Headliners by Lucy Parker

Sparks fly when two feuding TV presenters are thrown together to host a live morning show in Lucy Parker’s latest enemies-to-lovers contemporary romance.

He might be the sexiest man in London, according to his fan site (which he definitely writes himself), but he’s also the most arrogant man she’s ever met.

She might have the longest legs he’s ever seen, but she also has the sharpest tongue.

For years, rival TV presenters Sabrina Carlton and Nick Davenport have traded barbs on their respective shows. The public can’t get enough of their feud, but after Nick airs Sabrina’s family scandals to all of Britain, the gloves are off. They can barely be in the same room together—but these longtime enemies are about to become the unlikeliest of cohosts.

With their reputations on the rocks, Sabrina and Nick have one last chance to save their careers. If they can resurrect a sinking morning show, they’ll still have a future in television. But with ratings at an all-time low and a Christmas Eve deadline to win back the nation’s favor, the clock is ticking—and someone on their staff doesn’t want them to succeed.

Small mishaps on set start adding up, and Sabrina and Nick find themselves—quelle horreur—working together to hunt down the saboteur… and discovering they might have more in common than they thought. When a fiery encounter is caught on camera, the public is convinced that the reluctant cohosts are secretly lusting after one another.

The public might not be wrong.

Their chemistry has always been explosive, but with hate turning to love, the stakes are rising and everything is on the line. Neither is sure if they can trust these new feelings… or if they’ll still have a job in the New Year.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you're looking for with an HEA/HFN. It's a promise!

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series, and runs on directly from the revelations of book #4, where Sabrina's grandmother's plagiarism was uncovered and revealed to the world... by Nick.

I am really enjoying this series of interlinked stories based in London theatre and TV world. It is fun, cheeky, and makes some interesting points which may make us think a little more carefully before making assumptions.

Due to a merger and an ownership change, Nick and Sabrina find that they are being forced out of their evening shows and into a joint morning news show. Not really either of their styles, and certainly not together – the setup is perfect for forcing these two independent souls to have to work collaboratively, and as it turns out a saboteur who is trying to destroy them both. As possible culprits and previous enemies come out of the woodwork, suddenly Nick and Sabrina need to work hard to keep their jobs and to stay safe. Whether they can also keep their hearts is another matter entirely.

This is a real slow, slow burn, but it is hugely entertaining. Another excellent addition to the series, thank you, Lucy Parker.


Jordan – ☆☆☆☆
I have read most of the previous books in Lucy Parker’s London Celebrities series and have thoroughly enjoyed each one! Headliners takes place right after The Austen Playbook (book #4) by Parker and follows Sabrina Carlton and her co-host, Nick Davenport. Having to co-host a failing morning show with Nick is possibly the last thing Sabrina would choose to do if she had any choice, but if they want to save their careers they’re going to have to find a way to stand each other’s company.

I have always been impressed by the way that Parker so effortlessly brings the West End to life in her books and I was equally impressed with the shift from the theater to the TV entertainment world. Personally, I think having read the previous book in this series was helpful into understanding a little more into the backstory, but this book can be read as a standalone. However, having read the previous book, it was such a delight to be able to see old characters pop back up throughout Parker’s book.

Headliners was a bit of a slower start for me, but once I got going, I was fully invested in this enemies-to-lovers story! I still think the previous book, The Austen Playbook, has been my favorite in this series, but all in all another charming addition to the London Celebrities series by Lucy Parker.

Also Available in the London Celebrities Series

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Pretty Face post.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press

For reviews & more info, check out our Making Up post.

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

For reviews & more info, check out our The Austen Playbook post.

Lucy Parker lives in the gorgeous Central Otago region of New Zealand, where she feels lucky every day to look out at mountains, lakes and vineyards. She has a degree in art history, loves museums and art galleries, and doodles unrecognizable flowers when she has writer’s block.

When she’s not writing, working or sleeping, she happily tackles the towering pile of to-be-read books that never gets any smaller. Thankfully, there’s always another story waiting.

Her interest in romantic fiction began with a preteen viewing of Pride and Prejudice (Firth-style), which prompted her to read the book, as well. A family friend introduced her to Georgette Heyer, and the rest was history.

She loves to talk to other readers and writers.

Connect with Lucy

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Headliners (London Celebrities #5) by Lucy Parker to read and review.

The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker

In which experienced West End actress Freddy Carlton takes on an Austen-inspired play, a scandal at a country estate, an enthusiastic search for a passion outside of acting… and the (some people might say icy*) heart of London’s most feared theater critic.

*if those people were being nice

Freddy Carlton knows she should be focusing on her lines for The Austen Playbook, a live-action TV event where viewers choose the outcome of each scene, but her concentration’s been blown. The palatial estate housing the endeavor is now run by the rude (brilliant) critic who’s consistently slammed her performances of late. James “Griff” Ford-Griffin has a penchant for sarcasm, a majestic nose and all the sensitivity of a sledgehammer.

She can’t take her eyes off him.

Griff can hardly focus with a contagious joy fairy flitting about near him, especially when Freddy looks at him like that. His only concern right now should be on shutting down his younger brother’s well-intentioned (disastrous) schemes—or at the very least on the production (not this one) that might save his family home from the banks.

Instead all he can think of is soft skin and vibrant curls.

As he’s reluctantly dragged into her quest to rediscover her passion for the stage and Freddy is drawn into his research on a legendary theater star, the adage about appearances being deceiving proves abundantly true. It’s the unlikely start of something enormous… but a single revelation about the past could derail it all.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you're looking for with an HEA/HFN. It's a promise!

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Jordan – ☆☆☆☆☆
After having read the three previous books in Lucy Parker’s London Celebrities series, I think I’ve come to the conclusion that The Austen Playbook is my favorite so far. I just loved every minute of it. I’m excited to read the next installment in Parker’s celebrity series. This is exactly the kind of charming romance read I’ve come to expect from Parker and I thoroughly enjoyed every page of it. I couldn’t get over the chemistry between Freddy and Griff, it was just so perfect! Freddy was such a delightful character with such a sunny disposition that you couldn’t help but instantly like her. Now, Griff was a bit of a harder sell, but eventually became a swoon-worthy character.

Although I’m not a big theater person, Parker always does such a phenomenal job of bringing the theater stage to life in her books. Having The Austen Playbook take place in the countryside was a pleasant change of scenery from the West End and every bit as enticing. Plus, despite being book #4 in the series, this can easily be read as a standalone.

All in all, a solid five-star read for The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker. I can’t wait to see what Parker has in store for her London Celebrities series next!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in the series – and is just as brilliant as the others. I love the mixture of intrigue, theatre, and romance. Each one has managed to be different, and give us another viewpoint in the world of luvvies.

I loved how the links between Freddy and Griff were introduced to us, so that from the very beginning we can understand the issues between them, and yet the clarity with which Griff has homed in on Freddy's acting dilemmas. It would seem as we get to the heart of that matter, that he may be the only one who ever got it, but through him great things can happen.

There is an interesting power dynamic between them, which is always changing, and whilst restless, draws them together all the time. We get to enjoy them falling in love as well as becoming really good friends and confidantes, recognising kindred souls in a harsh working environment.

There are some lovely side characters, especially Griff's brother and his hilarious parents! Catching glimpses of friends from previous books is also a treat. All in all, a really enjoyable read, I was just sad when I turned the last page, as I could have read on and on!

Also Available in the London Celebrities Series

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Pretty Face post.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press

For reviews & more info, check out our Making Up post.

Lucy Parker lives in the gorgeous Central Otago region of New Zealand, where she feels lucky every day to look out at mountains, lakes and vineyards. She has a degree in art history, loves museums and art galleries, and doodles unrecognizable flowers when she has writer’s block.

When she’s not writing, working or sleeping, she happily tackles the towering pile of to-be-read books that never gets any smaller. Thankfully, there’s always another story waiting.

Her interest in romantic fiction began with a preteen viewing of Pride and Prejudice (Firth-style), which prompted her to read the book, as well. A family friend introduced her to Georgette Heyer, and the rest was history.

She loves to talk to other readers and writers.

Connect with Lucy

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Austen Playbook (London Celebrities #4) by Lucy Parker to read and review.

Making Up by Lucy Parker

Author of Act Like It and Pretty Face Lucy Parker returns readers to the West End, where it’s fireworks onstage and off in a sexy enemies-to-lovers showdown.

Once upon a time, circus artist Trix Lane was the best around. Her spark vanished with her confidence, though, and reclaiming either has proved… difficult. So when the star of The Festival of Masks is nixed and Trix is unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight, it’s exactly the push she needs. But the joy over her sudden elevation in status is cut short by a new hire on the makeup team.

Leo Magasiva: disgraced wizard of special effects. He of the beautiful voice and impressive beard. Complete dickhead and—in an unexpected twist—an enragingly good kisser.

To Leo, something about Trix is… different. Lovely. Beautiful, even though the pint-size, pink-haired former bane of his existence still spends most of her waking hours working to annoy him. They’ve barely been able to spend two minutes together for years, and now he can’t get enough of her. On stage. At home. In his bed.

When it comes to commitment, Trix has been there, done that, never wants to do it again. Leo’s this close to the job of a lifetime, which would take him away from London—and from Trix. Their past is a constant barrier between them.

It seems hopeless.

Utterly impossible.

And yet…

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you're looking for with an HEA/HFN. It's a promise!

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Jordan – ☆☆☆☆☆
I never got around to reading book one, Act Like It, but after having read Lucy Parker’s Pretty Face, book two in the London Celebrities, I couldn’t imagine not wanting to hop back into the West End! I always love the way Parker makes the West End so easily come to life in her books. Having read the previous book in the London Celebrities series, I think Making Up, book three, can easily be read as a standalone, but I did find the book slightly more enjoyable having read the previous one because we have somewhat of a better understanding of Trix. Plus, I always really like when previous characters pop back up throughout a series, but not reading the previous two books in the series isn’t necessary if you’d like to just skip to Trix’s story.

Book three, Making Up, follows the story of Trix, who is an acrobatic aerialist in a West End show. After finally ending her verbally abusive relationship with Dan St. James, Trix is working hard at getting back in the swing of things at work. Her confidence has taken a beating since her ex, but she’s ready to prove herself. When the star of her show gets injured, she is suddenly forced into the spotlight and given a perfect opportunity, but a new hire on the make-up team is putting a damper on her impending joy. Trix and Leo Magasiva barely tolerated each other’s company for years, but suddenly they’re finding it harder and harder to understand the reasons for their mutual dislike of one another.

Plus, Trix’s character was witty, fun, and a little on the nerdy side, which made her instantly likable! I was totally charmed by Pretty Face and I had no trouble just as easily falling in love with Trix and Leo! Parker’s characters always have such great banter and chemistry that leap off the pages! All in all, another great addition to the London Celebrities series by Lucy Parker and I look forward to reading more from her in the future!

5 stars for Lucy Parker’s Making Up


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of aerial excitement and make-up filled romance – rounded up for the passion and humour!

This is the third book in the series, but can be read as a standalone. I have not yet found time to read the first book, but I loved book two, and we do spend quite a bit of time with Lily (Trix's bff) and Luc, so I would recommend that you read it first. The insight into theatre life is really captivating in both of these books, and in very different genres of performance.

Trix has been brought low by a very dismissive boyfriend, and is nursing her confidence before it collapses completely, so her high school nemesis joining the crew just before she has to take on a bigger role is not at all helpful. But once she and Leo actually talk to each other about times gone by, prompted in part by their mutual school friend Ally, and bff Lily, things most definitely improve! I loved their meetings in the roof garden and could imagine all too clearly what it looked like.

So many lovely scenes, and moments of love, support, and friendship, as well as some passionate and intimate ones (not always in the most private locations). Their past, imperfect knowledge of each other was fleshed out in a wonderfully organic way, which is testament to Lucy Parker's writing style. I ended up reading through the night, as I could not stop until I knew just how she got everything to work out!

Also Available in the London Celebrities Series

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Pretty Face post.

Lucy Parker lives in the gorgeous Central Otago region of New Zealand, where she feels lucky every day to look out at mountains, lakes and vineyards. She has a degree in art history, loves museums and art galleries, and doodles unrecognizable flowers when she has writer’s block.

When she’s not writing, working or sleeping, she happily tackles the towering pile of to-be-read books that never gets any smaller. Thankfully, there’s always another story waiting.

Her interest in romantic fiction began with a preteen viewing of Pride and Prejudice (Firth-style), which prompted her to read the book, as well. A family friend introduced her to Georgette Heyer, and the rest was history.

She loves to talk to other readers and writers.

Connect with Lucy

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Making Up (London Celebrities #3) by Lucy Parker to read and review.

Pretty Face by Lucy Parker

Highly acclaimed, award-winning author of Act Like It Lucy Parker returns readers to the London stage with laugh-out-loud wit and plenty of drama

The play's the fling

It's not actress Lily Lamprey's fault that she's all curves and has the kind of voice that can fog up a camera lens. She wants to prove where her real talents lie—and that's not on a casting couch, thank you. When she hears esteemed director Luc Savage is renovating a legendary West End theater for a lofty new production, she knows it could be her chance—if only Luc wasn't so dictatorial, so bad-tempered and so incredibly sexy.

Luc Savage has respect, integrity and experience. He also has it bad for Lily. He'd be willing to dismiss it as a midlife crisis, but this exasperating, irresistible woman is actually a very talented actress. Unfortunately, their romance is not only raising questions about Lily's suddenly rising career, it's threatening Luc's professional reputation. The course of true love never did run smooth. But if they're not careful, it could bring down the curtain on both their careers…

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you're looking for with an HEA/HFN. It's a promise! Find out more at CarinaPress.com/RomancePromise

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
I absolutely loved this book! If I didn't have a backlog, I would be reading this again immediately – and I probably will before the week is over.

Lily and Luc really are not supposed to like each other, certainly not discover that they have such an affinity for each other that all the good sense in the world doesn't help. Luc was convinced she was a vacuous TV actress, not destined to play Elizabeth I in his newly restored theatre. Meeting her, he realises that she is going to change his life forever.

There are a lot of little scenes in this book which reveal another truth about one or the other of our leads. Some made me chuckle, a couple made me tear up, all of them gave us another piece of the puzzle. Somehow, we are there: listening in as Trix and Lily talk about Dan; as the connections between the Lamprey and Savage families are revealed; amongst the actors as they prepare for first night and how the future of everyone hangs on how successful they are. It just works brilliantly.

The conversations are delivered at such a pelt, the humour, the intelligence, the incisiveness of every word. The concepts of family, of priorities, and of love, all get given an airing in this clever book. It manages to give the reader a reminder of how despicable the media can be, and how actually famous people may not have the perfect life that money and fame would suggest.

I loved the writing style and read the book from cover to cover, foregoing sleep, because I really just couldn't stop. Do make sure that when you pick up a copy that you have time to enjoy it.


Jordan – ☆☆☆☆☆
This was my first time reading anything by Lucy Parker and I was totally won over! Pretty Face is an absolute delight and I had no trouble devouring every word Parker wrote. With each page, I fell more in love with Parker's characters. Honestly, I was a little unsure how at first if I would like this book because theater isn't really my thing, but Parker did such a phenomenal job bringing the West End alive that even I can't wait for my first West End show.

Lily Lamprey is a TV actress trying to make it onto the West End theater and prove that she truly does have acting talent and she's not just some vacant Barbie. Unfortunately, between her voice and curves people have trouble taking her seriously. When she finds out that Luc Savage, a well-known West End director, is renovating his theater for a new production, she hopes that it could be her big break. If only she didn't have such an undeniable attraction with the director. A romance between them would only raise suspicions and be disastrous for both of their careers.

Pretty Face gave me all the feels and I can't wait to see what Lucy Parker does next! Her characters were charming, witty, and smart. The story was well paced and the chemistry between Luc and Lily was on point. Although this is book #2, it can easily be read as a standalone without feeling lost or like you're missing pieces. All in all, a fantastic read! 5 stars

Lucy Parker lives in the gorgeous Central Otago region of New Zealand, where she feels lucky every day to look out at mountains, lakes and vineyards. She has a degree in art history, loves museums and art galleries, and doodles unrecognizable flowers when she has writer’s block.

When she’s not writing, working or sleeping, she happily tackles the towering pile of to-be-read books that never gets any smaller. Thankfully, there’s always another story waiting.

Her interest in romantic fiction began with a preteen viewing of Pride and Prejudice (Firth-style), which prompted her to read the book, as well. A family friend introduced her to Georgette Heyer, and the rest was history.

She loves to talk to other readers and writers.

Connect with Lucy

Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Pretty Face (London Celebrities #2) by Lucy Parker to read and review.