A Rumored Fortune
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.
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.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
A Rumored Fortune
Author: Joanna Davidson Politano
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Review:
Joanna Davidson Politano has woven her way deep into my heart with her beautiful, poetic, and faith-filled writing, easily earning a place among my top five favorite authors. Each of her novels transports me into a world unlike any other, and A Rumored Fortune was no exception. I found myself completely immersed in its mystery, layered relationships, gentle romance, and hope-filled themes, embracing this story just as deeply as all of the others I’ve had the privilege of reading.
In A Rumored Fortune, we follow Tressa Harlowe after the sudden death of her father leaves her and her ailing mother with a sprawling estate, a once-thriving vineyard they no longer have the means to sustain, and mounting debts that threaten everything they hold dear. It doesn’t take long for opportunists to begin arriving at the estate under the guise of offering their condolences, but Tressa knows many of them have come hoping to uncover the rumored fortune her father supposedly left behind. Determined to protect her family’s legacy, she sets out to find the hidden fortune before someone else does, following a trail of long-buried clues that ultimately reveal that the greatest treasures are often the ones we never expected to find.
The atmosphere of this novel is absolutely enchanting. The beautiful vineyard and estate provide such a rich, immersive backdrop, while the mystery surrounding the missing fortune kept me eagerly turning pages. Joanna Davidson Politano has such a remarkable gift for bringing her settings to life that I could almost picture myself wandering through the vineyard alongside Tressa. Combined with layered family relationships, unexpected twists, and beautiful faith-filled themes, this was a world I never wanted to leave. Before long, the characters had found a permanent place in my heart.
Tressa, in particular, was such a wonderful heroine. Though gentle and soft-spoken, she possesses a quiet strength, steadfast courage, and one of the noblest hearts I’ve encountered in fiction. I admired the way she continued pressing forward despite uncertainty, choosing faith, hope, and integrity even when everything around her seemed to be falling apart. She quickly became a character I found myself deeply invested in, and watching the relationships around her develop was one of my favorite parts of the story.
The romance unfolds slowly and beautifully, allowing friendship, trust, and genuine affection to blossom over time. One particular gentleman quickly became a favorite of mine with his humility, unwavering character, and genuine heart for others. I’ll let you discover for yourself who he is, but I couldn’t have been happier with how everything came together in the end.
Naturally, there is also so much mystery and intrigue woven throughout these pages. Every new discovery seemed to raise another question, and I loved trying to piece everything together alongside the characters. More than once I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering who could truly be trusted and completely captivated by each new revelation.
But more than the mystery, it was Tressa’s search for a father’s love that captured my heart. There was such a deep ache within her simply to be loved and cherished for who she was, and that longing resonated deeply with my own heart. Watching her journey unfold was both beautiful and deeply moving. I especially loved how the vineyard became such a powerful picture of the greater truth woven throughout the story—that Christ is the only true Vine, and apart from Him we can bear no lasting fruit. The reminder that our deepest longing for love, belonging, and identity is ultimately fulfilled in Him was one of the most beautiful aspects of the entire novel.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” — John 15:5 (KJV)
This was another effortless five-star read for me. Joanna Davidson Politano has an incredible gift for weaving mystery, romance, and faith into stories that linger long after the final page, and with every novel I read, I find myself loving her work even more. I already cannot wait to step into another one of her unforgettable worlds. 🫶
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.