I want to state that this is not at all a bad book. I have seen so many glowing reviews but this book just did not work for me.

There were a lot of things about this book that just, unfortunately, made me dread picking it up. After loving the Lady Get's Lucky, I was so excited for this. Plus it was enemies to lovers with some nice steamy angst? Sign me up. Now, if you have seen any of my reviews you know that I am a huge character reader, characters can destroy my reading experience or make it a reason for a glowing 5-star review. With this book, I just could not stand Preston. I did not think her was worthy of Kat and he acted like an immature, angry, arrogant teenage boy who felt entitled to everything and he was like this up until the epilogue. I didn't see any growth from him and I felt like Kat didn't have any growth. I could not understand why they loved each other let alone liked.

Something else that rubbed me wrong and also influenced my feelings of Preston was some of the sex scenes. There were 2 sex scenes where it was very clear that Kat was upset about something and wanted sex to not think and detach from reality. I completely get that but I couldn't help but feel grossed and irritated that Preston would acknowledge this and never ask/press Kat on it. Like something is obviously bothering her but it's not that big of a deal because he's horny right? It just rubbed me the wrong way.

Like I said this isn't a bad book, this is just a book that didn't work for me. I am very excited about the Duke & Nellie's book because they are my favorite and I am excited about this series'

Joanna Shupe has done it again!! This has to be her hottest book yet 🥵🥵🥵🥵 Seriously, I had to put the book down at times so I could just sit with my thoughts for a second 😂😂😂

I was obsessed with Katherine and Preston from page 1 and the writing and pacing was just so well done. Joanna Shupe is truly at her writing peak right now and I can’t wait to read her future works (especially The Duke Gets Even!)

PS That French Ball scene though 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 I was not prepared 😂

*thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest reciew*

I know I'm in for a nice time whenever I pick up a Joanna Shupe - I wouldn't say she's one of my favorite historical authors, but she reliably delivers a good book. "A nice time" is definitely how I'd describe this one, too. It's a fun story (who doesn't love a masquerade meet-again?) and I was interested in Katherine's side career as a museum curator. But a lot of the characters, including Katherine and particularly Preston, just felt really flat. I also am 100% here for politically aware historical romances, but the dialogue in this book seemed very modern, which took me out of the story at points. Definitely in support of all the messages, but can we just do it with conversations that sound 19th century-ish, even if it's all the Tiffany effect?

My latest obsession!! I finished this book so fast! “The Bride Goes Rogue” by Joanna Shupe starts strong and ends with a grand gesture I did not expect!! In between, I love the playfulness and pet names #yesmyking #reinette

In book three of the Fifth Avenue Rebels, Katherine Delafield finally visits her contracted fiancé of one year, and who she has seen once, to plan the wedding. Tycoon Preston Clarke is the son of her father’s ex-business partner, but a deal’s a deal. What Kat did not expect was the hard-hearted refusal to marry. After a moment of sadness and tossing her journal full of wedding ideas to Preston, Kat decides she has to make up the year of wasted time and tells her best friend that she wants an affair.

I love how fate played into the story. I appreciate that sometimes fate can change or needs help, and that help is not revealed till the end.

The affair is hot and steamy. The meet cute via a masquerade is delicious. The meet cute sans masks put a big smile on my face!

I love Kat’s aunt’s motto: know your worth!!! So easy to say, but there were times Kat seems to slip. However, she was determined to have fun and haven’t we all been in that lust-filled, grey-area situation before!?

On the flip side, I love how undone Preston becomes when his actions led to losing Kat. I felt his anxiety, worry, and everything in between.

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Get those fans ready reading people! The Bride Goes Rogue, book #3 in The Fifth Avenue Rebels series by Joanna Shupe is a hot one. When Miss Katherine Delafield finds out her betrothed Preston Clarke has no intention of honoring the marriage contract made by their fathers, she throws caution to the wind. The sparks fly at every meeting between these two, even though they are both adamant they do not suit.

I loved seeing the saucy side of sweet Katherine come out and astonish the dirty talking Preston at every turn. The way she takes ownership of her changed circumstances and embarks on a discovery of what she truly wants for herself is a refreshing change. Forced to leave University, Preston has been battling his own challenges left to him largely by his father. Did I mention that Preston is not a fan of Katherine’s father? Yup there is also that little tidbit to overcome. Look no further for a highly entertaining enemy to lovers read.

This is my unbiased review of an Advanced Reader Copy.

The Bride Goes Rogue by Joanna Shupe is a Regency novel with all of the fun and intrigue that goes with the genre. Katherine Delafield has been betrothed to Preston Clarke for ages, but when he refuses to marry her, she decides she's going to have a taste of the delights London has to offer. She attends a masquerade and spends time with a masked lover...who turns out to be none other than Preston. When he realizes that she is the one he wants, how can he go to her after he's already told her he would never marry her? A delicious romp through London society.

Thanks to the author,Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The Bride Goes Rogue
by Joanna Shupe

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


I loved the set up of this book. Our heroine is told by her father that she is betrothed to the son of his former business partner. She is on board and with her notebook of lists plans to be the best wife to give her future husband a great life. But when she goes to his office to hash out the wedding details it turns out he’s not on board with any of that. So she picks herself up dusts herself off and (metaphorically) says to hell with this and to hell with you, I’ll live my own best life and she sets out with grand plans and meaningful goals and also to have a bit of fun. On this journey of self discovery they’re brought back together in the funnest steamiest way I for one can think of and find that maybe they are well suited after all. They have a journey they must travel together though to find their happy ending. Loved the book. High steam, open door. Trigger warnings - death of a parent after an illness. Marriage of a parent after death of the other parent.
You won’t want to miss this one. 5/5

While I typically enjoy historical romance, this book was not for me. The number of historical inaccuracies and modern dialogue took me out of the story too frequently and made it not enjoyable.

"This was Katherine in all her innocent and alluring glory, and he wanted her all to himself."

In the Bride Goes Rogue, Katherine and Preston spend time together in disguise at a Ball made for scandal. When they meet again, they are shocked to discover each other. Preston is the fiancee who left her hanging for a year and coldly dismissed her. Katherine is the naive, daughter of his enemy. But now that they've started something, both become helpless to end it.

Preston is a real piece of work honestly. Most of his actions I didn't like, so I don't think I ever really warmed up to him. I did like Katherine for the most part, especially her independence and interest in art. I admired the passion she had for it and that Preston ended up loving it too and supporting her dream.

"Have you ruined her?"
Preston shook his head. "She has ruined me. I love her more than anything else on earth. More than reason certainly."

Katherine and Preston excelled in the chemistry department. Their scenes together burned hot enough to melt glaciers. It took a while for me to see the relationship become love and not just lust but eventually it did and Preston showed how much he loved her. The last few chapters are full of the groveling and desperate pining that I love.

This book is definitely an addictive read. Whenever I picked it up, I did not want to put it down!

I'm definitely interested in reading the next book.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of The Bride Goes Rogue in return for an honest review.

This is the first time I read Joanna Shupe's book and I'm in love with it.
The book is part of a series but you can read it on separately. It is an easy read for me and I love the characters and the supporting characters. I think I will continue reading historical books because of this book.

I will recommend this book to my friends.

The Bride Goes Rogue is the third book in Joanna Shupe's The Fifth Avenue Rebels series. I really enjoyed the first installment and loved the second, so I was excited to get this one. Set in Gilded Age New York, it's a nice change of pace from Regency romances set in England (though admittedly those are still my favorites). Be warned: This is not your grandmother's typical romance novel!

Katherine Delafield always knew she was supposed to marry business tycoon Preston Clarke; their fathers agreed to an engagement years ago between their offspring. When she grows tired of waiting, she heads to Preston's office with her journal of wedding plans to discuss it with him, only to find that he refuses to acknowledge the engagement. In fact, he bluntly states he will never marry her. The heck with love and marriage; Katherine decides to live scandalously and enjoy New York City. Preston's childhood was difficult, with his father gambling away the family's assets and causing Preston to have to leave college and try to build up the business after his father's death. No way will he allow his father to control him anymore; he'll find his own wife. At a masquerade, Preston meets an alluring, passionate lover...who just happens to be his no-longer-his fiance! She has totally thrown him for a loop. Did he make the biggest mistake of his life in refusing to marry this lively and beautiful woman?

I assume the series title, The Fifth Avenue Rebels, refers to the heroes; however, it just may actually refer to the women who love them. These heroines are not the timid cookie-cutter romance heroines of old. When Preston tells Katherine that he most definitely will not marry her, does she go home and cry? Nope - she decides to have an affair. Yeah, definitely not timid! She was determined to live life fully and just have fun. Katherine discovered she was truly a passionate person. She wanted to build an art museum to honor her deceased mother and showcase the artwork she had loved. Then we have Preston...definitely not a bright and fun-loving person. He was the ultimate bad boy. As a matter of fact, I spent most of the book disliking him intensely! I really didn't think he'd grow on me, but close to the end of the book he finally did. Preston was scarred by how his father almost ruined his family and business. His father was partners with Katherine's father; when Mr. Delafield finally had to walk away from Mr. Clarke, he made an enemy of Preston. Even though he was drawn to Katherine, he couldn't hide his hatred of her father. Also, he was definitely not an ethical businessman. He had no quandary about forging a deed or bribing officials. It was hard to believe someone as sweet as Katherine would grow to love him; I was relieved when in occasional flashes we would see he actually had a heart in that perfectly chiseled chest of his. When it came to sex, they were perfectly in sync. This is where you learn this isn't an old-fashioned romance story. The steamy scenes were explicit, and Preston's language was downright crude. Don't get me wrong...things were hot hot hot. But if you prefer your intimate scenes behind doors, this isn't the book for you. If you love bad boys and hot sex, dive right in! I'm eagerly awaiting the next book, wherein the Duke of Lockwood, who has been turned down by the heroines in all three books so far, may finally get his much deserved HEA.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The beginning portion of this book is absolutely excellent. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way it went from engaging me fully to somehow losing that spark that gripped me, but since I cannot figure out why, I've decided it's a me thing. So let me tell you all the reasons why this book is excellent.

Without spoiling the first third of this book, which was my favorite part, I will just say that Kat thought she and Preston were going to be married. When she finds out they're not, she's like, "great, I'm going to LIVE my life then." There's this ball situation and a super hot encounter takes place there and then things progress from there. I loved that first sexy scene so much. It was written so well and I really liked the character work and just everything about it.

And then, for romance reasons, Kat's father is like, "Here, I'm giving you this plot of land that Preston thinks is his," and suddenly it is on. But at the same time, Preston in all of his uptight ways and his need to control everything, finds himself softening to Kat. I always love seeing male characters like Preston come unraveled when they find themselves in love, so I appreciated that aspect.

Again, I cannot pinpoint what made this book lose that initial spark for me, but overall, I think this book was great and that most people will really enjoy it.

4.5⭐️ This was nearly damn perfect.

I absolutely LOVED the first half of this. It played out like the romance movie of my dreams in my head: the h goes to the H asking about their wedding, which their fathers agreed to when they were young, and surprise surprise, the hero was like “we don’t even know each other, our fathers were crazy, why would you wanna marry me, because I for sure don’t wanna marry you”. His sole purpose in life is his company and he actually holds a major grudge against the h’s father, so that’s another bumper.

The h is distraught and decides to take life in her own hands, AKA she wants to start affairs and not care about marriage. The H and h go to a masquerade ball that night, and not knowing each others’ identities, things get super hot and the sexual tension, oh my lord. Best steam in a historical romance I’ve read in awhile. The next best thing I loved is all the friendships we see: the men, the women and also the m-f duo I didn't know I needed = Kat (this book's heroine) & Lockwood (next book's hero).

This essentially is ✨ enemies-to-friends-with-benefits-then-to-lovers ✨, which I didn’t think I would like but I loved the setup and how everything played out. Unfortunately, I wanted the ending to go just a little bit differently (I thought the h gave into the H just a bit too easily while he was grovelling).

The hottest Joanna Shupe I’ve read yet and I can’t wait for Nellie and Lockwood’s story!

I have recently been intrigued with historical romances since a few booktubers I follow highlight so many of them. I decided to give some of them a try and one of those was The Bride Goes Rogue by Joanna Shupe and I loved it. I just loved Katherine Delafield so much. She was feisty, determined, smart and witty. She was just so freaking likable, if at times a bit naïve. She was a dreamer and a planner, until her latest dream was dashed by one Preston Clarke. When their fathers determined they were betrothed, no one checked with Preston and he was set to never marry. His ambition and determination in the business world left no time for anything or anyone else. Now she has decided to just live her life and screw expectations.

When they both attend a naughty masquerade ball, they are drawn to each other. When they discover who they truly are, they cannot deny the chemistry and connection they have. They are enthralled with each other, but it can never be more than a tryst, right? But the more time they spend together, the more they discover how good they are together. Will they be able to walk away before it is too late? I loved their journey, their friends, and the story so much. I am excited to go back and read the previous books and to see what comes next.


Happy reading!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was clever, steamy and held my interest. I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

WOW! This book is sensual, sexy and steamy, all wrapped up in a delight package of two "enemies" whose chemistry is off the charts. Joanna Shupe provides her readers with a fantastic three installment in The Fifth Avenue Rebel's series. Shupe's writing is fast paced, quippy and witty, and romantic and sexy in all the best ways. I have really enjoyed this series and each novel gets better and better. Definitely check this book and this series out, if you love high steam that this historical romance truly delivers!

Katherine is a dreamer who lives her life to the fullest, and she should also be married by now. Her father arranged a marriage to Preston, a sought after business tycoon, but he has yet to fully set a date. So Katherine decides to take matters into her own hands and she ambushes him at his office to plan a wedding. Preston refuses to marry though and has a strong grudge that he holds against Katherine's father, and thus sparks a tumultuous and sensual battle of will between the two.

Katherine is such a wonderful heroine, I love that she is bold, I love that she stands up for herself and I love that she takes matters and her life into her own hands. Katherine as she grows in her independence throughout the novel she also embraces her sexual awakening without shame. Preston is use to being in control and when Katherine waltzes into his life he feels moments of that control slipping. But as he grows to understand Katherine he learns to trust and open himself up to another which gives his character growth a lovely depth. I love the way Katherine and Preston play off each other, they can push each other's buttons as they challenge each other to look at situations from different angles. I love the way Shupe uses their sexual encounters to grow them together. Their chemistry is off the charts and it rapidly heats up and explodes. The sensuality between these two also helps to show the reader the trust and understanding that these two are slowly building with each other. I absolutely loved watching these two fall in love, learn to trust and understand, and fight for their future together.

This is definitely a must read for all! The heat, the chemistry, the romance all work hand in hand to create the perfect boiling tension between the hero and heroine. Joanna Shupe' s series is absolute perfection and just keeps getting better and better.

When Preston Clarke and Katherine Delafield's fathers were business partners they entered their children into an arranged marriage. As soon as Katherine spotted Preston across the room at a ball she knew he was the one. She was beyond ecstatic to marry such a handsome man with a ruthless reputation in the business world.
It’s now been a year since their brief introduction and she wants to start planning her dream wedding and living her happily ever after. Only when she confronts Preston to set a wedding date she discovers he never recognized their betrothal and has no intention of honoring the contract. Katherine is devastated that she has wasted a year of her life waiting for someone who doesn't even remember meeting her.

Katherine decides to make the best out of a bad situation. She wants to experience all life has to offer and decides to attend a masquerade ball with her good friend. While in disguise as Madame de Pompadour she meets her costumes match, King Louis. The attraction is undeniable and after their hot and undeniably steamy encounter they decide to enter into an affair. The very next day Katherine shows up at her soon to be lovers town house only to discover it's her ex-fiancé Preston!

I absolutely loved this book! The chemistry between Katherine and Preston is undeniable. I think what I enjoyed the most was the complete reversal of feelings Preston goes through. He ends up eating his words and I like that he had to work hard to get back into good graces with Katherine again.

Years ago, Katherine's and Preston's fathers arranged a marriage between their children. Now that Katherine has made her debut, she believes the wedding will proceed quickly. But Preston has no intention to wed, and is shocked that Katherine expects him to honor the old agreement in which they had no part. Shocked by his heartlessness, she wants nothing more to do with him.

Freed from the contract, she sets out to enjoy her singlehood. She goes to a masquerade ball, where she engages in a tryst with a masked man. She's distressed to discover later that the man is Preston. He assumes she's trying to force him into marriage. Despite the animosity between them, the physical attraction remains strong. Will love grow between them?

This book is set in Gilded Age New York. I enjoyed the story and the audiobook narration. Katherine and Preston are well matched. If you like dirty talk, this book is for you.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Joanna Shupe has quickly become one of my one-click authors. With witty and raw characters, fantastic twists, and steamy romances sure to send any reader to the showers, Shupe's novels are the perfect place to land after a quick binge of HBO Max's "The Gilded Age". Watching Preston go from completely dismissing Katherine to punching out a patron over her honor was an absolute delight. Isn't it always so delicious when a hero falls head over heels without even noticing? As an artist, the added art element solidified "The Bride Goes Rogue"'s place on my Best of 2022 bookshelf.

Joanna Shupe is at the top of her game in The Bride Goes Rogue -- I love how much of a dreamer the heroine is and how tough and cynical the hero is. The premise is so far-fetched it would not work in the hands of another, lesser author. Katherine Delafield believes she is engaged to tycoon Preston Clarke — her father told her so, and so she waits, finally deciding to confront her fiancé so they can set a wedding date, only to discover he has no intention of marrying her. Her decision to stop sitting back and waiting for life to happen after their first, disastrous confrontation is a wonder to behold. She loses none of her sweetness and stars-in-her eyes quality, but adds a depth and spirit to her character. She is a woman who will not be denied. At a masked ball, the two find each other — not knowing it, of course — and the plot thickens. This is just a lovely romance, the third in the Fifth Avenue Rebels Series. As always with Shupe, we have a steamy romance, plenty of tidbits about Gilded Age New York and an HEA to die for. What a hopeful, cheery read. Loved it. (I received an advance copy from NetGalley. Opinions mine).