A gripping and beautiful tale of love, loss and secrets. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore, Lorna Cook and Kathryn Hughes.

'One of those rare books that opened an escape door for me away from the worries of the present into a glorious story' – Louise Douglas, bestselling author of The House by the Sea

1963: When Clara Samuels buys Butterfly Cottage, she knows the scandal she’ll cause. A single woman buying property is not the ‘done thing’, especially not in a village like Carybrook. But Clara has been in love with Butterfly Cottage, and its garden, since she used to play there before the War. And when she reconnects with her childhood friend James, her decision feels serendipitous. But the true scandal is yet to come, because within six months, Clara will leave England under mysterious circumstances, and Butterfly Cottage will stand empty for more than 50 years.

2018: No one is more surprised than Meredith when she’s bequeathed a cottage by a great aunt she’d never heard of. She hopes, briefly, that the inheritance could be the answer to her financial problems. But when she arrives in Suffolk, she is shocked to discover a man is already living there. A young gardener, who claims he was also bequeathed half of Butterfly Cottage.

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…

Readers love Rachel Burton's books:

'Exquisite storytelling. Two timelines, two poignant love stories, one heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for many years is slowly revealed against the breathtaking backdrop of the butterfly garden. Loved it.' Elena Collins

'A fabulous dual timeline mystery with a tale of lost love and family ties. I was totally captivated and raced through to the end!' Clare Marchant

'A charming read, expertly plotted and beautifully researched. An intriguing dual time story, exquisitely told.' Jenni Keer

'Enticing and atmospheric... Packed with love and mystery that will keep you wanting more from the first page to the last' Lauren North

'A wonderful escape... I adored the characters, the headiness of their first loves, and vulnerabilities as they hoped for their own happily-ever-afters' Jenny Ashcroft

‘I was hooked on this book practically from the first paragraph.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Beautifully written, intriguing characters, lost loves, betrayal and lies. Fabulous and highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Such a heartwarming story which I devoured in one sitting.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘What a brilliant book! I loved how it dipped through many histories and kept it flipping seamlessly through many peoples histories.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Beautifully written, I loved the unexpected twist at the end. A definite five stars from me.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘This novel really holds you fast, all the way to a lovely twist of an ending that warms the cockles of your heart. Just the ticket for the perfect escapist read.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘As the secret is revealed and the mystery solved, the reader will be surprised til the final paragraph. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘A wonderful tale of love, family and so much more!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Love, romance, mystery and family secrets - what more could I want? Highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️