Hi there! Or, perhaps I should say: Shalom! and wish all my readers a Happy Hanukkah. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a bi-faith family. With in-laws who are Jews, and having Christian upbringing myself, I have enjoyed learning about Judaism and sharing my faith, too! I’m a sucker for a fab Hanukkah story, and I’m sharing a review and giveaway for a sweet contemporary M/M romance from new-to-me author Avery Duran. AHAVA IS LOVE took me to the Holy Land and made me wish to walk those paths.

Drop down to catch my review and enter to win a $20 GC in the giveaway!
About the book:
Brooklyn Realtor Josh Perlman desperately wants to settle down. Unfortunately he can’t find a man who wants the same. Tired of disastrous dates, he travels to explore his heritage.

Yaron is an Israeli security guard and medic charged with looking after Josh and his pilgrimage group. For Yaron, the need to protect has become more a duty than an honor since he lost his long-term boyfriend to a terrorist attack—a loss that continues to haunt him.

As they embark on their journey through the Holy Land, it’s hard to deny the attraction that sparks between Josh and Yaron. Yet with America calling Josh home, and Israel, and the death of his lover holding Yaron prisoner, it seems only a miracle can keep them together.

But Israel is an ancient land, one that has seen miracles before. Surrounded by structures that have been destroyed and rebuilt time after time, Josh and Yaron might just learn that their futures can be found in the wisdom of the past.
World of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the globe.

My Review:
Josh is done with men. He’s been dumped for the last time, and absolutely won’t fall for another alpha male wanting his brand of youthful-looking arm candy. To change his outlook on life he accepts a one-time opportunity to be a tour guide on a pilgrimage through Israel for college students. The trip spans Hanukkah, and bodes to be a rebirth of Josh’s commitment to himself to find what he needs within.

On the tour, Josh is paired up with Yaron, a big, strapping guard, who also works as a medic. Yaron is attractive, and attracted, but he doesn’t want any strings…he lost the love of his life several years ago to a suicide bomber and won’t risk his heart again. Not that Josh is looking for strings. Or a man. He’s done with them, after all. At least, until he works out his inner tangles. That said, the attraction is keen, and the nights are sweltering. Josh isn’t really a one-nighter type of guy, but he and Yaron have many nights in their future…and man are they steamy. Once Yaron gets over his guilt at finding Josh attractive and engaging enough for more than a brief tryst.

This book is a sweet story, with hurt-comfort in store for both Josh and Yaron. They know their time is limited, but their minds can’t stop their hearts from falling. I loved the cultural references, and how Josh’s trip is in many ways defined by the food he devours. Typical American!! The touchstones of the trip are interesting, and reach beyond typical Judaica, which makes the story very approachable. I liked how the college students really gained a lot of personal insight that helped them grow, as did Josh. He’s been a doormat for a lot of people, but he learned his worth on this adventure. There isn’t a sweet happy ending for Josh at the end of his trip, but he and Yaron have built a stronger connection than even he realized, and their story is still beginning. Expect a happy ending for this new couple, and some steamy bits and pieces as Josh and Yaron make all the motions toward building a new life together.

Interested? You can find AHAVA IS LOVE on Goodreads, Dreamspinner Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Kobo.

****GIVEAWAY****

Click on this Rafflecopter giveaway link for your chance to win a $20 Amazon GC.
Good luck and keep reading my friends!

About the Author:
Parent Association President by day, Romance Author by night, Avery Duran (www.averyduran.com) enjoys the best of all worlds. She’s a minivan-driving, cupcake-baking, soccer mom, who works outside the home while raising three rambunctious boys. Easily distracted by shiny things, Avery found making up stories in her head was an effective way to fool people into thinking she was paying attention. Eventually, she decided to write down one of those stories, and her alter-ego was born.

A native New Yorker, she often incorporates her favorite city into what she writes. During the day, while driving, watching endless YouTube videos, or animated shows with her offspring, she plots her stories. At night, when her husband and children go to sleep, Avery sits in a quiet house and puts those words on paper. She loves spending her downtime creating a world filled with people loving and laughing their way to happily-ever-after.

Catch up with Avery on Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and BookBub or sign-up for her newsletter.