Thank you Lori Foster, Kensington Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC.

Marlow Heddings has just buried her husband, and once the ordeal is over, she's leaving it all behind; the job, the house, and the manipulative in-laws. "He'd been been a lying, unfaithful, deceitful bastard. He'd hurt her, then mocked her with a cruel lack of remorse." I wasn't sure where the story would go fom there, and once Marlow escaped the clutches of the senior Heddings, the relief was palpable.

I love a book with great side characters, and small towns have the best ones! Marlow finds herself in Bramble, population 201, and a on the receiving end of a "welcome" that is equal parts curious and suspicious. The Bramble "originals" like their small town small, and they don't take kindly to visitors over staying their welcome or visitors settling in too comfortably long. The way is eased for her by her landlord, local hanyman, and all-around good guy, Cort Easton.

Marlow may have wanted to escape to small town life, but her old life isn't done with her yet. Drama follows her to The Guest Cottage, where she might yet win over the community, find a loving and supporting partner, build a new life, and gain some unexpected family.

"That's what home was all about. Not the building you lived in but the people in your life. The ones who filled you up and understood you, who questioned you and laughed with you. People who sometimes frustrated you but didn't stop caring."

This book is such a warm hug, representing the best of human connectivity with characters that are patient, accepting, and forgiving. A truly lovely, feel-good book that will make you sigh with contentment.

Marlow has had a lot to put up with in the past couple of years, and she is done. She leaves her old life behind to go to Bramble and stay in Cort's guest cottage. She has plans for what her new life will look like, but that's not how things go. She never expected to love waitressing or Pixie or Cort. But she does get peace and happiness while she helps others. This is a lovely, uplifting story that keeps things pretty PG. I loved the characters and the town, and I can't wait for more.

A sweet romance read by Lori Foster. It’s set in a small town that makes you want to visit and then stay and be a part of. Marlow wanted a new beginning, she found it and more in that town. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an advanced copy of The Guest Cottage.

Marlow is setting out for her new life. She is leaving her cheating husband and his family drama behind her. She rents a cottage from Cort and they enjoy spending time together. Then her husband’s mistress who is young and pregnant shows up on her doorstep needing help.

This was just way too cheesy and hallmark like for me. I wish the story had more depth to it.

The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster, book one in The Firefly series, is an amazing, heartwarming story of secrets and lies, betrayal and heart break, family and relationships, acceptance and love. Bramble, Kentucky is a unique town that keeps its population tightly controlled. No one is allowed to permanently move here unless approved by the “originals.” Cort Easton moved his abused mother to Bramble several years prior to leaving the military; staying after she passed. Bramble accepted his mom and they’ve also accepted him. Cort is a jack of all trades, helping the elder residents and has bought up a couple of empty lake houses that he rents out.

Marlow Heddings is in need of a fresh start. She has lost herself after learning that her husband was cheating and then died before their divorce could be final. She quits her job at the family firm, sells her house and leaves her in-laws, renting a vacation home in Bramble. This Kentucky town seems to be the perfect place for her to heal and figure out her future.

The guest cottage she rents is from Cort and as they spend time together, they discover that they are kindred souls; both recovering from their pasts. When their feelings change from friends and their attraction grows. When her former husband’s ex-girlfriend, Pixie, arrives, with some secrets of her own, everything is thrown into chaos. With Cort’s help, he and Marlow pick up the pieces; helping Pixie find her own footing; being supportive and caring. Cort and Marlow are amazing together as they find their footing in an unexpected relationship.

Bramble is the perfect place for two people who are lost in their own ways, to find themselves again and to find each other. There is a large ensemble cast of interesting and quirky secondary and supporting characters most of whom live and work in Bramble Kentucky. There’s so much to love about the story: the strength of a woman; the kindness of others; a strong supportive man; and descriptions of a beautiful home on the lake. I am looking forward to revisiting this quirky town in the next book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Harlequin #TheGuestCottage

The Guest Cottage is the first book in the new series A Firefly Summer by Lori Foster. I am so grateful that I was able to read this book. I got to know Marlow Heddings and truly cared for her and how her life was unfolding. Her husband has changed the direction of what her life was going to be. She went to Bramble Kentucky and was happy with her life now. I am looking forward to seeing how things go for her in the future.
I was able to connect with the characters in this book. Lori Foster has made the people in the book come to life for me.
Thank you NetGalley, Lori Foster and Kensington Publishing for the Arc of the book The Guest Cottage. This is my personal review.

This beautiful cover invites you to the small lakeside town of Bramble, Kentucky. Marlow Heddings wants to go somewhere quiet and start over. She was married and worked for her husband’s family company till she learned he was cheating on her. To make matters worse he is cruel and drags out the divorce only to die before it is settled. In Bramble she rents a guest house from Cort. He is the town handyman and a former Marine. She settles in, makes friends and works at the local Tavern till she can decide on how to set up her small business. Sparks fly between her and Cort. There is more shared in the blurb which gives away almost too much of the story.

This is the gentle kind of book you want to read while snuggled up and enjoying the sun rise or set. The characters are likable and the town is filled with well meaning busy bodies. Her MC’s communicate well and are caring and forgiving. I like that there are no miscommunications or last minute break ups. I was disappointed that intimacy is behind closed doors but that may be the standard for this author. This is the first book in a new series and I will be on the lookout for the next.

This is an uplifting book and I am thrilled that it is the first book in a series as I cannot wait to read the next one. Marlow is a strong woman who was betrayed by her husband Dylan, misused and totally misunderstood by her in-laws and on the brink of divorce after Dylan’s affair. When he tragically dies before the divorce is finalized, Marlow does her duty, attends his funeral and says a dignified farewell to his parents and the town that held so much sadness for her. She ends up in the small town of Bramble, Kentucky, determined to make a new life for herself that is far removed from her high-powered position in Dylan’s family’s company and the scandal of Dylan’s betrayal. I loved how Marlow was willing to leave everything behind and start fresh in a new and unknown place, all alone. I admired her bravery and her steadfastness to find her own happiness. She has an adventurous spirit that is not afraid to try new things and to trust others again, in spite of her past circumstances. Once she gets to Bramble, she starts a new job (one her former in-laws would be appalled by) and meets her landlord Cort, a former military member who is in Bramble seeking solitude and peace after his own devastating loss. The two make a sweet couple and I was eager to see them unite quickly, but the plot twist of Dylan’s former lover Pixie showing up and asking for help interrupted the romance between the two, but it didn’t destroy their growing attraction by any means. Pixie arrives destitute and with a secret that requires help from someone, anyone willing to help. Marlow shows her big heart and compassion when she takes in Pixie and the two of them become more like sisters than former rivals. I loved the hope offered by this story, with a romance destined from the start and an emotional depth that was skillfully plotted and believable. This story is a refreshing breath of fresh air in a well-crafted plot and a setting with charm that just made the story thrum with realism. I could picture the sunrises that Marlow enjoyed every morning on her dock and her banter with Cort as he fished there. I thoroughly enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and the strong message of hope for a new future that is central to this delightful and satisfying story.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Facing the crossroads of her life, Marlow rents a guest cottage in Bramble to escape her past. The picturesque town and welcoming community help Marlow rebuild her life. When the past literally comes to her door, is she strong enough to stand up for her future or this idyllic life only a staycation?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the edition of #TheGuestCottage in exchange for an honest review. While I wasn't swept away by the story like other reviewers, there were elements such as Marlow, Pixie and Cort's relationships that are 'shore' to delight readers. My main criticism is Marlow's immediate reaction to Pixie and wearing Dior while waitressing seems over the top. While anyone would have empathy for Pixie's circumstances, the adopted big sister role was hard to believe from the start. If the bond developed over time or by the end of the story, it would feel more genuine.

Another great story by Lori Foster. I really enjoyed Marlow and Cort's story. Marlow showed her strength and independence from a cheating and hear.tless husband that ended up being killed in a car crash. She moved and started her life over in a small town even though her in-laws tried to guilt her into coming back. Her and Cort were there for each other and even Pixie, the woman who had slept with her husband and had a baby. Truly amazing how much compassion and empathy. Great story! Thank you to NetGalley and Lori Foster for an ARC for an honest review.

This is one of the best books I have read this year. The twists and turns are so wonderful, and sometimes unexpected. Marlow gets a second chance, helps Pixie find her way, and makes a new life for both in a lovely small town.

A charming, happy ending romance that is well written, with believable characters and a great storyline.

What a beautiful book..about finding a new start in a small town, being accepted, helping a lost soul who is desperate and finding love of a generous man and town people.
I loved Cort and Marlow, but also Pixie and Andy.
Marlow had to deal witha loss of a husband who was unfaithful, unkind and also death.
Marlow escaped to start fresh at Bramble. Cort wS kind but also reserved, but found Marlow had a heart that had been broken.
Together they build a friendship and find themselves faced with a sick young mother who has nothing but a small baby.
Marlow and Cort find Pixie a place she can call home.
Marlow is able to stand up for herself but she is the biggest support for Pixie and Cort finds himself standing right beside Marlow.
in a town where they don't accept outsiders, Bramble, shows they love the new residents and accept them as one of their own.

THE GUEST COTTAGE – Lori Foster
Firefly Summer, Book 1
Kensington
ISBN: ‎978-1496752352
May 27, 2025
Contemporary Romance

Bramble, Kentucky – Present Day

After Marlow Heddings’s cheating husband died, she is starting over. To do this, she is selling her house in Chicago, quitting her job at her in-laws’ company, and moving to Bramble, a small town in Kentucky. She is renting a cottage near the lake and plans to decide later if she will stay. Marlow arrives and meets her landlord, who is breathtakingly handsome and a former Marine. Cort Easton is a fairly new arrival himself, as he left the military to take care of his late mother. He informs Marlow that the town is under “home rule,” which means she can’t stay permanently without the permission of the townsfolk. But it doesn’t take long before she is charming the people of Bramble, including Cort himself.

Marlow is soon settling into her new life. She gets a job at the local bar and daily interacts with Cort. They are slowly and surely becoming important to each other. Meanwhile, her in-laws are upset because she left. They want her back, not only in Chicago but in their company. She refuses as she wants to put the past behind her. But one day, the past comes to town in the form of Pixie Nolan, the woman whom her late husband cheated on Marlow with…and she has a baby. Pixie has no place to go, and Marlow decides to open her heart to the young woman.

THE GUEST COTTAGE is the first book in a new series by Lori Foster called Firefly Summer. The lake is loaded with bugs that glow in the dark called fireflies. Marlow dealt for months with her cheating husband and was in the process of divorcing him when he was killed in a car accident. His parents are having a difficult time getting over his death and think she should be there with them and mourning his death. But Marlow wants a new life and put him in the past. Meeting Cort, she is struck by his hard work and due diligence. Everyone in Bramble respects him, and she feels grateful to have such a good person nearby. They spend time together in the mornings and evenings getting to know one another. But the unexpected arrival of Pixie and her baby--Marlow’s late husband is the father-- stuns her. Marlow could have turned Pixie away, but that isn’t how Marlow is. She invites the woman and the cute baby boy into her life. But the grandparents don’t know. What will happen when they learn they have a grandson?

THE GUEST COTTAGE is a beautiful tale that pulls readers into the lives of Marlow, Cort, and Pixie, and one that is a page-turner. They are good people who have had bad things happen to them, but they don’t give in to the pain. Instead, they go out and move forward. You will be rooting for them and hoping things end up for the better. The people of Bramble support each other, and soon they are supporting the newcomers, Marlow and Pixie. If you love good-feeling stories that have romance and a happily ever after, then you won’t want to miss THE GUEST COTTAGE.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

There might not be a lot of surprises in this small town romance that's really about second chances in life but the storytelling and characters will keep you turning the pages. Marlowe chose Bramble as a place to heal after her marriage fell apart. She certainly didn't expect to find new love. Nor did Cort, her landlord who has his own backstory. When Pixie, Marlow's husband's much younger girlfriend appears, she helps her and they bond into family. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This has good characters and a positive outlook that will be familiar to Foster's fans and that new readers will enjoy as well.

I love it when an author can paint the picture of a place so well that I would really like to live there. That is exactly what Lori Foster has done. From sitting on a dock and skimming the water with your toes to watching the fireflies dance as the sun goes down, she had me.

Then she created such lovely characters that I want them to be my friends. Marlow is a lovely woman, leaving hurt behind her, but willing to take in the woman who caused part of that hurt. Cort is the guy every woman wishes she could find. He's strong and capable. He's handsome and compassionate and willing to fight anyone who threatens those that he cares about. Throw in a young mother with nothing to her name but her baby and you have an irresistible cast of characters. The other more minor characters are just as alive as the main ones.

This was just a well written, delightful story all the way around. It will make a great summer read.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

I really wanted to love this book but it just didn’t do it for me. I am a fan of small town romances and thought I would absolutely love this one but it fell a little flat for me. The premise of the book was great. I love how it showcased women supporting women and how despite the FMC being betrayed by her late husband so still found it in her heart to be forgiving and loving. All in all I would read this author again.

What a heartfelt story, about forgiveness, love and starting over! If you love stories about second chances, found family and small town romances this one is for you!

Marlow is starting over after her husbands death and affair. Leaving her life and his powerful family behind, she packs up moving to Bramble, Kentucky to live a simpler life with a new aspirations and dreams of opening up her own boutique. Renting a beautiful guest cottage from a handsome marine landlord, Marlow is accomplishing what she set out to do, that is until... the other woman arrives on her doorstep.

What an uplifting story by Lori Foster. One of the best books I have read in quite a while. Cort and Marlow are two lost souls in a small town that discover an attraction soon after they meet. It's a slow burn as they learn about each other and become friends. As in all small towns this one is no different, everyone has an opinion and is in your business. But, what differs is they've set rules and bylaws in place to keep outsiders away.

She gets a job at the local tavern as she slowly rebuilds her life after her husband's untimely death in the midst of divorce proceedings for infidelity. Then one day a surprise from her past shows up and her empathy and support an new through. Fort helps her every step of the extend their relationship thrives. Her in-laws hound her and .attack her after finding out some discouraging news. Cost and Herman, her boss at the tavern, ate her biggest supporters.

When the town council holds a meeting about no new citizens the outpouring of support is overwhelming and Cort speaks with surprising results. All in all a wonderful, feel good story that will warm your heart. A five star read that you won't want to miss.

Although I received a free ARC ebook from Net Galley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

What a lovely, charming, wonderful place the tiny, quirky community of Bramble is, and if this novel, the first in Lori Foster's new Firefly Summer series doesn't make you want to move there, into a sweet cottage on a lake, I don't know what will. This was most definitely a 5-star read.

Marlow, the female lead in this novel, is an amazing character--strong, independent, smart and sassy. Sadly, she discovered that Dylan, her husband of 10 years, and heir to the famous Heddings company fortune, was unfaithful--he had a young lover on the side, and he hadn't been much of a husband anyway, and so Marlow divorced him, much to the dismay of his parents. Shortly thereafter, Dylan died in a car accident and Marlow decided she needed to get out of the city, get away from her in-laws, and get away from her job at the Heddings family business, where she'd excelled.

She found a guest cottage rental on a lake in tiny Bramble, Kentucky, and it's there she found more than she ever expected, in the scenery, the serenity, and her stoic and sexy new landlord, former Marine, Cort Easton. The cottage is exactly what she was seeking, a place to rest, relax and re-imagine her life and her choices. But there are many surprises and challenges coming her way.

With every scene that follows, we are drawn into both her character and Cort's. She's one of the best, kindest, strongest, and most forgiving heroines Ms. Foster has created, and, as her relationship with Cort and the inhabitants of this secluded village begins to deepen, she faces certain challenges that she never expected, nor did this reader.

This novel was impossible to put down--I absolutely loved it, and it had all the feels, all the emotion, all the character development you could ask for, and I can hardly wait to read the next novel in this series. Kudos to Ms. Foster for yet another fabulous read.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.