Codename Charming
A Novel
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4.2 • 16 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
A New York Times Books Review Best Romances of 2023 pick
Following Battle Royal, beloved author Lucy Parker pens another delicious romantic comedy about a fake relationship between a grumpy royal bodyguard and the charming, sunny assistant who melts his cold, hard exterior.
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…
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Parker (Battle Royal) pairs a palace aide with her security guard colleague in a contemporary romance that expertly balances heat and heart. Petunia "Pet" De Vere is an aide to disaster-prone Johnny Marchmont, the new husband of Princess Rose of Albany, fourth in line to the British throne. Matthias Vaughn, Johnny's senior personal protection officer, has rescued Pet from numerous sticky situations (including a knife attack intended for Johnny), but he'd like to be more to her than just a bodyguard. After a sketchy tabloid reporter takes an innocent picture of Pet and Johnny and alleges they're having an affair, Pet and Matthias agree to pretend they're involved with each other to quash the rumors. Their fake relationship inevitably turns real, but the road to true love does not run smooth. Matthias doubts his own worth after a childhood in the foster care system and is also haunted by the murder of his foster brother and best friend. Meanwhile, Pet, the product of an affair, wrestles with her place in the world after discovering a new clue about her mysterious biological father's identity. Wacky humor prompts giggles in many places, but Parker also infuses her characters with impressive emotional depth. This is a solid choice for any beach bag.
