Inspy Romance

Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

Twenty-five and counting!

by

Last week I celebrated the release of my 25th book baby.

I’m going to be honest, I didn’t realize it was book 25 until I counted all my books for something else I was working on. I just kind of sat there stunned, thinking I had miscounted. But another round of counting came up with the same number: 25.

I never imagined my writing journey would look like this when I first set out to finish a story. I was always good at coming up with ideas but not so great at completing them. However, in 2014, I made it my mission to finish a book from start to finish. Nine months later, I smiled at the words The End. The following year, I self-published my first novel and have been writing ever since.

An Unlikely Alliance is my second book published by Love Inspired. It’s set in the fictional town of Bluebonnet, Texas. I imagine this town in Hill country and was excited to return to my home state, even in a fictional setting. My hero, Jeremy Rider, is a firefighter and happily single, or so he thinks. My heroine, Jalissa Tucker, works at an animal rescue shelter and doesn’t mind dating as long as it’s not with a man who wears a uniform, especially BlueBonnet firefighter department one. Imagine my delight at pitting these two together, as they don’t have any warm fuzzy feelings for one another. This enemies-to-more novel will take you through the biases we carry, the baggage one has in their life and how it may color their interactions with other. Ultimately, it ends with a lesson in forgiveness, and of course, a happy ever after.

If you read my novel, An Unlikely Proposal (AUP), you met Jalissa and Rider already. They were the best friends to the main character in AUP. When, I wrote AUP, I had intended for it to be a standalone novel. Yet readers kept sending me notes and asking me when would Jalissa and Rider get their own story. Even my editor wanted to know more about their background. So after some prayers and time with the characters, I came up with the story available to you today.

These two weren’t the easiest to talk to and writing their story was often difficult. But at the end of the day, I’m pleased with how it came out. Their story wasn’t easy to write, because these two did NOT have easy lives. They both carry around hurts that I had to be sensitive to and develop a deeper understanding. There may have been lots of research ;). I hope you enjoy the story and the animals within who bring some much needed love and comfort to their humans.

For a chance to win a print or ebook copy of An Unlikely Alliance, tell me what’s your favorite trope (plot device like marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, etc) to read in Christian contemporary romance. Comment by 7/9/22 11:59pm PDT for a chance to win.

Toni Shiloh (60 Posts)

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). Find out more on her website at http://tonishiloh.com.


Comments

  1. Wow, congratulations on book number 25! What an awesome milestone. My favourite tropes are friends to more and second chance romance.

  2. Hi Toni! Congrats on Book #25. Well done. I enjoy reading second chance romance. In life we all deserve second chances. Enjoy your summer. Best wishes.

  3. Friends to more and enemies to lovers! both are very funny and usually have a Slow Burn type development.
    Congratulations on your 25th book! the same as my age hehe.

  5. Congratulations on 25! You’re a youngster still so I reckon you’ll make to at least 100 :D
    My favourites change with my mood!

  6. Congratulations on your 25th!
    I get a bit irritated with best friends who think that romance will change things, but otherwise any type of romance is usually an enjoyable read.

  8. WOOHOO Congratulations I love to read mail order brides – second chance. I love it when there are some trials that must be overcome with Gods help. I love it when the character is fighting God or walked away but learns that trusting and having faith is not only easier by more rewarding

  17. Congrats on #25!! My absolute all time favorite is marriage of convenience! Probably because that was the main trope I read when I started reading romance. Betty Neels was the master of those, in my opinion, but I’ve found some CF authors who write them extremely well, too!!

  18. Congratulations on 25 books! You’ve really worked hard! I love how you pour so much hope in your stories, so I know those books have blessed readers.

  19. Congratulations on your 25th ….child :^)

    Best part about book babies is you never have a truly empty nest unless that’s what you really want. Glad you’re getting them out there!

  24. I enjoy a good marriage-of-convenience trope. Enemies to lovers is usually my least favorite, but I really liked Jalissa and Rider’s story. :D

  26. I like all kind of romances but I like friends to more and second chance romances

  27. Hi Toni, Congratulations on your 25th book! That is such a great literary accomplishment. For romantic tropes I enjoy friends to something more and second chances. Also blind dates can be interesting too!

  29. Hi, Congratulations, 25 books are alot of books! Great job! My favorite trope is Secret Babies and also Marriage of Convenience. Have a great day and stay safe

  30. 25 books? Wow – congratulations, that’s a great milestone. I love marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, secret babies and a great romantic suspense story.

  41. My favorite romantic trope is friends to lovers. Congratulations on having your 25th book published! I read and enjoyed An Unlikely Proposal so it’s good to know An Unlikely Alliance goes with it. I’m also looking forward to To Win a Prince. I really liked Iris in In Search of a Prince.

  42. Congratulations 🎈! I don’t really have a favorite as I like diversity and variety. I also like different genres. I get bored otherwise.

  43. I enjoy reading Friends to More. Thank you for sharing. Congratualations on 25 books. God bless you.

  44. I read an unlikely proposal now I’m waiting to read an unlikely alliance haven’t read much of your books u r kinda a new author for me

  45. I enjoy a variety of troupes! Some of my favorite are marriage of convenience, mail-order bride (these two mostly occur in historical), friends to more, second chance romance & fake engagement/dating (these are quite fun to read!).

    Congrats on 25 books Toni! What an achievement :-)

  57. My two favorite tropes are friends to more and enemies to lovers. I think both offer just the right amount of tension and drama without going overboard.

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