REVIEW: The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe

The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe   is the first book in the new series, The Fifth Avenue Rebels by Joanna Shupe. This is one of my favorite authors, but this book fell a little short for me. Her research and knowledge of this time frame are extensive, and it always shows in her work. Her stories always flow smoothly, and her style of writing is truly remarkable. This was true for this book, but the main characters made the book fall short for me. They just were not very likable characters and were hard to connect with.

When Harrison Archer was disowned by his Knickerbocker family, he left for Paris to earn his fortune. He returns to New York after his father’s death for vengeance against the family who had ill-treated him his entire life. The Archers are desperate for funds to save the family business and want Harrison to marry a rich heiress to save them. Harrison turns to his childhood best friend and true love, Maddie Webster to help him find a bride. He has no intention of courting any of Maddie’s friends at the house party instead, he is going to use the time to get Maddie to change her plans to marry him instead of a duke.

Maddie was heartbroken when her best friend left for Paris without telling her. She poured herself into playing tennis and has finally made it to the national championships and expects a proposal from the Duke of Lockwood any day now. She never expected to be jealous of the women Harrison shows interest in at the house party, but she must admit her feelings for Harrison have changed. The future she has planned for herself now does not seem as great as it once did.

The first part of the story was good but as it progressed, I became disappointed with the characters. Harrison’s revenge against his family was understandable but he bulldozed himself back into Maddie’s life. He was determined to make her his no matter what. He does redeem himself in the end when he is willing to live a lonely miserable life and give her up so she can be happy again. Maddie’s character came off as cold-hearted. She had to be the best and when the duke arrived looking for a wife, she plotted to make him hers. Then she agrees to marry the duke even though she realizes her feelings for Harrison have changed from friendship to an attraction. The drama she creates when she realizes Harrison has hired guards to protect her just adds to her spoiled image. Although this was not my favorite book by the author, I do look forward to the rest of the series and hope they are better than the first one.

Book Info:

Publication: March 9, 2021 | Avon | The Fifth Avenue Rebels #1

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?