A fun historical romance with a unique premise. When I saw this was an Anastasia retelling I jumped on the chance to read this. I definitely think it did Anastasia justice while also being different enough to hold its own. While I'm not a huge fan of larger age gaps, especially when the younger person is freshly an adult, I looked past it due to the time period and ultimately enjoyed the romance between the two mcs. The spicy scenes were spicyyy and the overall plot was inventive and fresh.

I did not have a good reading experience, but I am not a dark romance reader, and I prefer my romance novels to be more serious than just a spicy mess. this book proved itself to be first and foremost a spicy romance in that there was an unnecessary threesome scene in chapter 2 involving the male love interest, and two women in a brothel, either of which are our female lead.

I also am firmly against most age gaps, especially when one of the characters is barely legal. and I must say although I am almost always biased against, this one felt extremely predatory because the male love interest was trying to scam and take advantage of the female protagonist.

Anastasia but make it American! I'm a HUGE Anastasia fan, and this was a really fun play on the story-- the movie plotline, that is! Josie is a singer living in Boston who bears a resemblance to the wealthy woman who infamously had her baby daughter stolen from her crib. Leo is the con man who notices the resemblance and decides he can earn some money by taking Josie to NYC to become a famous singer while also introducing her to her potential real mother.

The Gilded Heiress definitely had more spice than Anastasia, but I wish it was a little spicier. I also found myself skimming through a lot of it since I definitely knew the gist of what was happening.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my thoughts!

This was a light read. It was a nice story, though predictable with no surprises. Some of the love scenes were a bit too graphic for some of my regular patrons.

I'm a big fan of Joanna Shupe's books that take place during the Gilded Age. And once again, she has written an engaging story with witty characters who have a strong connection that builds into a steamy sex scenes. This time the story is about an orphan and a con man with big dreams that starts in Boston and moves to New York's theater and Knickerbocker societies. Shupe's character development and stories draw you in and before you know it, you've finished the book.

I highly recommend The Gilded Heiress.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyage for sharing this ARC with me.

This was my very first book by this author, and I absolutely loved it! It was so captivating it kept me hooked from the very first chapter!

An Anastasia retelling. Josie was left as an infant. Growing up in the streets, she wishes for more in life: being a famous singer. On the other side of town, while not being so different, Leo Hardy uses his charm to swindle his way to make money. When he sees Josie, striking a resemblance to the long-lost daughter of the Pendletons, he sees green. The enormous reward is one thing but to have revenge is quite another.

I love historical romances, and the era that isn't often written is the gilded era, think New York late 1800 or the show Bucaneers. I love reading romances set in that time, and Joanna Shupe dominates the field.

Thank you to Netgalleyand Joanna Shupe for the ARC. All opinions are my own

A definite fairy tale about Josie, a girl who grew up in an orphanage, but at 18 is determined to live her own life as sings on the street or in saloons. She meets Leo who sees a potential for greatness. Leo is a con man who take Josie to New York to follow her dream.

Everything Joanna Shupe writes is a must read- The Gilded Heiress included! The heroine was bold and brassy and the hero was a brooding cutie. I loved the mystery and intrigue of the story and was so excited for their HEA! Loved it.

The cover is what really drew me to this book. I was just as pleased with the story as I was the cover..

This story was well written and I really liked these characters. The author wrote them in a way that made me feel a connection to them. There are some "spicy" scenes and though I don't really gravitate to books with spice the scenes didn't bother me.

I liked the author's writing style and ability to tell a story that kept my interest. This is the first book by her I have read and will be looking for more.

I definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

MY KINGDOM FOR A GILDED AGE ANASTASIA LINDBERGH BABY ROMANCE!!!!

I have so many feelings SO MANY FEELINGS but the foremost one is THANK YOU JOANNA SHUPE!

I'm an absolute sucker for Anastasia retellings and this one was no different in terms of how happy it made me, but VERY different in its execution, which, as per usual for Shupe, was a MASTERCLASS in setting, motivation, and character building truly making something new out of a very familiar premise.

JUST READ IT. IT'S SO GOOD.

Thoroughly enjoyed--Joanna has a gift for historical setting and her characters always jump from the pages.

4/5

Joanna Shupe is easily one of my favorite historical romance authors. Her Fifth Avenue Rebels series is one I reread endlessly and I eagerly awaited her next project, The Gilded Heiress. Retelling Anastasia but set within Gilded Age New York, Shupe brings together a delightful romance between an orphaned singer with no memory of her past and the too good to be true swindler who promises her a chance of fame and fortune. The Gilded Heiress is a phenomenal romance that hits the beat of traditional historical romance and the Anastasia story while still staying true to Joanna Shupe’s narrative voice. Framed by a compelling romance with a journey to discover one's past, Shupe’s latest historical is an original and hot romp through the Gilded Age that never feels contrived. I’m unsure if this will be a series but there certainly is ample opportunity within this world and I’ll be waiting in the wings for more books from Joanna.

Josie Smith and Leo Hardy make their living on the streets of Boston. Josie is an orphan and aspiring singer. Leo is a con man trying to support his family. But both hide deeper secrets. Leo's father worked as a gardener for a wealthy family in New York. After his father was unfairly fired, he drank himself to death. Leo has vowed to get revenge against the wealthy Pendleton family.

Josie doesn't know who her family was. But she bears a striking resemblance to the Pendleton family. Leo decides to pull a fast one on the family. He'll present Josie as the Pendleton's missing child and claim the reward. But things don't go as planned. Starting with the fact that Leo and Josie fall in love.

The characters were well-written and intriguing. I could have done without some of the graphic sex scenes. But that's just me. All in all, this was an enjoyable, historical novel.

Set in the Knickerbocker High Society era of New York, Josie Smith is an orphan who dreams of making it big and singing on the stage. In walks Leo, a “confidence” man, who decides to help her fulfill her dreams, and his, by making it in NYC while also pulling a scam. He secretly hopes to swindle the Pendletons out of a bit of reward money - their daughter was kidnapped years ago and never turned up again - and he sets Josie up to be the unwitting daughter who has gone missing. What happens next will surprise both Leo and Josie.

This was a spicy historical romance set in my favorite time period of New York, so I truly enjoyed this story! I loved the intrigue - the missing girl who may actually be the orphan a la Anastasia - and Leo and his turn from con man to straight man is a nice trope. I feel like there were a few plot holes, especially at the end, but the entire experience of the novel was comfortable, relatively compelling, and original (even with it being a retelling).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Joanna Shupe’s new historical romance book ‘The Gilded Heiress’ is sure to delight fans. Well-written and relatable characters will make you root for them from the start. Enjoyable book.

This book was refreshingly different. It was about the Gilded Age but not about gilded people.

Unlike other Shupe books, the MCs are “real” people, not part of the upper classes or those with money.
Josie and Leo are clever, street smart, and live by their wits. With Josie definitely having Leo’s number.

The cover is beautiful and unexpected since it is not a clinch and also not a woman in a gorgeous gown.

There is series potential here with Josie’s BFF or Leo’s numerous sisters.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a good historical romance. The one drawback would have to be the cover. I would have loved to see something more contemporary. I know that judging a book by its cover is a no-no, but I almost did not pick up this book because of the cover.

Another home run by Joanna Shupe, ensuring historical romance readers will start a new obsession with the Gilded Age. Shupe writes interesting and complex characters that immediately invest the reader in their journey. But, really, what do readers really want to know? Is it spicy? And the answer is a resounding, "Yes!".

My first 5-star of the year!!! I loved this book so much. The animated Anastasia is my absolute favorite movie and the whole Anastasia lore has been my favorite historical niche interest for so many years now. My enjoyment of this book mainly came from that nostalgia, but also I cannot deny that Josie and Leo were just truly so hot and so amazing together. Every moment they shared was perfect and I never wanted this book to end.