Picture an American storyteller who swept readers into the glitz and grit of the Gilded Age—meet Joanna Shupe! With a knack for blending steamy romance with historical flair, Shupe has carved a dazzling niche in historical fiction. Her tales of strong heroines and swoon-worthy heroes have not only won hearts but also snagged her the coveted Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. Ready to time-travel to 1890s New York? Let’s dive into her world!
Shupe’s love for history isn’t just a hobby—it’s the heartbeat of her novels. From the opulent ballrooms of Fifth Avenue to the shadowy tenements, her stories pulse with the energy of an era where fortunes rose and fell faster than a debutante’s dance card. So, who is this queen of Gilded Age romance? Let’s find out.
The Making of Joanna Shupe
Joanna Shupe’s journey to authorship started with a spark ignited by a childhood favorite: Schoolhouse Rock cartoons. Yep, those catchy history lessons planted a seed that bloomed into a lifelong passion. By college, she was devouring romance novels like they were Gilded Age hors d’oeuvres, eventually trading her sports and theater marketing gigs to pen her own racy tales. Her big break came in 2013 when she won the Golden Heart Award for Best Historical, proving her knack for spinning love and history into gold.
Raised with an insatiable curiosity, Shupe’s connection to the past deepened through her family’s immigrant roots—her great-grandparents passed through Ellis Island, a detail that echoes in her vivid settings. Now settled in New Jersey with her husband and two spirited daughters, she’s turned her obsession with Edith Wharton’s class wars into a thriving career.
Joanna Shupe’s Unforgettable Stories
Shupe’s novels are like a front-row seat to the Gilded Age, with all its scandals and splendor. Take *The Rogue of Fifth Avenue*, the first in her Uptown Girls series—here, a silver-tongued lawyer tangles with a reckless heiress secretly playing Robin Hood. It’s witty, sexy, and brimming with New York’s late 19th-century charm. Then there’s *The Duke Gets Even*, the fourth Fifth Avenue Rebels book, where a free-spirited heiress and a repressed duke ignite a secret affair hotter than a summer night in Newport.
Her style? Think lush historical detail meets fierce, independent women who don’t wait for permission to chase their dreams—or their men. *Magnate*, from the Knickerbocker Club series, pairs a self-made tycoon with a daring socialite, while *The Courtesan Duchess*, her debut, follows a clever wife posing as a courtesan to win back her rogue husband. Shupe’s knack for blending passion with period authenticity keeps readers hooked, page after page.
What sets her apart is her focus on the era’s contrasts—wealth versus poverty, tradition versus rebellion. Her heroines aren’t damsels; they’re trailblazers, reflecting the progressive women history often overlooks. It’s romance with a backbone, wrapped in velvet prose.
Why Joanna Shupe Matters
Joanna Shupe isn’t just writing love stories—she’s reviving the Gilded Age for a modern audience. Her books have topped lists from Publishers Weekly to The Washington Post, proving historical romance can sizzle and resonate today. By spotlighting women with agency in a time when they were expected to simper, she’s reshaped the genre, inspiring readers to see the past through a bolder lens.
Her impact stretches beyond the page—Shupe’s success has paved the way for more diverse historical settings in romance, showing that Regency England isn’t the only game in town. Fans adore her for breathing life into an overlooked era, making history as addictive as her plots. She’s a storyteller who reminds us: love, like history, is timeless.
- Won the 2013 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award for Best Historical.
- Key works include *The Rogue of Fifth Avenue*, *The Duke Gets Even*, and *Magnate*.
- Lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.
About Joanna Shupe
Ready for a literary escape? Snag *The Rogue of Fifth Avenue* and dive into Joanna Shupe’s irresistible blend of romance and history!