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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've read the previous books in this series, and enjoyed this one as well! Both Warren and Matthew were endearing characters, and I loved the art school premise for throwing them together. They had great chemistry together. Having seen Warren throughout all three previous books, I also enjoyed getting to see more of his character, including his relationship with his family. However, the story feels like it can sufficiently stand on its own and appeal to readers who haven't read the previous in the series. This book also felt a little quieter than others in the series, which worked for me. Overall, a fun read with loveable characters and great for anyone looking for queer historical romance!
I received an advance audio copy of this book via NetGalley for review.
I received an advance audio copy of this book via NetGalley for review.
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
B+ / 4.5 stars
To Sketch a Scandal is book four in Jess Everlee’s Lucky Lovers of London series, and returns readers to late Victorian London and the convivial safe space carefully carved out for the local queer community at the underground club, the Curious Fox. There are a couple of things that didn’t quite work for me, but I enjoyed the story overall; it’s cute, witty and kind of adorable, the leads are three-dimensional, their chemistry is delicious and I loved watching flirtatious barkeep Warren Bakshi falling head-over-heels despite his avowed aversion to romance and anything that lasts longer than one night.
Warren works at the club to earn enough money to support him and his mother, but he also loves the job and the casual fun that is one of its perks (as the notches on his bedpost there can attest!) They’re not rich, but he’s content and likes being useful; but everything changes when his long-lost brother, Harry, returns to England having amassed a fortune and gained a wife – arranges for them all to move in to a grand house in a better location and says that Warren doesn’t need to work any more. But for Warren, the Curious Fox is the only place he can really be himself – or at least, the outrageously flirty version of himself that he can safely present there – and he absolutely doesn’t want to give it up. But with their new-found wealth comes the expectation of being more engaged in ‘society’, and of undertaking more… dignified pursuits. Warren’s mother has, for a while, been trying to get him to do something with his artistic talent, and with Harry’s new wife and a new housekeeper now doing most of the household tasks Warren used to do, he realises that perhaps signing up for some art classes might not be the worst idea.
It’s largely thanks to the quick thinking of Inspector Matthew Shaw that the Curious Fox is still in business. We met him in [b:A Rulebook for Restless Rogues|61393443|A Rulebook for Restless Rogues (Lucky Lovers of London, #2)|Jess Everlee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1667486911l/61393443._SX50_.jpg|96821210] when he posed as valet to David Forrester, then the club’s manager, as part of an investigation into Lord Belleville, the nasty piece or work who owned the place and who was threatening to close it down. Matty is good at his job - but of late, he’s begun to feel more and more as though he’s walking a tightrope, and it’s exhausting. Inspector Barrows, who rescued him from the streets when Matty was just fifteen and has acted as a mentor to him - is about to retire, few of his colleagues respect him due to the nature of many of the cases he’s worked, and there are whispers about his sexuality which, if they become more than whispers, will not only spell the end of his career, but could also see him sentenced to two years hard labour. If all that wasn’t bad enough, he’s being passed over for promotion, and his latest assignment – to go undercover as an art student – requires him to display a degree of artistic ability he simply doesn’t have. The only bright spot in all of it is the gorgeous barkeep from the Fox, who, by complete coincidence, has signed up to take the same art class – but whose boss, concerned for the safety of his clientele, has warned him to stay away from Matty who, despite not intending to cause any trouble for the club or its patrons, poses too much of a risk to its security should he be seen there.
You can read the rest of this review at All About Romance.
To Sketch a Scandal is book four in Jess Everlee’s Lucky Lovers of London series, and returns readers to late Victorian London and the convivial safe space carefully carved out for the local queer community at the underground club, the Curious Fox. There are a couple of things that didn’t quite work for me, but I enjoyed the story overall; it’s cute, witty and kind of adorable, the leads are three-dimensional, their chemistry is delicious and I loved watching flirtatious barkeep Warren Bakshi falling head-over-heels despite his avowed aversion to romance and anything that lasts longer than one night.
Warren works at the club to earn enough money to support him and his mother, but he also loves the job and the casual fun that is one of its perks (as the notches on his bedpost there can attest!) They’re not rich, but he’s content and likes being useful; but everything changes when his long-lost brother, Harry, returns to England having amassed a fortune and gained a wife – arranges for them all to move in to a grand house in a better location and says that Warren doesn’t need to work any more. But for Warren, the Curious Fox is the only place he can really be himself – or at least, the outrageously flirty version of himself that he can safely present there – and he absolutely doesn’t want to give it up. But with their new-found wealth comes the expectation of being more engaged in ‘society’, and of undertaking more… dignified pursuits. Warren’s mother has, for a while, been trying to get him to do something with his artistic talent, and with Harry’s new wife and a new housekeeper now doing most of the household tasks Warren used to do, he realises that perhaps signing up for some art classes might not be the worst idea.
It’s largely thanks to the quick thinking of Inspector Matthew Shaw that the Curious Fox is still in business. We met him in [b:A Rulebook for Restless Rogues|61393443|A Rulebook for Restless Rogues (Lucky Lovers of London, #2)|Jess Everlee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1667486911l/61393443._SX50_.jpg|96821210] when he posed as valet to David Forrester, then the club’s manager, as part of an investigation into Lord Belleville, the nasty piece or work who owned the place and who was threatening to close it down. Matty is good at his job - but of late, he’s begun to feel more and more as though he’s walking a tightrope, and it’s exhausting. Inspector Barrows, who rescued him from the streets when Matty was just fifteen and has acted as a mentor to him - is about to retire, few of his colleagues respect him due to the nature of many of the cases he’s worked, and there are whispers about his sexuality which, if they become more than whispers, will not only spell the end of his career, but could also see him sentenced to two years hard labour. If all that wasn’t bad enough, he’s being passed over for promotion, and his latest assignment – to go undercover as an art student – requires him to display a degree of artistic ability he simply doesn’t have. The only bright spot in all of it is the gorgeous barkeep from the Fox, who, by complete coincidence, has signed up to take the same art class – but whose boss, concerned for the safety of his clientele, has warned him to stay away from Matty who, despite not intending to cause any trouble for the club or its patrons, poses too much of a risk to its security should he be seen there.
You can read the rest of this review at All About Romance.
To Sketch a Scandal is the latest entry in the Lucky Lovers of London series, and just like all of the books in this series it is heartwarming, emotional, and a little bit spicy. To Sketch a Scandal follows Warren, the barkeep of The Curious Fox who has been around since the beginning of the series, watching all of our other couples get together and fall in love, and Matty, a queer detective who originally pretend to be a valet for the bar's owner.
This book was very sweet, and I really enjoyed the character development of both Matty and Warren, as well as the look we got into Warren's family, who we hadn't seen much of before. I also enjoyed the forbidden romance element quite a bit, especially the tension we saw between Matty having to hide from the outside world and Warren feeling like he has to hide from his queer community. I liked that there were mentions of Matty having privilege that Warren, being Punjabi, does not have, but I wish the book had delved deeper into that topic. I also wish that Matty being exploited and used had been spoked of in greater detail. Overall though, this was a very cute and sweet book, and a good addition to the series!
This book was very sweet, and I really enjoyed the character development of both Matty and Warren, as well as the look we got into Warren's family, who we hadn't seen much of before. I also enjoyed the forbidden romance element quite a bit, especially the tension we saw between Matty having to hide from the outside world and Warren feeling like he has to hide from his queer community. I liked that there were mentions of Matty having privilege that Warren, being Punjabi, does not have, but I wish the book had delved deeper into that topic. I also wish that Matty being exploited and used had been spoked of in greater detail. Overall though, this was a very cute and sweet book, and a good addition to the series!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The fourth book in Jess Everlee’s series rounds out these characters nicely - with cameos from favorite characters from the past books and new side characters to love (or despise!). It was an easy read and a nice love story. Very sweet, very cute.
Warren Bakshi is the "resident cynical slattern" and barkeep of a "private club" (read: gay bar) in 19th century London and proud of it. He's totally happy with his life: he helps run the house he shares with his mother during the day, and by night he charms the clientele at The Curious Fox. He's totally one of those men who swear they'll never fall in love and they're happier with their numerous liaisons than they would be settling down.
Matty Shaw, on the other hand, is a Scotland Yard detective who makes his living by going undercover to investigate crimes. Again, this is 19th century London, so one of the possible "crimes" he could be called on to investigate is sodomy. Matty feels ambivalent about his job, and especially ambivalent about looking into these specific cases because he's gay, himself. He knows he could lose his job if anyone finds out, but he doesn't know what else to do with his life.
Enter: art lessons. Matty is investigating an art school under suspicion of forgery; Warren's family recently had a reversal of fortune, and he's able to take art lessons instead of keeping house. Matty and Warren strike up a friendship, and then a friendship with benefits. They're both on the cusp of a life change, and they just might be there for each other.
There's a lot to love about this book. It has what I consider to be the perfect mix of plot and character development; I was never bored and I felt connected with both leads. The relationship progression was great, and the resolution of the relationship and of the external conflict was perfectly suited to the book. That said, this is one of those historical romances that, while there's an ultimate HEA, still makes me feel a little melancholic. Matty and Warren end up in love and with friends who acknowledge and support their relationship. But there's always going to be an element of deception about their relationship, and Everlee doesn't let you forget about it.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Matty Shaw, on the other hand, is a Scotland Yard detective who makes his living by going undercover to investigate crimes. Again, this is 19th century London, so one of the possible "crimes" he could be called on to investigate is sodomy. Matty feels ambivalent about his job, and especially ambivalent about looking into these specific cases because he's gay, himself. He knows he could lose his job if anyone finds out, but he doesn't know what else to do with his life.
Enter: art lessons. Matty is investigating an art school under suspicion of forgery; Warren's family recently had a reversal of fortune, and he's able to take art lessons instead of keeping house. Matty and Warren strike up a friendship, and then a friendship with benefits. They're both on the cusp of a life change, and they just might be there for each other.
There's a lot to love about this book. It has what I consider to be the perfect mix of plot and character development; I was never bored and I felt connected with both leads. The relationship progression was great, and the resolution of the relationship and of the external conflict was perfectly suited to the book. That said, this is one of those historical romances that, while there's an ultimate HEA, still makes me feel a little melancholic. Matty and Warren end up in love and with friends who acknowledge and support their relationship. But there's always going to be an element of deception about their relationship, and Everlee doesn't let you forget about it.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.