BOTM 2 – May 2024 – The Bride Goes Rogue

[Susan]

Discussion thread for the second BOTM for May 2024. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions.)

Join us in reading this HR that features the theme Jilted. Happy reading!


The Bride Goes Rogue by Joanna Shupe

Synopsis:

By beloved USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe, the third installment in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series about an arranged engagement destined for disaster.

A hard-hearted tycoon.

A romantic dreamer.

An engagement set up to fail.

The charismatic and vivacious Katherine Delafield should be married by now. Her father arranged an engagement to the much sought-after tycoon Preston Clarke ages ago. The only problem is Preston refuses to acknowledge it. But this isn't going to stop Katherine from living life to the fullest as she ditches all silly notions of love and marriage and sets out to sample all the excitement New York City has to offer . . . the more scandalous the better. Because no matter what happens, she and Preston will never marry.

After a tormented childhood, Preston is done letting his father control his life--including choosing his bride. But when a mysterious lover at a masquerade turns out to be his would-be fiance, Preston's resolve begins to crumble. He hadn't expected Katherine to be so charming. Or beautiful. Or passionate. And seeing her out on the town with other men is driving him crazy.

What happens when the wrong bride turns out to be the right woman after all?

[Mariana]

I've wanted to try Joanna Shupe for a while, so I plan to read this one.

[Cath]

My library had a copy so I decided to read this one.

Chapt 1-2:
Well, I think Mrs. Cohen might be my favorite character.

I don't understand what Katherine's father was thinking. I'm curious, and I look forward to finding out more about his last encounter with Preston's father.

[Susan]

Well that was very steamy!! I lost track of the number of orgasms the heroine had, but there were many many many....both on the page and off the page.

I can see the appeal of this author, especially if you like lots of sex in your novels. Towards the end of the novel I found myself skimming these sections. I have not read any books set in the Gilded Age before and I am not sure if this is typical. The characters seemed very modern in their language and outlook. I did have trouble at times believing that the H and h were 25 and 20. In my opinion they seemed at least 5 years older - I am not aware of many 20 year old debutants (view spoiler)[who would be able to found their own modern art gallery including finding land, engaging architects curating and managing.....but she was apparently very good with lists (hide spoiler)].

I will likely read more of Joanna Shupe in future, but probably not for a while

[Olivia]

Steamy indeed! I kept thinking it must be because the setting is American, and I'm used to a little more British reserve--ha, ha! Which is not to say I didn't like it--those pages didn't turn themselves.

I do agree with you, Susan, about the ages of the characters. I was thinking exactly that--five years older would make more sense. At the same time, I suppose we shouldn't underestimate the power of a well-written list!

[Susan]

Olivia wrote: "Steamy indeed! I kept thinking it must be because the setting is American, and I'm used to a little more British reserve--ha, ha! Which is not to say I didn't like it--those pages didn't turn thems..."

Ha Ha! Those first few steamy scenes were very good.

[Jan]

I have started this book, and am about 1/3 way through already. It seems like a fairly quick read. I'm up to Chapter 8.

Well, I was warned, the steam is pretty hot. I don't mind steamy scenes in my HR reads, but phew! That scene at (view spoiler)[ the French Ball (hide spoiler)] was a bit too explicit for my usual preferred reading actually.

I quite like the storyline and characters, so I intend to keep reading. Not sure whether I'll read any more Joanna Shupe after this one though. She feels like a completely different writer from her Magnate days. I'll see how I feel by the end of the book as to whether I'll try any more in this series. I do like the Gilded Age setting.

[Jan]

I finished this book last night, and gave 3 to 3.5 stars. There was a lot to like about it, including the Gilded Age setting, and the MFC Katherine, who was kind, friendly and caring. It's understandable that she 'went rogue' after being jilted, and wanted some fun in her life.

Preston, the MMC, was a little more problematical for me. Likeable on some levels, but I was uncomfortable with some of his actions as a ruthless businessman (view spoiler)[(read 'criminal actions' like bribery and forgery) (hide spoiler)]. This took the shine off him for me unfortunately, and I couldn't respect him as a hero as much I wanted to.

My main problem with this book was just a personal preference that clearly doesn't matter as much to other readers. That's fine - each to their own. But it was simply too saucy for me. I like sex scenes in my HR reads, but was surprised at how explicit some of the sex scenes were. For this reason, I don't think I'll be following up with more books by this author, although I might re-read her earlier book Magnate at some point, as I quite liked that one.

This book was a good choice for the May BOTM as it clearly fits the Jilted trope. I don't regret reading it. It had a decent storyline and I certainly did enjoy some aspects of it.

[Susan]

I agree with all your comments Jan.

[Sandra]

I don't know if I'm curious with this book, with the author yes, I've been wanting to read some book of this author for a while.