This was a good sapphic romance! Many of the characters in the book identified as LGBTQ and that was really nice to see. Some were open, some were closeted, and that was also a refreshing perspective. The unfolding of the love story between the two female leads was slow, but I wouldn’t necessarily call it a slow burn. Things did really heat up, and it felt like natural timing. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

Loved this book! Couldn't put it down and want to read more about the characters. I'm sad it's over! 5 stars!!

In Rachel Lacey's latest novel, Hollywood star Natalie Keane desperately needs protection from a relentless stalker. Faced with the impossibility of remaining incognito due to her fame, Natalie opts for a creative solution—a bodyguard posing as her girlfriend. Enter Taylor, a seasoned protector sidelined by a recent injury, eager to return to action and jump at this unique opportunity.

Natalie's plight is deeply moving; trapped in a luxurious but isolating existence, her life is more akin to a prisoner's than a celebrated actress's. The introduction of Taylor into her household marks the beginning of a challenging but transformative journey. As Taylor breaks down Natalie's walls, their arrangement takes on new dimensions.

The pretense of their romantic relationship provides both comic relief and palpable tension. Their initial interactions are delightfully clumsy as Taylor struggles to shed her professional demeanor. However, the undeniable attraction between them quickly heats up, leading to intense, passionate encounters that are both tender and fiery.

Lacey excels in conveying a spectrum of emotions, making her characters' experiences resonate with authenticity. Natalie's gradual resurgence of safety and trust under Taylor's vigilant care is as compelling as it is touching. Meanwhile, Taylor grapples with her own vulnerabilities—questioning the possibility of love between a celebrity and a bodyguard is no small feat.

Surrounding the central romance are a host of well-crafted secondary characters and charming pets, each adding depth and warmth to the story. Lacey's blend of sharp dialogue, humor, and engaging backstories enriches the narrative, making it a romance and a heartfelt exploration of facing one's fears and embracing love.

Thank you to the publisher eARC!

What a wonderful read! Steamy, great characters and a brilliant story. Would that we all had a body guard like Taylor!!!

I am so sorry. I read this long ago, before my divorce trauma, so I do not remember it. I do not have access to the book any longer and really do not remember anything about

Cover Story is a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and redemption set against the backdrop of the fashion world. Leigh's descriptive writing brings the glitz and glamour of the industry to life, while her multi-dimensional characters add depth and complexity to the narrative. With its twists and turns, it keeps readers on the edge of their seats, making it a must-read for fans of romantic suspense. Leigh's skillful storytelling and engaging plot make this novel a captivating journey from beginning to end.

This was an excellent sapphic celebrity romance. The characters were well crafted and PTSD was handled especially well.

More detail covered on the Queerly Recommended podcast.

This book was such a cute read, it gave me all the feels and I honestly flew through it. The characters just made me so happy, they worked so well and I needed to know more! This story deals with some pretty strong storylines, but I felt they were dealt with so well. I couldn't help but root for these two from very early on!

Cover Story was such a cute, suspenseful and angsty sapphic bodyguard romance and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! I’m always appreciate queer representation, specifically sapphic novels! This was such a fun book to read. Very readable. Fantastic characters who work well together. The narrative provided a good deal of insight into the regrettably important justifications for celebrities' security.
Definitely worth reading.! Swoonworthy romance!

What does Rachel Lacey’s new novel Cover Story have in common with the second-highest grossing film of 1992, The Bodyguard? A lot. Or nothing at all. If you’ve seen The Bodyguard, Cover Story will definitely feel familiar. There really are only so many ways that a celebrity/bodyguard romance can go, after all.

Unlike Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, who were both nominated for Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Acting, Natalie Keane is going into awards season with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her performance in A Case for Love. She should be happy, but all she can think about is that the man who kidnapped her years earlier is about to be released from prison. Wanting to increase her security but not give the press a story in the process, Natalie and her team hatch the Romance Novel Plan of Plans: a fake relationship in which the fake girlfriend is a real bodyguard.

Bodyguard Taylor Vaughn, newly cleared for duty after aggressively rehabbing Chekhov’s back injury, is more than happy to take on this unconventional job. Actually, hold on for just a second. In our world, the whole “celebrity falls in love with her bodyguard” would be seen as “unconventional.” In Lacey’s world(s), or in any world where romance novel plots are real, though, a love story where sparks fly that we know the ending of all too well wouldn’t be unconventional at all, would it?

Really, think about it. One of my favorite reads of 2023 was Stars Collide, which features Taylor in the role of bodyguard to Eden Sands (who also shows up in Cover Story). As romance readers, we’ve grown accustomed to this kind of serendipity. Or kismet. Call it what you want, but think about how many things in our world would have to go just right in order for our wildest dreams to come true. As I continue to become more familiar with the genre, I’m still trying to figure out if the escapism of the romance novel is helpful or not. What I’m noticing, I think, is that the escapism of the genre pairs very well with explorations of trauma. Fortunately, that is exactly what Lacey has to offer in Cover Story.

I love author’s notes/acknowledgments that add to the novel in some meaningful way. In the Acknowledgements section for Cover Story, Lacey talks about the process of shifting the original direction of the novel to one that focuses more on safety and healing from trauma. If you’re not familiar, the 80s and most of the 90s were an interesting time for romance in films. Yes, there were plenty of romcoms, but there were also lots of romantic dramas/thrillers. The Bodyguard is, of course, one of those romantic drama/thrillers. (I had occasion to rewatch The Bodyguard not too long ago; considering that it was written in 1975 and filmed in the early 90s, the fact that it holds up at all is impressive.) It’s true that suspense can heighten a romance plot, but as a Sandra Bullock character once said, “Relationships that start under intense circumstances, they never last.”

That is certainly not the case, however, in a romance world of kismet and HEAs. Who needs reality when you have serendipity? I love The Shop Around the Corner (1940), and I have warm feelings toward both of its remakes, In the Good Old Summertime (1949) and You’ve Got Mail (1998). Maybe I’ve always had a thing for the enemies-to-lovers trope. Who doesn’t love not being able to tell the difference between bickering and banter? (If done correctly, they’re the same thing.) What makes Read Between the Lines (2021), Lacey’s updated version of this story, so rewarding, though, is how—eventually—Rosie and Jane are able to help each other overcome deeply personal obstacles. You can also see Lacey trending in this direction in her earlier Midnight in Manhattan series.

Picking up Cover Story, I knew that I was going to find a story about two people who learned to treat each other with care. That’s what Lacey does so well, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed with her newest story. (I do find myself questioning why I’m especially drawn to plots that involve celebrities like Natalie Keane and Eden Sands, but that particular exploration is best kept for another day.) One thing I do find disappointing—Lacey’s fictional movies are just that: fictional.

I’m guessing that most people know The Bodyguard for the song that Dolly Parton gave to Whitney Houston. You know…the song. What I’m trying to say is that you don’t have to listen to the A-side of the The Bodyguard soundtrack while reading Cover Story, but I certainly recommend it. You can also listen to Lacey’s own playlist for the novel. Either way, if this is your first Rachel Lacey novel, be prepared for the adorable pets.

I loved it so much- a great story about trauma and finding the person you can be yourself with. I finished it and wanted to start it again.

The beginning did stress me out a bit- why didn’t Natalie give Taylor acting tips right from the start? When she got disappointed in her, it bugged me. ALSO, Taylor is getting introduced everyone at the awards show but they didn’t discuss the end game. How will Taylor ever get a job again?! She will get recognized all the time and create attention and chaos.

And- why didn’t they hire a PD it see where the kidnapper went after jail? They end up mentioning a weekly update from her security team but there was no mention before that.

Thank you to NetGalley + Montlake for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I have thoroughly enjoyed every book I've read by Rachel Lacey and Cover Story was no exception.

We meet Natalie, a leading lady in Hollywood who has paid a steep price for her fame. After being stalked 8 years ago, the man responsible is now getting out on parole — and Natalie is determined to not have another interaction with the man who took her sense of security and power away. However, she doesn't want the media to know she's beefing up security because her stalker is getting out of jail, so she comes up with a cover story of hiring a bodyguard to pose as her girlfriend, and the woman hired for the job is Taylor, who was Eden's bodyguard in Stars Collide!

The dynamic between Natalie and Taylor was filled with sexual chemistry and heat, but also softness and genuine love for each other. The mental health representation was really well done and important, especially with the open discussion of therapy and its benefits. And any story that features dogs AND cats is a winner in my nook.

Rachel is particularly talented at writing intimate scenes that feel real, even going so far as to having the characters talk about their likes and dislikes during sex, which is something we should be normalizing because not everything works for everyone and that's OK!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and Rachel is one of my favorite sapphic romance writers. She just doesn't miss!

Eight years ago actress Natalie Keane was kidnapped by a crazed fan. She has lived in fear ever since that day. When she learns the man is up for parole, it sends her into a tailspin. She doesnt feel safe with just her normal bodyguard. It is decided to hire a female bodyguard to move in with her and pose as her girlfriend. Taylor has been off with an injury and her first role back is to protect Natalie.
A job that isnt easy as natalie is very closed off to start with. Cover Story by Rachel Lacey is an enjoyable romance between our two leading ladies. I loved how protective they both ended up being of each other. I found myself laughing at the antics of Cassie the kitten.

From beginning to end, Cover Story is an engrossing Hollywood romance that will not let you go. The narrative centers on Natalie Keane, a popular actress dealing with a prior trauma. To help her deal with the perils of celebrity, Natalie Keane enlists Taylor Vaughn as her bodyguard and pretend girlfriend. However, what begins as a cover tale soon turns into a meaningful and profound bond between the two ladies.

A wonderfully compelling book, the author's storyline skillfully blends romance, suspense, and character development. The characters' genuineness and their quest for love and healing were what I cherished most. Witnessing Natalie and Taylor overcome their pasts together was deeply moving since they seemed like real people with their own shortcomings and vulnerabilities.

The chemistry that existed between Natalie and Taylor in the book was one of my favourite elements. I was intrigued by their slow-burning relationship and cheered them on right up until the very end. In addition, Lacey is a master at crafting poignant sequences that can be frightening, depressing, or humorous; these skills gave the narrative more nuance and complexity.

I didn't have any particular dislikes. I was completely captivated by the plot, the characters were well-developed, and the pacing was perfect.

In conclusion, lovers of sapphic love stories and Hollywood romances should definitely read this five-star book. Long after you've turned the last page, this moving and engrossing book will make you smile.

One word: OBSESSED.
I was so thrilled when I found out Rachel Lacey was writing a book with Taylor as the main love interest as I loved her as a side character in STARS COLLIDE, which was one of my favorite contemporary romances of 2023. Celebrity romances are so fun for me, hence why I loved STARS COLLIDE so much. In COVER STORY, Natalie Keane is still processing and healing from a horrific kidnapping that happened years ago. When the news that her kidnapper is being released from prison, Natalie decides to hire another bodyguard and have her pose as her girlfriend for extra protection. The chemistry between those two is off the charts and I loved the slow burn feel to their dynamic. I am wondering if Rachel Lacey will write another contemporary romance within this world that she has created and who it will be about... we've already got a couple in the film industry but Tommy and Ali, perhaps? Also I was in love with Natalie's dogs. I could just picture them in my head with their little tail nubs wagging. I am not surprised that Rachel Lacey knocked it out of the ballpark again and I am certainly not complaining. COVER STORY was a fantastic celebrity, sapphic romance and I will be thinking about it all year.! Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for a free copy of this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. Loved how easy the story was although it was quite predictable. This was a fun Witty read with the perfect amount of spice. I do definitely recommend this book in the future.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. This story took some twists and turns that I did not expect which I enjoyed overall. I did like the inside look at celebrity and being on a set that many people will never see and that both Natalie and Taylor needed to grow and change as well as accepting their own limits. It was sweet but not groundbreaking as a novel. It hits the usual tropes which can be exactly what you want. No need to read the previous story as I had not so you can follow along as needed. 3 stars.

I loved it, barely looked up from the page all through it. There was off page jeopardy and I love how that was handled. I saw the romance unfold rather than was told about it. I usually write review notes as I’m reading, unless I’m totally engrossed. I was totally engrossed. I started my notes when I reckoned the book was on its wind down. It wasn’t! The final section moved it from a 4.5 to 5.

This is set in the same time/place as Stars Collide which I loved so I was excited to dive in and it did not disappoint. It’s such a cute sapphic romance. Taylor was swoon worthy and there was so much chemistry between her and Natalie. You can’t beat a good fake dating romance and this was done perfectly. It’s a bit of a slow burn and the tension really builds. I also loved the vulnerability that both characters showed and can I get a round of applause for characters actually communicating. The way they show up for each other was beautiful.

The stalker element adds some suspense and shows the darker side of fame. There are so many great settings, from being on set to the awards shows and they are all written so well you feel like you’re there. There are also some fantastic supporting characters who are funny and lovable as well as adorable pets. I’m gonna need Noelle’s story asap.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review