An Unlikely Alliance: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Paperback) by Toni Shiloh

"Forgiveness isn't for the wrongdoer. It's for the wronged. To free them from the oppression of unforgiveness and ensure their heart stays in a state of humility with God." Jalissa works at the local animal shelter. Besides being a firefighter, Rider also volunteers at SAFE - a place that helps at-risk teens. When they find out that both of their organizations' budgets are facing city cutbacks, they have to work together to raise funds. The only problem? They really do not get along. Both Jalissa and Rider have experienced hard times. They both need to apply a heavy dose of forgiveness to their lives. Throughout the book, they both are transformed to be more like Jesus. One thing I always appreciate about this author's books is the fact that she does not shy away from spiritual matters. Prayer is always a key component. This one also focuses on being able to let go of the past. Those who enjoy pets will love this book. But those who could care less will still appreciate this title. Although it is considered a "K-9" book, I felt like the pets paid a proper role. In fact, one of them was a service companion. Occasionally some of the details were overly repetitive. Jalissa is harboring bitterness for good reason. But she frequently dwells on the past. I know people can get stuck, but her issues were almost shared too often. That is the only issue that I had. Overall, this was a beautiful book to read. Race relationships, bullying and anxiety are just a few of the topics tackled. The situations simply made sense. I really enjoyed reading this book which happens to be the sequel for "An Unlikely Proposal." Both Jalissa and Rider were minor characters in that one, so I enjoyed watching them become main characters. Overall rating: 4.8 stars I did receive a paperback copy of this book in advance. I wanted to read and review it. All opinions are my own.

She despises firefighters. He has an aversion to uptight women. But when the two of them are thrown together to save their community, will they be able to see past their differences and accomplish their goal? Find out in Toni Shiloh's An Unlikely Alliance. In this heartwarming enemies-to-lovers romance, Shiloh (An Unlikely Proposal) introduces us to two local heroes who just can't seem to get along. Jalissa Tucker runs the local animal shelter in the small town of Bluebonnet, Texas. With her trusty canine companion always at her side, she works long and hard to rescue animals who have nowhere else to turn. But she has a habit of taking life far too seriously. Jeremy Rider, on the other hand, is a handsome firefighter with a heart of gold who seldom takes anything seriously. Affable and charming, he is passionate about mentoring Bluebonnet's youth and will do whatever it takes to save the town's teen program from the chopping block. After all, he knows what it is like to be bullied and feel unwanted, and he is determined to help kids facing similar circumstances. When both Jalissa and Jeremy show up at the town hall, they are shocked to discover that the mayor is slashing programs across the board due to a lack of funding. When they both speak up on behalf of the programs they both hold dear, the mayor tasks them to work as a team and find a way to raise $10,000 or else both the animal shelter and the SAFE teen programs will lose all town funding and be shuttered forever. What the mayor doesn't know is that Jalissa and Jeremy are both haunted by ghosts of the past which make it nearly impossible for them to be in the same room. Although they share mutual friends, that is the only thing they seem to have in common. Still, they force themselves to see beyond their painful pasts and get on with the task at hand. Each time they overcome one hurdle, several more arise, each more serious than the last. And just when everything is looking up and it seems like they have finally become friends, one last bomb drops that threatens to destroy everything they have worked so hard to build together. With An Unlikely Alliance, Shiloh introduces two flawed characters whose humanity ultimately steals our hearts. As we watch Jalissa and Jeremy reveal their past hurts and work to forge a truce, we see how patience, family, and faith really can help us move mountains. Shiloh also examines the true meaning of forgiveness, God's role in our lives, and the power of prayer. This is inspirational fiction at its best. An Unlikely Alliance, the seventh book in the K-9 Companions series, entertains even as it enlightens, and it will touch your heart in unexpected ways.