Life got in the way and I could not finish the book. Thanks to the publishers for the chance to read the book.

I went back and was going to read the first book, and DNFed. So based on that I decided not to read this one. And after reading through some of it, it seems like more of a women’s fiction story vs a romance which is what I’m actually looking for.

So this is not a reflection on the author or the story.

Thank you for the ARC.

Preslaysa Williams always gives us an emotions, heartwarming read full of African American and Filipino culture that makes you feel like you're right there in the midst of the story. This book also tackles several sensitive topics including grief, racism as well as others. It was the perfect mix of romance and dealing with real life circumstances. I really hope I can visit a museum like this one day in my life. Grandma Clark was one of my favorite characters and one of the best in my opinion. And the growth of Rev. Clark was one of the most moving ones I've read in a while and really touched me. I really enjoyed this book.

I received a copy of the book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions.

Quick Summary: Realistic fiction with an emphasis on history, mystery, and reconciliation

My Review: A Sweet Lowcountry Proposal by Preslaysa Williams was a Southern comfort novel set in Charleston, SC.

Amidst heavy page to life issues, two hometown people with an interrupted past are granted a second chance at love.

My Favorite Quote: "Love is a reflection of heavenly love."

My Final Say: This story had many layers. Heartbreaking losses, grief, growing pains, unresolved feelings, and family brokenness/dysfunction existed in the lives of the main characters. Beyond their relationship, racial and cultural challenges were featured.

Other: Readers who enjoy fiction with a tie in to history will likely go for this read.

My Takeaway: It's important to keep history alive. It holds a wealth of knowledge that can lead to very necessary healing.

A Final Theme: New Beginnings

Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: A
Status: G
Level: 💗

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for granting a review opportunity. The words I have shared are my own.

I liked the two leads but didn't get the reconnection and second chance didn't work for me unfortunately.

This story was heartfelt and emotional and the author did a wonderful job at writing these characters and this story. I wanted nothing but the best for them. This isn't a light read, but it is an enjoyable read.

Thank you #netgalley for an early read of #asweetlowcountryproposal

I wanted to love this book. There’s some really powerful messaging about how history shapes us, dealing with grief and trauma, moving forward after loss, and developing meaningful relationships. However, the pacing and character development were so off. Characters would have rapid swings in perspective, coming to decisions within a couple of pages that they’d originally been set against. I found that really distracting. It also took away from allowing the characters to have meaningful development arcs. They didn’t quite feel real because their decisions didn’t make sense.

2.5-3 stars. Jaslene's and Marcus' second chance romance never got going for me. This felt more like Marcus' story, about his family, his reconciliation with his grandparents, and his growth in his job. All of that was interesting and kept me reading, but it was not enough. There was nowhere near enough showing us the ARC of the romance. Jaslene moving on after her sister's death, could have similarly been shown more. It felt like backstory only and not part of what she was handling in the present time, except for having her niece. I also felt like there was a large time discrepancy between the amount of time her sister had been gone to the present day. It may have fully been my own misunderstanding, but it simply was not clear. I really wanted to love this, I enjoy a second chance romance, but this did not work for me.

This book had so much potential and could have done so much for POC, but it fell. The storylines don’t really wrap up and it’s frustrating. The plot overshadowed the romance by a long shot. There was a lot going on that was not romantic at all.

This was just ok. After reading and really enjoying A Lowcountry Bride when I saw this one available I had high hopes, and if the romance would have played a bigger part I would have enjoyed this one just as much but it fell flat for me. While still sweet and a quick easy read I just was left wanting a little more.

This was a sweet, second chance #ownvoices, dual POV Southern romance between a formerly engaged couple who are forced to work together to plan a wedding. Revolving around a Black History museum, I really enjoyed the history sprinkled throughout the story with mystery thrown in. Good on audio and recommended for fans of authors like Sarah Echavarre Smith. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: kissing only

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

For a book that could have done so much for the POC community in the South, this did absolutely nothing at all for me. Our main character talks about being Black, Filipina and adopted, but the Filipina part sort of drops off and is never mentioned again. Why? There’s an ex with some wedding day drama, but don’t worry, they get back together. Storylines aren’t wrapped up. This could have been so much more. I request POC and LGBTQIA+ romances for a reason. Stop letting me down.

This second chance romance is the second installment of the Lowcountry Bride series. The way Jaslene and Marcus' wedding was stalled and ultimately called off because of the tragic death of Jaslene's sister was heartbreaking and it still lingers well into the story. I love how much of a mature relationship they have. The love was always there but I think the tragic event made them realize that there were things that they didn't know about each other, even though they had been together for a long time. Jaslene's grief overwhelmed her, and Marcus also had unresolved issues from his past. Through the rekindling of their relationship, they built a deeper bond within one another, and I don't think it would have happened if they had gotten married the first time.

Although I enjoyed the story, it wasn't a strong follow up to A Lowcountry Bride. I think that some of the plot overshadowed the romance factor.

Thanks to Avon and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Wedding planner Jaslene is haunted by the death of her sister two years before. In her grief, she ended her engagement to museum curator Marcus. When a client wants a wedding at the museum, Jaslene and Marcus are forced back into each other's company. Can they rekindle their love?

This is an emotional story of two broken souls learning to heal. There's also an interesting subplot of the efforts to save the African American history museum. The feel of the Charleston setting is vibrant throughout.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I loved that this was a second chance romance for our main characters Jaslene and Marcus. Preslaysa Williams use of saving the Lowcountry African American Heritage Museum as a tool for reuniting Jaslene and Marcus was really beautiful and inspired especially in combatting good ole Southern boys in trying to prevent grant money in saving the museum.

I also liked that saving the museum and becoming friends with each other wasn't the only growth that Jaslene and Marcus had. I liked that jastene was learned to let her niece Imani grow up and go off to college in New York. I thought the biggest relationship improvement was Marcus and his grandfather and their settling of differences and truly trying to help each other out and protect each other.

Thank you so much to Avon for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

4/5 ⭐️

I first saw A LOWCOUNTRY BRIDE at my library last year and picked it up on a whim and ended up loving it! It was such a sweet and heartwarming romance, I was so excited to see another book from @preslaysa and so excited to get a copy via @netgalley ! I could not put this one down - it was even more emotional than the first one and a really touching story about grief and second chances. This book also tells a beautiful story about how one’s past ties into their future - and an AMAZING inclusion of some Black history into the side plots of this story. I cannot recommend both of @preslaysa’s books enough especially if you need something that will tug and your heartstrings

A tragedy derailed Jaslene’s and Marcus’s nuptials and they haven’t interacted for two years. Now Jaslene is the wedding coordinator for a friend who wants to have the ceremony in Marcus’s musuem, which is in jeopardy of closing.
It’s a tender story, fraught with lots of u resolved emotions and angst.
It is time for Jaslene to process her feelings and open herself up again and Marcus needs to fix things with his grandfather.
I liked that his field was history and the setting Of Charleston, SC.
I love the cover art!

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

A Sweet Lowcountry Proposal is a case of there being the bones of a good book here, but it gets bogged down under the many ideas it tries to juggle. Presleysa Williams’ prior book with Avon had a similar issue, but I ultimately felt that book at least made up for it by having somewhat better execution of its multiple ideas. This one just feels a bit all over the place and not delivering on what was promised.

On the one hand, the most interesting part is the Black history museum. There’s protests against it from people who think it shouldn’t exist, as if their “protests” are remotely the same as the rightful removal of Confederate statues. I loved exploring the history of Charleston through these modern characters’ eyes and wouldn’t have minded if the book been reframed with this as the main focus, especially since it took up so much page time.

And Jaslene and Marcus are decent people and characters I’d likely root for in a stronger story. Jaslene’s grief at the loss of her sister, and how she struggles to keep things together for her niece, while trying to keep her sister’s spirit alive is super sweet in particular.

But while I do like them together somewhat, there’s no…”spark.” Even if it’s low heat, it should convey some sense of stakes and it doesn’t. The romance felt like a side plot (and a very tepid one), despite the blurb explicitly promising a “second chance romance.”

While I didn’t love this book, there are others who enjoy it more, and it’s likely an issue of preference. If you don’t go in expecting the romance to be the main plot, perhaps you might enjoy it a bit more than I did.

CW: mass shooting, death discussed on page.

Jaslene had the worst thing imaginable happen to her she lost her best friend, business partner, maid of honor on her wedding day. Following her wedding day, she calls off her engagement to her longtime boyfriend and takes over guardianship to her 17-year-old niece. When Marcus and Jaslene reunite to plan a wedding, it was brought to their attention that neither one of them grieved their past losses properly. Neither one of them learned how to open up to each other, therefor their marriage was doomed from the start. As they start making these realizations, they start healing old wounds and becoming friends again.

I really enjoyed how the author didn't shy away from any of the Black American history in this book. It was really insightful and was probably the main thing I enjoyed from this story.

My only qualms from this book were the fact that everything happened very quickly and that there didn't seem to be much chemistry between the main characters. Besides that, books like these are needed out in the world.

Thank you to Net Galley/Avon Publishing for and ARC in exchange for an honest review, as always, all words are my own.