Mini-REVIEW: The Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe

 MINI-REVIEW:

Typically I enjoy Joanna Shupe's historical romances and while I did end up liking The Gilded Heiress, it didn't hold my attention like her other works have. It felt a little long in places and the spark between Josie and Leo was a little lacking and the 'mystery' was easily solvable, not that that is a dealbreaker. However, once I got to know the characters and they got into NYC, it became more interesting and I found myself more engaged. A solid 3 star read.

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SYNOPSIS:

In 1880 a baby was stolen from the wealthiest family in America. Though no ransom was ever demanded, the Pendelton family never gave up hope . . . and their reward became the stuff of legend.

After being raised in a children’s asylum, Josie Smith ends up on the streets and quickly learns how to take care of herself. Her singing voice draws crowds on every corner, and she’ll stop at nothing to become famous and travel the world, loved and adored by all. Maybe then she won’t think about the family who gave her away as an infant.

Leo Hardy isn’t afraid to use his charm and wits to make a fast buck, especially with a mother and five siblings to support. When he stumbles upon a beautiful young woman singing on the street, Leo notices her striking resemblance to the infamous missing baby’s mother, Mrs. Thomas Pendelton. The Hardys lost everything thanks to the Pendeltons, and once Leo sees Josie, he seizes the opportunity to settle the score. All he needs to do is pull off the biggest swindle of his career.

As the two are catapulted into Knickerbocker High Society, they grow closer to their goal, as well as to each other. But secrets can only stay hidden for so long. Soon the truth unfolds, and both Josie and Leo must separate what’s real from what’s just gilding.

REVIEW: The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe

OUR REVIEW:

 I've been DYING for Nellie's story since the first time I 'met' her and The Duke Gets Even did not disappoint. I finally got the story behind her sneers at Duke Lockwood and it's a good one. Their first meeting set the stage for the lust. longing, denial, and love affair to come. I truly loved getting to know both of these characters better. Nellie was just as fiery and fierce as I'd hoped and Lockwood was as genteel and masterful as I suspected. And while both of them somewhat lived up to how they'd been characterized in the past by others, they were both more complex and tender than the outside world would ever know. Nellie missed her mother terribly, loved her father with everything she had, and skewered those who blindly followed, but as her friends know, her heart and kindness knew no bounds for those she cared about. The same goes for Lockwood--his sense of responsibility and obligation tied him to the role he was in but he refused to go along for the sake of going along. While he may have appeared to be more socially acceptable, he really just did what he wanted in a way that didn't create as many waves as Nellie did. 

I adored these two together, seeing the previous couples, and getting an insider's view of who Nellie and Lockwood were, what they were about, and how they ended up together. I inhaled this novel in a matter of hours because I just loved their story so much. And while I was sad to see it end, I am hoping against hope that Finn gets his own book *fingers crossed*. 

Go get The Duke Gets Even--you'll have zero regrets. 

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A rebellious heiress.
A duke in dire straits.
An anonymous midnight tryst.

To escape the shackles of marriage, Nellie Young purposely ruined her reputation a long time ago. Now she dedicates herself to hedonistic pleasures only, like kissing a handsome stranger in the ocean under the moonlight...

To save his estate, the proper Duke of Lockwood must marry the perfect bride—wealthy, with an unblemished reputation. While in New York he's the perfect gentleman, and no one knows he's suppressing his darkest desires. The last thing he needs is another scandal.

Except Nellie sees through Lockwood's charade, straight to the real man underneath. This uptight duke is far more than he lets on, and she can't resist him. Their secret affair turns scorching, far more than either expected. And when his beautiful rebel finds an unconventional cause, Lockwood has to decide if he's willing to sacrifice everything to keep her.

The Bride Goes Rogue by Joanna Shupe

OUR REVIEW:

 Joanna Shupe take all my money. Seriously. I am loving your books and really loving this series. In this particular book we get to know Katherine and Preston. As noted in the synopsis, Preston is a jerk. JK. He's just not *there* yet. He's focused on his business and trying to suppress the grief he's feeling over the loss of one of his friends and doesn't for a moment give a thought about an engagement to Katherine. Enter Katherine. She's totally ignorant of his denial of their engagement and has wasted a year of her life dreaming and planning of the day they'll get married. Cue her shock and fury when he denies her that day. But true to Joanna Shupe's previous heroine, Katherine quickly resets and decides she's going to live her life and do what she wants. One thing leads to another and Katherine somehow finds herself in an affair with Preston...who is in denial that it means anything. But, once he discovers life without Katherine is not a life, his pursuit is on! 

I love these novels and these characters. I love how Shupe makes her heroines really strong and self-aware. I love the friendships she's created between them all. And, I love how perfectly matched all of her love matches are. I truly cannot wait to see what happens to Nellie. I've been so curious about her since she was first introduced and I know she has a story to tell. 

BUY IT HERE.

BLURB:

By beloved USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe, the third installment in the Fifth Avenue Rebels series about an arranged engagement destined for disaster.
 
A hard-hearted tycoon.
A romantic dreamer.
An engagement set up to fail.
 
The charismatic and vivacious Katherine Delafield should be married by now. Her father arranged an engagement to the much sought-after tycoon Preston Clarke ages ago. The only problem is Preston refuses to acknowledge it. But this isn't going to stop Katherine from living life to the fullest as she ditches all silly notions of love and marriage and sets out to sample all the excitement New York City has to offer . . . the more scandalous the better. Because no matter what happens, she and Preston will never marry.
 
After his family nearly lost everything, Preston is done letting his late father ruin his life—including choosing his bride. But when a mysterious lover at a masquerade turns out to be his would-be fiancée, Preston's resolve begins to crumble. He hadn't expected Katherine to be so charming. Or beautiful. Or passionate. And seeing her out on the town with other men is driving him crazy.
 
What happens when the wrong bride turns out to be the right woman after all?

REVIEW: The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe

OUR REVIEW:

 In The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe we get the story of that scoundrel, Kit (you may remember him as one of the BFFs in the first book in this series) and Alice (also seen, though in a more minor way, in the first book) and their story does not disappoint. Kit, my new favorite rake, and Alice, my new favorite confidence woman (underneath her shy demeanor) undertake the all important task teaching/learning how to seduce a man to become Alice's husband. Why is it all important? Exhibit A: see her mother. Exhibit B: see women's prospects for independence in the Gilded Age. Exhibit C: see Exhibit A. 

The task they've undertaken means a lot of stealth, late night visits, forbidden topics and touching, and all around fun things that were off limits to women in high society at this time --- so obviously it was AWESOME to read and image all of this happening. The sneaking around, the discovery and exploration of each other, and the general premise were just so fun that I found myself smiling and/or swooning ...when I wasn't begging Joanna Shupe to relent and let them have each other already. Gahhhhhh. Can we officially call Joanna Shupe the queen of delayed gratification when it comes to her characters? If not, please direct me to who is.

Surprisingly to me, I really enjoyed the character of Alice. Why surprising? Normally I fancy a strong, confident heroine, but I really enjoyed the development of Alice from someone who could barely make eye contact to someone who exhibits a backbone of steel. I also enjoyed that even though Kit seemed to be this charming, mischievous scoundrel he had a lot more insecurity and depth than others gave him credit for.  Together, their stories were interesting and fun to read, especially because of the growth that they exhibited over the course of the novel.

I'm loving this series and am hopeful that there are many more novels in this universe. 

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SYNOPSIS:

Following the book called “an alluring blend of love and playfulness” (PW) The Heiress Hunt, beloved author Joanna Shupe continues her new Fifth Avenue Rebels series with a scandalous romance about a good girl desperate to rebel and the rebel desperate to corrupt her.

A first-rate scoundrel.

A desperate wallflower.

Lessons in seduction.

The woman no one notices . . .

Shy heiress Alice Lusk is tired of being overlooked by every bachelor. Something has to change, else she’ll be forced to marry a man whose only desire is her fortune. She needs to become a siren, a woman who causes a man’s blood to run hot . . .and she’s just met the perfect rogue to help teach her.

He’s the life of every party . . .

Christopher “Kit” Ward plans to open a not-so-reputable supper club in New York City, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to hire the best chef in the city to guarantee its success. Even if it requires giving carnal lessons to a serious-minded spinster who has an in with the chef.

Their bedroom instruction grows passionate, and Alice is a much better pupil than Kit had ever anticipated. When the Society gentlemen start to take notice, Kit has to try to win Alice in other ways . . . but is he too late to win her heart? 

REVIEW: The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe

OUR REVIEW:

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. 

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High society reprobate.
An unconventional heiress.
Childhood friends.

Is it too late...
Knickerbocker scoundrel Harrison Archer returns to New York to discover that his deceased father has bankrupted his estranged family. To save them from ruin, he's forced to quickly find and marry an heiress. For a matchmaker, Harrison turns to the one woman he wishes he could marry: his childhood friend and true love, Maddie, who once broke his heart and is now engaged to a duke.

For true love? 
When her best friend Harrison left for Paris without a word, Maddie Webster took refuge in her infatuation with tennis. Now Harrison is back and needs her help in finding a bride. Begrudgingly, Maddie arranges a house party in Newport with a guest list of eligible heiresses. But watching Harrison flirt with potential brides is more than she can bear.

When Harrison and Maddie reunite, the passion between them ignites. But with their marriages to others looming, time is running out. Is their fate inescapable . . .or can love set them free?