Into the Fire

If you're a "foodie", love "women's fiction", find researching your family's history fascinating, and are interested in the German invasion of France in WW11, Hillary Manton Lodge's Together at the Table is the contemporary story of lost and found love, a family's history of superb culinary skills, horrendous sacrifices, and persistent discovery. If you meet the criteria in the first sentence, this two part novel is for you. (And isn't that a lovely cover?)

Two Blue Doors is a trendy restaurant with a family history that is setting the Portland (Oregon) dining scene on fire. Juliette and her brother Nico, their pastry chef Clementine, and the sous chef Adrian who begins the story falling for Juliette, all contribute to the fabulous menu offered to their growing customers. When Juliette's birthday celebration goes horribly awry, she designates assignments and goes to stay in Chicago with one of her visiting sisters where some puzzling pieces of information about their family fit into place.

Juliette struggles with seeing her former love interest Neil and finally realizes she isn't over him when she returns to Portland to a terrible scene which causes her to reach out to him. Her family is scheduled to visit relatives at their chateau in Provence for the holidays, but Juliette and Nico are able to put together a fantastic "save" for their restaurant's Christmas Eve reservations.

When the family travels to France, secrets are discovered about their history during the war. A diary reveals heart wrenching information none of them had ever known. (Although I really like the format, the entries in the diary are "handwritten" and the text is somewhat difficult to read.)

Included in Together at the Table are recipes and specific preparations for the food mentioned in different parts of the story. Quotes about the intimacy of food and dining top each chapter. The unusual content/layout of this novel will entice a specific group of readers who will no doubt find it enjoyable.   

Father, please continue to bless Hillary's efforts to create her stories with her own specific flair and care. Encourage her and inspire her as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.