Love is a scary thing. It challenges you to hope for the best when you can't help but thinking the worst. Sometimes, it comes in the most unlikely of places and often times with the person you last expect. What would you do if your heart betrayed you and fell for the one person who represents everything you fear? Would you step out on faith and give love a chance? Or would you play it safe and guard your heart?
Kayla Dienner is busy working at her family's restaurant. She has no plans of ever getting married or having a family, especially after the way Abram embarrassed by dumping her like yesterday's garbage. She's not sure she will ever trust her heart to love again; better to just find other pursuits to occupy one's time. Love is a funny thing though and it comes along when one least expects it, like when the family barn catches on fire and you can't help but notice how handsome one firefighter in particular is. You don't want it to be true, you try to talk yourself out of it, but really what's the harm in admitting that you find him, at the very least, interesting.
Jamie Riehl is a hard working man. He volunteers at the local fire station and helps his family run their farm. The absolute last thing he has time for is a relationship. When he responds to a barn fire in the community he thinks it is business as usual but when he lays eyes on Kayla Dienner his world is changed forever. After saving Nathan Dienner from the burning barn, Jamie earns the admiration and thanks of the Dienner family but when he informs Nathan that he is old enough to start firefighter training he earns Kayla's ire. He has no idea what he said to make her so angry but he would do almost anything to take it back. Can he fix things before it's too late?
When Jamie's mother dies unexpectedly, Kayla is one of the first to step in and try to console Jamie and his family. She goes out of her way to help him through his grief and help him heal. She refuses to give up on him when he lashes out in anger and hurt. As Jamie keeps pulling away, Kayla starts to wonder if she's worth fighting for. Will anyone ever love her enough to put her first?
A Place at our Table will give you all the feels and more. Jamie and Kayla's relationship is rocky from the start. First she loves him for saving her brother, then she loathes him for suggesting Nathan take training classes. Can a guy ever win? I could totally relate to Kayla though. It's hard seeing someone you love, or even care about, making decisions that can hurt them. We don't want them to take risks or get hurt. Kayla had already lost a brother to fire and she couldn't bear to lose another. Her fears, while understandable, sometimes made her irrational.
I don't want you to get the wrong idea about Kayla, she isn't a basket case by any means, she is a strong, hardworking, independent woman. It takes guts to know what you want and not settle for anything less. She is kind, caring, and compassionate. She helps her family run the restaurant and helps look after her younger brother. She is sympathetic to the needs of those around her and wants to help out anyway she can. Her positive qualities far outweigh any negative she may have.
I could go on and on but I'm sure you'd rather read it for yourself! What are you waiting for? Go grab a copy of A Place at Our Table and setting in for a read that will take you on a roller coaster of a ride and make you believe that love, truly does, conquer all.
You can grab a copy here: A Place at Our Table
* I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.
