🗝️ 🏡 🥃 “The Swindler’s Daughter” (2023) 🥃 🏡 🗝️ – Book Review

MY REVIEW

 

Paperback: 352 Pages

Publisher: Revell (May 2, 2023)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800740246

ISBN-13: 978-0800740245

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

 

“A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.
 
 Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.
 
 When she goes to take possession of her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.
 
 To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.”

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through their Revell Reads blogger program. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

The is the second book I’ve read by the author, and just like The Secrets of Emberwild, this was a book that drew me in and definitely held my attention. 

 

Like that book, The Swindler’s Daughter, is a standalone read as well. There are no recurring characters or connections. 

 

As a fan of that book (which I still need to review), I wanted to read this. The title and intriguing cover drew me right in. And, the story did as well. From the first page and line … 

 

“Her entire life was a sham.”

 

I was captivated. I REALLY had to know more about the story. What was going on?

 

McGee introduces us to: 

 

🗝️ Lillian

👒 Florence (Lillian’s mother, known as Mrs. Doyle)

🔨 Jonah

🍪 Melanie (Jonah’s mother)

👧🏻 Rose (Jonah’s sister)

👧🏻 Betsy (Jonah’s sister)

👒 Edith (Floyd’s sister)

👒 Alma (Edith’s daughter)

🎩 Lewis (Alma’s husband)

🥃 Jeffrey Tanner (Mr. Tanner; Floyd’s business partner)

🥃 Floyd (Lillian’s Father, Deceased)

 

As well as miscellaneous other characters. 

 

Some books I have to list potential trigger and content warnings, this definitely isn’t one of them, unless one counts have a child out of wedlock as such. However, given the time (1912) – it was a bit scandalous.  

 

What is clear right off – Lillian’s mother hasn’t been truthful about her father. And, the woman is UNREMORSEFUL about it. All Florence or rather “Mrs. Doyle” cares about is appearance and securing their future – even if it means marrying her daughter off to some society man. 

 

Lillian is sent to Dawsonville from Atlanta to settle the estate. Her mother wants her to return with the money and marry Reginald Montgomery. That’s not exactly what Lillian wants to do. 

 

When she arrives, there is the matter of remembering the solicitor’s name. [Solicitor is an older term for lawyer].

 

Jonah has finally secured a loan that he hopes will help his mother and sisters, and he can chase his dream of college. He bumps into a woman, not knowing how she’ll end up changing everything.

 

Lillian is stunned to find out her father left her, an illegitimate daughter everything. Everything – legally that is – gives her the rights to 60% of Floyd’s business, the house, and all his money. The problem? It seems someone is living in the house, and is assuming it was left for her. And, the woman then reveals that Lillian’s father has a sister and a niece. 

 

The woman Jonah has run into is the legal owner of the house his mother and sisters are occupying. 

 

Melanie has an idea to not only live in the house, but renovate it for a bakery. At first, Lillian has no intention of allowing it. She does think perhaps the house will give her a fresh start away from her mother. Yet, she has a sense of duty towards her mother. That isn’t the only shock Lillian gets – she has family on her father’s side.

 

After getting to know Lillian, Melanie has an idea this might be God’s plan for both of them; Jonah isn’t sure. He wants to know if Lillian will agree to honor the “price” for the house. But, first, Lillian has to go through her father’s stuff. 

 

She does notice her father’s family is less on propriety as opposed to her mother, and ends up enjoying their company. 

 

It isn’t long until her father’s business partner comes calling – first, there are issues with debt, then he wants to buy her out (at a lower rate) and wants the house. Tanner is insistent about the house. But, something doesn’t sit right with Lillian. 

 

Out of curiosity, Jonah wonders what Lillian wants – she’d want a coffee shop and bookstore. That becomes an potential “idea” within the bakery when she finds some books belonging to her father. 

 

That isn’t all she finds. The longer she’s with her family, Lillian finds a different side to her father – the side her mother never told her. After a telegram from her mother, pushing about the wedding, Lillian changes her mind about staying long enough to help Melanie, which confuses Jonah. He’s even more shocked when Lillian agrees to help with the renovations. But, it is Melanie’s support that encourages Lillian’s independent streak.

 

But, when Florence goes too far with assuming plans for the Lillian’s life, Lillian makes her decision more permanent; even when her mother comes to Dawsonville. 

 

During the demolition phase of the renovations, Lillian begins finding her father’s “secrets” – a ledger, a letter, bottles of whiskey. It’s definitely clear that her father was into something rather “interesting” despite his letter and vow to scrub up the business. She’s also left wondering if that is why Tanner wants the house. 

 

As the mystery begins to unfold, and the renovations begin shaping up, Jonah and Lillian begin to fall for each other. Jonah even wonders if he wants to leave either. 

 

As the renovations continue, so does the discovery of secrets; but more importantly, a family of blood relatives and friends come together. And, Lillian begins to see where her home truly is. 

 

But, just when everyone thinks they’re heading in the right direction, everything is destroyed and everything gets twisted around. This causes Lillian to wonder how deep a scandal actually goes. A scandal that involves treachery, bootlegging, murder, kidnapping, corruption. 

 

With all that, it is little wonder it drew me right in and held my interest until the very last page. McGee’s short chapters were also a culprit. She definitely knows how to put the reader right in the heart of the story and keep them there.

 

To balance out the “drama”, there were elements of humor. One such moment is when one of Jonah’s sisters refers to him kissing Lillian as “smushing faces”. 

 

One slight issue I had with the story, was the lack of an interaction between Lillian and this “Reginald” she was supposed to marry. All readers are given is that Lillian was supposed to marry him. I would’ve liked perhaps to meet him and seen what he and Lillian were like together. I would’ve liked to have met him and gotten to know him.

 

Other than that, I was thoroughly enjoyed the story, and it is high up on my “re-read” list. 

 

As this is distributed by a Christian centric publisher, there will be obvious themes and references to the Christian faith. This is also a clean read which means there is limited affection and no bad language.

 

Anyone who loves a mystery, suspense, and romance set in historical times – this is one to pick up! 

 

I’m definitely excited to see what the author plans next. 

 

[As of note, I LOVED the setting of Dawsonville, Georgia given the fact that NASCAR Champions Bill Elliott and his son Chase Elliott are from the town. Also, NASCAR has its own story about bootleggers.]

 

 

RATING: 

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads 

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub 

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

STEPHANIA H. McGEE is the award-winning author of many stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South, including The Secrets of Emberwild. When she’s not reading or sipping sweet tea on the front porch, she’s a writer, dreamer, husband spoiler, and busy mom of two rambunctious boys. Learn more at www.stepheniamcgee.com. 

 

 

She can be found on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StepheniaHMcGee/ 

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepheniahmcgee/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/stepheniaHMcGee 

 

 

 

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.