The Bodyguard Paperback – June 13, 2023

Intelligent, lighthearted, and full of romance, this was exactly what I was hoping for... though I wouldn't have minded some steam, lol! It's my first from the author, so I wasn't sure if the vibe would be more women's fiction or romance, but it ended up being a great combination of the two. The romance is front and center throughout, though this is definitely the heroine's story. It's told exclusively from her point of view, and she's got some self-reflection and personal growth to go through before she can let love into her life. But it also feels like a low angst, slow burn romance too, complete with a fake relationship and a famous hero. I loved that our couple was forced to spend nearly every moment together, and neither one seemed to have any complaints about that. It's the kind of story where you have to puzzle out the hero's thoughts and feelings, which kept me engaged and interested throughout. And I had no trouble bingeing it in one sitting - this was very good.The story follows Hannah, a woman's whose past has shaped her into the person she is today. She works as a bodyguard, and it would take just the right guy to scale her walls and discover the soft center she hides beneath her bristly and business-like exterior. So when Hannah's estranged mother passes away and her support system crumbles around her, she hopes that burying herself in work with protect her from all of the unwelcome emotions that are creeping up on her. But when a new assignment - protecting a famous but reclusive actor - starts spiraling out of control, Hannah is left reeling. It's not long before she finds herself posing as the heartthrob's girlfriend and temporarily living on his family ranch. Spending time together brings them closer, but Jack is off-limits in more ways than one... and faking a relationship with an actor would lead anyone to question whether it's ALL an act.Much of the story is introspective and focused on Hannah's thoughts, but Jack is also an integral component. It's a true romance, just one that tackles some heavier issues and does not include any steam. Difficult subjects like cancer, the loss of a loved one, and addiction are included, but the overall tone is actually pretty upbeat. Jack and Hannah's connection is so easy to see, and I loved all of the ways they complement each other. They both heal old wounds throughout the story, and there were plenty of swoony vibes. Their relationship develops slowly, almost a friendship at first, and I can see why there was no spice included - though they form a bond semi-quickly, there are several obstacles in their way. I loved how much Jack appreciated Hannah's authenticity, and he adored the fact that she can be both tough and tender. He doesn't try to change her, and he seems to genuinely love the things that make her insecure about herself. All in all, it was super easy to fall for Jack, so I had plenty of patience for their relationship to evolve. This was an excellent first read from this new-to-me author - I loved it!Audio note: The audio is so good! Since the story is told exclusively from Hannah's point of view, there's a single female narrator. She does a great job of differentiating between the characters, and I loved her performance as Hannah. The audio enhances the story in a big way, infusing both emotion and emphasis into the text. And the narrator's voice was relaxing and easy to listen to, perfect for the tone of the book. This would also make an ideal workday listen - not only is the runtime short enough to finish in a single day, but the slow burn story and low/no heat level means that you won't be blushing at the office, lol. It's not somber enough to drag you down; it's lighthearted and a little playful, which will make the day fly by. I definitely recommend the audio.

This was a super fun read with the best character and love dynamics. Keep them coming. I really love your books.

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as others by the same author. It seemed like the author wrote this book in a hurry, because there were some pretty obvious problems.First: North Dakota does not have any mountains. It has very big hills, but nothing that would count as a mountain.Next: The FMC, Hannah, is supposed to be a kick-ass bodyguard who has been all over the world and in some pretty dramatic situations. Yes, she can flip a man who's a good foot taller, and she doesn't shy away from gun-toting weirdos, but she's afraid of cows and horses. Really? Didn't she meet any before this? Wouldn't a pro at least pretend not to be scared? It's one thing to be startled when a cow comes up to your truck window, but to freak out? From a COW?Next: How is it that a bodyguard doesn't seem to have any emergency medical skills? I would expect her to be able to assess someone who keels over and provide a little help. Nope. But at least she is a skillful driver and knows how to get to the hospital in a hurry!And then there is the relationship between the MMC and FMC. Even though most of her clients are fairly boring oil executives and this one is a superstar hot guy, she shouldn't be gobsmacked at the sight of his abs and drooling over him whenever he appears. It just doesn't seem professional. Isn't there a way to show attraction but not be over the top about it? She was so mesmerized by Jack (the MMC) that she wasn't really doing a very good job at her job.I did like the fact that Hannah wasn't portrayed as a bombshell beauty who also had nerves of steel and brains galore; she was kind of like the perfect CIA officer: average in appearance, yet able to get out of a sticky situation without drawing attention to herself ... much. She was a little whiny and a bit unrealistically obsessed with her work, though -- to the point that it seemed like a personality disorder. And she was a little clueless when it came to personal relationships -- read the room, girl! But she was mostly a likable character with some endearing qualities and good one-liners. There was a lot of self-talk -- about everything, at length. Too much at length, at times.So I enjoyed this book, with reservation. I had to quiet my b-s detection occasionally and just move on. I can't say it's the best rom-com I've read, but it was fun. And there was very little coarse language, and sex was only alluded to. For some, those things would be negatives, but I was fine with that. I want a good story above all, and this one, while flawed, was pretty good.

This book is the first I’ve picked up from this author and I’m impressed. Some of the reviews were not very encouraging but for me, this was a story packaged with a lot of pain & loss but also of healing & self-redemption. I enjoyed reading/listening to it, and I learned a lot about life, loss, trauma & even nightmares too.5⭐️2🌶️

Hannah Brooks is an elite bodyguard coming back from mandatory leave and she’s desperate to hear where she’ll be assigned next when she’s told she’s going to be working in her own backyard taking care of Jack Stappleton, a movie star coming home to his family’s ranch.The assignment should be easy. A mega star with low risk stalker should be a piece of cake for a professional like her, but once you’ve seen all his movies and the reality is far better than the Hollywood persona, Hannah’s heart will be at a higher risk than Jack’s ever been.I’d been trying to read this book for the past year, but kept putting it off for one reason or another which I’ve come to regret. This was fresh, original, romantic and sooo cute.Jack and Hannah couldn’t be more different in their upbringing and personalities, but they both have baggage that make them extremely relatable characters and I liked them both a lot individually and as a couple. I also liked the background of the story and the secondary characters, both her colleagues and his family.This was my first read by the author, but definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed her writing, the story line, characters and the delivery and I have great expectations for her work.4 stars