shine a light - Tule Publishing Group |

Hanukkah is a season of light, connection, and tradition—so why not pair it with stories that glow just as brightly? Tule Publishing has a rich list of Jewish and Hanukkah-centered romances that celebrate heritage, family, and the joy of finding love. Whether you’re looking to curl up with a holiday romance or explore stories rooted in Jewish identity, these recommendations from beloved Tule authors are a perfect place to start.

Below is a curated list of series and stories from Stacey Agdern, Rebecca Crowley, Kelly Cain, and Jennifer Gracen; all featuring Jewish characters, Jewish joy, and heartfelt journeys. You can explore full blurbs and purchase links anytime at TulePublishing.com.

Hanukkah Romances to Light Up Your Reading List

Stacey Agdern – Friendships and Festivals

Stacey Agdern is known for writing Jewish stories filled with community, culture, and a whole lot of heart. Her Friendships and Festivals series is a celebration of Hanukkah traditions and the magic of love during the holiday season.

Miracles and Menorahs

History of Us

Love and Latkes

These stories blend festive charm with emotional depth, offering romances where the season itself becomes part of the love story.

Rebecca Crowley – Orchard Hill

Rebecca Crowley brings warmth and tenderness to her Hanukkah-set romances. Orchard Hill is perfect for readers who love small-town charm wrapped in meaningful holiday moments.

Shine a Light

Two Nights to Forever

Coming Home to You

Home for Hanukkah

Expect gentle, heartfelt arcs that dive beautifully into family, belonging, and Jewish tradition.

Jennifer Gracen – Holidays in Manhattan

Part of The McKinnon Brothers series, Jennifer Gracen‘s Holidays in Manhattan offers big-city sparkle with a Hanukkah twist. If you love stories that balance family chaos, emotional connection, and holiday hope, this is a perfect seasonal read.

Kelly Cain – Secret Ties

Kelly Cain’s Secret Ties series weaves Jewish heritage into a contemporary, romantic, and engaging storyline full of surprises and emotional depth.

A Kiss from the Past

Two Sides of a Secret

The Key to Forever

These titles blend romance with themes of identity, legacy, and the bonds that shape us.

More Jewish-Centered Romance Beyond the Holidays

While not all of the following titles are set during Hanukkah, they all feature Jewish characters, culture, and identity woven meaningfully into their stories.

Stacey Agdern – Last Girls Standing

A relatable and heartfelt series that spotlights modern Jewish heroines navigating friendship, love, and the occasionally messy journey to happily-ever-after.

B’Nai Mitzvah Mistake

The Dating Contract

The Dreidl Disaster

The Kosher Conundrum (coming 2026)

Rebecca Crowley – The Stars of Texas

Looking for Jewish cowboys? Yes, they exist—and Rebecca Crowley delivers them beautifully. This series blends Texas charm with stories of identity, love, and resilience.

Texas Cowboy Sweetheart

Texas Reckless Cowboy

Last Dance with the Texas Bull Rider

Texas Cowboy Flame

A perfect pick if you want something different in your Jewish romance reading.

Wrap Up Your Hanukkah with Stories Full of Heart

Whether you’re lighting candles, frying latkes, or simply enjoying cozy winter evenings, these Tule Publishing romances will bring warmth and joy to your season. Each story honors Jewish heritage in its own way—through holiday celebrations, meaningful customs, or characters whose identities shine brightly on the page.

When I was growing up my parents were not big into holiday decorating, and whatever we did have had to be “tasteful.” I’m still not completely sure of the exact boundaries of tasteful, but I think it roughly translates to “uniform, minimal, and unobtrusive.” I pretty much accepted this as gospel. After all, what will the neighbors think?

Then we bought our current house in Houston, and it was the first one we’ve lived in that wasn’t behind a gate or a brick wall or otherwise structurally weird in a way that precluded decorating. My husband couldn’t wait to decorate, and neither could my eldest daughter, who was three. At first I insisted – in the name of being tasteful – on all-white lights, and not too many of them. Sure, some of our neighbors had giant inflatable Snoopy Santas and huge cardboard reindeer and all manner of over-the-top decorations (this is Texas), but we had a standard to uphold.

My husband hung the lights…and they were kind of droopy. But he’d worked so hard and was so pleased with himself, so I said nothing (I didn’t have to – the neighbor kid next door pointed out his less-than-perfect technique). Then we turned them on, and guess what? Not all white lights are the same white, especially if you accumulate them randomly in various stores!

Our decorations were relatively uniform, somewhat symmetrical, definitely unobtrusive, arguably tasteful…and super boring.

That’s when I realized that the notion of “tasteful” is really about other people, and who has time for their approval? Finding and inhabiting your own joy is so much more important, and that’s part of what inspired the story for Shine a Light. Set around Hanukkah, Jonah and Ellie are in conflict as they each try to live up to the heavy expectations they’ve loaded on to what should be a joyful, lighthearted holiday. It’s not easy, but over time they help each other loosen their grips and give themselves over to pure delight.

As for us, we went back to the store and bought rainbow lights – lots and lots of rainbow lights. So as the winter nights get longer, the front of our house will glow in all the colors of the rainbow, plus various shades of white, draped imperfectly but with love and joy. And you know what? It makes me happy every time I see it.

What’s your take on decorating for the holidays?

About the Author

Rebecca Crowley inherited her love of romance from her mom, who taught her to at least partially judge a book by the steaminess of its cover. She writes contemporary
romance with smart heroines and swoon-worthy heroes, and never tires of the happily-ever-after. Having pulled up her Kansas roots to live in New York City, London and Johannesburg, Rebecca currently resides in Houston.