This book is the start of a new collection, so having enjoyed Where we belong, I look forward to the next instalment. This is the story of Hope, her family and the romantic involvement comes along when Chris arrives on the scene to begin an archaeological dig where Hope wants to build her new home.

A very promising start to a brand new series, it is going to be one to be enjoyed. The characters and setting are coming together very well and the whole book has been very well written. I recommend reading this and am giving it 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is the start of a new series by Sarah Bennett set at Juniper Meadows which I enjoyed and look forward to the rest of the series.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Hope has an idyllic life living in the farmhouse with her mom and extended family and too many dogs.

Hope’s family has many secrets, the farmhouse sits within the grounds of Juniper Meadows estate and the have many businesses and projects that are helping to keep the farm going. A construction crew starts to make headway on Hope’s dream house when they h cover historical ruins and they have to halt work.

Hope starts to find herself falling for Cameron Fergusson a local archaeologist who is running the dig until he starts to uncover secrets that may cause trouble in the family. Hope starts to wonder if she has made a mistake in digging up the past.

A good storyline but unfortunately not one that pulled me in and kept me hooked.
I found the story lacked depth and it wasn’t a book that I was desperate to keep picking up and reading although I did finish it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Sarah’s work for quite a while now. By no means have I read everything that she has written but I hope to rectify that in the not too distant future. I read the synopsis of ‘Where We Belong’ and it certainly sounded liked the sort of story I have come to expect from Sarah – a page turning romance, with a fair bit of drama and family issues along with the way. I was spot on too. ‘Where We Belong’ is the first book in a new series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Where We Belong’ but more about that in a bit.

As with all of Sarah’s books, I was drawn into this one from the very start. I warmed to the characters from the start and I ended up feeling as though they had become friends of mine rather than characters in a book. I started reading and basically forgot to stop. I had only intended to read a couple of chapters to say that I had made a start but I ended up becoming so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the characters that I was still sat there reading several chapters and an hour or two later. I developed my own theories as to what was going to happen so I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had wandered off in the opposite direction. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Where We Belong’ and I had to say goodbye to Hope, Cameron and the rest of the characters. I found ‘Where We Belong’ to be a delight to read from start to finish and it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

‘Where We Belong’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Sarah Bennett. Sarah has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Sarah’s books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. For me, the story his the ground running and maintained a gentle pace throughout, which suited the story that Sarah is telling. I loved the relationships between the characters and I also loved the fact that dogs were part of the story too but then I am biased since I have two loopy Labradors myself. I love the way in which Sarah makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Where We Belong’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will most definitely be reading more of Sarah’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Welcome to the new Sarah Bennett, welcome to the new series, welcome to Juniper Meadows.

Into the Cotswolds we go, a family estate, diversified into a Spa and Hotel, A gin Distillery, campsite, farm and most importantly the owners – the Travers family.

Here the story is predominantly led by Hope Travers, desperate to breakaway from the family home, a sprawling farmhouse where she lives with her mother, uncles, aunt and cousin. To build her own haven on this sprawling landscape, however it seems that history is going to stop it all in it’s tracks.

When work begins on building this dream property, they uncover historic ruins of the past. Enter Cam, Barnie and a team of archaeologists who are gong to get to the bottom of whatever is hiding under Juniper Meadows.

Digging into the past, seems to also bring up some past mysteries about the Travers family as well as Hope’s own father who she has never known, not even his name. Tensions are running high but when some strange occurrences start around the estate, including break ins and damage it seems that all has to be put to one side while they deal with the threat to their livelihood and everything they care about.

This is a multi layered book, with lots of characters to get to know and sub-plots which are just as important as the main arc of the novel. Full of family dynamics and friendship tests as well as broaching tough topics with alcoholism, class difference, overbearing fathers or non existent ones. So much is contained within the pages. With skill, Sarah Bennett has drawn me into a wonderful place full of rich and interesting people and I cannot wait to find out more about them, their secrets and their dreams.

Now I am off to book into the Spa and have a tour round the gin distillery whilst I wait for the next book.

Juniper Meadows is an estate that has an inn, small stores and a distillery. Hope wants to build a house for herself so she has some privacy. When the digging starts they find pieces that look like they be from a historic site. Hope goes to the closest university and meets Cam.
When Cam comes to the estate to research the find he also comes to get to know Hope better.
A cute romance.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Boldwood.

WHERE WE BELONG - SARAH BENNETT

I’ll be honest, I’m a big fan of Sarah Bennett’s writing. I’ve read all of her books and fallen in love with many of her characters and settings.

Where We Belong, is book one in a brand new series from Sarah Bennett.

The cover has a very striking design. The bold red colour is extremely eye catching. And there’s dogs! I do love a book with strong animal characters, especially cute and quirky pooches.

One thing I think Sarah Bennett excels at, is creating settings and communities.
It seems that she hasn’t lost her touch.
The Juniper Meadows estate is set in the beauty of the Cotswolds countryside.
SB isn’t one to gush excessively with her descriptions, but somehow hits the mark with pin point accuracy and creates a setting that the reader can almost feel they are a part of.
At Juniper Meadows there is a stately Home. To make the estate pay its way, the house and grounds have evolved into multiple businesses, including a luxury hotel, spa, gin distillery, campsite and farm. Book me in now please!
Juniper Meadows is a gorgeous setting. It comes alive with every word and tickles all your senses.

There are quite a number of characters to slot into place in this story. It didn’t take too long though to get to grips with who everyone was.
They are an eclectic mix of mostly likeable characters.
As a family the Travers are at the heart of the story. They are a likeable bunch with a very close bond between them. However, there are hidden secrets that will eventually need to see the light of day.

I loved my trip to Juniper Meadows. Where We Belong is a captivating tale of family, friendships, love and mystery.
It’s a real heart warming page turner.
Sarah Bennett has laid some excellent foundations for this new series of books.
There is so much more to come, and I’m excited to read what happens next.
A fantastic start to a new series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood and Rachel’s Random Resources for a digital arc of this title.

4,5 stars
I was first introduced to Sarah's writing style when I read Mermaid's Point and I loved the style, the characters and the stories. This new series has a wonderful start with great characters, a lovely community setting all around an old Hall in a small village with a local pub and villagers that help each other out. I really liked both Cam and Hope and all of Hope's family, despite their many secrets and issues, but at the start and when there was a lot of archeology talk etc. the story moved a bit too slow for me and I felt the urge to skim over parts about the dig. I am not really all that interested in that side of this story, I just want to know all about the characters and their secrets and problems and how they will get on and if their budding relationships will last and how the family dynamics are affected by certain events, but that's just me. I can't wait to return to Juniper Meadows and focus more on Amelia with the next book!

Sarah Bennett writes fantastic book series set in beautiful locations, and I have to say Juniper Meadows in ‘Where We Belong’ sounds gorgeous! This is the first book in this new series, and brings with it a fantastic story, two gorgeous main characters and a fabulous community of family and friends who all look out for one another.

When Hope meets Cam after going in search of an archaeologist, following the find at her building site, they are both immediately flustered by their feelings. Cam in particular was adorable with the way in which he suddenly became tongue-tied when he first meets Hope. As their romance develops, Cam is patient and gentle with Hope, so it is a really slow burn of a romance, which tantalises perfectly in a romantic setting.

The sense of community is always strong in this author’s books, and this was no exception. Family and friends rallied round, especially when there was a serious situation that needed a fast response. It’s funny just how much I enjoy a warm and welcoming community that rallies together, like in Where We Belong, when I’m reading, but the truth is I’m probably more drawn to living the life of a hermit myself! With Hope living with her mother and her extended family, there is a wonderful family feel to the location, but with a nearby village that relies upon employment and even training at the estate, everyone helps one another in a caring and thoughtful way.

There are secrets and mysteries woven through the pages of this scene-setting book, which really raised my interest as the story progressed. I find archaeology fascinating, and before I studied law I almost chose archaeology instead, in part because of how much I loved watching Time Team! Although the ending is a quiet one with many loose ends, that is because there is more to this story, which will develop as the series does. I was left wanting more, and cannot wait for the next book in the series to arrive.

Where We Belong is the first book in the Juniper Meadows series. It is a contemporary romance. I am always excited to start a new series by an author who I've read their books in the past and have loved them. The characters are so relatable and realistic, after reading just this first book in the series I feel as though they could be friends. I found it interesting to see an archeological dig featured in the book, something not often seen. While preparing to break ground on the family home the dig team may have found ruins, so they bring in the archeologist and Cameron Ferguson, University lecturer. I found the story revolving around the testing digs to be wonderfully researched and fascinating. While we see a clear romantic connection between Cam and Hope, our leading couple there are also side characters that I think will play an important role in the upcoming books. This book is just the foundation to work with there is plenty of material to work with, characters to elaborate on their stories and secrets to be divulged. I loved meeting the black labs they are right there sticking their noses in everything and so affectionate. The more the dig happens the more secrets are revealed in the archeological sense and in the family. I think more of a backstory will come to light as family secrets are unearthed. I can't wait to read the next book in this series as I already feel a part of the community with its warm and welcoming characters and beautiful setting in the Cotswolds.

Published March 9,2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I liked that this book is not just about the romance between Hope and Chris, but really delves into the archaeological dig taking place. Acts of vandalism on the Travers stately home property and family secrets add some drama. Looking forward to more from Juniper Meadows!

A wonderful story about family and the secrets they can have.
The setting is in the Cotswold countryside on an estate.
The romance aspect is nice.
The characters are quite lovely each in their own way.
Terrific start to a new series.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

You can’t go wrong with a mysterious archeological discovery by a family with an equally mysterious past.

Hope Travers live and work with her extended family on their estate that offers luxury accommodation and various attractions for their guests. She wants her own space though and everything is finally in place to break ground for her new house. But the construction hits a snag when the digger unearths items that may be of historical value. Hope contacts Cameron Ferguson, a professor at a local university, to investigate and excavate the site. Rumour has it the site is cursed and with all the accidents and unexpected revelations of long-buried secrets, this might just be true.

There are a lot of things I liked: the archeological dig, Hope’s fascinating family, Hope and Cameron and their slow-blossoming romance. The book has a gentle and relaxed pace, even through the more harrowing events, but with enough energy to keep interest high.

Things wrap up quite quickly and the ending feels a bit abrupt, but there is more to come and I look forward to it. I am most excited to find out more about the excavation and what is hiding under the ground.

I can recommend this book if you like a subtle romance that develops slowly, with some intrigue and well-developed characters.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed reading the Mermaids Point series, I was sad that it came to an end, but I was excited to start this new series. It is a fantastic start to the series. There are a lot of characters, but I found it easy to follow who was who.
Hope is a very likeable character, and it made a refreshing change to have two characters like each other instantly. Hope and Cam have a slow burning, gentle romance right from the start.
Juniper Meadows is a lovely location, and I was very interested in the Archeological plot. I am looking forward to reading how this develops over the series.
There is a lot of drama and twists and turns. Some of them I guessed, other twists I was completely wrong about. It kept me guessing until the end.
I really enjoyed reading this book, I can't wait until the Autumn to read the next part of the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my ARC.

I like getting in at the start of a new series - and I just know that this is going to be one of the best!

Stourton Hall, like many other stately homes, has diversified in order to keep going; the extended family of Hope Travers are all involved in one way or another in the running of the rebranded Juniper Meadows estate which has a lot going on. Working together and living together has been a bit overwhelming, especially with Hope being aware that there are family secrets being kept.. Excited that this is the day when ground will be broken for her new house, she soon comes back to earth with a bump when the builders think they have discovered ancient ruins. Bringing in a local archaeologist, Cameron Ferguson to investigate further, Hope wonders if she's done the right thing when family secrets begin to emerge. Then she and Cam grow closer and life is rosy - until other things begin to threaten the family business . . .

Having enjoyed several of Sarah Bennett's previous novels, I was really looking forward to this one - and I was not disappointed. Everything about this book is cleverly crafted: the characters, the back-story, the setting and the current story lines. While this is a complete read in itself, I'm already looking forward to the next one which is always the sign of a cracking book! Beautifully written, and with a very enticing cover, I am very happy to give this one all five sparkling stars and my recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

What a beautiful start to a new series from Sarah Bennett!

It was so lovely getting to know Hope and Cam along with meeting a wonderful cast of supporting characters. There was drama, friendships, romance and a very interesting family dynamic. It’s often tricky introducing a range of characters into the first book of a series. It can be a balancing act of getting the story and characters to work just right and I thought Sarah Bennett did a brilliant job with this. I couldn’t help but root for these characters.

The pacing was spot on and for me everything worked from the budding romance to getting to know the characters. Along with a story that easily grabbed my attention. There was a bit of family drama threaded throughout with secrets that ended up bubbling to the surface. I thought it all played out so well and I was thoroughly invested in the characters getting a happy ever after. I especially liked how the next book was set up towards the end of this story. Let’s just say that I’m already eager to read book two!

Where We Belong had a strong story, a wonderful setting and loveable characters. A brilliant and heartwarming story from first page to last!

A heartwarming and intriguing mystery and romance. Well I loved the romance the dog's and the family community and the beautifully described settings. What I wasn't a fan of and this is just a personal preference nothing against the author or how the book was written was the archaeology aspect as it is something that I have no idea or interest in. Without that aspect of the storyline I would rate this a 5 star read so if unlike me you know more about archaeology or have an interest in it then this book will definitely be right up your alley. I particularly liked how close knit the family are and the writing style of this book is skillful and easy to follow.

I've really enjoyed this family relationship filled book. It is an interesting read, poor Hope has a lot to deal with In her life.

It's a great story including some difficulties people can go through with families and relationships and on the flip side how good some relationships can be. It's really relatable and I definitely saw a bit of myself in Holly.

Another great story by Sarah Bennett, brilliantly written, loved it.