Praise for the Novels of Donna VanLiere The Christmas Star: "Second chances abound in this story, resulting in a Christmas gift worth waiting for... This sweet tale of love and overcoming obstacles offers a festive atmosphere readers will savor." ― Library Journal "This heartwarming tale is the perfect gift this holiday season. A must-add addition to any public library collection where readers enjoy uplifting romantic tales." ― Booklist Online The Christmas Shoes : "A heartwarming story." ― Publishers Weekly "Has precious gifts for all of us." ― The Washington Times The Christmas Blessing : "Sweet and emotional...A perfect holiday gift." ― BookReporter.com "A story of tragedy and, of course, ultimate triumph." ― New York Daily News The Christmas Secret: "…a sweet story that celebrates love and generosity of spirit.” ― The Boston Globe “Tired of sugar plums and impossibly perfect families? Consider this tale with its appealing heroine who struggles against losing faith in herself and in God.” ― USA Today The Christmas Hope: "A magical story of second chances that will stay with readers long after the ornaments have been put away."-- Bookpage The Christmas Light: “Full of heartache and promise...VanLiere touchingly induces Christmas spirit and tears that will satisfy her many readers.” ― Library Journal Donna VanLiere is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her much-loved Christmas Hope series includes The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing (both of which were adapted into movies for CBS Television), The Christmas Secret, The Christmas Journey, and The Christmas Hope , which was adapted into a film by Lifetime. She is also the author of The Angels of Morgan Hill and Finding Grace . VanLiere is the recipient of a Retailer's Choice Award for Fiction, a Dove Award, a Silver Angel Award, an Audie Award for best inspirational fiction, and a nominee for a Gold Medallion Book of the Year. She is a gifted speaker who makes regular appearances at conferences. She lives in Franklin, Tennessee, with her husband and their children.
Features & Highlights
From Donna VanLiere, the
New York Times
bestselling author of The Christmas Hope series comes another heartwarming, inspirational story for the holidays,
The Christmas Table
.
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?
Customer Reviews
Rating Breakdown
★★★★★
60%
(517)
★★★★
25%
(216)
★★★
15%
(129)
★★
7%
(60)
★
-7%
(-60)
Most Helpful Reviews
★★★★★
5.0
AG64CGWH72FPZ6KEYS4Q...
✓ Verified Purchase
Charming
I've really come to enjoy the majority of the Donna vanliere Christmas books. They all take place in the same town and you'll see the same characters throughout every book but it exchanges which characters are in front and which are in the background each book. If you're looking for something that is a relatively light read during the holiday season I highly recommend anyone of these books. My favorite one is the Christmas promise and I have to say that this book is probably my second or third favorite. It goes in between two different time. The 1970s and 2012. In the 70s we meet a woman who has two small children whose trying to learn how to cook while her husband dreams of building and also attempting to build a table for the holidays so they can sit around it meanwhile she also finds out that she must fight breast cancer. Meanwhile in 2012 a character that we've met within the past couple of newer books goes on search for a table and finds the table that this man from the 70s built along with a slew of recipe cards so she decides to try to track down the owner and of course ultimately she does. And of course there is an interloping of characters from modern day and back then. Definitely a Charming little story that will put a smile to your face and as a bonus there are few family recipes in the back of the book
2 people found this helpful
★★★★★
5.0
AGIZXI26EN3Q3H7X2YQI...
✓ Verified Purchase
So much packed into this short story
There is so much packed into such a simple short story. I loved revisiting the small town of Grandon and characters I’ve grown to love. This story takes place over two timelines but the author ties both of them together splendidly at the end. This story made me laugh out loud and get choked up with emotion. My favorite part was the deep inspirational thread woven throughout which showcased how we live our faith in God through the darkest trails.
★★★★★
4.0
AHMSB7RGNRW5F6H5AXAA...
✓ Verified Purchase
Christmas Mystery
The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere is tenth in a series of wonderful Christmas books. A dual timeline between 1972 and 2012, two families are connected by a simple handmade table.
In 2012 Lauren is preparing her home for a new baby and purchases a refinished table. She finds a hidden drawer with recipes written twenty years earlier by the original owner, Joan. The story goes back and forth as we learn the table was made for Joan by her husband as she was battling breast cancer. Lauren wants to learn more about this family as she learns to cook from the recipes left behind.
This was my first book in the series so I did feel I would have been a bit more invested in the embracing feel of the community as supporting characters came and went. Although the book can be read as a stand alone I knew I was missing out on these ‘cameos’. The faith-based themes are a strong component and are sure to be a draw for many during the Christmas reading season. Know this is an overriding factor if it’s not a comfort zone.
I recommend The Christmas Table for those that enjoy faith based Christmas books during the holidays, or any time! Especially those that enjoy dual time lines and foodie fiction. I am sure to read more by this author and series!
Many thanks to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity to review The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere. All opinions are my own.
★★★★★
3.0
AGKF6HW6PB44NYXBCA32...
✓ Verified Purchase
Sweet Christmas read
Title: The Christmas Table
Author: Donna VanLiere
Ch: 30
Pg: 231
Series: Christmas Hope
Genre: Christmas
Rating: 3.5 stars
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
This sweet Christmas story from the author who brought us the Christmas Shoes. I just knew that this one would make me laugh, make me cry and celebrate the season. I look forward to her books every year and this year was no different.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
★★★★★
5.0
AEPE5GZVL4L36E4ZVHRT...
✓ Verified Purchase
Heartwarming Christmas story that reminds me of a Hallmark movie
A heartwarming story like my favorite Hallmark Christmas movies I love watching each year! Filled with family, friendship bonds, faith, yummy recipes, all neatly packaged up and tied with a ribbon waiting for the reader to open it. It's also a dual timeline, going from 1972 to 2012, but the author doesn't miss a beat and seamlessly weaves together past with present. The ending was my favorite, there were surprises that just made the story even more special!
My first book by Donna VanLiere, who is now a beloved favorite author! I'm definitely seeking out the rest of her books. She has a way of making a story come to life, characters that feel like treasured friends, and a gentle faith thread that speaks truth into your life. A must-read for anyone who loves Christmas stories, Hallmark movies, and tales that tug at your heart!
★★★★★
5.0
AFTLRYGQAGKRAJT4DCNK...
✓ Verified Purchase
Sweet book! Good recipes included!
Lovely inspirational story about family, friends, and finding faith. The cover gives a good description of the story so I won't repeat the storyline. It is a quick read and one that will leave you with a good feeling. There are some excellent recipes tucked in the actual book but the author included a few recipes at the end of the book that look quite simple but delicious! Read and enjoy.
I was provided an advanced reader copy of the book and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.
★★★★★
5.0
AF3XZERDFVX67DOWUDYU...
✓ Verified Purchase
Beautiful Christmas Story!
The Christmas Table by Donna VanLiere is the tenth in the Christmas Hope series. This new book in the series can easily be read as a standalone. This New York Times best selling author really knows how to write an inspirational story of faith and the power of prayer.
I have read all ten books in the series and was so looking forward to this one. Reading a Donna VanLiere story is like coming home. All of her stories remind me of a wonderfully written Hallmark movie. It is warm, loving, full of heart, faith, family and hope.
The story is written in two different time periods: 1972 and 2012.
If you have read any of my reviews you know I don’t write about plot specifics because I feel the reader needs to enjoy the details for themselves. I loved the plot, the entire cast of characters and I love how Donna VanLiere weaves a most perfect ending.
I am please to wholeheartedly recommend this book. If you have never experienced the joy of a Donna VanLiere novel please read this one. Well done! I can’t wait to see what this author has in store for us next.
I would like to thank the author, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
★★★★★
5.0
AHJ6UKBK22IO4BDL6HUL...
✓ Verified Purchase
Splendid and Heartwarming Holiday Story
If 2020 has been a challenging year for you and you are Covid Bored at home and in need of a pick-me-up,
then you definitely need to read, "The Christmas Table" by Donna VanLiere. She has a marvelous way of
taking something as simple as a kitchen table and creating a heartwarming holiday story. The magic
happens when a young woman searches for the owner of what she feels must be lost family recipes, discovered in a hidden door.
I have read most of Donna VanLiere's Christmas novels and highly recommend them! You simply can't resist her creative holiday stories that are filled with love and light! And with this pandemic, we all could use some "Feel Good" Christmas Magic! This book will do that for your soul!
Thank you to:
St. Martin's Press - Sara LaCotti
NetGalley -- for this wonderful holiday novel
Sheri Kowalski
★★★★★
4.0
AGVJGHT6I2ZCTC3IAVSK...
✓ Verified Purchase
Lovely Christmas Story!
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
★★★★★
4.0
AHVH4RMEYN6UEL2SCKDE...
✓ Verified Purchase
Inspirational
Imagine yourself finding a treasure whose value is being discovered with each page turn.
That's how Lauren finds herself discovering handwritten recipe cards in a secret drawer on an old table bought in a sale yard.
She expects a baby and in this new journey, dreams and hopes are built, as she learns to cook through these recipes.
On the other hand, we know the story of the table, when it was made by John Creighton for his wife, Joan, who was supposed to be ready by Christmas.
And again, the reader walks through the emotions experienced by this other family, in hopes and sorrows, when Joan discovers the cancer.
Two families, two stories that cross over a table and recipes cards, making us think, feel and touch the story through time.
4 stars
