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The Bodyguard Affair

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A secret romance writer discovers that the hottest story of summer might just be the one happening between her and the Prime Minister’s bodyguard, from the international bestselling author of Set On You.

Andi Zeigler lives a double life. By day, she’s the no-nonsense, steadfast personal assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada’s wife. By night, she slips out of her heels and writes romance novels under a top-secret pen name. But when her steamiest book, The Prime Minister & Me, unexpectedly becomes a bestseller, rumors of a real-life affair between her and the PM start swirling out of control.

Enter Nolan Crosby, the PM’s new close protection officer (aka bodyguard) – and Andi’s failed one-night stand from three years ago. Nolan’s in town very temporarily to care for his mother, who’s battling early-onset Alzheimer’s. But when the scandal erupts, Andi ropes him into a fake-dating plan.

As loyal employees, they’ll pretend to date for the summer, just long enough to put the scandal to bed and save their boss’s reputation. In an unexpected plot twist, Andi and Nolan discover that keeping their romance strictly fictional might be easier said than done.

432 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2025

325 people are currently reading
29578 people want to read

About the author

Amy Lea

7 books3,060 followers
Amy Lea is the international bestselling author of romantic comedies for adults and teens, including Set on You, Exes and O’s, and Mindy Kaling’s Book Studio selection Woke Up Like This.

Her acclaimed works have been featured in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, Elle Magazine and has been long listed as a CBC Canada Reads finalist. They have also been optioned for film and sold to over a dozen foreign territories.

When Amy is not writing, she can be found fan-girling over other romance books on Instagram (@amyleabooks), eating potato chips with reckless abandon, and snuggling with her husband and two goldendoodles in Ottawa, Canada.


Amy is represented by Kim Lionetti at BookEnds Literary Agency.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
Profile Image for Jill (readinginpjs).
692 reviews230 followers
December 1, 2025
this was SO good, I adored Andi & Nolan and everything about their story 🥹

Thank you Berkley Romance for the ARC & PRH Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

✦ tropes & stuff:
🥸 fake dating
🕶 bodyguard to the Prime Minister + former military
👩🏻‍💻 personal assistant to the PM’s wife + secret romance author
1️⃣ they had a (failed) one night stand 3 years ago, but couldn’t stop thinking about each other
🐢 slow burn
🧠 Alzheimers rep (Nolan’s mom)
🇨🇦 Canadian author + setting
💞 dual 1st person pov

•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•

🎧 audio/ebook | ⭐️: 5 | 🌶️: 2.5 |

I absolutely LOVED the night Andi + Nolan meet - they decide to go to Andy’s place to hook up, but it’s pretty disastrous 😅 they end up talking & connecting on another level, which is one of my favourite things to read.

SHE falls asleep & HE PUTS TOGETHER HER IKEA DESK 😭😭
I truly fell in love with Nolan in those first few chapters.

the fake dating element worked so well to give them both the opportunity to be vulnerable with one another, because they weren’t REALLY dating 🙃

I found Nolan’s perspective on his mom interesting to read - she wasn’t good to him as a child, but now she’s sick, and needs care, so how is he supposed to feel about that?

As someone with a complicated relationship with one of my parents, it had me reflecting on my own situation.

This reminded me a lot of Exes and O’s, in the BEST way. The story is not at all the same, but the no-pressure way they get to know one another as friends first reminded me of Tara & Trevor 🥹

🎧 audiobook thoughts:
Brittany Presley & Teddy Hamilton were the perfect Andi & Nolan, both bringing the emotions each character felt to life.

As a bilingual Canadian, I couldn’t help but cringe at some of the pronunciations though 😅

📖 The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea
💜: contemporary romance
🎙 narrated by: Brittany Presley & Teddy Hamilton

*Connect with Me*
🤍 Instagram 🤍 Blog 🤍
Profile Image for jasmine ☆₊⁺🦢🪽₊⁺★.
105 reviews214 followers
December 13, 2025
3⭐️
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!

“𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆-𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕-𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅, 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕.”

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ this book was cute, easy to read, and very much comfort-romance-coded. once of the things i really enjoyed was the fake dating 🤭 i think it was done quite well. the concept of the book was also pretty interesting, so that’s a huge plus side!

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞 𝙯𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙧
╰┈➤ andi was relatable and likable, but at times felt a bit underdeveloped. i appreciated her independence and determination, though some of her choices felt predictable. i feel like i don’t remember much about her, but she was a good character.

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥ 𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙗𝙮
╰┈➤ i really liked nolan because i feel like right off the bat, he was vulnerable with andi and he didn’t really hide much. i also liked how maturely he handled his struggles, i think that was something that made him more attractive.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
╰┈➤ overall, this was an enjoyable romance, it just didn’t blow me away, but it also didn’t disappoint. it’s a good palette cleaner, but not one that lingered with me once i finished.

°•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:・pre-read ʚɞ
this was released yesterday and i totally forgot i had this… so it’s time to get into it 😝 this sounds so interesting so i’m excited!
Profile Image for Mai ༊*·˚.
257 reviews174 followers
January 1, 2026
2.25 ★— I think I’ve finally accepted that contemporary romances with romance-writer heroines just aren’t for me. The meta jokes about tropes, smut, and genre conventions tend to make me cringe, and the self-aware way these books try to reassure the romance genre of its own legitimacy feels oddly transparent and lame, in a way that just ends up tiring me out.

The two characters’ initial meeting is a meet-disaster that turns into a failed hookup. The MMC is apparently so charmed by her (?), mainly because she talks about writing romance novels and then falls asleep while he’s trying to open up about himself. This, in turn, stays in his thoughts for years, which… I honestly did not understand, because their evening together seemed firmly lame, quite unemotional, and not charming enough to be memorable. Then they meet again: she’s an assistant and he’s a bodyguard, and they basically fake-date, but it’s not fun.

And that’s basically the whole book. Between recycled tropes and romantic scenes that have been done far better elsewhere, everything felt washed out and uninspired. What could have been a really intriguing and cute setup ended up feeling underwritten and poorly executed and, ultimately, extremely bland.
Profile Image for Chris  C - A Midlife Wife.
1,836 reviews461 followers
November 6, 2025
This book has the best plot. It is hard not to like this story because it is unique and supportive in so many ways.

The beginning sets the stage with a fabulous kick-off, and you will absolutely fall in love with Nolan. You can feel their connection and cannot wait to dive into the story.

The Bodyguard Affair brings a fun story that is entertaining from page one, with a range of topics that bring the emotional connection. The secondary characters add depth and inspiration. Andi did have some low self-esteem she had to work through, but Nolan was the perfect partner to help her through.

I love the little closet visits, and the author brings some delicious steam. Their love is so sweet and sensual. They are perfect together. I could not stop reading this one in certain parts. And that ending – sighhhh

If you love a good romance, this one is a great choice!

~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-bodyguar...
Profile Image for Maren’s Reads.
1,201 reviews2,241 followers
January 10, 2026
Andi Ziegler has been living a double life as both a personal assistant to a high-profile politician and a steamy romance author writing under a pen name. But when her newest book becomes a best-seller and instantly creates gossip she doesn’t want, her failed one-night stand and new co-worker, Nolan Crosby, develop a fake dating scheme designed to end speculation, but which might just come with a few unexpected complications.

This book felt so refreshingly original and a really fun rom-com with depth, perfect for a weekend read. I am not as familiar with Canadian politics, and I loved getting the experience of our MCs— one who works as the personal assistant to the wife of the Prime Minister of Canada and the other the PM’s close protection officer (bodyguard). The hijinks that ensued were laugh-out-loud funny, but balanced with the more emotional components such as Nolan dealing with his mom’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. It does have a bit of steam, but only after the characters and their relationship have been properly developed, creating the perfect amount of tension. There was also a certain amount of cheekiness in having Andi be a romance author in disguise, writing books in the same vein as this one. Such a fun read and one I would definitely recommend.

Read if you like:
-fake dating
-failed one-night-stand
-slow burn
-laugh out loud fun
-PM bodyguard + personal assistant
-unique stories

Thank you Berkley Romance for the advanced copy.
Profile Image for Sarah | Kerosene.Lit.
1,147 reviews661 followers
January 8, 2026
This started off so strong. Five star potential, no question! One of my favourite meet-cutes, especially in how it took that all-too-relatable nightmare of needing to use the bathroom while wearing a romper and turned it into a hilarious mishap. Too funny!

I loved the uniqueness of two characters working for the Prime Minister of Canada! A workplace scenario I've never read before! Andi is the PA for the Prime Minister’s wife, while Nolan is the CPO for the Prime Minister himself. So naturally, their paths cross often, creating some great tension and a fun, fictional peek into Parliament life!

I was really hoping for more workplace moments, though. The fake-dating plot was more the focus, and that's when my interest started to slip. And the spice itself was too much for me. I wasn’t into the whole “inexperienced” FMC secretly writing steamy romances either. I'm still a little surprised Andi would risk writing a Prime Minister romance in the first place. I get it, write what you know. But eek!

On the upside, I really loved the emotional moments, like the resentment that comes through caregiving, with Nolan caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s who did not provide the best upbringing. I really felt for him! And I loved the way he supported Andi in all her endeavors. Definitely some great moments overall, but I much preferred the first half.

(heat level: 4 open-door scenes, moderate to explicit details)
Profile Image for Cait | GoodeyReads.
2,786 reviews662 followers
December 3, 2025
Thank you Berkley Romance for the eARC.

I JUST ADORED THIS.

BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK

I’m an easy to please reader when it comes to Amy Lea’s books. I love the way she crafts stories. The main characters (duel pov y’all!!) are genuine and effortless and seeing the plot unfold always makes me feel something.

I thought the plot was engaging and covered a variety of topics well. While some heavier content is present the overall mood is hopeful and Nolan and Andi are meant to be. i could not get enough of Nolan’s constant support. It was endearing in all the ways. I thought the plot > spice which is always a pro for me.

I genuinely binged this in a day. I just couldn’t get enough. It’s sensual and swoony and full of heart. All of the hallmark romance moments were there and each one made me giddy [not to mention, no out of pocket third act nonsense either!!].

Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: mild-moderate
- Romance: 3-4ish open door
- Violence: low
- Content warnings: a parent with Alzheimer’s
Profile Image for Dayle (the literary llama).
1,558 reviews187 followers
December 1, 2025
This would be a fantastic book for a different reader. All the elements are there, I kept thinking it had a great setup/build/interactions… so why did I not have more motivation to pick it up and finish it? Halfway through I realized that the leading lady’s main personality trait, people pleaser (coupled with her valid insecurities), was throwing me off. It’s just not something I tend to connect with or seek out in fictional characters.

I did finish the book. I rooted for Andi and Nolan. I needed them to get on the same page and overcome their fears and make a life together. And I love that they get there! Despite it not being my style, I enjoyed the HEA. But I still want to slap all the people with their half-ass apologies at the end.

* I received a free early ecopy from the publisher
Profile Image for Gabrielle.
36 reviews1 follower
August 26, 2025
4.25 ⭐️

👩‍❤️‍👨 dual POV
🛏️ forced proximity
🩵 fake dating
❤️‍🔥SLOW burn
🌶️ 2/5 spice

So many great tropes in one book! Literally the slowest of burns but soooo worth the wait! This reminds me so much of the movie: first daughter, with the presidents security falling for the daughter, same vibes from the MMC and FMC. Also, not everyday we get a story out of Canada’s capital city!

Always love everything Amy puts out. Especially excited to have had the chance to meet her and receive an advanced copy this week. Definitely recommend when it’s released in December!
Profile Image for Christina O’Keefe.
301 reviews49 followers
January 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
💕 dual POV
💕 1st person POV
💕 dual timelines
💕 fake dating
💕 coworkers to lovers
💕 a very very HEA ❤️❤️

This one was a very, very fun read❣️ I loved the writing style, I loved the actual writing material, I laughed out loud MULTIPLE times❣️ I think this just might be my very first Amy Lea, but it certainly will not be my last❣️I just finished this but I cannot stop recommending it❣️❣️
I loooooooove fake dating so much I think it’s my favourite trope of all time 💕💕 It just makes for such a fun story and then you KNOW the characters are going to end up actually falling in love.
I love books about books❣️❣️ The main character being an author is so fun and makes me so happy to read about.
It’s always so fun when we get the guy’s POV❣️❣️ Like the guy acts so tough and cool on the outside but on the inside he’s just as obsessed and crazy about her as she is. I love to see it.
I live not too far from where this story takes place so that was kind of fun. I appreciated and understood all of the Canadian references 🤪 It is very, very Canadian 🤪🤪
There was hardly any spice in here, which I am a big fan of 🤪
This was the happiest ending I’ve ever read❣️❣️ I was the most worried about the dog the whole book 🤪 I absolutely loved everything about this ending.
What a fantastic book❣️❣️ This is my favourite book that I have read in a whiiiiiiiiiile 🩷🩷 Thank you so much to Amy Lea and Berkley Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review 💕💕
Profile Image for casey ⋆˚౨ৎ ⋆.˚.
378 reviews
December 1, 2025
i was immediately drawn in from the start. absolutely devoured this within twenty four hours. the tropes immediately had me wanting to read and then the first chapter had me drawn in instantly. it was so sweet, with moments of humor but also with moments of sensitive topics that made it feel more real. i adore the relationship between andi and nolan and i also love them as individuals and seeing their growth and development.

“i’ve never pictured my life with anyone, until you” 💖

andi lives a double life: by day, she’s the personal assistant to the prime minister of canada’s wife and by night, she writes romance novels under a top secret pen name. but when her steamiest book, the prime minister & me, unexpectedly becomes a bestseller, rumors of a real life affair between her and the pm start swirling out of control.

enter nolan, the pm’s new close protection officer (aka bodyguard) and andi’s failed one night stand from three years ago. nolan’s in town very temporarily to care for his mother, who’s battling early onset alzheimer’s. when the scandal erupts, andi ropes him into a fake dating plan. as loyal employees, they’ll pretend to date for the summer, just long enough to put the scandal to bed and save their boss’s reputation. they discover that keeping their romance strictly fictional might be easier said than done.

tropes: fake dating, workplace romance, forced proximity, personal assistant x pm’s bodyguard secret fmc secret romance author

content warning: mc’s parent with alzheimer’s

🇨🇦📖👠👔💞
Profile Image for sahra (readwithsahra_).
485 reviews75 followers
October 31, 2025
***ARC***

let me tell you this book was surprisingly a breath of fresh air

as someone who read a lot of romance books in the past few years and got a bit bored of the genre when I got asked to receive this book I thought why not bc the cover was so distinctively chicklit 2010 coded. if you don’t know what chicklit is, it’s basically a romance book with a slowburn romance, fade to black spice and a big side of self discovery for the fmc

and I don’t know if I am reaching but I thought that this book was very reminiscent of a chicklit book. we have all the ingredients (plus a bit more spice) for one and I really enjoyed my time in this story. from the get go I was entertained. the story is silly, cute and scandalous while also talking about serious topics. my reading experience was effortless and it was refreshing to just fly through the book and being so invested in their romance but individual storylines too

andi and nolan really endeared me and when I finished their story I felt warm inside. I felt all the feelings I used to when I first starting reading romance. it felt real and hopeful and emotional. it was such a fun story and the romance was super slowburn which I devoured. the book is a bit spicy but the way it’s written was erotic and sensual and I applaud that

I would definitely recommend this!!

ratings:
overall: 4.25⭐️
spice: 3🌶️
tension: 3.5⚡️
Profile Image for Jenna.
624 reviews7 followers
January 3, 2026
4.5 Stars Rounded Up

ARC • 🇨🇦

I adore Amy Lea's writing and The Bodyguard Affair absolutely did not disappoint. The plot, the characters, the romance all felt so fresh and realistic. I loved that the setting was in my home of Ottawa! With a political landscape this book has so much going for it! Both main characters Andi and Nolan were so interesting with really great back stories. The mentions of Cody had me sobbing at one point too.
Profile Image for Stella Luna.
197 reviews2 followers
July 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Andi is the personal assistant for the Canadian Prime Minister’s wife… but she also writes steamy romance books on the down low. When one of her steamy books (written under a pen name) becomes popular, she finds herself in the midst of a PR nightmare. Enter Nolan, the PM’s personal bodyguard, who might just be the perfect solution.

Tropes: One Night Stand, Meet-Cute, Workplace Romance, Cozy Romance, Fake Dating, Mutual Pining, Forced Proximity, Dual POV, Chronic Illness (family member), Third-Act Breakup

To say I was pleasantly surprised by this book would be a gross understatement. I was blown away by how much I loved it. I had never read Amy Lea’s work before, but you better believe I will now! There were so many things I loved in this book, let’s dig in.

Our FMC, Andi, has dreamed of becoming a romance writer, but she’s currently stuck being the personal assistant to the Prime Minister’s wife, writing on the side. The book starts three years in the past, when our two main characters meet. I almost died of secondhand embarrassment at how they met, but it actually turns into a sweet night where I fell in love with both of them. Nolan is a sweet, down-to-earth, genuinely Good Guy. I loved their first night together. From their mishap meet-cute, to grocery shopping, to having a not-so-smutty one-night stand, to Nolan fixing her desk on his way out—I was all about it. Sometimes, when I’m reading books, I’m waiting for that meet-cute moment, but it never comes. This one had it.

Fast forward three years to the present: Andi is still working as a personal assistant but has secretly self-published a couple of novels under a pen name. (Which, I might add, she only had the courage to do after a certain not-so-smutty-one-night-stand individual supported her and encouraged her to pursue her dreams.) I really liked Andi’s character. She’s such a people-pleaser (which I painfully related to) but also a genuinely nice, decent human being who sees the good in everyone. That said, girl definitely needs to learn how to say “no” at work.

Surprisingly, she finds out that the new bodyguard for the PM is none other than Nolan. Now, I was worried they’d see each other and act all aloof, like they didn’t know each other, or be passive-aggressive, rude, or just weird. I was so astounded when they were incredibly friendly, honest about what had happened three years ago, and just genuine. This book has so many scenes that could have gone the typical (often frustrating) route, miscommunication, unnecessary secrets, but it didn’t, and this was a perfect example.

I really loved that this book was written in dual POV. I love hearing how obsessed the MMC is with the FMC. And he was obsessed pretty much from the get-go. During their first meeting, Andi does some pretty embarrassing things (as I said—secondhand embarrassment!), but Nolan rolls with the punches and becomes even more enamored with her. He basically hasn’t stopped thinking about her in three years.

I also loved how supportive he was of Andi, without knowing much about her personal life. He was such a cheerleader for her writing and made her feel empowered, which he continues to do when they reunite. I loved their instant connection. You can feel how comfortable they are with each other—the deep conversations, the sexual tension, and again, the honesty. So sexy.

They find themselves in a fake-dating situation, which I’m definitely a fan of. What I don’t love is when main characters hide their true feelings and expect the other person to read their mind. NOPE—not in this book. It’s so refreshing. When they realize they have feelings for each other, they literally say it. And BAM! They just get to be together and enjoy each other’s company.

Nolan’s mom has Alzheimer’s, and he struggles with taking care of her and reconciling the mother she is now with the one she was when he was growing up (i.e., often absent). Andi, of course, is supportive and helps out, which he deeply appreciates.

There is some tension in the third act when they face the uncertainty of their future, especially with Nolan potentially moving on to another job. There’s a small third-act breakup, but it’s more of a “break” than a breakup, if that makes sense. They try to give each other space to figure things out (though it’s not really necessary), and both are miserable without the other, determined to make it work. The ending was so freaking sweet, I loved it. From the dog, Cody, to the yellow house at the end of the street, to Nolan being Andi’s biggest cheerleader, it was all just precious.

Overall, I’m obsessed with this book. It’s one of my new favorites, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author. This story had lovable main characters, adorable sidekicks, and all the elements that make a romance novel feel like a cozy read you’ll want to come back to again and again. The moment I finished it, I looked at my husband and said, “I already want to read it again.”
Profile Image for TeagzReads.
354 reviews26 followers
January 7, 2026
My first Amy Lea book, definitely not my last! I was feeling slumpy before starting The Bodyguard Affair, but right from Andi and Nolan’s hilarious meet-cute, I was cured!

All the characters are well-developed. I empathized with Nolan’s complicated family dynamics and Andi’s lack of confidence. Their romance rekindled first as a friendship, and with both characters being so supportive of each other and intentionally present, I felt their slow-burn romance was believable and so romantic.

I loved the Canadian political backdrop for the story, and this plot could easily be adapted as a movie. Some clear similarities to movies past, but with an added level of emotional depth!

**Thank you to Berkley Romance for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own!**
Profile Image for Courtney sharpe.
325 reviews22 followers
November 25, 2025
I love Amy Lea and when I heard she was writing a Canadian political romcom I couldn’t have been more excited.

Andi Zeigler lives a double life. By day, she’s the no-nonsense, steadfast personal assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada’s wife. By night, she slips out of her heels and writes romance novels under a top-secret pen name. But when her steamiest book, The Prime Minister & Me, unexpectedly becomes a bestseller, rumors of a real-life affair between her and the PM start swirling out of control.
Enter Nolan Crosby, the PM’s new close protection officer (aka bodyguard) – and Andi’s failed one-night stand from three years ago. Nolan’s in town very temporarily to care for his mother, who’s battling early-onset Alzheimer’s. But when the scandal erupts, Andi ropes him into a fake-dating plan.

Let me start by saying this may be a romcom but it does contain some sensitive topics and those were honestly my fav parts. Our male MC’s mother was diagnosed with dementia and this whole subject was handled with so much care and respect. My heart ached for the family and this aspect was just so raw and real. On the female MC’s side we had the subject matter of homelessness which is a major problem here in Canada and very prominent in my area of the country. Again this was written so well and really makes you think about those you see on the street and appreciate what you have.

BUT. The romance storyline was absolutely ridiculous. Fake dating? Sign me up. Enemies to lovers? Heck ya. Angsty Chemistry? Woohoo! Unfortunately all of those things fell flatter than a pancake. The conflict resolution was too quick, the chemistry was simply not there, the banter was lame and the female MC was incredibly immature and had me rolling my eyes sooooo much.

And I can handle a spicy scene here or there but there was so many, they were so overtop and to put it mildly, they were just plain RAUNCHY. They added nothing to the story and honestly slowed down an already snail pace of a plot.

I’m glad I read it and of course I enjoyed all the Canadian-isms but i don’t recommend…..sorry.
Profile Image for Shannon.
8,384 reviews425 followers
November 26, 2025
By far one of my most anticipated romances of 2025 and while I had to wait almost a whole year to read, it was sooo worth the wait!! I loved the awkward meet-cute between Andi, the assistant to the Prime Minister of Canada's wife (who also secretly writes romance novels) and Nolan, a protection agent who ends up working as the PM's personal bodyguard.

Reunited years after they had a memorable but platonic night together, the two end up fake dating to help avoid a scandal only to realize their sizzling chemistry cannot be denied. Spicy but tender too, I loved that this was dual POV with EXCELLENT voiced by Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton (my two FAVORITE narrators ever).

There's also great insights into the publishing industry and an emotional side plot involving Nolan's complicated mother who has Alzheimer's and was largely absent for most of his and his sister's childhoods. Highly recommended for fans of books like The royals next door by Karina Halle.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review. This was by far my new favorite by Canadian author Amy Lea and if you want a book that balances humor, heart and emotional depth, you can't go wrong with this one!
Profile Image for Kate .
663 reviews311 followers
November 29, 2025
Thank you, @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the #gifted copies! #berkleyromance #berkley #prhaudioinfluencer

Noah Crosby just got an appointment as the Canadian Prime Minister’s Chief Protection Officer but the main reason for his return to his hometown after years away is to care for his mother after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Andi Zeigler has a high pressure job as the personal assistant to the Canadian PM’s wife and whatever free time she has is devoted to her indie-published romance series that she writes under a pen name. Oh, and three years ago they met as strangers at a bar and had a failed hookup neither has stopped thinking about. Then a wild and untrue rumor of an affair between Andi and the PM causes them to hatch a fake dating scheme - Andi and Noah will pretend to date for the summer to make sure the rumors die down. But the same electric connection that drew them together years ago persists and fake dating becomes a real friendship and an undeniable attraction.

Well, this was adorable. You’ve got opposites attract, a fake relationship where they are both down so bad, they each help the other grow and believe in themselves, a one-bed situation, and there is an adorable rescue dog. Plus it is a self-aware romance through Andi’s romance author lens. The storyline with Noah’s mom adds weight and emotional complexity to the story while you have a ton of fun along the way.

🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: The dynamic duo of Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton are just as great as you think they will be bringing this adorable slow-burn romance to life! (10 hrs and 51 mins)

Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Profile Image for Sarah (Books_with_a_cuppa).
221 reviews4 followers
December 8, 2025
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc, I really appreciate it.

This was a lot of fun. The third book I’ve read by Amy Lea, and it had the same level of humour, easy flowing dialogue and strong characters as her others.

I loved the premise of this book. Andi is the PA to the prime ministers wife. Nolan meets her post break up for a very weird failed attempt at a one night stand. Years later, he arrives as the personal security to the prime minister. One things leads to another, and they end up in a fake dating scenario. The plot and the character development was so strong in this - I really enjoyed how it all came together.

Nolan was my favourite though - how you could see him evolving from a man who refuses to stay in one place, won’t commit, carrying around issues since his childhood, to a man who wants more from his life.

I can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with these two when this is released!

Thank you again.
Profile Image for Celeste.
1,043 reviews10 followers
December 26, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

As always, a big thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC. this book was published earlier this month.

At the beginning of the story our FMC, Andi, goes to a bar with her friend. She excuses herself to the bathroom...and unfortunately for her (or fortunately!?!) the lock on the stall is broken and a man opens the door...seeing her on the toilet. As you can imagine, lots of embarrassment all around. They end up attempting a one night stand...and let's say that doesn't work out, but they both can't stop thinking about each other afterwards.

There are quite a few tropes sprinkled throughout this book. Expect fake dating, forced proximity, only one bed, second chance, etc. There are also heavier topics sprinkled in there as well.

One thing that seemed painfully accurate in this book is the disrespect romance authors experience for writing spicy open door bedroom scenes or for writing romance books in general. (Andi is a romance author that writes under a pen name) For whatever reason (probably because the majority of romance authors are women), the romance genre is seen as fluff, trashy, and embarrassing. I think this is very prevalent in the reading community as well. Here's my two cents: romance books talk about real life things that many people will experience to some level. They boost confidence. They bring happiness. And are just overall fun to read. Sue me for having a good time, I guess.

I liked the premise and the characters, but this took me a long time to read. There was something about the pacing that didn't work for me, I don't know what it was specifically.
Profile Image for Emilie.
304 reviews13 followers
November 29, 2025
Thanks PRH Audio for the gifted ALC and Berkley for the free eARC. All opinions are my own.

📖Read if you like:
- Fake dating
- Canadian setting
- Secret identity
- Forced proximity
- Dual POV

This was so much fun! I might be a bit biased here because this story was set in my hometown, but I loved the Canadian setting so much. All of the Ottawa references made my heart so happy. 🥹
It’s such a unique concept with the fictional political drama and I loved the connection between Andi and Nolan. They were so great together and I really enjoyed seeing how their characters developed individually. It was so interesting to see Andi’s (secret) romance writing journey, and everything with Nathan’s mom was handled so well.
I always enjoy Amy Lea’s writing and this is a new favourite of mine from her!

🎧The audiobook is narrated by the Teddy Hamilton and Brittany Pressley. They did a great job of bringing the story to life as always and it was so fun hearing them talk about places around my city.😆
Profile Image for Amy.
2,650 reviews2,024 followers
November 30, 2025
The audio of The Bodyguard Affair by Amy Lea is pure charm from start to finish, and Brittany Pressley and Teddy Hamilton prove once again that there is truly not a more iconic narrator duo for rom com listeners. Andi and Nolan’s fake dating, second chance, bodyguard meets secret romance writer setup is flirty, sexy, witty, and full of the kind of swoony moments that make you grin at your phone. The humor lands, the chemistry sparkles, and the emotional undercurrent — especially around Nolan’s family — gives the story so much heart. An absolute treat in audio and the perfect feel good listen.
Profile Image for Savannah.
857 reviews12 followers
December 22, 2025


Overall boring. I've read worse romance but this had an elite set up and then terrible tension and romantic execution.

Don't really know how Andi was working for the PRIME MINSTER and no one knew that she wrote books? Pen name or not, background checks would've been done.

Why didn't the prime minster speak out and say "I am faithful to my wife"? Why let Andi take the blame for being a homewrecker? idk

Nolan dealing with his family trauma gave him some personality but when it came to the romance, the fizzle was gone before the book even started. Did not care a single bit about what either of them had going on together. The fake dating plot was .....fine here. Didn't do the heavy lifting it needed to.

The source of their fake dating also got too neatly wrapped up in the last 10% of the book?

Boring.
Profile Image for Anna.
417 reviews37 followers
Read
January 10, 2026
Dnf at 52% I struggled with this one and put it down hoping that it was the wrong time to read it...but then I never got the urge to pick it back up soooo. This unfortunately fell flat for me and I'm bummed cause it sounds right up my alley :(

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the arc
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