This is book 3 in the new gilded age series, and it can absolutely be read as a standalone. I haven't read the others in the series and this was very much about the couple and their interactions. A few previous characters make brief appearances from previous books I think, but nothing major.

So, the title. I think it's so true. This book was just SO different than anything else I've read lately. Looking for something different? This could be it. I also love when the cover actually relates to something in the book and the Wild Rose pink silk she is wearing on the front is a part of the story. Love when that happens!!

I think you try this book if you are into:
-second chance romance
-enemies to lovers
-gilded age time period in New York
-you want an 'older' heroine – she's 36 (I can't remember the hero's age, but it's similar)
-are loving the independent, hard working, and self saving heroines
-want some characters based on real life heroes/heroines of the time – the authors notes themselves were amazing in this book and made me appreciate all the more what takes place in the story

Beatrice and Wes have a history. And when Beatrice returns to America after 16 years abroad, she wants nothing to do with him and he wants nothing to do with her. She decides to try to save her family's department story, Goodwins, which is going bankrupt. He has built his empire from nothing and has become the 3rd richest man of the times. His empire is the competition – Daltons, a store so famous and sought after, it doesn't even need it's name on the store.

This book has revenge and enemies to lovers but it wasn't done in an annoying way. Sometimes I read enemies to lovers and it's just all anger and fighting and arguing and sarcasm and this wasn't like that at all. It was quite enjoyable. It was rather adorable watching Wes attempting to hold onto his revenge, but losing the feeling and the drive and having that replaced by oh so wonderful love.

Beatrice will secure hearts of independent women everywhere. She does the unheard of and gets a divorce from her unhappy marriage. Again, she does the impossible and takes over the family store. Getting people to listen to is another matter. You find yourself rooting for her so much in this 'man is boss' world. And what she creates really is beautiful and has me excited.

I felt like this really was a fun and different story. I gave 4 stars because some things about it just felt so contemporary to me, perhaps it's just that almost turn of the century time period and the speed of New York City. I also wanted the hero and heroine to have a bit more page time together. This story was just as much about the romance as it was about Beatrice really finding herself and her strength to be her own woman. She made me mad a few times with her decisions as they seemed a little selfish and I hurt for Wes, but I also understood her struggle. I just love that part of romance where they NEED each other, and this was more about Beatrice firmly not needing Wes, but still loving him and choosing to be with him. And there is beauty in that too, but it just wasn't what I love.

Slight spoilers ahead

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
We have a childless HEA, which is almost unheard of. I rather liked it because it was different and addressed that maybe everyone doesn't want children in their relationship, or can't, and it's still a complete love story.

I’ve only read a few Maya Rodale books but I have really liked or loved them all. I really liked the first in this series but hardcore loved the second. So my expectations for this one were pretty high, on top of the second chance trope not being my favourite … but it totally delivered! I’ve said it a million times but the reason friends to lovers/second chance aren’t my favourites is because sometimes some authors don’t give us that development we want, they just say ‘so and so used to be in love and omg they still are’ or ‘they’ve been friends for 30 years so voila, now they are in love’ and that’s all well and good but I want to feel the love! I want to feel the development! So I get really bummed out when I don’t get that, and though relationship development can be lacking in lots of tropes and books, it does tend to happen more in these two tropes, hence why they aren’t my favourite. Long story long, this book does not suffer from that! It’s second chance, 16 years have gone by and though they still have lots of feelings and the time hasn’t changed that, the reader gets to rediscover and fall in love with the characters. Top notch second chance in my opinion.

Anyway, moving on. Like the other books I’ve read by Maya Rodale, this book was funny and adorable and sweet and steamy. I loved the two main characters, Beatrice really came into her own and really grew throughout the book. Wes was, of course, lovely as well and I just adored getting his POV. They were fantastic together, I loved how they understood each other, worked well together, dealt with their rivalry and being lovers at the same time. I loved how neither one of them had to change or lessen themselves to be together. I loved how they had each others backs. I loved how they were older. I admit, I really loved Beatrice but Wes stole my heart. His thoughts and all the realisations he came to, gah. My heart. Considering their past, it was less angtsy then I expected, but with lots of other things going on in the book it made sense and worked well.

I’m also really loving this series and how it is teaching me a lot of things! I’m not American so know absolutely nothing about American history, but it’s terribly interesting and Rodale writes it in a way that is actually interesting and without detracting from the romance. Not to mention how a lot of the things in these books today are still relevant today, things women are still dealing with today. Lots of authors are including current issues in their books today, and some can come across preachy or sanctimonious even when you agree with them. Not the case here. Again, she manages to include it without shoving it down your throat or taking away from the actual story/romance.

Also, I listened to a podcast with Rodale and her editor (or agent? Maybe? I don’t know things) and they talked about this series which is why I started reading it, and they talked about the colour pink and it made me laugh and so it made me laugh even more in this book and the Wild Rose pink silk.

My first Maya Rodale but now my last. Strong heroines and supportive but not submissive heroes are my catnip. Loved it.

I loved the premise of the story, two competitive stores, one on each side downtown Manhattan, during The Gilded Age! Awesome! These are the reasons for my three and one - half stars. Loved Dalton, owner of one store, did not care for selfish Beatrice, owner of the other store. I loved the real history of the real women who lived during this time period, their stories made great reading, the mystery of the vandalism should have been given more time than Beatrice's self absorption, especially considering the ending!? The other problem was the drive of taking advantage of women spending money, so they could become wealthy, then donating money to women's causes to make them feel better? Hypocrisy? I think so. I loved being in the store, someplace I would love to shop, some of these ideas would help stores remain prosperous today, even though I buy everything online, I would happily shop in either store. I will never understand why men have to be emasculated in order for a feminist to fall in love with him, that is a turnoff for me, I prefer Alpha Males, thank you very much! I love the author, this series has been enjoyable, I have some issues with this one, still a good read!
I recommend! Thank you!

Divorced duchess Beatrice Goodwin may have come home to New York husbandless, but she didn’t come back aimless. Ready to revamp her family’s once magnificent, now struggling Manhattan department store, Beatrice’s only obstacle comes in the smarmy form of the “Merchant Prince” Wes Dalton, her biggest competitor and her former sweetheart. Eager to show Beatrice what he made of himself after she dumped him for the duke, Wes soon finds that the anger he held onto for so long has turned to something else entirely. It’s a fun romp of lovers turned enemies turned lovers once again

Rodale finds the feminist in the seemingly frivolous. Her previous two novels touched on the importance of fashion and make-up for women who had very few ways to express themselves, while this one focuses on the importance of shopping and the famous Ladies’ Mile, one of the only places women of the upper class could visit unchaperoned. At times, the romance feels like it comes second to the characters’ growth and ambitions, which some may find off putting, but others may find very refreshing.

I love Maya Rodale and have thoroughly enjoyed the Gilded Age Girls Club series and this book is no exception! Enemies to lovers and second chance romance are two of my favorite romantic tropes and this book delivered. Historical romances have a tendency to focus on men rescuing damsels in distress, but Rodale tells the tale of women kicking tail and taking names! Excellent read and excellent addition to the series.

This book is a confection! Rival department stores is a really great idea, set in the Gilded Age. I appreciated the research that went into what innovations were happening during the time, regarding labor rights and women's advancement. And I enjoyed the second chance romance, with a woman who had been married off to a duke, only to come back to the U.S. a divorcée. I'm very into the idea of a pining hero who doesn't realize his whole life has been one long attempt to win back love.

My quibble with the book is positioning consumerism as empowerment. If the book is engaging with the labor movement, which it is, you have to take it all the way. I get that at the time, it was empowering to women to have spending power, but I think we know better now. Generally I find a lot of the sort of "girl boss" rhetoric very hollow because it's still coming at a cost to whoever is getting exploited at the end of the supply chain.

*** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.***

Another fabulous addition to this series. I love our fierce heroine, Beatrice and how she became a lady boss. Wes was so swoony and his support of her wants and dreams during a time when women were suppressed made him the ultimate hero. Funny, enchanting, and forward thinking!!

I fully loved this book!
This is the third book in Maya Rodale's Gilded Age Girls Club. Each book can be read on its own but there are a few crossover characters that show up in the background of this book.
As the other books in this series Rodale presents us with a strong woman (Beatrice) who preservers despite all the obstacles. (Divorce, lack of agency, drunken lout of a brother)
This book paints a picture of the struggles of women (albeit mostly focused on privileged white women) in the Gilded Age. While romance is a central theme there is also a strong focus on the underutilized professional women of the time..
Of all the books in the series this is my favorite. I loved Beatrice and her refusal to give up on her goals
*I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley and this is my honest review*

I very rarely read a Maya Rodale that I don't thoroughly enjoy. I enjoyed this title immensely, and would recommend it to fans of the genre. This is the latest installment in Rodale's Gilded Age series, and pits a female department store heiress against her jilted boyfriend of her youth. They come back together as older, wiser, and wealthier people ready to fight each other one for revenge, and the other to maintain her family legacy. Works well as a stand alone, reading the series isn't necessary to understand the plot.

I really liked that the couple in this book weren't 23 years old. I loved that Beatrice is 36 and has lived through rough times and mistakes and is trying to figure out how to be fully herself and independent. I haven't read the first two books in the series (but fully intend to!) but really like how strong and determined the heroine is. I can't wait to catch up with the first two books!

I loved this book, Maya Rodale is one of my favorite authors and this series just keeps getting better.An Heiress To Remember is cute, fun and peppered with interesting Gilded Age trivia. I recieved an ARC from netgalley for an honest review

3.5 stars rounded up

Beatrice Goodwin did what was expected of a high society debutante: when asked, she married an English duke, forsaking her own young love. Now a scandalous divorcee, she's returned to Manhattan to find that her brother has nearly run their family business into the ground. Beatrice is determined to save Goodwin's Department Store and remake it as a haven for women. She's just as determined never to sell it to Wes Dalton, her former love and now her biggest rival.

Wes Dalton pulled himself up from the city's slums to possess one of the largest fortunes of the age, but he never forgot Beatrice, the girl who got away, whose parents deemed him to not be wealthy or consequential enough for their daughter. He's spent his life seeking his revenge and quietly destroying the Goodwins, but when Beatrice sweeps back into the city like a storm cloud, Wes is left in turmoil and more confused than ever.

Dalton's and Goodwin's become embroiled in a rivalry for most successful department store in the city and Wes relishes the challenge. The old heat that still flares between them won't stop their competition, even if they are lovers after hours, and when feelings grow stronger, they must both decide where their priorities lie.

I enjoyed this book in the long run, but I had several issues and mixed feelings about it. I'm all for girl power and women supporting women, but it got just a bit heavy-handed here and I think the shear emphasis on Beatrice's independence at the expense of everyone else's feelings took away from the romance and made her seem rather selfish, which she unabashedly admitted to being. I understood her motivations to prove herself, but I felt like she was just using Wes and stringing him along without regard for his feelings or his pain and I couldn't get behind that and really didn't care much for Beatrice. It also bothered me that she kept invoking her title as duchess, despite being divorced and despite the fact that she kept talking about how she was distancing herself from the duke. Wes was no peach either and made many mistakes, but I did like his vulnerability. I just wish we'd seen Beatrice show some of that same vulnerability when she was with Wes; I think that would've been more satisfying for me. Ultimately, I felt like Wes was emasculated a bit so that he and Beatrice could be together without her making any sort of compromise and I think that made the romance here feel forced and stilted. I just didn't really feel the love between them and I also think the mystery aspect here deserved more than it got in the end considering the build up.

Overall I would've liked to see more of Wes and Beatrice growing together, since the majority of the book was spent with them firmly at each other's throats. Her relationship with Wes definitely took a backseat to the rivalry and business aspects of the story, but it is very well done on a challenging topic to tackle. Despite my issues with it, this book was well-written and it's always nice to see some girl power in a historical. I'm looking forward to more installments in this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! I like that it shook up the typical revenge plot tropes and allowed the heroine to shine as a clever, confidant woman. It’s a great historical romance if you want to explore opportunities for working women in the time period as well. It’s a great addition to the series. (And you can enjoy it even if you haven’t read the previous books.)

Beatrice and Dalton are a great couple. Such a fun, sweet story!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Beatrice is fighting to get back the life she lost and the feeling of worthiness. Dalton has been feeling betrayed for years and is trying to become rich and have prestige. All this takes place back when department stores were becoming the place to go. There is humor and romance in this story. But what gets to you is the history and all the women sticking together to make a better work place for women.

This cover is exquisite. I’m drooling.

So. I had a hard time reviewing this book. The premise is: Beatrice, a 36-year-old divorcee and former duchess comes back to NYC to reclaim her life and run her father’s formerly successful department store….Wes is her first love and he’s made his own fortune building and running a rival department store. Also, he wants revenge on Beatrice and her terrible family.

There are so many good things to say about this book. Really, really. It’s wicked smart and the research is just phenomenal. I admire and respect that it grappled with complex themes like maintaining personal freedom and independence while in love and/or part of a couple. Particularly for women.

I think the reason that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did the previous books in The Gilded Age Girls Club (and I freaking LOVE THIS SERIES) is because the romance sort of…played second fiddle? I found myself more interested in the life and career and female friendships that Beatrice was creating than her relationship with Wes. Which… that’s all good stuff. But the romance still should be the star of the show in a romance. Right? I just wanted more high octane feelings and a stronger focus on their relationship.

Also, this particular ARC seemed a little less polished up than some previous ARCS I’ve read from Maya Rodale. Not really a criticism though… just an observation.

This book still gets four stars from me. It’s too well done for anything less.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This title fell into a trap so many second chance romances do: the couple’s every inner thought was a “what if” or “what could’ve been” and it got old so fast. That’s why I typically don’t read titles with that trope but I normally love Maya Rodale’s titles.

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of "An Heiress to Remember " by Maya Rodale by Netgalley. This is the first book I have read by this author. This is the story of Beatrice who is a divorced Duchess, and Wesley, a successful store owner of Dalton's in Manhattan. They were once the best of friends, ready to marry, but fate had other plans. Beatrice moved to England to become a Duchess. She is now back as President of her father's crumbling company and creating a name for herself. The variety of challenges she faces are enormous...women's rights, improvisation when faced with difficulty, innovation in the face of old fashioned methods, and most of all, how to handle both home and office, and the superiority complex of men. Beatrice is intelligent, brave, a worthy opponent in every respect. What a fantastic book!

AN HEIRESS TO REMEMBER - Maya Rodale
The Gilded Age Girls Club

Historical Fiction

New York City - 1895

Sixteen years ago, Beatrice Goodwin was in love with Wes Dalton. However, as the daughter of wealthy department store owner Barney Goodwin, being in love with one of her father's employees was not going to work. Her parents have big plans for her and they include marriage to an English duke who is in dire need of a wealthy wife. So, despite her objections, Beatrice is married to the duke and goes off to live in a drafty old castle in England. But now, she's back in New York City after a scandalous divorce from her titled husband, and Beatrice is not going to let anyone else tell her what to do. Her father has died, and her brother has run the family business into the ground with his philandering and drunken behavior. To Beatrice this is horrendous, and something must be done to save Goodwins Department Store.

Wes Dalton was destroyed when Beatrice chose the duke over him. In his mind, she picked money over love. So, for sixteen years, Wes' plan has been to ruin Goodwins. With money given to him by Beatrice's mother to stay away from her daughter, Wes began to build his own empire. And now, Dalton's Department Store is the most prominent, wildly successful store in New York City. And it is situated across the street from the now failing Goodwins. Knowing that Beatrice is back in town, he hopes to finish his plan and prove to her that she made a mistake sixteen years ago.

A legal maneuver by Beatrice prevents her brother from selling Goodwins to Dalton, and, after having her brother sent off to a sanitarium to control his drinking, she sets out to get the business back on track. With the help of a group of women who run businesses, Beatrice rehabilitates her family store, but in a modern way. Firing the board of directors (all male) and the store's manager, who refused to do anything Beatrice asked him to do, she hires women, offers daycare, establishes unheard of things such as a hair salon, and begins to make an impact on the city, much to Dalton's dismay. But have the two lost all of the feelings they once had for each other?

Strange events begin to occur in Goodwins, all seemingly done by someone wanting to ruin its popularity. But who would do such things? Beatrice is frustrated by this, but wants to believe that Dalton isn't involved.

AN HEIRESS TO REMEMBER has a refreshing premise.Set in the era when women are beginning to come into their own, fighting for the vote, and pulling away from Victorian expectations, the story takes place in a vibrant city where the future looks bright. Beatrice has spent too many years trying to fit into a society where she was not welcomed. Now she is home and spreading her wings, even though having Wes back in her life can be distracting.

The Gilded Age Girls Club books are enjoyable and lots of fun. Don't miss this latest novel.