The Gathering Table

GIVEAWAY

SPRINGER, KATHRYN

THE GATHERING TABLE

Winsome Lake, Wisconsin, is post-card pretty, but for chef Jessica Keaton it's also a last resort. Fired from her dream job, Jess is starting over as a live-in cook and housekeeper. When she arrives, she finds her new employer is in rehab after having a stroke, and Jess expects she'll be all alone in Elaine Haviland's quaint house. A chef with no one to cook for.

But instead, she encounters a constant stream of colourful visitors who draw her back into the world. As Jess contends with local teenagers, a group of scrappy women and a charming football coach, Elaine faces some battles of her own the extend past her physical challenges. For both of them, all the ingredients for a fulfilling life are within reach, if they're willing to take a leap. And maybe Jess will start to see that it's not just what's on the table that matters -- it's the people gathered around it.

My Review:

Such an enjoyable, feel good, hope filled story! I love the way it's built around Jess's love for cooking and how that transforms her from guarded loner to part of an adopted 'family.'  I was prepared for a good read, this is a Kathryn Springer novel after all, but I wasn't expecting it to be an all-consuming, emotional jubilee of all that is right and good about living in community.

The way the author pulls loner Jess back into the world is touching and funny and blink-back-tearing at times. She's had a hard life -- neglected childhood, professional let down and no where to turn until she 'happens' upon a want ad for a live-in cook and housekeeper. She looks upon the opportunity as a stop gap measure but her employer is certain there is nothing happenstance about it. Divine intervention more like.

I was enthralled -- and that's really the only way I can describe it. I was catapulted into Jessica's messy life from the very first page, emotions leading me to an empathetic understanding and a fierce hope for this scrappy heroine to find  her 'people' and her faith. And, whooooooaaaaa, does the author deliver all that and so much more.

The Gathering Table is a kinda Women's Fiction / Contemporary Romance hybrid. We get multiple points of view, two (TWO!) scrumptious romances and a bevy of amazing fictional friends.  Along with solid inspirational threads that bind them all together.

I listened to the audible edition and loved Ann Marie Gideon's narration. So much so that I compulsively listened to the whole book in one day! 

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for an ebook copy -- this is a Love Inspired Trade novel and is only available online in ebook or audible format. It is, however, available in print format at Walmart. 

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Season of Change, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 6 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!