After the death of her cheating husband Marlow has moved to the quirky little town of Bramble Kentucky. Here she will reinvent herself, find love, and confront her past. Lovely story.

4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for access to the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a cozy small town romance. Marlow was betrayed by her husband who had an affair. He was shocked when she filed for divorce and died before the divorce was final. Marlow lives under the watch of her controlling in laws and has had enough of big city living. She moves from Chicago to a small town in rural Kentucky. She rents a home from Cort.

Cort is a former Marine who has recently list his beloved mother. He rents a home to Marlow and becomes smitten with her on day 1. Cort helps Marlow adapt to small town living and she gets a job locally.

Marlow can't outrun the shadows of her past when her husbands mistress shows up at her door, young baby in tow. She claims the father of the baby is Marlows ex. Also her in-laws come begging her to return to running their business.

Marlow doesn't hold grudges for the baby or mistress, who claims to have dumped the ex once she found out he was married. She helps her out whole continuing her romance with Cort.

My only issues with the book is that Corts personality and background is just too perfect and not fleshed out. I wanted to know about his background in other romantic relationship or see some faults or drama ( beyond his abusive father).

Also I could have done without the pov of the mistress randomly thrown in because although I did enjoy seeing how caring Marliw was with her and her child, I didn't find it necessary to know her inside thoughts.

Overall I enjoyed reading 📚 this book and think it's a awesome small town hero meets fleeing, traymitized big city woman. Together they patch eachother back together and heal their 💕 hearts.

I really enjoy these kind of stories where the lead character leaves her busy city life and heads for the quieter small town life to reinvent or find herself & that is exactly what Marlow does in this book. Throw in a dead unfaithful husband and some over bearing in laws & you have just enough drama to keep reading

Marlow leaves her job in her husband’s family business in Chicago, her home, and her former life to start a new life in the tiny town of Bramble, Kentucky. She may have been hurt, cheated on, lied to, and more, but she chooses to look at the positive and move forward. What greets her in Bramble is peace, contentment, amazing sunrises, wonderful people, fireflies, and an extremely hot landlord, Cort. Neither one is looking for a relationship but the more time they spend together, the more they realize the other is exactly what they’ve been missing in their lives. When Marlow’s past comes knocking on her door, more than once, she takes a stand, remains firm, and comes up with unique solutions to the problems thrown at her. Cort is by her side every step of the way.

I loved this heartwarming story about new beginnings, second chances, new friendships, belonging, healing, personal growth, and more! A great story with several strong female characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A modern day novel that deals with the aftermath of a divorce and a new love. Just when you think the book is not going to deliver, a surprise shows up which makes the book definitely more interesting.

The writing is fine, the story is fine, but it wasn’t my type of book. I do believe that other readers might enjoy it, it just didn’t resonate with me.

Thank you very much Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read an ARC and I’m sorry I can’t be more excited about it.

THE GUEST COTTAGE is a story about new beginnings. Quite a few of them actually. Lori Foster developed some interesting characters all of whom had a myriad of steps to take toward normal and happy. Lots of angst and mashed feelings abound. But in this little hamlet of a town called Bramble there is a mystique that makes the air lighter and life brighter.
For newcomer Marlow Bramble was a huge step away from the lifestyle she was accustomed to. She was walking away from a career and society that had been comfortable for a while. But with the death of her soon to be ex-husband life has become suffocating. Dylan’s car accident had been the ending salvo of a marriage gone wrong. And Marlow had to face the possibility that their marriage had really decayed past the point of any resurrection.
She was so involved with her role in the family business that she neglected to see the huge gap in her relationship with Dylan. But the evidence was staring her in the face and that’s when she decided to break away. Renting a small cottage in an exceedingly small and unique town made sense. And the longer she stayed the more Marlow recovered her pride and self-confidence.
It didn’t hurt that she lucked out with an amazing new neighbor who was also her landlord. And the townsfolk of Bramble couldn’t have been nicer. But in the back of her mind she knew this could only be a temporary respite from her previous life. You see Bramble was fastidious about the population growth of their small community. No new citizens allowed. Only short time visitors. Bramble was a guest town, and Marlow was an inhabitant of a guest cottage. Plain and simple.
Here's where the genius of Lori Foster begins to shine. Could there really be such a place where the citizens hold power over important items such as population. Just what would be the reason for such strong control. We don’t actually find out. But with the folk being so congenial and welcoming to newcomer Marlow we have to hope that they find it in their collective hearts to let her join.
Marlow has moved away from Dylan’s parents as well as the family business. They are still not willing to give up their control. And as Dylans widow they are going to try to flex their muscle. And here’s when the fun begins. Bramble stands united behind their citizens. But how about guests. Well we are about to find out.
THE GUEST COTTAGE is a delightful look into a hamlet. Small towns are all over the USA. Interesting to get a sort of bird’s eye look into what makes them tick. Lori Forster has some fun with THE GUEST COTTAGE. Her dialog is crisp and succinct. Her character development is creative, joyous, and entertaining. This is a fun read and will leave you with a smile on your face.

It was a wonderful book. When Marlow Heddings estranged husband is killed she decides that she needs to start over and moves to Bramble, Kentucky. She rents a guest cottage from Cort Easton and discover that they are kindred souls and both recovering from their past. When their feelings change from friends and their attraction grows Marlow must face her past. With the help of Cort can they weather the storm and build their life together. Loved it!

I adore Lori's books but this one may have just taken the spot of my favorite. The character of Marlow is amazing, awe-inspiring, full of strength and determination. She is starting over after a painful chapter in her past has ended. She finds herself in a guest cottage in Bramble, Kentucky. Her handsome landord, Cort, is a former Marine now enjoying the quiet life on the lake. Soon the two of them form a connection.

In the midst of settling into her new life, Marlow receives a visitor on her doorstep. It's none other than "the other woman" from her past. Young, scared, and with a newborn baby, Pixie enters Marlow's life. As Marlow helps Pixie begin a new chapter in life as well, she grows close to her and the baby, who was fathered by her former husband.

I loved this book so much because it was raw, it was emotional, and it felt real. Starting over is not an easy task, but sometimes, it's the best answer for the head and the heart. Marlow, Cort and Pixie's story is one that I will hold close and remember for a long while to come. Simply put, this is storytelling at it's finest.

This is such a beautiful story! The plot, the writing, the setting, the characters! I loved reading it, which is a shame cause I never wanted it to end!! Truly a beautiful masterpiece.

I loved The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster! It hooked my attention from the beginning to the end!
Small-town settings are my favorite! Awesome characters!
Marlow Heddings, after a marriage of betrayal, decides to live a simpler life in Bramble, Kentucky. Bramble is a small town that wants to remain small. People can visit, but they cannot become permanent residents. It is a peaceful place, a place where Marlow can discover who she really is and what she really wants out of life, instead of living someone else's life.
Marlow rents a small cottage on Rainbow Lake from Cort Easton, a former Marine, who is also working through his own issues.
You really get to see how compassionate the citizens of Bramble, Kentucky are when Pixie Nolan appears on Marlow's doorstep.
This story is full of love, compassion, forgiveness, and the promise of a brighter future!
Awesome read!!!

I love small town, second chance romances. This one had all the feels and could not put it down! I loved Marlow's story and her passion to help others and not turn them away. She was a dealt a bad situation and turned it in to something better. And finding love again was a bonus too!

#TheGuestCottage #NetGalley

This is the first of the "Firefly Summer Series". And don't think it will be 'last' of my reads from this series.

Similar to the author's small town vibes found in her "Visitation, North Carolina series" but this time, it's out west, in Bramble, Kentucky. These small town vibes seep thru the pages with the author's descriptions of the lake, colorful townspeople and the fireflies that flutter in the night sky. The little town takes pride in its compact size and that's just one of the challenges, Marlow, has to overcome.

The author takes time to build the relationship between Cort and Marlow before she introduces Pixie to their story. Too often an author will skip over the foundation which can lead to a shaky plot. Not the case here. How they evolve from landlord/tenant relationship to a romantic one doesn't happen overnight. Their respective pasts are weaved in effortlessly so by the time Pixie's introduced, their dual support makes sense.

Publisher was spot on in classifying this as 'women's fiction' rather than 'romance'. This ARC was provided by the publisher, Kensington Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this! You get the small town side characters that bring a little extra to the story. You have the heroine who was treated badly by her husband so she starts over in the small town where she learns to be herself again. And the best part is the quiet, but steady hero who didn’t realize how much he was missing in his life until he meets the heroine. A few other things happen that I adored but I don’t want to give it all away. I really hope the author has plans for more in this series. It was a lovely read.

The Guest Cottage is a sweet story about love and forgiveness, community and belonging.

Marlow Heddings was in the midst of divorce proceedings from her cruel and philandering husband when he suddenly dies in a car crash. The Heddings family owns a large business conglomerate and Marlow’s now deceased husband is their only child. Their grief is all-consuming and results in expectations of Marlow that are selfish and unrealistic. They consider her an extension of their son and make controlling demands of her to step into his empty shoes and run the company. To Marlow’s way of thinking, she is finally free and fulfills her dream of leaving her life in greater Chicago for a quiet, simple existence living by a lake in the town of Bramble, Kentucky.

Here, she meets her landlord Cort Easton, a much younger, fit, and attractive person than she was expecting. Bramble is a small, exclusive place, with a population ordinance that prohibits newcomers from permanently settling into town. This rule becomes an increasing problem for Cort and Marlow as their relationship progresses and they fall in love.

To further complicate matters, Marlow’s husband’s mistress shows up on her doorstep with his baby. A kid herself, Pixie’s life has fallen apart and she has no family, no money, and nowhere else to go. She prevails upon Marlow to help her in any way she can. Pixie and her son, Andy, quickly worm their way into her heart and Marlow is determined to help Pixie get back on her feet. Marlow becomes a kind of big sister and favorite aunt, especially in the face of the control that her former in-laws continue to try to exert on her. When they discover that Marlow is sheltering Pixie, they up their harassment and ultimately want to pay money to Pixie to get out of town. (I had trouble reconciling this part. Pixie had left greater Chicago to seek shelter in Kentucky, so, technically, wasn’t she already out of town? This part of the plot missed its mark a bit for me, but, then again, people can do crazy things when they are grieving. If I misinterpreted this situation, please let me know!)

The whole town has fallen in love with Marlow, Pixie, and the baby, and they ultimately vote to change the population ordinance to instead restrict new development rather than new neighbors. Cort is their adopted hometown hero and, of course, they want a happily ever after for him and Marlow, too.

Bramble is a sweet little town full of lively secondary characters that bring humor and depth to the story. For Lori Foster fans, you may want to note that this book does not have the steamy love scenes or suspense that you may be accustomed to in her other books. The Guest Cottage is purely cozy women’s fiction and I found it delightful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

:Lori Foster’s “The Guest Cottage” was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Her characters give us wonderful examples of forgiveness, selflessness, and loyalty. This novel gives us an entertaining story of resiliency and love.

Lori Foster is an expert at creating small towns that have warm (sometimes eccentric) characters that make you want to move to that town. Marlow is looking for a fresh start and place to heal after a contentious divorce. She couldn’t find a better place than Bramble. It’s a small town determined to keep its population down and the atmosphere the town has created. As Marlow integrates into the town as a temporary resident, she begins to heal and gets attached to many of its citizens, most especially her landlord and former Marine, Cort. After further complications in her life and the townspeople provide support and encouragement, she discovers that Bramble is the place she wants to call home. I’m hoping there are more stories coming in Bramble.

Loved this book. Marlow was married to Dylan but getting a divorced that just about final when he was killed in a car crash. Right after the funeral , Marlow explained to her in laws that she was quitting her job(she worked in the family business) selling the house and moving on. to start a new life. They are having a hard time accepting Dylan's death. Marlow moves to Bramble Kentucky. She rent a cottage from a marine named Cort, goes to work as a waitress in the pub and ends up taking care of Piixie, who has Dylan'd baby Andy and comes to her destitute Follow her through this journey and see how it turns out . So many questions for the read to find the answers too. A GREAT READ

I hope to never be put in the predicament that Marlow was put in. But if I were, I know that I would not have handled it with the grace that she did. That's not something that's taught. You either have it or you don't.
Cort is a natural protector. Marlow and Cort make the most perfect couple. I can't help but root for them. Pixie comes along and added another level of closeness to this already lovely story.

Marlow Heddings finds out about her husband Dylan’s affair with a younger woman. She files for divorce and after devastating news, she packs up and moves to Bramble, Kentucky. She is renting a little house by the lake and she is loving it. Her landlord is a handsome former Marine Cort Easton. Cort brought his mother to Bramble years ago where the town looked out for her while he was away. He is the towns handyman and has his own past that still haunts him. They start having coffee on the dock and watching fireflies at night. One day there’s a knock on Marlow’s door and it’s the other woman. Pixie Nolan can’t believe she fell for Dylan’s lies but now she turns to Marlow for help. Marlow forgives Pixie and helps her against her in-laws. Marlow becomes like a big sister to Pixie. Now they just have to convince the townspeople to let them stay.
I have read many of Mrs. Foster’s books and this one was very emotional. There is no explicit sex scenes. Just a couple of curse words. It will tug at your heartstrings. Marlow is a strong , forgiving woman. I teared up towards the end. Secrets. Forgiveness. Second chance for love.

* VOLUNTARILY READ AND REVIEWED FOR NETGALLEY *

This was such a really good read. I went into this book without reading the synopsis of it because I always know this author will give me a great story. I loved Marlow and Cort. Seeing Marlow find herself after the death of her husband was really what kept me glued to the story. I love how through everything that happened, she just seemed to roll with it and not let it suffocate her or stifle her. I also loved discovering who Cort was. And as always with her books, you have some amazing secondary characters that you find yourself invested in. I absolutely recommend this book.