4*
This is the 3rd book in The Uptown Girls trilogy about three Upper Manhattan socialites who fall in love with men who skirt the law but give up all criminal behavior for their women. It can be read as a standalone. Jack Mulligan, raised in a brothel, fought his way up the ranks of Lower East Side gangs, eventually consolidating power and bringing a tenuous peace. He used muscle, threats and blackmail to build his empire, but he also has a kind heart, helping the people of his neighborhood to improve their lives. Along the way, he also became booksmart, learned several languages, and developed a cultured persona. When he meets Justine Greene, who comes to him to track down a deadbeat husband in his employ, he’s impressed with her spirit, independence and goodness. As they continue to work together, whether it be raising funds for her brother-in-law’s Legal Aid Society, improving working conditions in factories, or serving food in a soup kitchen, they begin to fall in love. Will they be able to build a life together away from the corruption and criminality that has defined his life up to this point or will Jack force her to walk away?
Joanna Shupe’s Gilded Age romances are always riveting and paint a clear picture of the vast divide between the haves and have-nots in major cities like NY and Chicago, deftly describing the misery faced by the lower classes and the excesses of the industrial barons around the turn of the 20th century. There are definitely parallels that can be drawn between those times and American oligarchic society and the corruption in politics and law enforcement today, sadly reminding readers that the imbalance is still very real. Despite this, her stories are hopeful and heartwarming. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
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