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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
hopeful
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review!
The fourth installment in the Lucky Lovers of London series To Sketch a Scandal follows Warren Bakshi, barkeep of the underground queer club The Curious Fox, as he meets and falls in love with Detective Inspector Matty Shaw in 1886 London. The police are a huge threat to The Curious Fox’s livelihood and its patrons so Warren and Matty must keep their relationship a secret from Warren’s friends, including the owner of the club.
This is a simple and sweet love story that unfortunately didn’t make much of an impression on me. I was excited to get this ARC because I really enjoyed The Gentleman’s Book of Vices and A Bluestocking Guide to Decadence, one and three in the series respectively, but this one paled in comparison.
While Warren is an established character from the other books in the series, there isn’t much to Matty as a character outside of his background. The two fall in love quickly and I wish there had been more build-up. Warren is known for only being into hook-ups prior to Matty so I found it a bit hard to believe that he fell in love so quickly and with so little resistance.
My biggest takeaway is that I wish there had been more plot. The blackmailer is found out so quickly that the stakes basically feel non-existent which doesn’t make sense when the situation is so dangerous. I would have liked to see Warren and Matty really fight for their love instead of things being wrapped up so quickly and perfectly. I read this book recently but I’m already forgetting how everything was resolved because it just seemed too easy.
I did like that the two fell in love over their shared interest in art. Matty, undercover, takes the same drawing class as Warren, and the scenes of Warren teaching Matty how to draw and Warren drawing Matty were cute.
I still like this series as a whole. I just wish this installment had been stronger.
emotional
funny
reflective
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:
No
I loved getting to see the story behind the mysterious playboy and barkeep Warren Bakshi. The glimpses of Matthew from the previous book had me intrigued to see his story as well. Their dynamic was complicated but it was ultimately a sweet story with lots of glimpses at other sides of the previous protagonists, which I adored. I always love the depth of Everlee's characters and stories, and this was no exception.
(This was a voluntary review of a free advanced reader copy. Thanks to Carina Adores, Jess Everlee, and NetGalley for that privilege!)
(This was a voluntary review of a free advanced reader copy. Thanks to Carina Adores, Jess Everlee, and NetGalley for that privilege!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content
Minor: Police brutality
I really enjoy Everlee's books. However this iteration in the series really did not hit for me.
I really enjoyed Warren in the past books even though it was kind of "slut with a heart of gold". This book doesn't really focus on expanding him more than that, even though the author lists out all of the way he is demensional in the text. He is still a guy with a heart of gold but now he likes art too. I am really disapointed that he is POC in Last name only and overall feels very whitewashed. Besides talking about eating rice/roti and the fact that sarees exist this could have been any gay man in 1866. Also his raise in social class is not fully flushed out and it is just a plot to make him go to art school. I did find this incredibily dissapointing.
I also like Matty in the other book. In this book I find him incredibily boring and I am really over his problems 20% into the book. While this conflict wanted to be compelling it was very predictable.
Anjali was cool. 10/10 on her.
The ending was decent. Overall this book was a 2.25 for me and did not hold my interest. I was able to read the other books in this series within a day or two, this one took me over a month.
Thank you NetGally and Harlequin for the ARC.
I really enjoyed Warren in the past books even though it was kind of "slut with a heart of gold". This book doesn't really focus on expanding him more than that, even though the author lists out all of the way he is demensional in the text. He is still a guy with a heart of gold but now he likes art too. I am really disapointed that he is POC in Last name only and overall feels very whitewashed. Besides talking about eating rice/roti and the fact that sarees exist this could have been any gay man in 1866. Also his raise in social class is not fully flushed out and it is just a plot to make him go to art school. I did find this incredibily dissapointing.
I also like Matty in the other book. In this book I find him incredibily boring and I am really over his problems 20% into the book. While this conflict wanted to be compelling it was very predictable.
Anjali was cool. 10/10 on her.
The ending was decent. Overall this book was a 2.25 for me and did not hold my interest. I was able to read the other books in this series within a day or two, this one took me over a month.
Thank you NetGally and Harlequin for the ARC.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
This was a cute romance that I didn't want to put down. I liked how easy it was to read. The romance built at a good pace and was believable. There wasn't much to the mystery plot but it was just enough to keep the story moving.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
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
This historical romance takes place in 1886 between Warren, bartender at The Curious Fox and Matty, cop who once saved the bar owners ass. Matty needs to go undercover as an artist Warren agrees to help Matty learn to draw.
The two characters have an instant attraction and both need to keep their queerness a secret as this could ruin Warren's family's reputation and send Matty to jail.
Their overall romance was very sweet, trying to keep things professional but failing miserably. There was a very dark undercurrent to the story that was not well fleshed out about what Matty had been through in the past.
Matty oh Matty, I wanted to give this poor man a hug throughout this story. He was so alone and so lonely and didn't really have anyone to trust. He had a lot of character growth. Although Warren had less growth, I was glad to see him some into Matty's life. Give him someone to love and trust. I enjoyed times when he stood up for Matty.
Overall this was a sweet, hot romance. I was very pleased with the ending.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The two characters have an instant attraction and both need to keep their queerness a secret as this could ruin Warren's family's reputation and send Matty to jail.
Their overall romance was very sweet, trying to keep things professional but failing miserably. There was a very dark undercurrent to the story that was not well fleshed out about what Matty had been through in the past.
Matty oh Matty, I wanted to give this poor man a hug throughout this story. He was so alone and so lonely and didn't really have anyone to trust. He had a lot of character growth. Although Warren had less growth, I was glad to see him some into Matty's life. Give him someone to love and trust. I enjoyed times when he stood up for Matty.
Overall this was a sweet, hot romance. I was very pleased with the ending.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
(Thanks to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and the publisher for my eARC!)
I took awhile to finish this book because I wasn't ready to leave my comfort characters! I love them all and hope Jess Everlee writes more! Maybe Annabelle's book is next?!
I love how I knew both of the MMCs from previous Lucky Lovers of London books. Warren is the barkeep at Forrester's gay club, The Curious Fox, and Matty is the inspector who helped saved the club when its previous owner was being investigated. They hit it off, but Warren's boss doesn't want them hanging out. But when they are unexpectedly thrown together at an art class, they continue to hit it off.
As with her other books, Jess Everlee does a great job of making you care about the side characters as well and including interesting B plots that aid character development. Warren's life is thrown into disarray when his long lost brother returns with a wife and a fortune. Matty is starting to second guess his career as an inspector with his mentor retiring and with growing suspicions at work about his queerness.
This. was such a cozy read for me even though some chapters had me at the edge of my seat! Highly recommend for historical ficition lovers, but read the previous books in the series first!
I took awhile to finish this book because I wasn't ready to leave my comfort characters! I love them all and hope Jess Everlee writes more! Maybe Annabelle's book is next?!
I love how I knew both of the MMCs from previous Lucky Lovers of London books. Warren is the barkeep at Forrester's gay club, The Curious Fox, and Matty is the inspector who helped saved the club when its previous owner was being investigated. They hit it off, but Warren's boss doesn't want them hanging out. But when they are unexpectedly thrown together at an art class, they continue to hit it off.
As with her other books, Jess Everlee does a great job of making you care about the side characters as well and including interesting B plots that aid character development. Warren's life is thrown into disarray when his long lost brother returns with a wife and a fortune. Matty is starting to second guess his career as an inspector with his mentor retiring and with growing suspicions at work about his queerness.
This. was such a cozy read for me even though some chapters had me at the edge of my seat! Highly recommend for historical ficition lovers, but read the previous books in the series first!
Lacking the community elements I’ve loved in previous Everlee books, this was just hitting the point I was more bored than anticipating what happened next
emotional
lighthearted
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:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
This was an enjoyable continuation of the story. I loved the glimpses I got of previous characters and relationships while keeping the focus on Warren and Matty. There was just enough danger to keep ir interesting but not so much that it took away from the blossoming romance. Overall, I throughly enjoyed this story.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy.
emotional
lighthearted
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:
Yes