The Christmas Table

Book excerpt: The New York Times–bestselling author of The Christmas Hope returns with a heartwarming tale of two families sharing holiday traditions across time. In June 1972, John Creighton determines to build his wife Joan a kitchen table. Though he’s never built anything larger than a picture frame, he promises to have the table ready for Thanksgiving dinner. Inspired to put something delicious on the table, Joan turns to the recipes she got from her mother as a wedding gift. In June 2012, newlyweds Travis and Lauren Mabrey discovers she’s pregnant. When Gloria, Miriam, and the rest of her friends at Glory’s Place begin to pitch in, a second-hand table reveals a surprise inside the drawer: a stack of recipe cards. Having grown up without a family, Lauren is fascinated as she reads through the cards. Personal notes on each card make Lauren wonder about the mother and daughter who shared them. Alternating between 1972 and 2012, The Christmas Table unfolds a heartwarming tale of two families who share a unique bond. As Christmas nears, Lauren hopes to unlock the mystery of the table and find the peace she’s always longed for . . .