Why Not? Because I Said So Book Reviews and Author Interviews. : Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh- Contemporary Christian Romance Review

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh- Contemporary Christian Romance Review

Book Synopsis

Jabari Hall has spent his entire life chasing victory on ice--but one devastating hit leaves him benched, not just from hockey, but from the future he thought he had. Now, as he struggles with deteriorating eyesight, his well-meaning teammates set him up on a date, hoping it will cheer him up--only the date they choose is none other than Val Elliott, his ex's sister.

Val never expected to be sitting across from Jabari, especially after the way he broke her sister's heart. But when Jabari opens up about his diagnosis, Val's guarded heart softens, and she offers him a listening ear out of compassion. What begins as a simple friendship quickly turns into something more.

As Jabari navigates life off the ice and searches for a new purpose, he's drawn to Val in ways he didn't expect. With her loyalty to her family on the line and Jabari searching for faith and a new purpose, can they make it to the goal together, or will their hearts wind up in the penalty box?

Delve into award-winning author Toni Shiloh's sports romance for fans of Emma St. Clair, Pepper Basham, and Melissa Ferguson.

Book Details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bethany House Publishers
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 3, 2026
Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0764245201
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****

My Review

Hearts on the Fly
was my first Toni Shiloh book, but it definitely won’t be the last! It’s a super sweet and clean Christian romance that really hits you in the feels. It has that fun, witty rom-com energy but also dives into some pretty heavy stuff. I loved the "friends-to-more" vibe, especially since dating your ex’s sister is a little forbidden—it kept things really interesting!

The book is about Jabari Hall, a pro hockey player who deals with a massive life change after an injury leaves him legally blind. While he’s trying to figure out his "new normal," a friend accidentally sets him up on a blind date with Val Elliott. The big drama? Val is his ex-girlfriend’s sister, and her family basically hates his guts. Even though it starts off super awkward and they have to keep things a secret, they end up becoming really close friends before falling for each other.

I found the characters so relatable. I felt so bad for Val because she’s a total people pleaser who is always putting everyone else first just to avoid drama with her family. Watching her struggle to set boundaries with them felt so real. Jabari was great, too. It was really moving to see him work through the loss of his career and his sight while trying to find a new purpose in life.

Since this is a Christian romance, there are some big themes of faith. I liked that Jabari’s journey toward God didn't feel forced or preachy; it just felt like a natural part of his life and his friendships. Just a heads-up, though: the story really revolves around religion, so if you aren’t into that, it might be a bit much for you.

The banter was cute, and the romance was super sweet (just kisses!), but I did have some mixed feelings about the ending. Without giving anything away, the way his injury was handled felt a bit like a "miracle" fix. I honestly wish it had stayed a bit more realistic. Also, Val’s family was really hard to read about sometimes because they took advantage of her so much.

Even with those few things, I loved how this book handled disability representation and the whole secret romance vibe. It’s a really uplifting story about second chances and finding hope when things go wrong. Plus, can we talk about the cover? It’s absolutely adorable! If you like sweet, faith-filled stories, give this one a read.

****Meet Author Toni Shiloh****

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel, In Search of a Prince, won the first ever, Christy Amplify award. Her novels, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist, Risking Love a 2020 Selah Award finalist, The Truth About Fame a 2021 Holt Medallion finalist, and The Price of Dreams a 2021 Maggie 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.