In Search of a Prince

 

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It seems like a dream come true...

Until it forces her to question everything.

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?

Review

First off, what a GORGEOUS cover! I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but as soon as I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this book - without even knowing all that it was about! The cover pulled me in and the entertaining storyline kept me intrigued.

When I was a little girl, I sometimes dreamed of one day becoming a princess and living in a fairy-tale of a kingdom. Toni Shiloh's In Search of a Prince imagines that type of scenario, but with a few added plot twists. Brielle discovers that she is in line to a royal throne, and after thoughtful and prayerful consideration, she decides to take on the responsibility of ruling "her" kingdom. But that gets complicated upon discovering a law whereby she must be married in order to rule. Thus begins her search for the perfect man - her royal prince. 

This was a really entertaining read and I thoroughly enjoyed how the author brought to life the beautiful island setting of the fictional Ọlọrọ Ilé. The characters in the story were well-developed, and I especially appreciated the strong emphasis of faith. Brielle never hesitated to bring her concerns to the Lord and seek His will in her life. It was refreshing to see how deep her relationship was to Jesus and it was an encouraging theme throughout the novel.

Love this novel and looking forward to reading more by Toni Shiloh!

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 

Until Leaves Fall in Paris

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When the Nazis march toward Paris, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. The Germans make it difficult for her to keep Green Leaf Books afloat. And she must keep the store open if she is to continue aiding the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books.

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. But in order to carry out his mission, he must appear to support the occupation - which does not win him any sympathy when he meets Lucie in the bookstore.

In a world turned upside down, will love or duty prevail?

Review

This was a masterful piece of historical fiction that I polished off in a mere two days (and it's a beefy novel). To say I loved it is an understatement. I've read a few of Sarah Sundin's books, and have come to realize she has a knack for crafting highly intriguing and very unique storylines centered around World War II history. In Until Leaves Fall in Paris she brings to light the Nazi occupation of France, the Resistance, and what it meant to be a "collaborator". She captured the strain and stress during one of the most terrible times in history while created meaningful characters that you can't help cheering for. If you haven't read a Sarah Sundin novel, you are greatly missing out! I highly recommend Until Leaves Fall in Paris and will be eagerly waiting for Sarah's next novel.

 Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.