I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to review Preslaysa Williams’s debut romance novel. I have been a fan of her writing for many years and was excited to receive a copy of this book prior to its release.
A Lowcountry Bride is a June 2021 release by Avon Books
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links, see disclosures for more detail.
About the Book:
Maya Jackson has worked for a renowned New York City bridal gown brand for years and dreams of becoming Head Designer. She has the talent, she just needs a chance to showcase her unique style. Due to an illness, she’s always prioritized her career over her personal life until Maya’s father fractures his hip and she returns to Charleston, SC. While home for only a few months, she’s thrilled to find an opportunity at the local bridal gown boutique, never expecting sparks to fly with its owner…
A military veteran and widowed father, Derek Sullivan hopes to save Always a Bride from bankruptcy in order to preserve the legacy of his family. He also wants to reconnect with his estranged, twelve-year-old daughter, who is still recovering from the loss of her mother. The last thing he needs is a relationship with a beautiful, smart, complicated woman who will be leaving soon.
When Derek begins to fall for the lovely Maya, he knows there’s no future. But destiny has its own plans, and these two lonely people with big hearts discover that coming home to love is the best gift life can give.
My Thoughts:
I gave this book 4 stars
If you’re looking for a sweet romance with depth, then A Lowcountry Bride is the perfect choice. The book melds together a heartwarming relationship between the two main characters with deeper issues such as dealing with a chronic illness, honoring cultural background, and staying true to yourself.
At first, I found Maya a bit abrasive and closed off. Yet once I understood her background and how she needed to protect herself due to her illness, I gained more insight into her actions and reactions. The parts about Derek’s legacy with his bridal boutique brought tears to my eyes and made me think about how our heritage and the sacrifices of our ancestors help to create and influence the lives we live today.
While I understood on a surface level Maya’s desire and goal to accomplish her dream of being head designer, I couldn’t really identify with why she would sacrifice everything–her health, love, a chance to have her own label–for the sake of that goal. Well, not until she revealed to her father that she believed it was her late mother’s dream for her. Then it made a bit more sense, but in the narrative it might have been better to reveal that earlier so the reader has more buy in rather than being frustrated with her choices.
Overall I was impressed with this novel and the unique voice Preslaysa Williams brings to the table with her own Black and Asian background forming a framework for the tale. I look forward to reading more from her in the future! If you like romance, particularly romance written from an OwnVoices writer, then definitely put this on your reading list.
About the Author:
Preslaysa Williams is an award-winning author who writes contemporary romance and womens fiction with an Afro-Filipina twist. Proud of her heritage, she loves sharing her culture with her readers. She has a MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hall University and an undergraduate degree from Columbia University.
Preslaysa is also a professional actress, a planner nerd, an avid bookworm, and a homeschool mom who often wears mismatched socks. You can visit her online at www.preslaysa.com where you can sign up for her newsletter community.
Find Preslaysa online:
Website: https://preslaysa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/preslaysa
Twitter: https://twitter.com/preslaysawrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preslaysa/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/preslaysa
