The House Guest takes readers on a nostalgic journey to Tilden, a quaint community in 1950s Nebraska. At the center of the story is Maggie Davis, a middle-aged widow, heiress to a grand Victorian manor-now a bed-and-breakfast-which Maggie shares with her spunky daughter Jenna. The kitchen table is the epicenter of the manor, where no topics are off limits and guests share the latest gossip. Maggie's outspoken neighbor delights in keeping everyone on guard with her tirades, but is frequently reined in by an elderly, equally forthright family member. Maggie finds herself struggling with the pain.