Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center Narrator: Patti Murin
Published by MacMillan Audio, St. Martin's Press on July 19, 2022
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Life Fiction
Pages: 320
Length: 9 hours, 44 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
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She’s got his back.
Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindgerten 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.
The Bodyguard is only the third book I have read by Katherine Center but I have been trying to get to more of her backlist. I had so much fun with Hannah and Jack. Hannah is a consumate and talented professional. Personally, she’s a mess. It’s not the same old story of a career woman not devoting enough time to her personal life but that does play into her situation.
Jack is a nice guy who has stepped back since his brother’s death a few years ago. He’s estranged from his other brother. Yet, he’s the sexiest man alive and the fans and filmmakers want him back. When he comes to Houston, the studios make sure he has protection because there have been a few threats.
Hannah is in charge of his protection team and when his parents want him to live at the ranch, then Hannah as his bodyguard needs to be there too. So begins my favorite trope of fake relationship.  It gives them plenty of time to get to know each other and spend time together.
I was really emotionally attached to this story. I was there with all Hannah’s feels. I was mad; I laughed; I shed a few tears.  While the movie star part was a bit over the top, Jack is a regular guy. So everything seems realistic.  I loved it and recommend it highly.
Narration:
I’ve listened to Patti Murin previously and enjoyed her performance. I felt she completely hit the emotional tones for Hannah perfectly. All the voices, male or female, were comfortable. I listened at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:Â HERE
About Katherine Center
Katherine Center is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away, the upcoming Things You Save in a Fire (August 2019), and five other bittersweet comic novels. Six Foot Pictures is currently adapting her fourth novel, The Lost Husband, into a feature film starring Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, and Nora Dunn. Katherine has been compared to both Nora Ephron and Jane Austen, and the Dallas Morning News calls her stories, “satisfying in the most soul-nourishing way.” Katherine recently gave a TEDx talk on how stories teach us empathy, and her work has appeared in USA Today, InStyle, Redbook, People, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, Real Simple, Southern Living, and InTouch, among others. Katherine lives in her hometown of Houston, Texas, with her fun husband, two sweet kids, and fluffy-but-fierce dog.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
I really enjoyed this book as well and it’s my favourite book from this author. Thanks for sharing your lovely review.
Thank you Jodie! I always enjoy reading her books and plan to get to more of her backlist.
Love that you were emotionally attached to this story💜 I’m also trying to listen to more of her backlist and am looking forward to getting this one.
Thanks Jonetta. She leans into the life fiction which I can find better than contemporary romance because there is more character development and it feels more realistic.
I’m excited to read this one. 🙂
I hope you love it!
I really enjoyed this too. I was worried about the movie star angle, but Jack was such a good guy.
Yes, exactly! I don’t like billionaires, movie stars, etc because i can take everything over-the-top and feel unrealistic but that didn’t happen here.
I want a bodyguard…lol.
But I agree. I do really like the fake romance trope
The Bodyguard here was the female. I would appreciate a protector but an actual bodyguard might be a bit stifling.
Sounds like you found a gem. Great review, Ann.
It’s certainly my favorite trope.
Oh it looks quite well done! I didn’t know about this one!
I hope you get a chance to try it or any of this author’s books.
OH! I love fake relationship books and this one sounds awesome. I’m not familiar with the author at all. Thanks for bringing this to my attention!
Oh Jen, I love this author and recommend any of her books. Life fiction which is realistic. Fake relationship is my favorite although the reasons for them are always utterly stupid, usually. lol
I loved this one, too! Katherine Center’s last few books have been sooo good. Wonderful review, Anne!
Thank you Rachel. I really do want to read more of her backlist but my list is so long of things I want to read.
I cannot wait to start reading this! The characters sound awesome.
It’s a fun read. I hope you love it too.
I’m hoping to start this book in the next few days so I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it. I usually have really good luck with her books.
I hope you love it too. Fake relationship is a favorite of mine.
I really liked this one too! I can’t decide about the author’s past books, because they look more women’s fiction than romance. Great review!
In my mind, Katherine Center and Jill Shalvis and Christina Lauren all share this sort of genre (and I’m sure others) where it is a contemporary romance but the realistic characters and issues make it also women’s fiction, which I call Life fiction. I think Susan Wiggs also. I’ve read some of her other works and also loved them.