I was absolutely blown away by this book! In Search of a Prince has to be one of Toni Shiloh's best works yet. I was so excited to hear she was releasing a book with Bethany House because they are hands down one of my favorite publishers, known for producing some amazing works of literature (not that she wasn't already doing this before going to Bethany House! Let's make that clear!). I knew from the moment I saw this stunning, gorgeous cover that I had to read this book. Plus, come on! I am a sucker for royalty books. Super unrealistic to think a girl would ever randomly find out she is heir to the throne of some random kingdom but I do not care! I will read it anyway.

One day, Brielle goes from being Bri Bayo to Brielle Adebayo, THE princess (and heir!) of Ọlọrọ Ilé, a tropical island nation off the cost of west Africa. And if that isn't enough to send her mind spinning, she has to decide if she wants to go and rule this country she knows nothing about because her grandfather, the king, is dying. And as if that wasn't enough, she finds out in order to even rule, if she even decides to, she has to be married because of an old royal degree that many of the council members are not in a hurry to change. Whoa. She is presented with three eligible bachelors and sets off to find out which one she might be able to marry. Unfortunately, her head has been turned by a palace runner who has been giving her language lessons. But there is no way the council would approve of him. Would they?

I honestly felt like I was sucked into the world of Ọlọrọ Ilé, almost to the point where I felt like I had to put on some sunscreen so I wouldn't get burned while visiting what sounded like a tropical paradise. Brielle had a lot of hard decisions she had to make and she had to make them quick, so while she certainly wasn't perfect (who is though?), you could definitely tell she was such a strong character. She wasn't going to let anyone push her around. And while she may not have known much about her country, these strong characteristics that shone through definitely helped it feel believable that she could one day be queen. Also, the leading man she picks (I won't tell you who!) is totally just sigh worthy. Like, what a guy. Now, off to pack some sunscreen and buy my ticket to Ọlọrọ Ilé!

I absolutely enjoyed this book and recommend it.

What's not to love about a book with a princess who doesn't know is a princess and a woman determined to find love. It was heartwarming following this brave woman fight an old law that states that she can only rule of married only.

The plot was executed well,character development was exceptional and the faith highlighted in the book was amazing.

I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions expressed are my own

I really enjoyed this!
The standouts for me were
- the plot: girl who didn’t know she was a PRINCESS?? Yes please.
- the faith: it was central in all the main characters’ lives and I loved that. Prayers and Bible reading were prominent.

At some points it felt a little unrealistic past the point of suspending my disbelief. I mean, finding a man to marry in less than 2 months? No thanks. But despite that, I really loved how mature the characters were in this situation.

Highly recommend!

This was absolutely lovely. Toni Shiloh is a new author to me, but I'm definitely adding her to my list of authors to watch because I loved this so much. Everything about this from the story, the setting, how faith is presented, the characters (and the representation!) was so excellent. Recommended for all fans of Christian fiction.

The ending is conclusive, but I hope the author chooses to write another book about Brielle because it feels like there's more story left to tell.

“This was happening. We were really flying to an African island, one near the equator in the Gulf of Guinea. A country I was supposed to learn how to rule.”

An absolutely delightful read, Toni Shiloh brings a fresh perspective to this modern day fairytale “In Search of a Prince.” Many little girls dream of becoming royalty when they grow up. However, Brielle never imagines her story unfolding this way at age 25! A story filled with becoming a princess, an African island adventure and a swoony romance, with a little mystery thrown into the mix. It’s a beautiful read with a spiritual message of trusting God to give us all we need in order to follow the dreams He has in store for us.

“Azure waters spread out below us. An island covered with tropical greenery appeared in the gulf’s midst.”

For those of us that are in love with the “Princess Diaries” type storylines, this modern day princess fairytale is divine! I love the angle of the setting being in an African exotic island location. The focus on being reunited with long lost family as well as overcoming unforgiveness with her mother makes for a heart tugging storyline on family ties and forgiveness. I hope for more books about this magical African land, the history, and it’s future as Shiloh addresses slavery and helping the poor in a passionate way. I’d love to visit if it wasn’t a fairytale…sigh.

“He bowed as I neared and murmured, “Your Highness.” The deep timbre of his voice drew goosebumps along my arms. His dark walnut skin shone in the sunlight, but it was his obsidian eyes that captivated me.”

I’ve long adored Shiloh’s heartwarming, faith-centered romances. This exploration into a longer storyline is beautifully told with all the feels. Another one of my favorite things about Shiloh‘s book is how she seamlessly weaves in the faith element. Her heart for her readers to draw closer to God is truly felt as we follow Brielle on this adventure of a lifetime.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley by the publisher. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

Whew! What a story! It was just right, by that I mean, it had all the feels. What a journey the character Brielle took us on in Africa. To finding her roots, a Princess, and well, I won’t spoil anything. The author did a great job with her journey. Adding joy, sorrow and a bit of danger to make it a story I didn’t want to put down. I say it’s a Princess Diaries-like story, but better. It was a book I didn’t want to put down, kept me up late reading and any time I could read it during the day. The story inside the pages is as beautiful as the cover on the book. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated are my own.

This is a well-written book with an interesting story, but I prefer a faster pace. I also want the romance to be front and center. By the 24% point, the romance hadn't even started. If I had world enough and time, I would finish this book, but I don't.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you, NetGalley, Toni Shiloh, and Bethany House for the opportunity to read this book. It releases on February 1st, 2022.

Ok, before I even get into In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh. I have to praise the cover. JUST LOOK AT IT! It is absolutely gorgeous!!! It is probably one of my favorite covers…ever! But the book is just as enchanting as the cover. Brielle is a middle school civics teacher who was raised by her mother after her father died. So when she discovers that her father was actually a royal prince of an African island nation called Ọlọrọ Ilé and she is the heir… it is understandable that she is shocked. She gets to meet her grandfather, who is ill but is determined to teach her everything she will need to know about ruling the nation. However, there is one stipulation—she needs to be married in order to be accepted as Queen.

This book is in the same vein as the Princess Diaries, except we get the beautiful setting and culture of Africa. While Ọlọrọ Ilé is fictional, the author drew her inspiration from many cultures in the area. What I loved is that there is more to this book than being able to properly wave, wear ball gowns, and fall in love. The first half of the book focuses on developing the beautiful culture and Bri trying her best to learn the language and get to know the people. She sees firsthand the effects of French colonization that still impact the nation. I love how she and her best friend, Iris brainstorm ways to come up with sustainable ways of trade to help those in poverty.

This book is very focused on Christianity and the main characters lean on God to see them through their trials. I normally don’t like books that are preachy, but this book did not come off this way. I love how the characters doubt their decisions and face real fear but look to God for guidance. The romance story is also very touching as well. While it all came down to being pretty predictable, it doesn’t make it any less entertaining. I loved this fairytale story and the characters in it! I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars!

This is a beautiful modern-day fairy tale set on a small island off the coast of Africa. I thought at first that it was just going to be a rehashing of The Princess Diaries, but it takes the story and runs with it, making something new and refreshing. There are some mysteries to be solved, including one very big one, romances to sort out, a little bit of humor, and a lot of faith woven into the story. For the most part, it seems based in reality - with all of the struggles that would crop up for someone thrown into this situation - but there are instances and circumstances that seem very contrived. Then again, I've never lived a royal life, so maybe that's just how things roll in that world? The culture woven into the book is based on Nigeria, and the author has done some research to try and make the reader feel authentically present. This would be a great addition to the Hallmark movie line!

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?
This book is not quite as good as expected. I couldn't finish it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Sparkling! I am waiting for this to be a Hallmark movie!

Shiloh creates a brilliantly realized world bolstered by an intelligent and knowing sense of longing.

Painted with cinematic flair and to-die-for imagination!

I loved this book, I mean anyone that loves a Princess Diaries like tale will, but I loved the in depth parts of this story. The rich African history woven in, the care that was taken to bring you this unique tale unlike any other I have read. From the beautiful cover, to the end, this story is full of faith, hope and love.

This is an enjoyable fairy tale with a Christian message running throughout (but it's not overpowering). I liked how Brielle worked hard to make choices that would glorify God. Her struggle to find her identity is relatable, even if you're not a princess. The story is complete with a handsome prince and interesting villains. I enjoyed the setting, a fictitious island off the coast of Africa. There's also a nice mix of humor, mystery, and romance, so there's a bit of something for everyone.

I adored this book! I have to admit that it took me a little while to get into it but once I really started I loved it! I have read nearly all of Toni Shiloh’s books and this one was another hit! In Search of a Prince is her newest book and it looks gorgeous.
Okay so this book was just great! There were a couple of things that I was uncertain about, but otherwise I loved this book. Brielle was such a cool character, I really liked reading about her and getting to see what she was thinking. Brielle was relatable, a normal girl who was just trying to trust God. I loved her little quirks but I also loved her heart. She truly cared for those around her.
I enjoyed reading Brielle’s journey as she learned what it meant to be a princess and care for her people. Brielle had a lot to learn but she was up to the task. I loved how I was able to relate to Brielle, she felt like she was drowning but she trusted God. There are times when life is overwhelming but God is faithful.
The romance was so sweet and amazing! I just loved it! It was so fun to read about Brielle falling in love but also choosing to love. Love is a choice. I don't want to give anything away but I am so happy with who she ended up with. The side characters were also a lot of fun. I adored Iris and I hope that she gets her own book. Brielle's grandfather was also a joy to read about.
In Search of a Prince was just a lovely book. There were a couple of religious things that I didn't quite agree with but otherwise this book was stunning! I am so excited to see what else Shiloh writes. This was just the perfect royalty book! In Search of a Prince is a clean Christian contemporary royalty book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

The Princess Diaries set in a beautiful, African island nation…isn’t that all you need to know???
This book would be my dream come true honestly. Bri finds out that she is part of a royal family and her grandfather (who is the current king) is ailing and wants her to inherit the throne. She visits the beautiful island and has to come to a decision to stay or leave her life as a teacher in New York. She gets to know her grandfather in the process while also having to watch him become more frail, which makes her decision even more difficult. When Bri has to start looking for a man to be her king, the story becomes even more interesting. This us Christian-based fiction, so it is a pure love story…no hot and heavy scenes here. With a lot of prayer and work, Bri is able to decide what is best for her life and the lives of the kingdom. This is is a beautiful and fun read!

A modern-day fairy tale that invites the reader to walk alongside Bri as she rises to her true calling. I love that Toni Shiloh unabashedly brings the Lord into all her storyline and challenges her characters to find Him in everything. Bri is a real-life princess from a small country in Africa but does not discover this until her grandfather is close to death and it is time for her to assume the throne.
The story has all the trimmings of a real-life princess bound together by a modern dose of reality that anyone would struggle through if they were suddenly cast into the role of queenship and mandatory marriage. I loved all the supporting characters and the wisdom, friendship, and insights they provided along Bri’s journey.
There is an undercurrent of mystery that moves the pace along and kept me intrigued, but truly, the beauty of this story was the tender romance and the stepping into her true calling. The conflicts presented are reasonable and add some depth and genuine character development.
The creativity displayed in the creation of a country and a language was impressive, all the while giving honor and respect to the inspiration behind said country. There is a blending of cultures while honoring the beautiful tribes in Africa. The local people were front and center as Bri got to know her new kingdom. I love Bri’s desire to care for her people and find ways to better their ways of life. She is respectful of traditional but will not see her people suffer under outdated practices. Shiloh did her research to be able to represent the people, the country, and the heart of a nation so beautifully.
I highly recommend this inspirational modern day fairy tale. Let yourself be swept away by the brilliance of a proper modern day princess story.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

With a sweep of her magical pen, new-to-me author, Toni Shiloh, takes us on an enchanting journey to the beautiful island kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, off the coast of Africa—with its sandy beaches, exotic food, and aromatic floral scents mixed with coconuts hanging from the trees!

This story has a lovely ethereal, fairytale-like aura to it, but is so much deeper than that. Royal edicts concerning women as rulers, arranged marriages, and evil, power hungry people all play a part in this well-written tale of angst and uncertainty in the life of a lovely, young school teacher suddenly thrust into the surreal world of nobility. 'In Search of a Prince' is a lovely novel filled with faith, romance, and a touch of mystery I highly recommend!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*

Bri Bayo knows that any time her mother makes time to meet her for lunch, there's something big to talk about. She does not expect to find out that she's a princess to an African country, and that her grandfather, whom she's never met, is asking her to come because he's dying, and she will need to decide if she's willing to become queen. She needs to learn about the country, she needs to learn the language, and on top of it all, the royal council determines that she needs to be married to take the crown.

This book did a lot of things well that I haven't seen in a lot of books lately. I really felt like I was experiencing a new nation with Brielle, a new culture, a new language, new expectations. I loved how steeped in faith the characters - they spent time in prayer, not only for themselves, but for each other. Having friends who pray for you and seek God's direction for you, in confirmation of what you're sensing from your own time with God. It's rare to see friends and companions lean into that so thoroughly in fiction books. I also loved seeing Bri develop a relationship with her grandfather, heal her relationship with her mother, and learn about her father through his country.

There were a few loose ends in the story, but that just leaves me hoping for a sequel!
4 stars

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

Bri Bayo’s life is turned upside down when her mother reveals that Bri is actually the granddaughter of a king. When she travels to the small island nation off the coast of Africa, Bri is shocked to learn that her ailing grandfather wants to make Bri his heir. The ruling council of elders agrees to his choice on one condition: Bri must find and choose a suitable husband to rule alongside her before she can take the throne. Will Bri be forced to choose between love and duty? Or will she be able to follow the desires of her heart? Find out in this in this engaging tale of royalty, obligation, and being true to oneself.

Author Toni Shiloh pens a well-written contemporary Christian romance with a nod to The Princess DIaries, featuring a Black American woman who discovers she is a modern-day princess.

In To Search For a Prince, teacher Brielle Bayo discovers that her mom has kept a secret from her: her father is a recently deceased African prince – and her grandfather, the king, is in failing health. Accompanied by her best friend Iris, she discovers upon arrival at the island kingdom that not only is she the heir to the throne, but she must marry to secure it. Will she leave her old life behind to accept her new role, accepting a marriage of convenience before the king passes?

Shiloh brings the experience of having written a number of contemporary novels to this new work. The author weaves in the themes of self-identity, forgiveness, and trust, adding a dash of humor and mystery. Shiloh has carved out a niche for herself in this modern-day fairy tale by using Black main characters as well as incorporating African culture and heritage.

The island descriptions make the reader feel as though they are actually visiting this tropical paradise. But no paradise is without a snake, and although there are some hints, the reader will be surprised when the truth is revealed. So To Search For a Prince is more than a clean romance, there are faith elements without being preachy, as well as a mystery and political intrigue involved.

Recommended for all fans of royal romance fiction, especially fans of Rachel Hauck and Carol Moncado. Readers can look forward to the next book, To Win A Prince, coming in September 2022.

Disclaimer: Book reviews are my honest opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write reviews, nor to even post positive reviews.