Love and a Little White Lie

June 8, 2020
In this touching inspirational from Gray (My Hope Next Door), a faithless woman gets more than she bargained for as she rebounds from a broken heart. After January Sanders’s boyfriend leaves her for another woman, she takes refuge in a rural Texas cabin and interviews for a job as an administrative assistant at her aunt’s church. Much to the surprise of January, who is an atheist, she gets the job and falls for Cameron, an attractive Christian musician who has dreams of making it big. Cameron’s friend Dillon does landscape maintenance for the property January is living on and is quick to challenge January on the fact that she is keeping her lack of faith a secret. Then, as a favor to a church member, January starts reading the Bible to Mrs. Cox, an older nearly blind woman. Despite everyone around her preaching the power of prayer, January refuses to believe until Mrs. Cox lands in the hospital because of a heart condition and January prays for her. When she is rebuffed after sharing her secret lack of faith with Cameron, she throws herself into her work and unexpected friendship with devout Dillon. Gray’s entertaining tale showcases the power of love and faith in unexpected places.

July 1, 2020

Jan Sanders was brought up to believe that religion was a fairy tale. When her heart gets broken, she heads to her aunt Doreen and uncle Jim's to recover, despite her aunt's involvement in the church. Doreen helps get Jan a temporary job as an assistant at the church, which leads Jan to feel like an impostor, since she doesn't believe in God. However, the people she meets there are so kind and genuine that she finds herself fitting in with the staff, especially musician Cameron. In her heart Jan knows she'll never belong if her lack of faith gets out. But Dillon Kyle, a contractor at her aunt's ranch, sees right through her, despite having his own secrets he isn't ready to share. Jan comes to discover that God does exist and that He is active in her life. Once Jan opens her heart to God, a family rift starts to mend, and she finds love and a place she belongs. Gray ("Hope" series; "Winsor" series) has crafted a sweet story, but it will not have crossover appeal for those who don't typically read Christian fiction. VERDICT Purchase for collections where modern inspirational romance does well.--Heather Webb, Worthington Libs., OH

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