Liza is a very self contained woman, living deep in her emotions and thoughts - so much so that it’s hard to get a read on her. Though there is a third character in this particular book, which is the food, especially the hamantaschen, a Jewish cookie eaten during the holiday, which sound amazing. The books don’t need to be read in any order (which is fortunate as I haven’t had a chance to read the other two), and there’s no need to be familiar with the holiday, which serves as backdrops to the romances rather than being the focus. This is the third volume in the Hot for the Holidays series, books about lesbian Jewish women finding love during Jewish holidays - with this one taking place during Purim. And now Carrie is back, back in her arms, and Liza doesn’t know what to do. Carrie was Liza’s first love, her true love, and the woman she thought she’d spend forever with. It takes less than a dance, just the whisper of Carrie’s voice on her skin to make the years fall away. With a new dress, a custom mask, and a cocktail, Liza decides to try her hand at flirting with one of the tall, beautiful women on the dance floor, only to have her attention directed to the elegant woman watching her from the sidelines. No one can see her face, and the holiday spirit of food and drink, friends and family and prayer, is the perfect place to at least try. She isn’t sure she’s ready, if she ever will be, or if she even wants to be ready.īut the Purim holiday, celebrated by a masked ball, is a perfect place to mingle. Her best friend and her mother keep encouraging her to get back out there and try to find love again, but Liza isn’t sure she wants to. Since then, Liza’s gone from work to volunteering at the synagogue with not much interest in anything else in between.

Six months after that, the love of her life hooked up with a guy and whatever hope Liza had about getting Carrie back was extinguished like a flame. Ten years ago, the love of her life walked out the door.

This year, it’s the year of Liza, whether she likes it or not.

A Masc for Purim by Roz Alexander