Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Review - The Guest Cottage

Title:
  The Guest Cottage 
Author:  Lori Foster
Series:  Firefly Summer #1
Publisher:  Kensington
Genre:   Romance
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   304
Date of Publication:  May 27, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

In this uplifting series debut, forgiveness and unlikely friendship blossom in the haven of a quiet lakeside town when two very different women bond over one man’s betrayals.

Marlow Heddings is starting over. She’s carried the outrage of her husband Dylan’s affair with a younger woman—and the expectations of his family’s powerful Chicago holdings company—long enough. Now, after another devastating twist of fate, she’s unapologetically moving on.

Arriving in tiny Bramble, Kentucky, Marlow revels in her freedom, swapping her executive suits for sundresses . . . and scouting places to open her dream boutique. Best of all is her new residence, an adorable cottage with gorgeous lake views—and a breathtaking landlord, former Marine Cort Easton. Soon they’re sharing dockside morning coffee and nighttime firefly gazing. Marlow’s new life feels like a dream.

Then Pixie Nolan arrives on her doorstep. With a shocking secret.

To Marlow’s astonishment, Dylan’s “other woman” is a desperate girl of nineteen, destitute, exhausted, and disowned by her family. Defying her manipulative in-laws’ demands, and surprising even herself, Marlow vows to lay down roots in Bramble and help Pixie get on her feet. Then they’ll part ways. But empathy has a way of forging bonds. As Marlow grows close to the hard-working, devoted young woman, she becomes something of a big sister to Pixie.

Now, with each sunrise, Marlow awakens to the life she was truly meant to live, one filled with deepening connections, supportive friendship . . . and even a second chance at love.


MY THOUGHTS:

Lori Foster’s latest novel, a heartwarming first book in a new series, regales readers with Marlow Heddings’ journey to a new beginning. After her husband Dylan’s funeral, Marlow realizes she’s been dwelling on his betrayal for too long. Seeking a new start, she heads to Bramble, Kentucky, where she’ll be staying for the foreseeable future.

Marlow believes this fresh start will bring her peace. Leaving her high-powered life behind, she craves a more relaxed environment in Bramble. In fact, she’s contemplating making it her permanent home and even starting her own boutique. Things are looking up for her, but more serious matters arise. Also, could her sexy new landlord be a romantic interest? Is she even considering romance?

Just as Marlow starts settling in, she receives quite the shock. A much younger woman named Pixie appears on her doorstep, carrying news that will change everything. Pixie is pregnant with Dylan’s child and has limited options. Marlow can’t bear the thought of Pixie suffering and immediately offers her comfort and security. This act of kindness deeply upsets Dylan’s parents, heightening Marlow’s protective instincts.

This heartwarming story is filled with endearing characters, particularly Marlow. While the focus is on Marlow’s journey to begin anew, her finding love and the other relationships in the book are quite delightful. Lori Foster’s writing is captivating, and this series promises to be another gem. It’s the perfect choice for your first summer read. 

Many thanks to Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lori Foster is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author with over 10 million books sold. She received the Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews and her books have been chosen as editors picks by Amazon multiple times. Foster is actively involved in charity work, and all of the author proceeds from her anthologies have gone to various organizations, such as the Animal Adoption Foundation, the Conductive Learning Center, and One Way Farm. She lives in Ohio with her high school sweetheart.

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