A Table for Two
by Sheryl Lister
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: August 16, 2022
Reviewed by PJ
The best meals. The perfect company. And just enough sparks to make it complicated . . .
Serenity Wheeler’s Supper Club is all about getting together with great friends, incredible food, and a whole lot of dishing—not for hooking up. Still, Serenity knows inviting her friend’s brother to one of her dinners is just good manners, but the ultra-fine, hazel-eyed Gabriel Cunningham has a gift for saying the wrong thing at the really wrong time. Especially when it comes to her cooking.
Gabriel isn’t quite sure how they got off on the wrong foot, but something about Serenity makes him nervous. Maybe it’s because he’s new to the small-town vibe. Maybe it’s because the woman is so gorgeous that he can’t think straight. Or maybe it’s because there’s an attraction between them he can’t seem to shake.
Though refreshments and camaraderie may be the supper club’s mantra, Serenity and Gabriel know there’s more between them than just sharing delicious meals. But she can’t let herself fall for Gabriel. Because while cooking with love is one thing, trusting it is quite another...
PJ's Thoughts:
A word of caution before you pick up a copy of A Table for Two: do not begin reading this book on an empty stomach. Both Serenity and Gabriel love to cook - and I love to eat - so, believe me when I tell you there was a whole lot of drooling and tummy rumbling going on as I read this story. ;-)
A Table for Two is a charming, low-drama, small-town, contemporary romance that moves along at a steady, leisurely pace. I enjoyed Serenity and Gabriel. Both are likeable, relatable characters who have been burned in previous relationships, are reluctant to trust, and not looking for anything permanent in the romance department. Plus, Gabe is only in town for a limited time. He's a big-city boy who has no interest in small town life. Of course, that's before he moves in next door to Serenity.
Anyone who has read a small-town romance or watched a Hallmark movie knows how this story is going to end. But that's the conclusion we all sign up for - or at least I do. It's the journey that makes the book enjoyable. This journey has some ups and downs, and initial conflict that is pretty quickly resolved, but overall it's low on the angst. What it does have is an interesting supporting cast, a main couple I could happily cheer for, sizzling chemistry, sparkling banter, and plenty of charm. It held my interest, had me rooting for Gabe and Serenity to make things work, and introduced me to some new recipes (did I mention the food?) that I'm eager to make. I loved Serenity's Supper Club, for both the food and the friendship. Also loved the dynamic among Gabe and his business partners/friends.
I don't know if this book will be a standalone or the start of a series but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the series. If Lister plans to write stories for the supporting characters introduced in A Table for Two, I will definitely be buying them. I haven't had nearly enough time with Serenity's friends or Gabe's!
Do you enjoy romances that feature food?
Do you like when authors include recipes in their books? Have you ever made any of them?
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