It’s a real pleasure today to be joining the blog tour and sharing my review of the forthcoming first book in Sarah Bennett’s new Juniper Meadows series, Where We Belong. Published by Boldwood Books on 9th March, it will be available as an ebook, in paperback, and as an audiobook (available for pre-order). Thank you, as always, to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading copy (provided via netgalley).
Well, I might have been new to Sarah’s books when I first picked up Summer Kisses at Mermaids Point – the first in the Mermaids Point series – but as I read (and reviewed – just pop her name into my search bar!) this book and every one that followed, I became an unashamed fan of her writing. The final book in the series, Happy Endings at Mermaids Point, was as perfect as I could have possibly wished for – although I did wipe away a tear at the thought that it would be my last visit and the individuals’ lives would be moving forward without me. So, it’s time for a new series – off to the Cotswolds and Juniper Meadows – and, I hope, one I’ll love every bit as much…
On paper, Hope Travers has an idyllic life.
Living in a bustling farmhouse with her mum, aunt and uncles, cousin and too many dogs to count, surrounded by the breath-taking Cotswolds countryside, she knows she is privileged and protected.
But all families have secrets, and the Travers family are no exception. Their farmhouse sits in the grounds of the Juniper Meadows estate, passed down through the generations and now being made to pay its own way with a myriad of businesses and projects. When a construction crew uncover what appear to be historical ruins, the history of the Travers family is put under ever closer scrutiny as a dig gets underway.
Hope may have found a blossoming romance with local archaeologist Cameron Ferguson who is running the dig, but when things start to go wrong around the estate and family secrets begin to be revealed, Hope wonders if she’s made a big mistake in digging up the past.
Yes, I think I’m going to rather like it at Juniper Meadows – the family farmhouse, the gin distillery, the luxury hotel and spa, the whole estate and its farm and camping grounds, the surrounding Cotswolds countryside, all just perfect. And as for the Travers family – well, let’s just say there’s enough material there for a rather substantial series, as some of the secrets either hinted at or starting to be uncovered in this first episode continue to unspool.
At this story’s centre is Hope, finding life with her sprawling family all well and good, but keen to build a home of her own on the estate – but the discovery of some historical remains at the site she’s chosen bring her into contact with Cam, a lecturer in archaeology at the university, who agrees to organising a dig over the summer holiday. And that rather adds to the already substantial cast list – his friend and fellow lecturer Barnie (a character I particularly liked), a team of other archaeologists, and a group of students keen to develop their skills. There’s a multiplicity of storylines centred on different characters – which I’m not going to try and disentangle, as the author does it so much better – but it soon becomes clear that there are layers of secrets within this less than conventional but very close family that won’t remain hidden for much longer, and their impact will be far reaching.
There’s a convincing developing romance that I really enjoyed – despite the gulf between their very different backgrounds – and a considerable amount of well-handled drama when it becomes clear that someone has a vendetta against the estate and begins wreaking havoc. And there are a number of sub-plots – one about one of the students and his overbearing and obnoxious father is a perfect counterpoint to the warmth of the Travers clan, and a nice demonstration of class being about rather more than power and wealth. Fatherhood does prove to be rather a recurring theme – Hope herself has always had the perfect surrogates in Zig and Zap (ah yes, those names – all becomes clear as you read!), but her own father’s identity has long been shrouded in mystery, and as the truth emerges it proves a considerably less than comfortable experience.
I’ve tied myself up in knots a bit trying to share a flavour of the story (sorry!) but this book really is the most perfect start to a new series. By its end, I’d got a really strong fix on the Travers family themselves – all really well-drawn and intriguing characters, tremendously likeable – but with those well-guarded secrets about to create substantial waves. I’m very much looking forward to seeing how their various stories unfold…
About the author
Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas.
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