Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Book Review: Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L. Gray

About the Book:

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.

Read an excerpt from Love and the Silver Lining on the publisher's website.


My Thoughts:

Love and the Silver Lining by Tammy L. Gray blends women’s fiction with romance in a story of disillusionment, deconstruction, and unexpected love. When Darcy Malone’s plans for mission work in Guatemala fall through, her life changes dramatically, forcing her to grapple with a new, uncomfortable reality.

Perhaps my favorite aspect of Love and the Silver Lining is the depth of Darcy’s struggles. She shares her hurt and disappointment from a first person POV that gives the reader an intimate peek into her thoughts. Because Darcy faces many difficulties in quick succession, she often feels her feelings without working through them, leaving her frustrated and stagnant. Laced into this season of her life, a budding romance simultaneously brings sweetness to her life and necessitates difficult decisions. Darcy’s forward motion and personal growth came slowly in a manner that made her journey authentic and inspirational.

Love and the Silver Lining lands as the second installment in Tammy L. Gray’s A State of Grace series, but works well as a stand-alone. Although this novel didn’t catch my attention until several chapters in when Darcy started working with the dogs, I very much enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next novel.



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.


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