Member Reviews
This is the second book in the African “royal” series by Toni Shiloh.
Iris is the crazy fun-loving friend of the queen of a small island off Africa. Readers met the queen in the first book, In Search of a Prince.
Ekon had mistakenly been a small part of a plot to dethrone the queen, his punishment was to work with Iris, helping to get her company started. The problem was their feelings for each other. He was a prince stripped of his title, a criminal, and a non-believer. She was an American, a friend of the queen, and a believer in Christ. Could they work together and not let their hearts get in the way?
Toni Shiloh has a wonderful way of conveying the feelings of each of the characters in this book. She has just the right way to bring these characters to life. She really is a joy to read.
Through it all there is a strong message of how God loves us and will be there for us, even when we feel unworthy and like life keeps giving us struggles after struggles. When everything is stripped away, our hope should lay in the ONLY ONE who can help.
I highly recommend you read this book!
I was given this book by the author which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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.
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!
Oh man, To Win a Prince is a great read. Toni Shiloh flat out smashed this enchanting sequel. Following on from the hugely successful In Search of a Prince, book two picks up with Iris, the now Queen’s best friend setting up a fashion business in Oloro Ile.
Disgraced former prince Ekon Diallo is sentenced to help Iris navigate the business regulations and cultural requirements for such an endeavor. This is part of his punishment after a failed attempted to prevent Brielle from taking the throne.
Confession time – I’m a sucker for a bad boy with an attitude. Especially one who meets God and gets all straightened out. Not perfect, but right before the Lord. And oh my how Ekon ticks all those emotional boxes.
I loved the glimpse into Ekon’s family. No one writes a rotten parent better than Toni Shiloh. Readers will love watching Ekon become his own man, and then God’s. And if you’re like me, you’ll cheer Iris on as she sets up her business, putting the designers and seamstresses of Oloro Ile on the map.
The faith arc is strong as you’d expect from Toni Shiloh. The love story made me tear up. Highly recommended.
I received a copy from teh publisher via NetGalley. The very high opinion is my own.
A great continuation of In Search of a Prince. There are so many great themes in this story - love, mercy, grace, the need for patience, God's timing. I also liked the fact that the idea of consequences for our actions is explored. Even if we are forgiven by God and others, we need to accept the consequences of wrong doing. But it is tempered by God's grace and mercy when we feel unworthy.
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.
This is the story of Iris, an American woman living in Africa and starting her own fashion business. She’s forced to take on Ekon, a prince who’s lost his title and his status to pay for his crimes to the crown. He is obligated to fulfill community service and provide his expertise to Iris as part of a revival effort for the community.
The beginning of this story was a bit of a slow burn for me, but once the story picks up momentum we see how much is in the works as Iris and Ekon develop their relationship with one another in and outside of work. I loved Iris’ character and could totally relate to her personality and the way she processes through her thoughts and feelings. I really appreciated the redemption story that Ekon has throughout the story. Beautiful learning moments, family moments, and unexpected relationships throughout the book made this such a satisfying and entertaining story to read. The conclusion of the story was so sweet and heart warming. I loved the themes of forgiveness, second chances and finding peace with God.
Read this if you love:
❤️ forbidden romance
❤️ forced proximity
❤️ second chances
❤️ wholesome romance
Many thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this sequel. In the first book I fell in love with both Brielle and Iris in the first book, so I was excited that Iris got her own story. I really resonated with Iris and her wrestling in her prayers with God. We see her grow and gain confidence in herself and her abilities. Ekon, now he was a conundrum. In the first book we do not get a great impression of him. However, we should never judge a book by it's cover and this is definitely the case with Ekon. Once we see underneath, you can't help but fall in love with him as a character and root for him. Wonderful read, I will be adding both of the books to my shelf, and can't wait to share them with my daughter when she gets older.
A worth while follow up. This is Book 2 of the series and I personally enjoyed this one more than the first.
I really like Iris and Ekon’s redemption story was well done.
Awesome installment in the world of Oloro Ile. It stands well on its own and the other is not necessary to understand or enjoy this one, but just know that In Search of a Prince is on my top 10 and isn't likely to be bumped!
I thoroughly enjoyed Iris in In Search of a Prince, and was excited to see that the author was giving her her own book.
And Ekon? Well, he was a puzzle in the first story, and I was curious about him. Let's just say his story is far more complex than I thought possible, and yet, as the story unravels, it makes perfect sense.
I read To Win a Prince 2x back to back, and I don’t usually do that, even with favorite books /authors. I usually wait at least a year or two before I read it again.
Iris's journey in growing her prayer life is well written. I know that's an area many of us struggle with, and if you need some inspiration and encouragement in that area, come alongside Iris!
Ekon has a different, and far more difficult journey, as he struggles with many issues, not the least of which is this God Iris keeps pointing him to.
But this story is full of endless possibilities, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I received a copy of this book from @netgalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.
I love anything and everything that Toni Shiloh writes and this is no exception. This story was about God’s direction and redemption. Iris is the positive and bubbly best friend of the queen. Elon was the prince who unwittingly participated in the prior scandal in the first book (no spoilers). He was such a different character from the 1st book to this one. He learned how to be more independent with his life by depending on God for direction. I love how they both fought their feelings until they couldn’t. Wonderful book!
I love Shiloh's books set on the island of Ọlọrọ Ilé. In this second book which follows In Search of a Prince, we find Iris, a delightful, dedicated lady, setting up a new business to help local artisans. Ekon Diallo's story continues from book one, and now he is making penance for his wrong doing that happens to mean he is working with Iris in her new business. Sparks fly in this story of redemption, forgiveness, and romance. Shiloh has written another lovely story set on an amazing island with interesting characters. If you enjoy romance that is sweet, fun, and a bit fiery you'll love To Win a Prince.
I really enjoyed Shiloh's first book about the imaginary country of Ọlọrọ Ilé, Africa, "In Search of a Prince". I also liked this second book, told from the perspective of Bri's best friend, Iris, and disgraced former prince Ekon. But it lacked some of the freshness of the first, feeling a bit more formulaic, with no doubt that Ekon would come to faith in Jesus and change his ways. Recommended for those who have read the first and want to return to Ọlọrọ Ilé or for those who enjoy the comfort of predictability.
The African island country Ọlọrọ Ilé carries secrets—secrets that will change the kingdom!
Toni Shiloh’s second book, To Win a Prince, set in the fictional country of Ọlọrọ Ilé, may seem like a romantic romp about a seemingly naïve fashion aficionado and a prince who not only betrayed her best friend, the queen, but has lost his royal title—but this story is so much more.
Shiloh digs deep into the characters of Iris and Ekon and guides us on a journey through beautiful Ọlọrọ Ilé and her people. This is more than a fairytale continued, this is a novel with depth and realness that had me grabbing more than one tissue and laughing out loud.
I love how Shiloh further developed Iris Blakely’s dreams of starting a sustainable clothing line to help the women in the impoverished areas and honor the country's resources. Even though Iris is saddled with Ekon—someone she had once been infatuated with—to be her business consultant. Her old fascinations resurface and grow with each day they work together.
Ekon has lost everything: his princely title, his material possessions, his friends, and the respect of his fellow Ọlọrans. His pride, though badly bruised, is still operational. He isn’t above criticizing his boss and anyone around him. But his first day working with Iris confuses him. His first day of community service cleaning litter begins to crack the fortress of entitlement.
While I loved Shiloh’s To Find a Prince for its sophisticated fairytale quality, To Win a Prince has heart with emotional complexity and plenty of predicaments for the characters to work through. Which, of course, caused an all-nighter of reading for me.
I highly recommend for fans of romance, rom-com, redemption stories, and books with strong female characters.
Thanks to Bethany House for the eBook copy through #NetGalley for my honest review.
Do you love a story where the characters are broken and searching for redemption --even if they don't know it? In To Win a Prince, Ekon doens't know how much he needs to be redeemed. And Iris moves from open-hearted to guarded and has to chose to follow God's sovereignty. Add a moment of the prodigal story, and a heavy does of attraction, and this is a book I enjoyed thoroughly. Perfect for readers who love Rachel Hauck's spiritual fairytales.
This book is the continuation of In Search of A Prince by Toni Shiloh. It is delightful, just as good as ISOAP in my opinion. I was so curious about Iris's story after finishing ISOAP and this book tells her story very well and left me satisfied. No spoilers but you will enjoy finding out whether or not Iris wins a prince too! Toni Shiloh is so gifted and this story showcases her talents very well. You believe this African country is real and that the characters are real too! And isn't this cover gorgeous??! Perfect for this awesome book.
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.
My only complaint? I don't want to leave!
Ekon Diallo stalked onto the pages on To Win a Prince with arrogance and disdain. He had been stripped of his title as prince and I started the book thinking, 'serves him right'. But there was more to this character than it first appeared.
As Ms. Shiloh peeled away the layers of this character, I began to feel empathy for him. As his character developed, I began to root for him. I wanted Ekon to have his happy ending. I wanted him to realize he could be worthy of the title he no longer held.
Iris and Ekon's romance was a sweet slow burn that will have readers believing in fairy-tale endings. Readers will also be reminded that it is God who makes us worthy, not our possessions or the accolades of the world.
To Win a Prince is the second book in the Ọlọrọ Ilé series but can be read as a stand-alone. I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.
I’m so glad Toni Shiloh continues the series in Oloro Ile. The setting is so rich and distinct. The characters are well developed and full of life. They approach life with genuine faith. It’s an all around great story.
Who doesn’t love an all out redemption story? Wow!! Iris sees something: potential and endless possibilities in Ekron. He’s too proud to accept it but broken enough to crave it. Little does he realize, it’s the Light in her he’s drawn to and craves. Despite everything being stripped away, Ekron eats his humble pie and becomes a man of truly noble character. I loved his honest search for God and the transformation that he experiences. It was wonderful to return to the island and catch up on Queen Bri and her life after the coronation.
You don’t have to read ISOP to enjoy TWAP, but my appreciation of the character development and transformation was heightened having read that story first.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.