✨”Love and the Dream Come True” BOOK REVIEW✨ (release day Aug. 2)

Read if you enjoy…
💜 Rock bands
💜 Home renovation romances
💜 Found family
💜 Faith elements

Tammy L. Gray has done it again!!! I was a bit nervous about reading this final installment in the “State of Grace” trilogy since the first two books were SOOO amazing, but this novel was the absolute PERFECT way of tying up all loose ends from the preceding novels😍

Cameron and Lexie were SUCH great characters!! I loved Lexie’s quirkiness and her relationship with her daughter (Morgan) was very reminiscent of Lorelei and Rory’s relationship from Gilmore girls❤️ I greatly enjoyed Morgan’s spitfire tendencies and her comebacks were all super fun to read🤣

And don’t let me forget about Cameron who was SOOO stinking swoony🥹❤️ His thoughtfulness regarding Lexi’s needs paired with his musical talents gave me ALLL the heart eyes😍😍😍 And the character growth he experienced throughout the novel beautifully showcased God’s patience, mercy, and grace in our lives. This book was an excellent reminder of how truly good our God is!!

All in all, I absolutely ADORED everything about this novel (although I do wish Lexie would get her act together and get Morgan to school on time🤨🙄🤣🤣 #iykyk)

5🌟

🚨Trigger warning: vivid panic attacks (described from the POV of the main character).

A HUGE thank you to Bethany House and NetGalley for giving me a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own!!

This is a hard review to write. Not because this isn't a great book, but because it is the last in the series. And I know the author is taking a writing break. This has been a series that has taken me through a roller coaster of feels. This book tells Cameron's story. I was wondering how this author was going to bring his redemption story and she pulled it off in a masterful, beautiful way. These characters are real, raw, wounded and learn to grow beyond their past.
The heroine was fun to get to know and we got two pics! Yay!
The romance built gradually and had some great moments and sweetly romantic.
A perfect summer read with depth and heart.
The description of music and faith was beautiful and vivid, I loved experiencing what music meant to these characters
While I think Bryson in book two will always be my favorite, this story was beautiful, redemptive and pulled on my heartstrings in some major ways.
Highly recommended for lovers of contemporary romance and the art of music.
4.5 stars
I received a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions are honest and completely my own.

My only regret in reading this book was not reading the first two books in the series beforehand. After I finished this, I went back to my public library and borrowed them both, which really helped fill in the blanks in Cameron's story..
I really enjoyed this book (and the series), it fit well into my current inspirational fiction kick.
Since I'm a big music fan, it was easy to get drawn into this part of Cameron's story. I read this book very quickly because it was so hard to put down. All in all, a great experience.

As kids, we’re encouraged to reach for the stars and dream big; however, as we get older and experience the harsh realities of this world, those fantastical dreams are often replaced with more obtainable goals — trading the castle for a small apartment. In the grand finale of the State of Grace trilogy, Tammy L Gray tells the story of what happens after our dreams come true. It’s not always what we expect, though sometimes, it’s even better!

Four years ago, Cameron Lee left Texas to fulfill his dream of becoming a recording artist; however, after his third album flops, he struggles to connect to music the way he used to, jeopardizing the career he lost everything to build. Fueled by the bitterness of his best friend, Darcy’s, betrayal, Cameron knows he’s far from the man he used to be; but will returning home for his sister’s wedding reignite his lost passion and uncover the peace he’s searching for, or will the ghosts of his past cause him to fall further away?

"Music used to be my breath, my muse, my one sure-and-steady force. Driving me. Feeding me. A siren of notes dancing through the hum of air particles and calling out as pure and consuming as the mythical creatures of the sea. But no more." ~ Tammy L. Gray

Lexie Walters is a shameless dreamer. Despite having many curveballs thrown her way — like becoming a mom at nineteen — she has never given up hope that one day all of her dreams will come true. Nevertheless, when life couldn’t get any better, the dreams Lexie held tight might be the very things that break her.

"Why do I do this to myself every time? Dream the impossible? Let myself believe for one achingly wonderful minute that the fantasy might just happen."  ~ Tammy L. Gray

Attracted to Lexie’s bright outlook on life and her sarcastic teenage daughter, Cameron feels himself come alive in their presence. Living in a fairytale bubble, their relationship takes off like a rocket, but will their descent back to reality cause more turbulence than they can handle?

"I don’t fear heartbreak the way he obviously does. I don’t fear anything but chances not taken." ~ Tammy L. Gray

A story of healing, forgiveness, romance, and faith, Love and the Dream Come True is the cherry on top of this fantastic trilogy! We’ve all battled the past and tried to reach for the dreams we thought we wanted, but it’s only when we give God the reins that we see how small our imaginations are compared to His plans for our lives.

I have nothing but praise for the State of Grace series! Each book contains important lessons we can all relate to, but more than that, they shine a beacon of hope, reminding us that we are known, seen, and loved by a God who is ever faithful! Cameron’s growth through this series went beyond my expectations. From being introduced to him as a young, naive musician motivated by his music and faith to watching him grow up and grapple with life as he tried to walk by his own strength, it was inspiring to read his full-circle story.

As always, Tammy’s latest release came at just the right time in my life. As I seek the Lord’s will in pursuing the dreams placed on my heart, I often forget that it’s not about making everything perfect but glorifying God with each word I write. Like Cameron, I want my craft to be flawless, but it’s in releasing control that true art is created.

Whether you’re searching for a clean romance or something a little deeper, Love and the Dream Come True is the book for you! Even though we’re growing up, we should never give up on our dreams!

*Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with this pre-release copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*

From heart-breaking to heart-warming and everywhere in between, Tammy L. Gray took me on a journey of redemption, forgiveness, healing, and hope with her third book in her State of Grace series. With realistically-flawed and emotionally-layered, but engaging, characters, and a captivating, creative storyline, Gray shows once again why she is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors.

I’ve looked forward to Cameron’s story throughout the series, and it definitely was worth the wait. As his musical career takes a nosedive, he comes home for his sister’s wedding, hoping to recharge and recapture his musical gift. When he reconnects with Lexie Walters, things begin to look up for him, but, of course, he has to go through some turmoil first. I loved these characters, along with Lexie’s daughter Morgan and a host of other characters, many of which were showcased in the first two books of the series.

“The only person you can control, Lexie, is you. Don’t spend your life as a grumbling spectator in someone else’s story.”
“My heart knows to pray. To seek guidance and help when all feels so jumbled. But my head can’t seem to allow it”

With powerful inspirational messages seamlessly incorporated in the storyline, this tale is uplifting and beautiful and will definitely be a favorite read for this year. It has earned its spot on my keeper shelf.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this third book in the State of Grace series.
I would recommend reading the first two books in the series because they provide a lot of background for this one. I had read them both but it had been a while so this made me want to go back and reread them.

I loved these characters: always positive Lexie, teenage Morgan with her humor and spunk, broody, angry Cameron with his panic attacks and grumpy cousin Mason. (I hope maybe Mason gets his own book someday.)

This is a story of love, loss, redemption and finding faith. It is a character driven story. I appreciated that the characters were transparent, no huge misunderstandings, secrets or pretense, just honest emotions of going through troubles in life.

I must say one of my favorite parts of the book was the author’s notes at the end. I loved how she expresses how personal the book was to her. I truly hope she keeps writing. She certainly has the gift.

Thanks you to Net Galley for allowing me to read the book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Tammy Gray is a phenomenal storyteller, and I always enjoy the stories she tells, even if I'm not liking a character or wishing they would make different decisions. This book is a prime example of that. I didn't like Cameron in book 1 or 2 of this series, but I didn't even pause when this book came out and I found out he was the main character. I figured she'd either make me love him or that I'd still love the story even if I didn't come out loving him. I'd say I ended up somewhere in the middle. He'll never be my favorite character, perhaps because as a musician, I identify a little too strongly with his weaknesses and am really hard on him, but I did learn to understand why he was doing the things he did, and I definitely enjoyed this story. I really liked Lexie, but I didn't understand her at all. The way she dealt with things was so completely opposite to me that she was like reading a character from a different culture. My favorite parts of this book were actually the parts that continued the storylines of the main characters from the second book, Darcy and Bryson. That book remains my favorite of Tammy Gray's! Their relationships with Cameron and how they progressed in this book were the most inspiring and moving parts of this book to me. I also enjoyed the quick visits with the characters from the first book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the author's launch team.

Once again, I really put off starting this book as long as possible, because I knew that starting meant it would be over too soon....but the time finally came. As expected, I could not put it down once I began.

This is the third and final installment in the author's "A State of Grace" series, and it was worth the wait! Taking place several years after book two ends, Cameron Lee has found musical success and critical acclaim, but has lost himself along the way. He is questioning basically everything and suffers from debilitating panic attacks, unsure of what his next steps should be.

Lexie Walters is a childhood friend of Cameron's sister and their family. She has long admired Cameron and followed his career, and when she sees him after all the years her heart leaps all over again. As they are now adults, could they have a relationship - and despite both of their fears and brokenness, find something extraordinary?

Note: under NO circumstances should you read this as a standalone; please do begin with the first book and go in order. Cameron is a major figure in books one and two and as such you will absolutely want to understand his backstory before starting this book.

I HIGHLY recommend this series and eagerly await the author's next book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Love and the Dream Come True is the final book in Tammy L Gray's State of Grace series. I loved the previous books and was excited to get a chance to read this one before its release.

Cameron Lee's music career seems to be fading. It's been four years since his big break, and it's time to decide if he'll continue this way or give up on his dreams. But first, it's time to head back to his hometown and face his past. Lexie Walters' life doesn't look anything like she'd imagined it would be before she was thrown into single motherhood, but things are finally looking up. She's flipping a house with her cousin/best friend and she has a beautiful teenage daughter. All seems to be going well until her teenage crush shows up at her friend's wedding.

I have to admit I wasn't a big fan of Cameron in the first two books, but he finally redeemed himself in this one. He showed a lot of character growth and he went from being quite unlikeable and burning bridges to becoming perfectly imperfect. Lexie definitely had some issues as well (who doesn't?) but I really enjoyed her character after the first few chapters as well. Her struggles with her sister and her relationship with her daughter were crucial to the story, and really rounded out the plot. I'd have to say Morgan was hands-down my favourite character. I loved her spunk and and the humour she brought to the story. I enjoyed seeing some healing happen between some of the characters from the previous books, and I'm still holding out hope that Mason will get his own story at some point. Also, as someone who struggles with mental health, I appreciated seeing anxiety and panic attacks play a role in the storyline. I'm always a big fan of novels that have faith in God deeply embedded in every page, and as she usually does, Gray kept God at the very core of the story. Cameron and Lexie both had to learn to trust in God's plans for their lives and to rebuild their relationships with Him as well as those around them.

I'm giving Love and the Dream Come True 4.5/5 stars. If you enjoy faith-filled contemporary romance, I highly recommend the State of Grace series.

*I received a complimentary copy of Love and the Dream Come True through the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. My positive review is not required.

A good ending to the State of Grace series. I had a little bit of a harder time getting into this book than the others as I wasn't as much of a fan of some of the main characters at the beginning, but as the book went on, I began to like the characters more and more. I appreciate that this book is not just a romance, but is also about several of the characters' individual struggles and their own self forgiveness. Recommend especially if you enjoyed the other books in the series!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Love and the Dream Come True by Tammy L Gray

I flew by this book and have so many emotions.
Talk about a perfect conclusion to this beloved series. Gosh where do I even begin. This book was so perfect. I was a little bit hesitant and had so many expectations because I just ADORED the first book in the series. The beginning was little bit slow for me and it took be time to get into. But once I got into it, oh my goodness I finished it in one sitting! (That probably should say a lot because I never have read a book as fast before)

Ahh Cameron and Lexie, what a perfect match! They both complement each other so well that it made the character growth for Cameron to exceed all expectations! And Morgan, y'all, her personality was off the roof and there were so moments where I was like, ooo she really just said that . But the relationship between her and Lexie was so so good. Y'all I cried and I usually never cry in books. God's faithfulness and grace was proudly shown through this book and illustrates that even when we believe that we don't deserve love, God's love will never leave us.

Content Warning: panic attacks

*Thank you to Bethany House and the author for giving me a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own!

Cameron Lee finally gets his story in Love and the Dream Come True. I have greatly enjoyed all the books in the series and couldn't wait to see how Tammy Gray would redeem this wounded and bitter singer. Cameron left home four years ago to pursue his singing career. But what happens after the dream comes true? Cameron is struggling with his music and having panic attacks over his future. He comes home for his sister's wedding and has to face his past for the first time. I have to admit that I didn't really like Cam at the end of book 2 (Love and the Silver Lining) and wasn't his biggest fan at the beginning of this book. But in true Tammy Gray style, she fleshes out the deepest parts of her characters and brings to light all of their flaws and insecurities. Then she has them deal with all of it, slowly changing and growing along the way. Cameron and Lexie (single mom who has crushed on Cam since high school) both have a lot to work on before they can be together. Lexie's daughter, Morgan, is the perfect snarky teenager and brings humor and levity to the storyline. Lexie's relationships with her sister and daughter are her turning points in the story that really define her character and made me weep. By the end of the book, I was rooting for Cam and for Lexie. There's also a healing between Darcy, Bryson, Mason and Cam that will warm your heart. Altogether, I am sad to have this series end but I thoroughly enjoyed this last book!
Thank you to Bethany House for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Bethany House for the free book.
Finally, we get Cameron's story and it's so hard-earned. I have loved his character from book one and two, and I was just hoping he would get the redemption story that he so needed, and Gray delivered here. I loved seeing him flourish in this book, while also being human and making so many mistakes along the way. The other main character, Lexie, was also so real. Her life filled with fear and control is going to be relatable to so many readers, including myself. I think the way these characters interacted and complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses had me so engrossed in their story from the beginning. I also adored Morgan. I feel like books with single parents can sometimes miss the mark when it comes to kids, and Morgan felt so real. Her comebacks and awareness and naiveté worked so well together to create this girl who is on the cusp of adolescence. These three characters along with glimpses of past book characters made this story one that is special and a perfect way to end this trilogy.

I loved this book and the entire series! It's well written and full of emotions. Lexie and Cameron's story will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I hate to see this series end.
I received a complimentary copy from Tammy L. Gray and Bethany House via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Romance book trope: Single-mum /celebrity romance

The books tells the story of the prodigal friend who is forced to go back to the town he ran away from for his sister's wedding, While home he meets a headstrong, witty and smart teen who has the most adorable mom who absolutely enjoys Cameron's music. The story explores the power of hopes and dreams and how God's dreams for us can be so much better than what we ever dream for ourselves. I loved it! Recommend it. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Full of real-world issues and emotions, Gray hits all the right notes with the final book in the State of Grace series. Cameron has his own demons to confront as does perky Lexie. We're all hiding something under our facades and don't let people see our true selves. I just loved this book! Wonderfully written and kept me turning the pages. I had a hard time putting it down.

To be honest, at the beginning of this book, I was not too fond of the main characters, the reason is that both Cameron and Lexie are broken people, but neither of them seems willing to admit it.

Lexie is the single mom who has had a crush on Cameron for years- aka obsessed-she is the super optimist, determined to live each day to its fullest, but always late, and struggles with her relationship with her daughter, Morgan AKA all snark and sass- adds a fun twist to this romance. Cameron is a struggling singer who is not doing well and has decided to come home for his sister’s wedding. He is running from the mistakes of the past.

I enjoyed the conflicts and the storyline and how the characters overcame their struggles. . Complex romance with a lot of twists and turns. What I loved most about the story is Lexie's total acceptance of Cam. His mistakes, Hurts, his self-adsorption, and finding his music again.

Sometimes I felt like the romance between Cameron and Lexie was a bit rushed. The book plays with a spectrum of emotions: sadness, betrayal, utter despair, anger, bitterness, jealousy, hope, forgiveness, mercy, grace, and joy. A well-written faith-based- Contemporary Christian Romance, Sweet-Clean-not cursing-just few kisses. All in all, I am glad I read this book, It’s been a while since a book literally brought tears to my eyes and this one did just that. I became immersed in the character’s heartaches, hurts, and redemptions. I highly recommend it. While the story can stand alone, I would probably recommend reading the other 2 in the series -to get more of Cameron's back story.

Let me start by saying that at the beginning of this book, I really didn't like the main characters, which is typically a death knell for a book for me. Since I've enjoyed the other books in this series and have come to trust the author, I forged ahead where I may have otherwise given up (life's too short to read books with heroes and heroines you don't like and all that), and I'm so glad I did! I'll tell my fellow "non-Cameron-likers" in this series - go ahead and read on. By the end, you will actually like his character! This is book 3 in the State of Grace series. While the story can stand alone, I would probably recommend reading the other 2 in the series first just to get more of Cameron's back-story. There is some good background information here, but because he's such a major-minor character in the other 2 books, you really get more depth having read the others first. This book picks up 4 years after book 2, so there's definitely a gap there that is filled in. At the beginning of the book, both Cameron and Lexie are broken people, but neither of them seems willing to admit it, which is part of the reason I didn't like them. I did go in with a bit of a prejudice against Cameron as I wasn't his biggest fan in the other 2 books, so the chip on his shoulder being even bigger at the beginning really turned me off a bit more. BUT..... the character growth and development in this book was so stellar, I totally forgot how much I didn't like the characters at the beginning and was crying at the end. This was a good solid conclusion to this series and I enjoyed catching up with January and Darcy as well in this one. Lexie's teenage daughter, Morgan, adds a fun twist to this romance and I enjoyed her interactions with both Lexie and Cameron throughout. I thought her character was spot on for a teenager - all snark and sass, but touches of vulnerability and extreme emotion. I enjoyed the conflicts and the story-line and how the characters overcame their struggles. As previously mentioned, the character development was excellent in this one and I really enjoyed how this series ended. If you enjoy character driven contemporary romances, this is one I'd definitely recommend! Special thanks to the publisher and author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

"Like us, the tree is a knit-together hodgepodge of torn and broken pieces, and yet together it's truly beautiful."

Oh, Cameron. I have loved this character since book 1 of the series and am so glad that he finally got his story. He went from an idealistic, naive, selfish young man to a broken, panicked, jaded rock star; Cameron feels every emotion deeply and traverses the entire spectrum of human emotion in his story - betrayal, utter despair, gut-wrenching anger and bitterness, hope, forgiveness, mercy, grace, and overwhelming joy. I am not a musician or any type of creative but acutely felt his angst as he floundered in his failure and felt helplessly trapped in his inability to reclaim his music. This obviously flawed man who was once chasing fame and adoration hits rock bottom and only then realizes that perfection cannot be attained but forgiveness, restoration, and redemption are gifts that cannot be taken away. The story also fills in the four year gap between last book and this one and gives insight into Cameron's side of things, since the first two books were in first person narrative of his ex-girlfriend and his former best friend.

I loved meeting and getting to know Lexie from her first person narrative as well. She is not someone who I envisioned for Cameron but the more I got to know her, the more I liked her. Her optimism, determination to live each day to its fullest, and unswerving belief in Cameron perfectly complement Cameron's moody, and often broody, artistic nature. Her relationship with her 13 yo daughter is quite realistic and Morgan definitely adds fun, quirk, and sass to the storyline. I know this is the end of the series but I can't help wishing for a story on Mason, Lexie's cousin and Cameron's oldest friend.....

It's another winner from Tammy L Gray. She will make you cry, laugh, and hold the book next to your heart long after the last page has been read.

I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Love and the Dream Come True by Tammy L. Gray delivers up Cameron Lee’s long-awaited love story (since book one in this series). I adored the romance between Cam and Lexie. Their relationship sizzles, but the tension does not obscure the story. In one another, they each find a partner that challenges and encourages personal growth. A satisfying love story that I could easily reread right now.

Cam’s exploration of the how’s and why’s of his life made him the shining character in Love and the Silver Lining. His deep emotions gave authenticity and depth to the plot without it feeling heavy or slow. Opposite to him, I cringed at some of Lexie’s mindsets and ideas. Though her character development takes longer to arrive, I like how things wrapped up.

Love and the Dream Come True lands as book three Tammy L. Gray’s State of Grace series. The narrative provides background information, but this novel has major carry over from book two, Love and the Silver Lining. While reading Love and the Dream Come True, I felt like I needed to reread book two in order to really grasp everything. As such, I recommend reading the entire series in order. All the books earned either four or five stars for me and I recommend them to fans of inspirational contemporary romance.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.