Publisher Description
For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dazzling world of America’s 19th century elite in this lush series of sparkling, page-turning love stories…
New York City’s Gilded Age shines as bright as the power-wielding men of the Knickerbocker Club. And one pragmatic industrialist is about to learn that a man may make his own destiny, but love is a matter of fortune . . .
Born into one of New York’s most respected families, William Sloane is a railroad baron who has all the right friends in all the right places. But no matter how much success he achieves, he always wants more. Having secured his place atop the city’s highest echelons of society, he’s now setting his sights on a political run. Nothing can distract him from his next pursuit—except, perhaps, the enchanting con artist he never saw coming . . .
Ava Jones has eked out a living the only way she knows how. As “Madame Zolikoff,” she hoodwinks gullible audiences into believing she can communicate with the spirit world. But her carefully crafted persona is nearly destroyed when Will Sloane walks into her life—and lays bare her latest scheme. The charlatan is certain she can seduce the handsome millionaire into keeping her secret and using her skills for his campaign—unless he’s the one who’s already put a spell on her . . .
Raves for Magnate
“Original and captivating . . . Complex and layered.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred
“An engaging romance.” — Library Journal, Starred
“A sexually charged, intense, poignant and powerfully written love story.” —RT Book Reviews
“A beautiful romance . . . Sexy and clever.” —The Washington Post
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Shupe's engaging and sexy second romance set in the glittering Gilded Age, sparks fly when a hardworking and enterprising performer crosses paths with one of New York City's powerful Knickerbocker families. Railroad tycoon William Sloan knows his fledgling gubernatorial campaign needs his sterling reputation and every single one of his connections to take on the corrupt Tammany Hall political machine. His political aspirations cannot afford the romantic distraction of Ava Jones, who supports her three siblings with the money she earns as the medium Madame Zolikoff. Unlike his sister, Lizzie (the heroine of Magnate), who chafed under society's strictures, Will doesn't mind the traditions of New York's moneyed elite, but Ava's scorn for the wealthy throws him off balance. He's intrigued that a young woman with no connections, money, or venerable family name still refuses to be awed by his wealth or impressed by his grand plans. The sexual heat between them burns slowly, but when Will finally gives in, he loses control. Will is starch and pomposity personified, but every minute with Ava, in and out of bed, musses him up and makes him more human. They have nothing in common, but their personalities are highly complementary; Ava's pragmatism and devotion to her siblings draw out Will's sense of fair play, honesty, and justice, and it's increasingly difficult for him to remember why they have to stay in their own social spheres. The impoverished, good-hearted woman marrying the stuffy millionaire is what fairy tales are made of, but Shupe keeps the romance grounded with the realistic details of Ava's hardscrabble life. This tumultuous love affair will charm even the most jaded society matron.
