Tag: Joanna Shupe

The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe

On By TracyIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), American Historical, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Heiress Hunt (The Fifth Avenue Rebels, #1)The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Fifth Avenue Rebels, #1

Release Date: March 9, 2021

Harrison Archer fled to Paris 3 years ago after being disowned by his father and then overhearing the woman he loves saying she thinks of him as a brother. Now his father is dead and Harrison returns to New York with only one thing on his mind – vengeance. Harrison has spent the last 3 years amassing a fortune and plans to buy out his family’s failing business from under them. But when he arrives home and learns that the only woman, he has ever loved is still unwed, he seemingly goes along with his mother’s demand that he marry an heiress to save the family’s fortunes. He goes as far as to ask Madeline “Maddie” Webster, his love, to help him find a bride, but make no mistake, the only woman Harrison will marry is Maddie.

Maddie was shocked and hurt when her best friend in the world up and left 3 years ago without a word, but she didn’t wallow in despair, no she made a plan – First she would take two years to become the best woman’s tennis professional in the States, then during her third “season” she would find a man to marry. And she has accomplished both, she is set to play in a national tennis tournament in June and she is on the cusp of getting engaged to the catch of the season, the Duke of Lockwood. Everything is going as planned until her long-lost best friend Harrison returns and asks her to help him find a bride. She agrees but doesn’t bargain for the feelings of seeing Harrison flirting with other women stirs up in her.

Harrison is determined to win Maddie, but he is never completely honest with her, so when they ended up married, it is no surprise to the reader when things outside the bedroom do not go well for them. Soon things come to a head and Harrison may have to face the possibility that he has lost Maddie forever.

Although the writing is great, this story was not for me. A relationship filled with miscommunication, secrets, lies, and characters jockeying for control does not make for an enjoyable romantic read – neither does a hero that gives up without a fight and decides life is not worth living without his love, yet he cables his mistress and tells her to expect him in about a week – WTH? I just can’t love a guy like that. I was so disappointed; I usually LOVE Joanna Shupe’s books – The Uptown Girls and The Four Hundred series are some of my favorite New York Gilded Age books of all time – but sadly, this book doesn’t reach the bar she set with her previous books. I did like all the secondary characters, I enjoyed the steamyish love scenes, and I liked the twist of having Maddie have a “career”. So, despite not loving this title, I have every intention of reading the future installments of this series with the fervent hope that this book was just a blip on an otherwise pristine record of successful novels.

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

The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe

On By TracyIn America's Gilded Age (1870-1900), American Historical, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Devil of Downtown (Uptown Girls, #3)The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Uptown Girls, #3

Release Date: June 30, 2020

Justine Greene is the youngest of the Greene sisters and compared to her vivacious sisters, she appears to be a little dull – but as they say – looks can be deceiving! Unlike her sisters in both looks and temperament, Justine spends her days helping the poor and forgotten of NYC. She also helps out with her brother-in-law Frank Tripp’s legal aid society – tracking down missing husbands. It is on such a case that she meets Jack Mulligan – the city’s biggest crime lord. After weeks of looking for Robert Gorcey who left his wife and five children without a word, she learns that he works for Jack and hopes to gain his help in getting Mr. Gorcey to take care of his responsibilities! Jack agrees, but wants a favor in exchange and won’t lift a finger to help unless she agrees.

Jack Mulligan was born with nothing and fought his way to the top, he is powerful and feared, but Justine Greene doesn’t appear to be impressed – which intrigues him. She grudgingly agrees to grant him a favor in the future and leaves. Jack shouldn’t give her another thought, he has problems of his own in the shape of an up-and-coming crime boss, Trevor O’Shaughnessy, a man that is testing the boundaries with Jack. But he can’t seem to get the little “do-gooder” out of his mind and has her followed. Days later he catches up with her to cash in his favor, he marvels at how much she does in the city and listens to her complain about not being able to get her police friend to help with a matter of a unfair factory owner. Jack buys her lunch and tells her that for his favor he wants to escort her to Frank’s fundraising gala – there is a man he wants to talk to that refuses to see him – Julius Hatcher – Justine agrees and demands an outrageous donation to boot – Jack agrees.

When her family learns of her interactions with Jack, they all warn her off – Mamie and Florence are sure he will hurt her and ruin her reputation, Frank and Clay are concerned for her safety – but they all underestimate Justine – she is stronger and braver than they could ever imagine and she refuses to stop seeing Jack. For his part, Jack is caught in Justine’s spell – he wants her, but more than just sexually, he likes her and enjoys her company – she is a light in his dark world and even as he knows he should let her go, he can’t seem to send her away. But when Jack gives Justine her greatest desire, she finally admits that she is changing into someone she doesn’t like and she walks away from him. Can he win her back?

This was a well written, fast paced, amazing read with very likable characters, red-hot love scenes, unexpected twists, wonderful secondary characters including cameos from Mamie, Frank, Florence, Clay and Julius Hatcher! I just loved this story, it was a wild ride from the first page until the last and is definitely my favorite in the series. This is the third book in the series and while it can be read as a stand-alone, do yourself a favor and read the books in order!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by the publisher.*