Ragged Rose

by Dilly Court

The heartwarming new novel from Dilly Court, the Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author of The Beggar Maid.

With the fate of her family in her hands, Rose has to make a terrible choice. Be thrown onto the streets without a penny to her name, or watch her loved ones fall into ruin . . .

Rose is keeping a dreadful secret, and too scared to ask her strict father for help, it’s down to her to keep her brother from the hangman’s noose – whatever it takes. Her innocent sister Cora is on a different road to ruin, bewitched by a handsome cad whose intentions are anything but gallant.

When Rose’s father discovers that his children have disgraced his name he turns them onto the street. Penniless, homeless and with the noose tightening, Rose must rescue her brother and keep her sister from the streets, even if it means putting herself in the most terrible danger...

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction

496 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2016

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

[KeRRy BECK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Really enjoyed reading this book and all the characters in it made you want to keep reading it. I shall miss reading about them

[Ruth Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the audible and also finished the last 2chapters by book

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endearing story of the Victors 3 children, two girls and a boy. The daughters Rose and Cora help with the parish duties and care for their ailing mother only to find their brother is in prison for murder. With the help of an actress aunt they take to the stage to raise money for Billys defence. To cut a long story short it has a happy ending so you need to read to find out the rest

[Mrs Margaret Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book

I really enjoyed.reading this book it was another of the couldn't put it book I hope anyone else reads this book will enjoy it as much I did

[Annemarie Farthing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose is a very strong woman, she
holds the family together.

[Rachel Toy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read but couldn’t help noticing the fairly obvious attempts at bringing in some classic literature tropes - the gothic house where Gerard lived (Jane Eyre etc), Cora going off with him as a rogue, being ill in bed afterwards (sense and sensibility) and the stubborn will they won’t they with Rose and standoffish Bennett (pride and prejudice). Would have been better if this was more subtle ☺️

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a Catherine Cookson

The romance between Bennett and Rose was so slow you could have missed it.
I forced myself to turn every page hoping there would be some sort of excitement ahead.
Now I remember why I never finished any of Dilly Court other books, it is hard work believing in the characters or storyline.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy books by Dilly Court. Rose is the heroine of the story and like all heroines helps her family to overcome difficulty. An easy to read story set in both London and Cornwall with plenty of action and touches on the values of society at the time

[Elaine Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow !!

This was one of my Dilly Court favourites ! I have read almost all of her books and find myself waiting for the next release. I couldn't put it down. I was completely immersed in the time and happenings the whole way.

[Punit Sahani · Rating 5 out of 5]

All's well that ends well is what I would summarise this novel with. Lovely British backdrop and amazing language for that era. Bravo to Rose for her being level headed, determined, resilient and doting sister.

[Bibi Kortekaas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the books Dilly writes. Read this one very quickly and enjoyed the story a lot. Different from usual it takes place on stage. The hardship in making their living and help their brother out was touching as was Polly’s pursuit to help unfortunate women. Maisie is adorable and so kind and the cat had a strong personality. Starting to sense the same elements that Dilly uses to build up her stories. Some things were a bit flat especially the love stories, although a tad better than the previous book by her I read (The reluctant heiress) did not want to leave this world, will miss Rose, Maisie, Corrie & Polly.

[Meg Ainsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed - one of my nan's books.

At first I didn't think much of it but after the first chapter I could not put it down.

Loved all the characters & found the authors story telling really enjoyable. I felt like I could imagine the world & characters where it was set.

Would recommend.

[mckailer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, but I didn't really love the character development in this story, and because of that, the ending felt rushed.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book set in Victorian London. Dilly Court brings the streets of London to life.
Rose is a strong character and I would recommend "Ragged Rose", a family saga.

[Pauline Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good saga set in late 19th century around a girl who performs on stage and would do anything to save the life of her brother. Good read from start to finish

[Sharon Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Katie Rushworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I really got to know the characters and when I turned the last page I was really surprised it had finished and I wanted to read more

[katie daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book

A little hard going at first but half way through it was a enjoyable ready I'm glad I read it

[Booklover BEV]

I loved reading this book right through this author never lets me down especially at Christmas so magical

[Lisa Carlile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed yet another novel by Dilly Court. Follow the adventures and lives of Rose and her siblings

[Kornelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it brought me joy to read it and that was the main reason that i finished it so fast

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wasn't keen on this book! It didn't need to be so long and I think it got dragged out for no reason whatsoever. I definitely will not be reading this again and I don't recommend it

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

[Rachel Sellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the others

[Sheila Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can see why this was a Sunday Times bestseller I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book

[Lesley B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Interesting story. Not waffly. However, the ending, like so many novels, seems rushed.
Will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable easy-read. Great for a car journey. Nothing deep and meaningful and all fairly predictable but who cares?

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

" Ragged Rose" a poignant story of love and fortitude is set in London in 1875 when decorum was in fashion in a society where intolerance, prejudice reigned. Rose and Cora Perkins, daughters of the vicar of St. Matthews church are determined to earn money for the legal fees that could mean life or death for their brother unjustly accused of murder. Talented, trained to perform by their Aunt Polly once a queen of the London stage, they lead a double life as the Sunshine Sisters performing at Fancello's, a saloon in the lower East End.

Riveting in intensity the plot heats up when their brother escapes the gaol with two disreputable prisoners and their father Seymour discovers Rose and Cora's deception, disowning all three. Abandoned and homeless they move in with their Aunt Polly performing more often at Fancello's until through an odd set of circumstance it closes and the sisters have to look for other ways to earn a living so they can find and free their brother from the charges.

Vividly descriptive and intoxicating as Dilly Court brings to life a London marred by class structure, social injustice and depravity, threads of the story follow not only Rose's determination to win her brother's freedom, Cora's bewitchment by a handsome wealthy cad, but their lawyer Bennett Sharpe's struggle to find and exonerate Billy Perkins. Although slow at first as Dilly Court lays out the setting, atmosphere and details of the story, the pace quickly picks up when the Perkins family falls apart after their father learns of their disgraceful behavior. The tension escalates when Rose takes Cora and moves in with their aunt only to face further hardship, the attentions of an immoral stage manager and to search for their brother who's on the run with his lover.

Amid all the trouble and danger romance blossoms and Rosie has to make a choice between a suitor who promises a life of wealth and prominence in the community and the lawyer who has stolen her heart. As Rose struggles to make a decision Cora finds herself attracted to a charming wealthy cad who promises her love and marriage only to break her heart while Fancello and Polly renew their passion for each other.

Dilly Court has created colourful, passionate and unforgettable characters that infuse the story with depth, energy and drama. Rose Perkins is the smart, witty and considerate daughter of a straight-laced and domineering vicar and an weak and sickly mother. She's a stubborn, practical and optimistic young woman who loves her independence, gravitating to the limelight and applause of performing and loving the excitement of her double life. In contrast Cora Perkins is gentle, sweet-natured and loving, hating the breakup of her family. Her only downfall is her vanity and being easily manipulated as she sees only the best in people. Of their love interests, The Honourable Gerald Barclay is a charming, sophisticated and urbane decadent; Bennett Sharpe the just, honest and non-judgmental lawyer; and Vere Tressidick the young, wealthy shrewd owner of Portmorna Manor.

I thoroughly enjoyed the fluid writing style of Dilly Court in "Ragged Rose" and her clever way of giving life to the issues and people of Victorian England. I will not hesitate to look for other books by this skilled writer.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book quite hard to get into at first, but as the story developed and I started to feel something for the characters I thoroughly enjoyed it. Dilly Court has a real talent for writing stories set in times long gone, ( this book is set in 1875) she brings the streets of old London to life and obviously does her research well. I loved Rose, she is so strong and thinks of everyone else before herself, a true heroine, as she never gives up on her family even when all seems lost. I would definitely recommend "Raged Rose" to all.