Learning to Love by Felice Stevens

BLURB

After ten years away from home, bad boy caterer Gideon Marks has a lot to prove. Getting the holiday catering job at his childhood synagogue is the first step in demonstrating to everyone he didn’t turn out to be the failure they predicted. What he doesn’t count on is Rabbi Jonah Fine, his high school nemesis and secret crush, stirring up old feelings Gideon thought long gone and secrets he’s buried deep for years.

An unexpectedly passionate encounter shocks Gideon, but he pushes Jonah away, convinced he isn’t good enough to be in a relationship and would never be accepted by Jonah’s father. But Jonah hangs tough—he won’t allow Gideon to hide or run away from life again. And when it comes to love, Gideon learns the most important lessons aren’t always taught in school.

REVIEW 

Learning to Love by Felice Stevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


OMG I ADORED GIDEON AND JONAH SO MUCH !

Felice teased us so many times about 'the secret project' she'd been working on, and suddenly we have teasers and teasers...
Always love her writing style (because I think Felice writes for me), and this book about Gideon and Rabbi Jonah is really entertaining.
A chef and a Rabbi? The cast alone tickles my curiosity, I mean...come on !
You know how it feels when your teenage crush is suddenly appears in front of you, and he's a Rabbi? And gay, and definitely 'not in the closet'?
But Gideon didn't know that Jonah was also had a crush on him back that younger day...but well...communication seemed 'not' in their dictionary that day.

Gideon has a secret that he wouldn't share to anyone else, not including Jonah. That's why he left town to prove that he can also be a successful businessman with whatever people thinking about him. [His Dyslexia made him thinking that he's dumb, people think he's dumb and some help didn't really worked out,. So he seemed giving up about it. (hide spoiler)]

Then, he is. He's having his own company. And Jonah still wants him, without knowing his big secret.
But Jonah...Oh, bless his perfect soul, a very patient man, definitely was born to be a Rabbi, he never give up on Gideon, however hard Gideon pushed him away.

I'm glad that Jonah did what he supposed to do, let Gideon arrange his own pace, and waiting. Not leaving.
I'm glad that they don't have to face some 'hard twist' moments in their relationship though I was scared that they'll be having heart broken, again. But , no. This time they talked. Really talk and Gideon is finally let Jonah 'in' and 'help' him.

I cried over how lost young Gideon. He's alone, and thought that nobody cared about him. Losing people you love and ignored by his father, hit him hard. He was still a kid back then. Understandable.
I'm glad that he's finally found 'the real family' in Jonah and Rabbi Fine (Jonah's father). I don't really care about Gideon's father. I think he paid his due, and deserved to be ignored. Whatever.

I always love Felice Stevens's characters...and I loved that I've got two surprises...A Chef and A Rabbi. Two interesting characters that I need more in my books in the future.
Overall, this one is recommended.
Did I mentioned that I love Chef and Rabbi? Yeah, that.
Well done, Felice !

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 
 Felice have always been a romantic at heart. She believe that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner, her characters have to work for it, however. Like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love.

She live in New York City with her husband and two children and hopefully soon a cat of my own. Her day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a glass or two of red wine. She practice law but daydream of a time when she can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men falling in love. Although there is bound to be a few bumps along the way, a Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.