Publisher's Weekly Review
Center's fluffy latest (after What You Wish For) follows a workaholic bodyguard as she protects and slowly falls for her client, handsome movie star Jack Stapleton, who's visiting his sick mom in Texas. Hannah Brooks is at the top of her field, having been snatched from FBI recruitment by her boss, Glenn Schultz, for his security agency. After she's dumped by a smarmy coworker, Glenn assigns Hannah to protect the charming Jack (who's dealing with a stalker) as he drops in on his estranged brother and their mom, who's been diagnosed with breast cancer. Not wanting to alarm them, Hannah pretends to be Jack's girlfriend. When Hannah begins to suspect that Jack might be attracted to her (which, if so, would make the feeling mutual), she considers confessing to Glenn that she might not be up to the task. Hannah's dilemma feels much more like a rom-com trope than a real-world situation, but it works amid the lighthearted atmosphere. The story perks up whenever Hannah shows off her bodyguard prowess, but these scenes are few and far between. Though other books deal more creatively with the well-worn tropes at play, Center's confection satisfies on its own terms. (July)
Kirkus Review
When a professional bodyguard is assigned to cover a famously reclusive actor, sparks fly. Hannah Brooks is an Executive Protection Agent, better known as a bodyguard. Although many people picture bodyguards as big, burly men, Hannah stays undercover and unnoticed as a 5-foot-5 female agent, often blending in as a nanny. And although Hannah could easily incapacitate or even kill a threat, her job is to "anticipate harm before it ever materializes--and avoid it." She spends most of her work time traveling the world, which is just how she likes it--that is, until her mother dies, her boss makes her take some time off, and her fellow agent boyfriend dumps her. Now she's stuck at home in Houston, grieving and lonely, wishing for a job that could take her far away. So when her boss assigns her to an actor who's visiting his ailing mother in nearby Katy, Hannah's not interested. Sure, Jack Stapleton is one of the sexiest men alive, but he's not even sure he needs a bodyguard despite having a very persistent stalker. But Hannah's boss has no intention of letting her off the hook, so she ends up protecting Jack as he stays with his family on their ranch. Jack hasn't been in the public eye since his brother died a few years ago, preferring to hide out in the remote mountains of North Dakota instead of making blockbuster films. Now that he's back in Texas, he doesn't want his mother to know he has protection, fearing the stress might adversely affect her treatment, so he convinces Hannah to pose as his girlfriend. As Hannah gets to know Jack and his family, she realizes that there's more to him than she thought--but how much of their connection is real, and how much of it is acting? Center brings her signature warmth and wit to this movie-ready premise, blending a heartwarming romance with quirky side characters and even a little bit of action. Hannah, who worries that she's inherently unlovable after getting dumped, is an endearing and vulnerable lead underneath her serious, tough-girl exterior. Center delivers another satisfying, romantic read with a swoonworthy hero and a delightful main character. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Center (What You Wish For, 2020) turns gender norms on their heads in this utterly charming tale of a female bodyguard and the gorgeous movie star she's assigned to protect. Houston-based Hannah Brooks is an executive protection agent, trained in martial arts and hyperaware of her surroundings. But Hannah's game is decidedly off after her mother dies, and her boyfriend/co-worker Robby dumps her, seemingly out of the blue. So when her boss decides to assign her to protect Jack Stapleton, a handsome, reclusive actor who has come to Houston to spend time on his family ranch with his ailing mother, Hannah balks at the assignment. And that's before she finds out that, to make sure his family doesn't discover that he has a stalker, Jack is going to tell them that she's his girlfriend. As Hannah gets to know Jack and learns more about the tragic accident that took the life of his younger brother and fractured the family, she can't help but fall for her charismatic charge. Center's latest might be her most winning yet, a classic romantic set-up with two appealing, sympathetic leads. It's not only a must-read for her fans, but it will likely garner her new devotees as well.
