The Menorah Matchmaker

Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance #3

by Amanda Usen

Meet the OG Matzo eight friends who became found family, living and loving their best lives on a yearly Hanukkah harbor cruise around Manhattan...
Falling for her boss isn't on her to-do list.

Rebecca Weiss has one never mix business with pleasure. After all, her last office romance ended in a career catastrophe. No matter how much her boss tempts her with his smoldering looks, sharp wit, and undeniable charm, she's determined to keep things strictly professional. Besides, juggling her role at Katz Event Concepts while moonlighting for her grandmother's matchmaking business keeps her far too busy to fool around...

Some rules are made to be broken.

Jay Katz thrives on big ideas and bold moves, but logistics and details? Not so much. He counts on Rebecca to bring his ideas to life with her flawless organization and unmatched efficiency. But no matter how much he needs her skills, he can't resist trying to get under her skin.

All in favor, say oy.

As they work late nights and brainstorm outrageous solutions, the chemistry they've been ignoring threatens to destroy Rebecca's carefully drawn boundaries.

Jay's not above playing dirty, but it's going to take more than a sizzling game of truth or dare to show Rebecca their differences make them a perfect team. He's going to need a holiday miracle...

The Menorah Matchmaker is Book #3 of the Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance an opposites attract, he falls first, boss/employee, slow burn romance hot enough to warm the coldest winter nights.

Genres: Contemporary

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 23, 2024

About the author

Amanda Usen has spent most of her life immersed in story—and butter, sugar, flour, and eggs. After graduating from college, she fortified her English BA with a degree from the Culinary Institute of America, figuring a professional chef would never be a starving writer. Amanda loves chocolate, yoga, and carbs in all forms. When she isn’t writing or cooking, she can usually be found reading or hanging out with her small menagerie of cats, ducks, and mostly-grown children.

Reviews

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, and I loved going behind the scenes of the Matzo Baller. Seeing Jay and Rebecca pull everything off was great. I also loved Bubbe as a side character. However, Rebecca was far too stubborn and stuck in her past for me to enjoy any development she had. I thought she was too hot and cold with Jay, making it hard for me to like her. I also thought this one ended rather abruptly. I would have wanted to see what happened with both of them after the Matzo Baller. It's probably not my favorite of the series, but I'm excited to see more of the pairings.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book. Rebecca & Jay's story.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really been enjoying the Matzo Ballers series and The Menorah Matchmaker is just as delightful as its "partner" story (The Rugelach Road Trip). I read the books out of order so as to alternate from the previous two, but they can be read in either order so it's not a problem. It was actually fun knowing what I knew from the other book in terms of how things would come together for the night of the cruise.

While we're not only getting to know the OG Matzo Ballers through each story, we're also getting to know their potential love interest, and I really like the dual perspectives that each book offers. I'm going to miss this group now that I have to wait almost another year for the next two books in the series!

It was cool to see how the Matzo Baller cruise came together, even with all the last minute glitches and fails that Jay and Rebecca had to deal with in order to make the evening successful and seemingly flawless. The "should-they, shouldn't-they" chemistry between Jay and Rebecca was sizzling and I love how spicy things eventually got. Throw Rebecca's matchmaker Bubbe into the mix and it makes for an entertaining story with some fun twists. Of course, there was a nice dose of Judaism throughout, allowing me to carry Hanukkah on a day past its ending.

I felt like the story could have been expanded a bit at certain parts (and I don't just mean the "open door" scenes), but overall it was really enjoyable. I would love to go on a cruise like the one in these books, full of delicious Kosher food and Jewish entertainment and activities. I look forward to meeting two more Matzo Ballers later this year!

(Trigger warning below.)

Movie casting suggestions (I'm only casting the main characters of each book in this series):

Rebecca: Zoey Deutch

Jay: Josh Bowman
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TW: Workplace sexual harassment (in the past)

[Slick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored the first two books in the Matzo Baller series and couldn’t wait for this year’s releases. In the Menorah Matchmaker one of the original “Jew Crew” and the mastermind behind the Matzo Baller Cruise wants nothing more than to show his right hand woman that he is capable of handling details and that he wants more than business with her. Unfortunately he doesn’t realize she has baggage from her previous employer and she plans to keep their relationship strictly professional.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Jay, CEO of his own company Katz Events, try to woo Rebecca prior to the cruise and the night of the cruise. It was also fun finding out that Rebecca’s grandmother is the famed Menorah Matchmaker and she plans the dates for her grandmother’s couples! As seems to be the norm with the Baller Cruise, there are a few bumps in the road pulling it off but in the end everyone has a wonderful time including Jay and Rebecca until the doubts set it.

Fortunately fate and a very skilled matchmaker steps in just in time.

Ms. Usen offers up another entertaining story filled with light, love, and happiness after a few bumps in the road.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

The Menorah Matchmaker is the third book in the Matzo Ballers Hanukkah Romance series.

I am obsessed with these books. I love Hanukkah romances. And I adore this series. This one is Jay's book.

Jay organizes yearly Hanukkah cruises. I love these cruises so much. And I really liked that in this book we really got to see a lot more of the planning and behind the scenes.

I also loved that Rebecca (his assistant) has a grandmother who is a matchmaker.

This was such a fun read! I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable holiday love story with the continuing theme of the annual Matzo Baller party on a cruise ship in New York. Lots of vivid details regarding the decor, food, and spirit of Chanukah. Great chemistry between the protagonists with good reasons to stay apart but even better ones for creating a relationship. Fun and non-stereotypical all around, including the matchmaking grandma.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked: An “opposites attract” and “boss/employee” rom-com set behind the scenes of the event planners for the annual New York Hanukkah Booze Cruise.

What I disliked: Considering the book title, expected the plot to have more emphasis on the matchmaking business and fake dates storylines.

[Brontesruleromance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another light, fast read in the Matzo Ballers Series.

[Moran Videletz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed reading about Jay and Rebecca and another Hanukkah cruise .

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute Jewish holiday book. The matzo baller theme is adorable across the books, although can be read as standalones. Rebecca and Jay had excellent chemistry from the beginning. Rebecca is portrayed as a very capable woman and Jay is the more imperfect one. It's cute and heat warming and a great book to add to the Jewish holiday reading list