I loved returning to Juniper Meadows, although I was expecting a Christmas-themed book, based on the wintery cover. Not that it mattered! This was a lovely, autumnal read that is set in the lead-up to Halloween and I once more enjoyed seeing a different aspect to the sprawling estate, as well as new characters too.

I thought I would be able to predict the love interest in this story but I enjoyed how Bennett surprised me. The story continues straight on from its predecessor and I think this is a series where you benefit from reading the books in order. I enjoyed seeing Hope and Cam from the first book and how their relationship has developed a bit more. However, this time the focus is on Amelia, a friend to the Travers family, and Ben, the newcomer.

The story focuses on these two characters, switching between their perspectives. I liked seeing how Amelia is adapting to her new circumstances, thanks to her father’s criminal behaviour. However, her stubbornness at refusing help sometimes prevents Amelia from moving forwards. I understood her pride about not being a charity case, but wanted her to accept the genuine acts of kindness from those around her.

Ben is a grieving son, recently rocked by news that he has an entire family that he never knew existed. Trepidation at meeting this family for the first time, Ben arrives at Juniper Meadows with no idea what to expect. I loved seeing the warm welcome he receives from everyone and how they still respect Ben’s boundaries as he comes to terms with what his father told him and the reality that now exists. Ben is a very likeable character and I enjoyed seeing how he transforms under the warm hugs of the Travers family.

This book is about finding oneself again and the importance of family. Yet, it is not just about blood relations, but those you can count on as your closest friends. This is a strong theme that I have recognised in the previous book and I appreciated how Bennett continued this warming element of the story. Combined with the success of Juniper Meadows, this adds to the appeal of this series and I look forward to the next instalment.

Finally, despite the wintery cover, this book is actually set in autumn, largely finishing during a Halloween celebration. I thought the cover was slightly misleading because I was expecting a festive read – don’t let this put you off! I think the warmth that the Travers family displays more than makes up for this. On the other hand, having finished the novel I really do appreciate the metaphorical meaning behind the book’s title, reinforcing the importance of family bonds.

Another great read about Juniper Meadows, I look forward to returning to see familiar faces and new characters.

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

I felt my heart breaking for Ben. This book is so well written, you feel like you are part of the story. So much positivity radiates from this book. I am glad I came across this book. If all the people in the world are like Holly and her family, it would be such a better world.

A heartfelt story about loss and grief.
I enjoyed returning to Juniper Meadows.
Perfect Christmas story!
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.

This is the second book of the series, and I'm sorry to realize that I missed out on the first, but was thoroughly able to enjoy this nonetheless. After the death of his father, Ben learns his life up until now was not what it has appeared to be, but instead built on lies that his father had built up. At his father's funeral, he meets his sister for the first time, and thus starts his journey of learning the truth of his life and all that his father kept from him. He travels to Juniper Meadows and meets Amelia and they are both instantly drawn to each other. But Amelia has her own secrets from her past that she must also resolve before moving forward with her life. Ben is ready to put down roots and to merge his future and his past but it seems Amelia is ready to leave Juniper Meadows and the past behind.
This was a charming and heartwarming story and it definitely pulled at my heartstrings. The characters were well-developed and I became immediately endeared to them. Ben was kind-hearted and patient and I enjoyed seeing Amelia's growth and being able to let her walls come down and trust. A lovely story I truly enjoyed!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This is the second book in this series and I would recommend you read them in order, i am loving this series, the setting and the people are great you almost feel like you are living with them, I can see there will be more in this series and I can't wait to see who is the main feature of the next one.

Earlier this year I read the first book in the Juniper Meadows series by Sarah Bennett, Where We Belong, which introduced us to the first romantic couple in the series, Hope and Cam. In the new novel, In From the Cold, the focus is on Hope’s long lost brother Ben, and her best friend from childhood, Amelia. Although it could be read as a standalone, you will definitely get far more from it if you take the time to read book 1 in the series first.

There are some serious subject matters within the story which begins with a bombshell at a funeral. There are issues relating to grief, betrayal, debt, forgiveness and family, all of which are handled with sensitivity and compassion by the author.

The romance between Ben and Amelia was a gentle slow burn romance as they both heal from the actions of their fathers. I love the way in which the steamy moments are left to the imagination which really lends itself well to a gentle romance.

Juniper Meadows is such a wonderful location filled with interesting places, including gin production, a craft centre, a spa and an archeological dig. It is one of my favourite fictional locations and I cannot wait to find out more about the past history of the setting as the series progresses.

Ben Lawson's world is rocked when the sister he didn't know he had turns up at his father's funeral. But Hope Travers isn't looking anything from Ben, in fact she wants to welcome him in to her warm and loving family - and introduce him to the mother he had been told was dead!
Amelia Riley is just about surviving and definitely not thriving. Her father is in prison and left behind serious debts which Amelia and her mother are struggling to pay.
This is a story about second chances and finding happiness when you least expect it. I found the characters very engaging and really enjoyed the back story given for all the supporting characters. I loved the story right up until the ending, which I thought was incredibly unlikely to happen in real life. Although this book is part of a series, it could be read as a standalone. Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the review copy.

Family and secrets seem to go together so curl up with this lovely book and find out what happens. I am sure you will enjoy this as I have done from the very first page. 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

All good things come to those who wait, and wait I did for the next in the Juniper Meadows series from one of my favourite authors – Sarah Bennett.

Hope Travers is part of the family that run Juniper Meadows estate, but she has always wondered about her father.

Ben Lawson’s family has just been him and his controlling father. When his father dies and he is left to deal with secrets. No more so than a woman at the funeral claiming to be his sister.

That woman is Hope. Ben suddenly discovers he has a whole family and a father who built their lives on lies. Ben needs answers and to do that he has to go to Juniper Meadows and meet the Travers family.

The person Ben meets first though on his trip is Amelia, not a member of the family but someone who has been around the Travers family since she was young. Friendships with Hope, potential love interest with Hope’s brother as well as the work that the family has provided for Amelia and her parents. The Travers family are a force to be reckoned with, even when life changes everything. But Amelia needs to break away from this, she needs to be able to rely on herself more.

But there is something about Ben that has Amelia thinking, that perhaps stepping away is the wrong thing to do.

But there is something about Amelia that has Ben thinking that perhaps pursuing Amelia is the right thing to do.

Ben and Amelia, for me were drawn by the relationships they have with their fathers. How lies and secrets can destroy as well as protect and when both of them were not looking for love, they clearly found each other at the time when they both needed to heal.

Juniper Meadows, is the best place to heal. A sprawling Cotswold Estate, with walks through the woods, hidden lodges with hot tubs, to embracing the mad family antics round the farmhouse kitchen. A few dogs to come along for the ride as well as the gin, this place is the perfect remedy for us all.

Like the first book in this series, you become so invested in the characters new and old and Juniper Meadows as a whole, I felt I should have been on the payroll! Don’t just think this is a sweet story of romance and that all will be well. The author is not afraid to shy away of the difficulties that family secrets can have or how their affects can continue for years.

However with these difficulties for the characters, there is always the happy ever after and all of a sudden you find your visit to Juniper Meadows coming to a close…….. so I have booked in for next year and look forward to returning.

A heartwarming story about family and love. When 2 characters with fathers who have lied and deceived them, leaving their current lives in turmoil, meet and fall in love. The author describes the mixture of feelings for all characters wonderfully, acknowledging that things take time but family is family and the bond between them is strong. I love stories about finding happiness and joy in life and Juniper Meadows is definitely the place to help with that!

A great read. I didn't read the first book in this series but it didn't take away any enjoyment from this book it was a lovely story which holds your interest from the beginning, a lovely location interesting characters and beautifully written just the kind of novel that makes you want to snuggle down with a nice cuppa and relax and enjoy reading. I loved it

I loved my first visit to Juniper Meadows where we met Hope and Cam and the supporting cast. Now with this second book we are back and the main focus is on Amelia (Hope's best friend) and Ben (Hope's brother) but Hope and the rest of the family and supporting cast from book 1 are also there. It really felt like being back with family or long lost friends. Instead of the focus being a dig, there was all sorts of other stuff going on with an emphasis on arts and crafts and I loved this story even more.

The characters were really brilliant and I found myself smiling and drifting away to dreamland when reading. I couldn't have asked for a better escapre right now! I hope we can return to Juniper Meadows many more times!

In from the Cold is the second in the Juniper Meadows series, of which I have yet to read the first.

Ben Lawson recently having said goodbye to his late father, has just found that not only does he have a sister, but that his mother is also alive too.

It's a heartwarming family drama of love, loss and found family. The Juniper Meadows estate is nestled in the Cotswolds, which sounds picture perfect. The characters are warm, welcoming and I'm on the understanding that some are recurring from the first book.

I really enjoyed the book and I'm already planning my next visit to Juniper Meadows.

The second book in this series, the story of Amelia and Ben. A great festive read, and I liked how it was told from both points of view. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

A good sequel to the previous book. However you do not need to have read that one to read this one. As it can standalone. The book itself is good. Not as good as the first. But enjoyable none the less

This is a pretty solid sequel to the previous book - Where We Belong. It is also set up in such a way that knowing or having encountered the previous characters of the book enhances the reading experience, but it is not entirely required to bond with the characters in this one (essentially, they all come back except for a couple of new additions).
The two points of view feel like they get equal time to express their own feelings, and I liked the way the directions the people go change over the course of the book, especially since it seems to turn a few norms on its head (by a little).
In the first book, we find out something which connects us with both the male and female protagonists in this installment. They both have connections to Juniper meadows, and a precipitous move on the part of one individual leads both of them to make a temporary home at the family plot. I won't go into too many details just because such books use character development as a crucial part of the story itself.
It is sometimes strange how two people can look at the same situation or person and feel and 'know' different things. No person is entirely the same with everyone they are involved with, and this story builds on that foundation in a good way.
The author's writing style and creation of family interactions are ones that I have previously enjoyed and that I would recommend to fans of the genre. There is less mystery in this one than before since the book focuses on revelations and possible futures. I look forward to visiting Juniper meadows again.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I have been looking forward to this since the first book, I am so glad that Amelia got her own book, she a brilliant character and I couldn’t help but love her, if a character deserves a HEA, it’s Amelia, she has endured so much and I loved watching her grow and find her strength to stand up for herself in this book.

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She definitely more than deserves Ben, he is such a kind soul with a big heart and he too deserves his chance at love and happiness, he too has his share of pain and can he find trust and family in Juniper Meadows ? Well no spoilers from me you’ll just have to read for yourself.

I love a read from Sarah Bennett, this book is no exception it has a beautiful setting in the Cotswolds, wonderful characters, great community, gorgeous story and great writing, everything you want and need. Highly recommended yo make you wish you lived there.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sarah Bennett is one of my favourite authors and this book does not disappoint.

This book follows on from "Where We Belong" but can be read as a stand alone book. the books are set in a place called Juniper Meadows and it is so well described I can imagine myself being there, the book essentially centres around the Travers family and their trials, tribulations, friends and business.

I feel like I have became invested in their family. I can't wait for the next book to keep on finding out more about this family and juniper Meadows.

I loved how Sarah put this together, some of it reminded me of my own childhood and the feelings of resentment you can have towards siblings y0u perceive to have had the better deal. I love how it all came together and that love, acceptance can conquer a lot of hurt. The lies uncovered for the family finding its feet again. I truly had a great time reading this books and listening to the audible too.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

This book is actually book number two in the ‘Juniper Meadows’ series but can also be read as a stand alone although there are some reoccurring characters.

The author magically transported me to the lovely Cotswolds and through her wonderful style of writing i honestly felt as though i was there, actually experiencing it al!!

It was such a heartwarming story and such a sweet romance too and i loved getting involved in the whole family reunion.

This book was so easy to read and i found myself speeding through the pages just so that i could find out what was going to happen!

I absolutely loved being in Juniper Meadows, it was such a lovely place to be and this story was heartwarming, sweet and romantic.