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Miracle on Ladies' Mile
A holiday novella set in New York City's Gilded Age, where anything is possible...
Since the death of his wife, department store owner Alexander Armstrong buries himself in his work. One night he encounters a mesmerizing young woman setting up the holiday window displays and on a whim decides to help. Grace’s charm is infectious and he can’t remember the last time he smiled this much . . .but will Grace look at him the same once she learns who he really is?
Aspiring designer Grace Shipley has big dreams and plans to work her way up from decorating the windows at the most popular store on Ladies’ Mile. And while she doesn’t need his help, her handsome new friend gives a whole new meaning to the idea of holiday cheer.
Now Alex must overcome his fear of another heartbreak and confess the truth, even if means losing Grace forever.
Since the death of his wife, department store owner Alexander Armstrong buries himself in his work. One night he encounters a mesmerizing young woman setting up the holiday window displays and on a whim decides to help. Grace’s charm is infectious and he can’t remember the last time he smiled this much . . .but will Grace look at him the same once she learns who he really is?
Aspiring designer Grace Shipley has big dreams and plans to work her way up from decorating the windows at the most popular store on Ladies’ Mile. And while she doesn’t need his help, her handsome new friend gives a whole new meaning to the idea of holiday cheer.
Now Alex must overcome his fear of another heartbreak and confess the truth, even if means losing Grace forever.
116 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2017
126 people are currently reading
1766 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 - 29 of 224 reviews
December 11, 2021
This was AMAZING and I really need this to be a full length novel. I loved how Grace is designing a shop window for a huge department store and has dreams of being a dressmaker and designer for them. She meets a man while she's working late at night on the window display and he ends up helping her. She thinks he works for the store, but little does she know he's actually one of the co-owners who is known for his harsh and rude personality. Grace and Alex learn more about each other as they work late into the night and I loved how they slowly fell for one another. It was so cute, but Alex was hiding a big secret about who he really is. Alex is also a widower and is raising his daughter alone, I really loved that part of the plot. His daughter was so adorable and I loved how she helped spur their relationship along at the end. This was just so cute and I need more books like this!!
December 12, 2021
I LOVED this so much. So much emotion and longing and desire packed into such a short story! Can't recommend enough, absolutely fantastic.
December 8, 2025
2.5 stars
This started so well. Grace is putting up a Christmas window display in a luxury department store in 1895 New York City after hours when she notices a gentleman watching her through the window. He comes to her assistance the next evening, introducing himself as a coworker instead of his actual role, the co-owner of the store, Alexander Armstrong.
Alex is a widower of seven years, still in deep mourning for his first wife. So deep, in fact, that he has virtually ignored the existence of his daughter because she looks so much like his dead wife and it makes him sad. Poor kid. I guess if she had looked like the milkman she wouldn’t have had to live in virtual isolation.
His mourning is not so deep, however, that he hasn’t found willing bed partners. But his One Great Love is Dead Mary and he will never taint her memory with another wife, or even a relationship. (Just bed partners.)
I suppose that’s why he was imagining sliding between Grace’s thighs while he was helping her with the window display. This went horny early; why would an author waste time building a connection with kind words or sweet gestures when you can go straight to heated lower body parts?
Every time Alex finds himself drawn to Grace he reminds himself that he can never betray Mary and their love. But he keeps getting inconvenient cockstands around Grace, and can’t resist helping her. But he’s had his one-and-only love. But he finds himself with Grace in a dark alcove giving and receiving an orgasm. Oh, the grief. Oh, the lust. Oh, the grief. Oh, the burning attraction. Oh, good grief.
Then, as you might have guessed from the first paragraph, Grace finds out who Alex really is and it’s the end of the world. He lied! He doesn’t care! He’s heinous! He’s humiliated her! She can never, ever, ever, ever forgive him and banishes him from her life forever…for not telling her he co-owned the store? Lady, if that’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you, you’re living a charmed life.
Stop already. I got a mild case of whiplash reading this surface-level conglomeration of contradictions. With my BR partner, Lori, helping me limp through this, I made it to the end. Without Lori, probably a DNF. Thanks, Lori—may our next book be better!
This started so well. Grace is putting up a Christmas window display in a luxury department store in 1895 New York City after hours when she notices a gentleman watching her through the window. He comes to her assistance the next evening, introducing himself as a coworker instead of his actual role, the co-owner of the store, Alexander Armstrong.
Alex is a widower of seven years, still in deep mourning for his first wife. So deep, in fact, that he has virtually ignored the existence of his daughter because she looks so much like his dead wife and it makes him sad. Poor kid. I guess if she had looked like the milkman she wouldn’t have had to live in virtual isolation.
His mourning is not so deep, however, that he hasn’t found willing bed partners. But his One Great Love is Dead Mary and he will never taint her memory with another wife, or even a relationship. (Just bed partners.)
I suppose that’s why he was imagining sliding between Grace’s thighs while he was helping her with the window display. This went horny early; why would an author waste time building a connection with kind words or sweet gestures when you can go straight to heated lower body parts?
Every time Alex finds himself drawn to Grace he reminds himself that he can never betray Mary and their love. But he keeps getting inconvenient cockstands around Grace, and can’t resist helping her. But he’s had his one-and-only love. But he finds himself with Grace in a dark alcove giving and receiving an orgasm. Oh, the grief. Oh, the lust. Oh, the grief. Oh, the burning attraction. Oh, good grief.
Then, as you might have guessed from the first paragraph, Grace finds out who Alex really is and it’s the end of the world. He lied! He doesn’t care! He’s heinous! He’s humiliated her! She can never, ever, ever, ever forgive him and banishes him from her life forever…for not telling her he co-owned the store? Lady, if that’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you, you’re living a charmed life.
Stop already. I got a mild case of whiplash reading this surface-level conglomeration of contradictions. With my BR partner, Lori, helping me limp through this, I made it to the end. Without Lori, probably a DNF. Thanks, Lori—may our next book be better!
November 15, 2023
This was a warm and sweet Christmas novella. Alex is the co-head of a department store who falls for a vivacious and kind window decorator named Grace. She assumes he's just another employee at the store and he doesn't correct her of that assumption. Alex is a widower (his wife died 7 years ago) and the father of a young daughter whom he keeps at a distance because she reminds him of her mother. Because Grace doesn't know his real identity, they're able to build a friendship that's separate from his responsibilities and his lingering grief. Naturally they fall in love, but the truth of who Alex really is, hangs like a dark cloud above them. Sidenote: If you're not a fan of widow/widower romances, Alex definitely puts his wife on a bit of pedestal.
Grace was the best part of this romance. Despite her age (she's only 19!) she's got a great head on her shoulders. In my opinion, she has more emotional maturity than Alex. She has her own dreams and ambitions and she's unafraid to stand up for herself (I don't think I learned how to stick up for myself until I was 25 lmao). I think my favorite part of this novella was Grace telling Alex to do right by his daughter Sarah. Alex.....pissed me off until close to the end of the novel. This man was using his grief as an excuse to pretty much NEGLECT HIS DAUGHTER. That little girl just wanted to spend time with her dad! To have a parent who tries to connect with their child but messes up a bit is one thing, to have a parent who doesn’t even try to build a relationship with their child is another. Had he attempted to spend time with her, I would've been less irritated with him, but his governess had to have a chat with him saying "HEY IT'S YOUR KID'S BIRTHDAY TOMORROW MAYBE SPEND TIME WITH HER?" and he STILL DOESN'T SPEND TIME WITH HER. HE JUST TELLS HER TO WANDER AROUND THE STORE BY HERSELF. SIR.
I'm not kidding, he's so clueless it's infuriating. At one point Alex tries to put off apologizing to Sarah until after the end of the workday (YES REALLY) and Grace is like NO APOLOGIZE TO HER NOW YOU IDIOT. He does apologize and their relationship begins to heal and it's a really beautiful scene between father and daughter but whew this man tried my patience!
So yeah...3 stars lol Had this book had an epilogue where we saw Alex, Grace and Sarah being a happy family it probably would've gotten a 4.
Grace was the best part of this romance. Despite her age (she's only 19!) she's got a great head on her shoulders. In my opinion, she has more emotional maturity than Alex. She has her own dreams and ambitions and she's unafraid to stand up for herself (I don't think I learned how to stick up for myself until I was 25 lmao). I think my favorite part of this novella was Grace telling Alex to do right by his daughter Sarah. Alex.....pissed me off until close to the end of the novel. This man was using his grief as an excuse to pretty much NEGLECT HIS DAUGHTER. That little girl just wanted to spend time with her dad! To have a parent who tries to connect with their child but messes up a bit is one thing, to have a parent who doesn’t even try to build a relationship with their child is another. Had he attempted to spend time with her, I would've been less irritated with him, but his governess had to have a chat with him saying "HEY IT'S YOUR KID'S BIRTHDAY TOMORROW MAYBE SPEND TIME WITH HER?" and he STILL DOESN'T SPEND TIME WITH HER. HE JUST TELLS HER TO WANDER AROUND THE STORE BY HERSELF. SIR.
I'm not kidding, he's so clueless it's infuriating. At one point Alex tries to put off apologizing to Sarah until after the end of the workday (YES REALLY) and Grace is like NO APOLOGIZE TO HER NOW YOU IDIOT. He does apologize and their relationship begins to heal and it's a really beautiful scene between father and daughter but whew this man tried my patience!
So yeah...3 stars lol Had this book had an epilogue where we saw Alex, Grace and Sarah being a happy family it probably would've gotten a 4.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2025
I don’t know why I finished this… MMC was the worst and I don’t get how they could make up in the end in like 4 pages. Nope.
December 22, 2022
Read this in one sitting! Sweet and steamy in classic Joanna Shupe style, with great side characters and touching moments that make it a wonderful holiday read.
December 13, 2023
I need so much more!! This lil Holiday/winter novella packed such an emotional punch that left me dizzy. It’s the raw desire for me. Two people that long to explore the delicious chemistry between them. Grace is a 19 year old “designer” who works on the holiday window displays at a prestigious department store. I love that this is set in NY city in the Gilded Age era. She is total sunshine to the hero’s, grumpy. Alex is a widow and single dad and owner of the department store. He sees Grace after hours night after night and is drawn to her. He hates to see her all alone doing so much work so he comes down to the basement area and conceals who he really is to her offering to help her. They get close..things happen and we’ll..you just need to read these 126 pages and find out. Trust me, you’ll want so much more and yet you’ll be left feeling warm & fuzzy with satisfaction.
“Have you ever tried on a coat that is too small? It pulls across your shoulders and back, wrapping you up, choking you, like everything is closing in on you. I felt that way every day before meeting you. But when I was with you, I could let all the other worries and problems fall away. With you, there’s no too-small coat pulling on me. You fit me perfectly.”
“Have you ever tried on a coat that is too small? It pulls across your shoulders and back, wrapping you up, choking you, like everything is closing in on you. I felt that way every day before meeting you. But when I was with you, I could let all the other worries and problems fall away. With you, there’s no too-small coat pulling on me. You fit me perfectly.”
December 17, 2025
This was....fine. The Shupe elements are all there - rich man falls for smart and striving younger woman with a future plan to execute. In this case young Grace has moved from the farm to be a dress designer and is getting her start working in the holiday window display of a department store. The store owner sees her and pretends to be a regular employee and they develop a friendship and attraction. He feels the connection but he's been a widow for years and Can Never Love Again. Oops, surprise, he can, actually.
Shupe is wonderful about weaving in details of the gilded age era and her research into her books. She gets the time of vibrant political and social change exactly right, and includes settings such as the nightclub here that provide a great insight inter what it was like to be a 19 year old in the city for the first time. I did feel like the "I'He'll never marry again" to "charmed her way into his soul" pipeline was kind of abrupt.
Can we all just agree that the moment in romance of the 20-teens where the poor girl dating the billionaire refused to let them pay for a thing is best left behind, because this is the second Shupe of that era where a very economically disadvantaged woman refuses to let the incredibly wealthy man even buy her a thing.
She has set the bar super high with her excellence, and this one doesn't quite clear it. Oh well, just like pizza, a Shupe that isn't the best is still a pretty good book, no reason NOT to read it.
Shupe is wonderful about weaving in details of the gilded age era and her research into her books. She gets the time of vibrant political and social change exactly right, and includes settings such as the nightclub here that provide a great insight inter what it was like to be a 19 year old in the city for the first time. I did feel like the "I'He'll never marry again" to "charmed her way into his soul" pipeline was kind of abrupt.
Can we all just agree that the moment in romance of the 20-teens where the poor girl dating the billionaire refused to let them pay for a thing is best left behind, because this is the second Shupe of that era where a very economically disadvantaged woman refuses to let the incredibly wealthy man even buy her a thing.
She has set the bar super high with her excellence, and this one doesn't quite clear it. Oh well, just like pizza, a Shupe that isn't the best is still a pretty good book, no reason NOT to read it.
December 9, 2021
Let me start off by saying that I really enjoyed Grace’s character, but Alex frustrated me A LOT. After his wife passed away, he started to neglect his daughter basically bc she looks just like his late wife. Now, I can understand doing that for the first few months after his wife’s passing due to shock/grief, but the fact that it’s been SEVEN YEARS and he is still being neglectful/a shitty father to Sarah?! Absolutely appalling. Thank god Grace calls him out on it. Sarah deserved so much better. I loved her character so much 🥺 At least Alex starts to bond with her more by the end but GAH that pissed me off so much.
He’s also kind of an ass to Grace, and while I understand why, it definitely annoyed me. I think he could’ve groveled more or done some sort of grand gesture at the end, and without Sarah who knows if they would’ve gotten back together? That felt a bit odd to me.
However, I loooooooved the gilded age department store setting of this. As usual, Joanna Shupe writes that so well. Even though this is a novella, the romance was paced really well, though I do think this should have been a full length novel because the ending is really only the beginning of Alex and Grace’s relationship. And we could’ve gotten at least one actual sex scene if this was longer 😭😭😭
He’s also kind of an ass to Grace, and while I understand why, it definitely annoyed me. I think he could’ve groveled more or done some sort of grand gesture at the end, and without Sarah who knows if they would’ve gotten back together? That felt a bit odd to me.
However, I loooooooved the gilded age department store setting of this. As usual, Joanna Shupe writes that so well. Even though this is a novella, the romance was paced really well, though I do think this should have been a full length novel because the ending is really only the beginning of Alex and Grace’s relationship. And we could’ve gotten at least one actual sex scene if this was longer 😭😭😭
December 11, 2020
Absolutely adorable Christmas novella by the queen Joanna Shupe! Miracle on Ladies Mile is a mistaken identity romance with a grumpy hero set in Gilded Age New York.
Alex is the widowed owner of a big department store and Grace is his sunshine-y employee. He finds Grace working on Christmas window displays alone at night and helps her. As their friendship grows he never reveals he is the owner and a father. Of course, it all comes out and they get a Christmas miracle of an HEA!
I love a grumpy hero with a mistaken identity where the character grows in the end so Alex was totally my guy. Grace is a perfect heroine in that she stood up for herself to Alex, knew her worth and was ready to fight for his daughter Sarah. The Gilded Age setting in New York is Shupe's niche that she crafts to perfection!
Overall a quick, enjoyable, sweet holiday read!
Alex is the widowed owner of a big department store and Grace is his sunshine-y employee. He finds Grace working on Christmas window displays alone at night and helps her. As their friendship grows he never reveals he is the owner and a father. Of course, it all comes out and they get a Christmas miracle of an HEA!
I love a grumpy hero with a mistaken identity where the character grows in the end so Alex was totally my guy. Grace is a perfect heroine in that she stood up for herself to Alex, knew her worth and was ready to fight for his daughter Sarah. The Gilded Age setting in New York is Shupe's niche that she crafts to perfection!
Overall a quick, enjoyable, sweet holiday read!
November 19, 2022
These were some low-key angsty tropes wrapped up in a cute Christmassy bow. Plus that Joanna Shupe Gilded Age New York worldbuilding that I could eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
We had a widower single father, age gap, secret identity, with a touch of class difference. And it was so sweet!
Ready for some hypocrisy? I love widow books—they really can’t go wrong, imo. But I am VERY LEERY of widower books. If he didn’t love his first wife, I question his character. If he loved his first wife yet very quickly falls for the FMC, I question everything. There are a thousand and one ways for a widower story to go wrong, for me.
But this widower story perfectly thread the needle. Probably one of the best widower MMCs I’ve read tbh. Maybe because both characters were being so loving and mature about the whole thing.
If only this novella had been as spicy as it was sweet. Then it would have been solidly in five star territory.
We had a widower single father, age gap, secret identity, with a touch of class difference. And it was so sweet!
Ready for some hypocrisy? I love widow books—they really can’t go wrong, imo. But I am VERY LEERY of widower books. If he didn’t love his first wife, I question his character. If he loved his first wife yet very quickly falls for the FMC, I question everything. There are a thousand and one ways for a widower story to go wrong, for me.
But this widower story perfectly thread the needle. Probably one of the best widower MMCs I’ve read tbh. Maybe because both characters were being so loving and mature about the whole thing.
If only this novella had been as spicy as it was sweet. Then it would have been solidly in five star territory.
December 18, 2025
Shupe just KNOWS how to write competent men with hot AF forearms - she’s truly the queen of competence porn. But then, Of Course, he’s struggling with some intense grief over his dead wife. I loved how this story really brought in his daughter, and it felt a little bit like Scrooge getting his heart back. Overall, a sweet feel-good Christmas novella that also delivers on the spice bc it’s Joanna Shupe. And it’s Gilded Age NYC, so all the glitz and glamour with the holiday dressing was perfection! The historical tidbits on department stores are also cool.
December 10, 2020
This is a previously published novella that just got a new cover makeover and I’m so glad I saw the announcement & grabbed it to read. Alex & Grace were perfection together in this story...the grumpy hero & sunshine heroine. 😍🔥 Alex is a widowed, single dad who keeps himself busy at work when one night while leaving work, he sees Grace working on the holiday window displays by herself. Night after night he returns and sees her working alone and decides to help her. At first, he doesn’t tell her he’s a co-owner of the store and they form a sort-of friendship. Alex is so drawn to Grace and I just adored seeing how much he needed her in his life. I really enjoyed Alex & Grace’s moments but I also liked seeing how his relationship with his daughter evolved in this story. Grace and his daughter share some really sweet moments together too. ☺️
•holiday/winter romance
•New York City Gilded Age historical romance
•grumpy hero/sunshine heroine
•widowed, single dad romance
•126 pages/novella
I love Joanna Shupe’s Gilded Age historical romances SO much, they always deliver on the romance/steam/character’s story and then I’m always learning some little tidbit of Gilded Age history too. In this read, the author’s note mentions how holiday window displays (Macy’s) were a Gilded Age invention and I just adored that little factoid.
•holiday/winter romance
•New York City Gilded Age historical romance
•grumpy hero/sunshine heroine
•widowed, single dad romance
•126 pages/novella
I love Joanna Shupe’s Gilded Age historical romances SO much, they always deliver on the romance/steam/character’s story and then I’m always learning some little tidbit of Gilded Age history too. In this read, the author’s note mentions how holiday window displays (Macy’s) were a Gilded Age invention and I just adored that little factoid.
December 15, 2024
What a lovely Holiday novella! Loved Alex and Grace!
March 7, 2019
This lovely story is set in New York in 1895. A widowed man, Alexander, with a young daughter, Sarah, is the owner of a top-notch department store. He finds himself falling for one of his staff, Grace. She is dressing a window when he first spots her, but her dream job is to be a fashion designer. There is an instant attraction between Grace and Alex. Unfortunately Alex doesn't tell her who he is, and a relationship built on lies can never work, or can it?
I loved everything about this book, especially reading about the window displays that Grace is 'dressing'. I was fascinated to learn in the author's notes that this era was the time that window displays such as these came into being.
I really felt for Alex, he definitely came across as the poor rich man. He'd lost his wife, he couldn't cope with his grief that was keeping him from spending time with his 10-year-old daughter. He definitely needed Grace in his life. He wanted to be seen for himself, not the rich store owner, so he had good reason to not tell Grace who he was, at least at the beginning. I was dreading her reaction when the truth came out.
Grace and Alex are perfect for each other and fortunately, this is only a novella and I could read it all quickly to find out if they had their happy ever after. I wasn't disappointed.
I loved everything about this book, especially reading about the window displays that Grace is 'dressing'. I was fascinated to learn in the author's notes that this era was the time that window displays such as these came into being.
I really felt for Alex, he definitely came across as the poor rich man. He'd lost his wife, he couldn't cope with his grief that was keeping him from spending time with his 10-year-old daughter. He definitely needed Grace in his life. He wanted to be seen for himself, not the rich store owner, so he had good reason to not tell Grace who he was, at least at the beginning. I was dreading her reaction when the truth came out.
Grace and Alex are perfect for each other and fortunately, this is only a novella and I could read it all quickly to find out if they had their happy ever after. I wasn't disappointed.
December 11, 2021
4.5/5 stars
Single dad + working at the same store + grumpy & sunshine (sort of). i absolutely loved this!!! it was such a fun, sweet, and exciting historical romance novella. Alex's daughter was super sweet and I just adore single parent romances. the chemistry between Alex and Grace was everything, and I rooted for them so hard. the only one thing i didn't like was there was the hidden identity/keeping a secret kind of thing
Single dad + working at the same store + grumpy & sunshine (sort of). i absolutely loved this!!! it was such a fun, sweet, and exciting historical romance novella. Alex's daughter was super sweet and I just adore single parent romances. the chemistry between Alex and Grace was everything, and I rooted for them so hard. the only one thing i didn't like was there was the hidden identity/keeping a secret kind of thing
December 23, 2022
1.5 ⭐
It's a no from me dawg. Men are trash and even miss Joanna Shupe could not write a convincing redemption arc for her "hero." Alex was a shitty boss, and a shitty father. Grace deserved so much better. It also weirded me out that his kid was 10 and Grace was 19... A mere 9 years older than his own kid 😬
No one is more upset than me that I didn't absolutely love this 😭 Joanna is one of my favorite HR authors, but this one just wasn't for me.
It's a no from me dawg. Men are trash and even miss Joanna Shupe could not write a convincing redemption arc for her "hero." Alex was a shitty boss, and a shitty father. Grace deserved so much better. It also weirded me out that his kid was 10 and Grace was 19... A mere 9 years older than his own kid 😬
No one is more upset than me that I didn't absolutely love this 😭 Joanna is one of my favorite HR authors, but this one just wasn't for me.
December 27, 2020
New York City 1895
A tale of a father's shattered happily-ever-after. Seven years later, he meets a courageous shop-girl from a loving family and enough charm to shake him out of his slump. A sweet, redemptive story centered around the hustle and bustle of a commercialized Christmas.
The author writes good characters. However, this story was short on build up and tension.
A tale of a father's shattered happily-ever-after. Seven years later, he meets a courageous shop-girl from a loving family and enough charm to shake him out of his slump. A sweet, redemptive story centered around the hustle and bustle of a commercialized Christmas.
The author writes good characters. However, this story was short on build up and tension.
December 11, 2020
Grace Shipley was an aspiring designer, and she worked at New York City's department store Mac and Arm's. She was tasked to assist with designing its window displays when she met a gruff man who then helped and befriended her. What Grace didn't know, that man was one of the store's owner Alex Armstrong.
...
Joanna Shupe is one of my top new-to-me favorite authors this year. I read several books of hers this year alone, and I loved most of them. So while I'm waiting for her upcoming book, The Heiress Hunt, I settled down with this one. Miracle on Ladies' Mile is a rather older release, I think first released in 2016 in an anthology; but it has new cover.
Anyway, guess what, I loved it too!! 💛 In fact, it managed to made me teary eyed a bit. I LOVED reading the time that Grace and Alex spent together. I loved Grace's spirit. I wasn't happy with how Alex dealt with his daughter, but well, he learned his mistakes. So that was all good.
The part that made me teary eyed was during because I could feel . I sort of wish for an epilogue though. It'll make this more complete.
...
Joanna Shupe is one of my top new-to-me favorite authors this year. I read several books of hers this year alone, and I loved most of them. So while I'm waiting for her upcoming book, The Heiress Hunt, I settled down with this one. Miracle on Ladies' Mile is a rather older release, I think first released in 2016 in an anthology; but it has new cover.
Anyway, guess what, I loved it too!! 💛 In fact, it managed to made me teary eyed a bit. I LOVED reading the time that Grace and Alex spent together. I loved Grace's spirit. I wasn't happy with how Alex dealt with his daughter, but well, he learned his mistakes. So that was all good.
The part that made me teary eyed was during because I could feel . I sort of wish for an epilogue though. It'll make this more complete.
November 25, 2021
3.5 Stars
Miracle on Ladies' Mile was a delightful holiday read featuring a romance between an aspiring designer and the owner of a department store.
Department store owner Alexander Armstrong has buried himself in his work since the death of his wife. One night as he's leaving the store, he spots a young woman setting up the holiday window displays and decides to lend a hand. But Grace Shipley, an aspiring designer, has no idea the man assisting her is the owner of the store. As Alex and Grace grow closer while working on the displays, Alex must overcome his fear of losing someone else and confess his identity or risk losing Grace forever.
On the surface, Grace and Alex seemingly have nothing in common as they live very different lives. Alex did grow up poor but since making a name for himself, he's thought of little other than keeping his success. Grace moved to New York from a small Pennsylvanian town and is currently at the bottom of the ladder career wise. I enjoyed the pair's banter as they worked on the window displays and that Alex accepted Grace knew more than him about what needed to be done. I didn't love the fact Alex kept his identity a secret despite the fact he believed he had good reason to do so. Eventually the truth comes out which puts a strain on their relationship, but I was happy with the way the pair worked through things.
Overall Miracle on Ladies' Mile was a cute holiday romance perfect for those looking for a quick historical romance to read.
Miracle on Ladies' Mile was a delightful holiday read featuring a romance between an aspiring designer and the owner of a department store.
Department store owner Alexander Armstrong has buried himself in his work since the death of his wife. One night as he's leaving the store, he spots a young woman setting up the holiday window displays and decides to lend a hand. But Grace Shipley, an aspiring designer, has no idea the man assisting her is the owner of the store. As Alex and Grace grow closer while working on the displays, Alex must overcome his fear of losing someone else and confess his identity or risk losing Grace forever.
On the surface, Grace and Alex seemingly have nothing in common as they live very different lives. Alex did grow up poor but since making a name for himself, he's thought of little other than keeping his success. Grace moved to New York from a small Pennsylvanian town and is currently at the bottom of the ladder career wise. I enjoyed the pair's banter as they worked on the window displays and that Alex accepted Grace knew more than him about what needed to be done. I didn't love the fact Alex kept his identity a secret despite the fact he believed he had good reason to do so. Eventually the truth comes out which puts a strain on their relationship, but I was happy with the way the pair worked through things.
Overall Miracle on Ladies' Mile was a cute holiday romance perfect for those looking for a quick historical romance to read.
December 12, 2025
(3.75) NYC ยุค gilded age พระเอกเป็นนายห้างพ่อม่ายลูกติด เมียตายไปเจ็ดปีแล้วยังมูฟออนไม่ได้ ส่วนนางเอกเป็นดีไซเนอร์สาวที่โดนจ้างมาจัด window display ช่วงคริสต์มาส
จริงๆ พล็อตส่วนที่พระเอกมาช่วยนางเอกทำงานโดยไม่บอกว่าเป็นเจ้าของห้างน่ารักนะ ชอบพาร์ทนี้เลยแหละ แต่พล็อตส่วนพระเอกกับลูกสาวดันทำให้อ่านอย่างไม่ค่อยเป็นสุข คือพระเอกยังเศร้าเรื่องเมียตายจนมองหน้าลูกไม่ได้เพราะมองแล้วนึกถึงเมีย พระเอกเลยเอาแต่ทำงานๆๆ ทอดทิ้งลูกให้อยู่แบบเหงาๆ มาตลอดเจ็ดปี... เจ็ดปี!!! อ่านแล้วสงสารน้อง😢 แถมกว่าพ่อลูกจะปรับความเข้าใจกันได้ก็ปาเข้าไปเกือบท้ายเรื่อง ในฐานะนิยายคริสต์มาสรู้สึกมันดีเพรสไปนิด ตอนจบก็ห้วนมาก อยากให้มี epilogue ต่ออีกสักนิด
จริงๆ พล็อตส่วนที่พระเอกมาช่วยนางเอกทำงานโดยไม่บอกว่าเป็นเจ้าของห้างน่ารักนะ ชอบพาร์ทนี้เลยแหละ แต่พล็อตส่วนพระเอกกับลูกสาวดันทำให้อ่านอย่างไม่ค่อยเป็นสุข คือพระเอกยังเศร้าเรื่องเมียตายจนมองหน้าลูกไม่ได้เพราะมองแล้วนึกถึงเมีย พระเอกเลยเอาแต่ทำงานๆๆ ทอดทิ้งลูกให้อยู่แบบเหงาๆ มาตลอดเจ็ดปี... เจ็ดปี!!! อ่านแล้วสงสารน้อง😢 แถมกว่าพ่อลูกจะปรับความเข้าใจกันได้ก็ปาเข้าไปเกือบท้ายเรื่อง ในฐานะนิยายคริสต์มาสรู้สึกมันดีเพรสไปนิด ตอนจบก็ห้วนมาก อยากให้มี epilogue ต่ออีกสักนิด
December 25, 2019
I really liked Grace as a character, especially her job. I liked Alex well enough, and thought that his history and relationship to his family was done really well.
The one thing that I didn't enjoy as much is the built up. For a short story there is more than enough, but I wanted more... As in an entire novel of building up the tension. It felt a bit quick, especially the second half.
The one thing that I didn't enjoy as much is the built up. For a short story there is more than enough, but I wanted more... As in an entire novel of building up the tension. It felt a bit quick, especially the second half.
December 2, 2022
Started this on a whim at 6am, while I was waiting to find energy to get up and brew coffee for the day.
Got through 70% before I had to go to work. Finished it in my breaks.
5/5 loved. Cute, sweet, cozy, and everything I love from Joanna Shupe.
Got through 70% before I had to go to work. Finished it in my breaks.
5/5 loved. Cute, sweet, cozy, and everything I love from Joanna Shupe.
December 26, 2020
Loved this holiday feel good novella! My heart is happy!!!!
February 20, 2022
This novella was enjoyable enough, but I'm sure I would have enjoyed it even more if it was a full length novel. I think Grace and Alex's relationship would have benefited from some much needed time. Also, I didn't like the fact the ending was more of a HFN than an HEA.
December 21, 2018
Miracle On Ladies' Mile
I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of this author's books especially those set in this time period.
I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of this author's books especially those set in this time period.
December 17, 2021
5 Stars - Historical Romance Novella
I WISH THIS WAS A FULL LENGTH BOOK! I thought this Gilded Age Novella was gold. Absolutely perfect. So enjoyable and so entertaining. I almost cried at one point!!
I WISH THIS WAS A FULL LENGTH BOOK! I thought this Gilded Age Novella was gold. Absolutely perfect. So enjoyable and so entertaining. I almost cried at one point!!
November 14, 2022
Joanna Shupe’s novellas are so satisfying. This characters are well defined and appealing. The child steals a few scenes and made me smile. It’s five stars for being what it intends to be and sucking me in immediately.
December 20, 2022
There were things about this story I really liked—the FMC, the setting, the daughter—but also things that I had trouble getting past—the age gap between the main characters (19 vs 30), the way the MMC had ignored his child for almost the entirety of her life because she reminded him of his dead wife and he was actively refusing to move past his grief. Honestly, the FMC, Grace, was too good for him and far more emotionally mature despite still technically being a teenager. Why must it be the woman’s job to teach a grown man to be a decent person and parent? I would have preferred that she met someone already operating at her level, even if he wasn’t a rich department store owner. Is money really enough to make up for the rest of it?
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