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Letters on the Table

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We are all a bit broken and Katherine was no different. She spent her life searching to understand why her father walked out the door and never returned. After his disappearance, she spent the rest of her childhood in two different parts of a racially divided town and soon discovered she belonged in both. Katherine lived her entire life in Kingston, a small southern town with a dark past of its own but full of lovable and intriguing characters. A charismatic doctor and a large-and-in-charge seamstress step up to the plate when Katherine's family dissolves. Add the wealthy owner of a timber empire, a woman struggling to fight an addiction, a truck driver, and two lost travelers who aren't really sure what they are seeking. It's the promises we make to each other that bind us and sometimes those same promises can rip us apart. The two people Katherine loved the longest in life had known all along what caused her father's disappearance. She discovered the potency of both a promise kept and a promise shattered when their vow of secrecy was broken. After her death, four people are summoned by her attorney to discover what she bequeathed to each of them. But are any of them at all prepared how Katherine's gifts will change their lives forever?

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 18, 2020

17 people are currently reading
116 people want to read

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Pattie Howse-Duncan

1 book20 followers

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5 stars
61 (46%)
4 stars
52 (39%)
3 stars
14 (10%)
2 stars
4 (3%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Jill Davis.
57 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2022
This is the first book written by an author from Arkansas. Such a sweet story that inspires you to love well.
Profile Image for Deb Hill.
257 reviews1 follower
April 26, 2020
This is one of the best books I have ever read. This book has so much heart. The author conveys the power of life and forgiveness and friendship in overcoming sorrow.
32 reviews1 follower
January 26, 2021
An enjoyable read which at times seemed predictable. However, some good life lessons and ideas to think about especially today. It was recommended to me and now I am suggesting it to others.
Profile Image for Katrina Abbott.
1 review
February 15, 2020
A small southern town with secrets to keep the past hidden. Letters on the Table evokes a spirit of learning to open ones heart for newness. Hidden stories that keep rearing the ugly head of wrongs in ones past. “That kind of meanness doesn’t deserve to be forgiven.” - Katherine to Lily Mae.

A deep love story that unfolds throughout the book by helping ones navigate life. The romance of Kingston families captures ones heart with their love for one another.

“Folks who follow life’s boundaries are the ones who enjoy it the most”- Lily Mae.

“One day someone will hug you so tight that all your broken pieces will fit back together.”- Anonymous. After reading Letters on the Table, I was left with that tight hug embracing me.
55 reviews1 follower
March 11, 2020
I finished reading this book today. I wish I could rate it as a ten ⭐️! I highly recommend you read it. You will come away with a good feeling of life and you will know what true love is - unquestionable true love with forgiveness, compassion, hope, and trust all thrown into the mix. The characters will be your friends and you likely will not forget them- ever!! Each one in his/her own right could be your hero. I am not certain I have ever been any more touched by a book as I was this one. The only problem is that I read it too fast. I want more and more! Thank you, Pattie Howse-Duncan for writing this beautifully written work of art. It was amazing‼️‼️‼️
Profile Image for Patricia Maness.
Author 2 books3 followers
August 31, 2020
This precious book was given to me signed and personalized by the author for my birthday. I can not begin to tell you what a treasure of a book it is! I started reading and literally could not put it down. There were so many wonderful characters and story plots and I really loved how the stories unfolded. Pattie Howse-Duncan has a way with words! I could see every description so vividly. This book will be reread again. It is a must read!
189 reviews3 followers
March 30, 2020
This was a good read, hard to put down and kind of sad I'm finished. I probably would have rated it a 5 but a couple of characters added were a bit random and not real necessary. It is a book of kindness and small town intermingling. We could all learn a few tidbits of wisdom from this. Especially right now, be kind.
Profile Image for Shauna.
309 reviews
April 26, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters in the book are very well developed, for the most part, and the story flows fairly well even though the timespan of the book is over 70 years.

It is a heartwarming story of love, bravery, strength, perseverance, and friendship. For her very first novel, Howse-Duncan has created a very strong showing. I will be watching for more.
Profile Image for Tiffany Brown.
52 reviews1 follower
October 17, 2020
The symbolic letters tie us to the characters and their touching stories. Despite one terrible racial act of hatred, a diverse community comes together to heal the damage of the past. One is meant to cry, to reflect and to really understand how important love is as well as its power to heal! I loved this book and I hope many more will have the opportunity to be uplifted by it as well!
1 review
February 3, 2020
The author weaves a captivating story that includes elements of faith, family. friendship, and even a little mystery. Before you know it, you’ll feel like you know each character, find your heart warmed, and may even shed a tear or two. Excellent book. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Megan Hurtt .
4 reviews10 followers
October 15, 2020
This book is exquisite. Very charming. The characters are beautiful and easy to connect to. My most favorites are Lily Mae and Sam. I was sad to read the last pages, because I didn’t want it to ever end. The wisdom shared through this book is worth treasuring in our memories to share with all!
1 review
August 24, 2021
Good for the soul

This book is everything this world needs right now. It will warm your heart and feed your soul. It will make you yearn to be apart of Katherine's family yourself or at least something close to a family like that.
Profile Image for Alicia.
64 reviews6 followers
April 7, 2020
A story with such heart. You'll love these characters, and they will surely stay with you for a long time. I hope Pattie publishes one hundred more books!
1 review
April 8, 2020
A delightful story with characters that became real! I rejoiced in their happiness and empathized with their sorrows. A wonderfully entertaining read.
T.L. DuBose
8 reviews
April 16, 2020
Very heartwarming story

This is an excellent story. It tells the story of a family that was not necessarily related and began during ww2.
5 reviews
April 25, 2020
Wow!

What an amazing and captivating story. How she so delicately wove all their lives together. I eagerly await another story from this new author!
10 reviews
May 23, 2020
Beautiful story

What a wonderful first book. I enjoyed every bit of it. So well written. I loved all the characters and their stories. I look forward to her next book.
Profile Image for Michelle Rosenau.
83 reviews2 followers
July 21, 2020
Excellent first book for Pattie-Howse Duncan. Pattie donated her book to our Little Free Library in memory of my Mom. I really enjoyed it and will now place it in my library for others to enjoy.
12 reviews
September 22, 2020
Definite page-turner

This book had my attention from the very first page. Could not put it down until I finished it. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author
357 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2020
Written by a local author, it is a story of brokenness, grace, and the search for belonging. It was very good.
Profile Image for Bobbie Barker Ulmer.
422 reviews14 followers
July 2, 2021
I would give this book more stars if I could. It was so well written and the characters came alive on the pages. I loved the descriptions of the area and the characters. It was one of the few books that I read slowly to really take in each character, the secrets and how the story unfolds. It brought tears in many places as well as laughter.
I highly recommend this book.
I am hoping the author continues to write more books.
1 review
February 10, 2024
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I was totally captivated from the first few pages, all the way through. It was very inspiring in the way that people who seem to have broken lives can still be very positive and can have so much love for others. I also greatly appreciate the running theme throughout of having faith in God and depending on guidance from Him. I would have given this six stars if that was a choice.
Profile Image for John Fetzer.
519 reviews2 followers
August 3, 2020
A first-effort that reads very well. The plot is involved, flows, and is cohesive. The characters are developed and somewhat varied. These are unexpected things for a debut. The story is heartwarming and uplifting, without being trite or treacly.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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