i was in a bit of a book rut when i reached for this - have loved everything by lucy parker and expected to fly through this one. but i didn't. took me a long time to read, but i think that was mainly me and my book rut.

i was super excited about this one - bake off? sold! i am not a huge fan of royalty books but a) would read anything by LP and b) knew this one wasn't about the actual royal couple, so, fine by me.

i feel like maybe this just moved a little too slowly for me to make a proper connection between the main characters. but perhaps that's me, because it seems to be a problem i've had lately with romance. anyway. i did enjoy all of the characters, did like the story, love LP's writing and humour, no real fault with it except maybe the pacing was off? i don't know. again, don't know if it was me or the book. bit of both? my expectations? who knows. i did finish it with a huge smile on my face, i do think it picked up in the end. i will read anything Lucy Parker publishes.

I enjoyed this book and feel in love with the main characters. I really like a grumpy/sunshine romance. It was fun to read a take on reality baking show. I also really enjoyed the stories of the side characters as well. It did take me a while to get into the story and I found myself jumping around to read parts of it instead of reading study through.
Thank you for the ARC Netgalley.

As an avid baker and a big fan of baking competition shows, in particular The Great British Bake Off, I was so excited for Battle Royal.

Sylvie gained everyone's attention and admiration on the hit baking show, Operation Cake, where she was known for her colorful and fun designs. Well everyone's admiration except for Dominic, who prefers classic and elegant cakes, not to mention hair free of glitter. Tensions rise when they end up as judges together on a new season of Operation Cake and competing to make a royal wedding cake.

CW: grief, parental neglect, loss of a parent/guardian, stabbing attack, stalking

This was a classic sunshine and grump romance. Sylvie and Dominic had obvious chemistry and had a similar back story that allowed for them to bond quickly. While the baking show takes a back seat, it was a fun addition and I enjoyed those scenes.

For me though, this book fell a little flat. I found the changing of POV to be confusing. The voices of both Sylvie and Dominic felt similar, which meant that I had to go back a few times for clarification. I also think that I struggled with the speed at which Sylvie and Dominic's relationship progressed. It felt like they interacted a handful of times and maybe I just missed some of the deeper elements in those first few meetings. Or I could just be doubting that the physical attraction instantly translates to emotional attraction as well.

Fans of British humor and baking competition shows will love this one.

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker, is a glittery rainbow unicorn sprinkle of a book that I gobbled in only a couple bites and was then desperate for more.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It took me a little bit to get into it but once I was in I was 1000% IN. It’s been four years since Sylvie Fairchild was a contestant on Operation Cake, the Great British Baking Show equivalent, and had a very awkward encounter with judge Dominic De Ver, the famously stern and traditional baker.

Now Sylvie gets to let her unicorn dreams come true at her own bakery, right across the street from Dominic’s. Sylvie and Dominic clash in classic rivals to lovers style when Sylvie becomes a judge on Operation Cake and her and Dominic are pitted against each other in a competition to bake a cake for the next royal wedding.

This is grumpy / sunshine at its BEST. The passion and tension and small touches of this book 😍. I adored Sylvie and Dom and PET! I cannot wait for her book. I also want to call out that the OTP in this book were well into their thirties. It was lovely to read more mature characters falling in love while also being just as silly as 20 something star-crossed lovers. There are so many plots in this book but instead of being bogged down I was heavily invested in all of them- and none of them overshadowed the main love story that had me highlighting every word. Also please read this and talk to me about Humphrey - my favorite literary cat of all time.

I tried making some cupcakes Sylvie would be proud of and ended up getting edible glitter all over my counter. I also overfilled them (sorry Dom!)

Thank you SO MUCH to Avon publishing and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars ⭐️ - Top Pick

A lovely first in Parker’s new series, Palace Insiders.

There is something whimsical about enemies to lovers romances, when you add in the fact our hero and heroine are rival bakers who are also judging the same reality television show it adds something extra special.

Sylvie Fairchild is a woman who’s had a tough life, fought for everything she ever wanted, and at her heart is a true romantic. I loved her with the same amount of affection as she has for using glitter in her baking. Her bakery, Sugar Fair, sits across the street from her number one competitor. The rival bakery owned by the infamous Dominic De Vere. Dominic is the grumpy, logical, and detached hero that begs to be taken down a peg or two by Sylvie’s sweetness, among other things.

Outside of fabulous character development, there’s multiple competitions from judging the reality show Operation Cake to competing for a chance to create a cake for a royal wedding along with several small mysteries. Each plot point forces Sylvie and Dominic to work together to get further with their individual goals, but along the way they fall for each other… of course.

Parker infuses these adventures with plenty of heartfelt moments, humor (I couldn’t contain my laughter at some points), and relatable scenarios around family, friendship, and love. I can’t wait to see who gets the next book. There is also Parker’s ability to create an entire cast you want to root for and others you don’t want to succeed.

Overall, this is a book I easily was hooked on from the first page with a story that made emotions run the gamut. Definitely a great rom-com and I highly recommend for readers who enjoy Christina Lauren or Sally Thorne.

~ Landra

Full disclosure! I am a HUGE fan of both Lucy Parker and the British Baking Championship which their show is based off of, so I knew going in that I was going to either hate this novel or LOVE it. Lucy Parker’s writing chops wins again and I ended up falling for both of these characters. Battle Royal was “brilliant” as the British say, but it was also a ton of fun.

Sylvie Fairchild is all glitter, sparkles, and colors, and Dominic is staid, neutral, and elegant. Who would have thought that the two of them would strike a match? When they start researching a mystery about the royal house, they get glimpses of something in the other that strikes a chord in what they’ve missed through their entire lives. I really liked these two as a couple and even though they had a long journey it was totally worth the happy ending.

This novel had all of the fun themes of a fast paced story. A competition, evil characters, a historical mystery, and the behind the scenes drama of a baking show. A lot of characters had emotional journeys, not just our two main protagonists, and I really got involved in every sub plot. This novel was so much fun.

If you haven’t read Lucy Parker’s London Celebrities series, please check them out. I think I read each one a few times over the last year because they made me feel good when I needed that jolt of happiness. Battle Royal is my newest addiction and you can bet I’ll be getting a copy in every format.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received a copy of this ARC through NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and it was honest!

Fun contemporary with a baking show twist, what more could you want. This made me want all the sweet treats. I adored Sylvia and Dominic together. This is one of my top books of the year.

Baking, sunshine-meets-grump, and Lucy Parker's enchanting words! What's not to love about that combination in a romance novel? Battle Royal, my most anticipated romance novel of the year, was a sweet and charming hit. Lucy Parker knows just how to tick off all my romance requirement boxes. Battle Royal is certainly going into my forever rainy day re-reads list.

No one quite does the grumpy-meets-sunshine trope as Lucy Parker does. Many of her London Celebrities books also feature this trope and she's completely mastered it. Sylvie, our resident sunshine heroine, is a heroine after my own heart. She owns this quirky little bakery where she crafts the most whimsical little treats. When she's asked on as a judge on the very baking show (think GBBO) that gave her a career boost way back, she agrees to it. It'll give her shop just the right publicity it deserves. The only issue? She has to work with the certified grump of a judge, Dominic, with who she knocked heads with when she was a contestant.

A SPARKLY HEROINE WHO IS MAYBE NOT SO SPARKLY ON THE INSIDE

Sylvie is as radiant and sparkly of a character as her bakery - seriously, how can I visit her bakery where there are enchanted forests and potions?? She exudes nothing but positive energy. However, she's also a little lonely and still grieving the loss of her beloved aunt. The combination of her soft vulnerability and her cheery personality make her endearing. Grief is a major theme in this book and Sylvie's grief, in particular, is explored beautifully.

Here is a woman who is all sunshine and rainbows on the outside, but is actually still processing being left alone by a tragic passing. Lucy Parker paints the layers of Sylvie's emotions with nuance. All throughout, I was left with a slight ache in my chest because I grieved with Sylvie, but also rooting for her to find solace, happiness, and love. I can usually tell the strength of an author's skill in crafting characters when they have me invested in a character's path to their HEA. I was Sylvie's biggest cheerleader while reading Battle Royal. :)

A CERTIFIED GRUMP WITH A HEART OF GOLD

At first glance, Dominic is very much the opposite of Sylvie when it comes to personality. He's earned a reputation for not only his legendary baking skills but for also being a little stern and harsh. Sylvie's words describe him the best when she mentions finding him "as likable as a stubbed toe." I knew that very second that contrary to Sylvie at the beginning of the book, I'd actually find him very much likable. I like a good stubbed toe (well, not literally), especially when we get to find out why exactly he behaves in the seemingly atrocious manner that he does.

Of course, I was right. Dominic has zero patience for incompetence and people who waste his time. He tends to be reserved with his emotions and also struggles with expressing his feelings. A lot of that understandably stemmed from his childhood abandonment issues. That being said, he is actually a big softie when it comes to his loved ones. We see his more sensitive and tender side around his sister, Pet, and as he grows close to Sylvie.

THE ROMANCE IS UTTER PERFECTION

These two definitely had preconceived notions about each other. As they are forced to work together on the baking show and as they battle it out to win a contract to make a cake for an upcoming royal wedding, they are also forced to reexamine those biases they have against each other. If you've read a Lucy Parker book before, then you know to expect lots of banter, humor, and heart between her couples. You will love Sylvie and Dominic and swoon right along as the chemistry between them grows.

There's something to be said about how Lucy Parker uses body language between a couple to show the evolution of a romantic relationship. It's genuinely a work of art and she always has me highlighting passages of the couple just being unintentionally touchy-feely with each other. I just loved loved loved Sylvie and Dominic together and my romantic bookworm heart was on cloud-nine reading this book.

I CAN'T WAIT TO RE-READ BATTLE ROYAL

OK, so I feel like this review has gotten a little too long. There's so much I want to talk about including just how much I love the thread of the royal romance, which if you know my reading tastes is a surprise. I typically loathe royalty romances, but the subplot here is so charming. I totally made heart-eyes at Princess Rose and her fiancé. Trust Lucy Parker to make me like a trope I don't normally like! I also loved loved loved Pet, Dominic's sister, and the role that she plays. Her book is next and it's going to be a bodyguard romance, so I will keep my Pet lovefest for the next book. :)

To wrap up this review and to put my love for this book into perspective: I'm usually fast asleep in bed by 10.30 pm. With this book, I stayed up until 3 am and then woke up 3 hours later to finish it. Who needs sleep when you have a great book to keep you company?

Content notes: on-page sex, childhood neglect, death of relatives, sexual assault, and harassment (does not involve main characters - a character kisses a secondary character without their consent)

Relationship disclosure: Lucy Parker and I are mutuals on social media and we share a friendly relationship

Great British Bakeoff meets enemies to lovers romance with a royal twist! Absolutely loved this. Lucy Parker is such a wonderful romance author and Battle Royal is no exception.

Dominic De Vere is a judge on a baking show, one known for blunt and harsh criticism. His aesthetic is much like his demeanor: cold, straightlaced, and elegant.

Sylvie Fairchild on the other hand is all glitter and fairytales. Four years ago she was a contestant on the show, ending her time when the hoof of her unicorn cake nailed Dominic in the head. Now they own rival bakeries and Sylvie is a new judge on the show. Oh and they're also competing for a commission to bake the wedding cake for a princess.

This was such a lovely, fun, satisfying romance with a few mysterious subplots and a grumpy/sunshine relationship. If you haven't tried Lucy Parker before, this isn't a bad place to start! It's funny, a bit steamy, and has lots of heart. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

On a fictional British baking show with three judges, Sylvie Fairchild works her magic with cake and frosting. At least, until the week one of her fanciful cakes assaults one of the judges, Dominic De Vere, and the two fall madly in love.

Sort of. There's a little bit of story between the beginning and the end.

Sylvie and Dominic are not quite enemies. Though their rival bake shops are across the street from one another, they aren't competing for the same customers. Dominic is white-on-white elegance and Sylvie is wonder-filled colorful splashes of color and flavor. When England's princess announces her engagement, The Firm wants Dominic. The princess wants Sylvie. Of course. Who will win the job?

With her usual skill, Parker saves the pair from the grumpy/sunshine trope by layering in a number of challenges for both our leads. Sylvie is struggling with another coffee shop that seems to be stealing some of her more inventive ideas. Dominic has family drama that he's trying to move past. And, together, the two take it upon themselves to uncover a secret about the princess's late favorite uncle. Does it sound like a lot? It is, but Parker paces it all well.

Though this story checks all of Parker's usual boxes, Battle Royal is one I haven't gone back to repeatedly in the months since I first read it. I like Sylvie. I like Dominic. I like them together. But it didn't sparkle like some of her other books. I wish I could identify where it didn't resonate.

In any event, any Lucy Parker is better than average, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to a non-romance reader. There's enough there to appeal to those who don't call the genre home.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in order to facilitate this review.

Battle Royal
Palace Insiders Series - Book 1
By Lucy Parker

Avon - August 2021

Contemporary Romance


Sylvie Fairchild hadn't won the reality cooking show she had been on, but she had been able to use the experience to launch her dream, Sugar Fair. It was everything fun, exciting, enchanting, and of course, delicious, that she and her workers dreamed of. In short, it was everything opposite of Dominic De Vere, one of the Operation Cake judges. But his opinion had no bearing now, especially when she returned to the show as a fellow judge.

Dominic might not want to be on the reality show, but the income and exposure was significant. Then there were the contestants, in particular former contestant Sylvie, whose final cake had landed on his face. On television. She might be unicorns, dragons, confetti and everything he was not, but that didn't keep his thoughts from always turning to her.

She was the competition, in judging, in business, and in the possibility of making the cake for a rumored royal wedding. But this was no ordinary request, and as their paths cross time and again, they realize that perhaps they are more alike, than not.

Battle Royal was an entertaining introduction to Lucy Parker's new Palace Insiders series. I loved the bakeries and how well they reflected their owners. It was fun to see them investigate and work out the challenge presented to them, but even better was watching them find each other. There was a fascinating cast of characters, and I look forward to see where this series goes next.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

I just absolutely loved this! I don't know if I was just in the exact right headspace for this or what, but even though there was kind of a lot going on here - enemies to lovers, baking competition show a la Great British Bake-Off, competition for a royal wedding cake contract, looking into the past of a deceased royal and his secret girlfriend, someone stealing someone else's recipes - it all just felt like it worked. Everything tied together in a lovely way and I just found both Sylvie and Dominic charming in their own ways - this was both an enemies to lovers and an opposites attract kind of romance, and it worked in both ways. My one complaint - this made me want to eat cake the whole time I was reading it - so much excellent description of cake and pastries!

Enemies to lovers, royals, and a baking show? Lucy Parker put all of my favorite things into this book and boy did she DELIVER. The chemistry and tension between Sylvie and Dominic was masterfully done. There was both an emotional and physical connection between them, which is sometimes hard to find in romance novels, but Lucy Parker knocked it out of the park with these two. I enjoyed the multiple storylines/arcs, I felt it added some extra dynamic to the story so it wasn't all romance all the time. Furthermore, I felt that everything was wrapped up and concluded well. I'm so happy that this is an upcoming series and you can bet I'll be racing to the store for #2 ASAP!

I really enjoyed my time reading this one! I LOVE foodie books and competition shows, so this was the perfect one for me.

The banter between the characters had me rolling through the whole book. I highlighted something on almost every page on my Kindle! I love snarky characters and these were a bit more snarky than I'm used to seeing, which I loved.

Seeing Dominic have so many traits of beloved male baking/cooking competition judges was awesome. If you've read this, did he also remind you of Paul Hollywood? He did for me, but I think he was a bit snarkier and mean sometimes.

The characters were so different and I loved seeing them interact with one another. I can't wait for the next book to come out!

Sylvie and Dominic are rival bakers and fellow judges on a tv baking competition. But they find themselves collaborating more than competing as they both bid to make a cake for the Royal wedding.

This was a fun enemies to lovers story that pairs best with a slice of cake or chocolate truffles. I loved watching the emotional connection build between Sylvie and Dominic as they continually found themselves thrown together. Their opposite personalities and design preferences made for humorous moments and great banter.

I enjoyed the royal component and emphasis on chosen family. I liked some of the supporting characters (Mabel and Pet) but would have enjoyed more on Dominic's strained relationship with his sister Pet. It occasionally felt like there were too many side stories adding unnecessary (and predictable) drama. Overall it’s a sweet, slow-burn romance with emotional depth.

If you're a fan of cooking competitions like The Great British Bake Off, this is the perrrfect read for you.

This is such a cute enemies-to-lovers story! I thought that Sylvie was a strong-willed main character and her relationship with competitor turned lover Dominic was so so fun to read and had me swooning. (I mean a guy who bakes? A match made in paradise!) Along with the characters, I thought the banter was fun and the story flowed well and also thought that the side story with Rosie and Johnny was really cute too and I found myself rooting for them. I'm really excited for the next book in the series that follows Dominic's sister, Pet and Mattias (the royal guard)!

I love grumpy heroes and stories about found families, but I have to admit that I’m not a fan of GBBO. It took me a while to get through the beginning of the book because I really wasn’t that interested in the baking competition. I wish the book had focused more on the contrasting/competing businesses (a la Gimbels vs. Macy’s) leading up to the wedding cake competition. I did really like both main characters and the development of their relationship. I also liked their interactions with the secondary characters, although that plot twist towards the end of the book didn’t really seem necessary. All in all, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next book in the series. Also, more Mabel please!

I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Sylvie Fairchild captivated everyone four years ago as a contestant on Operation Cake. Well, almost everyone. Dominic De Vere despised her creations— thinking they were too fairytale and not at all his style. Their battle started as soon as they came into contact, what with Sylvie’s happy cheer and Dominic’s grouchy grump demeanor. But their rivalry reached it’s peak when Sylvie’s unicorn cake went awry—ending in Dominic being hit by the horn.

Fast forward to today. Sylvie owns Sugar Fair, which just so happens to be across the street from De Vere’s. Her fantastical and bright bakery is vastly different from De Vere’s clean white and cream cakes.

Sylvie has been invited back to Operation Cake, only this time as a judge alongside Dominic. This opportunity will help give her bakery some much needed publicity. But that’s not the only thing that could set her bakery on an upward trajectory. A royal wedding is on the horizon and the palace is looking for bids from multiple bakeries. Once again, Sylvie and Dominic are at odds. The competition is hot and only one can come out on top.

This was such a sweet story! I love the whole grumpy/sunshine trope— especially because the grump usually always is the one to fall first. 🤪 The banter between the two builds such great chemistry and Parker did a great job of building up to the relationship. They had great chemistry and the romance didn’t feel forced.

The only criticism I have for this book is that it seemed long. The plot dragged a bit towards the end of the book.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of the grumpy/sunshine & enemies to lovers/rivals to lovers tropes.

Lucy Parker is one of my favorite authors, so I was thrilled when she published a new book. The main characters are Sylvie Fairchild and Dominic DeVere, who are prominent bakers in London. To say that they don't get along is an understatement. He is a traditional baker; she loves glitter and incorporates fantasy into her designs, which he loathes as being trendy. She is optimistic and cheerful; he tends to be curt and distant.

They had an unfortunate introduction. She was a contestant on a cooking show where he was a judge. She had an accident when moving her cake that ended up with Dominic being bopped on the head with a sparkly unicorn hoof - on national TV. It didn't help when she opened her new business just across the street from his famous bakery, which had been started by his father.

A lot is going on in this book. They are both judges at a new cooking contest where one contestant may be sabotaging the other contestants. There is to be a Royal Wedding where a princess marries a commoner. Royal invitations go out to selected bakers to submit a cake design for the wedding, which included DeVere's and did not include Sylvie's bakery. Sylvie scooted her way around the invitation and sent one anyway. Guess whose cakes ended up as the two final ones? Which will be chosen? As if this is not enough, there is also a royal mystery.

If you are new to Lucy Parker, I highly recommend both this book and her London Celebrity series where the main characters work in theatre. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher Avon Books via NetGalley. It was a pleasure to read and review this book.

I adored this novel! I was expecting something light and fun, but this also really had heart. The concept of a cozy British baking competition (you know the one) as a major part of the background thoroughly delighted me. Sylvie and Dom were so different, but clearly passionate about their jobs - something that appeals to me. They both grew as people throughout the course of the book. I loved the subplots, particularly the royal-related section. I didn't know what to expect coming in, but now I'm going to have to go back and read Parker's other novels!