Earlier this year, during my whirlwind tour of Kindle Unlimited, I read Toni Shiloh's Buying Love. I enjoyed the book, and I was happy to learn that Shiloh was planning to continue the Maple Run series. So when Finding Love released, I knew I wanted to read it.
Delaney Jones has finally started to pick up the pieces of her shattered life after the death of her husband, Parker. Just as life enters a new normal, in walks Army soldier, Luke Robinson. Just when she makes the decision to trust him, life deals her a heavy blow. Sergeant First Class Luke Robinson can’t get over his part in the death of Delaney’s husband. In hopes to assuage his guilt, he offers to lend a hand. Only, he never counted on the feelings she evokes with just a smile. Will his secrets widen the gulf or will he finally find absolution?
Release date: June 28, 2017
Genre: Contemporary
Finding Love has so many things going for it. It features a diverse cast of characters and an interracial romance, something seen far too infrequently in Christian fiction. (This is improving with the rise of indie publishing, but I would love to see more diversity in traditional Christian publishing, as well.) It also deals with what it means to truly trust the Lord, drawing from Proverbs 3:5-6. Delaney's journey to trusting the Lord for her future following tragedy is something we all deal with at some point or another—do we truly believe that the Lord's ways are best, or do we just give him lip service while firmly holding onto the reigns of our lives? I love when books make me consider things in my own life, and that's exactly what Finding Love did for me!
I also really enjoyed the characters—they are complex and entertaining (Delaney's twins Philip and Preston especially had the entertaining part down!). The one character I couldn't quite get a handle on was Delaney's mom, but that may have more to do with the fact that she acted so differently than she acted in Buying Love—someone who hadn't read the first book probably wouldn't have questioned her character.
I did think the middle of the book progressed a little slowly, but overall I very much enjoyed my reading experience. Toni Shiloh is definitely an author to watch! 4 stars.
Note: Though this is the second book in the Maple Run series, it can be read without having first read Buying Love.
Buy the book.
Follow the tour:
June 29: A Baker’s Perspective
June 29: Remembrancy
June 30: autism mom
June 30: Just the Write Escape
July 1: Fiction Aficionado
July 2: Avid Reader Book Reviews
July 2: Zerina Blossom’s Books
July 3: Faithfully Bookish
July 4: Books, Books, and More Books.
July 5: Carpe Diem
July 6: Christian Bookaholic
July 7: History, Mystery, & Faith
July 8: Christian Chick’s Thoughts
July 9: A Path of Joy
July 10: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
July 10: Reading Is My SuperPower
July 11: Blossoms and Blessings
July 12: His Grace is Sufficient
Read my review of Shiloh's Buying Love (3 stars).
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the president of the ACFW Virginia Chapter.
Guest post from Toni Shiloh
I’m so excited about this book tour for Finding Love. This book holds a special place in my heart. The pathway to writing Finding Love was not as easy as I thought it would be. For the most part, my brain has an idea or characters share their story, and bam, I’m off and writing at my laptop.
I decided to write Finding Love when I got the contract for Buying Love, the first book in the series. I figured fans would want to read another story in the fictional Maple Run, Virginia. I also figured that Shorty and Nikki’s story would be the second book, but alas, they refuse to talk to me.
The reason I love Finding Love so much is because it’s about what every person is searching for: love. We search for it in families, in friends, and in that romantic ideal of happily ever after. And even greater, it’s a testament of God’s love for us.
Sometimes, love is scary. To let another person in our heart, bare our secrets, and hold our breath waiting for them to accept us…makes a person’s heart quake. With Delaney, she wasn’t even trying to find love, but it rode in on Harley seeking for forgiveness. I loved watching Luke and Delaney fall in love and I pray you do as well.
Blessings, reader friends!Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Thank you so much for your review! I'm glad you enjoyed Buying Love enough to want to read Finding Love. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Toni! Looking forward to your next novel :-)
DeleteFabulous post! I really enjoyed reading the guest post and the review! This book sounds like such an interesting read! Looking forward to checking it out!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ally! It's a great read--I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by!
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