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The Rag Princess: THE FIRST HISTORICAL ROMANCE IN THE BRAND NEW SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING RAGS TO RICHES SERIES
Give a gift full of heart with the latest Rosie Goodwin Sunday Times bestseller.
A Rags to Riches novel.
The first book in a brand-new historical trilogy from Britain's best-loved saga author. Pre-order book 2, One Woman's War, now.
Nuneaton, 1904
Abandoned on the steps of the workhouse shortly after her birth, little Annie never felt the love of a family. When she's taken from the only world she has known to a smart home on Swan Lane, she dares to hope her life might be changing for the better. But hope is fragile. Grieving the loss of her own child, Maggie Lilburn didn't adopt Annie out of kindness - she wants her as a servant, not a daughter.
Despite Maggie's coldness, Annie finds flickers of warmth in the bond with her adopted brothers and in the quiet kindness of Maggie's husband Levi, the local rag-and-bone man. He sees Annie's potential and takes her under his wing and into his trade. As Maggie crumbles beneath the weight of her sorrow, Annie is determined to hold the fractured family together - and carve out a place of her own.
Through all of this one question remains for who were her parents and why did they abandon her at the workhouse all those years ago?
The Rag Princess is an emotional tale of resilience, heartbreak and the power of family and the first book in the brand-new Rags to Riches Trilogy from bestselling author, Rosie Goodwin.
A Rags to Riches novel.
The first book in a brand-new historical trilogy from Britain's best-loved saga author. Pre-order book 2, One Woman's War, now.
Nuneaton, 1904
Abandoned on the steps of the workhouse shortly after her birth, little Annie never felt the love of a family. When she's taken from the only world she has known to a smart home on Swan Lane, she dares to hope her life might be changing for the better. But hope is fragile. Grieving the loss of her own child, Maggie Lilburn didn't adopt Annie out of kindness - she wants her as a servant, not a daughter.
Despite Maggie's coldness, Annie finds flickers of warmth in the bond with her adopted brothers and in the quiet kindness of Maggie's husband Levi, the local rag-and-bone man. He sees Annie's potential and takes her under his wing and into his trade. As Maggie crumbles beneath the weight of her sorrow, Annie is determined to hold the fractured family together - and carve out a place of her own.
Through all of this one question remains for who were her parents and why did they abandon her at the workhouse all those years ago?
The Rag Princess is an emotional tale of resilience, heartbreak and the power of family and the first book in the brand-new Rags to Riches Trilogy from bestselling author, Rosie Goodwin.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2025
371 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Goodwin
106 books373 followersBefore 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!
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!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 22, 2025
It seemed fitting that this book arrived at my house at roughly the same time that Dame Patricia Routledge passed away. Why you may ask? Because Maggie Lilburn from almost page one was a near clone of one of the legendary actress' iconic characters Hyacinth Bucket. A social climbing snob, living with her long suffering husband, who had more backbone than poor old Richard. She even comes complete with a son who has a mysterious friend he visits often, two sisters, Flo who is sort of the stand in for Daisy except Daisy and Onslow had hearts of gold and Flo and her husband did not, and Susan a stand in for both Rose and Violet. Violet cause she lives a posh life, Rose cause of how she got that life.
However the similarities between Maggie and Hyacinth end there because Maggie was actually worse than Hyacinth ever dreamed of.
Anyway getting back to the actual story, it begins at the funeral of a little girl Penny. Penny was the only daughter of Maggie and her husband Levi and she died in a road accident. We then jump ahead about four years. Maggie has convinced Levi to move them to a posh house which he hopes will bring better times for them and their three sons, Barney, Harry and Charlie. Sadly it does not. Maggie wants a child to replace the girl he lost and while visiting the workhouse she not only takes on baby Ellie who resembles the lost Penny but takes pity on Annie an older girl and decides to make the nine year old her maid. Levi sees it differently and from the start treats both girls as his daughters. Trouble follows the family. Barney gets into fights and is miserable, Maggie obsesses over the new baby at first and then has a mental breakdown and all this is just part one!
Part two opens on Annie's 17th birthday and here we learn more about the different paths the children take, Barney in the circus, Harry as a butcher and Charlie as an accountant. Meanwhile Annie begins to take an interest in Levi's rag and bone business.
We also get to see more of the secondary characters, Maggie's old friend Peggy who Annie wishes had adopted her, neighbours Monty and his creepy brother and father, Eve their maid also taken in at a young age from the workhouse and a few of Barney's circus friends.
I almost gave up on this book, as the author once again ventured into the old territory of all women fall in love with their babies when they are born, which I will always say is both stupid and harmful as even mothers who wanted their babies often feel guilty because they don't bond with them right away. But it steered away from that and the reasoning was solid for keeping it. There was no rape scenes which I'm grateful for as I hate when that is used to drive the plot. Especially when it's in almost every book, also apparently miscarriages don't exist as everyone carries to term all the time unless it's "taken care of" which does happen here so if you are against that sort of thing you've been warned. But overall it was a good introduction to Annie and the rest of the Lilburn clan and their friends and foes, including Mrs. Taylor Lloyd who's a bigger snob than either Maggie or Hyacinth could ever be. The first part of the book grabs your attention, the second part is equally good but I didn't find it as engaging as the first, it was still good though. I loved meeting Annie and the gang and look forward to seeing what WWI has in store for her, and everyone else especially poor Barney and Mercy.
However the similarities between Maggie and Hyacinth end there because Maggie was actually worse than Hyacinth ever dreamed of.
Anyway getting back to the actual story, it begins at the funeral of a little girl Penny. Penny was the only daughter of Maggie and her husband Levi and she died in a road accident. We then jump ahead about four years. Maggie has convinced Levi to move them to a posh house which he hopes will bring better times for them and their three sons, Barney, Harry and Charlie. Sadly it does not. Maggie wants a child to replace the girl he lost and while visiting the workhouse she not only takes on baby Ellie who resembles the lost Penny but takes pity on Annie an older girl and decides to make the nine year old her maid. Levi sees it differently and from the start treats both girls as his daughters. Trouble follows the family. Barney gets into fights and is miserable, Maggie obsesses over the new baby at first and then has a mental breakdown and all this is just part one!
Part two opens on Annie's 17th birthday and here we learn more about the different paths the children take, Barney in the circus, Harry as a butcher and Charlie as an accountant. Meanwhile Annie begins to take an interest in Levi's rag and bone business.
We also get to see more of the secondary characters, Maggie's old friend Peggy who Annie wishes had adopted her, neighbours Monty and his creepy brother and father, Eve their maid also taken in at a young age from the workhouse and a few of Barney's circus friends.
I almost gave up on this book, as the author once again ventured into the old territory of all women fall in love with their babies when they are born, which I will always say is both stupid and harmful as even mothers who wanted their babies often feel guilty because they don't bond with them right away. But it steered away from that and the reasoning was solid for keeping it. There was no rape scenes which I'm grateful for as I hate when that is used to drive the plot. Especially when it's in almost every book, also apparently miscarriages don't exist as everyone carries to term all the time unless it's "taken care of" which does happen here so if you are against that sort of thing you've been warned. But overall it was a good introduction to Annie and the rest of the Lilburn clan and their friends and foes, including Mrs. Taylor Lloyd who's a bigger snob than either Maggie or Hyacinth could ever be. The first part of the book grabs your attention, the second part is equally good but I didn't find it as engaging as the first, it was still good though. I loved meeting Annie and the gang and look forward to seeing what WWI has in store for her, and everyone else especially poor Barney and Mercy.
January 9, 2026
Annie was left as a baby on the workhouse steps. Annie longed for a family to take her to be part of a loving family. Maggie had four children,but sadly her daughter Penny died. Maggie suffered with grief . Will she find it in her heart to give Annie that loving home?
January 23, 2026
Cliches'
Too many cliches in this book and many were 20th century not 18th or 19th century. This book was scrambled and quite unrealistic. Hard to believe in some instances. Perhaps the computer wrote this one.
Too many cliches in this book and many were 20th century not 18th or 19th century. This book was scrambled and quite unrealistic. Hard to believe in some instances. Perhaps the computer wrote this one.
October 1, 2025
As always a brilliant book.
October 7, 2025
Really enjoyed this book looking forward to the next part 😍
November 19, 2025
captivating
I couldn’t stop reading till the end can’t wait to see if there is a follow up but all Rosie’s book are are excellent
I couldn’t stop reading till the end can’t wait to see if there is a follow up but all Rosie’s book are are excellent
January 13, 2026
Loved this book , easy to read with twists and turns , made me want so much more for her.
November 27, 2025
Another great read from Rosie Goodwin a lovely story of Annie's from leaving the Workhouse to living with Maggie, Levi, Barnie and Charlie. All the characters are lovely. I just cannot wait for the next two books in this trilogy. I know that I can always rely on a great read from Rosie Goodwin.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews