Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

More books I read this summer and am only reviewing now to make it to 104

Cassiel's Servant by Jacqueline Carey

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Sleep No More by Seanan McGuire

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Cassiel’s Servant – Jacqueline Carey Rating: 3.5 stars Kushiel’s Dart is one of my favourite fantasy books, and books in general, of all time. It stands up, I re-read it this summer in preparation for the release of this. Has Jacqueline Carey done exactly the same thing as Stephenie Meyer and E.L James did, and retold her already existing novel from the POV of another central character? Yes, she has. Was I pretty sure that this was going to be a lot more worthwhile and […]

A little disappointing

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker

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I have read all of Lucy Parker’s books, and she’s been a favorite romance author of mine for years now. I always look forward to when another book of hers is published. So, when I saw Codename Charming (2023) was available and not at my library, I bought it immediately. Then I saved it for my backpacking trip, so I’d have something fun and distracting to read. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed in this one. Part of the problem was that most of the characters in […]

“Face-sitting, cowgirl, and the Upstanding Citizen position,” Mabel reminded her, popping in like the chorus of an extremely horny Greek play.

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker

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It has never taken me three days to get past the first 20% of a Lucy Parker novel before. It might be my brain, it might be the book. Regardless, by the end, I was enjoying it very much. Much like Pet and Matthias, Codename Charming and I had a rough start, but we worked it out. Pet De Vere  endeared herself to Princess Rose when she stepped between an assailant and Rose’s fiancee, Johnny at the end of Battle Royal. Johnny’s personal protection officer, […]

A beautiful mix of The Great British Baking Show and romance

Battle Royal by Lucy Parker

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Since I’ve discovered Lucy Parker, I’ve read all of her books. However, I’m not good at keeping track of her publishing dates. Thus, I am several months late in reading and reviewing Battle Royal (2021). I had a good time reading this book. Instead of the many productive tasks I had planned, including working hard to start catching up on reviews, I laid on my couch all day and read, adding yet another book review to my to-do list. I obviously enjoyed reading Battle Royal, probably even more […]

A Sweet Escape

The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker

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The Austen Playbook by Lucy Carter is the first romance I’ve picked up in ages. Years ago I was an avid Harlequin reader, a fact of which my friends made gentle fun. But I loved them. They were pure escapism, plus by that time they had transitioned from implication to full on doing it. Yay sex! My romances need to be physical as well as emotional. And luckily today’s romances fit the bill. I wouldn’t have picked up a romance without the enthusiastic reviews of my […]

“Is your brother really such a surly bastard, they ask. Of course not; inside, he’s a teddy bear, say I . . . and then he opens his mouth.”

Battle Royal (Palace Insiders, #1) by Lucy Parker

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A rom-com set in the dual baking worlds of a televised baking competition, and a competition for a bakery to earn the chance to make the cake for a Royal Wedding. Sylvie and Dominic clashed instantly when they met four years earlier on Operation Cake. Her glitter and color infused creations rubbed him the wrong way, a baker who prefers to bake in varying shades of cream. He’s a famously cranky judge, and she was a contestant. Their rivalry culminated in one of Sylvie’s bakes […]



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