Awww what an absolutely wonderful and heartwarming story. Lori Foster sure knows how to write an engaging story that totally tugged at my heartstrings. I can't believe how special Marlow was. She is someone to look up to and she had such a big and forgiving heart. I'm so happy she found her happiness after her life imploded. I've been reading Lori Foster for many years and I believe this must be the first book that she's written that had the love scenes behind closed doors. I was surprised at first because I was so used to a certain level of sexiness in her books but Marlow and Cort's chemistry was still there and they were so cute together. I really enjoyed their story even without the spiciness I'm used to. I highly recommend this story of forgiveness and moving on and learning to find yourself and your own happiness. Marlow sure knew what she was doing.

*I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book*

A really enjoyable read that i flew through in one sitting, I couldn't put it down and I didn't guess the ending at all. I will definitely be looking for more from this author

I loved reading this book! Definitely a recommend for the summer. I truly loved the small town bond with the characters. The story line was done very well. I wish there was more background on Cort. The end took me by surprise.

A woman leaves behind her life for a small town and a big change. Overcoming betrayal, resentment, and grief, Marlow is determined to find her own way in a new place. Little does she know that her new life will be the one she always wanted and hoped for! This book gives readers so much hope for overcoming obstacles and finding a way to be happy. Not to mention, women actually supporting and rooting for other women! Great, easy read!

This book is an easy, fun read! Well developed characters and unpredictable situations and outcomes! It hones in on the importance of friends and family relationships not necessarily family by birth but rather chosen.

This book was worth reading, I love every bit of the writing. It was a dynamic, exciting and engaging small town romance with great lead characters and absolutely beautiful supporting characters (aside from the inlaws) they made my eyes rol. Overall i highly recommend this wonderful book , it was absolutely worth reading.

The Guest Cottage is the perfect book for a romantic weekend read! I especially enjoyed the themes of friendship and found family within the town of Bramble.

Marlow's journey of self-discovery after the death of her ex-husband was compelling. This cozy, sweet romance by Lori Foster has made me eager to read more of her books. I'm giving this one 4.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster
Story follows Marlow and she's left the ex husbands family company and now that he's passed away she wants to leave, to find herself and be happy.
The in laws find her eventually after she's established herself in a town a few hours away, a country town where the community are behind one another.
She rents a lake house from Cort who has his house in the area and another house he rents out. the town has decided no others can move there, population control, til they take another vote...
Marlow is working at the bar/restaurant and loving it, she has the rhythm for it. Cort helps others with handyman tasks and he is an ex marine.
An unrelated woman and baby approach her and she listens to her story... Pixie and Andy and the mother is very ill and others in town help take care of them.
Pixie opens up to Marlow and they come to agreements on certain subjects and she'd be a perfect fit for the store Marlow ha sin mind to run in a nearby town.
Love the relationships, the turmoil and the twists and turns, scary as they are and how they all have solutions for them. Love morning cup with sun in your face at waters edge, nothing like it, so calming and peaceful.
Love how it ends and leaves it open so we can hear more of Pixie's story with updates from Cort and Marlow.
Love details, descriptions, relationships and atmosphere, and the location.
Cant' wait to read more from this author.
Received this review copy from Kensington Publishing a via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Marlow Heddings has just buried her cheating husband. She is leaving his family's business and moving to a small town. She is renting a small cottage and leaving all the appearances of wealth behind. Arriving in tiny Bramble, Kentucky, Marlow is taking with the peace and quiet she was looking for after years of hard work.
Her landlord is former Marine Cort Easton, and he lives just up the hill from her cottage. They start spending time on the dock with morning coffee. Marlow is looking for property to start a small business during the day. She decides to go to work a the local pub as a waitress to help fill her time. Her former mother-in-law is a force to be reckoned with; she wants Marlow back at the office in her former position. She doesn't want to admit that her son was cheating on Marlow and that they were not in the middle of a divorce when he died. I
I love the story line and look forward to more books like this one from Lori.

This story was incredibly unique for me! FMC, Marlow is determined to start anew once her cheating husband passes away. While her in-laws refuse to think her husband could do such a thing, Marlow decides its time to find a new community. She moves to Bramble in hopes of finding that community and herself post marriage - then comes a woman named Pixie and her baby....the baby that is also Marlow's husbands. This story was so unique because Marlow not only is in search of a new life later in life but she opens her life up to Pixie and her baby boy even thought it could be incredibly awkward. Soon Marlow has taken in Pixie and fallen for her landlord, Cort. Their romance starts as friendship but as all small town romances tend to go - they become more than friends. I am pleased I was able to read this story and hope others enjoy it as much as I did! Thank you for the e-arc!

- Small town
- Military
- Healing journey
- No third-act breakup
- Supportive hero

When Marlow's soon-to-be ex-husband is killed in a car crash, she leaves her suffocating life to start over. She rents a cute lake house in a faraway small town called Bramble. Her landlord, Cort, is the town hero and a former Marine. As Marlow and Cort slowly fall into each other, Marlow's in-laws, rife with grief, won't stop harassing her to come back. One day, her late husband's mistress shows up with his (surprise!) baby. What will Marlow do?

The plot was promising. Marlow's strength and desire to move on were palpable. I loved the detail about her learning how to braid her hair. It was nice to read about women supporting women and the transformative power that can hold. I loved the descriptions of the town and Cort's property. The side characters (minus the in-laws) were wonderful and the town certainly held charm.

That being said, "The Guest Cottage" was not for me. I found it bland and the romance aspect left a lot to be desired—I wanted more tension. More than that, though, I needed Cort's Marine status and Marlow's financial advantage to stop being side characters. Although the main characters were young (early/mid-30s), the book's voice skewed older and more classic literature than modern. I would consider this book to be Women's Lit, not Romance. To me, this is a book film studios pick up to adapt and make more interesting for the screen.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

I often wish I could find my own cottage on the lake where I could escape and create a beautiful simple life. Foster paints an amazing picture in this quaint yet odd town in the middle of nowhere.

Interesting dynamics abound between a city girl in desperate need of a change and her hot new landlord and I love them all.

The story has so many different levels to it. Between divorce and death, and mother-in-law‘s, father’s in-laws, quirky residents who stand up for you and protect you. Amazing family dynamics that develop out of nowhere. And of course, a blooming romance with an amazing male character.

There’s so much to love about the story. The strength of a woman. The kindness of others. A strong supportive man. Descriptions of a beautiful home on the lake

Foster wins us over with every paragraph. The story is dynamic, exciting, and she throws in many surprises along the way. Her descriptions and characters are vivid and leave a lasting impression.

This clean romance is a perfect summer read that takes you through an awesome experience that will make your heart sing. Love it!

A great summer read by Lori Foster. A heartwarming story about loss, love, forgiveness, and moving on. Definitely throw this one in your summer beach bag!

Thank you #netgalley and #kensingtonbooks for the eARC.

The Guest Cottage is an enjoyable book to read about new beginnings and becoming part of a small town community. As you read this book you will become enchanted by the residents of Bramble, Kentucky and the visitors to this tight-knit community. I highly recommend this book.

The struggles of Marlow Hedding ended and began when her cheating husband died. Her in-laws refused to believe he was anything but saintly. Marlow was completely done with them. When she moved to Bramble to restore herself, she also found a community and a man to love. The arrival of Pixie and her infant son (of her ex) was a shock. Marlow’s heart opened to her and life again began to change.
A completely lovely story of a woman’s strength and determination.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Guest Cottage is a cute small town romance . The book is full of love , friendship and family.
Marlo’ moves to Bramble to find herself and start over after her soon to be ex-husband dies suddenly. While she starts to find herself place , her in-laws try to convince her to come home to keep up their family appearances and business. She finds herself a fast friend and new Romantic interest in Cort, her landlord.
Lori Foster always does a wonderful job drawing you into a story . Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.

I loved this book! My heart broke for Marlow and all she endured in her loveless marriage and with how her in laws treated her but I was so proud of her for moving on once her marriage was over. Little did she know that her new landlord Cort would help her heal. Her friendship with Cort grew organically and I appreciated how helpful he was to her but also helped her forge her new path in life. The town of Bramble is full of fun and quirky characters and I can't wait to go back and watch others in that town find their HEA.

Another amazing book by Lori Foster. I love the characters and each of their personalities. I love how the storyline is. Everything about this book is just so amazing.

The Guest Cottage is a cozy romance that leans heavily into the sweet side—so sweet, in fact, it might just give you a toothache. The characters are kind-hearted, and everyone seems to have nothing but the best intentions, which makes for a feel-good, low-stress read. There’s no spice here, just gentle, closed-door romance, making it perfect for readers who prefer their love stories clean. While the plot doesn’t offer many surprises, it’s an easy, breezy read that kept me entertained throughout. A solid pick when you’re in the mood for something light and heartwarming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Hardcover for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is an amazing story of love, growth, forgiveness, moving on and family. It’s a beautifully written book! The perfect cozy read to get your emotions flowing! The little town is charming and the banter between the characters is perfect. I wanted to not like Pixie but you can help but accept her the same way Marlow does. The found family aspect is a deserving end for Marlow!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book!