I think this is Katherine Center's best book yet! The characters are lovable and you are rooting for them the whole way through the book. I will definitely read this book again.

I found myself disappointed in this book because I have LOVED Katherine Center's previous novels - but this one just missed the mark for me. The characters were never well developed enough that I grew attached, the love story didn't really get enough time to believably develop and then the ending was too wild and far-fetched for me to really buy in. This just didn't have the warmth and nuance that I have come to expect from KC - however, I will look forward to her next release and try again!

Ever since I read Things You Save in a Fire, any Katherine Center is an automatic read for me. When I discovered her new novel was coming out July 19, 2022, I wanted to read it right away. And I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to do so because this book is everything I didn't know I needed.

What I love most about Katherine Center books is her ability to balance meaningful, real plot points and lightness. Her characters experience deeply difficult situations and she acknowledges those moments respectfully, but the story itself does not become too dark or intense. This a very difficult thing to do as a writer, but she does it flawlessly. This is a book where you learn from the characters, but still get to experience the joys of the plot and escape your own world for a while. That's one of the things I loved about this story. It is a perfect mixture of romance and growth for our characters.

Speaking of characters, I LOVED Hannah, our heroine and executive protection agent, and her principle, movie star, Jack Stapleton. Their banter was top notch. Their chemistry was perfect. They were well fleshed out characters full of depth, each on their own journey to accepting themselves. Especially my girl Hannah. Her journey of self discovery and self love was one I related to immensely and one I appreciated from the author.

I loved the story. I finished this book in 24 hours. I stayed up late to read and then woke up early. Any moment I had free time, I was reading this book. I'm disappointed I finished so quickly to be honest with you. I was engrossed with the concept and felt the writing was fun and engaging. I laughed out loud at multiple parts, while the ending hit me right in the feels. This is a perfect novel to bring to the beach or just to enjoy reading for the sake of a good story. Read it; you won't regret it.

As I stated previously, this book is out July 19, 2022. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a total delight- it is everything you want in a romance and definitely sparks joy for the reader! Katherine Center is a great storyteller who writes women who are independent, interesting, likable, quirky, and totally worthy of a Happily Ever After. Hannah is the bodyguard, Jack is the movie star. Hannah is dealing with the death of her mom and the end of her relationship, along with the end of her best friendship. In spite of it all, she trudges ahead and because of the assignment of a lifetime, she gets to slow down, find herself and find love.
Totally recommend, I enjoyed it even more than THINGS YOU SAVE IN A FIRE.

This book was extremely good! I would find myself laughing and smiling the whole time I read this book. This feels like the perfect rom com and would make a great movie. This book isn’t steamy but just as good as a steamy book. Thank you to NetGalley for this arc

LOVED IT!
Such a fun read. Another knock out by Center! This book felt a little lighter than some of her other stuff but they storytelling, the page turner, the charming setting, and the swoon worthy setting... and a little twist I didn't see, ALL THERE like always!

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Genre: Romance
Author: @katherinecenter
Pub Date: July 19th

💭MY THOUGHTS💭
I am a huge fan of Katherine Center and her romance novels! I have read them all and they are a perfect summer time read each and every time. Her romance books are filled with lots of laughs and funny scenes, great characters with open wounds they are trying to heal or run away from, and always a suspenseful scene or two (or three🤪) that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The Bodyguard is all that and so much more!

There was so much I enjoyed about her recent book. First of all, how she describes Jack. Woah! I just need someone to make a movie out of this book to see who they cast as Jack because while reading I was getting quite hot and bothered about how damn attractive he sounded. Geeez! 😅Overall, her descriptions of all of the characters is quite impeccable. I can picture each and every one of them to a tee and they will be hard to forget. I have noticed that in recent romance books the banter is getting out of control!! Like to the point it’s obnoxious!! The Bodyguard has the perfect combo of normal couple banter and real, honest conversations. Jack and Hannah both come to their work relationship with a whole lot do baggage. I loved how they helped each other become better people and helped one another let go of their past hurts. While Hannah and Jack most certainly steal the show in this book the minor characters are pretty awesome! I wanted to give Jack’s parents a squeeze and I couldn’t stop giggling at the crazy Corgi lady!

The Bodyguard, out July 19th lives up to the hype of her other books and is one you don’t want to miss! Keep your eyes peeled for July BOTM….I wouldn’t be surprised if they feature another one of her amazing books!

My husband walked by me multiple times while I was reading The Bodyguard and said "what are you smiling at?" I think that this really sums up my feelings while reading this book. A funny, heartfelt, swoon-worthy romcom.

The story follows Hannah Brooks, a 5'5" who is an Executive Protection Agent (aka a bodyguard). When her boyfriend dumps her the day after her mother passes away, Hannah is looking for her next escape and grateful to have a job that sends her all over the world. When she learns that her next assignment will be in Texas, acting as a bodyguard for famous recluse actor Jack Stapleton, Hannah is less than thrilled. She is even less thrilled when she learns that this particular protection assignment will look VERY different from the ones she has completed in the past. She will have to pretend to be his girlfriend while visiting his family at their home ranch. Hannah is a professional, and as her ex-boyfriend AND Jack have pointed out, she is the epitome of "ordinary". Nothing to worry about right?

So then why does she feel like she is part of a loving family for the first time in her life? And why is she feeling happier than she has in a long time?

The witty banter between these two characters will have you smiling and laughing through the entire story. These are two character's you can't help but root for.

3.25

This book is a quick read with likeable main characters and a predictable ending. I liked how the narrative was light, snarky and had the main character, Hannah speaking to you directly. It has lots of witty moments and I found myself laughing out loud quite a bit. Also, it was very easy to relate to Hannah and second guess yourself when it comes to love.

I really loved the author’s choice of using a strong loving family that supports their celebrity son who ends up being a good person without having to act the part.

Unfortunately, there were many one-dimensional characters in the book, such as Taylor and Robby. It was irritating at times to read the incompetence of the security team and director and it seemed a little far fetched for me.

Overall, the book was enjoyable!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and give my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc :) Slight spoilers ahead.

This was delightful. I read it in one sitting and couldn't stop grinning. Is it predictable? Yes. Trope-y? Uh huh. Are there some moments that seem south of believable? Absolutely. Plus, the epilogue was long and rambling.

But.

It was so original! And fresh! And adorable! I truly felt the protagonist's struggle between her job and her heart. I liked the Stapleton family and rooted for reconciliation between Jack and Hank. I laughed at Hannah's fear of cows and at Wilbur's newfound romance with Charlotte and other sprinklings of tongue-in-cheek humor. Though the sinister element did make an appearance, it was handled well and I could definitely see this becoming a film a la "The Proposal". Center's work is just so magnetic.

The only reason this isn't a fiver is a three-way tie:
1) Kennedy was unnecessary cringe. She served no purpose.
2) The narrator (Hannah) was just a tad more repetitive about her insecurities than I would have liked. Broken record status? Maybe.
3) The steam. There's a terrific build up, but other than a few kisses, all sex happens behind closed doors or is implied. Kind of a letdown for fans who want to see the culmination of the relationship.

I highly recommend this to lovers of chaste romance, Hollywood romcoms, and women's fiction.

Katherine Center did not disappoint!! I've loved all of the books I've read by this author. This book had me smiling and laughing at so many points. I probably looked crazy to anyone watching me read, lol. The main characters were so lovable and I didn't want to leave their world when I finished the book. Not only did this book have me laughing, but it also pulled at my heart in many places. The author did a great job at infusing both and never letting the story get bogged down with sadness. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of rom-coms!

What an entertaining read! This book played out just like a movie in my mind. It’s different from the other Katherine Center books I’ve read in the past, but not in a bad way. It's funny and uplifting, but also emotional and heartfelt. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize The Bodyguard as a romance, though I really enjoyed the fake dating, forced proximity romantic subplot.

Hannah and Jack’s character arcs were very fulfilling. Both are haunted by their pasts and it was beautiful to see them learn to love and forgive themselves. Hannah's voice and commentary throughout the book were so funny and I enjoyed this narrative style. Her playful banter with Jack was a highlight and I loved how their relationship shifted in sweet subtle ways as they got to know each other. The pacing of the book was good, but some of the subplots resolved very typically and conveniently. I also wasn't a fan of the Kennedy drama at all. It felt like that (and the situation with Robby and Taylor) was a missed opportunity to show women supporting each other instead of tearing each other down. Kennedy's whole mean girl routine was very cliché. The epilogue was sweet and wonderful though and I loved that Jack and Hannah stayed true to themselves and each other. Katherine Center fans are sure to enjoy this one!

CW: death of loved ones (past), guilt, grief, illness/hospitalization (on page), car accident, fear of drowning and bridges, stalking, death threats, estrangement from sibling, domestic abuse/violence (secondary character, past), trauma, mentions of cirrhosis and alcoholism/AA, parental abandonment (past), guns/gunshot wound

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

This is my second Katherine Center book. I was attracted to this story because it reminded me of the movie The Bodyguard and the novel is indeed quite similar. Although the story was original and ok, I had difficulties connecting to the characters. I did not find them particularly warm or engaging.

The story had an Harlequin book feel in my opinion. The epilogue was pretty original and humorous. I am generally not a “love at first sight” kind of reader so you probably will enjoy if you like instant attraction.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a complimentary e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5

ok you guys. i loved this.

usually, i try to stay away from books i can just summarize in a list of tropes. (i actually am not a huge fan of trope lists because i feel like they reduce books to just what is popular and not actually reflective of the book). that being said, i absolutely adored this. and now for the laundry list of tropes: "one of us is famous," bodyguard, grumpy-sunshine but she is the grump, fake dating, forced proximity, "touch him and you die"

this was not only the romcom i wanted, but the romcom i needed. it was so fun!

hannah's struggle of finding herself worthy of love was painfully resonant at times but it was balanced with such wit that i didn't even realize how true and real what Katherine Center was saying until i thought about it after.

i finished this book crazy fast because it really felt like i was watching a movie in my head like i could almost see the ranch as a set and the stunt training and all that jazz, which is the best kind of book to me. if i can forget i'm even reading a book, that's automatically making it a hit to me. the characters were so loveable and i was really rooting for them. as a self-admitted control-freak- work-aholic, i related really strongly to hannah (aside from the whole, you know, being a trained killer).

hannah and jack's relationship develops so organically and i love their interactions. it really felt so natural and also outlandish enough that the suspension of disbelief was perfect. i really was rooting for them for the whole book and really loved watching them become themselves for each other.

one (1) tiny pet peeve is that sometimes the whole "i know you already have seen this movie but..." where the character speaks directly to the reader. to get over this, i kind of just imagined it as like a voiceover in a movie (see what i mean?! it would make a PERFECT romcom if it got adapted!!) but i think it's very much a "me" problem because teachers for my entire life have yelled at us about the whole "don't speak directly to the reader" thing so i think it's just a pet peeve. but i loved the rest of this book so much that it didn't bother me after a while.

if you're looking for a pure fluff romance with a fun premise and loveable characters, i so so highly recommend it. this book is cotton candy for the brain in the best possible way. it's if "miss congeniality" met "starstruck" (the DCOM, i hope yall know what i'm talking about!!) and it is perfection. to be honest, even though i have it at a 4.5 right now, it very well could go up because all i want to do is reread this, kind of like rewatching a comfort film!!

lionsgate, 20th century fox, netflix, hulu, disney+, etc. (i don't care which one): yall NEED to pick this up because it is a hit. [and when you do, i'm claiming that it was my idea and i want to make an appearance please. i mean, i could play hannah, i could learn to act. ]

long story short, this book is totally worth the read and i will be recommending it to all my friends for the foreseeable future.

Definitely pick up a copy of this when it releases on July 19, 2022!

Huge thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Publishers for the Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and mine alone.

The publisher’s description lays out the story here pretty well, including the two main characters. Hannah Brooks, executive protection agent (aka “bodyguard”), is assigned to Jack Stapleton, super-hot megastar. Of course they’re going to fall in love, but the joy is in the journey. 🥰

The story is narrated by Hannah, confident in her work, independent, knows what she wants in her career…also just lost her mother and got dumped by her boyfriend (another bodyguard) the day after the funeral. So things are already a little chaotic when she’s tasked with protecting Jack. To top it off, her ex keeps insisting that she’s not right for the assignment because she doesn’t look the part of a celebrity girlfriend. Talk about hitting a girl when she’s down and trying to crush what’s left of her self-esteem!

Everything kicks into high gear when Jack’s mother insists that Jack and Hannah stay with them until Thanksgiving, which is four weeks away. Hannah begins to see the real Jack, and he’s the happiest and most relaxed he’s ever been. She learns what it’s like to be part of a family, something she never really had.

We all know a happily ever after is coming.

What I loved about this book was Hannah’s voice. It’s Hannah who describes herself as looking like a kindergarten teacher. (At a later point in the book, Jack actually calls her “Stumpy.”) She says, “I could kill you with a wine bottle opener, by the way. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But I’m not going to. Because if things ever get to the point where I have to kill you, I haven’t done my job.”

She also narrates about Jack as if he’s a real person…like we’re not reading a novel. Hannah is telling us, the readers, the story of her and Jack and assuming we’ve seen all his movies.
“Do you remember how he cried in The Destroyers?”
“Add to that: Jack Stapleton knew how to dance. You saw American Rhythm, right? Where he played a ballroom dancer?”
And Hannah is a great storyteller.

Hannah learned a lot about herself through her experience with Jack, and she offers up those lessons, sometimes at her own expense. Because she also learned a lot about the people she gave her time and effort to who didn’t deserve it. Hannah is the type of person I would sit with telling stories over a bottle of wine…or two (maybe three).

A fantastic summer read!

4-4.5 ⭐ I couldn't put it down and it was such a fun read. 😉

Miss Congeniality meets Netflix rom com in this super cute take on a "bodyguard in disguise" plot. I was already casting an early 2000 Sandra Bullock as the lead role, Hannah, before I even got through the second chapter. It's witty and fun and the character development really brings everyone to life.

Jack is a famous movie star, think Brad Pitt/Ryan Gosling famous, and he has a stalker that makes things interesting but also possibly dangerous. When his studio requires him to hire a bodyguard, he reluctantly agrees, on one condition. (Cue the popcorn, this rom com is just getting started!) Jack's mom has cancer and he doesn't want to worry her, so his bodyguard needs to double as his girlfriend.

Hannah is a workaholic, she just lost her mother, who was admittedly estranged, and her boyfriend breaks up with her the night of the funeral. She's ready to escape and take on a new assignment to get out of town, but her boss insists that she takes on Jack's case. Reluctantly, she agrees, but has no idea how to behave and feels out of place with a high profile movie star like Jack.

Lines start to blur as Hannah and Jack pretend to be together in front of his family. Why is there so much tension between Jack and his family? Can Hannah relax and enjoy some down time, or will she need to "escape"?

Thanks to netgalley for an ARC to review!

Hannah Brooks is a bodyguard. When she is tasked with protecting the world’s sexiest man, Josh Stapleton, she also has to go undercover. Josh’s mom is in treatment for cancer, and to avoid adding to her stress, Hannah poses as Josh’s girlfriend so his family will not know he needs protection (from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker).

This book was so great. I loved it. It followed the typical rom-com outline without being predictable or stereotypical. I really felt the character’s feelings and chemistry. Will definitely recommend.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martic’s Press, and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Excuse me while I SWOON! This book was a breath of fresh air, and just what I needed! I legit read it in a day! The absolute perfect, quick, easy, summer read. I loved how Hannah told the story. She was witty and funny. I laughed out loud so many times during this book. I loved the premise of the book… Hannah being a bodyguard protecting a sexy hunk of an actor AND HE FALLS FOR HER!!! Yassss! A wonderful romcom, indeed. I’ve been reading a lot of spicy books lately, and though this one has zero spice, it still gave me all the feels! READ. THIS. NOW. You won’t regret it. Dare I say this may be my favorite book I’ve read so far this year….

Now if I could just find a Jack Stapleton for myself…..

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for giving me the chance to read this for an honest review. And to Katherine Center for writing another phenomenal book!

GRAB YOUR COPY ON JULY 19TH, 2022! Or just go ahead and preorder it now… trust me!

4 stars

E-arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fake dating romance between a famous Hollywood actor who is trying to stay away from limelight and a female bodyguard assigned for his safety? Grumpy x Sunshine? Plus a crazy stalker out to get them? This book served all of the above.

Jack Stapleton (he's been named The Sexiest Man alive, fyi) and Hannah Brooks served me exactly the type of romance I was looking for and I'm so glad I picked this book. It has the right amount of humour, banter, swoon-worthy cheesiness and romance.

Thank you, St. Martin's press for providing me with the e-ARC!

This book was such an enjoyable read/audiobook! It was an easy one day book that was hard to put down. I loved the typical role reversal, which gave me total Miss Congeniality vibes. Jack had so much swagger, but was also such a sweetheart and I felt the angst between him and Hannah. This was a closed door romance, and was a bit emotional with Hannah dealing with grief from losing her mother and just cracking her tough exterior in general, but also had plenty of lighter moments that made me smile and laugh. Overall I thought this was a great read that had me swooning and wanting more!

The Bodyguard is available 7/19 and is a quick, easy summer read!

Thank you @smpromance @macmillanaudio and @netgalley for the gifted ARC & audiobook in exchange for an honest review.