My The Bodyguard Book Review - No Spoilers
Plot Summary
The Bodyguard by Katherine Center is a warm, feel-good romantic comedy about Hannah Brooks, a petite but tough executive protection agent with a mountain of personal baggage. After the death of her mother and a humiliating breakup—her ex dumps her at the funeral—Hannah finds herself desperate for an assignment that will get her out of Texas and away from painful memories. Instead, her boss places her on bodyguard duty for Jack Stapleton, a Hollywood superstar hiding out on his family’s ranch while his mother battles cancer. Jack is charming, earnest, and refuses to let his family know he’s in danger; to keep up appearances, Hannah has to pose as his girlfriend for the entire duration of her stay. Family dynamics, a fake relationship, and real dangers blur the lines between work and love. Both Jack and Hannah face unresolved grief and personal scars, and as they navigate stalkers, eccentric relatives, and honest confessions, they discover that real courage means letting yourself be loved.
Why I Love This Book
I love how this book blends sharp humor, gentle heartache, and a pure rom-com setup without veering into clichés. Hannah is instantly likable—resourceful, self-deprecating, and believably vulnerable. Her emotional journey feels honest; the book lets her be hurt and flawed in ways that made me root for her from start to finish. Jack’s character is more than just a movie-star dream; he’s layered with guilt, kindness, and an understated devotion to his family. Their banter sparkles, and every forced proximity moment—shared ranch chores, awkward family dinners, late-night conversations—made me grin. There’s a satisfying emotional arc: Hannah learns to value herself, not just for her toughness but for her ability to open up. The side characters add color and warmth, and the entire setting had me wishing I could hide away on a Texan ranch for a long weekend. The story tugs at deeper themes—loss, forgiveness, learning to trust—but always keeps things buoyant. I laughed, swooned, and genuinely felt lighter finishing the last page.
Who Will Like This Book
If you love romantic comedies with fake dating, forced proximity, and a reversal of classic gender tropes (badass female bodyguard, movie-star client), this is for you. Fans of found family, light suspense, and intimate slow-burn stories will be happy here. The plot covers heavy themes—grief, parental trauma, illness, off-page death, and some anxiety—but it never lets them swamp the overall sense of hope, healing, and humor. You’ll especially enjoy it if you want a romance with heart and still want to laugh out loud.
⚠️ Trigger warning: The book contains discussion of grief, cancer (parental illness), off-page family trauma, and past emotional abuse. There’s mention of stalker threats, but these remain light on the details. Everything is handled gently and the overall tone remains bright.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, rom-com, fake dating, forced proximity, female bodyguard, celebrity romance, movie star hero, found family, slow burn, emotional healing, grief, small town, fake relationship, closed-door romance, witty banter, opposites attract, quirky family, humor, trauma recovery, uplifting, inspirational, standalone, HEA, indie novel
Steam Level
This is a closed-door romance—expect strong chemistry, a swoony slow burn, and plenty of flirty tension, but no explicit scenes. Physical affection (including the big, long-awaited kiss!) is described tenderly but tastefully, keeping the focus on emotion, healing, and mutual support. If you want a romance that brings heart and hope without turning up the heat, The Bodyguard is a perfect fit.