters individually (when there are two perspectives) and not just jump right in. It feels...off. Also, I'm sorry, but Kat almost erupts into a fit of giggles because Zac uses the word "purgatory" because he uses a lot of "really funny, fancy words." I...was not aware that the word "purgatory" was so hilarious, but okay. This just wasn't for me.

I really liked this one. Such a fun and easy read, I will definitely recommend this book to some of my friends.

BOOK REVIEW: Up Close and Personal by Kathryn Freeman

2.5 stars

This is the second book by Kathryn Freeman I have read and probably going to be my last. Although her books hold a lot of potential, it isn't enough to make me read another one. Also once again the cover doesn't depict what the characters look like at all....why?!

Up Close & Personal held such promise. A gender switched version of the bodyguard? Yes please! However the execution in the end was quite cringey and not up to scratch.

First the things I liked. The general storyline was really good! As I said, it held so much potential! The characters were also pretty good. Kat was fiery and interesting and Zac was kind and a gentleman. They had fantastic chemistry which was great to see grow. There were some scenes that were well thought out too.

Now what I didn't like. Sadly the writing and the intricacies of the story failed for me. It was incredibly repetitive, over and over again they went back and forth despite no real reason for it! It got incredibly frustrating and much of it could have been cut out and it been a better book. If one of them got confused about the others feelings one more time I was going to throw my kindle across the room!! These are people in their 30's, not teenagers!
Also the thing about Zac being incredibly weird and posh because he spoke with actual words and liked a clean house got irritating. I could deal with it the first time but it got boring really quick.
The humour was generally really lacking or squeezed for all it was worth.
I won't go on, you can tell it wasn't for me! Such a shame as the story could have been fantastic.

Please note that this book was #gifted in exchange for an honest review.
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