Katherine Center – författare

Hon skyddar hans liv. Han stjäl hennes hjärta. Och deras hemlighet kan förändra allt

Hannah Brooks ser ut som den sista personen du skulle tro är livvakt. Mer som en förskollärare än någon som kan slå ut dig på två sekunder. Men skenet bedrar. Hon är en topptränad livvakt och har just fått det mest oväntade uppdraget i sin karriär: att skydda en hollywoodstjärna från en besatt stalker.

Jack Stapleton är en internationell filmstjärna och hjärtekrossare, odödliggjord på tidningsomslag världen över. Vågorna, solnedgångarna, de perfekta badshortsen. Paparazzis älskar honom. Men när hans mamma blir sjuk lämnar han strålkastarljuset och åker hem till familjens ranch i Texas. Och där väntar ett problem: han vill inte att familjen ska veta om hotet. Eller livvakten.

Så Hannah får ett uppdrag hon aldrig bett om – att låtsas vara Jacks flickvän. Nära varandra, dag efter dag, under samma tak. Att hålla honom vid liv är inte svårt. Att hålla känslorna i schack däremot är hennes farligaste uppdrag hittills.

''My perfect ten of a book.'' EMILY HENRY*The instant New York Times bestseller!*

She''s got his back. He''s got her heart. They''ve got a secret. What could possibly go wrong?

READERS LOVE THE BODYGUARD

THE LATEST FEEL GOOD ROM-COM FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE ROM-COMMERSIt''s a thin line between loving and hating...****Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past―now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole''s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West.The catch? Katie''s not exactly qualified. She can''t swim―but fakes it that she can. Plus: Cole is Hutch''s brother. And they don''t get along. Next stop paradise!But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good looking man she has ever seen . . . but also a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful Aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two.Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue―along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.**** PRAISE FOR NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER KATHERINE CENTER ''Katherine Center crafts rom-coms with pure unvarnished delight'' CHRISTINA LAUREN, #1 bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners ''My perfect 10 of a book. As funny and sweet as all the very best nineties rom-coms, but with Center''s signature heart-tugging depth. I wish I could erase it from my mind just to read it again for the first time. A shot of pure joy.'' EMILY HENRY, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers ''Great rollicking fun! Prepare to laugh and swoon and grin your pants off.'' HELEN HOANG, bestselling author of The Kiss Quotient ''Absolutely, unequivocally delightful!'' JODI PICOULT, #1 New York Times bestselling author ''Katherine Center writes about falling down, growing up, and finding love like nobody else.'' BRENÉ BROWN, bestselling author of Dare to Lead ''Serious Nora Ephron vibes.'' TAYLOR JENKINS REID, #1 bestselling author of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ''Oh, how I love Katherine Center''s writing!'' JODI PICOULT, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

The glorious novel from the beloved author whose bright, hopelessly romantic New York Times bestsellers have been called “My perfect 10 of a book” (Emily Henry) and cheered for their “speedy pacing and sexual tension for miles” (People).Love may be blind. But what if . . . what you see isn''t what you get?It’s all starting to come together for struggling artist Sadie Montgomery. She was just named a finalist in the national portrait competition of her dreams. But when she winds up with a rare, but real, condition where human faces look like jumbled puzzle pieces . . . it is, to say the least, not good. With only a few weeks to paint the best portrait of her entire life, Sadie will do anything to reverse her condition and get back to work, but it’s anyone’s guess when (or even if) that''ll happen.Enter her dog’s charming veterinarian (who may or may not be Sadie’s daydream fiancé), and her bowling-jacket-wearing, Vespa-riding neighbor (who she can’t seem to stay away from)—both vying for her attention and adding to the chaos.It’s a lot, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Because the truth is, seeing the world differently has its upsides. And love has an undeniable way of giving us courage. And the best way of looking is always, always with the heart. "With its emphasis on its central character, combined with its “swoony” romance, “Hello Stranger” is a hit. Sadie is everything you could want in a protagonist — the right amount of quirky, sunshiney and stubborn, and the men she’s in love with are equally fascinating. All the side characters provide humor and comfort, and even those characters who you aren’t really supposed to like are annoyingly intriguing and captivating. Center created a brilliant cast of characters, set to a plot that’s sure to keep you reading." --Michigan Daily

"The story’s message, that people should choose joy even (and especially) in difficult and painful times, seems tailor-made for this moment. A timely, uplifting read about finding joy in the midst of tragedy, filled with quirky characters and comforting warmth."—Kirkus (starred review)From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new novel full of heart and hope.Samantha Casey is a school librarian who loves her job, the kids, and her school family with passion and joy for living.But she wasn’t always that way. Duncan Carpenter is the new school principal who lives by rules and regulations, guided by the knowledge that bad things can happen. But he wasn’t always that way. And Sam knows it. Because she knew him before—at another school, in a different life. Back then, she loved him—but she was invisible. To him. To everyone. Even to herself. She escaped to a new school, a new job, a new chance at living. But when Duncan, of all people, gets hired as the new principal there, it feels like the best thing that could possibly happen to the school—and the worst thing that could possibly happen to Sam. Until the opposite turns out to be true. The lovable Duncan she’d known is now a suit-and-tie wearing, rule-enforcing tough guy so hell-bent on protecting the school that he’s willing to destroy it.As the school community spirals into chaos, and danger from all corners looms large, Sam and Duncan must find their way to who they really are, what it means to be brave, and how to take a chance on love—which is the riskiest move of all. With Katherine Center’s sparkling dialogue, unforgettable characters, heart, hope, and humanity, What You Wish For is the author at her most compelling best.

Katherine Center''s The Bodyguard is “My perfect 10 of a book. As funny and sweet as all the very best nineties rom-coms, but with Center’s signature heart-tugging depth. I wish I could erase it from my mind just to read it again for the first time. A shot of pure joy.”—Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book LoversShe’s got his back.Hannah Brooks looks more like a kindergarten teacher than somebody who could kill you with a wine bottle opener. Or a ballpoint pen. Or a dinner napkin. But the truth is, she’s an Executive Protection Agent (aka "bodyguard"), and she just got hired to protect superstar actor Jack Stapleton from his middle-aged, corgi-breeding stalker.He’s got her heart.Jack Stapleton’s a household name—captured by paparazzi on beaches the world over, famous for, among other things, rising out of the waves in all manner of clingy board shorts and glistening like a Roman deity. But a few years back, in the wake of a family tragedy, he dropped from the public eye and went off the grid.They’ve got a secret.When Jack’s mom gets sick, he goes home to the family’s Texas ranch to help out. Only one catch: He doesn’t want his family to know about his stalker. Or the bodyguard thing. And so Hannah—against her will and her better judgment—finds herself pretending to be Jack’s girlfriend as a cover. Even though her ex, says no one will believe it.What could possibly go wrong?Hannah hardly believes it, herself. But the more time she spends with Jack, the more real it all starts to seem. And there lies the heartbreak. Because it’s easy for Hannah to protect Jack. But protecting her own, long-neglected heart? That’s the hardest thing she’s ever done.“Great rollicking fun! Prepare to laugh and swoon and grin your pants off.”—Helen Hoang, New York Times bestselling author of The Heart Principle "Absolutely, unequivocally delightful!"—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wish You Were Here

"In this charming listen, narrator Therese Plummer portrays Cassie Hanwell--a confident, talented firefighter whose solitary life is upended when her estranged mother asks her to relocate to Boston...A wonderful story of forgiveness, friendship, love, and hope." — AudioFile From the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk Away comes a stunning new audiobook about courage, hope, and learning to love against all odds.Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she''s seen her fair share of them, and she''s a total pro at other people''s tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own.The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie''s old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren''t exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew—even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the infatuation-inspiring rookie, who doesn''t seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can''t think about that. Because love is girly, and it’s not her thing. And don’t forget the advice her old captain gave her: Never date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...and it means risking it all—the only job she’s ever loved, and the hero she’s worked like hell to become.Katherine Center''s Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt and healing tour-de-force about the strength of vulnerability, the nourishing magic of forgiveness, and the life-changing power of defining courage, at last, for yourself. Praise for Things You Save in a Fire:"Oh, how I love Katherine Center’s writing…and her newest novel is a gem...a story that reminds us that the word emergency has, at its heart, a new beginning. Just read it, and thank me later.” - Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author“...a sharp and witty exploration of love and forgiveness that is at once insightful, entertaining, and thoroughly addictive.” - Kirkus, starred review

She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies—good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates—The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!—it’s a break too big to pass up.Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone—much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script—it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter—even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules—and comes true?

It’s a thin line between love and love-hating in the newest laugh out loud, all the feels rom-com by New York Times bestselling author Katherine Center. Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past—now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim—but pretends that she can. Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along. Next stop: paradise! But paradise is messier than it seems. As Katie gets entangled with Hutch (the most scientifically good-looking man she has ever seen . . . but maybe a bit of a love hater), along with his colorful aunt Rue and his rescue Great Dane, she gets trapped in a lie. Or two. Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last. Swim lessons, helicopter flights, conga lines, drinking contests, hurricanes, and stolen kisses ensue—along with chances to tell the truth, to face old fears, and to be truly brave at last.

As seen on Netflix—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bodyguard and Hello StrangerHelen Carpenter can’t quite seem to bounce back. Newly divorced at thirty-two, her life has fallen apart beyond her ability to put it together again. So when her annoying younger brother, Duncan, convinces her to sign up for a hardcore wilderness survival course in the backwoods of Wyoming—she hopes it’ll be exactly what she needs.Instead, it’s a disaster. It’s nothing like she wants, or expects, or anticipates. She doesn’t anticipate the surprise summer blizzard, for example—or the blisters, or the rutting elk, or the mean pack of sorority girls. And she especially doesn’t anticipate that her annoying brother’s even-more-annoying best friend, Jake, will show up for the exact same course—and distract her, derail her, and . . . kiss her.But it turns out sometimes disaster can teach you exactly the things you need to learn. Like how to keep going, even when you think you can’t. How being scared can make you brave. And how sometimes getting really, really lost is your only hope of getting found.Happiness for Beginners is Katherine Center at her most heart-warming, captivating best—a nourishing, page-turning, up-all-night read about how to get back up. It’s a story that looks at how our struggles lead us to our strengths. How love is always worth it. And how the more good things we look for, the more we find.