Terrific book about starting over, forgiveness, friendship, and love. After Marlow discovered her husband's infidelity, she began divorce proceedings. Unfortunately, Dylan passed away before the divorce was finalized. Now she is stuck with grief-stricken and clingy in-laws and their unrealistic expectations. Ready to move on, she rents a lakeside cabin in a small Kentucky town and sets out to rediscover who she is.
I loved how Marlow embraced her new life. Her joy in peaceful sunrises and sunsets illustrates how she heals from the emotional turmoil of her marriage. I laughed out loud at her enthusiasm for her new job as a waitress at the Dry Frog bar. The quirky characters added another layer of depth to the story's realism. And then there was Cort: former Marine, local handyman, and her landlord. Cort is a quiet man with a big heart. I loved his interactions with the locals, who see him as a hero and an essential member of the community.
I enjoyed watching Cort and Marlow's relationship develop. Sparks of attraction are there from the beginning, but they don't rush into anything. Cort joins Marlow for sunrise coffee and shares the peace of evenings watching fireflies. I loved his sensitivity to her moods and how he offers quiet support when she has issues with her in-laws. I loved the steady progress of their relationship and the cautious acceptance of their growing feelings.
Matters become complicated when Dylan's "other woman" shows up at Marlow's house. Instead of the manipulative homewrecker Marlow expected, Pixie is a desperate young woman who was used and discarded by Dylan. My heart broke for what she'd been through. Marlow's reaction wasn't what I expected, and I loved seeing her take Pixie under her wing. I liked Pixie and loved the growing closeness between the two women. A confrontation with the in-laws brings tension, but also closure.
As Cort and Marlow continue their relationship, the town's unique residency requirements may put a kink in their hopes for the future. The town meeting was terrific, and I loved how they resolved the issue. I look forward to the next book and seeing what is next for the residents of Bramble.
I loved how Marlow embraced her new life. Her joy in peaceful sunrises and sunsets illustrates how she heals from the emotional turmoil of her marriage. I laughed out loud at her enthusiasm for her new job as a waitress at the Dry Frog bar. The quirky characters added another layer of depth to the story's realism. And then there was Cort: former Marine, local handyman, and her landlord. Cort is a quiet man with a big heart. I loved his interactions with the locals, who see him as a hero and an essential member of the community.
I enjoyed watching Cort and Marlow's relationship develop. Sparks of attraction are there from the beginning, but they don't rush into anything. Cort joins Marlow for sunrise coffee and shares the peace of evenings watching fireflies. I loved his sensitivity to her moods and how he offers quiet support when she has issues with her in-laws. I loved the steady progress of their relationship and the cautious acceptance of their growing feelings.
Matters become complicated when Dylan's "other woman" shows up at Marlow's house. Instead of the manipulative homewrecker Marlow expected, Pixie is a desperate young woman who was used and discarded by Dylan. My heart broke for what she'd been through. Marlow's reaction wasn't what I expected, and I loved seeing her take Pixie under her wing. I liked Pixie and loved the growing closeness between the two women. A confrontation with the in-laws brings tension, but also closure.
As Cort and Marlow continue their relationship, the town's unique residency requirements may put a kink in their hopes for the future. The town meeting was terrific, and I loved how they resolved the issue. I look forward to the next book and seeing what is next for the residents of Bramble.
Thank you to Uplit Reads and Kensington for copies of a book that's perfect for summer. I started reading The Guest Cottage while on a reading retreat last weekend, and was quickly swept into the family drama facing main character Marlow. While divorcing her unfaithful husband, he dies in a car accident, devastating his parents and complicating her exit from their lives. She travels hundreds of miles away to begin her life again, and events don't unfold in the way she expects.
Ms. Foster develops a compelling sense of place in The Guest Cottage. The (closed door) romance is swoony, but several plot points require serious suspension of disbelief. I recommend going into this without reading the summary.
If fireflies, lakeside sunrises, an almost-too-good-to-be-true ex-Marine hero, and a small-town tavern appeal to you, prepare to become an honorary resident of Bramble, Kentucky through the pages of this book.
Ms. Foster develops a compelling sense of place in The Guest Cottage. The (closed door) romance is swoony, but several plot points require serious suspension of disbelief. I recommend going into this without reading the summary.
If fireflies, lakeside sunrises, an almost-too-good-to-be-true ex-Marine hero, and a small-town tavern appeal to you, prepare to become an honorary resident of Bramble, Kentucky through the pages of this book.
