The Butterfly Garden by Sophie Anderson

 

I blamed my son for the death of my daughter…

When twenty-five-year-old Erin loses the man she loves, she flees London for Cornwall and takes a job at Hookes End, a huge house clinging precariously to the Cornish cliffs. The owner, frail reclusive novelist and butterfly enthusiast Maggie, has kept the curtains of her dusty house drawn for many years. But as she and Erin spend evenings together by the fireside, sharing stories of the past, Erin feels her shattered heart begin to heal. In return, Erin agrees to help Maggie find her long lost family before it is too late.

Years ago, Maggie’s son Lucas ran away to the other side of the world after the death of her daughter ripped the family apart. Maggie is desperate to see Lucas again – there is something she needs him to know.

Erin wants to help Maggie find peace so she vows to track down her lost son. But when at last she finds Lucas, in a far- away place of searing heat and pearly sands, it becomes clear that he is hiding something too.

As Erin grows closer to Lucas and unravels the webs of deceit entangling mother and son, she learns about the terrible tragedy that changed their lives forever: the night when a little girl in a fairy nightdress went missing. But with Maggie’s time fast running out, is it too late for them to find the forgiveness they need to move on?

A heart-wrenching page-turner about a family ripped apart by guilt and lies. Set against the storms of the Cornish coast and silvery tropical sands of a distant paradise, The Butterfly Garden is a story of love, loss and letting go. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Harriet Evans and Lucinda Riley will be gripped.

 

What did I think?

The cover reminded me of some other books I have seen by well known authors - so I was hoping this book would be just as good. Have to say I do like a book set in Cornwall - onto a winner straight away.

The pairing of Maggie and Erin seems quite unlikely at first but I enjoyed they way their relationship developed, their back stories emerged and the story unfolded (I don't want to give anything away)

To me this book seems to be written from the heart - the whole time I was reading the story felt very realistic - the characters make mistakes, keep secrets and try to do better.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Short chapters make sneaking in a few chapters too easy and the descriptions were beautiful.

Once I had finished I had to find out if Sophie has written any other books but I don't think she has as I couldn't find anything on Goodreads. If this is her debut book then I cannot wait to read her next book.

Author Bio:

 

Sophie Anderson enjoyed a career in TV production in London before working with her husband to set up an online software business where she wrote the marketing content. But neither scratched that creative itch to tell a story, so she enrolled on a writing course and wrote her first novel The Butterfly Garden. She lives in Sussex with her husband, four children, a cocker spaniel and two cats.

https://www.facebook.com/sophieandersonfiction

https://twitter.com/MSophieanderson 

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://bit.ly/3iIoT3c

Apple: https://apple.co/2OY3Q08

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3lKrEke

Google: https://bit.ly/2NME1zE