About the Book
Book: Risking Love
Author: Toni Shiloh
Genre: Christian fiction, contemporary fiction, diverse fiction
Release date: June 25, 2019
Nikki Gordon lives with a perfect trifecta of noes. No guys. No dates. No way.
The past holds her bound with ropes made of fear-infused steel, and she’s determined that no one will ever cut through them. If only her heart would cooperate whenever Shorty comes around. Things go from complicated to confusing when he appears at The Maple Pit in the company of another woman—a drop-dead gorgeous one at that.
With everything to lose and to gain, Nikki steps out in faith and prays for the courage to let him in… before it’s too late.
Gregory “Shorty” Smalls finally has the chance to take his burgeoning business to the next level. Then maybe, Nikki will quit seeing him as a goof-off and give him a real chance.
Finding out he isn’t the problem? The best and worst news possible.
Just how much healing has to take place before he has a chance to move from friend zone to love of her life?
And does he even have a chance?
Click here to purchase your copy.
My Review
Risking Love by Toni Shiloh is the fourth book in her Maple Run Series. I have not read the first three books, and if you haven’t either, I recommend that you do so. Nikki and Shorty’s story really begins before this book, and because of that, I felt a little cheated. I think series books are wonderful, and some are good even as a stand alone novels, but Risking Love has a chock full of other characters whose continued stories are woven throughout this book. I found myself confused by the cast of characters and stopped reading mid-way in order to search for the first three books in this series, and read the back cover copy, so I could make sense of the relationships. This is not a bad thing—I was intrigued enough to want more.
After six years of dealing with the trauma of a rape, Nikki is faced with the possibility of a relationship with Shorty, who’s been in love with her for all that time. It motivates her to get a handle on her pain and do the work necessary to heal. The reader doesn’t see the beginning of their relationship in this book (hence the need to read the previous books in the series) and so I had difficulty really connecting with them. I found it unlikely that they could be friends for six years, and yet she had no idea what he did for a living. I don’t believe that’s a failure of the author, but a failure on my part to start at the beginning. It’s like reading one verse in the Bible and not seeing the previous verses for context.
Even so, the characters are likable and sweet. There wasn’t the usual boy-meets-girl; boy-loses-girl; boy-wins-girl-over in the end. There was no real angst or conflict between the two main characters, although Nikki was dealing with enough of both in her other relationships to make it real.
I was given a copy of this book for the purpose of a review, but the opinions are my own.
About the Author
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.
More from Toni
Risking Love has been a long time in coming. You see when I wrote Buying Love, book one in the Maple Run series, I had only intended for it to be a standalone. But soon the other characters clamored for attention and you, the readers, sent me messages asking for Shorty and Nikki’s story.
Like any good writer, I sat in front of my laptop prepared to whip out their story in the speed in which I wrote Buying Love. Yeah, it did NOT go as I anticipated. You see, Shorty and Nikki refused to talk to me. They wouldn’t answer my questions about their past, about how it affected them. Zip. Zilch. Nada.
So I wrote book two, Finding Love, featuring Luke and Delaney. They were more than willing to share their heart. I fully intended to then make Shorty and Nikki’s story book three. I figured they’d had enough appearances through book two that they were fully ready to reveal all to me and let me write their story.
Wrong.
As you know, if you’ve been reading chronologically through the series, book three is about Belle and Micah. They spoke with me freely. I just couldn’t understand why Shorty and Nikki wouldn’t be so candid. Fortunately, while writing Belle and Micah’s story, Nikki began to speak. Then Shorty spoke, and I knew I’d finally be able to write their story.
Y’all, writing Risking Love was tough! They fought me at every turn. I can’t recall how many times I complained about them. Thank goodness my critique partners had patience with me as I fought for every word in this story. And now that their story is out in the world, I’m wrecked with nerves. Will they live up to your anticipation? Will the story truly show how tenuous the relationship between these two are?
As you began to read Risking Love, I pray it blesses you. Whether you’re reading strictly for entertainment or seeking God’s greater truth, I pray you experience those things. And more than that, I thank you for picking up their book and joining me once more in Maple Run. It’s been a blessing as I return to tell the stories in this fictional Virginia town.
Blessings,
Toni Shiloh
Blog Stops
Melissa Henderson, July 1
Inklings and notions, July 1
Among the Reads, July 2
Through the Fire Blogs, July 2
Blossoms and Blessings, July 3
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, July 4
Remembrancy, July 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 5
janicesbookreviews, July 5
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 6
Mary Hake, July 6
Back Porch Reads, July 7
Emily Yager, July 7
Simple Harvest Reads, July 8 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Creating Romance, July 9
Texas Book-aholic, July 9
Where Crisis & Christ Collide, July 10
A Diva’s Heart, July 10
Britt Reads Fiction, July 11
Cultivating us, July 11
Reading Is My SuperPower, July 12
KarenSueHadley, July 12
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, July 13
Just Your Average reviews, July 13
A Reader’s Brain, July 14
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Toni is giving a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a finished copy of Risking Love!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e544/risking-love-celebration-tour-giveaway
Comments 4
Thank you for sharing your review!
This story sounds quite interesting!
I love the cover! Can’t wait to read the book
Another great book to discover. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.