Tilly True

by Dilly Court

'I aint always going to be poor, I made me mind up to that.'

Dismissed from her position as housemaid under a cloud of misunderstanding, Tilly True is forced to return home. But Tilly is determined to make something of her life and, rather than admit the truth to her poverty-stricken family, she sets out once more in search of employment.

Her journey takes her to the London law courts, a grim parsonage in one of the most notorious parts of the East End and a house of ill-repute. But when she falls for the dangerous charms of Barnaby Palgrave, Tilly soon finds that her troubles have only just begun ...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

530 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2006

About the author

Dilly Court grew up in North-east London and began her career in television, writing scripts for commercials. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband. She is the author of eighteen novels and also writes under the name of Lily Baxter.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book some time ago and I really enjoyed the story.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and really liked Tilly True. I found myself eager to keep reading and to find out what happened to her next on her adventures. She was always up to something or going somewhere and she never seemed to catch a break until near the end. Her life finally was going the right way.

The only think I disliked about it was Tilly's secrecy,she was a while one for telling stories and lies but when it would just have been so easy to tell the truth she kept quiet and near the end that began to be more than annoying. She was sabotaging her own chance at happiness because of her pathetic pride.

A lot of great characters,from family and friends to passing acquaintances.

The book was rather long and perhaps could have been wrapped up in places but regardless it was easy to read and was done so quickly with gusto.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant book by Dilly Court. I love the way her writing brings to live the old streets of London, I almost feel as though I know the area, even having never visited London myself. This story is about Tilly True, and how her journey through life goes over a period of about three years. It's true to say that never has anyone had so much misfortune in such a short time, it may be a bit far fetched but it's a wonderful story packed full of adventures and it well and truly kept me gripped. At times I felt like shouting at Tilly she defiantly needed some good advice, but at least she learns from her mistakes in the end. This book is never dull, Tilly never seems to stand still. More of the same please!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this with low expectations but ended up really enjoying this.
There were instances of shock but also a lovely story of family and love, for anyone who likes watching Downton Abbey and those type of programmes will love this. Based in London in 1897 it gives you a real idea of the hard ships that people have to endure and I highly recommend this for anyone looking for an easy read who enjoys historical fiction.

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book,love her books worth 5* rating.

[Phil Hodgkiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I might have a cup of tea. I lost count how many times this phrase was said but all in all a good story.

[Sanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book; read another of Dilly Courts books last year and it was equally as fabulous as this one.

The start of the story puts Tilly in a bad place where she loses her job due to the lies and unfairness of the woman who employs her. The woman's philandering husband has always tried to get his hands on Tilly but she's too smart and too quick for him to handle. Once she leaves their employ, she is relieved to not have to tolerate that mans sinister advances.....only he comes back into the story later on.

Tilly's life was not an easy one and the 1800's was not an easy time for folk to live, but they all scraped together what they could and helped each other along. She had a great imagination and would make up stories of where she was going and who with, including a lie that she would go to India with a minister of the church, and his sister. Unfortunately Tilly's little lies had gotten her into a whole heap more trouble than even she had anticipated could possibly happen.
However, the law was not always on the side of the innocent and when Tilly is kidnapped, things turn ugly, and her family have no idea she'd been kidnapped, thinking she'd already gone to India.

Tilly eventually gets some of the things she aspires to getting, but unbeknownst to her, things are not what they seem. She is led astray by unscrupulous people despite being very street smart.

Many things happen to Tilly in her journey through those years of her life, but the end result of her fantasies is very different from what she had dreamed in the beginning.

A lovely read and one I would gladly promote as being a wonderfully skillfully written historical novel, full of entertaining adventures and mishaps not just to Tilly, but also to her family.

[LAURA JONES · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Dilly Court books have read quite a few now usually set in the 1890s or thereabouts very gritty and realistic.
Tilly True is employed as a housekeeper but its not a good place to be the husband tries repeatedly to molest her and the one day the lady of the house accuses her of theft. angered she storms out of the house to go home but on her way she meets to carters who have come to blows. angered by the way the one man is thrashing his horse she challenges him but it turns nasty. she is saved by a Rector who comes to her rescue. there follows a friendship which leads to both friendship and heartache.
Tilly is a fighter though and despite having her life threatened a family which are reluctant to let her live with them again her work in the law courts and ending up in a house of ill repute.
all this wont make Tilly give up and fighting her life and those around her she believes life can be better does it go that way?

[mckailer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably my favourite Dilly Court book as of yet. I loved the fact, that in my opinion the plot was a little different in this book compared to some of her other ones. Don't worry I will not give any plot details away. But i do have to say I enjoyed this book and found it rather difficult to tear myself away from those so ever gripping pages.

Another thing i liked about the story, was that some characters in this story gave me mixed feelings; to the point where it took me till almost the end of the book to decipher weather they were good or bad people. The writing as always was good and I actually enjoyed the ending (I usually find most faults in the books ending).

So all in all this was definitely a goodread, I would 100% recommend this book to those of you who are also historical romance fanatics like me.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about Tilly True who lived in the poor side of london growing up. She wanted to make something of herself. But she abused and used by Bert and then raped in a brothel house. She fell in love with barney and they got “married” or at least she thought they had. She went to be an army wife in India but was sent back to London. She opened a shop with Clem and they fell in love but she didn’t have the heart to tell him that the marriage was fake and barney had used her. In the end they end up being together. My grandma gave me this book. I wasn’t actually expecting to like it as much as i did. Some parts were hard to get into but it was actually really enjoyable and i found myself hooked at some parts. I just wish we could have found out more of Tilly and Clems story.

[Holly Beacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book! I usually turn to Dilly Court books after I've read a particularly intense or not so good book. They are usually easy to read and a great story. I could not put this book down, it was so unpredictable and I really enjoyed the main characters storyline. It was been passed through the whole family now and we have all thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Patricia Pinches · Rating 5 out of 5]

slow start

I thought the book was a little slow at first, or was it that I had just finished another good read!! However once I got further into the book it became very enthralling and I found it hard to put down, I even found myself trying to warn Tilly of the consequences of her lies.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although different to her usual style I really enjoyed this story about Tilly True and her adventures. Like a previous reader the only downside was her flair for telling lies when she so easily could have told the truth! nevertheless I'd still recommend this to anyone who enjoys sagas.

[Emma Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great rollicking tale. Yes, pure Dilly Court. The heroine has extraordinary adventures, such as being imprisoned in a reckless man's house, accused of thieving, and sent to live in a brothel. I love this author, and this book certainly did not disappoint!

[Read NoTrash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Inspired by Gone with the Wind and many other historical romances.
A complete waste of time, money, eyes, attention, mind, etc.

Note to Author:



Kindly give up writing!

[Sandra Bateman]

Captivating

i have read many books by this author and i can honestly say I could not put it down. It kept me turning the pages, I was so disappointed when it finished,I just wanted it to go on and on. Brilliant.

[Natalya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another really good read from Dilly Court. This one felt a bit different to the others I've read, perhaps because it's one of her first books. I always enjoy the adventures in these stories and this lived up to expectations.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book Tilly is a brilliant character with ups and downs in her life she always seems to carry on no matter what happens next
It’s a never want to put down book but unfortunately due to commitments I couldn’t read as much as I would of liked to never put down

[John Rutherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Read as always

Stretching the imagination.
The happenings were inventive if unbelievable but still kept the reader willing to turn to next page and carry on wanting to know what happened next.

[Rebecca Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, wasn't to sure at the starting up but ends up good. Good story line, I felt sorry for Tilly's life but it ended up good, would have been good to read what happened next for Tilly and her new husband.

[sky .⋆♱⃓ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a thrilling, emotional, captivating book. i couldn’t put it down, i love dilly court and her stories, she makes you intrigued to know what’s going to happen. i get so obsessed with these main characters

[Glynn Donnelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a lot of Dilly Court's books and enjoyed them all until this. I just could not take to the silly girl with all her fantasies, couldn't help thinking she deserved everything she got
Won't stop me reading more if Dilly's books though.

[irene currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional rollercoaster of a story

Once again full marks to Dilly Court what a storyline it actually makes you feel as if you are there going through all the trials and tribulations of the characters if you haven't already read it then I would definitely recommend it

[Dawn Vanstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very vivid descriptions brought Victorian East End London to life for me. I enjoyed the story and the characters were strong, the heroine likeable, the story believable.

[Judith Ring · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good but not riveting read

[Sarah Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good read, very varied story and a great mix of characters.

[J.J. JOHNSTONE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone. Looking forward to reading my next one and hope it is as good.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

I would definitely recommend this book, so much that I couldn't put it down!! I don't want to spoil story for future readers.

[Christina Rochester · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just really couldn't get to grips with this one. I've read multiple Dilly Court books and really enjoyed some, but this is the worst of the lot so far.

I wouldn't recommend this one.

[Rowlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful Dilly Court novel. The stroy of Tilly and all the ups and downs life throws at her and her courage to go on at all cost.