Book Review ~ "The Lady's Maid" by Dilly Court

The Lady's Maid by Dilly Court
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley (review)
Genre: Historical Romance

Book Description:  In the quiet of a warm summer's evening, two young mothers are forced to give up their babies. Whilst Kate grows up knowing only poverty and servitude, Josie's world is one of privilege and luxury.


Despite the differences in their circumstances, Kate and Josie have been friends since childhood. But their past binds them together in ways they must never know.



My thoughts; Two young women separated by social class but are the best of friends weather the social constraints of 1800's British society. Both have secrets that are kept from them about their birth, that have the potential to change their lives forever.

Josephine is a stunning woman who is spoiled and willful. She is being raised by members of the gentry, and has come to expect and demand attention and a lifestyle of privilege. Katherine is humble and loyal. She has been raised without money, and knows her place in society. Their rank doesn't stop the two girls from becoming the best of friends.

This book is about two girls who have different upbringings but experience many similarities. Both fall in love, but not with the right men in societies rules. In many ways Josephine acts like a child, she lashes out and hurts her friends, but knows she is wrong and seeks forgiveness. In some ways I liked that message, that true friends love and forgive each other. Josephine had many hard lessons to learn about friendship and how unforgiving society can be when your fortunes change.

Katherine is the real gem in the book. She is the kind of friend that everyone wants to have. She drops her own plans and dreams to help out another. Her romance is the tender and sweet one of the book. She is the one that you really want to see have a happily ever after. Not that I didn't wish for Josephine to find her happiness, Katherine is the prominent character for me.

The book has roaming hands, innuendo, and the mention of incest. It doesn't take things farther than that,

You can pick up a bargain priced used copy of the book as low as 78 cents at Amazon.

Amazon * Book Depository

About the author (taken from Goodreads):  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 seventeen novels and also writes under the name of Lily Baxter.

Website