Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

About Battle Royal

Four years ago, Sylvie took part in a British baking competition judged by the exacting Dominic De Vere. Sylvie’s penchant for edible glitter and whimsy didn’t win points with Domenic’s aesthetic of understated elegance and restraint. Even worse was when her unicorn cake malfunctioned and caught Dominic right in the face with a hoof. A moment captured forever on YouTube.

Now Sylvie’s opened her own bakery. Across the street from Domenic’s. She’s been asked to be a judge for the baking competition along with him. And they’re both in the running to bake the wedding cake for the latest royal wedding.

My thoughts about Battle Royal

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker is my perfect romance catnip. Romance plus a baking competition reminiscent of the Great British Bake-Off? Yes, please!

An easy summary is that this is a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. With lots of cake. And yet it’s so much more!

So much found family love going on that it made my heart sing. Witty banter that sparkled like Sylvie’s edible glitter. Fantastic secondary characters screaming out for their own stories to be told. And since this is labeled #1 of the Palace Insiders series, I’m hopeful that we get Mabel and Pet’s stories.

There’s a gloriously cantankerous cat! A mystery to unravel. And there’s even some cake espionage happening. But the best is how we get to see how the characters care for each other. Even through sadness, misunderstandings, and their fear of opening up and heartache. They love each other – as friends, family, found family, and for some of them, as lovers.

For fans of Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron or Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting.

In conclusion

Battle Royal gave me everything I could want – giggles, slow-burn steam, a cat, and cakes along with a bit of ugly crying because it broke my heart just a little but the ending more than made up for that.

My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC.

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