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Hush Liverpool #3

A Little Light

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When perfect drops into her lap, can she trust that it’s here to stay?

Andi Palmer had it all. A perfect life with her wife of twenty years, and a successful career as an estate agent, helping clients move in, move out, and move on. Fifteen months after her wife’s death, Andi can finally say she’s moved on. It’s time to sell the beautiful loft home they’d shared.

At 50, she figures her soulmate days have come and gone. Until she encounters a gorgeous blonde with anxious blue eyes that melt her reserve like marshmallows in hot chocolate.

Professional escort Rachel Meade is at the end of her very frayed rope. Recovering from an unrequited love, she’s desperate for a fresh start. Too bad the market for move-in-ready lofts is tighter than Scrooge’s purse strings—until Andi appears like a Christmas angel with Rachel’s dream home on a silver platter.

Everything about Andi’s loft is perfection—much like Andi, herself. But Rachel made the mistake of falling for a vulnerable, grieving soul once before. Surely Andi is just another mistake waiting to happen…isn’t she?

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2023

187 people are currently reading
258 people want to read

About the author

Melissa Tereze

40 books755 followers
Melissa Tereze is a best-selling author living in Liverpool, UK, with her fiancée and Golden Retriever. She holds a degree in Sports Development, and when she’s not writing, she can be found at a local bar singing one of her favourite tracks.

You can contact Melissa through her social media and her website.

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5 stars
344 (52%)
4 stars
212 (32%)
3 stars
74 (11%)
2 stars
18 (2%)
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3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
Profile Image for Gail.
990 reviews58 followers
November 16, 2023
Tereze's latest emotional romance hit all the right spots for me.
We meet again with Rachel from The Hideout. She's in the market for a loft and Andi, a realtor has one ready for the market. Their initial meeting is not the best but over time the two women grow slowly in friendship to eventual deeper feelings. The storyline is beautifully paced with the Christmas theme and settings easy to imagine. I warmed to Rachel's character becoming softer because of Andi's gentle and open acceptance of her being an escort. Well fleshed out secondary characters, discussions between the leads - learning about one another's pain and loss, missteps, setting doubts aside - all flowed perfectly along with the author's signature hot scenes to a deserved HEA.
A 5 star read and easily on my favourites shelf.
Profile Image for Kexx.
2,341 reviews104 followers
January 1, 2024
Fine, but after half way became a little … I was going to write tedious but that would be unfair. Would you know what I meant if I said samey?

Hey Ho…. Happy New Year and love your Reading!
Profile Image for Vita L. Licari.
920 reviews45 followers
November 3, 2023
We find out what happens to Rachel after Juliet sets her free from being her escort from The Hideout! Melissa Tereze has done it again with a lovely age gap between Andi Palmer and Rachel Meade. I love how we see Rachel's point of view with her broken heart thanks to Juliet, but she finds a friend in Andi, who has no qualms about her being an escort. Andi's getting over the death of her wife 15 months ago, when she meets Rachel. Not looking for a relationship but a friend is fine. This is a poignant and beautiful love story. Should be more than 5 stars!
Profile Image for MJ.
358 reviews59 followers
June 12, 2025
Ooohhh for the love of miscommunication trope 🤣🤣
I did really enjoy this book, it covered some difficult topics like grief. But man I just needed these two to communicate properly and be fully honest with each other and themselves. It was great to watch them work through their personal issues and build a friendship with one another and then something more!
I also really like the light Melissa shines on the escort business, it is just a job and I hate how much grief Rachel gets for doing it! I’m glad she had Andi.
This is book three in the Hush Liverpool series, I highly recommend the series but they can be read as standalones as they follow different couples.

Written in third person with 2x POV’s. Grieving from loss, Starting over, Friends to Lovers, Femme/Femme, Age gap (15 years). Narrated by KA Walsh. 2x spicy scenes.
Profile Image for Emma Odell.
19 reviews3 followers
November 26, 2023
I love Melissa Tereze but i feel like this book is quite repetitive for me.
Profile Image for lauraღ.
2,353 reviews177 followers
December 15, 2024
“I just care that this is really what you want, Andi. That you may one day want me…”

3.5 stars. Oh, I'm all kinds of conflicted. There are some parts of this book that work so well, where the character writing and development are so in point, and I could feel myself falling in love with both characters separately, and with their relationship. Like, I REALLY love Andi and Rachel together. Their romance was written in the loveliest way; they really feel destined. But then there's some other stuff about the way the conflicts were written that I hate, and certain sensibilities that the characters had that I couldn't wrap my head around. Ultimately, I liked a lot more about the book than I disliked (mostly because of the audio, more on that later) but certain things left a really bad taste in my mouth.

Andi is a widow, still healing after the death of her wife, but ready to take the next steps in moving forward. Rachel is a high-end escort, still picking up the pieces of her heart after she fell for one of her clients, and it ended badly. They meet at a Christmas market and get off on the wrong foot, but soon, they start forming a friendship. At first, it's just because Rachel is looking to buy Andi's loft, but then their relationship deepens, and though neither of them feel quite ready for a romantic entanglement, the spark is there. The author wrote their chemistry so, so well. That's always the way I measure these holiday romances: did the author manage to convince me that the couple fell for each other in the space of time leading up to the holiday? And the answer in this case was a resounding yes. In every little encounter, every single date, every little conversation as they got to know each other, I felt that undeniable spark that made me want to swoon. They're both really drawn to each other, but the attraction isn't instant in the way some other books write it (which usually makes it feel artificial and rushed). I loved the age gap and the frank way it was handled, and I especially loved that they were both so sensible and adult in the way they approached conflicts (...most of the time).

And I especially loved the way Andi reminisced about her wife. The grief plot was handled pretty well, I think, without any of the distasteful turns that that theme can take. (I seldom like it when, in books about grief, it's revealed that the dead partner was actually a terrible person, and the current love interest is the REAL soulmate. I'm so glad this book didn't go there. I felt Jane's presence in the book, and it was a loving one. Andi truly adored her, and falling for someone else doesn't negate that.) And all of their interactions were both so sensual and sweet. They took their time to build chemistry and a rapport, and that was deeply felt. I just... REALLY loved them together. And I really liked all the holiday elements! There's something about a Christmas market that's so cosy and romantic.

My problem started with the conflict, and more broadly, the way the author broached certain topics.

Those were a lot of complaints, but I swear, I had more positive feelings than negative about this book. A lot of that is due to the fact that I listened to the audiobook as read by K.A. Walsh, and I utterly loved it. LOVED it. Oh my god, this lady has a VOICE, and moreover, she used every inch of emotion and gravitas and humour and sensuality that this story needed. Her voice for Andi in particular was sooooo so sexy. I was swooning non-stop. And like, I normally don't love it when narrators add little gasps or laughs or other sounds to their narration, but the way Walsh did it was perfect; didn't sound too intrusive or too breathy. She also had a way of saying the word 'oh' before a particularly strong line or declaration, and I loved it. She seriously made this book for me. Before I was even halfway through the audiobook, I had paused to look up what else the narrator had done, because I feel like I need her voice in my ears 24/7. Unfortunately, it seems like she's only done work this this author, and while there are a few more of her books I'd like to check out, it's not many. But who knows, maybe I'll get some of them anyway; I have no doubt Walsh could make me fall in love again. I do like Tereze's writing, but I've had my issues with it. So if I return to her as an author, it'll probably be because of this narrator.

Content warning:

“Life isn’t about comparisons; it’s about taking what you can and making it count.”
Profile Image for Lindsay Ottens.
419 reviews8 followers
November 5, 2023
You can not go wrong with Melissa Tereze!! It took me till about 88% before I realized that the characters Juliet and Paige were the same from The Hideout. This story was so absolutely beautiful!

Andi is such an incredible character. It was very refreshing to have the two main women be completely open and honest with each other from the beginning. The sex was top notch as always!!

Thank you to Melissa Tereze for the opportunity to be an arc reader for her!! I loved everything about this!!
Profile Image for Michelle  Schuler.
923 reviews12 followers
November 20, 2023
A Little Light

I absolutely adore all of Melissa Tereze books. This was no exception. She is fabulous with age-gap romances. This was on the lighter side of her usually hot and steamy, but still enjoyable. This has a couple of delicate situations, which were handled fabulously as usual. I love how she addresses jobs that are looked negatively upon and shown in a positive light. This book made me feel good and content. I look forward to more by this talented writer.
Profile Image for Chelles.
675 reviews
December 6, 2023
Adorable Holiday Romance

This is such a sweet story and so nice it was with Rachel from The Hideout. I was expecting a lot of angst and drama, but the relationship between her and Andi was so easygoing. They were both coming from rough pasts, but the way they worked through them was mature and heartfelt...it was adorable.
Profile Image for Vanessa Mace.
23 reviews
November 21, 2023
Melissa Tereze's latest emotionally charged romance, featuring the compelling characters Rachel and Andi, resonated with me on every level. Revisiting Rachel from "The Hideout," we find her in pursuit of a waterfront loft, intersecting with Andi, a realtor with the perfect property. While their initial meeting may not have been ideal, the unfolding narrative beautifully showcases the growth of a genuine friendship that blossoms into profound emotions.

Set against the enchanting backdrop of Christmas, the vivid settings effortlessly immerse readers in the story. Rachel's character undergoes a heartwarming transformation, thanks to Andi's tender and accepting nature, navigating the challenges of Rachel's unconventional profession as an escort. The author skillfully introduces well-rounded secondary characters, and the interactions between the leads are rich with exploration of their pains, losses, and the hurdles they overcome, seamlessly woven together.

As the story progresses, Andi is in the midst of personal transitions, letting go of the loft she once shared with Jane and embracing a new home. Simultaneously, Rachel, having moved beyond the events of "The Hideout," is on a quest for her dream waterfront loft. Their paths cross in a moment of frustration for Rachel, and despite her initial sharpness, Andi's persistence and kindness prevail.

The surprising spark that ensues between Andi and Rachel leaves Andi perplexed, prompting reflection on her past relationship with Jane. While Jane's passing occurred 15 months ago, the emotional toll of her prolonged illness had already created a sense of separation for Andi. The narrative skillfully explores the shift in dynamics, with Andi now finding herself the older one by two decades when facing Rachel.

Melissa Tereze navigates the complexities affecting both characters in this emotionally charged journey. The nuanced depiction of their evolving dynamic, coupled with Andi's honesty and loyalty, showcases Rachel emerging as a more refined version of herself. This compelling narrative serves as a testament to Melissa Tereze's storytelling prowess, captivating readers and leaving them yearning for more of Andi and Rachel's story. As the plot unfolds, the challenges they face raise intriguing questions about the feasibility of moving forward, heightening anticipation for the next chapter in their lives.
Profile Image for Jennabeebs79.
604 reviews26 followers
November 15, 2023
As always, Melissa Tereze absolutely nails the dialogue, pacing, and descriptive details in A Little Light! The Christmas Market that the characters enjoy visiting comes to life. I could easily visualize all of the sights, sounds, and smells as they perused each time. Also, both Andi and Rachel’s backstories are seamlessly woven in with the present to give readers a full picture of who each woman is and what circumstances caused them turmoil. Their dual heartbreaks are handled with so much care that it brought tears to my eyes. Both women grow throughout this story and I enjoyed being a part of those developments.

Andi and Rachel have both been through a lot over the last few years with Rachel nursing a broken heart and Andi learning her new normal after losing her wife the year prior. Trust and understanding are both themes that this book does a wonderful job incorporating. They both took the time to become friends before trying for more. Andi was definitely ready first, but she (patiently) waited hoping that Rachel would catch up and when she did, it made my heart so happy!

A Little Light is a sweet holiday romance that will have you rooting for Andi and Rachel and their happily ever after. While their journey to happiness is winding and emotional, it’s also filled with really sweet moments that will make you smile. The supporting characters, especially Rachel’s best friend, add depth to the overall narrative. If you’re in the market for a well-written holiday romance with two lovely main characters, then I recommend this book!
Profile Image for Suzette.
47 reviews3 followers
November 10, 2023
A Little Light is the perfect holiday read, just in time for Christmas. I don't know if it got me in the holiday spirit but I was hearing a Christmas music score in my head during some of the scenes. Like, when Rachel first told Kelly about Andi and when Rachel and Andi walked through the market. That was new but fun. I think the scenes and moods were set just perfectly enough that I could see and hear it play out as if I were watching a romantic Christmas movie.

The characters were likeable even if there was some obvious human flaws. I think that's what made it a little more dimensional, though. There was one point when Rachel frustrated me (maybe a couple times) where she could've been as trusting as Andi had been but given her experience, I tried understanding that it made sense to her character. Also would've loved to see more spice. The passion was there and it was steamy but I wouldn't complain if there had been many more scenes.

I don't normally like holiday books because sometimes it can feel like it's so much Christmas stuffed into every part of the story but this was balanced for me. And I have to admit, it definitely got me feeling like it's December already. Wanting to put up my decorations so I can be all merry and bright. Just a cozy read. And I'm also hoping there was a set up to maybe another story with another character? Hopefully?

Another good one. Can't wait to see what she puts out next.
1,181 reviews
November 5, 2023
An Age Gap Twist That Was Emotional As Well As Sweet!

Andi is trying to move on, selling the loft her and Jane shared, already moved into another house. Rachel is moving on from Juliet (The Hideout) and she is looking for a loft by the water. As she is yelling at her best friend that she can’t find what she wants, Andi interrupts her conversation to help. But Rachel is very rude to Andi and Andi replies that she was only trying to help her by knowing a loft for sale. As Rachel changers her tune and apologizes, Andi gives her an address and tells her to meet her there the next day, saying she is a real estate agent. Sparks fly between them which confuses Andi. Even though Jane past away 15 months ago, with her disease she has been gone longer and Andi had made peace with it. When she met Jane she was the younger one while Jane was older by twenty years. Looking at Rachel, now Andi is the older one by twenty years. Melissa has taken us on an emotional journey with Andi and Rachel. There are so many things that are happening that affects them both and moving forward might not be a possibility. I love Andi’s honesty and loyalty. Rachel in this story is a much better version of herself. A must read to see how Melissa Terese took her storytelling to new heights. I want more of Andi and Rachel’s story!
Profile Image for Nia.
418 reviews16 followers
November 4, 2023
"A little Light" by Melissa Tereze is the book after "The Hideout" and "Discovery".
Rachel, the Escort from The Hideout, gets her own chance at true love and at Christmas too!
I had mixed feelings about Rachel, because of her behavior towards Juliet and Paige, but of course you can understand that too.
She was in love with Juliet and jealousy is not a nice trait and changes a person enormously. Nevertheless, you can see now, just how much she is suffering from a broken heart.
The one time she opened her heart to a woman - Juliet and unfortunately it was in vain...well, until she meets Andi. Almost two years ago, Andi lost the love of her life due to a serious illness.
Now, a little older and alone, she no longer expects anything from love and just wants to slowly overcome her sadness.
Rachel is in the right place at the right time, but the very first encounter doesn't have the right tone!
That's why I thought Rachel would remain difficult for me to like...far from it.
I loved this slowly developing romance between the two of them.
Heavy topics such as loss and grief, but also acceptance are discussed and, as always, wonderfully written and staged in a Christmas atmosphere!
It was a pleasure to read!

Thanks to the Author Melissa Tereze for the ARC!
Profile Image for Deb.
476 reviews2 followers
December 6, 2023
A Little Light but a whole lotta story.

Tereze has done it again! I’m not sure how, but every time I read a book by this author I end up reading the last few chapters with blurred vision and a lump in my throat.
Again and unsurprisingly we have amazing main characters, a beautiful relationship journey and a bit of spice to warm things up. One thing you can count on in a MT book is that those things are done correctly. The main characters even talk to each other! Instead of the sometimes stupid 80% break up of a misunderstanding…it’s a Christmas miracle!
We met Rachel in The Hideaway, and I’m so glad she got her own story to redeem herself. Andi’s character was perfect for her. They both have a bit of history to overcome and a few minor misunderstandings along the way to get over. But ultimately you get a HEA.
It’s always nice to catch up with characters from previous novels. Even if sometimes you have to pause to wonder why you know that name…not that that happened of course…
I kinda waited a long while (by my usual standards) to read this book and I’m kicking myself. It’s another great read…so, slip on your comfiest hoody, curl up with a brew and enjoy.
Profile Image for Cara Ramsey.
Author 2 books5 followers
November 19, 2023
Redemption For Rachel

In The Hideout, Rachel had been cast as a bit of a villain. But here, in A Little Light, Rachel, now 35, gets to find a woman who doesn’t see her as just an escort.

That woman, Andi, had been the younger woman in an age gap romance but then she lost Jane, leaving Andi wondering if she could ever love again. At age 50, Andi is both attracted to Rachel but fearful Rachel will reject her because of her age.

Rachel and Andi have to work through their issues, both together and alone, before they can trust themselves to be happy together. But after Andi is sure of who she wants in her life, her longtime friends become the biggest obstacle to a second happily ever after.

This book is a fun and lovely takeoff from The Hideout and if you loved The Hideout, you’ll almost certainly love A Little Light.
101 reviews
April 29, 2024
Maturity Takes The Prize 🥰

As usual, Melissa Tereze comes through with a love story that touches the very soul of her mature readers who have experienced love, passion, loyalty, and in some cases the heartache of death and the loss of a partner.
While Hallmark Romances are always fun, and happy endings are guaranteed, women who have experienced the heartache of broken relationships and lost partners search for novels about women whose lives reflect their own more realistically.
This is certainly one of those sweet and love confirming works.
I also think that this novel serves “young lovers” very well, because, at some point in all our lives, we lose someone dear to us, and it is through novels like these, that we learn how to endure, and move forward with a positive view of the future and our next love.
💕💕💕
Profile Image for Rebecca.
Author 4 books3 followers
November 24, 2024
So perfect.

I myself am a lesbian widow, and my partner was more than 20 years older than me. We were together for 20 years, and when I lost her to cancer after 13 years of nursing her through it, I thought my experience was so bizarre that no one else would have ever imagined this scenario. Then I read this book, and I see things that I have been saying since she died coming out of the mouths of characters written by a stranger. I know that this is a romance, and it is not meant to be a how to book but it is how to live after losing your spouse, it is a how to on how to date a widow, it is a how to on how to find love again after you've lost the person that you thought was your only chance at a happily ever after. It is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read, and I thought I was just getting a romance novel.
Profile Image for Silvia.
366 reviews8 followers
November 5, 2023
When Rachel is first introduced in The Hideout I wasn’t a fan but her story clears that one out. Rachel’s experiences in life culminating to the one with Juliet make her wary and un-trusting. Andi on the other hand lived a pretty perfect love story and she’s nearing the end of her grieving process but she doesn't think love can strike twice. It has to be a cliché by now but this has all the trademark Tezere elements, it’s a very well written age gap, is steamy in all the right places and it’s peppered with grief and heartbreak along the way. And then it’s all coming together in the perfect way. So get reading.
68 reviews4 followers
November 10, 2023
A Little Light is a book that is so heartwarming and sweet (but not in a sickly sweet way!). Something I definitely needed to read considering what is going on around the world at the moment. As usual Melissa doesn't disappoint. Her characters are, to me, three dimensional. It is wonderful to see relatively secondary characters have their own story and HEA. And even better gives you an excuse to reread the books where they connect with this one. Not that anyone would need an excuse.
Please do yourselves a favour and get a copy of A Little Light, you will not be disappointed.

I received a copy for an honest and fair review
Profile Image for KateJoanna.
498 reviews12 followers
December 4, 2024
I found this too much with the constant back and forth, this is one where I feel they’d honestly have been better going their separate ways at the beginning. Most of it just had me uncomfortable and I didn’t find Rachel likeable or fair. There were a lot of inconsistencies and weird pacing or explanations to things that kept just pulling me out of the story.
It had an odd start and didn’t really improve for me.
Although I liked the style of writing it was just too direct so it just ended up feeling clunky and did not flow naturally. Also the constant stammering in dialogue is irritating.
I loved the idea but just didn’t enjoy reading it
Author 1 book17 followers
November 4, 2023
More than a year after her wife's death, Andi is trying to move on. A chance encounter with Rachel and a developing friendship makes Andi begin to wonder if she could love again.

Really good, entertaining read. Andi and Rachel really work as a couple, and their getting together felt very credible. The obstacles they had made sense, and their overcoming them felt very real.

Also really appreciated that the author didn't randomly break them up in the last chunk of the book for drama then get them back together. I loathe that...
Profile Image for Suzi Vilkman (Hautaniemi).
286 reviews7 followers
November 5, 2023
Holding back tears

Happy tears. I love this beautiful story and its beautiful characters. I’m definitely going to read this again still before Christmas. Through heartbreak and loss, mistrust and self doubt, it’s amazing how when things click, they do.

My favorite quote from the book:
"But really, you can know someone for years and never open up…then someone unexpected comes into your life, and you show your vulnerability right off the bat. You open up, and you connect, and it’s all about the soul feeling right."
Profile Image for Anne Hicks-Bleecker.
36 reviews
November 6, 2023
A sweet second chance at love/age gap story. Darling Andi has lost her wife of 22 years and at her friends encouragement is reluctantly getting back into the dating scene. Rachel is an escort who is afraid no one will ever be able to love her. They have a Christmas Market meet cute that leaves both women unable to stop thinking about the other. A little angsty and less spicy than some of Tereze’s other works but a sweet holiday feel good story by an author that reliably leaves you feeling good. Put it on your “Getting in the Christmas Spirit” reading list.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
257 reviews6 followers
November 9, 2023
This book is a spinoff from the Hideout. Which I enjoyed very much. But I did not like Rachel from that book. But Melissa did the almost impossible and got me to like Rachel. Rachel and Andi meet in a Christmas market, when Rachel is very rude to Andi. And from that chance meeting, a connection is formed. To me, this is a very heartwarming story. It shows the depth of Melissa's writing. Both MC'S have suffered pain and loss. They are both very honest people and need acceptance. There are so hard parts for me, but Melissa's handled them with dignity. Go get this book and enjoy.
Profile Image for Sheila.
933 reviews
November 20, 2023
Beautiful

To be seen without any judgement and to be loved unconditionally. We go on our paths wanting to know what our person is thinking, trusting that what they say is true, believing in that truth as long as it has no malice but is full of love, is the most beautiful powerful thingX To know that there is so much love to give, is beautiful on it’s on right. Thank you for this, it not only lets me keep believing in love and romance but the humanity of each person in this life.
222 reviews3 followers
December 23, 2023
Unexpected

This is one of those stories where you think you know how it will go and are so glad when you are wrong. Alli and Rachael meet by coincidence at a winter market. Both are struggling with starting over and trying to move on after their previous relationships ended for different reasons. I really enjoyed how the author developed the relationship between Alli and Rachael. Instead of a lot of unnecessary angst, the story shows two mature people working through conflict by communicating and taking the risk to be vulnerable. Bravo!!!
13 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2024
Beautiful story that made me cry

A story that will make you smile and perhaps get tear eyed if you're a hopeless romantic like me. Andi and Rachel will remind you that there's light and calm after the dark storm and that there's always hope in finding that wonderful connection of love and understanding. That it's never too late, without missing the realistic side about the ups and downs of navigating pain, loss and new beginnings. Looking forward for more stories like this! To true and joyful love!! 🥂
296 reviews2 followers
November 28, 2023
Love abounds …

Well written story of Rachel and Andi’s journey to each other. Both with baggage, but found a way to overcome these obstacles and commit to a loving relationship. The secondary characters were a challenge, specifically Sally, Andi’s best friend who tried to upend their journey. A very good read. I heartily and unequivocally recommend this and all other works by Melissa Tereze. Thank you. Peace
Profile Image for W.A. Cooper.
Author 5 books48 followers
June 28, 2024
Another fantastic read from Melissa.

As an author myself, I'm particular about the novels I read and Melissa is consistent, thoughtful in her topics and I always learn something along the way. Character development is so we'll done, as is plot and pace and I'm hunting for the next title of hers to read. Thank you for writing the way you do. It's refreshingly polished and crafted to perfection and your stories never fail to deliver.
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