Love and the Silver Lining - (State of Grace) by Tammy L Gray (Paperback)

Love and the Silver Lining alternates between laughter and tears, between happiness and heartache, but isn't this true in all of our lives? Author Tammy L. Gray knows how to plumb all of the human emotions, and she has written a beautiful story of hope, faith, and learning to let go. She also shares a perfect reminder that not getting what we ask for may be the biggest blessing of all! I highly recommend Love and the Silver Lining to all who enjoy contemporary Christian romance. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

Sometimes I read a book and the review flows with very little effort. Other times I have no idea to write, or how to say it. With Love and the Silver Lining I’m somewhere in between. Saying I love this book, this series, these characters, and the emotions they pulled out of me somehow doesn’t say enough. The first-person narration is spot-on, and easily pulled me into every scene. I connected with Darcy and empathized with her, although there were times I wanted to shake her a bit. Her adoration of dogs and her passion for rehabilitating them is certainly a plus as well. Then there’s Bryson. Oh my. I love his openness and vulnerability despite his hurtful past. He’s a unique hero and I enjoyed seeing his heart. And I loved the spiritual aspect throughout. This story reaches deep and has found a home on my keeper shelf. Brilliant writing, a fabulous plot, wonderful characters, deep emotions, and a meaningful message. What more could I ask for? Dɪsᴄʟᴏsᴜʀᴇ: I ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴғʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ.

Love and the Silver Lining, by Tammy L. Gray, is the second book in the State of Grace series. It is a thoughtfully written novel abounding with emotional authenticity in which Ms. Gray explores meaningful themes like loss, grief, truth, and forgiveness. Page after page, her talent as a writer is truly evident as she draws the reader into a thoroughly compelling story that is both redemptive and memorable. Featuring characters that are captivating and vulnerable, this novel offers many of moments of sweet romance in a small town setting that makes this book genuinely moving and satisfying. Love and the Silver Lining is profoundly touching and utterly unexpected. Within its pages, it reveals a story that is raw and surprising. As the characters struggle to process crushing disappointments, anger, and withering faith, they are forced to reflect on their motivations and priorities. As they begin to open their hearts to unforeseen possibilities, a path through heartache and brokenness starts to reveal itself. When they tentatively step into the realm of vulnerability, honesty, forgiveness, and trust, they renew their search for wholeness and purpose and their wounded hearts begin to heal. Their hope is nurtured by the gifts of patience, mercy, and compassion that serve to restore their faith when grace is given the freedom to thrive. As a contemporary tale of love, hope, faith and new beginnings, Love and the Silver Lining is a genuinely special novel. It is a touching, thought-provoking book that inspires as well as entertains. With an engrossing plot, unforgettable characters, and consequential themes, this novel is certainly worthy of attention. I sincerely recommend it. *I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.

Book Review: Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L. Gray There's a saying "When God shuts a door, He opens a window" meaning that often our plans, even though good and meant to be something that would honor God, are not always His plans for us, thus He shuts the door to our pursuit of them. However, He does not leave us without opportunity to fulfill His plans for us, as He opens a window for us. In this I see that going through that window will most likely require a bit more effort on our part than walking through that door would have. So what do you do when the dream you've thought about, planned for and worked towards achieving for so long suddenly falls through at the last minute? That open door that you were ready to step through suddenly slams shut on you with no way to open again? Do you calmly access it and accept that God shut the door because He was opening a window of new opportunity in your life? Or do you react with shock and self pity, cry and wail in anger at God and sit alone trying to drown your grief with ice cream and tears, refusing to let go of your dream and focusing on negativity in all facets of your life? Darcy, our main character in this story, chose to do the latter. When her hope and dream of becoming a missionary fell through at the last minute, she reacted with anger and self pity, because she had worked so hard to achieve this goal, she didn't stop to think that perhaps God wanted her to walk a different life path. Darcy's story is very relatable to many of us, because most of us want to please God and work towards what we think would honor Him, using the knowledge and talents we have, however God tells us in Isaiah 55:8 that our thoughts and ways are not His thoughts and ways, so sometimes He has to step in and change our plans by shutting a door, but it's always for our good and if we pursue His ways by going through the window He opens then we will find we will receive a lot more happiness and satisfaction in our life. I really enjoyed reading about Darcy's journey down this path of closed doors and opened windows and how she handled each disappointment and opportunity. It was her time to learn and grow, and I think you will enjoy reading her story also. It's a story woven with the threads of God's love throughout, as Darcy has to face loss in many forms and heartbreak that many of us could relate to, yet God is always there beside her to bring her through everything. This book was given to me free by Bethany House a division of Baker Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.

Well Tammy L Gray is my favorite author and she has created another page turner! Her writing is so relatable, you feel like your reading someone’s real life story. This story is about how Darby make plans for her life, it’s really a good plan, and then they are wrecked. And then there is Bryson, wow swoon! You know he’s handsome, Rock star, tough guy, guarded ….now I’ve left you hungry for more. Just get the book you won’t regret it! It’s one of those you can’t put down each chapter leaves you wanting to find out what happens next!

This is a book that takes a deep look into relationships and how words, actions and emotions can affect the outcomes. The author weaves a love story between the lives of 3 people. There are times when you are cheering one character and then you cheer another one and the audience doesn’t know what twists and turns lie ahead. It is artfully written to keep you reading. It is also a story of forgiveness and letting go. I enjoyed the book and at the end I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to find out how the author drew it all to a conclusion. I found it relatable in that there are times I have had to let go of that which was holding me back in my own life. This is the 2nd book by this author that I have read, and I have not been disappointed. I am an older reader, and I enjoyed the book, but I feel it would appeal most to a younger audience. The characters are of different make ups, they are believable, and very real to life. I enjoy a book written with character studies and I enjoyed this aspect of the book. The author really dug into their thoughts, emotions, and actions. They laugh, they cry, and you will laugh and cry with them. I received a free pre-copy of this book.

This is a book that takes a deep look into relationships and how words, actions and emotions can affect the outcomes. The author weaves a love story between the lives of 3 people. There are times when you are cheering one character and then you cheer another one and the audience doesn’t know what twists and turns lie ahead. It is artfully written to keep you reading. It is also a story of forgiveness and letting go. I enjoyed the book and at the end I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to find out how the author drew it all to a conclusion. I found it relatable in that there are times I have had to let go of that which was holding me back in my own life. This is the 2nd book by this author that I have read, and I have not been disappointed. I am an older reader, and I enjoyed the book, but I feel it would appeal most to a younger audience. The characters are of different make ups, they are believable, and very real to life. I enjoy a book written with character studies and I enjoyed this aspect of the book. The author really dug into their thoughts, emotions, and actions. They laugh, they cry, and you will laugh and cry with them. I received a free pre-copy of this book.

Totally loved this second book in the State of Grace Series! The story of two broken hearts that help each other mend and fall in love in the journey! They were deep, complex, but so relatable characters! Darcy takes very hard the blows that life has just dealt her. Her life being always so perfect, full of love, being a God loving, rule follower, she can’t understand why her life is so upended. Has God disappeared or why is He so silent? Bryson seems to be the polar opposite. The rule bender since they were young, the one who played the pirate, the one who cut connection with his family during his teen years, a true rebel with the façade of a bad boy singer. Always in black, his songs are heartfelt but not light. Will his heart ever find the light? I loved how Darcy slowly discovers the true Bryson that hides under his hard wall that’s begging to be torn down. How they get to know each other, they begin to open up to each other and learn of their struggles. It was so heart tugging at times, yet light hearted at others. I loved the writing style, and being inside Darcy’s mind and heart was so insightful and real. She’s flawed, she struggles, but her faith is there. And it will be what will ultimately will lead her to learn the goodness in the bad things of her situation. The good in the broken. The unmerited yet always extended God’s grace and mercy. And through her (and her through Bryson too), Bryson will learn about the God he eludes. In an honest and natural way. His story of redemption ached and was sweet at the same time. I loved the natural way the faith inspiring message about trust in God and forgiveness was delivered. It was meaningful, uplifting, and it inspired me to let go of things that are not important and giving God more control of my life. Bryson’s character was so endearing in spite of his brooding ways. He had a heart of gold that shone, that begged to be discovered! Bryson relationship with Charlie was also inspiring to say the least. And I loved the taming of the dog’s part. It was challenging and enjoyable, especially the outcome. It reminded me of how we all are never lost or hopeless, but our redeemable qualities sometimes need a little bit of grooming and God is the One who can bring those qualities to light, if we let Him. A story that I definitely recommend! Very enjoyable, relatable and oh so romantic! A journey of love, strength to move on, let go and forgiveness!

Having read the first book in the State of Grace series by Tammy L. Gray, I was looking forward to reading Love and the Silver Lining. I was not disappointed, although surprised a little. Love and a Little White Lie was a much lighter, more whimsical read than this second book. And yet Love and the Silver Lining was an enjoyable read. The author has a writing style that blends a bit of humor with spiritual truths as her characters encounter difficult situations, and brings a realistic and relatable story to her readers. The characters are engaging. I was quickly caught up in their stories. Darcy is a mess after a disappointing change of plans. Her relationships with her family and her friends are in need of an overhaul. Life just kind of sucks right now. The author did a great job creating relevant situations for Darcy's emotional and spiritual healing. I liked how the story reminded me that there is One who is there with me despite my sometimes seeming indifference to Him. And He is not idly waiting for my attention but is continuing to work in my heart and working to give me second chances. Readers who enjoy the contemporary romance genre and stories of faith will not want to miss this book. I received a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

I found myself reading every free moment I found so I could find out the end result. You will find yourself emerged in a story of hurting real characters that sometimes make poor choices based on feelings but yet God is in the midst of the messiness of life still working, still waiting, always a prayer away. This book is a little edgier than what I usually expect in Christian fiction but still clean and well worth reading. Darcy at times seems self absorbed but when hurting it is hard to see the work God is actually doing to mold and shape us into what He wants us to be. Sometimes we need to thank God for unanswered prayers. Bryson was my favorite character who hid behind a persona so his vulnerability wasn’t readily seen. I loved how he grew and his relationship with Charlie was my undoing into admiring his strength of character. I recommend reading Love and A Little White Lie first as you won’t want to miss the background of the returning characters. I look forward to reading more and anxiously await book three. A must read if you enjoy a book with depth. I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

"I mean, what is the point of working and straining to hear God's will when in the end I'm just as lost as if I'd never tried in the first place? Wouldn't it be easier if I just didn't care at all?" Oh, Darcy. What a heart-breaking and soul-wrenching journey she takes after everything turns upside down and sideways in her controlled, neatly packaged world. Her naive, steady, optimistic, good girl self goes through blinding disappointments, crushing life circumstances, life-altering challenges, and an undeniable call to leave the past behind. This book, more so than any other of the author's I've read, has captured me wholly and completely with the raw intense emotions. Throbbing grief is balanced by unshakable friendship, sense of purpose is restored by training rescue dogs, and God's molding and shaping through difficulties is so evident. Though the book plays out through only Darcy's first person viewpoint, we get to know Bryson pretty well and he is the epitome of a reborn man. His sensitive, sweet, tender, compassionate nature that no one else knows allows him to fit into Darcy's 'new' world and his sacrificial love is incredible to behold. Charlie and Zoe are excellent secondary characters who add depth to Darcy and Bryson's world and I'm secretly hoping that there will be a book about Zoe. It's another winner for Tammy L Gray. You don't want to miss this contemporary romance filled with characters who will feel like your best friends that exquisitely paints a journey of hope, grace, and forgiveness that will feel like your own. I received a copy of the book from Bethany House and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

I love stories where the characters battle their own demons and overcome them and this one did not disappoint. Tammy L Gray's characters are so relatable and her writing really pulls you in. I enjoyed the chemistry between Darcy and Bryson. It's heart warming to see the characters overcome and grow throughout the book. Overall, a great read that I would highly recommend! I reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Bethany House) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.