An inspirational follow-up to A Trip to the Beach describes how the authors transformed their own lives and explains how self-trust, personal adjustment, and daily acts of commitment can bring new fulfillment to one's own life.
This true story recounts the journey of a husband and wife who leave civilization behind to establish a small restaurant on a Caribbean island, only to find that paradise comes with its own challenges. Filled with calamities, comedy, culinary disasters, and triumphs, it paints vivid portraits of the people living and working in this beautiful setting. The couple, Bob and Melinda Blanchard, sell their successful Vermont food business and impulsively decide to open a beach bar and grill on Anguilla, their favorite island. What starts as a simple grill evolves into an enchanting restaurant that garners four-star reviews and attracts a celebrity clientele eager for Melinda's exquisite cooking. During the bustling Christmas "high season," the Blanchards and their dedicated kitchen staff—Clinton and Ozzie, the lively sous-chefs; Shabby, the master lobster-wrangler; and Bug, the dish-washing comedian—work together seamlessly amidst the chaos. As they adapt to island life, they grow fond of its unique rhythms and customs. However, disaster strikes when Hurricane Luis, a category-4 storm, devastates Anguilla, leaving the couple to ponder whether staying on the island, with all its challenges, is worth it. This affectionate and humorous narrative serves as a love letter to a place that becomes both home and refuge.