I have read three novels from this authoress and this is the best of them - probably because she asks the most honest questions there. I mean, her novels are usually very heavy on the spiritual (Christian) stuff and the message is very obvious, but here I feel like she has been really struggling with some questions regarding marriage and the problems within marriage (trust mostly) and frankly, I like that feeling of questioning, suffering and looking for answers - because this is why I read. Not to have the message pushed down my throat, but to explore the life together with the characters, to enter the darknesses of the heart, to live together. In this novel Ms Davidson Politano gets the closest to this ideal of mine. The message of this novel is still blatantly obvious (sorry for being frank here), but the struggles of life are here, too - and I like the honesty of these struggles. Fingers crossed for the authoress to be able to explore, question and believe more and more!

I thought this book had great characters and a very interesting plot. My biggest complaint is that it started off very slowly and I almost stopped reading it. The end made it worth it.

The father of the mansion is presumed dead, his fortune hidden in an unknown location, the family sinking deeper and deeper into debt, unable to pay their workers and relatives like vultures are gathering hungry for getting their hands on the rumoured treasure.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this heartfelt and witty story that walks you through a range of emotions from despair to joy, from hopelessness to being filled with faith and hope for the future.
Characters are well developed and the storyline will keep you guessing till the end.
Highly recommend this, and have already done so to many of my friends. :-)

4.5 stars

This one was much stronger than her debut, which I enjoyed but which did have a few plot gaps. "Rumored Fortune," however, seemed to flow from one scene to the other much better and I felt I had more clues to the mystery. I was glued to the pages and couldn't put the book down. The suspense of finding the treasure or not, and the question of who was after Tressa's family, and all of the suspects--loved how there were so many suspects!--kept my mind on its toes while I was speeding through. Tressa was a fun character to follow as she gets thrown fully out of her comfort zone and has to figure out who she is as a woman and how she'll keep her life together in the wake of tragedy.

I really enjoyed the vineyard allegory but I felt it could have been drawn to a conclusion with a bit more specific Christian message; if someone's not versed in Christianity, it wouldn't have made a lot of sense. I got the message and enjoyed it because I've studied the "vine and branches" allegory, but I don't know how well it would translate to someone who hasn't read a lot of the Bible or who isn't familiar with Christianese at all.

The ending was a bit abrupt and I'd have preferred another chapter or so to spell out a little of what happens after the big denouement.

Thanks to the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

A Rumored Fortune was written by Joanna Davidson Politano. This fictional story is set in England during the Victorian Era.
Summary: For as long as she can remember, Tressa Harlowe has heard the stories about her father’s treasure, which is hidden somewhere on the estate of her childhood home. Her father promised to reveal its secret whereabouts before he died, but now he’s gone, and she has no idea where it is.
Soon, the house is filled with unwanted guests and solicitors-all with an eye for the hidden fortune. Where can it be, and how will Tressa manage to pay their debts until it is found?
My Thoughts: This was a great book. It is well-written, there are interesting characters, and the plot is so different from anything I have read-it captivated my attention from the very beginning.
There is a very interesting subplot too-one of trust, and how the lack thereof can have far-reaching consequences into the future.
I enjoyed this book, and it is definitely worth the read. I also really enjoyed the author’s writing style, and am looking forward to reading her previous book as well.
I would like to thank Revell for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Tressa Harlowe has returned to her home, Trevalyan Castle, upon her father's summons. Only, it wasn't her father who summoned her; he is believed to be dead, and his wife and daughter must take over the castle and vineyards. However, the only money to run their lands and pay their workers with is that of the mysterious fortune that Tressa's father was believed to have hidden to keep it safe from greedy family members and fortune hunters - many of whom have now turned up at her door to seek. Tressa's relationship with her father was mostly one-sided, with her following him around and taking in the vineyard's beauty and his teaching, yet with him keeping his emotional distance and refusing to give her any hints as to where he might have hidden the family fortune. With time running out to pay those who are demanding their wages, can Tressa trust anyone to help her piece together the scant clues her memories and the house might hold? What of Donegan Vance, the mysterious field manager who showed up claiming he'd been hired by her father? Does he have ulterior motives? Is he as honest as he seems to be?


John 15:5 (NIV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

What a delightful surprise this book was! How could you not love Tressa, with her wounded little-girl heart, and her penchant for running barefoot across the vineyards? My heart ached for her as those around her not only literally betrayed her, but also wanted her to betray the very essence that God gave her - her loyalty, her colorfulness, and her desire to be loved. Yet in those betrayals, she was pruned back to the only Vine which could sustain her, and in Him she found abundance.

This was probably the best Christian fiction mystery I have read in a long time; it was well done with enough twists to keep you guessing, yet everything lined up logically in the end. You could see how the actions of those around her would leave Tressa not knowing whom she could trust. With all of the pointing fingers and greedy grasping hands, it's no wonder she misplaced her trust now and then. Once she realized there was only One whom she could trust, her true path became much clearer.

I give this book 5 stars. This was my first book by this author, but it most certainly won't be my last! I am already looking forward to the book that was teased at the end of this one. I only wish that I could hear more of how Tressa's life turns out from here!

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

This book was mysterious and intriguing. The plot of this book grabbed my attention and I could not wait to see how this book concluded. Fortunes, castles, romance and suspicion! This book had a little bit of everything! I thought that the concept of this book was unique and interesting. I liked the idea of an heiress searching for her lost fortune. I didn’t really connect with the characters in this book, so I had a hard time really investing in the story as much as I would have liked. I really struggled to understand Tressa’s way of thinking and relating to other characters at times. When I wanted her to zig, she zagged, so to speak. There were glimpses of kindness and humor in Tressa and I really enjoyed those moments. Donnigan was a great hero. I loved his honesty and his blunt manner. I like a consistent character who’s flaws are out in the open, yet still has a desire for growth and Donnigan was all of those things.

I would say this book lands more on the side of mystery as opposed to adventure. I thought perhaps, going into this book that there would be an adventurous fortune hunt, and while the entirety of the book the characters do search for the lost fortune, the actual search is not the focal point of the book. This book really picked up the pace in the last few chapters as secrets were revealed and plots were unraveled. I was happy with the conclusion and felt as if all of the missing pieces of the story really fell into place by the end of the book. This book kept me guessing until the conclusion! Fans of Historical Fiction will enjoy this Victorian era novel!

Joanna Davidson Politano appears to have developed a formula with her books. A young woman is alone, with her only confidant being a servant. There’s a cousin involved who isn’t the nicest person. The narrative alternates between the first person perspective of the heroine and the third person point of view of the male lead. Finally, I found the ending of both books to be rather on the abrupt side.

Maybe it’s because I read so many books, and that there was a year’s gap between reading Politano’s debut and sophomore novel, but I didn’t spot these similarities until I looked up my review of Lady Jayne Disappears. There’s plenty of mystery to be had in this storyline, with two late revelations that I hadn’t seen coming. There’s an early plot development that, combined with the portrayal of Tressa’s mother, really had me feel sorry for the young heiress.

I found A Rumored Fortune difficult to put down at times. There are no dull moments in the narrative, although I didn’t understand every reference to the viticulture such as grafting (I did get the pruning references though!) It wasn’t hard to see the connection to the passage in John’s gospel where Jesus stated “I am the true vine,” and Tressa seems to focus on this passage especially as the book reaches its conclusion.

Thank you to Revell for my complimentary electronic copy of A Rumored Fortune.

This book wove spirituality into almost every page in a way that you hardly noticed but at the same time couldn't miss! The vineyard was such a perfect setting for a young woman to find her treasure in God, love, and worldly wealth.

I'll admit I found myself not liking the heroine because she could be a little wishy washy throughout this book. But one thing I loved about her was her longing to hear from God about the truth in her life. I love how she constantly asked Him to reveal things to her.

I loved Donegan! I loved him from the first scene he was in all the way to the end. I'll admit Politano threw in a few twists and turns in the story, but I always liked him and was rooting for him. He was such a swoony hero with his rescuer tendencies for both humans and worldly possessions. I also liked how he seemed to prefer to be behind the scenes and out of the limelight.

I could honestly say there was only one thing I didn't love in this book and that was the love triangle. But, typically those cause me to hate the entire book - and as you see I still gave this one five stars. I didn't like Andrew at all. He would have brief moments when I wondered if he was going to come through but I always hoped he wouldn't.

Politano did her best to throw us off in this book. It was basically a combination romance, suspense, mystery - but I'll admit I figured out a good part of it early in the book. But even though I figured part of it out - it didn't deter me from reading the rest because she had plenty of other little surprises throughout!

I enjoyed her first book, but this one blew me away! I'm definitely looking forward to whatever she comes up with next. And I might add, I met her in person at CFRR and she is wonderful. I really enjoyed chatting with her and look forward to seeing her again someday.

I received an advanced copy of this book through the publisher. This is my honest review.

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes
Joanna Davidson Politano brings another mysterious story to her readers that will offer lessons of forgiveness, belonging and understanding what is true treasure in life.
Any story that opens with a version of “It all began on a dark and rainy night….” always grabs my attention right off. And to have the inclusion of a mysterious man who offers help to a woman seeking to make her way home just makes the plot beginning even better. Ms Politano introduces her heroine, Tressa, with a show of bravado and determination that will carry throughout the story. Tressa has returned home following the news that her father is presumed dead after a boating accident. She is bringing her mother home after much time abroad and intends to continue making her childhood home self sufficient through the vineyard present on the property. The problem is that to care for the vineyard requires money – money that they are supposed to have but her father never told her the location. Given his distrust of banks, Tressa’s father supposedly buried his immense fortune on the property and promised to share its location with Tressa before he died – except he never did. Tressa is left to battle treasure seekers, greedy fortune hunters and angry neighbors, all of whom want a piece of the famed Harlowe fortune. But as Tressa seeks to sort out who is telling the truth and who is looking to steal her inheritance, she must also confront the demons of her father’s past and discover where and why he hid away everything he possessed. His journal gives glimpses into his past and his efforts at creating a better grape. His recently hired vineyard manager may be able to help with understanding the entrys and Tressa has little choice by to trust this man who challenges her at every step. Donegan Vance has been hired for multiple reasons, few of which he shares with anyone. The money he will earn will help him keep his home and his family well cared for and sheltered. But he didn’t expect to find a friend in his employer’s daughter, much less find himself viewing her as a possible love interest. As Tressa and Donegan work together to seek out the fortune her father left behind as well as what happened to him, they will find more than they dreamed – and an attempted murder that might be repeated. They will battle against greed, mistrust, anger, forgiveness and compassion as they seek to solve the mystery of both her father’s “death” and his “missing” fortune. I enjoyed this story fairly well. It was my companion on a family vacation and the ending kept me up late two nights in a row as I rapidly read, telling myself over and over “just one more chapter”. The complex story line and the multiple “red herrings” that were included created a intricately woven plot that drew me further in with every page. The deeply ingrained faith of Tressa and Donegan was evident in their every action but did not come across as preachy or dismiss-able. John 15:5 was so carefully woven into the chapters and the story line that it made it very visible to see the point that Jesus had been making – that without being connected to Him, we cannot grow and produce good fruit. I also enjoyed reading the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the writings of Tressa’s father as he described his attempts at improved viticulture were very interesting. I don’t drink wine but do enjoy all kinds of grapes so it was fun to learn more about how grapes were grown and improved in years past. I loved the quiet and yet steadily growing romance between Tressa and Donegan that would culminate in a beautiful ending that lends great hope to their future together. I did feel that there were parts of the story that moved a little slow, which is why I only gave it 4 stars but that would be the only problem I had with this book ( other than the weird and ugly front cover). I will certainly recommend this book to others as a very good read that I believe they will enjoy as I did. I will also be looking to purchase a hard copy for my shelves since I would love to reread this book and see if there is anything I missed the first time around. Looking forward to Ms. Politano’s next story as I’m sure it will be wonderful too.
I received this E-Book free of charge from Revell Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano is a fantastic book set in England of 1866. Tressa Harlowe is summoned back to her home by her father, only to find that he is dead and leaves behind debt that they cannot repay. Tressa has vague recollections of time spent with her father and of his talk of a family fortune hidden somewhere in their property. Can she find it in time? Who can she trust? What is real and what is not? This book has an amazing sense of time and place and a great deal of time is spent on setting. The problem and solution in the book is also great. However, I think this book moves quite slowly at times and might have been better as a novella. Overall, it is a good read. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely 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.

I don't normally read Christian Romance, finding some of them too forceful in preaching, but I made an exception for A Rumored Fortune and I did not regret it. Joanna Davidson Politano's faith and the faith of her main characters Tressa Harlowe and Donegan Vance shone throughout the book and is essential to the growth of the hero and heroine and the development of the story.

Almost allegorical in its story-telling, A Rumored Fortune is a fascinating novel. The descriptions of the settings and characters, the dialogues, the conflicts, and the narration take the reader in a journey of intricate family relationships, class warfare, historical societal norms, viticulture, mystery, and romance.

I appreciate the deft way Ms. Politano drew her characters. They're real and relatable. Tressa is kind, intelligent, and artistic but she has prejudices too. Donegan is forthright, but is also deceptive. Even the secondary characters are rounded out: Lucy, Tressa's mother, Andrew, Margaret, Dr. Caine, Neville and Ellen, Mr. Prescott. They're not caricatures and have reasons for their behaviors.

With its unpredictable twists and turns and affecting lessons in the practice of trust and acts of charity and sacrifice to demonstrate faith and love, A Rumored Fortune is a highly engaging read. I give it four stars. ✩✩✩✩

Tressa Harlowe's father didn't trust anyone, not even banks. So when he dies without telling a soul where his ast fortune is hidden, extended family and friends flock to their estate under the guise of offering condolences to search for the fortune.



Meanwhile Tressa must work with the Donegan Vance, the vineyard keeper, to keep the staff happy until she is able to find money to pay them for their service before someone else finds the money.



Tressa faces many pressures, with her ailing mother to take care of as well as running the household. Tressa doesn't know who to trust, as many are offering to help her with seemingly good intentions including her ex-fiance, Andrew Carrington, who broke up with her when his parents didn't approve. Tressa is an artist, and she prays while she paints and finds peace in the vine and branches imagery which is woven into the story.



Donegan is a a very direct and straightforward man, he doesn't sugarcoat things but he tries to protect her from the fortune hunters. Donegan knows things about her father that she doesn't, and he wants to protect her from unnecessary pain. He is a man of faith and action, he likes to help others and lift their spirits.



Overall, fantastic read, highly entertaining and intriguing, with plenty of twists and surprises along the way. Interesting side characters, vivid imagery, great dialog with touches of humor. Tressa is a passionate and strong heroine, while Donegan is dashing and opinionated, their strong faith pulls them together while secrets and doubt threaten to part them. A thrilling drama, captivating and well written. Definitely recommend!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

Wow, what a heart-felt mystery with a sweet profound natural faith message. The story is set in the mid-1800’s and they’ve just found out that Tressa’s father has gone missing leaving Tressa and her mother shocked and penniless. Debt collectors start banging on their doors demanding payment or they will take the Trevelyn Castle and its vineyard in leu of payment. Hence begins the mad search for the rumored hidden treasure. Tressa can’t trust anyone. Were they fortune seekers or well-wishers. Seeking an opportunity to find the treasure.

I liked Tressa. She is a loyal, determined, confident young lady who is not afraid of doing things on her own. She is true to herself and her convictions as the same time she’s acutely aware of her own vulnerability and is bound (to an extent) to society’s expectations.

I adored Donegan Vance who is the heroic character in the story. He is the vineyard manager, determined to do his job well. He’s honorable, long-suffering and intensely loyal. He’s a man of faith who is inspiring. He hasn’t memorized scripture and doesn’t spout it fluently chapter and verse, “No…he simply lives it out.” He’s been asked to do an impossible job by Tressa’s father. He’s to keep her safe and keep secrets from her. As he gets to know her he struggles to keep these secrets hidden.


I was hooked from the start. The first paragraph begins with dialogue taking place on the streets Tressa seeks refuge, “I say Tressa Harlowe’s dead. It’s the only explanation.”

“I didn’t set out to eavesdrop, but some conversations are simply too interesting to avoid overhearing. Especially when the topic discussed by these strangers is me. In such cases, I had no choice but to absorb every word, for wasn’t it my business even more than theirs?”

This is an intriguing mystery seen through the eyes of Tressa whose been left alone to figure out a way when there seemed to be no way of fixing anything. That’s when she gets to the end of herself and beseeches God to show her His way. She realizes He’s the only one she can trust.

I loved the main and supporting cast; the castle and the vineyard felt like characters in this story as well. The story is beautifully written, has rich characters that are complex and has many twists and turns I didn’t see coming. This author has a gift of keeping the reader guessing as to if there really was a treasure or was it just a big hoax. Would she be left penniless and without a home? Often times It looked that way. This was a fun treasure hunt for secret-rumored jack-pot in a Victorian era castle with all its underground passages that became suspenseful and spooky at times. Loved it!

The metaphor and the imagery of the vineyard is natural and masterfully woven into the story (taken from John 15:5) was powerful and moving. It’s applicable to us today. This novel is a beautiful blend of lovely writing, endearing characters I adored, an intriguing mysterious plot and the description of what true love is makes this one of my favorite novels for this year. Tressa’s search for true love and the beautiful romance (with its ups and downs), the writing style and message makes this novel stand out. It’s a book that lingers with you long after you read the last page. This novel would be great for a book club pick. There is so much to discuss.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher/NetGalley.. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
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Joanna Politano's second novel, A Rumored Fortune is even better than her first, Lady Jane Disappears. I love the gothic setting and the castle. Tressa's staff is loyal, but it is hard to tell who else is. Everyone has a motive for finding the fortune that her father is rumored to have. Joanna is quickly earning her way onto my keeper shelf. So grab a strong mug of tea and curl up for a great read.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I thought the mystery elements were well done, and I liked the characters. Tressa was a great female lead. I felt like it could have ended about twenty pages sooner. I got a bit bogged down towards the end. The romance was a little gushy for me as well.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a review copy.

A treasure hunt, faith, and a historical setting round out why you should read this book.

This was my first book to read by this author and I enjoyed the setting, the characters, the storyline, and the romance. Tressa is the protagonist and she has a lot to deal with in this story. Her father is presumed dead, her mother is self absorbed, she has to figure out how to pay everyone without any money, has to search for her father's fortune which no one knows where it is, and she has to figure out what she wants in her life and in love. Despite all that is on her shoulders, she is very down to earth, has a friendship with her lady's maid, and befriends many of the workers and their families. She has compassion for all. I also loved the descriptions of her artwork on the walls and ceilings of the estate, I can only imagine her designs and the feelings it evoked.

Donegan Vance has several secrets he is keeping from Tressa and at the same time wonders if she is capable of taking care of business. He is like most men of this time period and thinks that women can't lead or be in charge. I appreciated the fact that despite his faults (and who doesn't have faults) that he recognizes the good in others and is able to fall back on his faith in God to get him through the tough times. He too has a strong sense of family which I think is one thing that he clings to in Tressa.

There is a little bit of a mystery, where is the family fortune? And as with many families, the vultures come out to try and find and claim the fortune before Tressa. It is sad when the motives of family members are not in the best interest of everyone. Despite Neville and Ellen's behavior (these are some of the family vultures), they have reasons of their own for wanting the fortune which is revealed near the end. I would like to have seen more focus on the treasure hunt because that was somewhat light in the story.

The ending does leave me hanging a bit wondering what might have happened next for Tressa, Donegan, and the rest of the family/estate. Still an enjoyable story.

What do you get when mix a destitute heiress, romance, mystery, and a treasure hunt, then set it in the Victorian Era? You end up with A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano.

This is a beautiful written story, You are slowly drawn into the plot at a very satisfying pace. The character's seem realistic with their flaws and mistakes made, that make this an enjoyable read.

Though this is a romance, it buds softly in the back around and only enhances the plot instead of taking it over as some are prone to do. Th setting is well crafted and you experience Trevelyan Castle as if you were there and walking though its hallways.

This one is a fun story that was enjoyable to read. Joanna's characters are a lot of fun, since they are slightly off beat and different than you would expect (which I mean in the best way possible).