A Rulebook for Restless Rogues
A Victorian Romance
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
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
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. 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.
