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La Cour des Roses #1
Det lille franske gæstgiveri
31-årige Emmy Jamieson er ved at sprænges af glæde: Hun skal tilbringe to uger med sin kæreste, Nathan, på det smukke gæstgiveri La Cour des Roses i Frankrig. Deres forhold kunne godt bruge lidt medvind og Emmy er sikker på, at en ferie som denne vil gøre udslaget.
Men knap får de lynet rejsetaskerne op, før Nathan stikker af med Gloria, gæstgiveriejerens smukke kone. Den skrantende og forladte ægtemand, Rupert, er i chok og Emmy føler et vist ansvar. Efter en flaske vin (eller to, måske tre), vælger hun at tilbyde sin assistance på gæstgiveriet. Snart omgives Emmy af nye bekendtskaber og Nathan ryger direkte i glemmebogen, da hun møder den lækre gartner, Ryan, og den voldsomt irriterende (men flotte) revisor, Alain.
Men det ville være det rene vanvid, hvis hun skulle forlade venner, familie og alt, hvad hun nogensinde har arbejdet på, for at drikke frisk kaffe og croissanter til morgenmad og fodre høns i den varme aftensol? Eller hvad …?
Men knap får de lynet rejsetaskerne op, før Nathan stikker af med Gloria, gæstgiveriejerens smukke kone. Den skrantende og forladte ægtemand, Rupert, er i chok og Emmy føler et vist ansvar. Efter en flaske vin (eller to, måske tre), vælger hun at tilbyde sin assistance på gæstgiveriet. Snart omgives Emmy af nye bekendtskaber og Nathan ryger direkte i glemmebogen, da hun møder den lækre gartner, Ryan, og den voldsomt irriterende (men flotte) revisor, Alain.
Men det ville være det rene vanvid, hvis hun skulle forlade venner, familie og alt, hvad hun nogensinde har arbejdet på, for at drikke frisk kaffe og croissanter til morgenmad og fodre høns i den varme aftensol? Eller hvad …?
342 pages, ebook
First published April 28, 2016
1392 people are currently reading
2607 people want to read
About the author
Helen Pollard
11 books189 followersAs a child, Helen had a vivid imagination fuelled by her love of reading, so she started to create her own stories in a notebook.
Now a bestselling author of contemporary romance, she believes that good characterisation is the key to a successful book and loves infusing her writing with humour and heart.
Helen is a member of The Society of Authors.
You can find her online at:
viewauthor.at/HelenPollardAmazon
Now a bestselling author of contemporary romance, she believes that good characterisation is the key to a successful book and loves infusing her writing with humour and heart.
Helen is a member of The Society of Authors.
You can find her online at:
viewauthor.at/HelenPollardAmazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 396 reviews
April 4, 2025
A lovely summery read with great characters whom you instantly get behind. Extremely atmospheric too - I could almost smell the coffee brewing and the scent of lavender lingering in the air. If you like Katie Fforde you will love this! I was sad to finish it but excited that there will be a sequel.
July 9, 2017
I don’t think I stopped smiling once whilst reading this warm and sunny feelgood novel set in France! In fact I’m pretty sure my waistline has also increased after the fabulous descriptions of all the food that is served throughout as well! If there was ever a book that needed to be judged by its cover, then this is it! Its glorious!
The main character of Emmy goes through quite a life changing experience throughout the course of this book. When we first meet her, she is a stressed marketing executive on holiday with her boyfriend Nathan in a little guesthouse in France. Emmy and Nathan have been together 5 years but recently things have felt a little…settled and not in a good way! The opening scene was brilliant as it was straight into the action when we meet Emmy, who is about to find her boyfriend in a rather comprising position with the lady owner of the guesthouse! By starting the book like that, Helen Pollard draws the reader straight into the drama and our relationship with the adorable Emmy begins. As you can tell, I loved the character of Emmy, it felt throughout like I was following the journey of a friend!
I adore France and have spent many holidays there (I used to work for a holiday company) and this book has captured perfectly the charm of the countryside and the essence of the people that live there. And as I said before, the descriptions of all those gorgeous French delicacies made my mouth water! I just wanted to get on the internet to search for this corner of paradise and book myself for at least a month!
I hadn’t been too sure about this book as I hadn’t heard of the author before and my reading pile is sky high but something about the cover and blurb intrigued me and I’m so glad it did! This isn’t a sickly sweet romance, it’s very much about Emmy and how she realises that things in her life could be better if she just takes a few chances. That’s not to say there isn’t a bit of “oo la la” along the way especially when she meets hunky gardener Ryan but it’s all part of Emmys voyage of discovery. The whole cast of characters felt real and I especially warmed to Rupert and the wonderful relationship that developed between him and Emmy. It’s all told with an deliciously understated humour that constantly made me chuckle under my breath. I just loved it!
And I have just found out that there is soon to be a sequel! It’s going straight on my wishlist along with a slice of tarte au citron and a nice glass of red! Salute!
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review so thank you to Kim Nash and the team at Bookouture.
The main character of Emmy goes through quite a life changing experience throughout the course of this book. When we first meet her, she is a stressed marketing executive on holiday with her boyfriend Nathan in a little guesthouse in France. Emmy and Nathan have been together 5 years but recently things have felt a little…settled and not in a good way! The opening scene was brilliant as it was straight into the action when we meet Emmy, who is about to find her boyfriend in a rather comprising position with the lady owner of the guesthouse! By starting the book like that, Helen Pollard draws the reader straight into the drama and our relationship with the adorable Emmy begins. As you can tell, I loved the character of Emmy, it felt throughout like I was following the journey of a friend!
I adore France and have spent many holidays there (I used to work for a holiday company) and this book has captured perfectly the charm of the countryside and the essence of the people that live there. And as I said before, the descriptions of all those gorgeous French delicacies made my mouth water! I just wanted to get on the internet to search for this corner of paradise and book myself for at least a month!
I hadn’t been too sure about this book as I hadn’t heard of the author before and my reading pile is sky high but something about the cover and blurb intrigued me and I’m so glad it did! This isn’t a sickly sweet romance, it’s very much about Emmy and how she realises that things in her life could be better if she just takes a few chances. That’s not to say there isn’t a bit of “oo la la” along the way especially when she meets hunky gardener Ryan but it’s all part of Emmys voyage of discovery. The whole cast of characters felt real and I especially warmed to Rupert and the wonderful relationship that developed between him and Emmy. It’s all told with an deliciously understated humour that constantly made me chuckle under my breath. I just loved it!
And I have just found out that there is soon to be a sequel! It’s going straight on my wishlist along with a slice of tarte au citron and a nice glass of red! Salute!
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review so thank you to Kim Nash and the team at Bookouture.
May 31, 2016
Cute predictable schmaltz - because sometimes that's what I'm in the mood for!
January 4, 2018
Oh this book was an absolute joy to listen to! It was bright and humorous with plenty of feel good warmth. It opens with Emmy finding her long term boyfriend, Nathan in a…ahem…delicate situation with Gloria, one of the owners of the guesthouse where Nathan and Emmy are supposed to having a romantic vacation. So clearly this one grabbed my attention right away, as much as I felt awful for the lovely Emmy the way Pollard wrote the scene and then Johns delivered it was just too hilarious! It set the perfect tone for the story and was highly memorable.
As much as this has romantic elements the plot doesn’t hinge on a love story and I really liked that. It focuses more on Emmy doing what makes her happy, with or without a man in her life and I found the way everything played out to be realistic and true to real life. I adored Emmy and found myself wishing I had a friend like her myself and then there was Rupert a charming old guy, his meddling and bossiness made me giggle. The location was gorgeous as well and both the author and the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life! There’s a sequel and I’ll definitely be reading it ASAP, I can’t wait to catch up with these lovely characters.
As much as this has romantic elements the plot doesn’t hinge on a love story and I really liked that. It focuses more on Emmy doing what makes her happy, with or without a man in her life and I found the way everything played out to be realistic and true to real life. I adored Emmy and found myself wishing I had a friend like her myself and then there was Rupert a charming old guy, his meddling and bossiness made me giggle. The location was gorgeous as well and both the author and the narrator did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life! There’s a sequel and I’ll definitely be reading it ASAP, I can’t wait to catch up with these lovely characters.
April 25, 2016
This is the first book in the new series by this author and it is utterly delicious, I loved escaping into this delightful French community, with plenty of ex-Pats around, too. This is definitely a feel good book that had me with a smile on my face and laughing out loud.
Emmy Jamieson arranges to go on holiday to La Cour des Roses, a little French guest house run by an English couple in the Loire Valley, France. She goes there with her boyfriend of four years, Nathan, in the hope of reviving their flagging relationship but the story opens with Emmy finding Nathan and Gloria, the wife of the guest house owner, on the terrace in a very compromising position. To make matters worse, she’s seeking Gloria to ask her to call for an ambulance as her husband, Rupert, appears to have had a heart attack! When Nathan and Gloria leave together, abandoning the injured Rupert and Emmy, she decides to complete her holiday even though it actually means working hard to help Rupert with running the guest house - cooking, cleaning and shopping amongst other things. This introduces her to the local community and she soon finds herself making new friends, making changes to her life, taking a new lover and potentially finding romance. As her holiday time comes to an end she’s offered other options. Should she return to her old life but without Nathan or take the leap to move to France and all the new possibilities that would come with it?
With a superb range of quirky characters from the community, this is a brilliant glimpse into life in this fantastic region. You’ve just got to love Rupert and his machinations to bring new love into Emmy’s life and entice her to stay by organising dinners and meetings with his friends in the locality, showing just how different her life could be. With the sexy gardener providing a great distraction from Nathan’s desertion, new friends and new possibilities this is a real page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, a truly wonderfully crafted novel that I highly recommend for its amazing characters, plot and storytelling that make it a brilliant story to escape into. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be available, I definitely want to read it, please!
Thanks to the publishers for gifting me an ARC of this novel, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
Emmy Jamieson arranges to go on holiday to La Cour des Roses, a little French guest house run by an English couple in the Loire Valley, France. She goes there with her boyfriend of four years, Nathan, in the hope of reviving their flagging relationship but the story opens with Emmy finding Nathan and Gloria, the wife of the guest house owner, on the terrace in a very compromising position. To make matters worse, she’s seeking Gloria to ask her to call for an ambulance as her husband, Rupert, appears to have had a heart attack! When Nathan and Gloria leave together, abandoning the injured Rupert and Emmy, she decides to complete her holiday even though it actually means working hard to help Rupert with running the guest house - cooking, cleaning and shopping amongst other things. This introduces her to the local community and she soon finds herself making new friends, making changes to her life, taking a new lover and potentially finding romance. As her holiday time comes to an end she’s offered other options. Should she return to her old life but without Nathan or take the leap to move to France and all the new possibilities that would come with it?
With a superb range of quirky characters from the community, this is a brilliant glimpse into life in this fantastic region. You’ve just got to love Rupert and his machinations to bring new love into Emmy’s life and entice her to stay by organising dinners and meetings with his friends in the locality, showing just how different her life could be. With the sexy gardener providing a great distraction from Nathan’s desertion, new friends and new possibilities this is a real page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, a truly wonderfully crafted novel that I highly recommend for its amazing characters, plot and storytelling that make it a brilliant story to escape into. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be available, I definitely want to read it, please!
Thanks to the publishers for gifting me an ARC of this novel, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
May 5, 2016
Loved this book! It was a delight from start to finish! I loved Emmy and Rupert. The story was definitely something I loved.
The story starts out with Emmy and her boyfriend taking a vacation in France. The boyfriend is a bit of a blah character and does not have a lot of personality. However, he's soon out of the picture and then the story really comes alive. The descriptions of the guesthouse and the other characters are perfect. I wanted to sit in that garden so much! Emmy is a wonderful character. Rupert made me laugh. All the characters fit perfectly.
I will be looking for other books by this author and plan to read the sequel when it comes out. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The story starts out with Emmy and her boyfriend taking a vacation in France. The boyfriend is a bit of a blah character and does not have a lot of personality. However, he's soon out of the picture and then the story really comes alive. The descriptions of the guesthouse and the other characters are perfect. I wanted to sit in that garden so much! Emmy is a wonderful character. Rupert made me laugh. All the characters fit perfectly.
I will be looking for other books by this author and plan to read the sequel when it comes out. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 2, 2016
This was an absolute treasure of a read. The enticing cover promises ‘The perfect feel good summer read’ and it truly delivers. From page one you are taken on a wonderful journey through the French countryside with some fabulous new friends.
Emmy’s holiday doesn’t get off to the best start when her boyfriend runs off with the hosts wife Gloria. Rupert has suffered a suspected heart attack and Emmy feels obligated to stay and help him run the guesthouse whilst he recovers.
We get to know the nooks and crannies of the guesthouse which sounds delightful and the gites. It made me want to go and book a holiday straight away. Emmy uses her marketing skills to come up with a fresh approach for Rupert to consider and it was lovely to imagine the little changes going in and making the rooms so pretty and enticing.
Emmy has to deal with Rupert bossing her around a little, but they develop a wonderful friendship and he’s keen to play Cupid. She goes to the markets with him and you can smell the coffee when they stop! Troublesome guests also add to the charm of the story.
It’s full of really interesting new friendships, blossoming romances and wonderful images of La Cour des Roses. Emmy has a lot to think about even whilst keeping extremely busy helping out. Is it time to make a clean sweep and change her life along with her boyfriend? We keep turning the pages to see where she chooses to take her life.
I was absolutely delighted to read at the end that there is going to be a very welcome second book in this series.
With many thanks to Bookoutre, one of my favourite publishers and Net Galley for the fantastic opportunity to discover a new authors who will become one of my favourites.
Emmy’s holiday doesn’t get off to the best start when her boyfriend runs off with the hosts wife Gloria. Rupert has suffered a suspected heart attack and Emmy feels obligated to stay and help him run the guesthouse whilst he recovers.
We get to know the nooks and crannies of the guesthouse which sounds delightful and the gites. It made me want to go and book a holiday straight away. Emmy uses her marketing skills to come up with a fresh approach for Rupert to consider and it was lovely to imagine the little changes going in and making the rooms so pretty and enticing.
Emmy has to deal with Rupert bossing her around a little, but they develop a wonderful friendship and he’s keen to play Cupid. She goes to the markets with him and you can smell the coffee when they stop! Troublesome guests also add to the charm of the story.
It’s full of really interesting new friendships, blossoming romances and wonderful images of La Cour des Roses. Emmy has a lot to think about even whilst keeping extremely busy helping out. Is it time to make a clean sweep and change her life along with her boyfriend? We keep turning the pages to see where she chooses to take her life.
I was absolutely delighted to read at the end that there is going to be a very welcome second book in this series.
With many thanks to Bookoutre, one of my favourite publishers and Net Galley for the fantastic opportunity to discover a new authors who will become one of my favourites.
May 4, 2019
Свежарска,типично лятна история , която обаче ще ми бъде интересно да разбера как продължава.
Стилът е много приятен и забавен, на места малко по-наивен, но поносимо.
Изобщо се въртя все около Прованс. Дали не е някакъв знак .
Толкова много книги прочетох за прекрасната френска провинция, че се чудя как все още не съм отпрашила натам.
Наистина понякога ми идва да се пренеса направо.
2019
Явно изричайки на глас желанието да разбера как продължава историята на Емелин , то се сбъдна. И понеже излезе продължение , се наложи да си припомня детайлите.
Искрено завиждам на европейците, които живеят нормално и могат да осъществяват мечтите си. За нас остава да ги четем предимно.
Стилът е много приятен и забавен, на места малко по-наивен, но поносимо.
Изобщо се въртя все около Прованс. Дали не е някакъв знак .
Толкова много книги прочетох за прекрасната френска провинция, че се чудя как все още не съм отпрашила натам.
Наистина понякога ми идва да се пренеса направо.
2019
Явно изричайки на глас желанието да разбера как продължава историята на Емелин , то се сбъдна. И понеже излезе продължение , се наложи да си припомня детайлите.
Искрено завиждам на европейците, които живеят нормално и могат да осъществяват мечтите си. За нас остава да ги четем предимно.
May 31, 2016
DNF 20% - got a refund.
I wish i downloaded the sample first. The heroine just isn't my type of character. This book reminds of those 90s and noughties books full of angst-y, 30-something put-upon whingy characters and their fumbling way to achieving "happiness"
Negatives:
1. WHINGY heroine - she whinged throughout the book. Literally every page she was complaining but this that or the other but makes ZERO effort to improve her life BLAMING EVERYONE but herself.
2. The cheating scene was ridiculous. Gloria and Nathan cheat on their respective partners and the scene following it had me rolling my eyes
3. Stereotypical 1-dimensional characters.
i. Rupert: the long-suffering middle-aged husband who doesn't do anything to help himself (including eat minimally healthy)
ii. Nathan: the cheating, “weak” (**think feminine**) long-term boyfriend Nathan.
iii. Gloria: cheating wife of Rupert, lazy, glamorous (but tacky), middle-aged seductress
anyway, overall, there's too many to list but i just took an intense disliking to the protagonist and couldn't continue reading this book.
I wish i downloaded the sample first. The heroine just isn't my type of character. This book reminds of those 90s and noughties books full of angst-y, 30-something put-upon whingy characters and their fumbling way to achieving "happiness"
Negatives:
1. WHINGY heroine - she whinged throughout the book. Literally every page she was complaining but this that or the other but makes ZERO effort to improve her life BLAMING EVERYONE but herself.
2. The cheating scene was ridiculous. Gloria and Nathan cheat on their respective partners and the scene following it had me rolling my eyes
3. Stereotypical 1-dimensional characters.
i. Rupert: the long-suffering middle-aged husband who doesn't do anything to help himself (including eat minimally healthy)
ii. Nathan: the cheating, “weak” (**think feminine**) long-term boyfriend Nathan.
iii. Gloria: cheating wife of Rupert, lazy, glamorous (but tacky), middle-aged seductress
anyway, overall, there's too many to list but i just took an intense disliking to the protagonist and couldn't continue reading this book.
April 29, 2016
Emmy and Nathan go on a holiday to France, they have chosen to stay at a La Cour des Roses, which is a lovely place to get the taste of French village life. It sounds more than wonderful, but not for Emmy, when she discovers her boyfriend in bed with the guesthouse owner’s wife Gloria , while guesthouse owner Rupert is having serious health problems. It seems that it can’t get any worse, but when Nathan and Gloria decide to leave together, it’s humiliating to Emmy and Rupert, especially when the whole village knows what happened faster than Emmy could have thought. Emmy decides to stay and help Rupert out, because he can’t do all the work alone for a while. Staying there gives her opportunity to find herself again and realize that people can be kind and caring. During her stay she also meets two handsome and charming men, one being a young gardener and the other accountant. After the holiday is over, is she going to choose her old life back home or is she willing to move to France?
It was a wonderful book filled with such great descriptions of France, the food and a lively characters. I definitely enjoyed the story and would like to visit La Cour des Roses again in the next book.
It was a wonderful book filled with such great descriptions of France, the food and a lively characters. I definitely enjoyed the story and would like to visit La Cour des Roses again in the next book.
March 20, 2016
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.
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.
March 15, 2016
Wow! What a wonderful book! The first I have read by Helen Pollard but definitely not the last! From the spectacular beginning to the very last word, I was bowled over by the author’s easy and conversational writing style, and the humor peppering every page had me in fits of laughter. Loved this book populated with characters you can relate to and who by the end of the book feel as familiar as family. A brilliant, feel good read. Loved Emmy so much. Loved everything about this amazing book.
April 30, 2018
Super cute story. Makes me want to go to France!!! Looking forward to reading Book #2.
November 28, 2021
Началото ми тръгна трудно и тромаво, много се ядосах на поведението на героинята.
Еми и Нейтън заминават във Франция, за да спасят връзката си. Те са отседнали във вила Дворът на розите, но там тя изхваща Нейтън и Глория, съпругата на собственика, в провокативна поза. И Еми, вместо да го изгони, се опита да го накара да говорят и да продължат връзката си, въпреки всичко. В същото време Рупърт, който притежава вилата, си навяхва крака и не може да обслужва гостите. Глория и Нейтън отпрашват с колата и изоставят своите половинки да се оправят както могат. Оттам нататък Ейми ще се сприятели с Рупърт, ще има забежка с Раян и може би ще открие любовта в лицето на един секси счетоводител. Тя ще трябва да реши дали иска да промени живота си и в каква посока да е тази промяна.
Въпреки тромавия език на моменти, книгата е разделена сякаш на сиви и цветни зони. Когато Ейми е в Лондон цветовете са сиви и безлични, а на вилата във Франция всичко става пъстро, цветно и сърдечно. Контрастът е доста ярък и тази цветна част от книгата четох с най-голям интерес, на моменти се смях, другаде се трогвах или ядосвах, според ситуацията. Лека книжка със забавни случки, прииска ми се да е лято и да си чета книжката някъде сред зеленина и уют.
Еми и Нейтън заминават във Франция, за да спасят връзката си. Те са отседнали във вила Дворът на розите, но там тя изхваща Нейтън и Глория, съпругата на собственика, в провокативна поза. И Еми, вместо да го изгони, се опита да го накара да говорят и да продължат връзката си, въпреки всичко. В същото време Рупърт, който притежава вилата, си навяхва крака и не може да обслужва гостите. Глория и Нейтън отпрашват с колата и изоставят своите половинки да се оправят както могат. Оттам нататък Ейми ще се сприятели с Рупърт, ще има забежка с Раян и може би ще открие любовта в лицето на един секси счетоводител. Тя ще трябва да реши дали иска да промени живота си и в каква посока да е тази промяна.
Въпреки тромавия език на моменти, книгата е разделена сякаш на сиви и цветни зони. Когато Ейми е в Лондон цветовете са сиви и безлични, а на вилата във Франция всичко става пъстро, цветно и сърдечно. Контрастът е доста ярък и тази цветна част от книгата четох с най-голям интерес, на моменти се смях, другаде се трогвах или ядосвах, според ситуацията. Лека книжка със забавни случки, прииска ми се да е лято и да си чета книжката някъде сред зеленина и уют.
July 20, 2018
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August 29, 2016
Emmy Jamieson has finally persuaded her boyfriend Nathan to take some time off and book a holiday. They decide to go to La Cour des Roses, a beautiful guesthouse owned by an English man named Rupert, in a small French village. Before Emmy can start enjoying her holiday she catches Nathan cheating on her with Rupert's wife, Gloria. Nathan doesn't seem to feel guilty at all and Emmy is shocked when he takes off with Gloria. Now Emmy is on her own at La Cour des Roses.
Rupert is ill and can't handle running the business by himself. Emmy doesn't have the heart to let him struggle on his own, so she decides to stay and help out for the duration of her intended holiday. Emmy soon discovers that La Cour des Roses has found a way to her heart and she enjoys the positive vibes of the place. She starts making friends and the work really suits her, so even though she doesn't have the relaxing holiday she planned to have she's having a great time. Eventually Emmy has to leave France though, to go back home where she has to face the end of her relationship with Nathan. Emmy feels sad to leave all of her new friends behind and is seriously thinking about changing her, until now, secure life.
Emmy tries so hard to make other people feel better that she sometimes forgets herself. Her boyfriend Nathan is a complete jerk and I was hoping Emmy would toughen up so she could take him down. Luckily being in France has a positive influence on her character and being there gives her the strength to deal with the issues at home. Emmy is a great person and I immediately loved her. Emmy is a smart and intelligent young woman with great ideas and I wasn't surprised that the people in and around La Cour des Roses opened their hearts to her as well.
Helen Pollard has written a wonderful story about taking chances when they present themselves to you. The characters of The Little French Guesthouse feel so real. I could perfectly imagine the scenery and I wished I could book a gîte or guestroom at La Cour des Roses. I want nothing more than to sit in the beautiful garden, smell the flowers and enjoy the stunning surroundings Helen Pollard writes about. The Little French Guesthouse is an enchanting and heartwarming story that will have you mesmerized from beginning to end. This story is the perfect read for a lovely day in the sun.
Rupert is ill and can't handle running the business by himself. Emmy doesn't have the heart to let him struggle on his own, so she decides to stay and help out for the duration of her intended holiday. Emmy soon discovers that La Cour des Roses has found a way to her heart and she enjoys the positive vibes of the place. She starts making friends and the work really suits her, so even though she doesn't have the relaxing holiday she planned to have she's having a great time. Eventually Emmy has to leave France though, to go back home where she has to face the end of her relationship with Nathan. Emmy feels sad to leave all of her new friends behind and is seriously thinking about changing her, until now, secure life.
Emmy tries so hard to make other people feel better that she sometimes forgets herself. Her boyfriend Nathan is a complete jerk and I was hoping Emmy would toughen up so she could take him down. Luckily being in France has a positive influence on her character and being there gives her the strength to deal with the issues at home. Emmy is a great person and I immediately loved her. Emmy is a smart and intelligent young woman with great ideas and I wasn't surprised that the people in and around La Cour des Roses opened their hearts to her as well.
Helen Pollard has written a wonderful story about taking chances when they present themselves to you. The characters of The Little French Guesthouse feel so real. I could perfectly imagine the scenery and I wished I could book a gîte or guestroom at La Cour des Roses. I want nothing more than to sit in the beautiful garden, smell the flowers and enjoy the stunning surroundings Helen Pollard writes about. The Little French Guesthouse is an enchanting and heartwarming story that will have you mesmerized from beginning to end. This story is the perfect read for a lovely day in the sun.
April 28, 2016
A well-earned holiday in France is just what Emmy and Nathan need. Their relationship is struggling, but Emmy is sure it’s something that time away from work and routine can fix, until she finds Nathan and their B&B owner Gloria on the terrace in a rather compromising position. Angry and upset, Emmy tries to talk to Nathan, but instead he drives off into the distance, with Gloria.
I liked Emmy, she was a genuinely nice person, wanting to make those around her happy and avoid conflict if possible, which wasn’t easy in the situation she found herself in. She needed to keep busy, which she did by helping owner Rupert, who had been abandoned by Gloria, to cook, clean and look after the guests, something he was struggling to do on his own. Rupert made me smile, his heart was always in the right place, but his ways and means were sometimes a little devious. Although Emmy and Rupert make an odd couple, they worked well as a team and slowly, life in rural France began to weave its magic on Emmy.
Helen paints a lovely picture of the renovated stone guesthouse, La Cour des Roses, and I felt its charm and like Emmy, I fell in love with it and the flower filled gardens. In fact I was ready to pack my bags and head off for a few nights away, where the food and wine seem to be as good as the company. Emmy becomes part of Rupert’s social scene and appreciates the friendships she makes, and here Helen introduces a great fun mix of characters in the form of the locals and other expats. With a bit of scheming from Rupert and some unexpected interest from his gardener and accountant, Emmy begins to feel she has unexpectedly found somewhere she belongs. Reality for her though, is returning to a stark flat, a job (in the same company as Nathan – awkward) and no one to share her life with. She certainly has lots to think about, but will it be her heart, her head or Rupert that influence the decision to be made about her future?
This book offers lots to make you smile at as you read and once I stepped in, I didn't want to leave. It is warm, cosy and will fill you with summer sunshine and unless you are going away as a last ditch attempt to salvage your relationship, will be a perfect holiday read!
I liked Emmy, she was a genuinely nice person, wanting to make those around her happy and avoid conflict if possible, which wasn’t easy in the situation she found herself in. She needed to keep busy, which she did by helping owner Rupert, who had been abandoned by Gloria, to cook, clean and look after the guests, something he was struggling to do on his own. Rupert made me smile, his heart was always in the right place, but his ways and means were sometimes a little devious. Although Emmy and Rupert make an odd couple, they worked well as a team and slowly, life in rural France began to weave its magic on Emmy.
Helen paints a lovely picture of the renovated stone guesthouse, La Cour des Roses, and I felt its charm and like Emmy, I fell in love with it and the flower filled gardens. In fact I was ready to pack my bags and head off for a few nights away, where the food and wine seem to be as good as the company. Emmy becomes part of Rupert’s social scene and appreciates the friendships she makes, and here Helen introduces a great fun mix of characters in the form of the locals and other expats. With a bit of scheming from Rupert and some unexpected interest from his gardener and accountant, Emmy begins to feel she has unexpectedly found somewhere she belongs. Reality for her though, is returning to a stark flat, a job (in the same company as Nathan – awkward) and no one to share her life with. She certainly has lots to think about, but will it be her heart, her head or Rupert that influence the decision to be made about her future?
This book offers lots to make you smile at as you read and once I stepped in, I didn't want to leave. It is warm, cosy and will fill you with summer sunshine and unless you are going away as a last ditch attempt to salvage your relationship, will be a perfect holiday read!
April 2, 2016
There is one word that continuously came to my mind as I read this, and that word is: Charming. This is the kind of story that really envelops you and makes you adore the quirky characters.
Well, except Nathan. He isn't really likable at all, but that's hardly a surprise considering you meet him while he's shtupping the wife of his B&B host while on a romantic holiday with the protagonist. :)
There is a great atmosphere in this story, so that you really get a sense of the surroundings, the friendly people Emmy encounters, and just why someone might never want to leave. And yet it's more than just escapism because it all feels very plausible. There is nothing here, short of perhaps the first 10% which sets up the story, that I think could be considered outrageous. It's so comfortable and feels almost familiar.
The friendship that grew between Emmy and Rupert was very sweet and seemed so genuine it made me smile.
The only thing that I was less excited about was Emmy and Alain. But only because there just wasn't enough! I wanted more, especially after the trip to the zoo. I wish Alain's character had been featured a bit more throughout.
Overall, this is a seriously charming story in an idyllic setting that I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for something relatively light and quick to read.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
See more reviews here:
Well, except Nathan. He isn't really likable at all, but that's hardly a surprise considering you meet him while he's shtupping the wife of his B&B host while on a romantic holiday with the protagonist. :)
There is a great atmosphere in this story, so that you really get a sense of the surroundings, the friendly people Emmy encounters, and just why someone might never want to leave. And yet it's more than just escapism because it all feels very plausible. There is nothing here, short of perhaps the first 10% which sets up the story, that I think could be considered outrageous. It's so comfortable and feels almost familiar.
The friendship that grew between Emmy and Rupert was very sweet and seemed so genuine it made me smile.
The only thing that I was less excited about was Emmy and Alain. But only because there just wasn't enough! I wanted more, especially after the trip to the zoo. I wish Alain's character had been featured a bit more throughout.
Overall, this is a seriously charming story in an idyllic setting that I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for something relatively light and quick to read.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.
See more reviews here:
May 6, 2016
This is a great feel-good book which is perfect for reading in the first rays of sunshine.
I really enjoyed reading this book even though the pace was a bit slow at times. The atmosphere of the French countryside, the cute little town and the little guesthouse was simply great. I also enjoyed how we got to know more and more of the people living there.
Emmy is a career woman who is finding her peace in the French countryside and doing something totally different. I liked to see how she was changing during her stay with Rupert.
I also liked that things weren't rushed with a new man and everything was developing really slowly here.
I can't wait to read more about Emmy and hope the second part is coming very soon.
I really enjoyed reading this book even though the pace was a bit slow at times. The atmosphere of the French countryside, the cute little town and the little guesthouse was simply great. I also enjoyed how we got to know more and more of the people living there.
Emmy is a career woman who is finding her peace in the French countryside and doing something totally different. I liked to see how she was changing during her stay with Rupert.
I also liked that things weren't rushed with a new man and everything was developing really slowly here.
I can't wait to read more about Emmy and hope the second part is coming very soon.
December 2, 2019
A funny and entertaining read! This book would be the perfect beach read.
The story begins with Emmy and her boyfriend taking a trip to France to stay in a bed and breakfast called the La Cour des Roses. The vacation starts off disastrously for Emmy when her boyfriend and the wife of the owner of
THIS REVIEW IS NOT FINISHED
The story begins with Emmy and her boyfriend taking a trip to France to stay in a bed and breakfast called the La Cour des Roses. The vacation starts off disastrously for Emmy when her boyfriend and the wife of the owner of
THIS REVIEW IS NOT FINISHED
August 25, 2017
What a delightful start to the Little French Guesthouse series. At the moment I'm obsessed with books set in France. I'm not sure why but everything about them I just love. Especially those set in rustic villages with fields of lavender or towns with cobbled streets. But I think what I love most is the talk about the food. Gooey cheeses, crusty bread and oozing honey. Even writing that down made my mouth water!
So this series is brilliant so far (I've also just finished book two so that shall be making it's way to the blog soon enough!), with the main story revolving around Emmy who has just left her cheating boyfriend, Nathan, to help the owner of a French guesthouse. Except it's not all drinking chilled wine and lounging in the hot French sun. Emmy encounters a lot of drama and issues with her life and has to make a few hard decisions.
I really did enjoy this book, I flew through it and started straight away on the next one because I just couldn't wait to read more! The characters are all really loveable and relatable (except for Nathan and Gloria of course!) and you find yourself really connecting with Emmy and wishing you could be in France as well!
Overall, I really loved this story. It made me feel like I was in France myself and now I do really want to visit there! The cover is simply stunning and drew me in straight away. It's an easy and lighthearted read that will leave you wanting to read more.
So this series is brilliant so far (I've also just finished book two so that shall be making it's way to the blog soon enough!), with the main story revolving around Emmy who has just left her cheating boyfriend, Nathan, to help the owner of a French guesthouse. Except it's not all drinking chilled wine and lounging in the hot French sun. Emmy encounters a lot of drama and issues with her life and has to make a few hard decisions.
I really did enjoy this book, I flew through it and started straight away on the next one because I just couldn't wait to read more! The characters are all really loveable and relatable (except for Nathan and Gloria of course!) and you find yourself really connecting with Emmy and wishing you could be in France as well!
Overall, I really loved this story. It made me feel like I was in France myself and now I do really want to visit there! The cover is simply stunning and drew me in straight away. It's an easy and lighthearted read that will leave you wanting to read more.
May 29, 2016
This is a somewhat odd account but maybe there are people who, on their first evening in a foreign guesthouse, get up to amorous activity with the owner's wife while their own lady partner is in another room. End of a poor relationship, I would think. The ending, and confusion over what must surely be looked at as a new beginning, occupy the rest of the book.
Our English heroine is left in the guesthouse with her host who has just suffered a heart attack and has to take it very easy. This could deteriorate into a farce but the lying to him doesn't continue for long and the heroine stays on to help this older man for the rest of her holiday. While she's initially in shock this dissipates and she starts to re-evaluate her life and work.
At heart this is a light read about serious personal issues and I was reminded more than once of Shirley Valentine. I like that the lady has skills beyond the kitchen - website creation and admin among them. We meet a few people in the local French community but the guesthouse owner is English. I liked it, I didn't love it but some readers would find this the perfect summer holiday read.
I downloaded a copy from Net Galley for an unbiased review.
Our English heroine is left in the guesthouse with her host who has just suffered a heart attack and has to take it very easy. This could deteriorate into a farce but the lying to him doesn't continue for long and the heroine stays on to help this older man for the rest of her holiday. While she's initially in shock this dissipates and she starts to re-evaluate her life and work.
At heart this is a light read about serious personal issues and I was reminded more than once of Shirley Valentine. I like that the lady has skills beyond the kitchen - website creation and admin among them. We meet a few people in the local French community but the guesthouse owner is English. I liked it, I didn't love it but some readers would find this the perfect summer holiday read.
I downloaded a copy from Net Galley for an unbiased review.
June 29, 2017
Recensione presente nel blog www.ragazzainrosso.wordpress.com
Per recuperare il rapporto con Nathan, il suo fidanzato, e per allontanarsi dallo stress del lavoro, Emmy prenota una vacanza nella tranquilla campagna francese presso La Cour des Roses, una pensione a conduzione familiare. Tuttavia le cose non vanno per il verso giusto. Ben presto Nathan la tradisce con Gloria, la moglie di Rupert, proprietario della pensione. Delusa, amareggiata e in preda alla disperazione, Emmy, abbandonata da Nathan che ha pensato bene di fuggire proprio con Gloria, resta da sola a proseguire quella che sarebbe dovuta essere una vacanza all’insegna del relax impegnandosi ad aiutare Rupert, nel frattempo convalescente. Sarà proprio in questa idilliaca dimensione che Emmy riscoprerà se stessa grazie anche alla presenza di Ryan, giovane giardiniere dal fisico mozzafiato, e Alain, commercialista, apparentemente burbero.
“Anche se la mia situazione avrebbe dovuto suggerire l’esatto contrario, e anche se magari non si trattava che di un breve interludio, non ero mai stata tanto felice in vita mia.”
Questo romanzo contiene numerosi elementi interessanti quali: l’importanza di riscoprire se stessi, il ricominciare dopo una delusione amorosa, il tradimento e il rivoluzionare totalmente la propria vita.
La protagonista ha un’indole ben costruita. È allo stesso tempo donna sicura in campo professionale, fanciulla indecisa sul piano professionale, amica sincera, pronta ad aiutare gli altri. Man mano che le pagine scorrono, ci si rende conto che Emmy riesce a gestire tutti gli aspetti della sua personalità senza mai lasciare che l’uno prevalichi sull’altro. Sicuramente encomiabile è il suo voler aiutare Rupert. Pur essendo un ospite, non esita ad assumere oneri e onori dell’essere colei che deve occuparsi degli ospiti sotto tutti gli aspetti, si cimenta in lavori domestici, diviene una solida spalla e mette al servizio della pensione tutte le sue competenze in marketing così da migliorarla. L’atteggiamento di Emily è sicuramente una lezione di vita. Non resta a piangere, non si abbatte (o almeno non lo mostra), trova soluzione alternative per ricominciare da se stessa imparando a contare solo su stessa. È interessante proprio quest’ultimo aspetto. Emmy si era in un certo senso cristallizzata, sapeva che al suo fianco c’era Nathan, invece ora deve gestire tutti gli aspetti della sua vita a cominciare dal destino della casa che avevano acquistato per vivere assieme. È certo che la Emmy del finale è totalmente diversa dalla donna che era tre settimane prima.
L’autrice si serve di uno stile semplice, fluido, diretto, ben dialogato dove la descrizione si alterna alla narrazione. Non mancano momenti più leggeri e situazioni descritte con un taglio prettamente umoristico che permettono al lettore di “prendersi una pausa” dai tumulti senza mai perdere l’interesse per la vicenda.
Un romanzo sicuramente interessante, dall’ottima partenza che lascia con numerose domande alle quali si vorrebbe subito trovare risposta. Una lettura che insegna a non considerare mai tutto perduto e a saper rischiare per se stessi.
Inutile dire che leggerò sicuramente il seguito!
Per recuperare il rapporto con Nathan, il suo fidanzato, e per allontanarsi dallo stress del lavoro, Emmy prenota una vacanza nella tranquilla campagna francese presso La Cour des Roses, una pensione a conduzione familiare. Tuttavia le cose non vanno per il verso giusto. Ben presto Nathan la tradisce con Gloria, la moglie di Rupert, proprietario della pensione. Delusa, amareggiata e in preda alla disperazione, Emmy, abbandonata da Nathan che ha pensato bene di fuggire proprio con Gloria, resta da sola a proseguire quella che sarebbe dovuta essere una vacanza all’insegna del relax impegnandosi ad aiutare Rupert, nel frattempo convalescente. Sarà proprio in questa idilliaca dimensione che Emmy riscoprerà se stessa grazie anche alla presenza di Ryan, giovane giardiniere dal fisico mozzafiato, e Alain, commercialista, apparentemente burbero.
“Anche se la mia situazione avrebbe dovuto suggerire l’esatto contrario, e anche se magari non si trattava che di un breve interludio, non ero mai stata tanto felice in vita mia.”
Questo romanzo contiene numerosi elementi interessanti quali: l’importanza di riscoprire se stessi, il ricominciare dopo una delusione amorosa, il tradimento e il rivoluzionare totalmente la propria vita.
La protagonista ha un’indole ben costruita. È allo stesso tempo donna sicura in campo professionale, fanciulla indecisa sul piano professionale, amica sincera, pronta ad aiutare gli altri. Man mano che le pagine scorrono, ci si rende conto che Emmy riesce a gestire tutti gli aspetti della sua personalità senza mai lasciare che l’uno prevalichi sull’altro. Sicuramente encomiabile è il suo voler aiutare Rupert. Pur essendo un ospite, non esita ad assumere oneri e onori dell’essere colei che deve occuparsi degli ospiti sotto tutti gli aspetti, si cimenta in lavori domestici, diviene una solida spalla e mette al servizio della pensione tutte le sue competenze in marketing così da migliorarla. L’atteggiamento di Emily è sicuramente una lezione di vita. Non resta a piangere, non si abbatte (o almeno non lo mostra), trova soluzione alternative per ricominciare da se stessa imparando a contare solo su stessa. È interessante proprio quest’ultimo aspetto. Emmy si era in un certo senso cristallizzata, sapeva che al suo fianco c’era Nathan, invece ora deve gestire tutti gli aspetti della sua vita a cominciare dal destino della casa che avevano acquistato per vivere assieme. È certo che la Emmy del finale è totalmente diversa dalla donna che era tre settimane prima.
L’autrice si serve di uno stile semplice, fluido, diretto, ben dialogato dove la descrizione si alterna alla narrazione. Non mancano momenti più leggeri e situazioni descritte con un taglio prettamente umoristico che permettono al lettore di “prendersi una pausa” dai tumulti senza mai perdere l’interesse per la vicenda.
Un romanzo sicuramente interessante, dall’ottima partenza che lascia con numerose domande alle quali si vorrebbe subito trovare risposta. Una lettura che insegna a non considerare mai tutto perduto e a saper rischiare per se stessi.
Inutile dire che leggerò sicuramente il seguito!
April 20, 2020
This was my first book by this author and will not be the last as simply fantastic read from the first page. Full of starting over again and heartbreak with happiness to and bring in a lovely country away from everyone. It's a brilliant feel good book and you just want to keep reading.
Emmy and her boyfriend Nathan arrived at a beautiful guest house in France for a two week holiday and their relationship has been a bit difficult so they hope the break will bring them close together. They haven't been their very long when the owners husband Rupert has what she thinks is a heart attack and when she goes to get the wife she finds her husband in bed with her.
They both pack their bags and leave and Emmy after a bit if wine offers to help Rupert with the guest house and when some difficult guests arrive how will she cope. She soon finds herself surrounded by new friends but one the gardener she can see is rather hot. She also has the accountant who is giving her a distraction. She extends her holiday by a week to help out and really isn't ready to going home but when the time comes she says goodbye to all her friends and heads home but life isn't the same she isn't happy at work and she was offered a position with Rupert will she decide to go back to France or stay in England can she be happy again or not.
Emmy and her boyfriend Nathan arrived at a beautiful guest house in France for a two week holiday and their relationship has been a bit difficult so they hope the break will bring them close together. They haven't been their very long when the owners husband Rupert has what she thinks is a heart attack and when she goes to get the wife she finds her husband in bed with her.
They both pack their bags and leave and Emmy after a bit if wine offers to help Rupert with the guest house and when some difficult guests arrive how will she cope. She soon finds herself surrounded by new friends but one the gardener she can see is rather hot. She also has the accountant who is giving her a distraction. She extends her holiday by a week to help out and really isn't ready to going home but when the time comes she says goodbye to all her friends and heads home but life isn't the same she isn't happy at work and she was offered a position with Rupert will she decide to go back to France or stay in England can she be happy again or not.
August 12, 2017
When I read the cover of this book I knew straight away it was right up my street so I couldn't resist. The book centers around a little village in france more specifically La Cour des Roses a holiday guesthouse with surrounding private gites that Emmy has brought boyfriend Nathan to in the hope of rekindling their now boring relationship however they are only there a week when things go south Nathan decides it's okay to sleep with the lady of the house and promptly run off with her leaving Emmy devastated (Nathan really is the arsehole boyfriend you hate and feel glad about when he's gone ). Emmy decides to stay and help Glorias unwell husband Rupert run things feeling unnecessarily responsible for her ex running of with his bitch of a wife. Emmy and Rupert become fast friends and Emmy starts to heal and be happier than she has in a long while ( Ryan the sexy garderner and Alain the gorgeous accountant help somewhat with this)in the end she's faced with some tough decisions in what she really wants and where her heart really belongs. I loved this book every aspect of it the characters, the dreamy setting the storyline for me it was just delicious! Apart from Nathan and Gloria who I couldn't stand everyother character I loved and related to, the book made me laugh , made me hungry and if I'm honest made me want to pack my bags and head to France. I highly recommend this I read it in a day as I couldn't put it down I'd say the author Helen pollard was quite similar to Jo Thomas and Jenny colgan I'm just really glad I already have the sequel to crack on with
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2025
I took a 5 year break from audiobooks. This was my first one in awhile. If I was reading it, I probably wouldn’t have finished it. But as an audiobook, it kept my interest on a long commute.
October 4, 2016
(I might warn you that this review has spoilers...perhaps, but it IS a summary)
I picked up this book, taking the blurb at its word as “the perfect, feel-good summer read”, and it absolutely did not disappoint!
Many of us know what it’s like to be betrayed by spouse or lover. Some can even relate to catching the jerkwad (or “heifer”, as the case may be) in the act! Those who have ‘been there’ likely also have painful memories of the devastation such an act has caused in their lives – and the fortunate few have had an unconditional support system to see them through the difficult aftermath.
Emmeline, or ‘Emmy’ as she prefers, has arranged a two week holiday at – you guessed it – a little French guesthouse for herself and her more-than-a-boyfriend, Nathan. She is hoping that the getaway will inject a little much needed excitement back into their relationship, which had been lagging for quite some time. The plan worked. Nathan got excited, alright. Only he got excited with their host’s wife, Gloria, and on the first night of their stay, no less!
When their host, Rupert, had an apparent heart attack, Emmy rendered as much first aid as she could, and then frantically went looking for Gloria, who had disappeared at roughly the same time as Nathan. She found both of them…with Gloria’s legs wrapped around Nathan like a belt, as it were.
For fear of exacerbating a heart condition that was revealed once he was taken to hospital, Emmy decided against apprising Rupert of her discovery that both he and she had been cuckolded; she did, however, confront both Nathan and Gloria the following morning. Neither felt the least bit of shame at having been caught, and in fact, both seemed a bit put upon and indignant at Emmy’s attitude about the whole thing.
Although Emmy keeps Rupert in the dark about what happened between his wife and her boyfriend,the situation eventually came to light a few days later, when Nathan ends his part in the holiday by breaking up with her, packing up and leaving…with Gloria. Rupert, of course, was upset, but more for Emmy than himself. In fact, he didn’t seem at all surprised by his wife’s desertion.
Emmy decides to extend her stay in France to assist Rupert at the guesthouse until he has recovered from his near heart attack and an injury he sustained when he fell on that fateful night. It is at this point that Emmy’s own recovery begins, going from miserable and lonely, to being in the midst of selfless support from veritable strangers and finding herself the object of a younger man's "interest". Finally, she finds renewed validation as a woman deserving of love and so makes the surprising discovery that, in spite of her determination to return her mundane existence after her holiday, she doesn’t have to hold on to the misery brought on by those other disappointing turn of events.
It is with much humour and wit that Ms. Pollard invites us to share in Emmy’s experiences with Rupert and her new, sometimes irascible friends, during her stay at the little French guesthouse. Her description of the beauty of La Cour des Roses and the surrounding area is so visual that the reader will not find it at all difficult to experience the place almost first hand.
Just a note, here: while there are intimate innuendos and situations aplenty, there is zero graphic sex…which an old fossil like myself can appreciate.
I can’t think of when I have enjoyed a simple read like this more. The only issue I had was that I wanted to go back with Emmy if she ever returned to The Little French Guesthouse…
…oh wait!
The Return to the Little French Guesthouse is out!!
I picked up this book, taking the blurb at its word as “the perfect, feel-good summer read”, and it absolutely did not disappoint!
Many of us know what it’s like to be betrayed by spouse or lover. Some can even relate to catching the jerkwad (or “heifer”, as the case may be) in the act! Those who have ‘been there’ likely also have painful memories of the devastation such an act has caused in their lives – and the fortunate few have had an unconditional support system to see them through the difficult aftermath.
Emmeline, or ‘Emmy’ as she prefers, has arranged a two week holiday at – you guessed it – a little French guesthouse for herself and her more-than-a-boyfriend, Nathan. She is hoping that the getaway will inject a little much needed excitement back into their relationship, which had been lagging for quite some time. The plan worked. Nathan got excited, alright. Only he got excited with their host’s wife, Gloria, and on the first night of their stay, no less!
When their host, Rupert, had an apparent heart attack, Emmy rendered as much first aid as she could, and then frantically went looking for Gloria, who had disappeared at roughly the same time as Nathan. She found both of them…with Gloria’s legs wrapped around Nathan like a belt, as it were.
For fear of exacerbating a heart condition that was revealed once he was taken to hospital, Emmy decided against apprising Rupert of her discovery that both he and she had been cuckolded; she did, however, confront both Nathan and Gloria the following morning. Neither felt the least bit of shame at having been caught, and in fact, both seemed a bit put upon and indignant at Emmy’s attitude about the whole thing.
Although Emmy keeps Rupert in the dark about what happened between his wife and her boyfriend,the situation eventually came to light a few days later, when Nathan ends his part in the holiday by breaking up with her, packing up and leaving…with Gloria. Rupert, of course, was upset, but more for Emmy than himself. In fact, he didn’t seem at all surprised by his wife’s desertion.
Emmy decides to extend her stay in France to assist Rupert at the guesthouse until he has recovered from his near heart attack and an injury he sustained when he fell on that fateful night. It is at this point that Emmy’s own recovery begins, going from miserable and lonely, to being in the midst of selfless support from veritable strangers and finding herself the object of a younger man's "interest". Finally, she finds renewed validation as a woman deserving of love and so makes the surprising discovery that, in spite of her determination to return her mundane existence after her holiday, she doesn’t have to hold on to the misery brought on by those other disappointing turn of events.
It is with much humour and wit that Ms. Pollard invites us to share in Emmy’s experiences with Rupert and her new, sometimes irascible friends, during her stay at the little French guesthouse. Her description of the beauty of La Cour des Roses and the surrounding area is so visual that the reader will not find it at all difficult to experience the place almost first hand.
Just a note, here: while there are intimate innuendos and situations aplenty, there is zero graphic sex…which an old fossil like myself can appreciate.
I can’t think of when I have enjoyed a simple read like this more. The only issue I had was that I wanted to go back with Emmy if she ever returned to The Little French Guesthouse…
…oh wait!
The Return to the Little French Guesthouse is out!!
December 26, 2016
Emmy's relationship with Nathan isn't what it used to be. They've grown apart and Emmy wants to make things better between them. She books a holiday in France at La Cour des Roses, a beautiful place in the Loire. They arrive at the guesthouse and everything looks fantastic. Emmy instantly loves the place, but the company is a little bit less pleasant. After just a few days Emmy gets the shock of her life and her relationship with Nathan is suddenly over.
Rupert, the owner of the guesthouse, needs to take it easy for several weeks. Nathan has left with Gloria, Rupert's wife, and Emmy is there to clean up the mess. She tries to help Rupert with his business as much as she can. Rupert is in his sixties and even though Gloria is younger, she's still quite a bit older than Nathan. Emmy doesn't have much time to cry, because running La Cour des Roses is quite a bit of work. She also makes new friends very quickly. Everyone is warm and welcoming and some of them are going out of their way to make her feel happy again. Maybe the holiday that had such a disastrous start isn't so bad after all. Only it's just a vacation, so the good times have to end at some point...
The Little French Guesthouse is a book about a topic I absolutely love, a guesthouse in France. I like nothing more than to travel there and stay at one, which is one of the reasons why I fell in love with this novel as soon as I started reading it. Helen Pollard has brilliantly captured the French countryside atmosphere and her descriptions are both detailed and accurate. I loved La Cour des Roses and would have traveled there straight away if I could. Rupert is a wonderful man and I had so much fun reading about his eccentric character and his charismatic way of dealing with his friends and his guests that I kept wishing he would be real.
Emmy is a sweet woman who's always there for others. I loved how her heart and her head constantly battle. I was curious to see which of them would win. She loosens up a little and the French countryside is good for her. I could picture the beautiful surroundings, the delicious food and the handsome men very well. I especially enjoyed the market day scenes which are so realistic. They were a lovely trip down memory lane for me.
Helen Pollard is a great writer. Her sentences flow easily and it isn't difficult to lose yourself in the amazing surroundings she writes about. Her stories come to life really well and I'm glad there's going to be a second book as I didn't want The Little French Guesthouse to end. I'm a big fan of France, I love a good romantic story and I have a weakness for mouthwatering food descriptions. This book has it all and I think it's the perfect summer read.
Rupert, the owner of the guesthouse, needs to take it easy for several weeks. Nathan has left with Gloria, Rupert's wife, and Emmy is there to clean up the mess. She tries to help Rupert with his business as much as she can. Rupert is in his sixties and even though Gloria is younger, she's still quite a bit older than Nathan. Emmy doesn't have much time to cry, because running La Cour des Roses is quite a bit of work. She also makes new friends very quickly. Everyone is warm and welcoming and some of them are going out of their way to make her feel happy again. Maybe the holiday that had such a disastrous start isn't so bad after all. Only it's just a vacation, so the good times have to end at some point...
The Little French Guesthouse is a book about a topic I absolutely love, a guesthouse in France. I like nothing more than to travel there and stay at one, which is one of the reasons why I fell in love with this novel as soon as I started reading it. Helen Pollard has brilliantly captured the French countryside atmosphere and her descriptions are both detailed and accurate. I loved La Cour des Roses and would have traveled there straight away if I could. Rupert is a wonderful man and I had so much fun reading about his eccentric character and his charismatic way of dealing with his friends and his guests that I kept wishing he would be real.
Emmy is a sweet woman who's always there for others. I loved how her heart and her head constantly battle. I was curious to see which of them would win. She loosens up a little and the French countryside is good for her. I could picture the beautiful surroundings, the delicious food and the handsome men very well. I especially enjoyed the market day scenes which are so realistic. They were a lovely trip down memory lane for me.
Helen Pollard is a great writer. Her sentences flow easily and it isn't difficult to lose yourself in the amazing surroundings she writes about. Her stories come to life really well and I'm glad there's going to be a second book as I didn't want The Little French Guesthouse to end. I'm a big fan of France, I love a good romantic story and I have a weakness for mouthwatering food descriptions. This book has it all and I think it's the perfect summer read.
June 1, 2016
Five stars for being a good chicklit story that doesn't touch on themes that usually grate my nerves. Instead we are introduced to likable characters and realistic situations, with a strong (though not invincible) female lead.
Emmy catches her long-term boyfriend cheating on her on the first page, while they’re vacationing at a little French guesthouse. After Nathan leaves with his new floozy, the guesthouse manager suffers an injury and Emmy decides to stay on to help with the guesthouse duties. During her time there she learns to love the French countryside and the small town people who reside there, while also trying to make sense of her broken relationship. As she realizes how happy this different life makes her, she wonders if she should give up the entirety of her old life to stay on in France.
This is not a new plot, but it is done in a different way. The choices Emmy must make are not clear cut. There’s no question that she’s better off without Nathan, but her job is another story. She enjoys her career and is good at it. Giving it up would mean giving up security and all the years she has put in. Though it’s not a perfect situation, it’s not the usual “She has an awful job anyway so there’s nothing stopping her” that you usually see in this case. And Emmy is so realistic and logical about her decision making that it’s definitely not certain how this story will end.
Second, while Emmy seems to have no shortage of desirable suitors, from casual to serious, there is never any question that she will make this major life decision based on someone she’s maybe spent 24 hours total with. There is some romance in this story, but the story is not a romance. It’s a semi-realistic story about a time when a woman has reached a crossroads in her life. And this woman is not going to give everything up for someone with whom she maybe, one day, might fall in love.
If I wanted to be really nitpicky, I could take a few points off here and there, but it’s a light chicklit story, and there are no grievous errors. Nathan is a bit one dimensional, and so is Gloria, but they are the bad guys in the story and not a lot of time is spent on them. Would packing up and moving from England to France really be as easy as Rupert makes it sound? Most likely not, but we don’t need those complications in this story, Emmy is taking enough things seriously.
Just before I began reading it I heard there is a sequel to be released soon. I would definitely read it, just to revisit all these lovable characters again. If you’re looking for some light summer beach reading, this is definitely a book for you.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me an early copy in exchange for an honest review. This book really is delightful.
Emmy catches her long-term boyfriend cheating on her on the first page, while they’re vacationing at a little French guesthouse. After Nathan leaves with his new floozy, the guesthouse manager suffers an injury and Emmy decides to stay on to help with the guesthouse duties. During her time there she learns to love the French countryside and the small town people who reside there, while also trying to make sense of her broken relationship. As she realizes how happy this different life makes her, she wonders if she should give up the entirety of her old life to stay on in France.
This is not a new plot, but it is done in a different way. The choices Emmy must make are not clear cut. There’s no question that she’s better off without Nathan, but her job is another story. She enjoys her career and is good at it. Giving it up would mean giving up security and all the years she has put in. Though it’s not a perfect situation, it’s not the usual “She has an awful job anyway so there’s nothing stopping her” that you usually see in this case. And Emmy is so realistic and logical about her decision making that it’s definitely not certain how this story will end.
Second, while Emmy seems to have no shortage of desirable suitors, from casual to serious, there is never any question that she will make this major life decision based on someone she’s maybe spent 24 hours total with. There is some romance in this story, but the story is not a romance. It’s a semi-realistic story about a time when a woman has reached a crossroads in her life. And this woman is not going to give everything up for someone with whom she maybe, one day, might fall in love.
If I wanted to be really nitpicky, I could take a few points off here and there, but it’s a light chicklit story, and there are no grievous errors. Nathan is a bit one dimensional, and so is Gloria, but they are the bad guys in the story and not a lot of time is spent on them. Would packing up and moving from England to France really be as easy as Rupert makes it sound? Most likely not, but we don’t need those complications in this story, Emmy is taking enough things seriously.
Just before I began reading it I heard there is a sequel to be released soon. I would definitely read it, just to revisit all these lovable characters again. If you’re looking for some light summer beach reading, this is definitely a book for you.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me an early copy in exchange for an honest review. This book really is delightful.
May 4, 2016
This is my first, but most definitely not my last Helen Pollard book. Being totally honest when I read the synopsis I was a little bit 'meh'. Been there, read that, you know what I mean. A somebody who reads over 100 books a year things can get a little 'samey'. However, as any reader knows, it's not the story but the characters that bring a book to life. This is where Helen Pollard's talent lies and I just fell in love with everybody in this book.
Emmy Jamieson is on holiday with her boyfriend Nathan. They have decided to visit La Cour des Roses, a little guesthouse in the French countryside. They are literally just unpacked and settled when Emmy realises that Nathan is at it with the Guesthouse owners wife Gloria. Before you know it both Nathan and Gloria have done a runner and Emmy is left feeling guilt ridden as Gloria's husband Rupert is left both shell shocked and on his own to run his guesthouse. I have to be honest and wondered where the story could go with such drama happening in the first few chapters, however the beauty of this book is that this episode was just the beginning.
Emmy is a little downtrodden but rolls up her sleeves and before long, its clear her way of coping is getting stuck in and helping Rupert for the remainder of her holiday. Other than that I'm not mentioning anything else to the story line, just read it and hopefully fall in love with it just as I did. The storyline almost seems secondary to the wonderful host of characters my absolute favourite (aside from Emmy) being Rupert. In addition to Rupert we meet so many characters that add to the flavour of this story, it made me want to visit a place just like this and find friends such as Emmy does.
I truly loved everything about this book and am already wondering when the sequel is out (YAY a sequel). What I am hoping is that we get to see ALL of the amazing people in the next book as they all brought a little something to this story. This truly was a feel good read which is an absolute must read, and in my opinion the perfect accompaniment to a sun lounger and a large cocktail...what more could a girl want? Bravo Bookouture, it seems that before long you are going to snag all the best authors and take over the Publishing world!
Emmy Jamieson is on holiday with her boyfriend Nathan. They have decided to visit La Cour des Roses, a little guesthouse in the French countryside. They are literally just unpacked and settled when Emmy realises that Nathan is at it with the Guesthouse owners wife Gloria. Before you know it both Nathan and Gloria have done a runner and Emmy is left feeling guilt ridden as Gloria's husband Rupert is left both shell shocked and on his own to run his guesthouse. I have to be honest and wondered where the story could go with such drama happening in the first few chapters, however the beauty of this book is that this episode was just the beginning.
Emmy is a little downtrodden but rolls up her sleeves and before long, its clear her way of coping is getting stuck in and helping Rupert for the remainder of her holiday. Other than that I'm not mentioning anything else to the story line, just read it and hopefully fall in love with it just as I did. The storyline almost seems secondary to the wonderful host of characters my absolute favourite (aside from Emmy) being Rupert. In addition to Rupert we meet so many characters that add to the flavour of this story, it made me want to visit a place just like this and find friends such as Emmy does.
I truly loved everything about this book and am already wondering when the sequel is out (YAY a sequel). What I am hoping is that we get to see ALL of the amazing people in the next book as they all brought a little something to this story. This truly was a feel good read which is an absolute must read, and in my opinion the perfect accompaniment to a sun lounger and a large cocktail...what more could a girl want? Bravo Bookouture, it seems that before long you are going to snag all the best authors and take over the Publishing world!
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