Book Reviews/ December 18, 2022June 12, 2023

Drama King by Penny Reid Book Review

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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.

Triggers

Penny Reid does give a potential trigger warning list at the beginning of this book. I’ve included what she specifies plus any that I observed while reading:

Accidental Drug Interactions
Alcohol
Animal Death (wild)
Assault (Mobs of fans / inappropriate touching / groping in a crowd)
Car Accident
Childhood Abandonment
Death of a parent
Drunk person (female) getting aggressively handsy with a sober person (male)
Drunk Driving
Hypothermia
Profanity
Religion (Catholicism, briefly)
Sexually Explicit Scenes
Snakes
Snowstorm (getting stuck in the snow)
Violence
Walking in unexpectedly on someone naked

Ratings

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There are possible **SPOILERS** beyond this point!

Overall Rating

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is about a movie star, Cyrus Malcom, who gets a new security team because of his raging fandom. After a hilarious case of mistaken identity with Cyrus on a blind date, Beth Ryan finds herself on Cyrus’s new security team. The tension between these two is palpable as they try to navigate their new work dynamic. Drama King is both hilarious and heartwarming with a sprinkling of spice thrown in. The main characters are both so unique and interesting to get to know!

I loved the “who hurt you” vibes from Beth so much that I found myself wanting to protect Cyrus too. I loved the power dynamics that Reid played with between the two main characters. Beth is strong and silent and I loved seeing what she was thinking behind her professional mask of indifference. Beth was caring and thoughtful though she tried her best to not be one of the many who fawned over Cyrus’ charming ways. She was also so insightful. I really enjoyed her opinions and viewpoints.

I didn’t think I would love Cyrus as much as I loved Rex (Three Kings #1) but I think Cyrus might be my new favorite! He’s is loquacious, generous and welcoming. There’s so much finesse to his socializing. It was hard to not fall for how unexpectedly charming he is. He is definitely what I would call a people person. There’s lots to his character and seeing those layers peeled back piece by piece made him even more endearing. He’s even more compassionate and empathetic under all that wit.

This is a slow burn romance, for sure. So much simmering! The tension and longing was achingly hot and intense! I love a slow burn that allows you to really see the connection between the characters and what really makes them love one another.

This book takes place over a much longer period that just the holiday season, so I would honestly recommend this one to be read any time of year! I think anyone who enjoys Reid’s works will enjoy this one too! If you haven’t read her works before, this will be a real treat for those who are a fan of distinctive characters and hilarious scenarios!

Spice Rating

3/5 🌶🌶🌶

This story has some spicy scenes though they are not often they are open door.

Genre & Tropes

Genre

Romantic Comedy

Tropes

Forced Proximity
Bodyguard x Client
Slow Burn Romance

Favorite Quotes

“If you wanted, I’d be a very, very good boy for you.”

“I decided Cyrus’s gravitational pull reminded me of Jupiter—all its moons, asteroids, and other heavenly bodies orbiting but never able to actually approach without getting burned in the atmosphere.”

“It’s easy to be a rose in a well-tended garden, isn’t it? But to be a rose in the wild, or between the pavement of a city street, that’s not just beautiful, that’s meaningful. And beauty without meaning is boring.”