About the Book
KISSING KOSHER
Author: Jean Meltzer
ISBN: 9780778334408
Publication Date: August 29, 2023
Publisher: MIRA Books
432 Pages
Book Summary:
"An unflinchingly honest romance." --Kirkus, STARRED review
From the author of THE MATZAH BALL and MR. PERFECT ON PAPER comes this hilarious and emotional rivals-to-lovers romance.
Step 1: Get the secret recipe. Step 2: Don't fall in love...
Avital Cohen isn't wearing underpants--woefully, for unsexy reasons. Chronic pelvic pain has forced her to sideline her photography dreams and her love life. It's all she can do to manage her family's kosher bakery, Best Babka in Brooklyn, without collapsing.
She needs hired help.
And distractingly handsome Ethan Lippmann seems the perfect fit.
Except Ethan isn't there to work--he's undercover, at the behest of his ironfisted grandfather. Though Lippmann's is a household name when it comes to mass-produced kosher baked goods, they don't have the charm of Avital's bakery. Or her grandfather's world-famous pumpkin spice babka recipe.
As they bake side by side, Ethan soon finds himself more interested in Avital than in stealing family secrets, especially as he helps her find the chronic pain relief--and pleasure--she's been missing.
But perfecting the recipe for romance calls for leaving out the lies...even if coming clean means risking everything.
My Review
Avital Cohen’s life is falling apart. She’s dealing with chronic pain as well as managing her family’s bakery, Best Babka. It’s a demanding job and she agrees to hire some extra help.
In comes Ethan Lippmann. The Lippmans and Cohens have been enemies for years. At his domineering grandfather’s orders, Ethan gets hired at Best Babka without revealing who his true identity is. His assignment is to steal the Cohen’s secret babka recipe.
It doesn’t take long for Ethan to become more interested in Avital than any secret recipe. Unfortunately, there’s no way anything can come out of this relationship which is based on lies. However, Ethan can’t stop thinking about Avital.
This book is an emotional roller-coaster. My heart went out to both Ethan and Avital - two tortured souls trying to deal with the tough obstacles life has thrown in their path. It’s a realistic look at disability and family dynamics. It felt like a huge slice of life.
I’ve read two other books by this author, but this is by far my favorite. It tugs on the heartstrings and makes you truly care about Ethan and Avital. The author, also, mixes in some Jewish history and traditions. This book hooked from page one. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
For reading challenges:
Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge 2023
NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2023
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Author Bio
Jean Meltzer studied dramatic writing at NYU Tisch and has earned numerous awards for her work in television, including a daytime Emmy. She spent five years in rabbinical school before her chronic illness forced her to withdraw, and her father told her she should write a book—just not a Jewish one because no one reads those. Kissing Kosher is her third novel.
This looks good.
ReplyDeleteCan rivals become family? I guess I'd have to read to find out.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a really interesting romance and I love that there is some Jewish history mixed in. Will definitely check this out.
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