Return to the Little French Guesthouse by Helen Pollard (Tuesday Intros & Teaser Tuesday)

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is the first paragraph (or two) of a book being read
now or in the future and is hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. "Teaser Tuesday" from Books and
a Beat asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.

Return to the Little French Guesthouse is the follow-up to Helen Pollard's delightful The Little French Guesthouse which I had the joy of reading in early April (I rambled/teased here and here).  If you haven't read that one yet, you really should. This doesn't get released until August 26th so you have plenty of time to get and read the first. This book picks up shortly after the first one finished and is quite possibly even more delightful. 

Life is still uneasy for Emmy and Rupert, as you can probably guess from the teasers. Luckily, life is also good. A lot of changes are happening in their lives and at the guesthouse and, as is often the case with changes, the adjustments aren't always easy. I couldn't help but wonder how much of the story came from Pollard's first-hand experiences and how much of it is pure spot-on imagination especially when it comes to the trials and tribulations of running the guesthouse! Yeah, yeah ... there's a darling romance thrown in but for me what absolutely got me all riled up and emotional were the business aspects -- probably because I've been-there/done-that to some degree with much of it. Hospitality isn't always a happy-go-lucky industry to be working in. There were times when I found myself clenching my jaw and tensing my shoulders in empathy! 

I've absolutely fallen in love with the vast majority of the characters in and around the guesthouse. Once again I felt myself longing for a Rupert of my own in times of crisis -- personal or business-related. While we're at it, I'll also take some friends like Sophie and Ellie. I'd also be more than happy with a Gloria, as well .... as long as it's the canine version. What I really want, though, is at least one more book with all of them. 

"First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros" is the first paragraph (or two) of a book being read now or in the future and is hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. "Teaser Tuesday" from Books and a Beat asks for a random line or two from anywhere in the book currently being read.