Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pat and Matthias' relationship was super cute and I loved reading about them getting together but it was too much of a slowburn for me to give a higher rating. I'd still recommend it, especially if you liked Pet in book one ☺ Wouldn't really read it as a standalone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Stalking
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Infidelity
This was cute! Pet is the personal assistant of Johnny, husband to England's fourth in line to the throne. (Parker does a good job setting up an alternate royal family; they're distinct enough that you don't spend the book wondering who is a stand-in for whom.) Matthias works security for Johnny. After rumors fly that Johnny and Pet are having an affair, Codename Charming is launched--a fauxmance between Pet and Matthias, who've been drawn together since some of the events we saw in [b:Battle Royal|55921509|Battle Royal (Palace Insiders, #1)|Lucy Parker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1606335397l/55921509._SY75_.jpg|83189278].
Looking at my review of that book, I felt like Parker was trying to tell too many stories. This book is much more streamlined; it really is just about Pet and Matthias. Pet's also trying to find some of her personal history, but none of it gets overwhelming. I love Parker's world-building and I liked how both Pet's and Matthias's backgrounds affected them.
There's pretty much zero doubt about the two of them getting together; they're clearly drawn together despite the constant "He's huge! And ugly! And taciturn!" "She's tiny! And adorable! And sunshine-y!" What's interesting is their histories and getting past their own demons.
It is at times a bit twee and repetitive, but there were also some really fun scenes. I probably like the overall world more than this actual story, but whatever. I had fun reading this.
Looking at my review of that book, I felt like Parker was trying to tell too many stories. This book is much more streamlined; it really is just about Pet and Matthias. Pet's also trying to find some of her personal history, but none of it gets overwhelming. I love Parker's world-building and I liked how both Pet's and Matthias's backgrounds affected them.
There's pretty much zero doubt about the two of them getting together; they're clearly drawn together despite the constant "He's huge! And ugly! And taciturn!" "She's tiny! And adorable! And sunshine-y!" What's interesting is their histories and getting past their own demons.
It is at times a bit twee and repetitive, but there were also some really fun scenes. I probably like the overall world more than this actual story, but whatever. I had fun reading this.
I found this delightful! Pet (h) and Matthias (H) were excellent, well-rounded characters who had me fully invested in when they'd realize that their fake relationship was as real as it could be. The pacing was a little uneven though and some scenes were over detailed, while others were sparse and were more telling than showing. Because of the pacing/details and side character antics sometimes taking away from the romance, I felt like this did read slower, but I still enjoyed it. I didn't read the first book in this series but those characters are side characters in this one. The main details that must have taken place in it though are incorporated neatly into this story so I was never lost as to who was who and what events happened.
Pet and Matthias are both part of a team for a princess' husband, who's a bit of a disaster. Pet helps to manage him while Matthias is leading his personal protection detail. The two of them met before Pet worked for the royals when she actually put herself in harm's way to stop an attack. Pet is beautiful and tiny and Matthias is less conventional looking and massive so there's size difference and others compare them as beauty and the beast (which infuriates Pet). There is a bit of instant connection going on here, but this is slow burn and not even that til circumstances nudge them along when the two of them end up in a fake relationship for work to draw attention away from false paparazzi coverage. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (little bits of details on their past histories given, unknown if either was celibate since meeting but I think it was likely).
Both main characters have emotional wounds and neither has had a serious relationship. Their chemistry, tension, and just their care for each other was amazing. In addition to the fake relationship (that's not fake), their daily lives get lots of page time (royal antics included - these scenes were incredibly fun), as well as some family mystery for Pet. I laughed a lot, swooned at Matthias, and adored Pet. Matthias is so over-protective and secretly adorable (some of that adorableness you don't find out about til closer to the end) and Pet was also quick to defend him and connect with him at every opportunity. They do get hot and heavy with kissing and making out (in public at times) but there's only one full-on sex scene later in the book. I did disconnect a bit from some of the kissing scenes because the descriptor choices took me out of the moment unfortunately, but I did like how intense those scenes felt too.
Lots of side characters throughout the book. There are the royal bosses and some other royals floating around, co-workers, family, friends, and incidental people. One member of the paparazzi has a bad guy-like feel because he's creating more drama and generally saying awful things, but he does get his comeuppance and in spectacular fashion (while also giving our main characters another nudge). There's also Matthias' sweet cat and a visiting parrot, who plays a hilarious role.
I don't want to spoil Pet's family drama, but I thought this was really interesting. Not just in what it was, but also how it progressed. I also liked how Matthias had preconceptions about what her home life had been like and that he was wrong, allowing them to bond over uncertain childhoods. His own painful past was also heart-touching and the sharing of it added some nice vulnerability to him since he was normally so stoic and focused.
I did wish that they were a firmly established couple earlier in the book so that we had more page time of them together together, but they are on page a lot so that eased my mind. The ending is HEA and I loved it. There's an epilogue that's a short jump ahead, but then there's an additional part that gives a little more a little further out. I also liked that there was almost a fated/destiny feel to Pet and Matthias that gave me such a romantic feeling at the end, although it was also a bit cheesy in a sweet way. I would recommend this, it wasn't completely smooth but the characters and their stories swept me in.
Pet and Matthias are both part of a team for a princess' husband, who's a bit of a disaster. Pet helps to manage him while Matthias is leading his personal protection detail. The two of them met before Pet worked for the royals when she actually put herself in harm's way to stop an attack. Pet is beautiful and tiny and Matthias is less conventional looking and massive so there's size difference and others compare them as beauty and the beast (which infuriates Pet). There is a bit of instant connection going on here, but this is slow burn and not even that til circumstances nudge them along when the two of them end up in a fake relationship for work to draw attention away from false paparazzi coverage. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and neither are virgins (little bits of details on their past histories given, unknown if either was celibate since meeting but I think it was likely).
Both main characters have emotional wounds and neither has had a serious relationship. Their chemistry, tension, and just their care for each other was amazing. In addition to the fake relationship (that's not fake), their daily lives get lots of page time (royal antics included - these scenes were incredibly fun), as well as some family mystery for Pet. I laughed a lot, swooned at Matthias, and adored Pet. Matthias is so over-protective and secretly adorable (some of that adorableness you don't find out about til closer to the end) and Pet was also quick to defend him and connect with him at every opportunity. They do get hot and heavy with kissing and making out (in public at times) but there's only one full-on sex scene later in the book. I did disconnect a bit from some of the kissing scenes because the descriptor choices took me out of the moment unfortunately, but I did like how intense those scenes felt too.
Lots of side characters throughout the book. There are the royal bosses and some other royals floating around, co-workers, family, friends, and incidental people. One member of the paparazzi has a bad guy-like feel because he's creating more drama and generally saying awful things, but he does get his comeuppance and in spectacular fashion (while also giving our main characters another nudge). There's also Matthias' sweet cat and a visiting parrot, who plays a hilarious role.
I don't want to spoil Pet's family drama, but I thought this was really interesting. Not just in what it was, but also how it progressed. I also liked how Matthias had preconceptions about what her home life had been like and that he was wrong, allowing them to bond over uncertain childhoods. His own painful past was also heart-touching and the sharing of it added some nice vulnerability to him since he was normally so stoic and focused.
I did wish that they were a firmly established couple earlier in the book so that we had more page time of them together together, but they are on page a lot so that eased my mind. The ending is HEA and I loved it. There's an epilogue that's a short jump ahead, but then there's an additional part that gives a little more a little further out. I also liked that there was almost a fated/destiny feel to Pet and Matthias that gave me such a romantic feeling at the end, although it was also a bit cheesy in a sweet way. I would recommend this, it wasn't completely smooth but the characters and their stories swept me in.
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
My dear friend, Milena/book.musing, placed Codename Charming on my radar, and she has never steered me wrong. I forgot this was a second book in a series
I couldn't wait to start this book after reading the first in the series, and it did not disappoint. It has more spectacular chemistry between the characters, both romantic and platonic. I loved the emphasis on lots of different kinds of relationships. It has a few coincidences that strain belief, but I entirely enjoyed it.
Love this series
Feeling all of the feelings is so wonderful and Lucy Parker never disappoints. Get going and read this wonderful book immediately!
Feeling all of the feelings is so wonderful and Lucy Parker never disappoints. Get going and read this wonderful book immediately!
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
No
Charming grumpy-sunshine romance
Pet and Matthias both work in the place as direct employees of a member of the royal family. When the tabloids start to run with the idea that Pet and her (married) royal boss are having an affair, the team decides to get in front of that rumor by pretending that Pet and *Matthias* (the boss's security guy) are in a relationship instead.
Now you know that I love a "fake relationship" trope, but this one wasn't my favorite. Honestly, the biggest reason that I struggled with this book was that it was the second book in a series and I hadn't read the first book. In this case, there was a lot of set up, not only about our main couple, but also about a *bunch* of side stories, in the first book. That I came into this without reading the first book is not the author's fault at all, but it definitely affected my enjoyment of the book.
Additionally, this is the kind of book where you have to suspend disbelief for a *lot* of grandiose coincidences. ie, "your dad wasn't your real dad, your real dad was a super famous ______"... but that sort of wild reveal happened *multiple* times in this story.
And finally, while I love the fake relationship trope, this one went from "we don't talk at all" to "we're super making out in the middle of the street and we're probably in love" *very* quickly.
All that to say... This book is my genre, my trope, my area of interest, but it just didn't land right for me. That's not necessarily the author's fault, and your mileage may vary. 3.5 ⭐
In any case, I appreciate the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. My thanks to the author, publisher and #NetGalley.
#CodenameCharming
Now you know that I love a "fake relationship" trope, but this one wasn't my favorite. Honestly, the biggest reason that I struggled with this book was that it was the second book in a series and I hadn't read the first book. In this case, there was a lot of set up, not only about our main couple, but also about a *bunch* of side stories, in the first book. That I came into this without reading the first book is not the author's fault at all, but it definitely affected my enjoyment of the book.
Additionally, this is the kind of book where you have to suspend disbelief for a *lot* of grandiose coincidences. ie, "your dad wasn't your real dad, your real dad was a super famous ______"... but that sort of wild reveal happened *multiple* times in this story.
And finally, while I love the fake relationship trope, this one went from "we don't talk at all" to "we're super making out in the middle of the street and we're probably in love" *very* quickly.
All that to say... This book is my genre, my trope, my area of interest, but it just didn't land right for me. That's not necessarily the author's fault, and your mileage may vary. 3.5 ⭐
In any case, I appreciate the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. My thanks to the author, publisher and #NetGalley.
#CodenameCharming