Readers are sure to fall in love with Sarah Bennett’s enchanting new novel Where We Belong, the first in a splendid new series from this much-loved writer.

Hope Travers has a life that is as close to perfect as it is possible to get. Living in a beautiful farmhouse with her mum, aunts and uncles and far too many dogs to count, Hope spends her days in the Cotswolds countryside surrounded by breath-taking scenery and majestic vistas. Hope adores her life and she wouldn’t swap places with anyone. However, when her family’s dark secrets come to life, a stunned Hope begins to discover shocking fragments from the Travers clan’s past she would have much rather had stayed dead and buried,

As a construction crew uncover what appear to be historical ruins in the grounds, her family is thrust into the spotlight and put under very close scrutiny as a dig gets underway. Romance might be the last thing on her mind, but when local archaeologist Cameron Ferguson comes to take charge of the dig sparks begin to fly. Hope begins to fall for handsome Cameron, but as things around the estate begin to go wrong and her family’s life begins to change beyond measure, she cannot help but wonder whether digging up the past might have been a mistake of epic proportions – or whether it’s only by facing up to old mistakes that she can forge ahead into the future with the man who has come to mean everything to her.

A new Sarah Bennett novel is always a major cause of celebration for me and with Where We Belong, this talented writer has once again outdone herself and penned a gorgeous, engrossing and wonderfully romantic page-turner I couldn’t bear to put down. A terrific story about healing from old wounds, fresh starts, family ties and falling head over heels in love, Where We Belong is a hugely enjoyable, immensely poignant and wholly mesmerizing feel-good tale from Sarah Bennett that has got winner written all over it.

I have read a fair few Sarah Bennett book previously so I had high hopes for this one. It was definitely another enjoyable read. We meet Hope, she seems to have a privaleged and perfect life, that is until you scratch the surface. What secrets will come to light, what will become of her new romance?

Super cute book that went by quickly. I really liked the way the storyline played out over the whole book.

How exciting a new series from Sarah Bennett who has become a favourite over the years . Loveable characters.
Will Hope make a mistake delving into the family secrets?

This was a delightful start to what is to be a brand new series. The premise was sweet and enjoyable, the characters were loveable.

The start of a new series set in juniper Meadows, in the Cotswolds
The Travers family, is a big family who all live under one roof with the exception of Hope who decides to build a new house in the grounds of the big house, when archeological evidence is found enter Cameron a professor at the university. A great tale of multiple storylines and a recommended read
Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Sarah Bennett for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

With the first in a new series, expectations are high and this does not disappoint. The family and community at Juniper Meadows are so likeable that you want to follow their stories and unravel the secrets that there are in their past. Hope’s very name sets the tone for the story which feels positive and caring. There are different models of families and class backgrounds but there is always more to what people have in common than any distinctions in background.

The Juniper Meadows setting has much potential for an interesting series. I really enjoyed the archaeology sections of the book and the fascination with the past. Romance is a slow burn but seems to fit the characters. Relationships within families and generations can be complicated but are an important part of life at Juniper Meadows as the younger generation try to establish some independence within the family. I am full of anticipation that this will be a series to look forward to. A great start.

In short: family, friendships, secrets, romance

A good all round book to read the ups and downs of the travers family and the incidents with former employees hope there is a follow up for hope to find her dad and brother

I really enjoyed the start of this new series and thought it was a strong story throughout. I am excited for the next instalment already, feeling like I know the characters of Juniper Meadows very well.

This book is littered from disasters from the very beginning. It seems incredibly optimistic to start with, thanks to Hope embarking on the exciting journey of building her own house in the estate grounds where her family lives. But, on the first day the build is halted thanks to a surprising archaeological discovery. Enlisting Cam and his team for further investigations, more is uncovered and further mini disasters appear to thwart Hope’s dreams of ever getting out of the ground. And with someone apparently targeting Juniper Meadows, these malicious acts are threatening to send the family business into a downward spiral. Will the bad misfortunes ever end?

The characters in this book are all very heart-warming and I loved the strong family connections with Hope’s relatives. Despite being of a wealthy background, they are incredibly “normal” and I think that is why she and Cam have such a strong relationship. I liked how Bennett gives more background with Hope’s immediate family and I look forward to exploring this further in the follow-up story.

There was never a dull moment with this read and I found I could not put it down. The setting sounded beautiful and it was great seeing a potentially stuffy, excessive hall transformed into something that is of benefit to the local community. Indeed, when the crimes towards Juniper Hall intensify, I enjoyed seeing everyone pull together to help out. Although I guessed some of the plot development, it was open-ended enough at the conclusion for me to remain excited for the next story.

Despite the archaeological background, this was not a dry and historical story. In fact, I don’t think this element ever gets started – and this is not down to the writer. With events impeding Cam and his team’s work, no concrete answers are ever provided about the site where Hope wishes to build her home. Bennett makes some suggestions but Cam does not have the capacity to explain what ruins have been discovered because of the repeated disruptions. I hope there is opportunity for more revelations about Hope’s wealthy family background in the story to come.

A very strong start to a new series, I feel impatient for the next one. I can’t wait to find out what happens next with Cam, Hope, the dig and Juniper Meadows. There are so many different strands to this story beyond a summer romance – family relationships, addiction, career advancements and history – that there is so much material left to explore at Juniper Meadows.

With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I was able to find the audio version through my local library.
A perfect light hearted romantic read. The characters were enjoyable and I loved hearing about the main female characters family and how they run a historic castle. I was just gifted book 2 in the series since this book did end on kind of a cliff hanger!

Another cracking read from Sarah. Living in the cotswolds i really was able to picture this happening locally in my village and knew of the places mentioned here.

I thought it was an interesting premise, not one i had read before so a little bit out of the ordinary from the formulaic meet, fall in love trope.

Never failed to enjoy Sarahs books, but i feel this is her best one to date, because its a little bit different.

I have read a few other series by the author and was pleasantly surprised by the overall tone of this book since it differed in the presentation. It definitely felt like the first in a series, especially because of the unaddressed feelings at the end and some 'missing' family members who have to be taken into consideration to close such a narrative.
The Travers family are a big family living under one roof. The only one chaffing under this arrangement is Hope, and she plans to change that soon as she is breaking ground to build a new house a little further away from the main family home. It is then that they discover some curious artefacts, and she has to know what that means for their land.
Hope's male counterpart is a professor at the university who would love an opportunity for an archeological discovery that will help his students as well as not involve him spending any money as he investigates.
Hope and Cameron may come from different worlds, but they are practically sustainable. They work similarly and are both plain-talking individuals. The chaos of such a large household seems new to Cameron, but he starts to like what being included means.
The author has dropped a lot of hints as to what the future books could contain. We have some secrets the great-grandfather held out, Hope's real father and the consequences of the mishaps in the very last chapter and the change of narrators.
Throughout the book, we see Hope and Cameron's point of view. At the very end, that shifts and probably (I am guessing here) the future pair for the next book.
I am a completionist in such cases and love it when we get to peek into everyone's lives before letting them go. I prefer the saga variety usually because individual people are more consistently written, but the author has entertained me in the past with her ability to write intriguing characters whose emotional quotient is quite high, so I am looking forward to what might be next for this family.
I recommend this book to those on the lookout for a slightly mysterious family drama with a lot of pairing-offs.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

A brilliant read that I delved straight in to and enjoyed every minute. Thought everything was fab from the front cover to the story

Hope, amidst her contentment with her expansive family, yearns to establish a home of her own within the family estate. However, the discovery of historical artifacts at the proposed site leads her to Cam, an archaeology lecturer at the university. With his agreement, a summer excavation project takes shape, involving Cam's friend and fellow lecturer Barnie, a team of archaeologists, and a group of enthusiastic student volunteers. As multiple storylines unfold, centered around various characters, it becomes apparent that beneath the surface of this unconventional yet tightly-knit family lies a web of secrets that cannot remain hidden for much longer, with far-reaching consequences.

This book presents a delightful tale encompassing family bonds, friendships, secrets, dramatic revelations, and intriguing puzzles to solve. While the undeniable attraction between Hope and Cameron captures attention, I found myself particularly drawn to Hope's cousin, Rhys. Overall, this book provided an enjoyable experience, perfectly blending elements of love, family, and friendship.

⭐⭐⭐.5

Where We Belong by Sarah Bennett is a charming story set in the picturesque Cotswolds countryside. Hope Travers, living with her family in a farmhouse on the Juniper Meadows estate, finds herself drawn to local archaeologist Cameron Ferguson. But when an excavation uncovers mysterious ruins and family secrets start to come to light, Hope realizes that her idyllic life might not be as perfect as it seems.

First off. This book has an adorable cover that catches the eye and makes you want to pick it up. The story itself is well written, and fairly well paced (it was a tad slow through parts). The plot combines romance, mystery, and history in an entertaining way, making for an enjoyable read. And the characters are relatable and likable.

However, I found the romance aspect of the book a bit rushed, and the abrupt cliffhanger ending left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. Nonetheless, readers who love mystery with a side of romance will enjoy this book and want to stick around for more as another book is expected to be released in the Fall.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

oh my goodness, this was the best book!! it was soooo sweet and i'm so in love with it!! as always, thank you so much to netgalley for letting me read this book early! pick it up asap!!!

Where we Belong is the first book in a continuing series of stories, taking place in the fictional and beautiful Juniper Meadows, brought to life by Sarah Bennett. The story can primarily be classified as a romantic fiction with an undertone of mystery thrown in. The story opens with the reader getting to know the Travers family. To an outsider, they might seem like the idyllic and ideal family which has never known any hardship; but it takes an intimate look at the family to understand the disharmony and discontent emanating out of the "perfect" family, which is a result of the many secrets entwined together with the principal fabric holding the family.

Hope Travers' attempt at easing out of her mother's tight apron strings is drawn to a halt, when the site she had earmarked for the construction of her house shows some interesting possibilities when dug open. She hires the interesting Professor archaeologist Cameron Ferguson to help her and her family make sense of the things at the site. However, those efforts are repeatedly thwarted by an unknown ruffian wreaking havoc on the excavation site.

In the course of the project, will Cameron and Hope find and explore their common grounds? What are the secrets held by the family? What secrets does the excavation site hold within its folds? Who is the culprit? Read the book to find the answer to these questions.

I liked the premise of the story and the way it started. Things got really interesting as well, when one of the secrets was revealed. I am definitely interested to read the next book in the series to see where the story travels further. In spite of this, I can't say I enjoyed the book thoroughly; I just couldn't get engrossed within the story and one of the reasons for that might be the intermittent lags in the pacing

Where We Belong by Sarah Bennett was an enjoyable romance, friendship and family mystery set on an estate where there are secrets, history and wonderful family relationships. Hope Travers lives in a huge farmhouse with her mother and extended family on the grounds of Juniper Meadows. The original home is now a B&B, as well as other businesses on the grounds. Hope is ready to have her own place, but when they are breaking ground for her own house, they find ruins that halt the construction for further investigation. The archaeologist, Cameron Ferguson, is a man with some baggage, but he and Hope seem to hit it off right away. As the dig begins, there are problems involving team members and some vandalism on the farm. Is someone trying to stop the dig or is there something else going one?

This was a sweet romance that held my interest from beginning to end. I loved all the characters, and their relationships. There was some mystery involving Hope's past that added much to the story, and had me feeling for her. She was a complex character that had a lot to deal with, and I loved how Sarah Bennett dealt with all her issues. The secondary characters were also well developed and added much to the story. There was a lot happening in this story between the dig, the various students working on the dig, Hope's family and their problems as well as her relationship with Cameron. Hope and Cameron have a lovely relationship, with them getting to know one another and finding that their feelings are real and reciprocated. As the past comes to light, will it damage the family, their relationships and business, or bring them closer together. I am hoping this is the first in a series, as I would like to see what is next for the Travers family.

I loved this new series. Such a sweet read. The characters were all so lovely. What a great start I do hope I can read the others in this series as I would love to find out what happens next. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Hope meets Cameron when she needs an archaeologist after discovering some interesting finds in excavations for a new house on her family's estate.
I like how it is told from both points of view and you really want everything to work out for them. A great start to a new series, looking forward to the next book.