Portobello Book Blog

I have had this book on my Kindle for quite some time and was saving it for my holiday in France this summer. The cover is just so gorgeous and made me wish the holidays were coming quicker. When I heard there was a sequel due to be published in August I decided I could read it now after all and with almost two weeks of sunny weather (two weeks – in Scotland!!) it has certainly put me in the mood for my holiday. It was lovely to read about places I have previously visited such as Chinon and the chateaux of the Loire.

Emmy and Nathan have booked a two week holiday at Les Cours des Roses guesthouse in the Loire area of France. Emmy is hoping this holiday will help them reconnect as their relationship has become a bit dull and routine. Unfortunately, Nathan connects instead with Gloria, the lady of the house! Poor Emmy catches them in the act as she is rushing to tell Gloria that her husband Rupert is having a suspected heart attack. So not quite the rekindling of the relationship she was hoping for. Nathan and Gloria depart leaving an unwell Rupert and stunned Emmy to cope with the guesthouse and gites. Despite being a guest, Emmy flings herself into the day to day running of the business, getting to know the locals, improving her French, making friends and becoming rather close to gorgeous gardener Ryan. “Couldn’t a woman whose boyfriend has deserted her….be left in peace? Why did there have to be gardeners like Greek gods popping up out of the shrubbery?”

I really enjoyed ‘visiting’ France through this book. Les Cours des Roses sounded so lovely. Like one of the guests I wanted to just sigh and relax in the beautiful garden, reading in the shade of the trees. The food descriptions sounded mouthwatering too: “The porc en croute oozing mustard butter, served with crisp green beans and potatoes piped into pretty swirls was heavenly – and the dainty tarte au citron was a stratosphere beyond the pale imitations I’d tried back home.” Ryan the gardener sounded rather mouth-watering too! Helen Pollard really captured the France that makes it so appealing to holiday-makers. I expect many people will identify with that feeling of never wanting a holiday to end. Emmy’s trip makes her change her attitude to what she really wants in life and she has the opportunity to make it a reality.

The Little French Guesthouse is a very enjoyable read, perfect to put you in the mood for your holiday, especially if it’s in France. Get yourself a pain au chocolat and coffee or maybe a perfectly chilled glass of rose wine and get ready to meet Emmy, Rupert, Ryan and Alain.

The Little French Guesthouse was published by Bookouture as an e-book on 28th April. You can order a copy here: The Little French Guesthouse. The second in the La Cour des Roses series with an equally gorgeous cover will be published on 26th August and is available for pre-order here: Return to the Little French Guesthouse

From the back of the book

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?

Fans of Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Nick Alexander will want to join Emmy for a glass of wine as the sun sets on the terrace at La Cour des Roses.