A Run At Love was my first Christian contemporary romance book and my first read by Toni Shiloh. It was a very sweet friends to lovers story and I enjoyed every minute of it. A Run At Love follows best friends Piper McKinney and Tucker Hale. Piper is trying to make a name for herself at the Kentucky Derby and Tucker is her lead horse trainer. We see very early on that these two are in love with each other and are both plotting on ways to tell each other. Watching them secretly pine for one another was adorable! I didn’t know much about the Kentucky Derby before reading this book but I can tell the author thoroughly reaesrdhed it and did a great job of explaining things in a way that was easy to understand. Toni Shiloh also did a great job with the topic of transracial adoption and reading about a Black woman making a name for herself in the horse racing world was inspiring. Add this one to your list if you haven’t! Happy reading!

A sweet love story with deeper themes that had me hooked until the end!

The book centers around Piper McKinney—a new race horse owner trying to get her thoroughbred to the Kentucky Derby. This may be her race first horse, but she’s from a family with a horse farm dedicated to breeding and racing thoroughbred.

Piper wants to make a name for herself for many reasons. As a Black woman, she wants to break barriers in the sport and loves. As a transracial adoptee, she wants to find her own identity. And when her family becomes embroiled in a major scandal, this quests becomes even more important—and much trickier!

With her best friend Tuck as her horse trainer, she knows she’s got a good shot. She’s also madly in love with him. But is coming clean about her feelings worth risking a 20+ year friendship? Can Piper win the guy and the race?

Toni Shiloh did a great job with this story! I loved Piper and Tuck’s friendship and the way he supported her. I also enjoyed the deeper themes surrounding identity and forgiveness. Looking forward to the next book in the series!!

A special thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

A Run at Love is everything I've come to know and love in a Toni Shiloh book. The characters are loveable (except when they're not supposed to be), the story is fun, and there are elements of faith that feel so natural and flow through the story. Putting this book down to be a responsible adult and do things like sleep was so hard. Even with that, I devoured it in two days.

Tucker and Piper together were goals. They were clearly such great friends that becoming more just seemed like the right thing! Even if both of them were slow to admit it for different reasons. Ugh, I felt so bad for Piper. Her dad really does let her down when he doesn't turn out to be quite the man she thought. But this does pave the way for a story of forgiveness that is, very realistically, not an easy one. Then Tucker. Sweet, sweet Tuck. I love a good male main character and he is amazing. I also have a soft spot for interracial relationship representation!

Toni Shiloh books are auto reads for me and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I highly recommend you pick up A Run at Love!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I'm leaving an honest and voluntary review.

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

Since May is Derby Month, we found this book to be perfect May read to share! If you are looking for a new friends to lovers romance that is clean and faith based we recommend you check this book out! We found it to be sweet, honest, education (In The World of Horse Racing) and at times thought provoking.

We found the FMC, Piper who was born in Africa, but adopted by wealthy white family to be a fierce and driven woman because of how she found her own path to work in field of horse racing. Which in itself is a field with little diversity and not easy for a women to join. Tucker was the perfect gentleman, who was sweet supportive and protective friend who stopped by Piper through every obstacles that came their way. We found the book to be romantic with added bits of romcom mixed in.

🏇 Tropes 🏇
- Friends to Lovers
- He Falls First
- Interracial Couple
- Faith Based Romance

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"Dream had done well in the early prep races, and now he'd be participating in the championship series, consisting of sixteen races that would lead to twenty horses on the field of Churchill Downs to run the Kentucky Derby.
'You mean when you asked me to train Dream, you didn't actually think you'd make it on the Derby trail?' Tuck smiled at me from the driver's seat. My breath hitched at those perfectly curved lips and baby-blue eyes. Why did my best friend always have to make me feel like I was in need of a fainting couch?"
Piper grew up in the horse racing industry. While she appreciates all that her adoptive parents have poured into her life, she wants to put her own twist on things. So when their best horse trainer agrees to help her train a horse for the Derby, she knows this is a new beginning. If only Tucker knew how she felt about him, perhaps they could have another beginning as well. Is it really possible for all of her dreams to come true?
What I really enjoyed about this book is the fact that it was not one dimensional. While the main race and the love story were the main parts, there was so much more. The author added one more major conflict that complicated Piper's Life tremendously. Figuring out the right thing to do is never easy.
I was very impressed by the author's research that added expertise in this book. I knew little about horse racing before reading this, and I do feel like my knowledge improved. That being said, I did not feel like I was taught about horse racing. Instead, the author did a marvelous job of adding layers of background that added interest and expertise to the story. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that the author grew up on a horse farm.
This book is a sequel to "The Love Script" which is the first "Love in the Spotlight" book. Several key characters overlap. While one could read this book as a stand-alone title, I appreciated the book even more because the characters had become "friends." The text messages were delightful yet again.
I did read an advanced copy of this book. I loved the first book in the series, so I knew that I definitely wanted to read and review this one. All opinions are my own!

I absolutely loved this story! Toni Shiloh weaves a wonderful story that will keep you engaged. I love the characters and storyline she created. You will laugh and maybe find yourself in tears.

This is the second book in the LOVE IN THE SPOTLIGHT series by Toni Shiloh, and it's my favorite so far! I enjoyed getting to learn more about Tuck and Piper, who I met in book one. They interested me the moment I met them in THE LOVE SCRIPT, almost more than the main characters in that story. Shiloh did a great job at showing their chemistry, even when they weren't the main couple.

The story had its fair share of surprising moments, and I'm glad I got to see the couple together for over half of the book. I am not one who likes the yearning to be too strong in a romance novel (I understand the long game where the romance is subplot), and Shiloh did a great job creating a nice balance.

With the horse racing, she had done her research, and it showed! I felt like I was going to the races and about to watch the Kentucky Derby. Another part of the story where she did some research was transracial adoption. She presented the topic in a considerate, empathic light, and I commend her for the work she did there!

This book falls in line with a more stereotypical CF book (a tad cheesy), so I don't think I could read another super light romance after it. But I did really enjoy it and can honestly recommend it!

I have been anxiously anticipating the drop of this one since reading, The Love Script last year. As the second book in the Love in The Spotlight Series, A Run At Love is such a sweet story.

Picture two best friends, as physically opposite as night and day, who get to experience a love story knitted together by the greatest Author of love.

I love that Tuck is a man after God’s own heart. & it is so evident in how He cares for Piper and his intentionality with accountability within his community of friends (insert Lamont from The Love Script 😍).

Piper is set on chartering her own path away from her wealthy parents. Adopted from Oloro Ilè & raised by White parents in a predominately white & horse racing community, she finds herself in a spotlight of her own.

Tuck and Piper’s love story is one of faith, friendship and resilience and I enjoyed watching it rise to the occasion.

You know how once you start reading a series, you kind of want to keep going? This happened to me with Toni Shiloh’s “Love in the Spotlight” series. We interviewed Toni over at StoryChats podcast when the first title, The Love Script, released. So then I got to know the other two guys who would be heroes in their own stories coming up. Clever! This is the FIRST, the ONLY (as far as I know) Kentucky Derby Christian contemporary romance!

There are a few different angles in here. The first is friends-to-more. Piper and Tucker have been close friends since they were little kids. His dad used to work for her dad. Now Tucker works for Piper while also owning the farm next to hers. Both of them are convinced that the other one only wants to be friends and nothing more. This is a staple of the friends-to-more trope, and (in my personal opinion both as an author and as a reader) it’s hard to pull off believably. (In fact, I’ve only ever tried it once myself for that reason!) Here, Piper is sure Tucker wouldn’t want to be with a Black woman, while Tucker is sure Piper wouldn’t want to be with someone not of her social standing. I don’t love this combo, but it mostly works.

Secondly, we have transracial adoption. I love the nod Shiloh gives back to the world of Ọlọrọ Ilé, an African island kingdom she created for a different series. I’ve seen so many people struggling with adoption at all in the past few years, whether mixed-race or same-race, from the adopter and the adoptee point-of-view. This is a super tough subject, I think, and Shiloh gives it a fair hearing. The heroine, Piper, is adopted from an African orphanage by a wealthy white couple and given every privilege money can buy. At the beginning of the story, their family dynamics seem pretty darn solid, but cracks soon appear. I won’t give away the details on that — you’ll have to read it for yourself! — but the struggles are very relevant to the entire story plot.

There’s also the whole Kentucky Derby aspect, and how horses are picked and trained for this prestigious race. Fascinating insights into this whole new world! While I write a lot of cowboy romance, Thoroughbred racing is a whole ‘nother thing.

Toni Shiloh got her start in independent publishing and now has multiple books out with traditional publishers. I’ve read and enjoyed many of her stories, and I don’t think you can go wrong with them. All of her stories are unabashedly Christian, with characters who live out their faith while grappling with big issues.

You’ll want to start with The Love Script, in my opinion, but if you’re more interested in the issues named above than in celebrity culture, you’ll find A Run at Love to be a solid standalone as well.

I received a copy of this story from the publisher via NetGalley and was not required to leave a positive review.

Toni Shiloh's books are always a welcome read for me. A Run at Love is book 2 in her latest series, Love in the Spotlight, and I loved it just as much as The Love Script (plus it was great to see Neveah and Lamont again!). I grew up with a dad who trained horses so it was fun to read about Tuck and his training horses for Piper. Watching them move from friendship to more was sweet and I was totally engrossed in their story for a wonderful afternoon.

I read/listened to the audio book and really enjoyed the narrator, Dioni Michelle Collins, very much!

When I'm in the mood for a contemporary Christian romance, I turn to Toni Shiloh's books!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 7 May 2024

This was such a good blend of fun and tough issues to work through. I love it when an author can mix both the light-hearted moments and the really difficult things because that’s so relatable to real life!

Piper and Tucker both had some insecurities and ‘control’ issues to work through. I love the gentle way their different types of ‘control’ issues are addressed and how that’s not preached, but offered as food for thought in our own lives.

The guys group text chat is awesome, too, to have that support network and friendship that’s typically portrayed as a ladies thing, but the guys need that connection just as much, and it’s a beautiful connection for the heroes of this particular trilogy.

And of course, my favorite aspect of a good romance is it’s not rushed. The timeline is reasonable.

But then, you add in horses and humor, and it just levels up the whole story!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

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 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 was so sweet. His third person voice was quirky, funny, and a solid rock for Piper in 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 kept thinking I had missed something between book 1 and book 2. Still, the characters were pretty awesome and the author addressed topics like inter-racial relationship 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.

This second book in Toni Shiloh's Love in the Spotlight series is fantastic! Fun and an adorably sweet romance!
I loved reading about Piper and Tuck. It was great watching their romance blossom and spring into full bloom.
But...they had a few bumps along the road, and all in all, these characters are well written.
I enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about the horse racing world, and horses in general.

I found this a fascinating and intriguing story, and look forward to reading more by this author!

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Tuck and Piper were such wonderful characters! I loved the way they had grown up together as best friends and then both began caring about each other as more than friends. Yet they were scared to risk that friendship and admit to their deeper feelings. But, wow! The moment it came to light that they were interested in each other romantically…one of my favorite scenes for sure!

These two had to deal with a lot emotionally in this story, as Piper’s parents were suddenly in the spotlight for potentially engaging in illegal activities with their racing horses. And this also put a lot of pressure and a negative spotlight on Piper and her own horse who was racing, as well.

There were many important topics covered in this story, including both the difficulties and the blessings that Piper faced as a black woman adopted into a wealthy white family in a white community, the importance of trusting God with the future, the need for forgiveness, and the importance of honesty between a couple. There were also many fun and lighthearted moments between Tuck and Piper, and some great group texts between Tuck and his two best friends from the first book of the series, The Love Script. You do not, however, have to read book one to enjoy book two.

This was a great story and I am looking forward to Chris finding his happily ever after in book three.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I liked this book, especially the second half! The first half took me a bit to get through but I think it was because I’m not into horse racing! Also, I felt like Piper was not sure about her feelings for Tuck, thinking it was more attraction, then was all of the sudden so sure it was love! The romance was a bit sudden for me, but what I really loved about this book was the faith!!! Toni can write some amazing faith! I didn’t read the first one in the series, but I want to!! I think it would be better to read that one first but can be read as a standalone! Overall, the faith is what made this book for me! 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4!

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

I enjoyed reading A Run at Love, the second book in Toni Shiloh’s Love in the Spotlight series. The story is set in Kentucky in the horse racing world.

I’m pretty sure A Run at Love is the first Christian fiction book I’ve read that’s intricately connected to horse racing. Horse racing industry critics have expressed concerns regarding problem gambling and animal welfare. There’s no gambling in the story and I absolutely loved the way Piper and Tucker looked after the horses and animals in their care. Piper’s goats were both troublesome and hilarious.

Piper was adopted as a young child and moved to the USA with her wealthy adoptive parents who were successful and well known in Kentucky horse racing circles. Piper’s love for horses inspired her dream to own a colt that would go on to win the famous and prestigious Kentucky Derby. The story opens with Piper taking steps to fulfil her Derby dream.

Tucker is Piper’s lifelong best friend who has followed in his father’s footsteps and worked for Piper’s family as an assistant horse trainer. Tucker has loved Piper for years and has a list of reasons for why he’s not yet good enough to take a risk, step out of the friend zone, and ask Piper out on a date. His guy friends, who feature in other books in the series, are his Christian support network who keep him grounded.

Piper has loved Tucker for years and she’s afraid she’d lose him as her best friend if he didn’t reciprocate her feelings. She has grown up in a predominantly white community and experienced racism that has shaped the way she views the world. Her love for Jesus is her anchor as she navigates complex relationships with her adoptive parents.

Piper and Tucker’s romance is sweet and they make an adorable couple as they work together and begin to believe their hopes and dreams could come true. A family scandal puts Piper in the media spotlight and places multiple relationships in jeopardy. I recommend A Run at Love to contemporary romance readers who like best friends-to-more celebrity romances with depth that are set in the horse racing world and include a relevant faith element in the story.

Many thanks to Bethany House and Net Galley for the advanced reader copy.

The Queen of Romance Tropes has done it again!

In "A Run at Love," Toni Shiloh effortlessly combines southern charm, hilarious buddy banter, Kentucky Derby history, mischievous goats, unabashed faith themes, the highs and lows of horse racing, endearing characters, and a sigh-worthy friends-to-more romance into a book readers won't want to end. Like, seriously, can we spend another 300 pages with Piper and Tuck?! I miss them already!

If you love a good rom-com and a great hat, "A Run at Love" is sure to be your cup of mint julep!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own honest opinion.

I adore what Toni Shiloh writes - she has tge ability to make a reader feel so good and cozy in a book.... Thankful to be able to experience A Run at Love - filled with hope, humor, and of course falling in love .💕

“Darlin’, no man wants any part of him to sparkle. Ms. Meyer has hoodwinked a generation of women.” I laughed out loud at this quote! A Run at Love is a new favorite from Toni Shiloh. From the first page I was drawn in to this delightful, thoughtful, funny, sweet, childhood friends to more romance! It’s also infused with faith and an inspirational, thought provoking look at race, interracial adoption, and interracial couples.

Paige was born in Africa and adopted by a wealthy white family who owns a horse racing empire. Paige has also developed a love of horses and horse racing and wants to be the first Black woman to win the Kentucky Derby. As she struggles with trying to find her own path in this competitive arena, she leans on her best friend and horse training partner Tucker whom she’s secretly in love with. As she navigates her feelings towards her biological parents, adoptive parents, and Tucker, she also has to deal with unwanted publicity and accusations against her father.

Tucker’s been in love with Paige since childhood. He wants to be worthy of her and make his business a success before he reveals his romantic feelings for her. He has a whole list of how he’s going to accomplish this. But as his carefully laid plans begin to crumble, he soon realizes that he needs to seek God’s plans for his life.

Paige and Tucker are such a cute couple! I loved the way they were both pining for each other for years and worried about what the other would think when they revealed their feelings. I loved how they easily transitioned from friendship to love. I enjoyed their 90’s romcoms and the fun humor they shared. Theirs is an interracial romance and I appreciated the way the author addressed race in such an inspirational, thoughtful way.

I honesty didn’t know much about horse racing going in to this book, but I soon came to appreciate the hard work that goes into choosing and caring for the right horse. I was cheering right along with Tucker and all Paige’s friends and supporters with each race Dream enters leading up to the Kentucky Derby. There’s also a darling little goat named Baby who plays an important role. Her father’s business comes under scrutiny as a nosey journalist investigates Paige’s past which brings a bit of suspense and drama to the story. I enjoyed how this offers a chance for change and growth. I also love Paige’s and Tucker’s friends and how they supported each another.

Defintely add this funny, romantic, well written, inspirational. romcom to your must read list! Though it’s part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. I recommend reading the first book though to really appreciate all the characters and group of friends. I can’t wait for Chris’ story! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

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.