What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rockwood Chronicles #1
Fortune's Daughter
Don’t miss the brand-new heartwarming novel from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dilly Court!
Rockwood was home and she would do anything she could to stop it being stolen from them.
Abandoned by their parents and left to fight for themselves, headstrong Rosalind Carey has no choice but to take charge of her younger brothers and sister in Devonshire’s grand Rockwood Castle. But their once much-loved home is crumbling like the family that lives within it. Living hand to mouth and desperate to provide for the estate that depends on them, the Carey family are one debt away from ruin. Until the day comes when the dashing Piers Blanchard appears on their doorstep from Cornwall, claiming he is Rosalind’s distant cousin and that Rockwood Castle is his.
Piers says he wants to help pay off the family’s debts. But how can Rosalind be sure he isn’t out to take what is his and leave them all homeless? Only a closely-guarded secret will convince Rosalind she can trust Piers to protect her family – and her fragile heart.
Book One of The Rockwood Chronicles
Reader reviews for Fortune’s Daughter
‘I literally could not put this book down’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Dilly Court never disappoints . . . gripping and highly entertaining’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘It is so easy to immerse oneself in the story and feel part of it’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘If you love family saga, you will definitely love this’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘There are so many twists and turns along the way’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A brilliant start to the series!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Loved this book from start to finish’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rockwood was home and she would do anything she could to stop it being stolen from them.
Abandoned by their parents and left to fight for themselves, headstrong Rosalind Carey has no choice but to take charge of her younger brothers and sister in Devonshire’s grand Rockwood Castle. But their once much-loved home is crumbling like the family that lives within it. Living hand to mouth and desperate to provide for the estate that depends on them, the Carey family are one debt away from ruin. Until the day comes when the dashing Piers Blanchard appears on their doorstep from Cornwall, claiming he is Rosalind’s distant cousin and that Rockwood Castle is his.
Piers says he wants to help pay off the family’s debts. But how can Rosalind be sure he isn’t out to take what is his and leave them all homeless? Only a closely-guarded secret will convince Rosalind she can trust Piers to protect her family – and her fragile heart.
Book One of The Rockwood Chronicles
Reader reviews for Fortune’s Daughter
‘I literally could not put this book down’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Dilly Court never disappoints . . . gripping and highly entertaining’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘It is so easy to immerse oneself in the story and feel part of it’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘If you love family saga, you will definitely love this’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘There are so many twists and turns along the way’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A brilliant start to the series!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Loved this book from start to finish’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
528 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2021
496 people are currently reading
420 people want to read
About the author
Dilly Court
84 books418 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 30, 2021
The Rockwood Chronicles Book 1
Abandoned by their parents and left to fight for themselves, headstrong Rosalind Carey has no choice but to take charge of her younger brothers and sister in Devonshire's grand Rockwood Castle. But their once much-loved home is crumbling like the family who live within it. Living hand to mouth and desperate to provide for the estate that depends on them, the Carey family are one debt away from ruin. Until the dashing Piers Blanchard appears on their doorstep from Cornwall, claiming that he is the rightful owner of Rockwood Castle.
I love it when I know there's a new book coming out from Dilly Court. I've read all of her books and I've never once been disappointed. And it looks like we are in for another treat from with the Rockwood Chronicles. This is an easy book to read about the Carey and the Blanchard families. Wealthy Piers Blanchard arrives at the castle to tell Rosalind that he is the rightful owner and he allows Rosalind and her family to continue living there. The storyline is believable and true to the era it's written in, the characters are well developed and I just loved Rosalind's grandfather, I can't wait to find out happens next.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFictiom and the author #DillyCourt for my ARC of #Fortune's Daughter in exchange for an honest review.
Abandoned by their parents and left to fight for themselves, headstrong Rosalind Carey has no choice but to take charge of her younger brothers and sister in Devonshire's grand Rockwood Castle. But their once much-loved home is crumbling like the family who live within it. Living hand to mouth and desperate to provide for the estate that depends on them, the Carey family are one debt away from ruin. Until the dashing Piers Blanchard appears on their doorstep from Cornwall, claiming that he is the rightful owner of Rockwood Castle.
I love it when I know there's a new book coming out from Dilly Court. I've read all of her books and I've never once been disappointed. And it looks like we are in for another treat from with the Rockwood Chronicles. This is an easy book to read about the Carey and the Blanchard families. Wealthy Piers Blanchard arrives at the castle to tell Rosalind that he is the rightful owner and he allows Rosalind and her family to continue living there. The storyline is believable and true to the era it's written in, the characters are well developed and I just loved Rosalind's grandfather, I can't wait to find out happens next.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFictiom and the author #DillyCourt for my ARC of #Fortune's Daughter in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2023
The first in a series of six, this book opens with 8 year old Rosalind Carey traipsing down to the beach to watch the smugglers bring their loot ashore. But the preventative men are quick to capture some of the smugglers whilst Rosie finds herself injured and in the debt of an unknown boy who rescued her and took her back home to Rockwood Castle. There she gave him a bed for the night but was gone before she arose the following morning. Rosie never knew his name and she never saw him again.
Twelve years later, Rosalind Carey has been the lady of the house for most of her siblings' lives whilst their father travelled in search of rare plants and their mother sought fame on the stage. But she never forgot the night she saw smugglers in the cove below Rockwood Castle and the boy who saved her life. He has haunted her memories and her dreams since.
But life has been hard for the Careys as they struggle to keep the roof over their heads and have racked up debts which they cannot pay. Rosalind pawns her grandmama's gold locket to pay for a third class train fare to London along with her younger sister 16 year old Patricia. It is her hope that their mother will take pity on them and grant them enough money to survive until their father returns from his travels. But Felicia Carey is a selfish woman, believing her voice is her God-given gift that she must share with the world and her home is no longer Rockwood but the stage. She has no money to give her children and tells them so.
Whilst in London, Rosalind is introduced to Piers Blanchard who informs them that he has a claim to Rockwood going back centuries in which Rockwood was the rightful home to the Blanchards. Rosalind doesn't know what to think but she believes that there is far more to Piers than meets the eye. And she isn't sure that she trusts him. But he says he can prove his claim and yet it is not his intention to evict them from the only home they have known. Instead, he goes some way to make restitution for their outstanding debts and give Rosalind a monthly allowance to keep Rockwood and her siblings. And yet she still doesn't trust him. Surely he has some ulterior motive to his generosity.
When Rosalind and Patricia travel to Cornwall to Piers' own sprawling estate in which his younger sister and his grandmother live, she is shocked to discover that someone has laid claim to the estate and the clay mine which Piers runs lest a scandalous secret about the family be revealed. Piers has no choice but to ascquiese leaving Rosalind offering them a place at Rockwood until the mess is sorted out. But living with Piers' grandmother, who brings with her all her maids and servants that she couldn't possibly live without thus creating havoc below the stairs with the Carey's lifelong loyal housekeeper and cook, Hester.
Wow! Well, life certainly isn't dull at Rockwood as the Careys and the Blanchards rub along reluctantly with Piers' grandmother constantly reminding the Careys that they are there only at the generous behest of Piers insinuating that he can take away his consent at any time. With mysteries and scandalous secrets dating back to smugglers, FORTUNE'S DAUGHTER is a delightful tale that swept me away to the Devonshire coast that I can't wait to step into the next installment to see where life takes them and all at Rockwood Castle.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweeping tale which I think is probably Dilly's best yet. Now...onto the second book...
I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #FortunesDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Twelve years later, Rosalind Carey has been the lady of the house for most of her siblings' lives whilst their father travelled in search of rare plants and their mother sought fame on the stage. But she never forgot the night she saw smugglers in the cove below Rockwood Castle and the boy who saved her life. He has haunted her memories and her dreams since.
But life has been hard for the Careys as they struggle to keep the roof over their heads and have racked up debts which they cannot pay. Rosalind pawns her grandmama's gold locket to pay for a third class train fare to London along with her younger sister 16 year old Patricia. It is her hope that their mother will take pity on them and grant them enough money to survive until their father returns from his travels. But Felicia Carey is a selfish woman, believing her voice is her God-given gift that she must share with the world and her home is no longer Rockwood but the stage. She has no money to give her children and tells them so.
Whilst in London, Rosalind is introduced to Piers Blanchard who informs them that he has a claim to Rockwood going back centuries in which Rockwood was the rightful home to the Blanchards. Rosalind doesn't know what to think but she believes that there is far more to Piers than meets the eye. And she isn't sure that she trusts him. But he says he can prove his claim and yet it is not his intention to evict them from the only home they have known. Instead, he goes some way to make restitution for their outstanding debts and give Rosalind a monthly allowance to keep Rockwood and her siblings. And yet she still doesn't trust him. Surely he has some ulterior motive to his generosity.
When Rosalind and Patricia travel to Cornwall to Piers' own sprawling estate in which his younger sister and his grandmother live, she is shocked to discover that someone has laid claim to the estate and the clay mine which Piers runs lest a scandalous secret about the family be revealed. Piers has no choice but to ascquiese leaving Rosalind offering them a place at Rockwood until the mess is sorted out. But living with Piers' grandmother, who brings with her all her maids and servants that she couldn't possibly live without thus creating havoc below the stairs with the Carey's lifelong loyal housekeeper and cook, Hester.
Wow! Well, life certainly isn't dull at Rockwood as the Careys and the Blanchards rub along reluctantly with Piers' grandmother constantly reminding the Careys that they are there only at the generous behest of Piers insinuating that he can take away his consent at any time. With mysteries and scandalous secrets dating back to smugglers, FORTUNE'S DAUGHTER is a delightful tale that swept me away to the Devonshire coast that I can't wait to step into the next installment to see where life takes them and all at Rockwood Castle.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweeping tale which I think is probably Dilly's best yet. Now...onto the second book...
I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #FortunesDaughter in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
October 3, 2022
Good grief, this was a long, drawn out, predictable borefest. I’ve always been very sceptical of books by this author as they seem to be all over the shelves in the supermarket, and I find it hard to believe someone can be so prolific and maintain quality. Well, I was right in that assumption. The characters are shallow and the plot is ridiculous. Bloke turns up claiming to own the family castle and they just accept that? Ok then. The heroine is of course beautiful and feisty, the money magically appears when needed and the family have all the stereotypes needed for a historical drama. It all ties up neatly at the end.
Add in the ridiculous number of typos, poor grammar and phrases that are really not right for the time period and I’m left wondering why I bothered to finish it. I suspect the editor didn’t finish it either. It has done nothing to change my opinion of the author and the genre.
Add in the ridiculous number of typos, poor grammar and phrases that are really not right for the time period and I’m left wondering why I bothered to finish it. I suspect the editor didn’t finish it either. It has done nothing to change my opinion of the author and the genre.
June 25, 2021
Unsure!
It is difficult to comment on this book due to being bewildered myself!
I started being interested, but as the story unfolds it was rather unbelievable!
It is difficult to comment on this book due to being bewildered myself!
I started being interested, but as the story unfolds it was rather unbelievable!
February 21, 2022
DNF 44%
September 15, 2021
Wow I loved this book. The first in a series of 6 books.
***********************************************
During the night down on the beach smugglers are seen bring in things ashore. What is going on, It is known that Pirates use the waters, but is Rockwood castle hiding deep dark secrets?
as a young girl watches from the cliffs, her brother runs back to the castle and she is left alone in the dark.... she is then seen.... by a young boy. who is he, & what does he want? alone in the dark she is scared but cant run for having been seen this might cause further actions by the smugglers.
The young boy goes to her and she has little choice but to help him into the castle
being seen as she sneaks through the kitchen, The buy is given food and a drink and a bed for the night but what is going on...........
then the next morning he has gone.
where where how will she ever see him again?
I loved this book. if this is the start then the rest of the series will pack a serious punch. I think this is Dilly Court's best work yet!
***********************************************
During the night down on the beach smugglers are seen bring in things ashore. What is going on, It is known that Pirates use the waters, but is Rockwood castle hiding deep dark secrets?
as a young girl watches from the cliffs, her brother runs back to the castle and she is left alone in the dark.... she is then seen.... by a young boy. who is he, & what does he want? alone in the dark she is scared but cant run for having been seen this might cause further actions by the smugglers.
The young boy goes to her and she has little choice but to help him into the castle
being seen as she sneaks through the kitchen, The buy is given food and a drink and a bed for the night but what is going on...........
then the next morning he has gone.
where where how will she ever see him again?
I loved this book. if this is the start then the rest of the series will pack a serious punch. I think this is Dilly Court's best work yet!
September 11, 2025
Another good read from Dilly Court. I found it got a little complicated towards the end and wished it had been wrapped up sooner. I enjoyed the characters and especially the grandfather who certainly livened up the proceedings. I've noticed in other books from this author that there are a few typo/name errors throughout, and I'm afraid this was no exception. It didn't detract from the story however, and I still enjoyed it.
August 7, 2021
The first book of The Rookwood Chronicles did not disappoint.
Fortune's Daughter was a wonderful story, full of intrigue and mystery. Rosalind is determined to protect her family home, Rookwood Castle even when it seems she and her siblings have lost everything.
A brilliant read, looking forward to the next book in this series.
Fortune's Daughter was a wonderful story, full of intrigue and mystery. Rosalind is determined to protect her family home, Rookwood Castle even when it seems she and her siblings have lost everything.
A brilliant read, looking forward to the next book in this series.
October 10, 2024
Love the characters in this book and now going to read the next one too
May 18, 2021
A new series from Dilly and its a cracker.
Rosalind Carey lives along side her siblings at Rockwood Castle and are only a step away from loosing everything, and Piers Blanchland steps in to say he can save them all but can he be trusted.
Oh my I loved this book it holds so many secrets and tales that will keep you gripped into the story as you read.
A new series that will leave you hungry for more.
Rosalind Carey lives along side her siblings at Rockwood Castle and are only a step away from loosing everything, and Piers Blanchland steps in to say he can save them all but can he be trusted.
Oh my I loved this book it holds so many secrets and tales that will keep you gripped into the story as you read.
A new series that will leave you hungry for more.
May 13, 2021
A brilliant start to Dilly Courts' next series. It is so easy to immerse ones self in the story and feel part of it. The characters were easy to relate to and the storyline was very compelling. Excellent read!
November 2, 2024
Audio book. I like family sagas and was keen to listen to a new one but from the outset this was rather silly. It was well read and I tried to get into it but it didn’t work for me. I won’t read the rest of the series.
The characters verged on caricatures. The selfish parents, the demented grandfather (who isn’t quite as confused as he appears), the snobby grandmother and the silly, feckless younger sister are just a few examples. There are 2 claimants to the estate appearing out of the blue - neither claim is really checked until the end of the book but the second should have been dismissed out of hand from the beginning- no illegitimate child had a prior claim during the 19th century. Of course this is explained when everything gets resolved at the end but it was just too far fetched for me.
The characters verged on caricatures. The selfish parents, the demented grandfather (who isn’t quite as confused as he appears), the snobby grandmother and the silly, feckless younger sister are just a few examples. There are 2 claimants to the estate appearing out of the blue - neither claim is really checked until the end of the book but the second should have been dismissed out of hand from the beginning- no illegitimate child had a prior claim during the 19th century. Of course this is explained when everything gets resolved at the end but it was just too far fetched for me.
November 26, 2021
Not the most exciting of Dilly Courts books and I have read many of them. A host of characters certainly makes up for a rather slow storyline, Rosalind is quite likeable, as is Piers and Hester to name a few and a lot more besides and some not so nice ones.
It's a lengthy book and so it should be jam packed with dialogue and drama, but it just wasn't. Yes there were good parts and some action, but it all just plodded along and wasn't very captivating.
It was very easy to read however, and I had an interest in finding out what would happen next.
I did think that the next book in the series would be a direct follow on, but having read a preview, it seems not to be exactly. Il read it, but debatable if il enjoy it.
It's a lengthy book and so it should be jam packed with dialogue and drama, but it just wasn't. Yes there were good parts and some action, but it all just plodded along and wasn't very captivating.
It was very easy to read however, and I had an interest in finding out what would happen next.
I did think that the next book in the series would be a direct follow on, but having read a preview, it seems not to be exactly. Il read it, but debatable if il enjoy it.
October 9, 2022
I first tried this on 1 November 2021. I’ve gone back to it now and it was a fun time. I listened to it on audio and it passed the time nicely. These books are not doing anything new but you know what you’re getting into when you give them a go. This was a bit too long though with an 11 hour audiobook but it was fine.
March 31, 2023
I listened to this so may have enjoyed it more if I’d read it, but I thought it was terrible. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, the story had no depth and there was a lot of repetition! Shocked by the average rating
March 15, 2022
Loved this book cant wait for next one.Winter Wedding.
September 21, 2022
I enjoyed listening to this book and look forward to reading the next in the series.
February 6, 2023
This was not it fam
March 5, 2023
Love dilly court books
April 30, 2023
Brilliant couldn’t put it down
May 27, 2023
Very predictable but enjoyable read.
July 25, 2023
A wonderful story filled with intriguing characters. My 2nd Dilly Court book.
A fantastic author.
A fantastic author.
April 10, 2024
I usually like Dilly Court’s books but I tried and tried to get into this but it was a struggle. I really can’t pinpoint why.
March 13, 2025
Easy to read, great story.
June 10, 2025
Kiva tarina mutta aika ennalta arvattavissa.
June 25, 2025
If I could rate a book 0.5 star I would for this book
Pointless endeavour
Pointless endeavour
August 3, 2025
Really enjoy Dilly Court books, easy reading, and great story lines. Do get a little annoyed at the repeat information, though.
June 23, 2021
The Carey family call Rockwood home until their flighty mother goes off to London to seek fame and fortune as an opera singer, a successful career she gave up when she married their father, a botanist who also goes off to locate some lost plants up a remote mountain in Asia.
Abandoned by their parents and left to fight for themselves, the children comprising of headstrong Rosalind Carey, sister Patricia, brother Bertie who stands to inherit the castle, bookworm Walter and their grandfather Sir Lucien who is suffering with dementia after a long career in the Navy.
But their once much-loved home is crumbling like the family that lives within it. Living hand to mouth and desperate to provide for the estate that depends on them, the Carey family are one debt away from ruin. Until the day comes when the dashing Piers Blanchard appears on their doorstep from Cornwall, claiming he is Rosalind’s distant cousin and that Rockwood Castle is his.
Piers says he wants to help pay off the family’s debts. But how can Rosalind be sure he isn’t out to take what is his and leave them all homeless?
This is a novel set Devon in 1839 and not my usual type of book, however I found it really enjoyable, although it did feel extremely long! At the very start of the book, Rosalind is a young girl who encounters smugglers and this story stays in the background.
To me the characters were like something out of a Jane Eyre or Daphne Du Maurier novel, and I could often see myself imagining Judy Dench as Lady Pentelow, and Keira Knightly as Rosalind…the jury is still out in my mind as to who would play Piers!
The book was pure escapism and if you love the classics like Pride and Prejudice or Jamaica Inn then you will love this story. I am delighted to learn that this is the first of six books in this series.
Abandoned by their parents and left to fight for themselves, the children comprising of headstrong Rosalind Carey, sister Patricia, brother Bertie who stands to inherit the castle, bookworm Walter and their grandfather Sir Lucien who is suffering with dementia after a long career in the Navy.
But their once much-loved home is crumbling like the family that lives within it. Living hand to mouth and desperate to provide for the estate that depends on them, the Carey family are one debt away from ruin. Until the day comes when the dashing Piers Blanchard appears on their doorstep from Cornwall, claiming he is Rosalind’s distant cousin and that Rockwood Castle is his.
Piers says he wants to help pay off the family’s debts. But how can Rosalind be sure he isn’t out to take what is his and leave them all homeless?
This is a novel set Devon in 1839 and not my usual type of book, however I found it really enjoyable, although it did feel extremely long! At the very start of the book, Rosalind is a young girl who encounters smugglers and this story stays in the background.
To me the characters were like something out of a Jane Eyre or Daphne Du Maurier novel, and I could often see myself imagining Judy Dench as Lady Pentelow, and Keira Knightly as Rosalind…the jury is still out in my mind as to who would play Piers!
The book was pure escapism and if you love the classics like Pride and Prejudice or Jamaica Inn then you will love this story. I am delighted to learn that this is the first of six books in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews