4.5/5⭐️
Pub day 7-19-2022

Are you looking for a sweet and heartwarming story this summer? Look no further! This book is full of wonderfully kind and very real characters that you can’t help but love.

There are big moments of honesty and humanity that made this more meaningful. I loved that it felt a little reminiscent to The Bodyguard movie, starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, which was a favorite of mine in my youth!

I read Center’s book Things You Save in a Fire and thought that was super cute as well. I enjoyed this one just a bit more but you can’t go wrong with either. This is definitely a great one to add to your summer reads!

I did a combo of audio and digital and thought the audio was done very well. There are a lot of characters for one narrator to give voice to, but Patti Murin did a great job. If you struggle with one narrator having to juggle multiple voices then stick to the written copies and you’ll really enjoy this!

Thank you @Netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the alc & @Stmartinspress for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

While romantic comedies are not usually my choice of genre to read, I have read many of Katherine Center’s novels and loved them all. The Bodyguard is no exception.
Hannah Brooks is an Executive Protective Agent, aka a
trained and seasoned bodyguard. Her new assignment is to protect famed superstar actor Jack Stapleton. He is currently in town as his mother is ill. No one is to know his whereabouts, which is why he is being protected by Hannah.
Hannah is currently dealing with many issues, including the recent death of her mother and the breakup with her boyfriend/co-worker. This assignment is not like any other she has ever completed. But as Hannah says, “Every chance you take is a choice. A choice to decide who you are.”
The main characters, Hannah and Jack are very likable and ambitious people. Jack does not see the need for this extra protection and this is the last place that Hannah wants to be. However, they are thrown into this and try to make the best of it.
The chapters fly by quickly with humorous banter between the two.
Without giving too much away, the events in the story were somewhat predictable and wishful. I loved the ending.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

What a fabulous book. I loved Hannah and Jack from the get go. This was a feel good, laugh out loud book. I literally laughed so much reading this book, I got some odd looks, but most people know how I am with books. I get absorbed, and this one sucked me right in. I love Katherine Center’s writing. She always makes me live in the book. Well done! So happy for the early read from Netgalley.

I’m not exactly sure how to explain this romance with a touch of heart racing thriller, but I’ll do my best.

I didn’t expect to love this book, if I’m being honest I read a few chapters months ago and put it down for a long time. I don’t know what made me pick it up, but I’m so happy I did.

Hannah is a bad ass bitch, who’s job is being a bodyguard. She gets out on a job where she’s a bodyguard for a famous actor, Jack.

Jack is your typical handsome actor with everything he could possibly want in the world, except he’s so unhappy with his life.

Hannah is sent to protect him from a crazy corgi loving stalker as Jack goes to spend time with his sick mom back home.

As fate has it, they connect on all levels the more time they spend together. But, as fate also likes to make sure life isn’t easy, so many obstacles are thrown into this story that had my heart racing at certain chapters.

I was constantly needing to know what was going to happen next and had a really hard time putting this down once I got into it!

I loved this book. Seriously, I did not want it to end. I loved the characters, the storyline, and the drama. It was just a fun summer read! I laughed, cried and wanted the characters to be my friends! In my opinion, a perfectly well done romcom!

Hannah is a bodyguard, despite looking more like a Kindergarten teacher. Her newest assignment is Jack Stapleton, America’s most attractive man and superstar. Hannah finds herself living at Jack’s parents’ ranch pretending to be his girlfriend. Will Hannah’s heart survive? Is the relationship that they build real or is Jack just pretending?

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy!

4.5 rounded up. I read this book in one sitting! Katherine Center's books are always a hit for me. I love her writing style and her storylines.

This is the story of Hannah, a bodyguard who is hoping to get a promotion to her company's London office. Her mom has just passed and her boyfriend broke up with her after her mom's funeral so Hannah is trying to get her life back on track and deal with her tragedies. She gets an assignment to be the bodyguard for a famous actor, Jack, and if the assignment goes well she should be up for the promotion. However, her assignment goes a little off track when she has to pretend to be Jack's girlfriend so his mother, who is battling cancer, doesn't realize he has been getting threats.

I always love a fake dating trope and this one did not disappoint. I loved the approach that the woman was the bodyguard. This was a fun story that put a huge smile on my face. I loved the characters and I wanted to be on the ranch with Jack's family. I also enjoyed how there were a few more serious topics addressed but was handled well so the book was still uplifting and fun.

I read the author's note at the end and this was her pandemic book and I loved how she decided to make Jack a movie star to make it more fun during the pandemic. This really was a nice, fun escape!

I got an advanced ARC from the publisher but I was so excited about this book I actually purchased and read my Book of the Month print book. Thank you to the publisher though. Opinions are my own.

Camping for three weeks means limited service, so when I realized I hadn’t downloaded The Bodyguard to my kindle, I was truly sad. Day after day “queued” popped up on the screen, as I sat there with so much hope, with no luck. Eventually, it meant reading this on my phone because I couldn’t wait. Every single minute I had service I was devouring this book. I read this on buses, at rest stops, in the bathroom line, sometimes while waiting for my food to come. Truly I could not stop thinking about Hannah and Jack. This book is definitely in my favorites list of the year. Hannah is strong and witty, and Jack gave me William Thatcher (Hugh Grant) from Notting Hill vibes, and I missed them when I couldn’t get service. Read this book on July 19th. You will love it. Also, check out Happiness for Beginners on Centers backlist. One of my all time favorite books.

Katherine Center can do no wrong in my eyes. Can we also talk about her cover artwork? GORGEOUS.
The first book I read by Center was Things You Save in a Fire and I devoured it. When I heard buzz about The Bodyguard, I knew I needed to read it ASAP.

Hannah Brooks' life is a little bit of a mess at the moment, but the woman is a badass. She works security duty for all different types of clients and could take down a grown man in the blink of an eye. Jack Stapleton is a popular ultra hot actor who is loved by everyone.... but there are some out there who love him a little too much (newsflash: he has a stalker). Jack decides to move home to help care for his mom when she becomes ill. He doesn't want to alarm his family, so he decides to hide the fact that he has a stalker. That's where Hannah comes in. Hannah's firm is hired to protect Jack, and the plan is to have Hannah keep close and pose as Jack's girlfriend while she keeps him safe. As one could imagine, lines between what is real and what is acting begin to get blurred. Hannah truly believes she's unlovable, but could Jack actually be interested in her? Or is he just a really great actor?

The Bodyguard did not disappoint and I flew through it in no time. Center has such a way with her characters... I just love them so much! Jack is a famous actor and Hannah is a bodyguard with killer skills, but Center develops them to seem like regular every day people with problems just like the rest of us. And the banter between Jack and Hannah was hysterical at times. If you enjoy a good rom-com, check out this author and pick up The Bodyguard!

There were many laugh-out-loud moments in The Bodyguard which was much more light-hearted than other books that I have read by Katherine Center. Hannah Brooks is an Executive Protection Agent who is assigned to provide bodyguard services to Jack Stapleton, a hunky and famous actor. What follows is a somewhat predictable romantic comedy but with characters that you have to love and root for.

Despite not being the 5-star read that I have come to expect from this author, if you need a dose of laughter in your life, you can't go wrong with The Bodyguard. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

I have to say this is one of my favorite books I have read this year!. I always say thrillers are what i prefer and then i read one of Katherine Center’s books and I question myself. I’m glad i didn’t read the description, It tells too much of the plot. It’s about a Hannah, a plain looking personal bodyguard who takes an assignment to protect a famous actor visiting his parent’s ranch because his mother is ill.. He is estranged from his brother because of a recent family tragedy. Parts of the story are somewhat predictable, but it doesn’t matter. I loved it. Bravo! I was privileged to receive an advanced copy in return for an honest review. #netgalley #KatherineCenter #thebodyguard #stmartinspress

As someone who also lives on a ranch in Texas close to the Brazos, I have to say I was fairly surprised by the setting. Is this what the people of Forks felt like when Twilight came out?

I’m a sucker for a fake relationship and cows and this had both! In between the fake dating and life saving there were some really wonderful messages about learning to love yourself and letting others close enough to love you, too. Learning to forgive yourself and help others along the way.

Even though I will never be in the situation of fake dating a movie star in order to protect them, I related to Hannah (and even Jack) in so many ways it was impossible not to have a lot of feelings. I may or may not have cried.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and Center’s writing style. Definitely pick it up if you want something sweet and a little cheesy (complimentary), but also a little emotional with a side of action? A lot going on there but somehow it works.

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

I was completely entertained by this witty and clever romcom that wasn't so heavy on the rom that it made my eyes roll. I found myself grinning through a good 10% of this book while I was out amongst normal humanity, making myself look like a total goof staring at my phone!

Katherine Center does an amazing job in her dialogue and banter amongst the characters. The woman--The Bodyguard was strong, could take down a man, she was intelligent and valuable. I loved that! Let's have more tropes like this in books!

I keep thinking of the movie The Bodyguard with Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston, now reverse it! We have Hannah, our no nonsense security agent that will protect Jack, the dashing and amazingly handsome movie star! Loved it!

This is the perfect summer read, the book to get you out of a reading slump, the book to make you smile, the book to gift a friend or your mom. 100% clean romantic comedy. I can recommend this to everyone-even your teenage daughters!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance e-copy.

The Bodyguard was cute and fun and often laugh out loud funny but it also lacked some of the depth that I've come to know from Katherine Center. Hannah made me roll my eyes and want to scream quite a few times with her petulant behavior. Her attitude and behaviors didn't always line up with the professionalism that I was supposed to believe in her. Jack was probably the most well rounded and rightly swoonworthy character. I flew through the book in no time but I wanted more from the plot than just an unlikely romance. If you're into rom-coms or Hallmark style stories, this is for you.

There's something about Center's writing where she slowly unravels characters to her readers - helping them understand them. This is just another. Hannah Brooks is reminiscent of Bullok's character in Miss Congeniality, but what she uncovers is more than just friendship. I love romance novels that have vulnerable characters this book delivered on that while keeping things exciting and unpredictable! I definitely recommend this book.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center was one of my most anticipated books of 2022 and it did not disappoint. The book is fun and fast-paced, and I couldn’t put this one down until I finished it.

Hannah Brooks has been in the Executive Protection Agent game for a while now. Although petite, she knows how to pack a punch if needed, and more importantly, she knows how to prevent an altercation before it starts and that is why she is one of the top agents at her agency.

Jack Stapleton is a famous movie star who suddenly stopped making movies after the tragic death of his brother. He’s now a recluse who lives in the mountains of North Dakota (who knew ND has mountains!) and has not had a press interview in years and lives off-grid.

When Jack has to return to Houston to be with his mother who has health issues, Hannah’s agency is hired to protect him. Hannah wants no part in protecting a movie star but is convinced to do the job anyway. But, Jack insists she pretends to be his girlfriend so his mother won’t know that he needs protection. And their time together eventually becomes more than a fake relationship.

When I read the blurb for this book I was not very interested in the story. I tend to avoid stories with movie stars as main characters, but this is written by Katherine Center, so I thought I would take a chance and I’m so glad I did. Jack is a mega star, but he’s been damaged and in hiding, so he’s more down to earth than I would think a mega star would be. However, he still has his issues, and Hannah is not afraid of calling him out! I just loved their relationship, as she was never star-struck, and he wasn’t narcissistic. There is a little bit of mystery in the book too as Jack has a stalker, and that helped move the book along as I couldn’t wait to find out who was after Jack.

Did I mention that this book is funny? It’s hilarious and joyful. What I love about this author is how she can write an emotional book and make it fun too.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romcom. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Hannah kicks ass. Literally. She's one of the leading bodyguards for her company. Her life is pretty kick ass as well. Until it's not. Her mom dies, her boyfriend dumps her the day after the funeral (who does that?), and she's forced to play house with the sexiest man alive (voted 2 years in a row!), Jack Stapleton. Okay maybe that last part maybe isn't terrible, but can she play the part without risking her heart?

Huge thanks to Netgalley, St Martins Press, and Katherine Center for an advanced copy of this book to review.

I went through a phase with Netgalley where I only requested rom-coms. As a mood reader, this happens more often than you might think. I will just request whatever I am in the mood for at that moment. When it comes to The Bodyguard, I am so thankful that I did. A bodyguard romance with a role reversal. The woman gets to be the savior and the man is the one in need of saving. This was also my July buddy read as my buddy received it in her BOTM.

Hannah is a fantastic character. She is the type that I love to read about. Strong, has some growth throughout the book, learns and loves. She is not the type whose brain I like to be in though. This book featured a LOT of internal monologues. Like a LOT. It got to the point where I was skipping parts because do we really need background on every fictional movie that Jack Stapleton has been in? I understand it adds to the world building for a lot of people but for me when you add too many fictional items (like fake movies) to a semi-realistic book, it takes away from the experience. That's the bad. Literally, that is it. I loved everything else about this book.

The side characters, the crappy ex boyfriend, the obtuse best friend, I even loved the corgi loving stalker. Did I want to punch the crappy ex boyfriend in the face when he dumped Hannah when she was at her worst? Absolutely! That's when you know you are really engrossed in the characters and the book. This was my very first Katherine Center book, but I will definitely be checking out some others after reading The Bodyguard.

I read this in one sitting. Like took it with me everywhere I went until I was done with it. I had to know if there was any real threat to Jack and if Bobby got what was coming to him. If you are looking for a book with insta-love or a slow burn, this probably isn't for you. The Bodyguard falls somewhere in the middle of the two. Also the 🌶 falls at a 0. If you are looking for a fun smut free, comfortable, cozy romance; this is the book for you! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this wonderful novel.

Great book! Five stars is a high bar for me but this book cleared it (only my third for the year out of 66 books).

Hannah is the kind of character that Sandra Bullock plays in romcoms. Capable and matter-of-fact but also not afraid to face her feelings and show vulnerability. I loved the scenes where Hannah busted out some combat skills and showed Jack and his dad not to patronize her just because she’s a 5”5’ woman in a sundress. I also loved when she told people off to their faces when they were being jerkwads. What a fun character. I was rooting for her the whole way.

Jack is a more standard heartthrob celebrity character but I liked him too. He certainly nows his was around a Grand Gesture.

All in all, this is just a confidently written book that delivers what it promises. Highly recommended.

Read-alikes: Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James; Donut Fall in Love by Jackie Lau; Fake by Kylie Scott

<i>Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley.</i>

3.75 stars! Fake dating romcom where he’s a celebrity?! Say less! While there wasn’t quite enough spice for me, I think anyone who enjoys a non spicy romance will love this one! I absolutely love that Hannah is the badass bodyguard who takes Jack down at their first encounter. I also appreciated Jack’s back story.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Katherine Center book, but it won’t be the last. I really enjoyed Hannah and Jack’s story. It took me a while to get into the story, but once things started happening, I was all in and had trouble putting the book down. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Hannah is a bodyguard who is disappointed to learn that her next assignment will be in her home state of Texas, rather than somewhere more exciting. She will be protecting Jack Stapleton, a famous actor, while he visits his family's ranch. Jack is adamant that they spare his family from worrying by hiding who Hannah really is, so he insists that she presents herself to his family as his girlfriend for their stay. She is reluctant to go along with the deception, but will always do what she must for the job.

I loved this one! Fake dating is not usually my trope of choice but I loved the twist on this one and that Hannah was a badass bodyguard. I loved the dual POVs and thought it was so well done, so much so that I flew through this one in a day - I decided to go with the audiobook of this and thought it was great. It is the absolute perfect summer read!