The Ragged Heiress

by Dilly Court

On a bitter winter's day, an unnamed girl lies dangerously ill in hospital. When two coarse, rough-speaking individuals come to claim her, she can remember nothing of the events that brought her to her present state, not even her name. According to the men, she is their young sister, Lucy. As her health improves and her memory gradually returns, she realises she's been kidnapped. But she has no means of escaping the hideous confines of the filthy basement room in which they have imprisoned her in. They are hoping to claim her fortune as a ransom - for she is really Lucetta Froy, the daughter of a prosperous importer. Tragically her parents were drowned on the return voyage from Bali when their ship went down, but Lucetta survived as did the two villains. She is unable to prove her identity, especially when her uncle refuses to recognise her and claims her father's business for himself. But despite being virtually destitute, and her spirit almost broken, Lucetta is determined to reclaim what is rightfully hers...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Audiobook, Historical, Historical Romance

512 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2010

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

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cracker by Dilly Court. Poor Lucetta Fray. At least it had a good happy ending but left me wanting more. Ups and downs for this young lady with loss of life along the way. A good read.

[Tracey Ann Manley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dramatic, romantic love story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could relate to lucy, how many women have fallen for the wrong guy. She was young and impetuous and wore her heart on her sleeve. Sam finally showed his true colours before she made a huge mistake. My heart went out to Guthrie though, although he made many mistakes he was easily led, but had a heart of gold. I felt for him when lucy gave him the coat he thought it was wonderful. What generous, kind friends Mary and Giles were. He was a lovely man so patient , loving understanding. Dilly court always gives you a full description of the people and times they live in it almost transports you there. You can actually imagine yourself being there with them. Looking forward to the next one.






An excellent story that a lot of us women could relate to, falling for the wrong guy that your parents don't approve of. A lot of us were like lucy, young and impetuous wearing our heart or our sleeves. Sam finally showed his true colours thankfully before she made a huge mistake. My heart went out to Guthrie, although he did wrong many times I think he was easily led and

[Tracy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this Author and now on my second. The Ragged Heiress gripped me from the first page. A beautifully written riches to rags story with twists and turns that will leave you on the edge of your seat. What I liked most is the way the author neatly ties up the last chapter. Lucetta (Lucy) is born into wealth but a tragic accident threatens her very existence. A charming story from start to end.

[Claire Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so relieved to have finished this book! I have owned it for a year, but could never get around to reading more than the first chapter, as I found it far too boring.
However, as a challenge to read every book I own, I decided that I had to read it.

The story itself isn't too bad, and it picks up pace after the first few chapters. It was an enjoyable read, but I am glad I have finished it.

[suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

After listening to two wonderful sagas by Val Wood, I thought I would give another author a try. Unfortunately this one wasn’t for me, didn’t like the story - it got boring in the middle, and the heroine was just awful. It wasn’t the narrator either as she did a wonderful job telling the story, it just wasn’t for me.

[Christina Rochester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucetta Froy is a powerful young woman who faces many trials and tribulations upon regaining her memory. She is somewhat naive however I think that is her only primary fault. She is also warm and compassionate as she shows when she cares for Lennie, and I think that storyline does her a great credit.

This book had me in tears.

[Bhavya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book literally broke my heart. It left me confused and emotional. A girl named Lucetta Froy who was burning with fever in hospital. When everyone believed her to be dead in the ship wreck which took lives of several passengers including her parents. I had heard about the earlier times when women were not respected much but this book made me think that there situation was worse than I thought. They were not allowed to even walk out of the house alone because people would assume that they are not good lady. I was enchanted by the romance of Sam Cutler and Lucetta Froy and it broke my heart when they separated. I was a little angry that why would she make a mistake of going with the man who called her their sister. She could have waited for her memories to come back. Hardest part of the story to read for me was when she suffered after running away from her kidnappers and when she struggled to earn money. It made me furious that she didn't do anything when her boss attempted to watch her bath. If I would have been in her place, the man would regret he was ever born. But Dilly Court don't know I existed so anyway. Now let's talk about Dr. Giles. He was a very amusing and intresting character for me in the book. It made me sad when Lucetta kept ignoring his feelings but at that time I was in hope that the prince, Sam Cutler would come soon to take his princess away from all the tortures. So it shocked me a little when in the end Sam did came but with a different personality and it made me wonder that do people really change that much after some tragedies in their life. It confused me that did Sam loved her in the past or he was just after her fortune? One more thing folks did you noticed that those males in the book kept calling Lucetta "My pet"! I mean come on guys! She is a girl not a dog or a cat whom you are calling "My pet". Everything considered, I liked the book. Although it had a happy ending but it still left me heartbroken because of Sam's betrayal. It was full of emotion and drama. The sweetest thing in this book was when Lucetta changed her name to Lucy Guthrie. This book will forever be in a special section of the books I have read.

[Zeldaya Aladdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that the ragged heiress was a very interesting book. Especially because of the time era it was set in, im really interested in books set in the olden days. Which is why i read this, im 16 years old and really enjoyed it
I do reccomend this, other dilly books i have read are cinderellas sister and the best of sisters i am now reading the ladies maid they are really good

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read in ages, it is first book I could 5 stars to in a long time. I enjoyed this story of Lucetta Foy, though at times, Lecetta's attitude had me thinking that this does not really sound right but all the same an enjoyable read.

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read from dilly court,love reading her books.really good author.

[Annemarie Farthing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Lennie, he hated the crows. 😥

[Sarah Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet again another great story by Dilly Court, Lucetta is a spoilt child being brought up by her parents in the lap of luxury. While in India her dad becomes ill so they need to come home.

On the journey home the ship goes down, Lucetta and her family are marked as dead and her Uncle will not except Lucetta as his niece, so Lucetta is homeless and unknown to everyone except the two villain who mascaraed as her brothers.

Well written great storyline that keeps you hooked.

[Christina Tookey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable book.

I always enjoy this author's way of writing. Some books that I have read the author's seem to rush the ending where Dilly Court takes her time right to the very last page, meaning she doesn't cram the ending into the last chapter and leave you feeling a bit cheated.

[Helen McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, and enjoyed the story lines particularly once it returned to England as a location.
Wasn't overly satisfied with the ending personally but still a very good read for those who like books written in times gone by

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Dilly Court. As usual, in this genre, you sometimes feel like shaking the heroine because of stupid decisions, but you it will all be fine in the end. Loved the characters in this story, especially the hapless petty crim, Guthrie.

[Vanja Budsberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one dragged alot, 250 pages in and the main plot starts, also for someone non english the language could be hard sometimes which ofc is my fault. I do like the plot but its taking me a while to read this book had to stop for now.

[Karen Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me wanting more. I sit to read for 30 mins and an hour has passed by in the blink of an eye. Times were hard back in 1870's and further on. This book is about having money and people admire you to losing it all and making g the most of the situation.

[marieka luker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

This is the first book of Dilly court I have read and was a good I enjoyed the story I will be reading all of Dilly Courts books so easy to read

[Jackie Whelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read

Loved this so much I just wanted to keep reading it.
I just couldn't put it down it had me hooked from start to finish.

[J.J. JOHNSTONE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

Another good read, a bit mixed up in the early pages but it all soon comes together and makes a really good read.

[Barbara Camplin · Rating 3 out of 5]

she went through a bad time but ended happily

[Mrs Freda Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another brilliant book.

Another wonderful book that keeps you wanting more. I could not wait to see what happens next, roll on the next one.

[Lexrielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5

[Linda Leedham · Rating 5 out of 5]

One I couldn't put down easily .Ending as I thought it would so no surprises there, but there was drama all the way through the book .

[Marie Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

[Sharon Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bit slow to start but really good by the end

[Angela Lewis · Rating 1 out of 5]

The second book I've given up on in as far as can be recalled. Got to chapter five and found continuing unbearable.

[Katrina Cork · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book I could not stop listening to enjoyed listening to the different challenges the main character had to face and over come

[Gulbransen Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s twists & turns you never knew how it would end I loved the different voices most audio books only have 1 voice Couldn’t stop listening to it

[josephine Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very, very good story.

This is the sort of story that you can’t wait to finish, but don’t want to end. A very interesting story.