Another great book from Katherine Center! I listened to the audio version of this novel and thoroughly enjoyed it. The novel begins with the death of Hanna's, the main character's, mother, but it isn't a depressing book. Hanna grows and develops throughout the book, and it is good to see her go against stereotypes. There is a slight twist at the end that added to my enjoyment.

(4.5 stars) I loved this book! As a lover of the 1990's movie of the same name this book was right up my alley. I liked the twist of the role reversal with the female character as the Bodyguard. The main characters were interesting, cute, and quirky. The perfect summer romance.

This was my first Katherine Center novel, but it won’t be the last. This was a total feel good romance that made me laugh out loud in some places, and close to tears in others. I devoured this on a recent flight and before I knew it, we were already landing!

Hannah, a bodyguard, gets hired to protect famous movie star Jack Stapleton from the crazy corgi lady while he is home helping his mom recover from surgery. Of course they don’t want to worry his parents so that’s where the fake dating troupe comes in. Jack and Hannah’s banter was just so sweet and funny and his parents are just as amazing!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved this book! The narrator did a great job with all of the voices without being annoying. Her voice was really soothing. The story itself was great. An enemies to lover story featuring a Hollywood big shot and a bodyguard. Both expected and unexpected, this book will pull you in from the beginning, and keep you rooting for them to fall in love.

The Bodyguard has been receiving a lot of pre-publication hype and i can see why! It has great character development, an engaging storyline, and sends a powerful message of determination and resilience. I loved it!

The Bodyguard reinforces my love of Women’s Fiction. Hannah Brook’s character is resilient, motivated and a little quirky. She isn’t what one considers to be your typical brawny bodyguard. What she lacks in physical appearance she more than makes up for in her ability to think and act quickly. Throw in her expertise in martial arts and you’ve got one tough woman.

Hannah hasn’t had the ideal childhood and has recently lost her mother, boyfriend and best friend. After a mandatory month away from the office, her first assignment is initially a little disappointing. It doesn’t send her to an exotic location like she’s used to but instead protecting movie star Jack Stapleton right in her home state of Texas.

It is a little different than her normal assignments however. Jack’s mother has been diagnosed with cancer and he doesn’t want to concern his family with his need for a bodyguard. So to make the situation as relaxed as possible, Hannah must pretend she is Jack’s girlfriend. Before they know it, Hannah and Jack are thrown together living with his parents for several weeks.

The story is action-packed, funny and highly entertaining. The reader cannot help but feel for both Hannah and Jack as their backstories are slowly disclosed. I love that both Hannah and Jack evolve throughout the book, arriving stronger than what they were at the beginning. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I simultaneously read and listened to The Bodyguard. The audiobook was narrated by Patti Murin who provided a great performance. I enjoyed her enthusiasm and crisp tones which provided an easy to listen to experience. I listened to the book at 1.5 x speed which is my normal. I would not hesitate in recommending the audiobook to those that enjoy this format.

4.5 stars

Ugh I just LOVE Katherine Center, I would read her grocery lists!

Jack uber movie star that suddenly dropped out of the spotlight is back home with his family while his mom under goes cancer treatment. There's just one issue Jack has a sweater knitting, corgi breeding, Jack obsessed stalker... Jack does not want to stress his mom further so hires Hannah to be fake girlfriend/security in disguise. Is it all fake or is it becoming more and more real every day!

Jack and Hannah are OTP and just so stinking cute! The family secreats the fake relationship trope, movie star in his home town.... I loved it all. It had me gripped immeadatily. This is a book that I wanted to stay up all night to finish! The characters were fen but also very real, with just a little bit of silliness thrown in!

ITS A 10/10!!!

I have one regret – reading this so close to Nora Goes Off Script. The stories are very similar (woman in forced close proximity to handsome movie star has to try not to fall in love… and fails). However, it was still highly enjoyable and is a great celebrity/non-celebrity romance (with protagonists in their 30s, which I love). While it’s not my favorite Katherine Center book, it’s still a perfectly fun, feel-good story that will leave you smiling (and could easily be adapted into a Netflix romcom which I would totally watch). For fans of While We Were Dating and The Happily Ever After Playlist.

This was so wonderful. Hannah is a great character and I love her relationship with Jack and his family. The narrator did a fantastic job. Highly entertaining book. Thanks to NetGalley for an audiobook

I truly enjoyed this book. It was quick, cute and predictable and everything I want it a rom com book. It had all the tropes I love like fake dating, one bed, quirky side characters but it also dealt with some tough topics including the death of a parent/sibling. I loved how the loved interests came together not really knowing how they would fit together. It was very low angst and low steam with a really good engaging story . Highly enjoyable.

The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•••Spoiler free review below•••

Oh my gosh, this was such a fun read!
I seriously was laughing so much I had to stop listening to it at work!

The Bodyguard takes the classic trope and spins it into a unique, new take. We follow Hannah, resident protective agent who finds herself not only the bodyguard to A-list celebrity, Jack Stapleton, but also his fake girlfriend.

This is a one sitting read that you won't want to put down so be prepared to do nothing but focus on Jack and Hannah for an afternoon.

I highly recommend the audiobook. The narrator was perfect. I want her to read more books to me. Or read a grocery list to me? Or just talk to me? I seriously felt like I was having a conversation with a friend, not just listening to an audiobook!

The Bodyguard will be released July 19th, and if it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
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Special thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for sharing an arc with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was a super cute read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The narration was also great (it’s nice when an audio is just all around good!)

A Delightfully Funny Romance Novel

SUMMARY
Hannah Brooks has been a highly Executive Protection Agent for over eight years. She is only five and a half feet, but with expertise in martial arts, she can drop any guy in an easy second. She has been hired to protect the world-famous actor Jack Stapleton from a middle-aged female stalker. Jack’s mom is sick, so he must go to his family’s Texas ranch to be with her. Since he doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker or his bodyguard, Hannah unwillingly pretends to be his girlfriend. What could go wrong? Will anyone believe the hot heartthrob Jack Stapleton would be with Hannah? Hannah’s ex-boyfriend certainly doesn’t think so and isn't afraid to tell her so.

REVIEW
THE BODYGUARD is a delightful and fun romance novel by Katherine Center. Hannah and her personal insecurities take center stage in this quick read. After the recent loss of her mother and a breakup with her boyfriend, Hannah just wants to get back to work. She loves her job…but is not so sure about this assignment. She feels so unloveable, and having to play the part of the girlfriend to the irresistible Jack Stapleton is emotionally confusing. Are they pretending, or is there something happening here?

Katherine Center keeps us on our toes with clever writing and intriguing characters that will have you flying through the pages. Jack is quite handsome and such a gentleman. He has not let Hollywood go to his head. Who wouldn’t love him? He leaves his clothes on the bathroom floor and has his own set of nightmare-inducing issues after losing his brother years ago. Hannah’s relentless emotional insecurities often drive the plot but contrast interestingly well with her job professionalism. Center also gives us a new appreciation for the benefits of birdhouses!

Center is an NYT bestselling author known as the “queen of comfort reads.” She weaves a tale that keeps us guessing and would be great for a day at the beach or by the pool. Other books by Center include: How to Walk Away (2018), Things You Save in a Fire (2019), and What You Wish For (2020).

Audiobook narrator Patti Murin captures the essence of the story with her voice. She uses subtle changes for each character, and her pacing, tone, and inflection are perfect. Her voice adds humor and warmth to the story and will leave listeners happy.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.


Publisher St Martins Press/Mcmillian Audio
Published July 19.2022
Narrated Patti Murin
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

This Book was a great read! I laughed so much at the dialogue in this book. The characters were a little childish in places, but it kept the serious job of security from bringing down the fun vibe! I would definitely keep going if this was tuned into a series.

I was given the opportunity to listen to this Audiobook before It was released by NetGalley.

Favourite book of 2022 is this book right here. I loved EVERYTHING about it.

Jack Stapleton, a famous actor is in need of some help with an obsessed fan an ends up with Hannah Brooks as his “bodyguard”.

That’s the short synopsis. If I could do a review in 3 words, it would be READ THIS BOOK!

-loved both characters so much
-loved that Hannah was the “fierce” one in this book. Doing all the things that are stereotypical for men.
-loved the perspective it gives of famous people. They are regular people like you and me.
-loved the friendship and spark between the 2.
-LOVED Jacks mom. Seriously she was my fav.

This book had both quirky moments, sad moments, serious moments, funny moments, and was just a very well written book.

Katherine Center always delivers when it comes to romance with real, raw people and usually good dose of humor too. The Bodyguard definitely delivers more of the same. I am a big fan of Patti Murin's narration and she felt just right for these protagonists. This one didn't hold me quite like some of her other books, like How to Walk Away, but it was still a lot of fun and I was rooting for Hannah and Jack from the start. Was it a little cornball and over the top at times? Yes. Is that 'pretty much what I wanted when I started? Again, yes. Pick this up for a day at the beach or in the hammock - it'll go down nice and easy and you won't be disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ALC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I know. I know I say this every time but seriously. This is my favorite Katherine Center book. It’s like a warm hug and little bit of drama all mixed together. And I'm here for all of it. I loved every aspect from the female bodyguard to the movie star snob.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was amazing.

I ADORED this book from beginning to end. The narrator is one of the best I've heard. She kept me engaged the whole time, did a marvelous job differentiating between all the characters without being over the top. Her inflections and pauses and "voice" were top notch. I will listen to anything she puts out, basically.

The story itself was really really sweet, and lovely, like a hug for my brain. The characters were well developed, the way their relationship unfolded was perfectly paced. It wasn't over the top cheesy, but had enough gooey goodness to make me warm inside.

I took off one star bc I thought it was weird that the main character was a world class protector, but then couldn't handle the love interest with his shirt off, or other strangely trivial things that should have been not a huge deal to anyone let alone a trained professional.
Besides that though? Spectacular.

Such a cute story and setting — love love loved the audiobook. This one flew by and had a couple twists that kept me rapt with attention. Loved this sweet book!

The Bodyguard was my first Katherine Center book, and it was a treat! I devoured this book in a day. The audiobook portrayal really felt like Hannah Brooks was sitting next to me telling me her story over a cup of coffee. This book is the perfect summer read

Read The Bodyguard if you love:
-Badass females who can physically take down anyone
-Swoony Hollywood actors who are actually more genuine than they seem
-Authentic representations of grief & PTSD
-Sweet southern parents who see the good in people
-An emotional rollercoaster with laughter, heartache, and a pinch of suspense

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

I usually stay away from romance-type books as they often just recycle the same old tropes in the same old way as every other book that contains those same old tropes. Well, you get the picture.

I was pleasantly surprised by The Bodyguard. While it did use the "pretend dating" trope, it was presented in a way that felt 'real' and there were enough twists and turns to keep the reader's attention, especially the unexpected reveal near the end of the book.

If you are 'meh' about romances, take this book out for lunch and a coffee. If you love romances, get a ring because you will want to marry this book.