An aspiring dress designer and a struggling bridal gown show owner get a chance at love.

I didn’t really connect with Maya in this - she seemed so full of doubt up until the very end when I so wanted her to embrace her abilities! I loved that she wanted to incorporate her heritage into her work and got so frustrated when she had no self investment or belief. As a creative myself I definitely get wanting to be validated but she didn’t believe anyone around her abs put up with a boss that was truly horrible.

I liked the romance though it too was full of moments of confusion that could have easily been cleared up if they’d just had a conversation.

I wanted to love this story but it just didn’t hit quite right for me. There are some real struggles to get past and may appeal more to a women’s fiction reader.

My rating: 3*

—-
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this gifted copy.

A Lowcountry Bride was a sweet, sentimental page-turner sprinkled with just the right amount of romance. Maya and Derek's story were just what I needed.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review this title, but my reading interests have changed. I will not be finishing this book, but look forward to others in the future.

I really wanted to love this one, but this just wasn't the book for me. I tried really hard to get into this story, but it felt a bit flat with characters that didn't seem to mesh well. Obviously this is just my opinion so I will keep this review off of my review sites and will still read this author in the future.

DNF at 38% /2.5 Stars / 1 Steam Fans

I probably should have written this review sooner, but what I remember about this story is that so many things rubbed me wrong.

1. The over-explanation and hyper-fixation of Maya's financial state were off-putting.
2. The hyper fixation on Maya's hostile work environment.
3. A teenager's feelings and opinions impact the possible relationship between Maya and Derek.
4. NO WARNING about the continued discussion of mass shootings, especially the shooting that occurred at the Black church in South Carolina.

Overall, this book is more Women's Fiction than Romance, and even if the main characters get their HEA/HFN, I could care less because I was better over the head about mass shootings, grief, and taking care of family.

CW: Mass Shootings, Grief, Parental Care Giving, Financial Issues, Autoimmune Disease, Loss of Parent Due to Violence

Video review available in Week 13: Mar 27 – Apr 2, 2022, total weekly book reviews on Steph's Romance Book Talk Patreon.

For other bookish content, check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

I remember when this book was first announced, I was so excited for its publication! Then I finally got a chance to sit down and read it. This novel is such a love letter to Charleston, SC but also to the power of faith, love and community. Each character in the story is dealing with trauma and loss. Maya Jackson a bi-racial woman who designs wedding dresses, wants to become a top designer at Laura Whitcomb, Inc. However, when her father is in need of help, she puts those plans on hold and returns home to deal with the family emergency. Once there, Maya tries to earn income by showing off her creations, when she meets the widower Derek Sullivan, who is trying to save Always a Bride, his mother's business from bankruptcy. He also has a daughter with whom he is desperately trying to reconnect. From there, the romance takes a sweet, meandering time to develop.

A wonderful novel that highlights Black history in Charleston, but also the family history of the main characters and the rich community they find themselves in. There is so much pain and heartbreak in Derek and Maya's backstories, but in Williams's hand, it becomes a backdrop for the character development and growth required to make of these two lovely people into a romantic pairing that the reader can't help but cheer for. There is also important disability rep on the page that contributes enormously to the story. I loved the writing, the descriptions, the beautiful community but also the beating heart of the novel, about these two individuals trying to find a way to belong and stay true to their respective dreams. I cannot wait until the release of her next novel early next year.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy of A Lowcountry Bride.

I found this novel to be cute and refreshing, with plenty of relatable parallels for the desire to be successful and prove yourself to others but mainly yourself. Maya is determined to be the best wedding dress maker she can, but not all plans work out, especially when in New York. After a huge blow and disappointment, Maya is up and on her way back home, hoping to pull together something quick to save her dreams. There she meets Derek, who stubborn and with plenty of worries of his own now finds himself working with Maya on renovating the family owed wedding store.

While there were plenty of repetitive lines and dialogues between the characters, the plot flowed well. The pace could have been a bit better since some of the events that occurred didn't seem to contribute as much to the story. I did wish that the romance between Derek and Maya started earlier in the novel rather than inch and then spiral full blown. Other than the small instances where the story drags, the book was an enjoyable quick read.

I really love the audio of this book. It was more women's fiction than romance but it still worked for me. I can't wait to read what is next for the author.

This one was good! The love story between Derek and Maya was sweet! And I loved how Jamila was included as well! I also appreciated how the author approached Maya’s struggles with sickle cell anemia as this isn’t a commonly written about disease in romance novels! The views of Charleston in this were also great, but I would have liked more details! As someone who has been to Charleston a lot growing up, it was easy for me to see, but I think other readers would appreciate more detail on the feel of the city and it’s important history. Definitely recommend checking this one out though!

Maya’s life has always been about becoming a lead dress designer for one of the top bridal gown brands. Her mother taught her to sew and design dresses, using elements from her African-American and Thai heritage. Now, when she’s inches away from the promotion, she gets a call: her father has broken his hip, and Maya’s loyalty to her family means that she needs to spend the next six weeks (without pay) in Charleston, South Carolina. Derek’s life has two foci: his daughter, and the bridal shop his mother left him, called Always a Bride. He’s facing bankruptcy at work, and the difficulty of single-parenting a 12 year old who is still trying to cope with her mother’s death from a shooting at their church. It turns out that Derek and Maya might find everything they were looking for in each other, both personally and professionally.

I kept wanting more from this story. There’s so much to explore within each character and in the overall plot, and I felt like it barely touched the surface. The points that were hit harder were at times overemphasized, to the exclusion of almost any other character trait. The prose itself was often clunky. All that being said, I still finished the book in almost one sitting, and not because I just wanted to cross it off my to do list. I think this is a solid example of an airport layover book: not something that I’d go seeking out deliberately, but I wouldn’t mind using to fill the time when an airplane was delayed and I’m sitting at the gate.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

As much as I wanted to love this book, I just didn’t... Let me start by saying it was definitely a lot heavier than I was expecting it to be, especially with the reputation that comes with cute cartoon covers. The relationship between Maya and Derek just didn’t work for me. I didn’t feel any chemistry between the two of them at all which was quite disappointing considering the fact that the book centers on their relationship. The best part of the story by a long shot was Maya. Not only was she a talented designer but she was also strong, passionate and incredibly loving. She deserves everything!

A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams has a STUNNING book cover. I personally love cartoon covers and this one is so pretty — particularly with the unique wedding dress which does factor into the story. So, based upon the cover, I was really enthused about picking this book up. As it turns out, this wasn’t QUITE the book for me. However, I absolutely do think there is an audience for this and want to recognize that I came into this book with a white gaze so may have not picked up on some things.

Maya is a junior wedding dress designer working for the IT brand — Laura Witcomb. However, Maya’s design ideas keep getting shot down by Laura — who has a more conservative brand image than Maya’s vision. As the book opens, Maya receives a phone call from her Pops that he has fallen and broken his hip. She immediately flies home to help take care of her dad. While there, she intends to sell a few dresses of her own design on consignment. Maya comes across a Black owned bridal shop called Always A Bride. There she finds a job to help her pay the bills while in Charleston.

The owner of Always A Bride is Derek – a single father struggling to keep the store afloat. Derek inherited the store from his mother who had died and also, his wife Grace died three years ago. When Maya starts working at the store and featuring her dresses, it is as though the store is revitalized. Maya, however, will have more trouble winning over Derek’s twelve year old daughter, Jamila. As the book goes on, we learn about Maya’s Sickle Cell Anemia diagnosis as well as some pretty big decisions she must make.

I guess the great part of A Lowcountry Bride was that this book delves into Maya’s heritage as she is the daughter of a Filipino woman and a Black man. Maya has learned different design techniques from her mother — but also takes inspiration in her father’s heritage. I absolutely loved this piece and found the aspect of design and launching a label as very interesting. Where the book lost me is that I just didn’t feel the overarching love story between Maya and Derek. There’s no real spice or chemistry.

If your taste runs toward zero heat romance, you will love this book. I am just glad that this book is put out by a major publisher. Personally, I do not have to be the biggest fan of a book or even really LOVE it to support it.

A sweet romance and easy to read! I had a hard time believing the couple's relationship chemistry, and I wish there had been more dialogue spark between the hero and heroine. Otherwise, a very enjoyable romance that I read in one sitting.

A new romance writer for our library shelf is just what the doctor ordered for this pandemic time. A Lowcountry Bride deals with love, living with an illness that doesn't have cure, and conquering both through the human condition. This was a great read. Patron approved.

Trigger Warnings: Loss of a partner, discussions of a mass shooting, hospital scenes, the main character suffers from sickle cell anemia. Note, there is NO death on the page and this book does have an HEA.

I really enjoyed this story! It's just the right amount of sweet, without being too much. However, it deals with some really heavy subject matter. Somehow, the author manages to handle them with care and respect, which makes for a very emotional read. I found myself so invested in the characters and their love story. I could've done with a little more heat and the ending felt a little rushed, but that aside, Preslaysa Williams has got a new fan in me.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

*I read and reviewed this book for my podcast, Boobies & Noobies. Listen to the full review on your favorite podcast player or on www.boobiesandnoobies.com.

A cute story, but very boring writing style. I wish the rest of the prosecwould have been as descriptive and exciting as the dress descriptions.

I really wanted to like this book, as a resident of Charleston when I was reading it, but didn’t. The writing was just not good. I also disliked that the storyline kept alluding to a shooting at a church in Charleston but never actually named the Mother Emanuel massacre or explored the event at all. That could have been handled better, or even really at all.

(3.5 stars, rounded up)

Trigger warnings: sickle cell anemia, loss of a spouse, grief after a mass shooting, racism

I was excited to read this novel because it takes place in my hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. The action begins in New York City, where Maya is on her way to becoming a junior designer for Laura Witcomb. When her dad needs help after hospitalization, she agrees to return to Charleston for a while to care for him.

Her boss is a real ballbuster who forces her to go to Charleston without pay and asks her to also do work while she's there. Maya decides to also sell some of her dresses at a local shop where her father's girlfriend works. Her love interest, Derek, owns the bridal boutique.

Maya's story is different from many rom-coms as she has sickle cell anemia, and many of her romantic and professional struggles stem from her shortened lifespan. Derek also struggles with relationships after losing his wife Grace in a mass shooting at their church (based on the real-life shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church). His teenage daughter also struggles with Maya after losing all the females in her life.

Maya's journey is hard, with her illness causing psychological issues after suffering a failed engagement because of her sickle cell. She also has to deal with racism in her workplace where her cultural influences are stifled. This book shows the reader that life is messy and people aren't handed easy relationships.

While many of the locations in the book are made up, the strongest tie to Charleston is the church shooting, which affected so many Charlestonians who knew and loved the victims.

Recommended for fans of Southern romance.

I really wanted to love this book, unfortunately it was way to light on the romance. I didn’t believe the romance between Maya and Derek. While the book did focus on heavy topics such as sickle cell I didn’t really believe the stars between the main characters and the issues that would work against them were fixed to easy. Especially with Derek’s daughter

I can't believe more people aren't talking about this book. Truly one of my favorites for 2021. A really sweet, slow burn rich with details and perfect for a vacation getaway.