Hanukkah Hearts

By Jean C. Joachim

Relocated to New York City from the Midwest, Becky Cohen follows her dream by snagging a choice entry level job at Homes and Ralph Publishing. Hanukkah is not a recognized holiday there, so Becky must remain in New York.

Squished into a tiny two-bedroom apartment with three young women, Becky misses her family's home and the rowdy companionship of her brothers. She plans to Skype with her family during their Hanukkah celebration, until her father declares that "Hanukkah's been cancelled."     

Fighting a serious case of pneumonia, Becky's mother is rushed to the hospital.  Devastated to be removed from her loved ones during this trying time, Becky's amazed to find a new gift appears on her desk every day. Who's responsible? He signs his name only, "The Hanukkah Elf."  Who is the Hanukkah Elf? Read the story to find out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jean Joachim
• Release date: Oct 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781950244645

Jean C. Joachim

¬¬¬ Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. She writes mostly contemporary romance, which includes sports romance and romantic suspense. Dangerous Love Lost & Found, First Place winner in the 2015 Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, International Digital Award contest. The Renovated Heart won Best Novel of the Year from Love Romances Café. Lovers & Liars was a RomCon finalist in 2013. And The Marriage List tied for third place as Best Contemporary Romance from the Gulf Coast RWA. To Love or Not to Love tied for second place in the 2014 New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America Reader’s Choice contest. She was chosen Author of the Year in 2012 by the New York City chapter of RWA. Married and the mother of two sons, Jean lives in New York City. Early in the morning, you’ll find her at her computer, writing, with a cup of tea, her rescued pug, Homer, by her side and a secret stash of black licorice. Jean has 30+ books, novellas and short stories published. Find them here: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com. Sign up for her newsletter, on her website, and be eligible for her private paperback sales. here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jean-Joachim-Author/221092234568929?sk=app_100265896690345

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Dedication

To David and Steve, who always enjoyed the Hanukkah celebration.

Acknowledgment

Thank you to my editors , Laura, and my proofreader, Renee Waring. A special thank you to Vicki Locey, and Roz Lee whose encouragement keeps me on track. Thank you to Roz for suggesting the idea of the Hanukkah Elf. Thank you to the Joachim men, Larry, David & Steve, and the newest member of our family, Pam, for keeping me grounded and believing in me.

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Hanukkah Hearts

Copyright © 2019 Jean C. Joachim

Edited by Laura Garland+

Proofreader: Renee Waring

Cover design – Dawne Dominique, Dusk to Dawn designs

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER

Moonlight Books

Chapter One

Pushing against the winterish wind as she walked toward the Hudson River, Becky Cohen sniffed the sweet aroma of a wood fire. The scent cut through the frigid December air, reminding her of home. The memory of sitting in front of the fireplace with her family at Hanukkah flashed through her mind. She sighed. Yeah, but not this year. Hanukkah didn’t coincide with Christmas on the calendar, so she didn’t have time off. She had a ticket to fly back to Milwaukee when the office closed for the holiday.

The bitter cold stung Becky’s face as she trudged along 92nd street toward her apartment building. She bowed her head and pulled her wool scarf tighter. The icy air sliced through her clothing, penetrating straight to the bone. The wind off Riverside Drive, more wicked than anything she’d experienced in Milwaukee, howled around her.

Anxious to get back to the small two-bedroom apartment she shared with three other young women, she quickened her steps. Shutting her eyes for a second, she couldn’t wipe away the humiliating episode that had occurred moments before.

As she made her way home, she shuddered at the recollection of being caught in tears by the hunky Assistant Production Manager, Sam Golden. At six o’clock, she’d thought everyone had left, so she took a moment to Skype her family on her phone, to share a bit of the first night of Hanukkah via the Internet.

Her brothers, David and Joe, had answered. She’d never forget David’s words.

Hey, Squirt. Listen, Mom took a turn for the worse. Dad took her to the hospital. Hanukkah’s been cancelled.

She didn’t remember the rest of their conversation. Her mind had blanked after the word hospital. David didn’t have any new details about their mother. Myra Cohen had contracted a bad case of the flu, which turned into pneumonia. Maybe the antibiotic wasn’t working or something? Becky couldn’t remember because she’d gone straight to panic mode. She’d gotten off quickly and burst into tears. Sobbing into a lone tissue she’d fished from her desk drawer, she started when a deep voice said, Here. A hand bearing a clean, white handkerchief came into view.

She raised her wet gaze to meet Sam Golden’s. His gorgeous green eyes held concern.

Boyfriend problems?

She shook her head, trying to pull herself together enough to talk. No boyfriend. My mother.

Mother problems? He raised his eyebrows. At this age?

Sick. She’s sick. They’ve taken her to the hospital.

Oh, geez. Crap. I’m sorry. He sank down into the chair next to her desk.

She took his offering and hid her face behind it, muttering, Thank you.

And on the first night of Hanukkah, too. He shook his head.

Hanukkah’s been cancelled, she said, her words muffled