The Gilded Heiress

Shupe’s (The Duke Gets Even) latest follows the beautiful, talented Josie, a woman who was raised in a children’s asylum and makes a meager living by singing on the streets. She’s spotted by Leo Hardy, a scammer trying to support his family. He thinks Josie would be perfect for his latest plan—to pass off a woman as a famous heiress kidnapped as a child—so he gains her trust and brings her to New York City, ostensibly to serve as her manager as she launches her singing career. The smart, savvy Josie is hardly naive and doesn’t entirely trust Leo, but she lets him help with her stage career. Things get more complicated, however, once the pair begin to develop feelings for each other. In Shupe’s deft hands, this Anastasia retelling feels fresh from beginning to end, and her talent at writing complex, spirited heroines shines once again.