Bright Winter Lights

Winter Nights #2

by Liz Maverick, Andrew Eiden (Narrator), Emily Lawrence (Narrator)

Light up your heart this holiday season as two old flames get a second chance at love…

Billionaire businessman Adam Bosch decides to bring a date to the family Hanukkah party this year in hopes of getting a break from his mother’s matchmaking. Trouble is, his busy schedule hasn’t left much room for romance. Since he’s always remained cordial with his high school sweetheart Sara Schwartz, he gets back in touch and asks her to be his plus one. And if he’s being honest, it’s a good excuse to see her again…since he’s never quite forgotten her.

Sara’s a successful designer with a close circle of friends and a thriving business—so what if her love life is non-existent? When Adam resurfaces and asks her to pose as his date after all these years, she thinks it’s a ridiculous idea. But he’s charming, persuasive…and too cute to resist. Before long, they rediscover the spark that first brought them together. Will their holi-date turn into lasting love?

©2022 Liz Maverick, LLC (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Holiday, Christmas, Fiction, Novella, Contemporary

4 pages, Audiobook

Published December 1, 2022

About the author

Bestselling, award-winning author Liz Maverick is a novelist, adventurer and odd jobs specialist whose contract assignments have taken her from driving trucks in Antarctica to working behind the scenes on reality TV shows in Hollywood.

Liz is known for writing out-of-the-box romance novels with fast-paced, unique plots and lots of kick-butt action. Her previous works include Cosmopolitan Magazine Book Club Pick What a Girl Wants, PRISM/Daphne finalist The Shadow Runners, Golden Leaf winner Crimson Rogue, and Waldenbooks/B&N bestseller Crimson City, the first book in the multi-author continuity series she created.

Liz and her books have been featured on Fox's Geraldo at Large and in USA Today, Cosmopolitan Magazine, San Francisco Magazine, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Toronto Star, and more.

https://www.facebook.com/LizMaverickC...

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another short Hallmark holiday style book. 🤗 This one around Hanukkah. 🕎 Loved the flirty banter and the friend group too! 👍

[Monet Massa-Sena · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down to 2.

This audiobook was…fine. I know, not the most glowing review, but that’s pretty much how I felt for a vast portion of my listening time…and the audiobook isn’t THAT long.

As far as fake dating romances go, this is on the weaker side. The stakes didn’t feel very high to me, and honestly, it didn’t feel like Sarah had anything to gain from the fake relationship, except I guess a place to live?

I just became very bored with it honestly. Like, there was nothing truly holding them back from having a conversation about their feelings prior to the party, or AT the party. Instead, Sarah makes a huge scene, and then Adam retreats to his MOM who tells him she knew the whole time. It kind of felt like the author didn’t really know how to end this and had gotten too far without starting to wrap things up, and just hit fast forward on the story and let the chips fall wherever they landed.

Also, WHY did we need the storyline of Elliot practically being in love with Sarah and her kicking him to the curb, so to speak? What was the point of that? To free her up to have feelings for Adam? She wasn’t dating Elliot. She had never expressed interest in Elliot. So why, exactly, did she have to let him go? Was he a placeholder? They really couldn’t just be best friends? He didn’t realize after 10 years that she did not want him romantically and this was never a discussion between them? Made absolutely no sense to me and felt completely unnecessary to the plot. We didn’t need that. It served absolutely no purpose.

And I know people feel strongly one way or the other about epilogues, but I’m a firm believer that not every book needs an epilogue. This was one of those books. Usually it’s them getting engaged or having a family or something, but this skipped ahead 6 months to…a Hanukkah in July party? Why? So we could see them as a couple? We ended the book with them deciding to be a couple. I gained absolutely nothing from those additional five minutes.

The narration was decent and I liked that this centered around Hanukkah, but it also felt like the holiday was actually an after thought, which was kind of disappointing.

All in all…it’s a free listen, so I guess worth it if you’re looking for something short, but otherwise…I’d probably skip it. The main characters seem like they’re still living in the past based on how they act and I just didn’t vibe.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I just adored this cheesy Chanukah Romance. Just a year after installment one, which was unforgettable, we are back at the Bosch family Chanukah party with side characters turned hero and heroine. I fell in love with Adam and Sarah and the group of friends, which included our couple from #1. Could not be a more perfect Chanukah tale. And Oh, Elliot, my poor wonderful man. Do not fear, there is a third installment waiting for you. Love is around the corner, and by next Chanukah it will be with you and so will I to hear your tale. Thank you for loving Sarah enough to let her go. Will there be a fourth for un-suffering but still single Tamara? Liz, you have two years for that one, I will be patiently waiting. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bosch, keep the venue booked. I am in for a Gelti Martini and more Chanukah love.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 3.75 stars rounded up to 4. Narration 5 stars
This was an enjoyable novella that as usual by this author takes place during Hanukkah and features a party. It’s a pretend date between two people that cared immensely about each when they were young. Back then events happen to tear them apart and it never got resolved. I’m going to leave it here as far as plot points. I liked both characters although I didn’t feel a whole lot of chemistry together for them. Well, except for two kisses. This was one novella that definitely needed to be about 40-50 pages longer. I needed more interaction for the couple. More growth of the relationship than what is shown. That’s why I couldn’t give it a true 4 stars although it’s rounded up.

[logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5★ - cute! childhood friends who had a falling out and became somewhat enemies/strangers, but when he needs a date to his family's hanukkah party, he calls in an old favor and asks her to go with him. rekindles friendships and their romance. very fun and festive, super short listen. another one that's included in audible plus!

[Leslie Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

Ah, yes. Mutual pining, my favorite.

[Kate | TheBookishTraveler_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in a cute, quick, holiday rom com novella audiobook series with dual narration (Teddy Hamilton…so of course I’m listening to it!) that rejoins a group of NYC friends going to their friend’s annual Hanukkah party!

Rachel and Adam have been friends since childhood. The two were inseparable but grew distant after Adam’s family became billionaire business owners. But when Adam needs a date to his family’s popular Hanukkah party, there’s only one woman he can think of going with.

As the two strike a deal and rekindle their friendship for a fake dating scheme, it’s hard to deny their true feelings and undeniable spark!

Tropes:
- Holiday romance
- Second chance romance
- Fake dating

[Kylie ve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than the last one. It was cute but I wish it was longer. Hallmark vibes

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Cap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another adorable hallmark-esque story. Add some enemies to lovers, and it was perfect.

[D.L. Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧🎧🎧🎧

RTC

[Saruman · Rating 2 out of 5]

My god... why did I waste my time on this one? First of all... a adult convinced by an estranged adult, that she owes something to him becuse of a pinky promise years ago?? Cringe!

- Weak storyline. Nothing special.

- Sarah: weak main character, naive, dramatic, paranoid, lacks communication skills, uses her friends, whiney, annoying af, trusting in a negative, needy af.... a female character worthy of the tier the worst.

- Adam: lack communication skills, no empathy, no remorse or apology, snobbish + a snob of a mother, has no friends, dumps childhood friends, annoying, forces his way in a friend group that he dumped years ago...

- No real chemistry. Just whiney and obsessive behavior.

- Poor Elliot.. for years she led him on and used him as her date for parties.

- Voice actors were just annoying...especially Sarah, which made me dislike her even more.

- Just ugh.

1.5*

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute bit of holiday fun. I didn't love one of the narrators quite as much as the other, but it was a fun way to spend the afternoon.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Audible Review

Overall 3 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 3 out of 5 stars

Cute for the holidays.
This was a cute second chance holiday romance.
It's a shame the way the friendship between Adam and Sara, and with their friend group, ended back in the day, but I guess that's teens for you.
I'm glad they got their second chance at love, thanks to Adam reaching out, even if it was only supposed to be a one night favor.

I enjoyed the narrators, Andrew is always a favorite!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! It's really good for the holiday spirit I have been looking for! Great cutsie halmark vibes. Friends to lovers through fake dating because of a cashed in pinkie swear. They have always had feelings, though. Even though the story was short, I really felt the connection between the characters. I liked this a lot more than the first book in series.

[Laurensliterarylair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the performance in this audiobook and the story was really cute. I love the festive vibes I got from this book and the couple was really cute together. I love the Rom Com vibes 🩷. Super cute little read.



Tropes:

Fake dating
Ex best friends to lovers
Holiday vibes

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would’ve enjoyed this more of it had been longer.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
This was a very short cute book. I definitely wish there was a little bit more to it. I love the fake dating trope.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another quick, sweet, fun and romantic read. 💛

[Aimee Nicole Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, sweet, and short holiday romance.

[Iva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great maybe even better than the first one. I loved it! :)

[Anas Attic Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright Winter Lights by Liz Maverick
Narrated by Andrew Elden and Emily Lawrence

Bright Winter Lights by Liz Maverick was a quick, clean Hanukkah romance. There are so few m/f Hanukkah romances, that I get so excited when a new one comes out! I grabbed this one because I loved the writing style of the first book, Eight Winter Nights. I listened last year and didn’t remember it at all, so this one stood alone very well.

Adam and Sara were very close childhood friends. He moved to a fancier neighborhood, but Sara and all of Adam’s old friends felt abandoned, like they weren’t rich enough to hang out with him. So for 10 years the whole group has kind of held a grudge against him and avoid him at the annual Hanukkah party.

So when Adam shows up out of the blue saying he told his mom he was bringing Sara to the party as his girlfriend, it’s quite a surprise. They enter into a fake dating relationship, but I’m not really sure why Sara agrees. Some forced proximity adds to the fun.

Bright Winter Lights was a quick audible-only listen. It wasn’t very Jewish at all except that they are going to a Hanukkah instead of Christmas party. It was missing so much detail that I had a a bit of a hard time connecting. This would have been great as a full-length read, but as it’s written now there is more about the friend group than the romance. Still, I appreciate it being a Hanukkah book without the over-exaggerated Jewish stereotypes, and I enjoyed the listen very much.
Rating: 4 novella stars, Narration 4.5
Purchase Bright Winter Lights by Liz Maverick
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[Ginny Muse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute and sweet winter series of audio novellas. I just picked the first one because it looked like a fun and short audible original when I wasn’t ready to dive into another book yet, and I was pleasantly surprised - so I listened to the whole series of 3. They are all connected around a group of friends with similar plots, so I’m reviewing them together.

These stories are based around a group of Jewish friends in New York/Brooklyn. Hanukkah Parties, decorations and family traditions play a big role in the interactions. I’m not Jewish, but I enjoyed this peek into a bit of the Jewish culture in the NY dating scene. It provided a fun backdrop to the friendship and relationship interactions.

Winter Nights #1 focuses on Rachel - who meets new guy Oz at the annual big Hanukkah party, only to be left pining over him for a year as he falls for her glamorous best friend, Tamera. As the next year’s party nears, Tamera breaks up with Oz and leaves on a trip to Bali, but asks Rachel to take care of him because he’s broken his foot. Oz asks Rachel to help him write texts to Tamera to win her back. Little did they know that Tamera had realized Oz and Rachel should be together and was trying to set these two up.
I didn’t love the dynamics of a sort of love triangle, or secretly being in love with the best friend’s boyfriend. But nothing is too deep - so it stays cute and fun.

Winter Nights #2 is once again based around the elaborate Bosch family Hanukkah party. This year Adam Bosch has grown weary of his mother trying to set him up, so he told her he’s dating his childhood friend, Sarah. But he hasn’t been more than cordial to her at the annual party in years. We know this fake dating trope will probably work as it usually does in romcoms and help bring these two together as a real couple. Sarah’s friend group is kind to welcome Adam back into their fold after he had distanced himself with social status, so it’s fun to see this friend group and their dynamics again.

Winter Nights #3 gives side character Eliot his turn at romance. He’s mostly accepted that his crush Sarah is now happy with Adam, so his eyes and heart are opened to his new temporary neighbor, Cher, as she visits from California in an apartment swap. Eliot joins Cher on seeing the sights of NYC, and recruits his group of friends to help give her sparse pad some Hanukkah decor. They embrace her and help her feel so at home that maybe her temporary visit might extend to more. Maybe Eliot will find his HEA, too.

Cute stories, a fun friend group, interesting settings, and wonderful narrators give this holiday series all that is needed for enjoyable listening. They are lighthearted and clean, and they made me smile. I’d definitely recommend them as fun listens for those looking for Jewish rep in holiday Hallmark-type stories.

[Lenore Kosinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://celebrityreaders.com/2024/01/...

4 stars — I relistened to the first one before diving in to catch up on this series, and this one was just as cute as that one. I don’t think I initially noticed how low steam these ones are, but honestly I don’t actually care. I like all steam levels, and this one was all about the tension and the connection.

Sarah was a pretty fun heroine. She has a bit of sass, and is a bit quirky. I wasn’t always impressed with the way she handled the Eliot situation, but if I’m being honest? I totally would have done the exact same thing. She could be a bit stubborn in her need for independence and not wanting to accept help, but we did get to see her grow on that issue, even in such a short story.

Adam was pretty adorable, I loved that he sort of exacerbated a situation to reestablish a connection with Sarah and his old friends. I appreciated how hard he tried not to step on Sarah’s toes, even as he desperately wanted to rush in and fix things.

The past situation was interesting. I lean more towards understanding Sarah et al’s reactions more than Adam’s, because, you know, lack of communication. But I do also appreciate that teenagers are stupid sometimes, and situations are more complicated than they might appear.

It was fun seeing the two of them flirt with one another, and dance around how “fake” the relationship was. Yes, definitely some communication issues, but given it was a novella, things just didn’t last long enough to really irk me that much. And I wanted them to work out.

These novellas are seriously fun. Even if I don’t understand all the Jewish references, I absolutely love being thrown into them — from food, to decorations, to traditions, to family dynamics…it’s kind of awesome.

Can’t wait to see how Eliot fares in the next one!

I just realized I never mentioned the narrators, but since I don’t remember anything, that’s usually a good thing! 😉

[January · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bright Winter Lights by Liz Maverick
Winter Nights #2
3h 34m narrated by Andrew Eiden and Emily Lawrence

Genre: Holiday > Hanukkah; Romance

Featuring: Ex-Friends Turned Lovers, Fake Dating Trope, Close Proximity Trope, Forgiveness Trope, New York City, New York; Jewish Community, Friends, Sexual Innuendos

Rating as a movie: PG-13

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️🕎🎉

My thoughts:📱22% 46:21 Ch. 3 Adam - The more I listen the more it sounds like The Matzah Ball - 2 ex-friends, one rich, haven't spoken in 10 years because of something that happened at camp, and now one needs to the other to be their fake date at a major annual Hanukkah party to keep parents off their back and hopefully renew their friendship in the process. The names are Adam and Sarah, but there is a Rachel. Speaking of Rachel, I just discovered this is book 2 in a series, so I have to stop and read that book first. 📌

This has been in my library since last fall. By the time I got to it, I just wasn't in the mood for winter books. It was okay. It didn't end on the best note but it was definitely better than book 1. Hopefully, Book 3 is better but I'm going to take a break from this series for a few days.

Recommend to others: Yeah. It's a quick read.

Winter Nights
1. Eight Winter Nights (2020)
2. Bright Winter Lights (2022)
3. On A Night Like This (2023)

[Rubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun but....I didn't really like it. It just super unbelievable and I didn't like the disregard for their friends feelings.
Now, I'm the kinda girl who holds grudges for years (bad I know), so....its seems ridiculous to me that one conversation where he claims "YOU left ME" suddenly makes her okay with him not talking to her for years 🤷‍♀️
Also, seems harsh to put aside a friend whos been there for you the ENTIRE time over a man who just came back asking for a pitty date. I get when you don't like someone like that, there's nothing to do about it. But I also will never understand who a girl can pass up the sweetest guys for a guy who doesnt even realize he hurts you. The "he's nice, but he's not him" excuse is just ridiculous to me.
So yeah, there were funny moments but just overall I didn't find this very romantic. 🙈

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ended up liking this, but I was having a much better time with it until pretty much the very end, where two things happened. One, the entire conflict and problem came down to two supposed adult-type people just not speaking with each other using their words, and two: the "big bad thing" that happened when the two were younger was hinted at, referenced, and once or twice almost described, but at the end it's just sort of glossed over as "a misunderstanding" from one of the parents and... I'm not sure I was ever entirely clear on exactly what happened? Like, we get a little bit from Sarah saying Adam came in strutting his stuff after his family hit it big, and Adam says his mother got weird or something with wanting to fit in among the Billionaire set, but... it was all very light on the details and never really comes to anything beyond some "I think we didn't understand what he was going through" lines and "I spoke to so-and-so, and we cleared up the misunderstanding." Uh. Okay? I guess?

I liked the two protagonists well enough (though Adam was, as stated, of the "can't possibly just use my words" variety, which always leaves me a bit cold), and the performers were enjoyable. Just didn't quite stick the landing.

[book bruin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook Review
Overall 3 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 2.5-3 stars

This one had a lot of promise (second chance friends to lovers), but I needed more of them reconnecting as adults to really root for Adam and Sara to find their HEA together. It's a novella so I don't expect a ton of character development (if at all), but I didn't feel the supposed strong undeniable connection between Adam and Sara. I also didn't love the way the Elliot plot point was handled. Sara and Elliot really should have had that honest conversation way before Adam ever came back into the picture. The narration by Emily Lawrence and Andrew Eiden was great though and this was a quick and easy listen.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty quick read/listen. Holiday fake dating between friends— the girl moved into a sketchy apartment that ended up never getting the heat in it fixed so she temporarily moved in with her friend. Turns out he mentioned her name to family when talking about a holiday party saying that they had been dating because he was tired of people asking when he was going to find someone. They agreed on a pinky swear, ended up re-falling for each other and that’s pretty much it! There was of course some miscommunication along the way, but cute little story nonetheless.

[Alison (Ali's Books) Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad that I gave this author and this cast of characters another chance because I really enjoyed this one. It’s Hanukkah and Adam needs a fake date for a family party, and not just any date will do. He specifically named his ex-best friend, Sara. Now he has to convince her. I really felt the connection with this pair from the first little glimpse you get of their childhood at camp. 4.5 Stars