Up Close and Personal is a new romantic comedy by Kathryn Freeman. The story is about Zac, a famous actor who has a stalker following him. Instead of hiring the typical muscle bound dude, he gets Kat a young woman who takes her new role very seriously. Sparks fly almost immediately with these two, but will straight laced Kat fall for the charming Zac?

This was my first book from this author and I was excited to find another rom-com writer. I found her style engaging and the characters were well developed. The pacing was pretty good and her ability to write funny banter was excellent. Until the book turned into something darker.

Out of no where the fun and light rom-com turned oddly dark as we started learning about Kat's PTSD and her time in the army. This sudden shift in tone really pulled me out of the book, and I found that all the quick progress I had made reading the book suddenly came to a screeching halt. Then we learn that Zac has his own secrets and all of this extra drama and angst felt inauthentic to the beginning of the story.

In general I love NA romances and especially ones set in England as I'm a big fan of British TV and movies. However, this book just didn't quite hit the mark for me. There were some pop culture references that really lock this book in a certain time period, and I'm never a big fan of that. Never the less, I did enjoy myself reading this book and am giving it 3 stars. I would have loved to see more of the light hearted tone follow through the entire book, but I think the heavier story line may be popular with other readers.

It starts off super predictable and over the to flirtatious right off the bat and I can tell it's an opposites attract trope. The story feels stale, including the characters and story setup, by just four chapters. In the novella, it finally starts picking up steam around page 70 after the slow exposition. It's a bunch of unreleased sexual tension and that's primarily the book. Zac's past is finally revealed at the end and this rawness is what I wanted from the beginning, it's just a shame it took too long to get there. Then, story moves super fast and feels like a rush to complete the hallmarks of a HEA before the final pages left, but that feels forced. It's super mushy and ehh I just couldn't get into it. Yes, Kat is badass but so dumb when it comes to love and all the fierceness goes out the window. It was fine, just fine.

The book jumps straight into the storyline, no messing about! I love the element of mystery which flow through this book, really adds something extra.

The language which Kathryn uses all the way through is so real and believable. There wasn’t a moment where the book didn’t flow, it was incredibly easy to read.

I was incredibly invested in both the main characters equally and both had very cleverly woven back stories which seeped our every now and again to peak interest!

Zac is an actor in need of a bodyguard after receiving some threats. Kat is a close protection officer, assigned to protect him. Freeman takes the bodyguard trope and flips it on it's side by making Kat the protector and Zac the protectee.

This was a cute rom-com type book, with an instant connection. Both Kat and Zac are instantly attracted to each other upon first meeting, but Kat wants to stay professional. I like how both Kat and Zac have hidden aspects of their past and how we get a glimpse into how this formed who they are as people moving into this romance. This slow burn and development just makes it all the better.

The plot felt a little forced at times, but I really felt for Zac and Kat with some of their back story. I liked the witty banter back and forth between the two main characters and it was easy to get lost in. With this being a forbidden romance, there was a lot of build up to the first kiss, but that made the anticipation leading up to it worth it.

This is a typical romance in many ways, but did a good job of putting in some deeper topics as well. Up Close and Personal was a delightfully entertaining story that was a quick paced romantic read. 3/5 stars

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher for an open and honest review. All opinions are 100% mine.

This book was full of promise and the initial chapter had me completely hooked. I really thought the two characters were going to have some witty banter and good flirty chemistry, but besides the physical attraction and being forced to spend time together there wasn't really much of a connection. Zac's inability to stay professional, despite Kat's clear wishes was off-putting, and when we finally got round to the characters having sex for the first time it solidified this. Kat's anxieties around having sex seemed brushed over and some of her thoughts and conversations about her anxieties were objectionable. Although the next chapter tells us how much that Kat enjoyed the whole experience, during the scene I felt that the two characters weren't completely into it, and that they should have opened up more about what she was feeling, instead of just opening up a condom and ignoring her reservations. This then left a bad taste in my mouth about the relationship and I had wished that the two characters would be more open and honest with each other from earlier on in the book.
I felt that the book had a promising and intriguing plot but the first two thirds really failed to deliver this. I felt like the stalker plot line could have been expanded but instead it was used as a quick device to get these two characters in the same room.
Overall, I really wanted to love this one but, in the end, I found it a bit sluggish and overall not what I had wanted it to be. However this might be due to my own personal romance preferences, and so other readers may still enjoy it.
2 out of 5 stars.

This book is a wonderful story that develops around the bodyguard trope. It is the story of Zac and Kat.

Zac is the movie star actor with a stalker. His life turned upside down when notes were delivered to his house. His new reality includes a bodyguard who is to accompany him everywhere.

Kat is the one hired to protect him. This is her chance to prove herself to her boss, a high profile actor safety is her priority.

Those two are polar opposites, Zac is always on time, if not early, his apartment is always clean, tidy and everything is where it should. While Kat is often late, always loses her keys and her apartment is a mess. I liked how their differences were portrayed. The more time they spend together, the closer they got and since they were practically always together it created some lovely tension.

Zac is a sweetheart, he doesn't speak much but this doesn't stop Kat from talking about everything and anything. Kat is from her nature a protective person, caring about Zac is comes naturally to her, but when she starts caring more for him than her previous clients things get complicated.

The storyline kept my interest through the whole book. The mystery was very entertaining and the romance was amazing. I had a great time reading it.


*I received an arc from the publisher through Netgalley.

I had a hard time with the concept and conceit of the book. The first 1/3 was pretty cute but it started to lag in the latter parts for me.

I didn't hate this... but I didn't love it. I really liked the beginning, and then it felt a bit more boring with a weird romance, and then it got interesting again and finally the end... meh.

This did feel real with the whole stalker thing going on and needing a bodyguard but it also felt rushed with the romance bit.

Overall it was still an enjoyable read and I'm glad I got the opportunity to read before publication, with all this said, I still recommend this if you're a fan of adult romances.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved Zac and Kat and really enjoyed reading their story. I loved that there was more to the story than just a romance. I also loved the relationship between Kat and her niece Debs, it really added to the story.

I was hooked from the beginning and flew through it!

It's a great read!

This is a charming British rom-com following Kat Parker who is charged with protecting superstar actor Zac Edwards after a crazed fan leaves a menacing note on his front door. I ended up DNF'ing this book at 43%. I found the characters to be interesting on their own, but I did not feel any chemistry between the two. I typically love the 'forbidden romance' theme but it fell a little flat for me. I will not give this a star rating on GoodReads because I didn't finish it. Ultimately, my reasons for not liking this enough to finish it comes down to personal preference. The plot itself became way deeper than I was anticipating for a rom-com. But, I thought this book was very well written and witty at times. Just because it was not my cup of tea, does not mean you should not read it.

Up Close and Personal is a contemporary romance brimming with repressed attraction.

A famous actor is being harassed by a crazy fan. Instead of the bulky guy he was hoping for, his employer presents him with Kat, a brave and irresistible female bodyguard.

Zac Edwards is famous, rich, and oh-so-organized. He is always punctual, dresses impeccably, and takes his work very seriously.

Kat is a former soldier with a traumatic past and a problematic family. She is usually on time, but her life is very messy. This job opportunity is her chance of proving herself and finally moving on with her life.

There is an instant connection between the main characters, but Kat is reluctant to get involved. I love all the sexual tension and the fact that the characters get to know each other before anything happens.

I felt for Zac, but I liked how Kat was down to earth despite being tempted by an extremely handsome movie star. I'm not sure I would have resisted that long if I was in her shoes.

Up Close and Personal is a delightful story. A very entertaining and romantic read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 06/12/2020*

I did not really enjoy this book, and it felt like a struggle to get through. First of all, Zac couldn't take no for an answer and it just left a bad taste in my mouth from the very beginning. He came across as creepy and forward (even if he wasn't really) which seemed like really poor taste in the current me too movement. Also I couldn't stand the back and forth between the two characters. They seemed like whiney adolescents. They were not truthful with each other and constantly making assumptions about the other without being honest. The only character that had any value with Deb the teenage niece. I usually love a romance and escape from reality but this one just wasn't it for me.

I was initially really excited about reading this book. Who wouldn’t want to read about a female bodyguard having feelings for the actor she is paid to protect? Having read and really enjoyed a previous book by this author just amped my excitement. However everything about this book just felt flat, the characters, the dialogue, the plot, the amount of telling and not showing. There was nothing there that added any sort of sparkle to the pages. I would try this author again but this book is not one I would read again.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a brilliant and entertaining read - very different from the typical romances and was filled with many secrets that I was eager to find out more about!

Plus, Kathryn Freeman mentions my favourite actor (aka love of my life), Dylan O'Brien, so 10000 brownies points there!

Part romance, part thriller, this was a great read! The will they/won't they is always something I am drawn to, and Freeman did an excellent job in this book! It drew me in and I didn't want to put it down! A perfect summer read. Highly recommend!

I liked the idea of this book and where it was going but unfortunately it just fell flat for me. It took me quite a while to finish as it just didn't hold my attention.

From the very first page I have been hooked, Zac and Kat's meeting has completely enhanced my excitement for this read. I instantly jumped for a place on the tour for this author. She is amazing and her books are great reads. 
This is a heartwarming read which has left me smiling. I have been reminded of the 'Bodyguard' which is one of my favourite films ever. The similarities have made this a perfect read. 
This is a cute little read which I highly recommend, I adore this author. There is no way I could give this book anything except five stars. I have nothing negative I could possibly say about this book.

Super cute romance that is like The Bodyguard but with way more chemistry :-)
Kat is a bodyguard trying to shake of the demons of her past.
Zac is an actor with a stalker he just can't seem to shake, or at least...he wants it to a be a stalker. Turns out, Kat isn't the only one with a closet full of secrets. As the story unfolds the chemistry sizzles, and soon Kat and Zac realize they need to come clean about their pasts.
Predictable, yes; but still a cute story that will whisk readers away from reality.
This one will be easy to recommend to romance readers who want a little twist to the story AND to readers a little reluctant to give romance a go. A perfect little gateway to romance read!

Actual stars: 4.25

This was a flip on the typical bodyguard falling for the client. In this book, the client is Zac, a popular movie actor. And the bodyguard is Kat, a former soldier who now works security. She’s tough and determined not to be involved personally with the client. But Zac turns out to be such a nice and interesting guy. And he falls for Kat right away.

Zac seems to be a lucky guy with no problems. He comes from a noble British family and he’s a rising star. But someone is stalking him. And all is not what it seems. And Kat has some dark spots in her background.

There was the right mix of suspense and romance and character development in this entertaining read.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

The premise of this story seemed fun (a taciturn female bodyguard to a male celebrity), but honestly the story lacks spark and interest. I really struggled to finish it, and I definitely saw the twist a mile away. Two stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*