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The Knickerbocker Club #1
Magnate
New York City’s Gilded Age shimmers with unimaginable wealth and glittering power. The men of the Knickerbocker Club know this more than anyone else. But for one millionaire, the business of love is not what he expected…
Born in the slums of Five Points, Emmett Cavanaugh climbed his way to the top of a booming steel empire and now holds court in an opulent Fifth Avenue mansion. His rise in stations, however, has done little to elevate his taste in women. He loathes the city’s “high society” types, but a rebellious and beautiful blue-blood just might change all that.
Elizabeth Sloane’s mind is filled with more than the latest parlor room gossip. Lizzie can play the Stock Exchange as deftly as New York’s most accomplished brokers—but she needs a man to put her skills to use. Emmett reluctantly agrees when the stunning socialite asks him to back her trades and split the profits. But love and business make strange bedfellows, and as their fragile partnership begins to crack, they’ll discover a passion more frenzied than the trading room floor…
Born in the slums of Five Points, Emmett Cavanaugh climbed his way to the top of a booming steel empire and now holds court in an opulent Fifth Avenue mansion. His rise in stations, however, has done little to elevate his taste in women. He loathes the city’s “high society” types, but a rebellious and beautiful blue-blood just might change all that.
Elizabeth Sloane’s mind is filled with more than the latest parlor room gossip. Lizzie can play the Stock Exchange as deftly as New York’s most accomplished brokers—but she needs a man to put her skills to use. Emmett reluctantly agrees when the stunning socialite asks him to back her trades and split the profits. But love and business make strange bedfellows, and as their fragile partnership begins to crack, they’ll discover a passion more frenzied than the trading room floor…
325 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 26, 2016
284 people are currently reading
2226 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Shupe
34 books2,570 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 524 reviews
March 16, 2024
3.5
Enjoyable HF romance set in New York’s Guilded Age which is one of my favorite time periods and cities.
Good chemistry and a premise inspired by several real life characters— a bonus for historical accuracy!
Unfortunately this slightly “steamy” and fun read had a few too many silly moments when the two strong characters continued to contrive slim to none offenses and trust issues. More actual story line conflicts would have been so much better than created, contrived drama— like a really bad guy from Emmet’s past, etc.
Still, a happy ending that Alva Vanderbilt would have approved of and another book to follow!!
(Reviewed 10/16/22)
Enjoyable HF romance set in New York’s Guilded Age which is one of my favorite time periods and cities.
Good chemistry and a premise inspired by several real life characters— a bonus for historical accuracy!
Unfortunately this slightly “steamy” and fun read had a few too many silly moments when the two strong characters continued to contrive slim to none offenses and trust issues. More actual story line conflicts would have been so much better than created, contrived drama— like a really bad guy from Emmet’s past, etc.
Still, a happy ending that Alva Vanderbilt would have approved of and another book to follow!!
(Reviewed 10/16/22)
March 12, 2017
2,5 Stars
Old money Elizabeth Sloane has no interest in being a carefree socialite. Wall Street and the stock market are her passions but, as a woman, to establish her own company she first needs a man to finance it and to lend his name to the venture in order to preserve her respectability in the eyes of her peers. And Lizzie thinks she has just found such man in dashing Emmett Cavanaugh, a ruthless businessman whose ambition and determination have allowed him to rise above his Hell's Kitchen childhood to immense wealth and power. Emmett is surely intrigued by this Washington Square princess asking for trouble and coming from a world still not forgiving him his origins and barely tolerating his success, and an impossible bet sounds like a nice way to test her mettle and let her see the obstacles in her plan. But a sizzling attraction and a compromising situation will soon come into play and bring "the golden beauty and the guttersnipe" much more than they bargained for.
Taking place in 1887 Gilded Age New York, a nice change of scenery as far as current Historical Romances go, Magnate is a book with a strong start, an unconvincing middle and a fizzling last part eventually consigning it to a barely average rating. The writing was good, the premise interesting and the setting evocative, but inconsistent characterisations and contrived conflicts ruined what could have otherwise easily been a much greater read.
By the halfway mark, all the exciting potential of Lizzie's business project is soon relegated to the background and as her relationship with rough-around-the-edges Emmett becomes more intimate, we are increasingly treated with misunderstandings and annoying trust-issues during which her personality fades and gets weaker and he sulks and pouts to no end. And if Lizzie's spunk didn't live up to my initial expectations and I quickly got bored by Emmett's frequent foul moods, it also didn't help that the stage-time given to repetitive, drawn-out sex scenes (and not the best written I've ever read) was excessive if compared to the lack of more meaningful exchanges and emotional growth, so much that their romance looked like adding up to little else than a trite, immature duet of lust and miscommunication.
Completing the picture some unexplored and superfluous subplots and a last attempt at creating tension which featured a "villain ex machina" that really had no place if not for evidencing once again Emmett's distrust towards Lizzie and scarce inclination to rational thinking.
The smooth, promising writing and the spot-on, less common setting are enough to making me pick up the next in the series, hoping though that a lot more care will be focused on plot-building, dialogues and characterisations.
Buddy-read with Andrea (Catsos Person), Ash, Bubu, Dorine, Jill, Linda, Luli, Lyuda, Nefise and Oana :)
May 6, 2020
Emmett Cavanaugh și Elizabeth Sloane sunt pe cât de diferiți pe atât de asemănători. El este un magnat al oțelului care provine din clasa de jos, ea este o tânără ce aparține aristocrației.
O tânără care-și dorește să deschidă o firmă și să facă investiții la bursă, într-o vreme în care femeilor nu li se permitea așa ceva.
O apariție în casa lui, o cerere de investire și câteva întâlniri la cină, le schimbă complet viața. O conjunctură de evenimente ce se încheie cu căsătoria celor doi. O căsătorie forțată de fratele ei pentru a salva aparentele...
Dar situație se schimbă pe măsură ce tinerii noștrii încep să se cunoască unul pe altul. Asistăm la electricitatea statică care sfârâie în jurul lor de câte ori cei doi se află împreună, atracția fulgerătoare dintre ei fiind vizibilă.
Deși nu are încredere în Elizabeth și face o mulțime de presupuneri eronate la adresa ei, care îi produc suferință tinerei, Emmett nu poate decât să încerce să se apere de propriile sentimente.
O serie de întâmplări care ne țin cu sufletul la gură, pasiunea arzătoare dintre cei doi și sentimentele lor sincere, fac din “Mogulul” o carte absolut superbă!
O tânără care-și dorește să deschidă o firmă și să facă investiții la bursă, într-o vreme în care femeilor nu li se permitea așa ceva.
O apariție în casa lui, o cerere de investire și câteva întâlniri la cină, le schimbă complet viața. O conjunctură de evenimente ce se încheie cu căsătoria celor doi. O căsătorie forțată de fratele ei pentru a salva aparentele...
Dar situație se schimbă pe măsură ce tinerii noștrii încep să se cunoască unul pe altul. Asistăm la electricitatea statică care sfârâie în jurul lor de câte ori cei doi se află împreună, atracția fulgerătoare dintre ei fiind vizibilă.
Deși nu are încredere în Elizabeth și face o mulțime de presupuneri eronate la adresa ei, care îi produc suferință tinerei, Emmett nu poate decât să încerce să se apere de propriile sentimente.
O serie de întâmplări care ne țin cu sufletul la gură, pasiunea arzătoare dintre cei doi și sentimentele lor sincere, fac din “Mogulul” o carte absolut superbă!
December 11, 2024
A 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.
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.
September 18, 2016
I read and enjoyed Joanna Shupe’s first historical romance, The Courtesan Duchess, and in my review, said that while it wasn’t without flaws, it was one of the strongest débuts I’d read in a while. I read or listened to the two books that followed it (The Harlot Countess and The Lady Hellion), and while I think the first is the strongest, I nonetheless had marked Ms Shupe as an author I’d be keen to read again.
For her new Knickerbocker Club series, she has shifted her focus from the rarefied atmosphere of the English ton in the Regency period to the equally exclusive high-society of late 1880s New York, where the social rules and customs were just as restrictive as anything to be found across the Pond. Known as the Gilded Age, this is a time of rapid scientific and industrial progress; the economy is booming, the rich are incredibly rich and getting richer – although just like in Britain, there is still a huge amount of social injustice and a massive gap between the rich and the poor.
Elizabeth Sloane and her brother William are real blue-bloods whose ancestry can be traced back to the earliest settlers. Yet, as was often the case in England, too, while their lineage is impeccable, their finances are not. The siblings are orphans and William runs their family business, the Northeast Railroad Company. Elizabeth has of late begun to suspect that William is keeping something from her and that all is not well, but being rather a typical male of the period, he dismisses her concerns and, not in so many words, tells her not to worry her pretty little head about it. Given that attitude, it’s not surprising that William refuses point-blank even to consider Elizabeth’s going into business herself. It’s not at all the done thing for a well-bred lady, and he is adamant that she is not going to risk her reputation in such a manner. But Lizzie is just as strong-willed as her brother, and decides that, if he will not back the investment firm she wants to start, then she will ask someone else. Knowing of William’s friendship with a number of powerful businessmen, she decides to seek out one of them - wealthy industrialist and steel magnate Emmett Cavanaugh – with the intention of obtaining his financial backing for her scheme.
Cavanaugh most definitely comes from the wrong side of the tracks. Born in the New York slums, he has clawed his way up by fair means and foul to become one of the most feared and respected businessmen in the city. But the unexpected visit by one of New York’s most pampered princesses throws him somewhat, especially when she makes her pitch and asks him to help her to set up her brokerage business. In spite of himself, Emmett is intrigued and, seeing the chance to get one over on her brother - whom he dislikes intensely - offers her a deal.
That deal, in which Lizzie must prove her head for business, also includes dinner at Delmonico’s, the city’s most exclusive restaurant. Knowing of the gossip that is likely to ensue at the two of them appearing together, Lizzie is a little wary at first – but agrees, surprised at how much she wants to spend some time with this intriguing, attractive man. In fact, the surprise is mutual, because Emmett finds himself just as fascinated by Lizzie, who is unlike any of the women with whom he normally associates while at the same time completely different from the ladies of the ‘Knickerbocker’ set. In many ways, Magnate is your typical, “bad-boy-meets-posh-girl” sort of romance in which the roguish, self-made man is seen as a threat to the closed ranks of so-called “good” society. Even though he has more money than he knows what to do with and the prospect of making much more, Emmett is nouveau riche, an upstart nobody in the eyes of the social elite, and is so far beneath the heroine in status as to be looked upon in much same way as a dog turd in the gutter.
But what makes the book stand out from so many of its ilk has a lot to do with both its setting – which is an unusual one for an historical – and the way Ms Shupe so perfectly describes the world inhabited by her characters. Anyone who has read Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth or Custom of the Country will recognise it immediately; its opulence, its snobbery, its zest for life and thirst for the new – and its innate conservatism when it comes to what women could and couldn’t do. Lizzie is a great character; a spirited young woman who wants more from life than just a socially advantageous marriage and who wants to use her talents in a fulfilling manner, she is nonetheless a woman of her time and not one of those “feisty”, contrary-on-purpose heroines who make me want to tear my hair out. Emmett is probably the more strongly drawn character of the two principals; intelligent, ambitious, and ruthless, he’s built himself up from nothing and doesn’t want to look back on his old life and recall what it’s cost him to get where he is. The fact that he sees nothing wrong in Lizzie’s ambitions only adds to his appeal and his determination to protect her, while perhaps a bit caveman-like at times, is undeniably attractive.
The initial spark of attraction between Lizzie and Emmett smoulders nicely and the romance is well developed, giving the reader the sense of a real and strong emotional connection between them. One of my criticisms of Ms Shupe’s previous books was that there were too many side-plots going on to the detriment of the main story; so I was pleased to see that her focus here is very firmly on her central couple and their relationship. Her research into the period has clearly been extensive and there is enough information included about stocks, shares and the financial markets for it to be convincing, but not so much that it overshadows other aspects of the story. Overall, <Magnate is a great read and in fact, for the first three-quarters of the book, I was sure I was reading a DIK. Unfortunately, however, the overly contrived misunderstandings and miscommunications that appear in the final few chapters knocked the final grade down a little. Even so, Ms Shupe is doing a great job of cementing her place among the new crop of historical romance authors and I’ll definitely be looking out for future books in this series.
For her new Knickerbocker Club series, she has shifted her focus from the rarefied atmosphere of the English ton in the Regency period to the equally exclusive high-society of late 1880s New York, where the social rules and customs were just as restrictive as anything to be found across the Pond. Known as the Gilded Age, this is a time of rapid scientific and industrial progress; the economy is booming, the rich are incredibly rich and getting richer – although just like in Britain, there is still a huge amount of social injustice and a massive gap between the rich and the poor.
Elizabeth Sloane and her brother William are real blue-bloods whose ancestry can be traced back to the earliest settlers. Yet, as was often the case in England, too, while their lineage is impeccable, their finances are not. The siblings are orphans and William runs their family business, the Northeast Railroad Company. Elizabeth has of late begun to suspect that William is keeping something from her and that all is not well, but being rather a typical male of the period, he dismisses her concerns and, not in so many words, tells her not to worry her pretty little head about it. Given that attitude, it’s not surprising that William refuses point-blank even to consider Elizabeth’s going into business herself. It’s not at all the done thing for a well-bred lady, and he is adamant that she is not going to risk her reputation in such a manner. But Lizzie is just as strong-willed as her brother, and decides that, if he will not back the investment firm she wants to start, then she will ask someone else. Knowing of William’s friendship with a number of powerful businessmen, she decides to seek out one of them - wealthy industrialist and steel magnate Emmett Cavanaugh – with the intention of obtaining his financial backing for her scheme.
Cavanaugh most definitely comes from the wrong side of the tracks. Born in the New York slums, he has clawed his way up by fair means and foul to become one of the most feared and respected businessmen in the city. But the unexpected visit by one of New York’s most pampered princesses throws him somewhat, especially when she makes her pitch and asks him to help her to set up her brokerage business. In spite of himself, Emmett is intrigued and, seeing the chance to get one over on her brother - whom he dislikes intensely - offers her a deal.
That deal, in which Lizzie must prove her head for business, also includes dinner at Delmonico’s, the city’s most exclusive restaurant. Knowing of the gossip that is likely to ensue at the two of them appearing together, Lizzie is a little wary at first – but agrees, surprised at how much she wants to spend some time with this intriguing, attractive man. In fact, the surprise is mutual, because Emmett finds himself just as fascinated by Lizzie, who is unlike any of the women with whom he normally associates while at the same time completely different from the ladies of the ‘Knickerbocker’ set. In many ways, Magnate is your typical, “bad-boy-meets-posh-girl” sort of romance in which the roguish, self-made man is seen as a threat to the closed ranks of so-called “good” society. Even though he has more money than he knows what to do with and the prospect of making much more, Emmett is nouveau riche, an upstart nobody in the eyes of the social elite, and is so far beneath the heroine in status as to be looked upon in much same way as a dog turd in the gutter.
But what makes the book stand out from so many of its ilk has a lot to do with both its setting – which is an unusual one for an historical – and the way Ms Shupe so perfectly describes the world inhabited by her characters. Anyone who has read Edith Wharton’s House of Mirth or Custom of the Country will recognise it immediately; its opulence, its snobbery, its zest for life and thirst for the new – and its innate conservatism when it comes to what women could and couldn’t do. Lizzie is a great character; a spirited young woman who wants more from life than just a socially advantageous marriage and who wants to use her talents in a fulfilling manner, she is nonetheless a woman of her time and not one of those “feisty”, contrary-on-purpose heroines who make me want to tear my hair out. Emmett is probably the more strongly drawn character of the two principals; intelligent, ambitious, and ruthless, he’s built himself up from nothing and doesn’t want to look back on his old life and recall what it’s cost him to get where he is. The fact that he sees nothing wrong in Lizzie’s ambitions only adds to his appeal and his determination to protect her, while perhaps a bit caveman-like at times, is undeniably attractive.
The initial spark of attraction between Lizzie and Emmett smoulders nicely and the romance is well developed, giving the reader the sense of a real and strong emotional connection between them. One of my criticisms of Ms Shupe’s previous books was that there were too many side-plots going on to the detriment of the main story; so I was pleased to see that her focus here is very firmly on her central couple and their relationship. Her research into the period has clearly been extensive and there is enough information included about stocks, shares and the financial markets for it to be convincing, but not so much that it overshadows other aspects of the story. Overall, <Magnate is a great read and in fact, for the first three-quarters of the book, I was sure I was reading a DIK. Unfortunately, however, the overly contrived misunderstandings and miscommunications that appear in the final few chapters knocked the final grade down a little. Even so, Ms Shupe is doing a great job of cementing her place among the new crop of historical romance authors and I’ll definitely be looking out for future books in this series.
September 29, 2019
Buddy read with: Ash, Bubu, Christina, Dorine, Jill, Linda, Luli, Lyuda, Nefise, and Oana
Until about 72% - 80%, despite the problems that you other ladies listed--and I saw problems, I was able to see past some of these issues or overlook them, but this flurry of different conflicts was overkill. I think JS should have just used .I think this would have been sufficient for a good conflict by itself.
I think JS wasted too much time on the sexy times at the expense of romantic content. And just bec a book does have sexy times, the romance portion is still needed--it's a romance after all!
I looked to see how many HR JS has written. Not many. I'll still give her a chance to develope her skill as an HR writer. There were some good things about her work that I've read so far. I really liked that the characters seemed to be of the time period--no contemporary people in period dress--one of my biggest gripes about some HR titles!
I'm pretty sure I'll read the next book.
Thank you to our hostess Christina!
This was an awesome b-r! You ladies all rock
Until about 72% - 80%, despite the problems that you other ladies listed--and I saw problems, I was able to see past some of these issues or overlook them, but this flurry of different conflicts was overkill. I think JS should have just used .I think this would have been sufficient for a good conflict by itself.
I think JS wasted too much time on the sexy times at the expense of romantic content. And just bec a book does have sexy times, the romance portion is still needed--it's a romance after all!
I looked to see how many HR JS has written. Not many. I'll still give her a chance to develope her skill as an HR writer. There were some good things about her work that I've read so far. I really liked that the characters seemed to be of the time period--no contemporary people in period dress--one of my biggest gripes about some HR titles!
I'm pretty sure I'll read the next book.
Thank you to our hostess Christina!
This was an awesome b-r! You ladies all rock
April 22, 2018
Warning: Minor spoilers!
Buddy read with:
Andrea, Ash, Christina, Dorine, Jill, Linda, Luli, Lyuda, Nefise, Oana
First of all, as I've read a few reviews saying JS blatantly copied from Lions and Lace, you'll find her review from 2012 here, calling it perhaps her favourite HR of all time. Having reread Lions and Lace just days before Magnate's release, I consider it an homage to Meagan McKinney's Gilded Age classic. There are similarities and, to be honest, I appreciated and smiled at the nods JS made toward Lions and Lace. Well done!
That said, I wish I could have given this a higher rating. I wish Ms Shupe had not decided to change direction in the last part of the book and kept the plot line she'd so intricately set up already. Up until then, it was a solid, thoroughly enjoyable and very interesting story. There were a few hiccups here and there, but nothing that bothered me too much. The end, however, turned out to be disappointing, confusing and rushed.
To explain it simply:
Don't over-complicate the plot. Why create a conflict based on Lizzie buying shares of Emmett's company, when there already was a perfect conflict in place with Emmett's wish for a hostile take-over of Lizzie's brother's company?
Don't throw in characters that had no impact on the story for most of the time. I'm still wondering why Henry had to be brought in. What was the point? Did we really need an external villain? The page time used on Henry would have been better used on Lizzie and Emmett.
Keep the focus on the main characters and their romance. The two points mentioned kept Lizzie and Emmett apart right when it became crucial to see how their relationship would withstand Emmett's trust issues. One or two pages of saying sorry was awfully short and simply not enough.
Emmett's character, in particular, suffered from those changes, turning an intriguing man into a moron. The change of direction and the change of the characters' behaviour came so out of the blue and seemed so unnecessary that I felt bummed when I finished the book
Nonetheless, Ms Shupe shows how good her writing is by creating an incredibly compelling atmosphere that never bored me, and I'm very much looking forward to her next book, Baron.
Buddy read with:
Andrea, Ash, Christina, Dorine, Jill, Linda, Luli, Lyuda, Nefise, Oana
First of all, as I've read a few reviews saying JS blatantly copied from Lions and Lace, you'll find her review from 2012 here, calling it perhaps her favourite HR of all time. Having reread Lions and Lace just days before Magnate's release, I consider it an homage to Meagan McKinney's Gilded Age classic. There are similarities and, to be honest, I appreciated and smiled at the nods JS made toward Lions and Lace. Well done!
That said, I wish I could have given this a higher rating. I wish Ms Shupe had not decided to change direction in the last part of the book and kept the plot line she'd so intricately set up already. Up until then, it was a solid, thoroughly enjoyable and very interesting story. There were a few hiccups here and there, but nothing that bothered me too much. The end, however, turned out to be disappointing, confusing and rushed.
To explain it simply:
Don't over-complicate the plot. Why create a conflict based on Lizzie buying shares of Emmett's company, when there already was a perfect conflict in place with Emmett's wish for a hostile take-over of Lizzie's brother's company?
Don't throw in characters that had no impact on the story for most of the time. I'm still wondering why Henry had to be brought in. What was the point? Did we really need an external villain? The page time used on Henry would have been better used on Lizzie and Emmett.
Keep the focus on the main characters and their romance. The two points mentioned kept Lizzie and Emmett apart right when it became crucial to see how their relationship would withstand Emmett's trust issues. One or two pages of saying sorry was awfully short and simply not enough.
Emmett's character, in particular, suffered from those changes, turning an intriguing man into a moron. The change of direction and the change of the characters' behaviour came so out of the blue and seemed so unnecessary that I felt bummed when I finished the book
Nonetheless, Ms Shupe shows how good her writing is by creating an incredibly compelling atmosphere that never bored me, and I'm very much looking forward to her next book, Baron.
Read
January 5, 2021I'm biased, but I think this is a pretty fun book.
May 2, 2016
4.5 Captivating Stars
‘The stains on my soul are vast and permanent. I don’t deserve a woman like you…’
It’s been a while since we’ve devoured a Historical romance and we’re not sure why because we absolutely adore them! This is our first book by this author, and the first time we’ve experienced a story set in the Gilded Age period and didn’t we just love it! Joanna Shupe lured us into her world by vividly and beautifully capturing the essence of New York 1887 with her stunning imagery. Thanks to the descriptiveness of her prose we not only experienced this journey with Emmett Cavanaugh and Elizabeth Sloane, we felt as though we had been transported back in time with them to live it….and it doesn’t get better than that!
‘Love was like stock, Lizzie realized. You gambled on it paying off in the long run – but just as easily it could cost you everything.’
The Gilded Age was a time when women had to keep to themselves, attended parties, support their husbands and remain in the background – spending their time gossiping with the other society women and always remembering their place. Aspirations of maintaining a career was deemed unacceptable where reputation, wealth, standing and proprietary were considered the measure of success.
Lizzie was such a fabulously strong character. Beneath her beauty and innocence, lay a bold and intelligent woman who sought to start her own stockbroking firm, however this had to be attained on the quiet, so as not to be shunned by society. Although she’s demure with a beautiful soft heart, Lizzie had a tenacity that sees her wanting to succeed in a ‘man’s world’ … fierce and determined, Lizzie seeks a career and independence and always vowed when she did eventually marry, it would be for one based on love and mutual respect.
“You are entirely unexpected, Elizabeth.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
Seeking the assistance of Emmett Cavanaugh, an enigmatic man who both entices and confounds her, Lizzie proposes to start a Stockbroking firm with Emmett as the face of the business. However, what starts out as a business venture, soon turns to an intense attraction between the pair and gosh, didn’t we feel that intensity in every pore!
And where do we start with Emmett Cavanaugh? Goodness this man made us week at the knees! Strong, masculine, virile, imposing, passionate and so caring despite his tough facade. Emmett was from ‘new money’ and considered an outsider to society’s elite who termed his rise from the Five Point slums in New York to one of the wealthiest and most revered men, to be vulgar and crass, rather than admired and celebrated. Society merely tolerated Emmett, they would never accept him.
“They said ladies never call on you.”
“That’s because most ladies know better.”
Emmett certainly hadn’t had an easy life and little by little we experience his story as it is unfolded and it indeed a sad story, yet it is a story of strength, loyalty and perseverance and testament of his character because not only did Emmett survive life in the slums, he escaped and prospered.
“Ask me about anything else, Elizabeth. I won’t answer questions about my childhood.”
The drive for Emmett is his three siblings and best friend Kelly. There is nothing Emmett wouldn’t do for them to ensure they never suffer the pain and squalor that he and his brother, Brendan did.
“I’ve done many terrible things in my life and will no doubt commit hundreds more. But you are the first woman I’ve ever me who makes me ache to be worthy”
Emmett admired Lizzie’s resolve and persistence, becoming lost in her passion, innocence and heart. Lizzie accepted Emmett for who he was and where he had come from, never once judging him.
Oh and the passion between Lizzie and Emmett…..wow! The chemistry was scorching, the passion…torrid, gripping, steamy and consuming. Their love story that grabbed our hearts!
“Why do you call me Elizabeth instead of Lizzie, like everyone else?”
“It’s a noble name, for a queen. A conqueror. ‘Elizabeth’ sounds like a woman strong enough to change history, to chart any course she chooses. Anyone could be a Lizzie – but only you could be Elizabeth.”
We adored Magnate and we fell deeply in love with the strong, loyal and alpha Mr Cavanaugh, unable to put it down for a minute. Magnate reminded us why we love historical romances so much. We reveled in the elegance, the intrigue, the sweeping setting and the romance… Joanna Shupe’s story completely captivated us. We would have liked a little more from the epilogue as there was one aspect we would’ve loved to have experienced with them, but maybe we’re just being a little greedy by not wanting to let them go.
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December 30, 2024
This is an entertaining, well-written, steamy, historical romance novel. It has an intelligent, likable, female protagonist, a male protagonist who is a self-made man, vividly described NYC settings, sizzling chemistry, relationship drama, and a happily ever after ending. This book follows Tycoon in Ms. Shupe's outstanding Knickerbocker Club series, and they can be read in any order. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Amy Melissa Bentley, does an excellent job voicing the characters.
April 12, 2021
3.5-4 stars! I love a rags to riches hero.
December 12, 2016
First thing first, my actual rating is 3 stars.
I have planned on reading this book many many months ago, but only got to it this week. The reason why I wanted to read it, was the time period. The gilded age of New York City, where anything was possible if you had a knack for the stock market, where a mini version of the London ton looked down on new money, I have only read one book set in this time period and that book is on my all time favorite list. And if you know my reviews a little bit, you would know, that is one short list.
So I wanted to read this book and didn't at the same time. I wanted because I love my Lions and Lace and I didn't want to because, well, I love my Lions and Lace. Suffice it to say, I did not want to not like Magnate.
I see a lot of similarities between Magnate and Lions and Lace: a self-made successful man rising from poverty, with younger siblings who depended on him, he was a businessman, which almost always implied that he was a cold-blooded bastard. Said man met a lady from one of New York's finest families, the Knickerbokers, crème de la crème. They were thrown together and fell in love, their biggest obstacle their social classes and more importantly, how they overcame their stereotypes about how the other person should behave and why they did things they did. In Magnate we have Emmett and Elizabeth. And I gave the book one more star (the 4th star) for the characters.
The thing is, Emmett and Elizabeth weren't even that great. In comparison to Trevor and Alana in Lions and Lace (ok ok I will stop talking about Lions and Lace), Emmett and Elizabeth were not as well fleshed out. But they did have their personalities: Emmett the shrewd businessman and Elizabeth the dignified intelligent woman.
The book started very strongly for me. How Emmett and Elizabeth met each other and came to know each other, I thought it was well done. But I think the story itself deserves 3 stars, not 4 stars, because the conflict was thin. Like many other reviewers have said, the story is driven by misunderstandings. This is not a very strong premise. They must have something that is more fundamentally conflict-worthy, like, you know, this other book I promised I would stop talking about. I did not mind that Elizabeth's plan to open an investment firm took a back seat. I liked that the focus stayed on the relationship. But it seemed that after Emmett and Elizabeth slept together, their relationship did not really progress beyond marital relations. Or to put it this way: the readers are not shown how they progressed beyond sex. We are just told that they somehow made peace with their initial misunderstanding and now lived happily together while having great sex.
I have said this in another review for Joanna Shupe's book: I like how she tells a story. But the story seems a little thin and could have been more developed. The plots are predictable and do not really require a lot of reader attention. What you read is what you get, there isn't a lot of imagery for the readers to picture the characters in their minds. When I read a book that I love, I could see the characters. Every move, a smile, a tear, a slight turn toward each other, it is the little things that make a story. Something that tells me, they truly did care about each other. Hot sex is great and all but they do not make a story great.
But I like Emmett and Elizabeth, and I liked the idea of romance in New York of the gilded Age. So I went on Amazon and bought all books in the Knickerbocker series, including a pre-order of Mogul. My usual practice is to round down if I am between stars. But because I liked the lead characters and that alone kept my interests, I am giving this book 4 stars.
*This review is for an ARC provided by the publisher on NetGalley.
I have planned on reading this book many many months ago, but only got to it this week. The reason why I wanted to read it, was the time period. The gilded age of New York City, where anything was possible if you had a knack for the stock market, where a mini version of the London ton looked down on new money, I have only read one book set in this time period and that book is on my all time favorite list. And if you know my reviews a little bit, you would know, that is one short list.
So I wanted to read this book and didn't at the same time. I wanted because I love my Lions and Lace and I didn't want to because, well, I love my Lions and Lace. Suffice it to say, I did not want to not like Magnate.
I see a lot of similarities between Magnate and Lions and Lace: a self-made successful man rising from poverty, with younger siblings who depended on him, he was a businessman, which almost always implied that he was a cold-blooded bastard. Said man met a lady from one of New York's finest families, the Knickerbokers, crème de la crème. They were thrown together and fell in love, their biggest obstacle their social classes and more importantly, how they overcame their stereotypes about how the other person should behave and why they did things they did. In Magnate we have Emmett and Elizabeth. And I gave the book one more star (the 4th star) for the characters.
The thing is, Emmett and Elizabeth weren't even that great. In comparison to Trevor and Alana in Lions and Lace (ok ok I will stop talking about Lions and Lace), Emmett and Elizabeth were not as well fleshed out. But they did have their personalities: Emmett the shrewd businessman and Elizabeth the dignified intelligent woman.
The book started very strongly for me. How Emmett and Elizabeth met each other and came to know each other, I thought it was well done. But I think the story itself deserves 3 stars, not 4 stars, because the conflict was thin. Like many other reviewers have said, the story is driven by misunderstandings. This is not a very strong premise. They must have something that is more fundamentally conflict-worthy, like, you know, this other book I promised I would stop talking about. I did not mind that Elizabeth's plan to open an investment firm took a back seat. I liked that the focus stayed on the relationship. But it seemed that after Emmett and Elizabeth slept together, their relationship did not really progress beyond marital relations. Or to put it this way: the readers are not shown how they progressed beyond sex. We are just told that they somehow made peace with their initial misunderstanding and now lived happily together while having great sex.
I have said this in another review for Joanna Shupe's book: I like how she tells a story. But the story seems a little thin and could have been more developed. The plots are predictable and do not really require a lot of reader attention. What you read is what you get, there isn't a lot of imagery for the readers to picture the characters in their minds. When I read a book that I love, I could see the characters. Every move, a smile, a tear, a slight turn toward each other, it is the little things that make a story. Something that tells me, they truly did care about each other. Hot sex is great and all but they do not make a story great.
But I like Emmett and Elizabeth, and I liked the idea of romance in New York of the gilded Age. So I went on Amazon and bought all books in the Knickerbocker series, including a pre-order of Mogul. My usual practice is to round down if I am between stars. But because I liked the lead characters and that alone kept my interests, I am giving this book 4 stars.
*This review is for an ARC provided by the publisher on NetGalley.
February 5, 2022
Magnate
4 Stars
Set in New York during the Gilded Age, an atypical setting in this genre, Magnate incorporates many of the historical, social and financial aspects of the time, including the great blizzard of 1888 as well as the conflicts between the old money Dutch Knickerbocker families and the nouveau riche, who acquired their fortunes through industry and technology. These together with the backdrop of the rail networks and the New York Stock Exchange successfully immerse the reader in the time period.
The heroine, Elizabeth Sloan, is wonderful. Her determination and tenacity in achieving her goal of establishing her own investment firm is admirable as is her standing up to those members of her social circle who believe women should be nothing more than adornments for their husbands.
The hero, Emmet Cavanaugh, a self made billionaire who fought his way out of the slums of Five Points to become a force to be reckoned with in New York society, is just as appealing. Shupe thankfully refrains from romanticizing his origins and creates a deeply flawed hero who is likable despite his many faults.
Emmet and Elizabeth's romance is emotionally and physically intense and their chemistry is off the charts. Readers who enjoy well written and hot sex scenes will not be disappointed.
Now to the most significant problem with the book .... there are far too many silly misunderstandings scattered throughout the story. Just as one is resolved another comes up to interfere with the lovers' fragile trust. Each of these could have been easily resolved if Emmet and Elizabeth had looked past their personal biases and had a proper conversation. This type of contrived obstacle gets very old very quickly and puts a damper on an otherwise excellent story.
All in all, an enjoyable romance despite the annoying trope mentioned above. Looking forward to the next book in which Elizabeth's strait-laced brother meets his match.
4 Stars
Set in New York during the Gilded Age, an atypical setting in this genre, Magnate incorporates many of the historical, social and financial aspects of the time, including the great blizzard of 1888 as well as the conflicts between the old money Dutch Knickerbocker families and the nouveau riche, who acquired their fortunes through industry and technology. These together with the backdrop of the rail networks and the New York Stock Exchange successfully immerse the reader in the time period.
The heroine, Elizabeth Sloan, is wonderful. Her determination and tenacity in achieving her goal of establishing her own investment firm is admirable as is her standing up to those members of her social circle who believe women should be nothing more than adornments for their husbands.
The hero, Emmet Cavanaugh, a self made billionaire who fought his way out of the slums of Five Points to become a force to be reckoned with in New York society, is just as appealing. Shupe thankfully refrains from romanticizing his origins and creates a deeply flawed hero who is likable despite his many faults.
Emmet and Elizabeth's romance is emotionally and physically intense and their chemistry is off the charts. Readers who enjoy well written and hot sex scenes will not be disappointed.
Now to the most significant problem with the book .... there are far too many silly misunderstandings scattered throughout the story. Just as one is resolved another comes up to interfere with the lovers' fragile trust. Each of these could have been easily resolved if Emmet and Elizabeth had looked past their personal biases and had a proper conversation. This type of contrived obstacle gets very old very quickly and puts a damper on an otherwise excellent story.
All in all, an enjoyable romance despite the annoying trope mentioned above. Looking forward to the next book in which Elizabeth's strait-laced brother meets his match.
April 25, 2020
If you like the jaw-clenching jealous type but oddly supportive of a career woman hero, this is the one for you. But really, I didn't get a read on him or her much at all other than that. I preferred the novella, and will likely be stopping the series
September 27, 2017
Joanna Shupe showed a great deal of promise with her debut series set in Regency England, but this new series set several decades later in Gilded Age New York is in a class of its own.
I really enjoyed the introductory novella to this series, and had very high hopes for the first full book, Magnate. I enjoyed it much, much more than I expected.
The research, the world-building and the believable characters make this one stand out from your average historical romance. Every page felt like I really was in New York City in the 1880s, from the atmosphere, to the characters’ attitudes, to the little touches of everyday life that are so different to our own.
I really love the second half of the nineteenth century as a setting, because it is somewhere between the Regency and the modern world. Technology is rapidly advancing – trains, telegrams, telephones, modern bathrooms – but the social structure is still very much in the past.
For all the rules of upper class English society, the rich and powerful in the United States were just as fanatical about social position. I love the clash of the old money heroine with the powerful self-made man. He’s rough and coarse but also brings with him a touch of those things that make modern billionaire romances so popular. He can literally destroy a person’s life with a simple order, but he never forgets where he comes from.
I think the heroine was well-written. She has ambitions beyond a high class marriage, but she still read like a woman of her time. I think the author pushed her just enough without making her into a woman from our era.
Another thing that is done well is that characters are largely nuanced. They have friends and relatives and while they might not all like each other, there’s no misogyny or melodrama going on.
I don’t need heaps (or any) sex in my books, and once it happens there’s quite a bit, but it’s well-written, and if you enjoy those scenes, you won’t find any complaints here.
You will just have to read this book to see how well history is threaded through it. It’s an amazing feat to be able to dig so deeply into a complicated career of the past – and to make a profession I find deathly boring interesting to read about!
I definitely recommend Magnate, and while you absolutely Do Not need to read the introductory novella – why not?
This will surely be one of my favourite reads of the year.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
I really enjoyed the introductory novella to this series, and had very high hopes for the first full book, Magnate. I enjoyed it much, much more than I expected.
The research, the world-building and the believable characters make this one stand out from your average historical romance. Every page felt like I really was in New York City in the 1880s, from the atmosphere, to the characters’ attitudes, to the little touches of everyday life that are so different to our own.
I really love the second half of the nineteenth century as a setting, because it is somewhere between the Regency and the modern world. Technology is rapidly advancing – trains, telegrams, telephones, modern bathrooms – but the social structure is still very much in the past.
For all the rules of upper class English society, the rich and powerful in the United States were just as fanatical about social position. I love the clash of the old money heroine with the powerful self-made man. He’s rough and coarse but also brings with him a touch of those things that make modern billionaire romances so popular. He can literally destroy a person’s life with a simple order, but he never forgets where he comes from.
I think the heroine was well-written. She has ambitions beyond a high class marriage, but she still read like a woman of her time. I think the author pushed her just enough without making her into a woman from our era.
Another thing that is done well is that characters are largely nuanced. They have friends and relatives and while they might not all like each other, there’s no misogyny or melodrama going on.
I don’t need heaps (or any) sex in my books, and once it happens there’s quite a bit, but it’s well-written, and if you enjoy those scenes, you won’t find any complaints here.
You will just have to read this book to see how well history is threaded through it. It’s an amazing feat to be able to dig so deeply into a complicated career of the past – and to make a profession I find deathly boring interesting to read about!
I definitely recommend Magnate, and while you absolutely Do Not need to read the introductory novella – why not?
This will surely be one of my favourite reads of the year.
Review copy provided by NetGalley.
August 16, 2016
I purchased a print copy of MAGNATE by Joanna Shupe for a buddy read at Goodreads. Thanks to Andrea, Ash, Bubu, Christina, Jill, Linda, Luli, Lyuda, Nefise and Oana for introducing me to this author and for the great discussion.
I was intrigued with the heroine who starts her own brokerage firm when women were expected to leave the financial world to men. The modern day financial market isn’t an interest, but I was captivated by the historical details in this book. The Gilded Age isn’t a time period I’m normally drawn to, but Ms. Shupe charmed me enough to anticipate continuing with her series.
Her high society upbringing didn’t prepare Lizzie Sloane for business, but her aptitude with stock speculation influences her dream of opening a brokerage firm. First, she’ll need a man to front her business, and who better to do that than her brother’s friend, the wealthy steel magnate Emmett Cavanaugh. Having grown up in the slums, escaping successfully, Emmett isn’t afraid of what society thinks, which ends up as a challenge and unexpected trouble for Lizzie.
Lizzie is playing with fire, and her brother is determined to keep her reputation secure, no matter what that entails. Will one careless business meeting put all Lizzie’s dreams in danger, or will the danger be within the dream itself?
I really liked Lizzie. She is a gutsy woman for her time, considering that she lived a sheltered life with her brother handling everything for her. Emmett was naughty and pushed Lizzie until they were both cornered. It’s a lot of fun watching them both figure out if they belong together.
Author Joanna Shupe brings the aura of the rich and influential to vivid color. Old money versus new money is authentically portrayed. The setting and historical facts made the story both intriguing and believable. I was especially fascinated by the devastating snowstorm and the results in New York City when snowplows weren’t in existence. Having lived through major snowstorms with modern conveniences, I never considered the hardships faced in the 1800s.
I enjoyed the pacing of this novel. It continued to surprise me and I appreciated this couple’s conflict, as well as the secondary characters who influenced them. Lizzie and Emmett are unexpectedly explosive together which creates an exceptionally heated relationship. Not quite erotic, but very sensual, their attraction is a slow build to combustion.
I was entertained by the etiquette quotes at the beginning of each chapter. They set a tone for society’s expectations and it was amusing when those rules were ignored.
Even though I enjoyed the majority of this novel, I did feel that the conflict was tied up a little too quickly and neatly toward the end. I expected more resistance from Lizzie, considering her convictions. Up until that point, I appreciated the pacing, so I wanted a bit more confrontation from Lizzie toward Emmett’s reasoning before accepting her life with him. She just seemed to let him off too easy, considering how she felt about her brother. I wanted Lizzie’s earlier spunk to shine and it fizzled out.
With the current historical market inundated with similar settings, I find this series set in America refreshing. More please! I’m excited to discover how Ms. Shupe will redeem Lizzie’s brother in the next novel. He came off in a bad light to me for the majority of Lizzie’s book, even though Lizzie loves him. After reading the excerpt for BARON, it sounds like William Sloane will meet the perfect schemer who won’t be a pushover in book two.
I’m always looking for a fresh spin on historical romance. I wouldn’t have chose this novel without the influence of my friends. Thank you! Joanna Shupe surprised me more than once and I can still visualize her scenes from her thorough depiction. There are only a handful of historicals that are memorable like that for me. The fact that I’m still thinking about this book and visualizing that snowstorm, plus, that I was able to read it off and on over months, says a lot about this author’s talent at setting a scene. I wanted to finish, even when real life left me without choices to do so. Rarely can I pick up a book to read when I’ve tarried that long and still remember what happened.
This book wasn’t perfect for me, but it had so many good points calling me back to it, that it stands a bit higher in my memory than books I’ve rated much higher. Maybe that’s because I have such big hopes for the series as a whole.
A refreshing historical that will make you wonder about the world when nothing was as easy as it is today, MAGNATE is a great start to an absorbing new series. I hope THE KNICKERBOCKER CLUB series continues to match strong women with high-powered men, a characteristic MAGNATE introduced successfully.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Print book purchased by me.
For more book reviews, plus travel, garden and food topics with photos, visit The Zest Quest, my pursuit of a zestful life.
I was intrigued with the heroine who starts her own brokerage firm when women were expected to leave the financial world to men. The modern day financial market isn’t an interest, but I was captivated by the historical details in this book. The Gilded Age isn’t a time period I’m normally drawn to, but Ms. Shupe charmed me enough to anticipate continuing with her series.
Her high society upbringing didn’t prepare Lizzie Sloane for business, but her aptitude with stock speculation influences her dream of opening a brokerage firm. First, she’ll need a man to front her business, and who better to do that than her brother’s friend, the wealthy steel magnate Emmett Cavanaugh. Having grown up in the slums, escaping successfully, Emmett isn’t afraid of what society thinks, which ends up as a challenge and unexpected trouble for Lizzie.
Lizzie is playing with fire, and her brother is determined to keep her reputation secure, no matter what that entails. Will one careless business meeting put all Lizzie’s dreams in danger, or will the danger be within the dream itself?
I really liked Lizzie. She is a gutsy woman for her time, considering that she lived a sheltered life with her brother handling everything for her. Emmett was naughty and pushed Lizzie until they were both cornered. It’s a lot of fun watching them both figure out if they belong together.
Author Joanna Shupe brings the aura of the rich and influential to vivid color. Old money versus new money is authentically portrayed. The setting and historical facts made the story both intriguing and believable. I was especially fascinated by the devastating snowstorm and the results in New York City when snowplows weren’t in existence. Having lived through major snowstorms with modern conveniences, I never considered the hardships faced in the 1800s.
I enjoyed the pacing of this novel. It continued to surprise me and I appreciated this couple’s conflict, as well as the secondary characters who influenced them. Lizzie and Emmett are unexpectedly explosive together which creates an exceptionally heated relationship. Not quite erotic, but very sensual, their attraction is a slow build to combustion.
I was entertained by the etiquette quotes at the beginning of each chapter. They set a tone for society’s expectations and it was amusing when those rules were ignored.
Even though I enjoyed the majority of this novel, I did feel that the conflict was tied up a little too quickly and neatly toward the end. I expected more resistance from Lizzie, considering her convictions. Up until that point, I appreciated the pacing, so I wanted a bit more confrontation from Lizzie toward Emmett’s reasoning before accepting her life with him. She just seemed to let him off too easy, considering how she felt about her brother. I wanted Lizzie’s earlier spunk to shine and it fizzled out.
With the current historical market inundated with similar settings, I find this series set in America refreshing. More please! I’m excited to discover how Ms. Shupe will redeem Lizzie’s brother in the next novel. He came off in a bad light to me for the majority of Lizzie’s book, even though Lizzie loves him. After reading the excerpt for BARON, it sounds like William Sloane will meet the perfect schemer who won’t be a pushover in book two.
I’m always looking for a fresh spin on historical romance. I wouldn’t have chose this novel without the influence of my friends. Thank you! Joanna Shupe surprised me more than once and I can still visualize her scenes from her thorough depiction. There are only a handful of historicals that are memorable like that for me. The fact that I’m still thinking about this book and visualizing that snowstorm, plus, that I was able to read it off and on over months, says a lot about this author’s talent at setting a scene. I wanted to finish, even when real life left me without choices to do so. Rarely can I pick up a book to read when I’ve tarried that long and still remember what happened.
This book wasn’t perfect for me, but it had so many good points calling me back to it, that it stands a bit higher in my memory than books I’ve rated much higher. Maybe that’s because I have such big hopes for the series as a whole.
A refreshing historical that will make you wonder about the world when nothing was as easy as it is today, MAGNATE is a great start to an absorbing new series. I hope THE KNICKERBOCKER CLUB series continues to match strong women with high-powered men, a characteristic MAGNATE introduced successfully.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Print book purchased by me.
For more book reviews, plus travel, garden and food topics with photos, visit The Zest Quest, my pursuit of a zestful life.
August 19, 2016
LOVED IT! I would have given it a higher rating but I felt the ending was way too rushed.
April 29, 2016
Buddy-read with Andrea, Ash, Bubu, Dorine, Jill, Linda, Lyuda, Nefise and Oana.
Gracias chicas por esta experiencia tan fantástica!
Este libro tiene un interesante prólogo, está ambientado en una época y lugar muy atractivos y muy conseguidos, tiene una protagonista joven y con ambiciones que es inteligente aunque no muy lista y un protagonista complicado, oscuro, terco, zafio y con sed de poder, dinero y sexo. Y aunque no lo parezca, el protagonista es el personaje más realista y bien descrito de toda la historia. El más real y fiel a sí mismo…si sólo hubiese dejado todos esos atributos para el ámbito mercantil…pero no, ha tenido que ser terco, zafio, poco honesto y menos respetuoso con la protagonista también…
Si además de todo esto, no te preocupan muchas mentiras, poco diálogo entre la pareja protagonista, cierta cantidad de sexo (y mucho pensar en él) y un par de secundarios que son los “traductores” de los sentimientos de la pareja, esta historia te va a encantar.
A mí no me ha gustado.
Si miro hacia atrás veo que los protagonistas apenas pasan tiempo juntos. Es todo “dos días después”, “dos semanas después, “un mes después”… y en las pocas interacciones que tienen se pierde más tiempo describiendo partes que se ponen firmes y rodillas que se debilitan que mostrándonos a los personajes. No interactúan. O están en sitios diferentes, o están enfadados y no se hablan o están haciendo el amor… no hay más…
Normalmente lo que me echa para atrás en una historia es que se confunda sexo con amor y se repitan escena tras escena de encuentros amorosos. Aquí pasa exactamente eso, pero lo eclipsan los malentendidos, las mentiras y la falta de diálogo. Todo empieza con un malentendido: Lizzie piensa que va a pedir ayuda a un amigo de su hermano cuando realmente es su enemigo acérrimo, esto, por supuesto, no se aclara…y después de este aparecen 100 más. Hasta el mismísimo final, hasta la última escena del libro tiene su malentendido…ha sido abrumador y pesado. Menos es más.
Sobre Lizzie he de decir que no es lo mismo ser inteligente que ser lista, y esta chica lista no es. Sabrá de números pero poco más. A pesar de que el enfoque de una protagonista interesada en jugar en Wall Street es muy interesante, la autora no consigue hacerlo creíble. No nos ha mostrado más que un par de ocasiones en las que ella consigue algo, pero ni lo vemos ni lo entendemos. Y no es muy lista, no, es una de estas protagonistas que se olvidan de su nombre en cuanto les guiña el prota. Para mí no es muy atractivo.
El protagonista ha sido arena de otro costal. Si he de ser sincera ha sido real, muy real, quizás demasiado melodramático (sus faltas son tantas que al final no consigue redimirse, IMO) pero nadie podrá acusarlo de no ser fiel a sí mismo. Con tan poco donde elegir, me encanta cuando uno de los protagonistas no pertenece a la nobleza-élite, pero para mí la falta de escrúpulos, de honestidad y la crudeza con la que trata a la protagonista (hasta el final) ha sido demasiado.
Que me ha gustado? Pues me ha gustado el hermano de Lizzie, William Sloane. Aunque algunas de mis compañeras de lectura no van a estar de acuerdo conmigo, me ha parecido realista y cariñoso. Es un hombre de su tiempo, es el guardián de su hermana y todo lo que hace es porque realmente cree que es lo mejor para ella. Sinceramente, en una época en las que las mujeres no tenían ni voz ni voto, si Lizzie no hubiese sido tan descuidada, William no hubiese tenido que ir apagando fuegos…
En fin, que no me ha gustado. Quizás con menos melodrama y más diálogos interesantes entre los protagonistas hubiese sido otra cosa.
ARC provided by Kensington Publishing via Netgalley.
Buddy-read with Andrea, Ash, Bubu, Dorine, Jill, Linda, Lyuda, Nefise and Oana.
Thank you so much, Ladies. It has been an awesome experience!
This book has an interesting prologue, is set in a very attractive time and place (both highly achieved), has a young and ambitious heroine who is intelligent but not so smart and a complicated, dark, stubborn, uncouth and thirsty for power, money and sex hero. And although it may not seem it, he is the more realistic and well described character in the story. At least he is real and true to himself... If only he would have left all those attributes to the business field... but no, he had to be stubborn, uncouth and dishonorable and show no respect to the heroine too…
If, in addition to all of this, you don't care for a lot of lies, barely dialogue between the MC´s, certain amount of sex (and much thinking about it) and a pair of secondary characters who are the “MC´s feelings translator”, you would love this story.
I didn´t like it.
If I look back, I see that the MC´s hardly spend time together. It's always "two days later", "two weeks later”, “a month later"... and in the few interactions they have they lost more time describing body parts that are hard and knees that weakens, than showing their feelings. They almost do not interact. Either they are in different places or are angry and not talking to each other or they are making love... That´s all...
Normally, what backs me out in a story is that the author mixes up sex with love and repeats scene after scene of amorous encounters. Here you can find that exactly, but misunderstandings, lies and the lack of dialogue overshadow it. It all starts with a misunderstanding: Lizzie thinks that she will seek help from a friend of his brother when in reality is his nemesis, this, of course, it is not clarified... and after this one, there are 100 more. Until the very end, until the last scene of the book there are misunderstandings... It has been overwhelming and tiresome. Less is more.
About Lizzie I have to say that being intelligent and being smart are not the same thing, and this girl is not the later. While the perspective of a heroine interested in being a broker at Wall Street is very interesting, the author fails to make it credible. She has not shown us more than a couple of times in which Lizzie gets something achieved, but we don´t get to see how she works. And she is not very clever, nope, she is one of these girls who forget her name as soon as the hero winks at her. I prefer my heroines smarter.
The hero has been another matter entirely. In all honesty, he has felt real, very real, perhaps over the top melodramatic. His faults are so many that in the end, it had been impossible to me to forgive him, but no one can accuse him of not being true to himself. With so few stories in which one of the MC´s does not belong to the aristocracy or the Ton, I should have loved this one if only for that reason, but for me, the lack of scruples, honesty and the harshness with which Emmett treats Lizzie (until the end) was too much.
What did I like? Well, Lizzie´s brother, William Sloane, I liked. Although some of my buddy-reads will not agree with me, he has seemed (to me) realistic and caring. He is a man of his time, is his sister´s guardian and all that he does is because he really believes that it is the best for her. Sincerely, in an era in which women were bring up to be mothers, wifes and the ladies of the house, if Lizzie had not been so careless, William wouldn’t had to be putting out fires...
In short I didn´t like it. Perhaps with less melodrama and more interesting dialogues between the MC´s it would have been a different matter.
May 17, 2017
I am used to reading historicals. I love historical novels. I majored in history in college and went to graduate school to study U.S. History. What strikes me is that often in the romance world, "historical" novels default to European stories, especially the Regency Era. However, Joanna Shupe reminds us that there are plenty of stories to be told in the Gilded Age of U.S. History. It is the era between the Civil War and World War I when industrialization made people very wealthy. It is the time of glamour and corruption. Those in high society had very strict social norms that rivaled the British ton. This is also the age of Horatio Alger - the rags to riches stories that fuel the belief of meritocracy. The Gilded Age has so many possibilities.
I really enjoy the evolution of our main characters. Emmett Cavanaugh is our Horatio Alger-esque hero who grows up in the Five Points slums to become one of the riches men in New York City. A member of the Knickerbocker Club, this elite group of men wield their influence to shape the politics and business in New York City and beyond. These men are the movers and shakers of their age.
Elizabeth Sloan bristles under the restrictions society has for women. Those who defy the norm are often outcasts or are seen with suspicion. However, Elizabeth is determine to forge her own path in the world of finance. She only needs someone to give her a chance.
I love strong and smart female characters and Elizabeth easily fits the bill. I enjoy her tenacity and her ability to outsmart the men in her life. She is adventurous and unconventional. Emmett is hardworking and hard-edged, but a loving brother. He is totally focused on his business but with her, he feels alive: "...she'd burned hot and bright, a live electric change in his arms. A jolt of current that reached the long-dead places inside him." The relationship takes us through a gamut of emotions and it reaches a truly satisfying end.
This book triggered a fascination from me to learn more about this age. I can't wait to get to the next book.
Originally posted at Love Affair with an e-Reader.
I really enjoy the evolution of our main characters. Emmett Cavanaugh is our Horatio Alger-esque hero who grows up in the Five Points slums to become one of the riches men in New York City. A member of the Knickerbocker Club, this elite group of men wield their influence to shape the politics and business in New York City and beyond. These men are the movers and shakers of their age.
Elizabeth Sloan bristles under the restrictions society has for women. Those who defy the norm are often outcasts or are seen with suspicion. However, Elizabeth is determine to forge her own path in the world of finance. She only needs someone to give her a chance.
I love strong and smart female characters and Elizabeth easily fits the bill. I enjoy her tenacity and her ability to outsmart the men in her life. She is adventurous and unconventional. Emmett is hardworking and hard-edged, but a loving brother. He is totally focused on his business but with her, he feels alive: "...she'd burned hot and bright, a live electric change in his arms. A jolt of current that reached the long-dead places inside him." The relationship takes us through a gamut of emotions and it reaches a truly satisfying end.
This book triggered a fascination from me to learn more about this age. I can't wait to get to the next book.
Originally posted at Love Affair with an e-Reader.
April 29, 2016
*Buddy-read with Andrea, Ash, Bubu, Christina, Dorine, Jill, Luli, Lyuda, Nefise, Oana.*
No review, just my tags.
No review, just my tags.
April 29, 2016
Buddy-read with:
Andrea, Ash, Bubu, Christina, Dorine, Jill, Linda, Luli, Lyuda, Oana.
2.5 stars
Andrea, Ash, Bubu, Christina, Dorine, Jill, Linda, Luli, Lyuda, Oana.
2.5 stars
June 28, 2018
For a lazy day decent read.
June 29, 2022
Gimme a self made man with emotional constipation and I’m gone 🤧
November 3, 2017
Mister Emmett. Até sonho acordada só de pensar no seu nome. Um homem poderoso e um amante extraordinário.
Uma óptima leitura de fim de semana.
Uma óptima leitura de fim de semana.
May 7, 2018
2.5 stars rounded to 3
I wanted to love this book so, so much. Gilded Age New York. Society heroine who wants a career. Horatio Alger-like hero. And it does start out like a house on fire until it morphs into a marriage of convenience at the halfway point and the heroine turns completely stupid. I'm all for ahead-of-their-time heroines, but ones who feign ignorance on social mores of the time when they're blue-blooded for for heaven's sake make me want to hurl the book across the room, out the window, into the street, into oncoming traffic.
It could have been amazing, sadly just avarage. Not memorable in a good or bad way.
I wanted to love this book so, so much. Gilded Age New York. Society heroine who wants a career. Horatio Alger-like hero. And it does start out like a house on fire until it morphs into a marriage of convenience at the halfway point and the heroine turns completely stupid. I'm all for ahead-of-their-time heroines, but ones who feign ignorance on social mores of the time when they're blue-blooded for for heaven's sake make me want to hurl the book across the room, out the window, into the street, into oncoming traffic.
It could have been amazing, sadly just avarage. Not memorable in a good or bad way.
August 24, 2023
Audiobook Review
Overall 3 stars
Performance 2.5 stars
Story 2.5-3 stars
Overall an enjoyable and entertaining listen, but not as good as some of the other Joanna Shupe I’ve read. I liked the set up and thought the novel started off strong, but it lost momentum around halfway and the ending didn’t quite deliver. Emmett’s mood swings and tantrums got old fast and his grovel at the end wasn’t nearly enough. Elizabeth’s character arc had so much potential, but I felt that her ambitions and drive pretty much disappeared once they got married. Throw in a random revenge plot (seriously, why did he hate Will so much?) and some annoying OM drama and what could have been a great read became just ok. I’m unsure if I will continue on with the series.
I mainly listened to the audiobook and sadly didn’t love the narration by Amy Melissa Bentley. She’s a new to me narrator, and I found the lack of variation in her voices made differentiating between the characters difficult. It was fine overall, but I will likely try the ebooks if I decide to continue with the series.
CW: childhood poverty (past), death of parents (past), sibling injured during childhood resulting in lasting foot injury, child abuse (past), parental abandonment (past), blackmail, sexism
*Borrowed from the library via Libby*
Overall 3 stars
Performance 2.5 stars
Story 2.5-3 stars
Overall an enjoyable and entertaining listen, but not as good as some of the other Joanna Shupe I’ve read. I liked the set up and thought the novel started off strong, but it lost momentum around halfway and the ending didn’t quite deliver. Emmett’s mood swings and tantrums got old fast and his grovel at the end wasn’t nearly enough. Elizabeth’s character arc had so much potential, but I felt that her ambitions and drive pretty much disappeared once they got married. Throw in a random revenge plot (seriously, why did he hate Will so much?) and some annoying OM drama and what could have been a great read became just ok. I’m unsure if I will continue on with the series.
I mainly listened to the audiobook and sadly didn’t love the narration by Amy Melissa Bentley. She’s a new to me narrator, and I found the lack of variation in her voices made differentiating between the characters difficult. It was fine overall, but I will likely try the ebooks if I decide to continue with the series.
CW: childhood poverty (past), death of parents (past), sibling injured during childhood resulting in lasting foot injury, child abuse (past), parental abandonment (past), blackmail, sexism
*Borrowed from the library via Libby*
July 20, 2023
-=- 1.5 stars -=-
This is what I get for trying to make my way out of the slump 💀.
I REALLY had to push myself to finish this book. It started off nicely, but once the miscommunication came in (very early on in the story), it really disrupted the flow of the book for me- and everything that came after it just felt really repetitive with their (the H's in particular) lack of communication.
This being my second book by JS, I've come to the conclusion that her heroes just aren't for me 🤷♀️. Throughout the whole book, he didn't trust her (the h), he disrespected her, and not once did he fight for her, without someone else prompting him to. The more that I read, the more I disliked him as a person.
This didn't go how I thought it would 💀. Alright back to the slump I go 👋.
This is what I get for trying to make my way out of the slump 💀.
I REALLY had to push myself to finish this book. It started off nicely, but once the miscommunication came in (very early on in the story), it really disrupted the flow of the book for me- and everything that came after it just felt really repetitive with their (the H's in particular) lack of communication.
This being my second book by JS, I've come to the conclusion that her heroes just aren't for me 🤷♀️. Throughout the whole book, he didn't trust her (the h), he disrespected her, and not once did he fight for her, without someone else prompting him to. The more that I read, the more I disliked him as a person.
This didn't go how I thought it would 💀. Alright back to the slump I go 👋.
February 11, 2025
3.75★
I can see why some people wouldn't love this one, but I was kind of eating up the back-and-forth angst. I guess I was just in the mood for it 😆
I can see why some people wouldn't love this one, but I was kind of eating up the back-and-forth angst. I guess I was just in the mood for it 😆
September 24, 2017
hmm, I enjoyed this. Nice to read a historical romance that isn't regency. Pleasant enough that I will be continuing on down the series!
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