Tag Archives: Parker Smith

Review: Royal Match (Royal Scandal #3.5) by Parker Smith

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Title: Royal Match
Author: Parker Smith
Publisher/Year:  Grand Central Publishing 5/8/18
Length:   104 Pages
Series:  Royal Scandal #3.5

Overview

What to expect when you’re royally expecting
In five years of marriage to Dylan Hale – the hottest (not to mention most deliciously insatiable) duke in England – I’ve learned one cardinal rule: Never say “no” to the Queen. Her orders? I’m to be the matron of honor at the royal wedding of the century… which is, coincidentally, my due date. Dylan’s plan is to seduce me into an early labor to avoid this royal ruckus. So now I’m caught between the Queen’s command… and my sexy duke’s desire.

My Thoughts

when i thought that we had resolution at the end of book 3, seeing that everyone was living happily ever after (even if we never learned who Lydia’s mother was), we didn’t know that there was a novella on the horizon.  a chance to see what life would become years down the line.  that’s what we get in this sweet continuation of sorts.

2 children and 5 years shows us that the love that Dylan and Lydia have for one another hasn’t dwindled at all.  Friendships blossomed even more, family grew closer (i mean, Dylan’s mother truly turned a corner when Lydia stood up for her in the last book and we see that they have a camaraderie of sorts now).  Emily and Will are enjoying their lives together, Fiona, Daph and Josh are doing the same.  So that means that in order to get an additional story, we have to bring an old favorite back.  Princess Caroline.  Dylan’s ex.

It’s weeks before her wedding to an American (i mean, hello Harry and Megan) and Lyda’s 9 months pregnant with baby #3, and she finds herself being asked to step in as matron of honor.  (hello Kate).  Our author seems to have taken cues from real life for this one, but i won’t judge.  Anyway, poor lydia has to suffer through all the royal wedding fanfare even knowing that she can go into labor at any moment.

and that’s a challenge that Dylan’s willing to try his hand at making happen.  Ultimately, the dr said that he can’t really ‘touch’ lyd at all, and he’s not a man to be swayed.  We spend every chapter, every page wondering if this is the moment that Lydia will go into labor and what that will mean for the royal wedding.  Timing is everything right?

And to add to that, we get a sweet nod to Daphne in this story.  She’s been the friend beside Lydia for the entire series so far, and it’s about time that we get to see her come into her own.  what was potentially a one night stand back in NY turns into something unexpected with a great twist and i think that it makes the story that much more entertaining.

Now, i think that we’re finally at the end of the journey with these guys, and i’m happy with all the ends that have been tied.  ASIDE from not knowing who Lydia’s mother is.  i honestly think that she could have been / should have been a royal and that would have made for a really interesting story.  Anyhow – i hope you guys read this one too once you’re done with the main series.  Enjoy!

Review: Royal Treatment (Royal Scandal #3) by Parker Smith

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Title: Royal Treatment
Author: Parker Smith
Publisher/Year:  Grand Central Publishing 6/13/17
Length:   250 Pages
Series:  Royal Scandal #3

Overview

All this duke needs is his duchess…


For five blissful months I’ve been engaged to Dylan Hale, the most handsome, commanding, and wickedly sexy duke in England. For five months I’ve woken up next to the man I love, indulged in secret trysts, and submitted to every delicious desire. Even better? We’ve managed to keep it hidden from everyone. That means no paparazzi scandals, no snide comments from Dylan’s mother, and no harsh public scrutiny. It’s been heaven, but with Dylan’s royal responsibilities looming, our time alone is running out. And while I can’t wait to be Dylan’s wife, I’m terrified that becoming Dylan’s duchess might mean losing myself.

My Thoughts

The romance and stress that comes along with it continues for Lydia and Dylan in this third installment.  They’ve come out with their romance, and that’s clearly not enough because everyone wants a piece of them.  Their lives are no longer theirs and that’s stressful.

Lydia is coming into her stride with her job – she’s managed to secure the funding and backing for Hannah to open a flagship store, and has parlayed that into a promotion.  Of course that causes strain on her friendship with Fiona, and that’s something new that she has to navigate.  She also finds that her new status of being with Dylan in the spotlight means that Hannah wants certain things from her – namely wearing her clothes to be photographed over and over again.

Dylan also has the stress of his father expecting him to take over Hale Shipping which has a lot of messes accompanying it, all while trying to live his dream of being an architect.

When Dylan’s father passes away and Lydia finds herself being sent to New York, there are more and more wedges coming between this couple that makes it seem impossible.  Add a secret mission with MI-6 that Dylan has to be a part of in the hopes of freeing Hale Shipping from less than savory folks, and well, there’s really no hope for a happy ending here.

What’s nice about this third book is that there are no longer any airs with the folks involved.  We see the real people, the ones who have passion and chemistry and the ones that aren’t willing to compromise their beliefs for anyone else.

We see the true person behind Dylan’s parents. We see what Emily (his sister) is truly about and we see what Lydia and Dylan are like when they are able to live their best lives alone.  So what does that mean for DYLy?  well – not so sure – and that’s why you have to read the story.  I think that there are great bits here and some that are still leaving us with loose ends.  I’ve said it before, i’m beyond curious about who Lydia’s mother is and i hope that it’s something that comes out.  you have to read in order to find out that answer.  There are also all the questions about whether they will be able to make a relationship work, and when it seems like they can’t – then what their lives become apart.  It’s really nice to see how the author imagines all that, and then hints at the future in an epilogue.  I can’t wait to see what’s resolved in Royal Match.  on that note – Enjoy!

Review: Royal Disaster (Royal Scandal #2) by Parker Smith

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Title: Royal Disaster
Author: Parker Smith
Publisher/Year:  Grand Central Publishing 4/4/17
Length:   268 Pages
Series:  Royal Scandal #2

Overview

“He’s not who you think he is . . .

“Meeting Dylan Hale has turned my life upside down. I’m dating an actual duke who’s devastatingly handsome and deliciously naughty. On the surface, I’m living the high life. But this surreal world of royalty and paparazzi is getting out of control.

Someone knows way too much about Dylan and me-about the moments when we’re alone, about how his hands leave a trail of fire over my skin . . . about the complete control he has over me between the sheets. And worse, it’s starting to become clear that Dylan’s keeping secrets from me, too . . .

My Thoughts

So to be completely honest here, it’s been quite some time since i read the first installment, that i couldn’t quite remember what the story was all about.  Thankfully i went back and read my review and remembered all over again how great of a series this was off to becoming and was happy to jump into book number 2.

So here we are, in london with Lydia and Dylan who are trying to make their no longer private romance work all while living up to the expectations of everyone around them.

Lydia is coming to terms with the idea that she’s with a man who’s as in demand as Dylan, while also trying to understand what his life is all about and how she can fit into it while she’s just a commoner.  It’s not easy, but the upside to it all is that she’s now seeing doors open for her that never were before.  Professionally she’s coming into her own, convincing her boss Hannah that she can help take them to the next level by opening a store for her designs.  The fact that Lydia will be constantly photographed in Hannah’s designs doesn’t hurt either.

Dylan on the other hand seems to be biting off more than he can chew in life.  He still wants to be able to do what he loves – design buildings while being with Hannah even though he knows that his family won’t accept her.

The journey for this couple is quite the roller coaster since there are so many forces trying to pull them apart.  If that weren’t enough, there’s also the fact that there’s someone who’s trying to scare and blackmail them – sending Lydia threatening emails and videos.  We spend so much of the story wondering who’s behind it that you know that it will be a wild goose chase.

Similar in nature to the first book, we see that there’s a high chance that love just isn’t enough.  Because Lydia is ‘American’ – she’ll never be accepted and that means that their relationship isn’t destined to be a long lasting one.  You have to wonder if all the chemistry in the world (which they seem to have) will be even enough to make what time they have worth it.

What we get in this 2nd book is a death, a betrayal, a blackmail, friendships torn apart, and a big question mark of whether Lydia should even be in London anymore.

Where we are left off in this story is bittersweet.  We know what we want to see happen, but it seems unlikely based on the path we’re on.  I still wonder who Lydia’s mother is – that’s one fact that i keep hoping will pop up and surprise us, but still nope.  not happening.  maybe in book 3.  As for Dylan – we know what he wants out of his life but it seems like he’s just not able to fight forces to get there – so i’m hopeful that we’ll see him turn a corner in book 3.  and on that note – enjoy!