The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Fifth Avenue Rebels, #2

Release Date: October 26, 2021

While attending a house party hosted by the Websters at their Newport “chapeau”, Boston heiress Alice Lusk makes a decision that will change her life. After years of verbal and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother, Alice is determined to marry – but she wants a man who will love her for herself, not her father’s money. So, she figures her best bet is to seduce a man, but how does a painfully shy, insecure, proper young lady do such a thing? By hiring the man her hostess’ daughter swears can turn even the shyest woman into a vixen – Christopher “Kit” Ward.

Kit is a self-described scoundrel, a playboy with charm, good looks, and money to spare and in no rush to change. So, when the pretty little wallflower asks for help, he is ready to send her on her way, but then he learns she is close friends with the famous Fifth Ave Hotel chef, Angelo Franconi – the very man Kit and his business partner and friend Preston have been trying to hire for their supper club! Alice makes it clear, chef Franconi will never leave the hotel, but she is sure she could persuade him to sell the men some of his famous recipes, as well as the rights to use his name and in exchange, she wants Kit to teach her how to attract a man.

Kit agrees and the two begin, but Kit is unprepared for his reaction to Alice and he aggressively fights his growing attraction. Things heat up between them, but they both know that nothing will ever come from it, and if Alice ever wants to follow her dream of running her own kitchen, she needs to marry, something that Kit has made quite clear he will never do. They return to New York, assuming they will never see each other again. Kit can’t deny he is jealous when he learns that Alice is being courted, but he stubbornly refuses to consider a future with her. But when Kit needs help, Alice offers to step in and cook for his club’s opening night and their passion burns bright and won’t be denied – but even one glorious night is not enough to change Kit’s mind about marriage and once more they part ways. It seems like Kit’s insecurities will cost him the love of a lifetime, but an unexpected tragedy and some no-nonsense advice, make him realize that Alice is exactly what he needs – but is it too late?

This book was fantastic! I loved it so much and am so glad I didn’t pass on it after my disappointment with the previous installment of this series. This book is nearly perfect, it is well-written, perfectly paced, filled with witty banter, extremely likable leads, steamy love scenes, a bit of heartache, insecurities, an overbearing, nasty mother, wonderful secondary characters, and a HEA that is sure to put a smile on your face. This is the second book in the series and part of the book runs concurrently with the first book, but this book can easily be read as a standalone title – however if you don’t want spoilers, read the books in order! I highly recommend this title and cannot wait for the next installment!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*