4 STARS ✮ CD REISS ✮ BODYGUARD

BODYGUARD

Hollywood A-List #2

CD Reiss

✮ ✮ ✮ 4 STARS ✮ ✮ ✮

Protecting a celebrity in Hollywood isn’t easy, but protecting Emily could break his heart.

Emily enjoys all the perks of fame—the parties, the glamour, the tours—but they’ve brought her back to the attention of a dangerous ex-boyfriend hell bent on getting her back.

Enter Carter Kincaid, a bodyguard so crushingly sexy he takes her breath away.

Carter’s the best in the business and Emily is—professionally speaking—off-limits. But when it comes to stirring his desires, she’s hitting all the right notes. What’s happening between them is so hot it could get both of them burned. As Emily’s past gets closer, Carter is willing to break every rule of the job to save her. But letting Emily into his life also means letting her in on the secrets of his own past. For both of them, falling in love could be the greatest risk of all.

I have been a fan of CD Reiss' storytelling since her Song of Submission series. This series is a lot less angsty than SOS but not less captivating. I adored the first, Bombshell, in this series and though we always compare books to previous works and this one wasn't a five star book for me Bodyguard was still highly entertaining.

Emily is a choreographer for her best friend and superstar. She has given up her career for her then-boyfriend who couldn't handle other people touching her on-stage. Said boyfriend has turned into a stalker after she broke up with him when she realized that their relationship was toxic. She has since been living in a golden cage, surrounded by the newest tech guarding her. She feels trapped, her life isn't a life any longer but existing on a daily basis. She has nothing to look forward to, survival always in the forefront of her mind.

What a sad life it must be, living locked up, not having the freedom to go wherever and whenever you want to. You don't know how good your life is until this freedom has been taken from you. In that regard I admired Emily for her patience and courage. She is a sweet heroine with a vulnerability about her that completely endeared her to me. Her insecurities were so relatable. Her self-confidence had been crushed by her ex.

Carter Kincaid, bodyguard and all around hot guy, is insanely private, mysterious, yet sweet and protective. When he meets Emily he is drawn to her. At first his excuse to keep her at arm's length is her being his principal making it impossible for him to do his job. His first-hand experience with stalkers make him perfect for the job to protect the graceful dancer.

Stalkers had a special place in my heart. The place where I kept violence and foul language.

Carter was wonderful. Hot, protective and very clear what he wants from Emily. There is a bit of a push and pull going on which made me a little impatient with him but in the end he was a wonderful hero who couldn't hide how much he adored his Tiny Dancer, even when she messed up. I also LOVED Carter's relationship with his son Phin. The way they reassured each other their love was adorable and all kinds of touching, especially in the light of the truth.

“Hey, Dad. Size of my heart.”
We fist-bumped. “Size of mine."

There is always a sense of doubting himself, second-guessing his decisions, which made him feel real, authentic. He wasn't cocky, he knew he was a capable man but he knew his limits.

Both of them have to break out of their personal prisons. While Carter's is self-imposed, Emily's is out of necessity to survive. They also have some letting go of the past to do.
Their relationship changes everything and both of them find strength in their feelings and start to make room for the other one in their life.

You are under my protection. Let me say it again so you understand what it means when I say that. There’s Phin, and there’s you. You are my business. Your safety and . . . no, not just your safety. Your happiness, your comfort, your well-being . . . I’m taking the responsibility for those things off your plate. It’s all on me.”

I loved the spark they had, their chemistry. Carter just couldn't stay away or keep his hands off of Emily. And that those sexy times?

Another highlight was Darlene's and Emily's friendship. Darlene really took care of her best friend, securing her safety, always offering a haven. There is also a little twist that might come as a surprise.

CD Reiss Hollywood A-List series is sexy and light-hearted compared to some of her other series and Bodyguard checked all my boxes. It puts you right into tinseltown and makes you a part of it. I thoroughly enjoyed myself reading Bodyguard. Now I'm looking forward to the next in the series and can't wait to find out who it will be about!