The Bodyguard
Katherine Center
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication date: July 19, 2022
Genre: Romance
Rating:
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.
This is a super cute romance. Usually the bodyguard is a male, but in this story, Hannah is the bodyguard to an a-list celebrity. Not only that, but she has to pretend to be his girlfriend in order to remain close to him while at his parent’s ranch. With his mother being sick, he doesn’t want to upset her by informing her that he has a stalker situation, so instead he decides to cover up Hannah’s presence by claiming her as his girlfriend. I mean, what could go wrong?
I really enjoyed the progress that Hannah goes through during this story. She just lost her mother at the beginning of the book. Has never felt safe and loved. Puts herself wholly into her job, and was recently dumper by her boyfriend. So it’s safe to say that she’s having a rough go of it at the beginning and that her self-esteem is a little shot. However, as the story progresses, you see her start to open up more. A lot had to do with Jack and his parents who just seemed to accept her, and welcome her into their family.
Not only was the growth great, but the romance was too stinking cute. Hannah thought it was all acting but the things Jack did when no one was around, like running up to her when he can’t find her at the ranch and got worried, or just always subtly looking out for her had me swooning all over the place. Their romance was so slow and adorable that it was hard not to smile at the book while I was reading.
If you’re looking for a swoon worth romance involving an actor and his bodyguard, then definitely pick this up. This might have been one of my favorite fake dating scenarios due to it adding in the celebrity aspect.
I have heard the BEST things about this one. I am so happy that it worked so well for you. I do love the actor and bodyguard dynamic.
Great review!
I’ll be sure to pick up this one, Kristin! It sounds like a fun romance and I like that it’s the female that’s the bodyguard in this one. And then, there’s emotional growth! That’s the cherry on top for me. 🙂 Great review!
Sounds like she had a rough start. Makes me feel for her. This sounds good though.