Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by Louisa
Mixing business with pleasure usually seems like a bad idea, but in the case of crossing the lines when it comes to love – there is nothing more tantalizing than a bodyguard romance book.
Bodyguards are your protector, your safety net, and your sense of security – combined with a muscular body and a bad boy attitude – and you’ve got yourself a swoon-worthy book boyfriend right there.
In this guide, I’ve gathered some of the best bodyguard romance books, packed with hot, protecting men and a storyline riddled with delicious suspense.
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What To Expect From Bodyguard Romance Books?
Bodyguard romance stories are one of the most exciting tropes in the romance genre.
Readers can expect tales of intense romance, passion, and loyalty as the hero and heroine embark on an adventure that takes them from peril to love.
In these stories, the bodyguard is often a symbol of strength who risks danger in order to protect the woman he loves.
Meanwhile, the heroine must often face her own inner demons while dealing with the time-sensitive dilemmas posed by a potential threat.
These novels are often packed with suspense, drama, and action scenes that keep you hooked throughout all the thrilling twists and turns!
The Best Bodyguard Romance Books
If you find the forbidden romance of a bodyguard romance trope thrilling, then pick up a pen and write down these essential titles you’ll want to add to your bookshelf.
1. Damaged Like Us – Becca Ritchie and Krista Ritchie
The first book in the Like Us series, Damaged Like Us, holds the nomination for the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance (2017). This LGBT contemporary romance will undoubtedly steal your breath away.
The story follows Maximoff Hale, a seductive young billionaire, born into one of the most famous American families. He is drop-dead gorgeous, but his willful temper tends to clash with his closely-observed life in the spotlight.
When he’s assigned a new bodyguard, Maximoff’s life is turned upside down by an unexpected complication.
It won’t take long for Farrow Keene to overstep the boundaries of his bodyguard duties as the two men find themselves entrapped in a haze of forbidden emotions.
If you love billionaire romance books, then this one should be high on your TBR list!
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2. The Protector – Jodi Ellen Malpas
Penned by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Ellen Malpas, The Protector is mandatory reading for all bodyguard fantasy enthusiasts.
The book introduces a tangled romance story between Jake and Camille, capturing the reader with an extra dose of charm and romantic suspense.
Jake Sharp is bearing the weight of his past mistakes and the devastating consequences that followed.
By accepting the role of the bodyguard to a beautiful heiress, Camille Logan, Jake is conflicted about whether he’s the right man for the job.
At first glance, Camille is a textbook example of a privileged beauty whose only occupation is to scatter her father’s fortune. But it won’t take long for Jake to uncover her warm and compassionate nature.
Soon enough, her safety and well-being become much more than an obligation for Jake, no matter how determined he is not to succumb to his feelings.
Suspenseful plotlines and thrilling twists make this one of the best fantasy bodyguard romance books that’s impossible to put down.
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3. A Lady’s Formula for Love – Elizabeth Everett
With a Victorian-era London setting, A Lady’s Formula for Love delivers an exciting blend of historical fiction and bodyguard romance fantasy.
At the heart of the story is the brilliant Lady Violet Hughes. She is the founder of a sanctuary for England’s best and brightest female scientists and is currently working on a secret mission for the Crown.
Following the mysterious infiltration of her laboratories, Violet must join forces with the captivating but reserved protection officer, Arthur Kneland.
Wrapped up with enigmas, Lady Violet will soon uncover that no secrets are as troubling as the secrets of the heart.
With intense themes of romance, passion, loyalty, suspense, drama, and action scenes, this is a bodyguard romance that will keep any reader coming back for more!
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4. The Bodyguard – Katherine Center
This next entry seems to have all the elements of a bodyguard romance that I love. The Bodyguard is the definition of a comfort read, a true gem among contemporary bodyguard romance books.
Jack Stapleton bears the title of a superstar actor who, amidst a family tragedy, decides to step out from the public eye.
When he finds out he’s being stalked, Jack hires an Executive Protection Agent (read bodyguard), Hannah Brooks.
When his mother falls ill, Jack must go back home to Texas, and since he is bent on not wanting his family to know about his stalker problems, Hannah has no choice but to play along as his girlfriend. Against her will, of course.
This exceptional bodyguard romance novel also received a nomination for the Goodreads Choice Award for the Best Romance category in 2022.
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5. Rules of Protection – Alison Bliss
The first entry in the Tangled in Texas series, Rules of Protection, is a classic slow-burn romance book, perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of humor and suspense.
While out and about on her birthday, Emily Foster finds herself in an unfavorable position by witnessing a mob hit.
Following the incident, she enters the Witness Protection Program, where she gets assigned a chaperone, Special Agent Jake Ward.
While hiding in the middle of nowhere in the Texas backwoods, Jake and Emily struggle with trying not to fall for one another head over heels. For these two, this seems like a mission impossible.
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6. Willing Captive – Belle Aurora
Willing Captive is NOT a dark romance, even though the title might lead you to believe otherwise. It does, however, possess an element of suspense, along with an action-packed romantic plot.
We meet Lily, our sarcastic leading lady who finds herself kidnapped for her protection when her father lands himself in some serious hot water.
Her brooding protector, Nox Taylor, is not too excited about this mission, waiting for things to end so he can get the smartass Lily off his hands as soon as possible.
But surprise, surprise- it won’t take too long before Nox has a change of heart as he slowly begins to see Lily for who she truly is. A woman unlike any other, with an attitude to match his own.
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7. Affaire Royale – Nora Roberts
From the mind of Nora Roberts, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, comes an exceptional romance teeming with suspense and intrigue.
Affaire Royale captivates us with a story filled with the elements of mystery as we follow our heroine, Princess Gabriella, who lost her memory while in captivity, kidnapped by unidentified abductors.
As she tries to regain her memory, Gabriella is under the care of Reeve MacGee, a presumptuous ex-policeman.
Reeve is determined to help recover her mind and protect her and their growing affection.
This is one bodyguard romance book that will have you on the edge of your seat with perilous cliffhangers and gripping white-knuckle action scenes.
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8. Crossing the Line – Lucy Score
Crossing the Line is the first novel in a two-book series written by the #1 Amazon bestselling writer Lucy Score, who gained critical acclaim with her military romance book, Pretend You’re Mine.
Xavier Saint is the co-founder of an elite private security firm. He is currently under contract to protect Waverly Sinner, a second-generation Hollywood actress whose mischievous tendencies will undoubtedly shake up his by-the-book attitude.
At first, Waverly doesn’t trust Xavier, irritated by his rule-bound demeanor. But when the sparks begin to fly between them, Xavier and Waverly will have to put their differences aside to prevail over the threat of a potential killer.
With its combination of heart-pounding plotlines, romance and heroic actions, this is a bodyguard romance novel that’s sure to be a hit with any lover of an exciting romance story!
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9. An Unforgettable Lady – Jessica Bird
This heartwarming bodyguard romance tale is the first book in the series written by Jessica Bird, aka the sublime J.R. Ward.
A string of mysterious attacks causes a commotion among upper-class New York. When several notable women suddenly go missing, heiress Grace Hall reluctantly decides to hire a bodyguard.
Inevitably, Grace becomes drawn to her perplexing protector, John Smith, for whom the beautiful heiress is supposed to be just another entry on a long list of assignments.
But each minute, their suppressed affections grow more intense until John finds himself at a crossroads. Will he give up his old way of life or the woman he loves more than anything?
It’s not just about action and thrills though, there’s also plenty of moments for contemplation and reflection as both characters come to terms with whatever moral dilemmas may arise.
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10. Tempting the Bodyguard – Jennifer L. Armentrout, writing as J. Lynn
Tempting the Bodyguard is the third entry in the Gamble Brothers series, written under Jennifer L. Armentrout’s pseudonym, J. Lynn.
Armentrout stands out as one of the most prolific contemporary romance writers, holding the title of the #1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author.
The book introduces us to Chandler Gamble, a professional bodyguard with a womanizer reputation.
When he agrees to protect Alana Gore from her persevering creep of a stalker, Gamble will find himself caught between his duties and his inescapable desire toward his client.
The relationship between the bodyguard and heroine is beautiful to behold, as they slowly build trust while in perilous danger.
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11. Dearest Rogue – Elizabeth Hoyt
Dearest Rogue is a classic historical romance with a bodyguard fantasy twist, cleverly unraveling the slow-burn liaison between the lead characters.
Lady Phoebe Batten enjoys all the privileges of being the sister of an influential duke, but because of her visual impairment, she must keep an armed chaperone by her side at all times.
The pleasure of this obligation belongs to Captain James Trevillion.
He is a little prideful and brooding, but when the two of them become confined to close quarters for her safekeeping, Phoebe uncovers the tender heart hiding deep beneath the Captain’s rugged shell.
This is a novel that offers a thrilling read for the intrepid reader. It has suspenseful plotlines, intense drama, and action-packed scenes have you rooting for the hero and heroine every time!
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12. Royally Endowed – Emma Chase
Secret crushes are often the sweetest, but sometimes, they tend to sting the most.
This kind of quiet infatuation has been a long-time burden for both Ellie and Logan.
Ellie is a part of the royal family, fresh out of college, and determined to find the love of her life.
Her long-time fascination with the handsome royal security guard Logan doesn’t seem to wear off, while The Queen encourages her to settle down with someone of royal blood.
This lingering feeling seems to flow both ways, as Logan can’t seem to get Ellie out of his head. But the only one he wants is strictly off-limits. At least for now.
Readers can expect a passionate rollercoaster ride of emotions with each page turn, leaving them wanting more with every exciting twist!
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13. The Plan – Karla Sorensen
The Plan wins the reader’s hearts by capturing Erik and Lydia’s uniquely-charming chemistry, solidifying the age-old fact that opposites attract like a moth to a flame.
Lydia sees the world through rose-colored glasses, just a girl looking for her happily ever after. Her father is a renowned Wolves player and the owner of the franchise.
When former player-turned-bodyguard Erik walks into her life and takes her as a client, the two begin faking a relationship for each other’s gains.
Things quickly turn frisky as they go back and forth, trying to balance their personality differences and mutual attraction.
An opposites attract romance novel that will have readers captivated as they join the journey of two lovers in an action-packed world.
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14. The Royals Next Door – Karina Halle
From the New York Times bestselling author Karina Halle comes the unconventional contemporary romance about Piper Evans, an elementary school teacher and podcaster in disguise.
Her quiet life becomes disrupted when the British prince and princess rent the next-door property.
Besides her new neighbors, there’s another turbulence for the unsuspecting Piper- the hot and gloomy royal bodyguard, Harrison Cole.
In her attempt to uncover the soft heart hiding behind the bodyguard’s firm exterior, Piper will slowly restore her faith in love. Will Harrison be able to release some things to feel the same?
This is a refreshing plot in the bodyguard romance trope and has characters with a lot of depth to them.
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15. Twisted Games – Ana Huang
Are you after some steamy body guard romances? Want to read about steamy hook-ups and unexpected matches?
Twisted Games by Ana Huang is the second part of a series that follows different couples.
This story focuses on Rhys Larsen, a man who’s protective of his clients and knows better than to ever get involved with them.
Following his rules has never been a problem until he meets Bridgette. She has a fiery personality that he can’t resist.
With each meeting they have together, Rhys feels more and more like he’s going to break his own rules.
This is one forbidden romance novel you won’t be able to put down!
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Final Word on Bodyguard Romance Books
Hopefully, you’ll love these tension-inducing bodyguard romances as much as I do.
Magnetic chemistry, seductive games, and over-stepping the conventional boundaries- these popular romance tales have it all!
Whether you have a sweet spot for historical romance, gripping action, or slow-paced period pieces, these bodyguard romance books will satisfy your every desire.
If you have an excellent recommendation that didn’t make my list, let me know in the comments below!
