A beautiful heart warming story which had me close to tears. This story is seasonal but still lovely to read at any time of year.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I requested to read and review this book from St. Martin Press. Author Donna VanLiere does it again in this amazing store. Don't let the title fool you this book can be read anytime of the year. But it will definitely put you in the right spirit and reminds us things could be much worse in life. This book is an inspiration of hope and to never give up. Characters Gloria and Miriam will keep you laughing and Lauren will want to cheer her on as well as Joan and John. There also some great other characters on the book that you want to read about. This book ends at Christmas but it begins much earlier in the season. This book can be read by any type of reader. I recommend also reading The Christmas Town and all of the The Christmas Hope series by this author.

"The Christmas Table" by Donna VanLiere
Two stories fifty years apart and the table that is the link between them. I loved this story. I laughed and I cried, buckets of tears. You see, I tend to feel the emotions of a well written story. So, if you have the same tendency, you best have your tissues handy. This is a sweet clean family love and faith book. The author included several of the recipes from the story as a special treat for you to try at home. So, be sure to check out those final pages !! Happy Reading ! !
note: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher with the request to post an honest review.

I love a good Christmas story year round. From getting into the spirit of the season around the holidays or just a mental break from the heat if the summer, stories like this always puts me in a good place. Glad or sad, I love a Christmas themed tale.

If you like a story slow, calm and nothing much happens this is for you. The only characters ' banter & relationship I enjoyed was Miriam & Gloria's. True friend sarcasm. Otherwise it bored me.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. This book switches from 1972 to 2012. You meet Lauren and Travis in 2012 and Joan and John in 1972. This book is well written and will tug at your emotions. I have read all of Donna Vanliere books and can't wait to read he4 next book.

It's May 1972 and John is working on a kitchen table in his shop. John's wife Joan is thirty and they have a one year old son Christopher. They also have a five year old daughter Gigi. Then it's may 2013 and Lauren is at a children's after school program. She volunteers at the school program and has almost been married a year. Lauren has fallen in love with Travis. I loved going back in time and reading about Joan cooking from her mom's recipes. I liked reading about Joan's battle with breast cancer.

This is a faith-based story about putting your trust in God, especially during times when things seem hopeless.

It alternates between two stories, 40 years apart. One involves the making of a table as the man’s wife battles cancer, the other a young mother-to-be who purchased the table and discovered family recipes/remembrances in its drawer. The table and recipes pull, not just each family, but the families as a whole together.

A good, maybe not great, heartwarming story with some unexpected humor.

Note: Don’t read this while hungry...there’s some scrumptious recipes featured, and a few included at the end.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

I received an advance copy of The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere. It is a tradition for me to read one of Donna's book every Christmas. I love her writing style, the characters the setting, all of it. This book is about Lauren set in 2012 and John and his wife Joan in 1972. Such a great book, I love reading about Glory's Place. There is always Christmas magic there.

This story was so heartwarming and actually touched my heart, and even if the story leaned into faith it didn’t feel like to much, I rather liked it!! I was so impressed in the author and how effortless she had the characters and stories intertwined. She tied up all the loose ends by the end of the story perfectly, and some of the happens just made me say WOW didn’t see that coming!! Incredible story!!

A heartwarming and poignant story that moved me to tears and made me smile. Great plot and characters, full of Christmas spirit.
I love the well written characters and the plot.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

This is a sweet, cozy book that switches between 1972 and 2012.

The importance of family,traditions,and good food are key aspects.All the characters are likable and I wanted to see more of their story.

I recieved a copy through Netgalley.

Feel good story about Lauren in present day, who becomes pregnant and discovers cooking thanks to a table with recipes in a hidden drawer, and Joan who cooks for her young family while her husband is building table and Joan battles cancer with her family’s support. The alternating views slowly bring the story together with its charm and while making me hungry from reading about the food. Miriam and Gloria also provide their entertainment through their quips which kept the story lighter.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc.

The Christmas Table is a sweet, homey story set in 2012 and 1972. Joan's husband begins to build her a table when a crisis hits the family. Newlywed Lauren is still setting up her household with her husband with her friends' help and buys a refinished table and expects a new addition. It was clever how the author connected the two stories toward the end. Traditions are important and sometimes even help out unintentionally. The novel has a range of emotions, but lots of good cheer which is always appreciated during the holidays.

The Christmas Table is a beautifully book. Great plot with believable characters. Loved this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

This is another Christmas story that takes us to Glory’s Place and the colourful cast of characters readers have been introduced to in previous novels. It does help to read earlier novels as there are so many characters now it may be a bit confusing for readers unfamiliar with Ms. Van Liere’s books.
I loved how this novel connected two different time periods – 1972 and 2012. I quite enjoy reading time slip novels so this was definitely a treat.
This story picks up with Lauren and Travis setting up house after their wedding. Lauren purchases a refinished table and discovers recipe cards tucked inside a secret drawer. Never having cooked much or memories of family dinners around the table, Lauren is determined to start now before little ones arrive.
In 1972 we see the love and dedication that went into crafting the walnut table and the tragedy that surrounded the young family who built it.
What I found a challenge was to read both stories in present tense as if it was happening RIGHT NOW. It was a bit jarring at first, but after a while I got used to it.
There are characters to love and moments to cry along with them. But, it is a Christmas story so there is a happy (or at least satisfying) ending.
This story has all the feels.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

A very sweet romance with dual storylines emphasizing the importance of family. A great romantic story. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Christmas Table by Donna VanLaiere

Is fate or Destiny part of Gods Plan? This book could make you think about it!
I was crying by the middle of the book because of the inspirational message that the author was developing between the characters. I literally had to go into my home and start praying. I didn’t know what or who I was praying for and I think that is what the books message is Today is the day! Pray!
God puts us in places where he thinks he needs us most and sometimes he calls our loved ones to stand by his side to be his angels to do work for him. I have no earthly idea why he chooses the ones he does, but I can only pray that my loved one is in the safety of his hands.

The author does a masterful way of taking us from 1972 to the present time and how she connects everyone is unequivocally exceptional! All the characters flow and the storyline is phenomenal. This is one Christmas book everyone should have in their collection! I have her whole collection, but I without a doubt say this is my favorite now! I cannot wait for the hardback!

Thank you to the author and publishers who work diligently for us the readers.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and I am willingly giving my thoughts and opinions.

This was a very moving, engaging book and I really loved how it all wrapped up so nicely at the end. The characters are well-defined and you really feel like you get to know them. I did not see the small plot twist coming, and honestly I had a small moment of annoyance when the name/nick name situation was explained, but I was so happy with how it worked out that I got over that very quickly.

This was a nice holiday read and I could totally see this becoming a holiday movie.

This Christmas book by Donna VanLiere reminds us what is truly important in life and that is the interconnectedness of people. We may think that our lives don’t impact those around us, near and far, but they do! This story follows two families, decades apart. I love how the importance of family and how people connect over meals was highlighted in this book. The ending was truly a surprise I didn’t see coming.