A delightful rom com that we all need in our lives. It is a creative twist to the fake girlfriend genre. In this case, messy and small, yet stronger than she looks, Hannah who just lost her mother and was dumped by her boyfriend after the funeral is assigned as a bodyguard (Executive Protection Agent) to a larger than life Hollywood hunk. Since he doesn't want his family to worry, she ends us fulfilling her job in the role of "fake girlfriend." This book is fun and a quick read. I laughed out loud at several points and devoured it in two days. Either place this in the category of summer reads or put it between heavier books because it will delight you and make you feel good.
Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an absolute delight - funny and terrific dialogue and just plain fun summer reading. This one already snagged a spot on my 2023 Summer Reading Guide.

3.5 stars.
Hannah Brooks is a bodyguard, or as her company prefers it, Executive Protection Agent. After a bad breakup, she’s setup on her newest and most out of the ordinary assignment. To protect a famous Hollywood actor. What can go wrong? How about pretending to be his girlfriend to stay close to him for protection in a remote location. Dealing with his sweet parents and not so sweet brother. And a crazy stalker and also Hollywood girlfriend of his. How fun! Not Hannah’s cup of tea, but she’s forced into it if she wants her dream promotion. And from here our FMC and MMC develop.

This book had all the sweetness of a southern romance and I did enjoy reading it. But it didn’t wow me as much as Center’s book I’ve read in the past. I enjoyed the romance and the premise of the female bodyguard, male celebrity and fake dating. But I felt like the character development and backstories were lacking in a lot of depth they could have used. In the end I can really only give this one 3.5 stars (Goodreads of course only lets me do three) I got a tad bored about midway through which kind of broke my heart a bit because I wanted to love this book so much more than I did. Center’s books are a bit on the sweeter side, there’s no spice in this one but that’s ok. I will say she can describe the feelings of a kiss quite well to give you lots of butterflies. And I’ll for sure still be reading her other books.

This book was outstanding. Katherine Center has done it again, but even better than ever. The story was exciting and fun. Hannah was lovable and a character that just help your interest. There was enough back story to add mystery and mystique, but it wasn’t distracting. The ending was a bit predictable but I didn’t mind. There was a quick turn in events that made me sad, but it quickly wrapped up as it should after that. Great book! I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC from netgalley.com in trade for my honest review.

Katherine Center’s stories. stay with me long after I have finished the last page. I laughed out loud, cheered for Hannah and Jackson, felt their sorrows, and fell in love with a ranch (a horse and a scene involving and a herd of cows too).

Hannah Brooks is an executive protection agent assigned to protect movie star Jack Stapleton. There is chemistry from the start when Jack meets his pint-sized protector and challenges her to prove her skills - the story takes off from there! While the story reminds me of the old black and white classic romantic comedies the story is deeper with the characters having past traumas that (consciously or unconsciously) impact their perceptions of themselves and relationships with others.

With a strong cast of supporting characters, a tough yet vulnerable executive protection agent, and a sensitive and swoon worthy superstar, I think new readers as well as those that have read Katherine Center’s previous books will add this as yet another favorite.in their libraries.

This was an ok rom com for me. It started out very boring and overly descriptive and I did not like the writing style but about halfway through I started to enjoy it more even though it was still corny and run of the mill. It was a cute read and I'd probably recommend it to someone who doesn't like more spice or a slow burn.

This has to be by far one of my favorites from Katherine Center! If you like fake dating, one bed, funny banter back and forth and role reversal you will enjoy this book. Hannah’s job is to be a bodyguard to the famous hunky movie star, Jack Stapleton, but in order to protect him she has to fake a relationship with him. This results in some teasing banter between the two. Such an enjoyable feel good read and perfect for a beach read!

This is my first book by this author and it was delightful. This is book is everything a romcom should be. The banter and chemistry between the main characters is top notch. The refreshing role reversal is fun and the fake relationship trope is always a winner. Honestly though it could have ended at 85%.

I definitely see this being a fun movie.

Stop right now and make a plan to read The Bodyguard by Katherine Center this summer! Preorder a copy. Put it on hold at the library. Ask for it for your summer birthday! 😘 I loved it! A heartwarming romance with a perfect balance of characters with humor and wit and a storyline that makes you want to keep reading “just one more chapter” every time you pick it up. It’s a good thing I read it on vacation or I would have gotten nothing done at home 😜

4.5 rounded up!

This may have been one of my favorite Katherine Center books. I’ve read a few of them and loved most, but this could be up there for me. Perhaps it was the timing of when I read it, but I was very drawn into the story needing to know how it would end.

But I will say, I knew how it would end. If you’ve read any book by Center, she follows a very similar formula. Like her other books, this is no different. I mean, reading the synopsis or even looking at the cover you know what’s coming! But still, I read it, and loved it.

I think the reason I loved this one so much was because of the emotional depth it provided. Maybe I’m such a sap for love now, but there was so much to these characters that made you root for them. Not only were Jack and Hannah great main characters, I found the supporting cast purposeful too. They didn’t act like side characters to fill the void. They helped develop Hannah and Jack in ways I felt like Center hasn’t done in previous books.

Let’s also be reminded of the gender roles. A badass female bodyguard?? Yes please.

Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC and ALC! You can get your copy July 19.

Content warnings: stalking, death, cancer, panic attacks, car accident, gun violence

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Genre: Romance
Release Date: July 19, 2022

Katherine Center is officially on my list of comfort read authors! Her writing is so conversational and hilarious, it makes you feel like you’re right there in the story along the other characters!

I love how real and raw Katherine Center’s books are. Ok, so maybe a 5’ 5” female bodyguard falling in love with a super star, Hollywood actor while protecting him against a crazy, corgi loving stalker isn’t the most realistic scenario, but we’re truly let into the everyday lives of these lovable characters! We see their flaws and their struggles as well as their triumphs and happily ever afters!

I’m usually not a huge fan of the fake dating trope because it’s usually super unrealistic. (I know, I know believe me!) But I think it actually really worked well in this story, I could understand the reasoning behind it. Plus, it made for some super adorable moments!!

I can’t wait to get my hands on a physical copy this July!!!

✨READ IF YOU LIKE✨
-fake dating
-forced proximity
-bad-booty bodyguards who could kill you with a corkscrew
-sweaters with scarily accurate celebrity faces knitted on the front
-lol rom-coms with a dash of suspense

“If I have to stab you in the eye with a dinner fork, I’ve already failed. And I don’t fail.”

Katherine Center is wonderful. No one needs my review to remind them of that. This novel has a bit of a tone shift from the other novels of hers that I’ve read, and not in a way that I necessarily liked, although this was still a solid read. On top of some criticisms I’ll discuss here, this book also reads as though it was being pitched to Netflix as their next quirky rom-com rather than the deep, touching explorations we’ve seen in the past from Katherine Center. Center is a self described writer of “bittersweet comedies about getting back up” and I guess The Bodyguard falls under that theme, but while in previous books she’s tackled things like death of a spouse, learning to live with a disability, or sexual harrasment and starting over, this book is about *checks notes* a heroine with low self-esteem because no one ever picked her.

This book introduces us to Hannah Brooks, apparently a smart, capable bodyguard, right as she loses her mother, and then her boyfriend immediately breaks up with her. Because she’s a workaholic who uses her career as a coping mechanism, she’s as much upset about being on forced leave as she is about the death of her mom and breakup from her boyfriend. When the agency she works for takes on a local Hollywood star’s protection detail, it gives her the opportunity to come off leave and dive back into work.

So while I’ve enjoyed Center’s previous stories of women starting over, here we get a heroine who very much embodies a “pick me” type, who “isn’t like other girls” and won’t dress up, leans into a male-dominated field, and tears down women that the Hollywood lead dated as being “Barbie dolls” and saying things like, “one of them had so much cosmetic surgery, I couldn’t help but wonder if her mother missed her face.” Note to all authors everywhere: there’s no one right way to be a woman! We don’t have to tear other women down to make us like our female leads more! Then the hero, in a bid to make our heroine understand why he loves her and not these “Barbie” types he’s dated in the past, says he loves her because “you’re a real person” and then compares her to restored toy dolls saying “those women from my past - they’re the ‘befores.’ And you…you’re my ‘after.” As though it’s incredibly romantic to be compared to dolls!!? Or that it’s ok that our ML treats women differently based on their outward appearance and that the other women weren’t “real”? What?

Also, since I’m being nitpicky - Hannah is kinda bad at her job? I don’t know if it’s just because she’s dealing with her life falling apart, but she does wild things like wearing inappropriate shoes and having to be carried by the lead (while on duty), wading into a river and having to be rescued by the lead (while on duty), and recklessly charging into an extremely dangerous situation. I wish Hannah hadn’t been damsel-ed quite so often. I just feel like I would have liked her so much better if we got to SEE the badass, capable woman she’s being described as, rather than being shown the hot mess who sucks at her job and tears down other women because of her own insecurities.

I dunno man. I know this is a story about a woman who was never picked finally getting picked by the gorgeous movie star (in a TRULY cringeworthy, literal way that’s supposed to be grand gesture-ish), but honestly I feel like both of the leads here would benefit from some long-term therapy before they decide that the other one is going to save them. It’s probably unfortunate that I read this novel almost back-to-back after “Funny You Should Ask” by Elissa Sussman because a lot of these themes were dealt with SO MUCH better there.

In conclusion, Katherine Center is still obviously incredible, but I was not here for this story.

This book was just adorable. I raced through it because I was so engrossed from the get go. So glad I quit a not as interesting to me book to start this one.

I enjoyed how it was told first person but from the future looking back on the events. Hannah's tendency to breaking the 4th wall with her snarky observations and inner turmoil and all her quippy notes to self made the story so fun.

I loved the fake relationship trope AND the celebrity / regular person trope. I hope this gets optioned as a movie because there are so many outdoorsy scenes at the ranch that would translate well to the screen.

My only nitpicky issue is with the cover's depiction of Jake. He looks like some sort of Regency guy in a suit and cravat instead of rhe jeans and a flannel or t-shirt he wears all throughout the book.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!
I’m really surprised to only be giving this a 3.5 stars.  It started out so strong, but the ending took a weird turn, and I think I needed more development of the romance.
In this book, we follow Hannah who works for a protection service agency... basically... she’s a bodyguard.  She’s used to protecting rich executives and the like, but now she’s been tasked with protecting one of Hollywood's sexiest movie stars, Jack Stapleton.  He's returned home to Texas to visit with his mother who was recently diagnosed with cancer.  Turns out he and his brother Hank have some beef concerning the death of their little brother Drew.  In order to protect his family, Jack and Hannah decide to engage in a fake dating situation so they won't know he's under protection services.
I liked all of the family aspects of this and the way it was all hashed out.  But I still needed more development of the romance itself.  Hannah mentions all the time how ordinary she is compared to Jack's Hollywood girlfriends, and it would've been nice to know why he's into her.
Maybe we would have benefitted from seeing his perspective, but I actually really liked the unique narration voice of the main character.  It's written in her first-person account, and she directly references the reader throughout which really added to this story.
This does have amazing banter in it between the two main characters.  This is written perfectly to be made into a romcom.  It felt like I was reading a movie screenplay (in a good way), and I think it would adapt to the screen beautifully.
The last bit took a strangely serious turn at the end, and I just don't know if I needed that for this book.  And the conclusion afterward was cheesy and went on for too long.
Ultimately, this was fun, but not a favorite.  There were a couple of kissing scenes, but nothing too steamy, if that's something you're into.  Also, while the cover is cute, I don't feel like it's an accurate depiction of what you're going to get in this book!  It makes it look like she's a country music star and he's the bodyguard.  Which is a story I maybe would've liked better, to be honest.

The Bodyguard is an absolute delight! I cannot count how many times I actually laughed out loud at the witty banter between characters. And, I won’t lie, I also shed a few tears. I loved that the “bodyguard” in Katerine Center’s new novel is a female. Hannah is five foot five and a force. She grew up with complicated family dynamics and is a workaholic, getting her endorphins from saving clients in the most extreme situations. Reeling from being dumped and her mother’s recent death, she’s assigned to a new client. Movie-star A list actor Jack Stapleton. This job proves to be like no other Hannah has ever experienced and before she knows it, she’s immersed into Jack’s life, family and childhood home. I absolutely adored how well heavy topics were weaved into this seemingly light and airy plot. The Bodyguard is this summer’s rom-com novel that should be at the top of everyone's TBR pile.

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a must read! I love a light hearted romance that isn’t just fluff and stuff. This story was laugh out loud funny. This would make a great beach read.

What a fun read! I admit, I’m not one for romance books but this romcom was super great and was really funny! I recommend it to romance lovers and people who just want a good laugh!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Oh I loved this book!!! It was so cute and sweet and the chemistry between the leads was the best. There is zero steam and there are no passages where the character loses their train of thought because they’re so horny. I just thought it was the cutest, sweetest, most adorable thing. Also it shocked me at one point?! How did a contemporary romance do that to me?! Geez.

My only criticism is how harsh the minor characters are. They are brutal and it felt to me like Hollywood high school cheerleader level of petty. I wished they would’ve had just a tiny bit more of a filter.

Adorable book! Totally different than i thought which was wonderful. I of course thought the bodyguard would be the male and it was refreshing to have to bodyguard be a female. Loved this idea of how the bodyguard was to blend in and be invisible. Loved that it wasn't about them being a famous star and being protected during a movie premiere or vacation. The family aspect kept you coming back and wanting to know more about the family dynamic. I have recommended this book to friends and on my instagram, wonderful refreshing plot.

I co-read this book by also listening to the audiobook. Overall, it was really enjoyable! Both main characters were unique and had their own voice, and while Hannah was a liiiitle too Not Like The Other Girls for my taste, the story was still largely enjoyable. Robbie and Kennedy were a little too much like comic book villains, but I think the portrayal of all the other side characters was lovely. About 70% of the way through the book, I almost stopped reading, feeling like nothing was really happening in the book. pushed on, and the last 30% more than made up for the lack of actions in the middle. A solid 3.5 star read, great for your readers who are looking for something a little lighter, a good summer romance, or a great beach read.