This is only my second Joanna Shupe novel, but a friend recommended the one before this in the same series and I really enjoyed it so I immediately requested this. This was a fun historical romance, and I really liked the setup, which was different from anything I've read before. Katherine (Kat) Delafield and Preston Clarke were betrothed to one another by their fathers, who were once business partners. Kat has been operating under the assumption that the marriage is going to happen. She seeks Preston out in his office to begin the wedding planning, but he tells her in no uncertain terms that he is not interested in honoring the betrothal. His father and Kat's had parted ways as business associates and Preston blames Kat's father for his own father's decline and death. Kat, humiliated by the rejection, vows that she would never marry him anyway. But through the magic of romance novels, they both attend a very risque masked party and have a romantic encounter that leaves them both wanting more. They set up a time to meet again and when they do, the realize who they hooked up with... which makes things a little complicated. Their attraction is very strong, but they try to fight it. The usual historical romance hijinks ensue, and I found this to be a fun and satisfying read.

This started out so well!! And then it began fizzling into nothing but lust between the two main characters so I quickly lost interest. I know Joanna Shupe can write well so this was just a miss for me.

Hi, hello, I worship the ground joanna shupe walks on.

Not only was this just the book I needed right now, but it was also so delightful. It was witty, steamy, cute and emotional AND it was set in new york in the late 1800s??? I loved it.

It was definitely a shock to me as this is a third book in a series and I have not read any of the predecessors, but I was so pleasantly surprised. Also, I have to say, I love regency novels set in England as much as the next girlie, but there's just something about the late 1800s in nyc or maybe it's just joanna shupe's superior story telling I don't know!

This was an arranged marriage (kind of), enemies to lovers (sort of) and no strings attached (definitely) and every page was a delight to read. Kat and Preston (I know his name is the worst but he is great) have my heart and I love those fools!

I am most definitely picking up all of her back list and YOU SHOULD TOO!

PSA this book comes out may 24

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for this advance reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

Joanna Shupe has firmly cemented herself as one of my favorite historical romance authors. She knows how to write an addicting read. Her books are always page-turners for me. It’s hard to stop once I start reading! I started reading The Bridge Goes Rogue in the evening, and stayed up way too late to finish it. In case you are wondering, it was worth the lack of sleep.

Katherine and Preston’s story gripped me from the very first page. Katherine is such a great heroine. She’s confident and feisty. I loved watching her take control of her life once she realized she should prioritize herself first instead of a man. Preston, on the other hand, is more of a morally grey character. There are a lot of layers to him. He's known to be a cutthroat businessman who will do anything to succeed, but he's also loyal to those he cares about. Trust me, you'll find it hard not to fall for him once his soft side comes out.

Every time Katherine and Preston interacted, I saw sparks. Their chemistry was off the charts; the sexual tension and angst were palpable. I must say, Shupe upped the ante in this book; this is her spiciest book so far!

Read this book if you like:

Broken engagement/ second chance romance
Morally grey hero
Smart, feisty heroine
Spice 🌶

. When you’ve lived your life expecting it to follow certain rules the most logical rebellion is to break those rules, which led Katherine to take a walk on the wild side at a risqué masked ball when she is rejected by the man she thinks is her fiancé. She meets the perfect man to have an affair with- naturally the one man she would never want anything to do with if they knew each other’s identities! When Kat and Preston learn they rejected each other as fiancés only to be perfect together behind masks, they have some serious thinking to do.

I admired Katherine for deciding to try and live her life as she wanted and go for what made her happy, even if she wasn’t sure what that would be at first. Her eventual idea for an art museum that honored her mother and incorporated her own love/knowledge of art was a great idea and I wish it and her potential challenges with it had gotten a little more room. Her challenges with Preston were fairly predictable and the center of the plot, but it was Preston and his changes that I wish had gotten more attention. I wasn’t fully feeling convinced by his changing mind even as it was happening, but was glad he got there in the end for Katherine’s sake.

Hard to explain why this plot and characters didn’t fully work for me, at times it was fine, but I guess I never quite felt the emotional changes they supposedly reached by the end. I’m usually a big Joanna Shupe fan, but this book isn’t going down as one of my favorites. Maybe I’m going to have to reread it later and try again.

I received an Arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Katherine Delafield was so excited to finally start planning her wedding to the dashing Preston Clarke after a one year engagement. Unfortunately for Katherine her fiancée has no intentions of following through with a wedding. Angry, Katherine decides to take her life into her own hands. After meeting a mysterious stranger at a masquerade, Katherine goes to meet him only to find he’s Preston! Soon the two begin a torrid affair but will feelings stay out of their arrangements, will hearts be broken, or will love win in the end?

This is my first Joanna Shupe novel, and now I’m wondering how that’s even possible. This book was an explosion of chemistry! I’m a lover of the Gilded Age and it’s obvious that Joanna did her research.

*thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for the ARC

Joanna Shupe has done it again! This third book in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series was everything I wanted! Katherine has been waiting and watching Preston for the last year to get to know who the man she is supposed to marry. When she goes to his office to discuss marriage plans, he outright denied her. From that moment on, they become enemies. Katherine goes to this French Ball to move forward and become this new women where she meets this masked stranger and has a steamy night with him. The next night they meet again and Katherine finds out the man is Preston.

This book was everything I needed! I absolutely loved it!! The romance, the chemistry, the character growth was so amazing!!

Thank you to the author and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I don’t even know where to start with this book– I went in with really high expectations after The Lady Gets Lucky and this latest installment did not disappoint. Preston and Katherine’s fathers signed a betrothal agreement prior to Preston’s father’s death. After a year of waiting for him, Katherine shows up at his place of work to start planning only to find out that he never had any intention of marrying her at all. After putting her life on hold for a year, Katherine decides to actually start experiencing life– starting with a masked and anonymous one-night fling.. And of course, we all know who that masked man ends up being.

I read this book in one sitting. I picked it up and just couldn’t put it down. The pacing was so phenomenal and I don’t think there is a single part of this book where I felt like it should be emitted. Everything flowed very well and the storytelling was great. By the time I finished the book, looking back and retracing the plot points and progression to get to the final climax was amazing (I mean, start to end what a journey!). Katherine is such a ray of sunshine but I love that as she grows she learns to put herself first and the importance of her own feelings. Also the proposal scene in this book? Immaculate. I did not think it could get better than in the Lady Gets Lucky with the bread proposal but I was wrong. Can't wait for the next book with Nellie and Lockwood!

Absolutely adores this latest installment of Joanna Shupe's Fifth Avenue Rebels. As usual there was plenty of interesting historical detail (scandalous masquerade balls, newly created art museums, rustic cabins upstate, oh my!) but also plenty of emotion. I especially loved how Katherine came into her own over the course of the story and went from just accepting what happened to her in her life, to being the one to make things happen. Preston--who also had some maturing and to do--needed a heroine who wouldn't put up with his nonsense which meant Katherine was perfect for him. They ended up helping one another heal from past hurts too, which is one of my favorite things in a romance. Can't wait to see Nellie put the Duke of Lockwood through the wringer next!

Katherine and Preston's fathers were business partners when they were children. The father's signed a marriage contract for their children to marry. Now at 21, Katherine is just fine with marrying a stranger. She always expected Daddy to choose her husband. She met Preston briefly a year ago and has a crush on him. The book starts with Katherine confronting Preston at his office with wedding plans he knew nothing about. Preston, 25, is a real estate developer having rebuilt the company after his father died leaving the company bankrupt from his gambling debts. In a span four years he's now a business tycoon. He is involved in corruption, bribes, grift, and blackmail, and he's just fine with that. When he refuses to marry Katherine she decides to have an affair, to start living her life, leading to some improbable scenes. They both attend a raunchy masquerade ball at Madison Square Garden and of course among thousands of people end up together. The book is explicit, more than I remember the other two in the series being. There's the requisite caught in the rain in the woods, but the lodge is near! He must carry her up to the bath. The conflict revolves around a tract of land in downtown New York City. Katherine's father has given it to her to found a modern art museum, Preston is sure he stole this land from his father. He wants to build the world's tallest building. He has no trouble with his conscience forging a deed to end Katherine's plans. I had to laugh when Katherine gave a speech, "I must stand on my own" while she tells the architect money is no object (Daddy's money). At their first meeting she storms out, leaving him her journal listing all of her wedding plans. He puts it in a desk drawer. You know right then what will happen at the conclusion. For a woman who didn't want to be manipulated by men, with Preston begging for forgiveness, he and her father were still manipulating her life to the very end.

After a year of watching Preston Clarke, her betrothed, galavant about town and ignore her instead of making plans for their wedding, Katherine Delafield takes matters into her own hands and confronts him. But things do not go as planned when Preston informs her they are not betrothed and never will be. Hurt and humiliated Kat leaves, but returns moments later to give Preston a proper setdown, informing him that he will come to regret losing her, he tries to stop her when she turns to go, but Kat is done, she has wasted enough time on Preston Clarke and she won’t waste another second on him! She visits her friend Nellie Young and makes plans to start living her life on her terms, starting with attending the scandalous masquerade known as the French Ball and maybe even taking a lover!

Preston Clarke is sorry that Katherine was hurt by his refusal to marry her, but he refuses to honor any agreement made by her father, the man he blames for his family’s near ruin. His father and Kat’s father were business partners and Kat’s father dissolved their partnership and did nothing to help Preston when his father died and Preston learned the truth about his finances – his father had gambled away everything and if not for the help of his friend Forrest, Preston and his mother would have been homeless. Through sheer determination and hard work, Preston has rebuilt his fortune and he is now poised to build the largest building in the world, that is until he learns Kat’s dad has once again betrayed him and that he may have stolen the property Preston plans to use for his project. That is something Preston will not let happen, he will get the property back by whatever means necessary.

His day goes from bad to worse when his mistress wants more than he is willing to give, they part ways and with the hope of finding a diversion, Preston attends the French Ball and meets an enchanting woman, shares a steamy encounter, and makes plans to meet the next day. Imagine their surprise when they meet the next night and discover the truth! Needless to say, they exchange some heated words and part ways – but they keep running into each other and despite his vow to stay away from her, these two are drawn to one another and embark on an affair. But when his business dealings come between them and he hurts Kat, will he be able to make things right, or has he lost her for good?

This was a well-written, nicely paced story set in America’s Gilded Age with wonderfully complex characters. The book has a lot going on, but it is so well done that it doesn’t feel busy and Kat and Preston’s personal struggles don’t diminish their romance, in fact, their struggles actually enhance their journey to HEA. The book is filled with steamy love scenes, questionable business dealings, great secondary characters, some heartache, a bit of grief, betrayal, a dash of jealousy, and finally a HEA. This is the third book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title and if you love a steamy romance with strong, yet likable characters, then this is a book you do not want to miss!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

When Preston, refuses to acknowledge the betrothal their fathers had arranged, Katherine decides to sample life, maybe even find a lover. When Preston meets a sexy masked would be lover and discovers that it's Katherine, he finds himself having all sorts of feelings for her. I loved this historical romance. It's very sexy and I enjoyed seeing the relationship between the two develop. Preston works a lot and has had to do some unsavory business in order to stay afloat after his father nearly gambled their livelihood away and doesn't feel he deserves someone as bright and wonderful as Katherine. I really liked this novel and can't wait to read more by this author.

I loved this book so much! Katherine and Preston’s father’s had made a deal that their children would marry. A year after Katherine learns about this, she goes to confront Preston about this and ask about what details he wants in the wedding. He says this deal is a joke and he will never marry her. Katherine had been pining after him for the last year, and is very upset. To stop waiting around and start living her life, she decides to attend a scandalous party to have an affair. She has a mask on at this ball, and has an encounter with a man in a mask. They agree to meet at a house later in the week to continue this. When she gets there, it is Preston. They are both shocked, but can’t stay away and continue this physical relationship.

Katherine and Preston have such great chemistry! This was such a spicy book, and I was here for it! Around the time I started to feel like there was too much spice and not enough plot, it took a turn and we get Preston groveling. It was perfectly done, and I couldn’t get enough! The groveling was so well done!

5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for a free review copy through Netgalley.

Thanks #NetGalley for this opportunity to read #TheBrideGoesRogue before the publication date in exchange for an honest review.

Shupe is an amazing author. The chemistry between Kat and Preston is through the roof. Shupe really does a lot of research on the time period and includes interesting facts in her stories and still gives it a modern feel and somehow manages to make the story entertaining and believable as well. Her characters aren't perfect but that just makes them all the more realistic and enjoyable to read about. This is part of a series but can easily be read as a standalone. I haven't read the other books in this series but I definitely want to now. I'm also anxiously awaiting the next book in the series to be released next year. You can't go wrong with Shupe's books.

I am a longtime reader and lover of historical romance and I have to say, this is exactly the direction I love to see historical romance going. I love when authors aren't afraid to turn up the heat in their books and Joanna Shupe really went for it with The Bride Goes Rogue. Needless to say, I am super into it.
This book hit all the right buttons for me -super sexy, a hero who is over the moon for the heroine despite himself, a heroine who is competent and willing to stand up for herself, sex positivity from both main characters, and strong friendships. These characters feel real and so do their lives and their communities.
So what is this book about? Katherine Delafield is a lively and romantic dreamer who thought herself engaged to Preston Clarke, a business tycoon who doesn't want anything to do with her. At least, until he meets her and they are drawn together at an illicit party. Masked, they don't recognize each other and have a passionate encounter, agreeing to meet another night to continue their liaison. Imagine their horror when they realize who they've been having dirty dreams about? Despite Preston's determination not to marry into the Delafield family due to old wounds, he cannot stay away from Katherine, totally drawn in by her charm and her passion.
If you love to watch a hero come undone by a heroine and see him have to beg and grovel, this book is for you. It's pretty magnificent.
I haven't read the first two books in this series but I will definitely be picking them up and I can't wait for the next one. Fingers crossed it's Nellie and Lockwood, because if not I may riot.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. These are my opinions.
I absolutely loved Katherine and Preston's story. The twists and turns in their relationship made for a very delightful read. A 5-star read all the way. I highly recommended read it. You won't be able to put it down. Another wonderful story in this series from Ms. Shupe.

ARC Review

I absolutely fell in love with this book, the characters and the story.

It is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the first two books and I had no trouble jumping directly to this book.

Read this if you would like to read:
- Grumpy-Sunshine romance
- The hero and heroine's fathers had signed and set up their marriage
- But the story begins with heroine approaching the hero to decide on wedding arrangements, and the hero refuses to marry her
- Heroine feels like she wasted a year waiting for him and now GOES ROGUE and wants to enjoy life
- They meet again (both masked and that too at a scandalous ball)
- They engage in VERY VERY VERY STEAMY MOMENT (all masked)

But soon they realize who each other are and this starts their unbelievable and steamy attraction to each other but the hero's unwillingness to be involved in a relationship because heroine's father is his ENEMY (for reasons).

There are conflicts. STEAMYYYYYY rendevous.
Hero's EXTREME protectiveness and possessiveness
GROVELLINGGGGGG
Grand Gestures

In short, it has everything to love in a romance novel.

Go Pick it up.

Even though we know that Katherine's father is using something that she holds dear to bring her and Preston, it still hit me hard. How could a parent do this? It all works out in the end with a happy ending. I love how brave Katherine is. The author did a little too good of job making us hate Preston in the beginning. It took a while for me to warm up to him.

Joanna Shupe is my girl. I'm still expanding my historical romance library, but as of now? She is my favorite. Her banter is so fun, I like the characters, and the spicy scenes are always hot. The Fifth Avenue Rebels series is really good, and I look forward to what she gives us next.

If you like strong independent women heroine and demanding, forceful hero's then Joanna Ships is for you. She blends modern, regency, and contemporary into one master power story. Her whit, charm, and historical figures play into her writing style.

Katherine Delafield, has waited a year to marry Preston Clarke. Both are the only children from the business their fathers ran together until Mr Clarke's gambling got the better of him and an illness brought on his death. After morning her mother's death, the year waiting for Preston to acknowledge her and the betrothal, She decides to confront Preston.

Not knowing she believes it a true betrothal, he tells her the blunt truth. Afterwards, she takes charge of her life and how she wants to live. With help from her close friends she sets to having fun, going to a masked French Ball, and wanting to have a discrete affair. Dressed as Madame de Pompadour, she dances the away and runs into King Louie. As neither know who the other is they have some fun and agree to meet the following night to continue said fun.

When she arrive Preston knows instantly who she is and can not Nathan how this disaster happened. Then the two agree to have a very, very discrete affair. When her father shocking news throws her off balance and Preston's business dealing leave her agast, she runs and hides. As she comes to terms with how her life is turned upside down and how she will manage things Preston announces his feelings which adds more to her.

So come along on this wild ride and get to know the building of a great city, wonderful and colorful characters, and an explosive hero and heroin. This easy to read story is captivating and compelling.