I can honestly say that The Gathering Table will be making my top 10 of 2021. This has to be one of the sweetest feel good books I have read this year. I loved it from start to finish and read it in one sitting. The characters were wonderful and just made me smile. I loved how Jess was embraced by the Scrappy Ladies. They were really fun and added a lightness to the story. We are also treated to two very sweet romances. One of my favorite parts of the book was the food. Jess is a chef and is constantly making what would probably be very delicious food in real life. I'll admit to snacking while reading. It was making me hungry.

I highly recommend this one. If you are looking for an uplifting, feel good story, then pick this one up. Just be prepared to be really hungry after reading it.

This is a Women's Christian Small- Town Romance. I have to say I love this small town in this book, and the characters where so great. I love how all the characters just always try to help each other, and that is how a true small town is like. I love the animals in this book as well. I think the animals brings this book to another level. There is also so many messages in this book. I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a cute small town romance with nosey neighbors this is the book for you. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Love Inspired Trade) or author (Kathryn Springer) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Do you need a sweet, wholesome small town romance story to read?
The Gathering Table is a sweet, heartwarming Christian based story that I truly loved.
Community
Hope
Love
Faith
It’s all here in The Gathering Table.
All the characters are endearing and each one will steal your heart as you see their personalities shine through.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow, all I can say is, this story blew me away! Keep the tissues close by as you are reading THE GATHERING TABLE by Kathryn Springer. She will have your emotions all over the place. Once I started reading, it was very hard to stop! The story is just that good. The twists and turns made it impossible to put down, as I had to know what was going to happen to Jessica after so much heartache! What an awesome story. All of Kathryn’s characters feel genuine and relatable and put your emotions on one heck of a roller coaster ride. As you are reading, you will find yourself cheering for all of them, praying they can work out their problems and be happy once again. You will also wonder how much heartache a person can stand before they completely break down and shatter.

THE GATHERING TABLE is all about friendships and the past and the secrets that come out are heart tugging. It had me flipping through the pages like a woman on a mission. I had to know what was going to happen to Jessica and Nick and all the secondary characters. Jessica is shattered after she is unjustly fired from her dream job. How will she ever get over her self doubt? She decides the only way she can be happy is to move away and start all over. Maybe she can find the meaning of her life once again. Jess is hired as a live-in cook and housekeeper for Elaine Haviland who is in rehabilitation after suffering from a stroke. But Jessica doesn’t learn that until after she arrives. THE GATHERING TABLE is a heart tugging story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down!

THE GATHERING TABLE is without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read in 2021 so far. I was instantly emotionally invested in all of the characters. As a revolving door of neighbors start showing up to learn more about Jessica and check on what she is doing, Jessica feeds them. I instantly felt the sense of community takes over and stole my heart. I wanted to be sitting at that table so badly! Be prepared to be very hungry as you are reading this wonderful story! My heart broke for Nick and Jessica and for all they were dealing with but Sienna shredded me. She had such a lonely and sad childhood and no one deserves to grow up like that. Kathryn Springer really knows how to write about family drama, heartbreak, and forgiveness. I can not wait to read more by this wonderful and heart tugging author. I have many of her older books to read and that brings me so much joy and happiness to know they are waiting for me!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Love Inspired through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#BookReview: THE GATHERING TABLE by Kathryn Springer

I would like to commend the beautiful book cover that reminds me of Thanksgiving. A time shared with loved ones. This new to me author brings us Jess, who was hired as a live in cook by Elaine Haviland. She arrived at an empty house. Elaine forgot to mention that she had a stroke and is still in rehab. Then Jess finds herself cooking for her unexpected visitors.

It took me a few chapters to get invested in the book, but the warm people of Winsome Lake won me over just like it did for Elaine and Jess. I love how Elaine’s friends show care for each other. Their diverse life experiences and personalities make this story interesting. I have enjoyed how Jess helped in the development of both Sienna (troubled teenager) and Christopher’s (teenager with down syndrome) characters. “Yes, Chef” sounds good to me now.

There is a bit of romance between Nick and Jess, but the story focuses on Jess and Elaine’s lives. Elaine doesn’t believe in coincidence and there is a reason Jess answered her ad. Sometimes we can be harsh on ourselves. They both had to learn to let go of the past, and believe that God will lead the way to the next chapter in their lives. God knows what we need. I love this verse from Psalm that Elaine mentioned to Jess.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” - Psalm 34:8

If you like a warm and charming story of friendship, faith, love and lots of pizza, this one’s for you. ! 4 stars

Thank you to #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Warm, Endearing, Comforting! All in a town you want to move to! Engrossing, Kind, and Deep characters and menagerie! This story reminded me of hope, and faith!
I’m so happy I decided to read this book right now, I really needed it. There’s no greater gift than picking up a book that you later find out was the perfect read on the perfect day!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was such a delightful and charming story. It was described as a small town romance, which immediately captured my attention. Once I started the book I knew I was going to love it. It had all the small town cozy vibes that I love in a book.

I thought the characters in this book were so sweet. It was centered around a chef named Jess, who get’s hired to be a live in chef and housekeeper for Elaine, who is currently in rehab after having a stroke. Jess is not prepared for all this small town will bring her. It is everything she didn’t know she needed! It’s such a cute story, and all the descriptions of the foods she makes, will have you hungry! This is my first book by thus author, but it certainly won’t be my last. This is the perfect book to read this Fall. I highly recommend checking it out!

What an enjoyable story! While it took me a couple chapters to get into the book, I quickly became so intrigued by Jess and Elaine's story.

Jess is a woman who never fit in, who constantly tried to compensate for being "that girl," the one with absentee parents and an unstable home life. When she takes a job as a housekeeper/cook for Elaine, she definitely gets more than she bargained for - an absent employer, neighbors who pop in at all hours, a potential love interest, and two special teenagers who work their way into her heart. As she settles in, she begins to experience connection and acceptance like she's never known before.

Ultimately, this book is about found family - for both Jess and Elaine. I loved the small-town feel of this novel, and all the characters were so fun to get to know. There's just a hint of romance, and I thought the book's ending was absolutely brilliant. This is a lovely women's fiction novel with a clear (and unforced) Christian thread, and it makes for a wonderful reading experience.

This one was a pleasant surprise. I’ve read a lot of books lately with this same type of premise and this one is at the top of the list for the execution of this somewhat predictable but heartwarming plot structure.

This one wove in a lot more about faith which I appreciated and only felt somewhat heavy handed at the end. I didn’t feel a big connection to the characters but I thought they were developed well and I was invested in their stories until the end. The secondary characters, most especially Christopher, stole my heart and were my favorite part of the story.

A special thank you to the publisher for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Elaine Haviland and Jessica Keaton were destined to meet. Their lives intersect in Winsome Lake, Wisconsin when Jess answers Elaine’s advertisement in the paper. Both strangers and suffering life changing events, they come to rely on each other. Elaine is in rehab and needs a personal chef and Jess has lost her job and this is her last resort. Both women learn to trust in faith, friends and family when life takes an unexpected turn.

This is a wonderful, wholesome story, filled to the brim with gastronomic goodness and sparkling romance. The Christian message of ‘letting go and letting God’ is prevalent as both women are rewarded with more than they anticipated. Jess finds out her position is more than ‘just a job’ as she meets a town full of charming people who make her feel welcome.

“It’s not just what’s on the table that matters – it’s the people gathered round it.”

Food makes people feel welcome. We may not love to cook, but we can love to feed people. Both ladies realize how important it is to create opportunities for the people who come into your life to rest and connect and be fed at your table. This small-town Hallmark movie type romance novel has a strong sense of community, a rich tapestry of faith, and an army of friends who are willing to dig in when life gets challenging.

You’ll be left with a smile on your face and remembering the adage “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves” as you turn the last page.

Publishes September 28, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Kathryn Springer, Harlequin, Love Inspired, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I hadn’t realized that I had read Kathryn Springer’s work before, but when scrolling through her catalog on goodreads I spotted a wedding series she was part of. That series of novellas is what got me through the early days of the pandemic and will always have a special place in my heart.

So it was even more of a treat to receive a copy of The Gathering Table. This sweet small town romance features a cast of characters that makes you wish you lived in their town and they were your friends. Jessica was a wonderful main character and it was a delight to follow her journey from a wounded soul to a cherished member of the town.

I do wish we had gotten to know Nick and his story better, but he was pretty perfect for Jessica. I liked the side stories of some of the characters and when intertwined with Jessica’s story, it kept the book humming along at a good pace. I recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy fall read.

The Gathering Table
Kathryn Springer

Sometimes I crave for a cozy read that inspire and warm the heart. The Gathering Table did just that with an interesting main character, and an even more delightful cast of characters in a small town setting. The story is centered around a chef named Jess Keaton whose last stop is small town Winsome Lake, Wisconsin where Jess is hired as a live-in cook, housekeeper for Elaine Haviland who is in Rehab after suffering from a stroke. While she is at the home, she gets to know all the townsfolk and while her guard is up, she opens up to the community and also to experience some love along the way.

I just love the wholesomeness of the story, the mouth watering goodness Jess is cooking up, and some swoon worthy romance as well.

This was such a lovely read I highly recommend.

This charming, small town story was full of heart warming characters. The story was easy to read and the characters were people I wanted to know. The romance was enjoyable and feel of a good family ( no matter what family looks like ) made me keep turning the pages.

One of the things that this story reminded me was - when you think things are really bad, it may be the beginning of something else really good. It was such an encouraging story.

With all the hard times and turns along the way, it ended the way you would want it.

There's much to love about this novel. From the scrumptious food Jess prepared, to the animals with distinct personalities, and the small-town setting populated with flawed yet loveable characters, I was smitten with the The Gathering Table from the first page. Needless to say, I devoured this hope-filled inspirational novel. Romance fans will get a double helping of sweet, wholesome relational goodness as attraction blossoms into something more between Jess and Nick, and Elaine and Matt. (Swoon!) If I had to choose the most swoon-worthy aspect of The Gathering Table, I'd go with Matt. He's quite appealing.
The deeper themes of forgiveness, embracing love after heartbreaking life experiences, and caring for the members of one's community will resonate with readers. I'd give this book ten stars if I could.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

I loved this book! :) Fall is my favorite season, and the cover alone completely got me in the mood, lol. Pair that with a new read published by Love Inspired–a fantastic line of Christian-fiction books–and it’s bound to be a winner!

Winsome Lake is truly just that, winsome. If only it were a real town … I’d completely visit! Charming, quirky, small-town-esque in every sense. Stars Hollow, but better. I particularly enjoyed the “Scrappy Women”–what a hoot–and their antics got me literally laughing out loud. The entire read really got me thinking about the true definition of family and how sometimes it can transcend blood.

And Jessica’s food … oh, man. It all sounded heavenly. Could I sign up to be a taste-tester, or at least get her recipes?

Plenty of great one-liners, some funny and others poignant. A twist near the end really caught me by surprise; I totally didn’t see it coming, but it really worked.

4/5.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Gathering Table
by Kathryn Springer
Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
Love Inspired
“A feast of small-town charm and characters who feel like dear friends.” —Liz Johnson, bestselling author of The Red Door Inn

From USA TODAY bestselling author Kathryn Springer comes a tale of starting over when life takes an unexpected turn.
A must-read from Love Inspired. I must admit this is the first time I have read Kathyrn Springer but it won't be my last. I found this book to be a pleasure to read. Thanks to Love Inspired and Net Galley for the ARC.

4 star

Welcome to Winsome Lake, Wisconsin, a place where everyone knows one another, and all are family.
Twenty five years ago Elaine Haviland bought her home, and moved in, a new comer, and she still considers herself as a newbie, and she repeats history by hiring Jessica without ever meeting her. Mistakes? No, you are about to enter a very heartwarming read, where strangers become family.
We are with Jes as she arrives to the empty home, well, maybe not empty as there is a constant stream of strangers, at least to her. Elaine is in rehab. Can you imagine thinking your alone, and being awakened by someone playing the piano?
Come and see how this family developes, and we come to see the parallel of lives through the generations. A sweet story that you won't want to end!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

What does Chef Jessica have in common with Elaine Haviland? Readers will find out in this tale of friendship, small towns and past relationships. As the author slowly reveals the carefully hidden secrets of Jessica and Elaine, find out how this closely knitted town come together to support its own. Somewhat predictable but enjoyable!

Jessica, unfairly fired from her job as a personal chef, is desperate to find a job, any job. She accepts a job as a cook, housekeeper and caregiver for Elaine, in the small town of Winsome Lake, Wisconsin. When she arrives at the house, Elaine is in rehab, recovering from a stroke. Elaine's friends greet her and assure her she is supposed to stay.
Elaine's door seems to be always open and it matters not whether Elaine is there or not. People come and go, and with that, Jessica finds herself being accepted and drawn into the community. The garden is a mess and Jessica knows she can rescue that, so she starts weeding and cleaning the back yard, cooking for the people who show up. Upon Elaine's return home, Jessica is asked to help transcribe a diary. The story goes on from there. Through Jessica's back story we discover she never had a home and has learned to never trust anyone. Will Winsome Lake and its residents change this?

This is such a delightful town, this Winsome Lake, Wisconsin. When Jessica Keaton, a chef fired from her job, comes to work for Elaine Haviland as a housekeeper, she is quite unprepared for the town and its inhabitants. She discovers she's gotten more than a job. She finds a town full of people are just what she did not know she needed.

Warmly written and deeply felt, this one will be remembered long after the last page.

My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is my own.