I was absolutely obsessed with this one. The sexual tension and dynamics of the characters were heart clenching.

Absolutely loved this book! It was so beautifully written. It had everything I could possibly want in a romance book: great chemistry, slow burn, fake dating, humor and emotional connections to the characters.

My first reading of this author - and I loved it! The main character is fun and a little quirky. The book made me smile and the writing kept me engaged throughout. The interactions between the characters are believable - which I appreciated. The novel has references to grief. I plan on reading this author's backlist.

The Bodyguard

The Bodyguard had my attention from the first page. Hannah Brook’s life is falling apart. After losing her mother, her boyfriend and her next work assignment all in one week, her life starts to look pretty grim. When Hannah gets assigned to protect a very famous actor here in her hometown in Texas, she is not as enthusiastic as the rest of her team. Hannah was really looking forward to travelling across the world for her next assignment, but now her world is turned upside down when she is assigned to protect Jack Stapleton from a stalker, by pretending to be his girlfriend. Hannah’s heart is broken right now and trying to pretend to be in a happy relationship is a challenge for her. As time goes on, Hannah is faced with the idea of letting someone into her life, which also means healing her heart. This book is quick paced and filled with personal struggle and growth. I found myself connected to the characters and rooting for Hannah and Jack in different challenges. This book also explores the reality of family struggles, loss, grief and illness. Katherine Center did a great job and encompassing all these topics with grace and love.

This was so cute and fun! It definitely gives Miss Congeniality vibes. I love the Texas setting and the grumpy(female)-sunshine(male) trope. Also, the forced proximity is *chef’s kiss* I definitely recommend this one.

I absolutely loved The Bodyguard by Katherine Center! I couldn’t stop reading once I started.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

This was a pleasant surprise of a romance novel. Nothing in the book felt forced, like so many romance novels often do. It was comical too which lightened the mood and I honestly think that made it so much more relatable. So many romance books want you to take the romance seriously even though it’s either a trope you’ve seen a hundred times (hallmark talking to you) or it’s entirely unrelatable/unlikely (think 50 Shades of Grey or 365).

This book took what could be a squishy and mushy trope (female bodyguard protects hot movie star man) and made the characters real. Really real. Her job as a bodyguard and how she takes it serious, it felt genuine, his family being fairly down to earth (I think I’ve met these people before). They all felt real and that’s what made the romance part of it feel real. An excellent book, I look forward to reading more from this author.

“Every chance you take is a choice. A choice to decide who you are.”⁣⁣
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Katherine Center does such a great job balancing light hearted stories, great characters, bits of humor and lots of fun moments. ⁣⁣
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The Bodyguard was all of those things. I loved the switch on the famous movie star/bodyguard type story that usually gets written. Jack Stapleton is a famous movie star needing protection from a stalker. Hannah Brooks looks like a kindergarten teacher, but is a body guard. They meet under unfortunate circumstances, but quickly brake down each others walls.⁣⁣
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I loved the quirky characters. I adored the whole Stapleton family. This whole book was just such a delight.

I loved this book! The characters were great. The story was easy to read and engaging. I would highly recommend this author.

This author can be so hit or miss for me but this one kind of fits right in the middle.

Enjoyed it while I read it but not one that is going to make the favourites list or be super memorable.

Love the chemistry and the fun plot!

The premise of The Bodyguard had me intrigued, but it ended up being pretty predictable and boring. For a book that was said to be so funny, I didn't see the humor. The jokes fell flat, and the writing style and characterization felt awkward. Hannah, our heroine, is not someone that the reader can root for. She's annoying, immature, and a truly unconvincing bodyguard. Jack, the love interest, was unremarkable - very Hallmark movie hunk with no depth. The fake dating trope couldn't even save this one since the romance between these two was equally unappealing. This one was just not for me. I think I'll pass on future Katherine Center books.

Catherine Center is an amazing romance author. I love the way she comes up with strong female lead characters. There is always an element of the unexpected in her stories. This one following a female bodyguard and with a country twang was a fun journey. she does always love to come up with ways to modernize her stories and keep them relevant. Always a recommend author

With two Katherine Center books under my belt, I’m calling it: I’m a fan.

Her romances are tough to beat. They’re happy and smiley, and they make you feel good. And now that I’ve read both "Hello Stranger" and "The Bodyguard," a craving for my next Center love story has already set in.

But I’m starting to see a pattern when it comes to her bad guys. The antagonists to her lead characters are so ridiculous that it’s hard to take them seriously. This time we have two – an ex-boyfriend and a current girlfriend – and they’re overwritten to the extreme, to the point where my eyes rolled whenever they were on the page. And while I’m sure that some of this is intentional, perhaps for comic relief, I’d much rather see the silliness toned down so their presence could add genuine tension to the story.

Does it really matter in the end, though? Probably not, at least when it comes to "The Bodyguard." Because the fake-dating trope is done so well that I totally bought into the romance between Hannah, the Executive Protection Agent, and Jack, the movie star. And yes, I may have known their happiness was coming, but Center made sure I didn’t want it any less.


My sincerest appreciation to Katherine Center, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.

This book was my third by this author. When a woman hoping to get a promotion is down on her luck, she gets assigned to cover a major superstar who has a possible stalker situation. Chaos ensues when she has to stand in as his girlfriend.

This book was just so charming. Both characters have pasts that they have to overcome in order to be together. I highly recommend this book.

Hannah is a no-nonsense Executive Protection Agent - aka bodyguard - who is dealing with the death of her estranged mother and a sudden breakup, when she is tasked with the job of a lifetime. Her principal? Jack Stapleton: movie star, heartthrob, and People's Sexiest Man Alive. Hannah must protect Jack from his middle aged stalker when he comes back to Houston as his mother starts cancer treatment, but not wanting to worry his family, he tells them that Hannah is actually his girlfriend. As the assignment continues and the lines of professionalism blur, Hannah wonders if Jack is really the actor she thinks he is.

This book was so sweet and I finished it in less than a day! I love Katherine Center's books - they are always filled with such charm, heart, depth, and humor, and this one was no different. I loved how Jack and Hannah had such an easy rapport with each other, and both of them were able to help break down the other's walls and the inner struggles they battled. Jack was such a steadfast hero and I loved watching his easy way with Hannah. Hannah was such a strong FMC and I loved this reverse bodyguard-celeb scenario, which isn't something you see much of. She was a badass! I just adored this book so much - it had me laughing out loud and smiling ear-to-ear!

TW: Cheating, death of a loved one, mention of alcoholism, gun violence

"The Bodyguard" by Katherine Center is an exhilarating rollercoaster of emotions that had me glued to its pages from start to finish. Center's impeccable storytelling effortlessly weaves together heart-pounding suspense and heartwarming moments, creating a gripping tale that leaves you breathless. The characters are vividly portrayed, their complexities adding depth to the story. With a perfect blend of romance, mystery, and personal growth, this novel is a true gem that reminds us of the power of love and the strength that resides within us. Center's writing resonates deeply, making "The Bodyguard" an absolute must-read that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page.

Gotta Love Katherine Center!! This is a cheesy rom-com but so delightful and had me smiling.

Thank you Netgalley for the Advance Readers Copy

I was super excited to read The Bodyguard - it has great reviews everywhere! But goodness, I did not like this book. I don't think it was the writing rather I found the main character, Hannah, to be insufferable and not realistic. I found her to flip-flop a lot which wouldn't make sense for her career, she would be so headstrong and then all the sudden throw a fit to everyone at work which really didn't endear her to me. I think my opinion is a complete outlier - but I really didn't like this book.

I don’t read chick lit often, but when I do Katherine Center is at the top! She has a knack for writing characters that you just can’t get enough of. This book was charming, funny, and romantic. I thoroughly enjoyed it and cannot wait to read her next one!

This was an absolutely perfect read . I’ve loved everything Katherine Center has written and this was no different . ( I might add a trigger warning for gun violence)