DNFed - I chose to DNF this book in the past. I am typing as a review so it doesn’t harm my %. I haven’t chose to pick the title back up.

We return to the world of Lucy Parker's royals with Codename Charming. The sparks between personal assistant Pet and bodyguard Matthias showed up in the first book of the series, and this one doesn't disappoint. When they're caught in what looks like a compromising position, the palace convinces the two to fake date to distract from a potential royal scandal.

I always enjoy a Lucy Parker book. Her characters are smart and often have just enough of an edge to make them funny and interesting, but her stories also have a warm undercurrent.

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

Oh yes give me enemies-to-lovers with witty banter! I like this one's fast pace rivals to lovers team up! & the cover is super pretty!

Codename Charming is a delightful story with popular tropes, and likable characters. While it offers an entertaining version of a Beauty and the Beast retelling, ultimately the story lacks urgency, the plot pacing is inconsistent, and the emphasis on their size difference is overdone to the point that it undercuts the characters and their connection. I did enjoy moments of funny, witty writing however it’s ultimately not for me.

The banter, the comedy, the slow burn and the character development. Everything was perfection. I loved the backstory of both characters and how they help each other tear down their walls. I really loved everything about this. I liked seeing the characters we'd met previously in Battle Royale. I loved some of the new additions who live in the palace. And most of all, I love Pet and Matthias.

I wished I would've loved this story, as the blurb description had me so excited to read it! I just couldn't get into the story or connect with the characters. I think it might've been meant to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling? But I kept skimming the story and was bored through most of the chapters. I am not sure if I love this author's writing style, but I would need to read another book by them to be sure. Overall, I loved the idea and the setting of the story, however the plot and characters didn't do it for me.

Pet De Vere loves her job as PA to Johnny, the new husband of Princess Rosie. However, it's not exactly easy, especially when the press have decided she is having an affair with her boss. Rosie and Johnny come up with a plan- fake date Matthias, the brooding bodyguard in charge of security, and convince the press to move away from the idea of an affair. I've had this book on my TBR for awhile, but finally picked it up since it took place in London (part of my plan to read books based on my vacation). I absolutely loved every minute of it and could not put it down. Lucy Parker creates such real characters- full of flaws but earnest and likable- and surrounds them with found family. It's exactly the kind of book I love. I hope she writes more in this series!

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 (Battle Royal), 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: A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole.

I was anticipating this sequel and it was SO cute. I cannot wait for the third book. Pet has a special place in my heart.

This was just as much fun as the first one, though less focus on baked goods (sad for me). Parker continues to write an excellent slow burn, with good chemistry between leads and characters that actually communicate. No 3rd act breakup here; this series has folks that talk through what they are thinking!! Maybe the “I love you” was a tiny bit rushed but in the grand scheme of things, I didn’t care and I hope we get more books in this world!

This was so adorable and with a great balance of silliness and seriousness. It also has one of my favorite spicy scenes that I've ever read. Loved this.

I had no idea that this was the second book in the series regardless it was a super cute read. I did enjoy the story and characters enough to go back and read book 1.

💭 MY THOUGHTS: The characters in this one really made the book. Matthias is a big, brooding bodyguard while Pet is a petite, super on top of it assistant with a sunny disposition. The physical differences between the two have beauty and the beast vibes with Matthias often referred to as ugly and Pet designed as beautiful. I loved that Pet likes Matthias for who he is on the inside and because of it finds him really attractive.

There are many characters including their coworkers and family that fuel multiple storylines. I do feel like in some parts the story got a bit tedious in some parts but overall loved the tension between these opposite

Read For:
⛅️ Grump Sunshine
🎭 Fake Relationship
💼 Workplace Romance
💪 Bodyguard MMC
🛌 Forced Proximity
🌹 Beauty and the Beast Vibes
🔥 Slow Burn
⚖️ Dual POV

⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Spice Level: 🌶️/ 5

I truly enjoyed Pet and Matthias's story - it wasn’t particularly plot heavy but more character based and because I liked the characters, it made it a quick and enjoyable read. It was more of a slow burn than I was expecting, but I loved the fake dating/office romance trope and the little bit of mystery involved. I also really enjoyed the emotional depth of both of the leads, the cameos from the characters from Battle Royale, and the sweet three part epilogue. I look forward to reading more from Lucy Parker.

3.75 Stars

I definitely think this one benefits from having read book 1 first. It adds the necessary character depth and fills in the complete backstory. On its own though, it has great set-ups and tropes, fake-dating for the public eye. A few shenanigans, traumatic pasts to tackle, and an adorable and sweet connection. I loved the romance. But it’s also on the slow side and could have done with a little editing down. And the secondary characters were slightly caricature-ish in comparison to the well explored leads… sometimes to fun effect but it was also a little jarring. Mostly, though, I enjoyed it and loved Pet and Matthias.

This love story centers Pet, the personal assistant to the affable yet clumsy and disaster - prone royal Johnny and Matthias, the ex-soldier and very serious bodyguard. When the tabloids start suggesting Pet and Johnny are having a torrid affair ‘Codename charming’ is born where in Pet and Matthias will fake a relationship to derail affair rumors. Both Pet and Matthias have plenty of emotional baggage to work thru but their attraction and chemistry is genuine. The romance was a little slow in parts and felt a little redundant in that stagnation. But overall a beautiful, warm hearted, funny and sexy love story between two people who are easy to root for!!

This was a fun standalone sequel. Pet and Mathias are easy to like and their chemistry is fantastic. Each of their backstories and personal traumas are well developed. I love Pet’s quirky optimistic personality juxtaposed against Mathias buttoned up grumpiness. The supporting cast are compelling in their own right. This book wasn’t boring, but it was SLOW and overly long. If you’re looking for something action packed or that has you completely sucked in, this wasn’t that for me. But it was enjoyable. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to review.

3.5🌟 i was so excited to read Pet's book, because I really loved her arc in battle royal! she is such a fun, smart, savvy character and it was fun to see her find her place at the palace. when there's a (semi)believable reason that two characters need to fake date, it makes the story that much better and their situation, combined with their history from the end of battle royal made for the perfect storm.

i loved how even though matthias is the bodyguard, pet is fiercely protective of him. meanwhile, he would literally do anything for her🤭 i think for me, there were one too many plot lines, one too many mishaps where johnny is concerned, and not enough emotional build up prior to their real relationship beginning, but overall i still enjoyed my time reading this!

*thank you netgalley and avon for the ARC!

This book was okay. I feel like it was a little too long, making the story seem drug out. It definitely could’ve been shorter and tightened up a bit. There were a lot of sweet moments in the book so I enjoyed those parts.

Speaking of longtime favorites: Lucy Parker’s newest, CODENAME CHARMING (Avon, 384 pp., paperback, $18.99), picks up where “Battle Royal” left off and gives us a glorious romp in which a prince’s personal assistant, Petunia De Vere, has to date the royal bodyguard Matthias to stave off rumors she’s sleeping with the prince himself. Petunia’s past includes a wealth of familial neglect, and Matthias has the kind of looks that cause small children to quite literally run away screaming; so romance takes them unawares. This is a book for when you want all the emotions at high intensity, deployed by a virtuoso at playing on the heartstrings.