Love and a Little White Lie

 Title: Love and a Little White Lie

Series: State of Grace #1

Author: Tammy L. Gray

Publisher: Bethany House

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Christian fiction

Source: Library Book

My review:

This is the first book that I have read by this author but it will not be my last. I am eagerly waiting to get my hands on the second book in the series, Love and the Silver Lining, expected to release on August 3rd. I will have to see if my library has it, if not I will request they purchase it.

I do not typically enjoy books where the premise is built on a lie, but this one sounded intriguing so I picked it up. January has just moved into a cabin on her Aunt Doreen's wedding venue property after suffering a broken heart. She accepts a job at her aunt's church, without telling anyone that she does not believe in God. On her first day, she is immediately smitten with guitarist Cameron. 

"Here's the thing about being depressed: you lose all the little joys that make life worth the effort. Laughter becomes a memory and, in some ways, a painful reminder of all you've lost."

Cameron is struggling with what he desires to do with his life. He thinks he should be further along in his music career and is frustrated by the lack of progress. He is equally smitten with January and does not notice when she eludes his personal questions.

"Again that pressure hits my chest, like I should say or do something. But I am helpless. I'm a temporary Texan in a temporary job with a temporary faith."

There are many layers to this book. The writing is engaging, fast-paced, and hard to put down. The characters are beautifully developed and even though January is living a lie, you are rooting for her. She does a lot of good in the story. Her character grows in so many ways that you are proud of her by the end of the story. There are family secrets, depression, moments of humor, heartache, and a lot of good dialogue. This is a book of healing and redemption.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves chick-lit, contemporary fiction, clean reads, and a solid story. Someone who can relate to life being messy, faith being hard, and life not turning out how you thought it would. But, also finding there is beauty in the broken and help in the most unlikely sources, God can use it all.

★★★★/5

Synopsis:

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?