A persons journey to or through faith is wrought with ups and downs. The way that Tammy wrote January's journey was inspiring. It makes you think about your own journey and the choices you make.

This was my first book that I read from the author and enjoyed it. This is how evangelism happens, accepting others for who they say they are, doing life and walking alongside them.

January hits rock bottom and decides it is time for a change. She moves into a cabin on her aunt’s wedding-venue property and accepts a job at a church despite being a lifelong skeptic of faith.
What she does not count on is meeting a very handsome guitarist at church and sparks start to fly. Can she avoid her lie being exposed especially when a landscape architect pushes January into exposing feelings that she would rather keep buried?

A story that we can all relate to, seasons where we question God and wonder why things happen. Knowing that there is hope and God works through all things. I highly recommend “Love and A Little White Lie.”

I received a copy of the book from the author/Bethany House in exchange for an honest opinion. All opinions are my own.

Another "stayed up past my bedtime reading" book!
This is a beautiful story of finding self-worth, happiness, true love, and most importantly, finding faith. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. An agnostic working in a church is a unique plot.
January (Jan), Dillon, Cameron, Darcy, and Aunt Doreen feel like people I know in real life. I loved all the characters.
I really liked how Jan found herself, her story, her choice. Her past was about making other people happy, giving up, or doing things for them.
The romance is great too! ❤ Flirty, kissy, talking, getting to know each other fun!

I've enjoyed every book Gray has written--some of which tugged at my heart more than others--but this, THIS was on a whole 'nuther level. I loved it! It was honest, heartfelt, and sincere...witty, tense at times, and romantic (of course!)

The only bad thing about this book is that it had to come to an end. When it did, I felt I'd lost a connection with a true friend (the main character, January). I can't wait to see what Gray writes next.

I received this book "Love and a Little White Lie" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I love Tammy L. Gray's writing style and her books are amazing! I really enjoyed reading this new book. I could not put it down and the story line was incredible. It felt like you were right there in the story, these characters could have been your friends. The words just flow so smoothly. I love the main character January and what a great name! Beautiful story! Tammy is one of my go to authors, if she has a new book I know I will have to read it. Can't wait for the next one!

A few years ago, I stumbled upon Tammy L. Gray as she was promoting her series, Bentwood. Charmed by her relatable and realistic narratives, I was devastated when I learned that Tammy was contemplating quitting. Thankfully, God intervened and sparked new inspiration that led to the creation of her latest novel, Love and a Little White Lie.

After years of failed relationships and endless disappointment, January Sanders seeks refuge on her Aunt Doreen’s property while she licks her wounds after the worst breakup of her life. With her life in shambles, January apprehensively agrees to take a job at her aunt’s church, despite being an agnostic. How bad can a little white lie hurt, right? Nevertheless, as January immerses in the community, sparking a romantic interest in one of the church’s musicians, she will learn that there are always consequences when it comes to withholding the truth.

Love and a Little White Lie is the perfect contemporary novel! Each chapter brought growth, love, revelation, and passion that many authors use to create narratives based solely on physical attraction; however, Tammy takes those emotions and introduces a spiritual aspect that powerfully transforms the story. I felt a piece of myself in each of the characters and appreciated the way this novel portrayed Christians as being imperfect, even making a few jokes at the stereotypes. On a few occasions, I had to hold back tears as the raw emotions exuded off the page!

Tammy L. Gray has made an epic return to writing, and this new book highlights the incredible things God has been doing in her life! A new season is upon her, and I know that this story is going to be the first of many more incredible books. If you enjoy clean romance, Christ-centered stories, and narrative you can relate to, Love and a Little White Lie is a book you don't want to miss!

*I was given a copy of this book by Bethany House publishers through Netgalley, and this is my honest opinion.

4.5 Stars!
Per usual, this author delivered an honest and authentic portrayal of healing, restoration, and love. What started a little slow for me, ignited in the second half and ended in a powerful finale.

I’m going to be honest and say how I didn’t care for January throughout a portion of this story. Yet, the author manages to show an authentic gentling of her characterization as she slowly discovers a faith of her own through the steadfast and non-judgmental love of those around her, as well as bearing witness to the healing transformation of others.

While I’ve always enjoyed Gray’s writing and evocative story-telling, I especially enjoyed the strong faith thread in Love and a Little White Lie. Even without, this author consistently delivers stories with realistically broken characters who have to finally and ultimately rely on God for their healing and deliverance. All that and a very swoon-worthy romance, too!

A captivating story about January, who moves to her aunt’s ranch after a terrible breakup and takes a temporary job in a place she would have never imagined, a church. She acts that part showing compassion to others along the way, but never expects to fall in love with the people there. A great book that takes you through the highs and lows of self-discovery, budding romance, true love, and the fallouts of little white lies. Tammy L. Gray’s writing is so picturesque and you feel like you are being transported into the story and living it out among the characters. Overall, a book that I would highly recommend, especially for the lover of romance stories. Looking forward to reading the next books in the State of Grace series.

“It’s time for me to ask the hard questions. To face my own doubt and stop spending my life tossed back and forth by the wind. It’s time I stop pretending and figure out who I really want to be.”

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

HANDS DOWN THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ ALL YEAR!

Tammy L. Gray’s books have all been amazing but, Love and a Little White Lie is hands down my favorite book yet. It seems that her union with Bethany House for this book was a match made in heaven. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book and once it was safely ensconced on my Kindle, I could not put it down! I keep coming back to it over and over again. The two days it took for me to devour my initial read was not enough time with these characters. Tammy has a way of drawing you into a story and making you feel right at home with the characters. The heroine, January Sanders, is real, raw, and you cannot help rooting for her as she traverses the road to redemption and love. I have to say this book did not end the way I originally saw it going because, the book was so much more than what I had imagined. Tammy L. Gray has mastered the art of storytelling and I am blessed to have spent time with Love and a Little White Lie.

This reviewer received an advanced reader copy in return for her impartial review.

This was a delightful contemporary romance. I enjoy books set in churches, so this one had me right from the start. There were plenty of moral dilemmas to work around and lessons to be learned that kept things interesting. The chemistry between the main characters was lots of fun. Such great banter! You can't have a good romance without a little angst. Highly recommended!

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley and the publisher for the purpose of review.

This is an extremely engaging story with great characters! I love it when an author can write flawed, multi-faceted characters with depth, make me care about them enough to lose sleep over them, and then write a beautiful redemptive journey for them, and Tammy Gray checked all those boxes for me with this book! My only complaint is that I wish there had been more talk of Jesus in this book rather than just the importance of coming to believe in God and starting to pray. That's a personal pet peeve of mine and may not be an issue for anyone else, but since I always promise an unbiased, honest review, I felt I needed to add that. It certainly didn't bother me enough to lose a star in the rating or to keep me from re-reading this book and highly recommending it to others!

When life sends non-believer January Sanders in a downward spin, she ends up living with her aunt Doreen and working at Doreen’s church. Tammy Gray’s Love and a Little White Lie, told from January’s point of view, is unusual in the Christian Fiction genre as we get a look at the inner thoughts of someone who has rejected faith as she is drawn to people who don’t share her views. However, we also get a glimpse into the workings of restoration in so many ways.

I love how Tammy Gray writes stories about less-than-perfect characters who grow throughout the story as they are brought into contact with other flawed, but real characters who help them on their journey.

I was a bit puzzled by the two guys that January was drawn to in the story, but Gray brought that part of the story to a satisfying conclusion as well. The romance in this story is a winner.

I highly recommend this book as well as other books by Tammy L. Gray.

A complimentary copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

Every once in a great while, I read that rare book that reaches deeper, feels richer, and makes a more profound impact than others. THIS is such a book! A 2020 Favorite.

Sometimes books take on such importance due to the current state of my environment, sometimes due to my present emotions, and sometimes simply because it’s an exceptional story. Love and a Little White Lie hits all three marks.

Personally, the current Covid-19 pandemic has hit close to home. My daughter, a healthcare worker, is battling this dreadful Coronavirus. It’s a scary, unpredictable disease, and reminds me and my family of the immeasurable importance of having God in our lives. My emotions as of late resemble a seesaw, teetering between fear and faith, worry and trust, calm and storm. God is my center balance, my refuge and strength, my ever present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1) Perhaps this is why this story resonated so strongly with me. Also, because it’s simply an outstanding story.

I love these characters, the charming Texas community setting, the witty dialogue, and the spiritual significance of this story.

I embraced January from the get-go and empathized with how she masked her wounds—familial, romantic, and spiritual. I love her quirky mind and how she learns to live and love rather than only exist. Her first-person point of view is the perfect narrative, giving raw and candid insight into her daily thoughts, actions, and emotions. I enjoyed getting to know Aunt Doreen, Cameron, Dillon, Mr. Kyle, Mrs. Cox, and so many more delightful characters. Grace Community Church has a variety of personalities, each contributing to its charm. I’m invested and want to visit again. (Sequel please, please, please!)

I’m not going to give a synopsis of the story. I simply want to say, this story touched me. It carries an abundance of meaning and truly holds the potential to change your life and your heart.


#2020Favorites
#LoveandaLittleWhiteLie #BethanyHouse #CoverLove
I was blessed to receive a complimentary copy of this book.

I loved the storyline behind this book however I was not a fan of the ending. I absolutely did not see that coming. Nonetheless the book was well written and extremely enjoyable. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

If you're looking for a different kind of love story, Love and a Little White Lie is one worth checking out. In this book, we meet January (Jan). Having had a bad breakup, she is staying on her aunt's property to sort through things and finds a job working at her aunt's church. There's just one problem... she is not a Christian and was raised to believe that having faith was rather foolish. Certainly not your typical lead character in a Christian novel. Still, it added an authenticity to the story that I really enjoyed. It also really had me rooting to see her find a relationship with God.

The romance in this story was a bit different too. I can't say too much without giving it away, but again there was an authenticity to the story that certainly set it apart from others in the genre. I admit I wasn't sure how I felt about it at certain points in the story... but in the end, I really enjoyed how it all came together.

My favorite Bible verse is Esther 4:14: For such a time as this. As I was reading, I could help but think about how fitting it was for this book. Sometimes we find ourselves in a position that doesn't always make a lot of sense to us... but God always has us right where He wants us, and He will use that in often unexpected ways.

Overall, this is a really great read and one that fans of inspirational romance are sure to enjoy! It's definitely one worth checking out!

**I received a complimentary copy from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

This story was fantastic! Love and a Little White Lie really surprised me, it was captivating in a way I didn't expect. Sometimes life moves us in ways we aren't ready for, we have a sense of missing something but are never sure what it might be. This book is written from the viewpoint of January (Jan). She's currently living with her Aunt after a gaunt with her boyfriend went sideways. She thinks shes just there together feet back underneath her, but really she's on a journey of self discovery and realizing the world is bigger than herself. The characters are rich and well rounded and readers delight in each step Jan takes towards being a better person.

Looking for something to read and pass a bit of time? Give this book a try. You not only won't be disappointed but you might also learn a thing or two about yourself along the way.

Thank you to both NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this story. I will be making it part of my collection as well. My review and opinions are my won and voluntarily given.

Love and a little white lie follows a woman named January after she gets dumped by the guy she left everything behind for. She resents herself, but mostly all the men that have let let down in her life.

After her aunt takes her in at her cute wedding venue, she gets a job at a church (keeping secret that she's an atheist), meets guys boys and starts unexpected friendships.

I liked this book. The writing was particularly great and the story flew nicely. It's about finding a community to lean on and your place in the world.

I also liked the religious journey January went through. Although i'm not a religious person, I appreciated the fact that she discovers a community and religion that gives her confort. Also that it's not in-your-face preachy about it.

My problem with this book was the structure for the romance development. There's so much time invested on a relationship that's obviously not meant to be, with no real spark and little chemistry, that it took me almost to the end to get invested in the story. I wish this one had taken more of a background place and focused on the other one, which I rooted for throughly and really enjoyed. I really appreciated a certain friendship but we got to see too little of it in the beginning.

Overall I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone looking for a cute story with small town vibes.

~~Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC~~

This book was such a sweet surprise for me. Most of the time I find rom-com's to be a bit predictable and while this one was I actually didn't mind at all! I enjoyed the banter and seeing how the relationships evolved over time. I was rooting for all the characters and was so happy about that ending! I even found myself questioning and thinking about my own beliefs while reading. Definitely recommend this sweet rom-com!

I knew from reading Tammy L Gray's My Hope Next Door that this book was probably going to be something I would end up enjoying. However, this book completely blew all my expectations away, and I could have honestly sat and read it again the second that I finished it.

I've long appreciated Christian authors that write about characters who aren't perfect, and Tammy is truly a master at this. I love reading about characters first coming to know Jesus, and I thought that January's journey was heart wrenching, beautiful and authentic. A Christian's walk of life is never without struggles, and January quickly learns this through the many amazing people she comes into contact with. Cameron is a struggling musician; who feels called to do much more than he's currently doing. He's frustrated in his season of waiting, and I'm sure lots of us are able to relate. Dillon has been struck by not just one, but two horrific tragedies, and he's questioning where the God he's grown up serving could be amidst it all. Lastly, January's aunt has always been her sounding board, but she's also hiding a world of familial hurt, and needs to learn how to truly let go and let God.

Perhaps my favorite part of this beautiful contemporary was the way that God uses many different people and circumstances to draw January closer and closer to Himself. It was a lovely illustration of the fact that His plan is always perfect, and He can accomplish it by means we never could have thought possible.

While I wasn't quite sure I was going to end up loving the romance, as anyone who's read my reviews in the past knows I'm not a fan of love triangles, but it ended up taking me by surprise. January's journey puts her into contact with two amazing guys, and I actually really enjoyed the way everything plays out. I loved the fact that the romance more plays a secondary role to the plot development of January learning to fall in love with faith and our Heavenly Father, and the author did a beautiful job of weaving in the romance around this.

I was prepared to enjoy this one, but I wasn't prepared for it to end up being one of the best books I've read this year. I ended up making myself take my time with it, as the story was amazing and I wanted to truly savor each and every page. It felt completely realistic, and like something that could actually happen, and I can't possibly recommend it enough. I appreciated the fact that it has its fair share of humor and lighter moments, but that the story also goes a lot deeper and more intense then I initially expected when I picked it up.I already know I'm going to have to reread it in the very near future as I'm not ready to say goodbye to all these characters who truly came to feel like old friends.It's truly one of the most realistic portrayals of the Christian walk of life that I've ever seen in a Christian fiction novel.

Before I end up writing a book about just how much I enjoyed it, I'm simply going to wrap up here and say go ahead and pick this one up, you will definitely not be disappointed.

Final Rating: 5/5.


Thanks so much to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Bethany House) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love and a Little White Lie is a subtle change of direction for Tammy Gray, and I loved it! Jan(uary)'s voice is fresh and flows right off the page. Creating real characters outside of Christian circles is one of the things Tammy Gray does best, and this story delivered a wonderfully wounded, flawed agnostic heroine (Jan) surrounded by wounded, flawed Christians in very real and relatable circumstances.

THIS is how evangelization happens in real life, in my opinion, less with words and tracts, and more by simply living alongside and loving your neighbor (or here, more often, your co-worker).

The result is a beautiful novel filled with multi-dimensional characters, a slowly evolving friends-to-lovers story, and a religious awakening.

I couldn't help being reminded of one of my favorite books, The Grace Crasher by Mara Faro, that shares a lot of similarities to this book. If you love Love and a Little White Lie, I highly recommend The Grace Crasher too.