The Saturday Night Supper Club Read online

  Praise for Carla Laureano

  The Saturday Night Supper Club

  “You don’t have to be a foodie to enjoy The Saturday Night Supper Club, but if you are, you’re in for an extra treat. Carla Laureano has written a delicious romance you’ll want to devour in one sitting. Filled with sugar and spice, The Saturday Night Supper Club will leave you hungry for more from this talented author.”

  IRENE HANNON, BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND THREE-TIME RITA AWARD WINNER

  “With descriptions that will make even the least-foodie among readers salivate, The Saturday Night Supper Club is a romantic feast for the imagination as well as the heart. In this, her fourth contemporary romance release, author Carla Laureano serves up a delectable contemporary romance within a cautionary tale for the age of social media. At turns devastating and delightful, this novel contrasts the heartbreak of instant infamy against the charm of a budding attraction. A savory story garnished with the sweetness of friendship, it chronicles the reshaping of Rachel’s career as romance simmers on the back burner, waiting for its turn at the table. And when that romantic dessert course is served? Delicious. Highly recommended!”

  SERENA CHASE, AUTHOR OF INTERMISSION AND THE EYES OF E’VERIA SERIES

  “The Saturday Night Supper Club is an absolute delight with compelling characters, a rich sense of place, and food that lingers on your palate long after the final page.”

  KATHERINE REAY, AUTHOR OF A PORTRAIT OF EMILY PRICE AND THE AUSTEN ESCAPE

  “Heartwarming with plenty of romantic sizzle—this is the menu Laureano serves in her latest, The Saturday Night Supper Club, and it’s sure to leave readers hungry for more!”

  KATIE GANSHERT, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF LIFE AFTER

  “Smart, funny, romantic, hopeful—the perfect starter for Laureano’s scrumptious new series.”

  CANDACE CALVERT, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF STEP BY STEP

  “The Saturday Night Supper Club is a riveting read, crafted with sophisticated characters, delicious settings, and a satisfying romance that will leave readers breathless and anxious for the next book in the series.”

  JEN TURANO, USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF A CHANGE OF FORTUNE

  “With an exceptional eye for detail, author Carla Laureano invites readers into the highly competitive restaurant world, revealing both the professional and personal challenges of an acclaimed chef. Laureano also examines what motivates our life choices—and how we learn to live with the consequences of our actions.”

  BETH K. VOGT, AUTHOR OF CATCH A FALLING STAR AND WISH YOU WERE HERE

  “The Saturday Night Supper Club is a delicious treat! Carla Laureano’s story of dashed dreams and second chances will leave your heart happy . . . and your mouth watering. I love her genuine characters and subtle but poignant thread of faith. I can’t wait to see what Laureano writes next!”

  MELISSA TAGG, AUTHOR OF ALL THIS TIME AND KEEP HOLDING ON

  Five Days in Skye

  “Sweet and scathing, lush and intimate. . . . This story has guts and heart as well as the depth and heat necessary to satisfy any romance reader’s palate.”

  USA TODAY

  “From page one, Five Days in Skye captured my imagination and every minute of my pleasure-reading time. With enviable finesse, author Carla Laureano weaves romance, hope, healing, and faith into a spunky and sparkling tale that made me sorry to say good-bye to the characters and the alluring Isle of Skye. I look forward to reading more from this author.”

  TAMARA LEIGH, AUTHOR OF SPLITTING HARRIET AND THE UNVEILING, BOOK ONE IN THE AGE OF FAITH SERIES

  “After reading Five Days in Skye, I wanted to pack my bags and catch the first flight to Scotland to discover Skye for myself. In her debut novel, Carla Laureano brought Skye alive with vivid detail, drew me into the main characters’ budding romance, and kept me turning the pages late into the night. I’m looking forward to more books from Carla!”

  BETH K. VOGT, AUTHOR OF CATCH A FALLING STAR AND WISH YOU WERE HERE

  “Five Days in Skye swept me away to Scotland! Against the craggy beauty of the Isle of Skye, author Carla Laureano weaves a story . . . of love between an American businesswoman and a Scottish celebrity chef. Fans of the movie The Holiday are sure to enjoy this contemporary romance. Laureano’s voice is deft, seamless, and wonderfully accomplished. An exciting newcomer to the world of Christian fiction!”

  BECKY WADE, AUTHOR OF MY STUBBORN HEART AND UNDENIABLY YOURS

  London Tides

  “In London Tides, Carla Laureano shows how fear and grief can hold us captive—unable to love ourselves and others. Yes, Laureano has written a beautiful reconciliation romance, but she also delves into deeper themes of identity and acceptance. The character of Grace Brennan, in spite of her unconventional life, speaks to all of us.”

  BETH K. VOGT, AUTHOR OF CATCH A FALLING STAR AND WISH YOU WERE HERE

  “Achieving an aching depth and a resounding trueness within a heated yet baggage-ridden romance, author Carla Laureano has proven herself a storyteller who is not afraid to take her characters into the darkest regions of their own hearts. An excellent follow-up to Five Days in Skye, London Tides tugs and churns every emotion . . . right up until the lovely, hope-buoying end.”

  SERENA CHASE, AUTHOR OF INTERMISSION AND THE EYES OF E’VERIA SERIES

  “At times lighthearted; at times heart wrenching. Laureano has penned a delightfully romantic tale about the importance of finding home. If readers weren’t already smitten with the MacDonald brothers, they will be after London Tides!”

  KATIE GANSHERT, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF LIFE AFTER

  “Another captivating story! London Tides is as compelling and engaging as Laureano’s award-winning Five Days in Skye. It’s deliciously romantic and filled with tension, wonderful characters, and vivid scenery. A must-read this summer!”

  KATHERINE REAY, AUTHOR OF A PORTRAIT OF EMILY PRICE AND THE AUSTEN ESCAPE

  “War photographer Grace Brennan is the kind of character I love to read about—she’s savvy, fearless, and damaged, yet is determined to carry on. Returning to London means making amends with Ian MacDonald, the fiancé she left behind, and author Carla Laureano knows how to make the most of their chemistry. But a chance at love for Grace also means facing the realities of PTSD, a subject Laureano handles with great sensitivity and care. Vividly written and deeply felt, London Tides will sweep readers away.”

  HILLARY MANTON LODGE, AUTHOR OF A TABLE BY THE WINDOW

  Under Scottish Stars

  “In Under Scottish Stars, independent single mother Serena Stewart returns to the beautiful land of Skye, looking for stability for her two small children—not romance with Malcolm Blake, who manages the hotel that Serena owns with her two brothers. Their ‘this can’t be happening’ relationship is engaging, and Carla Laureano reveals both Serena’s and Malcolm’s vulnerabilities as they fall in love when they least expected it. Under Scottish Stars is a satisfying romance that reminds readers that love doesn’t always go according to our agendas—and that can be a very good thing.”

  BETH K. VOGT, AUTHOR OF CATCH A FALLING STAR AND WISH YOU WERE HERE

  “Under Scottish Stars is a fabulous read, filled with compelling characters, a delicious setting, and a romance that can only be described as . . . swoon-worthy. Carla Laureano’s third and final book in the MacDonald Family Trilogy exceeded all my expectations and truly shouldn’t be missed.”

  JEN TURANO, USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF A CHANGE OF FORTUNE

  “Solid characters, brilliant dialogue, believable conflict, a setting you can taste—and, always, breath-stealing love scenes. No one writes a romantic hero like Laureano! Under Scottish Stars takes us back to Skye to explore poignan
t truths of single parenthood, family loyalty, the pursuit of dreams—and faith. A satisfying and stellar finish to the MacDonald Family Trilogy.”

  CANDACE CALVERT, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF STEP BY STEP

  Visit Tyndale online at www.tyndale.com.

  Visit Carla Laureano’s website at www.carlalaureano.com.

  TYNDALE and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

  The Saturday Night Supper Club

  Copyright © 2018 by Carla Laureano. All rights reserved.

  Cover photograph of woman copyright © Yusuf Rizza Gunaydin/The Picture Pantry.com. All rights reserved.

  Cover photograph of plate copyright © Thomas Barwick/Getty Images. All rights reserved.

  Photograph of brick wall copyright © torsakarin/Adobe Stock. All rights reserved.

  Illustration of swirl logo copyright © Stock_Design/Shutterstock. All rights reserved.

  Photograph of leaf shadows copyright © tuk69tuk/Adobe Stock. All rights reserved.

  Designed by Mark Anthony Lane II

  Edited by Sarah Mason Rische

  Published in association with the literary agency of The Steve Laube Agency.

  The Saturday Night Supper Club is a work of fiction. Where real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales appear, they are used fictitiously. All other elements of the novel are drawn from the author’s imagination.

  For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Tyndale House Publishers at [email protected] or call 1-800-323-9400.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Laureano, Carla, author.

  Title: The Saturday night supper club / Carla Laureano.

  Description: Carol Stream, Illinois : Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., [2018] | Series: A supper club novel

  Identifiers: LCCN 2017049829| ISBN 9781496428271 (hardcover : acid-free paper) | ISBN 9781496420244 (softcover : acid-free paper)

  Subjects: | GSAFD: Christian fiction. | Love stories.

  Classification: LCC PS3612.A93257 S28 2018 | DDC 813/.6--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017049829

  Build: 2017-12-12 16:34:14

  For Brandy and Evangeline,

  my chosen sisters and fellow literary warriors.

  I wouldn’t have made it this far without you.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  A Note from the Author

  About the Author

  Discussion Questions

  Preview of Brunch at Bittersweet Café

  Acknowledgments

  IT’S STARTLING AND HUMBLING to know that a book isn’t complete until it makes its way into the hands of readers. You fill in the blanks with your imagination and bring your own life story, making this book undeniably your own experience. Thank you for joining me in this story!

  For those of you who have waited so patiently for this next book—I appreciate you! Your enthusiasm and encouragement is such a blessing to this writer. For those of you picking up one of my books for the first time, welcome. I apologize in advance for making you hungry. My characters cook their way through all my books, and for obvious reasons, this one is extra food-filled.

  The process of getting the book to this state was certainly not a solo effort. Steve Laube, your guidance, wisdom, and practicality are more appreciated than I can express. I probably wouldn’t be doing this without you. Jan Stob and Sarah Rische, thank you so much for believing in my vision. Your sharp eyes and gentle guidance helped make this book into something I can be proud of. To the rest of the team—Karen Watson, Sharon Leavitt, Mark Lane, Shaina Turner, Kristen Magnesen, Danika King, and the Tyndale sales force who work so hard to get this story into the hands of readers—it’s a blessing to work with such a creative and enthusiastic group! Thank you for making me feel right at home at Tyndale.

  To my friends and fellow writers-in-arms—Brandy Vallance, Evangeline Denmark, Elizabeth Younts, Laurie Tomlinson, Beth Vogt, Amber Lynn Perry, Candace Calvert, and Lori Twichell—thank you for your friendship, encouragement, and willingness to listen to endless plot points, realizations, and rants. It’s a blessing to have people who really get what it’s like to do this crazy job.

  To my family—Rey, N, P, Mom, and Dad—I love you. I couldn’t do this without all your support, both physical and emotional. You’re the best.

  Chapter One

  THREE HOURS into Saturday night dinner service and she was already running on fumes.

  Rachel Bishop rubbed her forehead with the back of her sleeve and grabbed the newest round of tickets clattering through on the printer. Normally orders came in waves, enough time in between to take a deep breath, work the kinks out of her neck, and move on to the next pick. Tonight they had come fast and furious, one after another, tables filling as quickly as they were cleared. They were expecting two and a half turns of the dining room tonight, 205 covers.

  It would be Paisley’s biggest night in the six months since opening in January, and one they desperately needed. As part-owner of the restaurant, Rachel knew all too well how far away they still were from profitability. There were as many casual fine dining places in Denver as there were foodies, with new ones opening and closing every day, and she was determined that Paisley would be one of the ones that made it.

  But that meant turning out every plate as perfectly as the last, no matter how slammed they were. She placed the new tickets on the board on the dining room side of the pass-through. “Ordering. Four-top. Two lobster, one spring roll, one dumpling. Followed by one roulade, two sea bass, one steak m.r.”

  “Yes, Chef,” the staff answered in unison, setting timers, firing dishes. Over at entremet, Johnny had not stopped moving all night, preparing sides as fast as they came through on the duplicate printer. It was a station best suited to a young and ambitious cook, and tonight he was proving his worth.

  “Johnny, how are we coming on the chard for table four?”

  “Two minutes, Chef.” Normally that could mean anything from one minute to five—it was an automatic response that meant I’m working on it, so leave me alone—but at exactly two minutes on the dot, he slid the pan of wilted and seasoned greens onto the pass in front of Rachel and got back to work in the same motion. She plated the last of table four’s entrées as quickly as she could, called for service, surveyed the board.

  A muffled oath from her left drew her attention. She looked up as her sauté cook, Gabrielle, dumped burnt bass straight into the trash can.

  “Doing okay, Gabs?”

  “Yes, Chef. Four minutes out on the bass for nineteen.”

  Rachel rubbed her forehead with the back of her sleeve again, rearranged some tickets, called for the grill to hold the steak. On slow nights, she liked to work the line while her sous-chef, Andrew, practiced his plating, but tonight it was all she could do to expedite the orders and keep t
hings running smoothly.

  “Rachel.”

  She jerked her head up at the familiar male voice and found herself looking at Daniel Kearn, one of her two business partners. She wasn’t a short woman, but he towered above even her. Her gut twisted, a niggling warning of trouble that had never steered her wrong.

  “Hey, Dan,” she said cautiously, her attention going straight back to her work. “What’s up?”

  “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Now’s not a great time.” Dan might be the rarest of breeds these days—a restaurateur who wasn’t a chef—but considering he owned four other restaurants, he should be able to recognize when they were in the weeds. The energy level in the kitchen right now hovered somewhere between high tension and barely restrained panic.

  “Carlton Espy is here.”

  Rachel dropped her spoon and bit her lip to prevent any unflattering words from slipping out. “Here? Now? Where is he?” She turned and squinted into the dim expanse of the dining room, looking for the familiar comb-over and self-satisfied smirk of the city’s most hated food critic.

  “No, he left. Stopped by my table before he went and told me to tell you, ‘You’re welcome.’ Does that make any sense to you?”

  “Not unless he considers questioning both my cooking and my professional ethics a favor.” She looked back at the tickets and then called, “Picking up nine, fourteen!”

  “You really need to issue a statement to the press.”

  She’d already forgotten Dan was there. One by one, pans made their way to the pass beneath the heat lamps and she began swiftly plating the orders for the pair of four-tops. “I’m not going to dignify that troll with a response.”

  “Rachel—”

  “Can we talk about this later? I’m busy.”

  She barely noticed when he slipped out of the kitchen, concentrating on getting table nine to one of the back waiters, then table fourteen. For a few blissful moments, the printer was quiet and all the current tickets were several minutes out. She took a deep breath, the only sounds around her the clatter of pans, the hiss of cooking food, the ever-present hum of the vent hoods. After five hours in the heart of the house, they vibrated in her bones, through her blood, the bass notes to the kitchen’s symphony.