Royal Disaster,  Parker Swift

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  romance

Well, I've been waiting for this ;-) and of course for the final part. I really enjoy trilogies and series best when all parts are out and I can immerse myself in the whole story, start to finish. I loved book one, so on to book two. 

I feel I know Lydia and Dylan pretty well now, and what a long way they've come in a short while. 
Lydia had come to UK for her career, new country, huge challenge and living her dream. Then she met Dylan, known as Mr No Commitments, a playboy dating dilettante....but when he meets Lydia things change for both of them. For her its a whole crash intro to UK traditions, how structured and insular the royal family, immediate and extended, are. For someone from the USA its a real culture shock, and she's worried about putting a step wrong and letting Dylan down. 

He doesn't care though, loves her freshness, her sense of fun, her wanting him, Dylan the man as opposed to Dylan the Duke. 
He's has some tragedy in his past through his heritage and the way the press (vultures) hounded someone close to him, and that led to his dating ban, his one nights and fun only stance. When he meets Lydia that soon changes, a few frivolous interludes simply aren't enough and he's soon wholly in love with her and she with him, even though its been only a short while. 
Now though there's threats again, and he's trying so hard to protect her in the way he knows best, but its shutting her out and causing friction. Someone is watching them, proving he can't keep her safe, that she's vulnerable even when he thinks she's OK ensconced in his own home...Nightmare situation, and adds to the stress he's already under from his family and the family business, alongside running his own successful business. Poor guy, he needs a 36 hour day. 

I love both these characters. Inevitable there are comparisons with other romance trilogies, especially those with an erotic angle, but to me this has enough to keep it fresh, to stand successfully on its own. As a UK reader I love that its set in UK, with all our peculiarities, our unique heritage. 

I love the way Dylan calls Lydia Damsel, so much nicer that the ubiquitous Baby, that title really grates on me. 
Damsel is just so much more nicer, suits the story, suits Dylan and his sense of tradition, even while he's balking against some of it, dating Lydia for whom Tradition doesn't really mean much. He's a gentleman in the truest sense of the word, and treats Lydia so carefully, always protective but without being stifling or presumptuous. He sees her strength, values her ambition, and they make a perfect couple. 
Without going OTT Parker brings in some of the media speculation that abounds in this sort of situation, the pictures taken in an unguarded moment that show something that didn't exist, they look for signs of friction, invite readers to speculate on whats going to happen, what Lydia needs to do/needs to change, compare her to Dylan's past ladies. Sadly all that is very true of the UK media, and one reason I never buy newspapers or magazines. The quest for scandal is fierce, and ruins lives, and Dylan is rightly protective of Lydia. 
He needs to let her keep her sense of self though, her sense of self respect. One of the things he and I admire is her independence, the way she hasn't taken advantage of her sudden rise to fame, but only takes what she feels is right, does what she feels is fair and correct. She needs to feel she has control of her life and that has been a bit of friction between them, when Dylan's past experience lead him to take action but not tell her about it. 
She's also got a thin line to tread at work, with Josh and Fiona who were so kind to her when she first started but could now feel pushed aside. She needs her friends, values them so needs to watch that angle.

Its a fabulous read once more, hot and sensual scenes, very real feeling issues happening both in their private and public life, and I'm looking forward to how Parker finally winds up the story. 
Somehow I feel she's saving the best fireworks for the finale! 

Stars: five, a great second book and roll on the final installment. 

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

I would like to thank Parker Swift, Forever and Netgalley for giving me this book for my honest review.

Review by Stephanie 

I fell in love with Lydia and Dylan's story in Royal Affair so I was beyond excited when I saw their story continue in Royal Disaster! 

Parker did another great job with this book. I loved how she had Dylan open up more... I love that Brit! I love that he is letting Lydia in more and more. Lydia and Dylan's chemistry and dynamic is on point. I also was glad to see more Josh in this book. 

This series has been so entertaining and i uber sad but doubly excited to how Parker concludes the story in book three!

The second installment of the Royal Scandal series is irresistibly, addicting just as the first book, Royal Scandal! I could not put this book down. I kept telling myself one more chapter, then one more chapter until I finished the entire book! 
 
Royal Disaster begins exactly where Royal Scandal left off and leads us as they navigate their relationship in the spotlight. Lydia has to deal with being constantly in the press, while Dylan deals with Lydia's safety as they have a stalker hassling them. There is also Dylan's parents, the Duke & Duchess of Edinburgn will they accept their relationship? 

The love story between Dylan and Lydia comes to life from Parker Swift's descriptive and detailed writing. Their bedroom antics are hot, hot, hot! I love how the discrepancy of English terms that vary from England and the United States are included in Dylan and Lydia's banter! Parker Swift you have created an irresistible series!

It wasn't that long ago when I read the first book and to be honest I missed these two! This series is definitely entertaining and it has a fast plot that doesn't allow the reader to stop reading.

This one continues the story with Dylan and Lydia going steady. Meeting a few royals, lots of headlines and paparazzi, dresses and ball gowns. It was a nice fast read and I look forward to the final (?) one.

Well...I didn't think Dylan could get himself in any worse trouble with Lydia than he did in the first book.  Guess I was wrong!

Dylan and Lydia are working on navigating their relationship.  Now that they're in the open there are things about Dylan's life that are front and center for Lydia.  The press, his aristocratic obligations, and the cyberstalker who likes to play with her feelings for Dylan.  It's not easy for Lydia and Dylan doesn't help when he's less than forthcoming about things that affect them both.  

It's very apparent how much these two characters need each other, but their inexperience at relationships shines through in this book.  When they take a step or two forward, something happens that sends one or the other of them spiraling backward.  And it's not until they've completely been gutted that either of them takes a true look at their relationship and finally become honest with one another.  It's at that moment where I found myself grasping to that thin thread of hopefulness that these two understand they're stronger together.

I can't wait to see what happens next.  Life for Dylan has dramatically changed and I'm hoping we'll see Dylan become his own man and not his father's.

Loved this continuation of Lydia and Dylan. It was good to see him open up more and share more with Lydia. I like their dynamic, but get a little tired of the "trust me". Whenever someone says that to me I tend to want to run in the other direction which is something Lydia constantly fights against. Still love Josh and I'm glad Fiona got over herself. I am anxious to see how this all ends  up on book 3.

Dylan really doesn't mind giving his opinion to Lydia about her dress choices, “that’s because it’s red and fits you like a goddarn condom. And every time you wear it, every bloke who passes within a mile sees you, sees how fit you are, and can’t help imagining what it would be like to eff you.” He was whispering in a controlled, determined way, his face above mine, looking down. “And every woman who passes wants to be you. You should be grateful I allow you to wear it at all,” he said, glancing down at the red dress still pressed into my hand." I loved this book, Dylan sometimes had his head too far up his butt, but luckily Lydia helped sort those situations out.