Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of this book in advance to read and review.

This was a fun, sweet and charming story. It did get a little bananas near the crux, but it wrapped up satisfactorily.

I do appreciate that the last couple novels I’ve read from this author feature women with an unconventional career.

THIS BOOK WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

Me: 😩❤️

I loved this so much.

This is my first K Center book, why did I wait so long? The romance is perfectly laid out in a realistic, organic way. This book was also witty and funny. No steam (which I love). Fake dating. Touching. Relatable.

This book honestly had it all.

So, basically our girl Hannah works for an protection agency and is assigned to be…a bodyguard…for people. She goes through some bad personal stuff and her first assignment back at work is mega Hollywood star Jack. They basically have to fake date in order for her to serve as his bodyguard in a way no one will detect. And off we go.

It was WOND ER FUL.

I can’t say how her others are yet or where they rank, but you guessed it, I will def be reading them.

Tysm for this ARC.

Like many readers, my attention was first captured by the bright and cheerful cover and then by the premise. A bodyguard romance where the woman, who looks like an elementary school teacher, is the bodyguard and the person she's protecting is this strong man? Yes please. As an added bonus, Jack is also a celebrity and the celebrity/normal person romance can also be a lot of fun. Jack and Hannah had great banter and chemistry, and Jack is such a sweetheart. I loved how genuine and real he felt and the way that Center wrote that him as a real person with flaws vs the Perfect Celebrity You Dream About made him even better. Readers looking for a sweet closed door romance that's perfect for summer won't be disappointed.

Very fun book! The whole premise is very funny and interesting (I'm sure in real life none of it could happen but that is the fun part). I love a fun rom com scenario and this ticked all the boxes. Fake dating, celebrity, bodyguard is an added bonus, and the love interest having a dark secret...

When you close a book and want to
immediately reread it again, you know it’s a good book. A great book. If you haven’t read this, you must. New favorite couple! I’d completely insta stalk Hanna and Jack if I could. Oh wait, they’re fictional??!!! Seriously though, this is a favorite read this year! Romance, suspense, humor, forced proximity, and fake relationship, on top of a great storyline…it’s all here!

Hannah Brooks is part of an elite security agency sent to protect Jack Stapleton the movie star. I loved Hannah’s no nonsense attitude and Jack’s more easy going demeanor. It creates the perfect banter and the best dialogue!

Jack is dealing with some past trauma as is Hannah and when she finds herself being his fake boyfriend, lines get blurred. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so you just have to read it to see what happens.

A few of my favorite things were:
1. Hannah was the protector. It flips the script of what is expected and I love to see that.
2. Jack’s mom and dad. Loved their characters and how much they loved their sons.
3. How Jack treated Hannah. Hannah was smart, feisty and tough, and that only made Jack respect her more.
4. Witty dialogue.
5. And….the safety pin necklace.

So many things to love, please read the book and discover your favorite parts!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 stars!!!

This is one of my favorites this year and I’m thinking once you read it, it might be one of yours too💗🎥🕶💜

Thank you to NetGalley and Katherine Center for an advance copy of this book.

In this charming tale about Hannah, the bodyguard, and Jack, the movie star she is defending, Katherine Center is back with another strong female lead. Hannah has just been dumped by Robby, who also works on her security team, on the day of her mother's funeral. Her boss assigns her a task: to keep Jack safe from a perilous stalker while he returns home to take care of his mother. The catch is that Hannah must pose as Jack's girlfriend in order to protect him.

Similar to her earlier romance books, the protagonist of this one is a strong, independent woman who carries her own emotional baggage and unanticipatedly falls in love with the man she least expects to. Although the route was different, the outcome remained the same. Along the way, this one is filled with laughter as well. This is another sweet love story that most people will like if they enjoy romance.


Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an early review copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun read! I could not put this lovable romance novel down and was sad when I finished it! I loved the build up of the relationship between Jack and Hannah and the relationships between the main characters and supporting characters. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

I adore this story! Fake dating, forced proximity, movie star/normal human, etc. So many of my favorite tropes all rolled into one fantastic story! I loved the meet cute! I loved the moment they both realized they weren't pretending! I loved pretty much everything about this book! Katherine Center sure knows how to write an unputdownable book!

Adorable, thought-provoking, and sweet, Katherine Center books never disappoint - and The Bodyguard is no exception! I’ve been anticipating this one for ages and was SO EXCITED to receive an advance copy!!

Hannah is the archetype of the chaotic-but-competent girl next door...she should totally be played in the movie adaptation by Sandra Bullock 😂 Her estranged mom recently passed, so Hannah attempts to throw herself into her private security job as a distraction - but her micromanaging boss has other ideas. Then her obnoxious boyfriend/co-worker dumps her in favor of her best friend - so needless to say, Hannah desperately wants a change of pace.

She did not expect that change of pace to come in the form of protecting Jack Stapleton, two-time Sexiest Man Alive and world famous movie star. Nor did she expect to go undercover at his parents’ ranch, posing as his girlfriend. And perhaps most unexpectedly, she’s not sure if their fake relationship is Jack’s most ambitious acting role yet - or if it might be more real than either of them realize.

This book is an absolute ray of sunshine 🌞 I laughed out loud and swooned by turns, and the plot was just zany enough to keep me guessing. Classic comfort read material - will definitely be picking up a hardcover for my shelf. Thanks to Katherine, St Martin’s and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my thoughts!!!

The Bodyguard is my first Katherine Center novel. I’ve spotted her colorful book covers and decided to give this one a try. I’m so glad I did! I was drawn to the classic bodyguard story with a twist on traditional roles. Petite Hannah is the career executive protection agent assigned to protect Jack, a hot A-list actor. To alleviate stress on his sick mother, they develop a dating cover story that becomes forced proximity as they spend time at his family’s ranch. Both Hannah and Jack are dealing with recent grief and relationship challenges, and what follows is a fun summer read!

This was such refreshing entertainment for me. The characters and story are well developed. I enjoyed the banter between Hannah and Jack and how they protected each other. It was fun learning about security logistics and acting techniques. I’m looking forward to reading more by Katherine Center.

I recommend grabbing a copy of this one for the beach!

Note: Be sure to check out the author’s Texas Playlist on Spotify!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

So, I loved this. Absolute fun. One of my favorite romcoms in years. Funny and propulsive, believable misunderstandings, and adorable characters. Perfect escapist summer/beach read. Highly recommended if you like to be happy.

⭐️⭐️.5/5

“Strangers can only ever love a version of you. People loving you for your best qualities is not the same as people living you despite your worst.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review an early copy of Katherine Center’s new novel.

Ugh, I really REALLY wanted to love this one. Katherine Center is one of my fave others and she was my first BOTM pick in 2019 with ‘How to Walk Away’. That book and ‘Things We Save in A Fire’ hold special places in my heart. I was SO excited to be given an early review copy, and was ultimately let down. I almost DNF’d this one honestly, but I was curious on how it ended and that curiosity won. Curiosity kills the cat after all right? The writing just felt SO amateur and a step back from her previous works. It almost felt to me like a badly written debut novel. And the writing really ruined it for me and made me want to keep putting it down and leaving it. It also made Hannah seem so dumb. There was random sentences everywhere that didn’t need to be, and the POV felt weird to me as well. It’s like she’s talking TO us and she’s didn’t like how it was executed. And it was every other sentence “oh he’s just acting this can’t be real.” Spoiler alert: it’s a romance so it IS real Hannah, come on.

Hannah had SO much potential to be a bada$$ but instead, she just seemed annoying and whiny. I didn’t see any action from her except for two scenes, and they were great scenes! I mean I get it, she has trauma and it makes her hard to trust others, but don’t we all? She did a lot of pushing people away and it seemed like it was never going to end. I do give her credit for standing up for herself, especially to Taylor, her bestie, after being a backstabber. And to Jack a few times, but that really didn’t come until later. Taylor was blunt but she did Hannah dirty. I mean how do you “accidentally” sleep with someone?

Robby was HORRIBLE. He seriously was the worst. I’m so glad he didn’t destroy things like I predicted he may.

Jack was sooooo genuine and sweet. I really enjoyed his character. I did not enjoy Hannah’s, at all, but Jack’s genuineness and character development made up for it. And I know the cow scene was suppose to be funny, but I just found it dumb and not realistic. But, maybe that’s just me.

TW: parental & sibling death, alcoholism, infidelity, domestic violence, mention of suicide

My first book by Katherine Center and easily NOT my last! I cannot wait to read more by her if this is what her books are like (and from what I’ve heard, they are 😍)

This book has such a unique style of humor: both banter and dry with a twist of incredulous skepticism.

Hannah has been through so much lately. She lost her mom – and while they weren’t very close, they were close enough. Then, the DAY after the funeral, her boyfriend of a year decides to dump her and explain three of her biggest flaws just to kick her while she’s down. I’ll be honest: I wanted to kick him. So. Hard.

But then, after being benched by her boss, Hannah lands a job protecting a famous celebrity: Jack. Except, she has to do it by pretending to be his girlfriend. In front of his family. While her team and ex-boyfriend watch through surveillance cameras.

What starts off as one of the worst cases quickly turns into something she never realized she needed. She surprises everyone who has any preconceived notions about her, and readers will be rooting for her every step of the way.

But of course, when the case comes to an abrupt end, Hannah isn’t ready to leave. And yet, she doesn’t have a choice.

This celebrity romance pulled at my heartstrings, had me laughing and reading sections aloud to anyone within earshot, made me want to hurt the jerk of an ex-boyfriend, and felt like a hug at so many places. I cannot wait to read it again.

I enjoyed this book SO MUCH and it was very unexpected for me! Usually, rom-com stories are not my cup of tea. I am a thriller and sci-fi book girl. But wow! I laughed with the characters, worried about them, and was happy/sad with them. Hannah and Jake are such likable characters. If you feel down or need some light/fun read or "pick me up" book - this is the one! I can see this book can easily become a Netflix rom-com show.

to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center in exchange for an honest review.

Katherine Centers books are always fun reads. Strong female characters, laugh out loud moments and romance. I loved this story. Hannah is a bodyguard undercover as a movie stars girlfriend. The perfect summer beach read

I requested The Bodyguard on NetGalley, after seeing so many glowing reviews for it. I did not really expect to be approved and certainly not with only 3 weeks till publishing. Challenge accepted!! I shouldn't have worried, I read this book in a couple days. It was a fun romantic comedy, perfect for a beach or pool read.

Hannah Brooks is one of the best personal security agents, definitely the best in Texas. Her role requires her to assess & clear targets and situations by blending into the background. Well, it did require her to blend into the background until her latest job; to protect World's Sexiest Man, Jack Stapleton. Jack Stapleton a man who doesn't seek the limelight and is especially unhappy with being assigned a security guard for his move to Texas to spend time with family. Both Hannah & Jack are used to being in control, their worlds are about to be turned upside down. 

I enjoyed the banter between characters, Jack and Hannah really know how to push each other's buttons. It included some of my favorite romance tropes like fake dating, one bed, forced proximity and included some new situations that included herds of cows, bridges and rescue animals. I thought this book was a delightful read, that I will be recommending to my friends and already purchased a physical copy for my own shelf.

Thank you St Martin's Press, Katherine Center and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Bodyguard Review

First of all I want to thank St Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I got this from NetGalley a while back and I share a kindle account with my mom and she read it first. When I asked her thoughts she wasn’t impressed so I was a little wary when I started.

I actually really enjoyed it! This is a book that is a lot more comedy than romance but it was exactly what I needed when I read it.

The Bodyguard
Release: 7/19
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
What I Loved:
Jack, again if this person could be real and attainable I would like one please. He has absolutely become a new favorite book boyfriend
Location, this book is mostly set on a ranch and I have been fortunate to spend time on ranches like that one and I love that as a backdrop for the relationship
Job, Hannah is a bodyguard and after reading traditional romantic suspense it’s refreshing to have the MFC be the protector
Banter, there is good hilarious banter throughout the story from all the characters. My favorite probably from Jack’s parents and Hannah’s boss

One nitpick I have in this book is Hannah second guessing everyone’s feelings for her. I know it’s part of her growth but there were times where I just wanted to give her a shake and tell her to “listen to what they are saying to you”.

This was a fun, quick, closed door romance which was exactly what I was looking for this week. This story has hurt, love and laughs so there is not much else you could ask for. If you are looking for a book that will put you in a good mood and swoon some, please pick this book up and give it a read 😻

Katherine Center is back with another strong female protagonist in this sweet story about Hannah, the bodyguard and the movie star she is protecting, Jack. On the day of her mother's funeral, Hannah has just been dumped by Robby, who also works on her security team. Her boss puts her on a job to protect Jack from a dangerous stalker while he comes home to care for his ailing mother. The catch: To protect Jack, Hannah has to pretend to be his girlfriend. Well, we all know what happens next...

Like her previous romance novels, this one has a fiercely, independent female main character carrying around her own emotional baggage and unexpectedly falls in love with the guy she least expects to. The journey is different but the result is the same. This one also has plenty of laughs along the way. For romance lovers, this is another cute love story that most will enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an early review copy in exchange for my honest review. This novel will be available on 7/19/22.

5 stars!
The Bodyguard is a twist on the classic bodyguard/client trope with the heroine being the bodyguard in this book. And since I love strong female main characters, I really loved Hannah - her fierceness, her mental strength, but also her vulnerability too.. I also adored Jack. He was everything you could want in a hero - smart, sweet, loyal, and sensitive. I highly recommend this book for romance fans who enjoy sweet, low spice novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

4.5 🌟 This was Miss Congeniality meets The Proposal, and I absolutely loved it!

This was so dang cute and had me laughing and smiling the whole time!

The fake dating, forced proximity, swoon worthy moments, feel-good rom com balanced with deeper and emotional moments made this such an enjoyable read!

It initially took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did I absolutely loved!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the ARC & ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review! ✨