Amanda
Written on Mar 26, 2016
What's this, me reading a historical romance not set in Britain? Can't remember the last time I did, and it was a nice, refreshing break from the norm. What's not to love about NYC in the late 1800s?
Joanna Shupe sticks to the tried and true trope of two unlikely people trapped into a marriage, with the man thinking he's not worthy of his bride, and his bride holding out for love. Set against the backdrop of the Knickerbocker society era, what could have been an eye-rolling Victorian era romance had me desperate for more of the historical NYC and its high society.
Magnate is the second book by Joanna Shupe that I've read. While her stories are interesting, her writing style isn't my favorite. Part of it is the reliance on naming emotions and feelings rather than letting the reader fully experience them, which keeps me from fully immersing myself in the characters' experiences. The practice of switching POV in the middle of a scene with a short recap of what's happened from the other character's perspective is heavy-handed; I'd rather draw that conclusion on my own.
That said, I enjoyed this story. Elizabeth grew up in high society, but she's smart, and she wants to set out on her own, with her own investment group. Although society isn't quite as rigid as the ton, that doesn't mean they're any more receptive to a woman in business for herself. Emmett has pulled himself up out of the slums, and he, more than anyone, appreciates Elizabeth and her value. Especially after the snowstorm. (Which, oddly, makes me want more historical romances involving being trapped by a massive snowstorm.)
Curious to see what happens next with this series.