My Thoughts: when I saw the cover of this one I instantly knew I had to be a part of the tour, it just looks magical and completely drew me in..

Upon reading the synopsis I then learnt that it was a multiple timeline and POV book which we all know is one of my faves so I was definitely sold!

The story is equally as magical as the cover suggests, and no I don’t mean magical in the physical sense, there’s just something about the writing that makes you forget the world around you, you’re thrown into the lives of both Clara and Meredith, living 55 years apart, but you know that somehow their stories will come together in some way.

Both women experience love, loss and uncertainty in their lives and full of self doubt until they find butterfly cottage.

A book full of secrets that you can’t stop turning the pages to unravel.. heartbreaking and unbelievable in places, but also full of positivity and humour too.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be shouting about it to everyone.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Butterfly Garden' by Rachel Burton.

WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!

This has got to be one of the most stunning books I have EVER read ♥

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.

This book is devastatingly gorgeous, emotive and beautiful. I absolutely love the unique storyline and the fact that it is set over multiple timelines with multiple protagonists which makes you feel that you are living several lives in one book. It takes us on a journey from London to Suffolk through the years. This book is filled with everything you can think of including new beginnings, family, secrets, drama, mystery, history, secrets, suspense, heartbreak, romance, friendship, love , happiness, tension, worry, shock, suspense and so, so much more!!! It is one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read!! Rachel's stunning emotive and evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline with the characters, surroundings and the past coming to life around them. I cannot believe this is the first book I have read by this amazing author but i can guarantee you it most definitely will not be my last! This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how powerful and emotional it is. It will make you cry both tears of happiness and sadness. The multiple narrative brings the story to life along with the descriptions and ensures the reader can see everything that is going on and what the characters are thinking and feeling. It is one of those addictive and compelling books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my kindle and the book. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with each of the characters and going through their happiness, pain, love, joy and every single emotion and feeling that they are having and thinking. It really is a beautiful rollercoaster ride of emotions as well as a fantastic mysterious journey. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. Another thing I just have to mention is the absolutely stunning cover which is what drew me to it in the first place!! I must say it is one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen so a huge congratulations on the person who came up with it! You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and I would seriously recommend it to anyone and everyone!!

This may be the first book I have read by Rachel but I cannot wait to get hold of more books by this extremely talented author. It is one of the most stunning and unforgettable book that I have ever read and one that will stay with me for years if not forever! AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!

The characters were all very strong and realistic and Rachel's captivating writing skills ensured each and every single one of them jumped off the pages at me. I wont say too much about the characters as I don't want to give too much away. The fact that Rachel clearly cares about her characters absolutely shines through the pages in her characterisation and portrayal of each and every one of them and the way she brings them to life. They are unique, very well developed and have their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses. I absolutely loved Clara and Meredith's strength and determination and watching them grow in strength as I flew through the pages. I am a huge fan of female protagonists being female myself and most definitely strong ones and Clara and Meredith most definitely are definitely determined and strong willed!! There are characters that you want to shout at, you will despair with, you will smile and cry for and so much more. There were characters that I loved and characters that I could not stand but regardless of how I felt about each of them they each played their parts perfectly throughout. I felt each of the emotions they were going through with them and that is a sign of an extremely talented story teller. Rachel really has done an amazing job at bringing each of the characters to life and regardless of whether you love them or hate them they all played their parts perfectly to bring this fantastic story to life. Well done Rachel!!!

Congratulations Rachel on an absolutely stunning, unforgettable, emotional beautiful book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! Welcome to my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, stunning, addictive, compelling and beautiful MUST READ!!

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The Butterfly Garden is both lyrical and unadorned, rich with truth about disfunctional families. It is a thought-provoking story, that makes you ponder on the fallacies of the human beings, and the power of redemption. The main characters in the novel are realistically flawed, and through exploring their weaknesses as well as strengths the author introduces several important themes.
A heart-wrenching and uplifting story, a compassionate exploration of the themes of love and grief, secrets and lies

Full review is published as part of the blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources..

Meredith didn’t expect to inherit a cottage especially from a great aunt she never knew existed. When she arrives at Butterfly Cottage she is surprised to find that there is a handsome man living there who has also been left a share of the cottage. By cleverly intertwining the past and the present we learn more about Meredith’s great aunt Clara who bought the cottage in the mid-1960s when life in the idyllic Suffolk village was very different from its modern day counterpart. And as Clara’s story is revealed so we get a glimpse into why, fifty years later, the house has been left to Meredith.

The story flips between time frames really prettily and with neither outshining the other I found that I was eagerly looking forward to spending contemporary time with Meredith and Zach before being whisked away to the 1960s and to the complexity of Clara’s life. There’s a nice sense of atmosphere, with the historical aspect being particularly well done, as it shows that not everything about the ‘swinging’ sixties was enlightened, especially in a small country village. The story is written with a lovely light touch and gorgeous attention to detail, from the description of the dresses designed by Mary Quant, to the stunning beauty of the garden at Butterfly Cottage.

As The Butterfly Garden gradually reveals its secrets, so a story of family drama, long buried secrets and the hope of second chances is finally revealed.

The Butterfly Garden by Rachel Burton

A great deal timeline story set in 1963 and 2018 and Butterfly Cottage.
Characters Clara Samuels and in modern time Meredith who inherits from an unknown aunt.
Once there she embarks on unravelling the mystery of the cottage.
Loved it.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a dual timeline novel set in Suffolk. One narrative follows Clara in 1963, and the other follows Meredith in 2018. Meredith inherits Butterfly Cottage from her great aunt.

What I love about this type of book, is the fact that there are essentially two stories, following the lives of different characters, which the reader may connect with in different ways. As I was reading, I formed images in my mind of what Butterfly Cottage may look like. I imagined somewhere calm, peaceful and beautiful. If you read to escape, as I often do, I think that a peaceful location like a cottage helps to create an escape for the reader.

I wanted to know more about Butterfly Cottage; what it meant to Clara, and to Meredith. I found this a heartwarming, comforting read, and a little bit of a tearjerker too, as I watched both stories unfold. I think this is the type of book that I would choose to unwind with on a summer evening.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

A moving story set in a dual time line which I love. The story is beautifully written and very immersive. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

In this fascinating dual timeline novel, readers travel between 1963 and 2018 at Butterfly Cottage in the tiny town of Carybrook in Suffolk. Clara, a teacher, buys the cottage first in 1963 when single women do not buy or own property, but she has a sentimental connection to the cottage from her childhood. Also in Carybrook are her sister, brother-in-law, and childhood friend James, but Clara, for some strange reason, leaves England and the home of her dreams very soon after. In 2018, Meredith has no idea why a mysterious woman named Clara has left her and a young gardener from Carybrook a cottage. As Meredith and her new friend begin to uncover the secrets behind Butterfly Cottage and its mysterious owner, they discover the decades old mystery and its connection to their lives in 2018. With two clever and unique female protagonists, readers will enjoy Burton’s latest novel and the mystery and romance at the heart of the story. Meredith and Clara have their own unique challenges in the novel that highlight the changes in women’s roles between their lifetimes, while the similarities between the two narratives allow readers to build connections between the vibrant perspectives and stories in this novel.

I've enjoyed Rachel Burton's books in the past and, after perusing the blurb, looked forward to reading The Butterfly Garden.
It did not disappoint.
The story is moving and has a dual timeline. We start with Meredith, who has just found out she has inherited a cottage from a family member she didn't know existed.
The news comes after a string of upsets in her life and could be looked at as a lifeline, but initially, she's not so sure after finding out her inheritance isn't as simple as selling the cottage and paying off her dues.
Instead, she finds another person involved and a whole host of mysteries that need to be solved to find out who her great aunt, Clara, really was.
The dual timeline part tells us the background of Clara's story in her words, but the whole truth doesn't unfold until the end of the story.
I felt for Meredith and loved the hint of romance we were fed from the beginning. I guessed a couple of the conclusions but had a bit of a worry about what else would come out, but thankfully, it had a good conclusion!
Beautifully told and a compelling read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

The Butterfly Garden is another dual time family mystery. From Rachel Burton.

It is 1963 and Clara Samuels a single schoolteacher decides to buy the vicar’s old home, Butterfly Cottage in her childhoood village. She was raised there and was great friends with the vicar’s son James, though her parents did not approve. After she purchases the cottage James returns into her life, but then a few months later Clara flees England for Australia under a mysterious

2018 Meredith Carling, Clara’s great-niece is informed that she has inherited the lovely cottage. Meredith is at a crossroads in her life, her hair dressing salon is going under, her formerly supportive fiance Joe has cheated on her. He was one of the main investors in her business and now wants his money back. Money that she does not have. The cottage seems like a godsend, she can sell it and pay back her debts, only life is never that easy. She finds that there is another claimant to the cottage. The gardener Zach Johnson. With the quick sale avenue closed to her Meredith must decide what to do with her cottage and her life. After finding letters written long ago between Clara and James, Meredith and Zach have a mystery to solve as well.

Rachel Burton does novels about family secrets very well. I enjoyed this book and the descriptions of the garden and the cottage were lovely.

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

With a struggling business, financial problems, and a formerly supportive partner who’s now only making her issues feel all the more insurmountable, Meredith’s inheritance – the beautiful Butterfly Cottage, from a great aunt she’d never heard of – couldn’t have come at a better time. Her only thought is that selling it will put her back on her feet again – but she then discovers that her inheritance has to be shared with the gardener, currently living outside in his caravan, who wants to return the garden to its former glory and isn’t ready to put the cottage on the market.

She discovers that her great aunt Clara didn’t live in the cottage for over fifty years, only returning before her death to put her affairs in order – and as Meredith slowly becomes more comfortable with the idea of a fresh start in an idyllic setting, she also wants to find out more about Clara and her long and unexplained disappearance. Locals tell her that letters were delivered after Clara had left – and when they find them in a battered tin in the garden shed, her heartbreaking story begins to become clearer.

So, an intriguing mystery – and the full story is told in a perfectly balanced dual-time story, where we find Clara, in the early 1960s and defying society’s expectations at that time, returning to her childhood village as a teacher and buying the cottage of her dreams as a single woman. Her story is quite beautifully told, the era perfectly recreated in all the small details – and the romance at its centre is one of those wonderfully all-consuming ones you feel at your core, but not without complications, disappointment and heartbreak.

And, of course, there’s also the possibility of romance in the present day story – every individual in this book is quite wonderfully drawn, and very real – and gardener Zach with his dry humour and rippling muscles made my heart beat a little faster too. But the narrative is driven by the piece by piece uncovering of Clara’s story – intriguing, unpredictable, often emotional, and making the pages turn ever faster – with both timelines equally engaging in every way, perfectly entwined, and with none of those uncomfortable wrenches when you feel you’re leaving your preferred story behind. There’s a rather nice mirroring between the two stories too – and an intriguing question mark over Clara’s intentions when leaving a shared inheritance.

And there are some particularly nice touches to the story’s telling. When you read and enjoy as many dual time stories as I do, you’ll know they’re often linked by those lucky discoveries (the photographs, the diary, the letters, the hidden treasures…) that provide all the answers – and yes, the discovered letters certainly do move the story forward, but I’d already shared a smile with Meredith as she observed that things like that didn’t happen in real life, only in adventure novels. Although the clues are there, the resolution of this mystery happens more through human intervention – and I rather liked the way the author didn’t tie everything up with a neat bow at the book’s end, but allowed the reader some scope to imagine their own happy ending.

This really was the loveliest read, and I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling – a book I’d very much recommend to others, and I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this very talented author.

Heartbreaking is definitely the word I would use while reading this book. It took me a little while longer to read then most. I don’t really understand why Zach is a part of it. I kind of think he was a superfluous character, but maybe he symbolized hope? I did enjoy the cottage though! This book made me want to visit my local rose garden.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Burton, and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

This is a dual timeline story set in the 1960s and 2018, although there is a short episode when Clara and James were 9 years old in 1939. Gosh there were so many family secrets that slowly unfold during the story. I did admire Clara’s spirit and determination. she didn’t have a happy home life with her parents and to some extent, her sister Esther. James was someone who found it difficult to settle, as was illustrated by the job he chose. I was drawn to the earlier period rather than the present day, although there were secrets there as well. There are people who interfere in other’s lives and some heart breaking moments as well. I did enjoy this story very much and found it to be an engaging read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a powerful and emotional novel by Rachel Burton! This dual timeline left me deeply moved, shedding a few tears and sighing with satisfaction by the end. It held my attention from the very start with its intriguing plot and endearing lead characters. I was immersed in the storyline with its many twists and turns and filled with suspense at the finding of those letters and a locket! The Butterfly Cottage is a beautifully written family tale of two women generations apart sharing common DNA and a passion for a home and its garden treasures.

In 2018, Meredith is stunned to discover she has inherited a cottage in a little English village (Carybrook in Suffolk) from an aunt she never knew. This is just after her life has fallen apart. She is a hairdresser with a business that is failing financially. On top of this, her fiancé has cheated on her so everything is in shambles. She owes money to him and the bank for her business. She extended too far, took a gamble but it did not pay off. She decides this unexpected inheritance may be her ticket to getting out of debt so she heads to the cottage after talking to the solicitor. But what she finds waiting there is quite a surprise. A man is living on the property who states he is an owner as well. What is going on? Why would her aunt do such a thing? There is only one person she feels can give her the answers: her father. But he disappeared from her life a number of years ago. How will she ever find him to ask these important questions? In the meantime, her mother offers to fly home from Spain to help her sort out her life.

In 1963, we meet Clara, the schoolteacher who has inherited money from her parents and buys a cottage. It was unusual for women at that time to be able to buy a property, partly due to their lack of funds as their jobs did not offer much financial payment. But Clara enjoys her independence and is not quite like other women of her time. We learn of her love for the English cottage and its garden and the man from her childhood who re-enters her life. This provides quite a backstory that includes the disaster that follows and her disappearance.

Back in 2018, Meredith gets to know the young man named Zach who is a gardener and co-owner of the cottage. We hear his perceptions of Aunt Clara and learn she was a very private person who never shared much about her life. The story ramps up at this point as we wonder what part Zack will play in the current drama but also why did he become a recipient of this house? Meredith wants to know, too, more about the aunt she never knew so starts on a quest, aided by Zach. Together they try to sort out the answers and their search takes them down a number of interesting roads. There are some big twists in the story that you might expect and others you may not. Personally, I enjoyed getting to know all the characters of both timelines and their paths to restoration and discovery.

The two timelines were well delivered and come together effortlessly at the end. Meredith’s personal and business crisis, her family’s revelations, her unexpected inheritance and path forward was fresh and believable. Clara’s independence, re-connection with her childhood friend and sweetheart, her heartbreak, rebuilding of her life elsewhere and then her return home was moving and convincing. This is a lovely novel that is both heart-warming and heart-breaking. But everything works out in the end and there is a positive and uplifting message in the climax. Happiness is in the cards, plus restoration and love for these deserving characters. I thoroughly enjoyed The Butterfly Garden and highly recommend it. It is a well-written, unforgettable story that shines with genuine substance and beauty. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.

I am very fond of novels which have a dual timeline. This one is set during 1963 and 2018. I felt the author depicted the historical setting of the 1960s extremely well. There was never any doubt about which part I was reading and the author moved seamlessly from the past to the present. The two voices of Clara from the past and Meredith from the present were very distinct.

I enjoyed getting to know these two characters very much. Both strong women, although it does take Meredith a little while to realise the inner strength that she possesses. We see Clara forging her own path as a woman in the 1960's. She had attitudes which challenged the supposed role of women during that time and I admired her for it.

It has been well written and appropriately paced for it's genre. It held my attention throughout and the characters were easy to identify with. Anyone who has ever doubted themselves will be able to relate to Meredith.

This one is publishing today. It is a lovely book which I highly recommend.

4.5 stars
I’m a huge fan of dual timeline reads, and this is a beautifully written one from Rachel Burton.
Butterfly Cottage sounded such an idyllic place to call home and I loved how Meredith was able to get to know the cottage and garden after receiving the shock notice of her inheritance.
Rachel Burton always writes about such interesting characters and Clara really captured my heart. Her independence, her strength and courage to do her own thing was so admirable - something for Meredith to follow as an example for sure.
With a little mystery and a whole lot of love, The Butterfly Garden is a beautiful story and one to lose yourself in for just a little while.

Hauntingly beatiful and an immersive Historical Romance! It was nearly impossible to put down The Butterfly Garden with all of its secrets and intrigue. I cannot wait to see what Rachel Burton writes next.
Read this book if you are looking for a historical romance with dual-timeline.

Tenth novel by Rachel Burton is a dual-timeline historical fiction that takes place in 1963 and 2018 and demonstrates how secrets from the past can have an impact on the present and future. Clara Samuels buys Butterfly Cottage in Carybrook, Suffolk in 1963, giving the locals something to talk about—after all, ladies didn't make such purchases! Any social conventions are subordinated to Clara's recollections and her wish to preserve her youth, and she is rewarded with a chance encounter with a former self. I'll tell you this much without giving anything away: the house is abandoned for 50 years. You'll have to embarks on this wonderful reading adventure to discover why! Meredith Carling is thrilled to learn that she has been left at her great aunt's Suffolk house. She is unaware of the woman's existence and Although she has never seen Butterfly Cottage, she thinks it holds the key to solving her financial problems. The problem is that a sullen-looking man already resides there when she gets there. Furthermore, he says he was given half of the cottage as a present! It was interesting to learn how these two ladies overcame their difficulties and welcomed a path toward personal development. I was captivated by the narrative because of Burton's emphasis on fresh starts and the characters she created to convey her point.You'll have to read to find out how Clara and her great-niece Meredith's life were impacted by these two guys at Butterfly Cottage. Boldwood Books and NetGalley sent me this copy, and this is honest opinion.

I absolutely loved this cover and that is why I chose it as a request, the thought of a cottage and the cover and title just drew me right in and didn’t let go until the end.

Meredith inherits a cottage from a person she’s never met. It couldn’t come at a better time since her life is a bit topsy turvy lately. Maybe she can sell it and fix all her problems. Imagine her surprise when she finds out someone else owns half of her house too.
It’s a nice dual timeline story. I couldn’t wait to find out how Meredith ended up with the house. It’s full of family drama and secrets.

When Meredith inherits Butterfly Cottage from an unknown great-aunt, she hopes for a financial lifeline. Instead, she finds it occupied by Zach, a young gardener who claims to be a co-heir. As they unravel their shared inheritance, they uncover a long-buried secret about the previous owner, the garden, and a trove of unread letters, dating back decades.

I enjoyed this dual-timeline women’s fiction. The characters are relatable, and the plot kept me guessing. The writing has a haunting quality.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.