I thank NetGalley and Bold Stroke books for this preview for an honest review.
This is Annie McDonalds debut book and have to say it’s a solid one.
I really enjoyed the backdrop of the story which is set in Canada and loved how McDonald painted a portrait with her words on how beautiful it is. Now I’ve never been to Canada but will be booking a trip to go..lol
This story is about Mia Jarvis, a dog herding trainer who makes out to find her way after the loss of her wife due to cancer. She ends up after a year back where she grew up in a cattle community training a young pup. This is where she meets Cassidy “Sid” Harris. Now Sid is an art curator who is also back at home after an art deal has gone wrong and could destroy her career. Her dad has mysteriously lost some cattle to unknown thieves and has come back to help since he got injured.
Now sparks fly when these two MC’s meet and although it starts off cold, there is no denying the attraction for one another they feel.
The only issue with this book I had was that there were so many side plots that just ended and never resolved themselves. So in reading it sometimes I felt a little lost.
Overall a solid first book and look forward to more from this author.
3.75 stars.

I wanted to love this book -- lord knows the world can use more f/f romance -- and parts of it, I really did love. The leads are great, and so are the supporting characters, and I found the side plot about gallery practices around collecting and selling indigenous art really interesting; and likewise, the side plot around dog training. I would happily look at future work from Annie McDonald -- I think this is her debut.

This book was a bit rougher in a couple of areas: there's a cancer plot that culminates in an urgent phone call, and then just ... evaporates? There's also the matter of making one of the leads part Métis -- in a way that feels pretty casual, maybe a little bit appropriative. (I'm torn, and uncertain, because I'm certainly in favor of having better representation of indigenous folks across genres.) I will also admit to being jarred by a random Pocahontas reference. I guess what I'm saying is: there's a lot of indigenous reference here, but I'm a little worried that it's mainly glitter, more than genuine diversity.

I really enjoyed this book. The book is set in Alberta, Canada, one of my favourite places on earth.
Mia is struggling with the loss of their wife and has set up a working dog training program, she travels all over with her trailer while training dogs.
Sid is a hot shot gallery curator. Mia is in touch with all her feelings and Sid seems like a stoic person. There is instant attraction between the two. There are some gaps in the story, some things seem a bit rushed, but overal it’s a pretty enjoyable read.
I really get where Sid is coming from, being hard to read a closed off because of a big loss in your life for all but the one you truly love, sounds like it could be me.

I think it’s a solid debut novel and I am looking forward to reading more from this author. Keep describing these beautiful Canadian settings for me please!

There's a lot to like about this novel, which looks to be a debut from McDonald. She mentions in her profile that she's planning to write a novel set in each of the Canadian provinces, so I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

In this story we have MC Mia who's running from the pain of losing her wife to cancer. When she comes across MC Sid, they clash at first, but that quickly turns to attraction. I enjoyed the story and the setting in this one, especially learning a bit more about some Canadian history that I wasn't aware of previously.

I hate to say it though, but despite the great setting, this one bored me a bit overall. I'm not really an art fan and for as much as I love dogs and dog training, this one just didn't work for me as a whole. I have a feeling that others who enjoy art or a slower or more pastoral read will enjoy this one more than I did. It's a good story, but wasn't really up my alley personally. I'm still very much looking forward to McDonald's next novel though! 3.75 stars.

**Many thanks to Bold Strokes for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.**

I truly enjoyed Annie McDonald’s debut novel Where We Are. This is a contemporary romance set in the Canadian province of Alberta. This is what I like to call a pure romance, because the main story line is about the two main characters, Cassidy (Sid) Harris and Mia Jarvis, meeting, getting to know each other and gradually falling in love. Add in the majestic Alberta background and two adorable herding dogs as sidekicks, and you have a story that is going to appeal to many.

The tale is solid and well-written. The characters are also well-developed and likable, and once they get over their initial meeting, it is easy to see the attraction the two have for each other. I liked the fact that Sid and Mia are both mature adults either close to or well into their forties. Romance isn’t just for the young-uns you know.

There are quite a few things I love about this book. I love how Canadian the story is with a Canadian author, setting and characters. I love the bits of Canadiana mentioned in the novel such as the group of seven (especially Tom Thomson) and mentions of the First Nations stories, specifically the Ojibwa legend of Andek the Crow. Those of you who live outside of Canada will not only enjoy this story, you might learn a few interesting facts about this lovely country.

Ms. McDonald mentions in her profile that she plans to write a novel set in each of the Canadian provinces and territories. I will definitely be looking for these future novels.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

I thought this was a good debut novel by McDonald. The writing is solid and the story line is good. I rather enjoyed the setting of this romance. I haven't read many romances or other novels about Canada and it gave me a glimpse of the landscape of the country. I am also an art fan so I enjoyed the art aspect. I thought that Sid and Mia had good chemistry.

I rate this one 3.75 stars.

Mia is a dog trainer who moves around Canada in her RV. She arrives in Alberta, Canada to train a herding dog, Milo, and meets Sid, a local woman who initially seems very rude. It isn't long before a romance develops between the two, and after several accidents and other challenges, they are a couple, enjoying life in beautiful western Canada. Recommended for libraries looking to diversify their collections, fans of LGBT romances, and open minded romance readers. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Mia has lost her wife to cancer and for last two years she been on the road. While she on a job in Alberta county herding dogs she meets Sid.

Sid is back home to help her father with his ranch and to find out who been stealing the cattle all the while trying to fix the mesd that been made at her job as an art curator in Toronto.

Mia and Sid don't get off on the right foot but when Mia is injure and get help from Sid father Chance and Isabel a friendship is born and when they learn that it's something more going on then stealing cattle they have a lot going on. I like how the dimes are central part of their story this was a good read.

Very enjoyable debut novel. Set in rural Alberta, Canada.

Mia Jarvis has been on the road for the last two years - ever since her wife died of cancer - training herding dogs. While on a job in Alberta cattle-country, she meets Cassidy (Sid) who has temporarily returned to her family's ranch from her high-flying job as an art curator in Toronto. What begins as an acrimonious relationship so transitions into a forever kind of romance.

Only drawback is I'm not sure I believe the one month hate-to-love timeline, but I don't see why not. And the book was very well written.