Lucy Parker's new London-based series kicks off with a pair of rival baking show judges. Sylvie is a former contestant whose rainbow- and unicorn-themed creations literally smacked dour judge Dominic in the face. Now she's back as a fellow judge, and their bakery businesses are also competing for a lucrative royal wedding cake contract that they both need. Like their baking styles, Sylvie is whimsical and fantastic, while Dominic is elegant and understated. But there's definitely a spark of something between them, whether it's loathing or lust or something possibly sweeter.

Parker is terrific at world-building. The supporting characters, the rival bake shops, the young royal couple, even an apartment-ruling elderly cat--everything is vividly rendered and a joy to read. Sylvie manages to be charmingly eccentric without veering into twee territory, and Dominic is extra serious for reasons that feel believable. I'm looking forward to more of this series soon.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

My oh my this book was such a delight. It was *chef’s kiss* or shall I say *baker’s kiss*. You ever starting reading a book and you just know before you even finish the first page that it’s going to be a work of art? That’s exactly how I felt about Battle Royal. I literally couldn’t put it down and ended up finishing in less than 24 hours. This book was on my reading list for a while and I was geeked when I received an ARC copy from the publisher and netgalley.

Sylvie is a quirky baker with a flair for glitter, rainbows and unicorns who completed on a baking show called Operation Cake. She was booted off by Dominic, a brusque and brutally honest judge with a knack for minimalist cakes who despised her theatrics. 4 years later, they both own bakeries on the same street and Sylvie is invited to judge the newest season of the show. I’m sure you can guess what happens next...

I fell head over heels in love with Sylvie and Dominic both individually and collectively. They brought out the best in each other and their contrasting personality traits made them the perfect pair. Despite appearing one way on the surface, the author explored the intricacies that made them who they were which set this book apart from a lot of other contemporary romances out now.

I can easily say Battle Royal is definitely one of my new favorite romance books and I will be purchasing a physical copy as soon as the book comes out. Give it a read and I’m one hundred percent sure you won’t regret it. In the meantime, I will be impatiently waiting for the second installation in the Palace Insiders series. I CAN’T WAIT!

If you're the type of person who wants to snuggle on a couch, reading a love story while simultaneously watching the Great British Bake Off, then this is the perfect book for you. It will give you all the warm fuzzy feelings you are clamoring for, and more. As with any enemies-to-lovers tale, it's important to see the progression of the relationship. You'll need to root for the characters, and actually want them to find their HEA with each other. And just like baking the perfect puff pastry, this has enough layers to satisfy anyone.

I had forgotten how much I love Lucy Parker novels. She always has characters that have great witty banter and dry humor. It hits right up my alley every time.

Sylvie and Dominic were really fun to read about. I loved their initial meeting at the show, and how that influenced their future annoyance while having businesses in front of each other. They reminded me of that one famous photo where there are two houses next to each other and one is pink and purple and the other is completely black lol! One of the fun aspects of the book was the cake and other food descriptions. I especially loved the imagery of Sylvie's business. I would definitely love to visit a place like that! It sounded to unique and so perfectly in tune to her personality.

I loved that as the story progressed, you really get to delve into their back stories and see how it shaped them. The more they learned about one another, the more they saw that there was so much more going on beneath the surface. I loved that Sylvie and Dominic became such great support systems for each other.

The history of Patrick and Jessie was heartbreaking, but it made for a good contrast to Rose and Johnny’s relationship. I’m glad their story didn’t end in a similar way.

The situation with Jay really pulled on my heart strings too, and I’m glad that it was (eventually) resolved in a mature way. I think Sylvie and Jay’s friendship was so crucial to her, so I’m happy that she didn’t have to go through that loss as well. Even though I highly doubt it will happen, it would be so nice to read about him and his bad poems in the future lol. There were other fun characters in the novel that kept me entertained as well, but I’ll let you discover those on your own.

I’m assuming Pet’s novel is up next, and I’m already looking forward to that royal bodyguard romance!

Its always a pleasure to read Lucy Parker romances, her stories are witty, cute and this time, delicious.

Sylvie Fairchild and Dominic De Vere are polar opposites, even Dominic compares Sylvie with a fairy, she loves fantasy, glitter and colors. On the other hand he is so serious, he may seem intimidating, he styles is more fancy and minimalist instead of color explosion.

They meet in a baking show, where Dominic was the judge, and ends in an epic disaster where Sylvie is expelled.
A few years later they have their own bakery on the same street and they will meet again when Silvie is invited to participate, this time as a judge in the same show with Dominic. And not only that, a new royal wedding is coming, both want to have the privilege of making the royal cake. The competition has started!

I love both characters, together or apart they are amazing, but together, what a great couple, the bickering, the support and admiration, I love them so much.

Parker always makes realistic and hilarious couples. They start a bit like enemies to lovers, but little by little they progress until they can't take their hands off each other and they become partners in every competition.

Lucy Parker is one of my favorite authors. She has this British voice (even when she is from New-Zealand I believe) and her characters are real and flawed. Sylvie is a young and enigmatic baker and owner of Sugar Fair. Across the street Dominic DeVere has his - very different - bakery. The differ from night to day.

When Sylvie is asked to judge in a tv baking show she meets Dominic in the flesh again. Almost 5 years ago he was the judge to vote her of the same show (after a minor mishap... ) and he is also her fierce competitor in the tender for the Royal cake for the wedding of Princess Rosie and her fiance.
But somehow both Sylvie and Dominic start seeing each other in a very different light and during their quest to find out more about a romance in the past their own romance takes off.

Overall a lovely book and I loved reading it. I look forward to the next book about Dominic's younger sister Pet and - I believe - a certain security guard.

*** I requested and received an ARC via Netgalley - with the help of the author (thank you!) and this is my honest and voluntary review. ***

So good, so good. I couldn't stop reading (only to sleep and eat!) so I finished this so quickly omg now what am I going to do without a Lucy Parker book!!! She's one of my favorite authors and I haven't read one of her books in so long because I read her latest one before it came out so the last Lcuy Parker book I read was in 2019 and oh my god. It feels like so long ago and now!!! Battle Royal is here and you are all going to love it.

Two rival bakeries. Two baking show judges. They don't get along. She bakes colorful cakes. He bakes minimalistic cakes. But when they find out they are now competing to create a cake for an upcoming Royal wedding, things change very quickly.

I literally adored Dominic and Sylvie's relationship SO MUCH. I'm obsessed. Very grumpy/sunshine!!!! Domininc is a stoic guy, he doesn't smile, he doesn't hug, he just loves baking. While Sylvie is very very different because she just loves sprinkles, glitter and she's probably the only one who can go head-to-head with Dominic.

There is so much swooning in this novel. The progress of their relationship is spectacular and I love how Lucy Parker uses touch a lot. Dominic and Sylvie cannot be in the same room without touching each other, be it a finger or a small touch on the head, just to let the other know they are right there with them, you won't be able to stop swooning. When they finally kiss the for the first time? IT'S MAGIC. I seriously cannot wait to reread this, I loved this book so much.

ps. There is this one scene where Sylvie gets a stomach bug and Dom is there taking care of her in his apartment AND IT'S GLORIOUS.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

CW: death of a loved one (past), grief, parental neglect

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f rivals to lovers
-close proximity
-baking competition
-grump/sunshine
-a grumpy and spoiled cat
-lots and lots of cake

This book was delicious, pun intended. There was so much emphasis on physical touch, but it was done so beautifully. The intimacy it creates, consent, what you are saying without speaking at all. This was my first Lucy Parker and she is such a talented writer. This almost reminded me of historical romance novels, all of the small details that show the intimacy. This book was so tender and beautiful. There were so many interwoven stories, but they added to the overall love story at the heart rather than diluting.

But dear sweet, grumpy Dominic. A baker, reluctant cat owner, oompf I adored him. How protective he was but wanted the world for Sylvie. How he just clearly adored her. That he gave his grumpy cat his own room. How can you not swoon for this man it is impossible.

I'm so excited this is the first book in a series and I cannot wait for more. I hope we get glimpses of Dominic and Sylvie's well-earned HEA.

Rating: 4.5
Steam: 3.5

I love Lucy Parker's romances and it's such a pleasure to see her move into trade paperback releases that I can put on the new books shelf! This one is as delicious as the desserts the protagonists specialize in, and like them, has a rich emotional and sensual heart dusted with sugary technicolor glitter. 5 stars.

This is deliciously intriguing,limitlessly entertaining, laughing hard guaranteed, such a great combination of sunshine meets the grump troupe meets enemies to lovers premise !

Sylvia Fairchild reminds you of a Disney princess dancing with teacups, singing to the blue birds flying above her head, pouring out her perfect positive energy, walking on sunshine followed by rainbows. And she’s hell of a talented pastry chef!

On the other hand, grumpy, irritatingly perfectionist, restless Dominic De Vere who is probably a product of Gordon Ramsey and Simon Cowell’s one night stand, is considered one of the hottest chiefs of London but unfortunately that cruel man is also one of the judges of Operation Cake- another version of Great British Bake-off! And he dared to vote our miss sunshine off from the competition!

But don’t worry! Revenge is served cold! Sweetheart Sylvia pursued her baking dreams with her successful launch of Sugar Fair, promoting her products on Instagram already put herself on the radar of Operation Cake producers and eccentric princess who urgently needs a wedding cake.

But king’s favorite chief Dominic is also adored by A-lister celebrities, adamant to fight till he beats the hell of his rivalries.

The worst part of the couple’s reunion is not sharing their judging responsibilities at Operation Cake show! They also have to compete to be the pastry chef of princess’ upcoming wedding! Knives out! Hats on! Let the pastry games begin!

This book has a little slow start and it took more time for me to get into the story but don’t worry: to be patient will be rewarded with widening smalls and lots of fun! So stick to your read and do not even think to DNF this beauty!

The opposite attract and rivals to friends and lovers theme worked amazingly well. The characters were well constructed. There is not a big conflict between characters instead of keeping eyes on the prize!

Overall: I heard so great things about author’s works! This is my first rodeo with her and the results are so much enjoyable than I expected.
This is sweet, sassy, funny, feel good reading! I’m looking forward to read other works of the author ASAP!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

I am a Lucy Parker booster; I love the London Celebrities series so so so much. That said, I thought this particular book got off to a slow slow slow start. I nearly quit! But kept on because I have such fondness for Lucy Parker.

Anyway, I ended up really enjoying it, and I especially love that Parker writes books that are low-conflict for the main couple. There's never any dramatic HUGE fight with misunderstandings, because Parker's couples TALK to each other, and communicate about what's going on with them. I am a BIG fan of books where couples don't lie to each other, and don't refuse to tell each other big things. Lucy Parker hits those notes with flying colors. Anyway, two thumbs up and will def. buy for my library and push into patrons' hands.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: August 17, 2021

What’s not to like about a book that starts off as an homage to the Great British Bake Off? There’s even a soggy bottom cameo and promise of rivals vying to bake a royal wedding cake within the first few pages. Hooked!

A delightful enemies to rivals to lovers confection! What could have been a surface level romance turned out to be much more. These characters are well developed and the details are so thorough it can be a bit long at points.

Sometimes predictable but also surprising enough to keep me interested. This was a gratuitously fun romance to read!

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This enemies-to-lovers rom-com is full of heart as well as some steamy love scenes. The relationship development is believable and the characters both have issues to overcome. Immersed in the world of baking, this is like The Great British Bakeoff with an element of romance.

This book was so much fun!! For years, I've loved to bake. I've watched countless episodes of baking shows, and made many disastrous desserts. So, this book was perfect for me! I loved visualizing all of the desserts that were featured, and imagining how wonderful they would taste. Plus, the idea of the two competing bakeries was priceless.

Id be lying if I said I didn't read this for the romance between Sylvie and Dominic. Because that was why I binged this book in one sitting. Their relationship was addictive! The competitiveness and resentment between them at the beginning was amazing, and I loved watching it grow into something more.

I also loved how neither of them sacrificed their values for the relationship. They made sacrifices to be together, yes, but they kept the things that were important to them. I was worried that one of them would give up their bakeries, so I was overjoyed when they didn't.

But really, the star of the show was Mabel. Whenever she appeared on page, I knew it was about to be a fun scene. Whether she was threatening reporters, intimidating Dominic, or just being a good friend, she was great.

I'm super picky about romances, but I really loved this one! It was fluffy with the perfect amount of angst and competition. I'd definitely recommend it!

Thanks to Lucy Parker and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

I love Lucy Parker, so a new book of hers is always so exciting. I'd been in a bit of a reading slump, but absolutely devoured this one in a day. It was exactly what I needed. Sylvie is a glitter loving baker who lost on a baking show (basically the Great British Baking Show) after almost impaling a grumpy judge with a unicorn horn. Now she's got a successful business and is returning to the show as a judge. Additionally, she's got her eye on an upcoming royal wedding commission. Meanwhile, the grumpy judge in question, Dominic, runs his own confectionary and also wants to make the royal wedding cake. What I love about Parker's books is that her books have fully realized characters and fully developed plots - there's a lot going on in this book, but it never felt like too much. Sylvie and Dominic have lots of pressures - work and familial - and while they don't always handle everything perfectly, they're always adults. They talk and work through their problems. I loved both of them - they're so good together, and it was wonderful watching them come to rely on each other. This book is funny, it's kind, and it's delightful. Highly, highly recommended. I already can't wait for the next in the series!

This book is utterly DELICIOUS in every possible way. I've loved every novel Lucy Parker has ever written - she's one of my absolute top drop-everything-to-read-her-new-book-NOW! authors, and one of the authors whose books I re-read most often for comfort - but this one might be my very favorite out of all of them so far. It's a warm and witty rom-com with genuinely hilarious moments, but it also has a seriously intense emotional core. She does such an incredible job of writing characters who feel absolutely real - and making their growing emotional connections so vivid, tangible, and truly magical. And this book is absolutely full of cake! The hero and heroine met 4 years earlier when he was one of the judges in a Great British Bake-Off style reality show and she was the contestant whose tastes were absolutely opposed to his; now they're both judges on the same show while also running rival patisseries in Notting Hill AND competing for the contract on a royal wedding cake. (And don't worry, you do NOT have to be a royalist to enjoy that storyline, I promise - Parker writes an alternate, fictional British royal family but writes them with a very smart and nuanced portrayal that feels VERY realistic.)

Hilarious, delicious, heartwrenching, and ultimately SO swoon-worthy - I absolutely loved every page and can't wait to read it again many times. (But I am also now DESPERATE for Book 2 in this series - and SO hopeful that I'm right about which potential couple will star in it!)

A pair of bakers with opposite artistic visions vie for a royal cake contract while simultaneously working as judges on a reality baking show and find they have more chemistry than just in the kitchen. This heartfelt, funny, and sweet romance is utterly delicious. For fans of Kate Clayborn