I do look forward to curling up with a Kathryn Freeman book and Up Close and Personal was an excellent read. The story is about a film-star being stalked and having a bodyguard assigned to him. One has impeccable manners, is well spoken and always punctual. The other says what they think, is a bit messy and is often running late. Meet the film-star Zac Edwards and his body guard Kat Parker.

Their first meeting was a bit of a disaster, their second didn’t inspire confidence but there is a hint of a spark between them, some flirting and innuendo. Kat is a professional and she cannot afford the distraction of falling for handsome and tasty Zac.

The plot of the story has more to it than first meets the eye, both characters have a dark past that they are not willing to share. This in part is why some of their quirks are as they are, their past have, in some ways shaped the way they look at he futures.

I loved that instant connection between these two characters, they are the focus of the story, though there are others that have a part to play. The reading was so effortless as I disappeared into the world the author created. There is chemistry, humour and also more serious stuff, but all nicely balanced to keep the flow of the story moving along at just the right pace.

This is very much a will they or won’t they style of story, and I wasn’t sure exactly how it was going to end as there could have been many scenarios that could have made the conclusion.

This is a wonderful read that I loved from start to finish. I was completely hooked and found it the perfect book to read sat in the garden on a sunny afternoon. Ideal for fans of rom-coms and romance and one I would definitely recommend.

This book had an absolutely FANTASTIC first chapter! And then...it fizzled. Bring out my sad face.

Yes, the story still kept me engaged enough to continue reading, but it was easily 75 pages too long. There comes a point when you think to yourself, "Is this author trying to hit a certain word count?" and it's a damn shame because the story has good bones and the characters are great. Why we need so many chapters (at about 3/4 through the book) filled with information that in no way moves the story along is beyond me.

The entire story summary is carrying blame for things beyond your control. By the end of the book you feel as if you have been flogged to death with this theme.

This book isn't terrible. Some might very much like it. The chemistry between characters is sizzling and there is a lot to like, just prepare yourself for 10,000 instances of, "I feel like this is all my fault." met with, "It's not all your fault, it's all MY fault!" And "What happened in the past was not your fault." "But I feel like it WAS all my fault." "But it's not your fault." "Still it feels like It's my fault."

I wasn't in love with the story or the characters sadly.
I'm so sorry I can't give a full review on this, I just ended up not loving it.

Honestly, I thought this was going to be a great book for me. I love tropes turned on their head, and it just fell short. The plot seemed so focused on this one element - the notes and the mystery, which was predictable, and then boring. The conclusion happened so fast and weirdly done.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review. I don't know why I had a hard time getting into this book, the characters were difficult to like and I couldn't connect with them to root for their romance. Kat is a bodyguard and Zac is a famous actor. This is a romantic comedy but it just didn't hold my interest and made me say Wow! I am really sad because this book has so much potential and a good story line for a start. The characters were just not likable for me.

I love reading and have a varied taste in styles and genres. I’ll openly admit to enjoying romantic fiction as well as a gritty thriller but, I have a real soft spot for what I refer to as palate cleansers. These are the type of books which will wash over you, deliver the ending that you want and leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. One of my palate cleanser authors of choice is Kathryn Freeman and she certainly never disappoints!
Up Close and Personal follows the story of devilishly handsome movie star, Zac Edwards and his need for the professional services of bodyguard, Kat Parker. Zac has a charmed family life and moves in the stately home set; Kat is acting as sole guardian for her niece whilst her sister is in rehab. They have nothing in common so, there’s no reason to think that their relationship could be anything but professional. Right?
This was the perfect book for me. Loved every moment of it and thoroughly enjoyed the chemistry between the mis-matched couple.
For me this was a quick read and I enjoyed every single moment. Kathryn Freeman writes stories that are fun, romantic and loaded with sexual tension. You know that the tension will break, you just don’t know when.
If you haven’t read any of Kathryn’s books, what are you waiting for?

Up close and personal by Kathryn Freeman was a quick, lovely read.
I enjoyed the characters and the fact that Kat is his bodyguard, she’s the badass heroine and tries to keep it all professional at all times, not only because of her work contract but because of her desire and trying to protect her heart.
Zac is a celebrity actor and has to go through the stalkers moments as someone is attempting to harm him. His past is catching up and many times his secrets are kept locked but at a bigger cost.
This was a perfect story for a few hours of romance with a few suspenseful moments.

Fun and easy and light. Some of the small details didn't make a lot of sense to me, like Mark having a thing for her, but overall it was easy and cute.

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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This was a fun and enjoyable read about Zac, a famous actor in need of personal protection due to a stalker, and Kat the bodyguard assigned to protect him. I loved that the traditional gender roles of the bodyguard trope were reversed. Kat was the one focused on proving herself, while Zac took to her protection rather easily. Both characters had mysterious and somewhat secretive pasts which added to the drama of the story. This book was a solid 3.5 star read for me. I enjoyed the characters and the light suspense. I felt it was a little slow in some parts but I think it is a great summer read.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and voluntarily give my review.

This is a challenging review: Fom the start, the banter and chemistry between Zac and Kat was great. I love the premise and the characters but overall it fell flat for me, and there isn't a specific aspect I can pinpoint as to why. If I have to guess, part of the reason could be that the main conflict of the story just fizzles out and jumps into a new conflict which did nothing for the overall study. The hugest of thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter, and HarperCollins UK.

I really enjoyed this book! It's a fun romcom that has a fresh take on classic tropes. A good alternative to films whilst retaining the enjoyment factor, this book is a relatively quick and engaging read that is well worth your time.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL was a very different book from what I expected. The book was about half romance and half thriller as the danger Zac is in escalates over the course of the story. I really didn't expect this shift given the light blurb and the carefree cover.

Our romantic leads are Kat, a bodyguard trying to care for her teenaged niece, and the gorgeous celebrity she is charged with protecting, Zac. Both are pretty much stereotypes that were a challenge to emotionally connect with. It wasn't clear what the attraction was between the two leads, either. They're both immediately smitten when Kat meets Zac at a party after accidentally spilling champagne on him but there's little beyond this insta-attraction to propel their romantic arc. We're lead to believe the spark is primarily lust yet the sex scenes all faded to black and the run-up to these scenes was so, so generic. It felt like this element of the story really took a backseat to the stalker storyline, which isn't what I'd prefer in a book marketed as a romance.

Another thing worth noting about the romance was how cringey so much of it was. Zac frequently asks for consent in terms of kissing and touching but almost *never* respects Kat when she says no. Over and over throughout UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, Kat clearly draws boundaries between herself and Zac only for Zac to completely disregard these. Maybe it's personal preference but I found this behavior really off-putting and uncomfortable. At the end, I found myself not even really wanting Zac and Kat to get together since he seemed to constantly disrespect her autonomy, personal space, and well-communicated boundaries. None of these behaviors were cute to me -- they read as giant red flags present from the very beginning of the book.

There were a few things about the writing style that drove me absolutely nuts. Kat frequently remarks on Zac's "fancy" words but these words are never anything particularly complicated (like purgatory). It felt like this was reinforcing the assumption that Kat can't be smart as she's the hired muscle in the story. I was also really annoyed that so many things are described over and over -- Kat's swirling green eyes, for one -- yet key details are glossed over in the writing, which left me confused and rereading pages to see if I'd missed something. Both of these things may end up being changed before publication.

I have to give UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL credit for at least being entertaining. There was something about it that was compulsively readable, even though there were so many things I didn't like about it. Overall, I would not recommend this as a romance and think the marketing around this book is very misleading as to the type of story it is.

I really really wanted to love this book. A gender reversal of The Bodyguard? Colour me intrigued! 

Right off the bat, the sexual attraction between Zac and Kat is laid on a little too thick. When they first meet by accident at an event, Zac doesn’t know that she is his new bodyguard.  But once he finds out that she’s his bodyguard, he’s still set out to be with her.  She wants to be with him, but she needs to keep it professional. They both have secrets that they’re keeping from each other, and the unraveling of these backstories is a strength of the novel. However, they fall in love with each other far too quickly.  Maybe I’ve been spoiled with the romance novels I've been reading lately, but I wanted to see more connection between them before they fell in love.  That said, their interactions are quite cute at times, if a little juvenile. They’re thirty years old, but they’re acting more smitten and sweet than the 16 year olds in the last young adult romance I read.

That said, if you want to read this book because you want to read about a mere commoner falling in love with a celebrity, then this is the book for you!

Kat is a professional bodyguard, and it’s difficult for her to guard a client who’s so darn alluring.  This is probably the most relatable part of the book.  She’s trying her hardest not to be distracted by Zac’s presence, because one wrong move could get him killed.  Zac doesn’t seem to understand this, and he does his best to distract her with his ridiculous handsomeness.  This is a little unrealistic and an unlikable personality trait, considering the fact that he has a secret past, and he is genuinely worried that someone might be targeting him because of it, and that it isn’t just an unstable fan who has him in their crosshairs.  

There are a few little inconsistencies in the storytelling. The dialogue between Zac and Kat, while charming and witty, can often be quite stilted. I loved the way that Zac talks--using overly formal language that is reflective of his upbringing--but the inner dialogues of the two protagonists were cringey at times. Kat comments on his use of “fancy words” like “purgatory”, but then she uses the word “incorrigible” to describe him. I’m pretty sure “incorrigible” is a far fancier word than “purgatory”, but maybe that’s just me.  Also, Zac is a famous movie star, one who has his very own stalker, but where is the paparazzi? I don’t think they made an appearance more than during that a scene early in the novel.  

The mystery plot of Zac having a stalker was quite intriguing.  I found that the suspense plotline was wrapped up a little too neatly, and a little too quickly for my liking. Even the obligatory romance novel scene where Kat and Zac fight near the end seemed contrived. I wasn’t exactly sure what they were fighting over, and it became clear during the scene where they forgive one another and profess the undying love that they’ve had since first laying eyes on each other that they didn’t know what they were fighting over either. Groan.

Despite my critique, this is a sweet, fun, and quick read that's perfect for a night in.  I recommend this book to those wanting to read a cutesy insta-love romance story.

This review will be posted to https://powerlibrarian.wordpress.com/ on May 28, 2020.

I received an ebook Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I would like to thank the publisher, author and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Books like this - romance, chick lit, women's fiction - aren't my usual type of book, but lately I've found they are working for quick reads to give me a bit of a break from daily life. I've read some really enjoyable and fun books this way, books that I have really had fun with and would have never read otherwise. So I'm branching out a bit and trying some new things. When I read the description for this book, I thought it would be a fun story. I mean, I don't often read books where a rough and tough gal gets to be a body guard to a big name actor.

Our introduction to Kat, the bodyguard, was a bit odd to me. Having her trip and fall on the guy because she was wearing heels. Now, I'll admit, when you're used to having your feet flat and firm on the ground, adjusting to heels can be tough, but she's a professional, right? If she's 'on the job' shouldn't she be in footwear that allows her to move confidentially?

But I can overlook that. The story progressed and I felt more and more like I was reading a very different book from the description provided. I had expected the story to get all relationship-y and there to be a romance, but how many times does she need to say "no, this isn't right/professional/not the right time" before he gets the message to back off? The whole 'hiding painful details of your life' should be expected - they're not on a date or looking to start a relationship - they should have had a more professional relationship.

I also never really got to like any of the characters. There was some development, but I never really found myself cheering one or the other on. There wasn't really a 'I'm happy for you' type of moment that I have come to expect from books like this that I have really enjoyed. IT just all kind of left me - eh. Books like this, I can usually read in 1-2 days because I want to see how it all works out. And because the plot pulls me in. This one took me 4 days, and the last day I just decided 'ok, today is the day, I WILL finish this one and move on'. If not for being given this ARC, I would have given up on the book around the 12% mark, actually. I can't pinpoint what went 'wrong' for me.

I would like to thank One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I liked some aspects of the book such as the two main characters the tension and the fact it was a bodyguard and movie star story. There were some really funny moments but I just couldn't fully love the book as much as I wanted to.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.
I feel bad that I couldn't give this a higher rating, as I really enjoyed reading Kathryn's previous book, The New Guy. I just couldn't connect with the main characters and found that we only skimmed the surface of their personalities. There was a bit of drama and it kind of ended without Zac feeling anything towards the person, even though it was a pretty big deal.
It's probably more a case of, it's me, not you. I'm sure other people will enjoy this novel.
2.5 stars

Oh my god, this is brilliant! Reminded me very much of the bodyguard, but dare I say it, it was even better!! Well worth a read! What’re you waiting for?!

This was an interesting read, with a mix of several things that make it mostly a pleasurebto read.

Kat was a character I had a bit if trouble with, not quite able to get a feel for her. She was rough and tumble, but had a vulnerability that felt almost cliche. I wish that her histiry hadn't been this big secret from the reader for most of the book. It built up what wound up being predictable, and then her character became a mess when she didn't seem to be before.

Zac was a more easily likeable character and kept me interested when things dragged a bit. His secret was also oredictable, in ways, especially aince the allusions weren't subtle. His sincerity and honesty endeared him to me.

Their chemistry was fantastic for most of this. The slow burn perfect. Around 80% though, this felt a bit flat and Zac's grandiose declarations of love mixed with Kat's annoying insecurity and unprocessed trauma had me skimming quite a bit. The last 15% felt like it dragged on really unnecessarily, which was disappointing.

The supporting characters Debs in particular, add good flavor and richness, and mostly feel genuine and not contrived.

Overall, this was a great read with a few areas that could use some better pacing. I liked the role reversal with a female bodyguard and some of the little twists and turns fleshed it out nicely.

3.5 Stars

<i>Special thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and Kathryn Freeman for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!</i>

I’ll admit when I saw that this was being described as a gender bent retelling of The Bodyguard, I was super excited but was trying to keep my expectations low because that’s one of my favorite movies but it ended up being better than I expected! It’d been a while since I watched the movie, so when I finished Up Close and Personal I decided to rewatch it — I was able to draw some definite parallels but was also reminded of some major differences. They’re different enough to enjoy them separately but have enough similarities that fans of The Bodyguard will have fun picking out the parallels! It was nice to see the different directions Freeman took the retelling.

As a whole I really enjoyed the story! The 2 MC’s had good chemistry and they had really great banter. I loved the moments when they were together, acting more like a budding couple than bodyguard and client. However, it wasn’t super suspenseful even though it still kept me wondering what was going to happen. It felt more centered around the budding relationship between the 2 MC’s rather than the situation they were in. There were several times when key parts of the investigation side felt rushed through or glossed over. It didn’t really feel like anything was exactly missing, just that more details could’ve been helpful in creating more depth to the story. And the pinnacle moment of danger felt over too quickly — everything was building up to the secrets that were being kept and what it meant for keeping the MC safe, but when everything was coming to a head, it was over very quickly and the end result didn’t feel as dangerous as it could’ve been. The potential was there but it was over too quickly and then the focus went right back to how it all was effecting the 2 MC’s as a couple. I feel like I just over explained what basically come down to a need for a better balance between the romance and the “suspense”.

However, with all that said and I still really enjoyed it! It was a quick, fun read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves The Bodyguard movie!