Today I am on the Blog Tour for The Peacock Bottle by Angela Rigley. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for a copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly.
The Peacock Bottle
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 mirrors those from the past and, with the help of her newfound cousin, Olivia, the bottle’s secret is uncovered.
Purchase Link
My Thoughts
This is a lovely historical fiction novel with dual timelines set in 1840 and 1893. Both timelines depict families who live in the same house but fifty years apart.
The location of the house is the beautiful countryside of The Lake District. As a frequent visitor to this part of the country, I was really interested to see if the author did the area justice. However, Angela Rigley does a fantastic job of describing this amazing collection of lakes and mountains, nestled in the English countryside.
In the later timeline, we are introduced to the wonderful Amelia who has recently moved to the area with her stepmother. The house which they inherited is in much need of restoration. Amelia takes on the huge task of clearing the garden and it is there that she finds a beautiful perfume bottle. This bottle holds a secret, and this becomes the pinnacle of the story.
I loved how Amelia struck up make-believe relationships with the birds as she worked in the garden. She had a huge spirit and relished rolling her sleeves up and working hard. She treated the staff as her friends and chose to ignore the stringent protocols of the time. I liked her independent, slightly rebellious character, which was in stark contrast to the female characters in the earlier timeline.
This is a great read for lovers of historical fiction, it has a steady storyline which builds momentum and well-written characters, situated in a breathtaking location.
There is a giveaway below to win a copy of The Peacock Bottle, good luck everyone!
Author Bio – 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.
