My Father’s Daughter: A Romantic Historical Adventure

Teresa Marotta
Crary Publications (2008)
ISBN 9780974343860
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/08)


“My Father’s Daughter” contains all of the best elements of a great novel.  The author Teresa Marotta immediately swept me into the intriguing adventure.  It begins in Columbia, South Carolina in the year 1892.  Feisty, strong-willed, 22-year-old, red-head Amelia Porter is dealing with her father’s unexpected death.   He traveled every year to trade with the Cherokee.   He was murdered by a rogue Native American.  Unusual for the times, Amelia works in her father’s business.  As she is sorting through his paperwork, she discovers his journals.  While reading them, she discovers that she has a half-sister who is part Native American.  Her sister and family have been secretly hidden from the authorities on land that her father bought to protect them.

As Amelia reads on in her father’s journals, she discovers that although her sister has been kept a secret from her, her father had written books for her to read, as a child that told her about this woman named Taunais.  While Amelia was allowed to be raised with and education and permission to have business responsibilities normally assigned to men, her sister was trained to track, hunt and fight like a warrior.  This was done in secret, so that most members of the tribe were unaware of her capabilities.  Her father only wanted her  to have them if she needed them.

Amelia becomes determined to go to Taunais to tell her of their father’s death.  Nobody is willing to support her with this idea, because the journey is too treacherous for a woman to undertake.  Not allowing this to detour her, Amelia finds a way to sneak along behind two traders who worked with her father.  The journey is not only arduous, but incredibly dangerous.  Amelia is afraid to admit that she feels she is being watched.  She also is afraid to admit that she is finding herself falling for Andrew.  Both issues must find resolution.

“My Father’s Daughter” is definitely a must read for fans of historical fiction.  Not only does it have an incredibly compelling, well-developed plot, with interesting characters, it also has some scenes that will make you laugh out loud.  I love a tale with a strong female heroine.  This story not only has one, but two.  It also has a sexy, strong-yet-caring male hero.  In addition to a wonderful plot, “My Father’s Daughter” also has a strong thread about the importance of personal values running through it.  This touch greatly adds to my respect for the hero and heroine, and definitely adds to the suspense.  This is definitely a must read for all fans of historical fiction.

Make comment on weblog