Review of The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
I’m diving into The Bodyguard not with eager anticipation but rather a sense of humor about my own disappointment. When I spotted Katherine Center’s novel—a bodyguard romance, no less—I was intrigued. The mix of danger and love always piques my interest, but oh boy, did I step into a letdown. As I settled in with my favorite reading blanket, I quickly realized I was bound for an experience akin to sticking my foot in a puddle I thought was shallow. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
Key Themes and Characters
At the heart of this novel, we meet Hannah, a highly trained bodyguard—not introduced through thrilling action but rather through a peculiar premise involving her mother’s dying wish to… vacation in Toledo, Ohio? Talk about a kick-off that leaves you shaking your head! From that bizarre start, I knew I was in for a ride that would take me from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Hannah presents herself as strong, boasting a jiu jitsu black belt, yet she folds under the slightest pressure, allowing her ex and everyone else to walk all over her. Her interactions with Jack, the “sexiest man alive,” who turns out to have about as much charisma as a wet sock, were painful to read. I mean, when your romantic lead can scream like a banshee about something as trivial as a river without providing any context, you have to wonder about the author’s vision. This lack of backbone in both leads made their “romance,” which feels almost non-existent, even less appealing.
Writing Style and Pacing
Center’s writing style oscillated between engaging and bewildering, at times breaking the fourth wall in a distracting manner that pulled me out of the narrative. A quote like, “HAVE I EXPLAINED what I do for a living?” struck me as an awkward way of inviting readers into the story. It felt like a misstep in pacing that left me disoriented and frustrated. Was this character truly reflecting on her profession, or was I being clumsily introduced to the author’s thoughts?
Additionally, the dialogue pitched itself between backhanded compliments and cringe moments, as when Jack describes Hannah as the “epitome of ordinary.” Really, I wondered, is that the best he can muster? It felt less romantic and more condescending.
Plot and Conclusion
As for the plot? Well, let’s just say that the unraveling twist involving a stalker went from mundane to laughable. A character almost dies, yet the aftermath is practically a comic relief segment, with the antagonist being released to build birdhouses. I’m still chuckling—it’s almost as if the novel didn’t take itself seriously enough.
In closing, I have to say, if you’re a reader in search of a light romp with a healthy dose of absurdity, The Bodyguard might just fit the bill. However, if you crave complex characters and plots that don’t leave you rolling your eyes, you may want to keep browsing. For me, it’s a “one-star” read that’s more memorable for the laughs it unwittingly provided than any emotional payoff. It’s moments like these that remind us of the beauty of literature—even when we’re left feeling like the biggest haters! Happy reading!