Love and a Little White Lie by Tammy L. Gray is a contemporary Christian romance. While a light sweet romance is fun to read, a full contemporary Christian romance is not my usual fare. So why did I love this book? Because it’s not your typical contemporary Christian romance.

First off, January Sanders, the main character, is an agnostic. She doesn’t believe in a god. However, after a particularly bad break-up, she goes to live with her aunt and Aunt Doreen is a strong Christian who uses her influence to help her niece get a job interview at her church. While January promises not to lie, she also doesn’t offer to disclose her view of God and is subsequently hired.

That ‘little white lie’ begins a journey of questions, pain, healing, and answers. First January is attracted to the church’s lead guitarist and worship leader, Cameron. A charismatic man who has choices of his own to make, but welcomes January’s advice. Advice he doesn’t realize is coming from someone who doesn’t believe in the God he worships.

January also discovers other church members who need a little help. Or maybe a friend. I loved how she wants to see good come in their lives. Meanwhile she also has her job to do, doing various tasks for the pastor she was hired to assist. An old, crabby man who is overwhelmed by work and life.

Then there is her aunt’s landscaper and his son, Dillon. I loved Dillon right from the start. Direct, hurting, and questioning God, he seemed the most authentic Christian I’ve read about in a contemporary Christian romance. Honestly, from about the one-third mark in the story, I began rooting for him and couldn’t wait to read another scene in which he appeared.

Whether January, Cameron, or Dillon’s story turns out the way a reader hopes is for you to decide. Personally, I couldn’t put the book down and stayed up way my bedtime to finish it. I find it a rare Christian romance that is willing to show the truly messy side of a walk with God, which makes this one of my favorite novels of the year.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.