I have long wished for the return of the non-Western American historical romance, and I am delighted to see more in this subgenre being offered in recent months. I find the Gilded Age a fascinating period. I even briefly considered making Edith Wharton the focus of my dissertation. You can then imagine how pleased I was to learn that Shupe was setting a series in 1880s New York City. My expectations were high, and Shupe met them beautifully. She does a wonderful job of world building, from her descriptions of the opulent homes of the wealthy to the backroom meetings of the powerful who are not overly particular about using ethical means to achieve their goals. Lest some reader complain that Elizabeth’s triumph is unrealistic, Shupe provides an author’s note that briefly recounts her real life model.

Elizabeth and Emmett are complex, layered characters who held my interest from the first pages. I found her likeable and sympathetic. Although Emmett is not always likeable, he is always compelling, and, given what readers know of him, he remains true to his character. My one reservation is that I would like to have seen his character explored a bit more fully. The secondary characters add depth to the story. I especially loved Emmett’s family, and I eagerly await Baron, the third novel in the series, which will feature William Sloane, Elizabeth’s brother, and a fake medium.

If you are a fan of cross-class romances or the forced marriage trope, if you are captivated by Gilded Age tales, or if you like historical romance that combines the tried and true with the fresh and new, I highly recommend Magnate.

4.5 stars
~Janga for The Romance Dish Blog
ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Thanks so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for giving me access to this book. There was a lot going on with this book. I would have liked better if there hadn't been so much happening with so many characters. I would have liked a tighter focus on the main characters and what was happening with them. This won't be getting a lot of recommendations from me.

Set in New York during the Gilded Age, an atypical setting in this genre, Magnate incorporates many of the historical, social and financial aspects of the time, including the great blizzard of 1888 as well as the conflicts between the old money Dutch Knickerbocker families and the nouveau riche, who acquired their fortunes through industry and technology. These together with the backdrop of the rail networks and the New York Stock Exchange successfully immerse the reader in the time period.

What a wonderful story! Emmett and Lizzie start off as begrudging business partners who end up together and falling in love. I loved Lizzie's spunk and the way she was not going to sit on the sideline and do only what society thought a lady should be doing. Emmett was a bit alpha, but I like that in my romance heroes ;)

Joanna Shupe does an AMAZING job at researching her time periods. I felt like I was there in the Gilded Age.

I have to mention the audiobook on this because I listened to part of it while going back and forth to work. This audio was not my favorite. I kind of wish I had just read the whole thing.

What a refreshingly new romance!! Johanna Shupe showed a lot of promise with her regency set Wicked Deceptions series. But that was only a warm up for her Magnate has it all great romance, with an equally fantastic storyline. I have been waiting ages for someone to pen an American Gilded Age romance novel and Shupe did not disappoint. The research this author put makes this one stand out from your typical romance. It draws readers into the Glittering and often dirty world of New York’s Gilded Age.
This one held my attention from the first page to the last. I fell in love with the Knickerbockers’ men who owned the world. Both the heroine Lizzie and the hero Emmett are well written and well rounded characters. The romance itself is not rushed and the chemistry between the pair was instant and hot! The secondary characters will have readers wanting to return to read their stories. All in all Magnate is fantastic and I know I’ll be suggesting this one to readers for a long time to come.