Happy pub day to The Bodyguard by Katherine Center 🥳

If there’s one book you should pick up this year if you are a romcom lover, it’s this one. Katherine Center hit it out of the park once again for me!

When I tell you I devoured this book, it’s no exaggeration. I sopped it up like a plate of gravy with a biscuit. It was freaking phenomenal.

I loved Hannah and Jack so very much. They have my heart forever and I’m so sad I don’t get to spend more time with them. Hannah was a tough egg to crack, which she better be considering she’s a bad ass bodyguard! Oh yeah. You read that right. She’s protecting Jack. LOVE IT!!!

And Jack. 😍 What a sweet Texas boy! The interactions between Jack and Hannah made me laugh and swoon numerous times.

Go buy this now and then clear your schedule for a binge read that will fill your soul right up! 💜

Thank you so very much to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

The books opens with a descriptive of how “badass” the MC and how she’s so great at her job as a bodyguard. It soon becomes clear that she not actually that good at it (a cow manages to sneak up on her, but we are supposed to believe she is very observant?). She’s also extremely unprofessional. Is it too much to ask for women to be at least somewhat competent? I also wasn’t a fan of the “im not ugly to be with a movie star” plotline. That’s one’s been over done since the early 2000’s.

None of the side characters were developed at all. They could have literally been cardboard cutouts. <i> Here we have the asshole ex. And to the left is the girl who’s pretty, but has a bad personality </i>*gag*.

Now, if that was all, I probably would have give a two star rating. Not something I enjoyed but not inherently “problematic”. What pushed it over the edge into one star for me was the ableism that pops up in the climax. I’m won’t go into too much detail, but basically the “bad guy’s”motivation is that is life sucks because he’s disabled. WTF!?!?

So that scene really put the nail in the coffin for me. I do not recur his book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC!

A light and cute read. I enjoyed having the female character as the bodyguard. If you are looking for something light, I would give this book a try. There were parts that were a little cheesy but overall I was entertained. A good summer read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

#FirstLine ~ My mother's dying wish was for me to take a vacation.

Wow, I loved this book. It was sweet and tender, but also deep and funny. It was one of those books that you cannot help but get swept up into the story, the setting and characters. It is everything you want in a great book. I would love to see one of Center's books becoming a movie or miniseries. This story has everything that makes a book to TV a hit!

I also listened to the audiobook and loved that too. It was beautifully done and captured the characters so well.

I highly recommend either listening or reading this story right away!!

This is my second Center book and I’m hooked! I loved this book and I could not put it down. I stayed up way too late to finish it.

One of my favorite things about this book was the fact that it was a reversal of roles. You hear about a bodyguard romance and you think it’s not the woman. Not in this story! Hannah has been through it all, and she’s been told to stay off the job. She’s losing it all and desperate to get away. Along comes an opportunity to be the bodyguard for a high-profile celebrity but it’s right there in her state. She’s trying to get out of the country on assignment but they are refusing. She begrudgingly takes the job and the fun begins. I loved Hannah! She’s such a strong protagonist and her journey is very inspiring.

Jack is your superstar movie actor, who has it all. He’s dropped from the limelight after the death of his brother. He’s come back to help out with his mom and has been forced to take on a bodyguard. When Hannah shows up at his door, he has mistaken her for his maid. She puts him in his place, quite literally, and things take a turn. Not only is Hannah his bodyguard, but she is also his fake girlfriend. Jack has a lot he’s dealing with, mostly with his family and the past. It made for some very intense moments. Although, Jack was such fun and had so much charisma. He’s also got some amazing moments that will melt your heart!

Not only are the MCs great but a lot of the supporting characters are too. Some of Hannah’s co-workers were hilarious and it was much needed to break up the intense moments. Jack’s family was also very wonderful and I loved them so much.

There are a lot of heavier topics in this book but it did not take away from the fun. Hannah and Jack were hilarious and I loved them from the beginning. There are so many fun romance tropes in this book like the “one bed” and “fake dating.” I do think that Center did pack a lot in this book. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment but I do think some of it felt rushed. It’s my only complaint about this book. She was handling so many important topics but I kind of rushed over them.

Both MCs in this book have great character arcs and I enjoyed their journey. Not only that they had developed together. They are both giving each other exactly what they need without realizing it. I loved this romance!

Overall, I loved this one and I highly recommend it! Especially, if you want a romance with some deeper issues throughout. It was also a lot of fun and had some great supporting characters. I was drawn in form the very first paragraph!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for a e-ARC to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! 🙂

This was a great romance! I loved the strong female main character and the more serious aspects of the book as well. I will definitely read more books by this author.

This was very sweet and very cute, but I feel like it lacked the intensity, angst, and desperation that makes me love romance books.
The MC and love interest were way too casual with each other like they could be besties but definitely not lovers (I don't remember even one scene of them being attracted to each other apart from the time he was shirtless and the one time they kissed).
I love how it strays from the cliche "tough buff man" and "sweet woman" trope and sort of switches that.
The plot twist was also pretty good, I was not expecting it and I was MAD but then I felt like it was very underwhelming...
I think my biggest issue with this book is the lack of emotions it made me feel. It was interesting but not to the point of keeping me completely hooked.

If you’re looking for a book that will transport you out of your life and into a rom-com movie, then The Bodyguard is the book for you. This book is lighthearted, though it deals with heavier topics such as losing a loved one and cancer. The banter between the main character and the love interest is top-tier. Every encounter between these two is entertaining! Their dynamic and chemistry are *chef's kiss*.

Excellent new book by Katherine Center. The story, the characters, the slow burn...I didn't want to put the book down until I was done. Highly recommend.


Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

This book is making its way into my favorites/comfort read pile immediately!

Hannah Brooks is a bodyguard, or rather an Executive Protection Agent, who could kill someone in about 50 different ways but looks no more assuming than a kindergarten teacher. After some of the roughest weeks of her life, she gets hired to protect Jack Stapleton, a huge movie star, while he takes care of his sick mom and stays off the grid. The only problem is, Jack doesn't want his family to know about his stalker and the possible dangers he is in, so to explain her sudden presence at their ranch house, he asks Hannah to be his pretend girlfriend for the duration of his stay. Against her better judgement, she agrees. What could go wrong?

The banter. The stolen moments. The fake dating trope. It was all perfect! The plot was perfectly paced and the relationship was well-developed despite the accelerated timeline. Katherine Center gave Hannah the most distinct, entertaining, and enthralling voice that just made the story fly by. One of my favorite parts of her storytelling was how she reflected on these moments as she told them - like she was telling the story to a friend years in the future. It gave such a unique perspective to the romance and I loved it. There was also so much personal growth in Hannah's life as she learned what love really looked like, and there were so many life lessons to take away from her story.

I highly highly recommend this book, especially to contemporary romance fans and those who love the fake dating trope! Pub date is today - don't miss out!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This love story is filled with adorable banter and vulnerability that kept me reading until 2 am. However, it's the themes of self-love, forgiveness, and preprocessing of trauma that have stayed with my days later.

Katherine Center's THE BODYGUARD is a laugh-out-loud, full-body immersion into a wonderful story of a young woman assigned to protect a famous actor while he is home in Texas. As a bodyguard, Hannah Brooks is that quiet woman you presume harmless and pretty-enough kindergarten teacher unless you threaten her client and she employs her powerful, quick-thinking, deadly skills to ensure the danger is defused. As always, Center provides the perfect rom-com escape with intelligent, heart-warming, soul-satisfying stories about people you want to know. I thoroughly enjoyed this marvelous, well-written romp. I received an early copy of this novel and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

WELL THIS BOOK WAS A MASTERPIECE!

Read this if you like:
•forced proximity
•hollywood romance
•fake dating

Hannah is a badass executive protection agent (yes, a female bodyguard!) who is very serious about her job. She is a bit uptight at times, but also has a sweet and fun side. Hannah is sent to protect the famous heartthrob, Jack Stapleton. However, this isn't Hannah's typical job. Here she has to pretend to date Jack and go live on his parents ranch - cue the one bed.

This storyline does revolve around trauma, loss, and grief which made the plot have great depth. And the epilogue tied everything up beautifully!

Some other things I loved:
-Hannah putting Jack on his ass, day one
-Jack calling Robby, Bobby
-The nightgown scene
-Jacks family
-The kiss

Overall, this story left me with a serious book hangover. Was the plot a little far fetched, sure .. but that did not bother me one bit. I suggest everyone put this one on your tbr, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and @katherinecenter for the ARC!

Move over Kevin & Whitney it's time to make way for Hannah and Jack Stapleton ! I absolutely love, love, LOVED this new rendition of the bodyguard ! In this new version of such a classic story we meet Hannah who is a bodyguard by protection who works for a security agency in Houston whom primarily focus on protecting oil billionaires. From the jump Hannah is dealing with the loss of her mother, then being dumped by her then boyfriend Robby who also just so happens to be the second STAR of the security agency where Hannah works.

Now competing for the next major job, opening up a new agency in London, Hannah is tasked to protect super recluse major celebrity Jack Stapleton. Little does she know, this isn't going to be her usual protection detail. She's thrown into living with Jack on his family's ranch in Houston while his mom recovers from surgery, Over her time with Jack she learns that she has memories of her mother that she holds on that she didn't realize, and that she doesn't always need to be "running away"

This retelling of the bodyguard was absolutely perfect and amazing. I honestly have no other words to describe how much this book won me over. 5 star encore is what this book deserves !

***It's Publication Day***

Yet another great book from Katherine Center. Hannah is a bodyguard, but she is also about thr most plain, ordinary person out there who has been told she is the world's worst kisser. So set the stage for an Oscar worthy kiss! Hannah is tasked with protecting Jack, a well known movie star in town for his mother's cancer treatments.

"Every chance you take is a choice. A choice to decide who you are."

Both Hannah and Jack are scarred and broken in their own ways, always running away from their problems but desperately in search of ways to heal. So, set the stage for a fun story that will make you laugh and tug at your heart strings.

"It was about me choosing who to be in the face of all... and refusing to give up on hope. Or myself."

I love Katherine Center's writing. She has fast become one of my go-to authors for feel good books and this one does not disappoint. Her writing and storyline is sweet and loving yet full of zest and excitement.

This is the book you need to read this summer!!

My thanks to Katherine Center, St. Martin's Press and netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What was the last book that you blew through at a record pace?

For me it was The Bodyguard by @katherinecenter . I loved it so much that I carried it with me everywhere and snuck in a few pages every chance I got. It is the story of Hannah, an executive protection agent (aka a bodyguard!) for Jack, a Hollywood star who returns home to tend to his sick mom. Everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. But there is still something so endearing and heartwarming the entire time, even when things fall apart. The color of this book cover is spot on - this book is sunshine. It exudes happiness, humor, love, friendship, forgiveness, all with a dose of Hannah finding her way back to herself and, in the process of following her heart and her own happiness, learning to love again. And the side characters added the perfect amount of levity, laughter and snark. All the love for this book.

I don’t think there is anything that Katherine writes that I won’t read. There is such an ease to the story that you just float along on the journey.

In this story you have Hannah the female Executive protection agent, basically the rich version of a bodyguard. There to blend in and protect without distraction.

Jack is the superstar actor who went into seclusion after a family tragedy. When he learns his mother is sick he is determined to be there for her, but a corgi-loving stalker means he needs protection.

While Hannah is going through her own misery in the form of betrayal from her ex, she needs the distraction. She doesn’t like the idea of pretending to be his girlfriend I. Order to not upset the family.

While a little guilt from his mother he is asked to stay on the ranch to mend their relationships. Leaving Jack and Hannah sharing a room.

While Hannah and her team are trying to find the stalker, and Jack dealing with family issues they can’t help but get to know each other. But is Jack just a good actor or are his feelings starting to look real??

I laughed, I got teary, I was impressed and I was surprised at different moments during this read. Highly recommend this one!

Another outstanding book by this Author. I loved Hannah and everything about her. Her job as an Executive Protection Agent is most important to her. She is assigned to protect Jake from a crazy fan. Just read the book. I guarantee, if you have a heart, you will love it. I highly recommend this book and everything Katherine Center writes. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the Author for the privilege of reading an early copy of this book.

Review posted on Barnes and Noble.

What a gem! This hopeful, delightful fake dating rom-com was a breath of fresh air. The main characters had great chemistry and the banter was hilarious. The pacing was great and I read it one day. It also had a lot of depth and touched on themes of grief, forgiveness and self-worth. The epilogue was pure perfection and had me crying happy tears.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.
How can you pass up a book with a female bodyguard to a famous hunky actor? This rom-com was cute with enough drama to keep you entertained. Hannah was a strong lead female character who excelled in her field but also used it as a way to escape her life. When you are a workaholic who is constantly on the move it doesn't leave you much room for personal growth. When Hannah is forced into protecting a celebrity and finally slowing down she fights it. Oh and did I mention their fake relationship? I loved her feisty attitude and interactions with celebrity in hiding Jack Stapleton. The family interactions were great and added heart to the story. The best parts were watching Hannah"s personal growth, becoming aware of what real love looks like, and learning to love herself.