Series:
Holidays, Heart and Chutzpah (Book 3)
Her childhood crush may be her best story yet.
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.
Terrific holiday romance full of love, respect, and
acceptance. Jessica is an investigative journalist who recently lost her job
due to a mistake. Devastated by the loss of her career, which is so much a part
of who she is, Jessica leaps at the chance to save her job. All she must do is
cover her hometown's heroic firefighter rescue. That firefighter is Thomas, who
was her next-door neighbor and childhood crush. Unfortunately for her, Thomas
flat-out refuses to talk about the rescue.
Thomas doesn't want to talk about that day. Memories of
the rescue haunt him, and he spends most of his time alone renovating his
house. Though he has recovered from his injuries, he doesn't know what his
future will be.
I enjoyed seeing Jessica and Thomas's relationship
develop. Their first few encounters end awkwardly when he rudely refuses her
interview requests. Jessica decides that making friends might make him more
amenable to her requests. He feels guilty about his rudeness and accepts her
friendship but remains wary. I liked watching them get to know each other,
beginning with the holiday decoration contest. Neither expects the sparks of
attraction that come along with spending time together.
There are obstacles to their growing relationship.
Jessica is Jewish, and Thomas is not. This is a particular concern of Jessica's
mother, who urges her to be cautious. I loved their open interest in and
respect for each other's beliefs and watching them share their traditions.
Another issue is how Thomas is, or isn't, dealing with
his feelings about the rescue. The secret he guards so carefully keeps him from
fully trusting Jessica. When he inadvertently reveals that secret, he panics
and pulls away. But Thomas can't forget his feelings for her and realizes he
must deal with his past before contemplating a future with her. Thomas impressed
me with his determination and willingness to face that challenge.
Jessica has her own challenges to overcome. From her embarrassment
about being fired to her growing discomfort about the article she must write, Jessica
must decide what is more important to her. Is it getting her job back or
listening to her conscience? I enjoyed following her thoughts and actions as
she made her decision.
The ending was an emotional mix of apologies,
confessions, and admissions of love. I liked seeing Jessica and Thomas overcome
the challenges holding them back. I loved the Hannukah and Christmas scenes
that brought both families together and the willingness to learn more about the
others' traditions.
The love and support of families and friends are a big
part of this book. I loved how Jessica's friends helped her see the truth of
her feelings about Thomas and her job. Her parents gave her the foundation of
love that gave her the strength to pursue her dreams. I liked how Thomas's
father and siblings stood by him through his crisis. I especially liked his
brother Liam and how he showed up unexpectedly when he felt Thomas needed him.
I also liked how his sponsor, Carl, helped Thomas resolve his dilemma.
