Sunday, March 20, 2016

Review: The Little French Guesthouse (la cour des roses #1) by Helen Pollard



Book Blurb:

Sun, croissants and fine wine. Nothing can spoil the perfect holiday. Or can it? 

When Emmy Jamieson arrives at La Cour des Roses, a beautiful guesthouse in the French countryside, she can’t wait to spend two weeks relaxing with boyfriend Nathan. Their relationship needs a little TLC and Emmy is certain this holiday will do the trick. But they’ve barely unpacked before he scarpers with Gloria, the guesthouse owner’s cougar wife. 

Rupert, the ailing guesthouse owner, is shell-shocked. Feeling somewhat responsible, and rather generous after a bottle (or so) of wine, heartbroken Emmy offers to help. Changing sheets in the gîtes will help keep her mind off her misery. 

Thrust into the heart of the local community, Emmy suddenly finds herself surrounded by new friends. And with sizzling hot gardener Ryan and the infuriating (if gorgeous) accountant Alain providing welcome distractions, Nathan is fast becoming a distant memory. 

Fresh coffee and croissants for breakfast, feeding the hens in the warm evening light; Emmy starts to feel quite at home. But it would be madness to walk away from her friends, family, and everything she’s ever worked for, to take a chance on a place she fell for on holiday – wouldn’t it? 

My Review:

The Little French Guesthouse by Helen Pollard is smoothly flowing read with an interesting plot.

Emmy finds herself in a unique circumstance when on vacation with her boyfriend.  She soon finds herself single and helping the guesthouse owner run the guesthouse.  As she does this, she slowly starts to feel very at home in this town as she makes friends and feels their acceptance of her for just her.  This and the blooming relationships she is developing is going to make it very difficult for her to leave...and she will have to find in her heart what it is she really wants.

I enjoyed The Little French Guesthouse.  I loved the place and the people.  It is a place that just feels good.  Helen really does a great job of bringing it to life.

Emmy is a little quirky but likable.  Rupert, the guesthouse owner was a great character to get to know under that gruff exterior!  The friendships Emmy starts to develop felt real, and they felt good for Emmy.  The gardener Ryan sure sends sparks off, something I just didn't feel between Emmy and Alain.

I liked where Helen took me in The Little French Guesthouse and where she took Emmy on her journey.   This is a well paced book that has some conflict, but not a lot, and  a lot of inner turmoil for Emmy.

I'd recommend The Little French Guesthouse to women's fiction readers.

3/5 stars


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