This is a fluffy read with the historical period really just set dressing since the characters are very anachronistic. It lacks the depth and heart of a KJ Charles novel and at times I felt like I was reading La Cage au Folles rather than a Regency romance. I didn't believe either character was real and like the author's previous books, I never felt the chemistry between the leads.

Story: Warren is a barkeep at a secret gay bar. Matty is a detective with Scotland yard whose good looks are used to go deep undercover and ferret out crimes. When the two meet, they share an interest but both have secrets they want to protect.

So, Warren's Indian family is a bit of a different twist to a regency-period romance yet they somehow face no prejudice and go about their over-the-top ways. Matty is an uptight detective who was rescued off the streets when he was attempting to sell himself to men to make money. But Matty is facing discrimination at work based on suspicions that he is gay. What it comes down to is that Warren is smarmy and Matty is a ball of self doubt. It makes it hard to like either.

In the end, this is another entry into Everlee's Lucky Lovers of London series that is airy and breezy and honestly a bit unsatisfying. It all works out in the end but it is more of a fantasy than an historical. Cute and sweet like a Twinkie and equally unsatisfying.

Of note, I listened to the audio narration and can't recommend it. The narrator chose to make Matty sound like a 90 year old man while the Warren character and his family had no trace of their Indian heritage in the narration. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

To Sketch A Scandal is the fourth in a series that can stand on its own, but will be enhanced by reading the other novels in the series.

Although not my favorite in the series, this novel delivers on romance amongst a cozy mystery. It’s a fun easy read. The narrator for the audiobook is not my personal favorite so I would suggest picking up a physical copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a sucker for unique setting in historical romance, and it’s not easy to capture that in a Victorian M/M novel. We have two unique settings for To Sketch a Scandal; an underground club for queer men when Warren bartends, and an art studio setting where Warren and Matty meet through drawing class. It’s unusual for a historical romance to explore either of these avenues and I really enjoyed both, particularly seeing the way Matty and Warren slightly adjusted their personalities to fit each location.

Matty isn’t your typical artist, he’s undercover and in fact can barely draw at all. In a way, he’s also undercover in his career as a detective because he is unable to be openly queer and has toed the line acting as a molly as part of his police identity. Warren is quite opposite, both openly running the bar and possessing quite a bit of artistic talent. This is definitely a case of opposites attract with Matty being the character that has the most growth in the relationship. It’s mostly because of how difficult it is for Matty to comfortably express himself to his coworker (that accepts him regardless of his sexual preferences), to Warren, and to himself.

I think I’d describe this book as a cozy queer romance. It felt more sweet than spicy where even though there is open door romance, sex scenes were limited in their length and focused more on the novelty of two men engaging in intimate acts. In other words, the intimacy was not transformative as much as the emotional work the characters went through. I struggled a bit with the pacing; Warren’s brother’s storyline lost me a bit as well as some of the art studio scenes, but ai was very engaged any time Matty and Warren were in scenes together. I haven’t read other books by Jess Everlee so I could be missing prior storyline threads in this series, but overall I found the storytelling enjoyable. Joel Leslie is always a fun narrator and I had no difficulty distinguishing his characters, in fact even the smallest parts he gives his all (and sometimes they’re the funniest!). I received an ALC from Harlequin Audio. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.7️⃣5️⃣
Steam: 🪭.5️⃣
Narration: 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

*Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for early copy for review*

I listened to the audiobook for this and I did not enjoy the narrator. It made listening to this a chore and not fun. This could be that I did not really like the characterization of the main character.

Thank you to Carina Adores and NetGalley for an ARC of this title! I need to go back and read the first two in this series, but I thoroughly enjoy this series of Queer Historical Romances from Jess Everlee.

To Sketch a Scandal features a M/M romance between Warren Bakshi, an Indian barkeep at the Curious Fox, and Matthew Shaw, a detective with the police (don't worry, this book and series are not glorifying the police, especially in the historical context of people getting locked up for being queer in 1880s England). The two meet at the Curious Fox, but because of Matty's history with the establishment and his profession at the time, he's kicked out. They have a hot and heavy moment in the back alleys of London but truly reunite at an Art Class that Warren is taking to pursue a hobby and Matty to go undercover to potentially thwart an art forging scheme. Warren is only able to pursue that hobby because his brother returns with money (and a wife), changing the circumstances and home dynamic for Warren and his mother.

There are lots of great discussions about gender, gender presentation (there's drag at the Curious Fox) and sexuality at the time as well as a real interrogation of what it is like to be a detective for Matty. Not to give too much away, but Matty found himself working undercover largely as a survival tactic after doing SW to survive and generally having a hard upbringing. His boss and mentor "saved him" and once he retires... Matty is no longer shielded or can no longer handle dealing with the homophobia from his fellow officers.

There's a bit of an external mystery element that leads to the conflict as well as the fact that Warren has not been honest with his boss about Matty - their 3rd act break up is brief. They just need to get themselves together with their nearest and dearest and then they find a way to be together.

Joel Leslie does a great job narrating! Truly one of my favorite narrators for queer historical romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio & Jess Everlee for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is book 4 in the Lucky Lovers of London series. I have NOT read the previous three books and this stands sufficiently on its own. I love that.

This novel is a charming 1880s London achillean romance. It shows how the queer community AND Scotland Yard operated in this time period. I found the chemistry to be believable between the MCs. Both of their backstories were shared well and I became invested in their well being.

Narration was really well done!

Another great addition to the Lucky Lovers of London series! We first met Warren Bakshi in the first book, so it was great to finally get his story. I enjoyed his family and also the backstory of Matthew Shaw. This series is sweet, sexy, and funny, with characters that are interesting and original. I always enjoy when characters from previous books are brought in for cameos (or more) and this is no exception. The world Everlee builds is realistic and fascinating, and also sad thanks due to the historical element. The narration was excellent, great pace and voicing. Recommend it for fans of Regency and lgbtqia romance!

Jess Everlee is officially a new favorite of mine, and I cannot get over how sweet and romantic these two are. Their devotion to and love for one another is so deep and gives me all the warm fuzzies.

Warren Bakshi lives two very separate lives: dutiful son who skillfully takes care of his mom despite not having much, and flirty barkeep at an underground queer club. He's content with this life and willing to keep it as is, until his brother reappears with a fortune and he has to find more worthy pursuits. Which is how he ends up taking an art class with Detective Inspector Matthew Shaw, a too-handsome man he's been warned to stay away from but can't seem to keep his eyes off of.
Detective Inspector Matthew Shaw wants to prove he's capable of more than just being the honey in traps to catch homosexuals in illegal acts. His good looks and the (accurate) suspicions that he's gay are in the way of his getting the promotion he deserves. His last chance is to bring down an illegal art ring by going undercover as an art student, except he can't even draw a dot. Which is how he keeps finding himself drawn to Warren despite knowing it's too dangerous to spend time with the sweet and charming man.

I can't figure out if it's a quick read or if I got pulled into the story so hard that I devoured it. Every single moment that Rav and Matty spend together is a hit of happy endorphins that only gets better as the story progresses and you see how supportive those around them can be. Even when you hear the horribly sad backstory behind how Matty ended up with the cops, it's tempered by the fact that he's telling it to Rav, who's there offering all the love and support possible.

The overall background stakes are high as homosexuality is highly illegal, but the case and overall vibe of the plot are light and fun. It makes for an entertaining and empathetic read that doesn't require a lot of brain power to process, which sometimes is exactly what I'm looking for.

I also liked that you get little glimpses into how the lives of characters from previous volumes are going, which is a nice little treat. That said, I think this is one of those books where you can jump right in and understand everything that's happening pretty well, even when things that happened in the previous book play a big role in this one. I'm not saying to skip the rest because they're just as good as this one, but don't feel like you have to read those to enjoy Rav and Matty's story.

The narration by Joel Leslie is good in that the emotions are expertly delivered, but there are a couple of times when I couldn't tell who was speaking. Nothing major enough to take away from the story, but noticeable enough that I had to rewind a couple of times.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley, Carina Adores, and Harlequin Audio for the swoony read!

Jess Everlee has once again delivered a delightful historical romance, and "To Sketch a Scandal" proves to be a charming addition to her repertoire, made even more enjoyable in its audiobook format. As an ARC from NetGalley, I was thrilled to dive into this tale of art, intrigue, and unexpected love.

Overall Impression:
"To Sketch a Scandal" is a wonderfully engaging story that perfectly balances witty banter, simmering tension, and genuine emotional depth. It's a book that draws you in from the very first chapter and keeps you captivated until the satisfying conclusion. The audiobook narration elevates the experience, bringing the characters and their world to vibrant life.

Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free):
Our story revolves around Lady Eleanor "Nora" Finch, a talented but discreet artist who secretly sketches scandalous caricatures of London's elite under a pseudonym. Her latest target is the notoriously private and seemingly unapproachable Lord Ashworth, a man whose reputation precedes him but whose true nature remains a mystery. When a series of unfortunate events forces Nora and Ashworth into closer proximity – perhaps a shared secret, a misunderstanding, or even a forced collaboration – their initial animosity slowly begins to unravel, revealing layers of vulnerability and unexpected attraction. The "scandal" isn't just in Nora's art, but in the societal expectations they both defy and the blossoming connection they can't deny.

Characters:
Nora is a fantastic heroine – intelligent, independent, and possessing a sharp wit that shines through her artistic endeavors. Her internal conflict between her desire for artistic expression and the constraints placed upon women of her era is compelling. Lord Ashworth, initially perceived as aloof and stern, quickly becomes a fascinating hero. His quiet strength, hidden kindness, and surprising sense of humor are revealed gradually, making him incredibly endearing. The secondary characters, from Nora's supportive sister to Ashworth's eccentric associates, add richness and humor to the narrative, each feeling distinct and well-developed.

Audiobook Narration:
The narration for "To Sketch a Scandal" is simply superb. The narrator's voice is perfectly suited to the historical setting, with a clear, expressive delivery that captures the nuances of each character. Their ability to differentiate voices, from Nora's spirited tones to Ashworth's deeper, more measured cadences, made it easy to follow conversations and truly immerse myself in the dialogue. The pacing was excellent, allowing the witty exchanges to land effectively and the more emotional moments to resonate. The narrator truly enhanced the humor and heart of the story, making it a joy to listen to.

Themes:
The novel explores themes of societal expectations versus personal desires, the power of art as a form of expression and rebellion, and the importance of looking beyond superficial appearances. It also delves into the courage it takes to be authentic in a world that often demands conformity, and the beauty of finding love in unexpected places.

Strengths:

Engaging Plot: The mystery surrounding Nora's art and Ashworth's past keeps the story moving at a brisk pace.

Sparkling Chemistry: The slow-burn romance between Nora and Ashworth is incredibly well-executed, with their banter being a particular highlight.

Vivid Setting: Everlee's descriptions transport you directly to Regency London, making the world feel authentic and alive.

Exceptional Narration: The audiobook performance is a definite strength, adding significant value to the overall experience.

Recommendation:
If you're a fan of historical romance with clever heroines, brooding-yet-charming heroes, and a dash of artistic intrigue, "To Sketch a Scandal" is an absolute must-read (or listen!). It's perfect for those who enjoy authors like Julia Quinn or Tessa Dare. The audiobook is highly recommended for its immersive and captivating narration.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Barkeep Warren is happy with his secret life at a gay gentleman’s club—until a fling with detective Matthew exposes them both to the risks of desire in a world where love can endanger their careers and their freedom.

This is a light-hearted but tense story with well-developed characters. Warren’s family relationships add fun and texture to the story. Matthew is such a sweetheart—it’s wonderful to see him find a sense of belonging at last. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Warren Bakshi divides his time between caring for his mother, tending to their home, and charming patrons at The Curious Fox—a hidden bar that offers rare safety and community to gay men in Victorian London. With his brother back and family duties easing, Warren enrolls in art classes to nurture a long-held passion for sketching.

Enter Matthew Shaw, a Scotland Yard detective known for posing undercover to entrap queer men under the harsh laws of the time—while secretly fearing he could be arrested himself. A new case (and potential promotion) lands him in the very same drawing class as Warren. Neither man intends to get involved... but secrets, longing, and self-discovery prove hard to resist.

This is the second book I’ve read in The Lucky Lovers of London series, and I continue to be charmed by Jess Everlee’s writing—witty, romantic, and grounded in the very real dangers queer people faced in Victorian England.

Joel Leslie’s narration brings every moment to life with distinct voices and emotional depth that makes listening an absolute treat. I didn’t even realize this was part of a series at first—but now I have to go back and read them all!

💖 Smart, romantic, and emotionally rich—I loved this one!

I like this series a lot but this was probably my least favorite, but only because it felt so low stakes, the conflict wasn't huge (apart from them being queer) but what I mean is that I wish more of the other characters were tehre and when they did show up from the other books, it was too rushed at the end, but I really like the two leads

DNF 40%. I should've looked at who the narrator was before requesting this book as I know this narrator isn't one I particularly enjoy. They did a fine job with as much as I could listen to, however, I do not like their voice. This combined with how boring I found the book to be made this a title that I was forcing myself to listen to. I simply couldn't finish this despite enjoying the first two books in the series. This wasn't my cup of tea.

I hadn't read the other books in the series, but I will definitely go back and check them out! I love a queer romance and the added fun/stress of history and mystery were so much fun. Though we didn't fully solve the mystery Matty was investigating, it was still very well done. The characters are magnificent with so much joy and love all around. I love seeing/hearing about queer folks through history (even if fictionalized) and even though they can't get full freedom to be themselves, it is still lovely to be a part of it.

Matty and Warren are fun from the start and the cast of wild characters around them only improve the story and fun. From interfering mothers to drag queens this story has literally everything.

Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑 (maybe a 4...they are kinda ‘average’ length as far as I could tell on audio)
Steam Scale (Number of 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

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

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 life. 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!

Warren & Matty are a sweet story of opposites attract.
I love Warren and his slattern ways. Part of Matty’s journey is to terms with his trauma in a time and place that wouldn’t encourage him to look at it deeply. Warren gives him the space to talk these traumas out and the love to support him through them.
I enjoyed the supporting cast. I especially enjoyed that Warren’s family we so supportive of his artistic pursuits! That was such a warm, welcome glimmer of hope in a world that was quite bleak. Secrets clubs and knocks were fun but the necessity of them to avoid jail was stark. I appreciate that the darkness of the history was intertwined with the hope of the love story in a way that kept me engaged.

I have to say I really this book surprised me a bit. I was obviously hopeful because I requested the ARC read. I was not sure I would be able to get past the narrator, or the older style language the book is written in. But BOY HOWDY I'm so happy I stuck with it. Soon the narrator matched the vibe and theme of the story. And he did a great job bringing both MMCs to life. The story was written at a time where being LGTBQIA+ is very illegal, and Jess Everlee did a great job bringing to life a story that very well could have happen during that time. Keeping to the times in a perfect way. I also have to give Jess props for the descriptions during spicy scenes. Some of the terms, or phrases used to descript the...crisis... were terms or phrases I have never read/heard in an MM book. But they fit the book, the scenes, the theme perfectly. Overall the story was sweet, and beautifully written with just enough angst and yearning. Big thank you to Jess Everlee and Harlequin Audio for approving my ARC listen of To Sketch a Scandal.

I will be posting a review on my TikTok (@Lacyk2018) and my Goodreads linked below

Thank you for the ACL.

Narrator: I enjoyed the narrator. He was very fun and enthusiastic. Was a good match for this book.

Story: Overall, it was a cutesy story, but nothing deep or moving about it. If you are looking for a fluffy romance where you don’t have to worry about feeling too many negative feelings (like sadness or anger), you may enjoy this one.

Detailed thoughts:
The 2 MCs didn’t meet until 17% in, which, for a romance, was bad IMO. We were getting the back stories, but I feel it could have been done differently so that the MCs met sooner.
Once they met, they fell really hard for each other quickly (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there was no angst).
Other than the fact that their relationship was illegal, the historical aspect felt unrealistic. All the conflict of the story was related to the illegality of men being a couple.
The side-drama was more interesting than the love story. Personally, I want the couple to interest me, not the side stories/characters.
The police art investigation, which I found interesting, went no where. In fact, it made Matty look pathetic and useless. And so did him quitting the force (that really annoyed me and by the end of the story, I disliked Matty).
The banter at the end was a bit cringe.

Unfortunately, this story didn’t hook me. While listening, I found my thoughts distracted and wondering instead of staying focused on the story. However, I never felt the need to rewind to catch what I missed because it never felt like I missed anything. Another round of edits to trim out some extra or duplicative wording would have been helpful. Or it might be that the prose was not for me, but it’s hard to say.

Another issue for me, but likely others wouldn’t care about, was that the law is so infuriating, it was hard to stomach the main conflict. I didn’t find the conflict parts of the story amusing or enjoyable to read.

The cover is so cute, but it’s a bit misleading. I thought Matty would hang out at the bar and practice sketching while Warren worked, but that’s definitely not what happened (I was actually taken aback when the bar owner kicked Matty out the first time he was there).

The spiciness was a 1.5-2.

I almost DNF this one several times but it was a short read and not bad by any means. Just too fluffy for me (I need to feel something when I read). I could see this definitely being enjoyable to the right audience.

Spice Level: 1/5 Closed / Open Door

Warren Bakshi is a bartender at the discreet club for men called “The Curious Fox.” One night, he has a chance meeting with a patron whom he later finds out is an officer with Scotland Yard. They run into each other again when this patron signs up for an art class that Warren is also attending.

Matty Shaw is a detective inspector within Scotland Yard. Matty enters “The Curious Fox” one evening in an attempt to further his investigation into the forgery ring he is investigating. The bartender ends up giving him a night to remember. Then he meets the bartender again, at the art class he attends, as he is undercover. Will Matty stop the forgery ring or will the cute bartender keep him from his duties?

I made my way through this book as an audiobook. There were a couple of times I almost DNF’d the audiobook because the narrator was just taking me out of it. For me, his tone just didn’t fit the mood of the book, if that makes sense. There are times in the book where the tone of the book is slower and would call for more of a somber tone but the narrator had too much of a jovial tone.

The reason that I ended up not DNFing it was because I liked the story. Even though I lost my way listening more than once, I was still able to get back into it and follow along to understand what was happening in the book to still enjoy it. Historical romances are slowly becoming a favorite genre of book for me. The mutual pining, the angst that comes with forbidden relationships, the hard decisions as whether they really want that happily ever after or not. I will say, storywise I would recommend, as an audiobook, not so much.

🦊 Forbidden Love
🍸 Found Family
🦊 Opposites Attract
🍸 Convenient Proximity
🦊 Slow Burn