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.

Great second chance Romance. Another home run from Lori Foster!

Marlow was in the middle of a messy divorce when her soon to be ex-husband Dylan, died. Now her in-laws want her to be everything for them. They don’t want to let her go. Her mother in law can’t accept that she doesn’t want to work in the family business anymore.

Looking for a fresh start Marlow rents a Guest cottage from Cort, in the tiny town of Bramble. She falls in love with the town. She gets a job at the local bar. She’s enjoying her new life. A budding romance with Cort.

Here comes trouble in the form of her in-laws The won’t leave her alone. They try to get her back to their family company. She doesn’t want anything to do with it.

Just when Marlow gets comfortable she gets an unexpected guest. In the form of her husband’s mistress. Pixie is really sick and desperate for help for her and her son. She was blackballed out of Dylan’s family company.

Marlow and Cort take Pixie in and give her a place to live. Soon half the town of Bramble is descending on Pixie to help her get back on her feet.

The in-laws are back again causing more trouble for Pixe and Marlow. Will they ever give up and let Marlow live her life?

This is a must read from Lori Foster.

I enjoyed this book by Lori Foster so much. This reminds me of the summer home that I have in a very small town on the lake, where everyone knows everyone and everyone helps everyone. I just love the characters and the great settings and the family atmosphere. This was such a fun read that I didn't want it to end and I am hoping there will be several other books in this series. I can't wait to find out what will happen next. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for the arc of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for my honest review I absolutely love Her books and The Guest Cottage is no exception. Everything about this book is what I love to read. This story is centered around Marlow. She is a very successful business woman in her husbands family company. She is devastated when she finds out that her husband cheated on her. While in the process of a divorce, her husband dies unexpectedly. After the funeral, she packs up and moves to a very small town to escape it all. This story is full of emotion and discovering how to start all over with many surprises along her journey. I highly recommend this book.

The Guest Cottage is Lori Foster at her finest! Dealing with a difficult divorce and subsequent tragedy, Marlow needs a change of scenery. She finds a rental in a town that operates by its own unique set of rules and comes with a handsome ex Marine landlord. More importantly, she finds herself again. Just as she thinks she is settling in to a new normal, her past comes to town in a way she never saw coming. Marlow, with dignity and grace, reminds us all how powerful human kindness can be. Full of quirky characters, love, and second chances, The Guest Cottage is a heartwarming and satisfying read.

What would you do?

What would you do if your husband had an affair and then his mistress showed up on your doorstep...with his baby?

Marlowe had already been in the process of divorcing her cheating ex-husband when he died unexpectedly. After planning a funeral she did NOT want to plan, Marlowe moves away to Bramble, Kentucky - away from the lifestyle she was used to to a more relaxed environment.

And then 20 year old Pixie show up on her doorstep with her ex's baby and nowhere else to turn.

I loved this book and all of its characters. Marlowe is one in a million, though. I'd like to think I'd make the same choices but...

I received this book as an Advanced Reading Copy from from Net Galley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review.

The Guest Cottage
Lori Foster
May 27, 2025

When Marlow Heddings husband, Dylan dies in a auto accident, it becomes a horrible incident but one that ends her sad marriage. She fought so hard to get a divorce. The man betrayed her with another woman yet his parents felt it was an unacceptable but forgivable grievance. Nothing she did could ease the situation. After the funeral however she’d made a decision to leave Illinois, sell the house and many of her belongings. It was time to put it in the past. She found the option to move to a delightful Guest House in Bramble, Kentucky. She took the six month lease thinking if she felt good about the move she would find a place to buy.
The Guest Cottage will be published by Kensington Publishing on May 27, 2025. I was able to read and review the advanced copy with permission from Kensington and Ms. Foster’s staff. Once beginning her latest novel I found that I too was enchanted by Bramble, Kentucky,the residents, beautiful territory around the cottage, and especially with the protagonist, Marlow .She is a lovely, heart-warming person that captivates all those who meet her. As this book is promoted as Firefly Summer #1 It looks to be a series. I look forward to the next outstanding tale from Lori Forster. Her fans are all waiting while I will encourage all to read this first introduction to the magical town of Bramble.

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!