Johanna Shupe is back with a brand new Gilded Age historical romance, perfect for fans of the animated film Anastasia. THE GILDED HEIRESS follows the story of Leo Hardy who, after the death of his father, is now responsible for his family consisting of his mother and five sisters. In order to live, he works as a confidence man, which in modern terms means he's basically a con-man. His biggest con yet comes to him when he sees Josie Smith singing on the street one day. Stunned by her vocal talent and her remarkable resemblance to the wealthy Mrs. Pendelton, he brews up the perfect con. He will make Josie believe that he's a manager who can help her reach stardom, while in reality he will pass her off for Mr. and Mrs. Pendelton's long lost daughter, who was kidnapped at two years of age. He will ten collect the huge sum of reward money for finding the lost heiress and go back home to help his family. The money is something he feels his family deserves after the Pendeltons were the ones who caused his father's downfall to death after they fired him as their gardener. So, this con is also a form of revenge for him.

Once Leo convinces Josie he just wants to help her reach success in her singing career, we follow them both on a journey of self discovery, self growth, and of course - love.

Johanna Shupe has given us a rich and steamy historical romance with THE GILDED HEIRESS. As in all her books, the characters jump off the page and the story keeps you hooked from the very beginning. I loved our two leads Josie and Leo. I thought they were very well written and had good character growth throughout the story. Normally, I would rate a Johanna Shupe book higher than this, but I must say that the love story between these two would not allow me to rate it four stars. I just felt like their love story developed a bit too quick for my liking. Not to mention I feel it took too long for the heiress scheme to happen. But, in the end, I could understand why it happened the way it did. I just wish the love story had developed a little more because in the end them being in love didn't feel genuine to me. I felt it was more physical than anything.

This was still a good book and I enjoyed the overall plot. So, I would still recommend historical romance lovers to give it a go.

The Gilded Heiress is loosely based on the historical event of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping, and the Disney movie Anastasia. Joanna Shupe is a master of Historical Romance, particularly her writing about New York City in the early 20th century. This novel is a standalone and takes place in Boston and New York City at the end of the 19th century. The drama and intrigue surrounding the events of this novel are captivating and made me want to learn more about this era (and watch the movie Anastasia too).

Leo is a confidence man who notices a young girl with a beautiful voice singing on a street corner in Boston. She resembles someone he knew as a child in New York City, and he soon hatches a plan to bring her to New York to start a career on Broadway, and to claim her as the missing heiress of the Pendelton family. Their infant daughter Josephine was kidnapped from their home in the 1880s and never recovered, and no ransom note was ever received.

Leo and Josie are soon on their way to New York and are successful in finding a producer/agent for Josie and opportunities seem to fall in their laps. They have vowed to keep their relationship platonic, but both are attracted to each other. Leo is secretly planning to introduce her to the Pendelton family in order to get the reward for finding her. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings and attraction grow, and their relationship quickly transitions from friends and colleagues to lovers.

While they are meeting with directors and Josie auditions for various roles, Leo is determined to investigate the Pendelton baby kidnapping in order to clear his father’s name. Leo’s father was fired from his position as Head Gardener for the Pendeltons after the kidnapping. Leo and his family soon found themselves penniless, back in Boston, where Leo’s father sank into alcoholism and died. Leo knows that his father is innocent, and works to clear his name by deceiving the current Pendelton family grooms and gardeners as well as the police detective who has been investigating the kidnapping for many years.

Josie finds herself at a cafe with Leo and his friend Ambrose, also a confidence man, where they run into Mrs. Pendelton. She realizes that they set her up in order to get the reward money. At this point, she is falling in love with Leo, but she realizes that he can’t be trusted. I appreciate a morally gray hero, but I had a hard time believing that Leo, who had earned a living for decades by stealing and tricking people, would instantaneously change all of his ways after falling in love.

Leo and Josie spend most of the first half of the book working together and keeping their relationship platonic. While their attraction to each other is apparent, I didn’t feel much chemistry or love growing between them. Like Leo’s transformation to an honest man, their love happened quickly and didn’t quite feel genuine. However, the physical connection between the two main characters was strong and passionate. Joanna Shupe always writes very spicy love scenes, and this book was no exception.

Many important events happen as the novel draws to a close, that I won’t spoil for the reader. Leo and Josie find themselves in new roles and must adapt and adjust to their new lives, and decide if they will be together. Ms. Shupe takes the reader through many twists and turns to arrive at a happy ending. This book is a really interesting and steamy Historical Romance.

Thank you to Joanna Shupe, Avon Books, Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This book is not good. It’s an Anastasia retelling which I thought would be fun but I found myself trapped in this particular trope that I just think doesn’t work for me. It’s the Flynn Rider, thief overall bad guy but OH NOW that he’s in love none of those crimes matter and we all good, trope. I don’t like it. Y’all. These bad men are bad men and you can’t sell me on magical love reforming them.

Leo is a confidence man and out for revenge against the Pendleton family after they fired his dad and ruined his life. Josie sings on street corners and can take care of herself and doesn’t need anyone! Josie really wants me to believe that she’s smart and self sufficient and not a moron but falls for Leo so it’s not really checking all the boxes for me. When she and Leo get together I’m more annoyed than anything. WHY JOSIE, WHY! Be smarter than this?! Leo is a legit liar and con artist and is using her.

See? The Flynn Rider thing is an issue and these heroes aren’t very redeemable to me. Cause if you don’t have trust you don’t have anything.

And the HEA here should have Leo go to prison for his crimes.

And I just couldn’t stand the last 30% of the book. It was so rushed and I was rolling my eyes at Leo basically the entire time.

lol.

I’m so angsty about the most random things.

Arc received by the publisher.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC

I was SO excited for this when it came because I've enjoyed Shupe in the past and I ADORE me an Anastasia retelling but this one was super...weak.

I don't know if it was the first person POV or whatever but something about it read so contemporary! I had to roll my eyes when the fmc called the MMC "morally grey". I found that little fourth wall break cringe and also it took me out of the story for a while.

I really didn't feel lost in the time period the way I've been able to with Shupe's other books. I had a really hard time connecting with either character, they just didn't feel deep. Everything was so CONVENIENT, there barely felt like any stakes at all.

I love a good take on Anastasia and this one definitely gave those vibes, however once I got into the story - I found myself really wishing there was more conflict by the pressure's of the Gilded Age society. I did love the opera scene and just wished there had been more of that. The ending was fairly predictable, but since it was an Anastasia retelling, you know going in how it's likely to play out. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it.

I’ll read anything Joanna Shupe writes, so I was thrilled to be able to read The Gilded Heiress a little early. I didn’t think it read the same way as her prior Gilded Age romances. Somehow the tone came off less confident. I loved this retelling of Anastasia in the United States though with Murder on the Orient Express vibes as well.

Although not my favorite Janna Shupe novel, the Gilded Heiress feels attic to the time. Shupe’s well researched story, welcomes readers into the world of Broadway in the 1890s. The MMC is a real anti- hero that only changes when experiencing first, true love.

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC.

I didn’t care for this book much, and maybe it was just me and my own personal experiences but I could hardly get through it with the MMC being so… grooming. It didn’t set well with me and just put me off of it too much I think.

This was a DNF for me. I was so excited about an Anastasia retelling (who doesn't love the movie; the musical is AMAZING too). However, within the first 20 pages we get a detailed threesome scene that was so easily avoidable, and the entire first half is Josie being a hopeful but naive singer, and Leo is just thinks about how much he wants to get into her pants and how to use her to get money. I made it a little over halfway, and was complaining to a friend about how much I was not vibing with it, and she told me to just put it down. So, let me be your friend and tell you to not even pick it up. Watch the movie or listen to the Broadway soundtrack, it'll be a better use of your time.

Thank you NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. I am always looking forward to a Joanna Shupe book! Taking historical romance to outside of the typical London or Scotland setting always feels refreshing and Shupe nails it everytime. I was especially excited when I saw this was going to be an Anastasia story; Anastasia was one of my favorite movies growing up so I couldn't wait to see how things panned out! As expected, I loved the main characters, Leo and Josie, and the plot worked really well. The suspense of waiting for the other shoe to drop with all the secrets was excellent and Leo and Josie had great chemistry with each other from the get go!

The one surprise for me was that this book was written dual POV in first person. If I recall correctly, she wrote some of her novellas in this style in the "xx...I'd like to F..." collections. I remember it working well there and it worked well here. I do generally prefer 3rd person, but I can see this style being appealing to contemporary romance readers as it read a bit more like those.

I hope to see more from Joanna Shupe! I'd love if she pulled some of Leo's sisters or Pippa in for future books if this one turns into a series!

Joanna Shupe delivers a fresh and sexy new historical romance about an orphaned street singer and con man in gilded age America.

I loved that this book was in first person with dual POV’s. First person narration isn’t super common in historical romance but I loved how she used it to tell the story of these two characters.

A steamy play off Anastasia, readers and Shupe fans will devour this stand alone new romance. A revenge plot gone wrong because they fail in love is one of my favorite tropes. When Leo meets Josie, he sees a resemblance to Mrs. Pendleton whom he blames for his father’s wrongful termination and ensuing demise. 18 years prior, the Pendleton heiress went missing as a baby and was never found. If Leo can pass Josie off as the long lost heiress he can collect the reward money, clear his father’s name and get what he believes he’s due by the Pendletons. Josie is an orphan who was raised by nuns with big dreams of being a world famous singer. She is fiercely independent and takes no bullshit from anyone. Gotta love that in a heroine. She is a perfect balance of tough and vulnerable.

When Leo approaches her with the proposal to manage her career and take her to New York, she is skeptical but agrees after he proves to her that he can make good connections in the theater world. With their close proximity, things get HOT and then of course it all goes sideways when she learns about the heiress scheme, this is a romance novel after all. Our characters need conflict before they get their happy ever after.

The Gilded Heiress is different than her other historical gilded age books in that it doesn’t take place primarily in high society. Our main characters are both outsiders from rough backgrounds trying to prove themselves, achieve their dreams and survive. They spend most of the book in the theater world which was a fun deviation from ballrooms and tea parties where most historical romances take place. I also like that our hero wasn’t a billionaire or superstar who could save her and snap his fingers and make all of her dreams come true, but a regular guy with his own character transformation journey to become a better person. They were on equal footing and had to work together as partners which is often not something I read in historical or contemporary romances.

I definitely recommend this to readers new to historical romance as well as longtime fans. I adore this book, absolutely 10/10 no notes.

Lisa
May 30, 2025
I just finished reading 📚 The Gilded Heiress. I've always enjoyed all of Joanna Shupe's books and this one doesn't disappoint. Josie and Leo's story caught my interest from the beginning. Josie being an orphan singing on a corner in a square in Boston for a living and Leo being a not so honest confidence man. They both have dreams, hers are on the up and up and his are a bit shady. I am not a fan of a story being written with a 1st and 2nd POV is most likely why I chose 4 stars and not 5. All in all, I enjoyed and recommend this book.

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

Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Spice: 3/5 🌶️ 🧼

Summary: Leo Hardy has carried the weight of providing for his family ever since his father’s death, even if it’s meant taking a few morally gray detours along the way. When he spots a woman on the streets who bears a striking resemblance to the wealthy family his father once worked for, an idea takes hold. Their daughter had been abducted years ago and there was still a reward for her return, and Leo’s desperate enough to convince them she’s the missing heiress to collect it. What he didn’t plan for was how quickly feelings he’s never experienced before would threaten to derail everything.

Thoughts: I loved this book. I had no idea it was an Anastasia retelling going in, but the vibes hit almost immediately, and I was hooked. Fair warning: the spice level is aggressive and starts pretty much right out of the gate, so just know what you’re walking into. But the story was SO good.

The tension throughout was amazing and the pacing kept shifting in just the right way to keep me fully invested. Both the main characters and the background cast were dynamic and layered, no one felt like they didn’t belong.

The city setting and time period added so much atmosphere. It felt immersive in the best way, and the author’s writing style really pulled me into that world.

If you’re into historical romance with a little suspense and a whole lot of steam, this one absolutely delivers.

3.5 Stars ⭐️ The Gilded Heiress is an Anastasia retelling. Josie Smith was left at a children’s asylum at 2 years old, and did know that she had been kidnapped from her wealthy parents. As Josie grew up, she dreamed of becoming a singer. Leo Hardy is overtly confident. He has been the sole provider for his family since his father died young. When he meets Josie, he immediately comes up with a scam to fleece money from the wealthy family, the Pendleton’s, who has been looking for their long lost daughter. He was going to pass off Josie for their daughter and keep the reward money himself. However, he didn’t plan on falling for Josie or what if Josie was actually the missing little girl?

This is a good retelling set in Gilded Age America. Joanna Shupe stayed pretty true to the story but put her on stamp on it. The characters were a bit thin, but I did like the romance. The middle felt a little muddied, but the beginning and the ending was were interesting! I enjoy Gilded Heiress for the most part! I would recommend you pick it up when it comes out on August 26th!

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First off I would like to thank Netgalley and Harper Collin’s for the digital Arc. Secondly I would just like to say that Joanna Shupe is one of my favorite authors and I love her writing style.
The Gilded Heiress is an Anastasia retelling set in the gilded age era of New York City. The main characters are Josie and Leo. Josie is an orphaned young woman who has a passion for singing on streets and saloons. Leo is a confidence man (con artist) who will do just about anything to get money whether that be selling fake bonds or fake dreams. When Leo sees Josie singing on the street he realizes she looks similar to a woman whose daughter was kidnapped almost 20 years ago. Leo convinces Josie he will be her manager and get her on broadway because of her talent. Leo’s true motive is to pass Josie off as the long lost heir while swindling reward money.
While I love Anastasia retelling I will admit this was not my favorite Joanna Shupe story. I felt the main characters behaved more modern than as if from that Era. Also the main issue I had with this book was how every problem or turmoil was conveniently solved with no issue. This made the story unbelievable and less enjoyable. I did enjoy the detailed spice in the book and the ending.

I love me some Joanna Shupe—she’s one of the best in historical romance today. But this wasn’t my favorite of hers. Generally speaking, I’m not a fan of first-person narration in HR; I prefer the more removed voice of a third-person narrator. I also don’t care for shifting narrators in HR. This book had both, and it definitely lessened my enjoyment. I understand why the author made that choice, but I wasn’t feeling it.

Things I liked: I liked that we had two characters who were poor/working class. I’m feeling some duke overload at the moment, so it was nice to see this historical moment as lived by people who don’t have unlimited funds (or a closetful of Worth dresses). That has its place, but I enjoyed the different perspective here.

I liked Leo and Josie. Josie occasionally felt a little flat, but I appreciated her devotion to her friends. I also appreciated Leo’s devotion to his family. Leo was pretty morally complex, which I loved, but that is probably why Josie felt a little flat in comparison. And as always with a Joanna Shupe book, we got some nice spicy scenes.

I’m really hoping we’ll see Leo’s sister and Josie’s friend in future books! And maybe a romance for Leo’s mom? Lord knows she deserves it!

Thanks to the publisher for sharing an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7603469910

Not my favorite book- I found the spicy parts to be pretty off putting because they were so incongruous with the time/setting off the story. No woman in that time frame would have acted like that.

This isn’t Joanna Shupe’s best story. There are no sexy robber barons in this one. Just a sexy con artist. The feline lead is an orphaned singer looking to make it big. They bicker. They’re attracted to one another. She never fully trusts him and for her to end up with him in the he end was quite frankly disappointing. I did appreciate the lost princess sub plot.

Like most girls born in the 90s, Anastasia was one of my favorite movies growing up and I love a good retelling. This swept me off my feet. The hero may have been a bit off putting, but I grew to love him in the end.

I am a huge Joanna Shupe fan and love all her books. This one was my least favorite. I still enjoyed it. It just lacked the spice and wit of some of the others. The storyline was more about the missing heiress/scheme than the romance between the 2 characters.