V. Joy Palmer: August 2022

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Review of Love and the Dream Come True by Tammy L. Gray

About the Book ~

Their faith will face its toughest test yet.

Four years after getting the biggest break of his life, Cameron Lee's music career has taken a nosedive, leaving him two options: become a sellout or give up on his lifelong dream. He reluctantly returns home for his sister's wedding, hoping to avoid his past and find his love for music again.

Single mom Lexie Walters has suffered her fair share of tragedies and setbacks, but she has finally scraped together the money to achieve her dream of going into business with her cousin as an interior designer. When Lexie's life is at an all-time high, she runs into her teenage crush, Cameron Lee.

Lost in the emotional turmoil of failure, Cameron is immediately drawn to Lexie and her infectious smile and optimistic spirit. Moreover, he adores her mouthy, no-holds-barred daughter. But fantasies only last so long, and soon Lexie and Cameron must face the real world, the one fraught with heartbreak, disappointment, and questions that sometimes can only be answered by a leap of faith.

For more information about Tammy L. Gray and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Here are my condensed feelings on Love and the Dream Come True by Tammy L. Gray: IT'S AMAZING! Get this book, bypass that teetering TBR tower, and settle into your favorite reading nook for a binge read!

Now come the rest of my gushing feelings about Love and the Dream Come True, LOL!

Love and the Dream Come True was so fun, so romantic, and so utterly, achingly relatable! One of my biggest pet peeves is perfect characters, and that was not an issue in this story! I loved Lexie and Morgan's relationship; they gave me all the Gilmore Girls vibes! While Lexie was sunshine, rainbows, and unicorn wishes with her unending optimism, I loved her imperfections. Furthermore, I have been waiting for Cameron's story, his voice, and -- most importantly -- his victory since I met him on the ink-stained pages. I have mourned for him, wanted to punch him, and cheered for him. Cameron's story was everything I had hoped for and more! Additionally, I loved how the author portrayed a realistic man, a man who not only has emotions but struggled with them as this is a universal struggle in humanity.

Lexie and Cameron's spiritual journey in Love and the Dream Come True was...ahem, timely. I enjoyed how the conflict was twisted and turned on its head, inviting Lexie to trust God and take a brave risk on love. However, Cameron's struggle with perfectionism was probably the most relatable part of the story for me. I cried not only with Cameron but also reading the author's note at the end because this message is one I'll come back to again and again when the struggle to be perfect suffocates the joy of co-creating with God. Read it and weep. Then be blessed.

Five Stars ~ Love and the Dream Come True by Tammy L. Gray was and is and will forever be AMAZING! Love and the Dream Come True is the third and final book in the author's State of Grace series. Love and the Dream Come True could be read as a standalone, but the events in the previous books directly contributed to the conflict in this instalment, so I recommend reading the series in order.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

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Thursday, August 11, 2022

Review of The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey

About the Book ~

A deadly attack.
A stolen weapon capable of immense destruction.
A painful secret that threatens to tear two hearts apart.

CGIS Agent Noah Rowley is rocked to the core when several of his valued team members come under fire on his Coast Guard base. He and his remaining team race to the scene and end the attack, but not before innocent lives are lost. Furious and grief-stricken, he vows to do whatever is needed to bring the mastermind behind the attack to justice.

Stunned by the ambush, Coast Guard flight medic Brooke Kesler evacuates in a helicopter carrying the only surviving gunman. The gravely wounded man whispers mysterious information to Brooke that immediately paints a target on her back.

As Brooke and Noah race to uncover answers, emotions between them ignite. Noah struggles to protect Brooke at all costs and to conceal the secret that prevents him from becoming what he longs to be--the right man for her.

Everything is at stake as a horrifying truth emerges. . . .

The attack wasn't the end game. It was only the beginning.

For more information about Dani Pettrey and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Having a craving for romantic suspense? Then check out The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey!

The Deadly Shallows had an interesting premise and an almost nostalgic feel to it as it reminded me of an episode of NCIS or JAG -- and who doesn't enjoy a good episode punctuated with a race against the bad guys and the kind of character chemistry that's built through time and countless hours of binge watching? While the pacing felt slow from time to time, it did keep me asking questions. Also, there were two romances for the price of one!

The Deadly Shallows shows a faith journey that overcomes some of the worst offenses wrought by humanity. While not soulmate characters for me, I appreciated how the characters sought an authentic relationship with God. The way they each continued looking to God and His goodness in a world filled with such repugnant evil was and is always a compelling, gripping message.

Three Stars ~ The Deadly Shallows by Dani Pettrey is a solid addition to the romantic suspense genre! The Deadly Shallows is the third book in the author's Coastal Guardians series. I was able to read The Deadly Shallows as a standalone, but I think the character dynamics would be clearer if the series had been read in order.