I've been looking forward to reading this one, but have had some disappointing reads
lately, so I was a bit apprehensive. Thank goodness I didn't need to be! This is a definite
favorite and I'm thrilled to share my 5-star review with you today! Check it out below...
Love and a Little White Lie
(State of Grace #1)
By Tammy L. Gray
Christian Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 368 Pages
August 4, 2020 by Bethany House Publishers
Summary
January Sanders grew up believing karma was more reliable than an imaginary higher power, but after suffering her worst heartbreak in 29 years, she's open to just about anything, including taking a temporary position at her aunt's church. Keeping her lack of faith a secret, January is determined to use her photographic memory to help Grace Community's overworked staff, all while scraping herself off rock bottom.
What she doesn't count on is meeting the church's handsome and charming guitarist, who not only is a strong believer, but has also dedicated his life to Christian music. It's a match set for disaster, and yet January has no ability to stay away, even if it means pretending to have faith in a God she doesn't believe in.
Only this time, keeping secrets isn't as easy as she thought it would be. Especially when she's constantly running into her aunt's landscape architect, who seems to know everything about her past and present sins and makes no apologies about pushing her to deal with feelings she'd rather keep buried.
Torn between two worlds incapable of coexisting, can January find the healing that's eluded her or will her resistance to the truth ruin any chance of happiness?
(Affiliate links included.)
My Review
LOVE AND A LITTLE WHITE LIE is a story of a woman who is trying to find her way again after having her heart crushed, being estranged from her mother, and trying to figure out how much of her childhood she'll let influence her future. It's a story full of heart, friendships, family, faith, and some swoon-worthy romance. Highly recommended to Christian contemporary romance readers!
I loved this book! I easily connected with January as she tries to fit the pieces of her life back together and deal, not only with her relationship with her mother, but also to figure out who she is, who she wants to become, and if she can open her heart to a God she doesn't believe in. I appreciated how the author let January be honest in her disbelief, but also to naturally start to feel things and be in denial until she could come to terms with it. I really liked seeing how the staff at the church she worked with, her aunt, and others weighed in on faith. They felt genuine and caring and not too pushy. I loved her aunt so much! I just about died laughing when a guy gives her the "talk" and she totally doesn't know what's going on! Christians do have their own language and way of doing things that can be very different from non-Christians. I didn't feel like any of the religious parts of this story were forced, which can be really hard to do in stories like this.
I also appreciated that the author let January be consistent with her character. She didn't change overnight. She still had her flaws, her desires, and her history. And what a history she had, in all it's heartbreaking ways. Her story was beautiful, especially for being who she was after all she'd been through. There are two guys in this story, although I wouldn't call this a love triangle, who are very different from each other. I liked them both, but only one of them had my heart. I totally knew who was right for her from the beginning, but I enjoyed going on the journey with her as she figured that out herself. Plus they all had things they had to work on and go through to be in a place to make things work.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This will be a top read for me this year. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end and can't wait to see what Gray writes next! Highly recommended to fans of the genre and readers who enjoy Becky Wade and Melissa Tagg.
Content: Some making out and references to abuse, but nothing too detailed - would consider this clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
When not taxiing her three kids to various school and sporting events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church. Writing has given her a platform to combine her passion with her ministry all while sharing the messy, yet remarkable journey that is a faith-filled life.
No comments
Post a Comment
I love comments! I try to read and reply to them all. Feel free to agree or disagree and generally share your thoughts with me.