Title: The Gilded Heiress
Author: Joanna Shupe
Publication date: August 26, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Steamy
- Morally gray MMC
- Gilded age romance
- Fiery/determined FMC
- Mystery!
First Thoughts
I finished the last chapter and said “Noooooo. I want more!!” I hate that it’s over, but I’m so happy I read it. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting a whole lot from this book. And admittedly, it was a bit slow for the first half. But when it got going, I was HOOKED. The story was so interesting, there was a fun amount of mystery, and the character development was EVERYTHING.
Considering the time period, I also wasn’t expecting the HEAT. While not having an overwhelming amount of spice, The Gilded Heiress had some of the most well written spicy scenes I’ve ever read. Seriously, I wasn’t ready. More than anything, I’m always looking forward to the romance, and this book certainly did not disappoint. Leo is a man who normally has it all together, but Josie knows just how to make him lose his cool. The banter is extremely entertaining, but the YEARNING. Ugh. It was intense. I love to see an MMC completely head over heels.
The growth that these characters go through in such a short period of time is so satisfying, and I found myself just wanting more. This author has gained a fan! I highly recommend this book for lovers of romance. Slight spoilers ahead!
1st Person Duel POV: Josie and Leo
Having both POVs in The Gilded Heiress allowed me to see the character growth as it happens and that was so satisfying. Our MMC, Leo, starts out as a con-man who doesn’t really care who he hurts to get what he needs to take care of his family. It’s the only way he knows. As the story goes on, Josie helps him learn that he can be a better man, not just for her, but for himself.
“Because if I were lucky enough to call you mine, I’d never let you out of my sight. I certainly wouldn’t let you go to New York with another man.”
Josie has spent her whole life dreaming of having a family. Then she decides what will make her happy is becoming a famous singer! And she has the talent for it, certainly! But she learns throughout the story that it’s all a game for so many, and becoming famous won’t be quite as easy as she thinks. She must grow out of her naivety and learn to play the game too – while also keeping her integrity. With Leo’s help, she eventually finds that satisfying balance.
“Careful,” I warned, my voice husky. “Or I might attempt to corrupt you.” Her mouth twisted slyly, like she had a secret. “Perhaps I’ll let you, tomcat.”
The Plot
Leo sees Josie performing on the street and comes to a realization: she shares a striking resemblance to the mother of a missing heiress from eighteen years prior. There is no way she could ACTUALLY be the missing Pendleton heiress, but what if he could convince the rich New York family who have been searching for so long that he had found her? He could collect the reward money and give his family a safe and comfortable life and give up the schemes for good. It also doesn’t hurt that the family he would be tricking is the one he blames for the death of his father and the financial situation his family is in.
The Romance
While being a bit slow in the beginning, the romance picks up pretty quickly in The Gilded Heiress. The many obstacles to Leo and Josie being together lead to some fierce yearning, and it is LOVELY. The banter is also so fun! Leo is usually a very calm, collected man, but when Josie is around, she really makes him lose control. Her fire is unexpected from someone I would consider pretty naive, so she really catches him off guard.
“You’re so bright and beautiful, Josie, so alive. It’s what comes through when you sing, this joy that you bring to the world around you.”
Leo is SMITTEN right away. But of course he is using her, and knows he can’t give in to temptation because of that. Things get even more complicated when he starts questioning if he’s doing the right thing. Would she ever forgive him? Josie knows she shouldn’t trust Leo. But she can’t help the growing feelings she has for him. She must find a balance between tentative trust and a healthy dose of skepticism while also somehow keeping her feelings in check. What could go wrong?
“You’re perfect, dashed perfect. Don’t let anyone ever convince you otherwise.”
Spice?
Yes, this book is spicy. There aren’t a lot of spicy scenes, but the ones we get are QUALITY for sure! I love the dynamic between them. Leo, who is very experienced but is really FEELING something for the first time, wants to make sure Josie is taken care of. *Wink wink* And Josie, who has limited experience only with men who didn’t know what they were doing, has to rely on Leo to lead the way. The result is a very sweet and very HOT couple of chapters.
“I want to kiss you right now,” he murmured. “I want to kiss you and never stop.”
Final Thoughts
When I won this ARC giveaway on Goodreads, I thought The Gilded Heiress was a book I might like, but I couldn’t have imagined how much I’d love it! I’m so excited this is the book I received as my very first physical ARC! I will cherish it forever. I highly recommend The Gilded Heiress by Joanna Shupe to any lover of romance, and especially to those who love romance in the gilded age. Thanks so much to Avon and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this eARC and also Avon and Goodreads for the giveaway of the physical ARC!
Find my Goodreads review here
And my Instagram review here
