The Knickerbocker Club, #2
by Joanna Shupe
Releasing October 25th 2016
Zebra
Zebra
From The Book Junkie Reads . . .
Baron (The Knickerbocker Club, #2) . . .
A host of riveting, compelling, lively
characters that brought to life the historical New York high life. This was a view
in to the Gilded Age that I have not seen before. I was a part of a world that would
throw you to the wolves and smile in your face the entire time that it was
taking place. There were rules in place that could not be seen. You just had to
know them. The businessmen lived by a different code of conduct. This was not
your typical gang of friends that went out and did it all because they could.
They went out and did it because the wanted to.
Ava was sweet, alluring, witty, compelling,
and she knew who and what she was. She did what was necessary to succeed and
keep her family going forward. Her family was fun and very entertaining. I
loved them all. I loved getting to know them all. I loved Ava for Ava and I also
loved her persona Madame Zolikoff.
I found it hard to put it down. I
wanted to know more. I was tempted to stop the book and go back to read the
previous but it was not necessary. All that was contained was able to support
itself.
Money, power, politics, family, and
somewhere love. This New York City’s Gilded Age romance showed me that
power of the past and the determination of the man wanting to make something of
himself and the young woman that just wanted more.
The
Knickerbocker Club series:
Tycoon – The Knickerbocker Club, #.5
Magnate – The Knickerbocker Club, #1
Baron – The Knickerbocker
Club, #2
Mogul – The Knickerbocker Club, #3
Blurb
New
York City’s Gilded Age shines as bright as the power-wielding men of the
Knickerbocker Club. And one pragmatic industrialist is about to learn that a
man may make his own destiny, but love is a matter of fortune . . .
Born
into one of New York’s most respected families, William Sloane is a railroad
baron who has all the right friends in all the right places. But no matter how
much success he achieves, he always wants more. Having secured his place atop
the city’s highest echelons of society, he’s now setting his sights on a
political run. Nothing can distract him from his next pursuit—except, perhaps,
the enchanting con artist he never saw coming . . .
Ava Jones
has eked out a living the only way she knows how. As “Madame Zolikoff,” she
hoodwinks gullible audiences into believing she can communicate with the spirit
world. But her carefully crafted persona is nearly destroyed when Will Sloane
walks into her life—and lays bare her latest scheme. The charlatan is certain
she can seduce the handsome millionaire into keeping her secret and using her
skills for his campaign—unless he’s the one who’s already put a spell on her .
. .
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Will
dropped his arm, releasing her. “You don’t seem to grasp the gravity of the situation. My job is to
make you understand. By whatever means necessary.”
“Whatever
means necessary? Goodness, you are determined. What if I said I’d leave John alone if you agreed to play a part in my act
next Monday?”
“A-a
part . . in your act?” He threw his head back and laughed, the strong cords of
his throat popping and shifting under rough skin. Ava suddenly experienced a
sharp urge to drag her tongue over those ridges, to taste his laugh on her
lips.
Sakes
alive, she had to stop this. She jerked her gaze to the street, mortification
burning through her veins. There could be no thoughts of that nature,
especially around William Sloane. For pity’s sake, he probably demanded proof of a woman’s pedigree before he agreed to kiss her. Besides, she’d flirted with her baser nature years ago, as a young girl,
and where had that gotten her? A lump formed in her throat, and the heavy
weight of regret stole her breath.
You
played with fire, girl. Now you’ve gone and gotten yourself burned.
Her
mother’s shrill voice rang in Ava’s head. Yes, she had been stupid. Not a day went by when she
didn’t remind herself never to be
stupid again.
He
finally stopped laughing, the cad. “I would not lower myself to a part in your act if it would secure me
the presidency.”
“Are
you certain? Because I can easily convince John he needs to see me twice a
week.”
That
drove the amusement from his expression. “You wouldn’t dare. I swear, if you do—”
“Calm
down, railroad man. I do have other clients. Even for John, I’m not certain I have the time.” She shot him a glare. “But I
could make the time if you don’t leave me alone.”
“I
cannot leave you alone until you promise to leave John alone. I have too
much to lose if this gets out. Or if you decide to sell his secrets.”
“You
have my word I won’t,”
she snapped. “Why can’t
you accept it and go back to passing out campaign buttons?”
“Forgive
me if I have a problem accepting the word of a woman donning a blond wig and
adopting a Russian accent—which is abysmal, by the way. Have you ever met a
real Russian?”
Mercy,
she was tired of the insults from this man. As if he had to remind everyone he
met how inferior they were to his sublime greatness. “Don’t you have an empire to run? How is it that a man in charge
of so much has this much free time to gad about the city?”
“I
do not possess any free time,” he said. “Absolutely none. In fact, I left a
very important meeting when I learned you were at Bennett’s. Which means my nine o’clock dinner reservations will be forfeit for supper at my
desk instead.”
She
slid her bottom lip out in a pout. “Oh, you
poor, poor millionaire. I’m
sure whichever half-witted innocent you were escorting tonight will
understand.”
Funny,
his eyes stayed on her lips. Did railroad man have an affinity for plump lips?
Hers were on the large side, along with her bosom. He’d stared at that a time or two as well, she’d noticed. No doubt he was used to the thin, graceful women
of the upper Fifth Avenue set, pale women who remained indoors. Who never had a
hair out of place. Who could afford a decent corset to flatten their breasts.
Ava’s curves and olive skin
probably fascinated him, like one of Barnum’s oddities.
Well,
he could stare all he liked. Perhaps she could even use his fascination to her
advantage. Men like Will Sloane would not care for an aggressive, modern woman.
Undoubtedly, he’d prefer a docile creature
who stayed at home, sipping tea, until he returned from his club. Was that not
what every spoiled, rich man desired?
If
such was the case, a little boldness on her part should scare him off for good.
“Do
you ever back down?” he asked her.
She
leaned in, pleased to see his gray eyes flash and darken. He smelled faintly of
expensive soap, like sandalwood and lemons, and she looked at him through her
lashes. “Never,” she whispered. “I never back down, and you would do well to
remember it, Mr. Sloane.”
Raising
a fist, she pounded on the side of the carriage. “Here, if you please!” The
driver pulled to the side of the street and slowed the horse. When they came to
a stop, she opened the . . .
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Author Info
Award-winning author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved
history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. While in
college, Joanna read every romance she could get her hands on and soon started
crafting her own racy historical novels. She now lives in New Jersey with her
two spirited daughters and dashing husband.
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