User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
My second waltz with the author which didn’t quite go well like the first time and made me write another I didn’t enjoy it but I also didn’t hate it, let’s stay in the middle kind of 3 starred review!
Truth; nearly two decades ago I’ve watched a dramatic romcom sharing the same name starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford ( I can still hear Celine Dion’s song: Because You Loved Me playing in my head. Even though I hate her songs and when I see famous Titanic scene as My Heart will go on plays, I want to scream and throw something out of window!) I smiled myself and requested this book. Don’t get me wrong the only thing similar about the movie and the book is their common name. This book seems like vice versa of Bodyguard without “I will always love you” theme song ends with different and unreliable conclusion. ( At least that’s what I thought)
My quick opinions:
Charming British movie star Zac Edwards is threatened by a stalker and instead of hiring dazzling all time coolest bodyguard Kevin Costner or his cooler and younger follower Scottish beauty Richard Madden, they hired tough, professional (sleeping with the boss and falling in love don’t count! She was still cool as cucumber!) Kat Parker to protect him.
You may fill the blanks about their sizzling chemistry which wasn’t reliable for me and reminded me of teenage insta love story because there are no specific explanation why they like each other and what kind of special bond they formed. It happened instantly!
I didn’t have any problems about the characters. I loved them as individuals but I didn’t like them when they fell in love. When they were together they turned into immature, childish, annoying types who didn’t listen to each other. problems brought so much unnecessary angst and over exaggerated drama into their story. I was looking for some enjoyable and smart banters, flirty dialogues, swoon- cute-soft kind of rom-com story and Zac’s back story about his dark past was underdeveloped and senseless.
Overall: The story started intriguing and but this promising premise turned into something repetitive and disturbing drama and the characters I liked turned into annoying soap opera actors. I’m giving my three stars for promising start and the smart plot idea.
For other reasons I mentioned before this story and conclusion didn’t fit with my expectations. That was not bad but it had so much potential to be better.
Special thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter / Harper Collins UK for sharing this Arc with me in exchange my honest review.
Rating: really liked it
An entertaining “THE BODYGUARD” gender swap. *I Will Always Love You* Zac is a big Tyme starwith a stalker. Kat is his badass determined bodyguard. The problem is these two have a sizzling chemistry between them that is both undeniable and impossible. *I have nothing if I don’t have you* This was an engaging story with two very compelling characters. I especially loved Kat she was so strong, smart, and authentic. *I’m every woman* Zac was a good guy with a dark past. My only little problem with this book as I didn’t necessarily understand why Zac and Kat were so drawn to one another. I guess I just wish there was a little more build up to there desire for one another. Another enjoyable read from Kathryn Freeman. *I’m going to run to you*
*** Big thank you to Harper UK for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
Rating: really liked it
3.5☆ A Witty, Fun, Pacy, Entertaining and Compelling Contemporary Romance.
Kat Parker accidentally spilled champagne all over Celebrity Actor Zac.
Now flirting with her, she knows she's wading into dangerous waters, as her hormones are on overdrive, he is incredibly handsome, and the spark between them is electric.
Unbeknown to Zac, he is Kat's latest client.
Kat is Zac's celebrity bodyguard.
After Zac had acquired some unwanted attention from a possible stalker.
She is tasked with protecting him and trying to assist in figuring out who his stalker is.
The sizzling connection between Zac and Kat is exciting to watch unfold.
He comes across as a gent, definitely likes his own way, but also seems to undermine Kat's job, like he clearly has a problem with Kat being a woman and protecting him.
She comes across as a lil prickly, Strong, and has more to prove, but the their undeniable connection shines through.
If you have ever seen the film the bodyguard and loved it, well then you will enjoy Up Close and Personal.
What I really liked was the role reversal, having a kick ass, confident female bodyguard, made a refreshing and much welcomed change.
There are a few twists and turns along the way which are plotted well.
Up Close and Personal is a witty, fun, pacy, entertaining and compelling Contemporary Romance, with lots of chemistry and drama.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
Rating: really liked it
Check out the review on my blog: https://sophsbookworld.wordpress.com/...
Rating: 4 / 5
I really need to stop reading book reviews before reading the book, because although this one has a lot of mixed reviews, it actually turned out to be a really good book!
It’s a contemporary romance about a famous movie star who has good a crazy stalker sending him notes and following him (just as most celebrities do have at some points), but his manager thinks he can never be to cautious. So he hires a bodyguard for Zac. And the bodyguard turns out to be a very cute girl Zac tried to seduce the night before!
Zac is a posh control freak and a perfectionist whereas Kat is the complete opposite. She’s messy, chill and laid back. But as in most rom-coms, opposites attract. And they soon find each other sleeping together, and sooner than expected falling for each other.
Zac was such an interesting character. I love how the author didn’t make him overly cocky and fame-struck only because he is a famous celebrity. He was actually very normal, except for his rituals that are only a part of his persona because of what happened to him when he was a kid.
I loved Kat as well because of how self-confident and strong she is. It might be a bit cliche that only because she’s a bodyguard she drinks beer, is not ladylike and doesn’t like dressing up because all the female bodyguards I know don’t act or dress any different than me outside of their work. But I do understand that Kat had to be portrayed as different from most girls.
I love the segment of both Kat and Zac’s past, and I didn’t realize such a light and easy book will become so serious. Even though Zac seems to have everything under control, that couldn’t be further from truth. But even though both of them had a difficult past, that just built them even stronger and made them love each other even more.
I do wish this was a bit more action packed. It is very interesting but I would still think there would be more crazy action scenes. It was still fun, though, and very fast paced and eventful.
Kat and Zac’s romance was very sweet and I like that it wasn’t over-the-roof. They slowly learned to not only love but also help each other in their own problems and insecurities.
I do believe this was based on a movie The Bodyguard, but since I’ve never seen it I can’t say if has elements of the movie or if it’s similar. You be the judge of that.
This is not a typical rom-com troupe and if you’re into that you should definitely pick it up. And never judge a book based on reviews (both positive and negative), we all have different tastes and opinions and that’s why you should always give book a chance before judging it too soon.
Happy reading!
Rating: really liked it
I loved the plot of a female bodyguard falling for the person she was protecting. I know that guardian trope has been done before in novels but I don't feel that it's overly common. Typically, it's also the opposite in gender roles.
This was an enjoyable, humorous, and chemistry driven story but it did have some flaws. A minor yet gnawing flaw for me was some of the writing in dialogue for the main character. I wouldn't say I'm either for or against swearing in a character's dialogue but I always find it extremely irritating when characters use a made up word in exchange for a curse word. It may have been cute if it was only done once but when it became more frequent in the dialogue, I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
I really liked the direction the story was going in related to the mystery and intrigue until it reached the most climactic point. I was so disappointed! It was blatantly obvious what was about to happen and the resulting 'action' just seemed so predictable. It's unfortunate because prior to that climactic moment, the story (and my reading experience) was going so well. That whole 'event' has been done before so many times in books and movies that I was hoping for something different which I thought this story was going to achieve.
Overall, it was a good read but like I said, the result of the mystery/suspense plot was disappointing and clichéd.
***Thank you to the publisher for supplying me with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
Rating: really liked it
The concept of Up Close and Personal was just up my alley: bodyguard and star, close proximity, forbidden romance, and all of that with inverted gender roles that promise a strong badass woman - sign me up!
And while I do usually love those tropes, I realized pretty quickly this is not what I was expecting. I had to dnf it at around 40% and I usually don't really dnf books.
First of all, I found Kat quite annoying. And I'm not talking about the insecurity about her looks, because I thought that was quite reasonable given the circumstances. What really annoyed me was all the times she points out how Zac uses posh words. Listen. English is my third language and I didn't think that any of those words were particularly difficult or erudite. I'm not sure if the author really believes she's giving Zac a high-class vocabulary, or if she's trying to paint Kat as the stereotypical army person which is too practical to use words longer than a couple of syllables. Regardless, that irked me probably way more than it should, but it did.
When I read the synopsis I was very much looking forward to our main heroine being super badass and breaking stereotypes in her chosen profession. And she did, kind of. Being a woman in a man's world myself, I couldn't help but be slightly annoyed by the constant use of the 'gender card'. Of course, a lot of her troubles being taken seriously and respected have to do with her gender, and because of being a woman she has to work twice as hard as any man, but her mentality is self-destructive. You can't think like that, otherwise you'll burnout.
Zac was very charming and fun, but I felt like his continuous flirting and all his conversations about not wanting Kat to get hurt to protect him felt patronizing and, in my eyes, really took away from the idea of a badass heroine the author wanted to go for. If even the male protagonist doesn't take her seriously enough to trust she can do the job she's been hired to do, why should others or the readers?
Moreover, I did not appreciate Zac trying to wear Kat down into agreeing to go out with him. I think that was a lack of respect on his part and again ties back to not seeing her as the capable professional she is. In the book we do see that Kat is attracted to him too, but she clearly asks him to respect her and let her do her job. She doesn't really get it. I hope that later on in the book they do get together on equal terms and not because he just never gives up (and not in a good way).
I'm probably being too harsh on this, but many of the topics of the book hit close to home and I did not particularly appreciate the way the author dealt with them.
I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an e-ARC copy.
Rating: really liked it
I really really wanted to love this book. A gender reversal of
The Bodyguard ? Colour me intrigued!
Right off the bat, the sexual attraction between Zac and Kat is laid on a little too thick. When they first meet by accident at an event, Zac doesn’t know that she is his new bodyguard. But once he finds out that she’s his bodyguard, he’s still set out to be with her. She wants to be with him, but she needs to keep it professional.
They both have secrets that they’re keeping from each other, and the unraveling of these backstories is a strength of the novel. However, they fall in love with each other far too quickly. Maybe I’ve been spoiled with the romance novels I've been reading lately, but I wanted to see more connection between them before they fell in love. That said, their interactions are quite cute at times, if a little juvenile. They’re thirty years old, but they’re acting more smitten and sweet than the 16 year olds in the last young adult romance I read.
That said, if you want to read this book because you want to read about a mere commoner falling in love with a celebrity, then this is the book for you!
Kat is a professional bodyguard, and it’s difficult for her to guard a client who’s so darn alluring. This is probably the most relatable part of the book. She’s trying her hardest not to be distracted by Zac’s presence, because one wrong move could get him killed. Zac doesn’t seem to understand this, and he does his best to distract her with his ridiculous handsomeness. This is a little unrealistic and an unlikable personality trait, considering the fact that he has a secret past, and he is genuinely worried that someone might be targeting him because of it, and that it isn’t just an unstable fan who has him in their crosshairs.
There are a few little inconsistencies in the storytelling. The dialogue between Zac and Kat, while charming and witty, can often be quite stilted. I loved the way that Zac talks--using overly formal language that is reflective of his upbringing--but the inner dialogues of the two protagonists were cringey at times. Kat comments on his use of “fancy words” like “purgatory”, but then she uses the word “incorrigible” to describe him. I’m pretty sure “incorrigible” is a far fancier word than “purgatory”, but maybe that’s just me. Also, Zac is a famous movie star, one who has his very own
stalker , but where is the paparazzi? I don’t think they made an appearance more than during that a scene early in the novel.
The mystery plot of Zac having a stalker was quite intriguing. I found that the suspense plotline was wrapped up a little too neatly, and a little too quickly for my liking. Even the obligatory romance novel scene where Kat and Zac fight near the end seemed contrived. I wasn’t exactly sure what they were fighting over, and it became clear during the scene where they forgive one another and profess the undying love that they’ve had since first laying eyes on each other that they didn’t know what they were fighting over either. Groan.
Despite my critique, this is a sweet, fun, and quick read that's perfect for a night in. I recommend this book to those wanting to read a cutesy insta-love romance story.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ebook to review* 
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My 2020 Reading Challenge
Rating: really liked it
This is my second book by Kathryn Freeman, and it just didn't have the same spark as the first one.
I was so intrigued by this gender swap of The Bodyguard (The Kevin Coster/ Whitney Houston movie), and although the plot is certainly there, there's something I can't quite my finger on missing.
British Actor Zac Edwards is getting creepy notes from a stalker, and until the culprit is behind bars the film studio he works on wants him to have security 24/7. Enter Kat Parker, a quirky ex-military that will be his new bodyguard.
I like both characters separately, and their romance is cute, but the overall pacing dragged and it was quite repetitive. I still think it was a sweet story - I just wanted that something extra.
Thank you Netgalley and One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK for approving me for an ARC on exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
I received a free ebook version of this book through Netgalley. Thankyou to both Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this! My review is still honest.
Up Close and Personal is a bodyguard/celebrity romance in which Kat is our tough, no nonsense, ex-military bodyguard tasked with defending Zac, the hot actor with a dark past. This was actually a very fun romance despite some of the darker themes dealing with abuse and loss. It was humorous and the kind of romance with real chemistry that leaves you feeling all warm!
Kat Parker is officially one of my favourite female characters and Zac is literally the perfect man. He never once worries about Kat's gender affecting her competence and has respect for her in every way. Kat has a so-called 'masculine' body type and doesn't fit in with today's Instagram ambitions but she's so real and wonderful and I loved reading about a woman who doesn't fit into that 'ideal' body type.
This isn't one that totally wowed me as I think there are certain plotlines that could have been developed further (the reveal about Zac's past seemed a little rushed in comparison with all the build-up). I've ended up giving it a comfortable 3 stars, but this was a positive reading experience for me.
Rating: really liked it
On a superficial level,
Up Close and Personal is a fairly enjoyable read - the characters are likable enough in their own rights, the plot is decently compelling, and the light fluff aspect is there. However, I just found myself unable to care about the couple.
Starting from the initial meeting, I couldn't connect to the characters' romantic interest in each other, which all stemmed from an apparent instant attraction for the other person. For my tastes at least, there wasn't enough reasoning given to argue for an emotional link between the two. It appears that whatever was there was enough for the characters though, because they seemed to fall hard, fast.
I would like to take the time to acknowledge that my reception of the book may be colored by a personal preference for romances based in pre-existing relationships. I need an emotional epicenter to latch onto, and with cases of "instant attraction," that need becomes even more vital. Unfortunately, this book just didn't meet my bar with the first interaction, which automatically put it at a disadvantage from the start.
This ended up being a recurring theme though: either Kat or Zac would say or do something that seemed to spark a deep emotional reaction within the other, one that was far more excessive than I thought the situation called for. Consequentially, I remained detached from the couple's feelings for each other. Even when they met via Kat crashing into Zac, the given rationale for Zac being intrigued rather than upset by the woman is that Kat is so apologetic about spilling champagne on him and that the rambling apology is apparently amusing. He is "enthralled" to the point of being unable to move when she heads off to fix the problem she created. Yes, I see how this attraction works in theory, but it just seems to me that Kat was responding how any sane person would in that situation. The only explanation that makes sense to me for Zac's interest, then, is that it must be connected to his physical attraction.
And therein lies my issue. Over and over, the narration would try and convince me that Kat and Zac appeal to each other in an emotional capacity, but it would somehow do so in a way that only seemed to highlight their physical allure toward each other. There were even several occasions where a character's immediate response to an emotional confession by the other was to make out or have sex. I won't be so remiss as to try to claim that the two didn't have an emotional connection at all. There were times where I could agree that one of the character's words were indeed rousingly sweet and charming or that their actions were appealingly thoughtful. However, it just didn't add up to enough - the emotional connection just never even came close to the level of physical attraction that was described, and my overwhelming verdict by the end was that these two just didn't really make a good couple.
This conclusion came on the basis of four observations:
1. The disproportionate emotional responses the two had towards each other, coupled with the constant emphasis on their physical attraction made me feel like they were more in lust than in love. At the very least, it felt reminiscent of a "honeymoon phase" in perhaps a teenager's first relationship. Every emotion felt heightened, but in a "wow, you're being pretty dramatic" way.
2. Probably owing to the intensity of their emotions for each other, Kat and Zac seemed to be constantly letting instinct dictate their reactions. As a result, they were always misinterpreting each other's words or actions or expressions, letting their own emotions color their understanding of the situation (usually in a negative way). This was due to an immense amount of insecurity on both parts, which, while understandable, gets very irritating. Especially when both parties can't grasp that the other person is also insecure.
3. Which leads to my ultimate frustration: the two just don't communicate with each other. The two of them keep so much of their negative impulsive reactions to themselves, and it ends up manifesting in other negative ways, like lashing out at each other for things that aren't the reason they're actually upset. When the majority of a book's conflict could be resolved if the characters just
communicated with each other, it doesn't speak well to how much I'm going to enjoy a read. I'm not asking that the two immediately reveal their deepest secrets in the name of love, but words as simple as "I'm not ready for a relationship due to something I'm not ready to talk about" would go so far in not making the other person - and the reader - want to tear their hair out. Instead, we have characters going through cycles of making bad decisions based on bad assumptions.
4. I'm just hard-pressed to find the two to be emotionally compatible. There is an inherent lack of understanding of the other's thoughts, needs, or wants (besides sex, apparently). Just looking on a fundamental level, Kat's way of showing love is through protecting the people she cares about, while Zac's is by doting on and spoiling others. Kat is highly uncomfortable with being showered with material things, while Zac hates the idea of Kat being put in danger all the time. They spend so much of the book being upset with one another over these key aspects of each other, and I'm not sure that by the end, both parties have compromised enough to convince me that this relationship can last.
Overall, Kat and Zac just didn't seem emotionally mature enough for this relationship. It speaks a lot that I often found the wisest character to be the fourteen-year-old niece (though even she was not immune to the insane emotional logic driving the couple's relationship). By the end, the only thing that I could believe this relationship had going for it was Kat and Zac's physical attraction towards each other, what with the amount of physical intimacy the characters employed in lieu of emotional intimacy. And even that can't be said with 100% conviction.
You would think that with the amount of stress that has been placed - intentionally or not - on the couple's physical chemistry that we could at least see it manifested when they have sex. Instead, in all but one instance, every lead-up to sex essentially ends in a "fade to black"-esque cut. Even the one "explicit" scene felt too general in description to establish what should be a culmination of the clear chemistry between the two. I'm not just trying to ask for smut, I swear. I would just like for some part -
any part - of their relationship click for me. I don't want to come out of a romance novel having no faith in the future of the couple's relationship. And unfortunately, that's what happened. I existed in that weird space where I wanted them to get over all of their excuses for not being together already while not actually supporting their becoming a couple.
I'm highly aware that my dissatisfaction is in no small part magnified by my personal desire to see a relationship deeply rooted on emotional foundations. Someone in search of a lighter read may have no qualms at all with the development of Kat and Zac's relationship - it is fun and flirty after all, when they're not angst-ing over each other. Still, it doesn't change the fact that I spent so much of the time thinking how these two don't belong together that no amount of cheese or vague physical intimacy-induced pleasures or happy endings could save it. I was a client that this bodyguard couldn't protect.
My thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
2.5 stars
This is the second book by Kathryn Freeman I have read and probably going to be my last. Although her books hold alot of potential, it isn't enough to make me read another one. Also once again the cover doesnt depict what the characters look like at all....just why?!
Up Close & Personal held such promise. A gender switched version of the bodyguard?! Yes please. However the execution in the end was quite cringey and not up to scratch.
First the things I liked. The general storyline was really good! As I said, it held so much potential! The characters were also pretty good. Kat was fiery and interesting and Zac was kind and a gentleman. They had fantastic chemistry too.
Sadly, the writing and the intricacies of the story failed for me. It was incredibly repetitive, over and over again they went back and forth despite no real reason for it! It got incredibly frustrating and much of it could have been cut out and been a better book. If one of them got confused about the others feelings one more time I was going to throw my kindle across the room. These are people in their 30's, not teenagers!
Also the whole thing about Zac being incredibly weird and posh because he spoke with real words and liked a clean house got irritating. I could deal with it the first time but it got boring really quick.
The humour was generally really lacking or squeezed for all it was worth.
I won't go on, you can tell it wasn't for me! Such a shame as the story could have been fantastic.
Please note that this book was gifted in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: really liked it
Okay this book took way too long but physical copies r way harder to get through😭
But it was a 3⭐️ purely for the british writing - like i may be british myself but idk what kind of writing this was cuz it sounded like an aunt with kids trying to impress other kids to be ‘cool’
I really love Zac but him at the beginning was hard to get by, maybe im just too big of a feminist but for when he kept mentioning about her gender role when being a bodyguard to a male?? Confused the hell out of me for like half the book
Kat is super awesome though, she was amazing, she was tough, she wasnt perfect, she had a rough time of getting attached to people due to her past which was something i related too a lot.
This book also contains the miscommunication trope, but tbh this book handled it well so not going to complain about that :)
MY ULTIMATE FAVE CHARACTER IS DEBS THOUGH (Kat’s Niece) SHE WAS AMAZING, HER MOTHER IS LITERALLY ME AND DEBS IS JUST SO FUNNY AND SMART HANSKDNWKDDNSK
The author expressed these characters very well, their insecurities and their story was just so well put together that i appreciate them so much, i got attached to the characters wayy more than i expected.
The plot was something easy to understand but the obstacles was a little mess, but overall this was a nice read <3
Rating: really liked it
Review on blog!
Rating: really liked it
Up Close and Personal is a fun, light read which I also found as frustrating as hell. Billed as a gender-swapped version of The Bodyguard, it centres around Zac Edwards, British actor and heartthrob, and Kat Parker, the woman hired to act as his bodyguard when he is threatened by a stalker.
The banter between them is fun, and there is plenty of sexual tension, and I really liked Kat's relationship with her niece, who she is looking after while her sister is in rehab.
My problem with this book was largely how Kat was portrayed. She has spent three years working as a bodyguard after serving in the army for twelve years, and we are told (and shown) that she is good at her job. And yet... we first meet her when she trips in her high heels and spills champagne all over the hero. Then we see her being late for a meeting. Then we see her messy apartment. And throughout the book, her perpetual lateness, messiness and clumsiness when wearing traditional feminine clothing come up again and again as though they are charming quirks.
This drove me nuts. Kat has spent twelve years in the army, for goodness' sake. I find it very, very hard to believe that this sort of sloppiness would have been permitted in the army (particularly as my understanding is that women who serve often have to hold themselves to higher standards just to be taken seriously), and it takes more than three years to break that sort of ingrained habit. As for the clumsiness in heels... surely if you are a bodyguard who might have to work at formal events you would either learn to walk in heels or BUY SOME FORMAL SHOES THAT ARE ALSO FLATS.
I feel as though Kat was given these character traits in order to make her seem more approachable and feminine (we don't want to undermine Zac's masculinity, after all!), but instead, she wound up looking unprofessional at best and incompetent at worst.
I could also write reams about Zac's issues with letting a woman for whom he had Feelings put herself at risk for him (mate, it's her JOB, if you respected her you might settle down and let her do it?). And while I won't spoil the ending, I felt that once again it made Zac into a hero when in fact he was once more demonstrating his complete lack of respect for her competence.
(And it's infuriating, because Zac *already* has every advantage over Kat - wealth, class, education, sexual experience and more. At least let her be good at the things she really is good at.)
So yeah. While there were a lot of fun and sweet things in this book, it was also kind of enraging. The novel's desperate need to show us that Zac really was all that and a bag of chips (even if he required a – gasp! – female bodyguard) unfortunately meant that there was no room for Kat to shine as a heroine– which was a pity, because she had the capacity to be quite a good one.
Rating: really liked it
This was surprisingly action packed and heavy but i enjoyed
@sandhya there is mafia
