The first in a series of six, this book opens with 8 year old Rosalind Carey traipsing down to the beach to watch the smugglers bring their loot ashore. But the preventative men are quick to capture some of the smugglers whilst Rosie finds herself injured and in the debt of an unknown boy who rescued her and took her back home to Rockwood Castle. There she gave him a bed for the night but was gone before she arose the following morning. Rosie never knew his name and she never saw him again.

Twelve years later, Rosalind Carey has been the lady of the house for most of her siblings' lives whilst their father travelled in search of rare plants and their mother sought fame on the stage. But she never forgot the night she saw smugglers in the cove below Rockwood Castle and the boy who saved her life. He has haunted her memories and her dreams since.

But life has been hard for the Careys as they struggle to keep the roof over their heads and have racked up debts which they cannot pay. Rosalind pawns her grandmama's gold locket to pay for a third class train fare to London along with her younger sister 16 year old Patricia. It is her hope that their mother will take pity on them and grant them enough money to survive until their father returns from his travels. But Felicia Carey is a selfish woman, believing her voice is her God-given gift that she must share with the world and her home is no longer Rockwood but the stage. She has no money to give her children and tells them so.

Whilst in London, Rosalind is introduced to Piers Blanchard who informs them that he has a claim to Rockwood going back centuries in which Rockwood was the rightful home to the Blanchards. Rosalind doesn't know what to think but she believes that there is far more to Piers than meets the eye. And she isn't sure that she trusts him. But he says he can prove his claim and yet it is not his intention to evict them from the only home they have known. Instead, he goes some way to make restitution for their outstanding debts and give Rosalind a monthly allowance to keep Rockwood and her siblings. And yet she still doesn't trust him. Surely he has some ulterior motive to his generosity.

When Rosalind and Patricia travel to Cornwall to Piers' own sprawling estate in which his younger sister and his grandmother live, she is shocked to discover that someone has laid claim to the estate and the clay mine which Piers runs lest a scandalous secret about the family be revealed. Piers has no choice but to ascquiese leaving Rosalind offering them a place at Rockwood until the mess is sorted out. But living with Piers' grandmother, who brings with her all her maids and servants that she couldn't possibly live without thus creating havoc below the stairs with the Carey's lifelong loyal housekeeper and cook, Hester.

Wow! Well, life certainly isn't dull at Rockwood as the Careys and the Blanchards rub along reluctantly with Piers' grandmother constantly reminding the Careys that they are there only at the generous behest of Piers insinuating that he can take away his consent at any time. With mysteries and scandalous secrets dating back to smugglers, FORTUNE'S DAUGHTER is a delightful tale that swept me away to the Devonshire coast that I can't wait to step into the next installment to see where life takes them and all at Rockwood Castle.

I thoroughly enjoyed this sweeping tale which I think is probably Dilly's best yet. Now...onto the second book...

I would like to thank #DillyCourt, #Netgalley and #HarperCollins for an ARC of #FortunesDaughter in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Love this genre of book. Was a really easy read. Have read Dilly Court before and loved her style of writing it flows from page to page with ease . I found the characters likeable and couldn’t put the book down. Most definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to both netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another fantastic read by Dilly Court. Her books never disappoint. I love escaping to this era. Well done, Dilly, already looking forward to the next one.

dilly court is one of my favorite authors and her books have never failed to keep me interested , ive read all her books its like you are drawn into the story they keep you drawn in from beginning to end

A pleasant fanciful tale starting with smugglers and young children and ending with romance for more than one couple.
Easy reading on a summer’s day

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

I thought this was a fun book. Easy to read, undemanding and entertaining. Just what I needed in these miserable times and when the weather has been foul. I read it very quickly and totally enjoyed it. I thought the characters were interesting and the story was well put together. I look forward to reading more about this family.

dilly court never disappoints and this book is no exception. Kept me gripped from page one right the way through. and cant wait for the next one. Having read some reviews i hadn't expected much at all and thought dilly court was perhaps slipping but no its up there with many of her fabulous yarns.

A wonderful start to a new series by Dilly Court.
The Carey family are struggling to survive living in their ancestral home and when a distant cousin turns up claiming to be the rightful heir there are many issues to be explored and resolved.
Her characters are always so vividly drawn that you are soon invested in the storyline and where it will take them all.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great storyline with excellent characters. I would highly recommend this book as it was a great read.

What a great read! This book had me gripped from start to finish, a tale of smugglers and the mystery that followed. I loved the characters.. Rosalind trying to keep her family home going and the wonderful eccentric Sir Lucien. This is a book I would greatly recommend, and cannot wait for the next book in series.

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With thanks to netgalley and Harpercollins uk.

Fortune's daughter is the start of a new series by the well known author Dilly court, who brings another brilliant book with believable characters and a story line that sweeps you along from the very first page. I'm sure Dilly court fans will enjoy this book as I did.

Another great ready by Dilly, the usual great characters, story line and setting, eagerly looking forward to the next book.

What a brilliant book once again Dilly hits the mark.

The Carey children, Rosalind the eldest, Patricia, Bertie and Walter have neglectful parents their mother who wants to continue with her singing career so takes off to London and a father who is a botanist taking off for the wilds of Asia. Leaving their care to daughter Rosalind Carey, their dotty Grandfather sir Lucien and a servant family carer
They all call home Rockwood Castle, it's not as grand as it sounds and is falling down around their feet. They have no money and are scrapping to get by. Then comes the arrival of a distant cousin Piers Blanchard who says he is the rightful heir to Rockwood. He is wealthy and to their relief pays off all of their debts and gives Roaslind an allowance to make sure they all live in more comfort.
From here on in secrets unfold and lies are told.

Such a brilliant book with some unforgettable characters. great descriptions and really enjoyable.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this lovely book.xxxx

Set in early Victorian times, this is an intriguing family saga of poverty and fortitude. Effectively abandoned by their parents to the care of the servants.Rosalind has to care for her siblings and try to make the crumbling Rockwood estate pay. The characters are well-crafted, and the setting is full of historical details that immerse the reader in the story.

Family secrets, an intriguing stranger and sinister smugglers add to the rich tapestry of this story which has vibrant characters that resonate with a twisty plot that keeps you reading.

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

The Carey family call Rockwood home until their flighty mother goes off to London to seek fame and fortune as an opera singer, a successful career she gave up when she married their father, a botanist who also goes off to locate some lost plants up a remote mountain in Asia.

Abandoned by their parents and left to fight for themselves, the children comprising of headstrong Rosalind Carey, sister Patricia, brother Bertie who stands to inherit the castle, bookworm Walter and their grandfather Sir Lucien who is suffering with dementia after a long career in the Navy.

But their once much-loved home is crumbling like the family that lives within it. Living hand to mouth and desperate to provide for the estate that depends on them, the Carey family are one debt away from ruin. Until the day comes when the dashing Piers Blanchard appears on their doorstep from Cornwall, claiming he is Rosalind’s distant cousin and that Rockwood Castle is his.


Piers says he wants to help pay off the family’s debts. But how can Rosalind be sure he isn’t out to take what is his and leave them all homeless?

This is a novel set Devon in 1839 and not my usual type of book, however I found it really enjoyable, although it did feel extremely long! At the very start of the book, Rosalind is a young girl who encounters smugglers and this story stays in the background.

To me the characters were like something out of a Jane Eyre or Daphne Du Maurier novel, and I could often see myself imagining Judy Dench as Lady Pentelow, and Keira Knightly as Rosalind…the jury is still out in my mind as to who would play Piers!

The book was pure escapism and if you love the classics like Pride and Prejudice or Jamaica Inn then you will love this story. I am delighted to learn that this is the first of six books in this series.

Set in Italy, Jo’s book is a real gem, full of love, friendship and the importance of community. A thoroughly enjoyable, feel good read.

I love Dilly Court and this new series looks like it’s going to be another fantastic read. Book one starts the story with Rosalind and her family struggling in Rockwood to survive hard times. Along comes Piers Blanchard with tales of being the illegitimate heir to their estate. With Sir Luicien having memory problems Rosalind and her family have nowhere to turn to know if Piers is in fact telling the truth. There are so many twists and turns along the way this book will keep you gripped from start to finish. I look forward to catching up with everyone again in book two.

Dilly Court never disappoints and this book is gripping and highly entertaining.
It's the first in a series that promises to be excellent.
Great storytelling, plot that flows, great characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine