Sunny Shelly’s Review: Royal Pickle by J.J. Knight

We cross the kitchen to the back door, Rachel trailing behind.

He tugs it open and peers out. “Which way?”

I point down the alley. “Head to that street, then to the right two blocks. The photographers are headed the other way.”

He turns to grin at me. “You’re really saving me here. Can I kiss you?”

I take a step back. “Uh. No.”

“Damn. I never like to leave a beautiful girl unkissed. Handshake then?”

I hold mine out. “Sure.”

He grips my palm and my whole body feels electrified, like he carries a charge. I stare at my hand after he lets it go.

He touches the hat brim, and then he’s gone.

Rachel peers out the door. “Awww, Sunny, why didn’t you kiss him?” She crosses her arms over her green deli apron. “I could have been your waiting lady or something.”

I push the door closed. “If he kisses every girl he sees, he doesn’t sound like happily-ever-after material.”

Rachel kicks out her hip. “He didn’t ask to kiss ME.”

Pickle cousin Sunny Packwood finds her prince in this new Pickle series book. Royal Pickle is absolutely charming!

Prince Leopold needs to find a bride or be forced to marry one of his father’s choosing. He’s been sleeping his way around Europe and America when he stumbles into the deli Sunny and Grammy Alma run in Brooklyn — literally running from the paparazzi. He’s smitten by Sunny, especially since she doesn’t know who he is nor does she care. A few hours later, unable to forget the kindness she showed him, Leo thinks that Sunny can solve his problem and he proposes marriage.

The connection between Sunny and Leo is so great. I loved how these two got to know one another, and how they overcame the cultural differences. Especially when Leo takes American colloquialisms so literally. Their mutual attraction and fondness quickly grows into instalove. Go along for the ride as Sunny — who feels stuck in her life — travels to this small, little-known European country and gets the royal treatment as the prince’s fiancee. Well, kinda. There is family drama since the King does not approve of the American his son has chosen, and a whole lot of misunderstanding that threatens to come between the bride and groom’s royal wedding.

There are a few scenes with Sunny’s cousins, the Pickle brothers, towards the end of the book when the wedding madness takes place. But the bulk of this story takes place at Leo’s castle, so the supporting characters we get to know well are his sisters, Lilli and Octavia. I enjoyed those two girls so much, and really hope that this series gets a spinoff to include them!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.