A daughter's shame, a mother's secret - a family united by love A mother's secret
One thing unites the wealthy Farthing family and hardworking Dilly Carey - Olivia, the daughter Dilly gave to the Farthings years before. Olivia is now grown-up, beautiful and happy, but Dilly is still grieved by the choice she was forced to make to give her beloved child a future.
A daughter's shame
When unmarried Olivia arrives on Dilly's doorstep, her own baby girl in her arms, begging for help, Dilly can only say yes. Olivia's secret will be safe with her. Dilly will find a way for Olivia to keep her daughter without revealing the true circumstances of her birth.
A father's hope
Dilly can't tell Max Farthing, the man Olivia calls Father. For Max has problems of his he's married to Camilla, who has lost her senses. With so many lies between Dilly and Max, is there any chance that they could come together?
Dilly's hard work has lifted her family out of poverty and hardship. But now the Great War is over, her children have new challenges to face - and Dilly will protect them with everything she has. Even if it means sacrificing her own happiness.
The new novel from bestselling and much-loved Rosie Goodwin
Before becoming a writer, I was a Placement Support Worker and foster carer, and worked in the social services department after completing a teacher training course. Many children have joined my family over the years. I still live in Nuneaton, where many of my books are set, with my husband, Trevor, and our beloved dogs.
I was thrilled to discover that I'd become one of the top 250 most-borrowed library authors in the UK, and would like to thank all of you who have taken out my books over the last few years! I love meeting my readers and am always pleased to hear from you. I hope you will all continue to get in touch and please do sign up for my newsletter!
Oh my oh my.... so much to say about this book. I may have been at a slight disadvantage having not read the first book. Usually a sequel will provide a lot more background than this one, but all it said was that Samuel was at least a two time rapist and that Dilly had sold her baby.... and that right there provides my first bone to pick. Max is continually described as an incredibly generous, kind and thoughtful man so in NO way do I believe that he would have agreed to the whole baby selling nonsense. He would have made sure that Dilly had both a job and a way to keep her baby. Bone #2...Oscar and Olivia...who on earth falls in love with their own "sibling"? Seriously? I could believe it if they had been raised together knowing that Olivia was adopted but other than that, no way. Now, this is a much less serious complaint, but why do all these women have to be going about tripping and skipping??? Can't they just walk like a normal human being? Dilly: I actually really liked Dilly but I didn't understand how on earth she had a dress shop with no name... that makes no sense. Then, when she did get advised by a MUCH more knowledgeable MAN (I need a sarcasm font for that) it took time to come up with "Dilly's Designs"??? What the actual hell? Good grief. In general, this book just had too many stock characters. Feisty independent Dilly. Perfect generous Max. Disgusting dirtbag Samuel. Bats**t crazy Camilla. Slatternly but heart of gold bestie, Nell. Pompous ass, Henry. Etc etc etc. Max was generally likable, but he really needed to grow the f up and stop being a petulant jealous little b**ch. Henry...OMG Henry. I already said he was a pompous ass and here is the proof..."I would be more than happy to accept my wife working for a few hours a day to occupy herself and earn some pin money"..."he wouldn't force the issue, not yet anyway"... When I read a book, I like to picture the characters in my head and I usually pick actors to "play the part" so I picked Tom Hanks as my Henry but I had to stop because I was starting to hate Tom Hanks and I love Tom Hanks so, as the Brits apparently like to say, "it just wasn't on"... There was one continuity problem... Olivia first returned to Nuneaton at the beginning of February but then she said that she wanted to return with the baby at the end of January.... Why couldn't Niamh and Samuel's marriage be annulled? I very much doubt that there was ever a single instance, other than the rape, where they were "together". I couldn't help wondering if Hatter's Hall was a bit of a joke, as in mad hatter from Alice In Wonderland? Anyway, I actually managed to get to page 322 before I uttered my first "Oh, for f's sake", so I guess that's something.... not much, but something.
This is what I call a good family saga. I read the first book in this series quite a while ago, but it didn't take me very long to remember the various characters and their situations. Dilly is such a loveable, strong woman that it's very easy to warm to her and care about what she cares about. I now can't wait to read the next book and find out what's happening with Dilly and her family. Yet another brilliant book by Rosie Goodwin.
A very good sequel, heart break and joy in equal measure, Just as good as the first one, which isn't easy as many books are good on the first book then fall at the hurdle for the sequels, where as this one was very good. Definately worth the read.
I enjoyed this book as much as I have enjoyed all of Rosie's books they have all been brilliant and as usual I haven't been able to put this one down I just wanted it to go on. I can't wait to start the third one in the trilogy Mavis Hutton
2nd in the trilogy of books cannot wait now for the third and final book to see what happens to the characters and if Dilly and Max get together in the end??
Found this book a bit boring and I don't think much actually happened in it. Although I like the character and the tale it would not be something I read again.
'Now it's me time to go an' I want to remember you smiling. To be sure, no one has a smile quite like you.' Rosie Goodwin...where do you get these pure words of love from? 😍
I read the 1st book in the Dilly Carey trilogy and thought what a superb book it was. I settled down to read this the 2nd one and thought if this is 1/2 as good as the 1st one it would be great. It was in fact equally as good as the story of Dilly and her family continues until the mid 1920’s. As in the 1st book Dilly’s life is not all straightforward, but her life is turned upside down by a knock on her door and finding the daughter she gave away at birth standing on the step. Dilly has now also become a wealthy businesswoman with 4 dress shops. This book is superb and I am hoping No 3 is as good as the 1st 2 were. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I really enjoy the story and I'm currently reading Dilly's Hope. One thing I do find a little annoying is the repetitiveness of some phrases. For example, "he/she did as he/ she was told" is over used. In Dilly's Hope it's even more so. I am only on page 100 or so and this phrase has already been used eight times. Also, every time someone is pondering it is described as they "chewed on their lip". Maybe I'm being picky but I'm surprised the editors haven't picked up on this since it could be corrected quite easily by just describing these actions differently. Has anyone else noticed this?
Absolutely loved this book which is the 2nd of the Dilly's Story Trilogy, This is definitely not a second best to the first book as Dilly's story is continued with some more unexpected twists and turns. Rosie Goodwin has a way of linking all of her books together. Looking forward to starting on the Dilly's Hope.
Ahh disappointed a bit, was expecting it to be like the first one but it started dragging on too much. I dont think ill bother hunting round for the final one. Ill see what my mum thinks of them both when i pass them on.
Excellent successor to Dilly's Sacrifice'. Good to know how the family is getting on! I'm not sure how likely it is that someone from Dilly's background would set up a successful business but it certainly adds to the story.
I read book one in this trilogy about two years ago, but jumped straight into this book and couldn't put it down! I loved it so much I'm going to go straight on to book three 😀 I loved all the characters and can't wait to see how the story will develop.
Enjoyable read. I have read 2 books in this series and they always leave you wanting to know what happens to Dilly and her family. Looking forward to reading the next one.