As a fashion aficionado and best friend of the queen of the African island country Oloro Ilé, Iris Blakely dreams of using her talent to start a business to help citizens in impoverished areas. But when she discovers that Ekon Diallo 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 countrymen. To pay for his actions against Oloro Ilé, he's forced to assist the charismatic Iris Blakely--but he can't allow his heart to distract him from regaining his status.
As Iris strives to get her business off the ground while keeping her heart intact, will her dreams of happily ever after survive the challenges she faces?
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. A native of Texas, she now lives in northern Virginia. Learn more at http://tonishiloh.com.
I LOVED THIS. Iris and Ekon are the cutest pairing and I love how they complement each other. The faith content was excellent as per usual for Toni Shiloh.
I'm so looking forward to reading whatever Toni Shiloh comes out with next. She's become an auto-buy author for me.
To Win A Prince by Toni Shiloh is the continuation of Iris’ story after In Search of A Prince. What a beautiful, faith-filled, heartwarming story filled with beautiful redemptive salvation in the Lord. This story will captivate your heart and will stay with you for a long time. If you love royalty reads, you will love this story. 5 stars!
This story follows Iris, Bri’s best friend from the first book, who is a fashion aficionado and has started her business where the goal is to clothe the world in sustainable fashion using the resources and skills of Oloro Ile. She wants to give the Oloran woman a chance to leave poverty behind and provide for their families. Iris soon realizes Ekon Diallo, a prince who has his royal title stripped from him due to his crimes against the queen, has to be her new business consultant. Ekon soon realizes being a “commoner” isn’t so bad and Iris struggles through her conflicted feelings for him.
Ekon has never known a life other than the royal lifestyle he grew up in. So when he is exiled from his royal family and has to learn how to be self-sufficient, he struggles to adjust. He was very arrogant and prideful at the beginning of the story – but all he knew in his life was a life of entitlement and royalty. He lost everything in his life he knew, but he soon realizes what is most important in life as he works with Iris. I loved his character so much because he went on a beautiful redemptive journey through Christ.
Iris is a beautiful example of a strong Christian woman who is caring and loyal. She was so conflicted in her emotions towards Ekon, prayed to God about the entire situation throughout the story, as Ekon was not a believer, and she wasn’t sure what God wanted her to do. I love her personality and seeing her as a business owner as well. She gave Ekon the second chance he deserved – what an amazing character.
Toni sure knows how to write in depth, beautiful characters that we can connect with. I also love the way she wrote faith in this series – the prayer, scriptures and firm belief in the Lord are top tier. We directly see the redemption of Jesus in this story and a true transformation. The culture in this story was also phenomenal! I can visualize the setting of Oloro Ille so easily and I loved the fashion details throughout the story.
Overall, this story was beautiful, the ending packs such an emotional punch and will stay with me for such a long time. Thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to honestly read and review.
This was such a great follow up to In Search of a Prince! I loved Iris in that book and was so glad to get to read her story. The romance was so sweet, and the themes of forgiveness and grace and the true love of a father were so beautiful. The fashion angle was so also really good. I’ll definitely read more books by Toni Shiloh after these!
To Win a Prince was a captivating story of redemption. This novel is a wonderful sequel to In Search of a Prince. Iris and Ekon were secondary characters in the first book, so having read that story will make this one even more meaningful. However, I do think that you could probably pick this book up and jump into the overall storyline, knowing that Ekon was part of events in book one that were not above board.
As the story began, Ekon was definitely a snobbish character who felt entitled to his life of luxury and privilege that he had long enjoyed. He quickly lost everything that mattered to him, the things that he thought made him important. It was interesting to watch as Ekon began to have his eyes opened regarding the way most people lived and began to learn that there might be more to life than status and material possession.
Iris was such a sweet and caring character, who was very drawn to Ekon. She battled the attraction to him, knowing that he was not a believer, yet it was a big struggle for her. I loved the way these two connected with each other even as they both, at times, worked to resist anything more growing between them.
This story had a wonderful redemption arc. Ekon’s emotional and spiritual journey was beautiful and he grew so much as the story progressed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Toni Take Me Away! There is so much to love about this story in a mythical, modern place. The setting is just beautiful. Iris, who is best friends with Queen Brielle, is trying her best to elevate the women of a section of the island kingdom. Her fashion business would showcase the area and bring the residents out of poverty. She is a Christian who is charitable and prays about all aspects of her life. Poor Ekon, living out an edict from the royal council to help Iris launch her business, is at loose ends when all he knew as a Prince is stripped away. He has some growing up to do. Ms Shiloh gives us a memorable story in a unique place that teaches spiritual truths. The story flows effortlessly but that does not mean the hero and heroine have no obstacles to overcome. It means that she does a super job of bringing pertinent concerns to the forefront and confronting us with them. And giving us the answer in Jesus! Well done romance that progresses as the characters grow. I want to go back to Oloro Ile for more great stories. *I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Review program. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Gah!! I loved Iris in In Search of a Prince. But wow is she perfect as the heroine of her own story. Such compassion and intuition when it comes to the broken and disgraced Ekon Diallo. And what a wonderful redemption story for this unlikely hero. Chemistry, sweetness, and so much more fill the pages of their tender romance.
Ms. Shiloh has taken the enchanting island she created for Queen Bri and made it a true home for Iris and Ekon as they discover where they belong and with whom. I didn’t think she could surpass ISOAP, but she definitely did with this one.
"Practice patience. Stay in the moment. Don't jump ahead in life and miss the now."
I love books about royals and I love books with a good redemption story....and this newest by Toni Shiloh has both! On a beautiful tropical island country off the coast of Western Africa, a bright and bubbly American fashion designer meets a spoiled, selfish former Etikun prince with nothing left to his name...and they butt heads while working together to start a fashion house and learn about grace, mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love.
I loved Iris' completely idealistic, romantic first person voice. She was over the top, yes, but so full of life and passion and empathy. Ekon's honest and raw first person voice started out arrogant, self-centered, and unyielding but slowly morphed to reveal his true self - that sweet, endearing, vulnerable, noble core which made him a prince through and through. The faith thread was strong and Ekon's redemption is one to be remembered. Catching up with Bri and Mori was also fun.
Iris and Ekon's story will make you weep tears of heartbreak and shout for joy at God's faithfulness and love. I received the book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
Ah-mazing. I only liked this book a tiny bit less than the first one. Iris is an amazing main character, and it was fun to read about her new business startup in Oloro Ile. And then there's Ekon. Now...he's a character I did NOT like in the previous novel. But...I have to admit, he kind of grew on me. You see, Toni Shiloh has a talent for writing real people. With real issues. Make them come to life in front of your eyes, and make the reader like them. Back to Ekon...he is punished for his part in trying to oust the queen (who also happens to be Iris' BFF Bri). His punishment, although not as severe as death or imprisonment, still does feel quite severe to a guy having grown up living off a trust fund, with not a thought or care about how much money he was spending... He has to learn how to live on his own, within a budget, support himself. I loved watching his character grow. The storyline was intriguing and amazing. I found it very fascinating. The country of Oloro Ile came alive for me, and I still wish it were real so that I could actually go there. If you are a fan of princess stories, and especially if you read and enjoyed "In Search of a Prince", be sure and read this one! Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
This was another beautiful, faith-filled story from Toni Shiloh.
I really liked Iris in the previous book, and was so happy that she got her own story. She really shines here. Her compassion and empathy are on full display. I loved how she saw the best in people, even when they couldn't see it themselves. She was such an encouraging friend.
Now, Ekon, on the other hand? I didn't think there was any way I'd like him. His actions from the previous book and his snobby attitude at the beginning of this one had me cringing. But WOW! What a redemption story! I don't want to say too much, but I was in awe by the end of the story.
I enjoyed this followup story just as much as its predecessor, In Search of a Prince, which was a tall order considering how much I adored that one. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys inspiring romances.
I received an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
This story as a follow up to the first book was so fun. I really enjoyed the fashion design aspect, but also the rich to rags storyline. There were the great thinking points throughout the story which brought the lessons home, to draw into more of a thought process on relationship building, walk with God and the sense of losing everything to gain the world.
What a lovely follow-up to In Search of a Prince! I loved Iris in the previous book and was so excited for her story! I found myself relating to Iris quite a bit, and her story was beautiful and everything I dreamed it would be! The hero in this book was awesome, and I loved his redemption story! It was such a joy to return to this beautiful African kingdom, and I loved getting to catch up with Brielle! As always I LOVED how naturally and authentically Toni Shiloh weaves the faith story into her books, absolute perfection! I loved To Win a Prince and most highly recommend it, you could read this one as a stand-alone, but In Search of a Prince is fantastic as well, and you really don’t want to miss a single minute of this duology!
This quote from Iris really spoke to my heart:
“I believe because in my darkest time, God showed me who He was and how much love He had for me.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My review was not influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.
Another beautiful love story filled with faith by Toni Shiloh. I can't get enough of her writing!
This is the continuing story of In Search of a Prince, in this story we follow Brielle's friend Iris and Ekon. Ekon's crimes against the crown land him in the position of being a consultant for Iris's fashion company.
Iris has had a crush on Ekon since she saw his picture. But because of his crimes and because he doesn't believe in God, she is unsure if she can pursuit her feelings towards him. And Ekon doesn't think he is good enough for Iris after losing everything he had.
This book is such a beautiful redemption story filled with faith, finding God's love and finding our worth in the Lord's eyes. I really wish there was another book in this series as I would love to continue seeing these characters more.
*thank you to #bakerpublishing and #netgalley for a copy of #towinaprince to read and review.
I unfortunately did not like this one nearly as much as the first one. I found Ekon’s entitlism and arrogance frustrating. He felt ‘abandoned’ by his friends because he was convicted for treason…um, you committed TREASON; it’s probably not safe for them to stay in contact with you…. Iris seemed like a flighty and boy-crazy teenager, as Ekon was all she seemed to think about. We were *told* they had chemistry a lot, but I didn’t see it.
The first half had a lot less faith in this one compared to the first one, but it did increase in the second half which was good! 👍🏻
Maybe part of my feelings come from the narrator? I listened to this audiobook and read the first one with my eyes… Also, the narrator made Iris and her mom have completely different accents which threw me off🤨
There was the classic “I released a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding” twice, which I always find amusing in books 😉.
We rarely saw Brielle from the first book at all, and the epilogue was the Christian romance formula that really bothers me.
😭 I’m really sad as I loved the first one and really wanted to like this one too!!!
I really enjoyed reading Iris and Ekon's story. After reading the first book I was looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint. I liked the changes Ekon made in his life, to redeem his character.
Iris Blakely is the best friend of the Queen of Oloro Ile, a small African country. She is using her talents to start a sustainable clothing line to both honor and help the citizens of the country. Ekon Diallo is the man who betrayed her best friend--and her new business consultant. Ekon lost his princely title, his friends, all of his material possessions and the respect of many in his country when he betrayed the Queen. To pay for his treasonous actions, he is forced to assist Iris in her business and to do other community service. Iris and Ekon realize that they need to learn to work together, can they do it?
I enjoyed To Win a Prince. I loved Iris' loving heart and compassion for people. As time went on, I also liked Ekon. I really liked how well faith was woven into the story. I like the continuous conversations with God that some of the characters had. There were also times they gently called each other out when things weren't quite right with their faith and I liked that. There were themes of mercy and redemption and the character's faith in this book seemed real. I also liked getting to "see" Brielle and Mori again and catch some glimpses into their married life. I think Shiloh does a great job with the island world she created as I could picture the people, the food and some of the island life as she filled my mind full of the images of Oloro Ile. She also did such a good job at portraying the Christian life for both non-Christians and those who have been Believers for a long time. I also thought the romance was also nicely done in To Win a Prince.
I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. All opinions within this review are my own.
Story Enjoyment Rating: 8.5/10 Christian Faith Rating: 3/3
To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh is a contemporary Christian romance novel set in a fictional island kingdom off the coast of Africa. It is the second book in this series.
I loved the character of Iris from the previous book, so I was excited to read her story this time.
This book follows Iris as she tries to set up a new business in a new country. The other main character is a man who has previously been arrested. He is given community service and sent to work with Iris as a consultant (I’m going to try not to spoil book one by mentioning his name!). The book follows their friendship and Iris's dilemma when she is attracted to a man who is not a Christian. The guy is arrogant but he grows throughout the book – both as a person and in his relationship with God.
My favourite thing about this book was the characters. I loved Iris and her upbeat personality. I enjoyed seeing the guy’s journey of faith and personal development.
The romance began by being a little too focused on physical attraction for my taste, but the book was clean.
The Christian faith content was central to the plot and the character development.
I will definitely continue to read Toni Shiloh’s books. Her characters are fun, modern and strong-minded.
This is the second book I have read by Toni Shiloh and the same things I enjoyed in the first book stood out in this one: characters focused on God, bringing Him into their everyday struggles and questions and a clear focus that He is a part of their lives, not just when they are in difficult situations.
This story was a beautiful message of the prodigal son – the main male lead, Ekon had it all, but lost it with one wrong choice – everyone else gave up on him, but through Iris, he experienced that God doesn’t give up on him and readers are gifted with a story of redemption.
Then the romantic tension between Ekon and Iris will hit the heartstrings of romance fans.
I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator did very well on the African accents of the characters.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
Love can be found at any time. Mistakes from the past can be learning tools. This heartwarming story of faith, family, forgiveness, and love reminds us that change is always possible. Another great story from author Toni Shiloh. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.
A prince, a fashion designer, and a beautiful island setting. Aren't these what fairy tales are made of? But wait, there's so much more in this wonderful contemporary romance from author Toni Shiloh! There's also an inspiring and thought-provoking message in To Win a Prince, but it never feels 'preachy' or overbearing. I loved that Shiloh pays homage to the Prodigal Son parable, and reminds us of the power of faith, redemption, and forgiveness. Former Prince Ekon learns that there's so much more than living a life of privilege and he's also given a glimpse of the true meaning of sacrifice and devotion. Iris is a compassionate young woman who sees beyond Ekon's 'royal snobbery' and offers him a chance to prove himself! It certainly helps that there's a special chemistry between them, but can this override all of their differences?
This is the second royal romance that Shiloh has set on the fictional African island, Oloro Ilé, and I loved catching up with Queen Bri and others from In Search of a Prince. To Win a Prince is a delightful book that you don't want to miss!
I received a copy of this book from the author and Bethany House. There was absolutely no obligation for a positive review.
Wow! This was a fantastic book. The faith elements were so well realized and impactful. It alludes to faith, kindness and reconciliation. I especially appreciated the character growth of both main characters. The fictional country of Oloro Lle was expanded on with insights into culture, politics and social commentary of the Oloroian people and customs. I would read any books in this world. Although the plot was not as complex and intriguing as In Search of A prince, to Win a Prince shines brightly on its own merits. I throughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend.
A follow up novel to In Search of a Prince, To Win a Prince is a beautiful story about salvation and learning to wait on God. I loved getting to re-immerse myself myself into the life and culture of Oloro Ilé alongside Ekon and Iris! This was SUCH a good story that was both fun and thought-provoking. Frustration, laughter, indignation, anticipation, all of the emotions were there! Author Toni Shiloh has succeeded in transporting me to another place and making me wish I could be there myself! This was definitely a top-notch contemporary romance, not to be missed!
To Win A Prince is a beautiful story. It is a love story, a redemption story, and a life story. Iris is beginning her business. Ekon is beginning a new kind of life, not the one he was raised to live. I so enjoyed reading how these two found love.
I'll give this a 5 star even if it means going up a rooftop 😁. I loved this book a whole lot, should I say I preferred this to in search of a prince., I guess very much so.
To my girl Iris, I loved her grit and having the mind to do what is always right outing others into consideration was so good to see. Her friendship with Brielle was so a delight to read about. If there is one fictional character I want as a friend,bit will be Iris😁👏.
Ekon Diallo, my gee, didn't like him at first but he warmed up to me. The conversations in Oloro-ile native dialect got me, as a Nigerian , I was able to relate with those conversations. Toni Shiloh did a great job tweaking the Yoruba language a bit to suit the fictional town. That's really lovely.
I loved the themes, forgiveness, grace, truth and love. I loved the happy ending...as I'm always for that. Love eventually found its way. I'll definitely read more books from her.👏👏
A very rich and satisfying story. I love the setting, the characters, and the faith. Not heavy handed or preachy. Genuine faith that changes hearts and impacts lives.
A beautiful story of second chances and forgiveness. God's grace. The majestic island backdrop circles around the lives of individuals trying to make a place in a society full of rules and high expectations. Romance and forbidden love take the forefront. Enjoy!
"'Why do you believe in me so much?' he asked. Why did I? I stared into his warm brown eyes. 'Because every time I look into your eyes, I see endless possibilities.'" Ekon has been raised to know he is special and set apart because of his title as prince. When he is stripped of his title and given community service hours as a result of his actions, he finds himself lost and unsure of who he is anymore. Iris has a heart as big as the world, and she has been intrigued by Ekon since the first day she saw him. When he has to help her with the launch of her new clothing line as part of his community service hours, she struggles to find a balance between her feelings and logic. Despite his past, will Ekon find that he is loved no matter his title, by God and maybe by Iris, too? I loved this story so much. It is beautifully written and the themes of redemption and grace were so well woven into Ekon's character's journey. I couldn't help but care for Ekon, though he started out as someone who was so self absorbed. His desire to stand out and earn love made his struggle easy to identify with and I found myself rooting for him. Iris was such a bright spot in her absolute care for others, and the perfect balance for Ekon. Her desire to help him in his difficult circumstances, and continue to try to believe the best of him, despite his past actions, was so special. I also loved the romance in this love story- it leapt off the page- and I could almost feel their care for each other and could definitely see it in the things that they did for each other. The way the author weaves the truths of faith into real life struggles is so well done. Even though Ekon was a prince and the story took place in another place, I could easily identify with the characters and their struggles. I would highly recommend this lovely story that will go down as one of my favorites! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
To Win a Prince is the sequel to In Search of a Prince. I highly recommend reading them in order so you don't miss anything!
I absolutely love Iris and her heart for the people of Oloro Ilé. She might not be a princess, but she has a heart of gold. I love that when she looks at Ekon, she sees him not as he is but as he could be. She was willing to give him a chance when he desperately needed a friend.
I enjoyed Ekon's transformation. While it was much needed, it was still hard to see some of what he experienced. I love that Shiloh helps us understand where Ekon is coming from so that he becomes a sympathetic character instead of an arrogant jerk.
I love how Shiloh weaves faith so seamlessly into her stories. Her characters are not perfect; they are real. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful friendship between Bri and Iris continue to grow. I love Iris' relationship with her family. I was gobsmacked at the plot twist. I barely took time to take it in; I had to see what happened next! The romance is even lighter in this story than in the first one, but still very sweet.
Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity to review this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
To Win a Prince is the sequel to In Search of a Prince. These royal stories are set on the fictional island Oloro Ilé, off the coast of Africa.
We met Iris and Ekon in the first book. Iris is the queen’s best friend. Ekon is now set to receive his punishment for what he did in the first book. This means that if you haven’t read the first book, there will be spoilers in this one. However, you don’t have to have read the first book to enjoy To Win a Prince.
And enjoy it, I did. I love Iris. Her imagination and optimism are contagious. And Ekon, I wanted to root for him in the last book, which meant it was very easy to root for him in this one. I knew he wasn’t a good match for the Queen, but with Iris, I was definitely excited about them getting a chance at a happily ever after.
I loved watching his transformation, too. The author did a wonderful job of showing his descent from privileged, entitlement and then his choices after he reached his lowest point. Not to mention his faith journey, which wasn’t flashy, but felt natural and real, something I wish more Christian Fiction could do so well.
Overall, this story is a journey, and a beautiful one. I highly recommend that you grab yourself a copy of both stories! The writing draws you in and makes you feel as if you have traveled to the African Island as you turn the pages of the story. And the characters will be friends who will linger in your mind long after the story ends.
— I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.
I didn't realize this was the second in a series so now I have to find the first one!
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. At times, her make-believe country felt a little far-fetched, but it is fiction, so I guess that comes with the territory.
I absolutely loved the emphasis on a personal walk with God, and I loved watching the different characters as they sought to please God and live right.
I will definitely be reading more from this author!