Another excellent read by this author. I have read lot of her books and they are all excellent reads. This oñe was no exception.

I cannot believe this is the first Dilly Court book I have read! The opening pages begin with heroine Daisy Marshall being dumped via letter by her former fiancee. On the same morning she is let go from her governess position by her fiancée's mother. While Daisy isn't poor, it's clear the snobbish family want nothing more to do with her. Daisy moves with her (just lovely) aunt and uncle to a small village on the Essex coast, along the way she meets her brother's Doctor friend who also heralds from the very same village and is thinking of moving back to take over his late father's GP surgery. Does Daisy end up with the doctor, what happens when she trains to be come a nurse, will she end up married to the hideous squire who has allowed his tenants home to go to rack and ruin, and just what are the secrets smuggler Jay holds? I raced through this lively, funny, endearing read. I look forward to more because it was absolutely enchanting!

One of my favourite authors. I got so lost in her books and this was a perfect Christmas read. I can't wait to read the other books in this tribology.

Another enthralling book from Dilly Court. Always well researched, historically very interesting, and with engaging characters. The first in a series, so more to look forward to .

Daisy Marshall, governess, is furious when the middle-class London family whose young son she teaches, dispense with her services. She had grown too close to the elder son and she isn’t considered good enough. THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING starts in winter of 1867 but not with a wedding, as busy, ambitious Daisy returns to her family in Essex and starts looking for a new career.

What I find most interesting about this story is that we mingle with the new middle class; doctors, teachers, affluent traders; and minor landlords who throw their weight around upon the poor tenants. Little Creek, on the coast of Essex, is well placed to import goods from the Continent, so there is even a smuggler. We see that as money started to flow in new directions around society, more jobs were opening up for women and more formalisation of roles occurred.

Daisy’s fond brother’s best friend Nicholas is moving home to take over his father’s medical practice in Little Creek. But Nicolas has inherited a pile of debts to go with the house we’d today call a money pit – dark, damp and in need of much repair. Come to that, the village houses are not much better than hovels, as the Squire extracts rent but never invests in the properties. Daisy isn’t sure she wants to live in Essex, and returns to London where she commences nursing training. Whatever the problems she faces, chances are her training and strong character will see her through them.

We meet many local people in both locations and see some of the daily hardships faced by the poor. Anyone who enjoys an unorthodox historical romance – one in which we don’t encounter high society – will get along famously with Dilly Court, whose earlier books include the memorable Pit Bank Wench. Her latest book THE CHRISTMAS WEDDING is first in a series called ‘The Village Secrets’. The secret in this story comes out near the end, and changes life for several people, not least our indomitable Daisy Marshall. I can’t wait to see what will be revealed next time.

Another brilliant book. Love that this is the first in a new saga. Cant wait for the next one. Love historical family saga.

Dilly Court is a well known author in this genre high in esteem. I’ve always loved her books no matter how diverse my reads have expanded over the years I can easily return to my most favourite past reads and authors. So it was a delight to see this up on Netgalley.

Book 1 in the series, although the main character was in a previous book as a Governess. But this seems to have moved on into her new life.

I enjoyed every minute of this read.

I had dental surgery yesterday so I’ve been in some pain (you know how it is!) so reading kept my mind (slightly) off of it.

Good start to a new series.

another great author , have read most of dillys book, i love how she writes and there are lots of twists and turns in this historical saga would highly recommend

I adore this author and this book was a brilliant read and one that is perfect to escape for a few hours and loose yourself.
Characters that fall out of the pages of the book and make you fell apart of the story, the setting comes alive and captured is well with words.
A great read. that I would highly recommend.

Like all dilly court books she never disappoints. I just love picking up her books and losing myself in the story

I really enjoyed this book. Dilly Court really brought the characters to life and I loved the descriptiveness of the countryside and London. It was an easy read and uplifting. I would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for my review.

Period set drama with an upstairs downstairs broken engagement in London followed by life in a poor village dominated by the Squire.
I found this interesting from the point of view of history and a pleasant story of love with an unlikely person culminating with a marriage at Christmas. A fine recipe for a story.

Daisy Marshall is secretly engaged to Julian Carrington, she is governess to his younger brother and he is the eldest son of the wealthy family she works for.
Daisy is beside herself when she receives a letter from Julian informing her that he can't be engaged to her anymore as he is going to become a British diplomat in Paris. Daisy is told her employment is terminated with immediate effect and she is to leave. She returns home to her Aunt Eleanor and Uncle Sidney. She learns that they have sold the cobbler shop they live above to move to Essex.

Arriving in the little Essex village tired and weary they discover to their horror that it is tiny in comparison to London and there is no way of getting to their new home only to walk a long distance. Just as they are about to start out a carriage comes along with Daisy's brother's friend Nick, who is the doctor of the village.

Esmond Tattersall is the local cruel squire who is freeholder to most of the properties, he keeps his tenants, living in squalor and their properties is a terrible state of disrepair. When Cholera hits the village Daisy works very closely with Nick resulting in a very close relationship starting.
Daisy meets Mary and her children when her husband becomes ill, he has treated her abysmally and their elder son Jay has been imprisoned by the squire, but is now free but has been told he is not welcome in the village.

This is such a lovely book filled with love, hardship, courage, frustration and colourful characters. The way Dilly describes everything makes you feel you know the village so well and it is easy to imagine it in your mind.
I really enjoyed this book which keeps you guessing to the end.
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book x

Dilly Court brings this story to life, you really feel that you are there experiencing living in countryside, highly recommend.

A well researched historical saga, of family drama, mystery, poverty and romance. The social divide apparent in Victorian England is explored here.

Daisy, a governess lives in no man’s land, somewhere between upstairs and downstairs. In love with the heir to the household, she hopes her position will be confirmed, but he lets her down, and she returns home, heartbroken and unemployed. Moving to a small Essex village with her family, she feels at home, but the cruelty of the ruling classes blights the villagers’ lives who live in fear, poverty and squalor.

Daisy finds friendship and a warm community, but evil lurks and threatens the life she builds. This is a detailed, passionate tale of Victorian life, which draws you in, as the descriptive writing and authentic characters bring this era of change to life.

A festive start, to what promises to be a riveting series for romantic saga devotees.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A lovely historical saga which I enjoyed. Set in 1867, this is a story of disappointment, new beginnings, family, relationships and community spirit. Well written with a lovely cast of characters. Easy to read, the story flowed perfectly. I always enjoy books by Dilly Court and I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

I have read other books by this author but I was so disappointed by this book.
I felt that the storyline was lacking depth and it was a chore to finish it. I also felt that the characters needed more description.

When she is told that her services as a Governess are no longer required, Daisy Marshall returns to live with her Aunt and Uncle. They then move from London to the country but Daisy decides to return to London and finds herself as a Probationer Nurse.

The story is very loosely connected to Christmas.
If you ignore the title of the story then the book is a nice cosy romance.

A good book to settle down with in these dismal days. I found the book a little slow at the beginning but later found it difficult to put down. Was really intregued to see how the story progressed and would not have predicted the pathways of the main characters. Thank you for an ARC in return for a reveiw.

I am looking forward to the next book in the saga.

Add this book to a Christmas stocking to curl up with after all the festivities!!