In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh

About the Book

Title: In Search of a Prince
Author: Toni Shiloh
Genre: Contemporary Christian Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: February 1, 2022

It seems like a dream come true . . . until it forces her to question everything.

Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha’s Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops a bombshell–Brielle is really a princess in the island kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, off the coast of Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, the king, is failing.

Distraught by all the secrets her mother kept, Brielle is further left spinning when the Ọlọrọ Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before her coronation, or the crown will pass to another. Brielle is uncertain if she even wants the throne, and with her world totally shaken, where will she find the courage to take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring?

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About the Author

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel Grace Restored was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist, and Risking Love is a 2020 Selah Award finalist. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to help readers find authors. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at www.tonishiloh.com.

My Review

In Search of a Prince
By Toni Shiloh
Rating: 4.5/5

First, can we talk about that cover? I immediately knew I needed to read the story based on the book cover and that gorgeous dress! Stunning! Lol. I will judge a book by its cover if it’s that beautiful. Also…Representation matters. Seeing a black woman on the cover matters and is one of the reasons I wanted to read her story.

Second, Toni Shiloh is an incredibly talented writer who can suck the reader into her world and create such a lush environment that I want to visit. Her world building is brilliant with just enough detail to come alive in your imagination.

Third, Brielle…and a certain someone have so much chemistry that was dripping off the page. It’s the swoon worthy but sweet kind of chemistry that makes you sigh. The love story is written with so much heart and faith.

Finally, I love how the author is not afraid to weave her faith into this incredible story and share about who God is. Such a perfect display of His love and pleasure!

Don’t miss this clean, modern day fairytale set in a small African country with a royal family full of secrets.

My thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of the book. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Q & A with the Author (from her website)

1. Please provide a brief summary of your new book, In Search of a Prince.

Brielle Adebayo is a middle school civics teacher when her mother drops a bombshell: she’s a princess and heir to the throne of Ọlọrọ Ilé. The king, her grandfather, is dying and needs to establish her as his official heir. It’s then that the royal council finds an old edict that dictates she must be married in order to become the next ruling monarch. She’s given a list of eligible bachelors and grapples with the enormity of the situation. Can she be the queen the people of Ọlọrọ need? That is the journey I take the reader on between the pages.

2. In Search of a Prince is primarily set in the fictional country of Ọlọrọ Ilé. Can you tell us a little about this place?

I’d love to. I set the country in the Gulf of Guinea, a little to the west of Bioko Island. It has a tropical climate like that of Bioko, but I used a lot of Nigerian influences to develop the country. It is ruled by a king, one of the few African nations that still maintains a monarchy. Their council is also made up of tribal elders to represent the different regions of Ọlọrọ.

3. What different cultures influenced the creation of this story?

I had so much fun exploring the tribes of Nigeria. I also looked at how the colonization of Nigeria, Sao Tome & Principe, and western Africa as a whole influenced the current cultures. It was with all this in mind that I developed the culture of my fictional country.

4. One of the underlying themes in In Search of a Prince is learning to trust God and His will—no matter where it may lead. How does this theme come into play in the life of your female protagonist, Brielle Adebayo?

Trust is such a huge theme for Brielle. She’s been thrust into a life that looks nothing like what she’s used to. She doesn’t want to do anything outside of God’s will, yet life is filled with so many new trials that it’s hard to distinguish what is what. That’s where trust comes in, and we get to see how her walk with God develops on this new journey.

5. What do you think this novel contributes to the inspirational fiction genre that we haven’t seen before?

Diversity! It’s not often you get to walk into bookstores and see a lot of fiction with ethnic characters. It’s my hope that Black women (young and old) will see this book and see themselves. That it allows them to dream and be inspired by what God can do.

6. What was the inspiration for In Search of a Prince?

I was inspired by the union between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It was amazing to see their love, but it also made me wish for stories that celebrated Black princesses. So I dreamed one up. ☺

7. What do you hope readers gain from reading your new novel?

My biggest hope is that they see God in a new way. That they’re able to trust that He has good plans and that nothing takes Him by surprise, so we can trust in Him and rest in those truths.

8. What do you love most about writing contemporary romance novels—specifically stories about royalty?

There’s something about showing that romance and faith can still exist in the midst of our trials and tribulations. Add the royal factor of caring for an entire country, and it only shows how awesome God can be.

9. How can readers connect with you?

I can be reached via email at toni@tonishiloh.com, or they can find all my social media links on my website, ToniShiloh.com.

Bookstagram Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of the book and candle. (2) additional winners will receive a copy of the book. (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on February 15, 2022.)

To enter the giveaway, go to @justreadtours on Instagram and follow directions at each of the tour spots.