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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Did I Find Endearing about Enduring Love?

by Chautona Havig · 8 Comments

“Is there an author you can suggest who has really grown in his or her craft? I’d like to see if I can see the progression.”

It was an unexpected question, but a good one.  And I had an answer—blurted it out before I realized I did.  “Toni Shiloh.”

“Okay, so how has she grown?”

I remembered the first book—the fabulous premise, the likable characters, the “feel-like-I-could-go-there” setting.  I also remembered the things I hadn’t liked.  And I tried to explain.

You see, it wasn’t that the first book was a bad book. It wasn’t.  If it had been, I wouldn’t likely have read the second.  But Toni is a good example of someone who has, over the course of this series, really grown.  Info dumps, “telling” rather than showing us the story, and similar things have given way to solid writing.

And I was proud to recommend it.  “Look, the first book is interesting and fun.  The second is richer and holds more promise.  The final book, however… she really took it up a couple of notches.”

Apparently, I talked it up a bit much or something, because the writer said, “So sum up the last one in one word.”

While my brain scrambled to find a word to show tackling a tough topic well, the word “Endearing,” jumped out and landed on the table between us.”

“Okay… how?

What Did I Find Endearing about Enduring Love?

Links may be affiliates that provide me with a small commission. They cost you nothing, however. I also requested a review copy of this book from the publisher.  This post is what I thought of it.

What Did I Find Endearing about Enduring Love?

Every once in a while, an author takes a common theme and writes an uncommonly good book with it.  I’d say that Toni Shiloh has done this with Enduring Love.

But what’s so endearing about it?  Well, what about characters? Belle.  Her name belies a hard, pain-filled past and yet personifies who she is inside and out—a beautiful woman. She’s rich, layered, and inconsistent.  And, in this book, she should be. It fits her character.

Usually, when I see an inconsistent character, it’s because the author wasn’t careful.  This time you read a character crafted to be inconsistent as anyone in her situation would be.

Micah isn’t your typical Galahad, despite having those tendencies.  C’mon, Galahad with a bird?  It just doesn’t translate.  And yet, he wouldn’t be Micah without that bird.

Or maybe it’s how she skillfully wove past characters into this book in a way I don’t think she could have done in the first book.  Toni Shiloh has learned the art of giving us what we know and want in just the right places instead of dumping it all on us.  She’s managed to make me anxious for the next… and the next.

One thing I know I loved and found particularly endearing…

Banter. There’s a quirkiness to these characters.  They slip from serious, to friendly, to avoidance, to teasing banter in a natural flow that you can’t help but want more of.

And this is pure romance. 

I’m anxiously waiting for the next book… of traditional Christian romance.  Me?!

But even more than character, I think the richest part of this book is its theme.  We so often allow our past to define us—to hold us in a relentless grip.  And worse than that, we often create rules for ourselves that the Lord would never and has never burdened us with.

Toni Shiloh’s Enduring Love shows these tendencies in rich, authentic narrative that holds your interest and makes you yearn to assure Belle that the Lord has taken all of that from her.  She can rest.  In Him.  If she only will.

If that’s not good writing, I don’t know what is.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, of course, but also to anyone who loves to see the after-effects of the redemptive work of Jesus in someone’s life.  It’s a beautiful word picture.

Enduring Love is on tour with Celebrate Lit

About the Book

Title: Enduring Love

Author: Toni Shiloh

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 28, 2018

Belle Peterson is hiding a secret. Seeking sanctuary in the small town of Maple Run, she’s intent on starting her life over—one she hopes honors Christ. The plan was going great until an undeniable attraction to Micah has her wondering if she’s changed at all.

Micah Campbell can’t understand why Belle is so uptight and wants nothing to do with her until the gentle whispers of God tell him to befriend her. He didn’t count on the feeling of protectiveness to rise up or that spark of attraction.

Can love really conquer all or will Belle’s past be too much for Micah to handle?

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.

Toni spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and president of the Virginia Chapter.

You can find her on her website at http://tonishiloh.wordpress.com.

Guest Post from Toni Shiloh

Hey there, Reader Friends!

I’m so excited for the kickoff of Enduring Love. This is book 3 in the Maple Run series and features the story of Belle Peterson and Micah Campbell. You may remember meeting Micah in book 2 of the series, he is Luke Robinson’s best friend. I tell you, this book has a special place in my heart, one that brought out all the emotions in me.

Belle Peterson is living a life filled with shame and regret. She knows mentally that she’s been forgiven, but can’t reconcile the fact to how a redeemed life should look. And when Micah Campbell walks in her life, she’s certain that she has to stay as far from him as possible to keep from backsliding.

Y’all know our wants rarely meet with reality. I had fun throwing Belle and Micah together in Maple Run. Sometimes to their chagrin but always to my pleasure. J Characters from Buying Love (book 1) and Finding Love (book 2) will make an appearance, rounding out the family that has been created in my fictional town of Maple Run, Virginia.

As you take the time to read Belle and Micah’s story, I pray you keep this verse in your mind. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” – Romans 8:1 KJV

God does not want us to live a life of shame and guilt. Once we ask for forgiveness, He gives it to us freely. Walk in an abundant life, my friends, and bless others with the grace you so freely received.

Blessings to you,

Toni

Blog Stops

Reading Is My SuperPower, June 30

Connect in Fiction, June 30

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, July 1

History, Mystery & Faith, July 1

The Power of Words, July 2

Reflections From My Bookshelves, July 2

Blossoms and Blessings, July 3

Faithfully Bookish, July 3

Texas Book-aholic, July 4

Just the Write Escape, July 5

Carpe Diem, July 6

Bigreadersite, July 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 7

Bibliophile Reviews, July 8

Remembrancy, July 9

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 9

A Baker’s Perspective, July 10

Janices book reviews, July 11

proud to be an autism mom, July 12

Mary Hake, July 12

KarenSueHadley, July 13

Simple Harvest Reads, July 13

Giveaway

Amazon Gift Card

To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Click below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d0f2/enduring-love-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Comments

  1. farmermomwife says

    July 12, 2018 at 7:17 am

    Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway and congrats on the tour!

    Reply
  2. Arletta Boulton says

    July 6, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    Yeah, it’s sometimes easier to forgive others than yourself. I tend to overthink things and have to remind myself that I am forgiven!

    Reply
  3. NZ Filbruns says

    July 5, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    Maybe I should give her a second try!

    Reply
    • Toni says

      July 6, 2018 at 4:54 am

      I’d be honored if you do.

      Reply
  4. Toni says

    July 5, 2018 at 10:25 am

    Wow! I’m honored and blessed by this review.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      July 5, 2018 at 3:05 pm

      I really love watching the development of your characters, your series, and even your writing in this series. It’s super cool. Keep learning and growing. It’s what makes us better… more interesting.

      Reply
  5. Lori Smanski says

    July 5, 2018 at 9:00 am

    thank you for your wonderful review of this book and about Toni. this sounds like such a wonderful book. i love it when authors grow so much in a series.

    Reply
  6. James Robert says

    July 5, 2018 at 7:08 am

    I love reading about great books we had not heard of previously so thank you and also for the great giveaway as well.

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d'Entremont
byChautona Havig

When Lara d’Entremont began describing her YA portal fantasy, The Painted Fairytale, I knew this would be right up my alley. Listen in and see how art becomes the portal to other worlds!

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Portal fantasy is my favorite, so I was crazy excited to learn about this one–especially the art tie-in. I can’t wait to dive in myself.

We chatted about her characters, the world, and the faith that connects them.

The Painted Fairytale by Lara d’Entremont

Seventeen-year-old Wren Devine refuses to share her art with anyone-other than her parents and her sister (who died three years prior). But when her mother submits her artwork to a mentorship program, and she gets accepted, Wren is forced to display her artwork for the eccentric Professor Hayes. Despite her fears, Wren hopes this mentorship will finally make her as worthy as her sister.

But this mentorship is about more than painting.

Wren soon learns that she has a magical ability to turn her paintings into portals to travel not only to other places but also to another world entirely. An eerie children’s book in the professor’s classroom reveals a wicked pirate with a vengeance who has her eye on Stefan Branson, a former student of Professor Hayes.

As all four of these lives intersect, it becomes apparent that everyone has a secret–some more deadly than others. The longer these secrets brew, the more deadly and heavy they become, and possibly lead to never seeing her former, earthly realm again. Wren must not only learn to release the shadow of her beloved sister but step boldly into her own world.

Learn more about Lara on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads.or on Subtack.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d'Entremont
Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d'Entremont
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