Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray

Love and a Little White Lie (State of Grace)

by Tammy L. Gray

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?

Reviewed by phyllish on

5 of 5 stars

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A wonderful start to a new series!

I was so excited to see that Tammy L. Gray was releasing another book! It has been a while and I enjoy her writing very much!

What fun it was sinking into the pleasure of Love and a Little White Lie! It was the perfect blend of searching, snark, friendship, romance, and comfort.

January, or Jan as she preferred, was broken. Her life choices up to now were less than stellar and she had come to the end of herself. I loved her photographic memory and the quirky way it affected her. As a fan of the old series Psych, I cracked up to see her pick up on details that I would never have noticed and to make accurate assessments based on them. But I especially loved Dillon's observation: that she took those "abilities" and to mean knowing about people meant that she knew people.

In Jan's new position, her true heart of compassion came out. My heart melted when she saw the prayer request for the lady in the nursing home who was going blind and didn't have anyone to read to her - therefore she began going to visit and read to her every day! I loved the way she was able to help turn people's lives around for good, having no idea what she was doing as she bumbled her way around the foreign world of the church.

Cameron was all heart. His love for the Lord and the way he poured his heart out in worship was something amazing. And he treated Jan so well. Their instant attraction was sweet.

Then there was Dillon. What Jan assumed was simply his prickly personality ended up being so much deeper - he was dealing with a great deal of pain and loss. I loved Dillon's frank honesty and that he spoke the truth, even when it hurt.

Jan's search for peace led her to see her past from a different perspective and to realize the "imaginary higher power" she had never believed in wasn't as imaginary as she had thought.

I am really looking forward to the next story in the State of Grace series! I'm guessing I know who it is about but won't say more 'cause I don't want to ruin any surprises for you!

Read my full review at Among the Reads


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 August, 2020: Finished reading
  • 7 August, 2020: Reviewed
  • Started reading
  • Finished reading
  • 7 August, 2020: Reviewed