This is the first novel I've read by Katherine Center, but it certainly won't be the last. I have been so excited to read this as I've seen it talked about by others who have gotten to review it early, so I was a bit worried I'd built it up too much, but NOPE, this is a phenomenally enjoyable read and totally deserves the hype. It pulled me in from chapter one and had me ignoring the other things I needed to this weekend in favor of reading. I fell in love with the characters and the story. I'll now be going back and reading Center's backlist and looking forward to all her future books!

I loved this his book! It was such a fun read. It was romantic and heartwarming and had so many laugh out loud moments.
I thought the chemistry and banter was great, and loved the plot.
If you're a romance lover then you are definitely going to need this book you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy a new Katherine Center novel, so when my review request for her upcoming book THE BODYGUARD hit my inbox I hit download so fast and then ignored my responsibilities for the rest of the evening. This one features Hannah Brooks, an executive protection agent, who has been hired to protect actor Jack Stapleton while he returns to his family's ranch in Texas.

This book is straight sugary candy blended with Center's signature complicated characters whose histories and backstories complicate their emotional and love lives. In this one, both Hannah and Jack are reeling from their past traumas, traumas which become the center of the book as they work to help each other heal. Bonus for my romance loving friends: this features the one bed trope.

Aside from that, I do wish the book dove into the secondary characters a bit more. Hannah's friendship difficulties with Taylor don't resonate as deeply as they could because we don't see in scene moments of their friendship going well, we only see Taylor's cruelty. The same goes for Robby who Hannah has just broken up with.

Add this to your summer reading tbr pile. I'll just be here awaiting my next Katherine Center novel and/or reading her backlist again.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Katherine Center is an instant purchase author for me every since I read my first book by her, How to Walk Away. I didn’t even need to read the description to know I would love this book. I’ve come to expect the cliche love story of two people falling in love who shouldn’t fall in love but these stories are told in such a way that you can’t help but love every second of it. For two polar opposites, you wouldn’t expect Jack and Hannah to fall for one another. They’ve both endured unthinkable tragedy. When less than ideal circumstances bring them together, they’re both forced to face those tragedies and find a path forward together. Even the ending, which could have added even more tragedy to the lives of everyone in this store had a positive outcome which I loved.

I was given an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this story! I thought it was going to be like Whitney Houston’s body guard roles reversed but it was light and funny. All of the characters were so endearing, even the ones you’re meant to dislike. My only critique was that I didn’t feel the lead - Hannah’s - personality matched her job. I would have expected her to be more badass but she was more damsel in distress. If you ignore that part, it’s an enjoyable story.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Bodyguard seems like a traditional romance at first glance, but this couldn't be a Katherine Center book if it wasn't infused with emotion, humor, humanity and great insight. Jack is a famous movie star, Hannah is his unexpected bodyguard, but they feel real because there's so much more to them and it was a wonderful, heartwarming journey getting to know them as they got to each other.. I slept way too late wanting to read just more page, highlighting the laugh out loud moments, smart dialogue and the thoughtprovoking lines that had me hooked from beginning to end.

This was my favorite novel by Center. Hannah, is a bodyguard for an elite company. After losing g hero, her boss sends her ro Katy, Texas to guard one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Their growing friendship is wonderful descriptive and the ending was divine. A must read.

I absolutely adored this book! I was immediately a fan of the "non-traditional" gender roles of the female MC as a bodyguard for the male love interest. The chemistry, banter, and plot were all great! This book is definitely worth buying and I think I will definitely buy myself a physical copy when it comes out. If you're a huge romance lover then you DEFINITELY need to purchase this book you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book! The backstories on each character gave them depth and I was really rooting for them by the end. I loved all the work drama and the different personalities, there was so much detail there.
This was the first book I’ve read by Katherine Center and now I can’t wait to read all her others!

I enjoyed how the bodyguard was a reverse gender role book. Hannah was a petite lady who is a bodyguard. It is refreshing to see Hannah protecting Jack instead of the reverse. She has a few scars from her past, but along her journey she is able to over them. Jack is a movie star with a stalker problem. He and his family are overcoming the death of one his brothers. I was not fan of a few secondary characters. I found that the secondary characters didn’t add to the book. I couldn’t not stand Taylor and Robby! The plot was a little predictable, and it was a little slow in the beginning. Thank you for the arc St. Martins Press!

I was so thrilled when I saw I was approved for an ARC via NetGalley ! I started reading it immediately.

The premise was definitely very Ms. Congeniality meets Win a Date with Tad Hamilton.

Hannah is one of the most likes le characters I’ve ever read and her coworkers compliment her so well.

This slow burn was so sweet and the friendship between Hannah and Jack had me engrossed from beginning to end .
There is like zero steam in this book but with this type of love and romance , I didn’t feel like it was missing.

My only complaints are that the ending was too short and the usage of the past tense throughout the book was awkward at times .

I am just so happy to have read this . These are the type of books that I look forward to the most . It did not disappoint

"When he looked at me like he was in love, my insides melted. Everything I read for pretend on his face...I was feeling for real. He was faking all those feelings-but I was feeling them. Genuinely."

What You'll Find:
✔️Contemporary Romance
✔️Fake Relationship
✔️Workplace
✔️LOL Moments
✔️Single POV

The Bodyguard tells the story of Hannah, an executive protection agent assigned to famous actor Jack. He has been off the grid since a family tragedy and known to have a stalker. So when Jack's mother becomes ill and he heads out to the family ranch to help out, along comes a protection detail. Not wanting to add more to his family's plate, he and Hannah pretend to be in a relationship instead. And as you can imagine, pretending gets complicated.

This book felt more like a contemporary read with some romance added, then a full on contemporary romance that I believe it is labeled to be. But nonetheless it had everything I needed to enjoy it. I was pulled in from the start. The story mind you, is one that you have to let take you away.. But when you do, you'll be immersed, turning the pages, and losing track of time.

Hannah gave me Sandra Bullock Miss Congeniality vibes. You know the movie, with the FBI agent undercover? She is practical. Married to her job. A bit socially awkward, having no idea what goes on outside of her own world. And... the pant suits! Jack was a breath of fresh air. A tortured past. Yet so much swoon. I adored him. And I loved the slow burn sizzle you felt throughout this story. Its a bit forbidden, which pulled me in. Things do heat up but this is a closed door story.

Overall I thought this was a really fun escape. Remaining light, while still tackling some difficult topics that bring a variety of emotions. There were some great supporting characters (and some not so great ones) and a great setting that really made for a complete story. I will say some of it was a little cliché, but who cares. I laughed, smiled and even got teary a time or two. A first read for me of the author, but will not be my last. This will be a perfect summer beach read when it comes out in July!

*I received a complimentary ARC from St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and given freely. Quote used in this review subject to change upon release.

I loved this book!! Right away, I was a huge fan of the “non traditional” gender roles with the female MC as the bodyguard to the male love interest. I thought the chemistry was great, the banter was great, the overall plot was great! I would definitely buy this book (and probably will order myself a physical copy), as well as recommend it to my fellow romance readers. Thank you netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this absolutely fabulous ARC!

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center might just be my new favourite comfort read. It is absolutely everything I was looking for in a romance book. Hannah is an executive protection agent assigned to protect Jack, a famous movie star. Already, I am swooning. Jack does not want his family to know he’s in danger so Hannah has to pretend to be his girlfriend. Let me tell you, I am obsessed with this book!

What I liked: Okay obviously the entire premise is just *chef’s kiss* and then you add in the fake dating, and Jack is such a lovable guy, and something about Hannah made me root for her. It was amazing.

What could be better: Parts of the epilogue were a bit weird but it was still pretty great.

This book is definitely five out of five stars for me. I love most of Katherine Center’s books and this is one of my new favourites, for sure. It felt like reading a romantic spy movie. Do yourself a favour and pick up this book!

*Please note that the ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Katherine Centers does it again! A light and endearing rom-com with a strong lead female character! I mean, who doesn’t love strong female leads that can kick ass. I fell in love with Hannah and could empathize with needing to find the one who will love her forever, especially when she doesn’t even know it. She’s a workaholic for the leading security company in the nation as a bodyguard. She ultimately falls for a movie star she’s guarding, but she not only falls for him, but his family as well. Of course, the movie star does come with his share of problems to overcome.. be sure and read!! You won’t be disappointed.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

What a great read!
I read this in one day, I couldn’t stop reading.
I would love to see this as a movie!

This is my first Katherine Center book. I really enjoyed how she spoke to the reader, it felt like a new friend sat down with a glass of wine to tell me her story. Perfect!

This book had me laughing out loud so many times. I love it when an author is smart and witty with dialogue. It’s a hard thing to be great at and Katherine Center nailed it.

So let’s talk about Jack. His layers were beautifully crafted and I totally bought him. It took me a little bit to believe Hannah, but I became more of a fan of hers as the book went on and we got to see her interact more with other people. The beginning focused on her feelings, summary of the situation, what she thought about it all. I started liking her more when I actually got to see her interact with other characters and experienced her firsthand.

Her boss Glenn is such a great minor character. He adds an interesting dynamic to the book that’s needed. Actually Center does a great job of layering her minor characters really well. I loved Jack’s family and Robby, even though he was the poster boy of a jerk. (Although I didn’t totally buy the three he dumped Hannah. I love how Center came back around to the third reason at the end and nailed it so well! But communicating reasons to dump someone like that didn’t seem believable to me.)

Things I would have loved to see more of… The intimate moments of Jack and Hannah for sure. And I’m talking moments of tension or of intimacy that eventually build on each other, not just talking about what goes on behind closed doors. The tension between them could’ve been risen significantly and I think there were a few missed opportunities to do that and to show the reader more depth.

My favorite thing about this book that separates it from the rest? The great character driven dialogue in ridiculous situations. It was so fun to experience!

Overall, I really enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

4.25/5 ⭐️

Wow, this is a top contender for my favorite romance of 2022.

What is the Andrew Garfield quote about Emma Stone? “She came in and she was like a shot of espresso. She’s like being bathed in sunlight”.

That’s what reading this book was like. I was bathed in sunlight from start to finish. Alongside a blossoming romance we also get Hannah and Jack’s journeys of self love and self acceptance. There was humor, sadness, chemistry, and another Katherine Center strong female protagonist.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to get this arc especially after seeing glowing reviews. I’m happy to report the hype is real and this is an adorable and fun read. We meet Hannah, essentially a bodyguard for high paying customers but this time it’s for a world famous gorgeous actor. Hannah is great at her job, and I loved reading about a competent kick ass woman. The relationship between Hannah and her client, Jack, is wonderful. Great witty banter for days. If you like any Sandra Bullock rom coms (The Proposal, Miss Congeniality) you’ll be in for a treat here. The scenes are basically written for an awesome movie. I’m just trying to figure out who plays who. 4.25 stars.

The only reason I didn’t finish this in one sitting is because I made the mistake of planning to just read one chapter right before bed and accidentally staying up until 2:30 am reading almost the whole thing. Alas, a girl’s gotta sleep.

This was my first Katherine Center book, but it most certainly won’t be my last! I fell in love with the characters almost immediately. Though the storyline was vaguely familiar (think Miss Congeniality), it was told in a way that was entirely fresh. I loved the glimpses into two profession I had absolutely no real knowledge about. I’m not sure I’ll ever see an onscreen movie kiss the same way again.

There’s no way this book won’t become a movie one day. And I cannot wait to see it.

Absolutely delightful. Loved every page.
Thank you so much to the publisher for the digital ARC. I felt very lucky to get to read this one early!