Synopsis
Lavander Cottage, Yorkshire’s finest B&B, is owner Janet Jackson’s pride and joy. Now, after a year of running it and coming out alive, she’s set her heart on becoming a Superhost. For that Janet will need a bloomin great tsunami of 5 star reviews- despite the many obstacles that stand in her way.
Number one, of course, is the guests themselves. Their strange requests, habits and lasting damage to her garden, the cottage and her sanity, are a non- stop challenge.
Add in the piles of laundry, sleepless nights, scary spreadsheets, sneaky neighbours, and sex with no strings . . . and her goal seems far away.
Yet despite an endless run of dramas, and thanks to her passion for hospitality and home baking, Janet may find she is just a Lemon Drizzle cake or two away from a 5-star life.
My Review
A year ago Janet Jackson turned her garage into a B&B which she named Lavandar Cottage. With the bookings going well Janet has a new goal in mind and that is to become a Superhost. But will Janet achieve her goal?
I have been looking forward to another trip to Lavandar Cottage to visit and catch up with Janet and her family. After reading the first book which I thoroughly enjoyed I couldn’t wait to find out where Janet was and how she was getting on. As much as I enjoyed the first book I think I enjoyed this one even more.
A year on Lavandar Cottage is thriving and has become a success, more of a success than Janet ever thought it would be. But it’s not only Lavandar Cottage that Janet has to contend with. I loved the storyline. It was quirky, funny and full of warmth. The more I read the more I found myself either smiling or laughing. Lavandar Cottage is a place I’d love to visit.
One of my favourite aspects of the story was meeting the different people that come to stay at the cottage because they are all so unique. Whether that is a group attending a wedding, a group visiting for a sports event or a father and his sons whose hobby is stargazing. One of the visitors that I was really intrigued about was definitely Laura the neighbour who we encountered in the first book that was against Janet establishing the B&B. Due to unforeseen circumstances Laura has to stay at the cottage and I’m not sure how Janet kept her temper while Laura was there because Laura is very picky. Having said that it was good to see Laura get her comeuppance.
What I like about Janet’s character is that she’s very strong and never gives up despite her world being completely hectic. She has her job as a dental receptionist, runs Lavandar Cottage and runs her own household which consists of her daughter Chloe, her sister Mitzi (previously known as Maureen) and Mitzi’s partner Carl. On top of all of this she also has building work taking place which means her house and garden is always full of people. Janet also discovers that she has a love for baking and this is something that she starts to incorporate into her day to day life which leads to the creation of the Scones and Spirits Festival. In this book we also see a bit more of Janet’s personal life and there is romance on the cards but it doesn’t quite turn out as Janet expects. It was interesting to see Janet’s character develop between the first book and this book. In the first book Janet is taking her first steps into the B&B world, she is reluctant and has a lot to learn. When we meet Janet in this book she is a pro at being a B&B host.
Author Bio
Becky Papworth has been writing since she was seven, when she won a prize for her Mother’s day poem from Bradford’s Telegraph & Argus. With further writing credits on CBBC and BBC Radio. Her play ‘Miscreant Mothers’ for BBC Radio 3 was nominated for the prestigious Tinniswood award. She has an MA with distinction in Scriptwriting from Salford University. Her career as a TV Exec has kept her busy over the last few years, working on shows like; ‘Citizen Khan’, ‘Rab C Nesbitt’, ‘Gavin & Stacey’, ‘The Royle Family’ and ‘I love the 80’s’.
Rebecca was the first woman to produce ‘Have I Got News For You’ and is responsible for ‘Steph’s Packed Lunch’, Channel 4’s landmark daytime series.
In her spare time Rebecca kills houseplants and attempts to control two teenage daughters.
Social Media Links –
http://www.beckypapworth.com
https://twitter.com/beckypapworth1
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