The Bodyguard by Katherine Center

 

Hannah Brooks isn't what she looks like she'd be.  She looks like an ordinary young woman, maybe a programmer or a kindergarten teacher.  But she's an Executive Protection Agent or what most of us would call a bodyguard.  She's expert at hand to hand combat and knows all the secrets fans or those wanting to get close to a star or top businessman might use.  She travels globally, in London this week, Korea the next and maybe a month or so in India.  That doesn't leave much room for romance so Hannah has been dating a guy from work.

Then three things happen.  After a long illness, her mother dies.  The next night, her guy breaks up with her.  Then her boss assigns her a job she definitely doesn't want, guarding Jack Stapleton.  That Jack Stapleton, the current Hollywood heartthrob, the guy women everywhere swoon over.  

Jack has been out of the movie business for a while ever since his younger brother was killed in a car accident while with Jack.  The death has torn his family apart as his older brother blames him.  But now his mom is sick and wants Jack to come to the family ranch.  That means Hannah is headed that way also, pretending to be Jack's girlfriend.  Most women would be thrilled but Hannah is most people.  She gets shaky when Jack is around.  

During their time at the ranch, Hannah starts to see the real Jack, not the Hollywood hype and impossibly, starts to have feelings for him.  Why would she do that?  She knows that Jack's attention is just part of the act he is putting on for his parents but it seems so real.  

Katherine Center is my favorite romance author.  Her books are the ultimate feel-good tonic and I defy anyone to read one of them without smiling throughout and closing the last page with an uplifted heart.  Jack and Hannah and their slow growth to closeness is believable and rewarding.  This book is recommended for romance readers.