4.4⭐️

This book had so much to enjoy! Sunshine/grump, work place romance, rivals to lovers, royalty, family dynamics.

I loved all the baking and food descriptions. Really everything was incredibly well pictured in the reader’s mind. The cakes though. And who doesn’t love a good baking competition

Loved Humphrey.

Had some bits where the words were just a bit much, I had to reread somethings to know what they were going for but overall in all well done

Battle Royal is packed with rom-com elements I love--enemies-to-lovers, reality baking show competition, competing businesses, grump vs. sunshine, etc.

Operation Cake judge Dominic De Vere is probably still picking glitter from his hair, four years after contestant Sylvie Fairchild nearly beheaded him with a mechanical unicorn cake malfunction. Now, she’s not only his across-the-street bakery business nemesis, they’ll be sharing judging duties on Operation Cake. PLUS, the pair is pitted against each other to try to win an upcoming royal wedding cake contract. Glitter isn’t the only thing flying when these two start spending more and more time together.

This was admittedly slow to come together for me, but once it finally started connecting a bit better, I ended up enjoying the story. I liked their chemistry, confections, and camaraderie. I liked the baking show premise, the side characters (including the royal couple-to-be and Dom’s sister Pet.) I would LOVE to have a spot like the Dark Forest to check out! Fairy lights, cauldrons full of bubbly brews, it all sounds so fun.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for a digital review copy of Battle Royal.

In a romance that tantalizes taste buds and pulls on heart strings, polar opposite bakers Dominic and Sylvie compete for a royal wedding cake contract while co-judging a British Bake-Off-style reality competition. This love story features a bevy of romantic tropes sure to entertain: sunshine & grump, enemies-to-lovers, "contractual" proximity, cakish co-competitors (made that one up and I stand by it), and found family. Not only is this a slow burn in the best sense romantically, but it snuck up on me as a reader, too. Here I was, mildly interested and amused, and then just shy of halfway in, I could be found swooning like Humphrey the giant cat/Victorian lady-in-training.

Beyond the romance, there was a lot to love here:

🧁Smooth storytelling flow: I would have read it all in one sitting if I had the mental/non-sleep-deprived fortitude.

🧁 Silly, pithy chapter intros describing time and place

🧁 Cakes (duh), but also a witchy cocktail-making business in a bakery basement that I would give up a non-vital organ to visit for myself

🧁An ace side character who bakes and hates people unless they're cute children, and actually, all the characters had charm and mess to spare, an inspirational combination.

🧁 On a more serious note, the story covers grief and choosing family worthy of our love and time.

In short, this was a lovely romance with staying power, and I highly recommend it. I'll be back for more royal-adjacent fun at the author's earliest convenience. Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, out now!

Thanks to Avon books for my eARC!

"Some of us have compassion for others.It's called empathy"
"Some of us would hug a rabid squirrel if it shed a few tears and burbled
an improbable sob story, it's called gullibility."

The Great British bake off show meets literal enemies to lovers with snarky banter, spectrally opposing personalities butting heads and with a pinch of Royal drama Battle Royal is aptly named and serves you with thorough entertainment through out. This is my first book by the author so I went in totally blind expecting just a rom-com between rival bakers, well I am happy to say that I am wrong because there is a lot of underlying story in the book. Sylvie Fairchild and Dominic De Vere has never seen eye to eye after Sylvie was eliminated from Operation cake 4 years ago after an unfortunate incident that involved a large mass off cake on Dominic's forehead, Sylvie takes this as an invitation to open a brilliant and a completely contrasting bakery Sugar Fair across Dominic renowned De Vere. With Sylvie now being the judge on the very show beside Dominic and a huge possibility of royal contract being landed in one of their hands, the two rivals has no choice but to form a formidable alliance to win the Royal offer

Sylvie and Dominic can be classic examples of characters that are totally on the two ends of a spectrum, while Dominic's end is no non-sense, gruff grump, Sylvie's would be the rainbow's and unicorn's in their best possible bright shades but what brings them together are their individual emotional baggages that allows to perceive each other in a different light than their initial impressions. I loved the sibling dynamic and found family dynamic on either ends and I see a lot possibilities for future books for so many of these characters, the little touch with Royal drama/romance adds further flair to the story and last but not least the sugar delicacies mentioned including the teeny details of the cakes these sugar magicians creates from time to time left me drooling all the time lol

With that being said the only thing I wanted more is the development of the romance between Sylvie and Dominic, while it is quite obvious they had mutual attraction underneath that rivalry, I felt like their Chemistry went from 0 to 10 super fast.Nonetheless it is a great book to curl up to on a lazy weekend, just don't forget to have a sugary snack handy ;)

Happy Wednesday y'all! Today is a busy, busy day- lots of work (with my day job), reading, reviews, and I've even got to go to a cycling class tonight- but I'm not complaining (too much)- I'd rather be busy than bored! I do wish I was less tired though, but then again, I did bring that upon myself by staying up way too late finishing Battle Royal, which came out yesterday, because it was the cutest book! Thank you so much to Avon Books and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of it!
Battle Royal 5/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads:
Beloved author Lucy Parker pens a delicious new romantic comedy that is a battle of whisks and wits.
Ready…
Four years ago, Sylvie Fairchild charmed the world as a contestant on the hit baking show, Operation Cake. Her ingenious, colorful creations captivated viewers and intrigued all but one of the judges, Dominic De Vere, the hottest pastry chef in London. When her glittery unicorn cake went spectacularly sideways, Dominic was quick to vote her off the show. Since then, Sylvie has managed to use her fame to help fulfill her dream of opening a bakery, Sugar Fair. The toast of Instagram, Sugar Fair has captured the attention of the Operation Cake producers…and a princess.
Set…
Dominic is His Majesty the King’s favorite baker, the go-to for sweet-toothed A-List celebrities, and a veritable British institution. He’s brilliant, talented, hard-working. And an icy, starchy grouch. Learning that the irksome Sylvie will be joining him on the Operation Cake judging panel is enough to make the famously dour baker even more grim. Her fantastical baking is only slightly more troublesome than the fact that he can’t stop thinking about her pink-streaked hair and irrepressible dimple.
Match…
When Dominic and Sylvie learn they will be fighting for the once in a lifetime opportunity to bake a cake for the upcoming wedding of Princess Rose, the flour begins to fly as they’re both determined to come out on top.
The bride adores Sylvie’s quirky style. The palace wants Dominic’s classic perfection.
In this royal battle, can there be room for two?
This book has everything I love in it- royalty, baking, cakes, competition, weddings, romance, and a pseudo version of the GBBO! Like what more could you need??? I love how the book started out 4 years in the past introducing us to the reason that Sylvie and Dominic have such a fraught relationship- the unicorn that started it all. Then, in present day, it was great to see that Sylvie was able to have her bakery and be across the street from Dominic's and that they were both doing well in the grand scheme of things and were even competing for the same big jobs- AND that Sylvie had been invited to be a judge on the show where she first met Dominic was perfect. I really loved the characters- Sylvie was so fun and determined and Dominic had such a great head on his shoulders and was so caring even though he had a hard time showing it. Even though the conflict in this book wasn't the most dramatic, I still really enjoyed the lead up to the one bigger conflict and the smaller conflicts around it. I also loved the scene setting for book two- you know I'm going to read that as soon as I can! Overall, this was a super cute, fun read with some really great family/friend relationships and an adorable HEA! Go out and grab it today!

This was a really cute workplace, rivals/enemies to lovers romance all centered around a Great British Bakeoff style baking show!!
Lucy Parker's writing is so charming, and the chemistry between the characters is electric! I adore both Sylvie and Dominic. They are such a great grumpy/sunshine duo! Can't wait to see what comes next in this series.

Who doesn't love an opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers trope? Plus there is a BAKING CONTEST SHOW, which - hello, yes please. Just be sure to have lots of tasty baked goods/sweets on hand, because this book is HUNGRY MAKING.

There was a lot going on with Battle Royal plotwise, and I think sometimes it got to be a bit TOO much. I wish there's been more of a focus on the baking show, but it kept pulling away to the royal storylines and family storylines and... I just want reality TV dramaaaa!

I love the chemistry between Sylvia and Dominic - swoon. She's all fairy lights and cauldrons of bubbling highly alcoholic drinks, and he's all neutral color palettes and structured lines, but deep down they've both suffered a similar sort of loss and have built up walls to protect themselves. It's just lovely to see them learn to let those walls down - or crack through them - together. I definitely laughed at how they're supposed to be rivals but are both just such genuinely good people that they can't help but help each other.

This is the first book in the Palace Insiders series, and can be read as a stand alone. I am VERY much looking forward to book two, which I hope is about Pet and a certain very large bodyguard!!

Are you a fan of grumpy/sunshine dynamics? Rivals to lovers? Royals? Baked goods? Look no further than Battle Royal by Lucy Parker, one of my favorite book surprises of the year.

Sylvie Fairchild competed on Operation Cake 4 years ago, charming the audience and (most of) the judges alike with her whimsical bakes until an exploding unicorn disaster (seriously) led the taciturn, traditional judge Dominic De Vere to vote her off the show. Fast forward a few years and Sylvie has opened her own bakery right across the street from Dominic's, where she sells magical creations in stark contrast to Dominic's classic treats. When Sylvie agrees to return to Operation Cake as a judge, she's prepared to square off against Dominic on the show, but when a royal engagement is announced, their status as rivals is cemented even further as they both work to secure the contract for the biggest cake of their careers.

That summary certainly lays out the main plot of this book, but there is really so much going on here that it also barely scratches the surface. This book also deals with a royal romance, a royal mystery, the drama of the show and its contestants, Dominic's relationship with his incredible sister Pet, and Sylvie's relationship with her best friend Jay, amongst other things, but manages to do so in such a smooth way that I never felt bogged down; instead, I was deeply invested in everything that was happening. But what really makes this book shine is the romance. Yes, this is an enemies to lovers story, but that's not what made it special to me. I loved how Sylvie and Dom grew to trust and share with and lean on each other in a very mature way. And my god, the casual moments of intimacy in this book are mind-blowing. Yes, there is some on the page steam, but I'd trade that away in a heart beat for all the finger brushes, shoulder leans and mere whispers of kisses that this book gives us. It's simultaneously too much and not enough and I'm honestly overwhelmed by the low-key moments of swoon in this book.

This was my first Lucy Parker but it certainly won't be my last. Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Thank you @avonbooks and @netgalley for my advanced copy of Battle Royal.

Sylvia Fairchild is known for her over the top sugary creations. Owner of the bakery Sugar Fair- she has quickly become very popular for her unique and colorful creations.

Dominic De Vere is the Kings go-to baker. The De Vere patisserie has been servicing the palace for years with their delicious, classical creations. Dominic is known for his precision, discipline and frigidity. When Princess Rose announces her engagement, De Veres is a shoo in for the cake. Or are they?

Sugar Fair has caught the attention of Princess Rose and now it’s a Battle Royal to see who will win the bid. This one is enemies to lovers, rival bakeries, cooking competition goodness. 🧁 I would highly recommend and can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

** Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Avon and Harper Voyage for giving me an early e-copy in exchange for my honest review **
Sylvie Fairchild, participated in a baking show “Operation Cake” four years ago and she was a fan favorite and now she has been asked to be a judge but she has to do it alongside Dominic De Vere. Dominic is the go to guy for high profile parties, he is all elegance and brilliance and Sylvie is all rainbows and creativity. When Princess Rose is about to get married they are both in the running for the contract of their lifetime to do this cake. The bride likes Sylvie´s ingenuity but tradition says Dominic is the best choice. Even though they are going against one another they find themselves running into each other a lot while doing research for a special request made by the groom. As the days pass by they start finding that although they are like oil and water, there are also similarities from their past that have them put their guard down and then sprinkles and sparks start flying.

“And the unsolved crime attached to his name. The puzzle beyond the abilities of Nancy Drew, that would stump even the little grey cells of Hercule Poirot.
The Mysterious Case of the Missing Personality”

Perfect enemies to lovers and opposites attract trope. Although we do find some cliches they are very well done. We have a lot of British humor and banter which is always a plus, the characters had depth and made us fall in love with the protagonist and the side characters. Sylvie although she was all rainbows and sunshine, she was also strong and independent, Dominic was blunt and all work and no play but with a vulnerable side and heart of gold. It was a little slow for me at first, but once things warmed up it was hard to put it down. I really enjoyed the intrigue and the competition aspect of this, because it made everything enthralling and had me devouring every page to find out how it would all work out. Interestingly enough, even though it had all this humor it also touched on the subject of grief and how it was dealt differently by these characters (I don't want to spoil too much), I thought it was a clever way to add profoundness to the story. The SMUT, OMG, THE S-M-U-T! I was so excited when they finally kissed and did the thing (wink). There were a few gasp worthy moments and the ending filled my heart with so much joy. Now, this is the first in a series called the Palace Insiders, so we should see some of these fun characters again,

“If she’d rubbed a magic lamp and wished for the most head-spinning, gorgeous kiss, even a genie would struggle to top this.”

This book is, hands down, one of my favorite romances of the year. The story is emotional and authentic, with the perfect touch of quintessential British humor to add levity. There are enough subplots and side characters to keep the story interesting without feeling like throwaway details were included just to add length. I loved it.

Ok, so does anyone watch the baking reality show, The Great British Baking Show? This book is like that but if one of the contestants and the judge Paul got together.
If you don’t watch that show (totally check it out!) this is a cute, funny enemies to lovers romance set during a reality baking show.
I got so hungry reading this! I need cupcakes stat!
This story was adorable and sweet. I’ve enjoyed Parker’s London Celebrities series so I had high expectations for this book. I would say those expectations were met. The characters were weren’t stuck in their stereotypes and they had great banter and chemistry.
Parker created a love story I’m going to constantly revisit.
Thank you so much to the author and Avon publishing for the arc. This in no way effected my opinion or thoughts on the book.

4 1/2 "Glittery" Stars!

Battle Royal was such a deliciously fun read! I really loved the banter between Sylvie and Dominic. The side characters were also fantastic. As if all of that wasn't enough, there's a baking show, royals, a mystery (or two), heartbreak, misunderstandings and gossip. In addition, both Sylvie and Dominic have experienced hardship in their family backgrounds, leaving them both fearful of attachments and love. It's the perfect recipe for a romance with both heartbreak and humor blended in.

I always enjoy Ms. Parker's books. She always writes characters that you can easily invest in. My heart went out to both Sylvie and Dominic. Even though it took me a little longer to see through Dominic's mask to the wounded man underneath, he was still someone you could care about.

The premise of this book was creative and fun. I was quickly engaged in the storyline and look forward to more in this series. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

REVIEW:
4/5 ✨
2/5 🔥(spice)

I went into this ready for a cute little baking show romcom, and turned off my kindle after experiencing so much more.

There are a couple of love stories you watch in this story, some of them platonic and some of them romantic. Each very special and each so convincing to the reader.

I personally did not expect to cry reading this, like I said I was expecting a cute romcom. Oh did the tears fall. My heart broke for two of the side stories happening in this book.

This book also covered some of my favorite tropes. It gave me Sunshine/Grouch,
It gave me reunites family, and sunshine person gets sick and grouch helps take care of them.

Thanks to @netgalley this was my first Lucy Parker book, but it definitely won’t be my last. I can’t wait to get off of work and purchase a physical copy for my bookshelf!

I feel this is a “must add to my TBR” for all of my rom com lovers!

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

This was awesome! There's certainly lots going on here, but I adored all of these elements. We've got enemies to lovers, a grump/sunshine dynamic, GBBO, a royal wedding, and the importance of family (including found family!). I do think that the pacing is sometimes a little off just because there is so much going on. I could read an entire book just about the baking competition and another just about the royal wedding! Still, I always wanted to keep reading this.

There are plenty of humorous situations, and the writing itself was funny. The author also did an excellent job making me feel all the feels with some genuinely sweet and sad moments. I really felt for all the characters and connected with them! There are some really important themes here like family (mentioned above), but also the intensity of the media surrounding public figures. There were several moments that I really appreciated with mentions of books, reading, book clubs, videogames, and this general fantasy aesthetic of Sylvie's bakery. I found all of this so relatable!

Sylvie is absolutely adorable. She's cheerful, hilarious, and very upbeat, but she also has depth to her. She's lacking in blood relatives, so she sometimes feels alone. I love the relationship that develops because they are so well suited to each other and understand where they're coming from (he comes from a family where parents aren't very affectionate). Both of them have to feel things out some and are scared of what's happening, but it's really lovely to see them take a chance on each other.

Dominic is definitely gruff, but I loved seeing him open up, as well as his subtle kindness. I think once Sylvie enters the picture, she really inspires him to be better. He certainly has a tragic backstory, but I loved his journey. Pet, his sister, is also awesome! She's very similar in personality to Sylvie (and would be great friends), but she also has this sad past. I loved seeing her relationship with Dominic!

There were so many great side characters! Not only do we have contestants, judges, and other people associated with the baking show, but we also have royals and the employees of these bakeries. I really liked Princess Rosie - she leans more goth and is definitely nerdy. I loved that she plays videogames with her fiance (relatable because I do too!). She wants to be herself but has to be subject to the royal image.

I had such a good time with this book and can't wait to see what happens next! There is a possible romance that's being set up here, so I'm certainly curious to see if that'll go anywhere. I'd definitely recommend this book, especially to fans of GBBO (but also anyone who enjoys these other tropes)!

My video review can be seen on my booktube channel (around minutes 5:01-9:26 of this video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXlpGVQcic4

One Sentence Summary: Four years ago, Sylvie and Dominic became firm baking rivals and the intense dislike was mutual, but now, when they’re competing for the contract to make a royal wedding cake, they end up working closer together than they ever thought they would.

Overall
Battle Royal pits baker against baker as two rivals go head to head battling for the contract to bake a royal wedding cake. This is an incredibly delicious read that had me constantly thinking of cake. But it’s also a seriously romantic novel with so many great love stories woven through it. While it almost felt like there might be too many stories, I thought it was actually balanced really well. I loved that it was serious as well as sweet, that it really focused on the characters and what they were feeling. Battle Royal is sweet and serious, delicious and romantic, and had me dreaming of cake and gorgeous chocolates.

Extended Thoughts
Four years ago, Sylvie was a contestant on Operation Cake and a minor miscalculation sent her packing, simultaneously earning her the eternal dislike of Dominic, one of the judges. Sunny and glittery, Sylvie wasn’t one to let Dominic stand in her way, and set up shop right across the street from his long-standing family’s bakery. For four years, the cold rivalry was alive and well.

But now Sylvie is a new judge on Operation Cake, alongside Dominic. It’s not ideal, but both their bakeries could use the additional income. When news of a royal engagement breaks, they both see a chance at claiming the limelight for their respective bakery. Unexpectedly, the royal couple would like to see a proposal from both of them, following some very vague and interesting requests.

The competition is tense, both on screen and off, as Dominic and Sylvie puzzle through how to make the bride and groom happy, pulling them closer and closer as old and new love stories swirl around them. Perhaps even their own.

I expected Battle Royal to be absolutely delicious and sweet. With cake being an unofficial third main character, I thought I was in for a fun, sweet story full of delicious cake. Instead, it had a surprisingly serious overlay as both Sylvie and Dominic struggled with their histories and overcoming them. It was absolutely sweet, but not quite of the light and fluffy kind.

Battle Royal surprised me in so many ways. There’s more than one love story, none of them perfect and beautiful, but it was so incredibly lovely the way love tied each couple together. They all felt realistic and, in their own ways, they all made my heart ache for them. I loved how deeply and how sensitively they each were handled, how emotions played such a huge role, and how clear it was that, despite all the roadblocks, these couples really were made for each other.

I loved Sylvie and Dominic to pieces. They’re rivals with very distinct and different personalities, but they ended up blending perfectly. Dominic is very serious and dour, very much the stereotypical critical judge on and off screen. His bakery was his grandfather’s and is an institution in London. He also comes from a family with very little love and care in it, so of course he’s quite standoffish. Sylvie, in contrast, is everything bright and magical. Her bakery is a veritable fantasy dream and glitter is a must. But she, too, has pains from her childhood stemming from the early loss of the woman who raised her. On their own I loved Dominic and Sylvie, but, put together, they were so much fun and played off each other so well. I wish there had been more of an enemies to lovers story, but I also understood there were a lot of other smaller stories and a lot of threads running through the book, and I couldn’t wait to find out how it all turned out, so, while I wish they had battled a little more, I ended up feeling quite happy with their relationship. There’s a bit of a love triangle, but it’s not a major component of the story. I suppose it could have been removed, but it felt completely natural and was handled with such maturity by the characters that I actually really liked it.

All of the characters were wonderful with distinct personalities. I loved how the bakery staffs really upheld the rivalry and, if I could pluck Mabel from Sylvie, I’d do it in a heartbeat. Outside of Sylvie and Dominic, she’s definitely my favorite. She isn’t seen much, but she absolutely makes use of every on-page moment. Then there’s Pet, Dominic’s younger sister. I couldn’t help but think of her as a quivering young woman, bouncing from a ball of energy to wanting love and approval so much it almost hurts. But she’s so strong, so competent. I loved her dearly, and can’t wait for her to get her own story.

I do wish there had been a better balance between Operation Cake and the race to put together the perfect royal wedding cake proposal. I felt the proposal overtook the story and, by the end, the TV show was just seriously anticlimatic. I expected being immersed in it as I would any other baking competition, but it all felt so strongly skewed one way that it became boring. So I guess I’m glad most of the story didn’t focus on it? I did love how Dominic and Sylvie had to puzzle out the royal couple’s specific requests. It was a ton of fun and made me laugh a few times. But it also led to even more romantic stories that just made me swoon. Overall, very sweet and seriously romantic.

Battle Royal was a little predictable both in terms of the main story as well as some of the subplots. I easily picked out what was going to happen, which usually bothers me and turns me off from romance. But the journey the characters go on in this novel was so interesting and the characters so much fun that I really enjoyed how it built up to the inevitable conclusion.

Battle Royal is a very sweet, very romantic read that’s surprisingly serious. The characters tend to be older, so the relationships are a little more mature. There isn’t as much angst as one might find in a true enemies to lovers story, but it’s still fun and there’s so much going on that there’s always something new and different to focus on.

Battle Royal is all about love and family, both blood and found. It’s sweet and beautiful, and all about fighting tooth and nail for the one you love. Oh, and there’s absolutely a ton of delicious (and some questionable) cake!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really didn’t care for this book until about 50% in. Once I hit the halfway mark, the book did a 180 for me. The reasons I didn’t care for the book in the beginning: 1.) The storyline was VERY slow, and 2.) The story jumped around a lot and I found it very difficult to follow. It definitely was NOT smooth and seamless. I did really enjoy the second half of the book, here’s why: 1.) I liked that Sylvie and Dominic were both a little older and were established in their careers. 2.) They went from enemies, to FRIENDS, to lovers. 3.) Both Sylvie and Dominic had emotional/troubling backstories that were addressed well in the story. 4.) Sylvie was a rainbow unicorn that exuded happiness and even though Dominic was serious and brooding, he was a likable character as well. 5.) The storyline had a lot of excitement and twists in the second half of the book.

If you are patient and don’t mind trudging through a boring first half, I recommend this book. My recommendation is based solely on the second half of the book.

OH MY GOD. THIS BOOK, AAAA THIS BOOK. It has been a while since I last read an adult contemporary romance with so much fluff and love, which is why I am literally flying in the sky right now. 5/5 stars to this adorable, gem of a novel. ❤

A rivals-to-lovers romance centering around two competing bakeries seems like the next best thing ever, right? Well, that's exactly what Battle Royal was all about. The book follows Sylvie and Dominic's journey as they're both chosen to bake a cake for the upcoming wedding of Princess Rose. We get to see them working together to achieve the prestigious position of the top baker - and boy, oh boy, what a ride it was. Syl and Dom's swoon-worthy chemistry and hilarious banter made up the perfect recipe for a deliciously romantic read. Battle Royal will always remain one of those books that define the Grumpy-Sunshine trope, in my eyes. 🥰

The supporting characters all added their charm to the storyline as well! I especially loved reading about the royal couple. Sylvie's friends, Dominic's younger sister, and the contestants of Operation Cake - all of them were perfectly written. I don't think a lot of writers can make readers equally fall in love with the supporting characters too - which is why Battle Royal stands out.

This book deserves all the love and hype. Can't wait to check out more of Lucy Parker's novels! I am so, so impressed with her beautiful writing style. Many thanks to the publisher for the free review copy in exchange of an honest review. 💚

Battle Royal is the first book in a new series by Lucy Parker and it reads just like a movie! There is such a good story here that flows so well, and I felt like each chapter was a scene from a movie or an episode of a show.

Sylvie and Dominic are opposites and first met when she was a contestant on a baking show that didn't go so well. Fast forward 4 years later- Sylvie and Dominic not only have to work together on the baking show, but are also in competition for a royal wedding cake. I loved how this was a mix of enemies to lovers but also a bit of forced proximity since they had to work together. There was a bit of slow burn at the beginning and I couldn't wait for the romance between these two to become apparent. And once it did, watch out! There was a little bit of steam, but also so much sweetness between Sylvie and Dominic.

I loved how Parker wrote the way they would look at one another and their unspoken communication. You could really feel the connection and feel like you were watching the story play out while you were reading it. Overall this is a sweet story with a little baking and royal drama thrown in. Instead of watching a romance movie, sit down and read this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for sharing this e-ARC with me in exchange my honest view.

The best way for me to gush about how much I love a book by a new-to-me author is if I read their entire backlist after one book. That’s what happened when I finished Battle Royal. I’ve spent the last week reading Lucy Parker’s backlist. And loving every minute of it!

Battle Royal was exactly the right book to introduce me to Lucy Parker. It combines two of my favorite things, baking and monarchies! Add in a love story, and a sad past love story and I’m 100% sold. I’m also a huge fan of the Great British Bake Off and the baking competition that ties together Sylvie and Dominic mirrors that. They first meet 4 years prior, when Sylvie is a contestant on the show and Dominic is one of the judges. Needless to say, they have two very different styles and hijinks ensue. At the start of the book, they each own bakeries across the street from each other. Sylvie’s is glitter and magical while Dominic’s is classical elegance. They’re already set on a collusion course because Sylvie is going to join Dominic as a judge. In addition to that, the princess is getting married and both are competing to design her wedding cake.

Sylvie and Dominic are thrown together a lot in this book, mostly working on the royal wedding cake. The bride wants something special for her decreased uncle incorporated and the groom wants a cake layer made from a difficult drink. While Sylvie and Dominic delve into these challenges, they end up spending a lot of time together and their attraction is obvious and steamy! I was so glad that their relationship kicked off at this point and not when Sylvie was on the show as a contestant. An unequal power balance is tough to pull off, and Lucy Parker has successfully tackled it Pretty Face but I was glad it didn’t really play a role here.

I’m not a fan of illustrated covers even though I do like this one. This might seem a bit off topic but I swear I have a point. My problem is that I think people will pick up this book, thinking it’s a rom-com, and then be hit in the gut. Battle Royal made me cry at multiple points. Grief is a big theme in this book. Lucy has lost her whole family and really only has a found family living. There are scenes around this that are really deep and powerful. Dominic has similar sad moments and part of his story is regaining a relationship with his sister. In addition to all of this, the story they learn about the princess’s uncle is heartbreaking. There are witty moments and funny moments in this book but the role of grief in this story is very important and I don’t think the cover and the illustrated = rom-com trend does that justice.

As I said earlier, a book is great if I go back and read the author’s backlist and Battle Royal is definitely that. The love story between Sylvie and Dominic was beautiful and so were the other stories told in this book. I highly recommend reading it, with a baked good near by because you will end up craving sweets!