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Just a few days into the new year, Eleanor Sharpley has found out her boyfriend’s been cheating on her, and her work as a searingly critical restaurant reviewer has landed her in hot water. She’s had plenty of people get angry at her alter ego Nora Sharp, but now someone means business, so Eleanor flees London and goes to the only place she figures no one will know to look for her: Damson Farm, the family home of her best friend since college. Charlie had told her about the charming homestead over the years and told her to visit. And while she hasn’t talked to Charlie in a year, Eleanor knows she’ll be welcome.
But when she gets to the farm, it’s not bustling with happy activity: the large house is only inhabited by Charlie’s brother, Daniel, and a baby. And it’s clearly in need of TLC. Worst of all, Charlie is gone.
Eleanor has nowhere to go for the time being, so Daniel invites her to stay a bit while she gets her bearings. She can’t help but step in and make things a little more pleasant by organizing, cleaning and cooking some meals. She and Daniel bond over their love for Charlie and get to know each other, and Eleanor ventures into the small village nearby to explore and shop for necessities. Right away, she learns about the feud that literally has divided the town into two parts, the Old and the New. She ends up making friends on both sides.
Not long after arriving, Eleanor reads in a journal about Charlie’s hopes and plans for Damson Farm, and as she falls for the farm and Daniel (but can’t show her feelings: that would complicate things for sure), she decides to try to bring Charlie’s plans to fruition. With Daniel’s permission and help from him and her new friends, she works on making Damson Farm the lovely retreat Charlie envisioned.
As Eleanor makes improvements, gets closer to Daniel, and feels herself settling comfortably into the area, she finds a self she can be proud of. But lurking all the while, she fears Daniel will find out about her past job, how nasty she could be. And she fears her stalker will somehow find her and ruin all the good things she’s building. But she’s going to do all she can to make a good life — and maybe, just maybe, she can help the residents of Ferrington come together once again.
We Belong Together is a charming novel. It’s one of those books where you enjoy the setting, the characters and all the little stories playing out. Simply sweet, good fun. And it’s made particularly so because it’s clean reading. I’d be happy to read more of Beth Moran’s books.
Rated: Mild. Profanity includes fewer than 10 instances of moderate profanity and fewer than 20 uses of mild language. There are no sex scenes; there is some kissing but it doesn’t proceed further. The couple only talk about it briefly. There are references to the main character being cheated on by her former boyfriend.
