Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Hands-On Hanukkah

AUTHOR: Penelope Peters

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 86 pages

RELEASE DATE: November 23, 2021

BLURB:

David Nachem doesn’t actually hate Hanukkah.

David Nachem is living his best life. He loves his work, he loves his cat, he loves his family. Who cares if he doesn’t put up holiday decorations? He’s not actually a Grinch – it just feels that way, especially when his boyfriend up and dumped him four months ago with no explanation.

But when Tim reappears in David’s life asking for David’s help as a massage therapist, David can’t say no. Not when David still misses Tim – and Tim’s joyful exuberance about everything holiday-related.

Not when David still wants to know why Tim dumped him in the first place.

Tim Mason doesn’t actually hate his ex.

Tim Mason is living his dream. He’s dancing for a national company in the big city, on the brink of ballet stardom. So what if his ex-boyfriend lied to him? Tim dropped that funsponge like a bad pair of pointe shoes and he’s dancing into the sunset.

But when Tim’s ballet career is almost side-lined right before the biggest performance of his life, David’s therapeutic know-how might be the only way Tim can get to center stage. Tim knows David isn’t as much of a Grinch as everyone says – but even he’s surprised at the turn David’s taken since their breakup.

Can he save David – and save his heart from breaking a second time?

This Hanukkah, all it takes to heal a heart is a pair of willing hands…

Hands-On Hanukkah is a m/m romance. It features sweaty dancers, dubious Hanukkah decorations, and lots of super *ahem* sensuous massages.

REVIEW:

David Nachem isn’t in the festive holiday spirit. He is still reeling from his boyfriend suddenly breaking up with him this summer accusing him of lying to him. For what he has no idea about what. When his scheming cousin makes him go check up on her dancer partner and friend, he is stuck going to see how sick his ex Tim really is. When National Ballet Lead Dancer Tim Mason has to go see a therapist before he can continue to dance Kelsey gets him in to her cousin that evening. That cousin being his ex that he still cares deeply for but can’t forgive the lie. But when his massage becomes a happy ending Tim is even more convinced he was right all along. But why can’t he get David out of his system or his heart?

This was a quick read. It was a Hanukkah /Dancer/Massage Therapist novella about a misunderstanding that drove a wedge between two men in love. I really fell for both men. A comment by an old fling caused so much misunderstanding and time away from each other. It was obvious that both men loved and missed each other but Tim’s stubbornness to not listen and let David explain caused major hurt for both of them.

I will say that I loved Kelsey and her scheming ways. She knew that both men just needed to sit down and talk to work things out. And David’s receptionist Marlene was a hoot. I wouldn’t want to get on that woman’s bad side. She is a fierce Mama Bear when protecting her cub. And his fellow Massage Therapist Jaidee was quite the negotiator but both women just wanted David happy and what was best for him.

Being not Jewish and never being around Jewish customs and traditions, I didn’t always know what the author was referring to but it didn’t effect the story. This was my first holiday read of the year and it was a fun, quick read.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon