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Dilly's Story #2
Dilly's Lass
Years ago Dilly made the devastating decision to give her baby daughter to wealthy local family, the Farthings. She is still living with the consequences of her choice when the daughter she gave away all those years ago turns up on Dilly's doorstep, with a baby girl in tow, begging for help. Olivia has a secret she only feels safe telling Dilly.
Sworn to secrecy, Dilly agrees to help, delighted to be spending time with her new granddaughter and daughter. She can't tell Max Farthing, the man who took in Olivia all those years ago and who Dilly has feelings for. For Max has problems of his he's married to Camilla, who has lost leave of her senses. Could Dilly and Max ever come together?
Dilly's Lass is a wonderfully heartfelt portrayal of families beginning to rebuild after WW1, from much-loved author Rosie Goodwin.
Sworn to secrecy, Dilly agrees to help, delighted to be spending time with her new granddaughter and daughter. She can't tell Max Farthing, the man who took in Olivia all those years ago and who Dilly has feelings for. For Max has problems of his he's married to Camilla, who has lost leave of her senses. Could Dilly and Max ever come together?
Dilly's Lass is a wonderfully heartfelt portrayal of families beginning to rebuild after WW1, from much-loved author Rosie Goodwin.
- GenresFiction
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 5, 2015
About the author
Rosie Goodwin
103 books404 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 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 15, 2026
Brilliant book
December 28, 2015
Excellent
A thoroughly enjoyable read but left wanting to know so much more. Hopefully a new book will follow very soon.
A thoroughly enjoyable read but left wanting to know so much more. Hopefully a new book will follow very soon.
January 13, 2016
really enjoyed dilly,s lass and waiting now for next one to find out what happens to dilly, family and friends great book a must read
July 3, 2017
Another brilliant book,by Rosie goodwin love this author books.
December 31, 2017
Enjoyed every word that was written in this book. Easy to read but very hard to put down.
June 19, 2020
Really enjoyed this book, the second of the trilogy. The story never looses pace and I’m now looking forward to reading the final book.
July 15, 2020
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.
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.
May 10, 2017
Amazing fantastic
April 14, 2017
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.
March 9, 2016
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.
April 19, 2016
Dilly's lass by Rosie Goodwin
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
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
March 13, 2016
Dilly's Story
Another amazing book from Rosie Goodwin I am looking forward to reading the next instalment of Dilly's story and other titles from Rosie.
Another amazing book from Rosie Goodwin I am looking forward to reading the next instalment of Dilly's story and other titles from Rosie.
March 25, 2016
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??
April 18, 2016
Great read .
Great read enjoyed every minute . Looking forward to the third book to complete the story . Highly recommend book
Great read enjoyed every minute . Looking forward to the third book to complete the story . Highly recommend book
April 21, 2016
Really enjoyed the second in this trilogy. Lovely story following the ups and downs of Dilly and her family.
May 17, 2016
Loved it
I loved this book as much as the last one. The characters are so real. Looking forward to starting the next one.
I loved this book as much as the last one. The characters are so real. Looking forward to starting the next one.
December 12, 2016
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.
November 9, 2019
'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? 😍
Rosie Goodwin...where do you get these pure words of love from? 😍
September 26, 2026
Warning: Possible spoilers ahead
Another compelling and enthralling read of this triology, and from Goodwin at that!
My only problem is that Samuel is still alive, and felt like his storyline was being dragged out like crazy, which really annoyed me as of course he is so damn evil and horrible you just want him to die already, and it just seems like he's never going to! Here he does something so incredibly downright evil and despicable that while he had already done several other evil and despicable things in the previous book, this definitely had him cross Moral Event Horizon to the point you're just waiting even more impatiently for him to die, and the fact he is STILL alive by the end of this book made me so mad, especially when it kept taking him on different paths and looking like he would finally meet the rotten end that he deserved.
I also couldn't stand Henry-I know we're not really supposed to like him, or at least not later on when he starts showing his possessive and selfish streak towards Dilly, but it still really annoyed me, and felt like he became a bit too contrived, having gone from a seemingly nice, decent man to this possessive, selfish, pretentious, loathsome idiot, and I feel the whole love story with him and Dilly was dragged out too. I hated that he didn't even seem to want Dilly to spend time with her family, like for god's sake if you marry someone you are marrying into their family too, like they come as a package, and the fact he just wanted Dilly all to himself made me so mad. I'm just so glad she dumped him. He became a bit of a caricature tbh.
There were also quite a few name mix ups, which unfortunately I have noticed is a recurring mistake in Goodwin's novels, noticing that she really does seem to have the worst proofreaders ever as have noticed this in several of her books and don't know how they manage to get published, as they got names mixed up to the point it confused the whole story, like including someone else's name when referring to a couple, which really confused things as you were just like "Wait, they're not a couple!" and was just really weird.
I'll also say it again, much like with the last book, the Oscar and Olivia being in love with each other is just really wrong and inappropriate given that as far as they are concerned they are brother and sister-full brother and sister at that! It wouldn't have been so bad if they had been cousins, but they think they are brother and sister so why are they not more disgusted by this and seeking help for such incestuous thoughts?! It really makes me sick, and even if they aren't actually blood related at the end of the day, they were still raised as brother and sister, so it is still wrong. It just seems kind of weird the way they're just at most disappointed and upset that they can't be together due to them being brother and sister, rather than disgusted and worried because of how unnatural, wrong and incestuous it is. Besides would you really develop an attraction to your own sibling who you have been raised with since childhood?! Ugh they really, really could have done without this, it really is just so wrong and inappropriate.
I did really enjoy it overall though, having found myself totally absorbed which is always a great sign when reading a book.
Another compelling and enthralling read of this triology, and from Goodwin at that!
My only problem is that Samuel is still alive, and felt like his storyline was being dragged out like crazy, which really annoyed me as of course he is so damn evil and horrible you just want him to die already, and it just seems like he's never going to! Here he does something so incredibly downright evil and despicable that while he had already done several other evil and despicable things in the previous book, this definitely had him cross Moral Event Horizon to the point you're just waiting even more impatiently for him to die, and the fact he is STILL alive by the end of this book made me so mad, especially when it kept taking him on different paths and looking like he would finally meet the rotten end that he deserved.
I also couldn't stand Henry-I know we're not really supposed to like him, or at least not later on when he starts showing his possessive and selfish streak towards Dilly, but it still really annoyed me, and felt like he became a bit too contrived, having gone from a seemingly nice, decent man to this possessive, selfish, pretentious, loathsome idiot, and I feel the whole love story with him and Dilly was dragged out too. I hated that he didn't even seem to want Dilly to spend time with her family, like for god's sake if you marry someone you are marrying into their family too, like they come as a package, and the fact he just wanted Dilly all to himself made me so mad. I'm just so glad she dumped him. He became a bit of a caricature tbh.
There were also quite a few name mix ups, which unfortunately I have noticed is a recurring mistake in Goodwin's novels, noticing that she really does seem to have the worst proofreaders ever as have noticed this in several of her books and don't know how they manage to get published, as they got names mixed up to the point it confused the whole story, like including someone else's name when referring to a couple, which really confused things as you were just like "Wait, they're not a couple!" and was just really weird.
I'll also say it again, much like with the last book, the Oscar and Olivia being in love with each other is just really wrong and inappropriate given that as far as they are concerned they are brother and sister-full brother and sister at that! It wouldn't have been so bad if they had been cousins, but they think they are brother and sister so why are they not more disgusted by this and seeking help for such incestuous thoughts?! It really makes me sick, and even if they aren't actually blood related at the end of the day, they were still raised as brother and sister, so it is still wrong. It just seems kind of weird the way they're just at most disappointed and upset that they can't be together due to them being brother and sister, rather than disgusted and worried because of how unnatural, wrong and incestuous it is. Besides would you really develop an attraction to your own sibling who you have been raised with since childhood?! Ugh they really, really could have done without this, it really is just so wrong and inappropriate.
I did really enjoy it overall though, having found myself totally absorbed which is always a great sign when reading a book.
June 5, 2024
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.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
March 15, 2018
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?
May 30, 2021
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.
September 24, 2026
Really enjoyed the continuation of the story "Dilly's Sacrifice". The ending was abrupt but I'm looking forward to continuing the story in the third part of the trilogy "Dilly's Hope".
There were some factual errors - Dilly refers to her first born as Declan in book one; in book two she refers to Kian as her first born then further along she reverts to Declan as her first born.
There were some factual errors - Dilly refers to her first born as Declan in book one; in book two she refers to Kian as her first born then further along she reverts to Declan as her first born.
September 30, 2017
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.
March 23, 2023
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.
May 18, 2024
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.
I loved all the characters and can't wait to see how the story will develop.
June 26, 2017
Dilly's Lass - review
I gave this book 5 * because the story kept going throughout and it made one wonder what would happen next. I look forward to reading the last book
I gave this book 5 * because the story kept going throughout and it made one wonder what would happen next. I look forward to reading the last book
July 13, 2017
I really enjoyed this book.
July 31, 2017
Dilly story
I have enjoyed reading this book as much as I did the first. Rosie is a wonderful author and brings her characters to life. A must read book.
I have enjoyed reading this book as much as I did the first. Rosie is a wonderful author and brings her characters to life. A must read book.
October 2, 2017
Fantastic book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews