This book has a very specific scope. It's not unexpected, or surprising, or necessarily challenging. Rather it's like a pair of favorite slippers, a cozy comfort to enjoy around the Christmas fireplace when you want to sink into a heartwarming, easy feel. I am not in that particular place or mood at the moment, but pick it up with the right expectations, and it will serve its purpose.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!

Very enjoyable book by VanLiere. It bounces back and forth from 1972, with John and Joan Creighton and their two children, and 2012, with Travis and Lauren Mabrey, who are expecting their first child. It centers around a table that John made for Joan while she was battling cancer, and a table that Lauren and Travis buy from a local furniture builder. And best of all, it involves wonderful recipes that are described in mouth-watering detail. I won’t divulge any spoilers, but I truly enjoyed the book.

I received an e-book ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. This is my honest and unbiased review.

The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere is a heartwarming tale about a table and how it plays an important role in the lives of two families, decades apart. In 1972, John is building a table for his family when his wife, Joan, is diagnosed with breast cancer. Joan has recipe cards from her mother that she's learning to cook from and she's afraid she won't survive her cancer to finish learning.

In 2012, Lauren gets the table from a gentleman who refinishes furniture and finds a drawer that has a set of recipe cards in it that obviously had been passed from a mother to a daughter who didn't know how to cook. Lauren uses these cards to learn to cook for her husband Travis just as Joan did for John all those years ago. However, Lauren has no idea who the table might belong to and starts searching in an effort to return the cards to their original owner's family.

There is a strong thread of Christianity and faith running through this novel and it is a joyful read. I enjoyed it very much...especially reading about Christmas in the heat of June days! Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Received ARC
I have read and loved every book by Donna VanLiere!
Excited to read this one.

Two stories Two time periods Two women

Handwritten Recipes to learn, Recipes that teach and have cooking lessons,
Recipes to copy, Recipes for LIFE

God doesn't waste any opportunities!

Another great book to read!! Love this book!!

Wow I'm just stunned with how good this title was. I just had so much fun reading this title and getting to along for the ride with these amazing characters. I'm so excited to see what's next from this author.

A feel-good, faith-filled story of two woman, Joan and Lauren, and one homemade table. Joan’s husband made it for her in 1972; Lauren finds it in 2012, filled with recipes cards containing notes from a mother to a daughter. The dual timeline, which seems de rigueur these days, works well in The Christmas Table, especially as it poignantly ties the narrative together at the end. For readers who love simple inspiring stories of relationships, faith and giving. The latest in the Christmas Hope series by this NYT bestselling author.

Pub Date 06 Oct 2020

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheChristmasTable #NetGalley

A heartwarming Christmas story full of hope! I loved the Christian message woven throughout the story and how the characters grew in their faith. This is such a cozy, comforting read!

I fell in love with these characters. The story intertwined old and new. I will read this book again. It's a great feel good story. Full of love, friendship, and family. The focus on family how family can be found outside of your bloodlines. Redemption, courage, overcoming our past and perseverance.

If you want short, simplistic and sweet, then The Christmas Table is probably for you. If you want eloquent writing with a well-developed plot and characters with depth and complexity this is probably not for you. The story is told between two time periods - 1972, when young mother Joan is battling cancer, and 2012 when Lauren and her husband are expecting their first child. The women are connected through the recipes Lauren finds in the table that Joan's husband made for her. As the story goes along Joan tries to win her battle with cancer and Lauren tries to track down the table's owner. That's pretty much the gist of the story. While other people may not notice it the book is written in present tense, unusual for novels - and it drove me up the wall. As much as I appreciated the author trying to create a "friendly" relationship between Gloria and Miriam that also drove me nuts. While the way VanLiere brought everything together at the end, I can't say that I loved the process of getting there.

This is wonderful and heartwarming story --Thank you Net Galley for an advance copy for an honest review.
This book is centered on a Kitchen table - built in 1972 by John for his wife Joan. in 2012
Lauren buys it and finds in a secret drawer with homey recipes.
At her volunteer job at Glory's place an at-risk daycare she secretly makes the food and gives it away to her friends.
this story is sweet and very uplifting. I loved how the two dates come together at the end and the table brings happiness and friends together

worth a read

The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere
Starts with other works from the author.
Story follows John and Joanne and their kids in 1970's where he's challenged her to cook from her mother's recipes.
She challenges him to make them a table for the holidays. He researches a lot and finds books at the library. Joanne gets her kids to help and often has to call her mother for help...
Story also follows Lauren and Travis and she's pregnant and she helps out at daycare center and husband works for parks and recreation.
Lauren works for a floral shop and also volunteers at Gloria's place for daycare for children. They have fundraisers to help with donations of food and supplies.
They bought a table and Travis finds a hidden drawer under filled with recipes. She has a mind to search for the real owner of the table.
Joanne is going through breast cancer and gets help from relatives and friends...
Today is the day-love this phrase know that I know what it means. They start believing in God and have faith.
Love the research Lauren does to find the owner and love the ending, never saw it ending this way.
Recipes are included at the end. Can't wait to read more from this author.
I received this review book from the publicist from St. Martin's Press via Net Galley and this is my honest opinion.

It was a bit difficult to find this information, but I believe this is the 10th book in the Christmas Hope Series. I did not read the other books in this series or any books by this author prior to this book. I really enjoyed this Christian based story linking two families by a special table. The story is written in dual timelines, so the reader knows this link early on. The story also centers on handwritten recipes cards and notes from a mother to her daughter. In both timelines a young woman learns to cook from these recipes. It was delightful to experience the joy that they found in cooking, since I really never have felt that way. I was motivated and actually cooked a few meals after finishing this book. I wish my mother was still here to teach me to cook some of her favorite meals.

The author does a great job of character development and I came to know and like many of the people she created. One character was very annoying, but I know she has a golden heart, so I tried to not write her off as a nasty person. I definitely want to go back and read the entire series. I believe in an earlier story this character's attitude is probably explained.

I liked the plot very much. I enjoyed how all the loose ends of the story are tied up very neatly and realistically at the end.

I want to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read the Advanced Reader Copy. My review is my own opinion not influenced by receiving the ARC.

I loved this story. This was the best of all her books. The story alternated between the past and the present. The finding of some old recipe cards in a used Table started Lauren looking for the owner of the cards. This story is also a "tear jerker" as they call it. See how how both the stories come together for a powerful ending. . A GREAT READ, I hope Candice Cameron Bure reads this book as it would make a powerful movie.

A lovely story A book about a special family table,a table where there were wonderful gatherings.A table where there was delicious food a tale I really enjoyed,#netgalley#st.martinspress

USA - 1972 and 2012

May, 1972 - The plan is to build a kitchen table by October, but John Creighton has never built anything before. He finds a beautiful piece of black walnut and has a book, MEASURE TWICE AND CUT ONCE, and John is going to use it to create a masterpiece. His wife, Joan, isn't too sure, but she encourages him as she, too, is determined to learn how to cook better meals to put on John's table. Not one to follow directions well, Joan is now following the lovingly handwritten recipe cards that her mother gave her. Their two young children deserve good food, too, so this is a work of love for Joan.

May, 2012 - Lauren Mabrey is embracing her new hometown. After a life going from home to home as a foster child, Lauren is now happily married to Travis, and works at the local supermarket, volunteering after hours at Glory's Place which takes in local children after school, providing care as well as tutoring. Lauren and Travis are just setting up housekeeping and are in need of a kitchen table. The group of women at Glory's Place find the perfect table and Lauren is delighted with it. It's obviously homemade and there's a little drawer in which Lauren finds a stack of recipe cards. As someone who is desperate to learn to cook, Lauren is thrilled with the loving details and homey comments written on the cards, and she begins to learn the tricks of cooking from a mother she never had. Shortly after, Lauren learns she is pregnant.

July, 1972 - Joan is called back to her doctor's office after her annual check-up. Thinking it's about not having her newest insurance information at the first appointment, Joan is stunned to be told that she has breast cancer, and her treatments must start immediately. Each chemotherapy session leaves her drained, and John makes sure she is allowed to rest, as he takes over the household duties. The table will have to wait. Maybe it will be ready for Thanksgiving. In the meantime, John prays that Joan can overcome this horrible disease.

July, 2012 - As Lauren becomes more proficient in the kitchen, she yearns to discover who wrote these loving notes and recipes, so she begins to ask around town. The name Bud crops up all of the time in the recipes as the farmer where milk and yogurt are purchased. Could he still be around? Lauren has no idea how old the cards are, but she hopes to find a link to them.

THE CHRISTMAS TABLE is a sweet, inspirational story about overcoming hardships in life, and cherishing family and friends. How will Joan's struggle turn out? And will Lauren discover the answer to her search?

A heartwarming story of how lives can intertwine and have an impact without anyone knowing it. Even better is when you find out how the impact turns out.

Story of two families and the table. Story starts in 1972, when John started to build a table for his wife Joan.
Then story jumps to 2012, and it's about Lauren (who buys the table) and Travis, Lauren finds recipes in the draw of the table, and she and Travis try to find family, who owned the table.
This story is absolutely wonderful, it's about struggle and faith.
I did enjoyed so much.

Good. Easy and heartwarming story about how a piece of furniture can help families though tough times as it enabled them through a love of food to keep connected. Even though the title suggests its a christmas story it isn't as when you read the story it takes you through the year it took to make it as it was a christmas present.

A warm, fuzzy, delightful Christmas story that can be read at any time of the year!
You do not want to miss this one!
Most families love to congregate around a kitchen table where there is food, drink and conversation.
This is a novel told between 1972 and 2012 between two families and the journey of a special homemade table with its magic drawer full of delicious recipes and life lessons!
This book has spirit and strength throughout each chapter!
Do yourself a favor and sit for a day and nourish your soul!
"We may not be able to see God, but just like the wind we can see what He touches."

A cozy holiday read for the coming Christmas season, this book will remind you of your favorite Christmas movies. Small town characters who connect with and help each other through life's best and hardest moments are featured, along with happy coincidences. Some of your favorites from previous Van Liere novels appear again in a story that moves back and forth between the past and present to connect the people and places that shaped their lives. The recipes and references to cooking and baking will appeal to those who long to go home for Christmas. While not as strong in character and story development as some of the author's previous work, it is still a heart-warming read that will leave you feeling nostalgic, and wondering when "that" channel will premiere a movie based on this new book in an already popular setting.