Happy Hanukkah

 

Sending love and light

to all who celebrate!

Review - - Deadlines, Donuts & Dreidels

Deadlines, Donuts & Dreidels

by Jennifer Wilck 

Holidays, Heart and Chutzpah - Book 3

Publisher: Harlequin

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Reviewed by Hellie

Journalist Jessica Sacks’s career is on the line if she doesn’t ace this next assignment. She must interview firefighter Thomas Carville, Browerville’s celebrated hero—and her forever crush since childhood. When Jessica returns home for Hanukkah, handsome Thomas takes her breath away. And rudely shuts her down when she asks for an interview.

Thomas knows he and the man he saved are both lucky to be alive, regardless of his actions. And now Jessica is poking into his business. Thomas would rather kiss her under the mistletoe than answer her questions. But his priority is protecting his sobriety and his secret. They’re as far apart as Christmas and Hanukkah, but even their differences can’t trump the power of love.

Hellie’s Heeds

I got to read the other two books in this series–and I think that made the reading of this book even more joyful as we got to visit with other beloved characters and continue to see them in the small town setting that Wilck created. Special Edition Harlequin books are known to really tug at heartstrings, and this one is no exception as Thomas is a hero who is seeking redemption. (Okay, maybe not seeking–because he doesn’t think he’s worthy of it–but that’s the trope nonetheless. He needs it.) Thomas as a hero is very complicated–since when you find out his secret–it makes him a real and flawed person, but as such, he is also in need of real world consequences for what has happened. Wilck doesn’t shy away from the real world consequences, but still is able to provide a satisfying and hopeful ending that brings two people together who need and deserve love. 

This is not to suggest that Jessica the heroine is not without flaws–she has her own issues. Due to the shame of being fired from her job, she is not honest or forthcoming with Thomas or her parents–and for a bit, even her friends. I had some issues with Jessica and her job–being that the reason she was fired, I thought that for someone who had worked 10 years at this position (which seemed stretching it because she was only 28 in the book and she was a journalist–and I believe she was also a college graduate)--and with the experience, I thought the mistake she made was something only a real rookie would have done. Then again, it is entirely possible to have led a rather charmed work life–and it was just a doozy of a mistake you made. Still. The doozy of a mistake it was–I did find it rather far-fetched she was upset that they wouldn’t give her a second chance. But…I also recognize we needed to get the heroine back home and interact with the hero, and this was a very clear way to do it. 

That aside, the chemistry between the characters and the scenes that built up their romance–as well as additional conflict of coming from different religions, also added to the atmosphere of how will this have a happy ending? I also enjoyed learning more about the traditions of Hanukkah and experiencing a blending of Christmas and Hanukkah traditions and celebrations where everyone was curious, respectful, and accepting. Which is definitely what the season is all about, in my book. 

Review - - Love You a Latke

Love You a Latke

by Amanda Elliot

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: October 8, 2024

Reviewed by Santa

Snow is falling, holiday lights are twinkling, and Abby Cohen is pissed. For one thing, her most annoying customer, Seth, has been coming into her café every morning with his sunshiny attitude, determined to break down her carefully constructed emotional walls. And, as the only Jew on the tourism board of her Vermont town, Abby's been charged with planning their fledgling Hanukkah festival. Unfortunately, the local vendors don’t understand that the story of Hanukkah cannot be told with light-up plastic figures from the Nativity scene, even if the Three Wise Men wear yarmulkes.

Desperate for support, Abby puts out a call for help online and discovers she was wrong about being the only Jew within a hundred miles. There's one other: Seth.

As it turns out, Seth’s parents have been badgering him to bring a Nice Jewish Girlfriend home to New York City for Hanukkah, and if Abby can survive his incessant, irritatingly handsome smiles, he’ll introduce her to all the vendors she needs to make the festival a success. But over latkes, doughnuts, and winter adventures in Manhattan, Abby begins to realize that her fake boyfriend and his family might just be igniting a flame in her own guarded heart.

Santa says:

‘Tis the season, friends, and I couldn’t be happier. Pumpkin spice may be in the air but I’ll take the scent of latkes, those divine potato pancakes with a side of applesauce, any day of the week. And Love You A Latke by Amanda Elliot was just the book to put me in the mood. This book has all the magic of the season. A cozy New England town. A spunky owner of a darling coffee shop. A delicious cinnamon roll tech nerd. And New York City alight with holiday charm. It ticked off all my holiday romance boxes and then some.

Now. lest I paint too rosy a picture of this story…there’s so much more to it. The cozy New England town is struggling to come back from near devastating flooding and a noted drop in tourism, the town’s lifeblood. And maybe ‘spunky’, is too generous because Abby Cohen, our heroine, is pretty much the grumpiest coffee shop owner I have ever come across. To be fair, she has a lot on her plate with her business failing and the small business council’s president cheerfully lassoing her into a huge project. However, the cinnamon roll hero, Seth, is still delicious and is the polar opposite of Abby. He never fails to come into her store every morning with a smile on his face. Every. Single. Morning. And New York City is just as bright and vibrant as the giant menorah in the city's Grand Army Plaza. 

The town council meets to discuss what they can do to attract more tourists during the holiday season that is different from any other town. Lorna, the president, latches onto the idea of having a Hanukkah festival and who better to organize it than Abby who is the only Jewish person in the town, on the council and, seemingly, for miles around. Great! Just another thing to add onto her plate. She begrudgingly agrees but finds the usual vendors completely at a loss as to what to provide for the event. A tree lit up with blue and white lights and the shepherds with yarmulkes is not the vibe Abby wants to go for. 

In a desperate attempt to see if there are any other Jewish people she could tap, Abby signs up on a Jewish dating app. In a bizarre twist of fate, she is matched up with none other Mister Sunshine himself, Seth Abrams. Seth makes her a deal she can’t refuse. He will help her navigate the holiday scene in New York where he can help her source vendors and ideas. In exchange, she will pretend to be the nice Jewish girl her mother has been badgering him to bring home to their upper West side apartment to meet them. 

Seth’s parents couldn’t be nicer and embrace her as their own. His friends make her feel like one of the gang as they visit festivals, parks and bars that celebrate the holiday season in grand style. Abby and Seth slowly fall in love though Seth had a head start. It wasn’t just great coffee that brought him to her cafe. Abby also rediscovers her Judaism as she celebrates Hanukkah with Seth’s parents. Abby doesn’t really have any family to speak of. The less said about her parents, the better. Their psychological abuse left deep scars and Seth’s parents are the opposite of them in many ways. Seeing Abby’s healing and Seth’s growth throughout the story is just one of many touching parts of this book. 

If you are looking for a holiday pick me up, Love You A Latke is just the ticket. It is beautifully written and the characters beautifully drawn. I have learned that Amanda Elliot is a relatively new writer. Her other books have garnered some praise. I look forward to reading her backlist, too. Happy Holidays!

 

Review & Giveaway - - The Matzah Ball

The Matzah Ball: A Novel

by Jean Meltzer

Publisher: MIRA

Release Date: September 28, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

Oy! to the world

Rachel Rubenstein-Goldblatt is a nice Jewish girl with a shameful secret: she loves Christmas. For a decade she’s hidden her career as a Christmas romance novelist from her family. Her talent has made her a bestseller even as her chronic illness has always kept the kind of love she writes about out of reach.

But when her diversity-conscious publisher insists she write a Hanukkah romance, her well of inspiration suddenly runs dry. Hanukkah’s not magical. It’s not merry. It’s not Christmas. Desperate not to lose her contract, Rachel’s determined to find her muse at the Matzah Ball, a Jewish music celebration on the last night of Hanukkah, even if it means working with her summer camp archenemy—Jacob Greenberg.

Though Rachel and Jacob haven’t seen each other since they were kids, their grudge still glows brighter than a menorah. But as they spend more time together, Rachel finds herself drawn to Hanukkah—and Jacob—in a way she never expected. Maybe this holiday of lights will be the spark she needed to set her heart ablaze. 

PJ's Thoughts:

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading this book. What I discovered was a gem of a story that kept me reading late into the night, laughing, cheering, and shedding a few tears, until I turned the final page with a happy sigh. 

The Matzah Ball is a breath of fresh air in the crowded landscape of Christmas romances and romantic comedies. While Rachel does harbor a secret love of the "magic" of Christmas and is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than twenty Christmas romances - a fact unknown to her family - she is also a character who is grounded in her faith, her Jewish identity, and her commitment to her rabbi father, doctor mother, and the Jewish community in which she was raised. Jacob is also Jewish and though his upbringing was not as strictly observant as Rachel's, the adult man he has grown into is also grounded in faith and heritage. I very much enjoyed the Jewish traditions, rituals, and weekly observances that the author has woven into this book. I learned a great deal about a religion and culture different from mine and I've always believed that the more we know about one another, the more understanding and acceptance will occur.

Religion and culture are not the only representations front and center in this book. Rachel lives with the chronic illness ME/CFS, otherwise known as  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I applaud the author for creating a main character with this disease and addressing the challenges of living with it straight on. I encourage readers to take the time to read the Acknowledgements and Author's Note at the end of the book for more insight into this disease and how the author was able to bring such authenticity to her character. 

Jacob has his issues as well, though his are more emotional in nature than physical. The way he responded to Rachel's condition endeared him to me and I began to lean more into his corner though he wasn't quite there yet. Neither was Rachel. Did I mention layers? There's plenty of humor in their story and, yes, I found myself laughing out loud many times. But both Jacob and Rachel have complicated life histories that need to be sorted out before they are able to come to each other with a clear understanding and open hearts. I enjoyed their evolution and appreciated the depth that flowed alongside the plentiful humor and antics. 

The entire cast of characters Meltzer has created are so fully developed, so vividly portrayed and realistic that by the time I was halfway through the book they had ceased to be characters on the page and became treasured friends instead. I wanted to hang out with Rachel's best friend, Mickey, travel the world with Jacob's 91-year-old Bubbe (seriously, I want to be her when I grow up), and score a warm hug from Rachel's mother. I also wouldn't mind a few weeks with executive assistant, "Martha Poppins" in residence! 

If you haven't yet discovered Jean Meltzer's The Matzah Ball, I enthusiastically recommend adding it to your fall/winter reading list. I'm hoping there are more stories percolating in this talented author's imagination. 

Do you make a habit of reading the Author's Notes and Acknowledgements in the books you read? 

Have you read The Matzah Ball yet? 

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, October 6 will receive a print copy of The Matzah Ball from HarperCollins. 

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Happy Hanukkah!

The Dishes all celebrate Christmas so you'll see a lot of posts on our site this time of year that are centered around that holiday: songs we sing, food we prepare, gifts we exchange, etc.  Our readers, however, come from various religions and parts of the world and celebrate a variety of religious and non-religious winter holidays.  


Today, we're wishing our Jewish friends a very Happy Hanukkah (or Chanukah).  The eight day Jewish Festival of Lights began at sundown yesterday and continues for eight days.  

A more recent (non-religious) holiday that began in 1966, Kwanzaa is a celebration of African-American heritage, pride, community, family, and culture that begins December 26th and continues for seven days.  

In Japan (where my niece lives), Japanese New Year is the highlight families look forward to this time of year.  Celebrated on January 1st, this has been one of their most important annual festivals for centuries.







 
Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Japanese New Year or another holiday; whether we live in the United States or Indonesia, at this time of year, we all have family traditions and holiday histories that are special to us.  Today, let's bring the world together.  Please tell us about the holidays you observe and the traditions you hold dear.

~PJ