This is my first book by Katherine Center, I didn't know what to expect from the story. I just thought it was going to be a sweet rom-com which it was, but I didn't expect the difficult topics involved to make me teary-eyed. Though there were difficult topics in the story I didn't feel they were heavy which I appreciate. This was such a sweet, funny, and enjoyable story. Hannah Brooks was someone who I just wanted to hug and make sure she was okay. She went through a lot with little time to progress it all before the next thing hit her, yet she was a strong, sassy bodyguard. Jack Stapleton was such a wonderful MMC I loved his character he was what Hannah needed to help her relax and enjoy herself. He himself was alone like Hannah but needed to learn to forgive himself for what happened to Drew. Both help one another overcome things they hadn't allowed themselves to. I also enjoyed that Hannah was so real she gave Jack the ability to be himself without feeling used for his fame. Overall, I enjoyed this story very much it was easy to follow. Thank You St. Martin's Press and NetGalley to allow me to read this book and give it an honest review!! Congrats to Katherine for such a fun read!

I really liked how this combined grief, found family, and finding yourself through love. It was a fun read.

I absolutely adored this book. It was quirky, funny and just so enjoyable. I must say that I would kill for this to become a movie, preferably starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.

Hannah is a professional bodyguard (a workaholic), she recently lost her mother and the day after the funeral her (douche-y) boyfriend (and coworker) Robby dumped her. She's then hired to work for Jack Stapleton, a Hollywood heartthrob who's been a bit of a recluse lately. His production company hires her when he needs to go back home to his family ranch when his mother falls ill. He has a stalker, so far the stalker seems pretty harmless but no one wants to take any chances. Thing is, Jack doesn't want to worry his family so prefers they pretend to be dating instead of explaining why Hannah is really there. Will people believe this "epitome of ordinary" girl could possible be THE Jack Stapleton's girlfriend?

We've all read enough of these types of books to recognize that this is a fake-dating to real-dating trope but gosh is it ever done well. This is such a heartwarming and fun story. The ultimate beach read this summer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The audio narration was excellent. The story was great.

I liked that the MC (Hannah) was in a role that we don’t typically see females in. So that was pretty cool, especially since she’s so “stumpy.” I swear I’m not being mean. IYKYK.

Even the crazy corgi stalker lady was great. I loved her use of hashtags 😂🐶

I loved the pacing of this one and adored the characters. Except the ex boyfriend but who likes exes anyway!?

Jack was just great. I loved him except for that scene at the door that broke my heart. The scene where I thought our MC was dreaming…then I found out she wasn’t and it broke my heart all over again. This really isn’t giving anything away, I promise.

This book gave me feelings, I rarely have big feelings about books.

I highly recommend this one.

Honestly, such a fun read! The story is your typical fake relationship, except Hannah is a badass bodyguard who has to act as famous actor Jack Stapleton's fake girlfriend at his family's ranch in order to protect him and his family. As expected, there are some hiccups in the plan, and the more time Jack and Hannah spend together, and Hannah spends with the family, the lines between what is true and fake blur.

It's fun and sweet, and the perfect vacation read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are all my own.

Oh my gosh, I loved this book! This was an "up until the wee hours of the morning" reading book, I could not put it down.

Hannah Brooks is an Executive Protection Agent (aka a bodyguard) who isn't have the easiest go with life lately - her semi-estranged mother has passed away, her boyfriend breaks up with her the day after the funeral and her boss is forcing her to take time off work to grieve (even though all she wants to do is work to keep busy). When an unusual case comes in Hannah gets assigned to Jack Stapleton, an A list movie star with a corgi breeding stalker. As one would expect, hijinks and family drama quickly ensue and Hannah has a hard time deciphering between what's real and what's an act.

This book was so fun and it gave me a lot of Miss Congeniality/Gracie Hart vibes in the beginning. I loved watching Hannah grow and open herself up to others, and Jack was such a sweet hero. The solo point of view really worked with this story too because it was such a slow burn. I love when authors show how much the male lead is into the heroine, but she's too oblivious to notice.

Highly recommend if you need a fun, fast read this summer!

2.5-This book has all the vibes of a good Sandra Bullock movie. Somehow it’s like Miss Congeniality & The Proposal mixed with a little Brooklyn 99. But the execution was just ~eh.~ Everything was terribly overstated, and I couldn’t tell if it was trying to be funny, cute, or thoughtful? It’s definitely a light, fast, super cheesy read but there’s not much depth beyond that.

I really wanted to love this one, but it wasn’t my cup of tea. (Really, I feel bad rating it this low, but I've read some real winners recently and this didn't measure up.)

I liked the premise and I enjoyed the ending, but I wish some of the characters had been more fleshed out. Specifically, I wish we had more time to know the antagonist ex-bf. Without background, I didn't hate him as much as I just thought he was cringy, which is a shame.

Katherine Center feels like coming home, but that could be because she writes about Texas, where I am located. Her books are a little bit safe but extremely delightful.

Set in Houston, TX, Hannah has just lost her mother, and her boyfriend dumps her right after the funeral. They happen to both work for the same private security firm as bodyguards. When Hannah is put as the lead bodyguard for the World’s Sexiest Man Alive, Jack Stapleton, for his extended stay in Houston, we get a common troupe, of fake girlfriend, so his parents don’t know he requires a bodyguard.

Jack is dealing with heavy family issues. His brother died in a car accident, a car that they were both in. He is estranged from his other brother, and his mother is dealing with a cancer diagnosis. He also has a stalker.

While all this seems very heavy, Center likes to keep things very light in her style of writing. Lot’s of one line zingers, and fast dialogue keep this book moving. At times, this book did seem a little predictable, however this is Katherine Center, and she tends to make any story sparkle.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It was a slow burn romance but dived into various other topics especially dealing with family and family trauma. The book did drag a little bit in the middle but the last third I couldn’t put down. It does end a little abruptly and I wish there was a little more at the end about Jack and Hannah! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

I guess I’m a fan of forced proximity romances. At least those that are closed door and written by Katherine Center. This is the first book of hers I’ve read and it definitely won’t be my last.

I rarely read the descriptions of books so I assumed the male character on the cover was the bodyguard. Imagine my surprise when chapter two starts out with Hannah explaining that she is a bodyguard. That was a fun anti-stereotype that I really enjoyed.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

💪Katherine Center is an auto-buy for me. I’ve really enjoyed her books and still need to get to all her back log. So obviously, I was so excited to receive The Bodyguard from @netgalley and @stmartinspress
in exchange for my honest (as always) review.
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💪One thing I love about Center’s books is that they draw me in almost immediately. I don’t have to wait 3 chapters to really “get into” her books. The same was true with this one - I was sucked in pretty quick.
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💪I was intrigued by the idea of a female bodyguard, and I liked how Center played into the fact that most of us would be surprised by the concept (of a smaller woman protecting clients much larger then herself). It was fun seeing how the company worked together to protect their clients, and showed what goes in to preventing security issues....and of course, seeing a super strong chic be able to flip a guy twice her size 😂
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💪Having said that…this had many scenes that felt cheesy and overdone. There is a character that we ARE supposed to hate, but he feels more like a Disney villain than a believable character. Add that to a Corgi breeding stalker and an assault by someone who’s angry his wife left him for a celebrity crush…and it just had me rolling my eyes.
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💪I really wish I had enjoyed it more, because the family relationships in here were adorable and special. The baggage that the characters have to wade through is hard and meaningful as well, so I’m bummed that it was overshadowed by the negatives for me.
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💪I’m really curious what other Katherine Center fans thought about this one!
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💪There were no bedroom scenes, there were definitely a handful of profanities, and please be aware that domestic abuse as well as alcoholism is present.

Yes! (Just, YES.) Add “The Bodyguard” to your summer reading list. The narrative , while maybe slightly predictable, is thoroughly enjoyable. Female bodyguard meets Hollywood heartthrob…also Texas. Y’all, it’s really fun! (Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced e-copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.
Nearly unrealistic plot made this book fun to get out of my head and escape the real world. So many enjoyable laughs reading this.

Hannah Brooks is a bodyguard hired to protect Jack Stapleton, the handsome movie star who’s coming out of a long hiatus to be with his family while caring for his mother. The only catch is Hannah has to pretend to be his girlfriend so he doesn’t have to share the news with his family that he’s been getting threats and stalked by fans.

This rom-com was such a fun ride! I laughed so many times at their witty banter. The characters were likeable and funny. Even though the fake dating trope isn’t my thing, I really enjoyed their chemistry. Without giving too much away, there are other little lessons sprinkled in that made this book even sweeter.

Yes, the plot is very far-fetched but still so enjoyable and just a feel-good story. I would love to this adapted to the big screen!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I devoured the whole thing in one sitting today. I love all of Katherine Center's book, but this one hit a sweet spot for me, with more rom com than her usual books but her same insightful thoughts and characters. I always enjoy the fake dating trope, and the story of Hannah and Jack was one of my favorites. Add some humor, tension, and a tiny bit of spice, and this was one enjoyable read.

Katherine Center always writes a great feel good story. This felt a little more like a rom com than her others that I think seem more on the side of women's fiction. The whole book was really sweet and entertaining. I loved all the characters, specifically his family. It wasn’t as emotional as a few of her others (maybe since the main character isn’t going thorough it and the love interest is) and I just missed that little extra emotion that makes so many of her books 5 stars.

I did not expect to love this as much as I did but WOW! i devoured this in one sitting and couldn't get enough. For fans of Emily Henry books, this is for you. I found myself laughing with Hannah and crying with Jack. This was such a great romance and I'm so appreciative of the ARC. Thank you NetGalley & to the publisher!

The Bodyguard features Hannah Brooks, a bodyguard who has protected people in many crazy situations and Jack Stapleton, a mega movie star with a stalker problem and lots of emotional baggage he’s carrying with him, especially after the death of his younger brother.

When Hannah’s boss recruits her to serve as Jack’s bodyguard while he returns home to rural Texas to be there for his mother during her cancer treatment, she hesitates because she wants to have a grand adventure abroad after facing a personal tragedy of her own. And she protests even more when her boss tells her she has to pretend to be Jack’s girlfriend while she’s there!

I enjoyed this fake dating, slow burn romance. Katherine Center has a way with words that is just so beautiful to read. I found myself highlighting so many quotes from the book that resonated with me. It gave me some Miss Congeniality vibes as well. I also really appreciated the epilogue with the nod to our current politics in the realm of gun violence. As usual, Katherine Center writes a feel-good read with lots of nuggets of wisdom about what’s really important in life. And I’ll always be here for books like that!

Hannah doesn't have your typical 9-5 job -- as an Executive Protective Agent (*cough* bodyguard *cough*) she knows how to kill someone with a bottle opener and constantly is assessing her surroundings, even when not on duty. But when she shows up for her latest assignment, blockbuster actor and heartthrob Jack Stapleton, he mistakes her for a cleaning lady. Jack proves to be a difficult client, despite being incredibly conscientious and witty, as Hannah tries to help him lay low while he supports his mother through her cancer treatment. But Jack's family is harboring a lot of darkness, and Jack himself is plagued by shadows that Hannah can't fend off with a ballpoint pen. And for someone who makes a living out of reading people, she just can't seem to tell Jack the actor from Jack the real person. When they are forced to fake date in order to keep his cover, the lines between pretend and reality start to blur to the point where Hannah doesn't know where her job ends and her feelings begin. Her meddling boss, rude coworker-slash-ex-boyfriend, and a team of smart alecks at her side aren't making her situation any easier. She'll have to figure out how to keep Jack safe while keeping her heart safe at the same time -- her most challenging assignment yet.

Thoughts: First of all, I love that the female lead is the kick@$$ character in this story. It’s slightly watered down by her trepidation at more mundane things like horseback riding when she can kill people twice her size and has jumped out of a plane, but I do appreciate that Center breaks away from the typical female character trope for the most part. I also really liked Jack’s witty personality and emotional depth, and I couldn’t help but picture Chris Evans when I tried to visualize Jack’s character. Jack and Hannah together were perfectly mismatched in the best of ways and clearly brought out the good in each other. The family dynamic with Jack’s mom and dad gave me <i>While You Were Sleeping<i> vibes and the burden Jack carries created some very powerful scenes. Overall, this wasn’t as heavy as most of Center’s previous works but it was a good story with two dynamic, likable characters that you’re rooting for from page one.

**Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

Katherine Center is a terrific storyteller! The Bodyguard is the second of Center’s books that I’ve read and loved - the other one is Things You Save in a Fire - and she’s quickly becoming an author that I will read automatically. She says that she writes “bittersweet comic novels,” an appealing description.

This time the story centers (no pun intended) around a female bodyguard (Hannah), a concept I absolutely loved. She’s had a hard family life and near the beginning of the book, her boyfriend (a fellow bodyguard) dumps her right after her mother dies! She can’t wait to get away from Houston, Texas, preferably to some place like London or Korea. But her boss assigns her to protect a reclusive movie star (Jack) who is in town visiting his family, as his mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be undergoing surgery. So that’s the set-up. What follows is a whole chain of events that has Hannah pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend and living on his family’s ranch for a few weeks. The two seem to really “get” each other and their relationship develops naturally. Jack is haunted by an event in his past (no spoilers here!), so that added a dimension to his character. The chemistry between Jack and Hannah is great and I loved their banter. I also adored Jack’s mom and dad. There are many funny moments throughout the book (and there are also some “hairy” situations because Jack has at least one stalker). The scene on Jack’s family ranch with the cows is priceless.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Patti Murin, who did a great job with all the voices, both female and male. Her narration really brought the characters to life.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.