Saving the Star

by Rachel Bowdler

Hollywood actress Atlanta Stone has always been regarded as a vain, out-of-control party girl, and she's more than happy to play that part. However, when she's assigned a bodyguard after surviving a near-fatal robbery, she finds herself chafing against the sudden loss of her independence — the damsel-in-distress role has never been her style.

And close protection officer Beck Harris isn't too fond of her new charge, either. As a bodyguard to celebrities, Beck has spent years perfecting her cool composure around the rich and famous, but when forced to handle a wily, superficial actress intent on pushing her boundaries, her professionalism is pushed to its limits.

Their clashing lifestyles and temperaments take a back seat when a string of attacks on Atlanta suggests that she has become more than a victim of a botched robbery — now she's a target, and if Beck can't figure out who's behind it, they'll never get the chance to see who they are behind the masks they've perfected.

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, Audiobook, Queer, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction, Celebrity

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2023

About the author

Rachel Bowdler grew up and still lives just outside of Manchester, on the edge of West Yorkshire. Her books feature queer and plus-size characters finding their happily ever afters. You can usually find her hosting the Swords & Sapphics Podcast, writing under the pen names Bonnie Woods and Bryony Rosehurst, and working as a freelance editor.

Her festive debut novel, Honeymoon for One, was brought to readers in 2022 and became a bestseller in lesbian romance.

Reviews

[Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars for Saving the Star (audiobook) by Rachel Bowdler read by Maggi Mayfield. Another great Bryant Street Short. I really liked the characters. It was interesting to see how people from such different worlds come together. The narration was great too. Maggi Mayfield does a wonderful job.

[✨ jami ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

one of my fave tropes (bodyguard romance) but just... so boring and meh. no spice, and no real tension or drama. just plodded along

[Judy - JC · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't believe the characters. I didn't buy them.
The story didn't work for me, maybe because novella's are harder to connect with people because they barely have time and space to do it.

Atlanta never stopped being self-absorbed.
Beck was so resentful.
It was too much in little to no time.

[lauraღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nice. I feel like I got everything I could have expected/asked for in a sapphic bodyguard romance, but not much more than that? The plot is simple: after a near fatal-robbery, vain party-girl actress Atlanta is assigned a bodyguard. Beck, said bodyguard, is also tasked with attempting to find the perpetrators, and protect Atlanta from future attacks. This is an opposites attract romance; they're VERY different people, and I guess the reason that I only liked this and didn't love it is because I was never convinced that they understood each other, or did that much changing to meet each other in the middle? Atlanta took a WHILE to grown on me, and I ended up only liking her a little. I love having characters who don't fawn over wealth and fame, who criticise the elite in society for not using their resources more effectively. Beck does that, to some extent, but I don't think we had enough insight into her backstory, and I definitely didn't feel like Atlanta actually understood her? Idk. The way it addresses certain issues was really shallow, and I wanted this to be longer.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Maggi Mayfield, which was enjoyable. Her British accents never really convinced me, but I thought she did a good job with the auction sequences. This is a solid romance all in all, but I was sorta left wanting. I'm glad I read it though; I LOVE f/f bodyguard romances.

Content warnings: mentions of domestic abuse, blood and injuries, gunshot wounds.

[XR · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story even if I was more than a little irked by one of the main characters. I absolutely loved the twist with the bad guy/s in this that I didn't see coming at all.

Beck sure had one a moonsized chip on her shoulder considering her protection career you'd expect a little empathy towards the client you're protecting. Her humour drew me in though and Atlanta's character is really sweet and so she more than makes up for the disdain from Beck's end. We can't change the circumstances or the life we're born into, it's our choices to be a good and decent person is what counts... and as rich and as famous as Atlanta is, she was obviously judged too harshly.

Anywho... an entertaining read for sure!

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story so thanx to whoever recommended this. A sort of sit and read in one sitting - ripe for extending and would have loved some back story.

[Alexa Steli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,25/5
I was excited to read this book😭.I mean come on :bodyguard trope?!?!poor girlxrich girl?!?!celebrity trope!??!😍SAY LESS

But I wasn't ready of how annoying Beck's character it was gonna be.I really can't think of any other trait for her besides being judgy.That's it,her hate towards rich people is such a idiotic thing(coming from someone who's opposite as rich).It's litterly so unfair to judge someone because they have money🤦‍♀️.


Her character was so annoying I almost wished she wasn't the love interest .Like miss girl also was bipolar.

She just told Atlanta how she should had left her to die!??!litterly rejects her AND then kisses her!??!?!I would had slapped her to her next job

But Atlanta ✂️🙏she CARRIED THIS BOOK,she was so effortless funny and so hot😧🤭

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Singlehandedly the saviour of 2020. The characters are so well formed that you forget they're just in a book, and find yourself relating to and pining over them. The action had me on the edge of my seat. I absolutely loved this novella and can't wait to see what the author does next!!

[Sarah Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. It's an opposites attract romance and I'm always a little bit of a sucker for those. I loved the back-and-forth between these two and watching them slowly fall for each other.

The ending perhaps fell a little short to me, because it feels like at the point we leave them they still have a lot to learn and understand about each other, particularly Atlanta in regards to Beck and what it's like to have lived an ordinary life not shielded by privilege.

Overall though, this was still a cute read and if a Sapphic celebrity/bodyguard story would be up your alley, you'll almost certainly enjoy this.

[muzze ☼ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was such a delight because it’s filled with details but just the right amount. not overly so that you get bored of it but so you get to feel like you know the characters, their behavior and their reasoning for their behavior. i loved that this story wasn’t focused specifically on a character coming out but that it just seemed natural that two women had such a great representation of enemies to lovers

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect from this novella because I chose to listen this audiobook on a whim. I wanted something entertaining, gripping and quick to listen. This novella was exactly what I was looking for.

If you are looking for a romantic suspense novella, I can highly recommend this book. This novella also gets extra point because the romance is between two women.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

this book would’ve been so much better if it was longer. the robbery happens and then not much happens other than like character and relationship development till about 65% and then all of a sudden it’s go go go with the storyline.

i loved the will they won’t they (of course they will) between beck and atlanta and obviously the bodyguard x client is one of my favourite tropes especially when it’s a begrudging brooding bodyguard.

but yeah, my main issue is i wish this book was longer because it left stuff a bit underdeveloped and there was so much untapped potential, but otherwise this is a good little novella.

[Hayley Anderton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, as I always do with Rachel’s stories! I actually read the second book in the series about a year ago, but I think I liked this one even more, especially given that it’s sapphic romance. The two MCs have such fun chemistry and the addition of some mystery and action made this a great novella for me! I’ll always recommend Rachel Bowlder’s books!!!

[Ivy Marikova · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite writer has her new book out! And you can go read it on Scribd right now or listen to the audiobook 😍😍😍 and when I tell you you want to read this one 😍
Saving the Star is suspense romance story in which actress Atlanta Stone requires the protection of bodyguard Beck Harris after an armed robbery gone wrong. And it’s super super sapphic 😍
I loved it so much and although I read it before it was out, I’m now listening to the audiobook 😍their banter is making me laugh so much and I just missed them very much 😍
So you should go read it now, like right now.

[Night Runner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good short story with a decent whodunit storyline. I did not realize that it was a lesbian romance due to the first name of the H but the story was worth the read and well-written. I kinda wanted to give the h a quick, gentle shake to get her to stop her destructive behavior.

[lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

that was a pleasant surprise

[LilyElfgreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess the expectations were too high and weren't fulfilled as much as I would like to. But otherwise it was good and you won't regret picking it up.

[yara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5★

honestly the plot was good which is why i didn’t hate the book but the characters were so flat i just couldn’t properly get into it . Atlanta and Beck had poor chemistry and that’s because they didn’t have well executed personalities. overall it’s a good book to pass the time but nothing special.

[Sam Hirst · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a sapphic bodyguard tale with car chases, attempted murder and dramatic dives in front of bullets, this is the book for you!

[Laura]

Very cute

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was somewhat okay. It’s supposed to be a romance with opposites attract but I just didn’t buy the relationship Atlanta and Beck had at the end. There was no character development and I don’t see any chemistry between the two.

On one side I think it could have been better if the book was longer but I also read books that were shorter and found the romance more believable.

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the pining and the tension between the two main characters. However, I would have loved to see a bit more of them growing individually and together in the relationship. Still, a very enjoyable read!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't like Atlanta and she never redeemed herself. Part of the fun of bodyguard romances is finding out the hidden depths of the celebrity/famous person. But Atlanta is shallow, dumb, kind of bitchy and never gets any better. I almost DNF'd but instead just skimmed until the end.

[Michael Damen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. 2.5 rounded up. This is a one sided enemies to lovers “thriller” about a nepo-baby, party-girl “pansexual” actress named Atlanta Stone who’s assigned a bodyguard named Beck Harris after a near fatal-robbery. Atlanta’s famous mother (who hires her and funds Atlanta’s lavish lifestyle) inexplicably gives Beck conflicting duties- protect her daughter AND find the perpetrators, which makes no sense. They’re obviously wealthy enough to hire multiple private investigators.

Atlanta doesn’t seem to have many redeeming qualities other than being beautiful and a mediocre actress. She shows up at charity benefits but, as Beck points out, just showing up and then getting falling down drunk isn’t all that admirable. Beck is judgmental but doesn’t have a personal life. She wasn’t impressed with Atlanta and actually behaved unprofessionally.

The drama was confusing and contrived and I never bought into the opposites attract “love” story as anything other than lust and trauma bonding. That’s fine, but don’t call it something more. And if you’re going to write a story that’s just about people sexually attracted to each other with nothing else in common other than a traumatic experience, throw in some steamy scenes. There weren’t any in this short novella

[Marsha Rafalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded to 4.0)

Atlanta Stone is a Hollywood actress known for her out of control party girl image. Atlanta is the victim of a violent attack by an intruder in her hotel room. Atlanta escapes and when she returns home, she discovers that her mother has hired a personal protection expert (ie bodyguard). Beck Harris has been a bodyguard for a number of years and she is a little burned out. And her cool composure is pushed to the limit by Atlanta’s antics. As Beck and Atlanta learn to work together, an attraction develops between the two. Atlanta is still a target.

This LGBTQ romance provides for a sweet relationship to blossom between the two. But the characters are not very likable and don’t improve much throughout the book. Atlanta is a spoiled actress who feels the world is hers. Beck has an attitude that devalues Atlanta. The premise is a good one and I did finish it but I won’t look for others by this author.

[monica.b.czuba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Sto ry and Read

This was a blast to read and a great read. The main characters are Atlanta an actress who walks in on a robbery and shots are fired. She gets a look at one of them. Her mother hires a bodyguard called Beck who is to take care of her, but she is spoilt and doesn't want one, but finally agrees. Now the fun begins ,
This was a well written novel by author Rachel Bowdler looking forward to reading more by her.
Definitely Recommend and a well deserved 5*****

[Mayra Luria · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very enjoyable story

All the parts needed for a wonderful afternoon read. Opposites finding love and growing from each other, danger, courage, discovery and some edge of the seat moments and above all great characters! This I’d the first of Rachel Bowdler,s books I have read but not the last

[Vicky Walklate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, entertaining bodyguard romance with plenty of banter, mystery and suspense. I normally prefer a higher heat level but the pining and tension between Atlanta and Beck, despite their clashes, was beautifully done. Loved the fact that Beck was a northern lass too. Will definitely be reading the next in this series!

[Juno · Rating 5 out of 5]

God i love couples that just bicker all the time. It's such a fun dynamic to read. This was incredibly entertaining and had a bit of suspense in it to really keep you entranced. Both characters had suprising depth considering the length of the story and do manage to grow a bit aswell.

And theyre just cute together idk

[marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Never read this author before,Really good story,moved along at a good pace,Getting to know the main characters while a background of danger kept the story alive . Would recommend and going to find other books.