Can their friendship survive a marriage? In An Unlikely Proposal, Toni Shiloh explores the marriage of convenience trope by putting two friends together, and oh my, what an emotional read!
My Review of An Unlikely Proposal
What would you do for a friend? When Trinity found herself in a financial crisis, her widowed best friend Omar makes an unlikely proposal–the two of them should get married.
Omar and Trinity had been friends for more than 20 years and so they thought they could marry each other and still keep their relationship platonic. They were so wrong. Something about being in the same space showed them new facets of each other that they hadn’t known in all their years of friendship and it made for great conflict.
Though it had been Omar’s idea, he struggled with his decision–how could he remain a good friend to Trinity while still honoring the commitments he had made?
The Characters in An Unlikely Proposal
For much of the book, Omar wrestled with his growing and changing feelings for Trinity while feeling conflicted about his loyalty to his dead wife. I admit there were times I did not like Omar but Ms. Shiloh did a good job of showing that the grieving process is not confined by time.
What had me rooting for him though was that he was a pretty decent character. He treated his friends well, did his best to honor God and the people in his circle, and was a great father.
Trinity was a sweetheart and I loved how willing she was to take on the role of mothering Omar’s two little girls despite all the drama it involved. An Unlikely Proposal was also an interesting behind-the-scenes look at what living with type 2 diabetes is like.
Trinity did a good job of managing her disease even as she went about living her life. In a way, it was as if she expended all of her energy focusing on that one aspect of life that she didn’t give herself the chance to move on from her past.
This is where Omar complemented her–he already knew most of her flaws and loved her anyway. The only thing she had to realize was that she could give romantic love a try without losing herself.
The Themes in An Unlikely Proposal
One of the major themes explored in An Unlikely Proposal is the importance of prayer. These characters lived their faith in every situation. They prayed about their trials, sought God when making decisions, and remind us that God is very near to His children. Yet, they also remind us that sometimes it’s not easy to discern when God has answered your prayer because often we can’t remain still enough to hear His response.
There was also a theme that man will make plans for his life but it is the will of God that will prevail.
An Unlikely Proposal is a reminder that sometimes what we think we want is often not what we need, as we continue to pray God will grant us the desires of our hearts.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from the author; a positive review was not required. Purchase An Unlikely Proposal:
About An Unlikely Proposal
Their friendship can survive almost anything…
For two best friends, marriage could be their greatest test yet… Trinity Davis must not have heard firefighter Omar Young correctly. Did her handsome widowed best friend just suggest they get married?
Omar needs a mom for his adorable little girls, and it’ll fix Trinity’s financial woes. But saying “I do” isn’t just business. Especially when the only vow they’re in danger of breaking is their promise to not fall in love…
About Toni Shiloh
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.
Her novel, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist, and Risking Love is a 2020 Selah Award finalist. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to help readers find authors.
She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at http://tonishiloh.com.
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