[Review] The Prince of Broadway, by Joanna Shupe

Title: The Prince of Broadway
Series: Uptown Girls #2
Author: Joanna Shupe
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: December 30th 2019

Synopsis:

In the second novel in Joanna Shupe's the Uptown Girl series, a ruthless casino owner bent on revenge finds his plans upended by a beautiful women who proves to be more determined than he is—and too irresistible to deny.

Powerful casino owner.
Ruthless mastermind.
Destroyer of men.

He lives in the shadows...

As the owner of the city's most exclusive casino, Clayton Madden holds the fortunes of prominent families in the palms of his hands every night. There is one particular family he burns to ruin, however, one that has escaped his grasp... until now.

She is society's darling...

Florence Greene is no one's fool. She knows Clayton Madden is using her to ruin her prestigious family... and she's using him right back. She plans to learn all she can from the mysterious casino owner—then open a casino of her own just for women.

With revenge on his mind, Clay agrees to mentor Florence. However, she soon proves more adept—and more alluring—than Clay bargained for. When his plans are threatened, Clay must decide if he is willing to gamble his empire on love.

Review:

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

Just under a 4 out of 5 rating, this book tells the story of Felicity Green, who wants to own a women’s casino during the Gilded Age. Smart woman that she is, she decided to ask Clayton, who already owns a casino, to teach her.

Clay has a revenge story against her father, and that gets in the way of the happy ending, but in the end he does the right thing – of course.

Although I enjoyed this book, it wasn’t a favourite. Clay’s revenge sometimes pushed things in a way that was too much, and Felicity was a bit annoying at parts, as she behaved in ways that didn’t feel very realistic.

I did love the voyeurism scene, it was super sexy! The good times delivered, as usual.

The end felt just right for everyone, and it’s very refreshing to have different goals and results than what we are used to – mind, it’s still a HEA, just not a “married with kids” HEA, which would not have suited our main couple.

Definitely a big part in this series, Felicity and Clay’s story is one of social class differences, revenge, following your goals, and knowing when to compromise without losing focus.

[Review] The Devil of Downtown, by Joanna Shupe

Title The Devil of Downtown
Series: Uptown Girls #3
Author: Joanna Shupe
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: June 30th 2020

Synopsis:

The final novel in Joanna Shupe's critically acclaimed Uptown Girl series about a beautiful do-gooder who must decide if she can team up with one of New York's brashest criminals without losing something irreplaceable: her heart.

Manhattan kingpin.
Brilliant mastermind.
Gentleman gangster.

He's built a wall around his heart...

Orphaned and abandoned on the Bowery's mean streets, Jack Mulligan survived on strength, cunning, and ambition. Now he rules his territory better than any politician or copper ever could. He didn't get here by being soft. But in uptown do-gooder Justine Greene―the very definition of an iron fist in a velvet glove―Jack may have met his match.

She wears hers on her sleeve...

Justine is devoted to tracking down deadbeat husbands and fighting for fair working conditions. When her mission brings her face-to-face with Jack, she's shocked to find the man behind the criminal empire is considerably more charming and honorable than many "gentlemen" she knows.

Forming an unlikely alliance, they discover an unexpected desire. And when Justine's past catches up with them, Jack may be her only hope of survival. Is she ready to make a deal with the devil...?

Review:

I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

I loved this book so much I couldn’t even write the review when I finished as I was so excited I couldn’t keep still enough to actually sit in front of a computer.

When I finished The Devil of Downtown my first thought was… I want to read it again! That’s how much I loved it.

I’ve always loved a bad boy who is good for his love and/or has a heart of gold. Jack Mulligan… doesn’t have a heart of gold, but he does like Justine and he doesn’t want to see her hurt.

Jack Mulligan “rules” downtown New York. His character is based on a real man, Paul Kelly. Here is an image of Paul Jelly [on the left, image from wikipedia], and an image of Vincent Piazza [on the right], who plays Lucky Luciano on the tv series Boardwalk Empire, which the author, Joanna Shupe, has mentioned she used as an inspiration for Jack:

For fans of the series Pecky Blinders, Jack is also quite similar to Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy:

And if Jack Mulligan is the devil of downtown, Justine is the do-gooder, the angel. While he deals in favours, blackmail, and balance of power, she deals in the business of helping people just because they need it.

Justine works at an institution where she helps women whose husbands abandoned them and their children either return, or pay retribution. It’s in her work that she meets Jack, as one of the men employed by him abandoned his wife, and kids. Jack doesn’t like having someone talking to his employers, and he makes a deal with Justine that this man will pay to support his wife and children, if she owes him a favour, which he can collect at any point. She hates not knowing what might happen, but she has no other choice.

Jack respects Justine because she stands her ground, she challenges him – and she is able to do this because she knows Jack does not hurt women or children. She believes he will not break his “code”, but still Jack thinks she is incredible just by behaving like that. You go Justine!

All throughout the book there is this motto that Jack will corrupt Justine, that he’s a spider and will get her stuck in his web without her noticing. And, in a way… that does happen. But Justine realizes what happened and she didn’t like the person she was becoming. It was a heartbreaking scene. Have I mentioned I cried in this book? More than once, actually. But I still loved it!

They had such an amazing chemistry, Jack exudes sexiness, and Justine, whom most people considered plain, was like an avenging angel, and had this sexual energy that just appealed so much to Jack.

I know some people will not be happy with the end… but for me it was perfect. Because they both acknowledge that for them to be together, things have to change, at least slightly.

Although I’m an only child, I really connected with Justine, and understood her very well. And Jack just connected with me in all the right ways.

The sisters of the previous books are also in The Devil of Downtown, but I paid almost no attention to them. They were just plot points to make us understand Justine better, in my opinion.

I just loved this book so much, the essence of New York, and blackmail, and the power, and the sexiness.. It was pretty much perfect.



P.S. for anyone that would like to know more about New York, Jack Mulligan, Justine, and just gilded age history, Joanna Shupe did a life video on facebook, which you can watch HERE.

[Review] A Daring Arrangement, by Joanna Shupe

Title A Daring Arrangement
Series: The Four Hundred #1
Author: Joanna Shupe
Publisher: Avon
Number of pages: 384
Publication date: October 31st 2017

Synopsis:

Set in New York City’s Gilded Age, Joanna Shupe’s Avon debut introduces an English beauty with a wicked scheme to win the man she loves—and the American scoundrel who ruins her best laid plans…

Lady Honora Parker must get engaged as soon as possible, and only a particular type of man will do. Nora seeks a mate so abhorrent, so completely unacceptable, that her father will reject the match—leaving her free to marry the artist she desires. Who then is the most appalling man in Manhattan? The wealthy, devilishly handsome financier, Julius Hatcher, of course….

Julius is intrigued by Nora’s ruse and decides to play along. But to Nora’s horror, Julius transforms himself into the perfect fiancé, charming the very people she hoped he would offend. It seems Julius has a secret plan all his own—one that will solve a dark mystery from his past, and perhaps turn him into the kind of man Nora could truly love.

Review:

I received an eARC at no cost from the author, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

I haven't read a book that made me feel this good in a long time! I feel all giddy and happy inside! Just like the characters at the end of the book! Julius is probably one of my new favourite heros! And Nora is so brave and exciting! They match each other so well.

I think it was such a good book that's going to give me a book hungover. I'm so drowsy from reading it that I just feel like I'm in the clouds. I don't even know what to write, I just want everyone to read it and enjoy it as much as I did!