The Perfect Miracle by Jennifer Wilck is a Christmas in July Fete pick #romance #hanukkah #christmasinjuly #giveaway
- N. N. Light
- Jul 1
- 6 min read
Title: The Perfect Miracle
Author: Jennifer Wilck
Genre: Contemporary romance
Book Blurb:
Benjamin Cohen, widowed father of six-year-old Jessie, is doing his best to hold it together through order and routine. The last thing he needs is his matchmaker mother to set him up with her next door neighbor, no matter how attractive she is.
Rachel Schaecter's dream of becoming a foster mother is right within her grasp, until her meddlesome neighbor tries to set her up with her handsome son. What's worse? He's the father of her favorite kindergarten student! She can't afford to let anything come between her and her dream, no matter how gorgeous he may be.
Can these two determined people trust in the miracle of Hanukkah to let love and light into their lives?
Buy The Perfect Miracle and find out if love truly can conquer all.
Book 1: The Perfect Match
Book 2: The Perfect Secret
Book 3: The Perfect Deception
Book 4: The Perfect Miracle
The Perfect Miracle was previously published under the title Waiting for a Miracle. It has gone through extensive edits and expansions to the story in order to enhance the content and reading experience, as well as connect it to the rest of the series. Additionally, it can be read at any point in the series.
Excerpt:
“Ms. Schaecter! Ms. Schaecter! Look at my picture!”
The six-year-old girl’s voice rose above the cries of the other elementary students who poured out of the school onto the paved, fenced grounds of the four-story, brick Manhattan public school. It was the last day before winter vacation, and students were bursting with exhilaration over the prospect of Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever holiday they celebrated. So was Rachel. She couldn’t wait for her vacation time to begin. To use up the last thirty minutes of class, Rachel had instructed her hyper kindergarten students to draw a picture of what they looked forward to the most over vacation.
Rachel smiled, despite how tired she was from the classroom hyperactivity, as she knelt by her favorite student. The little girl was one of the reasons Rachel loved her job. The child’s dark curls bounced with excitement. Her breath fogged in the cold air.
“Jessie, it’s beautiful,” she said, admiring the girl’s holiday picture. “Tell me more about it.”
Three stick figures surrounded a Hanukkah menorah. Each of the eight branches held a multicolored, lighted candle. The man, woman, and child wore various shades of blue. Bright yellow stars twinkled in the sky. “This is my dad and me and you,” she said, her eyes shining.
In September, the first time Jessie had included Rachel in a drawing, Rachel had suggested to the little girl that maybe she should put someone else in the picture. Jessie had insisted she wanted her favorite teacher in the scene. As flattered as she was, privately, Rachel thought it might look a little inappropriate, so she’d mentioned it to Jessie’s father when he attended Back to School Night. He’d explained how his wife died three years ago, and lately, Jessie had been talking about how much she wanted a mom.
“I don’t know what to do,” he’d said. “I get that she sees all the students around her with moms, but that’s not exactly a reason for me to just go out and get her one.”
Rachel had laughed, sympathizing with both Jessie and her dad. And since he’d indicated he was aware of what was going on, and was trying to help his daughter through this phase, Rachel let it go.
She hugged Jessie. “That’s a beautiful drawing. Have a wonderful vacation. Happy Hanukkah, sweetheart.”
“You too, Ms. Schaecter.”
The little girl skipped to the bus waiting at the curb outside the school gate, her exuberant energy reminding Rachel of splattering oil in a pan of frying latkes. As the kids climbed aboard the bus, car horns, revved engines, and messenger bike bells on the busy New York City streets replaced the students’ noisy chatter. She stretched her shoulders as the line of yellow buses departed the school grounds. A cold breeze blew, and she drew her jacket closed against the biting December chill. She smelled snow as she inhaled, as well as exhaust fumes and aromas of roasting peanuts from the vendor on the corner, along with a faint tinge of evergreen from the tree salesman down the block. With another deep breath, she returned to her classroom to close up before vacation, all the while wishing that she, too, had a family to go home to, one filled with happy laughter and maybe even a baby coo or two.
She’d intended to do a quick cleanup, but she got caught up putting away art supplies and cleaning out folders, and much later than Rachel had planned, she glanced at the empty classroom in surprise. The slanting rays of the sun cast deep shadows across the classroom. Rachel rose, stretching out her back and neck as Kate, the kindergarten teacher next door and her best work friend, popped into the classroom. “Any big plans for break?” Kate asked, shrugging into her coat.
Rachel glanced around the room one last time to make sure all was in order before she grabbed her things. “Nope. I decided I want to take advantage of my freedom and do whatever intrigues me as it happens. And mostly, I want to relax.”
The two women walked out of the building together. “You okay on your own this break? Because you’re welcome to join us for Christmas if you’d like.”
Kate had been such a help when Rachel broke up with her boyfriend six months ago. Her loyalty and steadfast support still filled Rachel with warmth and gratitude.
She nodded. “You’re sweet, but I’m fine. Really.” She sighed. “Although I keep thinking of Marc and his new girlfriend on our ski vacation. Is it wrong of me to hope the resort’s lifts and snow machines are broken?”
Kate chuckled. “Nope. That jerk doesn’t deserve your headspace.”
“I know,” Rachel said. “I’ve gotten over his cheating and my subsequent breaking up with him. And honestly, at this point, I’m in a good place. But every once in a while...”
“You wonder about what might have been, right?” Kate asked.
“Right. Which is why I’m going to get out this break, and keep busy, and fill my brain with things that inspire me.”
“Which probably doesn’t include Christmas with me, Joe, and his parents.” She rolled her eyes, making Rachel laugh.
“After the stories you’ve told me about Joe’s dad, I’ll admit, spending the holiday with you would be entertaining. But I’m good. I’m going to play tourist here. There are so many things to see in New York over the holidays. There are all the pop-up shops, ice skating, shows...”
“What about Hanukkah? Will you celebrate it with someone?”
Rachel’s heart pattered with excitement. “For the first time in as long as I can remember, I can celebrate the holiday the way I want to. Marc had so many ‘requirements’.” She made air quotes. “And they were fine at the time, but I really just want to enjoy the holiday in my own way on my own time. I have my menorah and candles to light. I’ll be fine.” She held a wrapped paper plate. “And one of my students made me latkes today.”
Kate stopped at the corner and gave her a hug. “Have a great break, and if you need anything, call me. Happy Hanukkah!”
“Merry Christmas!”
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Universal Link:
What I love most about the holiday season:
The time we spend with family, the glow of the Hanukkah menorah, and the warmth and coziness of the holidays.
Why is your featured book a must-read to get you in the holiday mood?
Because it provides hope and love and the miracle of making your perfect family in this not-so-perfect world.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs July 1 – 31, 2025
Drawing will be held on August 1, 2025.
Author Biography:
Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.
Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.
In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
Social Media Links:
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
