Title: Drama King
Series: Three Kings #2
Author: Penny Reid
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Release Date: December 13, 2022
BLURB
Stuck with her off-limits, taciturn, hunky movie star client during a sudden snowstorm on Christmas Eve, an extremely capable and highly professional bodyguard must keep him alive and warm without letting the tension building between them get too hot.
Bathsheba (Beth) Ryan can’t thank her best friend enough for helping her land the job of her dreams. After being relegated to second-string security for politicians in DC, being hired as an undercover personal security specialist by a giant Hollywood studio is exactly the kind of action she's always wanted.
Until she meets her first assignment.
Cyrus Malcom can’t thank his agent enough for arranging a blind date with seemingly the woman of his dreams. After spending the past several years playing all the parts and climbing all the ladders, the lonely mega movie star finds himself actually enjoying a night on the town for the first time in ages when he meets the gorgeous, funny, and genuine Ryaine O’Rourke.
Until she shows up at his studio meeting the next day with a completely different name.
A world-wide press tour and too many late-night parties later, Beth simply needs to get through a short, one-day visit during the Christmas holiday, and then she’ll be free of Cyrus Malcom’s confusing hot looks and cold shoulders for good.
But just as they leave the airport, it starts to snow . . .
‘Drama King’ is the second book in the Three Kings Series, is a full-length, contemporary romantic comedy, and can be read as a complete standalone.
Review:
3.5 stars
***
This was a pretty good book, although not quite as good as book one in the series for me. Drama King is the second book in the Three Kings series and is Cyrus and Beth/Bathsheba's book. It can be read as a standalone. Beth occasionally does a favor for her friend Ryaine, a famous actress who she went to college with and who she looks just like. She poses as Ryaine on her blind dates and vets them for her. But when Beth goes on a blind date with Cyrus, posing as Ryaine, things go awry. Cyrus is a movie star and he happens to be from Beth's hometown and was her older sister's prom date. Beth happens to be on some hefty prescription meds for a rash and one glass of wine knocks her off her feet. When she meets Cyrus, he doesn't recognize her as Beth and she's too messed up to properly explain who she is believably. Still Cyrus is intrigued by her and does the gentlemanly thing of seeing her home safely. He wants to see her again... only he doesn't expect it to be the next day when he is introduced to his new security detail. Beth is a security specialist who is hired as part of a team to guard him, when some crazed fans of his new superhero movie get out of hand. They got off on the wrong foot and now they are spending most of their time together. Cyrus is off-limits and Beth is professional to a fault so nothing can happen between them. But it all comes to a head when they get snowed in together during a snowstorm on Christmas.
This book reminded me a lot of Pride and Prejudice, even though I don't think it was supposed to, maybe because I watched the movie recently. The characters could be frustrating in their actions at times. Beth was the more Darcy-like to me, although Cyrus was a sweetheart and not like either protagonist. It also reminded me of P and P because in that book the couple gets together at the very end. But I liked the story, even if it was a little slow at times. Cyrus didn't actually do any acting or working, beyond some press interviews, but I still liked the Hollywood setting. He was a likeable, sweet guy. Beth was more complicated to me. I didn't quite like her as much as Cyrus. I felt they both could have communicated better, as they act like they don't really like each other for much of the book. Still, I enjoyed the book in general. It kept my attention and had some sweet and lighter moments to temper the serious ones.
Overall, this was an entertaining romance. I was happy Cyrus and Beth got together and were happy. I am enjoying this series and I will continue to read anything Ms. Reid writes. I am already looking forward to Alaric's book next Christmas as well.
This book reminded me a lot of Pride and Prejudice, even though I don't think it was supposed to, maybe because I watched the movie recently. The characters could be frustrating in their actions at times. Beth was the more Darcy-like to me, although Cyrus was a sweetheart and not like either protagonist. It also reminded me of P and P because in that book the couple gets together at the very end. But I liked the story, even if it was a little slow at times. Cyrus didn't actually do any acting or working, beyond some press interviews, but I still liked the Hollywood setting. He was a likeable, sweet guy. Beth was more complicated to me. I didn't quite like her as much as Cyrus. I felt they both could have communicated better, as they act like they don't really like each other for much of the book. Still, I enjoyed the book in general. It kept my attention and had some sweet and lighter moments to temper the serious ones.
Overall, this was an entertaining romance. I was happy Cyrus and Beth got together and were happy. I am enjoying this series and I will continue to read anything Ms. Reid writes. I am already looking forward to Alaric's book next Christmas as well.
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AUTHOR BIO
Penny Reid is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. She used to spend her days writing federal grant proposals as a biomedical researcher, but now she writes kissing books. Penny is an obsessive knitter and manages the #OwnVoices-focused mentorship incubator / publishing imprint, Smartypants Romance. She lives in Seattle Washington with her husband, three kids, and dog named Hazel.
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