Her Christmas Redemption

GIVEAWAY

SHILOH, TONI

HER CHRISTMAS REDEMPTION

Can she find a second chance...on a town's holiday wish list?

Organizing her church's Christmas Wishes program is this perfect start to Vivian Dupre's new life -- one without the shame of her recent mistakes. But as she grows closer to co-coordinator Michale Wood, she's even more determined to keep her past hidden. Together they can give joy to their small town. But when Michael discovers her secret, will he be willing to grant Vivian's holiday wish -- forgiveness?

My Review:

I love redemption stories and this one is filled with all that is wondrous about grace and forgiveness. Vivian is a new Christian, eager to put her troubled past behind her and Shiloh has captured all the emotional nuances of her journey. Honestly, this gave me the same feels as watching a classic Christmas movie like 'It's a Wonderful Life' and 'Going My Way.'  With the same kind of stand-up-and-cheer (while you wipe away a tear) ending.

Some great secondary characters give me hope that this is just the start of a new series though it isn't labeled as such. And the way the town rallies when all seems lost...sniffle. Loved the ebb and flow of plot and pacing. And the Christmas ambiance throughout makes for a classic holiday read.

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Her Christmas Redemption, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 26 2022 . Offer open to International Readers.

To Win a Prince

GIVEAWAY

SHILOH, TONI

TO WIN A PRINCE

Can she stop herself from falling before she's too far gone?

As a fashion aficionado and best friend to the queen of the African Island country Oloro Ile, Iris Blackly dreams of using her talent to start a sustainable clothing line to help citizens in impoverished areas and honour the country's resources. But when she discovers that Ekon Diallo -- the man who betrayed her best friend -- will be her business consultant, the battle between her desires and reality begins.

Ekon Diallo has lost everything: his princely title, his material possessions, his friends, and the respect of his fellow Olorans. To pay for his actions agains Oloro Ile, he's forced to assist the charismatic Iris Blakely -- but recant allow his heart to distract him from regaining his status.

Though they come from vastly different worlds, Iris and Ekon are both determined to reach their goals, and the only way to do that is to work together -- if they can just keep their hearts from getting in the way.

My Review:

I'm beyond gobsmacked. Am stunned into a state of bibliophile stupefaction of which I may never recover. Phew! Let's see if I can gather my thoughts and turn them into words that make sense when all I feel capable of is jumping up and down and screaming "Read this book! Now!!!" (Yes, I can be a bit of a drama queen when it comes to reading.)

So...first off, 'To Win a Prince' is the sequel to 'In Search of a Prince' which released earlier this year. It can definitely be read as a standalone BUT this book starts out with a major spoiler from the ending of the first book. So, if you intend to read 'In Search of a Prince' (and I highly recommend that you do because it is sooooooooo amazing!) definitely read it first. And don't even read the synopsis to this book until you've finished.

This is Iris's story -- best friend of the Queen and American ex-pat who has set up an ambitious fashion business in Oloro Ile. Honestly, the world building the author has done for this imaginary island country is incredible! From the language to the names to the culture. And her descriptions bring it all vividly to life but the 'foreigness' never drowns out the story. Rather, it enhances and lends a bit of a fairy tale quality to this contemporary romance.

And this one comes with all kinds of forbidden romance vibes. There are reasons...so many reasons...why Iris should stay clear of Ekon (pronounced like acorn without the 'r'.) I'm not going to list any of those reasons because you need to live and breath their love story in 'real time' right along with them. So emotional! So uplifting! And swoon worthy!

The funny thing about this hero is he does not start out as hero material. He's arrogant and entitled and bitter and completely messed up. But somehow, Shiloh writes him in such a sympathetic light that I gravitated towards him even at his worst. She does that partly through humour -- think entitled prince trying to cope in the real world for the first time. But Shiloh also lets us glimpse the true hero's heart buried within and just aching to reveal itself.

I was an emotional basket case by the end of the story. I connected with Ekon in a way I didn't think possible when I read the first book. Such a powerful redemptive story! There is absolutely no hiding the fact that this is unapologetically a work of Christian Fiction. Iris brings everything to the Lord -- not always with perfect timing or saintly patience, but it's evident that she's in a relationship with the Almighty. 

"A woman who wore her heart on her sleeve and had no problem loaning it to others in need." (p133) That's how Ekon sees Iris. And recognizes the deep chasm that separates them. But he's on a journey...or more like running from God's pursuit!...and the way Shiloh eventually brings them together into an equally yoked partnership is sweet, sweet perfection.

Honestly, I try so hard not make absolute statements when it comes to rating books but I can't stop myself from saying To Win a Prince takes first place on my 2022 best reads list.

Oh, and though I got a print copy from the publisher, I went ahead and purchased the audible edition (as in preordered and hit play the second my eyes popped open on release day!) Truly incredible performance by narrator Tamika Katon-Donegal. Listening to her Oloran accent brought such authenticity to the story. I kept wanting to do a google search for Oloro Ile and plan an extravagant holiday. lol

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading, #6 Stay current with series

 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  To Win a Prince , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 24 2022 . Offer open to 

In Search of a Prince

GIVEAWAY

SHILOH, TONI

IN SEARCH OF A PRINCE

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 Oloro Ile, off the coast of Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, the king, is falling.

Distraught by all the secrets her mother kept, Brielle is further left spinning when the Oloro Ile 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 chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring?

My Review:

Truth: the story is as exquisitely beautiful as the cover! 'In Search of a Prince' will definitely make my top ten fave reads of 2022! Stunning and captivating and inspirational. The kind of book you want to race through and savour all at the same time. 

And, hallelujah, a traditionally published Christian Fiction novel that is easily identified as such because of the faith content that anchors Brielle's story so beautifully. It's so immeshed in every page and every character that the plot would collapse without it. Even so, the author isn't heavy handed with the spiritual aspects of the story, but she is definitely convicted!

Prayer is at the heart of it all -- and by extension, a personal relationship with Christ for many of the characters. I love how committed Brielle is to her faith. But I'm even more enamoured over how vulnerable she is in spite of that conviction. So real and relatable. Haven't we all felt divinely led towards something and then unreasonably panic and balk and begin to entertain doubts? Not that God doesn't know what He's doing, but that we might have misinterpreted His intentions for us. Shiloh spoke to my heart through her words and I paused more than a few times just to really take them in. This right here is why I seek out Christian Fiction!

I don't want to say much more than what's on the back cover -- I almost think that synopsis reveals a bit too much as it is. I will say the world building is amazing! From the culture to the politics and the geography -- such lush descriptions that created vivid images in my mind. And the romance did not play out at all how I thought it would -- loved the depth and the pacing and -- gah, I want to say more but I will refrain. But it's sweet perfection in my opinion. 

A richly layered plot with even a bit of intrigue and enough humour to lighten the darker moments. I cried twice. And I can't tell you why because...spoiler! Well, actually it might have been even more than that but only one 'ball my eyes out' scene. Keep in mind that I am a tenderhearted reader and these characters are easy to love. :-)

A Five Stars Into Infinity Must Read.

Oh -- and even though I received a book from the publisher, I couldn't resist Tamika Katon-Donegal's captivating narration, so I actually listened to the audible edition and highly recommend it for readers who enjoy audio books.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

 GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of In Search of a Prince, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 12 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

All I Want

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

SHILOH, TONI

ALL I WANT

When Angel Lewis is tasked to decorate Bishop Allen's place, she longs to be seen for the woman she's become.

Bishop just wants to get through the Christmas season with his daughter and get on with his perfectly ordered life.

Time together soon changes everything as Angel's heart unexpectedly touches Bishop's life.

My Review:

published in 2020

A totally scrumptious holiday read!

Short and snappy, Shiloh still manages to deliver a classic Christmas story that packs a punch. Emotional, funny, faith-infused. Easy to devour in one sitting. 

Bishop is no match for Angel and her sass -- and his adorable little girl is just as smitten. Little Marvel is a guileless matchmaking imp though she has some help from Angel's large and boisterous family as well. Let the fun and hijinks begin!

Love the way the author weaves scripture and faith throughout this romance. Spiritual toe-curls...is there such a thing? Might be a Shiloh original. :-)

A heartwarming festive read that celebrates faith and love.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy of All I Want, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 23 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

The Price of Dreams

GIVEAWAY

SHILOH, TONI

THE PRICE OF DREAMS

Ballet has always been my life, but one terrible moment may have destroyed everything I've worked so hard for -- especially my title of Octavia Ricci, principal ballerina. I thought for sure my physical therapist, Dr. Noah Wright, could help me obtain my dream once more, but he wants more than I'm prepared to give.

I've seen firsthand the trials of interracial relationships. I'm a product of one myself and promised I'd never put my hopefully-someday kids through that drama. Everyone keeps telling me to let go of other people's expectations, but I'm just not sure I can. Besides, if my dreams of returning to ballet are futile, what hope is there in seeking unconditional love?

My Review:

I'm happy/sad after reading this book. Happy because I love Shiloh's Faith & Fortune series and sad because this the last book. Sniffle. 

I'm actually surprised at how hard I fell for the series -- which isn't me dissing the author, honest! It's because I'm not into glam anything ever. A spa day sounds like torture to me and I'm too busy reading to social media stalk the rich and famous. Though....come to think of it...if some of my favourite fictional heroes or heroines had an instagram account or posted regularly on tiktok I could defintely get into the social media frenzy! But, I digress. Back to this review.

Octavia and her friends are rich and famous but also real and vulnerable and very much down to earth as in 'I'm not going to let a jaunt to Italy in a private jet go to my head.' :-) The fact that Octavia lives out her faith in a perfectly imperfect kinda way also helped to soothe my trepidation. If this is what 'billionaire' romance is all about, I could get on board with it.

So, we have Octavia -- famous principal ballerina and currently out with a horrific injury, with no guarantees that dancing will ever be in her future again. And Noah, physical therapist extraordinaire who brings a personal drive and compassion to every patient he works with. 

Only in Octavia's case there's passion too. Oh la la, the romantical tension between these two is divinely delicious. All edgy and complicated with Octavia determined to make it more so and Noah in hot pursuit. Thud! Seriously, clear the fainting couch and grab your smelling salts before you start reading.

Love the camaraderie between Octavia and Holiday and Tori. Though this is Octavia's story, their special friendship is definitely at it's heart. Loved the girl chats and texts. Theirs is the kind of enduring bond that will last a lifetime. No worries if you're not familiar with the series, The Price of Dreams reads fine as a standalone, but once you've met this trio I'm betting you won't be able to resist catching up with Holiday and Tori in the previous books. 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Price of Dreams, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 31 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

An Unlikely Proposal

GIVEAWAY

SHILOH, TONI

AN UNLIKELY PROPOSAL

For two best friends, marriage could be their greatest test yet...

Trinity Davis must not have heard firefighter Omar Young correctly. Did her handsome widowed best friend just suggest they get married? Omar needs a mom for his adorable little girls, and it'll fix Trinity's financial woes. But saying "I do" isn't just business. Especially when the only vow they're in danger of breaking is their promise to not fall in love.

My Review:

I have a certain fondness for marriage of convenience stories but it isn't often that a contemporary romance featuring this trope can fully draw me in because it just seems so unbelievable in the 21st century. But guess what? Toni Shiloh not only drew me in, she kept me in a read-in-one-sitting frenzy because Trinity and Omar's situation is so believable. 

Best friends for years, they have supported each other through some tough situations and they adore each other in a platonic, I-don't-want-to-do-life-without-you kind of way. Then they get married and their world suddenly shifts as they try to navigate a new kind of relationship. It takes them a while to figure out that falling in love doesn't have to mean the end of a beautiful friendship. Happy, happy sigh. I'm all smiley faced and warm fuzzy-ed up.  :-)

The girls are hysterical in the way only toddlers/preschoolers can be. Sunny smiles one moment, petulant pouts the next. And what an adventure Trinity has adjusting to their 24/7 care. I went from snort-laughing to "ahhhhh!" tears in nanoseconds. 

I so appreciate the depth in the inspirational thread. This hero and heroine live out their faith, especially when it comes to prayer. I chuckled/cringed over Omar who had a tendency to tell God exactly how he wanted things to go because I'm prone to do that. Better not to leave a conversation with God open-ended 'cause He might just lead you somewhere you don't want to go.  :-) 

A brilliant mix of funny and poignant. 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback

If you would like a chance to win a copy of An Unlikely Proposal, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winners announced on Saturday February 6 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

Once Upon a Christmas

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

BOYD, ANDREA

DAWN, MIKAL

SHILOH, TONI

STRONG, ANGELA RUTH

WEAVER, JAYCEE

ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS

Embrace the magic of the Christmas season with these contemporary twists on timeless tales.

Upon a Dream by Andrea Boyd -- Talia once loved performing in her aunts' theater, but a sleeping disorder relegates her to behind the scenes grunt work. After hearing her sing, Philip won't stop until she's back on stage. She just might find the courage, if only she can stay awake long enough to try.

Claim My Heart by Mikal Dawn -- Li Na feels a bit like her childhood heroine as she impersonates her father and whisks across the night sky on a mission. Colin Wen's Hun of a boss insists he must take no prisoners and win the legal battle before Christmas. As the two figure out which side they should be fighting for, there's no denying the law of attraction is at play.

A Snow White Christmas by Toni Shiloh -- Distraught to find out her fiance connived with her stepmother to take her inheritance, Amala White drives straight into a blizzard. Seeking refuge at Seven Groves Orchard, Amala finds more than she bargained for in the handsome Marcus and his comical uncles.

Christmas Ella by Angela Ruth Strong -- Reality TV becomes a fairy tale when the star of All That Glitters sweeps location director Ella Goodwin off her feet for Christmas. But to avoid disapproval from his snooty stepmother and stepsisters, she attends the new Year's mascarade ball in disguise, never expecting the other shoe to drop.

A Splash of Love by Jaycee Weaver -- Las Vegas casino mermaid Brie Finnegan dreams of life outside the glitz. When her boss, Sirene, sends her to Albuquerque for a deal with the Reyes restaurateur family, Brie falls for more than the city's culture. For her dreams to come true, Brie will need to figure out and stop whatever Sirene's planning.

My Review:

published in 2019

This is the Christmas collection that got away last year. I was desperate to read it but I don't read ebooks and the paperback edition wasn't available on Book Depository so I might have had a bibliophile tantrum...possibly of rather epic proportions. Fast forward to this year and its still not available on BD but rather than waste all that energy gallumping around in a royal snit, I broke down and placed an Amazon order. :-) Because...

Christmas and fairy tales and two authors I enjoy plus three new-to-me ones to try out. Eeeep! 

So here's a rundown of each novella:

Upon a Dream by Andrea Boyd

Fairy tale inspiration: Sleeping Beauty

Contemporary adaptation: Very clever twist on the sleeping curse -- like so clever I want to gush over it but I can't because that would spoil it for you. But it's brilliant!

Plot and setting: Love the theater backdrop. Brought me back to when I'd take my daughter to fairy tale plays at Christmas so it made me nostalgic. Fascinating backstage production details added great dimension to the retelling. Had fun making connections with the classic tale in this modern setting. 

Characters: Crazy doting aunts -- everyone needs a set like Talia's! And Phillip -- the entitled hero with a heart and an awakening in store. He's perfect for sweet, burdened Talia who has her own kind of reckoning to face. They are perfect for each other!

fave quote: "If you want to pass down a true legacy to your family, teach them about God." (p73)

Claim My Heart by Mikal Dawn

Fairy tale inspiration: Mulan

Contemporary adaptation: Kinda brilliant lawyer angle with Li Na take over her sick father's case against a nasty Scrooge/Grinch opponent aptly nicknamed the Hun.

Plot and setting: The legal backdrop makes for an interesting read without being too detailed or confusing for readers like me who understand absolutely nothing about the law. 

Characters: She's a klutz which makes for some hilarious slapstick type comedy though he is gallant and chivalrous no matter what chaos ensues. Love the chemistry between Li Na and Colin and there's just enough angst to trip them up on their way to a happily ever after.

A Snow White Christmas by Toni Shiloh

Fairy tale inspiration: Snow White

Contemporary adaptation: Perfect modern day version of an evil step-mother. Shudder. Love Amala's sheltered 'poor little rich' girl persona. And her worm of a fiance, Hunter (get it?) added to the angst. I felt every iota of Amala's emotional turmoil. And when she gets to Seven Groves Orchard the fun...and healing...really begin.

Plot and setting: Seven Orchards is the perfect, out-of-the way setting. Especially when Amala gets snowed in with only a handsome doctor and his seven uncles to keep her company! Love the way the romance develops -- from trepidation to wary wonder and full-on enlightenment., And Amala's faith journey is something special. 

Characters: Oh-la-la I was in a perpetual mush puddle state over Marcus. He's a bit brooding, wary of risking his heart but he can't resist Amala and their scenes sizzle! And those uncles! It was so much fun identifying who represented which dwarf. :-)

Fave quote: "I love God." ...

                   "But do you let Him love you back?" 

                                                            (p 209)

Christmas Ella by Angela Ruth Strong 

Fairy tale inspiration: Cinderella

Contemporary adaptation: This one has a neat reality show twist which actually makes for a lot of great Cinderella moments. With a few unique spins, like the evil step-sisters and odious mama belong to the hero, not the heroine! And the fairy godmother parallel is brilliant! :-)

Plot and setting:  I am so not into reality shows that I quite enjoyed fuming and dissing over this celeb family (except for Paxton, of course.) Gah, but those sisters and that entitled mama got on my very last nerve. And there were plenty of opportunities for their true cattiness to shine in this setting. The western locale (Wyoming) brought a really unique spin on the traditional tale

Characters: Absolutely loved Ella -- the beleaguered behind-the-scenes location director. And Paxton is just plain swoonworthy! He's managed to avoid all the reality show nastiness so he's just an ordinary guy with an ordinary life looking for an ordinary girl to share it with. Hellllooo, Ella, are you listening? She wants to but those mean girls are just so...argh! The 'villains' of this tale are definitely of the love-to-hate-'em variety.

A Splash of Love by Jaycee Weaver

Fairy tale inspiration: Little Mermaid

Contemporary adaptation: A mermaid in the middle of the desert?! Now that's a really clever twist! So well done too. This is a definite nod to the Disney version complete with a "kiss d' girl" moment. :-) Oh -- and the way Brie's inability to speak is worked into the story is soooooooo funny!

Plot and setting: A Las Vegas casino with all the glitz and glamour that goes with it as well as a trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico which is rich in art and history. Absolutely loved both because they are so far from what I experience up here in the chilly north. There's quite a few twists that include a bit of mystery which kept me eagerly turning pages until I reached the Christmasy perfection of a conclusion.

Characters: Derek and the whole Reyes clan! Loved 'em all -- especially his abuela. Brie's family is...complicated. And the way Derek pursues Brie, trying to draw her out of her shell is soooo sweet and swoony!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Once Upon a Christmas, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 14 2020. Offer open to International Readers.

Deck the Shelves

 

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SHILOH, TONI

DECK THE SHELVES

Kendall Jackson is the proud owner of Heartfalls' bookstire, The Cozy Shelf. Her life is one straight out of the pages, except she's missing that leading man. Although she has a crush on the handsome auto mechanic, Quinton Hendricks, Kendall wants an old-fashioned type of romance -- the stuff swoon-worthy romance books are made of. But Quinton seems to need a little prodding.

Something about Kendall sparks hope in Quinton Hendricks that love could be his again. Only being abandoned by his ex-wife has made him cautious to the point of non-moving.

Can two people hesitant on second chances find love as they Deck the Shevles?

My Review:

published in 2018

Squeal! Sqquueeeaaaalll!!! Sqqqquuueeeeeeeeeaaalllll!!!!!! This is so cute and funny and over-the-top bookish! My idea of the bibliophile's ideal holiday read. I mean, there are book quotes at the beginning of every chapter and the heroine owns a bookstore and there's indie author name-dropping and such a toe-curling bookish twist to the love story...I can't even...but it's soooooooooo dreamy! THUD!

And speaking of dreamy...Q!!! Double thud. The cautious way he pursues Kendall, the way the author lets us see into his deep-rooted fears and the way we get to watch him wrestle them into submission by calling on God to help him every step of the way. Hello, fellow Christian fiction readers, this is the kind of inspirational 'umph' we're all clamoring for in our stories!

And have I mentioned all the fainting-couch worthy swoons I experienced while reading Deck the Shelves (eeeeppp -- cutest title ever!) Quinton and Kendall have some chemistry going on! 

Not only that, but Toni Shiloh has created a captivating town with some memorable characters and I can't wait to read more about them. 

Best Christmas romance novella ever!!!!!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of  Deck the Shelves, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 10 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

The Truth About Fame

GIVEAWAY

SHILOH, TONI
THE TRUTH ABOUT FAME

My life has always been in the spotlight. Born to two famous parents and then quickly rising to "super" status in the modeling world ensured that I, Astoria "Tori" Bell, would always have my image plastered across newsstands. Unfortunately, adoring fans weren't always magananimous and now I have a stalker on my hands.

Oddly enough, the tall, dark, and all-too handsome bodyguard hired to protect me seems more harmful than the threatening notes from the stalker. As well as his plan to flush out the danger by proposing a fake engagement.

The lines between pretend and reality blur and I have to shore up my resolves. Baggage from my past means I can't let myself be vulnerable. but the way Marcel Fox treats me has me thinking otherwise.

With a new rock on my finger and the man who put it there by my side, happily ever after seems like a possibility or is that as fake as my public persona?

My Review:

Squuueeeee!!! I couldn't wait to continue Toni Shiloh's Faith and Fortune series after I read the first one last week. I already had a sneak peek at the Fox/Tori dynamics and a plot line involving a bodyguard is always a lure for me. I gobbled this one up in an afternoon and am still giddy over the banter and toe-curls. 

I mean, a pretend romance that sizzles and sparks its way through the mounting tension of a lethal stalker?! Yes, please! Fox is swoony, Tori is spunky and I love that her besties have her back. And the addition of  Fox's gran, Miss Etta, brings an extra richness to the story, especially where Tori's struggle with trusting the Lord comes in. Nothing like a wise woman's sage words to pierce a rebellious heart.

"You see, Tori, you don't need any defenses. The Lord will be  that for you and more, If you just let Him." (p 106)

I love a story that challenges me to live my faith and Toni Shiloh has delivered another realistic rendering of one woman's faith journey.

Now I just have to get my hands on the last (sob!) book in this series, The Price of Dreams, because I need for all three besties to have their worlds -- and hearts -- put right. Already anticipating a romantical bibliophile love-fest of epic proportions. :-)

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a gently read copy of  The Truth About Fame, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 19 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

The Trouble With Love

GIVEAWAY

SHILOH, TONI
THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE

I, Holiday Brown, have it all. A platinum record. Multi-million dollar home in Manhattan that I share with my two best friends. Life is looking fantastic until my roommate's brother decides to bunk in our guestroom while his house gets renonvated.

W. Emmett Bell has always been the bane of my existence. He's annoying, stubborn, a know it all, and just might the most gorgeous man I've ever laid eyes on. But I refuse to fall for him. Then his sister's threatened by a stalker and dynamics change. His unwavering faith isn't quite as self-righteous as I'd always thought, and maybe he has a good side I've overlooked all these years.

Or maybe it's all too much trouble.

My Review:

One of the absolute delights of this novel is the witty banter between Holiday and Emmett. It's fast a furious and full of teasing (Emmett) and snark (Holiday). My, but that girl can hold a grudge and she's been nursing this one against Emmett since she was fourteen. Loved the crackling energy ziinging between these two every time they are together. My fingertips got singed from all that latent longing. :-)

And I love that Holiday and her two besties (and the heroines of future novels in the series) are successful women in high profile careers. I'm not usually one for the fame/glam lifestyle -- it doesn't interest me at all -- but Shiloh has a way of creating really relatable, down-to-earth characters who are anything but entitled. I think Holiday, Octavia and Tori keep each other grounded in the midst of their jet-setting lifestyle and I like the dynamics between these friends who are really more like sisters. The author has done a great job of setting the scope for the series in this first novel.

What surprised (and pleased) me the most about The Trouble With Love was the powerful inspirational thread Shiloh has woven seamlessly throughout the story. Holiday's quest for understanding herself and others leads her to a relationship with Christ. It's a beautifully moving and realistic portrayal of someone seeking truth.

I'm super excited about this Faith & Fortune series -- especially since I have the second book, The Truth About Fame on the tippy top of my TBR pile right now! Eeeeep!!!  And I love, love, love the covers. Simple and stylish with colour contrasts that make an impact. All with a campy retro vibe. This is bookshelf art at it's best:




GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a read copy of  The Trouble With Love, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 12 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck

Buying Love

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

SHILOH, TONI
BUYING LOVE

Will money ruin everything?

Nina Warrenton is ready for the next step in her life plan -- marriage, but no one has proposed. Taking matters into her hand, she places an ad in the newspaper hoping to entice a willing stranger. But when she begins to fall for the small-town chef, she realizes how much she wants him to love her and not her money.

Dwight Williams needs fast cash to save the family restaurant. When he sees Nina's monetary offer for a husband, he goes for it. He's determined to save the legacy his dad left him,  but can he let it go to prove his love for her?

Can Nina and Dwight find true love, once money has entered the equation?

My Review:

published in 2017

A contemporary romance with a modern-day marriage of convenience angle that really works.

I wasn't sure about Nina at first...a goal-oriented list-checker determined to trust her future happiness to logic and facts rather than heart and soul. Seriously, advertising for a husband including the enticement of a dowry? Swoony in a Regency perhaps, but how would it work with a 21st century heroine? I experienced a few Nervous Nelly Reader twinges at the beginning of the story but then Dwight walked into the coffee shop and I started thinking -- Nina is onto something and where do I sign up? lol

Because I'm head over heels for Dwight. I was a goner when I met his St. Bernard, Beast. I mean, that says it all right there. Kind-hearted dog-lover who is willing to look past dog hair and drool to form a committed relationship. And if he'll do that for a dog, just think what kind of husband material he'll make. Bwahahahaha! Plus he's a chef (though I noticed there didn't seem to be any vegetarian options on the menu at The Maple Pit...but I still love him anyway!)  He's a stand up guy who is dedicated to faith and family. And rather adept at inducing toe-curls in this reader. :-)

And I love the way Shiloh gradually reveals the pieces of Nina's past that make sense of her unorthodox approach to marriage. Of course, she's still trying to manipulate her future, but I totally understood her reasoning. And I love how she seeks out the Lord with her limited understanding. There's real depth in her faith journey as she draws closer to her Heavenly Father and discovers her eternal place in His family. A  powerful reminder for us all.

This first book in the Maple Run series has great secondary characters who add lots of pizzazz and angst to Nina and Dwight's story. (Nikki just has to have her own book -- soon!!!!! Please and thank you!) And Dwight's mama -- well -- let's just say she gave me whiplash and leave it at that.

Poignant. Funny. Hopeful. Guaranteed to warm a reader's heart and fuel her faith. My first ever Toni Shiloh read but it won't be my last!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Buying Love, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday July 20 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!