Title: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

Genres: contemporary , romance

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (Jul. 19th, 2022)

Summary

She’s got his back. 
Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka “bodyguard”), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.

He’s got her heart. 
Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.

They’ve got a secret. 
When Jack’s mom gets sick, he comes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, like a jerk, says no one will believe it.

What could possibly go wrong???
Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.

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Going into this book, I really didn’t have much knowledge of what it was about. A family friend recommended I read this book, and let me tell you, I’m so glad she did! The Bodyguard has all the ingredients necessary for the perfect rom-com!

This book was so good! On the surface, The Bodyguard is a cute and lighthearted read. Once you start reading, you realize it is so much more than just that. It is about growing through grief, learning your self-worth, finding joy, and embracing the unexpected. There were moments I literally laughed out loud while reading this one. There were also moments I found myself tearing up.

I loved Jack and Hannah. Their chemistry was just *chef’s kiss*. The banter was perfect. The kisses were just the right amount of swoon without the spice. This is a closed door romance and everything about this one was my preferred amount of spice so that was perfect.

I read half of the book physically and half on audio. The narrator was perfect for the audiobook and she really helped bring the story to life. I just really enjoyed this one and both formats were an equally enjoyable experience.

I will add, there are a few triggers you might want to look into regarding grief, death, and cancer, but even though these books contain some heavy topics this book never feels “heavy.” Also, it is worth noting that this book does have an HEA despite all that.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Bodyguard. It was a quick and enjoyable read filled with so much heart. If you like Hallmark movies but are looking for more depth, I would definitely recommend this one!

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