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rjordan19 's review for:
To Sketch a Scandal
by Jess Everlee
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (maybe a 4...they are kinda ‘average’ length as far as I could tell on audio)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 (it’s possible I missed something)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person from both heroes
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: takes a bit – about 17% (chapter 3)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the mains
Epilogue: Yes
Format: listened to an audiobook version through NetGalley on their app
Why I chose this book: The cover looked super cute!
Mains: Warren Bakshi and Mattie Shaw - this is a M/M relationship between two cisgendered queer heroes
Should I read in order?
I have only read book 3 – I personally think this stands alone well for the romance but there’s some friendships mentioned that have occurred throughout the series so I’m sure pleasure can be found reading in order.
Basic plot:
Warren and Mattie have an immediate connection – but Warren’s boss forbids them to see each other at his work. When they realize they are taking the same art lessons, it leads to more...
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1886
- M/M relationship
- Warren’s a bartender
- Matty’s a detective inspector
- instalust elements
- art lessons
- drag events
- medium steam – 2 full scenes (I might have missed one towards the end?)
Ages:
- Matty is 25, didn’t catch Warren
First line:
When it came to such concepts as following rules, Warren Bakshi was a hit or miss sort of chap.
My thoughts:
I thought this one was really, really cute. It takes a bit for the mains to meet but this set up their respective situations and families and that is what really helped bring these characters to live. I fell in love with both of them, and loved their growth throughout the book. They really are perfect for each other – Warren with his silliness and banter pulling Mattie out of his shell a bit – and reinforcing that he is worthy of love and worthy of being with.
I LOVED the inclusion of the drag scenes. They were so funny and adorable and Everlee’s writing just immersed me so much in their antics. I wasn’t super in love with book 3 of this series (it was fine overall but I wasn’t clamoring for me) but this book has made me way more eager to grab more from them in the future.
Super sweet story.
As for the narration, I think this my first by Joel Leslie. I wasn’t sure how I felt at first – especially for his side characters voices. They seemed almost over exaggerated to me? But over the course of the book I really fell in love with the narration. It was done so well – the variations for the characters, the emotion within the dialogue. I really appreciated this narration and would definitely pick up more by Leslie!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating from me: 4.5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- homophobia and laws against queer people are a plot point
Author content warnings? Didn’t catch any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex: I don’t believe so? I think condoms are mentioned, can’t really remember
How’s the consent? It’s good
Pregnancy/children in story? Nope
Chapter 4 (22%) – kisses, partial that’s interrupted
Chapter 11 (52%) – 🔥kisses mutual bjs
Chapter 14 (73%) – 🔥kisses, Warrnen on top with a mirror in the headboard
Total chapters: 21 and an epilogue
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (maybe a 4...they are kinda ‘average’ length as far as I could tell on audio)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥 (it’s possible I missed something)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person from both heroes
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: takes a bit – about 17% (chapter 3)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after for the mains
Epilogue: Yes
Format: listened to an audiobook version through NetGalley on their app
Why I chose this book: The cover looked super cute!
Mains: Warren Bakshi and Mattie Shaw - this is a M/M relationship between two cisgendered queer heroes
Should I read in order?
I have only read book 3 – I personally think this stands alone well for the romance but there’s some friendships mentioned that have occurred throughout the series so I’m sure pleasure can be found reading in order.
Basic plot:
Warren and Mattie have an immediate connection – but Warren’s boss forbids them to see each other at his work. When they realize they are taking the same art lessons, it leads to more...
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian – 1886
- M/M relationship
- Warren’s a bartender
- Matty’s a detective inspector
- instalust elements
- art lessons
- drag events
- medium steam – 2 full scenes (I might have missed one towards the end?)
Ages:
- Matty is 25, didn’t catch Warren
First line:
When it came to such concepts as following rules, Warren Bakshi was a hit or miss sort of chap.
My thoughts:
I thought this one was really, really cute. It takes a bit for the mains to meet but this set up their respective situations and families and that is what really helped bring these characters to live. I fell in love with both of them, and loved their growth throughout the book. They really are perfect for each other – Warren with his silliness and banter pulling Mattie out of his shell a bit – and reinforcing that he is worthy of love and worthy of being with.
I LOVED the inclusion of the drag scenes. They were so funny and adorable and Everlee’s writing just immersed me so much in their antics. I wasn’t super in love with book 3 of this series (it was fine overall but I wasn’t clamoring for me) but this book has made me way more eager to grab more from them in the future.
Super sweet story.
As for the narration, I think this my first by Joel Leslie. I wasn’t sure how I felt at first – especially for his side characters voices. They seemed almost over exaggerated to me? But over the course of the book I really fell in love with the narration. It was done so well – the variations for the characters, the emotion within the dialogue. I really appreciated this narration and would definitely pick up more by Leslie!
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: 2
Average rating from me: 4.5 stars
Favorite book: This one!
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- homophobia and laws against queer people are a plot point
Author content warnings? Didn’t catch any on audio
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex aspects, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Safe sex:
How’s the consent?
Pregnancy/children in story?
Chapter 4 (22%) – kisses, partial that’s interrupted
Chapter 11 (52%) – 🔥kisses mutual bjs
Chapter 14 (73%) – 🔥kisses, Warrnen on top with a mirror in the headboard
Total chapters: 21 and an epilogue