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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
I was really looking forward to this book after loving the first one. After a slow start, it picked up and was just as great as I was hoping. Lucy Parker is a gem!
Pet, sister to Dominic from Parker's previous book Battle Royal, is the heroine here. She is a PA to Johnny, the new spouse of the princess. After an innocent picture sparks rumors about there being something scandalous going on between the two of them, a plan is hatched for Pet to fake date Matthias, the palace bodyguard. Of course, we all know how these things go!
Matthias was probably the best overprotective grump I've read. This trope can quickly feel gross to me, but he only wanted to keep her safe and happy, and I'm happy to say it was portrayed in the most non-toxic way. Pet was a perfect sunshine compliment to his grump, but she was also layered and had a tough backstory. Did the book have a flimsy fake dating scenario? Absolutely, but it ended up being a cute excuse for these two to show intimacy that would have taken them years to get to. I loved them as a couple and how they championed each other. I loved the side characters and how much they added to the story. I also thought Parker did a much better job in this book at narrowing down those side stories. Battle Royal (which I adored) had soooo much going on, but this book focused more on Pet and Matthias as a couple.
I love Lucy Parker. I'll definitely read whatever she writes. She's a great under the radar, but super solid romance author.
Pet, sister to Dominic from Parker's previous book Battle Royal, is the heroine here. She is a PA to Johnny, the new spouse of the princess. After an innocent picture sparks rumors about there being something scandalous going on between the two of them, a plan is hatched for Pet to fake date Matthias, the palace bodyguard. Of course, we all know how these things go!
Matthias was probably the best overprotective grump I've read. This trope can quickly feel gross to me, but he only wanted to keep her safe and happy, and I'm happy to say it was portrayed in the most non-toxic way. Pet was a perfect sunshine compliment to his grump, but she was also layered and had a tough backstory. Did the book have a flimsy fake dating scenario? Absolutely, but it ended up being a cute excuse for these two to show intimacy that would have taken them years to get to. I loved them as a couple and how they championed each other. I loved the side characters and how much they added to the story. I also thought Parker did a much better job in this book at narrowing down those side stories. Battle Royal (which I adored) had soooo much going on, but this book focused more on Pet and Matthias as a couple.
I love Lucy Parker. I'll definitely read whatever she writes. She's a great under the radar, but super solid romance author.
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Listened to about 80% of this and ultimately it wasn’t for me. I think it was a mix of the writing style, audiobook narrator and confusing British references. Maybe if I read the first in the series beforehand I would have appreciated the story more, especially because I love a royal romance.
Read if you like:
-Royals
-Fake dating
-Bodygaurd/ personal assistant
-Opposites attract
-UK setting
Thank you Avon and HarperAudio for the early copy!
Read if you like:
-Royals
-Fake dating
-Bodygaurd/ personal assistant
-Opposites attract
-UK setting
Thank you Avon and HarperAudio for the early copy!
I am a big fan of Lucy Parker's writing and I had been waiting for this book for two years and boy, it was even better than I hoped.
Pet, which we met in book one, Battle Royal, has been working as the personal assistance of the newes member of the royal family. Which means she is also in close proximiry to his bodyguards and especially the man leading his team, Matthias. Every attempt she made to be his friend were all for nothing since he is determined to keep his distance.
But when some pictures makes the press speculate about Pet's relationship with her boss, a plan must be put in place to stop any gossip. Which bring us to a fake relationship between Pet and Mattias, they now won't have any choice but to become close, even more close than either of them thought.
Matthias has a tragic past which taught him to keep his distance from everyone, because loosing them hurts more. He was so dreamy and protective, always looking after Pet, wanting to make her life easier, without taking any credit.
Pet's life hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows but that didn't make her lose her positive attitude. In the midst of it all, an old photograph starts a quest to find some answers she was looking for a long time.
You know how some books feel like a warm hug, how the only way to describe them is cozy? Well this is that kind of book.
The romance is sweet and also a bit steamy, the royals are all over the place (or I should say palace), leading them to some very interesting and fun situations while the fake dating couldn't feel more real.
I loved the romance, humour and side characters so much that I can say this is one of my favourite books of the year.
Pet, which we met in book one, Battle Royal, has been working as the personal assistance of the newes member of the royal family. Which means she is also in close proximiry to his bodyguards and especially the man leading his team, Matthias. Every attempt she made to be his friend were all for nothing since he is determined to keep his distance.
But when some pictures makes the press speculate about Pet's relationship with her boss, a plan must be put in place to stop any gossip. Which bring us to a fake relationship between Pet and Mattias, they now won't have any choice but to become close, even more close than either of them thought.
Matthias has a tragic past which taught him to keep his distance from everyone, because loosing them hurts more. He was so dreamy and protective, always looking after Pet, wanting to make her life easier, without taking any credit.
Pet's life hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows but that didn't make her lose her positive attitude. In the midst of it all, an old photograph starts a quest to find some answers she was looking for a long time.
You know how some books feel like a warm hug, how the only way to describe them is cozy? Well this is that kind of book.
The romance is sweet and also a bit steamy, the royals are all over the place (or I should say palace), leading them to some very interesting and fun situations while the fake dating couldn't feel more real.
I loved the romance, humour and side characters so much that I can say this is one of my favourite books of the year.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Lucy Parker always hits it out of the park when it comes to providing a light, easy rom-com that feels good. I love every one of her books, and I look forward to reading them. This one was no exception.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I mostly loved this, kind of despite myself.
My values / beliefs include a) the British royal family are a bunch of colonizing shits hoarding wealth, b) all cops are bad, and c) military service (ie killing people) should not be glorified.
It's not that this VERY sexy, funny, and romantic story about a royal bodyguard and a personal assistant to a royal is really about those things, but they are in the background and not exactly unequivocally condoned but neither are they questioned. It's not quite enough for me.
Anyway, if you can ignore those aspects, this couple is so great, incredible chemistry! 🥵🥵
My values / beliefs include a) the British royal family are a bunch of colonizing shits hoarding wealth, b) all cops are bad, and c) military service (ie killing people) should not be glorified.
It's not that this VERY sexy, funny, and romantic story about a royal bodyguard and a personal assistant to a royal is really about those things, but they are in the background and not exactly unequivocally condoned but neither are they questioned. It's not quite enough for me.
Anyway, if you can ignore those aspects, this couple is so great, incredible chemistry! 🥵🥵
A cute, pretty standard romcom - points off for the constant "she is so very smol, he is so very tall" energy, though.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No