I really enjoyed this take on a bodyguard/celebrity romance, which is no surprise because I love all of Lacey’s sapphic books and she does Hollywood so well. There’s a lot of trauma in this one but I thought the author handled it throughout the book deftly. The only thing I was hesitant about was wondering how much of Natalie’s interest in Taylor was the feeling of safety vs being in love with her as a person - at the same time, the chemistry was hotttt so I was convinced in the end. Both characters felt fully realized and I flew through their journey together. Look for this one next year!

Short Summary: Taylor is the consummate professional so when she’s hired to be a celebrity’s fake girlfriend/real bodyguard, she doesn’t blink. But the more the pair get to know each other, the more the lines blur, and Taylor finds she doesn’t only want to protect Natalie’s body but her heart too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first book I've read by Rachel Lacey, and it won't be the last. First, I want to say I loved the dynamic between Taylor and Natalie. I felt so bad for Natalie, but I loved how Taylor was there for her from the beginning. We go about our lives having to wear mask and to find someone who sees through the mask and accepts you for who you are is beautiful. The story was well written their friendship/relationship flowed so easily. I was rooting for Natlie the whole book. PTSD is real and to go through something traumatic like that alone I felt so bad for her. I loved Taylor and her parents. I thought it was honorable how she was sacrificing her body so she could take care of her parents. Cover Story was such a good book, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

I absolutely adored the use of astronomy as a metaphor in this book. The way this book was written had me hooked immediately. The pacing was perfect and by the first few chapters I had already found myself really liking these characters. I have never been someone who was drawn very heavily towards bodyguard romance tropes but this was written in such a beautiful way I found myself extremely attached to this couple. Their love story was sweet and cute and was so focused on the complexities of the characters which I absolutely adored. Their issues and traumas are taken seriously and worked through with love, which was so beautiful to see. Queer writing from a place of love and respect for the community warms my heart and this was clearly the case in this book. I loved the way the writing switched between Taylor and Natalie’s perspectives, it truly helps you understand what each of the characters are going through and helps you love them that much more. This is my favorite sapphic book yet and I will be grabbing the physical copy as soon as I can get my hands on it.

This was such an exciting book! I loved the characters and plot which is perfect for any romance lover. COVER STORY is a must read.

This book was pure joyous escapism for me from start to finish. As it turns out, it is actually the second in a series (which I didn't know), but you really don't have to have read the first instalment (I went and read it straight afterwards of course!).

After being injured Taylor, who appears in the first novel as a celebrity bodyguard, takes on a new assignment with actress Natalie Keane. Natalie has been through hell after being kidnapped by a stalker years prior, who is about to be released from prison. To avoid the publicity an extra bodyguard would cause, Taylor is hired to pose as her girlfriend - will this become more than professional?

I really loved the setting, it did feel like the reality of celebrity was shown well, particularly how negative fame can be, and the effect it can have on stars and their personal lives. Taylor and Natalie were really well rounded characters, and the author really created a great chemistry between them. It gave me definite 90s Bodyguard movie vibes (and I am here for the cute pets as well!)

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC!

4.5 stars

Oh wow!! I sat down on a frosty Sunday day snuggled up with my dogs and just devoured this book! I loved it ! I adored Natalie & Taylor. Nat a movie star who’s got a heartbreaking past and Taylor who’s a body guard strong independent with lovely parents. Nat’s 2 dogs are brilliant loved them Taylor finding that kitten was behold adorable little Cassie had my heart. I really enjoyed this from the story to the characters everything was so beautifully written easy to read and over all brilliant. A roll coaster of emotions and a sweet love story 2 people totally made for each other I really really need Noelle story’s. Definitely recommend

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the fate dating trope, mixed with the actress x bodyguard trope take drizzled with (emotional) hurt/comfort throughout.

Natalie Keene, an A-list actress, has to hire extra security due to a threat, but wants to keep it under wraps. Taylor Vaughn has made a career as a bodyguard for celebrities, but what happens when she's made to masquerade as Natalie's girlfriend instead. Will it be the perfect cover?

I do appreciate how the story takes it time to show the emotional state Natalie has to go through to accept and acknowledge her ptsd with her previous stalker. At the same time, it shows how Taylor has to deal with her injury while, trying to hold this facade. Both of them slowly taking the time to hear each other out and to just be there for one another. I was so immersed in their story that I finished it all in one session.

Rachel Lacey is an auto buy author for me, I absolutely adore her books and I literally squealed when I saw the ARC of Cover Story live on NetGalley.

After loving Taylor (Eden’s Bodyguard) in Stars Collide, I was eager to read her own story.

After an injury Taylor- a bodyguard to the rich and famous- has been off active duty for months. When, famous actress, Natalie Keane’s stalker is released from prison more security is required to keep her safe. To prevent a media storm surrounding John Becker’s release, she hires a female bodyguard but spins the media a ‘cover story’ that the bodyguard is in fact her girlfriend. With the forced proximity a clear connection from a previous meeting-back when Taylor was Eden’s bodyguard- will these two blur the lines or remain professional?

First, I need to just say that I am totally here for this celebrity series. I loved the rehearsal/tour setting of Stars Collide and the Golden Globes, Oscar, Met Gala, film setting of this book.

I really enjoyed the character depth and gaining a deeper understanding of the negatives of fame through the unnerving interactions with the public and the fear and anxiety those experiences can create. It’s definitely given me a different perspective.

The tension between Taylor and Natalie is scorching throughout. The desire is something else and the steamy moments didn’t disappoint.

Fans of Stars Collide will be happy to hear that Eden and Anna have a small cameo during the epilogue. I’m really hoping this is not the end of the series as I’m dying for a Noelle and Brit book after the glimpse into Noelle and their past relationship.

Read if you enjoy:
- Celebrity/bodyguard
- Fake Dating
- Forced Proximity
- Sapphic Romance

Favourite Quotes:

𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒖𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆.

𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓.

𝑰'𝒎 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰'𝒎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖.

𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒊𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖- 𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆- 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕.

Thank you Montlake, Rachel Lacey and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Bodyguard, but make it sapphic 💕. Need I say more?

I heard about Cover Story via Instagram sometime earlier this year but forgot to add it to the tbr and recent searches came up empty. A Thanksgiving miracle brought it to my NetGalley homepage and I was so excited to dive in.

Natalie is an A-list actress making the award show circuit for her latest film. She had a terrifying kidnapping encounter in the past and with her kidnapper now being released from prison, she needs extra protection around-the-clock. Hoping to keep the media from discovering her kidnapper’s release, she hires an additional bodyguard, Taylor, to pose as her girlfriend and off we go.

Natalie & Taylor are a slow burn, but I enjoyed their characters, chemistry, and liked this even more than Stars Collide where we first met Taylor. We get cameos from Anna & Eden, two lovable boxers, a mischievous kitten, and some solid backstories. There were some pauses and jumps in the narrative when Nat & Taylor are together where I really hoped to see their interactions more, but this was still a solid 3.5 stars for me. It’s been great to see more wlw fiction with thirtysomethings in the lead and I’m crossing fingers Rachel will feature Noelle Dara in her next book (serious Evelyn Hugo vibes). I’d also be here for a series or film with them all!

Thank you to Rachel Lacey, NetGalley, and Montlake for the opportunity to read this in advance of its 2024 release.

What a great little book. Perfect amount of romance and storyline. Super adorable. Enjoyed the characters and story development. Looking forward to reading more from this author.