To need to find calmness in the daily hectic, to find something much more important

Synopsis

There are worse fates than growing up knowing that you will one day inherit a vast and magnificent Cotswolds country estate, but for Rhys Travers it has always felt like a huge responsibility.

Juniper Meadows is home to much of his extended family, not to mention the many local businesses that operate on the estate, so there’s no time to sit back and enjoy the view. Juniper Meadows is a full-time job, and that doesn’t leave much time for romance…

Tasha Blake’s career leaves no time for romance either – much to her mother’s chagrin. Tasha’s sister Danni has kindly provided two grandchildren, but Victoria Blake is keen for more! When her job takes her to Juniper Meadows for an extended project, the slower pace of life, the beauty of the countryside and the warmth of the Travers family, soon has Tasha in its thrall, and the future Lord of the Manor Rhys Travers is rather easy on the eye too.

As the busyness of life on the estate sweeps Tasha and Rhys along, they are both able to ignore the secrets and silences that are growing between them. But when the future of Juniper Meadows hangs in the balance, loyalties and love are tested to breaking point. When the chips are down, can Rhys and Tasha see a future together, come rain or shine…

Sarah Bennett is back with her signature blend of warmth and joy, plot and pace. A Sarah Bennett book is a ray of sunshine and a huge hug, guaranteed to brighten any day, perfect for all fans of Cathy Bramley, Katie Fforde and Phillipa Ashley.

My review

Rhys Travers knows that one day, he will inherit Juniper Meadows. And while on paper it seems a great gift, Rhys also knows that it all comes with a great responsibility. A responsibility he is already carrying, as running the place is more than a fulltime job, leaving no room for anything else, not even romance.
Something that Tasha Blake can relate with. Because her job is a demanding one, even if her own mother wishes to see her settled, preferable with some extra grandchildren too!
When a project brings Tasha to Juniper Meadows, she is quickly enthralled by the beauty of the place and the warmth she received from the Travers family.
And while working together, both Rhys and Tasha have to try to ignore their mutual attraction… But when secrets are revealed, is there a chance that their blooming relationship will stand the test?

Why is it always such a delight to pick up a book from this amazing author? And why does it warm each time my heart to return to Juniper Meadows?
Because once again I was wowed by another wonderful story about love, warmth, kindness and the wonder of peaceful nature!

There is something about both characters that, even if they find themselves in a peculiar situation, made me immediately like them.
They are both very responsible people, with a heart for what they do. But they also have a sense of what’s right and what’s wrong. We see this especially with Tasha, as she is doing what she has been instructed to do. Yet she feels that something isn’t right, and just follows her gut feeling, doing as she is told, but not more than that.

Yet it’s clear even before we truly know the main characters, that they are kind and loving people, ready to protect who and what they love.
But they also have their own struggles… Rhys is struggling with taking care of Juniper Meadows, as he wants to once again protect the place he loves, but to do it all is just a too big of a task.
And Tasha is struggling with not only the high expectations from her mother, which collide with her own expectations. But also is she struggling with doing as her boss wants to do and what is in fact the right thing to do.

It was sweet to see the pair together, firstly just working together, but slowly also realizing that there are some serious sparks between them. And yes, it was also a bit funny seeing them trying to resist, only to fail miserably!
But I was also curious to see how things would develop once all the secrets were revealed. Because it’s unpredictable how people can react to such revelations, and I was having my fingers and even my toes crossed that the light would be seen rather quickly, as this lovely couple deserve to have and be in each other’s lives.

Obviously I was so happy to see the whole Travers family again. I don’t think there is a more welcoming, open, and even forgiving family as them. They accept Tasha as one of their own, involve her even with just family matters and understand the position Tasha found herself in.

This story once again revolves about love in a wonderful and warm setting, surrounded by amazing people. Sometimes it can be the strangest situations that can bring us the most unexpected yet most wonderful things on our path. And love can be the most powerful emotion, making even forgive and forget what can appear to be a terrible betrayal.

Sarah Bennett wrote again a captivating story that swept me away, wanting me to go over to Juniper Meadows myself and let myself embrace with the warmth, kindness and love of an amazing family and their loved ones!