Book Description:
Sometimes what haunts you most is wondering what could have been.
Avalee Elvis prides herself with being able to fix just about anything. . . except her past. Unable to put the puzzle of her life together, she pours heart and soul into making neglected places whole again. As the owner of Lowcountry Lost, Avalee spends her days in hot-pink Carhartt overalls and a tool belt reclaiming Lowcountry properties. Making them beautiful again releases the deep sigh that soothes the hurt she holds.
Avalee’s latest project takes her to tiny Somewhere, South Carolina, a long-abandoned town. She ignores its ghostly folklore but can’t miss the shock of hearing the familiar Irish brogue that materializes on the job site—the voice of the man she never wanted to see again.
Rowan Murray is a structural engineer hired by investors to oversee the redevelopment of the quaint downtown Avalee is bringing back to life. Once upon a time, he was also the man who knew Avalee better than anyone else—or so he thought. Six years ago, neither of them was prepared for the tragedy they would face together or what would happen in its wake. But as they work together to complete the rehabbing of Somewhere, their broken pieces and the pain that nearly consumed them begin to lose its grip, and both begin to wonder if it’s not too late for a restoration of their own.
From the author of the breakout Southern fiction bestseller Under the Magnolias comes a story of loss and abandonment, forgiveness, and the beauty of undying love.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed read Lowcountry Lost, a contemporary Christian romance set in a small South Carolina ghost town that’s undergoing renovation and renewal. Avalee’s business, Lowcountry Lost, won the contract to do a large scale ghost town renewal project with a seven month time frame. She’s shocked to learn that Rowan, a man she’s known since childhood, will be working on the project. Avalee feels things deeply and she is struggling to deal with grief and loss.
The story is in first person and in Avalee’s point of view with a focus on exploring her journey to healing and restoration. The romance is sweet, and kicks off with a strong enemies-to-love vibe between Avalee and Rowan before deepening into something that’s complicated and messy and beautiful. I appreciated the quirky side characters and how both Avalee and Rowan cared for Bash, the young runaway.
I recommend Lowcountry Lost to contemporary romance readers who like childhood sweetheart second chance romances with depth, a strong Southern USA flavour, and a faith element organically woven into the fabric of the story.
Many thanks to Tyndale and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
