Author: Melissa Storm
Genre: Romance / Contemporary 
Release Date: March 2020
Rating so far: 3/5 stars ✨ 

This sampler is so cute. I didn’t get hooked into it and ten left shattered that I had to wait for more like I have with other samplers I’ve read but I did enjoy it. I loved ok forward to hearing more closer to the release date!

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the ARC excerpt.  This review is based on the chapters I was sent to read.

“The Sunday Potluck Club” is about for women who became friends while caring for loved ones undergoing cancer treatment, and who are now navigating the complexities of their forged friendships while they pick up the pieces of their own lives in the wake of devestating loss.. Of the four friends, Amy is the center of focus with Bridget coming a close second.  I appreciate watching how these strong women deal with their tragedy in different ways, and how each friend supports and confronts one another with love.  I’m looking forward to discovering what becomes of each of them.  That said, I’ve read several chapters of the book and don’t feel a complete sense of who they are independent of one another.  Much of the book thus far leaves this reader with a sense of melancholy and the need to referee these women when they snipe at each other.  I have hope that the remaining chapters, when they arrive, illuminate me as to where the story is going.

Angels Among Us!
What better way to start the Summer Heatwave as it's like a treat when you have Christmas in July with Debbie Macomber!
This starts out with a married couple wanting to have a baby desperately but sadly are unable too.
It results in a miracle of sorts as the grandmother Helen is struggling with dementia but notices the change in the situation above.
That change resulted in her believing they were touched by an Angel that appeared out of nowhere at their door to help this family in need.
The entire atmosphere takes on a more jovial feeling as Helen becomes more actively involved setting up the nativity, decorating the xmas tree, and showing signs of happiness.
All the while Lauren and Zach are also seeing signs from above that something more is about to take place and could change their lives forever in a good way!
I loved every second of this new work by Debbie Macomber and hope you do too!

When it is hot as heck outside and there is nothing cool to do but reading as everything else makes you end up a sweaty mess, it is the perfect day for a speed reader.

I received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.


A recipe for living . . .
 
New friends can be found in unexpected places. For Bridget and Amy, that place was the cancer ward of an Anchorage hospital. Now, as each struggles to overcome loss, they lean on each other for support—sharing suppers, laughter and tears.
 
Bridget and Amy aren’t about to let hardship knock them down—Bridget plans to return to her veterinarian school studies, Amy to her position as a second-grade teacher—but neither feels quite ready. And so the Sunday Potluck Club is born, a way for Bridget, Amy, and other women who have lost a loved one to find solace and understanding. Savouring favourite dishes while sharing memories and the comfort of connection, the members of the Sunday Potluck Club nourish body and soul.
 
As weeks go by and the group grows in unforeseen ways, both Bridget and Amy are inspired to find a greater purpose.  Amy reaches out to a student whose father bravely faces his own struggle. Bridget volunteers at the local animal shelter, rehabilitating dogs whose unconditional love will bring others a chance to heal. And with the help of two special men, Bridget and Amy are realizing that there’s always room at the table for love and rekindled joy . . .

HOW CAN YOU ONLY GIVE ME AN EXCEPT OF AN INCREDIBLE BOOK???  I am almost purple from apoplexy. I love the characters, I love the premise and I am insanely upset that I have no idea if any of these women are still alive. Are there recipes? Are there unforeseen circumstances? I FEEL ROBBED!!!!  

How can I rate and review a book based on a few pages?
1 star for the premise
1 star for the characters
1 star for the food aspect
1 star for the greater purpose angle

5 stars, maybe, in total, when/if I get the whole book to read.

This was not the whole book so I can’t really review it.  I liked what I read to finish it when I can get a whole copy.  I will review it then.

I think by reading the excerpt this book is going to be a Chick Lit book! I think a lot of women are really going to enjoy this book!!!

Even though I received  just an excerpt , The book sounds really amazing . 
Intriguing story with good characters and  great storyline .

Would be really interested in reading this novel when published .

Although I was well aware that it is a preview, I was a tad disappointed I could not read more about Amy, Bridget, and Hazel, and their journey towards healing. As someone who has recently lost a parent, I could relate to the characters and their struggles. It has the makings of a great book. Looking forward to reading the complete version.

Author Melissa Storm opens with a funeral. Two best friends, Bridget and Amy, are obviously at a low point after experiencing the loss of two loved ones. It’s heavy and tense, and Storm expertly explores the complicated array of emotions individuals experience when processing grief in only a few pages. And yet, there are pinpricks of hope— the beginning threads of these women finding a new purpose, a new place, and maybe even a bit of romance.

It’s a tantalizing start and I can’t wait to read the rest.

The Sunday Potluck Club by Melissa Storm is, I think, going to be a good book. I received this from #Netgalley but didn’t realize it’s just an excerpt, not the whole book. It’s the story of a group of friends, all of whom are grieving the death of a parent. It shows how everyone grieves in their own way. Hopefully, at some point, I’ll be able to read the rest.

I was provided an excerpt of The Sunday Potluck Club by Melissa Storm through NetGalley and Kensington Books. This is the story of four women who met through their parents terminal cancer diagnoses. Every Sunday, they each bring a dish and have dinner together while they work through the tragedy of having a parent suffering through cancer. They have one rule: everyone grieves in their own way. 

I’ve loved what I read so far and can’t wait to read the full book when it’s available.

This excerpt did not grip me as much as I wanted it to. I’m not a huge fan of storylines that focus around death and funerals and cancer. But I might pick this up when it comes out.

I really enjoyed the excerpt and am excited to read the full arc when it comes out. However, I am unable to review this title as it's only the excerpt.

This preview about two friends who meet on a cancer ward portends a real winner, one I look forward to reading in full when it becomes available. Bridget is in vet school, Amy a second grade teacher. They bond with other grieving women as members of the Sunday Potluck Club, sharing food, tears, laughter, and hope. I can’t wait to see how their stories unfold! 5/5 
 
Pub Date 31 Mar 2020.

Thanks to Melissa Storm, Kensington Books and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheSundayPotluckClub #NetGalley

I have to admit that I was disappointed when I reached the end of the book so quickly and then realized this was only a preview of the book and not the entire title.  I enjoyed what I read--but would have loved to read a bit more to properly give a full review.  There are many character developments that were not complete even though the general story line did come through--and what I read was interesting.
Am looking forward to reading the book in its entirety and thank you for allowing me the opportunity toread this overview prior to publication.

This was lovely and I enjoyed it.  Nothing helps a body get through the tough times like good friends.  Toss in some good eats and frank, truthful conversation and I feel as though I can conquer the world.  Thank you Melissa Storm, for writing such a lovely story.