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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Adorable and I found myself giggling constantly.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Perfectly charming and utterly forgettable.
This is such a sweet and fun royalty-adjacent, fake-dating, romantic comedy.
I found myself cracking up often, especially at the multiple mishaps involving Johnny.
Pet and Matthias’s chemistry is fantastic, and I adored how he pays attention and remembers details about her.
I especially loved the epilogue.
I found myself cracking up often, especially at the multiple mishaps involving Johnny.
Pet and Matthias’s chemistry is fantastic, and I adored how he pays attention and remembers details about her.
I especially loved the epilogue.
Just delightful!
I mean, a grumpy-sunshine/fake relationship/workplace romance already has so much going for it--but when it's also book 2 in the Palace Insiders series? You know it's going to be good!
Codename Charming absolutely did not disappoint. Pet and Matthias's story made me LOL as much as it had be swooning--who can resist a big, burly guy who ends up melting for the teeny little heroine? It's suuuuuper slooooow burn, though, because the denial is strong with these two (the fact that they *had* to be in a relationship for work purposes probably helped slow things down, because it gave them *reasons* to not explore their feelings too deeply), but I promise, it's worth the wait.
The reasons behind Pet and Matthias's being *required* to have a fake relationship for work seem a little iffy--does the palace have an HR department?--we get a further reason much later on. AND of course these two probably weren't going to manage it on their own without some major manipulation anyway, so...
Given where they work and for whom (the Princess's husband Johnny, who not only takes clumsy to a new level, but Matthias also muses at one point "made a bloody Care Bear look cynical and streetwise") there is plenty of fodder for the "com" part of this rom com. But there's a lot of drama here too--Matthias has a tragic backstory, and those who have read [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] already know that Pet's family life wasn't the greatest either. (You can read this one without reading the first book, but why would you? Dominic and Sylvie's story is just as delightful.) It takes a lot for him to believe that he's even lovable in the first place, let alone that *Pet* would find him so, and Pet tried so hard to befriend Matthias when she started working at the palace (to no avail) that she doesn't believe he could possibly want anything real with her either.
Throw in a grumpy cat, a murder parrot, and some truly delightful secondary characters--most of whom are just as committed as the reader is to getting these two to their HEA--and you've got the makings for an absolutely charming story. Pun maybe intended ;)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I mean, a grumpy-sunshine/fake relationship/workplace romance already has so much going for it--but when it's also book 2 in the Palace Insiders series? You know it's going to be good!
Codename Charming absolutely did not disappoint. Pet and Matthias's story made me LOL as much as it had be swooning--who can resist a big, burly guy who ends up melting for the teeny little heroine? It's suuuuuper slooooow burn, though, because the denial is strong with these two (the fact that they *had* to be in a relationship for work purposes probably helped slow things down, because it gave them *reasons* to not explore their feelings too deeply), but I promise, it's worth the wait.
The reasons behind Pet and Matthias's being *required* to have a fake relationship for work seem a little iffy--does the palace have an HR department?--we get a further reason much later on. AND of course these two probably weren't going to manage it on their own without some major manipulation anyway, so...
Given where they work and for whom (the Princess's husband Johnny, who not only takes clumsy to a new level, but Matthias also muses at one point "made a bloody Care Bear look cynical and streetwise") there is plenty of fodder for the "com" part of this rom com. But there's a lot of drama here too--Matthias has a tragic backstory, and those who have read [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] already know that Pet's family life wasn't the greatest either. (You can read this one without reading the first book, but why would you? Dominic and Sylvie's story is just as delightful.) It takes a lot for him to believe that he's even lovable in the first place, let alone that *Pet* would find him so, and Pet tried so hard to befriend Matthias when she started working at the palace (to no avail) that she doesn't believe he could possibly want anything real with her either.
Throw in a grumpy cat, a murder parrot, and some truly delightful secondary characters--most of whom are just as committed as the reader is to getting these two to their HEA--and you've got the makings for an absolutely charming story. Pun maybe intended ;)
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I received an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
I've been waiting for Matthias and Pet's book since their first meeting in Battle Royal, and oh man, the wait was so worth it. Pet works as a personal assistant to the newest member of the royal family, which means that the giant royal bodyguard Matthias is one of her colleagues. Pet is bubbly and spontaneous and she likes to befriend everyone. Matthias is starchy and rigid and he likes to stick to the rules. When a tabloid photo makes the news headlines, rumours begin to fly. The royal PR team consequently asks Pet and Matthias to stage a fake relationship for the cameras to fix the situation.
This book is loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast. When Pet and Matthias go viral, people on social media start shipping them because of their size and height difference. But they also start referring to Pet and Matthias as Beauty and the Beast respectively, something that really gets on Pet's nerves. Matthias is not an insecure man, but he's aware that people don't find him conventionally good looking. And that is why he thinks there's no way that someone like Pet would ever be attracted to him. Pet does try to befriend Matthias a few times, but he keeps his distance to protect himself (and his heart). He just quietly keeps an eye over her and listens to her in the background and she has absolutely no idea just how attuned to her he is.
I am absolutely in love with Lucy Parker's writing. What I love the most about her style is that she has a way of making the most mundane things romantic. There's something so cozy, charming, and quaint about her prose. I also love being in this world, even though I typically stay away from any royal-related books. I just really like the way Lucy Parker focuses on the moments, big or small, between the hero and heroine. Whenever there's a romantic moment, it feels like I'm reading it in slow motion and the background is completely blurred out. Every emotion, every glance, every touch, everything is heightened and hyper focused. This really amplifies the chemistry and it makes you feel like you're experiencing that moment yourself.
Speaking of romantic moments, this book has one of the best first kisses I have read in a really long time. Pet's love language is touch and I love seeing Matthias respond to that. As for Matthias, his love language is acts of service and I swoooooooooooned so hard at his kind and thoughtful actions. He's the type of guy who does good deeds in the background, without anyone really knowing about it. I love a gentle giant so much, and Lucy Parker did such a wonderful job characterizing Matthias. I love love LOVE him. I am swooning just thinking of all the little things he did for Pet. Ugh, my heart cannot handle it. There was this one revelation that made me cry 😭
I am 100% in love with Pet and Matthias. Their romance warmed my cold heart and I was absolutely satisfied with the ending. But I am so in love with them that I refuse to let go. I could keep reading about these two and never get bored. Aside from the romance, there are some interesting supporting characters that show up, including my beloved Dominic and Sylvie. I will say that I wasn't completely on board with all of the supporting characters. Some of their scenes were superfluous and a bit too quirky for my taste. But it was very easy to forget about these characters and focus solely on Pet and Matthias. This is also one of the few romances that work really well even though the timeline is tight. And lastly, this is quite possibly one of the best Beauty and the Beast inspired stories I've read.
I've been waiting for Matthias and Pet's book since their first meeting in Battle Royal, and oh man, the wait was so worth it. Pet works as a personal assistant to the newest member of the royal family, which means that the giant royal bodyguard Matthias is one of her colleagues. Pet is bubbly and spontaneous and she likes to befriend everyone. Matthias is starchy and rigid and he likes to stick to the rules. When a tabloid photo makes the news headlines, rumours begin to fly. The royal PR team consequently asks Pet and Matthias to stage a fake relationship for the cameras to fix the situation.
This book is loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast. When Pet and Matthias go viral, people on social media start shipping them because of their size and height difference. But they also start referring to Pet and Matthias as Beauty and the Beast respectively, something that really gets on Pet's nerves. Matthias is not an insecure man, but he's aware that people don't find him conventionally good looking. And that is why he thinks there's no way that someone like Pet would ever be attracted to him. Pet does try to befriend Matthias a few times, but he keeps his distance to protect himself (and his heart). He just quietly keeps an eye over her and listens to her in the background and she has absolutely no idea just how attuned to her he is.
I am absolutely in love with Lucy Parker's writing. What I love the most about her style is that she has a way of making the most mundane things romantic. There's something so cozy, charming, and quaint about her prose. I also love being in this world, even though I typically stay away from any royal-related books. I just really like the way Lucy Parker focuses on the moments, big or small, between the hero and heroine. Whenever there's a romantic moment, it feels like I'm reading it in slow motion and the background is completely blurred out. Every emotion, every glance, every touch, everything is heightened and hyper focused. This really amplifies the chemistry and it makes you feel like you're experiencing that moment yourself.
Speaking of romantic moments, this book has one of the best first kisses I have read in a really long time. Pet's love language is touch and I love seeing Matthias respond to that. As for Matthias, his love language is acts of service and I swoooooooooooned so hard at his kind and thoughtful actions. He's the type of guy who does good deeds in the background, without anyone really knowing about it. I love a gentle giant so much, and Lucy Parker did such a wonderful job characterizing Matthias. I love love LOVE him. I am swooning just thinking of all the little things he did for Pet. Ugh, my heart cannot handle it. There was this one revelation that made me cry 😭
I am 100% in love with Pet and Matthias. Their romance warmed my cold heart and I was absolutely satisfied with the ending. But I am so in love with them that I refuse to let go. I could keep reading about these two and never get bored. Aside from the romance, there are some interesting supporting characters that show up, including my beloved Dominic and Sylvie. I will say that I wasn't completely on board with all of the supporting characters. Some of their scenes were superfluous and a bit too quirky for my taste. But it was very easy to forget about these characters and focus solely on Pet and Matthias. This is also one of the few romances that work really well even though the timeline is tight. And lastly, this is quite possibly one of the best Beauty and the Beast inspired stories I've read.
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Cute read. The two MCs were very sweet. Grumpy/sunshine :)
Cute fluffy rom-com. 3.5 rounded up for the ridiculous ess.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
Netgalley and the publisher provided me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an adorable read! I haven't read the first Palace Insiders book in the series ([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]), but I probably will after reading this one. It was just too cute! Highly recommended read if you like grumpy/sunshine pairs or are fascinated about how a couple can make it work on a physical level when there's a huge height difference.
It was all things adorable if you want a fantasy version of London and the British royals. This is totally a fantasy version of the royal family, full of kooky characters and conveniently free of hundreds of years of morally questionable history weighing it down. The paparazzi are both intimidating and also weirdly charming cartoon versions of themselves. This whole romp was more cotton candy than hard-hitting conflict, and that's sometimes what you need in your reading. This novel is a marvelous example of light romance with a ton of charm.
I also need to go find that floating bookstore next time I'm in London!
Recommended read-alike: [b:A Duke by Default|35564582|A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals, #2)|Alyssa Cole|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516640638l/35564582._SY75_.jpg|56993493]
This was such an adorable read! I haven't read the first Palace Insiders book in the series ([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]), but I probably will after reading this one. It was just too cute! Highly recommended read if you like grumpy/sunshine pairs or are fascinated about how a couple can make it work on a physical level when there's a huge height difference.
It was all things adorable if you want a fantasy version of London and the British royals. This is totally a fantasy version of the royal family, full of kooky characters and conveniently free of hundreds of years of morally questionable history weighing it down. The paparazzi are both intimidating and also weirdly charming cartoon versions of themselves. This whole romp was more cotton candy than hard-hitting conflict, and that's sometimes what you need in your reading. This novel is a marvelous example of light romance with a ton of charm.
I also need to go find that floating bookstore next time I'm in London!
Recommended read-alike: [b:A Duke by Default|35564582|A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals, #2)|Alyssa Cole|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516640638l/35564582._SY75_.jpg|56993493]