A Little Light by Melissa Tereze is an age-gap, holiday romance that will tug on those heartstrings!
Andi Palmer is still in the process of piecing her life together after losing her wife fifteen months ago. Though she had it all, she has moved on and knows it’s time to sell the beautiful loft in the city that she and her wife called home.
At 50, she figured that she’d experienced all of the love she’s ever going to get and that’s fine. But when she encounters a stunning blonde with gorgeous blue eyes, she’s immediately intrigued.
Professional escort Rachel Meade is at the end of her very frayed rope. She’s revering the heartbreak of a recent unrequited love and is desperate for a fresh start. It’s too bad that the housing market doesn’t contain any move-in ready lofts – until Andi appears like a Christmas angel sent to grant Rachel’s Christmas wish.
Andi’s loft is absolute perfection, and well, so is Andi. But Rachel made the mistake of falling for a vulnerable soul before and she doesn’t want to make the same mistake again. Can these two women find a way to be together?
Writing
Jenna: As always, Melissa Tereze absolutely nails the dialogue, pacing, and descriptive details in A Little Light! The Christmas Market that the characters enjoy visiting comes to life. I could easily visualize all of the sights, sounds, and smells as they perused each time. Also, both Andi and Rachel’s backstories are seamlessly woven in with the present to give readers a full picture of who each woman is and what circumstances caused them turmoil. Their dual heartbreaks are handled with so much care that it brought tears to my eyes. Both women grow throughout this story and I enjoyed being a part of those developments.
Rachel: You’re right Jenna. One of the things I love best about this author’s books is her ability to make you see and feel everything. I know when Tereze writes a book I’m going to come away reminded of just how much I adore her writing. She never shies away from hard topics and as you’ve said she nails the dialogue every time. Also, the way Tereze wrote about Andi’s grief after losing her wife to Alzheimer’s was touching and real. I’m beyond grateful for it.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Jenna: I’m always down for a Christmas tale and A Little Light hit a lot of high points for me, especially their visits to the Christmas market (which I’m super jealous I can’t meander through).
Rachel: This is a lovely Christmas tale, it made me want to put up my tree and crack out the mulled wine. I’m from the same city where the book is set, and I can tell you the markets are just as fabulous as they sound.
Jenna: That’s amazing, Rachel! That’s quite the text-to-self connection!
Jenna: Andi and Rachel’s (not) meet cute is absolutely fantastic and a perfect way to kick off their story!
Rachel: Oh, how I loved their first meeting what a perfect beginning for their story.
Jenna: Andi and Rachel have both been through a lot over the last few years with Rachel nursing a broken heart and Andi learning her new normal after losing her wife the year prior. Trust and understanding are both themes that this book does a wonderful job incorporating. They both took the time to become friends before trying for more. Andi was definitely ready first, but she (patiently) waited hoping that Rachel would catch up and when she did, it made my heart so happy!
Rachel: Yes! I really loved this spin because when I first started reading, I thought it would be Andi who would need more time. I love that the author explored that even though Andi is devastated that she has lost her wife, the fact that she was in such a lovely supportive relationship with her gave her the courage and the tools to be able to move on. I can’t say how much I loved the acceptance between the pair, it was so beautiful with no judgment. *Happy sighs.
Jenna: There are misunderstandings and miscommunications between Andi and Rachel a couple of times that could have taken over the story, but instead, they were quickly cleared up, much to my delight.
Rachel: Like Jenna, I also appreciated this. All relationships have these struggles, but the way Andi and Rachel communicated made it possible for them to not create a wedge between them. They talked it through, came to a conclusion, and moved on. I loved the dynamics between them. The fact that Andi was the younger partner in an age-gap relationship and is now the older gave a unique perspective on their communication. The fact that Rachel never sought to replace Andi’s wife, was never jealous, and gave Andi a safe space to be able to remember and talk about her was beautiful.
Rachel: I want to touch on how well Tereze handled the fact that Andi’s wife passed away due to having Alzheimer’s. Having gone through this with two family members it touched me deeply. She handled it perfectly and described how Andi dealt with it respectfully. I had a little cry when in one scene Andi talks about how she started grieving a couple of years before her wife died and it is so true. This horrible disease takes loved ones before they pass, it is heartbreaking. However, it helps you understand Andi and her thought process.
Jenna: I completely agree, Rachel! This topic is highly relatable to so many people and Tereze does a stellar job incorporating so many realistic elements into the story.
Heads Up
Jenna: Rachel has a role in Tereze’s The Hideout, so I’d recommend giving that book a whirl!
Rachel: Andi’s wife passed away because she had Alzheimer’s. Having experienced this tragedy with two family members this may be triggering for some.
The Conclusion
Jenna: A Little Light is a sweet holiday romance that will have you rooting for Andi and Rachel and their happily ever after. While their journey to happiness is winding and emotional, it’s also filled with really sweet moments that will make you smile. The supporting characters, especially Rachel’s best friend, add depth to the overall narrative. If you’re in the market for a well-written holiday romance with two lovely main characters, then I recommend this book!
Rachel: This book made me feel so much. Like Jenna said Andi and Rachel’s story isn’t straightforward but it’s charming, cute, sweet, and lovely. A Little Light is a gorgeous holiday romance that hits hard topics but also leaves you feeling all the magic of Christmas. It is filled with hope and light. It reiterates that life is short and opportunities for love and happiness should be grabbed when they come along. Go give it a read but be prepared to crave mulled wine, Christmas decorations, and holiday cheer.
Excerpt from A Little Light by Melissa Tereze
Smiling when the barista at the small hut placed her hot chocolate down, Andi took it and added a few marshmallows from the glass jar.
“There’s nothing available. It’s all rubbish or a huge project. I just want a place I can move into and feel comfortable.”
Andi’s ears pricked at the sound of a woman’s voice beside her. She lingered a moment, rudely eavesdropping.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a loft in Liverpool? And before you say anything else, I don’t want a house. I don’t want a garden. I just want something that feels like me. Which is a loft. On the dock. Why isn’t anyone selling up? I thought since the lockdowns, people wanted space and gardens?”
Andi cleared her throat and turned around. The blonde woman who spoke on the phone eyed her. Though she may have been wearing a frown, her beautiful blue eyes immediately caught Andi’s attention. “Can I help you?”
“Sorry, I overheard your conversation.”
The woman scoffed, shaking her head. “I’ll call you back later. Seems people around here don’t know how to mind their own business.”
Andi’s brows rose at that. Maybe she wouldn’t help this woman after all. Which was a shame for them both since Andi was about to put a loft up for sale in the coming days.
The woman lowered her phone from her ear and locked it, shoving it into her pocket. “Happy now?”
With a slight smile directed at her, Andi chose not to hand over her business card. “Never mind. I was just trying to help. Have a lovely evening.”
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Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 978-1915242310
Publisher: Indie Author
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