Book Review (and a Giveaway!): Risking Love by Toni Shiloh

Risking Love
SERIES: Maple Run #4
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
PUBLISHER: Celebrate Lit
RELEASE DATE: June 25, 2019
PAGES: 196

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?

Other Books In This Series

“I have no wisdom or insight but I know that God is good.”

I have been waiting for Shorty & Nikki’s story since I first met them both in Book #1 of the series. And while I have loved all the stories in between, there is just something really special about Risking Love.

Most of that can be attributed, I believe, to Shorty (and of course the author who created him). He has been oh-so-patient and steadfast in his gentle pursuit of Nikki, a touching picture of our Savior’s pursuit of our hearts. Nikki has been through a traumatic and life-changing assault, and she struggles with everyone else’s timeline for her grief. Yet, Shorty is there, waiting for her, even though he doesn’t yet know why she’s so hesitant to start a relationship. Once he does know, he becomes even more patient, more tender, and you’ll fall in love with him right along with Nikki. In Shorty, the author has created a beautiful portrait of the 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. No, he’s not perfect – he is flawed just like the rest of us, but that just makes him more relatable.

Despite Nikki’s pain that she’s working through, Risking Love isn’t a heavy story. The easy camaraderie among all the secondary characters (most of whom were previously main characters in preceding books of the series) as well as between Shorty and Nikki keeps the tone light when it needs to be while also addressing the tougher issues with grace and truth. The author has achieved just the right balance for this story and these characters, and it’s well worth the wait!

Bottom Line: Risking Love is everything I hoped Shorty & Nikki’s story would be – and more. It’s tender and fun and heart-warming, and the author approaches Nikki’s past trauma in the healthiest way possible. Shorty is the kind of hero our hearts crave in great romance because he’s an example of the way our Savior pursues us. Nikki is genuine and likable, and your heart will ache and rejoice right along with her. This is Toni Shiloh at her best!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / love it!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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.

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Other Books by Toni Shiloh

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 below to enter.

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This giveaway is hosted by Celebrate Lit, not RimSP
Follow along with the tour for more chances to win!

What about you? What interests you most about Shorty & Nikki’s story?