Guarded

Glamour, danger, thrills, and chills - We came for the action and stayed for the outfits! The book team is here to tell you more about our new book, Guarded!

What should we expect when diving into the world of Guarded? What can you tell us about our MC?

Emi: You're a rising Hollywood star who just landed her biggest role yet, and you're enjoying all the perks that come with that. But as we all know, fame often comes with a price, and that's where your seriously attractive bodyguard comes in. After you're nearly hurt in an accident on set, they refuse to leave your side, and the more time you spend together, the more you find yourself falling for them. This book has a little bit of everything, from Hollywood glitz and glam to fast-paced action to fake dating to the "there's only one bed" trope!

Meagan: One of the things I love about our MC is that she began her rise to stardom as a fan. It adds a fun flavor to her story as an actress and plays into the boldness of her personality. She was someone who wished to be the hero of her favorite story and then found a way to make it happen. That passion is just one of the things her bodyguard is intrigued by--and we hope you are, too!

Katie: This book has fake dating and a one-bed trope. I have evolved into the most unhinged producer ever during my passes because fake dating is just chef's kiss.

Amanda: Think of glamour, crime, bodyguard romance, and fake-dating all combined to make this love story. One thing I like about this story is that even though the main character is a rising movie star, she is still modest - coming from the bottom of fame; this definitely helps keep the main character feel more grounded. But don't forget about the luxurious and beautiful "red carpet-worthy" outfits that this book holds!

Can we expect to have dangerous adventures with any heartthrobs? 

Emi: When your life is in danger, sometimes you need someone equally dangerous to keep you safe. Your bodyguard is stoic and hard to read, but there's never any doubt that they'll do whatever it takes to protect you. But are they simply doing their job or is there something more growing between you?

Meagan: Let's just say there will be plenty of opportunities to get your heart racing and adrenaline coursing through your veins

Amanda: Not only do you go on dangerous adventures with your sexy bodyguard, but you also go through a dangerous love journey with them to figure out the mystery in them.

Katie: We get to live out our Bella Swan dreams and watch Grey save us from something crashing into us

It’s giving “hoa hoa hoa” vibes! So we’re the celebrity? Are we going to have an A-list walk-in closet of amazing outfits?!

Emi: Of course! Every star needs to be red carpet ready. There are some seriously gorgeous looks in this book, though my favorite has to be the one where you get to cosplay as the movie character you play! I wish I owned that dress myself.

Meagan: I can't overstate how gorgeous our closet is for this book--our art team really pulled out all the stops. We're also excited to be one of the first books to use a new body type that our art department has been working on. You could say that our MC is a trendsetter!

Katie: We are the celebrity with a gorgeous closet! My absolute favorite comes later in the book, so keep an eye out for serious body glitter. I wish I could rock glitter like that and not find it in my bed sheets for weeks to come. 

Amanda: The Art Team spent a lot of time researching trending Red Carpet and Runway outfits. The team also made sure there was a mix of glamour and street looks.

What were some difficulties the team faced when creating the book/world of Guarded?

Emi: Switching between playing as your MC and the LI while still keeping up the romantic tension between them was a unique challenge. Players get to see into each of their heads, so you know what they're feeling and what's holding them back, but the characters don't have that information. It's a tricky balance to maintain, but honestly there's something so endearing about two idiots in love being too silly to notice the other feels the same way.

Meagan: Balancing the steaminess and romance of the premise with the more action- and thriller-oriented elements was a challenge. It was important to maintain the looming threat of danger, both for the plot and to drive the romantic/sexual tension between our two leads, but we never wanted that to overshadow the relationship at the heart of the story. Ultimately, I think we were able to strike a good balance.

Katie: Flying our MC around the world isn't a novel concept in a Choices book however, this book did so much that we had to map out all the various hotel rooms and red carpets so we knew our player didn't accidentally visit that hotel room in New York three times. 

Amanda: Keeping track of where our characters were located throughout the book was definitely a challenge. Players will get the full ride to being a star with Hollywood, traveling, paparazzi, filming, and much more.

If you were a top celebrity, which Choices characters would you want to be your bodyguard?

Emi: I feel like Gaius would be a really good bodyguard with his years of fighting experience and all his vampire abilities. But you'd have to convince him you're worth protecting first.

Katie: Probably the Dalton twins. I would love to see them kick my enemies in the shin and run away. It's pretty effective!

Amanda: Ooh, tough question! I think I will have to go with Nik Ryder from Nightbound. His angst and ability to fight off monsters just makes me feel even safer .

Meagan: You'd be hard-pressed to find a better bodyguard than a literal dragon, so I'd have to do with a classic Choices character: Dom from The Crown and The Flame.

So what you’re saying, Meagan, is you want to live out your Fourth Wing dreams? We see you and agree! Thank you all for taking the time to answer our questions. And readers, thank YOU for reading our blogs! See you on launch day!

<3 The Choices Community Team