A Notorious Vow by Joanna Shupe

 

🍎🍎🍎🍎

After reading the first two books in the Four Hundred series by Joanna Shupe, I immediately jumped into A Notorious Vow. This is the buddy read for the Historical Romance Readathon hosted by LaceyBookLovers, PeaceLoveBooksxo, and remarkablylisa. 

Since I just jumped right in and didn't read the blurb first, I was pleasantly surprised to find our hero Oliver was deaf. I don't think I've read a romance where one of the main characters was fully death before. Oliver was such fun as a recluse and I love that he immediately made Christina feel comfortable. In town to find a husband (after her horrible parent's escaped London and creditors), they are in New York to basically sell her to the highest bidder. Oliver lives next door to Christina's cousin and would sneak next door to wander through his garden maze every morning to get some quiet. 

I thought that Oliver and Christina had a wonderful connection right from the start and I loved that they both were kind of recluses. Christina is a wallflower to the nth degree and very introverted. I found myself relating to her a lot, especially when she was forced to join a society event. This is only four-stars for me because I wasn't a fan of the asylum and "villains" at the end. While they felt in the vein as the first two books, I wasn't as fond of how it played out. I know it was based off of real events that happened in that time, but I just wasn't expecting to go that dark (not that it was very dark, just comparatively). I still loved both characters and the story overall. As I mentioned in a previous review, I'm so happy I finally started reading Joanna Shupe and can't wait to read more of her backlist.

Have you read A Notorious Vow?

Bookishly Yours, 

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: A Notorious Vow, Joanna Shupe, 4-stars, 0 days, eBook, 384 Pages, Published 2018

A Scandalous Deal by Joanna Shupe

 

🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

After reading A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe, I immediately started A Scandalous Deal, book two in the Four Hundred series. I loved this book, another 5-stars! While (if forced to decide) this is my second favorite of the series, I still really enjoyed it.

We meet Eva, a friend of Lady Nora on the way to New York. Her father is a famous architect, but declining in health. For the past 22 months she's been taking over her jobs as his "secretary." Eva meets our hero Phillip on the ship to America and immediately there are sparks (despite his sea sickness). I love that they keep running into each other and have this instant connection on the ship. Little do either of them know, Phillip is the gentleman that hired her father to build his newest hotel and her new employer. 

I loved their relationship and that neither of them could stay away from each other. They were steamy from chapter one and I couldn't get enough. I feel like I read this one quicker than the previous book. The only issues I found meh where how much was focused on the strike and the construction crews against her being on site. I understood the reasoning, but I feel like certain steps should've been taken earlier, like her talking with the crew and getting them to understand that she knew what she was doing. I also loved his mother and thought it was great that she was more than happy to have a female architect rebuild her "cottage." Upon finish, I once again moved on to the next book.

Have you read A Scandalous Deal?

Bookishly Yours,

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: A Scandalous Deal, Joanna Shupe, 5-stars, 1 day, eBook, 384 Pages, Published 2018

A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe

🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

 I started A Daring Arrangement by Joanna Shupe, the first book in her Four Hundred Series for the Historical Romance Readathon hosted by LaceyBookLovers, PeaceLoveBooksxo, and remarkablylisa! Book three, A Notorious Vow, is the buddy read. I, of course, have to read them in order. Joanna Shupe is a new author to me and I've heard many great things about her Uptown Girls and Knickerbocker Club series. Boy am I glad to finally dig in to her backlist.

Oh my gosh, I loved this book (and series). I've read A LOT of regency time period, but nothing set in America at that time, known as the Gilded Age. It's a bit of a spoiler, but this was my favorite in the series. The main trope is a fake relationship, and I'm here for it! I loved the craziness of Julius and their first meeting was absolutely great. I was laughing so hard at his birthday party on horseback. Honora, going by Nora, is such a breath of fresh air. She's a bit more of a "wild child" for regency times, but being set in America gave her a bit more freedom to be herself. She is a bluestocking and just trying to get back to her "love" Robert in England. 

Their chemistry was so good and every intimate encounter between them was so steamy. The relationship moved at a good pace and I didn't find myself wishing that they had done this or that before finally going "all the way." They really matched well as a pair. I also loved that Nora's Aunt Bea really knew what was going on the entire time and kept encouraging Nora towards Julius. I read this in one sitting and immediately started on book 2 (yay weekends without any plans)! I have since finished the entire series (on Sunday) and am definitely moving Joanna Shupe's backlist up on by tbr list. My reviews for books 2 and 3 will be coming soon!

Have you read A Daring Arrangement?

Bookishly Yours, 

Stasi🍎

STATISTICS: A Daring Arrangement, Joanna Shupe, 5-stars, 1 Day, eBook, 384 pages, Published 2017