"In Search of a Prince" by Toni Shiloh

Middle school teacher Brielle Bayo has everything she knows about her life turned upside down when she learns her father, who passed away before she was born, was the crown prince of Ọlọrọ Ilé—and now she's the next in line for the throne. This small island nation off Africa's coast is soon to lose their king, and Brielle must travel to a place she's never been to meet a previously unknown side of her family—and decide quickly whether or not she will take over leading the country or abdicate for someone more knowledgeable and prepared. 

Brielle heads to Ọlọrọ Ilé with her best friend Iris and immerses herself in learning the island culture and getting to know her family.

The first part of this novel was pretty slow for me. It's very much like The Princess Diaries, sometimes annoyingly so. Plus the title gives away the fact that there's a twist coming, and I kept waiting for that to happen. Once it arrived, I was much more interested and invested in the story.

While I wished for a more complex plot and cast of characters, there is a lot to enjoy here. The faith of Brielle, her grandfather, and other main characters plays a strong role in the story. The island setting is well developed. I very much appreciated a Black heroine and exploring an African culture.

Overall, I would recommend this for fans of royalty romance. I liked Brielle's friend Iris and look forward to reading her story, To Win a Prince, coming out in September.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.