A Run at Love

Author: Toni Shiloh
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Love in the Spotlight #2
Pages: 352
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Publisher: Bethany House

A CONTENDER RUNNING FOR THE ROSES

As a Black woman in a field with little diversity, Piper McKinney is determined to make her mark on the horse-racing world. Raised on a Thoroughbred farm in Kentucky, Piper's dream is for her horse to win the prestigious Kentucky Derby. With the help of her best friend and trainer, Tucker Hale, she gains national attention but must grapple with the complications that arise when a journalist delves into her past as a transracial adoptee.

A BEST FRIEND RACING FOR LOVE

In an effort to win Piper's heart, Tucker formulates a plan to train Piper's horse to victory, hoping to prove himself to her, her parents, and his own self-doubts. Then a shocking scandal hits the media, implicating both Piper and her parents, and she and Tucker will have to survive the onslaught to find their way to the winner's circle--and each other.

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Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

This is the first time I've read a book by Toni Shiloh, and it brought back fond memories of my uncle and his horse-training days at the track. And so it was interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look at horse owners and trainers, as well as what they go through to achieve a winning horse.

I appreciated the author's handling of interracial relationships and her insights into that, as well as into white people who adopt black children. I loved Piper's thoughts on that. I also loved the faith element in this book. Trusting in God and forgiveness were strong throughout.

However, the story did seem to drag on, which had me frustrated and I think it was because of the romance. It was way too "Hallmark" for me. The constant back and forth with Piper and Tuck drove me crazy because it seemed like it was the same conversation (in their heads) over and over again. 

Despite that, it is a good story with a nice side-scandal that kept me reading.

For my honest opinion, I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via NetGalley.

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Reviewer: Tammy Lunsford

Once again, Toni Shiloh has tugged on my heartstrings with this wonderful story and romance. These characters have true emotional depth, which makes them more real to me as a reader.

Piper McKinney was adopted by her parents when she was young. She is a black woman who knows she is loved by her parents, but she has felt a little rootless with so many unanswered questions in her life. She often wonders about her birth family and how different her life would have been if she had not been adopted. She grew up on a large, successful horse farm in Kentucky. It has always been her dream to own her own horse and have that horse win the Kentucky Derby. This is how she ends up with her foal, Dream. She knows this will not be an easy task, but she is willing to put it all on the line. I love that she does not dream small. She dreams big and believes in that dream. She is also a black woman in a white man's world with horse racing, but this girl does not let that deter her from making her dreams a reality. 

 She needs a trainer, and she knows there is no one better than her best friend, Tucker Hale. Tucker and Piper have been friends since elementary school. Tucker has been fighting his feelings for Piper for a long time. 

 When scandal rocks the McKinney family and their farm, Piper and Tucker get pulled into the fray as well. This is going to make this journey that much more difficult if they can overcome this scandal and the bad press that goes along with it. Piper and Tucker were made for one another. They just need to get out of their own way. There were so many touching scenes in this book that I lost count. You know what I mean. Those scenes make you sigh and maybe swoon a little. Strong faith and leaning on God are key ingredients in this story as well. There is definitely a moral to the story. 

I was so excited to see my favorite three men on their text thread, just like in book #1. Tuck, Lamont, and Chris are best friends, but they are also each other's cheerleaders and prayer warriors. 

Thank you to Bethany House, NetGalley, and the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Reviewer: Mindy Houng

I've been a fan of Toni Shiloh since her indie publishing days. I've loved many of her books. I really enjoyed the first book in the series, but, for some reason, this book didn't resonate with me as much. I still enjoyed it, and I loved getting to know Piper and Tucker. Piper and her spunk, independence, and love for horses came through in all of her interactions. Her first-person voice was fun, tender, and down-to-earth.

Tucker and his undying devotion to Piper were so sweet. His third-person voice was quirky, funny, and a solid rock for Piper during her life storms. I did enjoy learning about horseracing, and seeing Nevaeh and Lamont progress in their relationship was quite gratifying.

Perhaps Piper and Tucker's "best friend to more" was a little forced and artificial. They both loved each other but had a hard time figuring out the other person's feelings, and the process felt a bit overdone and drawn out. 

I also felt like I stepped into the middle of the book when I started it, and I kept thinking I had missed something between book 1 and book 2. Still, the characters were pretty awesome, and the author addressed topics like interracial relationships and trans-racial adoption, which are rarely talked about.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House via Interviews & Reviews and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

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