Title: A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams
Publisher: Avon
Genre: Contemporary,
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
A heartwarming Avon debut of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings set in the beautiful South Carolina Lowcountry.
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.
Review:
A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams is a sweet contemporary romance.
Maya Jackson is a wedding dress designer who works for a prestigious designer. She works long hours at her job and puts in hard work afterhours in order to secure a coveted promotion. Maya incorporates elements of her Afro-Filipina heritage she learned working with her mother in her design. Unfortunately, her boss does not appreciate the beauty of her dresses. When her father breaks a hip, she takes a mostly unpaid leave to return to South Carolina to help take care of him. Needing money to pay her bills, Maya is hired to work in the first Black-owned bridal shop in the area. She is a hard worker who puts her skills to work helping Derek Sullivan bring the shop back from the brink of bankruptcy. They share a simmering attraction, but will they act on it?
Maya is so close to achieving her goal that she has a bit of tunnel vision when it comes to her dreadful boss. She is slow to understand what exactly she is seeking from her boss but will this revelation affect her plans? Maya is creative and compassionate and she eagerly shares her knowledge with Derek. Despite her successes, she allows her self-esteem to be affected by outside sources.
Derek is a widower who is raising his twelve-year-old daughter, Jamila. Their relationship is troubled and he never loses hope he will regain her trust. Following his mother’s death, he inherited her bridal shop which is in deep financial crisis. Until he meets Maya, Derek has not had any interest in dating. He would like to get to know her better, but he is uncertain about whether he should act on his feelings.
A Lowcountry Bride is a heartfelt romance with fantastic characters and a relatable storyline. Maya wants to honor her heritage and her mother’s dream for her, but what is she willing to sacrifice to reach her goal? Derek is a wonderful father who takes responsibility for his mistakes with Jamilia. He also wants to honor his mother’s legacy but is he prepared to keep the business? The romance between Maya and Derek is understated but believable. Jamilia is not at all happy to meet Maya but will she eventually warm up to her? With Maya’s dream hanging in the balance, Preslaysa Williams brings this enjoyable romance to a satisfying conclusion.
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