Lucy Parker - Codename Charming

Petunia De Vere enjoys being the personal assistant to lovable, bumbling Johnny Marchmont. But the job has its share of challenges, including the royal's giant, intimidating bodyguard, Matthias. Pet and Matthias are polar opposites--she's spontaneous and enthusiastic, he's rigid and stoic--but she can sense there's something softer underneath that tough exterior...
For Matthias Vaughn, protecting others is the name of the game. But keeping his royal charge out of trouble is more difficult than he imagined because everywhere Johnny goes, calamity ensues, and his petite, bubbly assistant is often caught in the fray. Matthias hates the idea of Pet getting hurt and he's determined to keep everyone safe, even if it means clashing with his adorable new coworker.
When a clumsy moment leads to a questionable tabloid photo, the press begins to speculate that Pet is romantically involved with Johnny. To put an end to the rumors, the royal PR team asks Pet and Matthias to stage a fake relationship and the two reluctantly agree. But as they spend more time together outside of work, they begin to wonder what real emotions this pretend connection might uncover. Especially when a passionate kiss leaves both of their heads spinning...

Comment: This is the second installment in the Palace Insiders series by Lucy Parker. I've read the first two years ago and I'd say that the time in between releases might have affected my perception, but I've found this one to be a little less powerful than her other work.

Petunia "Pet" de Vere is the sister of Dominic (hero of the previous book) and she works as an assistant for the palace, namely she works on Johnny Marchmont's team. Johnny is married to Rosie, a royal, and he is still getting used to this, although he does have a propensity to be clumsy. This means Pet has had a lot of work making him look good, even though she has already fallen twice onto Matthias Vaughn's arms, one of the security bodyguards. Pet and Matthias seem to like one another but neither has been confident enough to take the first step, until this is forced on them by circumstances. To avoid more paparazzi gossip, the team devises a plan where Pet and Matthias "play" to be falling in love, but will they really be able to not fall for real, since the spark is already there?

Well, any romance reader would reply yes right away, but I will have to be honest and say that the two main reasons why I wasn't as dazzled by this book as I was with others by the author were: the main couple is, sadly, not that interesting to me and the plot is not very intense to begin with, so this conjunction made for a slightly thin story. I can see where the author wanted to go with her usual trademark grumpy/sunshine pairing but this time I was not fully convinced.

The story is set sometime after the events of the first book and an important element to remember is that Dominic and Pet weren't always in good terms. Stuff in their childhood separated them but during that other book they got closer and I think this is important to think of because it paints Pet in a way that makes her seem a little aloof at times, and by comparison, not as bubbly as Lucy Parker's other heroines. I liked Pet and I liked her personality but it's true she wasn't as charismatic to me in all things, as others were.

Matthias is even more vague to me. The author does try to develop him as a likable character, we know he seems distanced and too much of a professional, not easily mixing up with others or sharing personal details and I guess this makes it easier for us to understand why he isn't very loud, but at the same time he seems to be too stoic. This didn't have to be an issue and we do have plenty of information about his childhood in the foster system, and how he lost his best friend on an assignment, so he is a good guy still mourning, kind of, and we learn his romantic relationships hadn't been great because of his looks, but all these things still didn't warmed him up to me and I think the author could done this element better.

These two should not have much in common except the sadness and the inconsistent childhoods, but we are still told they like and want each other from the distance. I do like this trope/idea, but I was not convinced they actually felt like that, no matter how many times they "thought" about one another. I just could not see the spark even secondary characters claimed was there. I can't say if it was due to their quieter personalities or how they were described, but I just could not see it.

When they start being closer and share personal stuff, they kept on being too unsure of themselves and while this might be realistic, it did not make for a very captivating romance. I did like some scenes between them where they talked or had some romantic moments, but... and when they become intimate, closer to the end of the novel, it just wasn't vibrant nor special and felt more like an element the author had to add instead of something organically necessary to the evolution of their feelings and relationship.

Perhaps this would not be as weak to me if the plot had been better, but I felt there was no urgency, no real force driving things forward. The fake dating idea and their respective duties in the big scheme just didn't feel like much of a plot and what this made me think was that there was a lot of repetitive situations and ideas and nothing really important was happening except forced situations so that Matthias and Pet would have to interact. 

Again, closer to the end, however, we finally find a pertaining information regarding Pet, something that was very slowly being developed from the beginning, and when this is developed, the book is practically over. I felt that if this situation had been explored better, it would have been a much nicer plot devise, more intense, with a possibly better conflict to make things move on. The way it was played out, everything was simple, superficial, and to me, a lost opportunity.

I still consider this to be a positive read because I do like the author's work and her usual techniques of developing the plots, I still liked reading this and knowing more about all characters, I certainly liked seeing Dominic and Sylvie again and to confirm they are as in love as they were when their story was concluded, but yes, I cannot say this book was as special as I would have wanted.

Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: Lucy Parker - Battle Royal

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.
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.
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?

Comment: Before we thought about it, March has arrived and it's already half way. Today is the day for the TBR post and in March the theme is grumpy. I had planned on reading something else, considering the comments which made me want to read it, but it turned out to be a DNF. Very quickly, I had another look at my choices and ended up with this one, for Lucy Parker heroes always tend to be grumpy...

In this book we meet grumpy Dominic and bubbly Sylvie, who've met while she was a contestant and he a judge in a baking competition. She hasn't won but everyone remembers one of her creations and how it went wrong, exploding in his face. He told her her work wasn't good enough and she answered by opening her business right across the street from his. Now, four years later, she has been invited to also be a judge in the same competition and at the same time, both their businesses have been chosen to battle it out to see which one is chosen to create the cake for a royal wedding. Such work makes them spend a lot of time together and, of course, that opens up the road for interesting conversations and discoveries about one another...

This was the sixth book by the author I try and, apart from one - which she even wrote under a different name - I think it's pretty safe to say her style is easily identifiable (I mean, for those who have read several of her books). This is not a negative aspect for me, because I have enjoyed her books immensely but it can be said that after having read one, almost all follow the same patterns - if hers is a style one likes, then this can be quite positive.

Readers comment on the setting of the new series starting with this book as being quite similar to real life reality shows where amateur bakers do their best to win a competition and being myself a fan of these types of shows, I found the idea quite appealing. As also expected, the hero is a grumpy but hiding a heart of gold and a true moral compass and the heroine might seem like she is always happy and carefree but obviously hides some inner pain or sadness. The two become a couple and it's one of those stories where it can't be helped to be noticed they complement each other perfectly.

While this is a repetitive pattern for the author, I still liked knowing how the story would develop and I liked learning about Sylvie and Dominic's pasts, why and how they evolved from what we learn that shaped their personalities to the people we follow now. I confess I like other pairings better, some how here they fit their roles too perfectly and some of the little quirks which made previous books shine, only felt superficial here. I suppose what wasn't as great between them is how they go from arch enemies to want to be together.

This might sound unfair and often I felt that with so many books, not just those by this author, things always reach a point where the step from enemies to lovers is so cheesy or unrealistic but here, since they talk and explain themselves to the other person, just like any adult should do, I still miss some more drama and spontaneity in how they just can't help but be attracted, This is what I felt was missing; this step of falling in love seemed to be a little too stilted for what I expected.

That aside, this story was easy to read, fluid and I wanted to know what happened next. not because there was a lot to imagine out of what was predictable, but because I liked the characters and wanted to see what they would do next. The secondary characters were quite intriguing and I see the next book in this series features Dominic's sister, which is good but her love interest isn't the one I would have thought of, so it will be interesting to see how the author develops this and which role the couple from this book might have.

Regarding the grumpy theme, as one can imagine, after a while Dominic isn't as grumpy but he certainly doesn't lose his more serious personality in most situations, even if he mellows a little while near Sylvie or with those he comes to care about. I should also leave a note for the amazing bakery suggestions and content in this book, which have certainly made me want to eat chocolate and cakes while reading...

Everything considered, this was a good book, had all the elements I thought we would have but at the same time there was a small perpetual feel to the author's work and this not being her very best, for me it was a little hard to miss.

Grade: 8/10

Elle Pierson - Artistic License

When of the world’s prestigious art collections comes to the resort town of Queenstown, New Zealand, shy art student Sophy James is immediately drawn to the pieces on display – and to the massive, silent, sexy presence keeping watch over them. She’s completely fascinated and attracted by the striking planes and angles of his unusual face, and can’t resist sneaking out her pencil when he’s not looking.
Security consultant Mick Hollister is used to women looking at his ugly mug – but not with the genuine pleasure he sees in the face of the girl with the charcoal-smudged fingers and terrible skills at covert surveillance. A security breach brings the two into fast and furious collision, and an unlikely friendship begins to blossom. And an even more unlikely – and very reluctant – love.
Introvert Sophy is content with her independence and solitude. She’s never looked for a long-term relationship, and isn’t sure she wants one now. Mick, apparently born with a face that not even a mother could love, has given up all hope of having one.
They have nothing in common. They shouldn’t even like each other. And they can’t stay away from one another.

Comment: I had this book to read since 2017. I added it to my TBR because it would feature a shy heroine and a hero that wasn't considered handsome by most people. I was really curious how such a pairing would work and, besides that, I got aware this was the same author who wrote some of the best contemporary books I've read in the past years, Lucy Parker. Since I liked all the books under the Parker's name, I was hoping this would be a winner as well, but I must say this wasn't as great to me.

In this story we meet shy artist Sophy James, a young woman who isn't the best in talking to strangers but she certainly has an eye for detail, and while visiting a art exhibit she can't help but being captivated by the face of one of the security men. He is Mick Hollister, someone used to be judged by his looks and not having a handsome face makes others think him less than good, including his own family. The day he and Sophy meet, there's a bombing at the gallery and Mick protects Sophy, which she, in turn, reciprocates by sharing something she saw, and that allows authorities to find the culprits of the attack. As the days go by after the bombing, these two find ways to be together and slowly start to share things bout themselves. Will it be possible they can be each other's HEA?

I liked reading this book and I confess part of the charm was to try to pick similarities with the author's other work, which I've been a fan of lately. However, let me start right now by saying that, in my personal case, were I to not know they were the same, I would not immediately make the connection. I found this book to be choppy in the scenes' sequences, the characters rather dull and the writing itself a little less captivating than what I envisioned. In sum, I think ti shows the author wasn't as confident in her skill while writing this or, perhaps, her vision wasn't as well executed then.

The plot is quite simple. The main characters meet under extraordinary circumstances, they feel attracted to one another but don't want to let the other see while they keep on dealing with the effects of how they see themselves in society's eyes. Mick deals with a cold, unsympathetic family and the prejudice because of his body type and lack of looks (his perception) and Sophy is an introvert who struggles to let her thoughts and wishes be known except in her art. I think the emotional construction of these characters isn't in question, for they both can be seen as having layers to peel as the story develops, but the way that happens wasn't really one to remember (to me, at least).

I said the moving from scene to scene was choppy. At times, it did feel as if some things didn't move as smoothly as they could, and because of that, the supposed emotions linked to some situations the characters faced ended up flat. For me, this also meant that the transitions gave the plot a very slow pace. Now, this doesn't have to be a bad thing, but with so many details to include and (some) lack of development in making things look smooth, I'm afraid that parts of the story were rather boring.

I don't mean to be unfair and the story was cute, but yes, it was a little boring as well and since both main characters don't interact much socially or in that many situations with lots of other people, there's no way for their relationship to develop in any other but between themselves. I don't really mind this but the execution wasn't as great as it could, so I felt Mick and Sophy weren't that vibrant anyway. I just think that, considering the descriptions of their personal issues, there could be a bit more angst involved or even a bit more complexity in the way they interacted with others... again, a good idea but the execution didn't convince me.

Sophy is an introvert and she is shy so I could relate to some of her thoughts when it came to take her chance on letting Mick know she was interested. Mick had people surrounding him always letting him be aware they didn't like how he looks like. We have a couple that, although not anti-social, doesn't have the biggest interest in dealing with others. I found this made them a little too isolated from secondary situations - and there were many happening - so when a confrontation here and there happens, I can understand their reluctance to let their voice be heard but this means the story fails to carry a continuous need to reach a goal. It ends up being boring...

Perhaps I'm being unfair, it's true, this story didn't seduce me as much as I wanted. I don't see myself thinking on it for a re-read even if it isn't as bad as others. It just didn't feel as if this could have been the author's best effort - something proved in her other books - but everyone needs to start somewhere and apparently this was her first work...

Grade: 6/10

Lucy Parker - Headliners

For years, rival TV presenters Sabrina Carlton and Nick Davenport have traded barbs on their respective shows. The public can’t get enough of their feud, but after Nick airs Sabrina’s family scandals to all of Britain, the gloves are off. They can barely be in the same room together—but these longtime enemies are about to become the unlikeliest of cohosts.
With their reputations on the rocks, Sabrina and Nick have one last chance to save their careers. If they can resurrect a sinking morning show, they’ll still have a future in television. But with ratings at an all-time low and a Christmas Eve deadline to win back the nation’s favor, the clock is ticking—and someone on their staff doesn’t want them to succeed.
Small mishaps on set start adding up, and Sabrina and Nick find themselves—quelle horreur—working together to hunt down the saboteur…and discovering they might have more in common than they thought. When a fiery encounter is caught on camera, the public is convinced that the reluctant co hosts are secretly lusting after one another.
The public might not be wrong.
Their chemistry has always been explosive, but with hate turning to love, the stakes are rising and everything is on the line. Neither is sure if they can trust these new feelings…or if they’ll still have a job in the New Year. 

Comment: This is the 5th installment in the London celebrities series by author Lucy Parker. I liked reading this book, but as it has happened with the previous two, I didn't feel marveled as I did with the first two stories, which felt close to perfection to me.

In this story, which starts right after the fourth one ended, we follow Sabrina and Nick, tv presenters in different networks whose animosity in person has evolved to a professional one too. Recently that animosity has escalated and culminated in a situation that might be bad for the two of them but the networks they work for have fused which means they are in trial for their jobs.

The way to see if their careers can be salvaged is a morning show where the two of them need to work together and this way, the network can gain on both of their charisma and known enemies relationship.

The thing is, the more they are forced to talk and be together, the more that animosity is finally revealed to come from another kind of feeling, one both Nick and Sabrina must accept and deal with and, thus, choose if they want to be enemies or something else...

One of the best things this author manages to do very well is the slow path from an unlikely pairing/enemies to lovers. This happens, I think, because she allows her characters to talk, to communicate, the angst comes from natural feelings and thoughts and not from contrived choices she adds on an obvious way to force the characters towards a situation.

This means that for me it's a pleasure to read because I'm always eager to see what the characters will do after.

The plot of this book is quite simple, it basically show cases how two different people, who have seen each other as enemies for so long and who have caused the other some hurt in the past now need to work together.

The great part of this book is the scenes in which the characters have to interact, how funny some o them are, how seriously they talk and even at a moment when it feels as if the author set up things for them to have a fall out, they talk, they wait to hear the other person and they solve things in a very simple but mature way.

I liked Sabrina and Nick together, they obviously had a lot more in common than what they thought and I even liked how they meshed quite well with each other's families. Everything is pointing out for them to be  good couple.

Sabrina is a very sweet woman underneath her professional facade and I felt for her when personal issues started to bring her down. It was really sweet to see her hold on to Nick in some moments, it was a god way to let us know they were starting to trust each other.

Nick is fascinating, I think his personality is a little more complex than Sabrina's but the author has kept his development a simple one. It was very good and easy to read about him.

So, with so many well done details, why didn't this book have a higher grade for me? I liked the romance but that was it: it was so easy, it was so mature of them to discuss things, to apologize, to see each other's side of things that the sort of antagonism I expected, that would lead them into a powerful but sexy (and sensual) path towards true love just fizzled out.

It was great they acted like grown ups but then the relationship seemed to be settled (even if they had some doubts, of course) and the enemies to lovers situations I thought would let us see how perfect for one another they were turned out to be rather simple and without the amount of emotion I expected.

Don't get me wrong, they revealed their attraction to one another yes, and it could be obvious they were falling in love but.... I'd have liked a bit more struggle from them to accept this, a few scenes where sexual tension would be stronger...perhaps I'm not explaining well but it did feel as if their romance, which wouldn't be a given, considering the previous book, was actually quite...leveled up and too smoothly achieved.

All things considered, though, this was a very good read, I loved spending time with these characters, seeing them analyzing personal issues but having the support of the other person made things easier.

I also liked seeing beloved characters have a presence here and there and the "villain" of the series have a set down.

I'm curious to see what will be next by this author!

Grade: 8/10

Lucy Parker - The Austen Playbook

Freddy Carlton knows she should be focusing on her lines for The Austen Playbook, a live-action TV event where viewers choose the outcome of each scene, but her concentration’s been blown. The palatial estate housing the endeavor is now run by the rude (brilliant) critic who’s consistently slammed her performances of late. James “Griff” Ford-Griffin has a penchant for sarcasm, a majestic nose and all the sensitivity of a sledgehammer.
She can’t take her eyes off him.
Griff can hardly focus with a contagious joy fairy flitting about near him, especially when Freddy looks at him like that. His only concern right now should be on shutting down his younger brother’s well-intentioned (disastrous) schemes—or at the very least on the production (not this one) that might save his family home from the banks.
Instead all he can think of is soft skin and vibrant curls.
As he’s reluctantly dragged into her quest to rediscover her passion for the stage and Freddy is drawn into his research on a legendary theater star, the adage about appearances being deceiving proves abundantly true. It’s the unlikely start of something enormous…but a single revelation about the past could derail it all.

Comment: This is the most recent installment in the London Celebrities series by author Lucy Parker. Her romance books have had some hype in the last few years and I confess I share most readers' opinions on them but the third book - and now this one too - were a little less appealing. I still enjoyed reading but yes, for me the stories have lost some of their initial magic.

In this fourth book we don't have such an obvious correlation between protagonists as we had in the first two books but the setting and world is the same for all four books.

Freddy Carlton comes from a known family in the theater industry, especially because her grandmother Henrietta wrote one of the most famous plays in England, even studied in school programs. 

However, Freddy's heart isn't in the dramas and heavy pieces that made her family famous but instead she likes comedies and light plays that make the audience laugh and have a good time. It's no wonder one of the most read critics of the London acting industry keeps mentioning how mediocre her work has been and how much it shows she is uncomfortable.

When the chance to be part of an adaptation  of several Jane Austen's characters in a special interactive play comes forward, this is precisely the sort of work Freddy loves and a potential new project can come from it if she does well. 

It's really just a coincidence the play will happen on the theater a man has built for her famous grandmother and that is now managed by the same critic that has brought Freddy's lack of will for dramas to the public. But between secrets and sudden romantic inclinations, will Freddy's heart endure it all?

If one were to judge stories only for their ideas or premises, this is one of those that would be immediately a great one.

The thing is, since each reader is different, all people can look at the same thing and have different opinions and while I agree that this was another successful story which I enjoyed in its majority, there were also a few details that prevented me from giving it five stars as I did the first two in the series.

I liked the way we got to have several clues on how Freddy and Griff, the hero, were the way they are or why their personalities are like we see them. I especially liked Griff's sense of responsibility and although for many he can be a little too serious and straight, I can accept his need to be in control of things when those around him weren't always reliable. I'm also quite happy how he listens to Freddy at some point regarding his relationship with his brother.

Freddy is also very likable because we can see how she likes to work with comedies but she does feel guilty and in need to match the expectations her father has of her and how realistic can this be? When we love out family, even if have a strong personality, we still want to do things to make those we love feel good too. For this alone, I'd have liked Freddy as a character. 

The romance between these two develops quickly after they start spending time together and that happens because of the play taking place in Griff's estate but the author has cleverly inserted two other chapters where we got to see where the couple met and where they initially interacted. Yes, this is by no means a prelude to their romance but it does give a little glimpse of why they can now be in each other's radar and why their connection can get deeper so quickly. I would say Freddy is quite bubbly and Griff quite unbreakable in his behavior and sometimes it feels like there's no balance or compromise between them but it worked for the most part for me and I was definitely happy for them to fall in love and trust each other.

Unlike the first two novels, though, I guess what this story is lacking is a more obvious declaration from part to part on how in love they are after a certain point of the story. Yes, they act the part and they say the words but because this story also focused on more elements, their falling in love felt more secondary. The transition from "what are we doing" to "we are in love" was a little too quick for how they were acting and I mean this in relation to the moment after their get intimate and acknowledge it. I guess it wasn't as obviously romantic as I felt books #1 and #2 were. This is why I said it can depend on people's interpretations and opinions on the same situation.

Despite my personal pet peeves or preferences in how things could have been developed, this was still a good, entertaining read and since it's more character driven than plot driven (even if in this one the author went that direction), it was very good to spend so much time with the characters and see how they could become better people just because they were together. I liked this about Griff and Freddy.

It seems there's a next book in the works, it will be about Freddy's sister Sabrina and her nemesis Nick so I do anticipate a good enemies to lovers plot!

Grade: 8/10

Lucy Parker - Making Up

Once upon a time, circus artist Trix Lane was the best around. Her spark vanished with her confidence, though, and reclaiming either has proved…difficult. So when the star of The Festival of Masks is nixed and Trix is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight, it’s exactly the push she needs. But the joy over her sudden elevation in status is cut short by a new hire on the makeup team.
Leo Magasiva: disgraced wizard of special effects. He of the beautiful voice and impressive beard. Complete dickhead and—in an unexpected twist—an enragingly good kisser.
To Leo, something about Trix is…different. Lovely. Beautiful, even though the pint-size, pink-haired former bane of his existence still spends most of her waking hours working to annoy him. They’ve barely been able to spend two minutes together for years, and now he can’t get enough of her. On stage. At home. In his bed.
When it comes to commitment, Trix has been there, done that, never wants to do it again. Leo’s this close to the job of a lifetime, which would take him away from London—and from Trix. Their past is a constant barrier between them.
It seems hopeless.
Utterly impossible.
And yet…

Comment: As many other readers, I've really enjoyed the previous two stories written in this London celebrities universe created by Lucy Parker. Although I've noticed some readers weren't as happy about this book as they were about the other, I still felt quite eager to spend time reading this.

In this third installment, we have the story of Beatrix and Leo, two people who knew each other while they were teenagers but separated after a situation that now makes them sort of enemies.

The two of them reconnect after Leo accepts a job with Trix's company and they even realize the new vacancy at Trix's shared apartment is Leo. Of course that with so much close proximity, thy eventually talk about the reasons why they didn't get to discover what was between them. But now, more mature and with past experiences, they can finally give in and see where their chemistry leads them...

I liked this book as I've enjoyed the others because, once again, we have glimpses of the lives of interesting people but, more important, of people who talk and act on the page and we get to understand why some of their reasoning make sense or not. I like that we get to see things, and when the author writes about what happened at a another time or with other people, it matters but it's not overdone. I'm very, very glad this is a clever author who thinks about the outcome and weights in what is necessary to add or to not add.

The romance is vibrant. I don't think it's as fascinating as the dynamics seen in the previous two books where the couples were strangers and had no shared history, but Trix and Leo hadn't seen each other for a long while and were never really together before so this is more a second chance at something rather than lovers reunited (trope I don't like that much).

As I've said, it was great they were able to talk about what was happening to them but I still think they started being intimate very quickly... maybe  a few more scenes of sexual tension would have added a little extra to their relationship.

As the plot moves forward, things start to be what one would expect. In this matter, I don't thin the author really imagined different, rather, she writes simple situations but with a very good dose of emotion and believability. I care about her characters and what they do and that can count as a lot.

However, I would say that since the dynamics aren't as exciting to follow, some of their romance felt a little weaker even if still good. I wouldn't think this is a story about childish behavior as some readers have said and I actually think Leo and Trix behaved very well for the most part. Yes, some scenes are a bit...silly, but that's where the fiction part comes, we want to be dazzled by the romantic aspects, and not just follow a real live situation, isn't it?

I also liked how the author incorporated the work difficulties in this book. Usually in romances, things are too easy or too out of the page for us to see when it comes to work or a job the character has or there's no real impact in that. In this book we get to see Trix worry about what she is doing, if she is able to deliver... we see Leo talking about his work, about what he would prefer to do, about what it means to have opportunities... it added interesting layers to the characters' lives and decisions.

All in all, this wasn't as addictive as the other books, it wasn't as "magical" but I still had a great time reading, the epilogue was sugary but cute and will certainly not miss the 4th installment, coming out next year apparently.

Grade: 8/10

Last two books of 2017

2017 is over and I'm already thinking about the reads of this new year but I also want to write a few sentences about the last two books I've read at the end of last month which I haven't got the chance to do yet.

The books are from different genres and authors but I was expectant to read both and I'm glad I liked what I got, even if Leigh's story could have been more interesting.

Wake a Sleeping Tiger by Lora Leigh

This is book #33 in the Breeds series according to GR. I liked the book, overall. Perhaps it's just my imagination but it did feel this boom was a bit more dedicated to what goes on the character's heads when it comes to their individuality and not as much their giving in to the mating heat, a detail that has been one of the key elements of the whole series. 

The idea now Breeds have a way to suppress that is certainly handy. I liked this because the sexual content is less and that makes room for more characterization, character's interactions and even plots to be more obvious. 

Still, it seems after 33 books we (readers) are probably around the same place when it comes to solving all the mysteries and finding all the hidden enemies out there.

The romance was the expected but I feel sorry the main characters don't seem to change that much from book to book. 

I would love the idea of change, of different settings and interactions among everyone, away from the norm. After so many books, it can be a little repetitive.

Grade: 6/10

Pretty Face by Lucy Parker

This is the second story in the London Celebrities series or trilogy and I really liked it! The first book, Act Like It, was probably the one I liked the best in the whole year so I was not surprised to also have enjoyed this one immensely.

Again, we have two different people, with different takes on life coming together and being paired up in this novel. Although there's an age difference, I think that didn't change the dynamics that much, the romance was imply beautiful. I really liked them together. 

The author's writing is superb, I'd say and somehow we are being convinced that the main couple really needs to be together, really is meant to be. The story is simple, the conflicts not there just because, the simplicity of it all just adds up to the fascination.

The dialogues are witty and believable, the situations portrayed interesting and the way each one of them reacted to everything was compelling. Liked their personalities as well.

I'm eager to read more by the author, without a doubt.

Grade: 9/10

Lucy Parker - Act Like It

This just in: romance takes center stage as West End theatre's Richard Troy steps out with none other than castmate Elaine Graham
Richard Troy used to be the hottest actor in London, but the only thing firing up lately is his temper. We all love to love a bad boy, but Richard's antics have made him Enemy Number One, breaking the hearts of fans across the city.
Have the tides turned? Has English rose Lainie Graham made him into a new man?
Sources say the mismatched pair has been spotted at multiple events, arm in arm and hip to hip.ÿFrom fits of jealousy to longing looks and heated whispers, onlookers are stunned by this blooming romance.
Could the rumors be right? Could this unlikely romance be the real thing? Or are these gifted stage actors playing us all?

Comment: This book has been well critiqued by readers everywhere and because I liked the blurb  also added it to my list. Considering the things people would say about it,I felt very confident I'd like it as well and I was proved right.

This contemporary romance gives us Lainie and Richard, two theater actors whose agents tell them to pretend they're together in real life so that Richard's popularity increases, especially after his less than stellar behavior in a restaurant. At first they only saw it as another part of their acting jobs but the more time they spent together the more they get to know one another and it seems difficult to keep pretending their feelings didn't turn up as real as they want them to look like. Can they own to what is happening between them?

I think this turned out to be a very good story, it's simple but well done and that makes all the difference. I think the element I liked the best was how maturely they both behaved, and I didn't see Richard as unreachable, just serious and reserved. Lainie was more extroverted but she is a great compliment to Richard so the two of them, as a couple, were fantastic.

It's always so good to read about characters we like... Both Richard and Lainie had introspective moments that made it easier for the reader to know them and that certainly helped in making it better to understand them.Their relationship was gradual and believable and also romantic, I did like all the situations they dealt with and they just became closer in after everything. There's a conflict towards the end, that could have been done differently but overall, it was really good to spend some time with them.

Since I really liked this, it's much more complicated to find what to say besides "it was great" so I'll just leave a list of details I appreciated:

This was an engaging story because the characters were simply done but both protagonists offered a lot in a fluid storyline.

The chemistry between them wasn't filled with fireworks but I could imagine them in real life just enjoying each other's presence. The banter and the silences between them were fascinating to observe.

The plot is believable, considering what happens and how so it was very easy to just immerse in the story and be entertained by it, the pace did work pretty well. 

The theater details provided an interesting "learning" element and it was very good to see the two protagonists and their interactions with other characters happen at work, so we could get the notion their professional lives did exist and the focus wasn't only their sex life. How refreshing to have a contemporary more focused on the emotional development rather than the kinkiness of what they do together. Richard and Lainie were stunning together, I'd say. 

I really liked how this story was presented and I'll look for to rad the next one for sure, as soon as I get it and can fit it into my schedule. Recommended for those fond of contemporary novels.

Grade: 9/10