Battle Royal
A Novel
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3.8 • 10 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
“Lucy Parker writes deliciously fun enemies-to-lovers perfection!” — Tessa Bailey, New York Times bestselling author
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, creations captivated viewers and intrigued all but one of the judges, Dominic De Vere. When Sylvie's unicorn cake went spectacularly sideways, Dominic was quick to vote her off the show. Since then, Sylvie has used her fame to fulfill her dream of opening a bakery. 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 and a veritable British institution. He’s brilliant, talented, hard-working. And an icy, starchy grouch. Learning that 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 fight 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?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Brimming with pop culture references and quick wit, the enemies-to-lovers romance that kicks off the Palace Insiders series from Parker (Headliners) finds Sylvie Fairchild's bakery thriving thanks to her notorious turn on a baking reality show. Though her TV run ended in a hilarious accident involving a unicorn-shaped cake and a glitter explosion that doused one of the judges, she's proven to the world that she's a talented baker with a unique style involving lots of color, big flavors, and sparkles. Dominic De Vere, a baking traditionalist famed for both his elegance and his grumpy demeanor, disapproves of Sylvie's over-the-top style, having been the judge on the other end of her big snafu, but he grudgingly admits her talent. When Sylvie is invited back to the show as a judge, the pair's forced proximity leads to irresistible banter and even more irresistible chemistry. Add in a host of lovable secondary characters and a fierce competition for a contract baking a cake for an upcoming royal wedding, and it's a recipe for delight. And as Dominic's prickly exterior is pulled back, Parker tackles themes of grief and family disfunction. The result has all the fun of a fluffy rom-com, with the emotional catharsis of a more dramatic romance.)
Customer Reviews
humor, fun, heart break
4.25 stars--BATTLE ROYAL is the first instalment in Lucy Parker’s contemporary, adult PALACE INSIDERS erotic, romance series. This is bakers Sylvie Fairchild, and Dominic De Vere’s story line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Dominic and Sylvie) following several intersecting paths, BATTLE ROYAL follows the acrimonious relationship between bakers Sylvie Fairchild, and Dominic De Vere. Four years earlier, Sylvie Fairchild was a contestant on Britain’s televised baking show Operation Cake but had somehow attracted the angry ire of our story line hero. Dominic De Vere has been a contemptuous judge on Britain’s Operation Cake, and now watches daily as his cross street competition is none-other than Sylvie Fairchild. To make matters worse Sylvie has been asked to be a judge for the new season of Operation Cake alongside our story line her hero, and with the announcement of an impending Royal marriage, both Sylvie and Dominic are finalists in a showdown to see who earns the rights to make the Royal wedding cake. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Dominic and Sylvie, as our couple must traverse a minefield of sabotage, infidelity, secrets and love.
Dominic De Vere is known to be a cold-hearted man who struggles with the simplest of personal overtures. Falling for Sylvie Fairchild means falling for his business competition but working together means a slow thaw of his heart that has been frozen for so long. Sylvie Fairchild is a fresh ball of energy but quickly discovers another one of the competitors is stealing recipe, recipes that only she should know. A series of miscues and catastrophes at work on both sides of the competition begin to reveal a possible betrayal in the mix.
The relationship between Dominic and Sylvie begins four years earlier when our heroine is a contestant on Britain’s Operation Cake baking show. Dominic takes an immediate dislike to our story line heroine but his vitriolic attitude can also be found directed at the other contestants. Working together reveals a different side to our story line couple, heart breaking pasts, and emotional pain. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Sylvie’s staff and co-workers: business partner Jay Fforde, assistant Mabel, Penny ; Dominic’s sister Petunia (Pet), and his employees Aaron and Lizzie; Royals Rosie and Johnny, Johnny’s personal security Matthias Vaughn, as well as baker Darren Clyde, several baking contestants, and members of the Royal house. There may be a story developing between Matthias and Pet.
BATTLE ROYAL is a complex story line that follows a number of intersecting paths that Lucy Parker blends smoothly and seamlessly into a wonderful and heartfelt story line. The premise has moments of humor and fun, heart break and darkness, betrayal and revenge. The romance is tender and seductive; the characters are energetic and colorful.
Enduring Love but Romance Takes a Back Seat
Contemporary Romance 🌹~ Swipe Left for Book Description ~ I loved so much in this story. We travelled Sylvia and Dominic’s romance from beginning to end and it was so endearing. However, their romance doesn’t take prominence in this story. This felt more like a story of universal love and connection. Love of siblings, love of friendship, love of family or lack there of. It was touching and when Sylvia spoke to Dominic about what the little deer meant to her. I was almost in tears. This was a lovely story but I wouldn’t call it a true romance. Having said that I loved the writing and am going to try another book by Lucy Parker very soon. ~ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️