A Rulebook for Restless Rogues: A Victorian Romance

by Jess Everlee

Overview

A PASTE MUST-READ ROMANCE BOOK OF 2023

“Readers will want to savor every word of Everlee’s splendid debut, the launch of her Lucky Lovers of London series, like a fine vintage wine.”
—Booklist, on The Gentleman's Book of Vices

Jess Everlee follows up her sparkling debut The Gentleman's Book of Vices with this charming queer historical romp, in which two lifelong best friends find romance as they join forces to save the one place where they can truly be themselves.

London, 1885

David Forester and Noah Clarke have been best friends since boarding school. All grown up now, clever, eccentric Noah is Savile Row’s most promising young tailor, while former socialite David runs an underground queer club, The Curious Fox.

Nothing makes David happier than to keep the incense lit, the pianist playing and all his people comfortable, happy and safe until they stumble out into the dawn. But when the unscrupulous baron who owns the Fox moves to close it, David’s world comes crashing down.

Noah’s never feared a little high-stakes gambling, but as he risks his own career in hopes of helping David, he realizes two things:

One: David has not been honest about how he ended up at The Curious Fox in the first place.

Two: Noah’s feelings for David have become far more than friendly.

What future lies beyond those first furtive kisses? Noah and David can hardly wait to find out…if they can untangle David from his web of deception without losing everything Noah has worked for.

Lucky Lovers of London

Book 1: The Gentleman's Book of Vices
Book 2: A Rulebook for Restless Rogues

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781335680006
Publisher:	Carina Press
Publication date:	07/11/2023
Series:	Lucky Lovers of London , #2
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	297,922
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 5.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Jess Everlee writes decadent romance from the Northeast Ohio split-level she shares with her small family of furballs and fellow humans. She holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University, where she studied English and Gender Studies, focusing on Victorian Literature and public health topics. She has a deep love of interesting art, offbeat communities, and admittedly pretentious coffee brewing systems. Find her at www.jesseverlee.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/24/2023

Everlee’s fabulous second Lucky Lovers of London Victorian romance (after The Gentleman’s Book of Vices) takes the series to new heights. It follows boarding school friends David Forester and Noah Clarke in their post-school life as, respectively, the proprietor of a “molly house,” an underground queer club, and an utterly respectable tailor on Savile Row. In-depth historical details enhance a classic friends-to-lovers tale as the men navigate Victorian social mores. Most refreshing is Everlee’s commitment to portraying gender fluidity in her characters—several of whom are drag queens—which not only make the characters themselves satisfyingly complex and endearing but also makes the sex scenes more interesting and intense. Gratifying also is the refusal to create unnecessary conflict between the main characters: instead, Everlee lets the men work together to overcome outside obstacles, a far more gripping and, in the end, satisfying arc. Equally sweet and steamy, this will delight Everlee’s fans while enticing many new ones. Agent: Laura Zats, Headwater Literary. (July)

Publishers Weekly

Everlee’s fabulous second Lucky Lovers of London Victorian romance (after The Gentleman’s Book of Vices) takes the series to new heights... Equally sweet and steamy, this will delight Everlee’s fans while enticing many new ones.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review


“Everlee’s sophomore effort expands and improves on her debut, The Gentleman’s Book of Vices, creating a sweet story with a sexy romance that deeply explores the queer friendship and love between Noah and David while maintaining a suspenseful atmosphere throughout.” —Library Journal


"[A] sweet and satisfying romance." —BookPage

“After wowing readers with A Gentleman’s Book of Vices (2022), the first in her Victorian-era Lucky Lovers of London series, Everlee returns with a stunningly romantic, superbly sensual friends-to-lovers story that brilliantly makes use of the book’s thoughtfully rendered characters and their search for love and acceptance.”—Booklist

From the Publisher

05/01/2023

David Forester and Noah Clarke have been friends since boarding school, but their lives have taken very different turns. In 1885 London, David is the proprietor of the Curious Fox, a gathering place for queer men, and takes pride in looking out for his many friends and patrons and keeping them safe from the long arm of the law. Noah Clarke is a tailor in a prestigious business on Savile Row, making sober suits by day and visiting the Fox on weekends as "Miss Penelope." Though David and Noah have been in love with each other for years, old wounds and miscommunications have kept the two men from acting on their feelings. When the owner of the Fox threatens to sell it out from under David and his patrons, David and Noah are torn between responsibility, safety, and following their hearts. Everlee's sophomore effort expands and improves on her debut, The Gentleman's Book of Vices, creating a sweet story with a sexy romance that deeply explores the queer friendship and love between Noah and David while maintaining a suspenseful atmosphere throughout. VERDICT Readers who look for friends-to-lovers romance and stories of queer community will enjoy.—Sierra Wilson

Library Journal