The House in Quill Court

By: Charlotte Betts

Narrated by: Anne Dover

It's 1813. Venetia Lovell lives by the sea in Kent with her pretty, frivolous mother and idle younger brother. Venetia's father, Theo, is an interior decorator to the rich and frequently travels away from home, leaving his sensible and artistic daughter to look after the family. Venetia designs paper hangings, and she and her father often daydream about having an imaginary shop where they would display the highest quality furniture, fabrics and art to his clients.

When a handsome but antagonistic stranger, Jack Chamberlaine, arrives at the Lovells' cottage just before Christmas bringing terrible news, Venetia's world is turned upside down, and the family have no option but to move to London, to the House in Quill Court, and begin a new life. Here, Venetia's courage and creativity are tested to the breaking point, and she discovers a love far greater than she could have ever imagined....

From the multiaward-winning author of The Apothecary's Daughter, The House in Quill Court is a gorgeously evocative Regency novel bursting with historical flavour and characters you won't forget. If you love Philippa Gregory and Joanne Harris, you will adore Charlotte Betts.

©2016 Charlotte Betts (P)2016 Soundings Ltd

Critic reviews

"Romantic, engaging and hugely satisfying." (Katie Fforde on The Apothecary's Daughter)

"A highly-recommended novel of love, tragedy and the power of art." ( Daily Mail on The Painter's Apprentice)

"Full of passion and drama.... I was captivated by this moving, heart-warming and beautifully woven story - gripping, atmospheric, eloquently told and full of rich detail." (Kate Furnivall on The Chateau on the Lake)

5 more stars please

what a enjoyable read to the last sentence in this book is good it started out with drama with the father living two lives and they both didn't know until he died and the two family had to live together to make a living
Jack and venetia didn't start off well and with a young sister,young brother ,mother and a shop things starts to turn for the worst with a very evil man
I like all the characters apart from the ruthless criminals but I like Venetia for her determination, courage and strength
this book has everything excitement, depth an d passion the narrator was super great will be reading from this author again

great read!

I loved this book and all the characters! interesting history lesson! you will enjoy listening

Page turner!

Thos book is so absorbing and moving. Its easy to imagine yourself in the story. Alwasy another surprise around the corner. The narration was impeccable. Ill enjoy listening to this book over and over.

Mixed Feelings

The idea is an interesting one: Two families of one father banding together to survive once the father has died. They start a retail shop and are then threatened by a gang for 'protection' money. There is also a dual romance story line...the oldest daughter is attracted to a stepson of her fathers, and the maid to the family falls for a kind street thief.

But the story goes on for way too long...the plot could have been tightened up by at least 50%, and there were far too many close calls for various members of this family. Information was repeated frequently, and the foreshadowing was too heavy-handed. I could see plot points and themes coming at me for miles. Too much time was spent on the maid's romance, and not nearly enough time was spent on the daughter's romance. The other siblings had stories too, and it all resulted in too much story and not enough editing.

I did like that the h's were both strong and determined women, intent on somehow overcoming their problems and protecting their families.

The narration was stellar. If it hadn't been for that I would not have finished the book. A great example of how excellent narration can make or break a mediocre book.

British Recency romance mystery

Inventive plot, well-drawn characters, excellent performance. Gritty real life period piece with action and romance.