Book Boyfriends and Booze

Passenger Princess brings everything nice and the spice.  In this cute grumpy sunshine romance, Ava unexpectedly wins the title of “Miss Americana” and embarks on a whirlwind three-month press tour across all 50 states. Confined by strict rules and a daunting morality clause, she struggles to balance her adventurous spirit with her newfound responsibilities. Enter Jaime, the grumpy yet irresistibly attractive head of security assigned as her driver and bodyguard. As they traverse the country, Ava’s playful attempts to ruffle Jaime’s stoic demeanor lead to a tantalizing push-and-pull dynamic. The evolving relationship between Ava and Jaime, filled with witty banter and undeniable chemistry, makes for a captivating story about taking risks and finding love in the most unexpected places.  Plus, who doesn’t love a good Bodyguard Romance in our grumpy sunshine goodreads collection.

In this Book Boyfriend for you:

This novel kicks off with a strong, promising start. If you’re a fan of Miss Congeniality, but looking for something a little spicier, this book fits the bill perfectly. The dynamic between Jamie, the grumpy bodyguard, and Ava, the bubbly pageant queen, is fun and energetic.  The meet-cute was spot on, with Jamie’s grumpy attitude clashing perfectly with Ava’s pink-clad sunshine vibes.  Their banter in the beginning is easily one of the best parts of the book—witty, sharp, and absolutely hilarious. It had us hooked, waiting for their next interaction. Ava’s sunshine personality feels genuine, even if a bit much at times, while Jamie’s brooding demeanor is the perfect contrast. If you’re a girl who loves to push a man’s buttons in the hopes he’ll break and fall madly in love with you, then this book might just be for you.

However, once they finally take their chemistry to the next level, things shift, and quite drastically, losing a smidge of its rank in our best grumpy sunshine books. Jamie loses a bit of the edge he had during their playful verbal sparring, quickly becoming more of a protective lapdog than the slightly dangerous, stoic figure we were initially introduced to. We can appreciate that he’s supposed to love and protect her, however he went from a strong, mysterious bodyguard to someone who bends over backward for Ava at every turn. This is while he claims he wants to remain “professional” at a gala, only to throw that out the window just one chapter later with some rather bold, shall we say, backdoor antics? The sudden jump from restrained attraction to explicit spice had us laughing out loud!

Despite the loss of momentum, the plot itself is enjoyable, and there’s a decent twist toward the end that keeps things interesting. Jamie does have his sweet moments—like setting up her car seat in the way only your best friend would—but sometimes his dedication goes a bit too far, tipping into unrealistic territory. That said, it’s still a cute, lighthearted read. The characters are fun, the romance is hot, and while Jamie may not have fully delivered on the promise of his fantastic beginning, he’s still a note-worthy book boyfriend in our eyes.  Grab yourself a cosmo and get cozy because Passenger Princess is a blush-worthy ride that will make you smile if you’re looking for a quick good time.

If you want the full edgy commentary join us on our podcast, Book Boyfriends & Booze and as always, here are the spicy chapters: 23, 24, 30, 39, 42, & Epilogue.  We would never leave you hanging 😉