Dilly Court Books in Order
Dilly Court’s novels are heartwarming, fast-paced historical sagas primarily set in turn-of-the-century London, featuring plucky heroines who overcome poverty and hardship to find love and security.
Last updated: December 15, 2025
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Publication Order
52 books
The Winter Belle
by Dilly Court
2025
When her family falls on hard times, Kitty uses her talent for painting to earn money at the Soho Bazaar. As winter tightens its grip and danger lurks in the shadows, Kitty must fight to protect her loved ones from ruin.
The Snow Angel
by Dilly Court
2025
On Christmas Eve, Rose Northwood finds a destitute child with no memory in a nativity manger. Reminded of her own lost brother, she is determined to nurse the boy back to health and uncover his true identity.
Poppy’s Choice
by Dilly Court
2025
Targeted by a blackmailer, Poppy Robbins turns to a mysterious stranger for help. He proposes a fake engagement and an escape to his country manor, but Poppy soon finds herself trapped in a web of secrets and danger.
The Lucky Penny
by Dilly Court
2024
Flora was rescued from poverty by the Stewart family, but a twist of fate calls her back to the London cobbles. Torn from her new life, she must rely on her courage to find where she truly belongs.
Dolly's Dream
by Dilly Court
2023
Dolly Blanchard flees Rockwood Castle to chase her dream of becoming an actress in London. But the city streets are dangerous, and she soon finds herself in peril, facing a choice between her ambition and the safety of home.
A Thimble for Christmas
by Dilly Court
2023
Amelia sells her last possessions to survive until her estranged grandfather leaves her a struggling factory. Dreaming of sewing elegant gowns, she fights to save the business and keep her hopes alive through a harsh winter.
Sunday’s Child
by Dilly Court
2022
Foundling Nancy Sunday was raised by the Carey family at Rockwood Castle. Now eighteen, she longs to know her true origins, a quest that takes her from the safety of Devon to the bustling society of London.
Snow Bride
by Dilly Court
2022
Nancy Sunday finds herself on the streets of London amongst a band of urchins. Despite her own heartbreak, she strives to help those less fortunate, proving her resilience as she searches for her place in the world.
Runaway Widow
by Dilly Court
2022
Left penniless after her husband's sudden death, Patricia Greystone refuses to be defeated. As a young widow, she must navigate a world of secrets and lies to secure a future for herself and her loved ones.
Winter Wedding
by Dilly Court
2021
Christmas at Rockwood Castle is overshadowed by the news that Rosalind’s husband has been shipwrecked. As the family faces uncertainty, they must pull together to survive the winter and the threats to their home.
The Reluctant Heiress
by Dilly Court
2021
Returning to London from India, Katherine Martin is shocked by the city's poverty. Defying her parents, she opens a soup kitchen in the East End, but soon catches the attention of a dangerous local gang leader.
Fortune's Daughter
by Dilly Court
2021
Rosalind Carey struggles to keep her family afloat in the crumbling Rockwood Castle. When a dashing cousin arrives claiming the estate is his, Rosalind must decide if he is a saviour or a threat to her family’s future.
The Country Bride
by Dilly Court
2020
Judy Begg, a loyal servant at Creek Manor, is abandoned by her secret fiancé when the estate is sold. Facing poverty and a violent stepfather, she must battle to protect her family while dealing with the manor's new owner.
Rag-and-Bone Christmas
by Dilly Court
2020
Sally Suggs takes over her father's rag-and-bone trade when he falls ill. In a harsh winter, she faces fierce competition and danger from London's criminal underbelly, fighting to protect her family and their horse, Flower.
A Village Scandal
by Dilly Court
2020
Daisy Marshall is overjoyed to finally marry Jay Fox, but he disappears on their wedding night. Left alone and facing financial ruin, Daisy must uncover the scandalous secret behind his disappearance to save her home.
The Christmas Wedding
by Dilly Court
2019
Jilted at the altar, Daisy Marshall flees to the coastal village of Little Creek. There she finds a community suffering under a cruel lord and the threat of cholera, but also new friends and a chance to rebuild her life.
Nettie’s Secret
by Dilly Court
2019
Nettie Carroll and her hapless father are forced to flee London for France after he trusts the wrong man. With enemies closing in, Nettie guards a secret that could be the key to saving them and securing their future.
The Summer Maiden
by Dilly Court
2018
Carrie Manning takes charge of her late father’s shipping company but finds it in dire straits. Forced to work as a companion, she uncovers secrets that link her employer's family to her own and figures from the past.
The River Maid
by Dilly Court
2018
Essie Chapman works on the Thames to support her father until she aids a mysterious stranger named Raven. Her act of kindness leads to wrongful imprisonment and a journey to the penal colonies of Australia.
The Christmas Rose
by Dilly Court
2018
Rose Munday is abandoned by her sweetheart on the London docks. Rescued by two unlikely friends, she forges a new life, but when a good deed goes sour, a dangerous foe threatens to ruin them all before Christmas.
The Mistletoe Seller
by Dilly Court
2017
Found on a doorstep on Christmas Eve, Angel Winter is later thrown onto the streets to fend for herself. Selling mistletoe to survive, she holds onto a gold ring found in her swaddling, her only clue to the secrets of her past.
The Button Box
by Dilly Court
2017
Clara Carter's father has gambled away everything, leaving the family in peril. Clutching her precious button box, Clara dreams of opening a shop to save her sisters, but a debt to a dangerous gang leader threatens to destroy her hopes.
The Swan Maid
by Dilly Court
2016
Lottie Lane, a chambermaid at a busy London inn, nurses an injured soldier back to health. Her act of kindness leads her on a journey from the docks of Chatham to the battlefields of Europe, following the drum of the soldiers.
The Christmas Card
by Dilly Court
2016
Alice is left with her father's debts and a cruel aunt who tries to force her into a monstrous marriage. She escapes to work in a grand house, where she finds an ally in handsome Uncle Rory, but scandal threatens to ruin her reputation.
Ragged Rose
by Dilly Court
2016
When Rose’s father turns his children out onto the street, she must protect her siblings at all costs. With her brother facing the hangman's noose and her sister courting danger, Rose risks everything to save them from ruin.
The Orphan's Dream
by Dilly Court
2015
Cast out by her ruthless stepmother, Mirabel Cutler is rescued by a sea captain who takes her to a house of ill-repute. To escape, she marries an elderly officer, but news of her lost love threatens to throw her life into turmoil once more.
The Beggar Maid
by Dilly Court
2014
Charity Crosse has lived rough with her grandfather since she was a child. When he dies, she finds work in a bookshop, but the death of her kindly employer leaves her facing eviction and a return to the streets.
In Love and War
by Dilly Court
2014
Determined to do her bit for the Great War, Elsie volunteers as an interpreter and later an undercover agent. Her journey takes her to the battlefields of France as a nurse, where she risks everything to save lives.
A Place Called Home
by Dilly Court
2014
Born out of wedlock, Lucy Pocket is raised by her grandmother until her wealthy grandfather takes her in. When he dies, his nephew cheats her out of her inheritance, leaving her with nothing but a run-down lodging house in Whitechapel.
The Workhouse Girl
by Dilly Court
2013
Eleven-year-old Stella Barry is torn from her mother and thrust into service. When she returns home to find her family evicted and vanished, she sets out alone to find them, determined to rebuild the loving home she lost.
The Shopkeeper's Daughter
by Dilly Court
2013
Ginnie Travis fights to keep her father's shop afloat during the war. When scandal and air raids force her to flee to the North of England, she meets an American soldier who brings both love and secrets into her life.
A Loving Family
by Dilly Court
2013
Seven years after leaving the workhouse, Stella Barry has thrived, but tragedy strikes again. Forced to flee with no references and few possessions, she must rely on her wits and strength to survive in a hostile world.
The Lady's Maid
by Dilly Court
2012
Kate and Josie were born on the same night but raised in different worlds—one in poverty, one in privilege. As they grow up friends, a secret from their birth threatens to unravel both their lives when they fall for the wrong men.
The Girls in Blue
by Dilly Court
2012
After her home is destroyed in the Blitz, Miranda Beddoes joins the WAAF. Stationed on the coast, she finds purpose and camaraderie, but falls for a reckless fighter pilot whose dangerous missions keep her in constant fear.
The Best of Daughters
by Dilly Court
2012
Privileged Daisy Lennox joins the suffragette movement, but her life changes when her father faces ruin. Forced to move to the country and engaged to a childhood friend, the outbreak of World War I pushes Daisy to forge her own path as a nurse.
We'll Meet Again
by Dilly Court
2011
Meg Colivet falls for a German student just before war breaks out. When Guernsey is occupied, she stays behind to help her family, but her loyalty is tested when her former love returns as an enemy officer.
Spitfire Girl
by Dilly Court
2011
Susan Banks, a servant in London, dreams of serving her country. After rescuing a dog and meeting a flying instructor, she flees the Blitz to a country inn, where she finds friendship and love, but war threatens to take it all away.
Cinderella Sister
by Dilly Court
2011
Lily Larkin is the overlooked youngest sibling, keeping house while her family works. When a fire destroys the docks and they lose their home, a terrible mistake sees Lily cast out onto the streets, separated from the only life she has ever known.
A Mother's Trust
by Dilly Court
2011
Phoebe Giamatti protects her Italian family in London's East End after her father is killed by a gang. When she discovers a secret about her mother that could tear the family apart, Phoebe must make a heartbreaking sacrifice to keep them safe.
The Ragged Heiress
by Dilly Court
2010
Lucetta Froy wakes up in a hospital with no memory, only to be claimed by rough strangers posing as her brothers. Realising she has been kidnapped for her inheritance, she must escape their clutches and reclaim her true identity.
Poppy's War
by Dilly Court
2010
Evacuated from London at thirteen, Poppy Brown faces cold indifference at a grand country house in Dorset. As the war rages, she returns to the city to train as a nurse, finding love and purpose amidst the Blitz.
A Mother's Secret
by Dilly Court
2010
Belinda Phillips is forced to leave her illegitimate daughter, Cassy, with a foster mother in London. Years later, Cassy is left destitute on the streets, dreaming of the mother she never knew and hoping for rescue from her harsh reality.
The Cockney Angel
by Dilly Court
2009
Irene Angel struggles to keep her family together while her father gambles away their earnings. When he is imprisoned in Newgate, Irene is forced to seek help from her sworn enemy, Inspector Edward Kent, to clear her father's name.
A Mother's Wish
by Dilly Court
2009
Widowed Effie Grey lives on a narrowboat under the thumb of her tyrannical father-in-law. When her brother is sent away and her son is threatened, Effie steals a cache of money and flees, desperate to reunite her family.
The Constant Heart
by Dilly Court
2008
Rosina May lives by the Thames until her father’s feud threatens everything she holds dear. Forced to agree to a loveless marriage to save her family, she finds her head turned by a handsome river pirate, leading to a choice between duty and love.
A Mother's Promise
by Dilly Court
2008
Hetty Huggins promised her dying mother she would look after her siblings, but the tallyman threatens to turn them out. Determined to survive, Hetty starts selling hot potatoes on the streets, battling to keep a roof over their heads.
The Cockney Sparrow
by Dilly Court
2007
Gifted with a beautiful voice, young Clemency Skinner is forced to pick pockets to support her crippled brother. When she is spotted by a theatre manager, fame beckons, but a chance meeting with a mysterious stranger brings fresh danger.
The Best of Sisters
by Dilly Court
2007
Twelve-year-old Eliza Bragg has known little but the cold banks of the Thames, living above her uncle’s chandlery. When her father is lost at sea, she is left to protect her siblings and navigate a treacherous world alone.
A Mother's Courage
by Dilly Court
2007
When Eloise Cribb learns her husband’s ship is lost at sea, she is left destitute with two young children. Forced to seek help from his estranged family in Yorkshire, she faces hostility and a desperate struggle to keep her children out of the workhouse.
Tilly True
by Dilly Court
2006
Dismissed from her position as a housemaid, Tilly True returns to her family in the East End only to find them in dire straits. Determined to make something of her life rather than succumb to poverty, she embarks on a journey to secure her future.
The Dollmakers Daughter
by Dilly Court
2006
Sisters Ruby and Rosetta Capretti live in the East End slums but dream of different futures. While Rosetta longs for the bright lights of the music hall, Ruby hopes to become a nurse. When they meet handsome Jonas Crowe by their father’s grave, their lives change forever.
Mermaids Singing
by Dilly Court
2005
Kitty Cox creates beautiful embroidery, but her dreams of working in a West End dress shop seem impossible while living under the roof of her abusive brother-in-law. When she is forced onto the streets of London, Kitty must fight to survive without losing her spirit.
Where should I start?
If you want the book that started it all: Mermaids Singing.
If you prefer a sweeping series with travel and adventure: The River Maid → The Summer Maiden → The Christmas Rose.
For a cozy village drama with plenty of twists: The Christmas Wedding → A Village Scandal → The Country Bride.
Author bio
Dilly Court started her journey in North East London, where she grew up with a passion for stories long before she became a household name. Her early career was creative but quite different from the historical sagas she is famous for today. She began working in television, writing scripts for commercials and honing her skills in the fast-paced world of advertising. As a copywriter, she learned the importance of grabbing an audience's attention quickly—a skill that would later serve her well when she turned her hand to novels.
It wasn’t until much later in life that she became an "overnight" success. Dilly published her first novel, Mermaids Singing, at the age of sixty-five. Her story is a wonderful reminder that it is never too late to follow a dream. After facing the rejection letters that almost every successful writer encounters, she finally broke through and quickly cemented her place as a Sunday Times bestselling author. Since then, she has made up for lost time with incredible energy, often writing two or three books a year and selling millions of copies to devoted fans around the world.
She is famous for her meticulous research, often burying herself in what she affectionately calls her "engine room." This is where the magic happens. She dives deep into maps, historical records, and old street directories to capture the authentic atmosphere of Victorian and Edwardian London. For Dilly, getting the details right is part of the fun. She wants to know exactly what her characters would have worn, what slang they would have used, and what the streets they walked on actually looked like.
Her writing routine is disciplined but driven by pure imagination. She often says that once she starts writing, the characters take over and tell her where the story needs to go. Her novels typically feature strong, resilient young women who find themselves facing destitution or disaster. Whether they are flower sellers, factory workers, or servants, these heroines must fight with everything they have to protect their families and survive in a harsh world. It is this combination of gritty realism and heartwarming emotion that keeps readers coming back for more.
In addition to her extensive list of family sagas set in the nineteenth century, she has branched out into a different era. Under the pseudonym Lily Baxter, she writes gripping World War II novels. These stories explore similar themes of courage and survival but are set against the backdrop of the Blitz and the home front, offering a different flavor for her fans to enjoy.
Today, Dilly lives far away from the smog and bustle of the London she writes about. She resides in Dorset on the beautiful Jurassic Coast, a setting she loves for its dramatic cliffs and sea views. She lives there with her husband and a large, yellow Labrador who keeps her company while she works. When she isn’t in her engine room dreaming up new twists for her characters, she enjoys spending time with her two grown children and four grandchildren.
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