Excellent plot with a very strong woman at the core of it, however we all know, that surface appearances are not truly the makeup of an entire person. Katherine Center creates characters life-like and that includes good qualities, flaws and baggage. I have read several of her books and I love her wonderful, memorable characters.
The story is filled with humor as well as serious issues. The author has an excellent balance in her writing to make the story believable and enjoyable.
I want to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Most people wouldn’t expect a woman to be a bodyguard and that’s exactly why Hannah Brooks is one. The art of blending in is what she does best and she is the best bodyguard at her agency. Life was going great until is wasn’t.

Hannah’s mom dies and suddenly everyone is treating her like she is fragile. It’s not like she had a good relationship with her mom, she doesn’t need to mourn her. The best way to move on is to be working, at least that’s what she thought until her boyfriend of a year breaks up with her and she has to see his face everyday at work.

Lies, cheating and broken hearts lead Hannah to her most difficult assignment of all, guarding America’s favorite reclusive star, Jack Stapleton. This is going to be one of the biggest challenges Hannah has ever faced because Jack doesn’t think he needs a bodyguard and definitely isn’t going to take a female bodyguard seriously.

The plan is simple, Hannah is going to be the fake girlfriend of Hollywood heartthrob Jack Stapleton. What could possibly go wrong.

Follow Hannah as she protects Jack from all things crazy and as tensions rise so do unexplained feelings ;).

This book was adorable. I read it in a day and do not regret it AT ALL! You definitely need to add this to your preorder list!

This was a really cute rom-com that I was able to tear through in half a day. The main characters were really easy to fall for - I liked that the female lead was the badass one with the elite job and wasn’t someone who was classically beautiful. And while the male lead doesn’t quite qualify as a himbo, he definitely has major golden retriever energy. Plus, I love a sunshine/grump trope where *she’s* the grump and *he’s* the sunshine.

By the way, this is a ‘clean’ romance - not a single smut to be seen. I’m someone who typically needs my romance novels to be at least a *little* smutty, but I found that I didn’t mind that the love in this story was completely wholesome.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the novel. I am rating this book with my own opinion and have not received anything in return. Super cute and fun read!

I read this in one day. It was adorable. And cheesy. And everything a fun romcom should be. I don’t know who I turn into when I read KC but I eat up her novels like a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. This was definitely her most fun and action packed yet. Full of tropes and cliches but you know what? I didn’t care. I loved it.

I absolutely love when books take on society issues and putting a female character in what is known as a male dominated field had me pumped. Unfortunately overall the book fell flat. I didn’t like the main characters at all. She was whiny and he was just annoying. Unfortunately this one is a big fat thumbs down for me

It was my first Katherine Center and won't be my last. I was hooked from page one! We have

💜Fake dating
💜 A Quirky leading lady
💜 Romance with a dash of suspense
💜 The leading lady as the Bodyguard rather than the male which was refreshing
💜LOL moments

Overall I really enjoyed The Bodyguard, it would make such a great movie

I recieved an e arc for an honest review: The Bodyguard releases July 2022

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝 by Katherine Center

Hannah Brooks is an Executive Protection Agent (aka "bodyguard"). She is petite and plain, her mother has just died and her boyfriend just dumped her. Her life continues to fall apart when her best friend sleeps with her ex-boyfriend. Hannah's sadistic boss thinks its a great idea for her to be assigned to Jack Stapleton, Hollywood's reclusive heart throb.

To hide her cover, Hannah pretends to be Jack's girlfriend. With loads of family drama, Hannah and Jack are stuck on the family ranch with not much to do except spend time together. Are lines crossed? Does Hannah protect Jack or does she blur the lines of professional/personal?

What I loved about this book was the aspect of Hannah's emotional self-discovery. Hannah learns to love herself as she is. There was humor, sadness, forgiveness and an unexpected twist that threw me for a serious loop!

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

Why, yes, I did in fact squeal when I received an advance copy of The Bodyguard. Why? Because Katherine Center writes the best couples ever. Every single time. Forget all those great, classic couples of history because once you read a story with Margaret and Ian, Cassie and Owen, Jake and Helen, Duncan and Sam – and now Hannah and Jack – all those other couples will fade into boring nothingness. It’s the descriptions of the feelings. Oh, those feelings. Center describes indescribable feelings and makes you feel them. They grab you and hold you tight, page after page after page. In The Bodyguard, Hannah and Jack start out as a fake couple. What could be better? It’s obvious to everyone but them that those fake feelings aren’t really all that fake anymore, and when they start to realize it too they are dismayed and reluctant and confounded. This relationship is fake! End of story. Well, nope. Actually just the beginning.

Author Katherine Center is a master when it comes to writing a story that feels so real you forget it’s fiction. Her characters have often endured a lot, truly life-changing events that they will have to live with. But they are special, funny people with goodness and hope and spirit.

Hannah is the bodyguard in this couple. Professional, proficient, keeps her life pretty plain and simple. Her mother has just died. Hannah’s mom was a handful and they weren’t always that close, but hey, she was still her mom. So she’ll take care of what needs to be done and move on as she’s always had to do. Except her work boyfriend Robby breaks up with her right after the funeral and then proceeds to criticize, ridicule and denigrate her every chance he gets. In front of the rest of their co-workers. Probably has nothing to do with the fact he was cheating on her with her best friend. Bad enough, but then Hannah gets her next assignment: bodyguard to the world’s most handsome, sexy, charismatic movie star ever. And she has to pretend to be his girlfriend when he’s against the whole bodyguard idea in the first place. Nope, no way she’s doing that, dressing up and pretending. Her regular bodyguard persona will be just fine. And this guy – Jack – no, no, no, Hannah hasn’t seen all his movies and drooled over him like the rest of the female population. Of course not.

Jack may be the handsomest man in the world, but he’s definitely not the happiest. His younger brother died in a car accident with Jack. His older brother blames him, so Jack has stopped acting and has also stopped visiting his family to avoid giving them heartbreaking memories. He barely manages to keep his head above the grief and guilt. But his mom is sick and needs surgery and he wants to be there for her. Hence the trip home and the need for the protection against a stalker making death threats.

Hannah and Jack’s first encounter is laugh-out-loud funny, with just a hint of the attraction to come. They agree to the fake couple thing and the story takes off from there. We watch them pretend to be in love around his family, banter, argue, talk, do normal things neither of them realized they missed. And all the while one or the other is trying to convince themselves that it’s fake, it’s not real, it will be over soon and life will go back to that other normal. The one that is going to seem so bleak and empty after this glorious “fake” relationship.

Of course you know where this story is going, and you want to nudge them to stop pretending to pretend and admit how they are feeling. And even though you might think you know where the story is going, you can’t anticipate the twists and turns and sadness and tragedy and secrets they have to endure and reveal to get to the wonderful ending. Jack and Hannah’s time together is precious and priceless, full of wit and humor and truth. And don’t forget the stalker with the death threats and the need for a real, experienced bodyguard in the first place.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of The Bodyguard via NetGalley for my reading pleasure and honest review. Katherine Center’s books are the gift that keeps giving. As soon as you finish the most, most, most satisfying story you sigh, put your hand over your heart, and read the book all over again – or at least the good parts! Which really means the entire book because they are all good parts. If you want a story that will make you laugh, cry and think, with amazing characters and a good, solid plot The Bodyguard is for you. I recommend it and anything else by this fabulous author without hesitation. All opinions are my own.

4.5 Stars!
The Bodyguard is about an emotionally closed-off woman, whose career as an Executive Protection Agent affords her the ease to continually escape life’s attachments. She becomes the “bodyguard” of actor and “sexiest man in the world,” Jack Stapleton. Hannah is also employed to be his fake girlfriend and live at his parents’ ranch while Jack’s mom convalesces.

I needed this book more than I realized. I had recently been thinking about how I’d not read a contemporary romance that kept me completely captivated in a long time. While I didn't doubt that this book would be a sure thing, I also hadn’t realized that this would be more contemporary romance than the author’s typical women’s fiction w/ romantic elements. The Bodyguard even had a combination of familiar romance tropes - fake relationship, forced proximity, and only one bed. This was the contemporary romance I’d been waiting for. One that kept me reading non-stop, had me unconsciously smiling throughout, and gave me a bookful of characters that were endlessly entertaining.

I’ll be real here, though. There were a few moments I felt were unrealistic considering the heroine’s occupation and overall this was a lighter read with some sillier moments compared to her other books. Yet, it also had its poignant moments along with the typical wit and charm I’ve come to expect. And whew, was it ever swoon-worthy. Jack and Hannah were so cute together and their story simply made me happy. It was nicely rounded out by a great supporting cast consisting of Hannah’s co-workers and Jack’s family.

This author’s intentionally joyful outlook on life is apparent in her stories. If I'm looking for a romantic read that is fun, poignant, and overflowing with genuine joy, I only need to pick up a Katherine Center novel.

What an incredible read! I love Katherine Center’s writing, but this story really hit the mark! I felt so much for the characters. I felt their pain, their laughter, and love. Will definitely recommend to others!

I loved this book and loved the romance. I liked that she initially disliked him. I loved his family and his brother. Loved that she wasn't the normal body guard and that they actually told the truth. It was so great to see her relax and loved seeing it all in her version. I would read other books by this author.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center in exchanged for an honest review. It publishes July 19, 2022.
Once again, Katherine Center hits it out of the park! Although, we aren't really surprised by that, are we? Let's face it, K.C. can write! As always, our characters are hilarious and relatable with a side of tragic back story that actually touches your heart.
I thought the premise of this one was so interesting, with the female bodyguard as a main character. I love how K.C. has strong female leads with jobs you wouldn't think of to begin with, and makes it totally believable and inspiring!
I loved the character development, the setting, the dialogue. Seriously, just read it!

Katherine Center does it again. Another 5 star read for me. Her characters always feel like people you know and want to root for. This one was a little different than her usuals, and a fun story with some deeper topics. You'll love this if you are a fan of Center's other romances. Already recommended to all my friends.

I am not at all embarrassed to admit that I let out a little scream and a happy dance when I realized I got an ARC of this book. Katherine Center is easily one of my favorite authors and I just knew that I was sure to be in for a treat.

Superstar actor Jack Stapleton has been out of the public eye for a few years following a tragic family accident, however, when his mother falls ill, he decides to come out of hiding to help out. Hannah Brooks is an “Executive Protection Agent” (aka a bodyguard), who is tasked with protecting Jack from his corgi-loving stalker while he is visiting his family’s ranch, yet there is one catch - Jack asks Hannah to pretend to be his girlfriend so that he can keep his family in the dark about his stalker. Hannah reluctantly agrees to the ruse as she strongly believes there is no way that anyone would actually believe that she is dating THE Jack Stapleton, however, as she spends time with Jack and his family, she begins to realize that maybe her and Jack may not be such a crazy idea. Turns out, protecting Jack from his stalker is easy, but completing the job and protecting her heart at the same time, may just be one of the hardest things she’s ever had to do.

Katherine Center always does an amazing job and The Bodyguard did not disappoint. The chemistry was amazing and the plot line was engaging and fun. There were also some serious elements throughout. Loved!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy to honestly review.

Absolutely loved this book! I especially liked the gender roles that were flipped on their heads where a female works as a body guard for a male movie star. great setting in rural america and great characters including the family members of the movie star. Summer 2022 beach read for sure!

5 Huge Texan stars. Could I love Hannah and Jack anymore? I loved the banter between characters, the supporting characters, the location, the entire Stapleton family. Let’s be honest…it’s heart is as big as Texas and I was here for it. Loved breaking up the same old dull thrillers with this fun and binge worthy book. This will be a hit! And yes, I’d binge a mini series or movie because I loved it so much.

Jack Stapleton, currently the hottest movie star both on and off the screen has two problems. A family matter that he needs to go home for and a stalker who he needs to protect him and his family from.

Enter Hannah, the bodyguard, who looks like anything but a bodyguard. Hannah is obsessed with her job, always working and not giving much time to her personal life. She keeps everything close to the vest and doesn’t really ever let anyone get too close to her.

What happens when Hannah is assigned to be Jack’s bodyguard as his undercover girlfriend. Well there is only one way to find out… and that is to read this fabulous book!

The Bodyguard is a great read which will make you laugh out loud. The characters are brilliantly written whether you love them, like them or dislike them. She places a few perfect plot twists which keep you turning the pages in another fabulous book by Katherine Center.

I have read all of Center’s book and it doesn’t matter which one you choose they are all fabulous!