I had super high expectations going into this book because so many of my friends have loved it. And it was so freaking cute! This was just a super adorable and lovable romance between Alice and Kit. Alice wants to find a husband, so she approaches Kit at a house party for lessons in seduction. Kit doesn't want anything to do with Alice, but she has something to offer him and his supper club, so he finds himself agreeing and quickly becomes intrigued with the shy, quiet girl. I loved Alice's character and how she had such a passion for cooking. Her mother was so frustrating because she wouldn't just let Alice be who she wanted to be and she was so embarrassing when it came to adhering to society's standards.

I have to say, what a time to be alive when you would spend days on end at someone's house for a party. This took place at a house party, and Alice and Kit would sneak around for their lessons at night and then stared longingly at each other across the room during the time they were in public. It was so fun! The romance was definitely very sweet and I would have like a little more angst and tension. Kit was just head over heels for Alice pretty quickly and it was clear they both wanted each other. The only thing really keeping them apart was the fact that Kit wasn't high class, so he wasn't "good enough" for Alice. There was longing, but I wanted it to be even angstier.

I am definitely intrigued by the Duke's character and really hope that he gets a book! But this book was so fun and definitely another hit from Joanna Shupe!

I am a big fan of Romance books and I found this one to be a very enjoyable read. I will be looking for more books from this author. Hot Cover

This was a beautiful and fun book- one of the best I've read this year. Definitely up there with one of the best books I've read this year, and definitely the best regency I've read this year. Kit was one of the most endearing heroes I've read this year- the dynamic between Alice and Kit was fantastic and the burn of the relationship had me reading this one in a day. Lots of longing, pining, and a lot of squee-ing.

But the book is not without its steam. The seduction classes were....whew.

This was a joy to read and I cannot wait to read what Joanna Shupe writes next!

Annie and Kit meet at a house party where she approaches him for lessons in how to seduce a man. Her overbearing mother is scheming to organise a suitable marriage for the young heiress but Annie wants to make a love-match, or something close to it. Kit, a known scoundrel, is the perfect source for information on how to woo someone, and in exchange for some recipes from a previous family-chef, Kit and Annie begin a partnership that quickly turns into something more for both of them, despite Kit’s insistence that he is not the marrying type.

This was an interesting read – a good portion of the book takes place at the house party before shifting back to New York where Annie and her mother reside in a Fifth Avenue hotel and Kit is opening a supper club. In many ways, the two parts almost feel like part one and part of a story. Kit and Annie’s initially innocent encounters lead to a more heated relationship once they’re both back in the city and able to duck the watch of Annie’s mother. The two have great chemistry and are both hampered by the reputations of their parents – Annie’s mother and Kit’s charlatan father – as well as the insinuations that their parental figures have instilled in themselves as being not good enough the way they are. It’s something they’re both constantly working on, but they each see the goodness and strength in the other.

I particularly liked the storyline surrounding Kit’s supper club and Annie’s passion for cooking. Her character truly came alive in those scenes (as well as making me incredibly hungry with all the tasty food descriptions). It brings the two closer together, even as Annie knows that Kit seemingly isn’t ready for marriage. The brief conflict when a Duke begins to court Annie is enough to begin to spark Kit’s awareness that he’s not ready to let Annie go just yet.

(Also, I feel terrible for Duke Lockwood and hope he gets his own book!)

The other highlight for me is the friendship that Annie sparks with another heiress, Nellie, who is a great friend, something that Annie has not had before. Nellie is a great example of a strong, independent woman who no longer worries about what society is saying about her. I’m sure she’s featured in a previous book somewhere, but not having read all of Shupe’s books I’m not sure where, but there’s clearly a history there.

Overall it was an entertaining read. I’m not sure I’ll pick up the first book (since I know the outcome as it takes place at the beginning of this one), but I’d definitely read more about Nellie and/or the Duke.

My God I just love kissing lessons from a scoundrel. This book was fantastic. I just loved Alice so much. Joanna Shupe has knocked it out of the park again.

She's got a big dowry, but wants to marry for love. He's a notorious rake who wants to turn things around and open a supper club. She shows up in his room during a house party asking for lessons on how to be a siren. And they strike a bargain!

This book works for me in a way that the previous book in the series failed to. I was engaged throughout and delighted by both the MCs. The chemistry is A+++ will read again.

I also love a book where the MMC supports the FMC's dreams. Alice dreams of becoming a chef, but her social standing, and her mother, prevents her following that dream.

And the pining. Oh lord. They both WANT so much. It's just delicious.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Suddenly I'm not convinced there is a trope that I love more than kissing lessons and Joanna Shupe executed it with superb skill. Essentially, this book features Kit and Alice trading lessons on how to get a man to be interested in you and recipes. And to say the least, I was into it.

Kit is a charming man who isn't taken very seriously, which starts to grate on him a bit as he and Preston start a supper club. He doesn't appreciate being doubted at every turn, especially because it reminds him of the horrible things his father used to say about him. Meanwhile, Alice has a truly horrendous mother who says truly appalling things about and to her. But Alice is determined that she can escape from her mother if only she can find herself a husband ,preferably one who actually loves her. So she seeks out Kit and it turns out, he needs recipes for the supper club, so it's a great quid pro quo. Only Alice is quite the quick study and Kit is very into it.

I really loved the development of their relationship in this one and how Alice really gets to take charge of her life. This one is such an improvement on book one and I would absolutely recommend reading this one, regardless of if you've read book one. I'm really looking forward to the next books in the series too!

4.5 Stars

Alice is a shy wallflower in need of some seduction lessons in order to secure the marriage she wants. And for that, no one better than an infamous rake to teach her his ways. Of course, getting him to agree comes at a price. And what neither of them anticipated was the sizzling chemistry between them.

Joanna Shupe does it again! I’m obsessed with how much I loved this book. THE LADY GETS LUCKY is so addictive, I literally didn’t want to put it down. The characters are perfect, the romance is flirty and swoony but also plenty steamy. And the storyline felt fresh even though is a trope I’ve read many times before. There are also some recipes involved and I didn’t know I was missing a chef/foodie romance in historical romance. But this hit the spot!

Basically, if you are looking for a pick me up book look no further. It’s certainly one of my faves by Ms. Shupe in a while. And one of my favorite books of the year! I can’t wait for the next one.

Ya'll know my love of historical romances. I started out reading them when I was young. My mom had all the Victoria Holt books and I loved them. That is why I also have an affinity for Gothic romances LOL
Anyway, in my never ending quest to read anything I can get my hands on, if it's a romance book, all the better, I picked up The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe. If you haven't read her yet, I suggest you get one of her books and get started. This is the second book in her Fifth Avenue Rebels series. Joanna mainly writes historicals that are set in the Gilded Age in New York City. What a fantastic time! Money, power and excess galore! Our heroines get a little more freedom than Regency but there are still societal expectations. And Joanna's heroines are doing their best to move women forward. Some are more straightforward than others LOL
In here we have Alice Lusk. Typical shy heiress who has a horrible mother and wants a house and a husband of her own. As she is at a house party (can you imagine going to one of those? or HOSTING one?) she comes across Mr. Kit Ward. He is charming and good looking. Alice figures he can help her attract a man. Don't you love that trope in romance? You know he is going to fall for her and fight it all the way! And that is what Kit does.
I won't go into all the details about the book. Just know that it is worth your time to read it. Kit and Alice have a great relationship. A side note about secondary character Nellie. I want her to have a book SOOOOO bad! And I kind of want her with the Duke of Lockwood. Read the book and you will TOTALLY understand!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read this book. This was my very first Joanna Shupe story and it certainly wont be my last. This was a 4 star read for me. This is a historical romance in which our heroine Alice is determined to find a husband who wants her not for her dowry but for who she is inside. She is convinced that will only be possible if she is able to get over her shyness and be more seductive so she seeks out the help of a Kit who is a known scoundrel. I really enjoyed the contrast of Alice being shy and sheltered and Kit being confident and experienced. Kit comes from a hard upbringing and is not a darling of society but is still so sweet and caring when it comes to Alice. He always tries to center her needs and wants. He has so many instances throughout the book that show how much he wants her to live the life that she wants and does not want anyone (including himself) to get in her way. Along with great descriptions of Alice’s food and cooking passion, new friendship with a hilarious and independent Nellie, a over the top and meddling mother, and business ventures it was a very fun read.

One of the sweetest, most fun books I have read this year. I was drawn into the story right away and I love to cook so I recognized a lot of these recipes. Any story where babka is a central plot point is for me! The romance was sweet and a delightful happy ending. The heroine had a good back story and it was interesting to see her coming out of her shell. I am also a sucker for a hero who is truly just a marshmallow and that was this story's hero for sure.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love me a “teach me how to be sexy” storyline.

The story starts off a bit flat with 2D characters and a predictable plot, but it picks up with complexity which I appreciated. Don’t get me wrong, I love me a formula (duh, why else would I have favorite tropes), but it was a little difficult to get invested in the characters and hard to keep with the names at the start.

I should have read book 1 first, that might have changed by opinion since the start of this books reads as if it overlapped some with book 1 which would explain why certain parts, especially in the beginning, felt removed from the text and as if the plot was skirting around something unseen. (Now that I’m thinking about it a bit deeper, that’s probably exactly what happened if the author didn’t want to just repeat the scenes from book 1 if at least part of book 2 was happening at the same time.)

I think what also made it difficult for me to connect with the characters was the prevalence of their deep insecurities fostered by their horrible families. But this is definitely just a personal preference since I connect must more easily with either strong familial ties or found family relations in a story.

Overall, I liked the message and I enjoyed the read. The progression of the sexies was done masterfully, and I really appreciated the insertion of feminist values and careful navigation of a contractual romantic relationship. Woke historicals are a beauty that I only started dipping my toes into this year so I am pleased.

Loved this story of a rich heiress and a hard working hero falling in love and deciding to stay together no matter the possible cost.

SPOILERS……..

This romance was great in that the heroine chooses to be with the ma she loves even if that means she ‘may’ be cut off from her family. She choose to follow her heart. This heroine is typically if a Joanna Shupe novel. She is plucky and resourceful, even when embarrassed. The way she embraced the necessity of owning her own life. Her growth was great to read.

It was sad to experience what her life was like with her mother obsessing and ridiculing her every move during the Season.

I finished this book feeling thoroughly delighted and wanting to read another Joanna Shupe novel straight away (even it was midnight!). Would definitely recommend, exactly what a romance novel should be about.

Fantastic book! Another book I devoured by Joanna Shupe. Highly enjoying this series and such a unique time for an historical. Can't wait for book 3!

“I would like your help in learning how to seduce a man.”

Second in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series, the first half of The Lady Gets Lucky is taking place concurrently with the first in the series. I haven't read the first and that may have hampered my enjoyment with this one. Our leads Alice and Kit are put together right away when Alice comes up with a plan to have Kit teach her some seduction lessons. Alice is shy and wants to escape her emotionally abusive mother and sees marrying as a way out. Kit initially refuses but when Alice says she'll trade recipes from a chef Kit and his friend have been trying to hire for their newly constructed supper club, he decides to agree to the bargain. These two feel a connection pretty soon, they are kissing at 20% but I felt like I didn't even know them as separate beings and therefore wasn't ready or able to invest in wanting them as a couple. I don't know if there was more of an introduction to them in the first that could have helped here, it felt like I was entering a play in the second act.

Kit was certainly hard to resist— and it was becoming increasingly difficult to remember why she needed to resist him in the first place.

These two did have a commonality that had me wanting to see them grow together, Alice's mother constantly berates her and lowers her self-esteem, saying no one would want to marry her without her large dowry. We see Alice and her mother's relationship in present time while through Kit's reminiscing we learn that his father's emotional abuse consisted of him constantly telling Kit that he was dim and only a pretty face. These two really take to heart what their parents told them and their sense of worthlessness persists through the vast majority of the story, it is in fact pretty much the plot. Even though Kit likes Alice he doesn't think he is worthy of marriage and this is the only thing basically keeping them apart. When they seemed to both admit to themselves and be kissing each other in the first half, I honestly wondered where the story could go, the whole premises only had legs for about 40%.

He kissed her like he couldn’t get enough. Like air was overrated and unnecessary. Like he was starving for her.

At the half way point, the story moves from the house party where Alice and Kit were secretly meeting to exchange lessons and recipes and the two go back to New York where seemingly, they won't be able to meet anymore. Instead we get a repeat of the first half with the two secretly meeting this time at Kit's supper club as Alice has to help them with the recipes because they can't find other chefs that can make them. Kit has some friends that make appearances here and there and more scenes with Alice trying to endure her mother. There's a death that is probably supposed to be emotional but we very briefly only meet the character and even then, Kit's character doesn't spend much time on the emotional fall-out. Secondary characters are around, some that will obviously be stars in their own books but the focus is pretty much on Alice and Kit.

His voice was affectionate and soft, as if she completely baffled him. “What am I going to do with you?

I felt myself being bored even a little before the halfway mark, this really should have been a novella. Both characters spent the majority in self-loathing mode, Kit's not wanting to marry attitude felt just there, and because I couldn't connect with them individually, I never felt invested in their romance. Alice seemed to have a loving relationship with her father and I wish we could have seen the two together for some bright spots in the story. The last 20% has Kit admitting he can't have anyone else marrying Alice and we get an extremely quick, try to woo her the old-fashioned way, Alice not believing he actually wants to marry her because he loves her, and then him proving it in a way that felt benign and I'm not sure delivered on the make-your-heart-melt because of how rushed the ending felt. Overall, all the self-loathing dragged down the tone, the lack of plot, substance, and repetitiveness gave it a molasses pace, and it was just missing spark.

I enjoyed this book so much. Joanna Shupe has a flair for writing and creating good characters, great story lines and words that draw you in and keep you there. I look forward to reading more of her works of art!

Incredible! Joanna Shupe always knocks it out of the park! I love the Gilded Age and enjoy her novels so much. Kit and Alice were the perfect pairing.

Delicious love story with Kit and Alice. ♥️

Things I love in my historicals: forced proximity at a house party, the hero “needing” to tutor heroine in how to “flirt” to get a husband, and a bold heroine who wants to do things her way in and out of the kitchen.

Kit is the rogue who doesn’t want a wife. Alice is the “shy” wallflower who needs to escape her mother’s overbearing and abusive parenting. Of course they come into a bargain with each other that leads them down a road neither of them could have expected.

Highly recommend this steamy yet sweet historical romance art in American times.

5/5 ⭐️

Surprisingly this is my first full length Joanna Shupe novel. I've read short stories from Duke I'd Like to F... & How the Duke Stole Christmas but hadn't had a chance to dive into some of her other Gilded Age historical romances.

If you like historical romances, lessons of seduction, culinary foreplay, & endless pining, this story is for you.

The Lady Gets Lucky is just delightful. We have our heroine Alice Lusk who is just tired of being shy and overlooked. She wants to learn how to confidently talk to people and to flirt with a man, especially one who isn't just after her fortune. And she has found the perfect man to teach her the ways of seduction.
Christopher "Kit" Ward can be the center of attention at any party and has a way of captivating just about anyone. He wants to open up an exclusive supper club, that includes performers and gourmet cuisine (but he needs a chef). One night she goes to Kit's room to ask him to teach her lessons, in exchange she will provide an in with the famous Chef Angelo. She was secretly trained by him and she knows all of his recipes.
Of course these lesson go better than expected, Kit starts to fall for Alice who is just blossoming before his eyes.

This story covers an emotional journey of: Alice learning how to become more confident and not let her mother's comments constantly beat her down. It broke my heart every time Alice's personality would start to peek through and then be squashed by her mother's negativity. Kit learning to open himself up deeply, realize how good and unlike his father he is (commitment=scary, I'm no good). You got to see how much both, Alice & Kit, truly supported and brought out the best in one another in the end, it was beautiful. Also the tidbits of Alice in her element of the kitchen and learning recipes wherever she went. Her visiting Chef Angelo in the hotel kitchen was great and truly made me miss my Italian grandfather.

Definitely give this one a try, it was steamy, sweet, & emotional.

I loooooooooooooooooved this book so much, I've recommended it to friends. I read this one before the first book in the series, so I am looking forward to going back and reading The Heiress Hunt and seeing how it lines up with this novel.