I was really excited about this one because I liked Petunia aka Pet in the first book. She was always so hilarious and it carried to this book as well. Although I did like aspects of this one I didn’t fully love it and that saddened me.

There are a lot of good tropes in this book and most circle around the main couple Pet and Matthias. He is a grump and she is the sunshine. I feel like it was easier to get to know Pet because we had been previously introduced to her. Matthias is very standoffish and doesn’t say or do much but that comes with his line of work as a bodyguard for someone in the royal family. They also begin to fake date due to rumors and keeping the publicity off the royal family. I due tend to enjoy these tropes but the romance was very much a slow burn and not in a good way. It took to around 22% to introduce the fake dating and their relationship was just as slow. It didn’t give me the feels and when that happens its hard to stay interested. I think this could have been avoided if there weren’t so many plotlines going on outside of this.

Overall, I was just underwhelmed by this one but thought it was good for the most part.

Fake dating ? Yes. Royal Romance ? Yes . This story was so super cute!!! A perfect palette cleanser and enjoyment of a read…. Codenane Charming was a movie between the pages of a book and I ate up every single bit of it . So glad to have received an advance cope of this romance. #netgalley #codenamecharming

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

I’m so sad, I was so excited for this book but I’ve ultimately chosen to DNF at 25% because it just will not grab me. It slumped me to the point that I just could not put it up because I was so interested. I’ve been trying to pick it back up for awhile and haven’t been able to do it, so I think it’s time to give up.

I am truly hoping this is a me problem and that people will love this book. But I’m not grabbed by anything. The plot, the characters, the writing. Hopefully one day I will come back to it and love it. But as of right now I am bored.

This book was so much more than I expected. It was weird in the best ways, delightfully goofy, all while having a beating heart of these two people who want nothing more than somewhere to belong. Pet and Matthias have grumpy/sunshine down to a science, and he’s one of my favorite types of male leads – grumpy on the outside, with a soft, gooey center. The moment he slips up and uses a nickname for her? Swoon.

But grumpy/sunshine isn’t the only great trope here. Pet is the personal assistant to the newest Prince consort, and when the tabloids start to imply there’s something between them, the Palace decides Pet and Matthias must fake a relationship to shift attention. Fake dating never misses for me. It’s too much fun watching characters start to wonder what’s fake and what’s real and why there’s so much chemistry between them.

The supporting characters are so vivid and weird and interesting. Johnny will make you laugh in every scene, while also stealing your heart because he’s just so nice. But the center of the story is always the lovely growing relationship between Pet and Matthias, how it progresses even as all the craziness of this royal world unfurls around them. And they’re really just so easy to love.

There's a lot happening in this book so some readers might find it a little busy, but it's so much fun that I couldn't even find it in me to mind.

Lucy Parker is one of my favorite romance authors, and finally, reading her upcoming book is proof as to why I love her books. Codename Charming delivers the author's signature warmth and sense of humor with its delightful characters that make you care for happy endings for them all.

While this book can be considered a standalone, I recommend reading Battle Royal first. We meet Pet and Matthias in the first book of the Palace Insiders series. In Codename Charming, Petunia De Vere is now personal assistant to the lovable and awkward Johnny Marchmont, husband to Princess Rosie. At the same time, Matthias Vaugh is also in charge of Johnny. Due to numerous socially awkward moments caught on camera, the press alludes that Pet is romantically involved with Johnny. To nip the rumors swiftly, the Royal PR team asks Pet and Matthias to fake a relationship, and both reluctantly agree. As they spend more time together, the more they learn and lean on each other for support concerning their own turbulent problems.

Pet and Matthias are so endearing. It was lovely how the book presented their differences in physical attributes and personalities leading up to their similarities, which people close to them eventually noticed. It's so heartwarming (to the point of tears in my case) how aggrieved they are for the other whenever they hear anything negative. The way they care about the others more than themselves thrills me—especially Pet's incredibly protective stance over Matthias. And there are Matthias's small gestures for Pet throughout the story, even before they know each other well.

There's also the aspect of worth and belongingness for both characters that this book examines in that I love, as well as grief and trauma.

This book is now one of my favorite books by Lucy Parker, and I will re-read it again!

Thank you, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley, for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored the first book in Lucy Parker's Palace Insiders series, Battle Royal, and have been eagerly anticipating the follow up, Codename Charming. I wasn't sure she could top the first book, but the grumpy-sunshine dynamic between Matthias and Pet exceeded my expectations.

After the gossip columns speculate that Johnny, the princess's new husband, is having an affair with his PA - Pet - the palace PR snaps into motion, and suggests that Pet and Matthias fake a relationship to throw off the paparazzi. They already have established shippers online, so the pairing makes sense in that respect, despite their obvious differences, not only in temperament but also in scale. Their chemistry is undeniable and fake dating soon turns into genuine romance, with swoonworthy results.

Lucy Parker writes romance so well. The sexual tension between these two is palpable; glancing touches and small gestures sizzle on the page. Matthias and Pet are so determined to believe that the other isn't interested, despite all evidence to the contrary, and when they both finally give into their attraction, it's explosive.

I absolutely was not let down - this sequel exceeded all of my expectations. Lucy Parker did it again!

When personal assistant Petunia De Vere hits the press for all the wrong reasons, (namely a suspected affair with her boss, newlywed royal Johnny Marchmont) she’s strongly encouraged to fake date Johnny’s grumpy bodyguard Matthias Vaughn instead. The paparazzi has already picked up on the burgeoning chemistry between them, so some staged pda should be just another day at work for them. Sunny Pet quickly finds herself overwhelmed by her attraction to the larger than life Matthias, and before long the lines between pretend and real are blurred for them both.

Codename Charming is book two in Lucy Parker’s Palace Insiders series. It follows Battle Royal which tells the story of Pet’s brother Dominic. Each love story is told fully in its own book but reading in order enhances enjoyment of the individual books.

Codename Charming is what the fake dating arrangement is referred to as it takes the speculation off of “Prince Charming” having an affair. I love grumpy/sunshine and fake dating romances and a grumpy bodyguard is icing on the trope cake. Matthias is a perfectly executed grump, and his protective instincts towards Pet even before their involvement are swoon worthy. Pet is also a perfect sunshine foil to Matthias, with a bright and optimistic disposition in full display. Matthias sees Pet in a way no one else in her life does, and being seen by him changes everything for her.

Codename Charming is equal parts funny and heartfelt. If Royal and royal adjacent settings are your jam, you should definitely check out this fun and sweet series!

Recommended if you love: 🥸 fake dating🕴️a grumpy bodyguard 🫧a bubbly and optimistic personal assistant 👑 Royal intrigue and inner workings 🦜 “the worlds most odious parrot” 🥹 he truly sees her ❤️‍🩹 loving each other helps heal their broken parts from past traumas

3.6/5 🌟 , rounded up

Thank you to Avon, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, so I got the arc of this before reading the first one and, well, you've since seen my review for the first one. Battle Royal had about 3586 storylines and it was too much. There seems to be a new editor in the mix because this book only has two. One of which is fake dating - MY VERY FAVORITE TROPE EVER. The second is finding lost family and it was lovely and I cried. Just enough storylines, thank you very much.

Pet, who we met in the first book (you don't need to have read the first book to read this one), is now the PA for the new prince (well not a prince, married a princess) who is a chaotic sweet bumbling mess. Such clumsy messness has landed the tabloids saying that Pet and Johnny are having an affair. So to get the tabs on another story and show Pet has a different relationship, the princess and Johnny suggest Pet and their security officer, stern, no-nonsense, man of few words Matthias have a fake relationship. This is where the employment lawyer in me paused and yelled at the book for everyone to go to HR. THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE. If you are not an employment lawyer or in HR, you will have less heartburn. Once my heartburn subsided (but popped back up a few times), you can see that Pet and Matthias are both products of loneliness who have huge things for each other. Cue the "it was always real" for this fake relationship.

I had a good time. I like Matthias and Pet together. I love a stern bodyguard and a FMC who keeps their head reeling. I wish there had been more than one spicy scene lol, but it was a good one!

Codename Charming is out August 15, 2023.

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Codename Charming by Lucy Parker
Rating: 4 stars
Pub Date: 8/15

Petunia De Vere is the bubbly personal assistant to the lovably accident-prone Johnny Marchmont, a royal with a heart of gold but a knack for attracting chaos. Matthias Vaughn is the imposing and rigid bodyguard whose stoic exterior hides a softer side. When a scandalous tabloid photo suggests a romantic link between Pet and Johnny, she agrees to a fake relationship with Matthias to dispel the rumors. As they navigate the charade of their fake romance, their genuine feelings begin to surface, sparking a connection neither anticipated.

The chemistry between these polar opposites is undeniable, and watching their sparks fly was an absolute delight. I loved this grumpy/sunshine, workplace, fake-dating romance! While the romance between Pet and Matthias is the story's centerpiece, the book also delves into their emotional depths. Both characters bear scars from their pasts, and as they gradually unveil their vulnerabilities, their journey becomes all the more relatable.

I also really enjoyed the subplots, including Pet’s family dynamics and the royal family’s secrets. Matthias’ backstory is heartbreaking, and I loved getting to know the sensitive soul underneath his tough exterior.

The vivid and lovable characters leap off the page in this heartwarming romance. This was my first read by Lucy Parker, but it won’t be my last! Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Codename Charming comes out on 8/15.

Petunia & Matthias were one heck of a couple. Starting as a fake dating scheme, these two were gooey & giddy together.

I loved their interactions, banter, longing, soft touches & the level of comfort around each.

While I really enjoyed the romance, a lot was happening in the background that made me loose interest at times. And the writing kinda felt not so easy/flowy to me.
I think it's definitely a "it's not you, it's me" situation.


Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Petunia De Vere is the personal assistant to the newest member of the royal family. It’s a job she excels at, but she never expected her career to include being launched through the air by her accident-prone boss. Johnny Marchmont is a sweetheart, but his mishaps are quickly becoming a habit and Pet is frequently in the crosshairs. This doesn’t sit well with Matthias Vaughn, Johnny’s intimidating bodyguard and frequent catcher of Pet. When the tabloids try to stir up trouble for Johnny and make up a story about him and Pet, the royals’ PR teams ask Pet and Matthias to pretend to date and dispel the rumors. The only problems is the fake dating starts to feel all too real…

Codename Charming is a delight! It’s sweet, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking – Lucy Parker absolutely nailed it. I’ve been so eager to read Matthias and Pet’s story ever since their brief encounter in Battle Royal and it was definitely worth the wait.

Matthias is a case of still waters running deep. The former foster child, now royal bodyguard, is familiar with loss, loneliness, and pain. Matthias is protective and has a huge heart that most don’t take the time to see. His looks make him intimidating but he’s oh-so-gentle in reality. Pet is the sunshine to his grumpy. She’s a whirlwind of bright energy and she’s so warm and welcoming I wish she were real so I could be friends with her. But Pet’s sunny exterior also masks pain and vulnerability. Life hasn’t always been as easy for her as one might think, but that doesn’t stop her from being kind and generous. She and Matthias may be pretending to date for the paparazzi but the attraction between them is one hundred percent real. Their romance is a slow burn delight. I loved the tension building between them as they find love, support, and happiness together.

Some books just lift your spirits and Codename Charming is one of those for me. Pet, Matthias, their friends and family are hilarious and this book actually made me laugh out loud. Parker’s mix of humor and heart was top-notch and just left me smiling. You don’t have to have read Battle Royal to enjoy this book but I highly recommend it anyway.

Codename Charming is the perfect story to be swept away by. It’s as charming as the title suggests and is filled with endearing characters, hilarious antics, moments that will tug on your heartstrings, and a love story that is wholly romantic.

**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read to & review an ARC of this book!**

Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
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Things I Liked:
-I really loved how Pet and Matthias were coworkers, to fake daters, to friends, to lovers.
-The slow burn was done really well & I was able to stay engaged in that story line.
-I liked being back in the world of the palace!
-Johnny & Rosie are so sweet!
-I loved that Pet & Matthias were so protective of each other & stood up for each other (showing each other that they are each worthy of love).

Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-The subplots (ex: Pet's father) sort of felt like they didn't totally fit with the main story. It felt a bit disjointed to me.

Overall, I loved this book & I gave it 4 stars!

I was very excited for this follow up for Battle Royal. It's been a while and I don't remember a lot about it, but this can also be read as a stand alone. I love a bodyguard romance. It might be my favorite trope. Full review to come!

I received this ARC, and I was pleasantly surprised to see I’ve actually read something by Lucy Parker before! I had rated it 3 stars, so I was excited to see how her writing’s improved over the years.
After Pet getting photographed with her boss (who is also the Princess’ husband), they want to stop the gossip about Johnny cheating on the princess with Pet. And the best way to do so? Create better gossip. They end up making Pet and Matthias (Johnny’s bodyguard) fake date. But of course those fake feelings turn into something more.
This book is a Dual-POV workplace, bodyguard/client romance. When comparing the first book I read by Lucy Parker to this one, it is so obvious to see her growth as an author. While she was never a bad writer, this writer had so much depth, and you really got to know the characters on a really deep level. I enjoyed reading both perspectives, and highly recommend this book! 4⭐️s

This sweet and charming romance was absolutely made for me. Fake dating between a grumpy bodyguard and a sunshiny royal personal assistant, Beauty and the Beast, my favorite tropes wrapped up in a shiny package, with the royal setting thrown in for good measure along with a few meaningful scenes with Dominick and Sylvie and their friends/employees from the previous book. There wasn't even any sort of nonsensical third act breakup/misunderstanding. Instead it was the purest expression of romance, two people who already liked each other, gently falling in love.

Pet and Matthias were magical together, so sweet, absolute opposites on the surface, but absolutely perfect for each other as they both came to recognize over the course of the book that they were each other's "one and only". I also loved the royal couple, Rosie and Johnnie, another couple who seemed like absolute opposites, but again, were perfect for and totally grounded each other. The book had a lovely, otherworldly, almost fairytale feel to it. I flew through it, was very happy with the low angst level and never lost interest. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

One of my new favorite things is that the guy has grumpy cats that absolutely loves the girl the second they meet. I love it. Besides that the beauty and the “beast”/bodyguard romance was done so well. I loved how you could tell even from small interactions that they liked each other. I also loved how Johnny and Rosie were such meddlers and definitely wanted these two together from the beginning. I also loved how they all kept ending up in each other arms from cute situations and then very serious, dangerous situations. I can’t wait to see what happens next, partially cause I want to know what happens with Johnny and Rosie.

DNF @ 24%. I think this book had so much potential to be great from start to finish. Unfortunately, the start wasn't a captivating as I hoped. Pet and Matt just weren't connecting to me. I wasn't rooting for them like I normally do in romance books. I wanted to see the chemistry between their interactions and I got nothing from them.

This book was cute... But that was all. I liked both MCs well enough but didn't love either of them. It took me forever to get through the first half of the book because I found it just average to read. Which is all fine except I love Lucy Parker and expect more zing from her and earlier. This would probably be 4 stars for any other author, I just expect more from her!

Codename Charming a delightful slow burn romcom. Lucy Parker creates grumpy and sunshine characters who find themselves embroiled in a fake dating scheme. And we all know how those turn out!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Petunia and Matthias both work at the Palace, with Matthias heading up security and Pet as Prince Johnny’s PA. But after a few of Johnny’s mishaps go viral, the press makes it sound like he and Pet are having an affair. He and his besotted Princess Rosie hatch a plan where Matthias and Pet pretend to be dating while they are out and about, and hopefully shift the narrative. And, if those lingering glances between Pet and Matthias continue after hours…

There is a lot going on in this fake dating adventure. In addition to their fauxmance, Pet has some family issues to sort through while Matthias is still grieving his friend’s death. Pet and Matthias are adorable together, and each is protective of the other even before they admit to deeper feelings. I especially love the hilarious section where they have to rescue a sassy parrot in the palace; it reads exactly like a movie farce scene.

While I like the characters a lot, it took me a little while to get invested in their story. At times it felt like there was lots of extraneous information, plot, and characters. But it might be my own fault for reading this series out of order, which has been known to happen to me. That said, I adore all the secondary characters and how supportive they are of Pet and Matthias.

I’ve been a Lucy Parker fan for a long time. Codename Charming is another great example of how to take grumpy sunshine characters, add in some forced proximity and hilarious situations, and create a terrific romcom. If you are a romcom fan, Lucy Parker is an author to read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

It was fine. The main couple had good chemistry, but this book really wasn’t my cup of tea. I’m not really into the contemporary beauty and the beast dynamic and I actually found it a bit off putting just how many times Parker referred to our male love interest as huge and bulky, geez I get it already. He’s a mountain made of muscles.

I am giving it an extra half star for the epilogue. It was really sweet and I’m just such a sucker for a happy ending.

Anyways, thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!