Stand-alone novel
Review copy through the publisher
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
About the book:
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 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.
My Thoughts:
I have been eagerly anticipating this author’s second novel, and I was so excited to dive into this gem. And what a gem it is! I thoroughly enjoyed “A Rumored Fortune”, being swept away between its pages and taken on quite the journey. So much beauty, and heart. Main characters Tressa Harlowe and Donegan Vance were spectacular. I loved how Tressa’s portion (the majority of the novel) was in first person – it really flowed so nicely and bonded me even more to her. Third-person for Donegan’s portions was fantastic, too; the differences transitioned well, and you were never left with a feeling that it was incomplete or anything.
These characters complimented each other so well. Unlike Tressa, I fell for Donegan from his first words to her. ;)
I did really love their relationship, though! Sometimes her…resistance of him could get slightly frustrating, but I still understood her side of things – her hesitancy to enter into ANY sort of relationship with anyone.
The plot-line of this novel was so superb. And I loved the vineyard aspect of it. Just so much. Each time I read parts about the vineyard and its care, I could see so much significance and resemblance to how God cares for us, including the pruning seasons. It was just really beautiful and remarkable! I should have taken a photo of my copy from the side, because I had marked so many pages that had just the best quotes! I will share some in my blog post with this review, but even so, there are so many worthy ones. A must-read book. <3
Just like in her debut novel, author Joanna Politano’s writing is superb, and absolutely captivating.
“A Rumored Fortune” is one you are going to want to savor, for certain. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next!!
Quotes:
I had sooo many! And not enough time to make graphics for each, unfortunately. But below are the graphics I did make, and then the quotes that I still loved but didn’t get the time to graphic-ize. :)
“Sometimes being in your own company fulfulled you more than sharing space with someone who intensified your aloneness with every word.”
“The only perfect father is the one in heaven. Never forget that.”
“The best fruit arises from a hostile environment – harsh winters, dry soil, and unrelenting heat from the sun deepen a grape’s flavor and heighten its sweetness. Bearable conditions bring only mediocre fruit.” – Notebook of a viticulturist
“It would serve everyone far better if you spoke plainly. Once the sting of truth is dealt, it can being to heal, but an unspoken truth festers for a long time.”
“No, He’s bringing you to life. It takes a harsh summer to yield abundance in the vineyards. Perhaps this is your summer.”
She pulled back to look up at him. “What am I to do then? How do I endure it?”
“When you feel you’re dying in the heat of summer, all a branch needs to do is to hold on.” He gripped her elbows and looked into her eyes to convey the importance of the truth he now uttered, for it was all he could offer her. “Cling with all its might to the vine. That’s all, simply hold on.”
“I am, He seemed to say to my pleas. I Am all those things you want. A statement directly personally, to my wrung-out fatherless heart. My Father, who art in heaven.”
“God had a way of pruning off anything that came between Himself and His children, it seemed. I’d experienced it too and somehow I was grateful for it.”
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This was such a quotable book!! I loved it! It was like a devotional and fiction novel meshed together.
It really was!! I loved it too – oh so much! It was such an amazing and encouraging read. :)
I’m glad you liked it too. It’ll be a long wait until her next one!