An atmospheric and haunting timeslip tale of love, loss and betrayal, set in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century and the present day, it tells the story of Catherine and her mother-in-law and Lucy, a concert violinist, no longer able to follow her dream after an illness. It's a story of grief and ghosts, heartbreak and healing. The characters in both times are well-characterised, and both settings are evocative.
The storytelling is emotional and intriguing, and the historical detail makes it an immersive read.

I enjoyed the historical detail, the ghostly connections and the mystery of this story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A dual timeline mystery split between present day and just before the Gunpowder plot. The historical story revolves around the family members of Robert Catesby, the believed leader of the catholics who planned the gunpowder plot, and particularly his wife and mother. In the present, Lucy, a concert violinist is coming to terms with the fact that she will have to give up her career following illness. She travels to the country to recuperate and becomes involved in exploring the story of the winter garden planned by Robert Catesby's wife, Catherine. It's hard to say much more about the story without giving things away. I liked the book itself, and found it an easy and enjoyable read, perfect for a curling up with in front of a warm fire. There were elements which niggled with me in terms of details of the story (at one point we're told Lucy has barely spoken to anyone and two pages later that she's spoken to family and friends). Overall though I'd recommend this to anyone who is a fan of dual timeline historical fiction. Thanks go to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review

Oh my this book took my breath away. Time slip novel for lovers of Barbara Erskine. Fantastic read, Highly recommended
10/10 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! What a wonderful exciting story. Time slip novels are my favourite genre and with Bonfire Night on the horizon this was the perfect re-telling of the Catesby family, well done Nicola

Lucy visits her aunt's cottage in order to get some peace and quiet while recovering from a career ending illness. She doesn't expect to meet Finn the garden historian and archeologist who is attempting to find evidence of a Tudor garden at the site. Thrown into Finn's history and her own recovery Lucy becomes attuned to a presence at the cottage and begins to feel and see the memories of its former resident. Catherine Catesby is the young wife of Robert and with his help she is creating a winter garden at their home, however their happy life together is cut short and without Catherine's steadying support Robert becomes drawn into the most treason - the gunpowder plot.

This is a really involving tale of history and ghosts and relationships and treasure hunting. The characters are involving enough and it's interesting to see the historical effects of religious upheaval and treason on the families of those involved. Well worth reading especially if you enjoy history.

When I realised that this book was in two different timelines, I didn't expect to enjoy it, but it was so well written and really enjoyable. I loved both timelines and characters and found Lucy's experiences fascinating. It was a great way to tie the two stories together. The characters were really well described and developed. I loved the descriptions of the gardens. I thought Lucy's story was quite predictable but Catherine's and Anne's less so and much more intriguing. I had never heard of this plot and this book was so interesting and made me want to research the details of the story. Overall a really good read and I would definitely recommend this author and book. My sincere thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review.

I love a dual timeline historical fiction story and this really fits the bill. Lucy is a professional violinist in an orchestra, who has to give up her career after being ill and goes to stay near Uffington in the Vale of White Horse at her aunt's property, Gunpowder Cottage. It's not long before Lucy starts to see visions of the previous resident, Catherine, who also haunts her dreams, and any ideas of a restful stay must wait until she can solve the mystery of why Catherine is haunting her.

In Catherine's era the family are caught up in the Gunpowder Plot and the treasure they bury on their land will lead to Lucy's life being under threat in the present day.

The Winter Garden by Nicola Cornick is a marvellous dual timeline novel that had me enthralled from the start.
The book is set in present day and 1598 in the lead up to the Gunpowder Plot. Chapters alternate, as do the voices, with the action being seen through the eyes of the leading ladies – in the third person in present day and in the first person in 1598.
Living in a barn called Gunpowder Barn in the grounds of the old Catesby cottage provides a link to the past. It is all very atmospheric as there seems to be a thin veil between the two time periods.
We witness that sadness in the present attracts sadness in the past. A love will not rest until the past has surrendered its secrets.
A mother’s love is strong. We witness several instances. Life in the sixteenth century was precarious, not all children born, survived. A veil of grief is palpable.
Likewise, there is a loss in present day – an actual loss where grief is ever-present, and the loss of a dream as ill health shatters a life.
History is important. We all want to learn from the lessons of the past. Ancient artefacts are fascinating. Restoration of objects and land is important.
There is a search for treasure. Over the course of the book, we learn what is of true value, what is priceless and needs to be treasured. The ghosts of the past will not be able to rest until what is lost, is found and restored.
Animals have a strange sixth sense as demonstrated by a dog who is as much a character as the human ones.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Winter Garden and cannot wait for more from Nicola Cornick. I always love her books.
I received a free copy from Harper Collins for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Very easy read, and enjoyable. Lucy, recovering from a life-changing illness connects with the wife of Robert Catesby - leader of the Gunpowder Plot. The story alternates between now and 400 years ago, as mysteries are solved and archaeology reveals the past.

Perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine and Christina Courtenay.

With thanks to NetGalley and HQ for an ARC.

History and the present day collide in a country cottage. Lucy has had to give up her musical career due to illness. Her sister and Aunt Verity persuade her to have a break in Gunpowder Cottage, so-called for it's supposed connection to the famous Gunpowder Plot in the time of King James I. Far from being restful, Lucy's time there is interrupted by visions and strange dreams of a woman in a red dress, who seems to ask for her help. The story swaps between Lucy's experiences and those of Anne Catesby in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century, when Catholicism was frowned upon. The Winter Garden of the title was Anne's creation and possibly holds a hidden secret. A good read with well-drawn and sympathetic characters.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is a dual timeline story, taking place in Tudor England, where we read about the Catesby family, Anne, William her husband and wild son Robert, who they pledge in marriage to Catherine Leigh, who’s a beautiful heiress, they both fall deeply in love.

The second timeline is in the present day, where Lucy, who is professional musician, but can’t play her violin no more, having nerve damage after a virus. She goes to live in her Aunt Verity's empty home, in Gunpowder Cottage, she meets the landscape archaeologist, who is restoring the Tudor garden, which wrapped round the cottage and the original home on the land.

There is more to the story, Catherine - as a ghost, looking for her treasure, which made you think that the home had something to do with the Knights Hospitaller, and maybe Robert was involved in the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.

I highly recommend this book.

Lucy is recovering from a serious illness that has destroyed her musical career. Cleo, her sister, and Verity, her aunt, have persuaded Lucy to spend some time in the countryside, in the hopes that she will recuperate enough to move her life forward. From her arrival at the cottage, Lucy starts to experience weird events and unexplained happenings.

This plot runs across two timelines, present day Lucy and her visit to Gunpowder Cottage and Barn, and the story of Catherine, the young wife of Robert Catesby, one of the Gunpowder Plotters, and his mother Anne.

This is an intriguing story, with a good historical background. The two timelines are well meshed and make reading enjoyable.

A good read for those who like history and romance!

3.5* upped to 4*.

Thank you NetGalley.

I was totally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover. Its just stunning. The author is a new one to me but in reading the blurb it sounded like a Barbara Erskine, time slip style novel and I love those.

The story is told over a dual time line of present day and the 1600s in the lead up to the gunpowder plot. I was absolutely enthralled by this story and the atmospheric winter garden with it's hidden secrets.

I thought the characters were well written and the historic details made the story well fleshed out. Definitely a captivating read which I would recommend to fans of historical fiction novels.

This timeslip novel takes us back and forth in time to the late 16th/early 17th century, and the days before the Gunpowder plot. Professional musician Lucy has come to Gunpowder Cottage to recuperate after illness has destroyed her career, but is increasingly disturbed by ghostly visions and the sensation that she is living the past through the eyes of Catherine Catesby, wife of soon-to-be notorious Robert Catesby, instigator of the Gunpowder plot. What is Catherine trying to tell her? As Lucy and garden historian Finn try to piece together the mystery in the present, Catherine's mother-in-law Anne Catesby takes up the past narrative to reveal a tale of love and tragedy.
Nivola Cornick is on real form with this one! Haunting, mysterious and with wonderfully empathetic characters in both past and present narrative, and a sprinkling of very real, non-ghostly danger in both, this was a story I couldn't put down.

I wasn't sure when I picked this book if I would enjoy it, but I loved the time slip elements and found the history sections better written and more enjoyable than that present day chapters.
It is the story of Lucy who after an illness is unable to continue her career as a violinist. She goes to stay at her aunt's cottage - Gunpowder Barn - to relax and recuperate. Her aunt has arranged/allowed Finn to investigate the grounds round the cottage and barn in the hope of finding a Tudor garden. As soon as Lucy and Finn clash heads in the first chapter you know they will be attracted to each other - and that is the bit that I found cliched.
However, woven into Lucy's stay at the barn is a ghost who appears to her and asks her to look for a treasure that she has lost. We find out about the treasure through a second story written from the pov of Anne Catesby, mother of Robert Catesby, the leader of the Gunpowder Plot against the king. This is the section I thoroughly enjoyed. It really gets inside the character of Anne, showing her mixed emotions over her family and how it is being pulled apart by politics and religion. I also really enjoyed the details of the house and gardens that were included and was fully invested in this.
Overall a good read, with some emotional and atmospheric details.
With thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an arc copy in return for an honest review. I would be happy to read more from this author.

Grab yourself a copy of this book! I absolutely loved this! I read this book within a day, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters and the way I had to keep asking myself if I was right in how I thought the plot was turning out. Gorgeous eye catching cover too!

I do love a good time slip story and The Winter Garden was excellent. A very engaging story with both halves being interesting and well written. I knew of the Gunpowder Plot but only knew one name connected to it. Having finished the book I shall now be doing some research into the more detailed histpry as it was a fascinating read. The inevitible romance didn't dominate the story for which I was grateful. Overall an excellent read. With thank to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for a e-ARC of the title to read and review.

Firstly, the cover. Wow! I love it. Caught my eye whilst I was scrolling, read the synopsis and immediately, I was intrigued.
So we can agree, that the cover did its job.

I love reading dual timelines! It’s reminiscent of Barbara Erskine and I love those books. After finishing this one, I can say that it is definitely on the same level.

This book has a storyline involving politics & religion. The author has written them together beautifully. As someone who doesn’t usually have any particular interest in either of those subjects, she was able to keep my interest throughout, it is that good.

The main protagonist was well written and a woman I could get behind. The author has created a book with characters full of depth and emotion. Extremely easy to immerse yourself into this story.

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely yes! A perfect read for this time of year. Grab yourself a cuppa, a blanket, settle into your favourite reading place and enjoy!

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley.

A wonderful and engrossing read, I wanted to keep reading to see what happened next. I also researched the subject further myself because I needed to know more about the people in the story. I love when a book grabs me like this.
The prologue is in 1598 and features Catherine and Robert Catesby and their children.
Then we have Lucy in the present, who's devastated by the loss of her career.
When we return to the past we're in 1592 and that story continues from there.
The two stories wove seamlessly into each other. I usually prefer the historical timeline but both stories were equally enthralling.
Lucy is a lovely character and her slow burning relationship with Finn is endearing. Finn is quite enigmatic in the beginning but his personality slowly emerges. They have both suffered in their lives and this draws them together.
The descriptions of Gunpowder Cottage and it's environs are beautifully done. I love good descriptive writing.
In the past story I felt for Anne, Robert's mother. She was a tough lady but had an awful lot to bear and it gradually wore her down.
It was great to read about someone else's involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. I know about Guy Fawke's part but little about anyone else.
The book has a lovely ending which will pull at your heartstrings and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical and or timeslip stories with well defined characters.

With thanks to NetGalley and HQ Publishers for an early copy of this book.

Really sorry this book isn’t for me. It was a bad choice on my part which is why I’ve given 4 stars as it would be unfair to base a rating on my own preferences rather than the writing. I got to 39% in but it just doesn’t capture my interest.

I’ll be honest, I don’t actually know the story of the Gunpowder Plot, which is one of the reasons I chose to read it, to learn something. However I did think it was a political reason for the plotting and not religion (though of what I’ve read so far, it appears religion was their politics). So two things that are completely of no interest to me, religion and archaeology which is why I completely lost interest in the book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to try this book.