The Bodyguard by Katherine Center: Book Review

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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!

From The Publisher:

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.

My Thoughts:

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.

What I Liked:

• The level of character development
• The action to humour balance in the book
• The personal growth experienced by each of the protagonists

Acknowledgments:

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC of the ebook and audiobook in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Similar Books I’ve Reviewed:

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand

The Homewreckers by Mary Kay Andrews