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A Thimble for Christmas
Don’t miss the next utterly romantic historical saga from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dilly Court!
She ran along the snow-covered cobbles, gripping her sewing box – fate in her hands…
Living hand to mouth ever since her mother’s tragic death, Amelia sells the last of her treasured possessions to avoid being cast out of her home onto London’s streets.
Her estranged grandfather unexpectedly bequeaths a small, struggling factory making mourning dresses and Amelia dares to dream… Drawing sketches by candlelight, she longs to sew elegant gowns from fine silks and beautiful ribbons for the rich.
As the cold winter wind begins to bite, Amelia’s future hangs by a thread – can she keep her hopes alive?
Dilly’s novel Sunday’s Child hit #1 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts the w/e 25th June 2022
She ran along the snow-covered cobbles, gripping her sewing box – fate in her hands…
Living hand to mouth ever since her mother’s tragic death, Amelia sells the last of her treasured possessions to avoid being cast out of her home onto London’s streets.
Her estranged grandfather unexpectedly bequeaths a small, struggling factory making mourning dresses and Amelia dares to dream… Drawing sketches by candlelight, she longs to sew elegant gowns from fine silks and beautiful ribbons for the rich.
As the cold winter wind begins to bite, Amelia’s future hangs by a thread – can she keep her hopes alive?
Dilly’s novel Sunday’s Child hit #1 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts the w/e 25th June 2022
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Published October 12, 2023
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About the author
Dilly Court
83 books416 followersDilly 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
December 17, 2023
I love historical fiction and since I was introduced to Dilly Court a couple of years ago I have thoroughly enjoyed her delightful rags to riches tales. I find her to be reminiscent of Catherine Cookson, a firm favourite of mine. It was a delight to rejoin Dilly once again as it has been some time since I have enjoyed her stories. I do believe their are characters from her Rockwood Chronicles which I have still yet to read...maybe I shall do so soon.
Amelia Sutton lives hand to mouth with her father Dr Harold Sutton, who tends to the poor and needy and often spares them the fee they can ill afford. This places Amelia is an awkward position when she asks for the rent money that is two months behind or a few pennies to put food on the table and coal to warm their small rooms. So it is against her father's wishes that she seeks her maternal grandfather's help and in light of the situation he places Amelia in the position of manager of a manufactory he owns which comes with a house, rent-free. Amelia can hardly believe her luck though her father is reluctant to take any handouts from the man who blamed him for his wife's, Amelia's mother, early death ten years before. He entrusts his man of business Caleb Marsh to her care, and he offers his services and assistance should she need it.
Upon moving into the house, Amelia scrubs it from top to bottom with the assistance of Mariah Simms, a woman she took under her wing to save her and her children from the brutality of the man they lived under. They make the house habitable and begin to let out rooms on the third floor to lodgers. Even her father has relented and welcomed the success she has made of the place and no longer is he tending to the poor and needy who cannot pay but he has been offered a position at the London Hospital where he trained and qualified many years before. Their first lodger is a fellow doctor who works with her father, Dr Todd Taylor. Then when her grandfather dies suddenly, his successor dispenses of Caleb Marsh's services and that of the butler who had worked for her grandfather for thirty years. Amelia offers them both a room each. She is also shocked to learn that her grandfather has left the manufactory and the attached house to her with the remaining estate to her mother's cousin Daniel Norris, who contests the will in the hope it will leave Amelia with nothing.
In the meantime, Amelia has dreamed of becoming a designer of fashions and whilst she managed the manufactory of mourning gowns, she decided to branch out into other gowns replicating the expensive Paris fashions but made to a budget. She is sure there are many women in London who would certainly pay for her services if only she could find the custom.
But when they are suddenly evicted, Amelia has no idea where they will go or what they will do. Until she is offered a gift...or is it really? Sometimes a wolf comes disguised in sheeps clothing but can Amelia spot the wolves for the sheep?
Another delightfully well written tale and one of my favourites of Dilly Court's I think, though it's hard pressed to find one that isn't beguiling. I think I found only one of hers okayish while everything else I have read by her has been thoroughly entertaining and wholly immersive. All the characters are well rounded even the ones who are unlikeable, of which there are a few.
Although her tales are all largely similar in style, they are each different. And yet they are all equally delightful. All set within the Victorian era and all are rags to riches in style and yet they each tell a different story. And yet I think this is the first book of Dilly's I have devoured in a day. Another compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #AThimbleForChristmas in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Amelia Sutton lives hand to mouth with her father Dr Harold Sutton, who tends to the poor and needy and often spares them the fee they can ill afford. This places Amelia is an awkward position when she asks for the rent money that is two months behind or a few pennies to put food on the table and coal to warm their small rooms. So it is against her father's wishes that she seeks her maternal grandfather's help and in light of the situation he places Amelia in the position of manager of a manufactory he owns which comes with a house, rent-free. Amelia can hardly believe her luck though her father is reluctant to take any handouts from the man who blamed him for his wife's, Amelia's mother, early death ten years before. He entrusts his man of business Caleb Marsh to her care, and he offers his services and assistance should she need it.
Upon moving into the house, Amelia scrubs it from top to bottom with the assistance of Mariah Simms, a woman she took under her wing to save her and her children from the brutality of the man they lived under. They make the house habitable and begin to let out rooms on the third floor to lodgers. Even her father has relented and welcomed the success she has made of the place and no longer is he tending to the poor and needy who cannot pay but he has been offered a position at the London Hospital where he trained and qualified many years before. Their first lodger is a fellow doctor who works with her father, Dr Todd Taylor. Then when her grandfather dies suddenly, his successor dispenses of Caleb Marsh's services and that of the butler who had worked for her grandfather for thirty years. Amelia offers them both a room each. She is also shocked to learn that her grandfather has left the manufactory and the attached house to her with the remaining estate to her mother's cousin Daniel Norris, who contests the will in the hope it will leave Amelia with nothing.
In the meantime, Amelia has dreamed of becoming a designer of fashions and whilst she managed the manufactory of mourning gowns, she decided to branch out into other gowns replicating the expensive Paris fashions but made to a budget. She is sure there are many women in London who would certainly pay for her services if only she could find the custom.
But when they are suddenly evicted, Amelia has no idea where they will go or what they will do. Until she is offered a gift...or is it really? Sometimes a wolf comes disguised in sheeps clothing but can Amelia spot the wolves for the sheep?
Another delightfully well written tale and one of my favourites of Dilly Court's I think, though it's hard pressed to find one that isn't beguiling. I think I found only one of hers okayish while everything else I have read by her has been thoroughly entertaining and wholly immersive. All the characters are well rounded even the ones who are unlikeable, of which there are a few.
Although her tales are all largely similar in style, they are each different. And yet they are all equally delightful. All set within the Victorian era and all are rags to riches in style and yet they each tell a different story. And yet I think this is the first book of Dilly's I have devoured in a day. Another compelling and thoroughly enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #AThimbleForChristmas in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
January 13, 2024
One of the easyest books to read. Amelia's strength of character to build a high quality dressmaking business and overcome some difficult situations along with her generosity to help needy people was a very pleasant lighthearted read.
November 28, 2023
Another great Dilly court book hope another follows this one x
December 23, 2024
Absolutely brilliant story from the beginning Dilly Court is fabulous as always. Amelia is a brilliant character and I felt like the era was brought to life.
December 16, 2023
A great book
Read
April 13, 2024Rating: DNF 22% | Date: 28th January 2024
October 23, 2024
It is early in the Industrial Revolution. Women work for barely enough to survive on in garment factories making the new ready to wear clothing meant for the emerging middle class.
Amelia's revered pa works as a doctor, often for nothing because his patients are too poor to pay the fees, but this leaves his only daughter scraping to find ways to heat the drafty rental they're in, pay the arrears on their rent, and find enough food to avoid starvation...plus, she has been on rounds so much she often sees oatients for him if it's a simple case. Since her mother died a decade ago and her maternal grandfather refused to help - his position being that her papa should love Amelia, and should have loved his wife, enough to find paying customers and provide a living.
Amelia is excellent at taking Parisian design elements and sketching new designs that never make it to a finished product since she can't afford the material. Desperate for food, she hocks the last piece of worth that she can and then goes to see her grandfather, who unexpectedly gives her a shot at managing the residential property and the garment factory that makes mourning clothes, one her grandfather had early in his career, and she accepts. She moves her reluctant father into nice rooms and a surgery, rescues a patient and his mom and older sister who are being evicted and makes her a partner, rents out 3 rooms in total, all within the purview of her lease, and sees to it that workers who do a good job with extras assigned get extra pay, and then her grandfather gets sick and dies. He wioos only the garment factory and the attached living quarters to Amelia, but despite the fact her cousin has inherited everything else, he wants the mourning clothing factory and property as well, and successfully contests the will. When they are about to be thrown out, someone who has been pretending friendship claims he has inherited his great aunt's house, hates it because of the abuse he claims to have lived through there, and says she can do whatever it takes to make the place liveable and stay there...then later comes back with extreme demands for rent and other "services." Meanwhile, she has tried to sell her dresses to department stores without success, but then fate throws one of the gentry in her path, someone who saw the dresses and went back to the store, only to find them gone as Amelia hadboicked them up to try to sell on her own.
With the support of friends, can she evade the clutches of a false friend, realize her true love, help some of those less fortunate, and become a designer of her own fashion house?
The plot has a lot of twists and turns, and a definite, "You go, girl!" moment when the heroine surprises someone who needs the surprise desperately. I enjoyed the book and was glad to get to sample the author's work at a lower orice than that posted for her other books. I will have to see if the library has her other works.
Amelia's revered pa works as a doctor, often for nothing because his patients are too poor to pay the fees, but this leaves his only daughter scraping to find ways to heat the drafty rental they're in, pay the arrears on their rent, and find enough food to avoid starvation...plus, she has been on rounds so much she often sees oatients for him if it's a simple case. Since her mother died a decade ago and her maternal grandfather refused to help - his position being that her papa should love Amelia, and should have loved his wife, enough to find paying customers and provide a living.
Amelia is excellent at taking Parisian design elements and sketching new designs that never make it to a finished product since she can't afford the material. Desperate for food, she hocks the last piece of worth that she can and then goes to see her grandfather, who unexpectedly gives her a shot at managing the residential property and the garment factory that makes mourning clothes, one her grandfather had early in his career, and she accepts. She moves her reluctant father into nice rooms and a surgery, rescues a patient and his mom and older sister who are being evicted and makes her a partner, rents out 3 rooms in total, all within the purview of her lease, and sees to it that workers who do a good job with extras assigned get extra pay, and then her grandfather gets sick and dies. He wioos only the garment factory and the attached living quarters to Amelia, but despite the fact her cousin has inherited everything else, he wants the mourning clothing factory and property as well, and successfully contests the will. When they are about to be thrown out, someone who has been pretending friendship claims he has inherited his great aunt's house, hates it because of the abuse he claims to have lived through there, and says she can do whatever it takes to make the place liveable and stay there...then later comes back with extreme demands for rent and other "services." Meanwhile, she has tried to sell her dresses to department stores without success, but then fate throws one of the gentry in her path, someone who saw the dresses and went back to the store, only to find them gone as Amelia hadboicked them up to try to sell on her own.
With the support of friends, can she evade the clutches of a false friend, realize her true love, help some of those less fortunate, and become a designer of her own fashion house?
The plot has a lot of twists and turns, and a definite, "You go, girl!" moment when the heroine surprises someone who needs the surprise desperately. I enjoyed the book and was glad to get to sample the author's work at a lower orice than that posted for her other books. I will have to see if the library has her other works.
November 4, 2024
Key take-aways
A Thimble for Christmas
Key take-aways:
- Not every father is practical let alone has a head for business. Sometimes the children have to step up to find ways to make ends meet. Amelia had to approach her grandfather for help so that she and her father wouldn't end up in the workhouse. This was despite being left to fend for themselves because her grandfather despised his daughter's choice to marry Amelia's father. However, it was Amelia's father who was too kind to request payment from his patients for his medical services which caused them to be in the dire straits they were in. Amelia did what she had to but she didn't turn her father away/give up on him.
- Be wary of judging a person by appearances. "Handsome is as handsome does" referred to Caleb who ultimately didn't turn out to be the "really nice man" Amelia thought he was.
- Don't take a favour from someone who you have not been able to trust 100%. If you have qualms about a person, don't go into a transaction with them no matter how sincere it sounds. Caleb offered "his house" to Amelia when she had nowhere else to go. Despite this sounding like a really good favour, Caleb did not have good intentions despite selling the proposition very well. Amelia did have reason to doubt him because of his past behavior.
- Everybody must start somewhere. Some people are born into wealth, others have to create it. Amelia had a special talent in creating fashionable gowns and this is what allowed her to make her entrance into the world of commerce.
- Amelia had courage, intelligence as well as a soft heart. She was brave enough to take on any opportunity that came her way; she knew when to trust her own decisions but when to accept other people's advice; she was not one to allow people in unfortunate circumstances (who she came into contact with) to suffer without assisting them.
- I haven't given this book 5 stars because there are some parts which I felt were unrealistic and would not be the case in real life. However, this didn't take away from the book being a good read as a whole.
A Thimble for Christmas
Key take-aways:
- Not every father is practical let alone has a head for business. Sometimes the children have to step up to find ways to make ends meet. Amelia had to approach her grandfather for help so that she and her father wouldn't end up in the workhouse. This was despite being left to fend for themselves because her grandfather despised his daughter's choice to marry Amelia's father. However, it was Amelia's father who was too kind to request payment from his patients for his medical services which caused them to be in the dire straits they were in. Amelia did what she had to but she didn't turn her father away/give up on him.
- Be wary of judging a person by appearances. "Handsome is as handsome does" referred to Caleb who ultimately didn't turn out to be the "really nice man" Amelia thought he was.
- Don't take a favour from someone who you have not been able to trust 100%. If you have qualms about a person, don't go into a transaction with them no matter how sincere it sounds. Caleb offered "his house" to Amelia when she had nowhere else to go. Despite this sounding like a really good favour, Caleb did not have good intentions despite selling the proposition very well. Amelia did have reason to doubt him because of his past behavior.
- Everybody must start somewhere. Some people are born into wealth, others have to create it. Amelia had a special talent in creating fashionable gowns and this is what allowed her to make her entrance into the world of commerce.
- Amelia had courage, intelligence as well as a soft heart. She was brave enough to take on any opportunity that came her way; she knew when to trust her own decisions but when to accept other people's advice; she was not one to allow people in unfortunate circumstances (who she came into contact with) to suffer without assisting them.
- I haven't given this book 5 stars because there are some parts which I felt were unrealistic and would not be the case in real life. However, this didn't take away from the book being a good read as a whole.
March 30, 2024
This is a delightful read. The times are when women were given little consideration and were at the mercy of the men surrounding their lives. Amelia's mother made a terrible mistake by marrying against her father's wishes to a doctor who by her father's standards wasn't up to par. She died and the read sees Amelia and her father struggling financially. Her father isn't good with money and often makes no charge for his fellow human patients who are stuck in poverty.
After selling one of the last of her mother's possessions and against her father's wishes Amelia makes a plea to her estranged grandfather who sets her a goal, she is to take charge of a factory he has, one that manufactures mourning garments for department stores. A house will be provided when the present manager is sacked from his position due to his manipulation of the books and stealing. Her grandfather's assistant Caleb Marsh is on hand to assist her. For all intents and purposes Caleb appears a worthy friend but this all changes on the death of the grandfather. While leaving the factory and house to Amelia it is challenged by a nephew and for which sees Caleb's true colours. She is forced to move house, to one supposedly inherited by Caleb, however it appears that his whole aim was to possess Amelia but fortunately for her by now she has many friends including one who will become a romantic attachment, a young doctor who had first come to stay as a boarder. The true ownership of the house comes to light with Amelia inheriting it. Along with Mariah, her cook and friend whom she saved from a brutal man and the seamstresses that had worked at the factory, now sewing the beautiful garments created by the very talented Amelia, life for everyone is beautiful.
After selling one of the last of her mother's possessions and against her father's wishes Amelia makes a plea to her estranged grandfather who sets her a goal, she is to take charge of a factory he has, one that manufactures mourning garments for department stores. A house will be provided when the present manager is sacked from his position due to his manipulation of the books and stealing. Her grandfather's assistant Caleb Marsh is on hand to assist her. For all intents and purposes Caleb appears a worthy friend but this all changes on the death of the grandfather. While leaving the factory and house to Amelia it is challenged by a nephew and for which sees Caleb's true colours. She is forced to move house, to one supposedly inherited by Caleb, however it appears that his whole aim was to possess Amelia but fortunately for her by now she has many friends including one who will become a romantic attachment, a young doctor who had first come to stay as a boarder. The true ownership of the house comes to light with Amelia inheriting it. Along with Mariah, her cook and friend whom she saved from a brutal man and the seamstresses that had worked at the factory, now sewing the beautiful garments created by the very talented Amelia, life for everyone is beautiful.
October 6, 2023
She ran along the snow-covered cobbles, gripping her sewing box - fate in her hands.... Living hand-to-mouth ever since her mother's tragic death, Amelia sells the last of her treasured possessions to avoid being cast out of her home and onto London's streets. Her estranged grandfather unexpectedly bequeaths her a small, struggling factory making mourning dresses, and Amelia dares to dream....
Amelia's father is a doctor, but as they reside in a poor area, he rarely gets paid for his services, they pay him with bread, butter, tea, etc. Or he gets nothing. They are about to be evicted from their home, so Amelia goes to her estranged grandfather to see if he will help her. We also meet some characters from The Rockwood Chronicles.
This is another well-written piece of historical fiction. The characters are well-rounded, but there's one character you will like at first, and then it will quickly turn to dislike. Amelia finds new friends along the way and helps them the best she can. I'm a huge Dilly Court fan, and I've yet to read a book of hers that disappoints.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #DillyCourt for my ARC of #AThimbleForChristmas in exchange for an honest review.
Amelia's father is a doctor, but as they reside in a poor area, he rarely gets paid for his services, they pay him with bread, butter, tea, etc. Or he gets nothing. They are about to be evicted from their home, so Amelia goes to her estranged grandfather to see if he will help her. We also meet some characters from The Rockwood Chronicles.
This is another well-written piece of historical fiction. The characters are well-rounded, but there's one character you will like at first, and then it will quickly turn to dislike. Amelia finds new friends along the way and helps them the best she can. I'm a huge Dilly Court fan, and I've yet to read a book of hers that disappoints.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #DillyCourt for my ARC of #AThimbleForChristmas in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2023
Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion
I have never read a Dilly Court book before though they have often caught my eye as I love historical fiction
This is well written - I understand that there may be characters from previous books but that doesnt detract from this book and its entirely possible to read this as a standalone book and to follow the characters. Its is obviously well researched and sets a picture of life in the East End of London - though St Katherines Dock is rather a way from The London Hospital.
There are characters that are endearing, rogues and ruffians and those that you know you don't and won't like.
To give too much information would provide too many spoilers - but the main character goes from ruin to fame through some parts that may seem a little contrived. However this means that the story can be wrapped up and ended neatly and in a satisfying way.
A thoroughly enjoyable read
I have never read a Dilly Court book before though they have often caught my eye as I love historical fiction
This is well written - I understand that there may be characters from previous books but that doesnt detract from this book and its entirely possible to read this as a standalone book and to follow the characters. Its is obviously well researched and sets a picture of life in the East End of London - though St Katherines Dock is rather a way from The London Hospital.
There are characters that are endearing, rogues and ruffians and those that you know you don't and won't like.
To give too much information would provide too many spoilers - but the main character goes from ruin to fame through some parts that may seem a little contrived. However this means that the story can be wrapped up and ended neatly and in a satisfying way.
A thoroughly enjoyable read
December 10, 2024
Dilly Court (2023) A THIMBLE FOR CHRISTMAS (AUDIOBOOK)
BorrowBox - HarperCollins Publishers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars
BorrowBox writes, "She ran along the snow-covered cobbles, gripping her sewing box – fate in her hands…
Living hand to mouth ever since her mother’s tragic death, Amelia sells the last of her treasured possessions to avoid being cast out of her home onto London’s streets.
Her estranged grandfather unexpectedly bequeaths a small, struggling factory making mourning dresses and Amelia dares to dream… Drawing sketches by candlelight, she longs to sew elegant gowns from fine silks and beautiful ribbons for the rich.
As the cold winter wind begins to bite, Amelia’s future hangs by a thread – can she keep her hopes alive?"
=====
Dilly Court's characters are without fail, excellent!
=====
#DillyCourt #AThimbleForChristmas #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #BorrowBox
BorrowBox - HarperCollins Publishers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars
BorrowBox writes, "She ran along the snow-covered cobbles, gripping her sewing box – fate in her hands…
Living hand to mouth ever since her mother’s tragic death, Amelia sells the last of her treasured possessions to avoid being cast out of her home onto London’s streets.
Her estranged grandfather unexpectedly bequeaths a small, struggling factory making mourning dresses and Amelia dares to dream… Drawing sketches by candlelight, she longs to sew elegant gowns from fine silks and beautiful ribbons for the rich.
As the cold winter wind begins to bite, Amelia’s future hangs by a thread – can she keep her hopes alive?"
=====
Dilly Court's characters are without fail, excellent!
=====
#DillyCourt #AThimbleForChristmas #Book #Books #Read #Reads #Reading #Review #Reviews #BookReview #BookReviews #GoodReads #Audiobook #Audiobooks #BorrowBox
December 28, 2025
•It had been a while since I read a Dilly Court book; I’d forgotten how much I really love her!
•I love that her stories always involve a complex theme with a positive outcome.
•Amelia is a prime example that humans, most of all women, are capable of anything and no man should ever overpower or undermine that.
•I felt really touched and motivated by Amelia’s determination to get herself out of bankruptcy to build a better life.
•Although there were some unlikeable characters, most of the characters were really kind and generous.
•An inspirational tale of survival.
Pick this up if you’re into:
✔️Survival stories
✔️Love stories
✔️Women Empowerment
•I love that her stories always involve a complex theme with a positive outcome.
•Amelia is a prime example that humans, most of all women, are capable of anything and no man should ever overpower or undermine that.
•I felt really touched and motivated by Amelia’s determination to get herself out of bankruptcy to build a better life.
•Although there were some unlikeable characters, most of the characters were really kind and generous.
•An inspirational tale of survival.
Pick this up if you’re into:
✔️Survival stories
✔️Love stories
✔️Women Empowerment
September 2, 2023
A Thimble for Christmas by Dilly Court
Another book by my favourite author for this type of genre . You know you are in for a delightful read and this title did not disappoint.
Amelia inherits a small factory making mourning dresses , and using her skills both in sewing and designing she sets to fulfil her dream of making it in the business.
I enjoyed catching up on some past characters but the book also works well as a standalone.
Another book by my favourite author for this type of genre . You know you are in for a delightful read and this title did not disappoint.
Amelia inherits a small factory making mourning dresses , and using her skills both in sewing and designing she sets to fulfil her dream of making it in the business.
I enjoyed catching up on some past characters but the book also works well as a standalone.
December 22, 2023
Whenever I am lucky to pick up a Dilly Court book I know I'm in for a wonderful story. this one again a delight.
The story of a girl struggling to keep a roof over her father a doctor and herself.
It really draws you in from the beginning. We meet some colorful characters some kind, some not so but, that's what brings them alive.
Once again Dilly has thrilled us with her wonderful imagination and attention to detail.
The story of a girl struggling to keep a roof over her father a doctor and herself.
It really draws you in from the beginning. We meet some colorful characters some kind, some not so but, that's what brings them alive.
Once again Dilly has thrilled us with her wonderful imagination and attention to detail.
October 17, 2024
Enjoyable, easy to read story of Amelia, a talented seamstress, and her doctor father. They’re destitute because her father’s patients often pay in kind…or are able to pay nothing. Her wealthy grandfather lets her move into a factory of his where the women seam black fabric into mourning clothes.
Amelia rescues a single mom and two children evicted by a mean and brutal master, Mariah & Her children. And so the story begins…
Amelia rescues a single mom and two children evicted by a mean and brutal master, Mariah & Her children. And so the story begins…
October 20, 2024
3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars. This was a good solid book for me, but at almost 500 pages, it felt like it was too long. But it really was a Dickensian type book, so maybe the length shouldn't have surprised me.
Plucky Amelia wades through so many distressing situations. Her big heart results in a large family of choice.
Plucky Amelia wades through so many distressing situations. Her big heart results in a large family of choice.
December 11, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed this historical read. Clean and sweet with twists and turns that kept you interested. All of the characters were well developed and I felt as if I was part of the book watching from a distance. I have already added several more books from this author to my wish list. I really like her writing style.
October 12, 2023
I loved this story and Amelia, a resiliant and clever woman who fought for a better life.
Well plotted and compelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Well plotted and compelling.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
October 14, 2023
A thimble for Christmas
Dilly does it again smashes out the ballpark loved it read it two days trying to make it last lol thank you Dilly for all the hours of enjoyment I have had over the years while reading your books blessed be 🙏
Dilly does it again smashes out the ballpark loved it read it two days trying to make it last lol thank you Dilly for all the hours of enjoyment I have had over the years while reading your books blessed be 🙏
December 16, 2023
As Dilly's books flow so well they are an easy read for me and I always enjoy them. This centres on Amelia, a doctors daughter who has to fend for herself when they are evicted from their home. This also features previous characters from the Rockwood series which I really liked.
Read
January 16, 2024As with all Dilly Courts books, I really enjoyed this book. A bit predictable, but I loved how this book brought some characters from previous books into the story, which makes it all so romantic.
October 16, 2024
The story was interesting but too long with detailed information not needed. It was also unbelievable that Amelia continued to find rich people to help her. I skimmed the last half to see how all of this ended.
October 31, 2024
A Good Tale of Gumption and Redemption
Although the story reads like the "Perils of Pauline", it still keeps your interest high and engaged. And I like stories of the bad guys getting their due and the heroine triumphing in the end. This one was hard to put down!
Although the story reads like the "Perils of Pauline", it still keeps your interest high and engaged. And I like stories of the bad guys getting their due and the heroine triumphing in the end. This one was hard to put down!
October 22, 2023
Another fantastic read from one of my favourite authors. I loved how some of the characters from the Rockwood Chronicles appeared in it
October 29, 2023
Another Dilly Court triumph, a must read!!
November 2, 2023
A nice little predictable tale. Entertaining.
November 4, 2023
A lovely story with great characters, the story kept moving all through the book to a romantic ending.
November 17, 2023
excellent book
Loved reading the book from start to end can’t wait for the next book
Hope next book is as good as this one
Loved reading the book from start to end can’t wait for the next book
Hope next book is as good as this one
November 20, 2023
Loved this book hat of to Dilly court she is a fantastic author
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