The Gilded Heiress
A Novel
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
USA TODAY BESTSELLER!
From USA Today bestselling author Joanna Shupe comes a spicy Anastasia story full of secrets and betrayal, set among the glittering streets of New York City's Gilded Age.
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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Shupe (The Duke Gets Even) riffs on Don Bluth's 1997 animated feature Anastasia in this enchanting Gilded Age romance. In 1896, con man Leo Hardy is on the lookout for a scheme to support his mother and five siblings when he spots Josie Smith singing in front of a Boston crowd and notes her resemblance to New York socialite Mrs. Pendelton, whose two-year-old daughter was kidnapped almost 18 years ago. Josie, a wily orphan, is justifiably wary of Leo's offer to manage her singing career since, unbeknownst to her, he plans to collect on the Pendeltons' $100,000 reward by presenting Josie as their long-lost daughter. After he introduces her to famed singer Lotta Crabtree, however, Josie's confidence in him grows and she agrees to his offer. Together, they travel to New York City, mutually agreeing to keep their relationship strictly professional. It's a short-lived promise; soon, their intense chemistry gives way to a scintillating affair. But when Josie and Mrs. Pendelton meet, shocking revelations on all sides may keep the young lovers from their happy ending. Shupe brings the Gilded Age to life, complete with vast wealth disparity and actual historical figures (like Lotta). Affable characters, sizzling romance, and a sparkling setting make this shine.
