Another delightful read from Jean Meltzer. While her books have a not-quite-perfect Jewish female protagonist dealing with some form of chronic illness, they are still funny and heartwarming. It was also a quick read as I became immersed in the story and could not put it down.
âKissing Kosherâ opens with a line sure to get your attention. âAvital Cohen wasn't wearing underwear.â Probably not what you think. It has to do with her illness.
Anyway, Avital is co-owner, with her twin brother Josh, of a kosher bakery in Manhattan. It is very popular, and she needs help. Her chronic pelvic pain wears on her, making it difficult to keep up with all the things she must do in managing the bakery. Ethan Rosenberg applies for the position and is hired. What Avital doesn't know is that Ethen Rosenberg is actually a Lippmann â as in the grandson of Moishe Lippmann who was the original co-owner of the bakery with Avital's grandfather Chayim. Moishe and Chayim were childhood friends but had a falling out over the bakery and have not spoken since. Now Moishe wants Ethan to steal a recipe that Moishe claims Chayim stole from him.
As they work together in the bakery, Ethan and Avital fall in love. But he knows he must reveal his true name at some pointâ¦and risks losing Avital when he does.
I loved the characters â Avital, Ethan, Ethan's brother Randy, ex-con baker Tootles, Josh, and hippie Rabbi Jason. They seemed so real with their emotions and their flaws, people you would want in your life. The family dramas are real. I am sure they will remind us of all of a family we know.
I have now read all three of her books, and my book club loves them as well. This one lends itself well for book club discussion â family squabbles that carry across generations, living with chronic pain, the use of medical marijuana (I learned a lot there), building your own family, sex versus intimacy. (My book club will be reading it in October.) And let me warn you â the delicious-sounding baked goods are sure to make you crave them.
Thank you to Harlequin MIRA for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
âKissing Kosherâ opens with a line sure to get your attention. âAvital Cohen wasn't wearing underwear.â Probably not what you think. It has to do with her illness.
Anyway, Avital is co-owner, with her twin brother Josh, of a kosher bakery in Manhattan. It is very popular, and she needs help. Her chronic pelvic pain wears on her, making it difficult to keep up with all the things she must do in managing the bakery. Ethan Rosenberg applies for the position and is hired. What Avital doesn't know is that Ethen Rosenberg is actually a Lippmann â as in the grandson of Moishe Lippmann who was the original co-owner of the bakery with Avital's grandfather Chayim. Moishe and Chayim were childhood friends but had a falling out over the bakery and have not spoken since. Now Moishe wants Ethan to steal a recipe that Moishe claims Chayim stole from him.
As they work together in the bakery, Ethan and Avital fall in love. But he knows he must reveal his true name at some pointâ¦and risks losing Avital when he does.
I loved the characters â Avital, Ethan, Ethan's brother Randy, ex-con baker Tootles, Josh, and hippie Rabbi Jason. They seemed so real with their emotions and their flaws, people you would want in your life. The family dramas are real. I am sure they will remind us of all of a family we know.
I have now read all three of her books, and my book club loves them as well. This one lends itself well for book club discussion â family squabbles that carry across generations, living with chronic pain, the use of medical marijuana (I learned a lot there), building your own family, sex versus intimacy. (My book club will be reading it in October.) And let me warn you â the delicious-sounding baked goods are sure to make you crave them.
Thank you to Harlequin MIRA for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
