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Daughters of England #12
The Return of the Gypsy
This is the 12th book in the "Daughters of England" series. It tells the story of Jessica, daughter of Lottie and Dickon, and of her love for a gypsy. As soon as the gypsy comes into Jessica's life he has a powerful effect - to the extent that Jessica is determined to save him from the gallows.
416 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 1985
66 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Philippa Carr
96 books245 followersEleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow, Anna Percival and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 4, 2022
What is with Carr's obsession with pairing children with men? There's TWO in this, Jessica and Jake (eleven and twenty when they first meet), and Tamarisk and Johnathon (eight and eighteen).
June 29, 2014
Actually did not finish this stinker. I remembered reading books by this author, who is also Victoria Holt, among many other pen names, and thought she was a good writer. Not in this book. The protaganist is utterly unsympathetic and I lost interest in caring what happened to her and any of the other characters after about an hour of reading.
October 10, 2014
Waste of time. This author has written better, much better.
January 7, 2021
2.5 stars
I didn't realize when starting this that it was so closely tied to prior books in the series. (This was the only one available through my library.) There are lots of references to prior events in the family. Apparently this series has each book narrated by someone in the next generation. The first book was during Henry VIII (according to my review which I didn't remember until I was halfway through this book) and this one, which is Book 12 in the series, is set during the Napoleonic wars.
The main character, Jessica, is 11 in the first two chapters and then jumps to 18 to continue the story. I didn't sympathize with her very much, and found her rather annoying when she is describing other characters as annoying or "difficult".
I didn't realize when starting this that it was so closely tied to prior books in the series. (This was the only one available through my library.) There are lots of references to prior events in the family. Apparently this series has each book narrated by someone in the next generation. The first book was during Henry VIII (according to my review which I didn't remember until I was halfway through this book) and this one, which is Book 12 in the series, is set during the Napoleonic wars.
The main character, Jessica, is 11 in the first two chapters and then jumps to 18 to continue the story. I didn't sympathize with her very much, and found her rather annoying when she is describing other characters as annoying or "difficult".
May 1, 2022
Well, it was better than the previous one in the series, but the story was recycled from an earlier installment (husband is paralyzed, woman is unhappy).
July 29, 2019
Like the previous two books in the series, we have a plodding narrative with little action and lots of repetition. The repetition in this case occurs between Jessica – the narrator – and Jake, the so-called gypsy. In the second half of the book, they have the same type of conversation every time they meet, which grows more annoying each time. The same occurs in the previous novel with the male & female lead characters.
Certain themes from this story, especially adultery, are repeated from the previous three books. This shows a lack of originality. By now, The Adulteresses of England would make a more fitting title for the series.
The first half of the novel, however, features several quality scenes. This led me to believe this would turn into a gripping read, but it goes downhill fast after the gypsy returns.
Of the characters, I rate Dickon as the strongest creation. He stars in several previous novels, but unfortunately, he isn’t featured as prominently in this one.
In short, this is an average volume in the Daughters of England series.
Certain themes from this story, especially adultery, are repeated from the previous three books. This shows a lack of originality. By now, The Adulteresses of England would make a more fitting title for the series.
The first half of the novel, however, features several quality scenes. This led me to believe this would turn into a gripping read, but it goes downhill fast after the gypsy returns.
Of the characters, I rate Dickon as the strongest creation. He stars in several previous novels, but unfortunately, he isn’t featured as prominently in this one.
In short, this is an average volume in the Daughters of England series.
April 13, 2014
Part of a series of mother to daughter generations stories telling the history of England from Henry VIII to WW II. Fabulous to read them all in order. Each one is a gem; each is surprising and well written.
always a mystery in each novel.
always a mystery in each novel.
June 23, 2025
I never would've thought that a book set somewhen in the year 90’s would be so draining and painful to fully digest. The excitement and interest one could develop in such classic novels is truly entertaining. In all honesty, I long wanted to shut the book for good and move on to find another amongst my box of literary works— however, I constantly failed to vanish my curiosity and ended up feeding them. Now, 25th of July, year 2024, on a Thursday I had finally finished it at my grandmother's house.
I now strongly believe that curiosity does kill the cat. It's killing me. My heart aches. A cup of hot choco is not enough to ease the tightening of my chest and calm my heavy breathings. I completely feel helpless.
The book was personally written in a foreign way that I seemed to dislike at first. It was… quick. On point to say the least, and very much straightforward… the author used a first person's point of view perfectly, which is through Jessica, everything was from her perspective and it was quite an intriguing story to engage in. I regret finishing it so quickly but I had a strong urge to just know what happened next and I couldn't help myself. Eventually, I actually ended up enjoying the company of how it was written— indeed it was straight to the point with no unnecessary narratives or scenarios, one way or other situations were always connected in the end of it all. That's just a reason as to why pausing from reading wasn't a good deal. Additionally, in terms of how it was written, I’m only not fond of the lack of Oxford comma, but that seems irrelevant.
I believe I have the right to state I'm very much attached to the book by now, especially the characters. I somehow see some of my traits in Jessica but at the same time we're far too different to claim she represents me. I'm still grieving over Edward’s death, although it was an opportunity for my couple to finally be married and now blessed with two wonderful children. There's Jonathan and Tamarisk, I'm confident Eversleigh will be in good hands with him and with that girl by his side. I'm so used to their customs by now that I seem to not be concerned even if Jonathan and Tamarisk end up getting married, despite the gap in their age, I mean there's the main characters who met when they were twelve and I assume eighteen to twenty. Then Amaryllis, my poor Amaryllis, if she had known her husband is surrounded by evil and using her inheritance for his sinful business, she would be heartbroken, as well as to find out he seems to be attracted to Jessica and only had turned to her because she was far more naive. Who would've thought such a happy, contented wife and mother, is with this Peter Lansdon who owns a gambling club and a brothel. My heart simply aches for all of them.
Although I am glad that Romany Jake, or later on known as Jake Cadorson by birth and title, is now married to Jessica as he should be (I've been wanting for it to happen)… my heart aches and longs for the woman's first husband who has suffered through a disability, then by an unfortunate death resulted from a man’s revenge because of what the law has done to his father. Life has been unfair to him as much as it was discreetly cruel to Amaryllis. It pains me, genuinely. And now I must live with it.
I remember when my aunt decided to borrow the book from me so she could only read the last page. I wasn't fond of the likes of her, I had always believed such individuals were cheating the plotline of one's literary masterpiece. Ever since, she would nag me, teasing me by attempting to spoil me of what will be the end of everything. It surely irritated me but it was quite hilarious. She had told me Jessica and Jake would die in the end, so while nearing the last pages my chest was tightening up in a way that I was deeply concerned for my state. I hated such feelings. I feared they would indeed die and I wouldn't be satisfied nor happy that I read the book.
Oh she was wrong… so wrong that I dropped the book on the plywood after I was done reading it just to express my amusing frustration. They lived. Jessica and Jake were finally at peace and far away from all the fuss.
Unfortunately, I wasn't satisfied. Not with how the story went. I wasn't satisfied that it ended that way— a boy confessing his brother’s act of murder to Jessica's first husband and that was it. Peter was also not confronted regarding his gambling halls and brothel, I truly felt sorry for Amaryllis for she has no idea. It moved me though, how Jake expressed his gratitude and adoration towards Jessica when the foreign man confessed his brother’s act— because she married him despite her suspicions that he might've killed her husband in order to be together, they used to be lovers after all.
Alas, I am immensely happy. All's well that ends well. Jessica is now the happiest wife and mother she dreamed to be, especially with Jake by her side as a husband, she couldn't be more pleased. It has always been her yearning; to be with Mr. Jake Cadorson forever and to be known as Mrs. Jessica Cadorson, with two beautiful children of their own. It's quite a happy ending and all those pains for me are somehow worth living through.
I now strongly believe that curiosity does kill the cat. It's killing me. My heart aches. A cup of hot choco is not enough to ease the tightening of my chest and calm my heavy breathings. I completely feel helpless.
The book was personally written in a foreign way that I seemed to dislike at first. It was… quick. On point to say the least, and very much straightforward… the author used a first person's point of view perfectly, which is through Jessica, everything was from her perspective and it was quite an intriguing story to engage in. I regret finishing it so quickly but I had a strong urge to just know what happened next and I couldn't help myself. Eventually, I actually ended up enjoying the company of how it was written— indeed it was straight to the point with no unnecessary narratives or scenarios, one way or other situations were always connected in the end of it all. That's just a reason as to why pausing from reading wasn't a good deal. Additionally, in terms of how it was written, I’m only not fond of the lack of Oxford comma, but that seems irrelevant.
I believe I have the right to state I'm very much attached to the book by now, especially the characters. I somehow see some of my traits in Jessica but at the same time we're far too different to claim she represents me. I'm still grieving over Edward’s death, although it was an opportunity for my couple to finally be married and now blessed with two wonderful children. There's Jonathan and Tamarisk, I'm confident Eversleigh will be in good hands with him and with that girl by his side. I'm so used to their customs by now that I seem to not be concerned even if Jonathan and Tamarisk end up getting married, despite the gap in their age, I mean there's the main characters who met when they were twelve and I assume eighteen to twenty. Then Amaryllis, my poor Amaryllis, if she had known her husband is surrounded by evil and using her inheritance for his sinful business, she would be heartbroken, as well as to find out he seems to be attracted to Jessica and only had turned to her because she was far more naive. Who would've thought such a happy, contented wife and mother, is with this Peter Lansdon who owns a gambling club and a brothel. My heart simply aches for all of them.
Although I am glad that Romany Jake, or later on known as Jake Cadorson by birth and title, is now married to Jessica as he should be (I've been wanting for it to happen)… my heart aches and longs for the woman's first husband who has suffered through a disability, then by an unfortunate death resulted from a man’s revenge because of what the law has done to his father. Life has been unfair to him as much as it was discreetly cruel to Amaryllis. It pains me, genuinely. And now I must live with it.
I remember when my aunt decided to borrow the book from me so she could only read the last page. I wasn't fond of the likes of her, I had always believed such individuals were cheating the plotline of one's literary masterpiece. Ever since, she would nag me, teasing me by attempting to spoil me of what will be the end of everything. It surely irritated me but it was quite hilarious. She had told me Jessica and Jake would die in the end, so while nearing the last pages my chest was tightening up in a way that I was deeply concerned for my state. I hated such feelings. I feared they would indeed die and I wouldn't be satisfied nor happy that I read the book.
Oh she was wrong… so wrong that I dropped the book on the plywood after I was done reading it just to express my amusing frustration. They lived. Jessica and Jake were finally at peace and far away from all the fuss.
Unfortunately, I wasn't satisfied. Not with how the story went. I wasn't satisfied that it ended that way— a boy confessing his brother’s act of murder to Jessica's first husband and that was it. Peter was also not confronted regarding his gambling halls and brothel, I truly felt sorry for Amaryllis for she has no idea. It moved me though, how Jake expressed his gratitude and adoration towards Jessica when the foreign man confessed his brother’s act— because she married him despite her suspicions that he might've killed her husband in order to be together, they used to be lovers after all.
Alas, I am immensely happy. All's well that ends well. Jessica is now the happiest wife and mother she dreamed to be, especially with Jake by her side as a husband, she couldn't be more pleased. It has always been her yearning; to be with Mr. Jake Cadorson forever and to be known as Mrs. Jessica Cadorson, with two beautiful children of their own. It's quite a happy ending and all those pains for me are somehow worth living through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2011
book 12
December 1, 2014
Better than the last couple in the series. Good character development.
June 22, 2020
I'm starting to (more) fervently wish Goodreads would allow for half-star ratings. This is more like a 3.5 star rating for me. And keep in mind that's really only because I enjoy these books and Carr's writing a great deal (overall). If I wasn't already a Carr / Holt fan I think this would get a 3.
This isn't one of the best books in the series. Elements of Jessica's story are so similar to those found in previous books, including two that are very recent. And like her sister Claudine before her, Jessica does a lot of fretting and silent questioning that grates my nerves like a microplane grates cheddar. The first chapters were especially annoying because I felt like I was supposed to be fascinated with the main man on "sight" and I just wasn't, plus there was another recurring character that I don't like who was hanging around too long.
Still, I enjoy keeping up with the family and their friends and neighbors and seeing what's going to happen to them next.
There were some loose threads (of a sort - they're addressed but not in the manner I hoped for), that I hope won't be dropped for good. Maybe they will appear in the next book as a mystery for the next daughter to solve.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but found it a "meh" entry in the series. However, it was better than the preceding book and at times intriguing. I would've liked more focus on the mystery and more danger / suspense. I also would've liked if the family tree wasn't missing from the front of this book. I don't know if that was Carr's doing or this publisher's (Fawcett Crest).
A note about the series timeline and whose story is being told here and in the next book (no plot spoilers, but if you don't want to know how the timeline goes and who is prominently featured, then you might not want to read this):
*
*
*
The series has done a linear timeline up until now. The last book was narrated by Lottie's daughter Claudine, so I expected this book would be narrated by Claudine's daughter Amaryllis. Instead, the story is told by Lottie's younger daughter Jessica. Amaryllis has an important(ish) part in the plot, but we barely get to know her as a character other than what Jessica tells us about her personality. I thought it was annoying that we didn't get more scenes of Amaryllis and Jessica together. It made it come off like Jessica actually doesn't care that much about Amaryllis.
This isn't one of the best books in the series. Elements of Jessica's story are so similar to those found in previous books, including two that are very recent. And like her sister Claudine before her, Jessica does a lot of fretting and silent questioning that grates my nerves like a microplane grates cheddar. The first chapters were especially annoying because I felt like I was supposed to be fascinated with the main man on "sight" and I just wasn't, plus there was another recurring character that I don't like who was hanging around too long.
Still, I enjoy keeping up with the family and their friends and neighbors and seeing what's going to happen to them next.
There were some loose threads (of a sort - they're addressed but not in the manner I hoped for), that I hope won't be dropped for good. Maybe they will appear in the next book as a mystery for the next daughter to solve.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but found it a "meh" entry in the series. However, it was better than the preceding book and at times intriguing. I would've liked more focus on the mystery and more danger / suspense. I also would've liked if the family tree wasn't missing from the front of this book. I don't know if that was Carr's doing or this publisher's (Fawcett Crest).
A note about the series timeline and whose story is being told here and in the next book (no plot spoilers, but if you don't want to know how the timeline goes and who is prominently featured, then you might not want to read this):
*
*
*
The series has done a linear timeline up until now. The last book was narrated by Lottie's daughter Claudine, so I expected this book would be narrated by Claudine's daughter Amaryllis. Instead, the story is told by Lottie's younger daughter Jessica. Amaryllis has an important(ish) part in the plot, but we barely get to know her as a character other than what Jessica tells us about her personality. I thought it was annoying that we didn't get more scenes of Amaryllis and Jessica together. It made it come off like Jessica actually doesn't care that much about Amaryllis.
November 25, 2017
Turbulent years of Napoleonic wars. The story starts in 1805 and ends in 1819.
We see Jessica growing up from a 12-yo girl to a young wife. She marries Edward, a paraplegic,for duty.She loves an other- Romany Jake,sentenced to 7 years of servitude in Australia.
Her Niece Amaryllis, just a month younger,sees no evil in people. She marries Peter ,a businessman .Her cousin Jonathan comes to live with them and is taken by Jake's daughter Tamarisk,a wild and wilful child,whose mother is dead.
Jake returns after 9 years,a peer,titled and rich.Jessica is torn between her husband and him.
Luddites, Wellington ,Napoleon-this is the foreground of the plot. It is also about choices in life-Jake's, Leah the gypsy girl's,Jessica's.What and who will prevail ?
Book 12 in the Daughters of England series.
We see Jessica growing up from a 12-yo girl to a young wife. She marries Edward, a paraplegic,for duty.She loves an other- Romany Jake,sentenced to 7 years of servitude in Australia.
Her Niece Amaryllis, just a month younger,sees no evil in people. She marries Peter ,a businessman .Her cousin Jonathan comes to live with them and is taken by Jake's daughter Tamarisk,a wild and wilful child,whose mother is dead.
Jake returns after 9 years,a peer,titled and rich.Jessica is torn between her husband and him.
Luddites, Wellington ,Napoleon-this is the foreground of the plot. It is also about choices in life-Jake's, Leah the gypsy girl's,Jessica's.What and who will prevail ?
Book 12 in the Daughters of England series.
May 19, 2017
Strong, believable characters set in a well described, realistic background. I enjoyed the mystery and romance of Romany Jake and the conflict between him and the 'powers that be' of that time and place.
February 17, 2018
A traditional historical
Where passion is present but not in explicit detail. Fans of Daphne du Maurier will enjoy it's mysterious and Gothic air, as well as the fact that there are nineteen more books in the series. I'm off to read the remaining ones in order.
Where passion is present but not in explicit detail. Fans of Daphne du Maurier will enjoy it's mysterious and Gothic air, as well as the fact that there are nineteen more books in the series. I'm off to read the remaining ones in order.
January 24, 2020
Epic standard Carr stuff! Not as annoying as others, woohoo
May 12, 2024
Outstanding historical romance/mystery by one of the best historical fiction writers of all times!
September 6, 2024
uno de sus mejores libros!!!
October 7, 2025
Completely predictable.
October 21, 2022
I got 3/4 of the way through this. I couldn’t stand the characters. They are all so self absorbed they constantly make bad decisions and it became too frustrating to listen to their ridiculous inner dialogue. There wasn’t a single character that was likeable. Knowing that it would be another 350 pages of more of the same I had to give it up.
October 21, 2018
Jessica's dad will save the man she thinks that she loves. The man was a gypsy who paid her a little attention during a "show" on her father's land. The man is sent away and Jessica marries a man she loves but one that doesn't excite her as Jake did. But Jake is gone she keeps telling herself. That is he is gone until he isn't. This one is twisty.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews