I was so glad to receive the sequel to "In Search of a Prince" by Toni Shiloh. Last year, I had the pleasure of reading Toni's first book, which centered on Brielle. Do you remember the movie from the 90's, "The Princess Diaries"? Well, "In Search of a Prince" was an adorable, faith-based, and wonderful spin-off of that fun movie where Brielle, an American girl, finds out that she is actually heir to the throne of an African country called lr Il.



Brielle's best friend, Iris Blakely, is Brielle's stalwart supporter and she definitely deserved her own book. Iris is a budding fashion designer, and as Brielle takes over ruling lr Il, Iris' dream to bring the textile industry to her friend's country blossoms. However, Iris is a fashion designer - not a business woman - and both skills will be needed to run a successful non-for-profit organization. Enter, Ekon Diallo, a prince who has lost his position, wealth, and status due to his part in the unscrupulous plots of his sister and her slimy attempts to overthrow Brielle. Ekon has lost pretty much everything. Not only has the pampered prince been literally dropped into the squalling ocean of 'real life' (where he must cook for himself, rent a taxi, and dress himself!) but he is also tasked with community service hours as punishment. His task? Help Iris get her business off the ground.



From the start, sparks fly between Ekon and Irish. This story is a wonderful one, but one of my favourite aspects is not Iris and Ekon (though they are sooo cute), but Ekon's search and eventual discovery of his faith in Jesus Christ. His journey through this story is beautiful, and I really enjoyed reading it.



Thankyou to Graf Martin Communications and to Baker Publishing for a copy of this sweet read.

I love this series; the friends and characters feel so authentic, even while ensconced in a totally foreign setting, and I love how God-centered their relationships are. They don't hesitate to call each other out for their behavior or doubt, and they're quick to pray for each other. I wish more books demonstrated such loving, Christian friendships.

First time I have read one of Toni's books. Won't be the last. Adventure, career, loss of royal title, romance, hardships end in success. Ekon a prince loses his title as punishment for a crime. Queen shows favor and a second chance. He has to work as a Business Consultant for Iris Blakely just starting a business in fashion. Inspiration and encouragement given Ekon by Iris as his friend. Will friendship lead to more? Elin stripped of all his worldly goods by his Dad. But Ekon learns valuable lessons as he struggles through. Iris best friend becomes Queen when her grandfather dies. Iris and her friendship stays strong. Surprises pop up just as you think things cannot get any worse. I recommend you read this book.

I loved this book!

To Win a Prince

By Toni Shiloh

This is a follow-up/sequel to Toni Shilo's In Search of A Prince, and it is not to be missed. I loved getting a chance to get to know Bree's BFF better. Iris Blakely never thought her trip to Oloro Il would lead to a life-changing event for her too. But it did, and now she is the owner of a locally sourced fashion design business. But it isn't just any business - nope, the goal is to help improve the lives of the local women by offering them steady employment that would help them better their lives and those of their families.

But being an American in Oloro Il, starting a business comes with a few strings attached, and that includes allowing the man who was involved in the plot against Bree and her rule to do community service hours under her watchful eye. Ekon Diallo was an instant crush as far as Iris was concerned, and when he betrayed Bree, Iris's crush was a bit tarnished. But Ekon has the necessary skills and knowledge that Iris needs to succeed.

Ekon was raised to be a prince, and his fall has brought him to a new reality. Not only has he lost everything, but he has also fallen beneath his father's notice. He has no one to call on for help; he has absolutely no domestic skills and an ego that won't quit. You can already tell his time working for Iris will be interesting.

To Win a Prince is a story of discovery. Who is a person when they've lost everything that gave them worth in the eyes of the world? What gives a person their identity? Is it rank? Family name? Wealth? Or is it something deeper? TWAP is a spiritual discovery - sometimes, to discover our true selves and our place in God's eyes, we need to be brought to our lowest moments.

I highly recommend this book. It is well worth the time spent reading it. As with In Search of a Prince, I read the paperback edition while listening to the audio version. It was interesting to hear the various words pronounced and to get a feel for how Iris, her family, and Ekon all talked (accents can totally change how you feel and experience a character). You can enjoy this book as a standalone, but I think the previous book is necessary to fully grasp the backstory.

The audiobook is narrated by Tamika Katon-Donegal and has a runtime of 13 hours and 22 minutes. The presentation is excellent, and the characters are distinguishable from one another during the narrator's reading (always a BIG plus, in my opinion).

And if you need another reason to add this book to your personal library - just look at the cover - it is gorgeous. Who wouldn't want to see this sitting there asking you to pick it up?

I was provided a copy of this book (in paperback form) with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.