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colleens_conclusions's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the plot of the story. I thought it was unique how there was a girl body guard and she didn’t let anybody tell her she wasn’t good enough just because she was a girl, etc. I liked the idea of the forbidden romance going on, and how Kat’s niece had a good head on her shoulders about one of the plots that happened later on in the book. Don’t want to say what because that would be a spoiler.
Up Close and Personal started off strong once I managed to forget the fact that it was a PDF book originally when I read it, but it did seem to get slower later on in the book and I wasn’t as into it as I originally was.
This was a three star rating which means I still liked it. A three star rating isn’t bad.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
Up Close and Personal started off strong once I managed to forget the fact that it was a PDF book originally when I read it, but it did seem to get slower later on in the book and I wasn’t as into it as I originally was.
This was a three star rating which means I still liked it. A three star rating isn’t bad.
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Not that I would ever fancy being a bodyguard but if it got me near to some of my favourite film stars, I would be very tempted to swap jobs lol. Kat has never fallen for any of her clients until she meets the irresistible Zac Edwards and I for one couldn’t blame her. Having a stalker there is a certain vulnerability to Zac but even then you can tell that fame hasn’t turned him into someone full of self importance.
Whilst in the main this is a romance story, the stalker side of things did make for some compelling reading. Zac and Kat are adorable and I felt sorry for Kat who does her best not to fall for Zac yet as a reader you are urging her to forget protocol and just go for it! I liked the back story to both main characters as it kept it even more interesting. I really like Debs also who is Kat’s niece although she certainly doesn’t make things easy for her aunt.
Up Close and Personal was a lot of fun. More so as the tables are turned with the woman playing the stronger role in terms of protection. Not that Zac is in anyway a weak character but there are so many books with women playing the damsel in distress that it felt empowering for it to be the other way round for a change. We need more of this! A highly enjoyable story which I loved escaping into the world of being a star and the lifestyle it entails. Great book!
sillygoosereads's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley, publisher and author for a copy of this book.
I LOVED this!
The attraction was instantaneous, the romance built at a great pace.
These characters presented a confident exterior l, while struggling with their own insecurities in their attraction to each other. There are secrets hinted at just enough to keep you interested.
Loved it!
I LOVED this!
The attraction was instantaneous, the romance built at a great pace.
These characters presented a confident exterior l, while struggling with their own insecurities in their attraction to each other. There are secrets hinted at just enough to keep you interested.
Loved it!
lavendergarden's review against another edition
2.0
I have so much I dislike about this book.
It moves so quickly through each problem, there could have been fewer problems and each one is dealt with slowly, but no. Off the top of my head, here are the problems they encounter: MMC and FMC might be angry at each other or blames each other. Anyway, all that to say, there were so many unnecessary plot points. It could have been simpler and had more time dedicated to developing characters or relationships.
The MC's trauma felt so plotted. When I read [b:The Thief|34414113|The Thief (Queen's Thief series, Book 1)|Megan Whalen Turner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496152697l/34414113._SX50_.jpg|1069505] I got to the end of the book and went Whoa, that's what was going on?? That makes sense, but I didn't see it. And it turns out, what I (and most of the readers) thought was a huge plot twist, the author thought everyone knew and would see it coming, and so the narrator is a kind of unreliable narrator, but written very naturally. Things that someone would actually mention, nothing unnecessarily vague. BUT Up Close and Personal felt like Kathryn Freeman planned the trauma and then the plot and then wrote all conversations to avoid spoiling the big trauma reveal. And I hate that so much. It makes all the conversations feel so stilted.
Why were there so many flat or very briefly mentioned characters?? Like, couldn't some of them have been consolidated?? Did there need to be twins in the MMC's family? Couldn't he just have one lousy sibling? Did the FMC's sister need to feature into it? She could have been dead, or in a longer term rehab and never come into it. Like, it just felt like too many unnecessary characters.
And now my least favorite thing in this book. The MMC is creepy. I mean, in the very very first scene, a woman he doesn't know spills her champagne on him and is like Oh no, let me help you out, blah blah blah. And then. He starts flirting and immediately starts making sexual comments. And she's like nah and turns him down, and he DOESN'T STOP. And he keeps flirting, he doesn't stop, even when she's his bodyguard or when she says no. The only time he stops is when he's mad at her. Like, if he had turned out to be a crazy creep that actually set up all this stuff to make her his bodyguard and then kidnap her or something, not only would I not have been very surprised, I would have enjoyed the book more.
It moves so quickly through each problem, there could have been fewer problems and each one is dealt with slowly, but no. Off the top of my head, here are the problems they encounter:
Spoiler
MMC has a stalker, stalker has been caught but there might be a separate person trying to kill MMC and nobody believes FMC when she says so, someone is trying to kill MMC,Spoiler
FMC's niece is kidnapped in exchange for MMC,Spoiler
MMC is shot,The MC's trauma felt so plotted. When I read [b:The Thief|34414113|The Thief (Queen's Thief series, Book 1)|Megan Whalen Turner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496152697l/34414113._SX50_.jpg|1069505] I got to the end of the book and went Whoa, that's what was going on?? That makes sense, but I didn't see it. And it turns out, what I (and most of the readers) thought was a huge plot twist, the author thought everyone knew and would see it coming, and so the narrator is a kind of unreliable narrator, but written very naturally. Things that someone would actually mention, nothing unnecessarily vague. BUT Up Close and Personal felt like Kathryn Freeman planned the trauma and then the plot and then wrote all conversations to avoid spoiling the big trauma reveal. And I hate that so much. It makes all the conversations feel so stilted.
Why were there so many flat or very briefly mentioned characters?? Like, couldn't some of them have been consolidated?? Did there need to be twins in the MMC's family? Couldn't he just have one lousy sibling? Did the FMC's sister need to feature into it? She could have been dead, or in a longer term rehab and never come into it. Like, it just felt like too many unnecessary characters.
And now my least favorite thing in this book. The MMC is creepy. I mean, in the very very first scene, a woman he doesn't know spills her champagne on him and is like Oh no, let me help you out, blah blah blah. And then. He starts flirting and immediately starts making sexual comments. And she's like nah and turns him down, and he DOESN'T STOP. And he keeps flirting, he doesn't stop, even when she's his bodyguard or when she says no. The only time he stops is when he's mad at her. Like, if he had turned out to be a crazy creep that actually set up all this stuff to make her his bodyguard and then kidnap her or something, not only would I not have been very surprised, I would have enjoyed the book more.
evarano's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 ⭐️
When Zac Edwards starts to receive creepy lipstick stained messages from an unknown source around his home and work, he feels worried. As a famous actor, tons of people recognize the handsome movie star. His production company decides that Zac is at risk and needs protection. Bring in Kat Parker, former member of the army, and bodyguard. Zac and Kat first meet in what seems like a coincidental run it-before Zac finds out that Kat has been hired to protect him. Zac is shocked-especially since he had his eyes on Kat from the first moment she spilled her drink on him. As Kat begins her bodyguard duties, both her and Zac quickly realize there is a lot more to their relationship than simply protection.
I would rate this book 1.5. I can't give it a 1 because I still skimmed quickly through the book to see it through. I wasn't taken from it right from the beginning, I finally gave up reading it closely around 15%. Honestly, I was super into the premise of this book, a different kind of story, but ran into so many problems. The story and characters never interested me. There wasn't enough backstory from the beginning and the secrets along the way were too drawn out and anticlimactic. I didn't like the lack of characters and the side plot with Kat's family. I thought the romance between Kat and Zac was extremely lacking. He was drawn to her right from the beginning-but why? It was just never expanded on in a way that bought me. I found Zac cheesy and unlikeable. Kat was a good character, but their relationship was awkward and the way they spoke to each other just came off as odd. The premise of the book is that Zac needs protection from the person leaving the lipstick notes-but then the story just goes off in a different direction. Sadly, this book wasn't for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.
When Zac Edwards starts to receive creepy lipstick stained messages from an unknown source around his home and work, he feels worried. As a famous actor, tons of people recognize the handsome movie star. His production company decides that Zac is at risk and needs protection. Bring in Kat Parker, former member of the army, and bodyguard. Zac and Kat first meet in what seems like a coincidental run it-before Zac finds out that Kat has been hired to protect him. Zac is shocked-especially since he had his eyes on Kat from the first moment she spilled her drink on him. As Kat begins her bodyguard duties, both her and Zac quickly realize there is a lot more to their relationship than simply protection.
I would rate this book 1.5. I can't give it a 1 because I still skimmed quickly through the book to see it through. I wasn't taken from it right from the beginning, I finally gave up reading it closely around 15%. Honestly, I was super into the premise of this book, a different kind of story, but ran into so many problems. The story and characters never interested me. There wasn't enough backstory from the beginning and the secrets along the way were too drawn out and anticlimactic. I didn't like the lack of characters and the side plot with Kat's family. I thought the romance between Kat and Zac was extremely lacking. He was drawn to her right from the beginning-but why? It was just never expanded on in a way that bought me. I found Zac cheesy and unlikeable. Kat was a good character, but their relationship was awkward and the way they spoke to each other just came off as odd. The premise of the book is that Zac needs protection from the person leaving the lipstick notes-but then the story just goes off in a different direction. Sadly, this book wasn't for me.
Thanks to NetGalley for the free preview in exchange for an honest review.
lottiereads24's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
bexdoesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
I was a little disappointed with this book. I really wanted to love it however I wasn't hooked on it and felt like I'd been reading it forever. Certainly not the worst book I've read, it was just OK.
ameserole's review against another edition
4.0
So this is my second book by this author, Kathryn Freeman, and I can gladly say that I wasn't disappointed. Especially since I got the first book, [b:The New Guy|52958009|The New Guy|Kathryn Freeman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571218491l/52958009._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73790535] as an ARC and now the third book of hers, [b:Strictly Come Dating|54841053|Strictly Come Dating|Kathryn Freeman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1596788022l/54841053._SY75_.jpg|85562579], is also an ARC!
After enjoying Up Close and Personal, I'm honestly excited to dive into the next book. I mean, it didn't take long for me to fall in love with Sam and Ryan in the first book. Then after meeting Zac and Kat, it did take me a while to like them. Once they did become likable, it was hard not to see the sexual tension between them. Then it was pretty easy to ship and fall in love with them as well.
Now this isn't my first book where the gender roles are a bit reversed. Meaning, the girl is the bodyguard and the guy is the famous actor. Nor should it be the first book. I mean, anyone can be in any job position so more power to them.
Kat is pretty good at her job. She is smart and calculated and always puts her life on the line. That being said, after meeting Zac.. I don't think she quite expected to fall for him. Or develop any sort of feelings either. Or vice versa. These two were pretty adorable and you could see how genuine they felt for one another. There was just one thing getting in the way: Zac's stalker.
There were some scenes and chapters where you can see Kat getting frustrated with herself for getting easily distracted by Zac. Yet, it was bound to happen when they started to like and flirt with one another. Boundaries were crossed but she still ended up protecting him no matter what. Even if it was a close call a time or two.
Other than that, I feel like the whole stalker situation went by pretty quickly. Then there were some chapters where these two annoyed me. It's like they didn't know how to act towards one another sometimes.. and they would just be petty brats. Eventually they pulled their heads out of their own asses and started to be less annoying (for me).
In the end, I'm down to read the next book. I hope it's another good one.
After enjoying Up Close and Personal, I'm honestly excited to dive into the next book. I mean, it didn't take long for me to fall in love with Sam and Ryan in the first book. Then after meeting Zac and Kat, it did take me a while to like them. Once they did become likable, it was hard not to see the sexual tension between them. Then it was pretty easy to ship and fall in love with them as well.
Now this isn't my first book where the gender roles are a bit reversed. Meaning, the girl is the bodyguard and the guy is the famous actor. Nor should it be the first book. I mean, anyone can be in any job position so more power to them.
Kat is pretty good at her job. She is smart and calculated and always puts her life on the line. That being said, after meeting Zac.. I don't think she quite expected to fall for him. Or develop any sort of feelings either. Or vice versa. These two were pretty adorable and you could see how genuine they felt for one another. There was just one thing getting in the way: Zac's stalker.
There were some scenes and chapters where you can see Kat getting frustrated with herself for getting easily distracted by Zac. Yet, it was bound to happen when they started to like and flirt with one another. Boundaries were crossed but she still ended up protecting him no matter what. Even if it was a close call a time or two.
Other than that, I feel like the whole stalker situation went by pretty quickly. Then there were some chapters where these two annoyed me. It's like they didn't know how to act towards one another sometimes.. and they would just be petty brats. Eventually they pulled their heads out of their own asses and started to be less annoying (for me).
In the end, I'm down to read the next book. I hope it's another good one.
lauren_soderberg's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Kathryn Freeman’s Up Close and Personal is a refreshing twist on the bodyguard trope, and is more layered than you’d expect.
When former soldier Kat Parker is assigned to be heartthrob actor Zac Edwards’s bodyguard, she never expected to be so taken with him. But he has a stalker, and she needs to protect him, so falling for him isn’t in the cards. Zac Edwards may be an actor, but he thrives on keeping his private life private. Being assigned a bodyguard isn’t really his cup of tea, even though this particular bodyguard is absolutely captivating.
I love a good slow burn, and this story definitely delivers on that front. I also enjoyed the fact that Zac and Kat have more to them than meets the eye. You think you know where the story is going, but there are a few interesting twists along the way. I also like how the author inverted the bodyguard trope, as well as how the hero and heroine function in the novel to give her story a fresh take on an old classic.
An ARC was generously provided by NetGalley and HarperCollins UK in exchange for my honest review.
Kathryn Freeman’s Up Close and Personal is a refreshing twist on the bodyguard trope, and is more layered than you’d expect.
When former soldier Kat Parker is assigned to be heartthrob actor Zac Edwards’s bodyguard, she never expected to be so taken with him. But he has a stalker, and she needs to protect him, so falling for him isn’t in the cards. Zac Edwards may be an actor, but he thrives on keeping his private life private. Being assigned a bodyguard isn’t really his cup of tea, even though this particular bodyguard is absolutely captivating.
I love a good slow burn, and this story definitely delivers on that front. I also enjoyed the fact that Zac and Kat have more to them than meets the eye. You think you know where the story is going, but there are a few interesting twists along the way. I also like how the author inverted the bodyguard trope, as well as how the hero and heroine function in the novel to give her story a fresh take on an old classic.
An ARC was generously provided by NetGalley and HarperCollins UK in exchange for my honest review.