Table for Five

How two opposite personality can come together to make a family when the death of husband and brother, and wife and best friend comes together to raise the children

The only reason why I picked this book up at my hairdresser's is because I wanted to see why readers love Susan Wiggs' books so much. Well, after finishing this book in five hours, I can see why. It's such a wonderful book .... it made me laugh and cry. It made me sigh and it was just wonderful. I couldn't put it down for one minute. This book focuses on Lily, a school teacher who is content with the way her life is. She is planning to go to Italy for the summer after school's out. Suddenly, her best friend and ex-husband is killed in a car accident, and she finds herself taking care of Crystal's three kids along with Crystal's former brother-in-law, Sean. Sean is a former pro golfer who was kicked out of golf for cheating. Now teaching other people how to golf and bartender at the local golf course, Sean all of a sudden finds himself guardian with three kids, Cameron, a teenager, Charlie, a third-grader and Ashley, the two-year-old. Both Lily and Sean's lives were disrupted by the tragedy and together, they pull the kids through the darkest moments of grief. It is a wonderful humane story about loss and love, friendship, dreams and hopes. It is a story that takes you to another world where things are still possible ~~ and yes, it is very predictable, but Wiggs make the trip fun anyways. This is a perfect reading for those times when you have a few hours to yourself ~~ and want to relax. She's a good storyteller and one that I plan to keep an eye out for. 9-3-06

This book is probably the best Wiggs' book I've read and I was disappointed to see it come to an end. A story of a cobbled together family, it has wonderful characters, heartbreak, humor and a beautiful love story. The only thing I would have liked to see at the end of the book was an epilogue, maybe a few years down the road. Definitely a must read.

Lily Robinson takes great joy in being a school teacher because it allows her to love the children without the fear of getting hurt and losing them. She also lives this way in her private life because she has never allowed herself to fall in love and start her own family. The only person that has gotten close to Lily is her best friend Crystal who is the mother of three children. Sean McGuire was living life on his own terms, and always felt like he was trying to catch up with his brother Derek. These two people are the least likely to come together but that is exactly what happens when Derek and his ex-wife Crystal are suddenly killed in a car accident leaving their three children behind. Sean is willing to become the kids gaurdian but out of love for Crystal, Lily cant walk away from what her heart is telling her about these children. With a few battles and the agreement of whats best for the kids, Sean and Lily begin to fall in love and together make a new life. Although Table For Five is a bit sad because these children lose their parents, it is also an uplifting story about allowing your heart to open up and love and moving on in life after a tragedy.

I always enjoy the novels by Susan Wiggs and this was no exception. It's a sad story about death and the impact that makes on three young children at different stages in their young lives. But it's also a story of recovery and finding love. It kept my interest and I didn't want it to end. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and felt the players were awesome----especially the teen age boy. What fun they all were. I can see a sequel story-----and "they live happily ever after" with the 3 children from Crystal and Derek plus several of their own born to Sean and Lily----truly a love story in the making. But then I'm a hopeless romantic.

one of susans best works! its the kind of story you can't put down but don't want it to end either. the cast of characters are funny and poignant. sean and lily's idea of raising these kids are opposite and present some funny scenes. would love to hear this book on audio just to hear some of the dialogue. a must read for anyone who love complex families and how they blend together.