The Prince of Broadway: Uptown Girls

A powerful casino owner gambles with his emotions when he gets involved with the feisty daughter of his nemesis in the steamy second romance in Shupe’s Uptown Girls series (after The Rogue of Fifth Avenue). Highborn, free-thinking Florence Greene dreams of opening a casino for women. She turns to rugged, self-made Clayton Madden for assistance. Clayton, a prominent member of New York City’s underworld, agrees to educate Florence on the nuances of casino operations, secretly hoping to use her in his ongoing quest for revenge against her father, Duncan Greene, whom he blames for the destruction of his family. As Madden struggles to remain emotionally detached from the tenacious beauty, formidable heroine Florence attempts to balance her own attraction to Madden with her desire to be independent. Shupe masterfully captures the culture of New York City in the 1890s. Madden is a well-developed hero whose deep friendships with right-hand man Bald Jack and brothel owner Annabelle Gallagher reveal a gentle nature beneath his hardened exterior. Witty repartee, lush sensuality, and a fast-paced plot are sure to delight readers. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary. (Jan.)