Synopsis
From Donna VanLiere, the New York Times bestselling author of The Christmas Hope series comes another heartwarming, inspirational story for the holidays, The Christmas Table.
In June 1972, John Creighton determines to build his wife Joan a kitchen table. His largest project to date had been picture frames but he promises to have the table ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Inspired to put something delicious on the table, Joan turns to her mother’s recipes she had given to Joan when she and John married.
In June 2012, Lauren Mabrey discovers she’s pregnant. Gloria, Miriam, and the rest of her friends at Glory’s Place begin to pitch in, helping Lauren prepare their home for the baby. On a visit to the local furniture builder, Lauren finds a table that he bought at a garage sale but has recently refinished. Once home, a drawer is discovered under the table which contains a stack of recipe cards. Growing up in one foster home after another, Lauren never learned to cook and is fascinated as she reads through the cards. Personal notes have been written on each one from the mother to her daughter and time and again Lauren wonders where they lived, when they lived, and in a strange way, she feels connected to this mother and her daughter and wants to make the mother proud.
The story continues from 1972 to 2012 as Joan battles breast cancer and Lauren learns to cook, preparing for the baby’s arrival. As Christmas nears, can Lauren unlock the mystery of the table, and find the peace she’s always longed for?
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Review
This book was such a delight to read. It is more than a Christmas story, it is two stories about families that are tied together but just don’t know it….yet. The book flips between 1972 and 2012 and centers around some recipe cards that were found in a table in 2012 that were written by the mom in 1972. Joan in 1972 and Lauren in 2012 learn how to cook with these recipe cards and the notes are very specific. This was a blessing for both women since they knew how to make the basics and these were more complicated recipes (somewhat). I have to say that my mouth was watering while reading the book.
This is the tenth book in a series and some of the other reviews that I have read mentioned that the characters flow from the various books. I think I could tell that in this book by Lauren’s mention of her wedding and other details, but this book can easily be read as a standalone book. The author does a brilliant job of character development and I didn’t feel like I was coming into the second act of a play and missing information.
While the story focuses on the women surrounding Lauren (in 2012) when she discovers she is pregnant and supporting her, there is also a little bit of a mystery on whose table this was that Lauren purchased with the recipe cards. She wants to give them back and a surprise twist will reunite her with the owner. The story in 1972 follows Joan who is battling breast cancer. This hit close to home since I am a breast cancer survivor myself. It also shares her family’s response and you can see the love her husband has for her and wants her to keep fighting. Several members of the community come together to support the family especially spiritually.
All in all, this was a lovely book and I had a hard time putting it down. I will definitely take a look at some of her other books in the near future. We give this book 5 paws up.
About the Author
Donna is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She’s an in-demand conference speaker and gifted teacher and has 14 published books including four that have been adapted into movies.
Donna is the recipient of multiple industry awards including a Retailer’s Choice Award for Fiction, a Dove Award, a Silver Angel Award, two Audie Awards for best inspirational fiction, a nominee for a Gold Medallion Book of the Year, and is an inductee in the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Hall of Excellence joining such luminaries as Coretta Scott King, Hugh Downs, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, and Senator John Glenn.
