Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

No chemistry between Natalie and Taylor which doesn’t really make for an enjoyable read. Their characters seemed very surface level and we didn’t really get to know them.
A lot of it felt very forced and rushed.

Sadly, not for me, but if you’re looking for something light to read, this may be for you.

Thanks to @netgalley and Montlake publishing for the chance to review the ARC of Cover Story by Rachel Lacey. Natalie, a Hollywood starlet, was stalked eight years ago, and the paparazzi made her life hell. When her stalker was about to be released from jail, Natalie agreed to extra security... but with the cover that they were dating. Taylor is a badass security guard who had been out of work for a few months. Posing as a beautful actresses' girlfriend sounded like an easy assignment after coming back from an injury. But it was all for show, right?

This sapphic romance was cute and spicy.

Sapphic celebrity and bodyguard fake dating romance!

Natalie is a successful Hollywood actor with a glamourous lifestyle. But she also struggles with PTSD following an extreme issue with a stalker years before. Meanwhile Taylor is trying to get back to life as a bodyguard following injury... she's just not quite as far down the road to recovery as everyone else thinks. To help ease her security fears, while giving positive publicity, Natalie hires Taylor to be her fake-girlfriend bodyguard.

Ok so we have a fair few tropes going on here: celebrity, bodyguard, fake dating, forced proximity. But for me this book goes far beyond those tick boxes. It's all the little moments that make this book so magical. The times that Natalie lets her guard down, particularly when she's accidentally honest, are so sweet.

Natalie's PTSD and anxiety play a big part in her life and therefore this story, but I thought these were handled really well. And I was so impressed with how the stalker plotline was handled too.

The sexual tension in this book is off-the-charts. It builds and builds and builds for so long. And the pay off is absolutely worth it. Super spicy, and very fitting to the characters.

And shout out to the side characters with their adorable contributions: Taylor's parents, Natalie's colleagues, and (of course) the pets!

Honestly, I feel like I can't do this book enough justice. I was grinning throughout reading, and can't help but smile now every time that I think about it. Highly recommend to any contemporary romance fans.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free review copy. All thoughts are my own.

Natalie Keane, a Hollywood A-Lister, is in need of extra protection after the release of a previous stalker. However, the details surrounding her beefed up security need to be kept to a minimum to not draw attention around the release of said stalker. Enter Taylor Vaughn. Taylor is in need of an assignment after an injury has kept her out of work for the last three months and quickly agrees to the assignment. While it is unconventional to pose as a fake girlfriend, it makes the perfect cover story for Natalie.

I adored this book! I did not read the previous book, Stars Collide, but I don't think that is necessary to enjoy this one. I enjoyed how Lacey explored the hardships of being a celebrity and how scary it can be, especially as a woman. I loved how character driven this story was, exploring trauma, anxiety, and the feeling of loneliness. The romance was slow-burn but I enjoyed watching Natalie learn to trust when she had been so unwilling before.

The only reason I knocked off a star is because I wanted more! I thought certain plotlines would be explored more, but overall I am very happy to have read this book. It has made me want to pick up Lacey's work.

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love Rachel Lacey’s work and the minute I saw an ARC for this on Netgalley, I knew I needed to have it!

The unexpected follow on from Stars Collide, Taylor is no longer Eden Sands bodyguard and is now looking for new work and finds herself interviewing for Natalie Keane, a famous Hollywood actress attempting to hide from a previous stalker. They plan to fool the press and pretend to be girlfriends to distract everyone from the fact Natalie’s stalker is being released from prison.
Along the way, the relationship dynamic changes and we see Taylor and Nat go from client and bodyguard to friends and finally to a hint of something more. Watching the natural progression of their relationship and how they change each other and support one another was really lovely to read and it felt so real and you felt Nat’s frustration and Taylor’s empathy.
The spicy scenes for this book are also something wonderful and Rachel really has a way of drawing you in and hooking you.
Honestly I really enjoyed it and have already recommended it to multiple people. It has a lot of appeal with both characters and story and once I got into it, it was hard to put it away.

Thanks to Rachel Lacey and NetGally for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As an unapologetic Rachel Lacey fangirl. I've been looking forward to this book for months! Once again, Lacey wrote an absolutely hit!

Hollywood It Girl Natalie Keane needs a female bodyguard/stand in girlfriend. After living through a horrifying kidnapping, Natalie is horrified to find out her kidnapper is up for parole. Already taking her security extremely seriously, she needs protection in plain sight. Enter Taylor. Taylor can be her guard at public events, etc while posing as her girlfriend to not draw attention. But working so close together causes both to fall in love.

Is it a tale as old as time? Yes. Is it also still absolutely worth a read? Also yes! Cover Story was one of the best books of last year hands down, so I knew going back into this world would be a treat! This one is a bit deeper than Cover Story, meaning Cover Story was a love story/later in life sexual awakening, this one delves into themes of kidnapping, PTSD, trauma, etc
It's not a bad difference, just a marked difference in the story themes. Natalie's fears and trauma were handled so well, and it really gave an eye opening look to those who maybe haven't dealt with some of the same things in real life. Taylor was as absolutely wonderful partner with her love and support, while at the same time giving Natalie the time and space she needed without question. Because Rachel is one if the reigning queens of sapphic spice, there was plenty of it! But as always. It enhanced the story and isn't just thrown in for shock value. The consent element is am added bonus I always love to see! If you love sapphic romance as much as I do, do yourself a favor and pre-order this one NOW!

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Rachel Lacey, Montlake, and NetGalley. 💕

I wanted to kick 2024 off with a bang and figured what better way to do that than with a Rachel Lacey book, and I was absolutely correct. This celebrity/bodyguard romance was exactly what I was looking for. From the attraction to the vulnerability to the suspense, I could not put it down. Don’t miss out on this incredible book’s release March 26th. Fingers crossed for Noelle’s story in the future.

Rachel Lacey, author of Stars Collide, serves up a steamy tale of Hollywood fame and subterfuge about a glamorous actress and the sexy bodyguard posing as her girlfriend.

I don't read a lot of romance, but I couldn't resist the promise of this one. It was really well done and I enjoyed it a lot.

When an actress with loss and a traumatic experience in her past needs yet another bodyguard, it’s deter
Ones that it should be a woman they can present to the public as her new girlfriend so as not to present her as too vulnerable to her fans. The characters are realistic in that they each have experiences, vulnerabilities, and desires that sometimes work in direct opposition of each other (as do most of us in the real world!). The story is fun and touching and includes a real unearthing of their lives and traumas, as well as how they were able to acknowledge that they needed counseling support. I liked that the book talks about supporting mental health as a normal, healthy process, something that a reader might need to hear. Fun book. Spicy but not gratuitous!!
I was lucky to have been provided an ARC from the author.

This was a super cute and fun read! If you liked the vibes of the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, this book will be for you.

I love romances with movie star MCs and Natalie having a background of being kidnapped was a nice twist to the plot. All the other characters were super likable. I adored Ali (and was definitely rooting for her and Tommy!) and Taylor’s parents were so sweet. I also thought the animal characters were written well. I felt like they added a lot to the story instead of just being filler details and I enjoyed reading about Cassie’s antics.

I did feel like there was a lot of repeated information that sometimes interrupter the flow of my reading. I also was shocked the characters were so old. This read a little YA to me, or at least 20-30s, not almost 40. Overall a solid feel good romance to add to your tbr!

This is another amazing book by Rachel Lacey! I have loved so many of her books, and this one is amazing too! I was so happy to see that Taylor, the bodyguard character from 'Stars Collide' was getting her own book! I couldn't wait to read this one.

Natalie is an actress who has dealt with a stalker and some trauma in her past. She feels unsafe in her home, and she wants to get another bodyguard. She doesn't want to seem too obvious about it, so she comes up with a plan- find a bodyguard who can pose as her girlfriend. Enter Taylor. Taylor is an Army veteran and a celebrity bodyguard, but she is recovering from a back surgery and injury. This seems like a great opportunity to get back into being a bodyguard again.

Natalie seems closed off, but Taylor gets her to open up. Over time, Natalie's walls start to come down, and Taylor and Natalie develop real feelings for each other. Fake dating might be turning in to something real.

This romance had so many tropes that I love: forced proximity, slow burn, fake dating, and steamy sapphic romance.

Natalie and Taylor stole my heart, and I loved this story so much!

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for an ARC of this amazing story.

I would like to express my gratitude to Rachel Lacey for allowing me to read an ARC of Cover Story from NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful sapphic romance with a dash of suspense and would highly recommend it!

Taylor Vaughn, who made her first appearance as a bodyguard to the stars in Rachel Lacey’s wonderful 2023 novel, Stars Collide, was my favorite supporting character in that book. I was ecstatic when I learned that she would be one of the main protagonists in Cover Story.

I was not disappointed.

Sparks fly between Taylor and the gorgeous Natalie Keane when the A-list actress hires Taylor to publicly appear as her girlfriend, but secretly be her protector, when the man who stalked her eight years before is released from prison. The story lacks predictable angst - which is great! Lacey utilizes suspense, Natalie’s trauma and love of astronomy, Taylor’s possibly career-ending injury, and their fears, off-the-charts chemistry, and feelings, to drive the narrative in a way that really works.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but I couldn’t stop reading and highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a sapphic romance where you get invested in both main characters as they realize their feelings and help heal each other.

There are also two sweet dogs and an adorable kitten in the mix.

I rate Cover Story five out of five stars and already have the audiobook pre-ordered!

Taylor takes a job as a bodyguard for A Lister Natalie Keane but Natalie wants to keep her security detail quiet, so Taylor will pose as her girlfriend for the duration of the assignment. As they get to know each other they both start losing track of what's real and what's fake.
This was a fun follow up to Stars Collide where we first meet Taylor. I'm absucker for the celeb and fauxmance tropes so this was right up my alley and it didn't disappoint. The romance here is a bit of a slow burn and I liked the lead up. Natalie's back story was interesting and added a little something to the plot. I'd have liked to see a bit more of Taylor's parents and maybe some more details on Natalie's childhood, the bits that are there are great and I felt like they amped up the progress on the relationship. I spotted a potential seed for a third book to follow and I really hope I'm right as I'd like to see this continue. Overall it was a fun book and if you like slow burns, fauxmances or the celeb trope you'll enjoy this one.

I love a good superstar actor or singer and bodyguard or assistant story. Here we have l actress Natalie Keane facing the issue of a convicted stalker who is about to be released from prison at a crucial time in her career. She decides to go with a fake relationship situation with a bodyguard posing as her gf. Cue Taylor Vaughn, previous security for star Eden Sands (from “Stars Collide”) who needs to get back into the field since her back injury took her out. I enjoyed their awkward meeting and faking it scenes which eventually give way to the long awaited chemistry-can’t-be-denied romance. What I really liked about this story is the different take on the lack of privacy that comes with being a star in the public eye and what happens if that goes sideways with a stalker.

Spoiler: The stalker doesn’t have to make another appearance to be a threat to your sense of security and peace. The PTSD that can result doesn’t even need an ongoing threat because the guy is released from prison. The PTSD is simply there, like any other traumatic experience, and it is part of who you are and your life going forward. Luckily, we have the acknowledgement that this is a real thing, it needn’t depend on never ending drama and threats, and you should never be afraid to lean on the support and love of those who care about you.

4.5 ⭐Kittens !! I can’t resist a book when there are kittens involved in books ! Okay I will calm down now because of course, there are a lot of other good things in this book.
Taylor is THE knight in a shining armor : thoughtful, understanding, steady, strong, protective. She is almost a living sapphic fantasy bodyguard in the book. I know there are one or two scenes that will make hearts swoons out there.
Nathalie has a lot of trauma, she lives in an almost reclusive way. It was painful to see her suffer and at the same time so sweet to see Taylor be there for her, reading her despite her best efforts to hide her feelings. I wonder almost until last minute how she would make peace with her demons.The intimacy slowly building between them felt right and delicate. To me, the physical chemistry wasn’t as strong as it was between the characters in Star collide, but the love scenes, especially the first one, were more intimate with honesty, vulnerability. Sure, I love burning hot scenes, but realistic scenes with characters that communicate about what they like or not is sexy too.
Lacey writes easy to read books that make you feel invested with the characters and this one is no exception.
I very stongly hope for a second chance novel focused on Noelle now...

I love the bodyguard/celebrity trope in sapphic romance, and I have to say that Cover Story is my favorite one so far! If you enjoyed Stars Collide, then you will definitely enjoy this book as well. The character is related to Eden Sands from Stars Collide, but it can be read on its own as a standalone novel. Cover Story is a low-angsty romance with lots of humor and it makes me feel heartwarming while reading it! I only wish we would have Noelle's own story, too!

One of my absolute favourite ARCS ( thanks @rachelslacey and @netgalley ) I was in LOVE with this story. Not only does it have dogs in it - a requirement in life I think - but STARS OF ALL VARIETY. I loved that Taylor got her own story and I really enjoyed the take on the Celeb trope which sometimes can be overdone. This was a genuinely lovely story and now i obviously want a cute kitten too. Little bit of a mystery vibe which I was absolutely here for , and I was absolutely enthralled with this story. Can’t wait for everyone to read it so I can discuss!

I read an arc of this book and I do wish it had come with a trigger warning. Waiting for the reveal and filling in all the gaps of what could have happened to one of our fmcs was a little rough for me. The conversation at the beginning of the book felt a little off but the characters were super awkward at that point so maybe it was on purpose. It did seem to go from I’m not sure what I’m feeling to moving in together pretty quick but who doesn’t love a good infatuation?! Even with the couple of bumps I saw, I’m looking forward to more from this author!

Cover Story by Rachel Lacey was a delightful sapphic romance. I loved the bodyguard and fake dating tropes that Lacey employed. I also loved the supportive parents the explanation of why she chose to write the ending the way she did.

I really enjoyed Stars Collide so I was excited to read this spin off about Eden’s bodyguard, but it wasn’t as good as Stars Collide. A lot of it felt forced or rushed. It’s fine if you’re looking for something light and quick, but not as good as the previous book.