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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Rumor Has It That This Is a Great Book… But Is It?

by Chautona Havig · 2 Comments

It was one of those books. The ones that you see everywhere. When someone says, “What should I read next?” it was the first recommended. Almost every day someone said, “I’m reading A Rumored Fortune and it’s sooooo good!”

I had Joanna Davidson Politano’s first book, Lady Jane Disappears. It’d been sitting on my TBR shelf for months. But, when I saw people raving about A Rumored Fortune, I took a chance and snagged a copy of it, too.

I just hoped I wasn’t setting myself up for disappointment. That had happened before, you know. I was probably the only “book dragon” in the world that didn’t like that one, but the worst part of it was that the author could write. I’ll say it again. Bethany Turner can write.

But could Joanna Davidson Politano?

That question kept the book on the shelf for months. Every time someone asked if I’d read it, I’d say the same thing. “I’m afraid to.”

Then it was time to choose my next “fun read.”  I gave that job to #7daughter.  She picked A Rumored Fortune. I’ll admit it. I almost said, “I should start with the first one.”  But I didn’t.  Since I asked and she picked it, it was time.  As stand alones, I didn’t need to read one before the other.

By the third chapter, I was done. It wasn’t that I disliked the book, but I was disappointed. Again.

The only thing that kept me going was a nagging feeling that I wasn’t being fair. And it reminded me of something.

I tend to avoid the popular.

As a girl, it was because I never liked what was popular. I just had differing tastes from what the crowd loved. It became a habit, that avoiding the popular stuff.

Then it became a self-righteous choice. As if somehow avoiding what others liked was somehow spiritually superior. Yeah. I know how stupid that is.

Trust me, I know.

Like most thunderpuppies, I grew up. And I learned that popular doesn’t equal “not my taste” nor does it equal sinful. But something else came that I hadn’t expected.

Disappointment. Because you see, when I learned that some of the popular things in life are great, I began to expect things to live up to their hype.

Big mistake. Huge.

Rumor Has It That This Is a Great Book… But Is It?

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. This book was NOT a review copy. I purchased and chose to review because I love to read.  🙂

Rumor Has It That This Is a Great Book… But Is It?

Up until one-third of the way through the book, I would have told you no. Unlike the stories of “not able to put it down,” I was able to walk away for days at a time while I did other things. However, it did call me back.

And then I hit that one-third mark or so.

Look, I don’t know if the book just got better, or if my expectations became more realistic, or some combination of the two. What I do know is that at some point, I hated having to walk away. I loved guessing things and being right… and wrong. The characters called to me, the setting was perfectly, delightfully creepy (without being overdone) and the result…

A book that (mostly) lives up to the hype.

Plot? Excellent.

Characterization? Spot on for every last one.

Description? Never too much or too little.

Twists and turns? Enough to please the most discriminating reader.

But the best part of this book?

The deep, heart-pricking, soul-searching spiritual lessons that kept me aching to turn the page for one more nugget.

Each chapter opens with a “note” from a vintner. Those nuggets read much like what you might expect the Biblical Solomon to share if he wanted to leave a book of proverbs inspired by the vines.

Watching others live out their faith—making mistakes and holding fast when waves threaten to dash them against the rocks of life’s shore… achingly beautiful.

Look, until I started writing this review, I’d planned on giving it a solid four stars. I liked it. A lot. But I just “liked” it. I thought.

Yeah, not so much. The more I ruminate and ponder those lessons, those characters, those nuggets in my heart, the more I love it. Like Tessa, it’s a slow-growing love, but it’s solid. Real.

I’m so thrilled I wasn’t disappointed again. Because this book? This one lives up to the hype.  A five-star hype after all.

Recommended

for anyone who loves historical fiction, suspense, mystery, and deep, spiritual lessons that don’t get preachy.

Title: A Rumored Fortune  (link to the paperback because it’s less than .50 more than the Kindle)

Author: Joanna Davidson Politano

Synopsis: Tressa Harlowe’s father did not trust banks, but neither did he trusA Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politanot 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.

So tell me. 

Did you read A Rumored Fortune?  Did you like it?  Should I read Lady Jane Disappears next?  Well, after Caught by Surprise by Jen Turano, which is the book that my husband chose next.

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Comments

  1. Paula Shreckhise says

    December 31, 2018 at 5:45 am

    I loved Lady Jane. So unique. Have not read Rumored Fortune yet but I still want to. Thanks for the review.

    Reply
  2. Patty says

    December 30, 2018 at 4:42 am

    I read her first book and really enjoyed it. Something a bit outside the norm, I left a capture my attention. So I actually pre-ordered this book and well I enjoyed it, I think I liked Lady Jane Disappears more.
    I am a reader not a writer, and I’m not sure I could really tell you why, but I would certainly give her first book a chance.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

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Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
byChautona Havig

Fans of Lisa Phillips’ Last Chance County series are doing happy dances following the release of an exciting new spin-off series, Last Chance Fire and Rescue. Expired Return brings back a few favorite characters and kicks off another of Sunrise Publishing’s author/mentor led fiction seasons! Listen in to find out what happens when an author brings back a guy she dropped a building on a couple of books back…

 

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When Fans Want More Exciting Stories, Smart Authors Listen and Deliver!

Let’s face it. Authors might SOMETIMES be “done” with a series, but readers often want more… indefinitely. Well, with the brilliance of Sunrise Publishing’s mentor model, authors get to collaborate with authors they trust to do their “worlds” proud while still having time to write new, exciting things as well. And some of the Sunrise lead authors even write in the spin-off series–like Lisa Phillips and Trisha Goyer!

This new Last Chance County series promises everything we love about Lisa Phillips’ world–danger, intrigue, heart-stopping suspense, drama… you know… all the feels. But in addition to her own release, Expired Return, this series also introduces us to new authors who have been carefully vetted and selected to ensure they do justice to Lisa’s Last Chance characters. I, for one, can’t wait to check it all out.

Lisa and I chatted about what she plans for the series,Lisa hinted about a possible super-secret reveal coming soon, and I even poked her with the idea of a Last Chance Christmas.

Help me convince them on that, will ya?

But this new book… Whoa…

Expired Return by Lisa Phillips

Pepper stood up. “How dare you.” She could spit fire at him right now. She’d loved and supported Victory since the day she was born. “You know nothing about me.”

“What’s this?”

Pepper whirled around at that voice. Heart. Breaking. She loved that gruff, commanding voice more than anything else in the world.

He wore a look a lot like Aiden’s. Blank, which she knew—or hoped—had to do with protecting his heart because he still cared for her. Except he probably hated her.

Donaldson sat back in his chair. “Allen.”

Former police officer Allen Frees had both hands on the wheels of his chair. He wore a fire department uniform of slacks and a white shirt. Emblems. A badge. His life of service hadn’t ended when he landed in that chair after a building blew up over his head.

As far as she’d been able to tell, it barely slowed him down.

She’ll give everything to protect her family.

He always knew she was the one.

Veterinary tech Pepper Miller lives a quiet life in Last Chance County. She’s watching her niece until her sister shows up…if she ever does. When Victory’s father demands he take over her care, Pepper knows something has gone wrong. With a new drug in town, and her sister embroiled in a dangerous bargain, it’s up to Pepper to protect the people she loves.

Even if it costs every secret she’s ever kept.

Fire Department liaison Allen Frees lives with the injuries he sustained as a police officer in a raid gone wrong. He’s put his life back together but getting the truck crew and engine squad to succeed might be his toughest assignment yet. When Victory is nearly kidnapped at a community event, Allen steps in to help Pepper keep her niece safe. The one thing he couldn’t fix was the love he lost, but he isn’t going to let Pepper walk away this time.

No matter what walls he has to break down.

Last Chance County returns in this blazing new series from Sunrise Publishing.

Last Chance Fire and Rescue

  • Book 1: Expired Return
  • Book 2: Expired Hope (coming soon)
  • Book 3: Expired Promise (coming soon)
  • Book 4: Expired Vows (coming soon)

Last Chance County

  • Book 1: Expired Refuge
  • Book 2: Expired Secrets
  • Book 3: Expired Cache
  • Book 4: Expired Hero
  • Book 5: Expired Game
  • Book 6: Expired Plot
  • Book 7: Expired Getaway
  • Book 8: Expired Betrayal
  • Book 9: Expired Flight
  • Book 10: Expired End

Learn more about Lisa and her books on her WEBSITE.

Learn more about the different seasons (series) offered by Sunrise Publishing or how to audition with them on the Sunrise Publishing WEBSITE.

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Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
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His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

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