Happy Friday! It’s hard to believe it’s August already! Today I’m linking up with Hoarding Books for First Line Friday and sharing the first line from Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L. Gray.

“I’m supposed to be on an airplane, flying to Central America to teach children to speak English. Instead, I’m sitting on the couch and nursing my third pint of Rocky Road ice cream, watching a Telemundo soap opera in Spanish.”

Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L. Gray

The Basics

Title: Love and the Silver Lining

Author: Tammy L. Gray

Series: State of Grace (Book 2)

Publication Date: August 3, 2021

Genre: Contemporary

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

This disaster may be just what she needed.

Darcy Malone’s dreams of mission work are dashed on the eve of fulfilling them: The Guatemalan school she was going to teach at has closed, and she’s already quit her job and given up her apartment. Stuck in her worst-case scenario, Darcy accepts an unexpected offer to move in with Bryson Katsaros’s little sister, despite the years of distrust between her and Bryson, the lead singer in her best friend Cameron’s band. But as she meets those close to Bryson, Darcy quickly discovers there is more to him than just his bad-boy persona.

Needing to find a purpose for all her sudden free time, Darcy jumps at the chance to care for and train a group of unruly dogs, with the aim of finding each a home before their bereaved owner returns them to animal control. But it’s Darcy herself who will encounter a surprising rescue in the form of love, forgiveness, and learning to let go.

My Review

In Love and the Silver Lining, we catch up with characters we first met in Love and a Little White Lie, but this one can be read as a stand-alone. Ms. Gray does a great job portraying difficult situations with redemption and grace, and this book is no exception.

When Darcy’s long-held plans fall apart, she is thrust into a season of questioning God and having to reframe her dreams and expectations – I think we can all relate to that struggle! The friendship between Bryce, Darcy, and Cam got tense and a little frustrating at times, but it was handled well. One of my favorite parts of the story was how Bryce’s friendship pushed Darcy to make some much needed changes in her life and in her relationships. His steady, faithful love for her provided a contrast to her tumultuous relationship with Cam and made him an easy hero to root for. This story full of heart, depth, and a little humor will be a hit with fans of contemporary romance!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.