Welcome to my stop on the book blog tour for Love and the Dream Come True by Tammy L. Gray. This blog tour was organized by Lone Star Book Blog Tours. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win all three books in the series. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!
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Series: State of Grace #3
Author: Tammy L. Gray
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Date: August 2nd 2022
Print Length: 368 pages
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance
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The Anticipated Series Finale to the 2021 Carol Award-Winning Novel, Love and a Little White Lie
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.
Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble *
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PRAISE:
"Cameron and Lexie's chemistry is palpable, and readers will root for their happily ever after. This tender tale hits all the right notes."—Publishers Weekly
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EXCERPT:
LEXIE
“Are you kidding me right now?”
I jump at the irritated question and shift my attention to the doorway and to my daughter, who’s manically tapping her foot on the linoleum. Morgan has always been an adorable little girl, but lately she’s blossomed into a stunning young lady. Not that she’s noticed. Morgan’s idea of school prep is a ponytail and a clean T-shirt that’s at least a size too big.
“You’re still in your robe,” she hisses. “And you’re listening to Cameron Lee again, which you and I both know makes you even slower than your normal molasses pace!”
I pause the song and attempt to move faster, though added pressure always seems to have the opposite effect. “I can get ready in—” I glance back down at my phone—“nine minutes.” I twist my damp hair and secure it with a large pronged clip. “See? Hair’s already done.”
“Mom, I’ve been late for school every day this week.” Exasperation laces each word, and she crosses her arms as if I’m not already aware that she’s annoyed.
Guilt lances me. “Not every day.”
“Two out of three!” she barks, and we fall back into a pattern I wish I could say is rare, but it’s not. Morgan is thirteen going on forty, and I’m, well, I’m responsible when I need to be. The rest of the time, I’m free. Because life’s much too short to live it counting seconds and making lists. “And if I get five, I’ll get lunch detention.”
“Okay, okay.” I flick my wrist to shoo her away so I can get dressed. “But you standing there growling is not going to make me move any faster.”
“You have nine minutes!” She spins, and I hear her stomping through my bedroom. “Not a second more!”
“Got it.” I rush around, trying to pick up the pace, and knock over two of my cosmetic cases in the process. This is ridiculous and unhelpful. I take a deep breath and attempt to get my already racing heart to calm. No such luck.
I restart the music and hope the sound of Cameron’s voice will push the nervousness away. As usual it works, and the giddy excitement returns. I should feel a little guilty for inviting Cameron to our victory moment, especially since he and Mason haven’t spoken in nearly five years, but I ignore that pinch of loyalty. Mason doesn’t talk about the falling-out that occurred between him and his closest friends, so I see no reason why I have to sacrifice for an event that occurred ages ago.
Cameron’s butter-rich voice follows me into my closet, and I sway to the sound. My clothing selection is bigger than one would imagine on my income, but I’ve become a master at consignment shopping. Sometimes a little stitch here and there can transform a piece of fabric, just like a little touch of color or the right throw pillow can turn a living room from drab to fabulous. “Life is an adventure, Lexie,” my mom would always say. “It can be someone else’s existence you’re coveting from the shadows, or it can be yours.”
“This one’s for both of us, Mom,” I whisper as I pull my newest find from the rack. Today isn’t a wear-just-anything kind of day.
It’s a conquer-the-world kind of day.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas. Her nine modern and true-to-life contemporary romances include the 2017 RITA Award-winning My Hope Next Door. When not taxiing her three kids to various events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church.
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GIVEAWAY:
Win a paperback set of all three books in the State of Grace series by Tammy L. Gray! (US only)
(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. The publisher, Bethany House, assumes all responsibility over this giveaway.)
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Doesn't sound like one I would normally go for, but sometimes a book can surprise me. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental