Meredith is surprised when she is informed that she inherited a cottage in rural England. When she arrives she finds Zach who has also inherited the cottage. The two decide to live in the cottage while they fix it up and decide whether to sell it. Duel timelines with Clara and Meredith interact as Zach and Meredith find letters and items from the past. As the pair try to unravel their complicated situation, they unearth a decades old mystery involving Clara, the garden, and a stack of letters left unread for over 50 years…

I think I am beginning to really like a well written, dual time line books. This is the second one this year I've really enjoyed. I've not previously enjoyed them very much because the way they'd been written had been a little confusing as to which timeline I was in.

This book isn't like that, it's clear from the Chapters whether I'm in the past or present and I loved the way it's written.

The family element of never having met each other and having the same love for the house is really quite beautiful.

I really enjoyed the flicks between Clara's time line and her Great Niece Meredith's. I love that Meredith is attempting to find out who her Great Aunt was and why she would have left Butterfly cottage to her. There is also the surprise element that Meredith wasn't expecting and that is to have been left Butterfly Cottage in a 50/50 share with the gardener who lived in a caravan at the bottom of its garden.

I loved the unfolding of the story and that Meredith and Zach work together to discover the history of Clara and what happened to her all those years ago.

This story is romantic and heart-warming and pulls you in with it's warmth. There are some emotional elements too.

Another great novel by Rachel Burton. This is set in a dual timeline, which alternates between 1963 and 2018. It features different generations but the central focus in both is the setting, Butterfly Cottage.
I loved the dynamic between Meredith and her mum, and Clara and James' romance. There's a lot of heartbreak and confusion that both timelines deal with that ultimately link up in unexpected ways. The inexplicable pull of Butterfly Cottage &
Carybrook for all the characters is so wonderfully written.

Behind this enchanting cover is a beautifully written story of family mystery, new beginnings and resolving the past. There is something soothing about taking time to sit in nature and Rachel Burton’s description of Butterfly Cottage had the same effect. I fell in love with the building that had a magical quality to it. Like the protagonist, Meredith it gave this reader a well-timed escape.

Using a dual timeline, The Butterfly Garden told the story of two women separated by fifty odd years. Down on her luck, Meredith unexpectedly inherited the delightful cottage from her unknown Aunt Clara and delved into its past.

It was Clara’s timeline that captivated me. Fiercely independent, at 33, she was seen as a spinster in 1963 when the country was on the cusp of change for ideas and female equality. I loved witnessing the contrast between the two women lives caused by changed society attitudes. While 1963 was slower paced and through nostalgic eyes could be seen as idyllic, misogyny was rife and women were shackled by gossip and rules dictating them to choose between marriage or career and owning own home as a single woman was frowned on. In 2018, Meredith had her own salon and flat in London and wasn’t penalised for being unmarried.

I love a good mystery, and one was given with the old letters connecting the two time lines. I became as much invested in discovering what happened between childhood sweethearts, Clara and James as Meredith. It kept me turning the page.

Meredith was at a crossroads and needed to make tough decisions but they weren’t easy to make because of the gardener, Zach’s claim to the inheritance too. Id have loved to have known more about his backstory as I loved his calming nature and attitude to living the simplistic life and his dedication to the garden. Everyone needs a Zach in their lives.

This was a solid, beautiful and fascinating read spanning miles as well as time.

This is a lovely dual timeline book that will pull you straight in.
When our main character inherits a cottage from a relative she never even knew, she heads off to find out what’s going on. This leads her to making important changes to her life as well as discovering more about the history of the cottage and the people who lived there.

It is written in a lovely way that you can imagine everything, the cottage, the garden, even the caravan parked in it.

A lovely heart warming read.

This is a dual timeline novel, which alternates between 1963 and 2018. It features different generations but the central focus in both is the setting, Butterfly Cottage. The social attitudes towards women change over the years but in 1963, Clara finds herself up against gossip and prejudices directed towards her as a single woman. She shows her mettle when she buys the cottage and seemingly, settles for a career as a school teacher and a single life. She knows if she was to marry and have children, she would be expected to resign, according to the views of the village which seem to come from an even earlier age.

Meredith inherits the cottage in 2018 and you can contrast how attitudes towards women have moved on. Meredith is at a crossroads in her life. With financial and personal issues in her past, she seems rootless and in need of some security. I appreciated how the two women's stories and experiences were interwoven. Although I did guess the secret at the heart of the novel's mystery, I enjoyed all the story threads and the characters within them.

In short: dual time line and a mystery

Rachel Burton

Meredith is left a cottage in Suffolk ,and it's beautiful garden, by a great aunt she's never heard of, Clara. When she arrives she finds a young man living there who has also been left half of the property. Intriguing? A two part time line story of romance pieced together through a cache of old letters in a beautiful setting. A perfect summer read.

I am a fan of Rachel’s writing and on this occasion she has written another lovely story surrounding a beautiful home. The Butterfly Cottage is about one family’s secrets and the impact keeping them can have.

The is a dual timeline narrative with the historical passages from the 1960s and the more contemporary passages from 2018. This book was good but not one of my favourites from Rachel. The plot was slow in parts, and became a little repetitive in the contemporary tale. While I was interested in Clara and James’ story, I found it harder to believe Meredith and Zach’s connection. I am unsure of why the latter was there unless he reminded Clara of James?

The cover is gorgeous and Rachel always guarantees a warm and captivating tale set against perfect locales that keep me coming back from more. Take some time to visit Butterfly Cottage, its gardens and life in an English village of the 1960s.



‘What had happened to Clara Samuels all those years ago? What had made her go to Australia? And why had nobody mentioned her since?’







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

This was a lovely story of love, heartbreak and finding yourself. The characters all had their fair share of all of the above in a story set between the Cotswolds and Australia.

It is a dual timeline story that travels between Clara in the mid sixties and Meredith in the early 2000s.

I guessed the outcome very early on in the piece and enjoyed the well written telling of it in my first read from author Rachel Burton.

Thanks to Rachel, Netgalley and her publishers for a copy to read. All views and opinions are my own.
Reviews have been left on Goodreads and Storygraph and will be placed on Amazon too.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house, and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for review, based upon my honest opinion.

Meredith in the present day, it’s reeling from her fiance leaving her for another woman, from her business being highly in debt, andher exn requesting the loan that he had helped her start the business with back. Meredith then discovers that she has inherited a cottage in a little English village from an aunt she never knew. Meredith decides that this is fate, that she can sell the cottage, pay her debts and get on with her life. When Merdith arrives at the cottage, she discovers a man, Zach, living in a caravan in the backyard. Zach informs her that they own the cottage jointly. As Meredith and Zach try to sort out why Clara left them the property and why Meredith has never heard of her, they decide to out as much as they can about Aunt Clara. They discover that she left te village suddenly and no one knew why.

We meet Clara in 1963, she has gotten her teaching degree and is living in London, teaching, when she hears that the cottage she so loved is for sale. Clara decides she wants to buy it, even though a woman buying a property on her own in the 60s was frowned upon but Clara's childhood love, James MacKenzie, lived in that cottage with the most beautful garden, she always referered to it as the Butterfly Cottage. When Clara moves back, she starts teaching at her old school and runs into James at a local dance. Can they start right where they left off years ago, where will their future take them.

As Meredith and Zach put the pieces together, it becomes apparent that Clara left in 1964 and only came back at the end of her life to put her affairs in order, one of those things being hiring Zach to return the garden to its splendour. Meredith discovers that she does not want her life in London anymore, she wants to stay in Careybrook in the cottage and start fresh, but what will that mean for Zach, will he be in agreement or does he want to sell right away. I really enjoyed this book, the scenery, the characters and the storyline were lovely.

This author always has a way of writing a lovely dual timeline story. Her books always leave me smiling and always take place and such beautiful locations. I look forward to more books by this author.

Oh how I adore a dual timeline story, centred around a house and garden!! This story had a wonderful mystery at the heart of it and such fascinating characters that I didn't want it to end - and I wanted to go and visit The Butterfly Garden!

Meredith finds herself the owner of Butterfly Cottage, by a woman she'd never heard of, her great Aunt Clara. And at the perfect time too as her own business isn't going so well so she's in need of funds. Her initial plan is to visit the cottage, and sell it as quickly as she can! What she didn't factor into the plan was the fact that Clara had also left half of the cottage to her gardener! But the more time that Meredith spends at the cottage the more it gets under her skin, and she wants to learn more about Clara.

The story also takes us back to the 1960's where we meet Clara, who is a teacher in London, but looking to live nearer her sister in Suffolk. Butterfly Cottage comes onto the market and she snaps it up - very unusual behaviour for a young woman on her own - and so we get to see the prejudice she faced and the scandal that it caused!

As Meredith delves further into the past with the help of letters and locals, you really are transported back to different times and the family secrets begin to reveal themselves - and there's lots to be unearthed!!

I really enjoyed both timelines equally in this story - the characters are sympathetically captured and how Meredith went about piecing it all together was a real journey for her and you as a reader!! It's a beautifully written book and I loved every single page of it!! Highly recommended!!

Well, first of all this book was just what I needed. I’ve been quite busy these past few weeks and still have lots coming up. Let’s just say I was finding it hard to relax. Then in comes this book and it was like a breath of fresh air. I really have enjoyed my time with the characters in The Butterfly Garden!

The plot itself moved at a perfect pace. There were secrets that had been hidden for so long and it was all revealed in a very satisfactory way. The characters were likeable in both timelines even though they were facing challenging times. In particular Clara, her determination and strength shined through especially for the time she lived in. Then you have Meredith who is eager to discover more about the cottage she has suddenly been bequeathed. All while juggling various personal matters.

I do love a dual timeline but at times they can be tricky to manage. I might prefer one timeline over the other or it just might not transition smoothly. In the case of The Butterfly Garden everything worked so well. Both timelines held my attention and the mystery at the books heart kept me fully invested. Then add in interesting characters who had depth, it really helped bring this story to life.

The Butterfly Garden was a delight to read, it had so much heart. This story explored tangled family lives, drama filled moments and even a hint of romance too. As ever I was impressed by Rachel Burton’s engaging writing. I highly recommend!

Can a secret from the past change hr future...?

It was the stunning cover that initially drew me to this book. That and the whimsical title which conjured up thoughts of a delightful tale hidden therein. Therefore I simply HAD to read it. And boy, am I glad I did!

I have struggled to find any connection or interest in many books the last couple of months but this one just blew me away that I didn't want to put it down and I devoured it in one sitting!

London 2018: Meredith thought she had everything she wanted. Her dream job as a hairdresser running her own salon, a nice flat in Clapham and a fiance she couldn't wait to marry. But then a grenade was set off in the midst, blowing it all to smithereens. Suddenly she had no fiance, struggling to pay the rent alone on their shared flat and her business was falling apart as the debts mounted.

Then she gets a call from a solicitor. She has inherited a cottage in Suffolk from her great-aunt Clara. A great-aunt she never knew existed until now. But with this windfall, Meredith could see a light at the end of her tunnel in which the sale of this cottage could be the answer to her troubles. But the solicitor told her to wait until she saw the cottage before she made any decisions. And with that, Meredith believed he was keeping something from her. The question was, what exactly?

Making her way up to Suffolk, a county she had no idea where it was having lived in London all her life, she got lost along the way before finding herself outside Butterfly Cottage in the sleepy village of Carybrook. And there she finally discovers what the solicitor had been keeping from her. Suddenly the answer to getting her out of debt didn't seem so within reach as she had thought. She knew it was too good to be true.

But the question remains, why would a great-aunt she had never met do this? Why even make this bequeath if there was so to be such a condition attached to it? And where has this great-aunt been all her life? She'd never even heard of her before. The only person who could shed any light is her father but she's not seen him since her 18th birthday almost half a lifetime ago, disappearing from her life altogether. And yet she feels he is the only one who could give her the answers she seeks...but how will she go about finding him when? Where would she even start?

Carybrook 1963: Schoolteacher Clara Samuels returns to the village where she grew up when her older sister Esther informs her that Butterfly Cottage, somewhere that held a special place in Clara's childhood, is up for sale. Having inherited a tidy sum from her parents that has been held in trust and gathering interest since, Clara has the means to by the cottage outright...which she does, despite it not being the done thing for an unmarried woman to make such a purchase.

Clara enjoys her independence and she loves Butterfly Cottage, especially the garden which holds many special memories alongside her childhood friend James who lived there at the time. Despite James and his family having moved away soon after war broke out, Clara and James continue to write to each other for the next nine years before his letters disappeared altogether. Clara often wonders what happened to her childhood friend and why he stopped writing.

It's one night at a dance with some friends that a face from the past brings everything back - from the grass stains on her dress to the butterflies and bees in the butterfly garden. Suddenly the years are washed away in a flurry of words, laughter and memories. And Clara, who has prided herself on being driven and independent, will suddenly find her life is about to change in ways she never thought possible.

As the two timelines collide, Meredith does her own soul searching as she finds the answers where she least expects them. And she's also in for one more surprise which will answer all her questions as Meredith begins to unravel the mystery of her great-aunt Clara and the answers surrounding Butterfly Cottage.

A truly delightful tale that I read long into the night simply because I didn't want to leave. I was so immersed within the storyline I wanted to stay there and stay there I did until the final page. I didn't mind that I predicted the direction it almost from the beginning. In fact I rather enjoyed discovering if I was right or not.

I absolutely love dual timeline stories and this one is reminiscent of Lorna Cook and I just loved being in the sleepy Suffolk village and surrounded by all those butterflies and fragrances of the butterfly garden.

A well written unforgettable tale that draws you in from the very first page in such a way you won't want to leave...even after you've turned the last page.

A 5 star read I highly recommend. Especially to those who love dual timeline tales, Lorna Cook and Kathleen McGurl.

I would like to thank #RachelBurton, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheButterflyGarden in exchange for an honest review.

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

I love gardens and nature and anything even remotely related to that, so to read a book called The Butterfly Garden was an inevitable choice for me, especially as it’s set in Suffolk, England - I live on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, so I was keen to see if I recognised any places. A dual timeline novel split between 1963 and 2018, where our female protagonists are Clara and Meredith, respectively. I was hooked as the story and all the family secrets jumped from one decade to another. Life and love are brought together as we read about Butterfly Cottage and why it was left empty for fifty years.

The Butterfly Garden is beautifully written, with so many gorgeous descriptions of the Suffolk countryside, the winding lanes and village life. I was invested from the very beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review The Butterfly Garden by Rachel Burton.

Great dual timeline book set in the sixties and present day. Full of mystery and twists and turns with the present day mirroring the past in many ways I found this book hard to put down. I enjoyed both time lines and really liked the descriptions of the garden as I love gardening. Great characters in both timelines and the mysteries kept you guessing too keep your interest. A book that I thoroughly enjoyed

✨ Publication date: June 18, 2024✨

The Butterfly Cottage is a dual POV/dual timeline historical romance story written by Rachel Burton.

Clara Samuels heads back to the small village in England she left years ago in 1963 to buy Butterfly Cottage, a house that meant so much to her growing up. Clara’s best friend James lived there growing up and she spent more time there with his family than her own oppressive family. She lost touch with James over the years and it was something she always regretted.

Clara knew she would cause a stir with the many of the folks in the village. A young single woman buying a house without a husband, but she didn’t care, she wanted the house.

After settling into her teaching job and village life again, Clara reunites with her friend James and after they reconnect, realize there is more than friendship there….until 6 months later Clara leaves England and doesn’t return for more than 50 years.

In 2018 Meredith inherits a cottage in a sleepy English village from a great aunt she has never heard of. Meredith’s life is somewhat a mess right now after discovering her fiancé cheating. Now she is stuck paying for rent by herself and struggling with a failing business.

Meredith decides she will go check out this cottage and with the hopes of selling quickly to alleviate some of her financial burden, only to discover 50% of the house was left to a stranger, her great aunt’s gardener. Together, Meredith and Zach set out to discover more about Clara Samuels and what happened all those years ago. They also might discover they have found love with each other along the way.

This book was good but not great. The plot dragged in parts and while I was fully invested in Clara and James’ story found it harder to believe Meredith and Zach’s connection. This was a 3 star read for me.

#NetGalley #rachelburton #thebutterflycottage

I enjoyed this captivating, emotional historical fiction that centres on a cottage in Suffolk with a beautiful garden. It explores the lives of two women. Clara played in the garden in the 1930s and returned to it in the 1960s. Meredith receives an unexpected legacy and discovers the cottage and its garden in the present times. There is a complex mystery to solve, emotional ties that span decades and heartbreaking romance. The two female protagonists are believable and easy to like. They are a relatable mix of naivety and wisdom and are realistically flawed. The relationship dynamics are natural, and there's an enticing balance between heartbreak and hope. It's a heartwarming tale with characters that you warm to.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

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..