I especially appreciated the clear presentation of the way different strata of society lived, demonstrated both in description and simple comments about how only the wealthy have the luxury of not knowing how much coin they possess. One of the men, despite being smitten, leads another girl on for almost the entire book and although there are suggestions that it's to protect her honour, this is suspect and doesn't quite ring true given the circumstances. Another flaw is that several times when the principle characters are at rock bottom, rescuers suddenly appear out of nowhere. She is married with two grown-up children and four grandchildren, and now lives in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast with her husband.

This fit the bill: a princess and the pauper fairytale, as it were, with evil uncles and stepmother, two foundlings, honorable men (and a few dishonorable ones), and a story that rockets between country estates and London's East End, and a happy ending, of course. She is often repentant after the fact and occasionally shows flashes of maturity even at her worst though they don’t last. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. The Romany grandmother finds a safe home for this girl as well, both children growing up believing themselves legitimate.It begins in the night on a hill where a Romany woman awaits the birth of her daughter’s illegitimate child for whom she has arranged a home.

Normally a protagonist of hers falls on hard times, and is destitute in London for most of the novel. A lot of drama and twists of fate before the happy ending coupled with an unexpected turn-around in circumstances. This is the second historical novel I have read by Dilly Court, and once again, she sunk me into the period with all the prejudice and classism endemic in the 1800s. Kate, on the other hand, takes charge of every circumstance with her practical hard working personality, overcoming every obstacle except her sense of place. The story begins with an awkward friendship between a spoiled, manipulative lady and her lifelong friend who begins the book as a beleaguered housemaid.Although the reader can see the way the book will go the reader stays interested and needs to find out how things unwind. One was of Romany heritage and one from higher social standing but circumstances swapped their upbringing. Still, rather than being bitter toward her childhood friend, Kate does her best to help Josie come safely through whatever wild plan she’s dragged Kate into. This was a good "guilty pleasure" historical romance, as tasty and insubstantial as a box of chocolates.

I also feel these books should have a glossary to show the meaning of some words as I always have to refer to a dictionary for a number of words. The first portrayal was enough to make me worry the author shared the views of that period, but then as the story unfolds, a much more nuanced view comes into play. One of those feel good books that's quite predictable with its twists and turns but a fun read either way.Another enjoyable read from Dilly Court set in the mid 19th century, however, I found it full of unbelievable occurrences. Kate hurried homeward as fast as the iron-clad pattens would allow, wrapping her thin shawl a little tighter around her head and shoulders. The 103 third parties who use cookies on this service do so for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalized ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. I know this happens in fiction, but usually it's because they are seeking the person they suddenly find.