2.5 to 3 stars. My first book by this author, and I won't be racing out to read any more :( The description of the book sounded quite appealing. The p2.5 to 3 stars. My first book by this author, and I won't be racing out to read any more :( The description of the book sounded quite appealing. The plot and characters were reasonably interesting and *should* have worked.
But sadly, the whole thing fell a little flat for me. I never fully engaged with the MCs - somehow they just didn't come alive. There was plenty of romance, although not a lot of actual kissing and passion - I would have liked to see more on that front. Also, there was a little too much to-ing and fro-ing about how a duke in need of a fortune and a poor dressmaker could ever make things work. Yeah, yeah, alright, already. Let's get on with it!
Usually this trope is one I would find pretty ridiculous, actually, but the author did eventually convince that it was within the realms of possibility at this time and place in history. I also admit, I did enjoy the dress descriptions. It may have been too much in another HR, but here, as the h was a dressmaker, it fitted in well.
The writer has a slightly quirky writing style, and I didn't mind that, actually. If only her characters were more real for me, I think I might have liked this book a whole lot more.
I read this book for my June read for the HRBC Romance Across The Ages challenge - 'Gilded Age'.
Merged review:
2.5 to 3 stars. My first book by this author, and I won't be racing out to read any more :( The description of the book sounded quite appealing. The plot and characters were reasonably interesting and *should* have worked.
But sadly, the whole thing fell a little flat for me. I never fully engaged with the MCs - somehow they just didn't come alive. There was plenty of romance, although not a lot of actual kissing and passion - I would have liked to see more on that front. Also, there was a little too much to-ing and fro-ing about how a duke in need of a fortune and a poor dressmaker could ever make things work. Yeah, yeah, alright, already. Let's get on with it!
Usually this trope is one I would find pretty ridiculous, actually, but the author did eventually convince that it was within the realms of possibility at this time and place in history. I also admit, I did enjoy the dress descriptions. It may have been too much in another HR, but here, as the h was a dressmaker, it fitted in well.
The writer has a slightly quirky writing style, and I didn't mind that, actually. If only her characters were more real for me, I think I might have liked this book a whole lot more.
I read this book for my June read for the HRBC Romance Across The Ages challenge - 'Gilded Age'....more
3.5 stars, rounded down mainly because the sex scenes were too raunchy and explicit for my personal reading tastes. A couple of the scenes really surp3.5 stars, rounded down mainly because the sex scenes were too raunchy and explicit for my personal reading tastes. A couple of the scenes really surprised me with their detailed descriptions, and are not what I'm looking for in my historical romance reads. I quite enjoy reading sex scenes as part of the romance, but these were just too explicit. I know this clearly isn't a problem for many other readers though, and that's fine. Each to her own.
I didn't mind the storyline, and quite liked the Gilded Age setting. I also liked the two main characters, especially Katherine, who was a kind, friendly and honest person. Her 'going rogue' and looking for some fun in her life was understandable after being jilted the way she was.
I liked Preston's character too, except that he clearly engaged in criminal activities in his business dealings. This was seen as OK and even forgiven. I know this kind of bribery and forgery went on, and still does of course, when unscrupulous people think they can get away with it. But that doesn't make it right, and it made me uncomfortable. So Preston wasn't completely the wonderful hero I wanted him to be.
I did finish the book, and definitely enjoyed some aspects of it. But I'm not sure I'll read any more by this author, as her writing has become too saucy for my taste.
This was a May 2024 BOTM read for Historical Romance Book Club, 'Jilted' trope....more
3.5 stars. Quite a good story, although the ending felt a bit rushed, and the differences between hero and heroine seemed to evaporate rather too sudd3.5 stars. Quite a good story, although the ending felt a bit rushed, and the differences between hero and heroine seemed to evaporate rather too suddenly. I did quite enjoy the unexpected twists and turns of the plot though.
I liked the setting and unusual occupations of the MCs. The heroine's sunny nature made her very likeable, although the patriotism angle felt a little overdone at times. The hero's brother, Luke, and his sister Caroline, both clearly have their stories yet to be told, although I'm not sure whether I'll read more from the series. Maybe at some point. ...more
Not bad overall, but I had a couple of issues. I found it hard to accept that Mamie still planned to marry the horrible Chauncey for quite a long timeNot bad overall, but I had a couple of issues. I found it hard to accept that Mamie still planned to marry the horrible Chauncey for quite a long time after she clearly should have dumped him. Some characters also seemed to have sudden personality changes near the end of the book, and for me the groundwork hadn't been laid well enough for this to be convincing.
Oh well, it wasn't a bad book, just not my fav by this author.
I read this book for the HRBC Romance Across the Ages Challenge, October 2021, theme: Americana-Gilded Age....more
3 to 3.5 stars. Not bad. I enjoyed Professor Moore, although he and his family did seem a little exaggerated and too good to be true at times. Some of3 to 3.5 stars. Not bad. I enjoyed Professor Moore, although he and his family did seem a little exaggerated and too good to be true at times. Some of the tropes were a little cliched, like the heartless money-grubbing Gilded Age Upper Crust parents. (Weren't any of them ever kind to their children?) Still, the story moved along well enough and kept me reading right through to the end....more
It took me a while to get through this one. It was a fairly 'meaty' read. Set in the 1890s, it begins in the US, the time of the 'Gilded Age'. AlthougIt took me a while to get through this one. It was a fairly 'meaty' read. Set in the 1890s, it begins in the US, the time of the 'Gilded Age'. Although it's fiction, some have suggested the MC, Cora Cash, extraordinarily rich American 'princess', is loosely based on the real-life Consuelo Vanderbilt, who also married an English duke.
Although it's a fascinating period to read about, I didn't really enjoy the first section of the book. This was mainly due to the repulsive character of Cora's mother. She was depicted as desperate to marry her daughter off to a title, preferably a duke, and nothing was going to stand in her way. Mrs Cash is shown to be extremely bullying towards Cora, her only child. Manipulative, controlling, cruel, vulgar, overly competitive, egotistical, are all words that could be used to describe her. Cora seemed like a reasonable enough person, but her character was quite flat beside her revolting mother. I wanted to see more of Cora's personality shine through, and I wanted to see far less of her horrible parents. (Her father brazenly had a string of mistresses, buying his wife off with new jewellery each time he got a new mistress. Ugh!!)
Once the Cashes moved to England (so Cora could ensnare her 'title'), the story took a more interesting turn. Cora soon met Ivo, Duke of Wareham, and they were genuinely attracted to each other. Cora in fact fell in love with Ivo and was eager to marry him. But the writer revealed little about the real nature of Ivo, and readers are left uncertain of his true feelings for much of the book. It is clear he likes, perhaps even loves Cora, but what are his real motives? It is not until the very end of this quite long book that we actually find out. Obviously this is to create some suspense and to sustain the storyline, but this reader found it very frustrating. I wanted very much to see more of the inner workings of Ivo and Cora's relationship, and yes, I wanted more romance. It was all a bit too cool and unknowable for most of the book.
Bertha, Cora's African-American personal maid, was an interesting character, and a device that enabled us to see the 'below stairs' workings of the great houses, as well as a little of Cora's inner life. But other characters were almost as repulsive as Mrs Cash. Ivo's mother, Duchess Fanny, for example, was just awful. So cruel to both her son and to her new daughter-in-law. And Charlotte was also a nasty and unpleasant piece of work; cold and calculating and underhand.
One thing I didn't like about the book was the slighting references to the 'old world' English characters and places. The debutantes (apart from a few beauties) were described as if they were mostly ugly, inbred, insipid. The servants were mean and set in their ways. The houses were damp and crumbling etc etc. Only the Americans, it seemed, were healthy and attractive and had comfortable houses. While no doubt there were elements of truth here (!) the generalisations annoyed me and seemed disrespectful.
So the plethora of unlikeable characters didn't make for the most enjoyable read. I'm even on the fence about Ivo, as he did not give Cora the support and kindness she needed, even though he supposedly loved her. It didn't feel like it! Overall I think the book had a lot of potential, but I read a review that called it 'tepid', and I think that's how I found it too. Where was the passion and the deeply moving romance? Not in this book.......
Having said all of that, I think this kind of story could be made into a terrific TV mini-series. With a hot actor and actress playing the leads, it might bring some much-needed life to the slightly flat book as it is. I did enjoy the book on some levels, and I did finish the whole thing, but I was left with quite a few frustrations and reservations....more
The third book in Joanna Shupe's 'Gilded Age' series. Out of the three, I enjoyed #1, Magnate the most, although I have liked the other two as well, jThe third book in Joanna Shupe's 'Gilded Age' series. Out of the three, I enjoyed #1, Magnate the most, although I have liked the other two as well, just not as much.
Calvin Cabot is a self-made man who had an interesting childhood, growing up in Christian poverty as the only child of peripatetic missionaries. He spent much of his early life in China, where he learnt to speak the local language, but also caught malaria, a disease that still revisits him from time to time. Now living in New York, Calvin has made himself into a highly successful newspaper mogul, owning and managing three big newspapers.
A few years earlier, when he was still a humble reporter, Calvin met Lillian Davies, only daughter of a rich man who had made his fortune in silver-mining. The two of them hit it off immediately, even though at first they know almost nothing about each other. But their attraction burnt hot, and they soon eloped. During their passionate honeymoon, (view spoiler)[Lillian's father arrives and blackmails/ bribes Calvin to annul the marriage. (hide spoiler)]The reasons Calvin agrees to it are complicated, and the rest of the plot hangs on those reasons.
The story opens a few years later. Lillian and Calvin have seen little of each other in the interlude, but both of them had struggled deeply to try to get over it and forget the other. Lillian was made to think (by her father) that Calvin is a money-grubbing b*stard who just used her, but deep inside she still actually loves him and wants to forgive him.
Part of this story involves Chinatown and the mafia-like society of 'Tongs'. This was an interesting aspect of the story for me. And I did like both Lillian and Calvin as MCs. But about half-way through the book, my interest started to flag a little. I actually put the book down for a couple of months at that point. I picked it up again recently as a part of a buddy read, and decided to start from the beginning again. It didn't actually take me long to read the whole thing this time.
I think my main problem with the book was the overly complicated plot that was resolved just too neatly and quickly. I also did not like the way Calvin had lied to Lillian repeatedly and over a long period of time (although he did have reasons), but at the end she suddenly forgave all, and everything was smelling of roses. It was too pat and not convincing to me.
The whole ending section seemed rushed. It was fast-moving and dramatic (I guess that's what the author was aiming for), almost filmic in fact. But then suddenly it was all over. What??? And (view spoiler)[the missing Chinese wife was suddenly there, and saved! And Lillian abandoned the mining company and was going to become a newspaper owner. And the nasty Mr Lee and his cronies were carted off to jail. (hide spoiler)] There was no lead-up to some of these events - they seemed to pop up from nowhere. I was left with unanswered questions. How would Tom and his wife deal with the prejudice? Why hadn't the police raided Mr Lee before? How would Lillian deal with (view spoiler)[ being a newspaper mogul herself? After all, what did she know about running a newspaper??? (hide spoiler)]
So, I like Joanna Shupe's writing overall. Her characters and settings are great, and she can write a hot sex scene. But the plotting isn't always as good - overly complicated at times, then too easily resolved. Still, I will continue to read her books.
1.5 to 2 stars. This little novella was a disappointment for me. I've enjoyed the rest of the series, the Knickerbocker Club, but this one suffered fr1.5 to 2 stars. This little novella was a disappointment for me. I've enjoyed the rest of the series, the Knickerbocker Club, but this one suffered from the common ailments of novellas. It felt rushed, and the plot and the romance lacked development or credibility. I didn't feel I knew these characters, or cared very much about them. (In fact I've already forgotten their names LOL). It's a pity, because novellas CAN be done well - I have read a few really good ones. But not this one :(
To me, the quality of the writing just wasn't there. I know Ms Shupe can write well, as evidenced in books like Magnate, but this one seemed a little amateurish. It was a freebie, so no complaints about that, but really, I wish I hadn't bothered. ...more
3.5 stars. Although I didn't like this book quite as much as the first one in the series, (Magnate) it was still an enjoyable read. It did drag a litt3.5 stars. Although I didn't like this book quite as much as the first one in the series, (Magnate) it was still an enjoyable read. It did drag a little in the middle and I took a break from reading, but when I came back to finish it I found the pace picked up and I was happy with the ending.
I loved the H, Will, brother of Lizzie from Magnate. He is gorgeous. So hung up on proving himself to his dead father, but under the surface a caring, vulnerable and highly sensuous man. I was a bit less in love with Ava, the h of this one. So much was made of her poor background and her harsh life in the slums. Too much, IMO. Although this aspect of life in the Gilded Age is interesting, it formed too much a part of this book for my interest to be sustained.
I also found the whole business with Madame Zolikoff a bit annoying. Basically Ava was acting as a confidence trickster, and that made me uncomfortable. Yes she was shown to be acting in people's best interests in the fake advice she gave them, but I still didn't like it. A bit too sleazy and shady for me.
I did like the way Will's growth and development as a person was depicted through the book. At the start, there was no way you could see the two of them ending up together, but Will was eventually (view spoiler)[ willing to give up pretty much everything for her. (hide spoiler)] And I did feel satisfied that, yes, the HEA was convincing and made sense. So overall, a very good read....more
I liked the Gilded Age setting, NYC in the 1880s. The wealthy had access to electricity, gas and the telephone! Although they stiA reread. 3.5 stars.
I liked the Gilded Age setting, NYC in the 1880s. The wealthy had access to electricity, gas and the telephone! Although they still had to travel in carriages, apart from the extensive railroad network of course.
Emmett is a self-made man who literally came from nothing to be one of the wealthiest 'new' rich of New York. His childhood was difficult and deprived, but through determination, talent and ruthlessness he has made a huge success of himself. However he is still looked down on by the 'old money' snobs.
In contrast, Lizzie comes from 'old money' and belongs to the upper class of New York. But Lizzie has always felt like a fish out of water. She has little time for the empty-headed fripperies and useless socialising with which her strait-laced brother and guardian expects her to fill her days. Lizzie has a brain, and she wants to use it. Although upper class women of this period rarely worked outside the home, Lizzie is determined to do so, by opening her own financial advice business for women. She secretly visits magnate Emmett Cavanaugh to ask for a start-up loan. They are instantly attracted to each other, and the story proceeds from there.
It's not all smooth sailing for their romance of course, with Emmett especially having trust issues due to his past experiences. But of course everything is eventually resolved for their HEA.
Although there were some minor quibbles, I enjoyed the reread. I liked the setting and the trope, and the characters were well-drawn on the whole. IMO one of Ms Shupe's better books....more