A Loving Family

by Dilly Court

She longed to be reunited with her family. The compelling new novel from the Sunday Times top ten bestselling author of The Workhouse Girl.Eleven-year-old Stella Barry is forced into service when her family find themselves living hand-to-mouth. Leaving her mother and younger brother and sister behind, Stella goes to a big country house outside London. When she returns home one Sunday, she discovers they have disappeared. Thrown out of their lodgings, no one knows where they have gone. Seven years later it looks likely Stella will soon become Cook. But circumstances compel her to flee with no references and only a few personal possessions to her name. She has never forgotten her loving family and is determined to find out what happened to them – once and for all.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery

459 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 7, 2013

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

[Marina Horner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Absolute drivel but had got too far through it to stop before I realised that! Predictable in the extreme and every cliche going!!

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author always has a main character who is a strong determined woman and thinks for herself. She ploughs on through life and all that it throws at her, mostly bad times an then she comes through it stronger. At times its far fetched when she goes halfway across the country to dangerous places, dragging people with her to sort problems out. I liked it anyway.

[Hayley Briston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely feel good read. You can't help but to be warmed to Stella the main character. It's the perfect book to snuggle down with. I have bought more of dilly courts book because I so enjoyed this one.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant dilly court book this is one of my favorites enjoyed all the different characters cant wait to read her next book brilliant read everyone should read her books.

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dilly court brilliant author.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

another fab read from Dilly Court

[Mrs Josie Macdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dilly Court

Enjoyed every page of this wonderful book. Transported me back in time. Couldn't put it down. Can't wait to start the next.

[J.J. JOHNSTONE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read

Once again a great read. Was another that once I got into it just wanted to keep on reading. Would recommend.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book, the strong characters. The story is a true tale of a loving family.

[Roz Radmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven year old Stella Barry is forced into service when her father dies . Her mother struggles to feed her younger brother and sister . Stella is working at a large country house for a year before she is allowed home to see her family on Mothering Sunday . Buoyed up with excitement she sets off at dawn on the long walk to London . When she finally arrives it is to find strangers in the house and nobody knows where they might have gone . Despondent she returns to work . Here she stays for seven years . Then circumstances force her to leave without a reference . Now she is determined to find her family , no matter how hard it might be .
A gripping , exciting story of love , loss and above all hope .

[Christina Rochester · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Loving Family is the second book that I’ve read by Dilly Court and it feels like her standard fare. Maybe that’s a bit harsh of me to say after only two books; but they’ve felt like they’re pretty much on the same level, enjoyable but not ground breaking.

That said as always there are one or two characters who have some excellent character development; in this case Tommy Langhorne. But my heart was completely stolen by Spike.

I’m also a little disappointed with the final romantic pairings; I would have liked to have seen Belinda and Bob end up together, but otherwise it was okay.

[lorraine peachey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through think at thin

A lovely story of the ups and downs of life and households just after the turn of the last century.
From life in country and townhouses to masters and servants, we follow the lives of a family, separated by poverty and circumstance. We see loyal families and great friendships. We also see the darker side of life, with drink, cruelty, imprisonment, hardship, danger and debauchery. In the end perseverance and love win through some truly remarkable situations.

[Momo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my most favorite book of Dilly Court so far! It was just pure perfection. Everything that I could ever want in a book was in A Loving Family. The development of all the relationships between the characters were just such a delight to read about. I felt as if I was truly a part of the Loving Family of Stella Barry. Will miss all of them so much 🩷

[Geraldine Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dilly Court is an amazing writer and keeps the reader enthralled from the first page.

The story is exciting and the characters believable. You don't want the book to end. It's a true page turner!

[Manjree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. Good character arks, strong female protagonist, and didn't feel like putting it down.

[Martine Gillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the fact that this book had some interesting twists to it and how people can put class aside when they are too poor to be able to worry about it.

[Linda Pattinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional story of love through the Sister. Emotional story

[Rowlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Dilly Court take of adversity and overcoming.

[Patricia Peel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read real page turner. Highly recommended.

[Julie Eccleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down what a brilliant story

[Dan Hooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story from a fantastic author

[Shirley E. Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Congratulations

Thank you Dilly Court for the enjoyment you have given me reading this book. It is varied and interesting. I look forward to reading more of your work.

[Helen Bernadette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great family saga from Dilly Court

[Wendy Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

worth reading

[Vanessa Rooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, well told story

[Charlotte Shaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about determination, hardship, wrong doing, wickedness, kindness, compassion, courage and the desire to be a family once more.
Alliances are made through accidental meetings.
Two families intertwined by a dark secret from the past. Will the alliance be enough to right the wronged?
Can the alliance unshackle the families from the past and its deadly secret?
Will the courage and determination be enough to overcome the dangers faced in Stellas' quest to reunite her family?
It is a story filled with danger, cruel twists and twists of fate.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great book, but I found myself wanting to know more at the end of the story and unfortunately I couldn't.
But other than that, it's another great book by my favourite author. Dilly Court always keeps her to form

[A Novel Idea]

Requested by Sharon Govender

[Anthony L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story of courage and love. Inspirational.

[Lisa Eldridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another corker from dilly

A highly recommended book! Another of dilly court fantastically written story's. Gripping from beginning to the end. With a heart warming finish!