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The Rockwood Chronicles #5
Snow Bride
Don’t miss the fifth book in the heartwarming six-part series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dilly Court!
‘I foresee happiness for you, Nancy. I hear bells and I see snow, and your heart’s desire comes true’
A chance encounter brings Nancy Sunday to the streets of London, where she finds herself amongst a band of street urchins.
Her heart may have been broken by love but it’s big enough to help those less fortunate than herself, and Nancy takes these unloved orphans in – but when one of them is accused of a serious crime, the neighbourhood turns against her.
The colder the cruel grip of winter grows, the more mouths she finds herself having to feed. Can Nancy’s good heart and strength bring them all through?
*And don’t miss the sixth and final book in The Rockwood Chronicles – Dolly’s Dream – available to pre-order now!*
Dilly’s novel Sunday’s Child hit #1 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts the w/e 25th June 2022.
‘I foresee happiness for you, Nancy. I hear bells and I see snow, and your heart’s desire comes true’
A chance encounter brings Nancy Sunday to the streets of London, where she finds herself amongst a band of street urchins.
Her heart may have been broken by love but it’s big enough to help those less fortunate than herself, and Nancy takes these unloved orphans in – but when one of them is accused of a serious crime, the neighbourhood turns against her.
The colder the cruel grip of winter grows, the more mouths she finds herself having to feed. Can Nancy’s good heart and strength bring them all through?
*And don’t miss the sixth and final book in The Rockwood Chronicles – Dolly’s Dream – available to pre-order now!*
Dilly’s novel Sunday’s Child hit #1 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts the w/e 25th June 2022.
509 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2022
180 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Dilly Court
83 books416 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 31, 2023
This fifth outing in Rockwood sees us travel to Gibraltar for a short time with none of them seeming to remain in one place. Only the first book remained in Devonshire (and maybe Cornwall as well) but the second and third took in France, the fourth was Barbados and this one Gibraltar! They sure do get around. But having said that, this one does have a touch of Lindsey Hutchinson to it which will enthrall those fans, I'm sure.
Once again, Nancy Greystone (formerly Sunday) takes centre stage and shines brilliantly. The story picks up quite literally where the last one left off...and I do mean "literally". Nancy is still at Dorrington Park with Freddie having just proposed and she having just faced off with Lady Dorrington. Next hurdle, Lord Dorrington. And he has some reservations to the nuptials but, after some convincing, agrees but with one stipulation that is non-negotiable. Nancy must take up residence in her ancestral home of Greystone Park and run it as its mistress sucessfully for one whole year. After which he will grant the couple his blessing.
Nancy is speechless. Although she is the legal owner of Greystone Park she had no intention of living there but if she wishes to marry Freddie then she must agree to Lord Dorrington's condition. She feels sure that Bertie, her legal guardian, will give them his blessing but they are both shocked to discover that he agreed with Lord Dorrington, as strange a request as it was. Nancy is angered that Freddie didn't stand up to either Bertie or his father and is convinced he mustn't really love her if he isn't prepared to fight for her.
So Nancy takes up residence at Greystone Park, much to the annoyance of her cousin Christina Cottingham who believes the estate to be her birthright despite being mistress of Cottingham Manor now. She isn't used to being mistress and is grateful for the help of her faithful servants who assist her in both etiquette and expectations. It isn't long before she gains their loyalty and trust and soon Greystone Park begins to shine again.
Then Aurelia Blanchard arrives unannounced from Cornwall and convinces Nancy to a trip to London but abandons her to make her own way to the station. Unfortunately, Nancy is kidnapped by a gang of street urchins who believe her to be a lady of means and therefore a way ti feed themselves. What they don't realise is that Nancy has no money on her which is why she was walking through the unknown streets of London alone. But instead of reporting them to the police, she takes them in, clothes them,, feeds them and pays for their passage back to Devonshire with her where she will become their guardian and hopefully give them the start in life she was lucky enough to be given by Rosalind Blanchard when she was a child. Of course, everyone thinks she has lost her mind and queries what she must be thinking taking in street urchins who will surely pilfer the silver when she isn't looking.
In all of this, Freddie is consicuously absent. But then Lord Dorrington did request that they not see each other for the entire year Nancy made a success of becoming mistress of Greystone Park. However, the one time she did call on him for help, she was livid that he seemed to care more for business affairs than her! This annoyed me. Throughout all last book and the beginning of this one, Nancy stipulated that she would not marry Freddie unless both his parents gave their blessing as she did not want to come between his family. She also understood that he was heir to a vast estate and viscountcy and that he had responsibilities that would become his in the place of his father when the time came. Well, now he was stepping up to those responsibilities as his father took ill and she's complaining about it! Not only that, she complains he doesn't seem to have time for her anymore and cares more for the business and the estate than for her. If he really wanted to, he could make the time to see her. She's the one who told him to return to Dorrington Park! She's the one who told him to take up his place as heir to the estate and wait the year out for his father to give his blessing. And now she complains?
But that was my only complaint in all fairness. Well, except for how things ended up. It wasn't what I thought or was expecting or anything. The nuptials was just too weird in my opinion. But that aside, it was still one of the best books in the series with that touch of Lindsey Hutchinson when Nancy took a dozen street urchins under her wing and took them back to Greystone Park.
And so with one more book in this series left "Dolly's Dream" I look forward to reading Dolly's story as she grows into a woman from the child we've seen of her thus far.
Another delightful read.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Once again, Nancy Greystone (formerly Sunday) takes centre stage and shines brilliantly. The story picks up quite literally where the last one left off...and I do mean "literally". Nancy is still at Dorrington Park with Freddie having just proposed and she having just faced off with Lady Dorrington. Next hurdle, Lord Dorrington. And he has some reservations to the nuptials but, after some convincing, agrees but with one stipulation that is non-negotiable. Nancy must take up residence in her ancestral home of Greystone Park and run it as its mistress sucessfully for one whole year. After which he will grant the couple his blessing.
Nancy is speechless. Although she is the legal owner of Greystone Park she had no intention of living there but if she wishes to marry Freddie then she must agree to Lord Dorrington's condition. She feels sure that Bertie, her legal guardian, will give them his blessing but they are both shocked to discover that he agreed with Lord Dorrington, as strange a request as it was. Nancy is angered that Freddie didn't stand up to either Bertie or his father and is convinced he mustn't really love her if he isn't prepared to fight for her.
So Nancy takes up residence at Greystone Park, much to the annoyance of her cousin Christina Cottingham who believes the estate to be her birthright despite being mistress of Cottingham Manor now. She isn't used to being mistress and is grateful for the help of her faithful servants who assist her in both etiquette and expectations. It isn't long before she gains their loyalty and trust and soon Greystone Park begins to shine again.
Then Aurelia Blanchard arrives unannounced from Cornwall and convinces Nancy to a trip to London but abandons her to make her own way to the station. Unfortunately, Nancy is kidnapped by a gang of street urchins who believe her to be a lady of means and therefore a way ti feed themselves. What they don't realise is that Nancy has no money on her which is why she was walking through the unknown streets of London alone. But instead of reporting them to the police, she takes them in, clothes them,, feeds them and pays for their passage back to Devonshire with her where she will become their guardian and hopefully give them the start in life she was lucky enough to be given by Rosalind Blanchard when she was a child. Of course, everyone thinks she has lost her mind and queries what she must be thinking taking in street urchins who will surely pilfer the silver when she isn't looking.
In all of this, Freddie is consicuously absent. But then Lord Dorrington did request that they not see each other for the entire year Nancy made a success of becoming mistress of Greystone Park. However, the one time she did call on him for help, she was livid that he seemed to care more for business affairs than her! This annoyed me. Throughout all last book and the beginning of this one, Nancy stipulated that she would not marry Freddie unless both his parents gave their blessing as she did not want to come between his family. She also understood that he was heir to a vast estate and viscountcy and that he had responsibilities that would become his in the place of his father when the time came. Well, now he was stepping up to those responsibilities as his father took ill and she's complaining about it! Not only that, she complains he doesn't seem to have time for her anymore and cares more for the business and the estate than for her. If he really wanted to, he could make the time to see her. She's the one who told him to return to Dorrington Park! She's the one who told him to take up his place as heir to the estate and wait the year out for his father to give his blessing. And now she complains?
But that was my only complaint in all fairness. Well, except for how things ended up. It wasn't what I thought or was expecting or anything. The nuptials was just too weird in my opinion. But that aside, it was still one of the best books in the series with that touch of Lindsey Hutchinson when Nancy took a dozen street urchins under her wing and took them back to Greystone Park.
And so with one more book in this series left "Dolly's Dream" I look forward to reading Dolly's story as she grows into a woman from the child we've seen of her thus far.
Another delightful read.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 9, 2025
They don’t write books like this anymore I mean there are a lot of good books and authors but this author has my heart and like I can read any of her books anytime and as many times as possible. She was one of the first authors I bought books of and have read her books so many times I don’t remember the count.
Her books are not just love stories they show how the society worked in 1800s and how women stood on their feet even in such times without the help of men as many think that we can’t do. But she proves them wrong through the main characters of all of her books. She breaks every society norms of not only modern times but of that time itself.
This is 5th book of the “The Rockwood Chronicles” which is about Nancy who was an orphan adopted by Rosalind Carney at the age of 8 and later proved to be the daughter of Sir Micheal Greystone on whose death she inherited the Greystone estate. She is in love with the heir of Dorrington estate and wants to get married but Lord Dorrington doesn’t agree and gives her a challenge to oversee the Greystone estate for a year and prove that she is capable of being a mistress.
She reluctantly agrees to do so but the problem is that she cant meet Freddie for a year which is the condition set by his dad. She starts doing everything she can to prove her worth but its not easy because her step-sister or cousin is on the point that she is the rightful heir of the estate. When she travels to London she meets a group of boys of varying ages who has been forced in the world of crime because their parents abandoned them.
As the time goes, she realizes she was not in as much love as she thoughts as Freddie has been very distant since she last met him and there are problems that needs her instant attention. She brings the group of boys and has taken their responsibility but problems become more severe when one of them is accused of a crime and she has no way to prove he is innocent.
This book is so much more than just story and it makes you read more n more. It doesn’t let you stop at any point. I read it in 5 days I mean it is 500 pages and the speed at which I read it is record-breaking for me.
Her books are not just love stories they show how the society worked in 1800s and how women stood on their feet even in such times without the help of men as many think that we can’t do. But she proves them wrong through the main characters of all of her books. She breaks every society norms of not only modern times but of that time itself.
This is 5th book of the “The Rockwood Chronicles” which is about Nancy who was an orphan adopted by Rosalind Carney at the age of 8 and later proved to be the daughter of Sir Micheal Greystone on whose death she inherited the Greystone estate. She is in love with the heir of Dorrington estate and wants to get married but Lord Dorrington doesn’t agree and gives her a challenge to oversee the Greystone estate for a year and prove that she is capable of being a mistress.
She reluctantly agrees to do so but the problem is that she cant meet Freddie for a year which is the condition set by his dad. She starts doing everything she can to prove her worth but its not easy because her step-sister or cousin is on the point that she is the rightful heir of the estate. When she travels to London she meets a group of boys of varying ages who has been forced in the world of crime because their parents abandoned them.
As the time goes, she realizes she was not in as much love as she thoughts as Freddie has been very distant since she last met him and there are problems that needs her instant attention. She brings the group of boys and has taken their responsibility but problems become more severe when one of them is accused of a crime and she has no way to prove he is innocent.
This book is so much more than just story and it makes you read more n more. It doesn’t let you stop at any point. I read it in 5 days I mean it is 500 pages and the speed at which I read it is record-breaking for me.
January 18, 2025
Snow bride
Key take-aways:
- Don't turn away from challenges especially if they'll make you stronger. Nancy is refused consent by Lord Dorrington to marry his son until she proves that she is able to be a mistress of a great house and estate. Nancy takes on the challenge and through it realizes a few truths.
- Nancy doesn't shy away from difficult truths. She realised that being with Freddie wouldn't make her content even though she would become a very wealthy woman. When she decided to take on the responsibility of bringing up the abandoned children, she saw that her's and Freddie's values didn't align. Nancy wanted to create a life which she would be proud of and she wasn't going to forsake her purpose for someone else.
This book demonstrated how strong traits are not formed without challenges. In every difficulty there is a silver lining so don't be hasty in decisions or in taking an easy way out (if you're not sure the easy way is the right way).
I have given this book three stars because on a couple of occasions I almost gave up. It was like being with Nancy every step of the way for an entire year which I found a bit of a bore. But perhaps it's a lesson to enjoy the 'tedious', 'average' moments in order to get to the exciting ones!
But I also gave it three stars because it seemed foolish to take in random children off the streets. "It was a brave undertaking and it could have proved to be a terrible mistake."
Key take-aways:
- Don't turn away from challenges especially if they'll make you stronger. Nancy is refused consent by Lord Dorrington to marry his son until she proves that she is able to be a mistress of a great house and estate. Nancy takes on the challenge and through it realizes a few truths.
- Nancy doesn't shy away from difficult truths. She realised that being with Freddie wouldn't make her content even though she would become a very wealthy woman. When she decided to take on the responsibility of bringing up the abandoned children, she saw that her's and Freddie's values didn't align. Nancy wanted to create a life which she would be proud of and she wasn't going to forsake her purpose for someone else.
This book demonstrated how strong traits are not formed without challenges. In every difficulty there is a silver lining so don't be hasty in decisions or in taking an easy way out (if you're not sure the easy way is the right way).
I have given this book three stars because on a couple of occasions I almost gave up. It was like being with Nancy every step of the way for an entire year which I found a bit of a bore. But perhaps it's a lesson to enjoy the 'tedious', 'average' moments in order to get to the exciting ones!
But I also gave it three stars because it seemed foolish to take in random children off the streets. "It was a brave undertaking and it could have proved to be a terrible mistake."
February 15, 2023
I just don’t think I’m a fan of Nancy to be honest, she never really redeemed herself to me in this one nor did she become any more interesting. I find her irritating and bland and the only reason I continued with it and enjoyed it was the addition of all the other family members.
Nancy is very naive and reckless, she thinks nothing of bringing 12 random beggar boys to live with her, boys who she encountered when they basically abducted her! Her relationship with Freddie was never exciting or romantic, it was all very staid and boring.
However, I did enjoy it and it was easy to read, but again, it’s the rest of the family I enjoy reading about.
Nancy is very naive and reckless, she thinks nothing of bringing 12 random beggar boys to live with her, boys who she encountered when they basically abducted her! Her relationship with Freddie was never exciting or romantic, it was all very staid and boring.
However, I did enjoy it and it was easy to read, but again, it’s the rest of the family I enjoy reading about.
November 26, 2022
BOOK 5 IN THE ROCK WOOD CHRONICAL SERIES.
THE FIRST 3 BOOKS I STRUGGLED TO GET INTO . THE 4TH WAS BETTER AS FOR NUMBER 5. I AM HALF WAY THOUGH AND FEEL ITS DRAGGING WITH THE STORYINE AGAIN,
BUT SAYING THAT, its keeping a faster pace of reading then the other 4. this was has more BITE in it.
fining children on the streets after being kidnapped NANCY SUNDAY, comes up with a plan
to keep everyone happy and her alive,
THIS BOOK HAS MORE PACE TO IT.
WOULD i read the series again. No. For me it is a one time read only.
THE FIRST 3 BOOKS I STRUGGLED TO GET INTO . THE 4TH WAS BETTER AS FOR NUMBER 5. I AM HALF WAY THOUGH AND FEEL ITS DRAGGING WITH THE STORYINE AGAIN,
BUT SAYING THAT, its keeping a faster pace of reading then the other 4. this was has more BITE in it.
fining children on the streets after being kidnapped NANCY SUNDAY, comes up with a plan
to keep everyone happy and her alive,
THIS BOOK HAS MORE PACE TO IT.
WOULD i read the series again. No. For me it is a one time read only.
July 3, 2023
Brilliant as always.
This author is amazing I've read every book she has written im so glad my friend told me about her this one was quite lovely and romantic.Nancy was quite a wonderful women taking in all of the children so they could have a decent education and better themselves as they grew up instead of being on the streets poor and having to live starving and wondering where the next meal was coming from .Tommy was so happy when Nancy said yes to marry him it was a lovely surprise for her.Can't wait to read the next book.Thank you Dilly.
This author is amazing I've read every book she has written im so glad my friend told me about her this one was quite lovely and romantic.Nancy was quite a wonderful women taking in all of the children so they could have a decent education and better themselves as they grew up instead of being on the streets poor and having to live starving and wondering where the next meal was coming from .Tommy was so happy when Nancy said yes to marry him it was a lovely surprise for her.Can't wait to read the next book.Thank you Dilly.
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April 3, 2024I enjoyed the continuation of the Rockwood Chronicles book book number 5, the story of Nancy the girl that Rosalind took under her care. It kept me guessing right up to the last chapter to find out who she really wanted to marry. It’s a very whimsical story line how Nancy just plucked the boys from London and brought them up as her own without questions being asked . But it is still an enjoyable read, look forward to the last book in the series .
March 5, 2023
I love a Dilly Court book. This was a great, easy read that drew me in almost immediately. However, I was slightly disappointed at the lack of romance. The title and the blurb alluded to there being romance in the book, however there was absolutely none and the bit of ‘romance’ at the end was rushed and not very satisfying. Still a great read, just not what I expected it to be.
October 18, 2022
Absolutely love all of Dilly’s books.
October 20, 2022
Brilliant book .Cannot wait for the last one book 6 .Brilliant storys .
November 5, 2022
Brilliant
Can't wait for the final book to this magnificent story. It is hard to put the book down. The stories are so absorbing. You feel a part of the famjly.
Can't wait for the final book to this magnificent story. It is hard to put the book down. The stories are so absorbing. You feel a part of the famjly.
November 12, 2022
This book was part of a 6 part Rockwood Chronicles, this was book 5 in the series and I think I would say it was my favourite. I'm looking forward to the last book to come out x
November 25, 2022
Brilliant, can’t wait for the last instalment of this series!
November 25, 2022
Oh wow loved this book so much, although it was sad in a few places and I shed a few tears reading this book. Will be very sorry to come to the end of this series.
December 9, 2022
Lovely
This is a wonderful series. I have enjoyed every one so far can't wait to read the next episode hope it's available soon
This is a wonderful series. I have enjoyed every one so far can't wait to read the next episode hope it's available soon
January 3, 2023
Excellent, as always
January 21, 2023
I was a bit disappointed because Nancy didn't marry the one I thought she should have and seemed to have been co-erced into it. Otherwise i enjoyed this book
January 27, 2023
Snow bride
Brilliant as per usual love dolly court books just waiting on the last of this series only a couple of days to go yesterday blessed be 🙏
Brilliant as per usual love dolly court books just waiting on the last of this series only a couple of days to go yesterday blessed be 🙏
March 16, 2023
Part 5 of the rock wood series another good read
March 23, 2023
Brilliant
April 3, 2023
On to the last book in the series
April 5, 2023
I actually really enjoyed this one, Nancy finally finds her place, where I think she'll be happy.
August 7, 2023
Easy read - the trials and tribulations of Nancy Sunday who is a real life Nancy from Oliver Twist. Nice happy ending. Is part of a.seried but can be read as a standalone.
March 5, 2024
Lovely story line. I did get a bit muddled with the character names at times.
July 9, 2024
Another great storyline...some twists and turns but bring on #6
November 26, 2024
This was a brand new christmas book i have read this was so good xx
December 10, 2024
A fun feel-good read
January 7, 2025
Another fantastic story in this series. I loved the ending. Looking forward to reading the final book.
January 26, 2025
An enjoyable, easy read in true Dolly Court style
January 4, 2026
excellent read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews