Tycoon

Joanna Shupe kicks off her new Knickerbocker Club series in spectacular fashion with the fantastic TYCOON! New York City 1887, is the place to be. And that’s where Clara went from Missouri; she might not be rich and famous but she loves her job at the perfume counter at Hoyt’s. But then things go terribly wrong: she witnesses a crime involving a most prominent citizen, a corrupt policeman witnessed the crime, and goes after her. Clara runs for her life, and attaches herself to an honest-looking man waiting for the train, pretending to be his wife. Ted Harper, is the president of the New American Bank, very wealthy and well-known in financial circles, but seeing this beautiful redhead in distress, he goes along with it, and off on the train they go. Little did he know that this fortuitous encounter was about to change his life! TYCOON is in my opinion Ms. Shupe’s best book so far, and if this is any indication, The Knickerbocker Club is going to be a smashing series! Clara is a fabulous character: fiercely independent, she talks a mile a minute, she is straightforward, young and full of life; she’s positively irresistible. Ted is older, rather staid – he’s a banker after all – but they form an unforgettable team as he tries to help her evade her pursuers. Ms. Shupe’s writing is absolutely flawless; even though it is written in the third person, each character’s traits are evident: we can read the tempo of Clara’s machine-gun delivery as well as the Ted’s poise and calm. The dialogues are spot-on, the chemistry between Clara and Ted is palpable, and the descriptions are crystal clear: every character, the train, Victorian New York City are as vivid as if they were in front of our eyes. TYCOON is fast-paced, fabulously entertaining, so much fun; I loved every minute of it! I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this. Loved the series. Love everything by Joanna Shupe. Great characters. Well-written setting.