Sunday 24 September 2023

In From the Cold - Sarah Bennett

Amelia Riley and Ben Lawson have something in common – fathers who have kept secrets.

On the day of his father’s funeral, Ben’s life changes forever when a woman he’s never met shows up claiming to be his sister. As he investigates the past, Ben is shaken to discover that much of his life has been built on a carefully constructed foundation of his father’s lies. Needing answers, he agrees to visit Juniper Meadows, the ancestral estate owned and run by his long-lost relatives, the Travers family.

Arriving in the pretty Cotswold countryside, the first person Ben meets is Amelia Riley. They are immediately drawn to one another, but Amelia has her own complicated ties to the Travers family. Her only goal is to set the past to rights so she can move on with a clean conscience.

As Ben starts to see the events of his childhood more clearly, he allows the warmth and fun he finds at Juniper Meadows to draw him in from the cold. But just as he’s contemplating setting down roots, Amelia is making plans to leave…

Bestseller Sarah Bennett is back with an irresistible, feel-good, page-turning escape, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.


My review:

I thoroughly enjoy all of Sarah Bennett’s books, and having read the first book in the series Where We Belong a short while ago, I was keen to go back to Juniper Meadows and find out what more was in store.

Having previously met Hope, we learnt how complicated her family is, (I highly recommend you do read the first book before this so to have the full idea). Now this book is yet another emotional tale. There are discoveries of such hurt, betrayal and deceit within the family, how heart breaking that one persons actions can cause so much angst. Ben had no interest in rekindling a relationship with his biological mother Stevie, but learning what happened in the past, could this change how he proceeds with his future?

Another character we discover some more about is Amelia, who is Hope’s childhood best friend. She is devastated by what her father did and pushed everyone else away because of the shame.  She is fierce though and wants to prove to everyone that she is nothing like her dad, not that she needs to do that really.  I had really felt very sorry for her in book one, nothing was of her doing but she was resolving things and fixing problems.

Sarah is a great storyteller and the way her characters develop throughout the story and over a series is brilliant. This isn’t your typical light and airy rom com at times, or story of festive cheer (even though the cover looks that way); it has serious, intense themes that have been written with sensitive care but it is still enjoyable. You will get stuck in and have your head in the book for hours.

I always enjoy catching up with previous characters and this book was no exception, I am really looking forward to more from Juniper Meadows. 

Author Bio:

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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