The Duke Gets Even: A Novel

Joanna Shupe

Jan 2023 · The Fifth Avenue Rebels Book 4 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

By beloved USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe, the fourth installment in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series about a secret affair between a free-spirited heiress and an uptight duke which turns more passionate than either could have imagined. 

A rebellious heiress.

A duke in dire straits.

An anonymous midnight tryst.

To escape the shackles of marriage, Nellie Young purposely ruined her reputation a long time ago. Now she dedicates herself to hedonistic pleasures only, like kissing a handsome stranger in the ocean under the moonlight...

To save his estate, the proper Duke of Lockwood must marry the perfect bride—wealthy, with an unblemished reputation. While in New York he’s the perfect gentleman, and no one knows he’s suppressing his darkest desires. The last thing he needs is another scandal.

Except Nellie sees through Lockwood’s charade, straight to the real man underneath. This uptight duke is far more than he lets on, and she can’t resist him. Their secret affair turns scorching, far more than either expected. And when his beautiful rebel finds an unconventional cause, Lockwood has to decide if he’s willing to sacrifice everything to keep her.

Ratings and reviews

The Duke of Lockwood needs a dollar princess to save his family holdings. Hedonistic Nellie neither needs nor wants a husband. Yet they can't resist the passion between them. On the surface, they couldn't be more wrong for each other. Will that stop them from falling in love? A high-steam Gilded Age romance with modern values. The plot is strong, while the romance is endearing and emotional. Underneath it all, Nellie and Lockwood are perfect for each other. Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

At twenty-two, Nellie Young is an heiress with too much money and time on her hands. During a moonlight swim in the ocean, she encounters Andrew Talbot, the Duke of Lockwood. Andrew is in need of an heiress with a clean reputation, but isn't having any success keeping one as a fiance. Nellie is known for her wild reputation and would never fit as a duchess. The sexual draw between them keeps bringing them back together into a full blown affair. Time is running out for Andrew and he must return to London, but the woman he wants is the one he cannot have. Shupe builds her characters from the ground up with all their flaws to find the real person behind the mask. Stayed up all night to read this hot erotica romance. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

If I consider that this is the first book of Joanna Shupe I read and I know nothing about the book except its blurb and tropes which most are my favorite by the way, I'm impressed and enjoy reading it so much more than I thought. An open scene when Lockwood and Nellie first met is very intriguing and shows me that they are compatible with a chemistry that can set the book on fire. But Lockwood wants a decent bride not someone like Nellie even if she is wealthy as well. Too bad that Lockwood and Nellie can't avoid each other and when all of Nellie's friends settle down, Nellie feels lonely and Lockwood is a good distraction. They finally give in to their attractions and da**, I feel so hot while I'm reading their love scenes. Lockwood is my dream come true (heart eyes emoji.) The problem is aside from Lockwood and Nellie, I'm also intriguing by all of Nellie's friends so I'm going to go back to their stories when I have free times!

About the author

Joanna Shupe has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. Her books have appeared on numerous yearly “best of” lists, including Publishers Weekly, The Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, Kobo, and BookPage. She lives in New Jersey with her two spirited daughters and dashing husband.