Wednesday, August 12, 2020

LOVE AND A LITTLE WHITE LIE by Tammy Gray, reviewed by Kim and Winnie

KIM'S REVIEW:
“Prayer is not about changing your situation, although sometimes God grants those requests. It’s about changing your heart.”

This is my first Tammy Gray novel. I really liked this story and this quote!

Once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop. The writing style, the wit, the faith thread, and the characters drew me in immediately. I was also interested in several of the side characters’ stories which made this story all the richer.

After a bad breakup, January moves to the town her aunt lives in and finds a temporary job at her aunts church. She has omitted one little thing - that she lacks in faith. At first, I was worried that January would be hard to like, and while I did have my issues with her, since this is written in first person, you really get to know her and feel for her, especially once you find out what she’s been through.
 

My favorite character in this story is...well, I don’t want to spoiler anything, so I’ll just say, it’s the one she ends up with! I really liked his character. He was intuitive, honest, and reliable. I really wanted to be in his head too!

My only issue with this story is that I wanted more page time with the two that ended up together. I loved when they were on the page and how their relationship grew. I just really wanted more of them -this is the reason why love triangle stories are not my favorite. I know that January needed the other relationship to grow, but I would’ve liked less of it and more time with the one she ended up with!

I will definitely be looking up Tammy Gray’s backlist and looking forward to whatever she writes next.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith element is medium.

WINNIE'S REVIEW
When I pick up a book by Tammy L. Gray, I know I’m going to be in for an emotional roller coaster ride, and this one was no exception. I love the way she creates broken, flawed, endearing characters with messy lives and puts them into settings and circumstances where they can grow, heal, and come out the other side as better people. The three main characters, January Sanders, Cameron Lee, and Dillon Kyle each have their own backstory and their own healing and growing to do.

I connected with January from the first and her story just kept getting more and more absorbing as she became immersed in her temporary job at her aunt’s church and met the people of her town. The secondary characters in this story are a vital part of it and added so much charm, humor, and depth.

Gray is a master at weaving inspirational messages organically into her stories. The tender messages of forgiveness, grace, and redemption are uplifting and add depth and dimension to an already absorbing tale. Her powerful writing never fails to amaze me, and her stories never fail to drag me through a gamut of emotions. Enough humor and witty banter is included to give a great change of pace amidst the angsty parts. I’ve read and loved all of her books. This one is definitely bound for my keeper shelf and is one I’m sure I’ll read again.
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.


BackCover Blurb:
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?


Bethany House, August 2020
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:
Buy Love and a Little White Lie at Amazon
Buy Love and a Little White Lie at Christianbook.com

 


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