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!
You can find A Rumored Fortune HERE and HERE (This e-book version is currently only 79 cents! Check price before buying, as Amazon prices fluctuate frequently).
You can find the author's site HERE.
I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.
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!
You can find A Rumored Fortune HERE and HERE (This e-book version is currently only 79 cents! Check price before buying, as Amazon prices fluctuate frequently).
You can find the author's site HERE.
I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.
Just bought it! I'm eager to read it.
ReplyDelete