Tressa Harlowe’s father did not trust banks, but neither did he trust his greedy extended family. He kept his vast fortune hidden somewhere on his estate in the south of England and died suddenly, without telling anyone where he had concealed it. Tressa and her ailing mother are left with a mansion and an immense vineyard and no money to run it. It doesn’t take long for a bevy of opportunists to … to flock to the estate under the guise of offering condolences. Tressa knows what they’re really up to. She’ll have to work with the rough and rusticated vineyard manager to keep the laborers content without pay and discover the key to finding her father’s fortune–before someone else finds it first.
Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano welcomes readers to Trevelyan Castle, home of the poorest heiress in Victorian England, for a treasure hunt they’ll not soon forget.
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Everyone loves a treasure hunt — pair it with a heroine you can’t help but love, a hero you can’t help but swoon over, and a family mystery that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, and you end up with A Rumored Fortune. This book is a treasure in itself and one you won’t be able to put down!
Joanna Politano bring us another delightful Victorian mystery with intrigue, romance, and inspiration. Her unique characters and page-turning plot will keep you engaged and guessing until the end. Rumored Fortune is a gem, and it’s a perfect summer read! Highly recommended!
If you’re like me and enjoy somewhat gothic-style books with a Jane Eyre feel (though without the depth of darkness), you should find A Rumored Fortune to be right up your reading alley. I enjoyed Tressa’s painting habit and the way Donegan deals with a bad day. The man is a true hero. Not everything is wrapped up in a neat bow, but the writing is lovely.
Another fantastic read from Politano! This author is a master at crafting characters who are so very different from her other stories, breathing new life into her unique style with every page. Her plots are gripping, her characters real and intriguing, and the truths tucked in so effortlessly are enriching. Don’t miss any of her novels!
This was such a great book!! The writing was excellent, and I was invested in the characters and their plights!! Amazing!!
The message behind the plot was a great life lesson to be learned, and I believe that I have become better as a Christian for having read this book
A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Politano is a historical masterpiece. It is a Christy Nominee for 2019.
Miss Politano has woven a rich tapestry in a mesmerizing tale of “A Rumored Fortune.”
What if you had a fortune at your disposal but were afraid it would corrupt you, or make it hard to tell who your real friends were?
Tressa Harlowe is cast in a very untenable position. Remembering seeing it as a child, she knows there is a fortune somewhere in Trevelyan Castle but can’t find it and creditors, workers and relatives are pounding at her door. There is also a stranger who was hired to tend the grape vines before her father’s demise. Donegan Vance has secrets and it is more than knowing how to care for the vines. Tressa muses: “I’d once thought secrets a beautiful, enchanting thing. Now I wish there was no such thing.”
The chapter headings, entries in a “notebook of a viticulturist”, are full of Godly wisdom. The story is anchored in the Biblical illustration of the vine and the branches: “Of all the seasons, pruning is the one that finds the vintner working most intimately with the vines, involved in every detail of the plant.”
Tressa is prompted to look at people through the eyes of 1 Corinthians 13.
This was a very romantic book that focuses on trust, sacrifice, true motives and true hearts, with a few misconceptions along the way until at last eyes are opened.
Like her other two books, Ms. Politano is very eloquent with her prose and teaches valuable lessons. She is a very favorite author of mine.
*I purchased this ebook from Amazon. All opinions are my own.*
I really enjoyed this story! It’s my first book by Joanna Davidson Politano and I thought it was great. I’m looking forward to reading her first and next novels.
In A Rumored Fortune Tressa Harlowe and Donegan Vance are working together to find her family’s fortune left to her by her father. Tressa longs for a relationship with her father and Donegan is working hard to make right the wrongs of his past. Together they discover clues to where the fortune, that can help them both, is located.
These two characters are so perfect together. She’s in desperate need of help and he’s right there when she needs him. I loved how their story lines meshed together and complemented one another.
My favorite part of this story were the analogies of the Vine and the branches and how one needs the other! They were perfectly interspersed throughout the story and I loved them!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
“Do you see, God? Do you see where I am? The mess my life is? Everything has been taken from me, and soon my freedom will be gone, too. ”
Grief stricken upon returning home to an empty castle, her father presumed dead and her mother emotionally disconnected from the loss, Tressa Harlowe feels the weight of her future teetering precariously upon her young shoulders. Added to the turmoil is the fact that there appears to be no money in the family coffers, while rumors circle about of a hidden family fortune, drawing greedy friends and unpaid lenders to the estate in droves. How could her father have left his beloved Trevelynn Castle and its lush, prosperous vineyards in such a state of turmoil?
When the newly hired estate manager offers sage advice, Tressa cannot help but be wary of Donegan Vance; his rugged physique, brash manners, and plain spoken words seem to splay her feeble attempts at decision making wide open. Caught between her mother’s attempts at matchmaking, the ominous threat of a workers’ revolt and a pending criminal investigation, only one man rises to her defense and it’s not the one she would have expected.
Beautifully layered with mystique, “A Rumored Fortune” hides its secrets well and exposes both the strengths and the frailties of its characters, leading readers back to the source of life; the strength of the vine depending upon the decisions of the vine dresser, who patiently and lovingly issues the invitation to “connect”.
“Pruning involves difficult decisions. It’s about removing growth, even what is good and beautiful, to attain something far better.”
With deep and thoughtful prose this enthralling story wove its way around my heart. From the very beginning, the characters monopolized my attention and I was along for a beautiful journey on a tapestry of exquisitely crafted words.
Tressa’s story touched my heart with its raw emotion. She grew up longing for her father’s attention and love, and now that he is gone she feels lost. Growing up, Tressa spent many hours in her father’s vineyard and now as she works with the vineyard manager to hold the estate together she will grow closer to her heavenly father and through the very vines growing in her vineyard learn to have a relationship with God.
Woven into this story is an intriguing mystery of a hidden treasure. With the wolves circling, some disguised as sheep, Tressa must decide who to trust and who to keep at arms-length. But will she make the right choice?
I’ll be honest, I struggled to not flip ahead to the end to find out who was behind the mystery. This story is so tightly woven, with lots of layers that you will be left guessing till near the end before you realize the truth! I had several suspicious and found myself talking to the characters on more than one occasion. In the end, I was glad that I prolonged the agony of not knowing and stayed with characters as the truth unfolded.
I really loved reading this book and give it 5-stars! You will want to be sure to carve out some solid blocks of time for enjoying this story, as you won’t want to put it down!
(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
Charming, mysterious, romantic, fun, and swoon-worthy, A Rumored Fortune is Politano’s second novel, and, wow, does it deliver for this reader.
There is such a strong atmosphere to sink into within these pages. The setting is a castle, its grounds home to a vineyard. Though her castle home is important and much loved, it is the vineyard that captured Tressa’s mind, as it had previously captured her father’s before his mysterious death. However, both castle and vineyard have the funds that they need to keep going, as her father’s fortune is hidden in a place that only he knew.
I adored Tressa’s character. Though Victorian Era heroines often have the misfortune of things happening to them rather than making things happen (which while aggravating to modern thought, is probably more realistic), Tressa is a realistic balance of delicate yet driven. She’s not afraid of doing things on her own but is also acutely aware of her own vulnerability and still bound to an extent to society’s expectations.
The secondary characters are by turns intriguing, suspicious, and charming. I loved the relationship between Tressa and her lady’s maid, Lucy. Of course, her burgeoning friendship with Donegan Vance, the man her father hired to care for the vineyard captured my attention with ease, while her re-introduction to her former suitor, Andrew Carrington, made me question everyone’s motives, especially with a vast fortune involved.
The faith element is strong throughout the novel, and while alluded to often, it always feels genuine and in keeping with the characters themselves. I found it to be refreshing and well-done; it is especially neat the way the care and keeping of a vineyard ties in so well with Tressa’s personal journey in such a natural way.
This is only the tenth novel this year that I’ve given five stars. The exquisite blend of lovely writing, endearing characters, mysterious plot, and a gorgeous romance make A Rumored Fortune one of my favorite reads of the year!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a review, positive or otherwise, and the opinions expressed here are my own.
I loved this book. It kept my attention from page one and was extremely difficult to put down. Switching between the viewpoints of Tressa and Donegan, it moved at a really good pace.
The characters were well developed and very real. I learned about tending a vineyard and really enjoyed the lessons from the viticulturist at the beginning of each chapter.
Author Joanna Politano shows us how easy it is to misunderstand those around us; their actions and words. However, unconditional love, forgiveness, and a trust in God is a constant thread through this story.
If you enjoy Victorian Christian fiction, mystery, and a treasure hunt, then I highly recommend A Rumored Fortune. You won’t be disappointed!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
This is the first book by Joanna Davidson Politano that I have read and I am floored. A Rumored Fortune is a gem of a novel, so beautifully and lyrically written with a ton of intrigue, mystery, and plot twists, as well as captivating and enchanting characters. Set in 1866 England, the scenery is lush and breath-taking as the story unfolds on a vineyard with a stone castle as the manor house. Secrets abound as the story starts with Tressa’s father’s death and the rumored fortune that is hidden somewhere on the vast property. Supposed friends, relations, and neighbors descend on the property to dig for this treasure as Tressa deals with her sorrow, grief, and lack of funds all the while trying to find the treasure herself.
Tressa is a strong woman, intelligent, and practical yet has a tender heart and a fanciful artistic side. She always sees the good in people and loves fiercely. Donegan has a tainted past that the readers learn about slowly, one morsel at a time. Yet, despite his past, he cannot hide his generous, loving, loyal heart from the people of Trevelyan or the surrounding village. He’s hired as the vineyard manager by Tressa’s father before his disappearance and clashes with the family by his honest, forthright, no-nonsense ways and speech. Tressa’s first person point of view and Donegan’s limited third person point of view work extremely well together to weave a fascinating tale that is also emotionally full with angst, betrayal, and tenderness.
I loved the imagery of the vineyard as a metaphor for the characters’ spiritual journey. Donegan’s strong and firm faith that he lives out is truly inspiring; Tressa’s journey of being pruned is so real and painful yet rewarding as she realizes Who the true Vine is that she must cling to.
I’m totally looking forward to the author’s next novel! And I must go read Lady Jayne Disappears, which is her debut novel with a whole lot of accolades (and totally deserving of all of them, I’m sure)!
I received a copy of the book from Baker Publishing via Interviews and Reviews. I was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
I love all of Politano’s books but this one and her latest are at the top of the list of favorites. I rarely read books a second time, but I did with both of these.
I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the Gothic mysteries such as Victoria Holt and Madeline Brent with an inspirational bent. It had some twists and turns that I did not predict. Good read.
This was one of those books I was desperate to finish but couldn’t stand to see end. Politano’s voice is rich and layered, bringing forth characters who come alive on the page. Pared with an intriguing plot and a beautiful faith message that stirs the heart, this story has everything I love in a dynamic read.
This book is absolutely beautiful! Every scene carefully woven, every line stitched with care into a seamless tapestry. A Rumored Fortune is full of the most natural and profound metaphors, I was practically cheering as I listened to this on audiobook. Wonderful story, charming characters, an absolute joy to read. I’m ready for more from Joanna Davidson Politano.
Yet another book by Ms. Politano I loved! Her writing just has a charm to it. It’s just stunning!
I fell in love with these characters. They were really interesting and complex!
Tressa was such a colorful, full-of-life character and I loved her! She was very real and relatable. I love how she showed love and grace to people who didn’t return it or really deserve it. Yet she wasn’t perfect and made mistakes. Her struggle and doubts made her very real and relatable, especially with her loneliness and desire for connection. I could really relate to that. She was a wonderful MC!
Donegan… WHAT A CHARACTER. Goodness, he had me all over the place. At first I didn’t know if I was going to like him. I never knew what to expect from him… but I couldn’t help but love him because he was such a compelling character!! Okay, I had my doubts about him at times and I was starting to get upset. Welp, he completely won my heart in the end. 1000%. I was quite hysterical when the truth came out. I was SO very happy and fangirling pretty hard
The romance was so good. Donegan and Tressa were just really perfect for each other. Watching their relationship grow was wonderful. They had me smiling and laughing with their witty conversations and honesty with each other. I loved them. 🙂
This was filled with plot twists and intense scenes that had me gasping. And moments when I was definitely whisper-yelling at the characters. The mystery was extremely intriguing. My mind was racing to sort it all out. Yet there were definitely some surprises in here… which I loved!
The metaphors… I LOVE metaphors and allegories. And this one was just beautiful. I think that’s one of the reasons I love this authors writing so much. She intertwines beautiful metaphors into her writing that bring so much depth to the story. This one was really beautifully done.
I love the faith and trust in God that these characters find in this book. Watching Tressa grow in her relationship with God was beautiful!
To sum it up, another amazing book by this amazing author! I’m such a fan of her writing and I CAN’T wait for more of her books to come out in the future!! By now, she’s definitely a favorite author of mine. A fascinating mystery with compelling, complex characters that really drive the story! I recommend
What I enjoyed most about “A Rumored Fortune” was how Joanna Davidson Politano’s lovely writing evoked the literary styling of the Victorian Era without becoming overly cumbersome to read.
An unusual plot with intriguing characters.
Part romance, mystery, & allegory. I loved the quotes from the notebook of a viticulturist at the beginning of each chapter. I can’t wait to read more works by this author. Loved the unique voice of the narrator. Enjoyed using Whispersync on this one because I highlighted a lot of text!