Codename Charming needs no codename - it's just flat-out charming. A slloooow burn of a book, it features my favorite type of dynamic: the two people's backgrounds and wounds make them understand the other absolutely perfectly.

I think most of us who read Battle Royal a.) fell in love with Pet and b.) saw her interaction with Matthias and rubbed our hands together in anticipation of this lovely book.

Oh, and it has the most perfectly emotional epilogue ever.

I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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

Following Battle Royal, about enemies to lovers bakers, we get an opposites attract contemporary workplace romance between sunshine, royal personal assistant Pet and grump, bodyguard, Matthias.

This was such a joy to read! Pet is a human rainbow - colorful, sparkly, and vibrant. While Matthias is the personification of still waters run deep. Quirky, giggle-inducing humor balanced by sweet hurt/comfort moments. What an incredibly satisfying read. I loved every moment of it!

Likable characters but really similar to an earlier book she wrote under a different name. Chapters went on forever, and I couldn’t get interested in their tedious side quests.

I enjoyed this book!! I have never read a book by Lucy Parker before but I found this book to be interesting. I thought the premise was delightful and I can't wait to read another book by Lucy Parker.

Big thanks to Avon for the ARC of this book. This review is being given honestly and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

CWS: past parental neglect/emotional abuse (off-page but mentioned), witnessing a loved one die (past tense but mentioned in medium detail on page), PTSD (semi-descriptive memories triggered), false public rumors (on social media and news outlets)

“We’re going to be friends”

My first intro to both Lucy Parker and this couple was in Book One of this series, Battle Royale which features Pet’s older brother. Not only did I love book one but I also really loved Lucy Parker’s writing and how well she did emotional build-up and emotional intimacy for Dominic and Sylvie. Near the end we get our hint that Pet and Matthias would be the next book and I’ve waited two years for this book (not complaining just stating facts). I am so happy to say that this not only lived up to book one but is now my absolute favorite between the two.

Pet and Matthias are staffers for the lately married royal couple Princess Rosie and her clumsy, disaster prone husband Johnny. As mentioned, Johnny has been in a few precarious situations, including b ring stalked by a woman who was obsessed with him which lead to a ‘cheating’ scandal that was quickly cleared up when all facts were revealed. Only, the press still insists Johnny is a cheater and that his latest mistress is Pet herself. This of course leads to the grand PR idea that Pet and Matthias start a fake relationship to kill the rumors. Only it might not be so fake.

From the first page we get to see the work dynamic that Pet and Matthias have and begin to get to know the both of them better. Like I said, Lucy Parker KNOWS how to do emotional intimacy and emotional moments which we get from both characters separately and before they start to fake date. Both characters are convinced the other doesn’t like them/is not interested romantically so they’ve never made any moves. Only when the PR plan is put into place do they start to realize the attraction is in fact mutual. Of course, they’re supposed to be caught out on dates and kissing but for both Pet and Matthias it becomes real so fast and they don’t really hide it from each other.

I absolutely loved how Lucy Parker addresses/dealt with all ‘issues’ between them (in quotes because they were never any actual issues but there was potential for them to develop as such). Both characters have great communication to each other and we even see Matthias use some therapy skills when he experiences some PTSD flashbacks. Like both characters were so emotionally mature and perfect for each other that I was scared it would all go wrong at some point. Thankfully, Lucy Parker is a queen amongst us plebs and she had them opening up to each other and growing closer so seamlessly.

I think I would say this was a slow burn and it was done SO perfectly because we get to see a lot of the emotional build up between the two so the relationship is really seamless. There were some AMAZINGLY funny moments (#aislastanforever) that balanced the sad memories brought up. I honestly can’t say how much I loved this book and how much I want to reread some of my fave parts again. Would honestly say this is the best book I’ve read so far this year and I’m not sure how it could be topped. This book will have you crying and laughing a few moments later and I am honestly on the verge of tears writing this review because the ending and epilogues were so beautiful and lovely.

Would definitely recommend this to someone who loves a good opposites attract/grumpyxsunshine, HEA, low angst romance!

Lucy Parker had me swooning with her 2021 romance Battle Royal, and her latest installment in the ‘Palace Insiders’ series is just as sweet: enter Codename Charming, a grumpy-sunshine fake dating set-up involving royal personal assistant Petunia and body guard Matthias, both of whom made appearances in the first novel. It’s not out until August 15, but if you’re a rom-com fanatic, it absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR list. (Terrible title aside.)

As a quick reminder: the first book in the series, Battle Royal (an even worse title imho) (seriously, what’s happening over there?), follows warring London pastry chefs Dominic de Vere (buttoned-up, handsome, owner of sexy forearms) and Sylvie Fairchild (a colorful glitter bomb of a human), who meet on a baking competition show and instantly take a dislike to one another. An enemies-to-lovers story unfolds as they’re tasked with competing to make a show-stopping wedding cake for a soon-to-be-married young (goth) princess in the royal family. Along the way, the story introduces us to Dominic’s (somewhat estranged) sister, Petunia de Vere, who he’s in the process of rebuilding a relationship with. And, lucky for us, Codename Charming dives deeper into Pet’s backstory, as well as the teased chemistry she has with Matthias, whether the stoic body guard wants to admit it or not.

Pet (tiny, bubbly, essentially a living, breathing human sunbeam) finds work as the personal assistant to lovable, bumbling Johnny Marchmont, the new husband of Princess Rose, through her brother’s connections to the royal family. (A quick note: Lucy Parker’s books, in my limited experience of reading them so far, tend to have a lot of side characters. And they’re usually quirky and unique and excellent, but occasionally it does get hard to keep track of them all. Just brace yourself!)

Johnny is kind and nerdy and caring, but life as a new royal doesn’t come naturally to him. Case in point: every official function they attend typically ends with him accidentally tripping, shoving, and/or hurling Pet off a stage or across a room. Fortunately Johnny’s main body guard, Matthias Vaughn (rigid, unflappable, possessor of thighs that could likely crush two watermelons simultaneously), is always there to catch her. The press and the public can’t get enough.

Pet and Matthias are pretty much polar opposites on the outside, but she can sense there's something softer — and perhaps something undeniably similar about the two of them — underneath that tough exterior. They often clash, mostly due to Matthias’s deep-seated need to keep everyone around him safe (particularly Pet), leading Rose, Johnny, and the rest of the team to take notice. Especially when Johnny is accused of having an affair with Pet by a gross gutter tabloid, and Rose has the bright idea of having Pet and Matthias stage a fake relationship to take the heat off of the royal couple.

They agree, leading to: social media shipping, fancy theater dates, resurfaced trauma, kisses that had me giggling and kicking my feet like a 5-year-old, secret gifts, and a few NSFW comments about their size disparity that I’ll remember for the rest of my days.

So yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. (To be more accurate, I devoured it.) I love Pet and Matthias, OK!!!!!!!!! I’m a sucker for grumpy sunshine as it is, but add in the body guard trope, and whew boy, my brain is toast. However, I wouldn’t say that this is the slam dunk I found the first ‘Palace Insiders’ book to be.

That’s mostly due to just how much story is packed inside this romantic comedy. A lot is going on — a LOT — from the central romance, to the hijinks of a bajillion side-characters, to shocking revelations about family secrets, and journeys into two very dark pasts. Pet and Matthias’s backstories are both pretty heavy, something that clearly draws them together and strengthens their bond, and I think Lucy Parker handles each with care. My only gripe is how much we get of each.

And that’s not to say that I wish Parker hadn’t included them or that they weigh the book down in a major way. It’s more so that I wish something, anything, had been scaled down in order to make the book more streamlined. After you cross the halfway point and start closing in on the back half of the novel, with plenty of story threads still dangling, more are still actively being piled on. For instance, a (very) late reveal of a shared connection from Matthias and Pet’s past comes out of nowhere and is incredibly unnecessary — the heavy lifting of convincing us that they’re a great couple had already been done. That revelation (as well as a few more) verged into ‘overkill’ territory, no matter how well it tied into the theme of fate/destiny that plays a big role in the book.

OK I’ve spewed my one major complaint! So now let me end this review on a happy note, because I really did love reading this book, I swear.

First, though you don’t necessarily need to read Battle Royal to enjoy Codename Charming, it’ll certainly help flesh out a few key story beats regarding Pet’s past in particular. Second, if you’re wondering about the 🌶 spice level 🌶 , I’d give this a 2.5/5 chili peppers (OK maybe a 2.75) (maybe a 3???). There’s only one major intimate scene, but it’s open door. (All the way open, hot damn.) And third, go pre-order this one ASAP. Or, if you’re reading this after it’s already come out, buy it and then block off your calendar immediately so you can get properly cozy before you fall head-over-heels for Pet and Matthias.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fake relationship with a dash of forced proximity and a sweet twist at the end written by Lucy Parker? Can't go wrong. This is a sweet story and a nice follow-up to last year's Battle Royale (Sylvie and Dominic pop up occasionally). A good, leisurely read for Parker fans.

Unfortunately, I had a really hard time getting into this book. I was intrigued by the mentions of fake dating, and grumpy x sunshine, as these are some of my favorite tropes in a romance book. I was unable to form a deep connection with our main characters, and I felt like there were too many side-plots that took away from the romance. The first 30% of the book was really slow for me. I never read Battle Royal, but maybe if I had, I would have enjoyed this one more.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Review: This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023, and I am happy to report it lived up to all my expectations! I loved BATTLE ROYAL (which is about Dominic and Sylvie), but I knew I would end up loving this one more, and I was right! Pet was a favorite character from the first book, and from the scene at the end of it (no spoilers, but if you’ve read it you know what I’m talking about), I knew Matthias and Pet’s book would be fantastic. They are absolutely adorable together. I just love them so much!

I also loved getting to see characters from the first book again, and meeting new ones as well. They are all so well written, and unique. The ending was wonderful. I highly recommend this book, I totally and completely loved it!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

The highly anticipated sequel has finally been released, offering a heartfelt, dramatic, and extremely entertaining romance with amazing tropes including grumpy meets sunshine, workplace romance, fake dating, and opposites attract!

Petunia De Vere is the personal assistant of Johnny, a gold-hearted, naive, adorable, enthusiastic, and clumsy member of the royal family who attracts accidents like a magnet. Matthias, an ex-soldier, is strict, rigid, a man of few words, and Johnny's bodyguard, taking his job extra seriously. His intimidating looks make Gulliver take a walk in Liliput and help him scare off those who plan to harm the royal family. Pet and Matthias couldn't be more different, and now they find themselves in a position they barely enjoy. Due to a tabloid's gossip implying a secret affair between Johnny and Pet, Matthias and Pet reluctantly agreed to fake dating to shut down the gossip mill.

Both characters carry emotional baggage, including parental abuse and grief. It was nice to see how they opened up about their secrets, lowering their barriers to confront their true feelings.

There were some parts that made me guffaw aloud. The parrot heist was the highlight of the book, bringing me so much laughter and fun.

The only thing that bothered me and held me back from giving it five stars was the extra slow burn romance progress! There were many unnecessary subplots in this book related to the royals and their family secrets, which slowed down the pace and distracted our attention from the main plot about Pet and Matthias' love story. I wish I could have only focused on the romance and entertaining parts.

Overall, it was still a well-written romance with adorable, strong, tough characters. I laughed so hard at some parts that I fell down from my couch, so I'm giving it my well-deserved four stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for sharing this entertaining book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

A charming rom-com that I fell in love with. Loved the characters of Pet and Matthias. I enjoyed how fake dating their relationship progressed. This was my first Lucy Parker and she is such a talented writer. What could have been a surface level romance turned out to be much more. These characters are well developed and I had a lot of fun reading this book, and this book is absolutely a book I could see myself re-reading!

A lovely sequel to Battle Royale. Parker has a way of writing dialogue that is both funny and emotional.

👑 royal bodyguard x assistant
💕 grumpy x sunshine
👑 fake dating
💕 workplace romance
👑 opposites attract

I have been waiting for this one ever since I read Battle Royal in 2021 (which I absolutely adored). Codename Charming follows Petunia De Vere, personal assistant to Johnny—a member of the royal family, and Matthias Vaughn, bodyguard to that same clumsy man. When a tabloid photo causes romantic speculation between Pet and Johnny, she and Matthias are asked to stage a fake relationship. But as they spend more time together outside of work, real feelings begin to blur lines.

Lucy Parker has such a unique writing style that allows readers to really resonate with her characters emotionally. I loved Pet and Matthias so much. Despite being complete opposites, they worked so well together. Codename Charming is a slow burn rom-com filled with great tension and longing, but when these MCs finally succumb to their feelings—*chef’s kiss* While there were many laugh-out-loud moments in this book, it’s still an emotionally compelling read. Both Pet and Matthias are dealing with past traumas, and I loved witnessing them open up to each other throughout the story.

Though their story begins as a fake rouse, it becomes clear to readers that it’s much more very early on. Their chemistry and passion is undeniable. And if you’re looking for a book that’ll make you believe in soulmates, this is the one. Pet and Matthias are truly meant to be. Jumping back into this world and also getting bits of Dominic and Sylvie made my heart feel so full. I can’t wait to see what Lucy Parker comes up with next. 🥰

There is just something about a Lucy Parker novel!! Each time I read one of her books I savor it and spend my time with it because I never want them to end and this one was no exception!!

Battle Royal wasn't my fave of hers and the stage is definitely set in that novel for Pet and Matthias, but I basically didn't remember that book and was fine!

This is a slow burn, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, fake dating, work place romance that is just bonkers enough.

I just had a fun time with this one. The plot is a little all over the place, but I was here for the small moments between Pet and Matthias. They technically are opposites attract, but they have so much more in common than either of them realize.

I did think it was perhaps a bit *too* much of a slowburn because a lot happened in the last 20% of the novel that I would've liked to see slow down a bit. But I loved the ending so much.

Overall, I just had a fun time with this one and it was so comforting to be reading a Lucy Parker book again.

TW: death of a loved one, grief, emotional abuse by a parent, knife injury
CW: cheating

Pet and Matthias were my kind of couple: grumpy x sunshine, giant x small human, calm x anxious, two people who saw each other beyond how the public viewed them. This cute rom-com integrates all these tropes in a royal setting that isn’t stuffy, but that’s very fun to read. It’s a more jovial version of Twisted Games by Ana Huang!!

I read Battle Royal in 2021 and I was delighted by the world Lucy Parker had concocted in her Palace Insiders series. A romance featuring characters who rubbed elbows with an alternate universe royal family? Count me in! Codename Charming is the second book in the series that focuses on the personal assistant to the prince, Petunia "Pet" De Vere, and the bodyguard, Matthias, who is as swoony as he is stoic. There were several elements that worked for me because I gobble romance tropes like they're bonbons. Codename Charming utilized Fake Dating, Opposites Attract, and Size Difference all perfectly layered like a British trifle. These components complimented each other very well and I was rooting for these palace employees, even in the first book. I was invested in the couple, but I was waylaid by the bulky plot and unexplained British references. I had these same exact issues with Battle Royal and it felt like eating the same heavy dessert all over again.

At its very core, Codename Charming was a sweet romance between the royal bodyguard and the prince's personal assistant. Unfortunately, it was at times smothered by overwriting and multiple plotlines competing for the spotlight. I'm a simple lady with simple desires. I would have been perfectly content with the romance taking precedence with some minor royalty baloney happening in the background. The inclusion of the secret relatives, childhood woes, and sibling secrets all peppered in with confusing British slang made my silly American head spin. I had to really concentrate on all the figurative spinning plates and it was overwhelming. Perhaps if we threw a few superfluous conflicts out the window, I would have enjoyed Codename Charming more than I did.

Although Codename Charming felt overstimulating at times, I did appreciate all the characters. The royal family and their employees were a wacky crew to read. I wouldn't mind continuing this series because I'm invested in these characters. Maybe the cheeky royal guard Benji might get his own book too? Hopefully the next installment won't resemble a jam-packed scone and we can focus more on the couple. Codename Charming wasn't the smashing success I anticipated, but I'll take my victories where I can with this bodyguard romance. Over and out!

Lucy Parker is always a winner. I've been eagerly awaiting this one since Battle Royal and it did not disappoint. Parker's books combine serious and very real emotions with madcap zaniness and I don't know how she pulls it off, but she does!
One note: It's nuts that the cover image of Matthias doesn't match what he looks like in the book!

Lucy Parker is my all time favourite romance author at this point. The charm in her writing, the wit of her dialogue, the tender and realistic rendering of her characters, is just truly unmatched. Matthias and Pet are two of the softest, fluffiest, cutest romantic leads I've read in a long long time. The friends to lovers arc, the fake dating, the greater cast of characters...just exquisite. This book hurt my feelings but I'm not complaining. I want to wipe my brain and read it all over again for the first time.

This book is absolutely delightful! I loved it from start to finish. Pet and Matthias are achingly beautiful characters and I both laughed and cried reading their story.

Between Codename Charming and Parker's last book Battle Royal, she might just become an auto-buy author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.