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Ben's Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle
This Hanukkah, it’s love with a side of latkes. Former ice hockey star Adam Bernard has spent the last ten years caring for his ailing father and coaching his pee-wee hockey team. He doesn’t have time to brood over what could-have-been since leaving the NHL draft - and he sure doesn’t have time for a love-life. When his team is invited to a prestigious tourney in Boston - and it’s during the week of Hanukkah - he can’t find it in his heart to tell them no. Adam hates the idea of leaving his dad alone during the holidays - but a promise is a promise. Ben Daniels wasn’t running from his almost-Olympic past when he started up a kosher-style bakery three years ago. Deciding to stick to Hanukkah-themed treats, though, was probably running from the truth, which is that he’s one bad month away from bankruptcy. An infusion of donut-hungry preteens is exactly what his register needs - but their adorable and mysterious coach might be exactly what Ben’s heart has been yearning for. Adam’s life is back in Montreal - but the more time Adam spends with Ben, the less he wants to leave Boston. Ben might have spent the last three years avoiding the ice - but Adam could be the key to melting his resolve. When Adam gets an offer from the NHL, it’s a chance for them both to rewrite their histories. But Ben hasn’t been entirely truthful with Adam - and Adam’s got some prejudices that might just extinguish what’s burning between them. With Adam’s future at a crossroads, and Ben’s past out in the open, will they find a way to prove that miracles aren’t only found on the ice? Ben's Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle is a m/m romance with a HEA ending. It features two sexy and sincere Jewish guys, match-making 12-year-old hockey players, and lots of yummy kosher donuts.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2018
43 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
About the author
Penelope Peters
16 books50 followersPenelope Peters wrote her first story at the age of nine, based on a dream she couldn’t shake. This is probably why most of her romances usually include the weird and whimsical. Penelope has been happily married to her college sweetheart for two decades, which is probably why her romances are practically guaranteed happy endings. Armed with her two kids, her husband, and her somewhat-trusty laptop, Pen’s traveled to more countries than you can count on two hands. (She’s very close to filling up that third.) Currently Penelope has returned to the land of her birth (somewhat reluctantly), where she is surrounded by trees, taco trucks, and her collection of counted cross stitch kits.
You can find Penelope on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PenelopePetersAuthor), Twitter (@penelope_writes), Tumblr (azriona – it’s her personal account, you are hereby warned), and her website (www.penelope-peters.com), where you can learn about how to receive updates and ARCs.
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You can find Penelope on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PenelopePetersAuthor), Twitter (@penelope_writes), Tumblr (azriona – it’s her personal account, you are hereby warned), and her website (www.penelope-peters.com), where you can learn about how to receive updates and ARCs.
Icon by anotherwellkeptsecret.tumblr.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
December 4, 2018
I so wanted to 5-star this little Hanukkah romance. I mean, it has hockey players AND Jewish MCs?! That sounded right up my alley, and I did really enjoy it, except for my issues with Adam.
Look, I'm Jewish. Very Jewish. According to my "23 and me" results, I'm 99.4% Ashkenazi Jewish. I also live in a very, very Jewish area of the world with 27 synagogues within a 10 mile radius from my house (yes, I just counted). I have Orthodox friends and relatives that keep Kosher, so I'm familiar with most of the Jewish customs, but Adam's sanctimonious brand of Judaism really bothered me.
I'll always remember one of my Orthodox friends telling me that being Jewish is binary: you can't be more Jewish than another Jew. You can be more observant, but you can't be more Jewish. I hated how Adam constantly judged and questioned Ben's Judaism based on minute details. I eat bacon and type God (two things I didn't do growing up, by the way), but that doesn't make me not a Jew. I've met Jews like Adam before, and I don't enjoy that brand of competitive Judaism.
I knocked off a full star for Adam's judgmental attitude, and even considered knocking off more, that's how much it bothered me, but, alas, the rest of the story was so stinking cute.
I adored the hockey boys, and I adored Ben. I'd eat his lemon curd-anything, even during Jewish holidays. I liked how he was exploring his religion more, and I liked his backstory with his former career.
I also thought that all of the meddling friends were cute. The story had a holiday feel that's sometimes hard to get in a Hanukkah romance, and I liked the overall style of the story. But, gah, Adam's behavior is always going to be a sticking point with me for this story.
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Look, I'm Jewish. Very Jewish. According to my "23 and me" results, I'm 99.4% Ashkenazi Jewish. I also live in a very, very Jewish area of the world with 27 synagogues within a 10 mile radius from my house (yes, I just counted). I have Orthodox friends and relatives that keep Kosher, so I'm familiar with most of the Jewish customs, but Adam's sanctimonious brand of Judaism really bothered me.
I'll always remember one of my Orthodox friends telling me that being Jewish is binary: you can't be more Jewish than another Jew. You can be more observant, but you can't be more Jewish. I hated how Adam constantly judged and questioned Ben's Judaism based on minute details. I eat bacon and type God (two things I didn't do growing up, by the way), but that doesn't make me not a Jew. I've met Jews like Adam before, and I don't enjoy that brand of competitive Judaism.
I knocked off a full star for Adam's judgmental attitude, and even considered knocking off more, that's how much it bothered me, but, alas, the rest of the story was so stinking cute.
I adored the hockey boys, and I adored Ben. I'd eat his lemon curd-anything, even during Jewish holidays. I liked how he was exploring his religion more, and I liked his backstory with his former career.
I also thought that all of the meddling friends were cute. The story had a holiday feel that's sometimes hard to get in a Hanukkah romance, and I liked the overall style of the story. But, gah, Adam's behavior is always going to be a sticking point with me for this story.
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November 28, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
I am always excited when I can find Chanukah books this time of year, and when this story came across my desk, I was eager to snatch it up. I think Peters does a nice job of doing more than scratch the surface of the holiday and it is clear she is familiar with the holiday traditions. In fact, in a couple of places I think the story assumes a basic understanding of things that not all readers may have, but I do think that the book is accessible even if Chanukah is not your holiday.
So this one started a little rough for me, but picked up some steam as it went, and that is because I had a really hard time with Adam. He is the son of a rabbi and a more observant Jew than Ben, and he is awfully judgmental about it. Not only about Ben’s religious observance, but at some of the more secular traditions as well. For example, Adam freaks out because Ben has made a non-traditional filling for the sufganiot in his bakery (they are sort of like donuts and a traditional Chanukah food). Adam is incredibly rude when Ben tells him he is Jewish, with obnoxious disbelief that anyone who doesn’t know the “right” way to make sufganiot could possibly be Jewish. Later, after they have made up from that fight and are kissing for the first time, Adam freaks out seemingly out of nowhere and tells Ben “I don’t want to be your Jewish fling, okay?” (presumably because Ben shared potato latkes with him and asked him for his opinion and despite knowing that Ben is Jewish himself at this point). Basically, Adam keeps picking these fights (including a major one that comes at the end of the story) because Ben doesn’t observe the way that Adam does, and Adam doesn’t consider Ben’s way good enough. Which fine, I get that level of religious observance can be a relationship deal breaker. But these guys have known each other less than a week. There is no reason to be nasty and judgmental to a virtual stranger because they don’t meet your approval on their level of religious observance, especially before there is even a romantic relationship involved.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
I am always excited when I can find Chanukah books this time of year, and when this story came across my desk, I was eager to snatch it up. I think Peters does a nice job of doing more than scratch the surface of the holiday and it is clear she is familiar with the holiday traditions. In fact, in a couple of places I think the story assumes a basic understanding of things that not all readers may have, but I do think that the book is accessible even if Chanukah is not your holiday.
So this one started a little rough for me, but picked up some steam as it went, and that is because I had a really hard time with Adam. He is the son of a rabbi and a more observant Jew than Ben, and he is awfully judgmental about it. Not only about Ben’s religious observance, but at some of the more secular traditions as well. For example, Adam freaks out because Ben has made a non-traditional filling for the sufganiot in his bakery (they are sort of like donuts and a traditional Chanukah food). Adam is incredibly rude when Ben tells him he is Jewish, with obnoxious disbelief that anyone who doesn’t know the “right” way to make sufganiot could possibly be Jewish. Later, after they have made up from that fight and are kissing for the first time, Adam freaks out seemingly out of nowhere and tells Ben “I don’t want to be your Jewish fling, okay?” (presumably because Ben shared potato latkes with him and asked him for his opinion and despite knowing that Ben is Jewish himself at this point). Basically, Adam keeps picking these fights (including a major one that comes at the end of the story) because Ben doesn’t observe the way that Adam does, and Adam doesn’t consider Ben’s way good enough. Which fine, I get that level of religious observance can be a relationship deal breaker. But these guys have known each other less than a week. There is no reason to be nasty and judgmental to a virtual stranger because they don’t meet your approval on their level of religious observance, especially before there is even a romantic relationship involved.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
November 19, 2018
My first Christmas season read of 2018 and I loved it. Ben and Adam meet when Adam walks into Ben's "kosher style" bakery in Boston while travelling there with the ice hockey team he coaches (he's from Montreal). Both men have similar histories. Both were skaters (one hockey, one a speed skater) who had to give up on dreams of Olympic glory. Both are Jewish, though Adam's father was a rabbi and Ben's family was unobservant. I loved Adam's young hockey players--they sounded like real kids and added a family flavor to the story. And Ben and Adam were sweet together, earnest guys who have some bumps along the way to trusting one another. Highly recommended.
November 25, 2018
Fantastic and heartwarming
I really enjoyed this. Ben and Adam were sweet but still realistically flawed, fumbling their way to their happy ending with a few hitches along the way and growth on both sides. This book make me both laugh and tear up (it’s not SUPER angsty; I’m just a wimp), and ultimately left me with a smile on my face. I’m definitely checking out more books from this new-to-me author.
I really enjoyed this. Ben and Adam were sweet but still realistically flawed, fumbling their way to their happy ending with a few hitches along the way and growth on both sides. This book make me both laugh and tear up (it’s not SUPER angsty; I’m just a wimp), and ultimately left me with a smile on my face. I’m definitely checking out more books from this new-to-me author.
December 2, 2018
I’m always up for a good Hanukkah story during the holidays so I jumped on this one. Now for the record I usually do not like children in my stories, I always find them poorly written or used as some sappy device. Surprise, I absolutely loved the boys on the hockey team. The main problem for me is I enjoyed them more than I enjoyed the main characters. The main characters had mini stumbling blocks between them that they put up but I didn’t understand why. I felt the story was a little heavy on the actual religious end of Hanukkah and I just couldn’t wait for the boys to have scenes. Sometimes I couldn’t tell is characters were thinking or talking with the heavy usage of italicization in the story. So overall I would give this a solid three. Happy Hanukkah everybody.
December 26, 2022
Adorable!
Kids are always a tossup on if they’re going to be terrible or cute or just annoying. Luckily these ones were cute and actually helped the story progress.
This story is so cute, I know I want to find any other stories the Hanukkah or not by this author and read them. There is minimal drama and it’s quickly resolved, not a stressful read at all.
Looking for a cute M/M romance with two Jewish men finding love? You should give this try.
Kids are always a tossup on if they’re going to be terrible or cute or just annoying. Luckily these ones were cute and actually helped the story progress.
This story is so cute, I know I want to find any other stories the Hanukkah or not by this author and read them. There is minimal drama and it’s quickly resolved, not a stressful read at all.
Looking for a cute M/M romance with two Jewish men finding love? You should give this try.
December 5, 2020
This book gave me a headache.
Seriously, it did.
The editing was way off making the text hard to follow and the plot was so messy that I didn't know what was happening half of the time. There were so many things happening, so many secondary characters. Just too much of everything.
It didn't help that Adam might be one of the most unlikeable Mc's I've ever had the "pleasure" to meet.
Seriously, it did.
The editing was way off making the text hard to follow and the plot was so messy that I didn't know what was happening half of the time. There were so many things happening, so many secondary characters. Just too much of everything.
It didn't help that Adam might be one of the most unlikeable Mc's I've ever had the "pleasure" to meet.
Read
January 13, 2020This was stupidly, absurdly cute and I enjoyed it almost entirely. Though I object very much to romance fiction tacking on erotica at the end of the book for no good reason (it's to...prove their love? Idk, I found it superfluous), it was worth it to feel the almost palpable discomfort the man in the seat next me was radiating as he suddenly realized what a bad flipping idea it is to read a romance novel over a stranger's shoulder in an airplane with no privacy. Happy Holidays, brother.
November 13, 2018
Oh my goodness, I have to say what a miracle it is to have discovered Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle. This book is so charming it brightened my mood in the best of ways – and Penelope Peters definitely got me in the spirit for the holidays!
A word of advice, in the prologue we’re introduced to Adam Bernard and Ben Daniels by way of where they are during Thanksgiving, in Canada and America respectively. Should you not be aware, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving in October whereas America celebrates it in November, so don’t get yourself confused.
Adam is a pee-wee hockey coach. His team has just been invited to participate in the annual Winter Classic in Boston, which is how he ends up meeting Ben. Not only because of traveling circumstances, but also the charming children who inadvertently play matchmakers when stumbling upon Ben’s kosher-style bakery.
This book is so charming it brightened my mood in the best of ways – and Penelope Peters definitely got me in the spirit for the holidays!
Let me just say, these kids bring a whole new level of freshness to this romance… boys being boys, just egging their coach on and all. Between them and Ben’s bestie, slash accountant, Sheldon, I thought I was gonna bust a gut!
Ben has no business sense. He’s all about the customer experience and how much they enjoy what he produces, so much so that Sheldon has warned Ben to stop giving things away, or he’s gonna lose his shirt. However, Ben’s heart is just too big… which not only captivates you as a reader, but charms Adam as well.
As the chapters highlight the eight days of Hanukkah, the heady anticipation of these two men’s interactions is as sweet as the sufganiyot (Jewish jelly doughnuts) that first entice Adam. And it’s just as mouth-watering, as they slowly, intimately explore one another.
As the chapters highlight the eight days of Hanukkah, the heady anticipation of these two men’s interactions is as sweet as the sufganiyot (Jewish jelly doughnuts) that first entice Adam. And it’s just as mouth-watering, as they slowly, intimately explore one another.
Adam misses being home with his family and customs during Hanukkah, while Ben wants to sustain the holiday tradition in his bakery as a way to reconnect with his own Jewish roots. Miraculously Adam is just the person to help him. But Adam grew up with a Rabbi father and is so full of assumptions about “proper” practices that misunderstandings result between the two, which might just snuff out what light could glow in the eight days before them.
Penelope Peters draws you in to this sweet, passionate, charming romance with loveable characters and alluring descriptions. Within the pages of Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle Ben and Adam not only discover a miracle, but bring out the best in one another by realizing there is more than one way to be faithful; while Ben’s rituals and beliefs are a gentle reminder to us all that our true faiths lie within our hearts.
A word of advice, in the prologue we’re introduced to Adam Bernard and Ben Daniels by way of where they are during Thanksgiving, in Canada and America respectively. Should you not be aware, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving in October whereas America celebrates it in November, so don’t get yourself confused.
Adam is a pee-wee hockey coach. His team has just been invited to participate in the annual Winter Classic in Boston, which is how he ends up meeting Ben. Not only because of traveling circumstances, but also the charming children who inadvertently play matchmakers when stumbling upon Ben’s kosher-style bakery.
This book is so charming it brightened my mood in the best of ways – and Penelope Peters definitely got me in the spirit for the holidays!
Let me just say, these kids bring a whole new level of freshness to this romance… boys being boys, just egging their coach on and all. Between them and Ben’s bestie, slash accountant, Sheldon, I thought I was gonna bust a gut!
Ben has no business sense. He’s all about the customer experience and how much they enjoy what he produces, so much so that Sheldon has warned Ben to stop giving things away, or he’s gonna lose his shirt. However, Ben’s heart is just too big… which not only captivates you as a reader, but charms Adam as well.
As the chapters highlight the eight days of Hanukkah, the heady anticipation of these two men’s interactions is as sweet as the sufganiyot (Jewish jelly doughnuts) that first entice Adam. And it’s just as mouth-watering, as they slowly, intimately explore one another.
As the chapters highlight the eight days of Hanukkah, the heady anticipation of these two men’s interactions is as sweet as the sufganiyot (Jewish jelly doughnuts) that first entice Adam. And it’s just as mouth-watering, as they slowly, intimately explore one another.
Adam misses being home with his family and customs during Hanukkah, while Ben wants to sustain the holiday tradition in his bakery as a way to reconnect with his own Jewish roots. Miraculously Adam is just the person to help him. But Adam grew up with a Rabbi father and is so full of assumptions about “proper” practices that misunderstandings result between the two, which might just snuff out what light could glow in the eight days before them.
Penelope Peters draws you in to this sweet, passionate, charming romance with loveable characters and alluring descriptions. Within the pages of Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle Ben and Adam not only discover a miracle, but bring out the best in one another by realizing there is more than one way to be faithful; while Ben’s rituals and beliefs are a gentle reminder to us all that our true faiths lie within our hearts.
November 24, 2024
Re-read Nov, 15, 2024
***** Montreal Pee-Wee Hockey Coach, Adam, son of a Rabi, will be away from family this year during Hanukkah, because his team is invited to Boston.
Ben owns the Jewish Bakery in Boston where the kids found his donuts delicious. They bring their coach to meet the cute baker, Ben.
This is a super sweet story with cute kids, a dedicated coach and the rocky week our men spend trying to figure each other out. Their religion plays a big role, because the men have each had quite a different exposure to their religion.
There are ups and downs, angst, tender moments and conflicting opinions. Other issues are on the table, too. A job is in the offering for Adam, and his Dad's health is a concern.
I enjoyed this Christmassy/Hanukkah holiday tale.
Enjoy the spirit !
====
***** Montreal Pee-Wee Hockey Coach, Adam, son of a Rabi, will be away from family this year during Hanukkah, because his team is invited to Boston.
Ben owns the Jewish Bakery in Boston where the kids found his donuts delicious. They bring their coach to meet the cute baker, Ben.
This is a super sweet story with cute kids, a dedicated coach and the rocky week our men spend trying to figure each other out. Their religion plays a big role, because the men have each had quite a different exposure to their religion.
There are ups and downs, angst, tender moments and conflicting opinions. Other issues are on the table, too. A job is in the offering for Adam, and his Dad's health is a concern.
I enjoyed this Christmassy/Hanukkah holiday tale.
Enjoy the spirit !
====
December 19, 2019
Rating: An electric menorah.
Highlight of note: Hanukkah romances are still rare enough that just being one is noteworthy, especially as it's a full length novel rather than a novella.
Will you read more by this author? Maybe? Leaning toward unlikely.
Note: I am not Jewish. The author of the book is. Not sure if that's important to point out, but both things are true.
Also note: this is an adult romance, not the YA that I usually read. That means there are graphic sex scenes. I skipped over them because I'm not into sex scenes, though, so I can't tell you if there were "good" or not.
I really wanted to like this m/m Hanukkah romance, and at times I did. I liked it enough to finish it at any rate. My main issue was with one of the leads. While Ben is absolutely adorable and quite possibly the nicest man on Earth (to the point that you could probably call him a Mary Sue pretty easily), Adam kept rubbing me the wrong way. Every conflict between the pair came down to Adam questioning Ben's Jewishness. The first time he did it, I was willing to say it was a misstep and him not saying what he really meant to convey. The third time? I was wishing there was anyone else in Boston interested in an overly sweet gay Jewish baker.
The rest of this contains more spoilers than I usually use, so if you're going to rush out and read this book, you should stop here.
*
*
*
Positives about the novel... As I mentioned already, Ben is really loveable and that makes him super easy to pull for. And I adored Adam's hockey team, a rambunctious pack of good hearted teen boys who have a tendency to curse in French due to being from Quebec. I also liked the supportive best friend characters each of the love interests had, especially Adam's female Muslim assistant coach and her constantly-slipping hajib. We never see Ben's parents, but Adam's dad, a retired rabbi who likes to say he's a walking joke because his closest friends are an Islamic Imam and a Catholic priest, is beyond awesome. (The rabbi, the Imam, and the priest like to play golf together with either a Buddhist monk or a protestant preacher because they are all happy running with this interfaith thing.)
There were a few issues though. The first is why didn't the author ever describe the men's "I'm Gay!" forehead tattoos? I assume they have them because random strangers peg both of them as into other dudes with less than a second of observation. This, of course, meant that there was zero tension from the guys playing the "Is he flirting or straight and oblivious to how I'm reading this?" game.
The lack of tension was my second problem. There was never anything other than them arguing to keep the lovers apart. That one lives in Montreal and the other in Boston would seem like a problem, except the guy from Montreal was offered a job in Boston before the book even starts. He's shy about taking it because he wants to be near his dad's nursing home, but it's quickly made clear that his dad can move to Boston too! Neither lead has had a boyfriend in a while, but they weren't left scarred and scared to care by their pasts or anything like that. There is never anything that makes you say, "Maybe it will be hard for this to work out!" except for the repeated fights.
When I say "fight" though, I'm overselling what happens. On multiple occasions, Adam says something horrible to Ben that Ben (and I) hear as, "You're not a proper Jew!" for things like using unusual fillings in his sufganiyot, being awkward with Hebrew grammar, and having parents who like secular Christmas trees. (Adam does this despite the awesome rabbi father who would go ballistic if he heard his son say this stuff.) They then both feel bad. Ben then apologizes profusely. Yes, BEN apologizes everytime he gets upset due to Adam acting like an ass. And although Adam typically responds along the lines of "Why are YOU apologizing?" I never get the impression Adam grows out of it, just that he's found a guy who'll let him get away with being crappy.
The author says in her afterward that she is a Jewish woman who grew up in a Jewish household that always put up a Christmas tree, so I suspect she had to deal with a lot of the same things that got thrown at Ben. And I suspect she reacted the same way he does, by being briefly angry but then shrugging it off. I'd say more about that, but it's not my place.
So... Yeah. It's good that people of Jewish persuasion are writing holiday romances around their holidays, but this one fell flat for me. I may give Peters another shot, because maybe my problem was simply that Adam grated on me too much. We'll see.
For the notes I took while reading, visit my blog at https://andyreadsthings.blogspot.com/...
Highlight of note: Hanukkah romances are still rare enough that just being one is noteworthy, especially as it's a full length novel rather than a novella.
Will you read more by this author? Maybe? Leaning toward unlikely.
Note: I am not Jewish. The author of the book is. Not sure if that's important to point out, but both things are true.
Also note: this is an adult romance, not the YA that I usually read. That means there are graphic sex scenes. I skipped over them because I'm not into sex scenes, though, so I can't tell you if there were "good" or not.
I really wanted to like this m/m Hanukkah romance, and at times I did. I liked it enough to finish it at any rate. My main issue was with one of the leads. While Ben is absolutely adorable and quite possibly the nicest man on Earth (to the point that you could probably call him a Mary Sue pretty easily), Adam kept rubbing me the wrong way. Every conflict between the pair came down to Adam questioning Ben's Jewishness. The first time he did it, I was willing to say it was a misstep and him not saying what he really meant to convey. The third time? I was wishing there was anyone else in Boston interested in an overly sweet gay Jewish baker.
The rest of this contains more spoilers than I usually use, so if you're going to rush out and read this book, you should stop here.
*
*
*
Positives about the novel... As I mentioned already, Ben is really loveable and that makes him super easy to pull for. And I adored Adam's hockey team, a rambunctious pack of good hearted teen boys who have a tendency to curse in French due to being from Quebec. I also liked the supportive best friend characters each of the love interests had, especially Adam's female Muslim assistant coach and her constantly-slipping hajib. We never see Ben's parents, but Adam's dad, a retired rabbi who likes to say he's a walking joke because his closest friends are an Islamic Imam and a Catholic priest, is beyond awesome. (The rabbi, the Imam, and the priest like to play golf together with either a Buddhist monk or a protestant preacher because they are all happy running with this interfaith thing.)
There were a few issues though. The first is why didn't the author ever describe the men's "I'm Gay!" forehead tattoos? I assume they have them because random strangers peg both of them as into other dudes with less than a second of observation. This, of course, meant that there was zero tension from the guys playing the "Is he flirting or straight and oblivious to how I'm reading this?" game.
The lack of tension was my second problem. There was never anything other than them arguing to keep the lovers apart. That one lives in Montreal and the other in Boston would seem like a problem, except the guy from Montreal was offered a job in Boston before the book even starts. He's shy about taking it because he wants to be near his dad's nursing home, but it's quickly made clear that his dad can move to Boston too! Neither lead has had a boyfriend in a while, but they weren't left scarred and scared to care by their pasts or anything like that. There is never anything that makes you say, "Maybe it will be hard for this to work out!" except for the repeated fights.
When I say "fight" though, I'm overselling what happens. On multiple occasions, Adam says something horrible to Ben that Ben (and I) hear as, "You're not a proper Jew!" for things like using unusual fillings in his sufganiyot, being awkward with Hebrew grammar, and having parents who like secular Christmas trees. (Adam does this despite the awesome rabbi father who would go ballistic if he heard his son say this stuff.) They then both feel bad. Ben then apologizes profusely. Yes, BEN apologizes everytime he gets upset due to Adam acting like an ass. And although Adam typically responds along the lines of "Why are YOU apologizing?" I never get the impression Adam grows out of it, just that he's found a guy who'll let him get away with being crappy.
The author says in her afterward that she is a Jewish woman who grew up in a Jewish household that always put up a Christmas tree, so I suspect she had to deal with a lot of the same things that got thrown at Ben. And I suspect she reacted the same way he does, by being briefly angry but then shrugging it off. I'd say more about that, but it's not my place.
So... Yeah. It's good that people of Jewish persuasion are writing holiday romances around their holidays, but this one fell flat for me. I may give Peters another shot, because maybe my problem was simply that Adam grated on me too much. We'll see.
For the notes I took while reading, visit my blog at https://andyreadsthings.blogspot.com/...
December 3, 2018
3.25 stars. I'm all in favor of more Hanukkah romances, especially M/M ones. This was a good one, with musings on the true meaning of religion, mouth-watering jelly doughnuts and latkes (anything fried in oil is appropriate for the holiday), and one MC to die for (as the owner of a bakery, Ben is almost quite literally a cinnamon roll). Unfortunately Adam, the other MC, has a stick up his judgmental butt, reminding me of the worst kind of narrow-minded people who think they know the "right" way to be Jewish (or any religion, for that matter). He does come to his senses at the end but his resolution to be a better man didn't quite absolve his earlier assholery.
Bonus points for notable secondary characters including a female Muslim assistant hockey coach, and a bunch of teenage boys who are accurately portrayed as both endearing and annoying at the same time.
Bonus points for notable secondary characters including a female Muslim assistant hockey coach, and a bunch of teenage boys who are accurately portrayed as both endearing and annoying at the same time.
November 14, 2018
What a treat Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle by Penelope Peters is. Covering the eight days and nights of Hanukkah, Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle has the feel of a Hallmark Holiday story where each day is a new “present” for each of these men.
The prologue is somewhat hard to follow, maybe because of the tone or maybe because of the different timeframes for Thanksgiving (US vs Canada). However, do not let this deter you from proceeding with this adorable, sweet and slightly-angsty tale.
Two Jewish men, Ben Daniels and Adam Bernard, alter their futures after unfortunate events occur. Ben, once a speed skater now owns a kosher-style bakery. Adam, once a professional hockey player now coaches adolescent boys.
What remains consistent throughout this novel is the chemistry Ben and Adam share right from the moment they meet. There are several matchmakers encouraging these guys while adding a dose of levity. The young men from the pee-wee hockey team are such a hoot.
This year Ben is determined to honor his Jewish roots remaining kosher-like for Hanukkah; only serving Jewish holiday treats like sufganiyot, a Jewish jelly doughnut. Afterwards, Ben will bring out the fruitcake and Santa cookies. Adam lends a hand, in part to lessen the blow of being away from home during Hanukkah, while also being drawn by the magnetic pull between him and Ben.
Brought up with differing views on their religion causes Ben and Adam to struggle with misunderstandings along the way. Faith can be a touchy subject, but here it enhances the flow without becoming preachy.
Ben and Adam navigate their differences, learning from each other along the way. Compromise allows a beautiful, sweet, and strong relationship to evolve.The ending is a “happy for now” with the promise of further growth of the relationship.
Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle by Penelope Peters is just the perfect book to kick off this holiday’s seasonal reading.
The prologue is somewhat hard to follow, maybe because of the tone or maybe because of the different timeframes for Thanksgiving (US vs Canada). However, do not let this deter you from proceeding with this adorable, sweet and slightly-angsty tale.
Two Jewish men, Ben Daniels and Adam Bernard, alter their futures after unfortunate events occur. Ben, once a speed skater now owns a kosher-style bakery. Adam, once a professional hockey player now coaches adolescent boys.
What remains consistent throughout this novel is the chemistry Ben and Adam share right from the moment they meet. There are several matchmakers encouraging these guys while adding a dose of levity. The young men from the pee-wee hockey team are such a hoot.
This year Ben is determined to honor his Jewish roots remaining kosher-like for Hanukkah; only serving Jewish holiday treats like sufganiyot, a Jewish jelly doughnut. Afterwards, Ben will bring out the fruitcake and Santa cookies. Adam lends a hand, in part to lessen the blow of being away from home during Hanukkah, while also being drawn by the magnetic pull between him and Ben.
Brought up with differing views on their religion causes Ben and Adam to struggle with misunderstandings along the way. Faith can be a touchy subject, but here it enhances the flow without becoming preachy.
Ben and Adam navigate their differences, learning from each other along the way. Compromise allows a beautiful, sweet, and strong relationship to evolve.The ending is a “happy for now” with the promise of further growth of the relationship.
Ben’s Bakery and the Hanukkah Miracle by Penelope Peters is just the perfect book to kick off this holiday’s seasonal reading.
November 23, 2018
This book made my entire day! It was a fast, happy read. I adored both Ben and Adam and loved how they (especially Adam) grew and changed together (in 8 days!). I loved that it talked honestly about the range of Jewish practice and about some of the complexities of being Jewish in North America. Oh, and the kids were adorable, the the besties, and it was just a fun book and a fun book with a fabulous epilogue and I am SO happy I read it!
December 6, 2020
I stumbled upon this one when giving recommendations for diverse holiday reads. Then a friend told me I "HAD TO" read a holiday book, so I figured I'd dive in.
Ben's Bakery is really cute and exactly what it tells you it is, which I appreciate in a pleasure read. The two steamy scenes (at the ends of Chapter 3 and the Epilogue, for those of you who like to skim over those sorts of things) are Capital S "Steam," and the date scenes are appropriately cute. This is a little more Rom than RomCom although Ben's best friend and Adam's hockey team keep things fun. And I appreciated the conversation between keeping your faith and remaining completely devout. (For those worried, the Author's Bio implies that Peters was raised in either a secularly Jewish or two religion household, so the representation here is Own Voices in that regard.)
I thought the impetus for the typical RomCom "Break Up to Make Up" was a little overdramatic and out of nowhere here, think What If It's Us, and the back half had a few too many typos for me to gel completely. Overall, however, Peters does what she likely set out to do, and I got exactly what I wanted/expected.
Rating: 3.5/5
Ben's Bakery is really cute and exactly what it tells you it is, which I appreciate in a pleasure read. The two steamy scenes (at the ends of Chapter 3 and the Epilogue, for those of you who like to skim over those sorts of things) are Capital S "Steam," and the date scenes are appropriately cute. This is a little more Rom than RomCom although Ben's best friend and Adam's hockey team keep things fun. And I appreciated the conversation between keeping your faith and remaining completely devout. (For those worried, the Author's Bio implies that Peters was raised in either a secularly Jewish or two religion household, so the representation here is Own Voices in that regard.)
I thought the impetus for the typical RomCom "Break Up to Make Up" was a little overdramatic and out of nowhere here, think What If It's Us, and the back half had a few too many typos for me to gel completely. Overall, however, Peters does what she likely set out to do, and I got exactly what I wanted/expected.
Rating: 3.5/5
January 2, 2020
I was exited to read another Hannukah themed book, because the warmth of the traditions and blessings and sense of family of this Jewish holiday really impressed me in Eight Nights in December. However, I never got that in this book. I did not like Adam; he was judgemental, illogical and boring. Ben was a better character, in my opinion. Yes he had flaws, but he was a more likeable character, and I admired how he was true to his Jewish culture, without seeming as rigid as Adam. I also liked the hockey players, they were cute. But I also didn't enjoy the plot. I was bored and almost DNF. So the two stars are all for Ben and his delicious Jewish pastries.
December 4, 2021
2.5* exactly.
This was cute. I've read a couple holiday romances and they all follow the same themes and plot. This did all of that but it was more religious than the Christmas ones I've read. Surprisingly the Christmas ones were a lot more secular and about "being with family" whereas this had a lot of references to what it means to be Jewish (that was a strong theme actually). The thing I really didn't like about it was that the 2 guys don't work well together. The religious theme was a huge point of contention and there was no real growth or anything about that conflict. They both basically glossed over it in a conversation that paid lip service to being open about different takes on one religion, but that argument had cropped up more than once and neither of them seemed genuinely willing to budge. Made the payoff not great because it felt like a relationship that wasn't meant to be.
This was cute. I've read a couple holiday romances and they all follow the same themes and plot. This did all of that but it was more religious than the Christmas ones I've read. Surprisingly the Christmas ones were a lot more secular and about "being with family" whereas this had a lot of references to what it means to be Jewish (that was a strong theme actually). The thing I really didn't like about it was that the 2 guys don't work well together. The religious theme was a huge point of contention and there was no real growth or anything about that conflict. They both basically glossed over it in a conversation that paid lip service to being open about different takes on one religion, but that argument had cropped up more than once and neither of them seemed genuinely willing to budge. Made the payoff not great because it felt like a relationship that wasn't meant to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2018
Great holiday story!
As you can tell from the title, this is not a Christmas story. However, it is a holiday story - the holiday of Hanukkah which is celebrated by Jewish folks usually during December.
The other fact that made me buy this book is that one of the MCs is a hockey coach, and earlier in life was a hockey player! And as hockey is my favorite sport, it only made sense to get the book. And I'm very glad I did, as it had a good story line and a minimum of angst. And, of course, the HEA ending, that is basically a requirement for me.
Ben is the young man who runs his own Jewish Bakery and Adam is the coach / ex-hockey player. When Adam comes to Boston with his teenage hockey players from Montreal, the boys stop into Ben's Bakery the first morning there on their walk from the hotel to the rink. The question of Adam taking a new coaching job in the Boston area becomes a challenge due to his responsibilities back in Montreal and his joy at being with Ben for longer than the weeklong fling they were anticipating.
If you're looking for a satisfying holiday story about one of the other holidays that are celebrated in December, pick up a copy of this book. You'll enjoy getting to know about Hanukkah and baking and hockey!
As you can tell from the title, this is not a Christmas story. However, it is a holiday story - the holiday of Hanukkah which is celebrated by Jewish folks usually during December.
The other fact that made me buy this book is that one of the MCs is a hockey coach, and earlier in life was a hockey player! And as hockey is my favorite sport, it only made sense to get the book. And I'm very glad I did, as it had a good story line and a minimum of angst. And, of course, the HEA ending, that is basically a requirement for me.
Ben is the young man who runs his own Jewish Bakery and Adam is the coach / ex-hockey player. When Adam comes to Boston with his teenage hockey players from Montreal, the boys stop into Ben's Bakery the first morning there on their walk from the hotel to the rink. The question of Adam taking a new coaching job in the Boston area becomes a challenge due to his responsibilities back in Montreal and his joy at being with Ben for longer than the weeklong fling they were anticipating.
If you're looking for a satisfying holiday story about one of the other holidays that are celebrated in December, pick up a copy of this book. You'll enjoy getting to know about Hanukkah and baking and hockey!
December 4, 2018
This was fun to read, the hockey team was a really nice part of the story, and all the talk of the bakery and its treats made me really crave baked (and fried) goods! Oh, and Farida, the assistent coach is amazing and Adam is SO LUCKY she was with him on this trip.
Perfect first holiday-themed story for this year :D
Perfect first holiday-themed story for this year :D
September 10, 2020
3.5 stars, rounding up. It could have been 4 stars without reservation if Adam hadn't had one too many misapprehensions about Ben's motives. But it had so many great moments where the characters thought about what it meant to be authentically Jewish, and also had a group of hockey playing kids in it that seemed real and not annoying plot devices.
September 8, 2021
I'm not much of a holiday story book reader,but this was on my to read shelf for over a year and was free. I actually liked this story because it focused not just on religion ,but being open to all beliefs in celebrating your Gods love. Not being superior or dismissive of another persons views of celebrating.
May 3, 2020
Ok, it was just ok. I didn’t care much for Adam. He was so self centered and judgmental. I don’t know he just got on my nerves. Ben was sweet and I loved him as a character. The hockey team boys were incredible. I loved them. Ok book, not my favorite.
I did love the Jewish theme.
I did love the Jewish theme.
February 10, 2019
The conflict between the MC's felt contrived and the chemistry was lacking. It was the kids who really shone here.
November 21, 2021
Hanukkah on ice.
Sweet story of finding faith,
Facing fears, fast love.
Sweet story of finding faith,
Facing fears, fast love.
May 17, 2020
This started off extremely cute and funny. Adam is the coach of an ice hockey team full of 12-year-olds, and has to attent a tournament with them during Hanukkah. Some of the kids find a Jewish bakery, owned by Ben, and tell Adam that the owner is very cute and he should ask him on a date.
The entire setting is just so enjoyable, both the bakery aspect and the sports aspect. I don't think I've ever read a book set specifically during Hanukkah, so that was really interesting. The kids made for really nice side characters as well, they added a lot of heart and funny moments to the story.
I did have one issue with it though: one of the main characters keeps coming off extremely judgmental of how the other main character practices his religion. He basically tells him he's not Jewish enough a few times. Now, I can't judge the Jewish rep specifically, but I do know that you just don't invalidate someone else's identity like that. The very least he should have done was apologize but that didn't really happen.
Rep: gay Jewish MCs, Muslim side character
CWs: past death of a parent, past skating accident and trauma, mention of a panic attack, descriptions of blood, diet talk, sex
The entire setting is just so enjoyable, both the bakery aspect and the sports aspect. I don't think I've ever read a book set specifically during Hanukkah, so that was really interesting. The kids made for really nice side characters as well, they added a lot of heart and funny moments to the story.
I did have one issue with it though: one of the main characters keeps coming off extremely judgmental of how the other main character practices his religion. He basically tells him he's not Jewish enough a few times. Now, I can't judge the Jewish rep specifically, but I do know that you just don't invalidate someone else's identity like that. The very least he should have done was apologize but that didn't really happen.
Rep: gay Jewish MCs, Muslim side character
CWs: past death of a parent, past skating accident and trauma, mention of a panic attack, descriptions of blood, diet talk, sex
February 12, 2020
This was pretty cute and I liked the American/Canadian and french/english contrasts.
All those baked treats made my mouth water.
One thing that really bothered me was the way Adam was all high and mighty with his religion. Ben's exploration of Judaism was shunned by Adam instead of encouraged.
Could of also used more steam. Didn't appreciate the fade to black sex scene.
All those baked treats made my mouth water.
One thing that really bothered me was the way Adam was all high and mighty with his religion. Ben's exploration of Judaism was shunned by Adam instead of encouraged.
Could of also used more steam. Didn't appreciate the fade to black sex scene.
January 14, 2022
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I got an ARC of this book.
So I am a complete sucker for Jewish boys, which if you know me really isn’t a surprise. I am also super into hurt/comfort and broken boys. This book had big doses of both. Both of the main boys had really great backstories and they had complications galore. The characters didn’t feel super flat, but they were a bit predictable.
Normally predictability in a romance novel doesn’t bug me, but this one it got to me. If Adam and Ben were getting along too well, it just became time for Adam to freak out over some small slight of the Jewish faith for some unknown reason. His obsession with being the best Jew was out of nowhere and never explained. Every single argument they had was about Adam thinking that Ben wasn’t Jewish enough. It was annoying and just didn’t make sense. I can see that being a thing, but there was build up for it. It just happened. Then it happened again. And again. It was just really annoying that the only problem the boys had was Adam being a hothead around Judaism.
I wish there was some more tension, something outside of just Adam being a hothead in an unexplained way. There was some tension over Ben confronting the ice again and I LIVED FOR IT. I was all about the boys. I shipped it so hard. I loved the side characters. It was just a perfect book for me, except for the conflict that didn’t seem to make sense for the characters.
The only other issue I had was the sex scenes. I know, I know. I am too critical of M/M sex in romance novels, I have been told. This book gave me hope though. The boys had a conversation about protection, then decided that oral sex didn’t need a condom after knowing each other for two days I think it was. So while they made questionable decisions, I was so happy that they had that talk! I was beside myself excited over it. Then there was so much talk of condoms by other characters and for the anal sex scene. I would like to just say this again: all the STIs/STDs you can get from anal/vaginal sex can also be gotten through oral sex. Ok, so sex ed 101 over. Why did the boys make a huge deal about using condoms for anal sex and all of their friends ask if they were being “safe” where the boys said they were, when they weren’t using condoms for oral sex? It just highlighted this weird inability for people to remember that oral sex can and does end up in STIs/STDs. Even the juvenile inmates I teach sex ed to understand this concept and the think that women can’t say no once they are in a relationship and that plastic bags can work as condoms, let that sink in.
So my only issues are weird, overused conflict that doesn’t seem to work with the story perfectly and inconsistent condom usage. Overall, only having those two issues is amazing. At one point I was tearing up over a conversation on Skype. I just adored all the side characters. So amazing book, don’t listen to my whining about it. Read it.
I got an ARC of this book.
So I am a complete sucker for Jewish boys, which if you know me really isn’t a surprise. I am also super into hurt/comfort and broken boys. This book had big doses of both. Both of the main boys had really great backstories and they had complications galore. The characters didn’t feel super flat, but they were a bit predictable.
Normally predictability in a romance novel doesn’t bug me, but this one it got to me. If Adam and Ben were getting along too well, it just became time for Adam to freak out over some small slight of the Jewish faith for some unknown reason. His obsession with being the best Jew was out of nowhere and never explained. Every single argument they had was about Adam thinking that Ben wasn’t Jewish enough. It was annoying and just didn’t make sense. I can see that being a thing, but there was build up for it. It just happened. Then it happened again. And again. It was just really annoying that the only problem the boys had was Adam being a hothead around Judaism.
I wish there was some more tension, something outside of just Adam being a hothead in an unexplained way. There was some tension over Ben confronting the ice again and I LIVED FOR IT. I was all about the boys. I shipped it so hard. I loved the side characters. It was just a perfect book for me, except for the conflict that didn’t seem to make sense for the characters.
The only other issue I had was the sex scenes. I know, I know. I am too critical of M/M sex in romance novels, I have been told. This book gave me hope though. The boys had a conversation about protection, then decided that oral sex didn’t need a condom after knowing each other for two days I think it was. So while they made questionable decisions, I was so happy that they had that talk! I was beside myself excited over it. Then there was so much talk of condoms by other characters and for the anal sex scene. I would like to just say this again: all the STIs/STDs you can get from anal/vaginal sex can also be gotten through oral sex. Ok, so sex ed 101 over. Why did the boys make a huge deal about using condoms for anal sex and all of their friends ask if they were being “safe” where the boys said they were, when they weren’t using condoms for oral sex? It just highlighted this weird inability for people to remember that oral sex can and does end up in STIs/STDs. Even the juvenile inmates I teach sex ed to understand this concept and the think that women can’t say no once they are in a relationship and that plastic bags can work as condoms, let that sink in.
So my only issues are weird, overused conflict that doesn’t seem to work with the story perfectly and inconsistent condom usage. Overall, only having those two issues is amazing. At one point I was tearing up over a conversation on Skype. I just adored all the side characters. So amazing book, don’t listen to my whining about it. Read it.
December 16, 2020
Premise: Adam is in town as a kids’ hockey coach, Ben runs a Jewish bakery in town. They meet at the bakery and start hanging out, both with the understanding that it’s a fling, but starting to want more.
.
I LOVED that the kids on the hockey team were teasing Adam about going out with Ben, making it an absolute non-issue that he’s gay. I also liked that Adam’s and Ben’s past experiences were brought into the story, making them who they are today.
.
Adam is skeptical of Ben’s Jewishness which bothered me, since I've recently been reading about the harm resulting when of people claim others are “not Jewish enough” or “not Black enough,” etc. Who polices others’ identities?? I was very happy to read later that Adam’s rabbi father called him out on that BS.
But then, Adam doubles down and Ben rightly gets pissed at him. This is what causes the third-act conflict, and it’s always nice when it’s not just manufactured in order to have an arbitrary breakup. The signs were there.
Adam later apologizes but I have to say, I don’t really think the author made Adam grovel enough. If someone acted like that towards my Jewish husband I would be pissed. And why is Ben apologizing every time he doesn't just accept Adam’s freakouts and stands his ground? I wanted some soul-searching and hair-shirting from Adam.
But! If you disregard that (maybe you can, maybe you can’t) this is a nice novel of Hanukkah that looks at some interesting questions of how people celebrate their holidays, and I really liked it except for that.
.
I LOVED that the kids on the hockey team were teasing Adam about going out with Ben, making it an absolute non-issue that he’s gay. I also liked that Adam’s and Ben’s past experiences were brought into the story, making them who they are today.
.
Adam is skeptical of Ben’s Jewishness which bothered me, since I've recently been reading about the harm resulting when of people claim others are “not Jewish enough” or “not Black enough,” etc. Who polices others’ identities?? I was very happy to read later that Adam’s rabbi father called him out on that BS.
But then, Adam doubles down and Ben rightly gets pissed at him. This is what causes the third-act conflict, and it’s always nice when it’s not just manufactured in order to have an arbitrary breakup. The signs were there.
Adam later apologizes but I have to say, I don’t really think the author made Adam grovel enough. If someone acted like that towards my Jewish husband I would be pissed. And why is Ben apologizing every time he doesn't just accept Adam’s freakouts and stands his ground? I wanted some soul-searching and hair-shirting from Adam.
But! If you disregard that (maybe you can, maybe you can’t) this is a nice novel of Hanukkah that looks at some interesting questions of how people celebrate their holidays, and I really liked it except for that.
December 27, 2022
3.5 I love a good m/m romance, especially a hockey romance. Throw in an excellent Hanukkah holiday book, and that should be a perfect 5/5 rating from me. The storyline and tropes did not meet my crazy high expectations.--Where this fell flat for me was the arguing about how to be a perfect jew,(how to perfect any religion should not be in a fluffy holiday romance). The MC's constant arguing basically over this detracted from the story.
I also did not enjoy that the MC's first time together was fade to black, when the epilogue was not. You either describe in detail in my opinion this is always the right choice) or you fade. Especially a first time together when is not s skippable scene. For these reasons, I dropped my rating a bit.
However, overall a very cute story. I thought more detail could have been used with each character's backstory. I get it was an instant-love kinda week of Hanukkah romance but more detail would still have helped the character development and backstory, which would have helped further the plot in my opinion. I did not feel like I was reading something I have already read so that is a big plus. My favorite even including the MCs were the young hockey team's dialogue. I felt the author, Peters, really can right 12-14-year-old boys well. The humor and relationships of the team really added overall to the book and my takeaway from it. I would definitely read a single-partner m/m story or a teacher m/m romance from Peters in the future.
I also did not enjoy that the MC's first time together was fade to black, when the epilogue was not. You either describe in detail in my opinion this is always the right choice) or you fade. Especially a first time together when is not s skippable scene. For these reasons, I dropped my rating a bit.
However, overall a very cute story. I thought more detail could have been used with each character's backstory. I get it was an instant-love kinda week of Hanukkah romance but more detail would still have helped the character development and backstory, which would have helped further the plot in my opinion. I did not feel like I was reading something I have already read so that is a big plus. My favorite even including the MCs were the young hockey team's dialogue. I felt the author, Peters, really can right 12-14-year-old boys well. The humor and relationships of the team really added overall to the book and my takeaway from it. I would definitely read a single-partner m/m story or a teacher m/m romance from Peters in the future.
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