Another story full of witty banter, sexy romance, just enough angst to make things interesting and Gilded Age shenanigans! Harrison and Maddie's chemistry was so much fun to read. I am not normally a fan of friends to lovers but this book had me hooked. Harrison returns from Paris and needs a wife, he is in luck that his childhood friend Maddie sets up a party for him to find a match. Just when you think you know what is going to happen in this story there is a twist. The Gilded Age facts are always an extra bonus in a Joanna Shupe book and this book did not disappoint. This book also sets up the rest of the series, I cant wait to see who's book comes next and wonder who will be matched with who! I cant wait for the rest of the steamy series!

Historical romance readers continually rave about Shupe's books, and I've tried a few to date. While I didn't necessarily dislike them, at first I felt like this was actually better for me than others of hers that I've read. But, as I think about it more, I'm not sure that will be my lasting feeling. Some of her other heroes have bothered me, and this guy didn't bother me in the same way, although he bothered me in other ways in retrospect, I'm realizing I think both the hero and heroine could have been better developed, and I really wish the tennis aspect of the story was much more developed! I think Shupe's books tend to have strong settings and historical aspects to help fill them out and those pieces were there in this one but not fleshed out or explored as much as they could have been, so it feels a little more like a typical historical romance.

I first discovered Joanna Shupe in an anthology and am so excited to add another historical romance writer to my reading mix. The Heiress Hunt is a delightful escape into another time-where the women are strong and pushing every boundary to acquire the rights we currently have and the men are enlightened and yet still so deeply flawed. I very much enjoyed the interactions and banter between Harrison and Maddie--learning their history and 'seeing' their growth from friendship to spouses.
I zoomed through this novel in no time and I am excited to see which Heiress goes down next. There were some hints and a few unresolved plot points that I hope to see carry through in the next books and I can't wait to get my hands on them.

I always enjoy Joanna Shupe's books, but this one was a little off for me. I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe the heroine? I still finished and mostly enjoyed it though.

I'll try to be as constructive with this review as I can, but this book was just not for me, guys. The love interest was immature and petty, and Maddie was as flighty as a bird. Her emotions changed with the wind, as did their feelings for each other. So much happens in this book, and I felt wind-whipped by the end of it. And like I had been cheated in some way.

Everything about the building of the story to the characters just fell flat and didn't feel fleshed out fully. I wanted to learn more about the world of the Gilded Age and how women functioned in America at this time, especially with Maddie being a tennis player, but I didn't get any of that. And that last half!!!! I have never face-palmed so hard because of a book in my life. I wanted to like it, but I didn't 🤷‍♀️

Big thank you to Avon & Harper Vopyager + Netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book!

2.75/5 stars!

When the hero returns back home after his father's death and his living family needs him to rescue them from debts, he learns that his childhood friend was not married yet. Given that he has been in love with the heroine for a long time, he pursues her under pretense of looking for a wife. The heroine was hurt when the hero broke connections with her, but wanted to renew their friendship, even as she tries not to let an unexpected attraction to the hero overcome her pursuit of a duke and her athletic career.

This is the first book of a new Joanna Shupe series and introduces a group of friends that will definitely have their own books in the future. I liked the heroine and her family but the hero was not a fave of mine. I did like a couple of the heroine's friends and am intrigued of one of the hero's friends and the duke. There was also one part of the story that I wasn't enamored of, and some details of the story were unnecessary in my eyes. Overall, it's a well-written Gilded Age story that Joanna Shupe fans would love.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.**

3.5 out of 5!

The Heiress Hunt is the first book in Joanna Shupe’s new series, The Fifth Avenue Rebels. In this friends to lovers with a revenge plot and a forced marriage trope tossed in Joanna Shupe introduces three men searching for their way in Gilded Age New York.

Harrison Archer left New York and his best friend Maddie Webster after a disastrous night where he gets his heart broken and discovers family secrets that lead him to being disowned. Three years later after making his own fortune in Paris, he is back in New York to find a wife. The only wife he wants is Maddie, who has spent the past years wondering where Harrison went, playing tennis and organizing her life to marry a Duke. Harrison enlists her help to find a suitable heiress for him when he is really trying to win her from the Duke.

There were a lot of things I liked about this book.

The setting! Joanna Shupe writes the Gilded Age like no other. Here she took us from New York to Newport, providing a detailed glimpse into how the upper crust lived in that time, yachts, croquet and parties!

Harrison! I enjoyed how he had loved Maddie forever, he saw her as she was and wasn’t going to try to change her. Women of that time were not expected to be tennis professionals but more proper ladies and he accepted her. I like that he had to make his own way, he worked hard to come up with a plan to get back at his family and not be the lazy second son people expected of him.

The friends! Harrison’s friends, Kit, Preston and the drunk Forrest, make intriguing side characters that I think will be the other Fifth Avenue Rebels. I hope some of the unique ladies that were Maddie’s friends will make appearances too!

With Joanna Shupe books, I have high expectations so while this one was good and I will definitely read the remaining books. I was left wanting more, more sex, more scandal, more angst. Harrison was quick to give Maddie the out she was looking for then Maddie was quick to realize she needed to give the relationship time. It was a lovely story but lacked a bit of the Joanna Shupeishness I love from her.

New York City and Newport, Rhode Island - 1895

Harrison Archer is back home again after three years in Paris. His father died eight months ago, and the family company is on the verge of collapse under the control of his older brother,Thomas. But Harrison is not in New York City to rescue the business, or to have a warm family reunion. After he caught his father molesting a family maid and calling the police on him, Harrison was disowned and kicked out of the house. He ended up in Paris where he studied and began planning his revenge. Now, wealthy and confident, Harrison is home to deal the death blow to the family business. First, however, he will pretend to be the caring brother. His mother and brother want him to marry an heiress to save the company and keep the family within New York society. Harrison is ready and willing, but only has his eye on one particular heiress.

Maddie Webster has been moving up the ranks as a tennis professional, and is due to participate in her most important match ever, the U.S. National Championships. After getting her parents to agree to let her concentrate on her tennis game for three seasons, she promises to marry once she accomplishs her goal. The Duke of Lockwood has been wooing her for her dowry as his dukedom is in dire need of cash. But now Harrison Archer is back in town, and after meeting with him, she has agreed to plan a party in Newport to help him find an heiress. She and Harrison grew up together, had lots of adventures together, and she was terribly hurt when he suddenly disappeared three years ago. As much as it hurts her to think of him with another woman, Maddie doesn't want him to marry the wrong one.

Summer is when the Newport Season is at its height. It's when all of the great families from New York descend into the city to open up their "cottages". Sailing, tennis, gambling at the Casino, and partying until the early morning hours are all on the daily menus. Harrison and his friend, Kit, are settled in at the Webster's chateau, watching the numerous young ladies that Maddie invited wander the beautifully manicured grounds. But Harrison is looking at only one. Despite the Duke of Lockwood's sudden unexpected appearance, Harrison is sure he can win.

THE HEIRESS HUNT for Harrison is one goal, but he is also determined to destroy Archer Industries. Traveling to Newport hopefully will satisfy the first goal, but Harrison is disturbed by the duke's arrival and his actions. How can he win Maddie's heart? As for Maddie, she is still hurt by Harrison's abrupt departure three years earlier. Can she ignore Harrison for the chance of being a duchess?

A very enjoyable, and, at times, heartbreaking tale set during the Gilded Age with two lead characters who struggle with their feelings not only for each other, but for the future. THE HEIRESS HUNT is an excellent read.

3.5 stars for the latest from Joanna Shupe! This is a trope-tastic romance novel, with childhood-friends-to-lovers, a pining hero, a house party to find a spouse thrown by the unknowing object of said spouse-seeker's affections, and more.

What's the setup? Harrison returns from a 3-year exile in Paris at the behest of his family. They want him to marry an heiress to bolster their flagging fortunes. Unbeknownst to them, he has only returned to take revenge on his family for the way they treated him in the past. He discovers that he can have it all: revenge AND the woman he's been pining for since he was 15 years old. All Maddie knows is that her childhood friend who abandoned her for 3 years is back in town, and he's asked for her help to find a wife.

The setup was very fun, although it was frustrating that Harrison kept so much from Maddie. Shupe makes this the major conflict of the book, so we understand that he couldn't reform too quickly. That said, Maddie consistently asks for what she wants (honesty!) and Harrison consistently promises to give it to her only to go back on his word. This makes the resolution a bit tough to handle, as there was not quite enough groveling for our taste.

We do want to end by highlighting one of the most intriguing portions of the book: Maddie's devotion to tennis. The book jacket briefly refers to an "infatuation with tennis," but Maddie's actually more like a professional player than an enthusiastic amateur. We're not sure why this wasn't given more of a prominent place in the marketing, but we absolutely loved her affection for the game and her dedication to her training. Indeed, we would have had no issues with a historical sports romance!

Check this one out if you like steamy Gilded age historicals with alpha heroes.

I love Joanna Shupe's attention to historical detail. I always read her books in just a few sittings. This was no exception, but it wasn't my favorite. I was frustrated and irritated with Harrison, especially in the second half. Not as swoonworthy (for me) as Shupe's prior series, but I'll pick up the next book (Kit's perhaps?).

As the first book in a new series, this one introduces multiple characters who will hopefully star in their own stories to come. Harrison and Maddie were best friends whose lives took radically different paths after a misunderstanding led to their parting. Now Harrison needs a wife and Maddie has become engaged to a Duke, but true love will inevitably find a way. The setting of Gilded Age New York and Newport, Rhode Island, is sublime, and I loved that Maddie is able to follow her dream of competing on the national stage in lawn tennis. I look forward to much more from these characters in future entries..

Joanna Shupe continues to explore the Gilded Age in The Heiress Hunt, this time through one of my favorite tropes, childhood friends to lovers. Delightfully, Harrison is in love with Madeline from the beginning, which is also a dynamic I adore. Harrison is bent on revenge against his terrible family, and Maddie is an amazing tennis player with determination and ambition. The book relies very heavily on dialogue, with very little action and description in the mix, and while Harrison’s family is convincingly terrible, they’re not used as much as they should be for how important they’re set up to be.

There isn’t much concentration on Maddie and Harrison falling in love—just realizing that maybe they fell in love a long time ago. Part of that is because Harrison isn’t interested in wooing Maddie or winning her over, just in winning her, period. This adds some classic Joanna Shupe vibes of controlling, powerful heroes that have to be tamed, but also takes away some of the charm and pining from the childhood friends to lovers trope.

The part that I don’t like about this? Harrison doesn't really get "tamed" at all, and ultimately, he also doesn’t really sacrifice anything for Maddie. Near the end, he does decide that nothing matters without her, which is a step forward for him, but he’s just as high handed as he ever was, and Maddie ends up capitulating to him by saying she was too harsh and didn’t give him the benefit of the doubt. Ultimately, this resolution felt fairly flat, with inadequate groveling—something I’ve come to expect from Joanna Shupe books.

Also, I truly enjoyed the Duke of Lockwood, and I am really hoping he shows up in a future book in this new series.

I received a digital advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A solid 4 1/2 star read. This is my first Joanna Shupe book and it definitely won't be my last! Shupe is a master of the gilded age. It was a lovely departure from the Regency, which seems to dominate historical romance. Her dive into early tennis tournaments, especially from a women's perspective was enjoyable. Maddie and Harrison were a fun couple - a bit a unrequited love, childhood friends, and friends-to-lovers rolled together. Overall, a very fun read, and I was glad to notice some set up for more books among this friend group!
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

There's always something so familiar and lovely and fierce about a Joanna Shupe book. I love the way she portrays heroines during the gilded age, when there was a clear change in the roles of women and their voices were being heard differently than traditionally done so in a relationship. I'm pretty sure I'll read anything Shupe writes.

In this story, we follow Mads/Maddie/Madeline, a high society only-daughter that is currently being courted by an English Duke from a financially burdened family, and her childhood friend Harrison, who has just returned after a three-year hiatus in Paris. This friends-to-lovers trope is one I don't read often, but throrughly enjoyed in this setting.

"He only wants your money. I only want you."

It was clear from the start that Harrison was the driving force in this relationship, and boy was he ever. I admit, it was his fault in the story. One I had trouble coming to grips with, even though I knew his intentions were true. I don't think I've ever read a character like him before as the Hero.

"I have you. I'll always have you."

Usually, a man with his motives is the villain in the story, and this twist in this tale took a bit for a my heart to come to terms with. That being said, he won me over with every gesture and word until I was in tears of joy from their journey. Maddie needs an equal in her life, and like the game of tennis, they are a perfect match.

"It's not mine to take, it's yours to give."

Shupe has an incredible grip on this period. I must say that my love for Newport, RI took me right to the Cliff Walk with Maddie and Harrison. I was easily able to imagine myself on the coast and playing tennis along side them, watching them figure out how to be partners in life and love.

"I need you by my side until I draw my last breath. It is you and me, Mads. No one else."

From childhood friends to more, their love story is a beautifully entertaining Game-Set-Match.

The Heiress Hunt, by Joanna Shupe. Oh my gosh. I so loved reading this book. For me it was a smashing good hit. I loved everything thing about it.
I recommend that everyone should read this book. Joanna Shupe, you are freaking awesome. I loved the intensity. I was very much excited over the passionate love scenes that melted off the pages. These love scenes were hot!
The description of these scenes played well with the imagination. Harrison did some things to Maddie that made me blush. Joanna, had Harrison spouting love sonnets that warmed your heart. This is my first time reading a Joanna Shupe book and I must say, she did not disappoint me. I’m like over the moon excited about this romance novel.
The drama was a no holds bard kind of thing. Poor Harrison, I was rooting for him and felt so sorry him. I really wanted him to get his woman. I’m so glad that he had Kit and Preston there to help him through all the trouble that his family put him through. Maddie, she’s another character that I was rooting for.
Her life was the complete opposite of Harrison, but she had to come to terms on her feelings. I was definitely glad Nellie was there to kick her in the butt and shake her some. I loved the plot of the book. I found that the dialogue between the characters flowed easily from page to page. I don’t believe the book left not one moment for excitement /or the anticipation to stall.
It was fast paced and easy to read. I found it a very entertaining read. All you romance readers out there, trust me on this. Read this book, it is well worth it. I recommend this boom with two snaps and a, “Harrison, let’s go to the closet again, I need to show you that thing”.
Until next time my fellow readers... read on! I received a free copy of this book via NetGally and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Heirless Hunt has two pieces to its plot that I’m not usually fond of: secrets and love triangles. However, the relationship between Maddie and the Duke was lukewarm at best with hardly any affection. Being together seemed more about societal expectations than actual feelings. So maybe only half a love triangle. (And I’m a bit curious about him and whether he had something going on with a secondary character.)

And while Harrison keeps secrets from Maddie, he seemed to confess quickly and easily with hardly any prompting on her part. Because he has been in love with her for so long, he was two steps ahead of her and didn’t give her the space or patience to catch up as well as he could have, so this led to miscommunication and misunderstandings on both sides.

So oddly despite having two aspects of romances I don’t normally like, I really enjoyed The Heiress Hunt. Second chance friends to lovers in a unique setting where the heroine has a career of sorts as a professional tennis player. Never have I ever read that before in a historical.

Thank you HarperCollins/Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

My first feeling upon reading this book was being startled. I felt like I was thrown into a story with no background on the characters and missing a lot of detail. All of this got flushed out as the book went along but it never quite made up for the awkward beginning.

I didn’t overly care for the characters although there is nothing wrong them them. Harrison and Maddie just felt flat compared to most other historical romance novels I’ve read. In fact, even the historical part felt off, almost like it was forced. I just didn’t get the pomp and circumstance I normally feel.

There were several enjoyable side characters so I’m not ruling out a future with this series. Just disappointed as I’ve enjoyed this author’s books in the past.

Love Joanna Shupe but this book didn’t hit the spot.

We start with Harrison and his revenge plot against his family for kicking him out, He’s so close to the finale of it, but after an off-the-cuff remark about Maddie still being unmarried, the reader is abruptly whiplashed into being told she was his love and now he will go after her. This all happens in the first 10 pages or so. We’re told he wants her so he’ll have her as if she were also a checklist on his revenge plot. There wasn’t enough build up nor development in his inner monologue, nor even a mention of Maddie in his grand plans, to make the romance plausible.

dialogue felt stilted.

received a ARC

This books was a arc given to me from netgalley in exchange for a honest review. Thank you netgalley for giving me opportunity.

Trope is friends to lovers & second chance at romance/love.

Let me start off by saying Joanna Shupe is a wonderful writer and she does a amazing job with this book. This book is a gem, and is unique. It's a historical romance but a American one set in Rhode Island which is different, and definitely fun. Different vibes, different settings but has all the great same feelings that comes from a historical romance book.

Within minutes of starting this book, I instantly developed a strong dislike for Harrison's awful family. I felt anger, hurt, betrayal and great deep sadness for him. His family treated him badly as a child that continued well into the present in the book. They intentionally disinherited-exiled him, cut him off completely. Then when things take a turn for the worse, and they hang on by a thread.... all of sudden they see him as their saving grace, and demands for him to come on home to rescue them. Honestly 100% of the time it will always trigger me when there is a mother in a book who chooses to loves one child over the other. I just don't understand some mothers and fathers. I know this is fiction but I also know it happens in reality so it gets to me. I mean how can a mother pick and choose which child to love more? Anyways enough rant, let me get straight to the point. The author was able to elicite all these emotions from within me in a matter of a few pages which only proves she's a excellent, talented and skillful writer.

The Heiress Hunt is about Harrison and Madeline. Harrison witnesses his father violating-raping a maid, also overhears Maddie saying her feelings for him are brother like & goes no further. Being cut off financially and hurt he flees to paris to begin his own success, and 3 years later he returns. His return is mainly to plot a revenge against his family. When he comes back to his family, he intentionally dresses up like a poor person. Unbeknownst to them he has become very rich, successful, and plans to buy them out from under within a months time. He also plans on marrying Maddie. His awful family lays down their law and they require him to marry a Heiress asap to save them from financial ruins and he plays along. He is determined to get everything he has ever wanted.

On the day of Maddie's debut she is heartbroken because Harrison leaves unexpectedly with no goodbyes. No words at all, he just ups and leaves. During their separation she becomes a professional athlete and is the belle of the ball.

Upon seeing her for the first time in 3 years, Harrison ask for her assistant in helping him find a heiress but in truth he wants her and no other. He makes her believe it's to gain back his good Grace's with his family. She decides to help and throws him a huge house party but Seeing him flirt with other woman brings out her true feelings. This is where it gets a little messy. Harrison wants Maddie. He is willing to work through this, if she will have him. She is now torn in a love triangle between two men, her english duke and Harrison.

There HEA was well worked for, and it didn't come easily, and I am so happy for them. I also wanted to add that I loved the other characters within this book. I'm hoping and look forward to read their stories too. And yes I recommend this book.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a romance novel (which, for me is about two weeks) and what a book to come back to! This had a lot of the tropes I love, but having a perfectionist for a heroine receive good advice from her friend? Oh boy that hits close to home for me lately. I have suspicions about who will be the next lead, but I can’t wait for the next book!