Codename Charming

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. (Aug.)