Every single book of Donna VanLiere's Christmas Hope series has touched my heart, and her newest is no different. John Creighton's hobby is woodworking and now he's going to attempt his biggest project, a lovely black walnut table for his wife. Joan his wife is busy learning to cook using her mother's detailed recipes. Turn the clock forward 40 years, and Lauren and Travis Mabrey pick up the table in an antique store. They find a stuck drawer underneath that is filled with amazing recipes that they begin to use. But Lauren is upset that someone has lost these amazing recipes and vows to find the person who lost them.

I loved that the wonderful characters from Glory's Place once again appeared in this story as they always add a special touch. The dual timelines were heartwarming and real as Joan fights breast cancer and Lauren travels the road of her first pregnancy. It was so easy to get invested in each of their story lines. This story's them was definitely family, friends, and faith. Love, laughter, kindness, and emotions filled each chapter making this story feel like you were a part of it. You just can't beat a small town story. This HEA ending made it a perfect read for an early start to the Christmas season. If you have to choose just one Christmas book to read this year, make it The Christmas Table.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Title: The Christmas Table
Author: Donna VanLiere
Genre: Fiction, women’s fiction
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

In June 1972, John Creighton determines to build his wife Joan a kitchen table. His largest project to date had been picture frames but he promises to have the table ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Inspired to put something delicious on the table, Joan turns to her mother’s recipes she had given to Joan when she and John married.

In June 2012, Lauren Mabrey discovers she’s pregnant. Gloria, Miriam, and the rest of her friends at Glory’s Place begin to pitch in, helping Lauren prepare their home for the baby. On a visit to the local furniture builder, Lauren finds a table that he bought at a garage sale but has recently refinished. Once home, a drawer is discovered under the table which contains a stack of recipe cards. Growing up in one foster home after another, Lauren never learned to cook and is fascinated as she reads through the cards. Personal notes have been written on each one from the mother to her daughter and time and again Lauren wonders where they lived, when they lived, and in a strange way, she feels connected to this mother and her daughter and wants to make the mother proud.

The story continues to from 1972 to 2012 as Joan battles breast cancer and Lauren learns to cook, preparing for the baby’s arrival. As Christmas nears, can Lauren unlock the mystery of the table, and find the peace she's always longed for?

This was a sweet tale of two women and their families in two separate decades and their stories. It’s also full of descriptions of delicious food!

“Sweet” is really the perfect adjective for this book: there’s the food of course—not always desserts—but there’s also the journeys Joan and Lauren go on as they attempt to grow, learn, and thrive with the hands they’ve been dealt. Their friends and family truly surround them on their journeys, helping to get then through to their destinations.

Donna VanLiere is a bestselling author. The Christmas Table is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

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Blog link live 10/12.

A heartwarming tale of two families connected by a table. Travis and Lauren are a young couple in 2012 who find out they are expecting their first child. They get help from their friends at Glory’s Place and purchase a table. When they get the table home, Lauren finds a drawer with recipes in it. Through these recipes, she learns to cook, but she knows she needs to find the author of these recipes if at all possible.
The second timeline takes place in 1972 with John and Joan and their children. This part is actually tissue use inducing. Joan is using recipes from her mother, in the hopes of becoming a better cook. Things are going great, until she gets diagnosis with cancer. John stays positive, on the outside, but inside he is breaking. Joan goes through all the typical treatments but it only gets worse. So she has to try another round. He promises her a table for Thanksgiving, but doesn’t quite make it.
The connection between these two families is one you won’t see coming. I absolutely fell in love with these characters and the lives they lived. I received an ARC via NetGalley and am leaving an honest, voluntary review.

I loved this heartwarming novel with characters that jump right out of the book and into your heart and a beautifully written story that seamlessly goes back and forth between 1972 and 2012. This is the first book I have read by Donna VanLiere but it definitely won't be the last. "The Christmas Table" is a perfect read for this time of year and will inspire you, put a smile on your face, joy in your heart and ready for the holidays. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Its nit Christmas without a sweet story by Donna VanLiere. The Christms Table clicks all the boxes for me. I have been a fan since The Christmas Shoes and am never disappointed. The book also has some fabulous recipes.

I love it when I find a new-to-me author that I really enjoy. This was a not a traditional Christmas story. It was more about the time leading up to it in two different times. We alternate between 1972 and 2012. Two different families connected by a table and recipes. Their lives and hope for a miracle. One with cancer and one with a baby on the way. Two women whose lives are about to change.
The story had all the emotions, I cried sad tears and happy tears.
I love the way the author tied these two stories together and the deeper connection at the end. A beautiful story and wonderful characters. I loved every minute of it.

One of the best books I have read this year. A very emotional, compelling story. It held my interest from start to finish.

The Christmas Table A Novel by Donna VanLiere 4 stars

The book tells us the story of John and Joan in June 1972 and of Lauren in June 2012. John was planning to make a kitchen table when a family emergency surfaced. I love John and Joan’s relationship as a couple. They were there to lift each other up. They tried to make things happy and memorable despite their aching hearts. You can feel the love in their family. All the delicious recipes they make together with the kids make me hungry.

Lauren is pregnant. I think it is fate that Lauren found the recipes that Joan made for her daughter Gigi. She is not a cook but these recipes are full of love that she wants to recreate one, then two and more. Travis is amazed at all her cooking. I also enjoyed the people who volunteer at Glory’s place. They are like family and are willing to help others.

If you like stories of family and friends, a little bit of mystery, journey of faith and lots of recipes, this book is for you! It definitely makes me want to bake right now!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.


St. Martin's Press
General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date 06 Oct 2020

Loved this book , an inspirational story of two family’s in two different times. And a table that brings people together and also some great recipes I can’t wait to try..... excellently written ...brought tears to my eyes, I couldn’t put it down definitely worth reading

3.5 stars - Good+
Book 10 in this series; I have been reading since book 8. I have enjoyed Lauren's story since book 8, and I was thrilled to spend more time with her in this one.

This is a dual timeline story - part is from 1972 and part is from 2012. The cancer story from 1972 was a darker, harder part of the story to read. The author keeps you wondering how that part of the story is going to work out by 2012. I preferred the 2012 part of the story with the familiar series characters and the "puzzle" of the source of the table and the recipes.

I liked the idea of the recipes as a storytelling mechanism, but in execution it didn't always work for me. The details of preparing all of the food slowed the story down in my opinion. I don't enjoy cooking, so other readers who do may really get into those passages. There was also a reference in my review copy to a newborn sleeping on her stomach in 2012 , which is not recommended due to SIDS risk. That might have been changed by publication.

Series fans will want to check this out and catch up with favorite characters. New readers can probably drop into the series here. Those who enjoy books with recipes and cooking as a connection to family, friends, and legacy should absolutely pick this one up. (CW: cancer/cancer treatment)

The Christmas Table is a lovely holiday story that will fill your heart with joy and hope. Donna VanLiere did a great job with the time slip between 1972 and 2012. I enjoyed reading about Joan and Lauren learning to cook and the stories behind the recipes. Joan's story touched my heart as her husband, John, poured his love for her into building her a kitchen table. I love that Lauren, with great determination, sought out a significant piece to an important puzzle. The folks who work at Glory's Place are delightfully funny and caring. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another fantastic read. I knew from the moment I requested the book, that I wouldn’t be disappointed! I’ve read every book within this series (Christmas Hope) and I’ve loved each one. I’m not going to lie, I’ve shed tears in few of them. This, no different. What I love about this series, is that there is an interwoven story of each member of the town and while they are connected, each story is still a perfect separation from the previous. I simply love the feeling I receive each time I read one of these books. Another winner and I really don’t feel anyone would be disappointed! Great job and once again, THANK YOU for allowing me to read one of my favorite authors new release works and share my opinion! Loved it!

THE CHRISTMAS TABLE was sent to me by Net Galley, free of charge, in exchange for my honest review.
St. Martin’s Press is the publisher of the Christian fiction book, THE CHRISTMAS TABLE, written by Donna VanLiere. I have read many of her books, and enjoy them always.
In 1972, John Creighton is building a table for his wife Joan, who he loves so dearly. He promises it will be done by Thanksgiving. She decides, if he is going to build a table for Thanksgiving, she is going to make a yummy meal to go on top of it. She and her daughter, GiGi and son, Christopher, work their way through a recipe file that her mom had given her. These recipes are included in the back of this book.
In 2012, We meet Lauren and Travis Mabrey. Lauren works at Glory’s Place with Gloria, Miriam, Andrea, and others…Andrea being the newest volunteer. In fixing up Lauren’s house for an exciting upcoming event, she bought the table that John Creighton built. Lauren also found the recipe cards that Joan had from her mother.
As I got to the end of this book, I got more and more excited to hear how exactly 2012 correlates with 1972. It actually caught me by surprise.
This book was so good! I would DEFINITELY recommend this book as a fun Christmas book. This would also be a sweet Christmas gift.

This book was such a delight to read. It is more than a Christmas story, it is two stories about families that are tied together but just don't know it....yet.  The book flips between 1972 and 2012 and centers around some recipe cards that were found in a table in 2012 that were written by the mom in 1972. Joan in 1972 and Lauren in 2012 learn how to cook with these recipe cards and the notes are very specific. This was a blessing for both women since they knew how to make the basics and these were more complicated recipes (somewhat). I have to say that my mouth was watering while reading the book.

This is the tenth book in a series and some of the other reviews that I have read mentioned that the characters flow from the various books. I think I could tell that in this book by Lauren's mention of her wedding and other details, but this book can easily be read as a standalone book. The author does a brilliant job of character development and I didn't feel like I was coming into the second act of a play and missing information.

While the story focuses on the women surrounding Lauren (in 2012) when she discovers she is pregnant and supporting her, there is also a little bit of a mystery on whose table this was that Lauren purchased with the recipe cards. She wants to give them back and a surprise twist will reunite her with the owner. The story in 1972 follows Joan who is battling breast cancer. This hit close to home since I am a breast cancer survivor myself. It also shares her family's response and you can see the love her husband has for her and wants her to keep fighting. Several members of the community come together to support the family especially spiritually.

All in all, this was a lovely book and I had a hard time putting it down. I will definitely take a look at some of her other books in the near future.  We give this book 5 paws up.

I cannot say enough good about this book. I love, love, loved it!! It’s about two different families, starting in two different times, but how their stories are brought together is amazing. This is a story of love and faith and loving family and friends. Just what a Christmas story should be. You will laugh out loud at Gloria and Miriam. What a special friendship they have. I hope you’ll take the time to get to know Lauren, Travis, Joan, John, Gigi and the rest of these wonderful folks. I think you’ll be glad you did. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

There's no question about it reading a Donna VanLiere book is just like being wrapped in a blanket of warmth and love.
What is lost is found and where there seems like there will be none there are plenty.
A beautiful warmth and that fuzzy happiness surrounds you while reading this.
It's a true miracle occurring.
Do yourself a huge favor and read this wondrous Christmas book it many just bring tears to your eyes.
And while the recipe cards are fresh in your mind you will be so delighted to see there are many tasty recipes at the back of the book for you to try as well.
I know my husband is going to love the peanut butter fudge I make from these recipes.

Published October 6th 2020 by St. Martin's Press
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE CHRISTMAS TABLE is the tenth book in the CHRISTMAS HOPE series. (It’s best to read the books in order to get the full flavor of the series but can be read independently as well.) It was nice to be back at Glory’s Place and with characters I’ve grown to love. This book was a little slow for me when it first started because we were bouncing from 1972 to 2012 and back again. I had a tough time keeping the characters and timeline straight. Once I did, there was a nice flow to the story. Even the small details in the telling played an important role at some point. There were many stories being told in the past and the present that were woven together in surprising ways and added richness and layers to the story.

The importance of the table and the recipe cards was revealed in how they played a significant part in two families’ lives. I liked how Joan and her husband, John, handled her illness and their interactions with each other as well as their two young children in 1972 when the focus was on them. It showed their fears as well as their support. It was interesting to see how the author wove the same comment spoken innocently throughout by different characters, both main and supporting ones, and how it had a ripple effect.

The notability of religion throughout was often subtle until taken in context with other things. Lauren was the center of the story in 2012. She had a troubled childhood and had lived in foster homes. She feared she would grow up to be like her mother. Lauren was portrayed as a caring individual, settling into married life with her husband, Travis, learning to cook, volunteering at Glory’s Place and taking care of friends and her family. She and Travis had an easy relationship, and I liked how they did little unexpected things for each other. There was nice closure in a very unexpected way that really gave me satisfaction.

I have read all the books in this series except for the previous one, THE CHRISTMAS STAR, which I plan to read shortly. Ms. VanLiere is a go-to author for me of Christmas stories that I can read at any time of year.

The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere was a sweet novel that focused on two families, forty years apart, connected by a handmade table. It’s full of hope and faith, something that is definitely needed in our world at this time.
When Lauren finds she’s expecting her first child, she realizes it’s time for her and her new husband to turn his bachelor pad into a family home, but she isn’t sure how to do it. Enlisting the aid of her good friends, one of the items she finds is a handmade table that has been rescued and refinished by a local woodworker/furniture maker. When she finds a hidden drawer containing a stack of recipe cards with special notes, it inspires her to not only learn to cook and bake but find the owner of the cards. Can she do it?
In 1972, Joan is diagnosed with breast cancer and things don’t look good. Her husband is determined to finish his handmade Christmas table in time for the family to have Christmas dinner around it. Joan’s diagnoses is devastating, but John feels that finding faith and hope, will get them through this time, and the Christmas table will be the perfect gift.
When I picked this one up, I didn’t realize that it was part of a series (number 10). When it came to Lauren’s part of the story, I did feel a bit lost, because there were so many characters to keep straight and so much history I had missed. In that respect, with the dual timeline Joan’s story was easier to follow, but luckily when I needed to, I was able to start making the connections. This novel isn’t quite a standalone, but once you get started, you will catch the flow.
THE CHRISTMAS TABLE is perfect for the season and, more so, for this crazy year. It’s a place to go and remember the good in life and the season.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
#TheChristmasTable #DianeVanLiere #StMartinsPress #ChristmasHope

This was a surprisingly delightful book. The characters suck you in from the start. At first, I thought that there were too many characters in the 2012 time period. But they don't play a major role, and it's easy to keep track of everyone. I love books that deal with different time periods. You wonder how they will ever match up. You'll find yourself praying that Joan will beat her cancer. The different characters that are introduced in both time periods play an integral part in God's plan. This book is a prime example that God wastes nothing and uses all for good. So if you're going through some rough times now, God knows what's ahead and it will be good.

Newly married Lauren finds several handwritten recipe cards in a hidden drawer of a refinished hand-crafted kitchen table she buys from a local man in 2012. The recipes are sprinkled with family stories and helpful hints from mother to daughter. Lauren and her husband benefit from the delicious recipes and she finds a clue to begin a search for the family that has misplaced the treasure. The story flashes back and forth to 1972 to Joan and John the tables creator and his beloved wife. The best part of the story are the points in time when past meets present.

I enjoyed this wholesome faith based story. It's a calm and tender read. There isn't any big conflict, more the struggles of life's challenges. The characters are people I'd like to know. Be prepared to be hungry after this read, the recipes sound delicious. They are in the back of the book as a delightful bonus.