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.

Lori Foster is a wonderful story teller. This book is no exception. A sweet read that makes you feel good.

Loved this story of hope, happiness and starting over on your terms! Marlow moves to a new town after divorce/tragedy and sets out to start over and do her life in a way that suits her happiness and finds community and laughter and peace along the way. Highly recommend this book for a quick beach read!

I love reading books by Lori Foster. This one was really good. I think it's the best one so far this year. The ending was really good, better than I thought it would be. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers, let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

I have not read this author in awhile. Thai was a sweet and intriguing read. The characters were genuine and the fun romance warmed my heart
It was such a sweet small town romance.

I absolutely loved this book! Marlow is the character we all strive to be and her landlord, Cort, is the reward she deserves for her goodness. Marlow is just beginning to live her best life when Pixie enters the picture. Marlow is the textbook definition of turning the other cheek while setting firm boundaries and Cort is her rock. They will get through the turbulent and joyful times as a chosen family. An inspirational, romantic and entertaining read!

As a lover of small town romance I really wanted to love this book. It had really good bones, but unfortunately it ended up falling a little flat for me. Overall, if you want a very easy to read small town romance then definitely pick up this book!

Pros: easy to read small town romance, very mature main characters (the main FMC sets healthy boundaries which I love to see in a book) and there are plot lines outside of just romance.

Cons: The interactions between characters seemed a little too scripted and repetitive at times. Because to this I didn’t feel as invested in the characters and their stories. I think it would have been helpful to start the book a bit earlier in both of the FMC’s timelines (or include flashbacks of their time before moving to the small town) so we could experience and understand their character growth and development on a deeper level.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC!

First, I just want to say WOW! What a fantastic start to a new series! This book has all the feels. Marlow leaves her old life behind after her soon to be ex-husband dies in a car crash before the divorce is final. This was after she learned of his infidelity. Her in-laws hovered over her relentlessly and wanted her to come back, but Marlow refuses them every time. They weren't very nice or understanding and felt their son could do no wrong. Marlow ends up in a small town called Bramble. She meets Cort who lets her rent the guest cottage that he owns. Together, they end up healing each other and find that special love that everyone wants. Cort is a true hero throughout the entire story. The town embraces Marlow and supports her throughout the book. Great character development and I really liked the way Marlow stayed kind and caring. This shows true when her husband's betrayal knocks on her front door looking for help. Marlow and Cort are passionate and compassionate when it comes to those they love. Sometimes family is what you make it, not necessarily what you're born into. This was a great read, and I really enjoyed it.

I received an advanced copy and this is my honest and unsolicited opinion.

The Guest Cottage is a simply enchanting tale of starting over. Marlow picks a cute little town, with a charming rental cottage by a lake, in which to move on from the betrayal of her husband and the stranger she had become to herself during her marriage. With plenty of knocks along the way, Marlow begins to find happiness in the little town and her growing affection for her landlord. However, she is confronted by her husband’s mistress and we see Marlow’s nurturing nature and desire to help people become as happy as she is. This book was a beautiful Hallmark-type story that makes the reader think that anything is possible. The characters mesh so perfectly and the story just flows. It sends a message of the importance of the family we choose that are not given to us by blood. A truly heartwarming read with a HEA.

Marlowe’s quest to start over lead to a great story with 3 great main characters, which we got to know well. The story of the town of Bramble is sincere and really contributes to the whole arc. I do think I may have preferred this written from the characters point of view, because while the characters are well developed, I think first person insight would have made the development even better!

Probably more of a 3.5+ rather than a 4 stars but really enjoyable overall.

It is a great story for a couple of afternoons when you are looking to relax and enjoy a simple but rich story where the characters and their interactions are more important than the actions themselves.

In my opinion, there are two things that could be better. The most important is the length of the story; it is a little bit too short for my taste and even when there are not gaps in the plot, adding more context at some points would have been a plus to completely understand the backgrounds of some of the characters.

The second issueis the transition from one scene to the next. At the beginning of the story there were parts where a character was speaking about their past and immediatly in the next sentence the same character was in the present at a different time. Not that it is poorly written but it was a bit confusing.

For a non-native English speakers, the story is easy to follow, and you won’t need to stop every two words to look up vocabulary.

What an amazing story! Ms. Foster is an auto-buy for me and this book blew me away. It’s a real-life scenario and we get to experience honest feelings and responses. There are some pretty big (let’s call them) events for the characters to deal with but...wow. (It’s best to read the author’s words as I can’t do it justice.)

Marlow Heddings is an amazing character. What I loved about her, even when she had (self) doubts, she was strong and thoughtful and just plain nice...even when she dealt with everything and everyone. As expected, I disliked her in-laws, the Heddings, but loved how she held firm with her personal decisions.

Now Cort Easton...I’ll call him the strong, silent type! He is the perfect landlord for Marlow, and SO much more. He comes to be her rock, her anchor in her stormy life, as do the folks who live in Bramble. And boy did I enjoy the residents of Bramble! OMG, they are hilarious. They are suspicious of Marlow when she arrives, much-ly curious about Pixie (read the book to know who she is), but they are also the best backup a girl could ask for. And Marlow and Cort? Perfect!

The Guest Cottage was much more than I expected and I loved it. Well, except for the in-laws... 😊

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.