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.
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My Review
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.
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