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.

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.

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.

The Christmas Hope series continues in this dual time story. I loved the idea of the story surrounding learning to cook by recipes handed down with encouraging notes to the recipient. I wasn't sure how the two stories would intertwine but loved the conclusion. The recipes included are an added bonus that readers will enjoy. Recommended!

“The Christmas Table” is a heart warming Christian story about faith, hope, love, and family. This book spoke to me especially since we are in the middle of a pandemic. What memories do we want our kids to have, chaos and fear or love and hope? An easy to read well written book great for a weekend read.

The Christmas Table is a magnificent holiday tale by Donna VanLiere. Ms. VanLiere has brought the stories of two families to life in this well-written book. She has created a cast of characters that are fun and heartwarming. This book is the blending of two stories, a table, recipe cards and faith. Joan struggles with cancer in the 1970's and Lauren is starting her family in 2012. Kudos to Ms. VanLiere for her masterful weaving of these two stories. The Christmas Table will make you smile, it may make you cry. But it's positively going to keep you entranced. I loved every page of this book and look forward to my next book by this talented author. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book that I’ve read by this author- I thought that I would give it a try when I was offered a copy from the publisher. It is a very sweet|clean story that takes place in 1972 and 2012. The two situations tie up quite nicely at the end of the book in a surprising way. There were unexpected moments throughout the book that made my heart happy.

I absolutely adored this book and couldn’t put it down. I read this, basically, in one sitting. The book was written well and the characters grabbed you. I teamed up in parts and was left with a feel good glow. I especially love the addiction of some of the recipes in the back. Thank you.