Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - The Bodyguard

Such a great read. My daughter saw the title and was unimpressed, saying it was such an overused trope. Then she read the description, and said, “Oh, it’s also the fake relationship trope? And role switching? This is actually original.” And read it immediately after I finished. Overall plot-wise, there was really only one surprise, but it was so much fun getting to the ending we knew was coming. The characters were fresh and lovable. Enough was said about the villains to know that they are actually round characters, but we didn’t spend too much time with it on the page. And it was so funny. Closed door, which I prefer and don’t mind handing to my daughter.

Content Warnings

itsmecalib_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

3.0

About time I got to Katherine Center! Started off with The Bodyguard.

Introduction: Bodyguard goes undercover for a movie star client by pretending to be his girlfriend.

What I Like:
- Heck yeah, female bodyguard kicks his butt when he underestimates her
- Most of it happens on a ranch in Texas and I’m just picturing Glen Powell a la Twisters and 🤌🏼💋
- Good length where the romance is believable but not too long that it’s overdone
- Fake dating and forced proximity 💃🏽
- Comforting after a nightmare 👀

What I Don’t Like:
- I will never forgive Katherine for an unused one bed 😤
- Both characters desperately need therapy lol

Content Warnings

stormeno's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

the_quiet_reader's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This story was such a funny story! Fake Dating is one of my favorite tropes and I fully enjoyed it in this book! Honestly, this book really read like a rom-com to me. There was a lot of humor and funny situations and a lot of romantic moments!

Hannah Brooks is an Executive Protection Agent who has lost everything all at once, and isn’t sure she is even lovable anymore. She is looking for escape and is stuck having to work this odd job with Jack Stapleton.

Jack Stapleton is a world famous actor who is hiding in his grief over his lost brother and his connection to his family. He comes out of hiding to care for his mother and is forced to work with Hannah to protect his family and himself from a corgi loving stalker.

The combination of these two characters and how they almost 180’d each other’s perspectives was truly kind of inspiring! I really enjoyed reading their story. I was on the edge of my seat at some parts, but it was truly very well written! Plenty of plot but also character moved as well.

There is plenty of heavy material in this book, but also light-hearted hope and joy to balance it out. I liked the balance and the idea that even when life is heavy, there is hope to be found. This was my first Katherine Center book and I really enjoyed it.

The only thing that I didn’t like (and my reason for 4 stars instead of 5) was the swearing. There was a medium amount of swearing most of it being the less intense words; however, there were 4 uses of the F word. It wasn’t a swear word every other word, just usually in the intense moments. I, in general, believe that swear words are never really needed in books or otherwise, there are lots of other options.

Regardless, I loved the story and would recommend if the swearing doesn’t turn you off.

Content Warnings:

Language: Explicit Language (F*** 4x, along with other words)

Spice: Level 1

TW: Alcoholic mother, domestic abuse, death of family members, car accident, nightmares, cancer, suicide attempt

Content Warnings

chantale's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

blewballoon's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I'm so glad I picked this up on a whim, it wasn't on my TBR and I just grabbed it on Libby because I recognized the author from Hello Stranger. I hoped it would be a decent gender flip of typical bodyguard romance tropes, but it really impressed and surprised me.

The romance aspect is gradual and natural. It just kind of floats along developing in the background while all the other plot movement and character dynamics unfold in the forefront. The writing is profound in its emotional moments and really funny in its lighthearted moments. There's a level of detail with certain characters and in-story anecdotes that make the world and people feel real. There are a couple of characters that get a more shallow take, but it works along with everything else.

I wasn't sure about the audiobook narrator at first, but she won me over as well and imbued a lot of personality into the narration.

Content Warnings

taylorc19's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

So cute, so fun, absolutely flew through this book. I normally don't love a no-spice, no-swearing, not-a-lot-of-kissing romance book because it feels juvenile and unrealistic but I completely bought it for this one. To be honest, I didn't even really notice that the characters weren't swearing and there wasn't any outright intimacy besides kissing between Hannah and Jack (which is a testament to the writing and story-building). I'm almost positive this is my first Katherine Center book and I definitely want to read more. I do wish we had more content of Hannah and Jack once they were together, but I loved seeing her assimilate to his family and start to really care not just about Jack but also his entire family. Overall, Hannah's character arc was well done and she was a fully fleshed out character. Also, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to Katherine Center for giving Hannah some self-respect and not letting her rebound with Robby OR completely forgive Taylor. They didn't deserve Hannah!!!!

I will say the romance felt a tad rushed. Hannah had barely felt an inkling of a crush towards Jack, then all the sudden she was saying she was in love with him. The ending section with Wilbur was totally weird and out of left field, but it was so on brand for a "bodyguard romance" (if that's even a trope in romance novels).

Content Warnings

More...