This was a good read. the way the town of Bramble was described, I want to move there!
Marlow is starting over after the death of her almost ex husband. Picking the town of Bramble, where no one can move to due to the town laws, shw finds herself and heals.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next installment
thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy

Invested from page 1 in the plot and the characters. Absolutely loved the life that weaved through Guest Cottage. The ups and downs of relationships, the good, the bitter, the bad, the different outlooks on life and what steps one takes. Marlow passing on her 10-year life due to a cheating husband. Meeting her hottie landlord, ex-marine Court. Marlow is learning to unwind and invest in herself. Then Pixie shows up and throws a wrench in the works. Small town atmosphere, gossip with heart and so much more. I read this in one setting as I was transported to Brambley, Kentucky and these people became my friends. I adored The Guest Cottage and since it says Firefly Summer #1 then I am saying this will become a series. Thank you for the advanced copy. I freely share my honest thoughts and opinions. #TheGuestCottage #FireflySummer #LoriFoster #Kensington #NetGalley

Lori Foster is a phenomenal writer. She wrote this beautiful book that is sweet, romantic and really gets you into the benefits of living in a small town. It shows you how there is no privacy in a small town but they also will stand behind the members of their community no matter what. I really loved Cort, Marlow and Andy in this story. I got this book from Netgalley and really appreciate the opportunity to read and review this story.

i sat down and read this in one. i did stop for the odd break because sadly life seems to still need to happen around books haha. but yeh, pretty much in one. because i fell in love with this book and how Lori wrote it. it was almost like i was picturing her scene setting and characters in some kind of beautiful movie in my head.
i love these kind of books. but i also love it with an ache. because i would love to go start over, in a town with a supportive and quirky community, with a place the by lake with those still water calming views. with the beautiful home, beautiful scenes and what promises to be maybe a beautiful life going forward. oh and yeh ok the gorgeous hero man might be ok. might...
but seriously this was everything you could ever want going into this book.
and its not like we can say this book or this womans life was unrealistic perfect. ermm no! did you not read all she has been through just to get to this point? and its not like there still wont be obstacles that literally come knocking on her door. but she takes it was such steadfast bravery and strength. she learns. she shits, she grows. and she also lets others in too which cant be easy given what her ex and ex family are like. sheeesh this is where we use the word no contact or super duper rigid boundaries people!
this book was one you sit and feel warmed by. just love it.

A lovely story. More than a romance. Lots of heartwarming and heartbreaking events. I am thrilled to see this is the first of a series. I look forward to returning to this town and the interesting variety of characters. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy. My review is voluntary.

Lori always amazes me, this story is no different. I am once again amazed. Of course I love the small town camaraderie , the family dynamics and drama. Because I consider Lori a friend I feel I know her a little bit. I think her character of Marlow Hedding’s is somewhat based on Lori herself.
A warm, forgiving, compassionate woman. With a generous heart and always looking for the positive.

What would you do if your husband‘s mistress shows up at your door with his baby?
What would you do if you’re in-laws were harassing you because they think their son can do no wrong?
What would you do if your sexy good looking landlord wants to be more than just a landlord ?

Well, if you want to find out the answer to these questions, you should pre-order your copy now. This amazing story will release on May 27,2025. It is definitely a five star read!

The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster was one of those reads that you just know has to end correctly. The main characters are people you would want to be friends with. I found myself cheering for them as they worked through situations. The book is listed as the first novel in a series called A Firefly Summer.

The book introduces us to Marlow at her husband’s graveside service. From the outset it is clear that the husband had the audacity to die, before Marlow’s divorce came through. However on the positive side, it left her with more funds and a clear break. Her in-laws saw this as an opportunity for Marlow to mourn her husband while continuing to work for their company and grieve with them about the unfortunate death of their beloved son.”

Marlow, determined to live a different style of life, moved to a small town in Kentucky on a beautiful lake where she rented a house. The peace and serenity was just what she wanted for her life. Her new landlord Cort was worming his way into her life when the “other woman” showed up and her in-laws would not let her go.
‘
Marlow was a strong character who I really enjoyed. She was thoughtful and clear in expressing herself and showed a strong moral compass (unlike some other characters). Cort was a great character for her to form a relationship. I especially liked how he let her make her decisions without prodding or prompting her on what to do.

I enjoyed reading the Guest Cottage by Lori Foster and would recommend the novel to others. PS I get dibs on the guest cottage next!

The book will be published on the 27th of May.

The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster

This is a book about finding yourself and finding your place in the world. 
Marlow is starting over after dealing with betrayal, she just wants to find her peace.  Finding Bramble and the lovely people there has shown her there is more to life than boardrooms and business suits. Trading in her couture for comfort and her meetings for sunrises on the lake has been a balm to her.  Getting to know Cort and learning to trust again is a huge bonus. 
Cort doesn't see himself as a hero. Yes, he's a Marine. And yes, he's overcome a horrible childhood. But Bramble saved his mother and now it's part of him. So when the unexpected happens he stops fighting the draw of Marlow. Now he's determined to show her the strength and beauty she brings to everyone she touches.

Lori Foster just can't write a bad story. This one was so good. It was sweet, romantic and told all the good things that a small town can do for a person. Small towns know all your business but they also stand behind you when you need it. Cort and Marlow were wonderful charactes then Pixie and Andy joined the story and how could you not love them. Marlow was especially a wonderful person that just couldn't help helping others.
I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Such a sweet story of compassion, forgiveness and love. The characters were wonderful and easy to love. There was sex, but no endless explicit graphics. It was presented in respectful manner, and not to titillate. I finished it in one sitting, because I just couldn’t find a stopping place within the story. I read an ARC and this is my honest review.

Welcome to Bramble, Kentucky! Marlow fights to move there permanently after the death of her almost ex. Cort was a great guy and helps Marlow (and then more). These were great characters and it was a quirky town. More women's fiction, less romance, but still a good heartwarming tale.

What a heart wrenching story.

After being cheated on by her husband Dylan and then having him die in a car crash before their divorce is final, Marlowe is leaving her high level job with her husband's family and heading out to just be Marlowe. The family is angry, but Marlowe must leave for her own peace of mind. She lands in a tiny town and rents a cottage on the lake.

Cort, the landlord and town hero, just wants to get his cottage rented. When he meets Marlowe, there might be more that he wants! He does just want to be supportive in the beginning.

As Marlowe and Cort begin to dance around their attraction for each other, the OTHER WOMAN comes knocking on Marlowe's door. Finding out her husband's girlfriend did not know he was married and she has a surprise on her hip makes Marlowe angry all over again. She just can't leave Paige on the doorstep when Marlowe has the ability to help this young woman.

Such a wonderful story of kindness, temperance, and opening yourself up to do the hard things. Five stars. A wonderful book.

After burying her cheating soon to be ex husband, Marlow leave his families business and the drama behind. She finds the perfect place to find herself by renting the guest cottage. It doesn't take long before she and her landlord become friendly and she starts to find her groove. Then, the woman her husband cheated with shows up at her door with a baby. Can Marlow find it in her heart to help her while she is still healing herself? This is a wonderful story of healing, forgiveness, and starting over!

A story of starting over and kindness, I loved the character of Marlow. I wish that I had her strength! I am excited for the next book in this new series set in the tiny town of Bramble, Kentucky, a town that I would love to visit!

Marlow couldn't stay in a town with her pushy, wealthy in-laws and the town where her husband cheated on her and then died in a car crash.

She had to leave right after the funeral - she couldn't play the grieving widow.

Where would she go?

She found the perfect cottage and the perfect landlord. He was a hunk, and the cottage was gorgeous.

How will all of this work?

And who was knocking on the door?

Find out in this sweet read with great characters.

This isn’t my normal genre, but I was drawn in because of the setting and the positive vibes.

If you need an uplifting read,THE GUEST COTTAGE is one to add to your reading list.

You won't want to leave the characters. I hope there is sequel. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Guest Cottage is the beginning of a new series from Lori Foster. It takes place in the small town of Bramble, Kentucky, where the population is deliberately kept small. The book is about town newcomer Marlow, whose husband (in the midst of divorce proceedings because her husband had cheated on her) recently died. She decides to visit Bramble to get away from her in-laws and their expectations and to have a break from life.

Then comes Cort, her landlord, a veteran who moved to town with his mother long ago and returned there after his military service. Marlow and Cort begin spending time together, but complications arise when Pixie (the “other woman”) appears on Marlow’s doorstep out of options. What follows is a beautiful story of love and friendship that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. I loved this story and want to move to the wonderful town of Bramble! I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series!

This was such a sweet cozy read. Was it the best written book I've ever read? Nope. Were the characters a little too perfect? Definitely. Was the concept of the town a bit ridiculous? And then some. Did I enjoy every single page I read? 100% and I'm really excited to see that this might be the start of a series.
I loved Marlow and Cort though the true star of the book is Herman, the bar owner. I enjoyed seeing Marlow find her footing and getting to know Pixie. There are a few moments of tension but nothing to get rid of the cozy feel of the story. This was a super quick read that was enjoyable from the first page to the last. It's a great bit of escapist reading and now I want a dock of my own to watch sunrises on while drinking coffee.

Marlow's divorce proceedings end abruptly when her soon to be ex-husband is killed in a car accident. In an effort to heal her heart and rediscover who she is as a woman, she retreats to the peaceful, cozy town of Bramble, Kentucky. What unfolds is an uplifting, positive story of love, growth, friendship, and rediscovery that will be perfect for fans of Virgin River. This book will be an excellent addition to your beach bag or carryon this summer. Its positivity leans towards cheesy and I would have loved to have more character development, especially from the quirky but lovable townsfolk, but this was a light and frothy escape.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me to escape to the lake house with Marlow, Cort, and Pixie prior to this book's publication in exchange for this honest review.

Lori Foster’s The Guest Cottage is everything I want in a contemporary romance—soulful, character-driven, and quietly powerful. The moment I saw this title offered as an ARC, it was an immediate shelf-add. Foster never disappoints, and this story is no exception.

Set in the charming town of Bramble, Kentucky, the novel introduces us to Marlow Heddings, a woman in search of more than just peace and quiet. After personal upheavals leave her emotionally depleted, Marlow rents a secluded lakeside guest cottage to regroup and reset. But healing has a funny way of arriving with unexpected company.

Cort Easton, the cottage’s owner and a former Marine, lives next door. He’s calm, private, and grounded—exactly the kind of presence that slowly chips away at Marlow’s emotional walls. Their chemistry builds naturally, with shared meals, long conversations, and subtle moments that feel deeply intimate without being forced.

What makes The Guest Cottage especially compelling is how it weaves together personal transformation with the slow unraveling of emotional armor. Marlow doesn’t come to Bramble to fall in love—she comes to reclaim herself. Yet, from the first awkward but meaningful encounters with Cort, it’s clear that connection can bloom even in the most guarded hearts.

The narrative takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of Pixie Nolan, a young woman linked to Marlow’s past in a surprising and emotional way. Their developing bond shifts the tone of the story in a beautiful direction, illustrating themes of redemption, chosen family, and unexpected mentorship. Watching Marlow extend grace to Pixie was deeply moving and added another layer of emotional resonance.

The town of Bramble itself becomes a comforting presence—full of nosy but lovable neighbors, unspoken traditions, and the kind of everyday peace that allows real healing. Whether it’s the quiet lakeside mornings, shared meals, or meaningful silences, Foster invites us into a world that feels like an emotional retreat.

Notable Quote:

“Sometimes, the best way to find yourself is to lose everything you thought you needed.”

“In Bramble, strangers become friends, and friends become family.”

This is a tender, emotionally layered story of renewal, healing, and the quiet strength it takes to rebuild after betrayal. Marlow Heddings, reeling from the loss of her unfaithful husband—whose death ends a painful chapter rather than beginning one—decides to make a bold move. Leaving behind Illinois and her old life, she settles into a charming guest cottage in Bramble, Kentucky, for a six-month stay that quickly becomes transformative.

Marlow is a beautifully drawn protagonist—resilient, sincere, and deeply likable. Her journey of letting go, redefining her future, and rediscovering joy is both heartfelt and empowering. Bramble itself becomes a character, too—its scenic charm and warm community providing the perfect backdrop for healing. Foster’s writing shines in the tender interactions between Marlow and the townsfolk, capturing the kind of small-town magic that makes readers want to pack up and move there themselves.

With its mix of emotional honesty, warmth, and the hope of second chances, The Guest Cottage is a soul-soothing read.