Love and the Dream Come True - State of Grace by Tammy L Gray Paperback

I just binge-read this whole series in less than a week. I could not put them down! I was so excited to read Love and the Dream Come True by Tammy L. Grace. Now it's Cameron Lee's story. He comes home for his sister's wedding with writer's block and feelings of failure after years as a successful musician. And with a lot of lingering anger at his former group of friends especially Darcy, Bryson, and Mason. Single Mom Lexie Walters has always had a crush on Cameron, and listening to his music over the years has helped her get over some tough times. I love the quotes that she often recalls from her mother. " She once said the greatest gift i could give her is to live out my life with optimism and faith, always looking forward, ever behind me, and loving with all my heart. I turn thirty soon, and I pray I've made her proud by doing just that." “The only person you can control, Lexie, is you. Don’t spend your life as a grumbling spectator in someone else’s story.” I just love her spunky daughter Morgan, and her grumpy cousin Mason. "It's funny how God brings blessings at the most unexpected moments." A wonderful story of forgiveness, kindness, family, and facing big issues, laced with love and humor. I highly recommend Love and the Dream Come True. Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

"Like us, the tree is a knit-together hodgepodge of torn and broken pieces, and yet together it's truly beautiful." Oh, Cameron. I have loved this character since book 1 of the series and am so glad that he finally got his story. He went from an idealistic, naive, selfish young man to a broken, panicked, jaded rock star; Cameron feels every emotion deeply and traverses the entire spectrum of human emotion in his story - betrayal, utter despair, gut-wrenching anger and bitterness, hope, forgiveness, mercy, grace, and overwhelming joy. I am not a musician or any type of creative but acutely felt his angst as he floundered in his failure and felt helplessly trapped in his inability to reclaim his music. This obviously flawed man who was once chasing fame and adoration hits rock bottom and only then realizes that perfection cannot be attained but forgiveness, restoration, and redemption are gifts that cannot be taken away. The story also fills in the four year gap between last book and this one and gives insight into Cameron's side of things, since the first two books were in first person narrative of his ex-girlfriend and his former best friend. I loved meeting and getting to know Lexie from her first person narrative as well. She is not someone who I envisioned for Cameron but the more I got to know her, the more I liked her. Her optimism, determination to live each day to its fullest, and unswerving belief in Cameron perfectly complement Cameron's moody, and often broody, artistic nature. Her relationship with her 13 yo daughter is quite realistic and Morgan definitely adds fun, quirk, and sass to the storyline. I know this is the end of the series but I can't help wishing for a story on Mason, Lexie's cousin and Cameron's oldest friend..... It's another winner from Tammy L Gray. She will make you cry, laugh, and hold the book next to your heart long after the last page has been read. I received the book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.