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State of Grace #1
Love and a Little White Lie
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?
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?
368 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2020
About the author
Tammy L. Gray
16 books745 followersTammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic weather patterns. Her nine modern and true-to-life contemporary romances include 2017 RITA award winning, My Hope Next Door, and show her unending quest to write high quality, culturally relevant stories with relatable and flawed characters.
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.
Tammy L. Gray has lots of projects going on. For all the latest info, visit her website at http://tammylgray.com
I'd love to hear from all of you! Come join me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tlgraybooks or twitter @tlgraybooks
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.
Tammy L. Gray has lots of projects going on. For all the latest info, visit her website at http://tammylgray.com
I'd love to hear from all of you! Come join me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/tlgraybooks or twitter @tlgraybooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 451 reviews
November 4, 2023
ok hello Tammy L. Gray, my new favourite author??
I LOVED this book. Her writing, her characters, the raw emotion, the honesty - perfect.
I need to read and own every book this woman writes.
Yep, still in love with this book. and thank you for getting me out of my reading slump!
I LOVED this book. Her writing, her characters, the raw emotion, the honesty - perfect.
I need to read and own every book this woman writes.
Yep, still in love with this book. and thank you for getting me out of my reading slump!
August 4, 2020
Love and a Little White Lie was a breath of fresh air for me. It’s fresh, lively, and real. January’s first-person narration is engaging and pulled me in right away. I adored getting to know her and loved every moment experiencing her story. It is definitely a conversion story. A lot of the story takes place at a church, reminding readers that ideas are great, but unless there is someone to be the hands and feet, not much is going to get done.
January herself is funny and a bit self-deprecating. She’s pretty aware of her faults and foibles without being too self-aware, which I appreciated. She has lived her life based on the whims of others, not really for herself, and after a major heartbreak, has come to live with her aunt to catch her breath and figure out her next steps. As with any good story, things don’t flow quite as she anticipates as she tries to do things her own way, thinking that omitting truths will work out for her in the end. I admit that at first I had a bit of a hard time with her decision making, but as the story progresses, she does as well. She truly does come to the end of herself, and that’s where things get interesting.
Dillon is by far my favorite secondary character, though Aunt Doreen is a close second. I anticipate there was some set up for the next book with the other secondary characters, and I can see their stories being quite compelling, if one or both of them are the protagonists of the next book. The dialogue is full of wit, a dose of snark, and had me smiling on more than one occasion. The plot flows well and held my interest the entire time.
This is my third novel by Tammy L. Gray and, without a doubt, my favorite so far. I highly recommend it to fans of contemporary romance with a strong inspirational message.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a review, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
January herself is funny and a bit self-deprecating. She’s pretty aware of her faults and foibles without being too self-aware, which I appreciated. She has lived her life based on the whims of others, not really for herself, and after a major heartbreak, has come to live with her aunt to catch her breath and figure out her next steps. As with any good story, things don’t flow quite as she anticipates as she tries to do things her own way, thinking that omitting truths will work out for her in the end. I admit that at first I had a bit of a hard time with her decision making, but as the story progresses, she does as well. She truly does come to the end of herself, and that’s where things get interesting.
Dillon is by far my favorite secondary character, though Aunt Doreen is a close second. I anticipate there was some set up for the next book with the other secondary characters, and I can see their stories being quite compelling, if one or both of them are the protagonists of the next book. The dialogue is full of wit, a dose of snark, and had me smiling on more than one occasion. The plot flows well and held my interest the entire time.
This is my third novel by Tammy L. Gray and, without a doubt, my favorite so far. I highly recommend it to fans of contemporary romance with a strong inspirational message.
I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a review, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 17, 2023
4 ½ 🌟
I really enjoyed this book, but I think there were missed opportunities for a lot of funny moments.
I really enjoyed this book, but I think there were missed opportunities for a lot of funny moments.
March 4, 2021
A well done Christian Contemporary Romance. At first I was worried this would turn out to be a pushy, preachy, over the top unrealistic story. But I was pleasantly surprised when it showed all the real struggles and scars of everyday people. I loved the realness of responsibilities in ministry and what a mega church looks like from that point of view.
The story ended up stealing my heart and I loved all the characters. The men were swoon worthy and I didn’t even mind the love triangle. Those usually make me crazy but this was done well. This author is new to me and I definitely want to read another book of hers.
Thanks to Bethany House Publishers via Netgalley for this ebook. I’ve voluntarily and freely given my honest review.
The story ended up stealing my heart and I loved all the characters. The men were swoon worthy and I didn’t even mind the love triangle. Those usually make me crazy but this was done well. This author is new to me and I definitely want to read another book of hers.
Thanks to Bethany House Publishers via Netgalley for this ebook. I’ve voluntarily and freely given my honest review.
October 28, 2020
True confession: I am sooooo not a fan of love triangles. They make me edgy and nervous and, well, sad, because I have a very tender reader's heart. :-)
So, second true confession: this book languished on my TBR pile for weeks as I patted her gently on her pretty cover and promised "next time" as I reached underneath her for another book -- any book as long as it was love triangle free. But then, finally, it was her turn and now it's time for my third confession:
I loved this story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In spite of (or...shhhhhh...maybe because of -- I so did not say that out loud, did I?) the dreaded LT. Even though reading Love and a Little White Lie sent me into a paroxysm of want-to-read / don't-want-to-read fits. Because, these characters, this plot, the laughter and angst and heart-tugging romantical rollercoaster ride!
But...I honestly felt like I was cheating on hero A...or maybe B...or possibly both at different times as they vied for my heart. (Psssstttt, Jan ends up with my first choice.) Is it weird that I feel guilty even thinking that? I've been accused of taking my fictional worlds more seriously than the real one, but these days how can that be a bad thing? Especially when authors create such beguiling worlds.
Great pacing. Lovely balance between funny and tender and the aforementioned angst. And January's journey into faith bears all the same descriptors. A fun and thoughtful contemporary romance.
And, in case you're wondering. Yes, I've learned my lesson...don't judge a book by its love triangle. :-)
Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.
So, second true confession: this book languished on my TBR pile for weeks as I patted her gently on her pretty cover and promised "next time" as I reached underneath her for another book -- any book as long as it was love triangle free. But then, finally, it was her turn and now it's time for my third confession:
I loved this story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In spite of (or...shhhhhh...maybe because of -- I so did not say that out loud, did I?) the dreaded LT. Even though reading Love and a Little White Lie sent me into a paroxysm of want-to-read / don't-want-to-read fits. Because, these characters, this plot, the laughter and angst and heart-tugging romantical rollercoaster ride!
But...I honestly felt like I was cheating on hero A...or maybe B...or possibly both at different times as they vied for my heart. (Psssstttt, Jan ends up with my first choice.) Is it weird that I feel guilty even thinking that? I've been accused of taking my fictional worlds more seriously than the real one, but these days how can that be a bad thing? Especially when authors create such beguiling worlds.
Great pacing. Lovely balance between funny and tender and the aforementioned angst. And January's journey into faith bears all the same descriptors. A fun and thoughtful contemporary romance.
And, in case you're wondering. Yes, I've learned my lesson...don't judge a book by its love triangle. :-)
Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.
May 9, 2021
My love affair with contemporary romance is often a rocky relationship—we’ve been separated off and on for the last five years or so. But, every once and a while, contemporary makes a romantic gesture, and I come running back.
Love and a Little White Lie was one such gesture.
I read Tammy L. Gray’s debut novel, Shattered Rose, a while back. I really appreciated Gray’s boldness in dealing with issues like anorexia, depression, alcohol abuse, and premarital sex—but it wasn’t captivating enough for me to jump at reading more of Gray’s novels. I know better than to judge an author by their debut novel...so once I started seeing so many amazing reviews and recommendations of Love and a Little White Lie, I knew I’d have to read it soon.
Cue my trip to Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, where you’ll often find me purchasing a stack of books that are 75% cheaper than retail and taller than me. I had almost given up hope on finding a $2 must-read one day when something bright blue and gleaming caught my eye.
This novel.
I literally devoured this thing—couldn’t make myself wait until I’d finished all of my other current reads, didn’t bother sleeping at night—and finished it in two days (I used to finish a novel in three hours...but that was before I started doing anything else with my life, so two days is pretty decent these days.)
The love triangle in this book, quite possibly the most important aspect, was one of the most well-done triangles I’ve ever read! (Up there with El/Ky/Josh from Unblemished.) Cameron and Dillon were both so well-developed and just amazing guys.
And January? Y’all, January makes my “Best Heroine Ever” shelf. Like, her character was so real and relatable—even though, y’know, I’m not an atheist or anything. She was truly a kind, selfless person, and that was so refreshing to see—especially when most “Christian” heroines are selfish, vain, whiny, and always trying to be something that they’re not. Her transformation was smooth and realistic, and, guys, I just loved Jan. I really did. Sure, she was a blatant liar—but I’m also not supposed to judge the world. Or worldly book characters.
And Dillon? Ugh, no spoilers, but he was my man the whole time. You da man, Dill.
And that woman’s grandma. I ADORE fictional grandmothers—they are just the funniest, wisest, sweetest, most amazing characters you could ever write! (My poor characters...all of their grandmas are dead. Eh, they weren’t that nice anyway.)
Anyway, to keep this review short (it’s supposed to be mini, you know), I’ll just sum things up by saying this novel is SPECTACULAR! The writing is so smooth and balanced, January’s voice coming through loud and clear! The story is paced so well and kept my attention for every chapter.
Oh, side note, the h-word is featured once, and while that might not bother some readers, I prefer not to read cuss words. I do appreciate that Gray didn’t repeat it or portray January’s penchant for cussing as “okay”—rather, even the immoral, atheistic January recognized it as wrong.
Otherwise, it was so clean and beautiful and, yes, I will definitely be reading more of Tammy L. Gray and—who knows—I might even stay with contemporary long-term!
Love and a Little White Lie was one such gesture.
I read Tammy L. Gray’s debut novel, Shattered Rose, a while back. I really appreciated Gray’s boldness in dealing with issues like anorexia, depression, alcohol abuse, and premarital sex—but it wasn’t captivating enough for me to jump at reading more of Gray’s novels. I know better than to judge an author by their debut novel...so once I started seeing so many amazing reviews and recommendations of Love and a Little White Lie, I knew I’d have to read it soon.
Cue my trip to Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, where you’ll often find me purchasing a stack of books that are 75% cheaper than retail and taller than me. I had almost given up hope on finding a $2 must-read one day when something bright blue and gleaming caught my eye.
This novel.
I literally devoured this thing—couldn’t make myself wait until I’d finished all of my other current reads, didn’t bother sleeping at night—and finished it in two days (I used to finish a novel in three hours...but that was before I started doing anything else with my life, so two days is pretty decent these days.)
The love triangle in this book, quite possibly the most important aspect, was one of the most well-done triangles I’ve ever read! (Up there with El/Ky/Josh from Unblemished.) Cameron and Dillon were both so well-developed and just amazing guys.
And January? Y’all, January makes my “Best Heroine Ever” shelf. Like, her character was so real and relatable—even though, y’know, I’m not an atheist or anything. She was truly a kind, selfless person, and that was so refreshing to see—especially when most “Christian” heroines are selfish, vain, whiny, and always trying to be something that they’re not. Her transformation was smooth and realistic, and, guys, I just loved Jan. I really did. Sure, she was a blatant liar—but I’m also not supposed to judge the world. Or worldly book characters.
And Dillon? Ugh, no spoilers, but he was my man the whole time. You da man, Dill.
And that woman’s grandma. I ADORE fictional grandmothers—they are just the funniest, wisest, sweetest, most amazing characters you could ever write! (My poor characters...all of their grandmas are dead. Eh, they weren’t that nice anyway.)
Anyway, to keep this review short (it’s supposed to be mini, you know), I’ll just sum things up by saying this novel is SPECTACULAR! The writing is so smooth and balanced, January’s voice coming through loud and clear! The story is paced so well and kept my attention for every chapter.
Oh, side note, the h-word is featured once, and while that might not bother some readers, I prefer not to read cuss words. I do appreciate that Gray didn’t repeat it or portray January’s penchant for cussing as “okay”—rather, even the immoral, atheistic January recognized it as wrong.
Otherwise, it was so clean and beautiful and, yes, I will definitely be reading more of Tammy L. Gray and—who knows—I might even stay with contemporary long-term!
August 7, 2020
Love and a Little White Lie is such a delightful book and a real page turner. The characters are great and relatable with traits that make them seem so real. January Sanders did not grow up going to church and is in fact agnostic. She was raised by her mom and a few step dads have marched through her life. She is close to her mom's sister, Doreen, but the two sisters are estranged. When Jan follows a boyfriend to Texas from Georgia and things go downhill, she reaches out to her Aunt Doreen. Doreen owns a wedding venue on the property where she and her husband live. She sets Jan up in a bridal cabin that is never used and then gets her a job at her church even though she knows Jan's views on God. This is tricky for Jan to keep her lack of faith a secret but she quickly meshes into her job; she evens finds Cameron, a guy from the praise band, that she can relate to and have fun with. Kyle is another guy that she meets through her aunt and uncle; she and Kyle clash like crazy. There is a lot of chemistry there.
What was so special to me was how Jan is drawn to people that need a little help, whether a patient in a nursing home or her overworked and unhappy boss and his wife. She feels the pain of others.
Even though she doesn't believe in God, in many ways, she shows grace to others that is special. Jan is funny, loving, witty, and quick to make others feel comfortable. She lives dangerously when her relationship grows with Cameron and the sparks fly with Kyle. I have to say that I was hoping that she would end up making the right choice in the boyfriend department and I was happy with how things turned out. This is a lovely story of the power of how God works in people, even when they might not want it to happen. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary ARC from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
What was so special to me was how Jan is drawn to people that need a little help, whether a patient in a nursing home or her overworked and unhappy boss and his wife. She feels the pain of others.
Even though she doesn't believe in God, in many ways, she shows grace to others that is special. Jan is funny, loving, witty, and quick to make others feel comfortable. She lives dangerously when her relationship grows with Cameron and the sparks fly with Kyle. I have to say that I was hoping that she would end up making the right choice in the boyfriend department and I was happy with how things turned out. This is a lovely story of the power of how God works in people, even when they might not want it to happen. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary ARC from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
May 29, 2022
Ya’ll - NEW FAVORITE AUTHOR ALERT! I must read all of her books! I am so thankful to be reading more Christian Fiction because I find new favorite authors left and right! 5 STARS for this read!
This story has Christianity front and center in the plot and I loved it. It starts with January Sanders (“Jan”) who doesn’t believe in God and has recently suffered a terrible, heartbreaking break up with her boyfriend. So she decides to go and stay with her Aunt for a while, which leads her to getting a job at their local church. She hides her “unbelief” and starts finding love in the last place she thought she would. She also helps many people along the way.
This was a beautiful story of coming to know God, going through tough times, finding yourself in Christ and showing forgiveness to others. I loved how much faith was in this book, it was amazing.
I also loved the characters. They were all relatable and realistic. I especially love the author’s writing style, it hooked me in immediately!
We have a love triangle in this story - in a way. Or you could say there are 2 possible love interests in this story. I normally don’t see those done well, but this was SO good!
I had my pick of who she should end up with and I was SO happy she ended up with my favorite!
All the characters had to go through struggles and hard times and God’s plan truly shown through for each of them. There was so much emotion and love here - and the ENDING….ya’lllllllll - the ending was beautiful. I loved how everything came together full circle.
Overall, 5 stars. If you love a good Christian FIction Romance — this is for you!
This story has Christianity front and center in the plot and I loved it. It starts with January Sanders (“Jan”) who doesn’t believe in God and has recently suffered a terrible, heartbreaking break up with her boyfriend. So she decides to go and stay with her Aunt for a while, which leads her to getting a job at their local church. She hides her “unbelief” and starts finding love in the last place she thought she would. She also helps many people along the way.
This was a beautiful story of coming to know God, going through tough times, finding yourself in Christ and showing forgiveness to others. I loved how much faith was in this book, it was amazing.
I also loved the characters. They were all relatable and realistic. I especially love the author’s writing style, it hooked me in immediately!
We have a love triangle in this story - in a way. Or you could say there are 2 possible love interests in this story. I normally don’t see those done well, but this was SO good!
I had my pick of who she should end up with and I was SO happy she ended up with my favorite!
All the characters had to go through struggles and hard times and God’s plan truly shown through for each of them. There was so much emotion and love here - and the ENDING….ya’lllllllll - the ending was beautiful. I loved how everything came together full circle.
Overall, 5 stars. If you love a good Christian FIction Romance — this is for you!
July 12, 2021
This is a reread for me. I am having Thriller and Horror month and needed to have a nice relaxing book to read and so glad I picked up again Love and a Little White Lie. The story of starting over and forgiveness not only of others but of one self. January isn't a Christian. So she starts a job in a church and doesn't tell anyone. When she falls for the Praise Band Leader she still keeps her secret. But when she meets her aunt Landscaper who knows the truth can she keep the lie hidden or will she follow the advice of her friend and tell the truth? I loved this story. Jan meets and forms relationships with so many in this story. Each leads her to a personal relationship with Christ. You want January to tell the truth, and when she does many needs to forgive her but the one person she needs forgiveness from is herself. Her journey mirrors so many of our relationships with other and ourselves and reading this is such a great tool we all can learn and grow. So glad I spend my Sunday with January!! Highly recommend and hope you enjoy it as well!!
October 5, 2020
Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray is an I CAN'T PUT DOWN BOOK! I literally read it in two days and I couldn't stop thinking about it when I put it down. Gray has a way of making this messed up world and the grittiness of it, come across the pages as relatable. Because, the characters are flawed, just as we the readers are flawed. Yet we see the handiwork of God sprinkled throughout. The heroine, January is an agnostic. She has experienced disappointments with the men who have come in and out of her life starting from childhood. However, her life is changed upside down when she gets a job at a church. This book has wit, heartache, romance and restoration. It also offers hope and love and that is what I feel we all crave and desire.
*I was given a copy of this book by Bethany House publishers, and this is my honest opinion.
*I was given a copy of this book by Bethany House publishers, and this is my honest opinion.
August 18, 2020
Fun, fast read. Light read with good plot and easy to connect with characters. I enjoy this book in one sitting and can't wait to read more by Gray this was the first book I have read by her.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
August 24, 2020
(3.8 stars)
August 3, 2021
Truth be told, I almost didn’t read this book - yes, I saw all the great reviews, the cover is gorgeous and the premise interesting, but I wasn’t really in the mood to try a new-to-me-author. AM I GLAD I DID!
This was one of the best contemporary novels I’ve picked up in a while. January was refreshing with her raw honesty and unbelief in God. The author did a great job of pinning her character - she was honest, meddling in a way which helped others and quirky and fun. Even when at first I thought I would not relate to her, I ended up feeling like she is my best friend.
This book had one of the best love-revelation scenes ever! I couldn’t help smiling.
And the men was total contrasts. Cameron on paper looked perfect and Dillion with this raw emotions and broodiness…who can’t help loving a man like that. I loved both but had my secret favourite and you will just have to read this book to see what happened.
But more than Jan finding her own path, forgiveness and the road to healing, what I also loved is just the picture of Christians represented - we all have our struggles and mistakes (yes, even those working for the church) and trying our best to make the right decisions each and every day, sometimes missing the path a bit but then God in his unconditional and gentle way, nudges us back. (Like Jan and Dillon’s friendship). And how God used an unbeliever to answer more than one prayer.
I loved Aunt Doreen and most of the secondary characters and hope to see more great adventures and HEA’s to come.
Prayer is not about changing your situation, although sometimes God grants those requests. It’s about changing your heart. The difference between you and me, dear, is that when the bad times come, and they do for us all, I have comfort and peace.
Highly recommended to fans of Christian contemporary.
This was one of the best contemporary novels I’ve picked up in a while. January was refreshing with her raw honesty and unbelief in God. The author did a great job of pinning her character - she was honest, meddling in a way which helped others and quirky and fun. Even when at first I thought I would not relate to her, I ended up feeling like she is my best friend.
This book had one of the best love-revelation scenes ever! I couldn’t help smiling.
And the men was total contrasts. Cameron on paper looked perfect and Dillion with this raw emotions and broodiness…who can’t help loving a man like that. I loved both but had my secret favourite and you will just have to read this book to see what happened.
But more than Jan finding her own path, forgiveness and the road to healing, what I also loved is just the picture of Christians represented - we all have our struggles and mistakes (yes, even those working for the church) and trying our best to make the right decisions each and every day, sometimes missing the path a bit but then God in his unconditional and gentle way, nudges us back. (Like Jan and Dillon’s friendship). And how God used an unbeliever to answer more than one prayer.
I loved Aunt Doreen and most of the secondary characters and hope to see more great adventures and HEA’s to come.
Prayer is not about changing your situation, although sometimes God grants those requests. It’s about changing your heart. The difference between you and me, dear, is that when the bad times come, and they do for us all, I have comfort and peace.
Highly recommended to fans of Christian contemporary.
Shelved as 'to-be-review'
December 8, 2020This is a Romance, and this is the first book in the State of Grace series. I am very lucky to win a Kindle Edition Copy of this book from a goodreads giveaway, and I will post an honest review as soon as I finish reading this book.
Read
August 7, 2020An absolutely brilliantly written novel by one of my favorite Christian authors! Humor, wit, and emotional depth abound in this sweet contemporary love story. So glad to see this stand-alone has been turned into a series. An easy 5-stars from me! <3
August 4, 2020
Love and a Little White Lie delivers on several fronts.
The story line is unique. How often is the main female character an agnostic working in a church temporarily? "I can't believe it. Me, January Sanders, only daughter of Cassidy Burch, who is a self-professed atheist and currently on husband number four, is now a part of organized religion. I'm pretty sure it's snowing in hell right now." Although January knows nothing about churches, she does her very best and her kind heart shines through. Her co-workers treat January with love and respect. My heart melted when January took action on one of the prayer requests (part of her job was organizing prayer requests by topic).
Character development. Multiple characters in the novel show development in the pages.
Comedy and banter. This is perhaps my favorite element of contemporary romance and there is plenty of it. "You're a wreck," he says. "And you're the most tactless knight in shining armor I've ever met." Dillon is a straight shooter and doesn't hold back. January is equally good at dishing it out.
I'm so excited that this is a series as God is definitely not done in this small Texas town. I look forward to the next visit!
My gratitude to publisher Bethany House for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
The story line is unique. How often is the main female character an agnostic working in a church temporarily? "I can't believe it. Me, January Sanders, only daughter of Cassidy Burch, who is a self-professed atheist and currently on husband number four, is now a part of organized religion. I'm pretty sure it's snowing in hell right now." Although January knows nothing about churches, she does her very best and her kind heart shines through. Her co-workers treat January with love and respect. My heart melted when January took action on one of the prayer requests (part of her job was organizing prayer requests by topic).
Character development. Multiple characters in the novel show development in the pages.
Comedy and banter. This is perhaps my favorite element of contemporary romance and there is plenty of it. "You're a wreck," he says. "And you're the most tactless knight in shining armor I've ever met." Dillon is a straight shooter and doesn't hold back. January is equally good at dishing it out.
I'm so excited that this is a series as God is definitely not done in this small Texas town. I look forward to the next visit!
My gratitude to publisher Bethany House for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
October 5, 2020
Why hasn’t there big a bigger buzz around this book? It’s from a big publishing house, the cover is adorbs, and yet it seems the splash around its release was minimal.🤷♀️ I’m so glad that it had even made it to the periphery of my radar (and my radar is laser focused on CF romcoms because there are so few and I didn’t even realize this was billeted as a romcom). I loved the first person narrative and the main character, who isn’t a Christian, stumbling over Christian-ese was pretty hilarious (and reminded me of Faking Grace by Tamara Leigh). Loved the character journey/arc and I’m looking to more light-hearted comedic romances from Tammy Gray.
July 21, 2020
Beautifully written! The first person point of view is a refreshing shift in a genre that's typically focused on dual points of view from the hero and heroine. January is an interesting and complex character with a backstory many readers will find relatable. Dillon is a fantastic hero whom I was rooting for from the instant he arrived on the page. Love and a Little White Lie is a wonderful novel with an uplifting message about redemption and allowing ourselves to be truly known.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. The opinions shared here are my own.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. The opinions shared here are my own.
July 26, 2022
I cannot believe I'm giving a CONTEMPORARY 5 big stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book was SO GOOD.
October 20, 2020
My review on my website www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
I fell in love with this Christian fiction book, as it made a lovely change with scene setting mostly in a church. Tammy L. Gray has given January an incredibly witty voice, that some of January ‘s dialogue I was laughing out loud too. I can promise readers Love and a Little White Lie is full of likaable characters and a page turner with a contemporary religious romance.
January Sanders has given up everything to move to San Antonio Texas with her boyfriend. Once he is set to go to go of to Afghanistan he realised January wasn’t his soul-mate.
With her heart hurting she move to her Aunt’s in a bridal cabin, that her Aunt Doreen owns.
Her Aunt Doreen has been a Christian for over forty years. January tells a little white to Pastor Thomas who offers January job. Each page brings a new level of interesting secrets that January is keeping, one is that she is pretending to have faith in God.
With a man that’s just dumped her, she meets Cameron and Dillon from the church. With new men friendships beginning, will January Sanders find it within her heart and fall in love again?
I’m going to recommend Love and a Little White Lie by author Tammy L Gray because it is easy to read and to follow and hard to put down.
I fell in love with this Christian fiction book, as it made a lovely change with scene setting mostly in a church. Tammy L. Gray has given January an incredibly witty voice, that some of January ‘s dialogue I was laughing out loud too. I can promise readers Love and a Little White Lie is full of likaable characters and a page turner with a contemporary religious romance.
January Sanders has given up everything to move to San Antonio Texas with her boyfriend. Once he is set to go to go of to Afghanistan he realised January wasn’t his soul-mate.
With her heart hurting she move to her Aunt’s in a bridal cabin, that her Aunt Doreen owns.
Her Aunt Doreen has been a Christian for over forty years. January tells a little white to Pastor Thomas who offers January job. Each page brings a new level of interesting secrets that January is keeping, one is that she is pretending to have faith in God.
With a man that’s just dumped her, she meets Cameron and Dillon from the church. With new men friendships beginning, will January Sanders find it within her heart and fall in love again?
I’m going to recommend Love and a Little White Lie by author Tammy L Gray because it is easy to read and to follow and hard to put down.
October 14, 2020
Fresh plot and great dialogue. There is no wondering if this book is Christian fiction. I loved the message.
Jan and Cameron seemed immature for their age. I liked Jan but really didn’t relate to her. And it seemed as though it was on Cameron and on Grace Community for not looking into Jan’s views on God before they hired her and before Cam decided to go to “the next level”. But in the end we find out more about both. The last quarter of this book was 5 stars but the first three fourths was a solid 4. So I’ll give it 4 1/2 stars and recommend it to many CF readers!
Jan and Cameron seemed immature for their age. I liked Jan but really didn’t relate to her. And it seemed as though it was on Cameron and on Grace Community for not looking into Jan’s views on God before they hired her and before Cam decided to go to “the next level”. But in the end we find out more about both. The last quarter of this book was 5 stars but the first three fourths was a solid 4. So I’ll give it 4 1/2 stars and recommend it to many CF readers!
July 15, 2020
I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. Such a nice surprise!
January moves to her aunt's property following a bad break-up, and takes a temporary job at her aunt's church. She keeps her lack of faith and belief in organized religion a secret and soon finds herself immersed in the community.
When she meets Cameron, the church's guitarist, there's an instant mutual attraction. Cameron is a believer and writes/plays Christian music, but that still doesn't make January tell him the truth.
I really liked seeing Cameron and January together. He was the perfect boyfriend and treated her so well, which she needed. But I was on edge of my seat for the moment when he found out January's secret.
Then there's Dillon, the landscape architect who works with his dad at January's aunt's property. He's cynical and too direct, but there was something about him that held a hint of hope. His relationship with January develops in a totally different way and I enjoyed their interactions.
I pretty much read it in one sitting and stayed up way too late to read the resolution. Totally worth it.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
January moves to her aunt's property following a bad break-up, and takes a temporary job at her aunt's church. She keeps her lack of faith and belief in organized religion a secret and soon finds herself immersed in the community.
When she meets Cameron, the church's guitarist, there's an instant mutual attraction. Cameron is a believer and writes/plays Christian music, but that still doesn't make January tell him the truth.
I really liked seeing Cameron and January together. He was the perfect boyfriend and treated her so well, which she needed. But I was on edge of my seat for the moment when he found out January's secret.
Then there's Dillon, the landscape architect who works with his dad at January's aunt's property. He's cynical and too direct, but there was something about him that held a hint of hope. His relationship with January develops in a totally different way and I enjoyed their interactions.
I pretty much read it in one sitting and stayed up way too late to read the resolution. Totally worth it.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 25, 2023DNF - pg. 157
Plain and simple, this book didn't make me happy and I was never eager to pick it up.
I liked January and, though I didn't like the white lie, I thought her arc showed promise of growth and transformation.
Honestly, I thought Dillon bogged the whole story down. I disliked him so much! There was nothing really appealing about him and I was almost halfway through the book. He was presumptuous, entitled, and moody. And although he valued honesty, his truthfulness often lacked kindness and tact - making him so unlikable and rude.
One example of his behavior that particularly bothered me was when he told January that she couldn't truly know someone from a distance. In complete contradiction to his own statement, Dillon spent the first half of the book essentially asking other people about January's history and her life to get to know her instead of asking/talking to her. Um, what?
Sad to say, this story was not for me. 🌟🌟
Plain and simple, this book didn't make me happy and I was never eager to pick it up.
I liked January and, though I didn't like the white lie, I thought her arc showed promise of growth and transformation.
Honestly, I thought Dillon bogged the whole story down. I disliked him so much! There was nothing really appealing about him and I was almost halfway through the book. He was presumptuous, entitled, and moody. And although he valued honesty, his truthfulness often lacked kindness and tact - making him so unlikable and rude.
One example of his behavior that particularly bothered me was when he told January that she couldn't truly know someone from a distance. In complete contradiction to his own statement, Dillon spent the first half of the book essentially asking other people about January's history and her life to get to know her instead of asking/talking to her. Um, what?
Sad to say, this story was not for me. 🌟🌟
January 22, 2023
That. Was so good.
I'm sorry to anyone who didn't like it.
I couldn't put it down and I cried at the end.
I haven't looked at the other books but I hope they're about (spoiler) Cameron. I really liked him. I knew from the beginning what would happen and I didn't want it to be true.
A wonderful story about God using a person before they realize it's Him. He's closer than we know.
I'm sorry to anyone who didn't like it.
I couldn't put it down and I cried at the end.
I haven't looked at the other books but I hope they're about (spoiler) Cameron. I really liked him. I knew from the beginning what would happen and I didn't want it to be true.
A wonderful story about God using a person before they realize it's Him. He's closer than we know.
February 16, 2024
This one started a tad slow for me, but I am so so so glad I kept reading. I think perhaps it may have been that it felt like a bit too much time was spent on the guy who wasn't to be, but by the end of the story the way it all pieced together was so perfect that I went and changed my mind about the beginning LOL So, if you feel the same way in the beginning, I highly recommend sticking with this story. January's growth, the way God works through all the characters in the story was simply beautiful. And the romance... the "right romance"... oh my. It was perfect. To watch them grow in this story and find their way was such an inspiring journey. I feel like I'm not done with the story!!! I will be looking for more stories from this author 100%
July 12, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! While contemporary romance is generally not my thing, this book was less about earthy romance and more about the wooing of our Heavenly Father to one lost sheep. January (Jan) Sanders finds herself at the end of her rope after a massive heartbreak and finds solace with her aunt who offers her a place to stay and helps her find a job. The problem is that the job is at her aunt's church, and January doesn't believe in God. I loved how this book portrayed Christians - imperfect, but loving human beings. While Jan didn't believe in God, she still cares about people and so she fits in, even if she doesn't "speak the language". I loved her compassion towards her boss and one of the elderly church members who'd ended up in a nursing home and the ways that she goes about helping them without them knowing about it.
This book had great characters, and great character development/growth. I found myself laughing at the banter and crying at the unraveling places. One thing I love is when books have characters with some serious quirks. Jan has a fascinating mind that looks at the world a bit differently and I loved that quirk about her, even if she didn't like it about herself. The story itself was great and the healing process was both intense and realistic - for many of the characters, not just Jan. The romance was a solid theme throughout, but everything that happened both within and without the romance was clear evidence of God seeking Jan's heart. The ending was wholly satisfactory as well and I was glad to see some loose ends tied up with Jan's relationship with her mother. All in all, this was a beautiful story of God's love and grace, shown to His children, often by His children.
Special thanks to Ms. Gray and Bethany House Publishers for an advance copy of this book. I was not obligated to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
This book had great characters, and great character development/growth. I found myself laughing at the banter and crying at the unraveling places. One thing I love is when books have characters with some serious quirks. Jan has a fascinating mind that looks at the world a bit differently and I loved that quirk about her, even if she didn't like it about herself. The story itself was great and the healing process was both intense and realistic - for many of the characters, not just Jan. The romance was a solid theme throughout, but everything that happened both within and without the romance was clear evidence of God seeking Jan's heart. The ending was wholly satisfactory as well and I was glad to see some loose ends tied up with Jan's relationship with her mother. All in all, this was a beautiful story of God's love and grace, shown to His children, often by His children.
Special thanks to Ms. Gray and Bethany House Publishers for an advance copy of this book. I was not obligated to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
August 1, 2020
I truly wanted to like this book, but I really struggled right from the start. The characters were hard to like and identify with and the plot itself was not something that kept my interest. This book is written in first person and since the heroine wasn’t enjoyable to me, it made it really hard to move past. I felt like I was being assaulted by sneering sarcasm with every sentence. It missed the mark for being light and funny and landed more in the realm of obnoxious, immature, and snarky. I could not appreciate the way that some of the characters flaws painted believers in such a poor light. I do feel like the intent was to show that all of us are flawed and make mistakes. However, it was disappointing to use a character like a worship leader and portray him as fame hungry, flirtatious, and able to croon anyone into loving him with his raspy rendition of amazing grace. It missed the mark for me. Apart from that I just didn’t love the concept of this agnostic heroine waltzing around and trying to play God of sorts by “fixing” things her way. In the context of the story I get why it was there, but for me it grated against my nerves. The heroine came off more as a stalker obsessed with finding a boyfriend than a hurting and confused woman who had recently been dumped. I lost track of how many lies she told along the way.
This just wasn’t the book for me. I know others who have read and enjoyed this book, so I feel like it just doesn’t suit my tastes. I always encourage readers to give books a try and see if it might be something that they would enjoy in spite of my feelings on a particular book.
August 5, 2020
In Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray, January Sanders is living in a cabin on her aunt's land in Texas after following her boyfriend to a new state and then going through a break up. January's mom was an atheist and taught her to be a skeptic of faith. In spite of that, her Aunt Doreen helps her get a support staff job at Christ Community Church.
January is a likeable girl and I loved following her story through Love and a Little White Lie. Jan, for short, seems to go through very real struggles that could be faced today in this realistic contemporary novel. I liked how God used her to be an answer to prayer for several people around her in spite of her skepticism and struggles. It was interesting to see her eyes open to the guys around her--both Cameron and Dillon. Both her faith story and her romance story seemed so realistic. This book also left readers with a lot to think about in how people of faith relate to the world both within the church and those outside of the church. I laughed in a few places and I teared up once. It was a book that touched my emotions. I enjoyed Love and a Little White Lie a lot. The best thing is that this is the start of the State of Grace series so readers get to read and learn more about these characters. I already can't wait for the next book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
January is a likeable girl and I loved following her story through Love and a Little White Lie. Jan, for short, seems to go through very real struggles that could be faced today in this realistic contemporary novel. I liked how God used her to be an answer to prayer for several people around her in spite of her skepticism and struggles. It was interesting to see her eyes open to the guys around her--both Cameron and Dillon. Both her faith story and her romance story seemed so realistic. This book also left readers with a lot to think about in how people of faith relate to the world both within the church and those outside of the church. I laughed in a few places and I teared up once. It was a book that touched my emotions. I enjoyed Love and a Little White Lie a lot. The best thing is that this is the start of the State of Grace series so readers get to read and learn more about these characters. I already can't wait for the next book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions within this review are my own.
January 15, 2021
I really enjoyed this story. It was an easy read but had a lot of depth within the plot and characters that kept me anxious to get back to the story. I enjoyed the way Ms. Gray weaved several themes throughout the story in a way that felt authentic to the plot and characters. This was my first read by Tammy L. Gray and I hope to read more!
August 21, 2020
Wow! What word would I use to describe this novel? Authentic. That’s the word. This author definitely studies people, their relationships, places, the way we all interact. This book may be the clearest picture I have had painted for me in words that describe various people making their way through life.
The quirky, sarcastic humor that flew between Dillon and January added fun, laced with truth, to the story. I loved the dynamic between these two characters. This story was written in first person narrative, so the reader experienced everything from January’s perspective. This narrative was perfect for this novel. It was imperative that the reader experience Jan’s journey from start to finish, sharing with the reader exactly what she thought of men, falling in love, people who believe in God, the workings of a large church, and so much more.
I loved Jan’s journey and I loved the way I felt like I got to know her, Dillon, Cameron, Darcy, and even Jan’s Aunt Doreen. And I can not even express my happiness in finding out that this novel is the first in a series. I only discovered this as I was about to write my review. I am so ready to return to this community and dive into another story that I can hardly wait. Love and a Little White Lie was the first book that I have read by this author and I loved it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
The quirky, sarcastic humor that flew between Dillon and January added fun, laced with truth, to the story. I loved the dynamic between these two characters. This story was written in first person narrative, so the reader experienced everything from January’s perspective. This narrative was perfect for this novel. It was imperative that the reader experience Jan’s journey from start to finish, sharing with the reader exactly what she thought of men, falling in love, people who believe in God, the workings of a large church, and so much more.
I loved Jan’s journey and I loved the way I felt like I got to know her, Dillon, Cameron, Darcy, and even Jan’s Aunt Doreen. And I can not even express my happiness in finding out that this novel is the first in a series. I only discovered this as I was about to write my review. I am so ready to return to this community and dive into another story that I can hardly wait. Love and a Little White Lie was the first book that I have read by this author and I loved it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...
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