Hello World,

I’m always excited about sharing a new book with y’all, my dear blog readers, and today is no exception…If you’re looking for a new book, please consider To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh! Below is a brief bio about Toni, followed by praise for Toni’s novels and concluding with my interview with her.

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace of the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes soulfully romantic novels to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

Before pursuing her dream as a writer, Toni served in the United States Air Force. It was there she met her husband. After countless moves, they ended up in Virginia, where they are raising their two boys.

When she’s not typing in imagination land, Toni enjoys reading, playing video games, ​making jewelry, and spending time with ​her family.

“Captivating, romantic, and faith-filled, To Win a Prince captured my attention from the first page. . . . Shiloh’s latest royal romance is a pure page-turner.”

—Melissa Tagg, USA Today bestselling, Christy Award-winning author

“To Win a Prince transports readers to a lush tropical island for a tale of second chances and redeeming love. . . . Be prepared to be swept away by this story that is another jewel in author Toni Shiloh’s own crown as a master storyteller.”

—Sarah Monzon, award-winning author

Shiloh delivers a fun, contemporary romance delightfully full of favorite romantic tropes that also conveys serious messages of faith and destiny. It is refreshing to see dynamic Black characters in the genre, and readers will be eager for this modern-day fairy tale.”

—Library Journal, starred review of In Search of a Prince 

1. Please provide a brief summary of your new novel, To Win a Prince.

To Win a Prince is all about Iris Blakely and Ekon Diallo’s journeys to each other and through the ups and downs life throws at them. The story explores what happens to Ekon after the royal council delivers their judgment on his actions (read In Search of a Prince or the prologue in To Win a Prince for a recap). Thus, part of the story is told in his point of view. The story also takes us through the ins and outs of Iris’s new business and her life as she settles into a new country and, hopefully, a new love.

2. To Win a Prince is set in the fictional African country of Oloro Ilé and follows Iris Blakely, who first appeared in In Search of a Prince. Can you share what readers have to look forward to in this novel?

I’d be happy to. Expect Iris shenanigans, the world of fashion, swoony romance, and a redemption that brought me to tears.

3. Can you tell us a little more about the inspiration behind this book?

I knew when I wrote In Search of a Prince that I would be telling Iris’s story. Honestly, all I knew was that she started a fashion business and Ekon would be her love interest. I let the characters dictate the rest of the story from there.

 4. How do you think To Win a Prince serves both fiction readers at large and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) readers?

For romance fans, they’ll get that in spades with To Win a Prince. Iris can’t help but wear her heart on her sleeve, and the fodder that ensues speaks to that. The romance goes through ups and downs but ends with a happily ever after, just as romance readers have come to expect. As for BIPOC readers, they get the added benefit of being represented in fiction. I have had readers tell me how much they appreciate being able to identify with the diverse characters shown in my novels. To Win a Prince touches on the fairy-tale aspect of romance but grounds all readers in faith and realism.

5. You’ve said in the past that seeing diversity in Christian fiction is a goal of yours as an author. Do you think the genre is moving in that direction?

I do. Every time I celebrate a BIPOC Christian author’s new release, I feel the industry moving in the right direction. I’m also praying and cheering on unpublished authors who hope to join the Christian fiction market.

6. What challenges did you experience while writing this story?

I actually wrote this story during a really difficult time. My husband had been laid off and our lease was up, and we needed somewhere else to live. It was completely overwhelming, and even though I was able to get an extension on my deadline, I didn’t give myself a lot of wiggle room to complete the manuscript. But God is truly faithful, pouring the words out in six weeks’ time. Enough time to give it another read through before turning it in. I’ll never forget the journey God brought me through while writing Iris’s tale and learning what patience in the Lord means.

7. How can readers connect with you?

Readers can find me at tonishiloh.com. There you can subscribe to my newsletter, find my social media links, and even fill out the contact form if you want to send an email directly to me.

Any thoughts?