This book was really good, and so well written! The characters are the highlight of this whole story, as is the small town where it takes place…
I will say that I would have enjoyed the journey more had this book been narrated in first person. That would’ve allowed for more connection with the characters. ,

marlowe's exhusband dies in a car accident, she moves to Bramble, Kentucky for a fresh start. she falls in love with the town and its people.

Another wonderful read by Ms. Foster.

Marlow is ready for a change. Her ex-husband recently died in a car accident and Marlow is ready to get far away from his family business (where she worked) and his parents. She heads to Bramble, Kentucky where she rents a cottage. Marlow falls in love with Bramble and the people in it including her landlord Cort. All seems to be going well, Marlow gets a job at the local bar, she's looking for a building to make into her own shop, and she's developing a relationship with Cort, until who should show up at her doorstep but Pixie, the woman her ex-husband had an affair with. Pixie isn't alone, she has a baby with her. Read this one to see what happens with Marlow and Cort, Marlow and Pixie and Marlow, Pixie and her ex's parents. Plus see if the people of Bramble accept Marlow and Pixie and ultimately let them permanently join their small community. Pick this one up in May 2025.

Marlow was having trouble with her husband Dylan. He had an affair and was not the best husband. She was already preparing for a divorce when tragedy struck her once again. She decided that it would be better for her to get away from her in laws and everything. She decided to move away to the guest cottage where her life would be simple. She didn't expect to find that the simple life was what she needed. When she started to live her life in peace, she discovered that life didn't stop just because she left. Her trouble sorta followed her! This is when life sometimes shows you that you can make life what you want to.

It was a great read. I loved the way it was without major drama. It was just a honest to goodness feel good kind of story. Lori Foster is the best!

I could not put the book down!! I can’t wait to read more in this series!!

A perfect book for a cold day/night. It's heartwarming and emotional in so many ways. I live that the female protagonist is so strong and emotionally aware of herself in so many ways and same for the male protagonist too. Loved the twist in the middle of the book, I really believed it and just loved how the community came together. Honestly it just warmed my heartt so much with how I wished the world was and could be if we all did out bit to help those around us for nothing but because it's the right thing to do period. Also don't worry there's plenty of steaminess added in too.
I'm sucked in now, get ready for a Lori Foster marathon.

Thank you to NetGalley for this digital arc - I was in the mood for a cozy romance and this hit the spot! After a tough divorce and sudden death of her cheating husband, Marlow decides to pick up her life and move to Bramble, Kentucky in hopes of starting over. She rents a property on the lake and befriends the landlord/neighbor of the home. I am not going to spoil anything here, but love is in the air! What a great book, with great believable characters - looking forward to more in the series.

Marlow Heddings has come to the conclusion that the only way to fully put her old life behind her and escape the clutches of her in-laws is to pack up her belongings and head to Bramble, Kentucky. She has found the perfect place to start over, a cottage in a small town where no one knows her, and far enough away from Chicago that her old life won't catch up to her... or so she hopes.

The pages of The Guest Cottage hold a slow burn love story that is destined to hit you straight in the heart! Marlow has had her fair share of misfortune and has decided now is the perfect time for a life reboot and she is hoping the folks in Bramble will help her find it... well one in particular anyway. Meeting Cort Easton was unexpected but also intriguing, never has she met a man quite like him. She wasn't looking for love or even a relationship for that matter, but it found her anyway.

What she finds with Cort is something she never knew she needed, he helps her fight her demons, heal her heart and gives her hope for a future she never thought she'd have. It's such a beautiful thing to watch unfold, to see them both show growth, find the healing they needed, and open their hearts to a love they never thought was possible.

I have to say Ms. Foster really knocked it out of the park with this one, from beginning to end she had me captivated by her every word. Highly recommend you take a chance on this one, it's a beautiful and heartwarming love story that should not be missed!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

Another wonderful story by Lori Foster. The story of Marlow is uplifting and inspiring. How she is able to pick up the pieces of her life and start over is terrific. The characters in this story are people that you would hoe for in your life. The story of Cort and Marlow is endearing and powerful. I would highly recommend reading this and getting lost in the town of Bramble.

I really loved this book, there was such a great feeling throughout the story and set in what sounded a beautiful setting.

Marlow is starting over. She was divorcing her cheating husband when he unexpectedly died, so whilst she's still continuing with her moving on (quitting her job/moving house) she feels some sympathy towards his parents, even though they are very controlling (rich/very conscious about their social standing). As far as they are concerned their son was a saint, which he obviously wasn't.

She moves to a wonderful sounding little town with a small population and rents a property on a lake, making friends with her landlord and neighbour, Cort, who eventually becomes more than just a friend, and her life is going great - albeit with a lot of pestering from the ex-in laws. But then Pixie (ex-girlfriend of the ex-husband) arrives and everything is thrown into a tailspin!

Marlow was such a lovely character, strong but very sympathetic and understanding, always willing to give people a chance and do the right thing, but all without being a pushover. Quite a fine line to balance but she managed it. The ex-in laws were a complete nightmare for most of the story, but Marlow, Pixie and Cort stood strong against them and everything was eventually sorted out.

A really lovely read that I would thoroughly recommend, wonderful main characters and great side characters too, I didn't want it to end - and as this seems to be the first of a new series I can't wait to return to Bramble in the next book.

Lori Foster is an author that I know I will enjoy. Her latest book, The Guest Cottage is one that you will enjoy if you like her work.

This is story follows Marlow’s journey to redefine herself and heal after the death of her estranged adulterous husband . She moves to the small community of Bramble and rents a small lakeside vacation cottage from Cort Easton. This is a wonderful feel good read full of quirky characters , friendship, community, twists and you find out that not everything as it first appears . This is an ideal read for a lazy day curled up on the sofa with a hot drink 5/5

Exceeded my expectations! I have loved Lori Foster’s books in the past and this did not disappoint. A great cozy, feel good read. An inspiring, light romance that inspires us all to be a better version of ourselves. Will be putting this on my shelf to read again!

Wow - I loved this book! Marlow lands in the small town of Brambles after the death of her estranged husband. She mostly looking for a place to heal and redefine herself. What she actually finds is a place to call home, a bright outlook, people who really care, forgiveness, love, and family. I loved the characters of Marlow, Cort, Pixie, and Herman, as well as other residents of this quirky little town. I was delighted to see that it’s the first book in a new series - I’m looking forward to a return to Brambles!

The Guest Cottage is the first book in a new series by Lori Foster. The emotional connection between the main character, Marlow and Cort is evident from their first interaction. Marlow moved to Bramble to start over after a devastating divorce and found a town that became her family. I loved this book and can’t wait to see whose story is next. Thank you to Net Galley for this book.

I felt this book in my heart. I know, a bunch of people will say you are kidding me right? Nope. I have read a lot of Ms. Foster’s books. I know what to kinda expect. Action, romance, thriller. Whatever, the blog on the book says, right? Wrong! This one doesn’t even get close. I could tell you all about Marlow and Cort, or Froggy’s, or sunrise’s, or fireflies, thunderstorms, sibling squabbles just everyday things. I could write something romantic or heartbreaking, but I am not. The truth is the best feeling book I have read in a long time. I feel like smiling when I think of Marlow. My heart feels lighter, I felt whatever was happening in the story, that is how alive this story is. The only thing I can say, is read and experience the world through the eyes of Marlow.

Intriguing suspense with a touch of romance!

If you wish to start a new series and discover the introduction to Bramble, do read Lori Foster’s new book The Guest Cottage. You’ll enjoy a romantic suspense with charming characters. It has all the ingredients to keep your mind intrigued! I was hooked from the first chapter. You'll want to find out what's coming next.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Sometimes all a person needs is for someone to “get it”, to just understand, to grant a bit of grace. Sometimes a person might need a small helping hand or just for an individual not to squash any opportunity that might present itself. I hope this is the time in your life that you meet someone like Marlow. This is a great story about looking beyond the façade and really seeing what might be the reason behind actions. It is a story about treating people how you would like to be treated and what it looks like to “walk the walk”. You are going to fall in love with Marlow, Cort, Pixie, and all the secondary characters – even the ‘evil doers’ throw you a twist in the end. Beautiful and heart warming!

Welcome to Bramble, Kentucky, a unique town that keeps its population tightly controlled. No one is allowed to permanently move here unless approved by the “originals.”

Marlow Heddings is looking to start fresh by renting a vacation home in Bramble. She has lost herself after finding her husband was cheating and then died before their divorce could be final. Bramble seems to be the perfect place to heal.

Cort Easton moved his mother to Bramble several years prior to leaving the military and stayed after she passed. Bramble accepted his mom and they’ve also accepted him.

Bramble is the perfect place for two people who are lost in their own ways, to find themselves again and to find each other.

Such a fantastic book! Marlow is so positively optimistic even after everything she goes through. Cort is so understanding and supportive. I love all the characters in Bramble as well, such a hoot.

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader copy of this book.*

This is a lovely, feel good story. Marlow Hedding has just left her almost-ex husband's funeral but she is not sad, she just wants to get away and start fresh, the reason being is she found out he had cheated on her and then got angry that she wouldn't overlook his bad behaviour. Marlow is strong, kind woman, who doesn't let people walk all over her. She flees to the town of Bramble where she ultimately finds the happiness she deserves with her landlord Cort Eastman. There are some big surprises, all good. This story is all about healing, second chances, and finding strength in unexpected bonds, and how your best parts of life often come after lots of heartache.

Marlow Heddings is one of the most positive, and (almost) realistically portrayed characters I’ve read in a hot minute! She isn’t so nice that she’s dripping unbelievable sugary sweetness; she’s just a really well-balanced character for me to cheer for. Marlow definitely has more than her fair share of drama, but how she chooses to tackle the problems…yeah, I found myself smiling more often than not at her solutions!

As a love interest, Cort Easton checks all the boxes, but I also appreciate how he chooses to deal with his issues too. Like Marlow, he takes his fair share of responsibility thoughtfully as well as seriously. And I like how he tackles issues head on instead of shying away from them.

Pixie Nolan-that girl is blessed with a heart of gold and one would think she needs a whole lot of love to overcome what’s happened to her. Cue Marlow, Cort, and the residents of Bramble and yes, I’m going to say it’s the Hallmark movie moment I was hoping would happen!

The Guest Cottage contains small town charm, close friends and misguided foes, and a sweet-ish romance-think closed door love scenes…that’s what your imagination is for!

Overall, the book just hit the warm, fuzzy spots and I’ve been smiling ever since!

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley/Kensington Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.