The Guest Cottage by Lori Foster

 💖💖💖💖💖/5

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.

#NetGalley #Harlequin #TheGuestCottage