I am ashamed that I let this book sit on my Netgalley shelf for months knowing that I had a 5 star read amongst my TBR shelf! In the back of my mind I always knew I should try out a book by Katherine Center, in fact I have one or two waiting on my bookshelf, but it wasn't until I saw countless raving reviews of The Bodyguard that finally had me take the plunge. Did I spoil myself with the best one of hers thus far? Guess I'll have to go through her backlist to find out now!

Can we all agree that Jack Stapleton is 2022's best book boyfriend? I loved that we uncovered his layers as the story progressed and he became more than just an acclaimed actor. I couldn't help but picture This Is Us's Justin Hartley in my mind as Jack, if this ever becomes a tv/movie adaptation that would be my pick for him!

While my previous read took over a read to finish, The Bodyguard took me less than 72 hours. The chemistry between Jack and Hannah was so fun to see unfold and the writing style was perfect for getting sucked into and devouring multiple chapters at a time. Having been to Houston a few times in real life, it was fun to picture the backdrop of the story and the Texas ranches. I thought the serious undertones of the story was perfectly sprinkled into the story and really made you feel for Jack and his family. And I want a real life adaptation of this so I can see Hannah physically flip Jack during their first interaction! Believe the hype of this one, it is going to be a top contender for best romance of 2022 no doubt!

Ok would it have been better with some spice? Sure. But this was SO CUTE. It made me laugh, it made me cry. I loved it, and look forward to reading more of the author’s work!

Because I loved her previous novels, I tend to hold Center to a very high standard. This book was not one of my favorites of hers, but I still enjoyed it.

Hannah is a bodyguard. When she is assigned to Hollywood star Jack Stapleton’s case, she doesn’t expect to have to act as his girlfriend as well. Jack has come home to Texas to be with his mother as she undergoes cancer treatment. Since he doesn’t want to worry her, he doesn’t want his family knowing that Hannah is a bodyguard and instead, asks her to pose as his girlfriend. But spending so much time in such close proximity to one another sparks feelings to grow.

I’m going to start off with one thing I didn’t love, and then I’ll get into some of the things I did. This book had an interesting writing style in which the main character, Hannah, often broke the fourth wall and talked to the reader and I wasn’t crazy about it. For example, when introducing Jack she asked the reader things like “Well and of course you remember his performance in The Destroyer. And didn’t you just die with his kiss in the rom-com he starred in?” And it’s like no, obviously. I don’t know anything about this fictional character and you asking me and stating assumptions that I do know all this stuff made him feel more fictional not less. As the book went on this style faded out, but at the beginning it kind of irked me.

What I did love was Hannah and Jack’s chemistry. Even from their first meeting. Hannah herself could be a bit irritating at times, but when she was with Jack I loved her which I think speaks volumes. I do wish we had gotten little bit more of Hannah doing her actual job or using some of her skills, because you don’t get to see any of that until the end. I also adored Jack’s family.

Center often writes these contemporary rom-coms, but adds in a dramatic twist somewhere in the middle. This book still had that twist but I don’t feel like it was as devastating as some of her previous ones have been, though it did add a layer of depth I appreciated. I think that’s what makes Center’s novels stand out from other contemporary romance novels. Her characters are complex and they experience complex life events. I always enjoy reading their stories and seeing them grow and how they cope with so many aspects of life.

Out of all of her novels, this one felt the most pedestrian or surface levels. I feel like this would make a great movie and a great book club read. It was quick paced and kept me invested from the beginning. This wouldn’t be the first Katherine Center book I recommend, but it was still wonderful and I enjoyed the whole thing.

What a fun book, a perfect summer rom-com!! Hannah is a bodyguard and Jack is a heart throb movie star. When Jack moves home to take care of his mother after her cancer diagnosis, Hannah is assigned to his case. They don't want to worry his family, so she pretends to be his girlfriend. Hannah just lost her mother and Jack is dealing with the loss of his brother, the two bond and their relationship develops.

I feel the author did a great job creating characters that you genuinely care about. This made for an easy read as you wanted to learn more about them, there were even a few small twists that I didn't see coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

This book was such a fun and wonderful read!
I laughed out loud many times, loved the chemistry and faking dating tropes, and the plot was excited and kept me glued to the book.

I’m a huge fan of Katherine Center, so when I saw this one, it was an immediate “add to top of reading list for me”. This was nothing short of the fantastic book I expected..

I laughed so many times while reading. It was filled with love, laughter, and so much thoughtfulness. It is exactly the book you need when the world becomes too heavy. Highly recommend this one for anyone who wants their heart to soar.

I enjoyed this new title by Katherine Center so much. The characters were likable, and the exciting plot kept me eager to turn each page. I highly recommend The Bodyguard as a perfect summer read!

Ugh this was so good. I loved the tension, the chemistry, the fake dating. Absolutely wonderful. It was everything I needed in my summer romance. Give me more!!

A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the earc in exchange for an honest review.

Great book for the distraction of a delayed flight. This fake dating rom com is fun and serious. It will engage you. Enjoy reading about Hannah, her Mom, her boyfriend, her best friend, her job and a handsome movie star that crosses her path.

Hannah is a bodyguard and great at what she does. Her friendly and harmless looking appearance makes helps her blend in but really she could kill your with a dinner napkin. After two tragic life events, she is hired to be a bodyguard for a famous actor.

I loved this so much. I have enjoyed every book by the author but this may be my favorite. I fell in love with the characters. This has a light amount of steam, a little action, and some humorous lines. A great summer read!

The Bodyguard was a quick and pleasant read. It’s got bodyguard/movie star main characters, a grumpy but highly competent female lead, a mostly sunshiny male lead who carries his own full,share of trauma, a “there’s only one bed” scenario, and fake dating as well. Lots of fun tropes.

Hannah is hired to be Jack’s bodyguard but for “reasons” it’s presented as a fake dating scenario to preserve the secrecy of the need for protection.

I liked the first person narration—it gave it an immediacy. Hannah and Jack are likeable but flawed characters who are doing their best, despite some significant personal trauma in their lives. Their enforced proximity fast tracks their getting to know each other and gives them moments of unexpected emotional intimacy that draws them closer together.

All in all this was an engaging read—three dimensional characters, an engaging story line, rising tension, some unexpected twists, and a sweet romance.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC.

This book sparks joy! I am not quite sure how Katherine Center does it. Thinking back, the story is essentially a “fake relationship” trope romcom with a twist of a woman “bodyguard” protecting a guy. But I couldn’t put it down, and reading this tale somehow felt life affirming. Happiness is… a Katherine Center novel! It also made me want to don a sundress and cowgirl boots and book some time on a Texan ranch, minus the recreational use of guns (which, while a very brief portion of the story, was as disappointing as it was unnecessary). I predict colorfully beaded safety pins are about to become a “thing” and that this tale soon finds its way to Netflix or the Hallmark Channel. Four stars. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital ARC. Opinions are my own.

This was a fun romance that was a quick read. The premise is cute— a female bodyguard is hired to protect a movie star from a stalker. In order not to arouse suspicion, she pretends to be the movie star’s girlfriend. The book was everything you’d expect (fake dating and one bed tropes) and delivered some solid banter.

One main thing missed the mark for me. Our protagonist works at an executive security firm that is toxic. She is insulted by her boss in front of her colleagues, disregards her boundaries and threatens to torpedo her career by providing a terrible reference. Worse, the author seems to imply this kind of behavior is a quirky, madcap office, not a deeply disturbing (and low-key misogynistic) one.

Overall, a decent romance book, but not a fave.

When Hannah, the bodyguard, loses her mom and boyfriend -for different reasons- within the span of 24h she wants to escape.

She gets that escape in the form of protecting Jack Stapleton, the famous actor with washboard ads and the best kissing scene TV has ever seen.

Things get complicated when they have to tell his mother who’s battling cancer that they are dating (fake) and she in turn asks Hannah to move in and stay until Thanksgiving.

This book had a few heavy scenes but somehow it was lighter than air.

I LOVED the ongoing banter between the two, and the jealous ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend scenes made for great additions.

I finished this book a few days ago and I genuinely find myself missing it.


⚠️: death of loved ones, infidelity.

Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

Originally didn’t give feedback because I DNF, but it’s hurting my feedback ratio, so all I will say is I saw where the best friend and ex boyfriend storyline was going and I do not like to read about that. I also don’t like to rate things I DNF but this makes me.

While Hannah Brook’s petite frame is deceiving, she works as an Executive Protective Officer (aka “bodyguard”), and she has just been hired to protect famous actor Jack Stapleton, who has returned to home to Texas to stay at his family’s ranch as his mother battles illness, However, Jack doesn’t want his family to know he’s hired a bodyguard, so Hannah poses as his girlfriend. As Hannah spends more times with Jack, the lines between what’s real and what’s pretend begin to blur, and she fears she’ll end up with a broken heart.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters, and Jack’s family dynamic, and thought the story was unique. The bodyguard aspect added a fun twist to the romance, and it was a great, fast-paced rom-com I’d definitely recommend!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my gifted e-ARC!

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the role reversal (she's the bodyguard!) and the chemistry and humourous dynamic between the two main characters kept me thoroughly engaged and entertained. I'll be recommending this one to all my friends. Not a lot of steam - just kissing but didn't miss it.

The Bodyguard is about Hannah, a workaholic bodyguard, excuse me, an Executive Protection Agent, and she's hired to protect an a-lister celeb. Soon circumstances will push them closer and closer as they'll have to pretend to be dating.

I enjoyed reading this book so much, I finished it in one sitting! It's cute, romantic, emotional and even thrilling at times.

I've only read one other Katherine Center but I can already recognize her brand of romance and I love it! She writes great three-dimensional characters, and their emotional journey becomes just as important as the romance itself. And by the end you will find that you feel healed, wrapped in a warm blanket. Even though I generally like steamy romances, I never miss that in her clean romances.

Hannah, the main character was a great one to read. She's brilliant and strong. She knows what she wants and won't take shit from people. She's also struggling with losing people close to her and doesn't fully know how to deal with it other than grasping to her work harder and getting too busy to have time to feel anything. I loved that she was a bodyguard, not at all a job you usually read about in romances, and I loved that she loved her job so much. It was all quite nuanced.

The love interest Jack was fantastic too. He's a selfless, loving and funny guy who also doesn't quite know how to deal with his loss. He's the ideal fictional man, without being too unrealistically perfect.
I liked that the two characters had loss in common, but they were going through it in different ways. I thought that both of their emotional journeys were incredibly realistic, and I loved that they helped pulled each other out of their unhealthy habits. By the end, they were both changed for the better.

Some of the other characters were great as well. Jack's parents especially so. They were so in love, so supportive, so full of love for their family, and so strong too, while they're dealing with some scary possibilities. It also warmed my heart that Hannah felt so close to them and that they could act as good examples of a loving family for her.

At some point in the book Katherine Center fancast The Unhoneymooners (by Christina Lauren) with Jack the LI as the main character and that just tickled me so.

The only part that I didn't fully connect with was how/when Hannah falls in love with Jack. For me it went from he's an annoying actor dude I have to work for to I actually love him so fast that I had to flip back some pages to see if I missed something.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

I listened to the audiobook so I will be writing a review for that. I enjoyed the story very much. It was a light read and sometimes you just need to read a fun book that takes your mind off of all the crazy things going on in our country and world.

3.5 stars
Very sweet, cute story if a bit far-fetched. I have to say that this is my least favorite of Katherine Center's books. This could be made into a fun, rom-com flick, but I just felt like this book was like having an ice cream cone with sprinkles. A lot of sweetness, but ultimately forgettable.

I do think Hannah was an interesting narrator and I loved her internal dialogue. This is a nice, quick book for a summer afternoon for rom-com fans.