Today join me on the Blog tour for a lovely dual time story which is the Peacock bottle. My thanks go to Rachels Random Reads for inviting me along.
My Review:
This is a historical novel with a slight difference, both timelines are historical, instead of as is often the case a modern day thread combined with a parallel story from the past. It introduces us to two young women who live in a house in Cumbria, close to the lake district, which (rather confusingly to me, at first) is named Alice Howe - I thought this was a character at first and spent a few puzzling minutes trying to work out who she was! Maybe this is intentional as the house does play a large part in the story.
In 1840 sisters Daisy and Mary Jane reside there, living a privileged rather wealthy life, they come across as two very real young ladies being brought up genteelly yet with real teenage hopes and ambitions that any young woman of today should be able to relate to. They are keen to find romance and are very close to each other. Daisy develops an interest in making perfume and MaryJane's hobby is painting.
53 years later close to the turn of the 19th century we see the house in a state of disrepair, with another young woman, Amelia moving in with her stepmother, their lives have also been quite genteel but they are now living in what would be known as reduced circumstances, following Amelias fathers tragic and sudden death in a fire.
When exploring the grounds Amelia discovers a pretty peacock designed perfume bottle buried in an overgrown garden which she decides to try and restore in secret to surprise her stepmother.
The stories run alongside one another nicely and the author gives each protagonist a unique and distinctive character and personality so it's easy to tell the 2 timelines apart.
It is a rather mellow read, quite soothing and flows beautifully although it actually tackles a few rather grim subjects including familial loss, grief, death and depression along with much lighter-hearted themes, romance, girls being girls, friendship and companionship.
I really enjoyed reading it I found it well written and really absorbing, though the main characters are quite young and I feel it will easily appeal to younger adults than historical dramas may usually appeal to, which is a great way of getting new readers interested in the historical fiction genre which I have adored for years.
I found Amelia the more feisty and probably easier to relate to, the earlier sisters have a Jane Austen like quality making them seem like flibbertygibbets yet with more depth of character than is at first apparent. I was pretty shaken when something pretty darned awful happens concerning them which caused me to shed a tear.
There is a tenuous connection between the two families and quite a few secrets to uncover as you follow their stories. Everything a good book should be - enjoyable and relaxing yet with enough substance to make you think.
The Blurb
In this Victorian dual timeline novel, Amelia Wise feels a jolt when she finds a blue perfume bottle in the overgrown garden of the house she has inherited. Several events in her life mirror those from the past and, with the help of her newfound cousin, Olivia, the bottle's secret is uncovered.
Buying link UK and US link
About the Author
Married to Don, I have 5 children and 9 grandchildren, I live in Derbyshire, England, and enjoy researching my family tree (having found ancestors as far back as 1465), reading, gardening, playing Scrabble, meals out and family gatherings. I am the treasurer of my writing club, Eastwood Writers’ Group, and I also write and record Thoughts for the Day for Radio Nottingham. At church I sing in the choir and am an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, a reader, a flower arranger and a member of the fundraising team for Cafod, my favourite charity. I have written hymns, although I cannot read music.
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