Brides of Lowcountry: Touched by Fate & A Lowcountry Bride by Preslaysa Williams @preslaysawrites #CarmenJewelJones @HarperAudio @librofm

the setup…
Maya Jackson is bridal gown designer working for one of the top brands in New York. She’s close to achieving her dream of becoming the head designer for Laura Whitcomb, Inc. when she receives news that her father has fractured his hip and needs her help. Maya is forced to return home to Charleston, taking a short leave of absence, without much needed pay but falls into a situation where she can earn cash while showcasing her unique talents. Widower and single father Derek Sullivan desperately needs help with his failing bridal boutique, Always a Bride, a legacy from his late mother. Maya turns out to be the Godsend he wasn’t looking for.the heart of the story…
Maya and Derek’s story is at the forefront but what resonates strongly is the Lowcountry setting. We see not only the typical aspects of Charleston but also the African cultural roots of the town. They serve as an important backdrop as Maya struggles with staying true to her “Blasian” heritage. She’s part Black and part Filipino and the sewing techniques she learned from her Filipino mother are elements in her gown designs. Her romance with Derek is complicated by his difficult 11-year old daughter who’s still struggling with the loss of her own mother. I appreciated Maya’s turmoil over returning to New York or staying in Charleston as both offered very different satisfactions. In the end, she had to consider what truly was most important to her versus all those other forces driving her dreams.the narration…
I loved the narrator who captured the essence of Maya’s personality, even making me sympathetic to her when I wasn’t feeling that in my head. She gave distinctive voices to the other important characters.the bottom line…
I enjoyed this story so much more than I’d anticipated because of the cultural influences. They impacted just about everything. The romance was more muted but the richness of the setting and personal conflicts made this a solidly layered story. Maya was a complicated woman who was also living with sickle cell anemia and I learned a lot about the realities of the disease. Derek’s late wife died in the church massacre that made national news so there was a touch of realism, though the church is fictional here. I appreciated the tribute to the victims in this indirect way. I’m looking forward to continuing the series.

Book Info

• Release Date: June 1, 2021
• Series: Lowcountry Brides #1
• Narrator: Carmen Jewel Jones
• Audio Length: 8 hours, 50 minutes
• Publisher: HarperAudio

 

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(Thanks to HarperAudio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)