A Place Called Home

by Dilly Court

The wonderfully nostalgic and heartwarming new novel from the Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author of The Beggar Maid.Born out of wedlock when her mother was only fourteen, Lucy Pocket has spent all her life in the care of her disreputable but charming grandmother, Eva. They dodge from one poor lodging house to another, always in debt and resorting to theft in order to exist. Until her wealthy paternal grandfather buys her from Eva, determined to bring Lucy up to be a lady. When her grandfather dies, his despicable nephew cheats Lucy out of her inheritance, except for a run-down lodging house in Whitechapel, where she is forced to look after his three illegitimate children.Jilted by her would-be fiancé, Lucy is determined to make a life for herself and the children, and to search for her long lost grandmother, creating the family she has always longed for.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

482 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2014

About the author

Dilly 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.

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book from the first page. It was drama filled with fun,nice, crazy and hateful characters. I liked Lucy and that she wasn't a pathetic weak girl though I wish she had stood up to Stella. Not a predictable read either, how her life turned out could have went any number of ways. But overall a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Joyce Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

New reader

Have just started o read silly court books. I am really pleased I have. They are very entertaining. There are lots of of turns in the plots to keep you guessing and I found them hard to put down. They are on a par with several of my favourite author I am so pleased I have found her.

[Izzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dilly court

Really liked this story. Slightly different in the plot made it more enjoyable. Try it, you should like it too.

[Julie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book great writer.

[Ilaria_ws · Rating 4 out of 5]

La strada verso casa racconta la storia di Lucy Pocket, una ragazzina inglese che vive insieme alla nonna materna dopo che la madre l'ha abbandonata. Lucy e sua nonna Eva tentano di sopravvivere nei bassifondi dell'East End londinese tra stenti e povertà. Un giorno alla loro porta bussa Sir William Marriot, nonno di Lucy, che decide di riprendere con sè la bambina per darle un futuro migliore ed educarla come la Lady che sarebbe dovuta essere.
Passano gli anni, Lucy cresce e diventa una donna raffinata, ma non dimentica la nonna con cui ha passato i primi anni di vita. Alla morte di Sir Marriot, Lucy diventa un'ereditiera, ma la situazione si complica quando il cugino del suo defunto padre, Linus Daubenay, rivendica l'eredità e inizia una vera battaglia contro Lucy che potrebbe mandare la giovane donna sul lastrico...
Questo corposo romanzo racconta una storia che ricorda vagamente le atmosfere dei romanzi inglesi ottocenteschi. Lucy è solo una bambina quando suo nonno la reclama e l'allontana dalla nonna che l'ha cresciuta portandola in una casa che non conosce ed educandola come una nobile. Crescendo Lucy non dimentica la vita vissuta con la nonna e non smette mai di sperare che un giorno ritroverà Eva. Quando eredita tutta la proprietà del nonno, Lucy pensa che finalmente avrà l'opportunità di ritrovare Eva e forse anche sua madre Christelle, ma Daubenay, mentendo, prende l'eredità per sè lasciando Lucy solo con una casa nell'East End.
Lucy è costretta a ricominciare da zero, ma lungo il percorso che la porterà a raggiungere il tanto agognato lieto fine troverà tante persone che la aiuteranno e le offriranno il suo aiuto permettendole di trovare la felicità.
La storia raccontata da Dilly Court è una storia che mi ha ricordato, almeno all'inizio, Il piccolo Lord. Chi di voi non ricorda Cedric, il bambino che viene portato in Inghilterra dal nonno per essere educato da lord? A Lucy succede lo stesso, ma successivamente la storia si sposta dieci anni dopo per raccontarci il seguito delle sue vicende.
Lo stile è molto scorrevole e ricco di belle descrizioni. La narrazione ha un ritmo sostenuto, mai noioso, e semplice da seguire. I personaggi sono molti e vari, ma sicuramente fra tutti spicca la giovane Lucy che da monella dei bassifondi londinesi diventa una giovane Lady dal carattere forte e dalla volontà di ferro! Con lei ci saranno molti personaggi, sua nonna Eva, Bram, Hester e tanti altri, ognuno di loro dà il suo contributo alla storia di Lucy e viene ben caratterizzato.
La storia è molto bella, ho apprezzato particolarmente l'ambientazione e la protagonista: Lucy è forte, caparbia e decisa e tenta il tutto per tutto per ottenere quello che merita.
Se amate le storie ambientate nell'affascinante Londra e ricche di avventure ed emozioni, allora questo è il romanzo che fa per voi!

[stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i dont normally read this style of books but i loved reading this book.
it reminded my why i started to read books more. i felt like i know these people in the book.
when i first got this book it was the cover of the book the drew me in and i wanted to know why they didnt look so happy i wanted to know their story, what they been through. i havent read a book so fast in all the time i've started reading from the age of 11. the writing was so beauifully put together it made me not want to stop reading and because i was reading the words of the book so fast i delayed reading the ending for a long while because i didnt want the book to stop i didnt want to run out of words.

[Sarah1983 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few other Dilly Court books and enjoyed them but found this one to be disappointing to be honest. I didn't find it very believable and really couldn't have cared less what happened to the main characters.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great dilly court book love her stories.

[Delia Sandford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book will defiantly be reading more by this author

[Annemarie Farthing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moral of the story 'True Love Conquers All'
Easy reading

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a wonderful story of determination and courage, with interesting characters.
This is my first Dilly Court book.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Place Called Home” is a heart-warming and touching story that opens when Lucy Pocket, an eleven-year- old living in destitution after the death of her father and mother’s abandonment is sold by her grandmother to her wealthy paternal grandfather. Wanting a better life for Lucy, one free of poverty, petty crime and moving from one poor lodging house to another, her grandmother Eve leaves her despite her protests in the care of Sir William. Although surrounded by servants, clean and well- fed life in the rich surroundings of Albemarle Street is a challenge especially when Lucy discovers that the man whose wallet she stole and returned is her grandfather’s loathsome nephew Linus Daubenay who would like nothing more than to have her disappear.

This well-structured and enthralling story heats up ten years later after the death of her grandfather and his nephew’s seizure of her inheritance. Left a run-down house in Whitechapel, blackmailed into caring for Linus’s three illegitimate children, and the promise of an engagement broken, Lucy begins rebuilding her life with the children, friends and her new boarders. Yet she can’t forget the loving grandmother who mysteriously disappeared from her life so she sets out on an adventure to find her that has her joining a circus; contending with the rivalry of the two men who love her; as well as the jealousy of the circus's snake charmer.

Emotionally- intense beginning with Lucy’s losses as a child to growing up in poverty in a rough neighborhood where she has to steal to survive, and later in the wealthy environment of her grandfather’s house suffering the disparaging comments of the servants, the hatred of Sir William’s nephew and being locked in her room, the power of the plot escalates when she’s left with an old house and a small bequest after her uncle's theft. Yet amid all the intensity and suspense as Lucy searches for her missing grandmother, and struggles to keep the devious Linus away from his children, she finds love reawakened with Bramwell Southwood, a boy who once saved her life when she got lost in Epping Forest.

Dilly Court creates a complexity to her characters that not only infuses the plot with passion, high-energy and excitement but makes them unforgettable. Lucy Pocket raised by a loving grandmother in the misery and poverty of Whitechapel is determined and fearless as a child but under her grandfather’s influence becomes a relaxed, responsible and empathetic young woman. Bramwell Southwood the brother of Linus’s kind-hearted and caring mistress Meg is a sensible, good-natured tease as a teen. Buying a commission in the army and serving in the 7th Hussars, he’s strong and resolute especially in his determination to keep Linus away from Lucy and his younger siblings. Womaniser and gambler Linus Daubenay is a cold, heartless bully who has no conscience and a quick temper while the obsessed snake charmer Stella, determined to get rid of her competition is conniving, manipulative and nasty.

Like all of Dilly Court’s books that I’ have read so far, I loved “ A Place Called Home” and continue to be one of her fans.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Dilly Court continues to not disappoint. Bless Lucy with her troubled life at the start, living with her grandmother. Growing up not the way she wanted at all and to be controlled by Linus who i detested right from the off. She grows up and wants nothing more than to find her family and when she finds what happens to her grandmother its a terrible shock. I love the fact that she made a family out of complete strangers throughout, and she always showed them love and respect regardless of their background. Would love a sequel of this book to find out what happens to not only her family but to her love interest Bram. Thank you Dilly for a wonderful story.

[Ritika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really did like the book at the beginning and was completely involved in it but after sometime the main character's obsession to find her grandmother started irritating me. I know she loved her and wanted to find her but I would have liked to read more about how she survived in the new neighborhood and make a change there. Plus the whole plot with the circus group and all made me lose interest.
I do admire the female lead strength and some of the moments were really great but there were too many other things to distract you in this book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could be described as historical fiction set in dregs of London we are introduced to Lucy Pocket cared for by her grandmother. Poverty and watching her back have helped her grow into a strong young girl. Out of the blue she is kidnapped by her paternal wealthy grandfather who attempts to clean up her ways to make a lady of her. However he dies and her step brother cheats her out of her inheritance. This is the story of the long and complicated journey Lucy embarks on the discover the truth risking her life. Excellent read.

[Elena Nena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Devo ammettere che la prima parte è molto carina sembra di vivere un misto tra il piccolo Lord e la piccola fiammiferaia..
Il personaggio di Lucy è descritto bene, si scopre tutto della sua vita e personalità.
Ho trovato però il testo molto ripetitivo su certi avvenimenti, troppo lunghi e raccontati più volte come se dovesse per forza, la Scrittrice, raggiungere un tot di pagine.. E questo lo ha reso noioso.
Finale scontato, peccato

Voto 5 /10

[Annie Weatherly-Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What unexpected treat was this book. Great description of East London and its life. Lovely characters especially the feisty, no nonsense Lucy. Never quite sure where Lucy is going to end up! A real winner. I am sure others will not think the same. Really enjoyable read.

[dave jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Another book I couldn’t put down but every time I finish one I need to find another quickly and I’m running out fast so might have to read some again well done Dilly you never disappoint your readers

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Dilly Court
Absolutely love the character Lucy Pocket
her stubbornness and determination that she has and nothing or no one will stop her getting the happiness she longs for and the man she wants and the love she has for her family is unreal .

[Chery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm loving all Dilly Courts books....the only thing I can say is the endings are ....1, 2, 3 and it's over. Again I'm not an author and maybe we are just spoilt with epilogues but everything seems to end so fast and no what happened after but I'm definitely hooked on the author's stories.

[Angela Free · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nice, easy read from Dilly. Characters I cared about. Nice story.

[Charmain Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was inspiring to read how Lucy and her Granny survived the tough times despite their poverty to see how she turned out in the end with Bram at Marriott Park!

[linda jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Fab fab fab what more can I say she never does a bad book role on the next one .

[June Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning and the middle were o.k., but Lucy joining a circus, as a horse rider/ entertainer, was too far fetched. on the whole an enjoyable read

[Marlyn McGhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Facinating

Loved this book a great story full of twists and turns. A right tags to riches story with a family reunion. A love story and happy ending

[Carole Fearing]

Nice story

[JV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unable to put this book down until the last page.
The depth of plot and characters is unreal!

[De Beresford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A place called home

Hey again a well written novel. You can picture the characters and places. Held me to the end. Thank you.

[Sian Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual genre but have really enjoyed and will read more by this author.

[Anne L Hugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just couldn't put it down