Battle Royal

June 14, 2021
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. Agent: Elaine Spencer, the Knight Agency.

Starred review from July 1, 2021
Four years ago as a judge on Operation Cake, Dominic De Vere voted contestant Sylvie Fairchild off the popular British baking show. Now Operation Cake wants Sylvie back; not as a contestant but as a judge. The PR bump from being on the show could definitely help boost sales at Sylvie's business, Sugar Fix, not to mention help her snatch the cake contract for HRH Princess Rose's upcoming nuptials from out of Dominic's all-too-talented hands. Of course, Sylvie knows working this closely with Dominic is not going to be a piece of cake. But if it comes to a professional showdown with the cranky prince of patisserie, Sylvie is for sure not going to be the cookie that crumbles. Parker's winsomely witty and whimsically inventive contemporary romance is truly scrumptious. From the zippy dialogue and humorous banter exchanged between the book's perfectly matched protagonists to the delectable descriptions of sweet treats that would not be out of place in Willy Wonka's factory, this deliciously sexy love story whips up everything romance readers crave.

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July 1, 2021
Four years ago as a judge on Operation Cake, Dominic De Vere voted contestant Sylvie Fairchild off the popular British baking show. Now Operation Cake wants Sylvie back; not as a contestant but as a judge. The PR bump from being on the show could definitely help boost sales at Sylvie's business, Sugar Fix, not to mention help her snatch the cake contract for HRH Princess Rose's upcoming nuptials from out of Dominic's all-too-talented hands. Of course, Sylvie knows working this closely with Dominic is not going to be a piece of cake. But if it comes to a professional showdown with the cranky prince of patisserie, Sylvie is for sure not going to be the cookie that crumbles. Parker's winsomely witty and whimsically inventive contemporary romance is truly scrumptious. From the zippy dialogue and humorous banter exchanged between the book's perfectly matched protagonists to the delectable descriptions of sweet treats that would not be out of place in Willy Wonka's factory, this deliciously sexy love story whips up everything romance readers crave.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from August 27, 2021

Parker ("London Celebrities" series) launches a new London-based series starring baker Sylvie Fairchild. Following a rather infamous run on the competitive baking show Operation Cake a few years previously, Sylvie Fairchild has leveraged her knack for sugar and whimsy into a brick-and-mortar bakery in Notting Hill, with a popular cocktail classroom in the basement. The only unfortunate thing about the location is the proximity to Operation Cake's unfeeling judge Dominic De Vere and his own, more traditional bakery. When the show is in need of a new judge, it turns to Sylvie, who is apprehensive but knows her shop could use the financial and marketing boost. Dominic, who believes in clean lines and sticking to foundational techniques and truths, is already dreading the tons of glitter that contestants are sure to use to try to impress Sylvie. The two are professionals, though, and grudgingly begin to work together despite their aesthetic and emotional differences. When rumors of an impending royal wedding become reality, both Sylvie's and Dominic's bakeries are in the running to create the historic cake. As they bump into each other on set and during their quest to design the perfect royal cake, their competition slowly morphs into a surprisingly heated companionship. VERDICT With a perfect trifecta of endearing characters, superb use of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and a chemistry-laden slow burn, this excellent start to Parker's newest series is one readers will rush to dive into.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati Blue Ash

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 15, 2021
Two British bakers with an antagonistic history and vastly different aesthetics vie for the honor of creating a royal wedding cake. Four years earlier, Sylvie Fairchild missed her chance to reach Operation Cake's semifinals when her mechanical unicorn cake exploded over curmudgeonly judge Dominic De Vere. Though she didn't go home a champion, her role on the show allowed her to open her own whimsical bakery, Sugar Fair, in Notting Hill. She had hoped not to have to deal with Dominic anymore, but with his own bakery continually beating her out on event contracts, their dislike for one another remains strong. Dominic is a baking purist, sticking to classic flavors and minimalist designs, while Sylvie's aesthetic is more of a fairy tale come to life, complete with edible glitter. While Sylvie's creations are an Instagrammer's dream, social media momentum goes only so far. When Operation Cake asks her back to serve as a judge opposite Dominic, both the paycheck and the chance to get under her rival's skin are too tempting to ignore. Not only must Sylvie and Dominic work together, but the bakers are anticipating the announcement of Princess Rose's engagement, and they're both ready to pitch their glamorous cake ideas for the royal wedding. Parker is a writer who knows her audience, and she keeps raising the bar when it comes to warm romances and charming tropes. Opposites attracting over delicious cakes and the fearsome thrill of competition are a heady combination as Sylvie and Dominic's chemistry snaps, crackles, and pops off every page. The slow burn of the romance is tantalizing and well paced, though there is plenty of setting and detail to take in while readers await the inevitable happily-ever-after. An utterly delicious romance that's meant to be devoured.

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