Toni Shiloh is a name that I’ve seen around the book world quite a bit. She’s active in the writing and reading community, supporting other writers while pursuing her own author journey. When I saw that her newest book, Grace Restored, was going to be released soon, I knew I wanted a chance to read it!
Better yet, I’m thrilled to have an author interview with Toni Shiloh today! As you know, my reviews always compare the story to a food, and I like to ask the author what food comparison they would make. Keep reading to find out what Toni Shiloh compared Grace Restored to!
About Grace Restored
Series: Freedom Lake
Genre: Adult, Christian, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: March 20, 2017
Michelle Thomas has it all. Beautiful and successful, she’s just opened her own law firm in Freedom Lake. What more could she want? When her old flame rolls back into Freedom Lake, she’s intent on ignoring him. But how can she give the widower and his precious twin girls the cold shoulder?
Still reeling from the death of his wife, Guy Pierre returns to Freedom Lake to take over as town sheriff and raise his twin daughters. Alone. Yet, life keeps throwing Michelle in his path and sparks of interest began to rise.
Will old secrets tear them apart again or can they find the faith to let God’s grace restore what has been broken?
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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.
She 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.
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Blog Contributor:
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Author Interview
Cordially Barbara: What inspired Grace Restored?
Toni Shiloh: When I wrote book one, I knew the characters for each series. It wasn’t until I was midway through book one, Returning Home, that I realized how much of a story Guy and Michelle had. As soon as I finished the first draft of RH, I dove into Grace Restored with anticipation. They did not disappointment me.
CB: Did the characters of Grace Restored teach you anything while you were creating the story?
TS: Yes! They taught me the beauty of grace and how much it has impacted my own life. It’s a lesson that I hope I don’t forget and will continue to revisit.
CB: On a day of inclement weather, what would your protagonist be doing?
TS: Guy would be playing with his daughters inside their home in hopes of distracting them from the rain. Michelle would be happy to sit in front of a window and watch it.
CB: Is there a line or quote from Grace Restored that you just love?
TS: “She still wore the ring.” I love the chapter it’s in and the implications it brings.
CB: Did you travel to research Grace Restored?
TS: I didn’t. Freedom Lake is a fictional town in Indiana. I did do research via the Internet to find out more about Indiana. The orange man on Google maps is awesome. J
CB: I like to write book reviews where I compare the book to food. What would you compare Grace Restored to?
TS: A perfect mug of hot chocolate.
Snippet from Grace Restored
June 11, 2003
“Promise we’ll always be friends.” Michelle Thomas glanced at her best friends, Jo Ellen Baker and Chloe Smith. Graduating from high school was going to change their relationship no matter what. She just prayed it would stand the test of time.
“Of course, we will,” Jo said in her no-nonsense tone of voice.
“Just because we’re going to college doesn’t mean our friendship will change,” Chloe stated in her soft voice.
Michelle sighed. She loved her friends, but sometimes, they didn’t seem to understand how tenuous time could be. In the blink of an eye, life could be altered.
“I love you, guys.” She smiled at them, eyes misting over.
“Aw, group hug.” Jo exclaimed.
Michelle wrapped her arms around them. Life couldn’t get much better.
The sound of the doorbell brought the hug to a close. Her parents had gone out for date night and had allowed her to have a sleepover with her girls. She knew they didn’t like her opening the door when they weren’t home, but she was an adult now.
She peered through the peep hole and frowned. Why was there a police officer at her door? She opened the door. “May I help you?”
The officer removed his hat, a somber look coloring his features. “Are you Michelle Thomas?”
She nodded. This was getting stranger by the minute.
“I’m Officer Simpson with the Kodiak City Police Department, may I come inside?”
What were the Kodiak City Police Department doing in Freedom Lake?
“Who’s at the door, Chelle?” Jo called out.
“The police.”
Jo quickly padded to the door to stand next to her. “How do we know you’re really the police?”
Trust Jo to be cynical and non-trusting. Who would lie about that?
He handed over his badge and Jo examined it. Michelle wanted to laugh at her serious expression, but something was off. Something wasn’t right.
Chloe peeked over Jo’s shoulder. “Looks real to me.”
“I suppose,” Jo replied. She handed the badge back. “Just say what you have to say right there.” Jo pointed past the threshold, as if the officer wasn’t strong enough to cross it if necessary.
The officer met Michelle’s gaze, his gray eyes softening. “Ms. Thomas, your parents have been involved in an accident.”
“What? Are they okay?” She swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat. She met Jo’s eyes, noticing the creases in her forehead. She vaguely noted Chloe’s hand on her back.
“Ma’am, I regret to inform you…”
It sounded like a recording. The words didn’t make sense. How could they be dead? She just saw them. Her dad had teared up after the graduation ceremony while they were taking family photos.
Slowly, the sound of wailing penetrated her thoughts. She wished they’d shut up. How could she hear what the officer was saying if they wouldn’t stop?
Her knees buckled and she felt arms come around to steady her.
It was her.
She was the one wailing. She was the one making the incessant noise.
They were dead. At the blink of an eye, her parents were dead.
Cordially Barbara’s Review
On a scale of cotton candy to Brussels sprouts, Grace Restored by Toni Shiloh is a filled pastry. Savory or sweet, the only way to sometimes know what’s on the inside is to take a bite. Try not to allow your expectation to influence your taste buds.
Michelle has created her perfect life, but then her high school boyfriend returns to town as a widower with adorable twin daughters. This was not part of the plan. In a small town like Freedom Lake, Michelle can’t spend her life avoiding him. When their relationship rekindles, can it stand the test of old secrets?
Grace Restored is book 2 of a series, but it could easily be a standalone novel. Toni Shiloh impressed me with the depth she brought to her characters. Sometimes Christian novels can ignore hard problems, but Toni Shiloh visited some challenging moments and the daily consequences. Although the story mostly focused on Michelle, I enjoyed the Bible study friend group with their own character growth and life changing moments. Toni Shiloh’s characters lifted each other up with God’s truth, which kept faith as an important component to the story and not just a side note.
If you enjoy modern day fiction with a Christian worldview, Grace Restored by Toni Shiloh is for you.
Giveaway
For a chance to win an e-copy (International) of Grace Restored by Toni Shiloh, comment on this blog responding to the following question: What verse capture’s God’s grace for you?
Tour Schedule
March 19-Among the Reads
March 20-Faithfully Bookish | Wishful Endings
March 21-Singing Librarian Books | The Power of Words
March 22-A Baker’s Perspective
March 23-Remembrancy
March 24-Kat’s Corner Books
March 26-Reading Is My SuperPower
March 27-Robin’s Nest
March 28-Cafinated Reads | Fiction Aficionado
March 29-Cordially Barbara
March 30-All-of-a-kind Mom
March 31-Blossoms and Blessings
Reviewer: Mindy Houng
