In Search of a Prince ~ Review

In Search of a Prince

By Toni Shiloh

Brielle Bayo always thought she was your average American. Her mother raised her as a single parent following her father's death, all while putting herself through medical school. Impressive! Right? 

But now the truth is about to come out. Brielle's mother has been keeping a secret from her for 25 years! Not only did her father have a family BUT they are the ruling family of an island nation in Africa. Worse her grandfather is dying and Brielle has just months left to connect with what was denied her all these years. But the biggest shocker of them all is that she, Brielle Bayo middle-grade civics teacher, is next in the line to the throne!

Cue a major time-out to wrap her mind around the mere possibility if not the fact that she is in line to be queen. 

But does she want to be queen? She has to make a decision and to do so she must visit Ọlọrọ Ilé, Africa, and get to know the people, the culture, the language, and the history.  No small task for her summer break.  And if she accepts the future before her, she must marry before she can assume the throne. 

In Search of a Prince is a story of faith and trust. Brielle spends time in prayer, seeking the Lord's will. This is one choice that she doesn't want to make on her own. While dealing with the shock of learning who she is, Bri is also dealing with her feelings of betrayal at her mother's silence for 25 years. I can't even begin to imagine how I would be handling such a situation. 

When all of this first unfolds Bri wonders if she is about to find herself in a Princess Diary situation. I have not read the books but I did see the movies and in no way is this a redo.  There is a depth to the characters as they navigate and adapt to their changing world. 

I enjoyed this in both the print version and the audio. The audiobook is excellent. I like how Tamika Katon-Donegal narrates the book. The different characters are identifiable and I really appreciate the pronunciations of the names and places in Ọlọrọ Ilé so I did not have to struggle through it and probably mangle it thoroughly.  I can't say I have a preference for one over the other - audio with the pronunciations while the print version has the spelled-out words. Both together is the ideal in my opinion but this is one book you don't want to miss no matter how you enjoy it.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the print book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Brielle Adebayo is fully content teaching at a New York City public school and taking annual summer vacations with her mother to Martha's Vineyard. But everything changes when her mom drops the mother of all bombshells--Brielle is a princess in the kingdom of Ọlọrọ Ilé, Africa, and she must immediately assume her royal position, since the health of her grandfather, King Tiwa Jimoh Adebayo, is failing.

Distraught by her mother's betrayal, Brielle is further left spinning when the Ọlọrọ Ilé Royal Council brings up an old edict that states she must marry before assuming the throne or the crown will be passed to another. Uncertain who to choose from the council's list of bachelors, she struggles with the decision along with the weight of her new role in a new country. With her world totally shaken, she must take a chance on love and brave the perils a wrong decision may bring.