The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere – a Review

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Description:
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?

Review:

The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere is part of her Christmas Hope series. This was a story of two women, with POV’s for the time periods of 1972 & 2012; revolving around family, friends, hope and some wonderful recipes found in this special table. 

In 1972, John (who loved working in carpentry) decided to build a table for his wife, Joan and their two children. Joan would cook each night for the family, and would teach her daughter, Gigi, how to cook to perfection; as she followed a recipe she created for her daughter. 

In 2012, Lauren is newly married to Travis, and works at her job, and helps part time with her newfound friends to train girls.  When she tells her friends she is pregnant, they decide to help her fix up her house, and go to the local carpenter to find her a table for her dining area; which with help from the carpenter, they buy an old but good table.  When Lauren, who cannot really cook, finds a stack of recipes deep in the draw of the table, she beings to follow the recipes to create wonderful dinners and desserts.

Back in 1972, John continues to work hard building that special table, and when Joan becomes sick, he falls behind.  Joan continues to push herself making wonderful dinners and recipes, until she cannot do too much more.  She undergoes chemo, with her family helping her, but it is John who tells her to have faith, as God will help heal her. He constantly tells her “Today is the Day”  That becomes the family motto.

Lauren is happy with her friends, learning how to cook, but she wants to learn more about the mother and daughter whose recipes belong to them.  She does research, determined to possibly find more information on the daughter. 

What follows is a heartwarming Christmas themed story that pulled on our hearts.  John and Joan’s story was heartbreaking at times, but the family continue to have faith, and pulled together to get through these difficult times.  I loved Lauren, as she learned to become a good cook, and was determined to try to find the rightful owners of those recipes.  The ending was so well done, very sweet and emotional.  If you enjoy a sweet heartwarming story of two people in different time periods that are built around hope and faith, I suggest you read The Christmas Table, written so very well by Donna VanLiere.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher