Forced Proximity

by Dana Hawkins

She's hired to protect. Not to fall in love.

Lexi Morgan is one of the best personal security guards in the an elite fighter, focused and loyal. What she’s not? A glorified babysitter. Especially for an irritatingly handsome A-list actor like Justin Greenwood – who doesn’t think he needs her help. At all.

But when a dangerous stalker sets their sights on Justin, Lexi begrudgingly accepts the job. As the stalker’s disturbing messages accelerate, so does the unexpected electricity between them. Forced to spend every waking minute together, will sparks fly? Or can she keep things strictly professional?

Perfect for fans

🎬Enemies to lovers

🎬Slow-burn

🎬Workplace romance

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Queer

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2026

About the author

Dana Hawkins is a contemporary romance author of fun and sparkly stories. When not searching the country for the perfect cup of piping hot Americano, she spends her time chasing her kids and rewatching ’90s movies. After living for twenty years in Seattle, she recently trekked back to her hometown in Minnesota. She is a huge romance-genre book nerd and borderline obsessed with happy-ever-afters.

Reviews

[Melissa]

The cover caught my attention, and then I saw it was about a female bodyguard and thought, “Okay, badass woman? I’m in!”
... Sadly, the execution just didn’t work for me.

I struggled with Lexi almost immediately, especially with how much she assumed about Justin instead of actually communicating with him. And once a book starts off on the wrong foot for me, it’s hard to fully recover from that.

I pushed through most of the book in one sitting, partly because I wanted to finish it, but also because I kept hoping something would finally click. Unfortunately, I never really connected with the characters or their relationship. And when your favourite character ends up being a side character who barely appears… that probably says something 😅

We were supposed to have yearning, tension and electricity, but I just didn’t feel it. And I’m the kind of person who goes feral when the MCs accidentally touch hands. The pacing wasn't doing it justice.

Even the mystery didn’t quite work. The reveal wasn’t particularly surprising, and it was over before it had a chance to become exciting.

Honestly, I’m just sad about this one. Because there IS a good concept here, and I really wanted to love it. It just needed more for me to become invested in the characters, the romance and the story.

Sadly, this one just wasn’t for me 💔

*I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[🌙henny✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

God I loved this one. Absolutely immaculate yearning, a scrumptiously sweet and soft mmc, and a delightfully flawed, yet self aware, fmc.

The plot was relatively simple, and it was mostly focused on the relationship as it built, which is a big yes for me. The secondary stalker/mystery plot was *very* sparse, and I won't lie, I guessed who it was pretty quickly. But the main thing is that it didn't overshadow the romance, it ENHANCED it. Justin was just so fucking sweet, so kind and delicious. This book was full of opportunities for him to prove that he's the best, most selfless man ever. From the diabetic shock problem he had to help solve, to the creepy guy at the supermarket. He's just a sweetheart. I ADORE a soft mmc. This guy had my name written all over him.

And we love a strong fmc too. Lexi was just cool. I love how she opened up to Justin. I love how he opened up to Lexi too. I loved watching their friendship grow into something unmanageable. I loved their healthy communication style (eventually), I loved hearing Lexi chide herself for her bad habits. She was kind of an asshole, but she was aware of it. It lessened the sting for me.

The slow burn was great of course. I think I would have preferred a longer, more detailed intimate scene at the end, especially if you're gonna make me wait literally the whole book before they even kiss, but it didn't feel painful at all. The tension was good enough to tide me over. I kept screaming inside my head, JUST KISS!!!!!!!

Anyway I had an excellent evening with this book, and I read it all in one sitting. Beautiful. Forever grateful for being gifted an ARC of this one, my thanks as always to the publisher, which in this case is HQ (Harper Collins).

[Mandy]

I was excited to receive this ARC because I generally enjoy enemies-to-lovers, diverse representation (including non-traditional gender roles), and beautiful cover artwork. 🔥

Unfortunately, this setup didn't work for me. I usually enjoy an MMC and FMC who clash until they finally click, but Lexi and Justin felt unlikeable both individually and together. While this story didn't pull me in, I can see it working for other readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Digital, and Dana Hawkins for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. 💛

[Alise]

Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing Forced Proximity.

The concept behind the story immediately caught my attention - a movie star that is possibly in danger from a fan and has to hire a female bodyguard? I loved the idea.

Overall though, I found myself struggling to connect with either of the main characters, even in a dual POV setup. Neither protagonist felt particularly likable to me, and I didn't feel any romantic chemistry just because their personalities seemed so different and they were both standoffish in their own ways. Because I wasn't emotionally engaged with the characters, I found it difficult to stay invested in the story.

I also wasn't a huge fan of the thought process type of internal monologue that was in the writing. I think this writing style works rarely for me, I have only enjoyed it previously in Katherine Center's books where I find the characters genuinely funny, so here it made it harder for me to connect with the characters and took me out of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Chelsea-anne Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The miscommunication trope is strong in this book so be warned. I loved this fun romance about Lexi who has to be the bodyguard for Justin an actor who is getting death threats. It is interesting, fun to read and has great characters. I do think I would have liked a little more depth to them as they are working together for months which I don't think really came across. I do like that the characters have faults and make mistakes, which makes it more realistic as no one is perfect. The miscommunication normally annoys me but I quite liked it in this as it fit their personalities. Overall, a nice easy going romance that is fun to read.

Other tropes included:
💜Slow Burn
💜Enemies to Lovers
💜Workplace Romance
💜 Forced Proximity...obvs

[Eileen Cassells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! This was so fun to read. I’ve only ever read one other ‘body guard x client’ book and honestly this was *chefs kiss*. It was really refreshing having the FMC as the bodyguard and instantly I loved her character, she is written as fearless, pretty badass and the best at what she does.

The relationship between Doc (Lexi) and Justin made me laugh from the get go, as soon as she received her assignment and was like nope, I knew I was in for a laugh somewhere along the line.

Justin is nothing like what Doc assumed and I think this instantly takes her by surprise. They clash pretty quickly and it soon becomes clear that Doc isn’t one to back down to the demands of anyone, especially not Justin Greenwood, definitely not if it means compromising her job or his safety.

I really enjoyed how their relationship took a softer turn and as they began to open up to each other, we are given a glimpse at the other, more vulnerable sides to both characters. Both of them are pretty guarded in themselves due to previous experiences but you feel the shift in their dynamic and it was really cute. There are some times where their communication causes them issues and at times this is annoying as I wanted to bang their heads together and let Zane mediate between them 😂.

I was waiting for the stalker issue to come to a head and when it did, it was good but I would have liked more from that situation. It almost felt as if the stalker issue, which is assumed to be a key part of the book doesn’t really have that much impact, especially as a lot of it is kept from Justin.

The character relationships were really special and I absolutely adored Marcus and Zane.

Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a fun romance with a sprinkle of spice and a lot of yearning!

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Slow burn
✨ Workplace romance
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Celebrity romance
✨ Protective heroine

Perfect for fans of Katherine Center & Emily Henry! 📚❤️

🎬 Enemies to lovers. Slow burn. Workplace romance. And a celebrity who definitely doesn’t want a bodyguard.

Lexi Morgan is an elite personal security guard who knows how to handle danger, but apparently not an infuriatingly handsome A-list actor who insists he doesn’t need protecting.

Justin Greenwood has a stalker. Lexi has a job to do. And neither of them is prepared for the undeniable chemistry that starts simmering between them.

As the threats escalate and they’re forced into close quarters, keeping things professional becomes harder by the minute. 🔥

I absolutely loved the tension between these two! The slow-burn romance, forced proximity and enemies-to-lovers dynamic made this such a fun, addictive read. Lexi is a total badass, while Justin brings just the right amount of charm and frustration. Their chemistry? 👀

[Demetri Papadimitropoulos · Rating 3 out of 5]

She Can Spot a Threat Across the Room. Justin Greenwood Is Another Matter.
In “Forced Proximity,” Dana Hawkins turns professional hypervigilance into romantic trouble, asking whether a woman trained to trust her first assessment can survive discovering how spectacularly wrong an assessment can be.
By Demetris Papadimitropoulos | August 11th, 2026

Danger is supposed to clarify things. Dana Hawkins’s “Forced Proximity” prefers to scramble them. Lexi Morgan is an elite executive-protection specialist paid to notice what other people miss: the hand drifting toward a pocket, the body lingering too near an exit, the tiny change before ordinary becomes unsafe. Her professional gift has hardened into a private rulebook. She looks quickly, judges quickly and trusts the verdict. Assigned to protect actor Justin Greenwood, whom she has already filed under rich, vain, famous, morally suspect, Lexi runs into an awkward limit of expertise: vigilance can save a life and still be a terrible way to know one.

Everything initially seems to support her case. Justin is an A-list action star with immaculate forearms, an aggravating smile and a public dossier Lexi considers damning. Years earlier, he withdrew from a tornado fundraiser for Midwestern families like her own; there are also arrogant-looking interviews and a viral confrontation with a fan. Justin, meanwhile, receives Lexi as an intrusion: a stranger entering his house, setting the terms of his movements and demanding the sort of instant trust that people with uncomplicated relationships to trust recommend very freely. His studio hires her after a stalker’s messages escalate into mutilated toys, violent images and evidence that somebody has learned far too much about where he is.

Much of the chassis is familiar: celebrity and bodyguard, enemies-to-lovers friction, slow burn, workplace boundaries, forced proximity, tactical competence made erotic. Readers of “The Bodyguard” by Katherine Center will recognize the silhouette. Hawkins finds her better subject once the trope inventory has finished introducing everyone. A bodyguard watches. So do fans, paparazzi, a studio, a stalker and, eventually, lovers. The difference is not how much any of them can see. It is what each believes seeing allows them to claim.

Evidence against Justin is real enough to make Lexi’s revisions matter. The tornado fundraiser supplies the first correction: suspecting financial impropriety, Justin withdrew and quietly sent money through channels he trusted. Other exhibits in Lexi’s case acquire context too. The disastrous interview happened while he was ill. The fan he seemed to attack had been pursuing Justin and his nonbinary assistant, Zane, while directing homophobic abuse at Zane. Hawkins’s point is more irritating, and more useful, than “the media lies.” Evidence can be accurate while the story assembled from it is wrong.

That problem follows Justin everywhere. Millions can recognize his face, while very few people know what his mother can do to him with a phone call or how much of his charm is practiced self-protection. Lexi presents the inverse problem. Before she understands him, she can map his schedule, doors, visitors, habits, vulnerabilities and the safest place for his body to stand in a room. She has information, not knowledge. “Forced Proximity” is best when it keeps those categories separate. Intimacy begins not when Lexi sees more, but when she stops treating every new fact as confirmation of a verdict already reached.

Rhythm makes Hawkins easy to read. The dual first-person narration runs on short-to-medium sentences, fragments, profanity, quick reversals and the internal drumrolls of commercial romance: absolutely not; fine, maybe; definitely not; oh no. Lexi’s voice benefits most. She notices bodies as potential threats and inconvenient objects of desire. She can assess whether a jacket permits proper movement and, a heartbeat later, resent that Justin’s forearms have entered the tactical picture. Security jargon, insulin, training and attraction occupy the same mental counterspace. Her body is instrument, liability, weapon, medical responsibility and, eventually, something she must allow another person to tend.

If the prose has a recurring weakness, it is mistrust of implication. Hawkins rarely lets an emotional beat stand without supervision. A scene shows Lexi relaxing around Justin; she then names the relaxation, connects it to the defenses she built after her divorce and circles back later for another diagnosis. Justin receives similar treatment. Attraction, family damage and uncertainty are polished until almost no residue remains. These characters have to learn that first readings can be incomplete, while the narration keeps supplying answer keys.

Pleasure at the sentence level makes this repetition more expensive. Dinners, movie nights, security sweeps and basketball games are brisk, often charming. The middle spreads because recognition keeps getting memos. Lexi wants Justin; wanting him threatens the job; the job is fused to trauma; trauma makes intimacy dangerous; Justin makes danger tempting. The cycle is credible. Its reiteration is not always useful. Hawkins has built the cage and shown us the lock. Too often she returns with a label maker.

Alternating perspectives let the reader live inside those errors rather than simply hearing about them. Justin can say something defensive while we know what he means, only for Lexi to hear the same words later and take them literally. When he tells his friend Conner that Lexi is “not my type,” we already know he is lying because Conner’s interest has made him jealous; Lexi hears only the phrase and takes the bruise. The device is familiar, but the fit is exact. Each protagonist keeps working from an incomplete file on the other, and the novel is stronger whenever it lets the discrepancy sit there for a while.

Past those lighter misreadings sits what Lexi calls “The Incident,” the event governing her life four years before the novel begins. Hawkins releases it by degrees: a scar, a failed marriage, professional guilt, terror of distraction. Lexi and her then-wife Katey had pursued IVF while Lexi kept postponing the next step because there was always another assignment. They argued before a protection job in Germany. Still rattled, Lexi missed danger; gunfire wounded her and the executive she guarded. The shooter caused the attack. Lexi nevertheless turned sequence into causation and causation into sentence: attachment distracted her, distraction caused failure, therefore attachment itself was unsafe.

Afterward, she leaves Katey, gives up their shared life and moves into an apartment she never really furnishes, as though temporary furniture could become a moral philosophy. Work becomes penance. Short contracts permit motion without attachment, letting her keep paying a debt no one has presented for collection. Her competence is attractive because it is real, but Hawkins is more interested in what Lexi has made it do for her. Usefulness keeps need at a manageable distance.

Diabetes belongs inside that system rather than beside it. Lexi’s Type 1 diabetes shapes meals, insulin, emergency planning and work without becoming inspirational ornament or a detachable issue plot. When Justin sees her injecting insulin and, triggered by his sister Mia’s addiction history, assumes the worst, another partial observation becomes a complete story. Later, during a serious blood-sugar crash, Justin becomes the caretaker. He learns what she needs without translating need into fragility. For Lexi, that is almost indecently intimate: a man with a weapon is easier to classify than someone who remembers whether she has eaten.

In Justin’s life, self-protection has a softer wardrobe. His parents used money and obligation as instruments of control; his mother still treats guilt as family currency. Mia’s addiction taught him vigilance of another kind. Celebrity compounds the problem by rewarding performance. People laugh harder, linger longer and remember meeting him more vividly than he remembers them. He knows how to perform approachable Justin, charming Justin, red-carpet Justin. He does not know whether anyone will stay when there is nothing to perform.

Mutual care therefore arrives in embarrassingly ordinary clothes. Justin cooks. Lexi sweeps the house. They watch movies, play basketball, trade insults and gradually stop treating every soft moment like an incident report. His kitchen begins as a room she must secure and becomes somewhere she is fed. Movie nights lose their alibi and become routine. Lexi repeatedly places herself between Justin and danger because it is her job; when Justin instinctively steps between Lexi and a man carrying a baseball bat, she is furious because affection has made the direction of protection unstable.

Inverting those roles finally cracks the logic Lexi has been living by. Justin’s attempt to protect her pushes her into explaining Germany, Katey and the guilt she has mistaken for accountability. His answer is almost offensively simple to someone who has spent four years drafting an alternate legal code inside her head: the shooter was responsible for the shooting. Lexi’s false logic is painfully credible. The speed of its loosening is less so. Years of self-punishment begin to give way once Justin supplies patience and the right counterargument. He does not cure her, but the novel sometimes lets reassurance do work that the wounds themselves might reasonably resist.

The stalker plot feels most current when it moves through screens. Threatening messages become invasive photographs, synthetic violence, dead animals, someone getting closer. Hawkins understands, without making the novel stop for a briefing, that stalking no longer has to choose between digital and physical intrusion. The synthetic video works because falseness does not make it harmless. It allows the stalker to rehearse bodily terror before laying a hand on the body.

Rather than make technology the villain, Hawkins returns to an older delusion. Tim, the eventual stalker, is a studio-linked technical worker who once had a pleasant conversation with Justin. When Justin later fails to remember him, Tim reads that ordinary asymmetry as betrayal, tracks him through public information and manufactures terror while imagining he might eventually be welcomed back as a cybersecurity expert. He takes the book’s governing error to its ugliest conclusion: being noticed becomes, in his mind, a relationship; being forgotten becomes an injury that deserves repayment.

Once Tim is unmasked, however, we understand his explanation better than we understand him. His motive fits almost too neatly. He is captured and passed into legal procedure with less dramatic friction than the romance. The mystery creates pressure; it never becomes a satisfying retrospective puzzle. Hawkins has put her best detail elsewhere. Justin cooking while Lexi pretends not to be moved tells us more about what this novel values than any clue board could.

Part of the problem is Justin himself. Hawkins wants Lexi to discover how carelessly she has assembled him from fragments, but too many fragments receive clean exculpatory footnotes. The fundraiser was nobler than it appeared. The fan confrontation was protective. The interview had mitigating circumstances. Lexi is satisfyingly wrong, but Justin is conveniently right. The argument would bite harder if understanding him required revising a judgment rather than reversing it – if the fuller picture still contained a man who could be vain, selfish or simply difficult.

Only when Lexi begins withholding information from Justin does protection acquire some moral friction. Early on she is appalled that his studio conceals the stalking’s seriousness to keep him focused on production. Later, attachment makes the logic seductive, and she withholds a grotesque synthetic threat herself. Hawkins does not inflate the reversal into a lesson. She simply lets care reproduce the behavior it once condemned. Protection can become control long before it starts looking cruel; sometimes all it needs is confidence that you know what another person can handle.

Underneath the guns, cameras and movie-star logistics lies the question both protagonists keep avoiding: what counts as safety? Lexi tries to eliminate variables – check exits, keep distance, stay fed, keep the weapon accessible, avoid emotional compromise. Justin manages people instead – charm the room, contain family conflict, pay what must be paid, make discomfort disappear. Both systems once protected them. Neither leaves much room for a life. Their romance becomes persuasive when care stops being another transaction they have to earn by performing correctly.

Late in the novel, forced proximity finally earns the second half of its title. Tim is caught. The threat ends. Lexi confesses that she loves Justin, but the confession does not magically dissolve the client-bodyguard relationship. That arrangement has to end before desire can stop borrowing authority from the job. The premise begins with access Justin has not chosen: the studio wants protection, Lexi is assigned, every outing depends on her presence. Only when the contract disappears can staying become the point.

Over two years, the epilogue tidies almost every room it enters. Justin and Lexi are married. He has drawn a boundary with his mother. Lexi remains in security without letting work consume every usable hour; Justin has begun questioning the velocity of his career. Mia is thriving, and Zane is finally going to Portugal. Few loose threads are allowed to loiter near the premises. Readers who want blueprints for the happy-ever-after may welcome the generosity; those who prefer unresolved weather may find the sky suspiciously blue.

Still, the adoption thread gives that neatness emotional logic. Lexi once postponed a family with Katey until that future vanished; she entered Justin’s life expecting another assignment and found herself unable to leave. Now, having been adopted by parents who taught her that being chosen could be one of love’s deepest verbs, she sits beside Justin preparing to choose a child in turn. “Forced Proximity” earns 79/100 and 3/5 stars: a strong, emotionally effective romance whose best idea – that attention can become care, judgment or possession depending on what the watcher believes they are owed – is subtler than its prose and more durable than its mystery. Lexi begins by believing perfect attention might keep catastrophe outside the perimeter. She ends somewhere riskier and warmer, with no weapon capable of securing it: inside a life she has finally decided to inhabit.

[Jess Svajgert · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: August 27, 2026

I generally love a bodyguard romance, and this one between an actor and his female bodyguard had a great premise. Unfortunately, the rest didn’t really work for me. They know each other for months, but it didn’t come across that their relationship is building into anything. Then surprise…they confess their love to each other, all before they’ve ever even kissed! Then they’re suddenly together and married, the end.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok at first, but I ended up hating the relationship. She wasn't doing her job very well, and even when she was, he wasn't letting her. He acted like he needed to protect her, which was so irritating to me.

[BookishKB]

🎬 Forced Proximity 🎬

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Queer Romance
• Bodyguard Romance
• Enemies to Lovers
• Forced Proximity
• Celebrity Romance
• Stalker Suspense
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: August 27, 2026
Thank you to HQ Digital, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Samantha · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️
1 🌶

I love Dana's writing! Just the way she writes her characters is incredible!!

I seriously have found a new auto read author, Dana writes everything in a way that involves real life problems, Lexi and Justin are no exception.

Lexi has diabetes, life isn't always plan sailing and watching what she goes through gives more empathy towards her condition and her character. It makes everything make sense for her. Justin is very misunderstood and just because he is famous does not mean life is plan sailing for him either.

Tropes include
Forced proximity - I mean the title gives that one away lol.
Diabetes rep
Grumpy x Sunshine
Bodyguard x Actor

[Jess (lucky.bookclub) Hilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The future of romance is here, and it’s queer. 🌈✨

Forced Proximity felt incredibly modern in the best way. Between the strong queer representation and the way it flips traditional gender roles on their head, this book felt fresh while still delivering all the romance and tension I was looking for.

I’m such a sucker for a bodyguard romance, and I really enjoyed watching Lexi and Justin go from barely tolerating each other to slowly learning to trust and be vulnerable with one another. Their relationship felt natural, and I loved how many of their early frustrations came from assumptions rather than actual incompatibility.

Even though the book touches on heavier topics like stalking and addiction, it never felt overwhelming. Dana Hawkins handled those themes with a lot of care while still keeping the story fun, fast-paced, and easy to read. I flew through this one in a day and had a great time with it. 📚💕

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jae Alistar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protecting Him Was the Easy Part

Forced Proximity is such a fun mix of romance, suspense, and genuinely heartfelt character work. It’s fast-paced without feeling rushed, with plenty of banter, tension, emotional depth, and just enough chaos to keep things moving. Dana Hawkins has such a gift for authentic characters and I find myself connecting with every one of them on a surprisingly personal level, making every story that much more immersive.

Doc and Justin were such a great pair of characters, especially because there’s so much more to both of them beneath the surface. Doc is a chaotic bisexual badass—a fearless, fiercely independent bodyguard who is damn good at what she does, but she’s also dealing with the aftermath of an assignment gone wrong and a messy divorce while struggling to let anyone close enough to see the real her. Justin was honestly such a pleasant surprise. He’s bubbly, sweet, and easygoing, but underneath that is someone who has spent years dealing with strained family relationships and conditional love. He works hard to prove he’s more than a pampered celebrity and can take care of himself, while caring so deeply about everyone around him that it sometimes comes at his own expense.

The shift in their relationship felt so natural in relation to their professional barriers. What starts off as guarded assumptions and strict professional boundaries slowly turns into something neither of them is quite prepared for. The palpable tension, witty banter, and soft looks gradually give way to a raw vulnerability as they both start letting those walls down. And as their feelings deepen, they both slowly realize that keeping personal feelings separate from their work is a lot easier said than done.

Marcus and Zane brought such a warmth to the story and felt like exactly the people Doc and Justin needed in their corners. Marcus has stepped into the role of Doc’s mentor with the added protectiveness and tough love that comes with it. Zane is basically Justin’s local sibling and best friend rolled into one. They both have their own personalities and relationships with the characters rather than simply existing as side characters, and I liked that they knew when to step in, when to call them out, and when to let Doc and Justin figure things out for themselves.

The heavier parts of the story were handled just as well. Dana tackles the escalating threats against Justin, addiction, and medical crises without letting them overwhelm the story OR making them feel less than they are. The ominous letters, unsettling images, mysterious packages, and twists kept the tension tight and kept me on my toes throughout. Mia's addiction combines with her and Justin's complicated relationship with their mother, and the guilt he carries over wanting to protect his sister add another layer to his character. The way Doc handles her diabetes adds another layer to her fierce independence, as she refuses to let anyone see her condition as something that makes her seem less-than and insists on managing it herself—even when that independence comes at a cost.

The ending brings everything full-circle in a way that feels so fitting for both of them, especially after everything they’ve had to learn about letting people in and allowing themselves to be cared for. More than anything, this story is a reminder that needing someone doesn’t make you weak, that you don’t have to constantly prove your worth to deserve love, and that letting someone stand beside you doesn’t take away from your own strength. Forced Proximity was fun, heartfelt, and full of characters who had so much more beneath the surface than what they initially showed.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!

Favorite Quotes:
"[She’s] what’s missing in my life. When she was gone, a void rippled through me. I felt empty. With her here, I feel whole."

"Every moment I spend with him, I fall deeper. I’m tiptoeing on dangerous territory but refuse to cross the line."

"Sure, [she] likes me. The way we banter and laugh, like it's the most natural thing in the world. But, for me... I don't just like her. I love her."

"But I can't. I won't. No matter how bad I want to, I can't let him know the truth. I've fallen in love with him. My heart is playing a dangerous, dangerous game…"

"I think about you all the time. I dream about you. You make me feel like I can be me. I’m not putting on any act, I’m not fighting some demon, I’m just me. I’m in love with you. Completely, totally, wholeheartedly in love with you."

"I would go through all the chaos a million times over to have her in my life."

"The emotional wall I've built and fiercely protected crumbles. My worries about not deserving love, being the protector, redeeming my past melt. He's protecting me. He's taking care of me. I'm worthy of being taken care of."

"You are my everything. I can't breathe without you. You are more than enough. You're an infinite amount of enough."

"With him by my side, I'm fearless. I thought I was here to save him. Turns out, he saved me."

[Holly_bookbanter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. This is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I have read many books by this author and am a big contemporary romance reader, huge fan of queer literature, and love the forced proximity trope!

Overall Thoughts:
Swoon. Just all the swoon. I was batting my edge lashes and puckering my lips and kicking my feet for this one. I love a slow burn and I loved forced proximity. Add in enemies to lovers and I am locked in! I loved these characters, this story, and just all of the goodness in this book!

Spice Level:
Low spice with some minor details, and no graphic language.

Characters:
I LOVE a strong woman. Give me strength and independence and determination all day. Lexi is a bad ass in all the ways. She is not just good at her job, but she is dedicated, precise, and takes her role very seriously. But she is also soft, underneath the trauma that she needs to shed there is the heart and soul of a bisexual woman who just needs to find the right human who will not only love and protect her but also respect her and accept that her job is what defines her self worth and identity.

Justin is the man that you want to hate because on the outside his life is picture perfect and you can’t help but blame him for it. But then you realize that is just a heavily curated facade and he has trauma that runs deep, with triggers that can be easily set off, and desperately needs to find a woman who will love him. Just love him for who he is and not what he has and can offer them. I adore his transition in this book. I love his need to take care of her in all the simple ways like just feeding her, and wanting to know how to help manage her diabetes. Like just stahp it’s too much!

And Zane. 10/10 no notes. He is a character that needs to be in every book. I don’t care what genre, what time period, we all need a Zane.

Shoutout to Marcus too for being the dad we all needed to see and for respecting Lexi enough to reprimand her when necessary instead of giving her special treatment. Thank you, sir.

Romance and Chemistry:
Off the charts. Love that tension, that slow burn, the little digs amid the soft glances, and the yearning was soooo good. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention the subtle flirting without flirting, because that would cross a line and Lexi could never. The gym scene, the basketball court, all the accidental touches that made their skin light up with fire. Gah, so good!

Writing Style and Pacing:
I adore Dana’s writing. She has a gift for people. Her characters are the kind that stay with you. You see yourself in them and you go on the journey with them in a way that makes it so real. I love the dual POV and it worked so perfectly in this book with just enough of Justin’s beautiful thoughts to leverage Lexi’s chaotic ones. Seeing their growth through their eyes was a great way to really feel that connection to them. The book felt like the perfect length and the epilogue was just enough to bring the story to completion without it feeling too long or predictable.

Setting and Vibes:
Gorgeous California with all those Hollywood vibes. Much of the book is set in a Hollywood mansion and yet every scene feels fresh and interesting.

Content and Triggers:
Mild violence
Medical crisis
Strained familial relationships

Final thoughts:
Yes. All the yes. Don’t sleep on this one. I can’t stop smiling after finishing it. Dana doesn’t just tell you what’s happening and how people feel, she shows you. The orange juice scene and the aftermath conversation absolutely sealed it for me. Hearing both their povs on that particular situation was almost comical and I love that Dana can bring some of that levity to a serious situation. Go grab this book, I promise you won’t regret it!

Ratings:
4.5/5
1/5 spice

[neeshreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️/5

If Dana writes it, I’m reading it!

💖Golden Retriever x Black Cat
💜She’s His Bodyguard
💙Enemies to Lovers
💖Forced Proximity…Obviously!
💜Slow Burn
💙Badass Bisexual FMC
💖Opposites Attract
💜Workplace Romance
💙Learning to Love Again
💖Late Night Ice Cream Buddies
💜Training & 1 v 1 Basketball as Flirting
💙He Takes Care of Her

Lexi has been hired to protect an A-list actor, not fall in love with him.

Lexi is the best in the business — a personal security guard with elite fighter training, immensely focused, and loyal to her craft. What she isn’t? A glorified babysitter for an annoyingly handsome actor who thinks he doesn’t need her help. What Justin doesn’t know? He’s got a dangerous stalker and his team has downplayed the threat — meaning Lexi is here to stay. And the more time they spend together? Unexpected sparks fly. The question is…can they keep things professional?

Y’all. Justin. Is. A. Green. Flag. Dreamboat. He has a disarming Nashville drawl, forearms for DAYS, doesn’t notice other women — he just has eyes for Lexi, he cooks for her, AND calls her Superwoman because of how much he sees her strength and respects her. Cut. The. Show. That’s a wrap! The forced proximity circumstances led to the ultimate romcom “fallen in love” moment…it’s me, I’ve fallen in love 😂

While Justin may seem like he had it all growing up, and as an actor now has even more, trauma knows no tax bracket and his backstory will have you in his corner. The world hasn’t always been kind to Lexi and she’s her own worst critic, healing takes work and processing her personal and work-related trauma takes time. Both characters have relatable attributes and they 100% start off on the WORST foot with one another…the dislike and loathing is strong! But when the forced proximity of their situation starts to work its magic? The walls come down on both sides, and the ease with which they can be themselves around one another is heartwarming…and complicates the bodyguard-employer aspect — something Lexi struggles with exponentially, and she doesn’t know how to do her job while being in love with the person she’s supposed to protect. Acting on those feelings without having the perpetrator in custody could cost Justin in ways he doesn’t understand. So, the emotional toll this story had on me was unexpected…I almost cried (I’m not a crier when I read). Because as much as these two are meant for each other, the road was NOT easy and my heart broke at a very crucial moment, and thankfully the air gets cleared relatively quickly.

And the sexual tension? Palpable. Thick. As Justin’s assistant would say, “Just riding in the SUV with you two is enough to make me crack the windows. The pheromones practically ricochet off the glass and land in my coffee.” 😂

I really enjoyed this one!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lexi is an accomplished bodyguard who works in private security. When she’s hired to protect Justin, an A-list Hollywood actor, she’s immediately reluctant because of what she’s heard about him and his decision to back out of a charity event. The event is being held near Lexi’s hometown in an area recently impacted by a tornado, which makes the situation feel more personal to her. She eventually agrees to meet with Justin, but she’s ready to walk away until she realizes just how real and serious the threat against him is.

As Lexi spends more time with Justin, she starts to let him see parts of herself that she hasn’t shared with anyone in a long time. Justin, in turn, becomes increasingly interested in her and tries to break through her walls with things like cooking, playing basketball, and movie nights. When he catches her injecting insulin, he mistakenly assumes she’s struggling with addiction like his sister and wants her out of his life. Once she explains the truth, he realizes how badly he misjudged her and has some serious groveling to do.

Their relationship continues to develop, but Justin repeatedly puts himself in danger trying to protect Lexi. They clash over it because she knows his safety is her responsibility, and she’s already worried that his stalker is becoming more dangerous. Things get even more complicated when Justin’s college friend, Conner, attempts to force himself on Lexi. Justin loses it when he finds out and has to be removed from the situation and taken home. Later, when someone approaches them in a grocery store parking lot and Justin instinctively puts himself between Lexi and the threat, she decides they can’t continue getting closer and need to keep things professional because the danger surrounding him is escalating.

Eventually, the stalker shows up at the house, and Lexi is able to chase him down and apprehend him. The experience makes her realize just how much Justin has come to mean to her. After Lexi is no longer working for him, Justin shows up at her place, and they finally decide to give their relationship a real chance. They get their happily ever after.

Holy slow burn. I understand why it took them so long to get there, but wow, this girl puts herself through it. 😂 I’m so glad they finally got their HEA, especially after everything they went through and all the ways they ended up protecting each other.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Forced Proximity’ had my intrigue immediately. It was a thoroughly engaging read and unputdownable. The part I loved most was the selection of diverse characters, a couple of them were LGBTQ+ and there was a chronic health condition apart of the storyline too and it is a breath of fresh air reading a book with diversity and awareness.

The female main character ‘Lexi’ was Bisexual and Diabetic, her nickname was 'Doc' and the backstory behind this made me giggle! Lexi’s diabetes was portrayed extremely well, it was obvious that there had been lengthy research regarding this and I hope that Docs diabetes shows awareness to readers and helps the diabetic readers feel seen and not alone. I love how Doc was portrayed in general, showing her healing from her ex wife, battling diabetes amongst being a bodyguard and showing the struggles of being in a male dominated industry, she was an absolute icon and incredibly inspirational.
The male main character ‘Justin’ came across as quite obnoxious at first so it did take a while for me to like him but then as the story went on, we read his backstory and everything made sense, he had a difficult childhood and his mum only wanted him for his money but when he met Doc, Doc showed him care and protection and seeing them blossom was adorable. It’s a yearning romance blossoming and it definitely has you on the edge of your seat as a reader because we don’t quite know if they blossom or not for a while and I’m not going to spoil that!
Another character I loved was Zane, a massive appreciation to them as they were a fantastic friend to both Doc & Justin and they dealt with their stubbornness beautifully! Everybody needs a Zane!

As a whole, I was lost for words for a bit but I was obsessed with this read, I loved that there was an element of mystery as well because where it was obvious there was a stalker, it’s unclear who is behind the stalking for most of the book, it was an intriguing addition to the storyline! There were a lot of lighthearted moments too!

I’d recommend this book if you are a workplace romance lover!

[Bruce Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hear me out — I have a theory: romance novels rise or fall based on the main character.

You can have charming meet-cute mix-ups, the coolest side characters, lush description, and more spice than the hot sauce aisle at the grocery store. But if your main character (or couple) isn’t relatable and likeable, I’m probably not going to enjoy the book. We have to want the MC to get that HEA (that’s “happily ever after”, as I’ve learned!) That’s the secret sauce to a successful rom-com, at least for me.

Thankfully, Dana Hawkins always serves up the best main characters. They’re believable, nuanced, and good-hearted. Her latest novel, FORCED PROXIMITY, is no exception.

Lexi is a tough-as-shoe-leather personal bodyguard who takes her job seriously. When a client trusts her, she’s all-in on keeping them safe. She’s caring and big-hearted, and her desire to protect others is just one manifestation of that.

On the other hand, Justin is an obnoxious, vapid movie star, a golden boy ex-football player who’s been handed everything in life… or so the internet says. In reality, he’s a much more serious and thoughtful person than his public reputation would indicate.

When Justin receives threatening messages, his management team hires Lexi to guard him. They clash at first (and this part is a lot of fun!), but over time, they develop a friendship—and unspoken feelings for the other.

However, there’s one major obstacle: Lexi has promised to protect Justin, and she can’t let her feelings for him get in the way of that job. Keeping him safe is her priority, even if it means her heart gets broken into a zillion pieces. And I sure didn’t want that to happen!

Dana Hawkins has established herself as a top-notch writer of rom-coms, and FORCED PROXIMITY is a book that will keep readers coming back for more. It’s light and fun, but the feelings are real.

Most importantly, Lexi is a keeper. I highly recommend checking out her story!

[Toni Gower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much @netgalley and @hqstories for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic gripping read that had me hooked from the very start. The title pretty much sums this books trope up of obviously ‘forced proximity’. Lexi AKA Doc is assigned as Justin’s a famous actors bodyguard. Firstly, I loved this role reversal of the female protecting the male character. Lexi fears that her clients see her as weaker as she’s A. A female and B. Her type 1 diabetes being held against her if her clients were to find out about it.

There is so much representation in this book and diversity which is blended into the story so well.

I almost felt like a third wheel as I was reading being in the same room as both Lexi and Justin. The tension and clear attraction is right from the get go where they both share utter distain for the other. The line between love and hate as we all know is thin!

I adored Zane they added another layer to this book and I’d love a spin off all about this side character. They really tied the story together in my opinion and it is not often when you are reading the book you want more from the male leads friend. Whenever Zane entered into the chapter they added either a comical element or an extra layer of emotion. Their coaching and support for both our main characters was true friendship.

Both Lexi and Justin have deep routed trauma and it’s wonderful to see these 2 work through this both together and individually. The character growth of both was incredible.

This book had my guessing throughout who our stalker could be which I loved trying to work it out (spoiler I didn’t).

If you love forced proximity, miscommunication, dual POV and a book where there is fantastic character growth this one’s for you!

[Kerstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of a reverse bodyguard romance immediately caught my attention. Lexi, a personal security guard, is one of the best in her business and has no interest in babysitting an A-list actor like Justin, which makes for plenty of entertaining banter.

The romance definitely delivered a slow burn with plenty of yearning and tension. As Lexi tries to keep things professional, she struggles with where to draw the line and Justin truly doesn't make it easy for her. While I’m generally not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope, it did give us some delicious angst.

The trauma each of the characters carries was handled well, and I appreciated how their individual struggles shaped their relationships and choices. That said, I found Lexi’s initial attitude towards Justin overly judgmental, especially given her years of working with other difficult clients.

The stalker storyline unfortunately didn’t feel quite as threatening or thrilling as I expected, and I figured out the perpetrator quite early on. Overall, some of the plot elements felt slightly convenient, and the ending wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste. I also wasn’t completely sold on the epilogue, although I’m sure other readers will definitely enjoy it.

Overall, this was a fun, comedic romance with a great premise, enjoyable chemistry, and plenty of slow-burn tension. It didn’t completely work for me when it came to some of the character development and plot resolutions, but I still had a good time reading it.

[Oli R · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I appreciate most about Hawkins writing is that she tackles harder topics in a healthy respectful way while maintaining the lightheartedness of a rom-com. The author balances a lot of topics that could dominate the story but are in my opinion better when presented with others.

Forced Proximity is just another example of that.

The stalker subplot is a serious and dark one but it's not overly dramatic or over the top. It adds to the story without dominating it.

The various representation - queer, chronic illness, trauma and more again are there and handled well but not sensationalized or performative.

The Hollywood setting is fun but again not overly glamourous or exaggerated. Actors are still multifaceted humans that come from various backgrounds and have their own motivations, goals, and dreams.

People usually have their people who are active in their life, so vibrant, present, real side characters are important to me in stories. Hawkins does this well especially in Mia, Marcus and Zane, but also in Doc and Justin's parents and Justin's friend Conner. Their stories are a part of the main character's story and I love when a book actually does that well. These side character's aren't forced. Some are villians, some are heros but they play a part in the main characters' actions and motivations and I think that's important to see in a story.

Zane especially stole my heart. I want a book just about them!

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I am happy to check another book off my Dana Hawkins loyalty card.

Thank so much to Netgalley, HQ and the author for the ARC.

[Kelsiesinkandpages · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book opened brilliantly. It pulled me in straight away, and I absolutely loved the first third. But then the pace seemed to stall, and the constant will they, won’t they? started to feel a little repetitive. The lack of communication between Lexi and Justin was painful at times, and sadly, for me, the story lacked that extra oomph that takes a book from good to great.

I really enjoyed reading about Lexi and her past experiences as a bodyguard. Her resilience in the face of her disability, while still allowing herself to be vulnerable, made her an interesting and complex character. That said, I did find her a little too judgmental of Justin at times, which made it harder for me to connect with her.

Justin’s lack of confidence gave me the impression that he had spent most of his life being wrapped in cotton wool. At times, he behaved quite childishly, which I found a little off-putting. I wanted to connect with him more, but unfortunately, I struggled to do so.

The stalker storyline was another slight disappointment for me. The first few chapters made it feel as though this was going to become a much bigger and more sinister part of the story, but ultimately, I found it lacking and not nearly as impactful as I had expected.

Overall, if you enjoy a slow-burn romance with a touch of mystery, then this could definitely be a book for you. Sadly, though, it just didn’t quite make the cut for me.

[Louise Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Forced Proximity follows Lexi, an elite personal protection officer assigned to keep a close eye on Justin, a successful actor who has become the target of a stalker. With circumstances requiring Lexi to remain constantly by his side, the pair are forced into close quarters despite a rocky start and plenty of mutual frustration. As tensions rise and the threat becomes more apparent, attraction slowly begins to develop beneath the surface.

I really enjoyed the author's writing style and found the book easy to become immersed in. The romance unfolds at a gradual pace, which worked well for me, and I appreciated that the relationship was given time to develop rather than feeling rushed. The second half of the novel was particularly strong, allowing both Lexi and Justin to show more vulnerability and creating some genuinely sweet moments between them. I also enjoyed the supporting cast and appreciated the inclusion of topics such as infertility, adoption, bisexuality, and substance abuse.

That said, there were a few elements that prevented this from being a standout read for me. I struggled at times with Lexi's characterisation. Her initial assumptions about Justin felt quite entrenched, and while I understood why the story needed conflict between them, I found it difficult to reconcile some of her attitudes and actions with her reputation as a highly skilled professional. As a result, I never felt as connected to her as I wanted to.

I also felt the emotional side of the romance could have been developed a little more. While the chemistry was there, several of Lexi and Justin's disagreements seemed to cover similar ground, and I would have loved more scenes that strengthened their connection beyond the attraction. The suspense aspect was less successful for me too. The identity of the stalker felt fairly obvious early on, which reduced some of the tension, and the resolution arrived more quickly than I expected.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with engaging writing, a satisfying slow-burn romance, and some meaningful themes. While a few issues with characterisation and the suspense storyline meant it didn't completely win me over, I would still recommend it to readers who enjoy celebrity romances, forced proximity, and protective-bodyguard dynamics.
Rating: 3.5 rounded to 4 stars.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 Stars) Just as the title implies this is a delightful, forced proximity romance. Justin Greenwood is a Hollywood A-lister. But he has a stalker. The studios hire Lexi Morgan, a protection specialist for elite clientele. They both have to get over some preconceived and snap decisions about the other as they spend time together. I have read similar set ups in novels before and always enjoy when the FMC is the badass protector.

Justin is sweet and a very caring person. Lexi has a few more chips on her shoulder. She was wounded on a previous assignment and hasn’t forgiven herself. I liked the honest talk between the couple and getting the story from both of the POVs.

I have read most of the author’s previous books which were all f/f romances. This one is LGBTQ friendly with Lexi being bi and having been married to a woman previously. The romance is very slow burn and many times I wished they’d just kiss or something. The stalker storyline gives a reason for Lexi to be with Justin and the threats ratchet up as the story goes along. I love the quiet scenes when they are taking care of each other; watching movies, snuggled together, his concern for her diabetes etc.

I enjoyed the story and appreciated the epilogs as well. Thank you to HQ, HQ digital and NetGalley for the digital copy and I am leaving an honest review.

[Euphonious Times · Rating 3 out of 5]

review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

Forced Proximity follows the story of Lexi, a top of her field personal security guard, who gets tasked to look after Justin, an A-list actor with a stalker. Lexi has a whole suitcase full of prejudice and bad impressions about Justin from the very beginning and is reluctant to take on the assignment, especially as one of the reasons she was picked is because she's a woman and could pass as Justin's girlfriend, should the optics call for it. Justin's team is keeping the severity of the situation hidden from him which makes it so that he's reluctant to be followed around by security. This constitutes the basis of the friction between the pair, to which a hefty dose of attraction is added.

I found the FMC to be extremely judgemental and prejudiced from the very beginning - I understand this was part of the plot but surely when you work in Hollywood you expect to have clients that are part of that world and you are also aware not everything is as it seems or gets showcased in the media. This made her character seem inconsistent and I couldn't connect to her, especially as she also became unprofessional to a worrying degree, and not due to her attraction to Justin, but due to her disdain for him. She endangered him as a result which makes me believe she isn't even that good at her job which added to the inconsistency of her profile. My partner is also a T1 diabetic so I am familiar with the condition and how it impacts day to day life and I feel like the representation here was a little exaggerated and also, again, inconsistent with what her character was supposed to be. Some of the points made in the book about T1 diabetes were a little questionable and for how much it was mentioned I feel like this could have been handled better and didn't leave me with more questions about how she's handling it.

The arguments between her and Justin were repetitive and I didn't feel like there were that many moments that built up their emotional connection. The stalker's actions also didn't seem to be grave enough to warrant what was supposed to be top security and it was also it was very clear to me who the stalker was from the very first time we got introduced to his character which was a shame as it removed the suspense element. The conclusion felt a little abrupt as well.

The second half of the book did pick up the pace and allowed the characters to build up their chemistry and show some vulnerability and I liked the side characters as well. The writing was easy to follow and I liked seeing aspects such as infertility, bisexuality, adoption, substance abuse be approached.

Thank you HQ and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

[Zephorah Dove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy pub week!

I must say, I devoured this in one sitting. The synopsis was right up my alley and the premise seemed fun. Solid 3.5 read for me. We need more female bodyguard representation, and I liked the inclusion of bi rep and type 1 diabetes rep.

What worked for me:
- their bonding sessions (working out AND movies)
- the dislike/misunderstanding to realizing they were wrong about the other
- the "slow" burn and seeing them sit with their feelings like adults
- the mutual pining and dual pov was cute

What didn't work for me:
- the pacing towards the end went full throttle
- the stalker reveal (glad it wasn't uber dangerous, but eh???)
- I felt like I didn't really get a grasp on them as a couple and then things just ended

My favorite thing about the story was watching them slowly unwind around the other and find a sense of security and kinship with one another. That kind of got thrown out the window once they kissed and did the deed. I wish we could've savored that more and went a bit slower, but they are 30+ individuals who were bubbling bottles of pining, so I digress.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the DRC. This is my first book by Dana Hawkins and I really enjoyed the writing style. I'll keep my eyes out for more!

[charmette.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forced Proximity is the story of Lexi, an accomplished private security guard, and Justin, the actor she is hired to protect. Lexi has a negative impression of Justin before the assignment, and Justin doesn’t want (or feel he needs) so much security. This conflict creates the initial “enemies” dynamic, but it didn’t feel that strong.I love the idea of a FMC security guard in a protective role with the MMC.

The pacing of the book felt very slow to me, until the end, when many things seem to happen all at once. The stalker storyline was initially very interesting, but the stalker’s identity soon became apparent, and the mystery just fizzled out. The author built the tension and chemistry between Lexi and Justin throughout the book, but it never quite landed for me. I liked that these characters could be vulnerable with each other, but their connection felt more like friendship than anything else.

Overall, this is an ok romance with a mystery that is fairly easy to figure out. I did enjoy this book but wanted more from the romance and the mystery. Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

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e-ARC Review

Forced Proximity by Dana Hawkins is a slow burn romance that will have you crossing your fingers and pleading our lead characters will see what we see!

Lexi Morgan is a personal security guard, devoted to a job she takes very seriously.
Justin Greenwood is an A-list celebrity of no interest to Lexi - at all!
When tasked to protect him from a dangerous stalker, she very reluctantly agrees, but at what cost?

This is a fun read, with characters who defy and then exceed expectations. While the intention is protection from a stalker, the real story is more about their relationship with a very heavy will they/won't they, do they/don't they theme. Written from dual points of view, a trope I really enjoy, we get to see how words and feelings are interpreted by the other, with lots of guessing!

I liked the supporting characters, Zane and Marcus in particular, playing important roles in the lives of our leads. Then there are Lexi's and Justin's personal histories, showing that you never really can tell what a person is really like, just from appearances and outward impressions.

I loved getting to know these two and will definitely be looking out for more from Dana Hawkins, whose style of writing I really enjoyed.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A fun read. I liked Lexi and Justin, even if they got off on the completely wrong foot at the start. I also loved the gender reversal with Lexi as the bodyguard. Justin did irk me with his blatant disregard for the fact Lexi needs to be able to do her job without him stepping in (thank you Zane the voice of reason). Also him begging her to quit pissed me off when he knew she loved her job. I just wish there were a few more scenes that went deeper with their connection instead of the characters talking about their background as thoughts. Just revealing it as dialogue while they were together would’ve been better. For instance we know about Lexi’s ex’s baby, but she never really discusses it, which could’ve been an opportunity for her and Justin to talk about how she feels about it (and possibly use that to open up about Justin’s future plans in her personal life). Also the ending kinda felt like the author got the together and solved the stalker and so it felt a bit too anticlimactic. That said this was a charming gem and I’d love to read a book with Zane as a main character, perhaps with another Hollywood staffer.