A review by yourbookishbff
A Scandalous Deal by Joanna Shupe

funny informative lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The sub-plot in this story is truly excellent and will be the sole reason I recommend this book to another reader. A female architect, Lady Eva, attempts to bring her original design to an historic project in Gilded Age New York while saving her family from financial ruin. She battles misogyny in the industry at every turn, coming out on top through sheer force of will, strategic thinking, and killer negotiation skills. She knows what she deserves and fights for equal standing, rejecting what's beneath her even when it's cloaked in "care." I adore her, and I was rooting for her and her project all the way through. 

The romance just missed the mark. And it COULD have worked! A frantic, jealous, and emotionally constipated male main character CAN work for me if he achieves character growth in a reasonable time frame and with a reasonable amount of initiative, but Phillip fell short at every turn. Even when multiple women in his life give him a veritable checklist for Getting the Girl, he can't execute. A grand gesture does not a grovel make. 

In conclusion, Lady Eva: perfect. Phillip: sigh.
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