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The Scandal of Rose
When actress Rose O'Donahue agrees to become the mistress of the formidable tycoon Moore Emerson, she knows the part all too well: fancy champagne, opulent parties, and late nights full of wickedness.
The arrangement with Moore suits her perfectly. He’s generous and caring, a fantastic lover. Best of all, she’ll soon have enough money saved to secure her future independence for good.
Except Rose has made a terrible mistake.
She’s fallen in love with him.
And now he’s betrothed to someone else.
The arrangement with Moore suits her perfectly. He’s generous and caring, a fantastic lover. Best of all, she’ll soon have enough money saved to secure her future independence for good.
Except Rose has made a terrible mistake.
She’s fallen in love with him.
And now he’s betrothed to someone else.
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2024
99 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Shupe
29 books2,576 followersWant a free Gilded Age read? Sign up for Joanna's newsletter and receive a link for The Knickerbocker Bride. You'll also be the first to hear about new books and discounts!
http://www.joannashupe.com/newsletter/
USA Today bestselling author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. Since 2015, her books have appeared on numerous yearly “best of” lists, including Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Kobo, and BookPage.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and a dashing husband.
http://www.joannashupe.com/newsletter/
USA Today bestselling author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. Since 2015, her books have appeared on numerous yearly “best of” lists, including Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Kobo, and BookPage.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and a dashing husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
October 2, 2024
4.5/5. Releases 10/2/24.
Heat Index: 7.5/10
Vibes:
—mistress/rich man
—age gap (hes 38, she’s 19)
—illicit affairs
The Basics:
When actress Rose is approached by tycoon Alfred “Moore” Emerson III, she knows she can be nothing more than his nistress. She certainly doesn’t intend to fall in love with him. But when Moore gets pressured to marry the “right” kind of woman, he and Rose need to confront what they actually mean to each other.
The Review:
Novellas are trickier than people think. You have less pagetime, and you’re trying to convey a story that’s just as impactful as what your readers find in a full-length book. Joanna Shupe is one of the few authors I’ve read who consistently knocks her novellas out of the park, and The Scandal of Rose is no exception.
The premise here is simple, but it’s somehow not something we see enough of in historical romance. How many mistress heroines have you read about? Not many. And a lot of the time, the books that do center a mistress feature that life as part of her tragic backstory. She’s not going to end up with the man she’s with, right?
Here, Moore and Rose begin a relationship that is truly based on this immediate chemistry, major physical attraction, only for it to blossom into something more serious. I really love that, while Moore is like “YIKES @ ME” about their age gap, it ultimately isn’t what the story is about. It’s about two people building a gun, genuine connection and Rose demanding respect.
I’d definitely call this a heroine-forward book. While Moore is super sexy and charming, the story belongs to Rose. She’s smart, assertive, and vicacious—always taking the lead. However, that doesn’t stop her from being vulnerable and sweetly human. I so enjoyed her.
And you know what? She’s the kind of girl who deserves a proper grovel. Thank God she gets one! The grovel here is DELIGHTFUL.
The Sex:
This is quite a hot book, as you’d expect from Joanna Shupe. I mean. We open on this man going down on her right after coming inside her. Come on now.
You get a You Oughta Know moment (iykyk), some desk shenanigans, YACHT shenanigans… Joanna, take your time, but we needed you back in the historical game BADLY.
Joanna is back in the Gilded Age with a fun, sexy book. It’s the perfect solution for a reading slump; it’s not overly complicated, and it IS super fun and tightly written.
Thanks to Joanna Shupe for providing me with. acopy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Heat Index: 7.5/10
Vibes:
—mistress/rich man
—age gap (hes 38, she’s 19)
—illicit affairs
The Basics:
When actress Rose is approached by tycoon Alfred “Moore” Emerson III, she knows she can be nothing more than his nistress. She certainly doesn’t intend to fall in love with him. But when Moore gets pressured to marry the “right” kind of woman, he and Rose need to confront what they actually mean to each other.
The Review:
Novellas are trickier than people think. You have less pagetime, and you’re trying to convey a story that’s just as impactful as what your readers find in a full-length book. Joanna Shupe is one of the few authors I’ve read who consistently knocks her novellas out of the park, and The Scandal of Rose is no exception.
The premise here is simple, but it’s somehow not something we see enough of in historical romance. How many mistress heroines have you read about? Not many. And a lot of the time, the books that do center a mistress feature that life as part of her tragic backstory. She’s not going to end up with the man she’s with, right?
Here, Moore and Rose begin a relationship that is truly based on this immediate chemistry, major physical attraction, only for it to blossom into something more serious. I really love that, while Moore is like “YIKES @ ME” about their age gap, it ultimately isn’t what the story is about. It’s about two people building a gun, genuine connection and Rose demanding respect.
I’d definitely call this a heroine-forward book. While Moore is super sexy and charming, the story belongs to Rose. She’s smart, assertive, and vicacious—always taking the lead. However, that doesn’t stop her from being vulnerable and sweetly human. I so enjoyed her.
And you know what? She’s the kind of girl who deserves a proper grovel. Thank God she gets one! The grovel here is DELIGHTFUL.
The Sex:
This is quite a hot book, as you’d expect from Joanna Shupe. I mean. We open on this man going down on her right after coming inside her. Come on now.
You get a You Oughta Know moment (iykyk), some desk shenanigans, YACHT shenanigans… Joanna, take your time, but we needed you back in the historical game BADLY.
Joanna is back in the Gilded Age with a fun, sexy book. It’s the perfect solution for a reading slump; it’s not overly complicated, and it IS super fun and tightly written.
Thanks to Joanna Shupe for providing me with. acopy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 18, 2025
Another girlboss Shupe novella. Still trying to figure out if she thinks her readers are stupid or if she genuinely feels like she has to lecture people in her novels. I am a hater but I am an educated hater, so I will be finishing her uptown series, same as I finished Sarah MacLean’s bare knuckle bastard series!
Mistresses and courtesans deserve more representation in HR, but not like this imho!
More thoughts w/spoilers:
This is very steamy, Shupe does deliver on the spice in most of her books. But this drags, I don’t get why she didn’t just make this a full novel?
Also this is in first person which I don’t really like for HR personally lol. along with Shupe’s other modernisms in her books that drive me insane, it just takes me even more out of the historical setting. I’ve said it a million times, I will say it again: I am not interested in reading historical fiction where the author takes 21st century people and places them in a historical characters body.
Shupe contradicts herself and her heroines in like every book of hers I’ve read. Rose has baggage because a guy from her hometown got her to sleep with him by promising her marriage, and then was like “jk”. Now she has this rule that she only sleeps with men once, and wants to make it herself and never rely on a man. Okay fine, I can buy that.
“I only sleep with men for fun, not profit.” Would it not make more sense for her “jaded” character to sleep with men for profit? Not that I find that to be empowering, but in the spirit of the times, would it not make more sense? Upon even further reflection, it just comes off as Schupe being too cowardly to make her MC a full sex worker. "oh I totally support sex work, but I'd never have my fmc do it." lol okay.
But following that logic, when she’s offered the whale that is being Moore’s mistress, she doesn’t want it because she doesn’t want to be tied down I guess? But like dude, he bought you a house - do what Nell Gwynn and other mistresses have done throughout history, and buy goods with his money that can be liquidated. The house is in your name. Like it’s supposed to be an empowering thing, saying no, but at the start she doesn’t want anything from him to sleep with him? Why are you trying to sleep with him in the first place then? And if you feel so guilty about it, use the money to help others women? She even says at one point she wants to start a boarding house to help protect transplants safe from predatory houses. Okay, so do that??
Besides the weird, contradictory vibes around sex work in this, the other I guess more “intellectual” thought I have when I read these books is “what is true female empowerment?” Is it using men and your body to make a lot of money? Or the opposite, withholding sex? Or only sleeping with someone once and cutting off any emotions? Or is it having a loving husband to spend your life with? I don’t think I can answer that, but is sure as hell isn’t the type of empowerment being shown to me in these books.
Also, she’s “independent” and doesn’t need his money, but there is no way she’s making that much as an actress in that time to be exactly well off? She even says herself that she knows she’ll age out of the profession. Idk, there is a reason why actresses of that time period often had a wealthy “protector” and why the profession was so scandalous for a woman!
This is the same issue I had with “sold to the duke”. Both heroines in these novellas are offered financial help, which any impoverished woman would’ve killed for, but they both deny it because “pride”. Whether it’s 1890s London or NYC, the conditions poor people were living in this time period were absolutely abysmal. For both of these heroines to turn down what could be used to help others, rubs me the wrong way. It’s Shupes attempt at feminism I guess, but it’s very white woman feminism and feels incredibly pandering, and also shitty sex work representation - she tries to have her FMC's skirt the line of actually being sex workers while trying to say she's not judging or shaming anyone who does it/would've done it in that time period.
The reason this got two stars instead of one is because I was moved emotionally when Moore tells Rose he’s engaged but then is like “don’t worry we can still bang”. When she talks about how she’s good for a fuck but not enough to marry, I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling, I get it that sucks. I understood her conflict there and thought it made sense and I'm sure it's a real feeling that a woman in that kind of situation would've had.
Mistresses and courtesans deserve more representation in HR, but not like this imho!
More thoughts w/spoilers:
This is very steamy, Shupe does deliver on the spice in most of her books. But this drags, I don’t get why she didn’t just make this a full novel?
Also this is in first person which I don’t really like for HR personally lol. along with Shupe’s other modernisms in her books that drive me insane, it just takes me even more out of the historical setting. I’ve said it a million times, I will say it again: I am not interested in reading historical fiction where the author takes 21st century people and places them in a historical characters body.
Shupe contradicts herself and her heroines in like every book of hers I’ve read. Rose has baggage because a guy from her hometown got her to sleep with him by promising her marriage, and then was like “jk”. Now she has this rule that she only sleeps with men once, and wants to make it herself and never rely on a man. Okay fine, I can buy that.
“I only sleep with men for fun, not profit.” Would it not make more sense for her “jaded” character to sleep with men for profit? Not that I find that to be empowering, but in the spirit of the times, would it not make more sense? Upon even further reflection, it just comes off as Schupe being too cowardly to make her MC a full sex worker. "oh I totally support sex work, but I'd never have my fmc do it." lol okay.
But following that logic, when she’s offered the whale that is being Moore’s mistress, she doesn’t want it because she doesn’t want to be tied down I guess? But like dude, he bought you a house - do what Nell Gwynn and other mistresses have done throughout history, and buy goods with his money that can be liquidated. The house is in your name. Like it’s supposed to be an empowering thing, saying no, but at the start she doesn’t want anything from him to sleep with him? Why are you trying to sleep with him in the first place then? And if you feel so guilty about it, use the money to help others women? She even says at one point she wants to start a boarding house to help protect transplants safe from predatory houses. Okay, so do that??
Besides the weird, contradictory vibes around sex work in this, the other I guess more “intellectual” thought I have when I read these books is “what is true female empowerment?” Is it using men and your body to make a lot of money? Or the opposite, withholding sex? Or only sleeping with someone once and cutting off any emotions? Or is it having a loving husband to spend your life with? I don’t think I can answer that, but is sure as hell isn’t the type of empowerment being shown to me in these books.
Also, she’s “independent” and doesn’t need his money, but there is no way she’s making that much as an actress in that time to be exactly well off? She even says herself that she knows she’ll age out of the profession. Idk, there is a reason why actresses of that time period often had a wealthy “protector” and why the profession was so scandalous for a woman!
This is the same issue I had with “sold to the duke”. Both heroines in these novellas are offered financial help, which any impoverished woman would’ve killed for, but they both deny it because “pride”. Whether it’s 1890s London or NYC, the conditions poor people were living in this time period were absolutely abysmal. For both of these heroines to turn down what could be used to help others, rubs me the wrong way. It’s Shupes attempt at feminism I guess, but it’s very white woman feminism and feels incredibly pandering, and also shitty sex work representation - she tries to have her FMC's skirt the line of actually being sex workers while trying to say she's not judging or shaming anyone who does it/would've done it in that time period.
The reason this got two stars instead of one is because I was moved emotionally when Moore tells Rose he’s engaged but then is like “don’t worry we can still bang”. When she talks about how she’s good for a fuck but not enough to marry, I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling, I get it that sucks. I understood her conflict there and thought it made sense and I'm sure it's a real feeling that a woman in that kind of situation would've had.
October 10, 2024
Well, it’s steamy but it dragged. When I read a novella, I want be able to finish it within 2 days. Each time I put the book down to do something else, I wasn’t motivated to pick it back up again. The book could have used fewer pages.
It was written in first person POV, which I don’t see often in HRs.
It was written in first person POV, which I don’t see often in HRs.
October 28, 2024
3.5 stars. The Scandal of Rose is a Gilded Age, historical romance novella with age gap, class difference, and a mistress setup.
“I needed to stay away from Rose. She was too young, the risk too great. The problem was that I almost wanted her badly enough not to care.”
Rose is an actress, Moore is the wealthy society man who has been frequenting all of her performances. He wants her, she wants him. She wants only one night, he wants her for longer as a mistress. This has age gap (she’s 19, he’s 38) and it gets slightly messy-adjacent (involving an engagement to someone else). I have read everything from this author so there was no way I wasn’t picking up this new release on KU. I didn’t connect to the couple that much, so not my favorite thing from this author, but it had fun moments.
“I needed to stay away from Rose. She was too young, the risk too great. The problem was that I almost wanted her badly enough not to care.”
Rose is an actress, Moore is the wealthy society man who has been frequenting all of her performances. He wants her, she wants him. She wants only one night, he wants her for longer as a mistress. This has age gap (she’s 19, he’s 38) and it gets slightly messy-adjacent (involving an engagement to someone else). I have read everything from this author so there was no way I wasn’t picking up this new release on KU. I didn’t connect to the couple that much, so not my favorite thing from this author, but it had fun moments.
September 27, 2024
Hot damn! Joanna Shupe knows how to begin a story. Just so you’re aware, this novella is NSFW as I accidentally discovered. I dare you to put it down once you begin reading because that prologue will have you on tenterhooks.
If you are looking for quick read that’s steamy, and features the best grovel, you’ll eat this novella up. This is a class-difference age gap romance between a 38-year old Knickerbocker tycoon, Moore, and a 19-year old actress, Rose. For someone so young, Rose has a good head on her shoulders and is aware enough of men to know that she 1) never wants to rely on a man financially, and 2) never wants to be a mistress. In fact Rose will bed a man only once before cutting him loose in order to maintain her freedom. What Rose doesn’t expect is to fall for the mysterious man who appears at her performances night after night, yet never makes a move to meet her.
This story has everything I look for in a novella. It is dual perspective, the right balance of heat (oh so much 🔥) and tenderness, it has a familiar kept-woman plot, and yet I thoroughly enjoyed racing to the end to see how we would arrive at the HEA. I loved Rose and enjoyed seeing her put Moore through the wringer, just like a true feminist should. Everyone should pick this up because a little scandal goes a long way for giving great satisfaction. I received an early copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭
If you are looking for quick read that’s steamy, and features the best grovel, you’ll eat this novella up. This is a class-difference age gap romance between a 38-year old Knickerbocker tycoon, Moore, and a 19-year old actress, Rose. For someone so young, Rose has a good head on her shoulders and is aware enough of men to know that she 1) never wants to rely on a man financially, and 2) never wants to be a mistress. In fact Rose will bed a man only once before cutting him loose in order to maintain her freedom. What Rose doesn’t expect is to fall for the mysterious man who appears at her performances night after night, yet never makes a move to meet her.
This story has everything I look for in a novella. It is dual perspective, the right balance of heat (oh so much 🔥) and tenderness, it has a familiar kept-woman plot, and yet I thoroughly enjoyed racing to the end to see how we would arrive at the HEA. I loved Rose and enjoyed seeing her put Moore through the wringer, just like a true feminist should. Everyone should pick this up because a little scandal goes a long way for giving great satisfaction. I received an early copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭🪭
October 30, 2024
I enjoyed the steamy scenes SO much, but I felt the book was too contemporary for a historical romance. I also disliked how it was in the first POV. It made it harder to get to know the characters well.
Joanna Shupe writes like no other, though - if you are looking for a historical romance with a contemporary feel, this is it! Enjoy!
Joanna Shupe writes like no other, though - if you are looking for a historical romance with a contemporary feel, this is it! Enjoy!
October 6, 2024
4.75⭐️
This is a fast read with the right amount of spice. Never doubted Joanna Shupe and I just wished it was a full length novel. AND it's also an age gap trope too! I loved how the characters were written especially the chemistry? YES. Like I was also cursing Moore for what "happened". But at least, he sure knows how to grovel so bad. Anyway, excited to read the next book (Anastasia retelling?! Yes please!).
This is a fast read with the right amount of spice. Never doubted Joanna Shupe and I just wished it was a full length novel. AND it's also an age gap trope too! I loved how the characters were written especially the chemistry? YES. Like I was also cursing Moore for what "happened". But at least, he sure knows how to grovel so bad. Anyway, excited to read the next book (Anastasia retelling?! Yes please!).
November 3, 2024
The Scandal of Rose by Joanna Shupe, a novella
.
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Steam: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥+ (+kissing)
Ending: HEA
.
Stand Alone or Series: Stand alone novella.
.
United States, Gilded Age (1986)
Business Man Knickerbocker
Up & Coming Actress
Only One Night
Age Gap ( 19F/38M)
Mistress & Protector
He Got Engaged
Opposites Attract
Divorced Hero
Brat Tamer
Can't Fall in Love
All the Groveling
.
I CRIED. Shupe has done it again. I don't know how she makes novellas feel like a complete 350+ page novel, but she does (in a great way!) This read feels incredibly rounded and will draw you in from page one. I found it hard to put down once I had started!
If you don't like a mistress/protector trope, honestly, give this novella a try. Rose has a real head on her shoulders and refuses to rely on a man ever again. She doesn't *want* to become a mistress, but Moore sure knows how to wear a woman down. Unlike some books with a hero in serious pursuit, this novella never feels like Rose is being twisted/forced into her relationship with Moore. He just has a way about him that is completely irresistible.
Want a grovel? Want a *really* good grovel? Moore is an idiot, but he does manage to make up for his actions in massive ways. I was curious to see how Rose and Moore could end up having their happily ever after, but they do.
As for steam, Shupe always can turn the heat way, way up in her independently published titles. This is not to say her traditionally published titles are not steamy-steamy but more than under indie publishing, Shupe can let things loose. All things are fair in love, war, and an indie Shupe title. Shupe uses explicit and non-explicit terms in her steam scenes, and they feature a variety of actions and scene lengths. You will not be disappointed.
.
Read as an ebook early copy provided by author. Thanks, Joanna!
Honest review left voluntarily.
.
Content Warning (may contain spoilers):
.
.
.
.
.
Infidelity- hero becomes engaged while having a mistress
Mention of s*xual activities with minor females (not MCs)
Age gap between MCs
.
Cover: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Steam: 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥+ (+kissing)
Ending: HEA
.
Stand Alone or Series: Stand alone novella.
.
United States, Gilded Age (1986)
Business Man Knickerbocker
Up & Coming Actress
Only One Night
Age Gap ( 19F/38M)
Mistress & Protector
He Got Engaged
Opposites Attract
Divorced Hero
Brat Tamer
Can't Fall in Love
All the Groveling
.
I CRIED. Shupe has done it again. I don't know how she makes novellas feel like a complete 350+ page novel, but she does (in a great way!) This read feels incredibly rounded and will draw you in from page one. I found it hard to put down once I had started!
If you don't like a mistress/protector trope, honestly, give this novella a try. Rose has a real head on her shoulders and refuses to rely on a man ever again. She doesn't *want* to become a mistress, but Moore sure knows how to wear a woman down. Unlike some books with a hero in serious pursuit, this novella never feels like Rose is being twisted/forced into her relationship with Moore. He just has a way about him that is completely irresistible.
Want a grovel? Want a *really* good grovel? Moore is an idiot, but he does manage to make up for his actions in massive ways. I was curious to see how Rose and Moore could end up having their happily ever after, but they do.
As for steam, Shupe always can turn the heat way, way up in her independently published titles. This is not to say her traditionally published titles are not steamy-steamy but more than under indie publishing, Shupe can let things loose. All things are fair in love, war, and an indie Shupe title. Shupe uses explicit and non-explicit terms in her steam scenes, and they feature a variety of actions and scene lengths. You will not be disappointed.
.
Read as an ebook early copy provided by author. Thanks, Joanna!
Honest review left voluntarily.
.
Content Warning (may contain spoilers):
.
.
.
.
.
Infidelity- hero becomes engaged while having a mistress
Mention of s*xual activities with minor females (not MCs)
Age gap between MCs
October 3, 2024
REVIEW
Score: 5/5
POV: Dual
Heat Level: 5+/5
Tropes: Actress/Tycoon; Gilded Age; Opposites Attract; Age Gap
Likes:
* um everything??? I’ve never loved a Novella so much. I read this on KU and turned around and immediately purchased.
Dislikes:
* the length! I wish it was longer. I never wanted it to end. 🥹
5/5
Score: 5/5
POV: Dual
Heat Level: 5+/5
Tropes: Actress/Tycoon; Gilded Age; Opposites Attract; Age Gap
Likes:
* um everything??? I’ve never loved a Novella so much. I read this on KU and turned around and immediately purchased.
Dislikes:
* the length! I wish it was longer. I never wanted it to end. 🥹
5/5
October 11, 2024
Good, succinct, page-turning writing. Felt contemporary-ish
Wanted to love it
Thought it'd be way hotter
Snappy, intelligent dialogue
Thoroughly likeable heroine. Hero was *meh*
Well-crafted, engaging story but somehow missing that something.
Wanted to love it
Thought it'd be way hotter
Snappy, intelligent dialogue
Thoroughly likeable heroine. Hero was *meh*
Well-crafted, engaging story but somehow missing that something.
October 19, 2024
Rose and Moore had a nice sexy story, love this author and attn to historical details. Characters were well crafted too. Hate the mistress thing. ugg. Maybe if you like the pretty woman type of story. But I just end up crying and do not get over it fast enough to enjoy the HEA
November 4, 2024
Pitch perfect Gilded Age mistress novella from Joanna Shupe with a good grovel. I read it in one sitting.
As a side note, I do really admire Shupe for continuing to write in Gilded Age New York, even though Regency & Victorian England are clearly the settings that romance readers are stuck on. I find her passion and dedication compelling.
As a side note, I do really admire Shupe for continuing to write in Gilded Age New York, even though Regency & Victorian England are clearly the settings that romance readers are stuck on. I find her passion and dedication compelling.
October 3, 2024
This novella is another fantastic work set in the Gilded Age. It starts off with a bang, and keeps the heat going. Rose is a young actress who moved from Ohio, and Moore is a rich tycoon who is obsessed with her - watching her performances for weeks in the same show. She’s forward and he loves it. She resists being his mistress, but she eventually breaks down. The class difference also plays in to her not wanting to be beholden to any man, and he just buys her a house. You know, normal.
The story of Rose and Moore is well paced. Whitney-Dunn satisfies as the villain who brings the conflict for Rose and Moore to a head. Moore’s mother comes in clutch in the end. And it all finishes with a superb grand gesture and grovel. Though I do agree with Rose - he does appear to have more money than sense.
Thanks so much to the author for an advanced copy to read and review!
The story of Rose and Moore is well paced. Whitney-Dunn satisfies as the villain who brings the conflict for Rose and Moore to a head. Moore’s mother comes in clutch in the end. And it all finishes with a superb grand gesture and grovel. Though I do agree with Rose - he does appear to have more money than sense.
Thanks so much to the author for an advanced copy to read and review!
October 4, 2024
Quick steamy read set in Gilded age NYC with an actress heroine and an older straitlaced hero. She is the one in Pursuit at first and becomes this mistress. As always Shupe brings the heat and for a novella, this one does a lot of character work and development in a short page count.
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
Age gap
Class Difference
Mistress
⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥🔥/5
Tropes:
Age gap
Class Difference
Mistress
November 10, 2024
3.5 stars
I came to it because of this cute cover, I stayed because the plot was interesting and I was taken by surprise with how much I ended up enjoying this novella.
Now, to be clear, the story is in two parts. There is a very cliffy Prologue, then under Part 1 we jump back weeks before covering where essentially the h, Rose pursues the H, Moore and they embark on an affair of sorts and then we have Part 2 which is where big drama happens. I did not care much for Part 1 because the suddeness of the erotica parts and the characterisation was a bit unsettling.
But Part 2, omg, Part 2 was wow! Excellent angst 😍! It covered the mistress trope just like I love it, with all the heartbreak and the tears. Rose was a golden girl, so grounded, so wise ❤❤. I loved her to pieces in this part.
A fresh jolt of pain stole my breath. He actually expected me to stay, to share him with another woman. A wife, who carried his name and his children. Lived in his home and attended events with him. Slept with him.
Me? I wasn’t worth marrying. I was the trollop he fucked—and I would never be anything else, to hell with my feelings.
I cheered as she stood up for herself!
“It doesn’t matter,” she repeated—and my muscles tightened in irritation.
“It clearly does matter to you. God, Rose. I’d prefer to have you shout and throw something at me, rather than give me such watered-down reactions. I want your honesty.”
“No, you don’t,” she snapped, her green eyes darkening as she narrowed them on me. “You want my acquiescence. You think your money and position give you the authority to make decisions for me, for both of us. You aren’t considering how I feel about this at all. Your sole concern is for yourself, to ensure that your toy isn’t taken away from you.”
Moore was just one big slow-witted moron (I still does not buy why - he came across as a very weak Beta guy who needed his mother to get him out of a pinch). But I will admit his grovel was good. I still think Rose deserved a better, more Alpha guy though.
In all honesty, the characterisation and atmosphere in Part 1 felt a bit at odds with the wonderful drama in Part 2. Hence, my rating is more for Part 2. Next time I re-read this, I will be sure to read only the Prologue and Part 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2025
5⭐️
I wholeheartedly loved this. Joanna Shupe managed to fit an entire plot into a novella-length story, but my god do I wish this was a full 300 pages
Moore and Rose just had SUCH good chemistry together. And not just the spice- the banter and understanding between them, how they just liked to spend time together and be together
I think my one issue here is the timeline. They're only togeether for such a short period of time before falling head over heels for each other. And while that in itself isn't a huge issue, it's not like they spent that time sequestered away, spending 24/7 with each other. From the moment they first speak to each other to when Moore announces he's engaged is only six weeks. But after that first encounter, it was at least another week or two before Rose even went to his office? And then another week or two before he buys her the townhouse and they begin to actually spend time together. So Rose was really only Moore's mistress for less than a week? But then the way they talk about their time together and feelings, you would think it had been months>. It just kept taking me about of the story, trying to figure out this timeline
"I needed to stay away from Rose. She was too young, the risk too great. The problem was that I almost wanted her badly enough not to care."
I wholeheartedly loved this. Joanna Shupe managed to fit an entire plot into a novella-length story, but my god do I wish this was a full 300 pages
Moore and Rose just had SUCH good chemistry together. And not just the spice- the banter and understanding between them, how they just liked to spend time together and be together
I think my one issue here is the timeline. They're only togeether for such a short period of time before falling head over heels for each other. And while that in itself isn't a huge issue, it's not like they spent that time sequestered away, spending 24/7 with each other. From the moment they first speak to each other to when Moore announces he's engaged is only six weeks. But after that first encounter, it was at least another week or two before Rose even went to his office? And then another week or two before he buys her the townhouse and they begin to actually spend time together. So Rose was really only Moore's mistress for less than a week? But then the way they talk about their time together and feelings, you would think it had been months>. It just kept taking me about of the story, trying to figure out this timeline
October 2, 2024
When Rose notices a handsome older gentleman attending every single one of her off-Broadway performances in a play that she knows is terrible, she rushes off stage and sneaks into his carriage to confront him. Moore, a tycoon hailing from one of the richest and most powerful families in New York, is shocked when he is ambushed by the beautiful actress he's completely obsessed with, but plays it totally cool and only admits to being a Big Theatre Guy because he is 38 and she is only 19 and he feels some way about it. Rose's theme song is Independent Women Part 2 by Destiny's Child and she doesn't want to be ANY man's mistress. She is dead set on her talent being the vehicle for her future independence, and has a strict one night only policy with the men she takes to her bed. Like many men, Moore has selective hearing and is like "Cool! One night? So it's ok if I buy you this house for that then?" except he buys the house first and asks later. Their chemistry is undeniable and they just LIKE spending time with each other, so Moore comes up with a genius plan to not stick it in for as long as possible to extend their non-mistress agreement because that doesn't count. Rose holds out for about a week and is like well f*ck it i'll be your mistress and is immediately like oh sh*t I think i'm in love...right about when Moore breaks it to her that he's just been engaged to be married. To a 19 year old heiress. Ope.
I adore a mistress story, but I don't always love age gap stories. HOWEVER I am absolutely feral for an age gap story written by Joanna Shupe. *chef's kiss* AND it's Gilded Age New York AND involves off-Broadway theatre? This is my catnip. When the ARC hit my Kindle I dropped everything. This novella is smokin' hot and it has everything! Villians, grand gestures, dinners at Sherry’s, hot real estate tips, edging, tears! Trust me, you're going to immediately want to dive head first into this one like our buddy Moore. Heh.
Alternative reviews under five words:
1. JOANNA SHUPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. little mouse 🤝🏼 kitten
I received an ARC of this novella in exchange for my honest review. The Scandal of Rose will be released on October 2, 2024!
I adore a mistress story, but I don't always love age gap stories. HOWEVER I am absolutely feral for an age gap story written by Joanna Shupe. *chef's kiss* AND it's Gilded Age New York AND involves off-Broadway theatre? This is my catnip. When the ARC hit my Kindle I dropped everything. This novella is smokin' hot and it has everything! Villians, grand gestures, dinners at Sherry’s, hot real estate tips, edging, tears! Trust me, you're going to immediately want to dive head first into this one like our buddy Moore. Heh.
Alternative reviews under five words:
1. JOANNA SHUPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. little mouse 🤝🏼 kitten
I received an ARC of this novella in exchange for my honest review. The Scandal of Rose will be released on October 2, 2024!
November 12, 2024
The Scandal of Rose is a sizzling fast paced novella with plenty of sex and a predictable story between a young aspiring actress, Rose, and an older man, Moore… a wealthy tycoon.
Set in NYC during the Gilded Age, I thought the prose was too modern for the times, here’s an example: …”The staff won’t think it strange if I hang around?” A woman in 1896 using the phrase “hang around?” Nope. And, way too much profanity from the MCs.
So many HR authors these days are shifting towards making their stories read like contemporary romance books. I don’t like it. I want an HR to feel authentic for the time period. I’ve read almost all of Shupe’s HRs… one of my favorite authors; alas seems like Shupe is one of them now. Barely ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set in NYC during the Gilded Age, I thought the prose was too modern for the times, here’s an example: …”The staff won’t think it strange if I hang around?” A woman in 1896 using the phrase “hang around?” Nope. And, way too much profanity from the MCs.
So many HR authors these days are shifting towards making their stories read like contemporary romance books. I don’t like it. I want an HR to feel authentic for the time period. I’ve read almost all of Shupe’s HRs… one of my favorite authors; alas seems like Shupe is one of them now. Barely ⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 1, 2024
The Scandal of Rose: A Gilded Age Novella
Joanna Shupe
A new historical novella from “the queen of filth!” (Entertainment Weekly)
"The Scandal of Rose" by Joanna Shupe is a steamy and emotional Gilded Age novella that grabs you from the start. Rose, an actress, and Moore, a wealthy tycoon, develop undeniable chemistry, making for a passionate and complicated romance. Despite their arrangement, deeper feelings blossom, and the emotional tension is palpable throughout. Joanna Shupe expertly crafts rich characters and a storyline packed with heart, intrigue, and witty dialogue. Though short, the novella feels complete and leaves a lasting impression. It's a fast-paced, enjoyable read with plenty of heat and drama. Perfect for fans of historical romance!
Arc review
Joanna Shupe
A new historical novella from “the queen of filth!” (Entertainment Weekly)
"The Scandal of Rose" by Joanna Shupe is a steamy and emotional Gilded Age novella that grabs you from the start. Rose, an actress, and Moore, a wealthy tycoon, develop undeniable chemistry, making for a passionate and complicated romance. Despite their arrangement, deeper feelings blossom, and the emotional tension is palpable throughout. Joanna Shupe expertly crafts rich characters and a storyline packed with heart, intrigue, and witty dialogue. Though short, the novella feels complete and leaves a lasting impression. It's a fast-paced, enjoyable read with plenty of heat and drama. Perfect for fans of historical romance!
Arc review
February 17, 2025
This was a sweet and steamy novella.
I didn't quite love the beginning but once they were together, I thought the relationship was so sweet. I like that they had a deeper connection. I thought the grovel was also well done. I did have a problem with some of the dialogue sounding too modern.
Overall, a fun and quick read.
I didn't quite love the beginning but once they were together, I thought the relationship was so sweet. I like that they had a deeper connection. I thought the grovel was also well done. I did have a problem with some of the dialogue sounding too modern.
Overall, a fun and quick read.
September 27, 2024
Another spectacular story from Joanna Shupe, “The Scandal of Rose” offers readers an age gap romance filled with heat and my favorite kind of hero, the Stuffed Shirt. A repressed man is drawn to a free spirit and the inevitable ensues in the most gratifying way.
This is a great slump buster, perfect for a rainy day. If you need something short and spicy, you won’t go wrong with this.
This is a great slump buster, perfect for a rainy day. If you need something short and spicy, you won’t go wrong with this.
January 20, 2025
The Scandal of Rose was a fantastic read featuring a romance between an actress and a tycoon.
Actress Rose O'Donahue has no intention of being any man's mistress. Her rule is to never sleep with the same man more than once but tycoon Moore Emerson has her questioning that rule. It doesn't take long for Moore to persuade her to continue their relationship but then Rose makes a terrible mistake. She falls in love with Moore just when he's set to marry someone else.
The Scandal of Rose opens with Rose and Moore spending time together on his yacht when he informs her of his engagement. The book then jumps back six weeks to when Rose and Moore first meet. I loved their first few interactions as Rose didn't act the way Moore expected and he wasn't quite sure how to respond to her. The scene where she gets into his carriage in particular was fantastic. It doesn't take long for their relationship to progress physically and this book was much steamier than I was expecting. Personally I enjoyed those scenes as I like my romances on the more explicit side but if that's not your thing then this may not be the book for you. I did like how the author handled the whole engagement thing and how that situation got resolved. The one thing I didn't love in their romance was the big age gap, Rose is about to turn 20 and Moore is 38.
Overall The Scandal of Rose was an excellent book and I would highly recommend it to readers looking for a steamy gilded age novella.
Actress Rose O'Donahue has no intention of being any man's mistress. Her rule is to never sleep with the same man more than once but tycoon Moore Emerson has her questioning that rule. It doesn't take long for Moore to persuade her to continue their relationship but then Rose makes a terrible mistake. She falls in love with Moore just when he's set to marry someone else.
The Scandal of Rose opens with Rose and Moore spending time together on his yacht when he informs her of his engagement. The book then jumps back six weeks to when Rose and Moore first meet. I loved their first few interactions as Rose didn't act the way Moore expected and he wasn't quite sure how to respond to her. The scene where she gets into his carriage in particular was fantastic. It doesn't take long for their relationship to progress physically and this book was much steamier than I was expecting. Personally I enjoyed those scenes as I like my romances on the more explicit side but if that's not your thing then this may not be the book for you. I did like how the author handled the whole engagement thing and how that situation got resolved. The one thing I didn't love in their romance was the big age gap, Rose is about to turn 20 and Moore is 38.
Overall The Scandal of Rose was an excellent book and I would highly recommend it to readers looking for a steamy gilded age novella.
October 5, 2024
Read if you like: novella, mistress, betrothed mmc, cheating, sneaking around, age gap, blackmail, secrets, class differences, grovel
Omg I was not expecting such a steamy start but it got me hooked immediately 🥵
Rose is an actress, she’s witty, bold, and loves performing. When she becomes Moore’s mistress she accidentally falls in love with him.
Moore is a protective, caring man who comes from an influential family. He’s come from a shameful scandal and wants to live a quiet life to set it right, and absolutely can’t afford to get into another scandal. But then he meets Rose and everything becomes upended 🥹
The chemistry between the two of them was insane. I literally couldn’t get enough of them. Everyone needs a Moore and to be spoilt the way he spoilt Rose ❤️
I would highly recommend if you want a steamy novella based in the Gilded Age
Omg I was not expecting such a steamy start but it got me hooked immediately 🥵
Rose is an actress, she’s witty, bold, and loves performing. When she becomes Moore’s mistress she accidentally falls in love with him.
Moore is a protective, caring man who comes from an influential family. He’s come from a shameful scandal and wants to live a quiet life to set it right, and absolutely can’t afford to get into another scandal. But then he meets Rose and everything becomes upended 🥹
The chemistry between the two of them was insane. I literally couldn’t get enough of them. Everyone needs a Moore and to be spoilt the way he spoilt Rose ❤️
I would highly recommend if you want a steamy novella based in the Gilded Age
October 5, 2024
Romantic and Steamy Romance
What a book, novella! Left me wanting more of Moore and Rose!
Every book I have read by Joanna Shupe has always been a 5 Star ⭐️ for me. This was a beautiful and fast paced read with great attention to details. The main characters a handsome 38 year old tycoon Moore and his beautiful lover Rose a 20 year old stage actress. I don’t want to give too much away since this is a novella but it’s such a beautiful roller coaster of emotions and hot well written love scenes 🔥 With a great happily ever after! I absolutely loved reading this book. It’s such a must read!
What a book, novella! Left me wanting more of Moore and Rose!
Every book I have read by Joanna Shupe has always been a 5 Star ⭐️ for me. This was a beautiful and fast paced read with great attention to details. The main characters a handsome 38 year old tycoon Moore and his beautiful lover Rose a 20 year old stage actress. I don’t want to give too much away since this is a novella but it’s such a beautiful roller coaster of emotions and hot well written love scenes 🔥 With a great happily ever after! I absolutely loved reading this book. It’s such a must read!
October 4, 2024
Rose was fantastic. Moore did a great grovel. The spicy parts were plentiful and very enjoyable. Shupe’s novellas are always so solid.
October 7, 2024
The sex scenes were hot but the heroine was 19 and the hero was 38 and yet, there was a scene in which she seemed far more worldly and mature than him. I didn’t love this one but it was a quick, short, steamy read.
December 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this short book. It was such a nice read and I was just so engrossed into the story to see what would happen and how everything would play out. This is an age gap romance. I liked the characters, even the MMC who had some difficult decisions to make. I liked how the FMC stood up for herself and what she wanted. And the ending was perfect with the newspapers. I really loved that part. If you are a Joanna Shupe fan, you will enjoy this book!
January 4, 2025
I can never say it enough times, I LOVE everything Joanna Shupe writes. I am so happy to read another novella by her, she always writes the best short stories with hot sex scenes and the right amount of plot to make you feel like you’re reading a full novel. Moore was such a softie and a romantic for Rose. They both complemented each other perfectly as a couple and had 🔥 chemistry.
“Rose, I’ve never been happier than when we were together. You are the sun and the moon and the air I breathe, and I’d rather face a thousand scandals than live without you. If you do me the great honor of becoming my wife, I promise to stand by your side proudly, publicly, as your partner, until the day I leave this earth.”
Thank you to the author for an ARC for review!
“Rose, I’ve never been happier than when we were together. You are the sun and the moon and the air I breathe, and I’d rather face a thousand scandals than live without you. If you do me the great honor of becoming my wife, I promise to stand by your side proudly, publicly, as your partner, until the day I leave this earth.”
Thank you to the author for an ARC for review!
September 30, 2024
I am a big Joanna Shupe fan; she is an auto-read author for me, and several of her works (including novellas) rank among my top romance reads. This one didn’t resonate with me, however. I loved the Gilded Age setting and the FMC’s vocation as an actor, and the premise of the story really appealed to me, but I found the character development lacking and this had knock-on effects on the quality of the story for me.
Moore didn’t have much of a personality beyond his lack of backbone (if it was so easy for him to dispose of the villain at the end, why didn’t he try to push back at all beforehand?) and inexplicable refusal to share, or request, relevant information with anyone close to him. I get that he was a buttoned-up, stiff-upper-lip type but there were a couple of different points at which one straightforward conversation could have cleared up the problems brewing, and that was frustrating for me as a reader.
Rose started off as a more well-rounded character, but went straight from “I’m a strong independent woman who doesn’t want emotional attachments” to “I’m devastated he won’t marry me” over the course of about six days, which baffled me given how little relationship development seemed to be happening. I just wasn’t able to buy into this couple being in love. There was clearly an instant physical attraction, but the reader never sees them bond over anything other than their activities in bed - so their angst during the third-act crisis didn’t connect with me.
So, this novella wasn’t quite up my alley. Nevertheless, I remain a card-carrying member of the Shupe Fan Club and will be eagerly purchasing The Gilded Heiress as soon as it’s published.
Moore didn’t have much of a personality beyond his lack of backbone (if it was so easy for him to dispose of the villain at the end, why didn’t he try to push back at all beforehand?) and inexplicable refusal to share, or request, relevant information with anyone close to him. I get that he was a buttoned-up, stiff-upper-lip type but there were a couple of different points at which one straightforward conversation could have cleared up the problems brewing, and that was frustrating for me as a reader.
Rose started off as a more well-rounded character, but went straight from “I’m a strong independent woman who doesn’t want emotional attachments” to “I’m devastated he won’t marry me” over the course of about six days, which baffled me given how little relationship development seemed to be happening. I just wasn’t able to buy into this couple being in love. There was clearly an instant physical attraction, but the reader never sees them bond over anything other than their activities in bed - so their angst during the third-act crisis didn’t connect with me.
So, this novella wasn’t quite up my alley. Nevertheless, I remain a card-carrying member of the Shupe Fan Club and will be eagerly purchasing The Gilded Heiress as soon as it’s published.
October 2, 2024
3.25
I received an E-arc in exchange for a review. Thank you.
A lovely romantic novella, with a posh hero and an actress. Sweet moments, good sex scenes, a bit unrealistic at times, but we don't read fiction for its realism, do we?
Love triumphs in the end, although I do wonder how long they would last, as we don't really see a connection for outside of the bed. We're told they talk for hours, but not really what about, and it felt a bit superficial. I guess that's the trouble with novellas, isn't it? But in this case, I'd have been happy to have maybe one or two sex scenes removed to actually learn more about Moore and Rose as a couple.
Still an enjoyable read, and I always appreciate this author's writing.
I received an E-arc in exchange for a review. Thank you.
A lovely romantic novella, with a posh hero and an actress. Sweet moments, good sex scenes, a bit unrealistic at times, but we don't read fiction for its realism, do we?
Love triumphs in the end, although I do wonder how long they would last, as we don't really see a connection for outside of the bed. We're told they talk for hours, but not really what about, and it felt a bit superficial. I guess that's the trouble with novellas, isn't it? But in this case, I'd have been happy to have maybe one or two sex scenes removed to actually learn more about Moore and Rose as a couple.
Still an enjoyable read, and I always appreciate this author's writing.
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