“Nothing makes me happier than a new book from Joanna Shupe!”―Sarah MacLeanThe final novel in Joanna Shupe’s critically acclaimed Uptown Girl series about a beautiful do-gooder who must decide if she can team up with one of New York’s brashest criminals without losing something irreplaceable: her heart.Manhattan kingpin. Brilliant mastermind. Gentleman gangster.He’s built a wall around his … gangster.
He’s built a wall around his heart…
Orphaned and abandoned on the Bowery’s mean streets, Jack Mulligan survived on strength, cunning, and ambition. Now he rules his territory better than any politician or copper ever could. He didn’t get here by being soft. But in uptown do-gooder Justine Greene―the very definition of an iron fist in a velvet glove―Jack may have met his match.
She wears hers on her sleeve…
Justine is devoted to tracking down deadbeat husbands and fighting for fair working conditions. When her mission brings her face-to-face with Jack, she’s shocked to find the man behind the criminal empire is considerably more charming and honorable than many “gentlemen” she knows.
Forming an unlikely alliance, they discover an unexpected desire. And when Justine’s past catches up with them, Jack may be her only hope of survival. Is she ready to make a deal with the devil…?
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Justine Greene is the youngest of the Greene sisters and compared to her vivacious sisters, she appears to be a little dull – but as they say – looks can be deceiving! Unlike her sisters in both looks and temperament, Justine spends her days helping the poor and forgotten of NYC. She also helps out with her brother-in-law Frank Tripp’s legal aid society – tracking down missing husbands. It is on such a case that she meets Jack Mulligan – the city’s biggest crime lord. After weeks of looking for Robert Gorcey who left his wife and five children without a word, she learns that he works for Jack and hopes to gain his help in getting Mr. Gorcey to take care of his responsibilities! Jack agrees, but wants a favor in exchange and won’t lift a finger to help unless she agrees.
Jack Mulligan was born with nothing and fought his way to the top, he is powerful and feared, but Justine Greene doesn’t appear to be impressed – which intrigues him. She grudgingly agrees to grant him a favor in the future and leaves. Jack shouldn’t give her another thought, he has problems of his own in the shape of an up-and-coming crime boss, Trevor O’Shaughnessy, a man that is testing the boundaries with Jack. But he can’t seem to get the little “do-gooder” out of his mind and has her followed. Days later he catches up with her to cash in his favor, he marvels at how much she does in the city and listens to her complain about not being able to get her police friend to help with a matter of a unfair factory owner. Jack buys her lunch and tells her that for his favor he wants to escort her to Frank’s fundraising gala – there is a man he wants to talk to that refuses to see him – Julius Hatcher – Justine agrees and demands an outrageous donation to boot – Jack agrees.
When her family learns of her interactions with Jack, they all warn her off – Mamie and Florence are sure he will hurt her and ruin her reputation, Frank and Clay are concerned for her safety – but they all underestimate Justine – she is stronger and braver than they could ever imagine and she refuses to stop seeing Jack. For his part, Jack is caught in Justine’s spell – he wants her, but more than just sexually, he likes her and enjoys her company – she is a light in his dark world and even as he knows he should let her go, he can’t seem to send her away. But when Jack gives Justine her greatest desire, she finally admits that she is changing into someone she doesn’t like and she walks away from him. Can he win her back?
This was a well written, fast paced, amazing read with very likable characters, red-hot love scenes, unexpected twists, wonderful secondary characters including cameos from Mamie, Frank, Florence, Clay and Julius Hatcher! I just loved this story, it was a wild ride from the first page until the last and is definitely my favorite in the series. This is the third book in the series and while it can be read as a stand-alone, do yourself a favor and read the books in order!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by the publisher.*
Jack Mulligan has one rule he lives by Qui n’avance pas, recule – who does not advance retreats. He is the Kingpin in New York – ruling over his territory ruthlessly. Jack has everyone he needs in his pocket and he doesn’t do anything without a favor in return.
When Justine Greene crosses paths with Mulligan – she is in dangerous territory. She knows how dangerous Mulligan can be, but still she is left with no choice but asking him for help in solving a case that she is working on on behalf of her charity. Mulligan is willing to help Justine, but he doesn’t offer his services freely and of course there will be a favor in return.
This favor is what starts the unusual relationship between “do-gooder” Justine and Kingpin Mulligan. When their dalliances with one another become more frequent and they begin to long for each other – will either of them stand a chance to be with one another?
I absolutely LOVED The Devil of Downtown. The chemistry between Mulligan and Justine was explosive from the moment they met with one another. The sexy times between the two were next level hot hot hot.
The way Justine was able to see underneath Jack’s tough exterior and not be judgmental about his upbringing said a lot about her character. But how long do they have with one another before they realize that their worlds do not align. How could a Kingpin possibly have a future with a woman who is set on doing good in the world.
There were quite a few times where this book brought me to tears. And I ached for both Jack and Justine. I wanted there to be a way that these two made it work and I was rooting for them until the very end.
I’ve read a quite a few historical romances and honestly this was one of the first ones that I have read that was set in America. I truly enjoyed learning about New York in the 1800’s and it was a refreshing change in scenery from typical historical romances that are set in London or Europe.
This was my first novel by Joanna Shupe, but most definitely won’t be my last!
Once again Joanna Shupe creates a feisty, liberated Gilded Age heroine and a sexy, intense alpha hero. Oh, man, did the sparks fly! Ms. Shupe really knows how to write a hot scene, and I loved every one of them. Justine is so strong and decent, yet has a wildly sensual side that Jack unlocks. Of course, I totally understand why Justine fell for him, even though she’s a do-gooder and he’s a criminal kingpin. Jack has a surprising sense of honor under all his delicious wickedness. I ripped through this book in a day. Highly recommend.
Amazing…every time. Joanna Shupe gets better with every book.
I love all of Shupe’s Gilded Age romances but this might be my favorite book in the series. Mulligan stands out as a gangster who is also very much a gentleman. Florence is a do-gooder who doesn’t mind shaking things up, especially when it comes to making deadbeat dads live up to their obligations to their wives and children. Once Florence starts making waves on Mulligan’s turf, the sparks start flying! Shupe skillfully draws a picture of Gilded Age New York, the backdrop of this romance that totally sizzles.
This is a stellar final book in the Uptown Girls series. I was really curious on how Justine would be as a main character because her sisters have Very Strong feelings about the type of person she is. Turns out Justine is freaking amazing and badass. I am a complete sucker for a hero who’s constantly set back on his heels with his partner, and Jack 100% fits the bill. He spent half the book going “Now she will do ____” and Justine turns around and does the opposite because she’s nothing like he expects. It’s a delight. The entire book is a delight. I highly recommend!
This story is absolutely fan-freekin-tastic! Filled with three dimensional characters and the sort of world building that brings late 19th century Manhatten to vivid life, this is a romance you don’t want to miss!
Raised in a brothel and later on the streets, Jack Mulligan has fought tooth and nail, not only for survival, but to build an untouchable empire. Reputed to be unforgiving and ruthless, no one would ever dare argue with him. Until a young lady with steel in her veins gives Jack a piece of her mind. Justine Green needs his help, but she’s not prepared to let him dictate the terms completely. Instead she negotiates with him on equal footing and with fearless determination. Which makes it hard for Jack for forget her once their initial arrangement has been concluded. But it’s not just her bravery that draws him, it’s also her kindness, and while he knows he doesn’t deserve a woman like her in his life, Jack finds himself seeking her out and furthering the acquaintance until they’re both falling hard for each other. The only problem of course is figuring out how the king of the criminal underworld can build a future with a respectable do-gooder.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Beyond the romance there’s also a murder plot along with Justine’s struggle to be taken seriously as a woman attempting to work alongside the police force. A definite page turner to be savored.
4.5 stars
This is the book that started my Joanna Shupe journey. The book I learned about through the Fated Mates episode Best of Romance 2020. Of course, it being the 3rd (and final) book in the series meant I had to read the other books first. Both also highly recommended by the Fated Mates hosts. Now that I’ve read all of the books, I will tell you I heartily agree with the them and would also recommend these stories.
One of the things I’ve loved throughout the series that I felt was leaned into even more in this particular story is the how forward thinking the Greene sisters are. One of the main things Justine fights for is men owning up to their responsibilities. She cannot stomach the way men can abandon their families with no repercussions but the women are left with no way to even divorce these men, leaving them and their children with no way out of the cycle of poverty.
“Why are sons not taught to change things? Why must the burdens and problems of this world constantly fall on the shoulders of women?”
Surprisingly for Justine, Jack Mulligan is the only person who seems to fully agree with her view and her aim to hold men accountable for their actions. It even surpises Jack himself that he is so enthralled with the contrary nature of Justine and how badly her determination makes him want to do everything in his power to help her reach her goals. Jack has always gone through great pains to be sure everyone fears him and views him as unfeeling, when in truth he is one of the most compassionate people in the city. There are definitely reasons to fear the man, especially for things that were done in the past. Yet everything Jack has done along the way to where he is now was for the betterment of the city and it’s citizens. He never took power just to be powerful, he never intimidated and fought with others just to be king of the hill. He did what he did to try to make his city a place women were safe and kids had food and a warm place to stay.
The way these two are drawn to one another is fun and intense. The love to hate each other and can’t help the respect they ended up feeling. And let me tell you, one of the best forearm scenes I’ve ever read is in this book. Jack notices Justine’s interest and cannot help playing up the rolling of his sleeves and more. swoon!
More than the story of Justine and Jack, there is also some great stories with these sisters. Justine is the baby of the family and has always been the do-gooder who also happens to follow the rules for the most part. Her scandalous endeavors are things like going downtown unescorted to help feed the poor. Her sisters have both been much more wild and unconventional, yet they sort of gang up on Justine when they realize she has an association with Jack. The are very hypocritical and Justine calls them on that. It’s fascinating to see her learn to face off with them when she’s always been more quiet. She learns to hold her own and they learn to see her as more than the baby of the family.
I’ve mentioned before that I don’t read many historicals anymore. I will surely be looking to read more by Joanna Shupe, and soon.
So. Much. Fun.
It feels good to go into a time zone that is one I enjoy reading in. This series was on my tbr but I caught the last one in it. Actually quite a few of this author’s novels are on it with this being the first one of hers I finally got my hands on. So this was a gem for me. Justine is a character that you would go for but punch her sisters is what you would like to do for them. She has a interesting things she does especially helping the legal aid in her tracking down missing husbands. That just was not something most would of done. In this she meets Jack. This is one interesting collaboration once they continue on. She needs his help but oh does he give it for free? That is one for the reader to find out what is what. This is one bad boy read you have no worries in sinking your teeth in to taste what this author gives you. Aptly named also.
Joanna Shupe finishes her amazing Uptown Girls series with The Devil of Downtown. Set in Gilded Age New York, the book focuses on uptown do-gooder Justine Greene, who spends all of her time helping the less fortunate. Her current cause is tracking down wife-deserters, and her search leads her to the lair of Jack Mulligan, the downtown crime boss who has united nearly all of New York’s gangs into a criminal empire. What Justine isn’t expecting, however, is that Jack is cultured, handsome, and surprisingly honorable. Jack agrees to help Justine with her investigations, and in turn is captivated by her. However, can they bridge the rift between their two worlds?
This book was astounding! Joanna Shupe writes the most amazing characters, and no matter how unlikely their circumstances seem, she always pulls it off. Justine is capable and strong without being brash. She is unapologetic about who she is and what she wants, which is so refreshing to read. Jack is completely considerate of Justine at every turn – consent in this book is explicit all the way through, and it is sooo sexy.
I really enjoyed this book, as well as this whole series, and can’t wait to read what Shupe has in store next!
Review originally published in Romancing Romances.
I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.
I loved this book so much I couldn’t even write the review when I finished as I was so excited I couldn’t keep still enough to actually sit in front of a computer.
When I finished The Devil of Downtown my first thought was… I want to read it again! That’s how much I loved it.
I’ve always loved a bad boy who is good for his love and/or has a heart of gold. Jack Mulligan… doesn’t have a heart of gold, but he does like Justine and he doesn’t want to see her hurt.
Jack Mulligan “rules” downtown New York. His character is based on a real man, Paul Kelly. Jack’s look is based on Vincent Piazza, who plays Lucky Luciano on the tv series Boardwalk Empire, which the author, Joanna Shupe, has mentioned she used as an inspiration for Jack. For fans of the series Pecky Blinders, Jack is also quite similar to Tommy Shelby, played by Cillian Murphy.
And if Jack Mulligan is the devil of downtown, Justine is the do-gooder, the angel. While he deals in favours, blackmail, and balance of power, she deals in the business of helping people just because they need it.
Justine works at an institution where she helps women whose husbands abandoned them and their children either return, or pay retribution. It’s in her work that she meets Jack, as one of the men employed by him abandoned his wife, and kids. Jack doesn’t like having someone talking to his employers, and he makes a deal with Justine that this man will pay to support his wife and children, if she owes him a favour, which he can collect at any point. She hates not knowing what might happen, but she has no other choice.
Jack respects Justine because she stands her ground, she challenges him – and she is able to do this because she knows Jack does not hurt women or children. She believes he will not break his “code”, but still Jack thinks she is incredible just by behaving like that. You go Justine!
All throughout the book there is this motto that Jack will corrupt Justine, that he’s a spider and will get her stuck in his web without her noticing. And, in a way… that does happen. But Justine realizes what happened and she didn’t like the person she was becoming. It was a heartbreaking scene. Have I mentioned I cried in this book? More than once, actually. But I still loved it!
They had such an amazing chemistry, Jack exudes sexiness, and Justine, whom most people considered plain, was like an avenging angel, and had this sexual energy that just appealed so much to Jack.
I know some people will not be happy with the end… but for me it was perfect. Because they both acknowledge that for them to be together, things have to change, at least slightly.
Although I’m an only child, I really connected with Justine, and understood her very well. And Jack just connected with me in all the right ways.
The sisters of the previous books are also in The Devil of Downtown, but I paid almost no attention to them. They were just plot points to make us understand Justine better, in my opinion.
I just loved this book so much, the essence of New York, and blackmail, and the power, and the sexiness.. It was pretty much perfect.
Joanna Shupe
After his mother’s death left him orphaned, Jack Mulligan learned quickly how to survive on the streets of New York City. His cunning, intelligence, and ruthless ambition have served him well and he rules much of the city with more authority than any policeman or politician. He’s fair, but to maintain his power, he can’t afford to be soft, although it’s possible he’s met his match in do-gooder heiress Justine Greene.
Justine isn’t wild and rebellious like her elder sisters, she simply wants to help people. When her latest search for a missing husband brings her to the den of the city’s most notorious kingpin, she’s amazed to find that Jack Mulligan is actually more charming and honorable than most of the polished uptown swells she knows.
Beneath their unlikely alliance sparks a tangible, if unlikely, frisson of attraction. When that connection deepens, it soon becomes known to Jack’s enemies, both their lives are put in danger, and they must each determine where their true priorities lie.
I have some mixed feelings here. I did enjoy the story overall, but it had issues. Justine is quite possibly my favorite Greene sister in some ways, but in others she wound up not being that likable. Jack may just be my favorite hero of the series and yet I still remember liking Frank and Mamie’s story better (although maybe my tastes have just changed some in the year since I read it). One of my biggest issues here was actually with Justine’s relationship with her sisters, Mamie and Florence. I don’t have sisters so maybe I just don’t get it, but I absolutely hated every interaction those two had with Justine. Both Florence and Mamie were nothing but condescending, hypocritical, judgmental, and controlling of Justine, even after acknowledging her capabilities and the fact that she had grown up. They certainly didn’t show her the support and help she’d provided them when they were seeing ‘unsuitable’ men. I also didn’t really get why Florence was so against Jack when he helped her when she was having issues with Clay. Then the sisterly advice when Justine was heartbroken was oh just get drunk, as if that’s productive or helpful at all. It was like everything their characters were in the previous books just flew out the window to somehow add this nonsensical friction in this book in the absence of their parents. I hated it.
I also got really tired of how much Jack was maligned when we had all this clear evidence of him being a good person and that made it even more annoying to me that, in the end, it seemed he had to give up quite a bit more than Justine did. I’m not a huge fan of the lopsided compromising, but I did like the fact that Jack was moving himself to a position with fewer enemies. This book had plenty of excellent steam and Jack definitely knew how to talk dirty and still be extremely respectful. I enjoyed the majority of the story, I just got tired of the back and forth between Justine and Jack. I think it went on too long and much of the time Justine was just flat out unnecessarily rude to Jack and used him to get what she wanted, all the while she’s being warned about how he’ll use and discard her until it is she who does that very thing to him. She wasn’t as naïve as her sisters thought, but she did willfully ignore a lot of the danger that she clearly knew existed, all in the name of independence. I absolutely cannot stand when independence is equated with willfully stupid decisions. Justine’s back and forth antics had this book losing traction for me at about 60% or so.
Nonetheless and despite my complaints, this was a well-written book and a satisfying ending to a lovely, unique series and I can’t wait to see what Joanna Shupe’s next project is.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love Joanna Shupe. Her writing style is unique, her characters always have depth and personality, her plots always have a realistic feel even though they take place over 100 years ago, and her fans are never left disappointed.
Jack and Justine are both written to perfection. Both are so vibrant and honest, they pull you in and have you rooting for them to have their happily ever after.
I love how she describes the locations, whether they are multi-million dollar homes or slums where two or three families live in a one it two room apartment. You feel as if you have just stepped into whatever location hey characters are and it’s as if you are seeing it through their eyes.
I most absolutely recommend this book == AMAZING!
I received an ARC of this book via NetGally and am happily giving my honest opinion.
The Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe is book three in the Uptown Girls series. This is the story of Justine Greene and Jack Mulligan. I have read the previous books, which did add to my enjoyment of this one. I do feel this can be a standalone book. Justine has taken to fighting for the rights of women, children and people that are in need. Justin also helps her brother-in- law with his legal aide group. Justine is on a job to track down a man who has abandon his family which leads her to meet Jack. Jack is the raining head of the underworld who grew up in a brothel then onto the streets. Jack has worked his way up the ranks and now is having another person causing issues. This leads him to exchange favors with Justine. Justine and Jack set a tone of friendship but their desire for each other starts to take over. But all is not so simple on their road to happiness. Enjoyed their story and I do want to read more from this author!
Love, love, love this author and the amount of time she puts in doing research on this time in history! It’s absolutely spot on describing the turn of the 20th Century in New York City. Crime, corruption, graft, and greed were rife in this time period, and Ms. Shupe captures it perfectly.
This is the third book in the Uptown Girls series. We were introduced to Justine Greene in the first two books of the series. Seemingly mousy and timid, Justine comes into her own in this story. We were also introduced to Jack Mulligan in the previous tale. He is portrayed as the worst of the worst, but is he really?
Justine’s passion is helping those less fortunate, centering her philanthropy on women whos husbands have walked out, leaving them bereft. Justine took up their cause and tried to hunt these men down. One ‘dead-beat dad’ was an employee of Jack Mulligan. Justine works her way into his office and confronts him. No one has ever done that to him before, especially a woman.
Jack, an orphan who grew up on the hostile streets of NYC, vowed to never, ever answer to anyone. His hard work, intellect, and street smarts have him at the top of the criminal pile, using his influence to increase his fortune. When he lets down his guard and allows Justine to come close, is this the beginning of the end, or is Jack not as hardened as he portrays.
A fabulous story. I so enjoyed this book. There is sex and violence and despair and finally a loving resolution. Might there possibly be a fourth book in the offing? I would love that.
I am obsessed with this book! The heroine was so incredible, the hero was exactly the type of romance hero with an edge of bad boy that I look for, and I couldn’t stop reading until I was all the way through. Joanna has out done herself!
Wow, Joanna Shupe does it again, another brilliant tale that is so well deserving of 5 Huge Stars! The Devil of Downtown, the newest in the Uptown Girls Series will take you on a most heartwarming, sensual, and deeply romantic ride! Jack Mulligan our hero of the tale is one of the most criminals of men out there yet one of the most influential and wealthy. He has created an empire for himself and in today’s world, we would consider him a gang leader. He rules the underworld of the late 1800’s New York City and everybody knows him and never messes with Mulligan. His life is going swimmingly perfectly and he likes lording over all of New York.
However, along comes sweet and demuring Justine Greene, a daughter of one of the wealthiest men of New York but she comes from the upscale side of the city a family who has always done what is right. Justine doesn’t care about riches, balls, or the latest fashions, nor does she care about nabbing a husband. No, she cares about the poor of the city, the underprivileged, and those left behind by society. Most especially the women of the city and those who are banded by their husbands left to raise the children on their own with barely a cent to buy bread. Justine needs help for Mrs. Gorsey whose husband has abandoned her and he also works for none-other-than Jack Mulligan. She approaches Jack and in her spirited way insists that he must make Mr. Gorsey pay for his wife and child’s support. Jack is taken back by this spirited “do-gooder” as he calls her. Soon he is very drawn to Justine, he can’t get her out of his mind. She too can’t get him out of her mind and at first, can’t understand why she’d be drawn to such a dark man, but she soon learns under that dark outer core lies a very sweet and loving man.
Her family; however, does not approve of Mulligan, her sisters in particular are concerned with her. But Justine stands her ground and soon finds herself falling in love… will she marry Mulligan and change her life forever and can he give up his criminal ways for the sweet and gentle “do-gooder”?
I loved these two together, the sweet side of Justine soon melts the dark heart of Mulligan and the passion in this tale is dark and on fire! Shupe’s writing is just impeccable and such amazing storylines that are just unexpected that keeps the reader glued to every word! I would most highly recommend The Devil of Downtown!
Justine Greene is the one woman who braves going into the Bowery of London streets to help woman whose husbands have abandon them. Her search for dead beat husbands takes her into Jack Mulligans world. Jack has worked his way up to being the King of the streets with his cunning, strength and ambition. He finds Justine quite intriguing, he trades on favors and makes a deal with Justine that will change their lives forever. I loved this captivating book of two different worlds colliding, the passion Justine and Jack share is sizzling and tenderhearted. They grow closer in this action packed adventure into the underworld of London as a do-gooder meets the devil of downtown and turns his world upside down. An excellent story I loved and I voluntarily wrote a review.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Devil Of Downtown, by Joanna Shupe, is available at booksellers on 6-30-2020. Devil is book 3 in the Uptown Girls series. It’s also the end of the planned trilogy. While an enjoyable read I can’t say I became invested in the characters. The do-gooder is too good and the devil seems bad but isn’t when we meet him. For all the talk about his past he turns into a wimp pretty fast. There wasn’t enough rough and tumble stuff for me to believe he was a mob boss. Justine has been running around the city, mostly alone, since she was 13? She’s a kidnapping waiting to happen. I love her good deeds but that’s all she does, it gets boring.
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