Author Archives: Peggy Jaeger

The second addition to the DICKENS HOLIDAY ROMANCE series from me was another novella, this time an origin story. In my first book I’d had a character appear that I just fell in love with and wanted to tell her story. the only issue? She was in her sixties, maybe even 70s when I introduced her. So…I did an origin backstory for Amy Dorrit of DORRIT’S DINER.

SANTA BABY

It’s Christmas Eve morning in the tiny New England town of Dickens. Santa’s arrival is imminent, and a hint of snow is in the air.

Amy Dorrit is just about to open her popular diner for the breakfast rush when she discovers an abandoned baby on her back doorstep.Amy knows she should call the authorities and turn the infant over to them, but she just can’t. Thoughts of her own abandonment as a baby flood through her and she wants to keep the little one out of the hands of the authorities until the mother – hopefully –returns.

But will the mom come back? And if she doesn’t, what is Amy prepared to do about the baby who has, already, claimed her heart?

If you’re a trope person, this one has abandoned baby; friends to lovers; small town vibes and a holiday miracle.

On day 4, I’m showing you my very first book in the Dickens Holiday Romance series, ANGEL KISSES AND HOLIDAY WISHES.

For those of you who don’t know, the DICKENS HOLIDAY ROMANCE series is a book community of authors who collectively write holiday romances centering around the fictional town of Dickens. The original series was 10 authors who each wrote a novella that was placed into an anthology. After the amazing response we garnered the first holiday season, we decided to branch out and write full-length books for the next year. And the next. And it’s still going strong. I have 6 books in the seires and for the next 6 days I’m going to be showing them to you, starting with that first novella.

ANGEL KISSES AND HOLIDAY WISHES.

Can a first love be rekindled when the past is filled with heartache?

After a personal tragedy, Sage Hamilton left the town she’d grown up in and the boy she’d given her heart to. With a vow never to return, Sage forged on with her life in order to forget the sadness of her past.

Keith Mills loved Sage from the first moment he spotted her ambling down the hallway of their middle school. And she’d felt the same about him. Or so he’d thought until she’d walked away from everything they’d meant to one another with a tearful and rushed goodbye.

But now, eighteen years later, she’s back and, as the town’s new doctor, it looks like she’s staying. Can Keith put the hurt of Sage’s dismissal to bed for good? And will she want to rekindle the love that had burnt so bright all those years ago?

And now we come to the one San Valentino book that wasn’t published by the Wild Rose Press, but by me, independently, MISTLETOE, MOBSTERS, & MOZZARELLA.

I can assure you, nothing about that title was left to chance! I had a specific image for the book, and a plotline that was part funny, part heartwarming, and a little bit dangerous in mind, so the title is perfect for the story between the covers.

Finding a body in the freezer of the family deli isn’t the way Madonna San Valentino planned to start her day.

Adding insult to injury, the investigating detective is the one guy she’s never been able to forget. After seven minutes of heaven in the back seat of his car when they were teenagers, Tony Roma skipped town without so much as a thanks for the memory.

Just when Madonna thinks the present situation can’t get any worse, Tony is ordered to go undercover at the deli to ferret out a killer. Forced to work together, she vows to keep their relationship cool and professional. But with the sexy, longing looks he tosses her at every turn, Madonna’s resolve is weakening.

With Christmas drawing closer and Tony’s investigation taking an unexpected turn, Madonna is at her wit’s end. Can she really be falling for him again? And will he wind up leaving her brokenhearted and alone like the last time?

and in front of, lol!

Many of you know I am a member of my local New Hampshire chapter of Romance Writers of America ( RWA). We are always brainstorming ideas on how to get more members, fundraise for the chapter, and discover ways to encourage one another with our writing, plus cheer on writing in others.

Well… March 2026, we’re trying something new: a writing challenge.

What better excuse do you need to stay inside and write than to keep away from those wicked winds?? Even if you live somewhere that’s warm ( I’m jealous!!) you can still join us!!

If you’d like to, here’s the sign up form: MARCH WINDS WRITING CHALLENGE

And I really hope you do join us!! You’ll be getting daily encouragement from our members plus a sense of community that’s supportive and caring while you create away.

~Peg

Today, the second book in the San Valentino Christmas romances, CHRISTMAS AND CANNOLIS is highlighted.

For this book, I wanted my heroine to have a sad past. Why? Because I think triumphing over tragedy to find joy after heartache is such a worthwhile trope, don’t you? But how to do it, and still have the story filled with the essence of the crazy San Valentinos? Well, since the heroine, Regina, is Uncle Sonny’s daughter, the humor kinda wrote itself!

With Christmas season in full swing, baker Regina San Valentino is up to her elbows in cake batter and cookie dough. Between running her own business, filling her bursting holiday order book, and managing her crazy Italian family, she’s got no time to relax, no room for more custom cake orders, and no desire to find love. A failed marriage and a personal tragedy have convinced her she’s better off alone. Then a handsome stranger enters her bakery begging for help. Regina can’t find it in her heart to refuse him.

Connor Gilhooly is in a bind. He needs a specialty cake for an upcoming fundraiser and puts himself—and his company’s reputation—in Regina’s capable hands. What he doesn’t plan on is falling for a woman with heartbreak in her eyes or dealing with a wise-guy father and a disapproving family.

Can Regina lay her past to rest and trust the man who’s awoken her heart?

Today, I’m starting something new. For the next 12 days, I’m going to be posting daily and detailing one of my many Christmas/holiday books.

And believe me…I’ve got a bunch!

First up, A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

Published initially by The Wild Rose Press, this book was my very first Christmas San Valentino family book. After 3 WISHES, which was a Valentine’s day story came out, I wanted to give Chloe’s sister, Gia, her own HEA. How do to it in a funny, unique way was a big consideration for me. When I thought of a case of mistaken identity, well then…the story kind of wrote itself!

With Christmas just a few weeks away, Gia San Valentino, the baby in her large, loud, and loving Italian family, yearns for a life and home of her own with a husband and bambini she can love and spoil. The single scene doesn’t interest her, and the men her well-meaning family introduce her to aren’t exactly the happily-ever-after kind.

Tim Santini believes he’s finally found the woman for him, but Gia will take some convincing she’s that girl. A misunderstanding has her thinking he’s something he’s not.

Can a kiss stolen under the Christmas lights persuade her to spend the rest of her life with him?

If you’re a trope person, this book has:

mistaken identity, a holiday theme, forbidden love (but not really!), family hijinks and drama.

It really was a fun book to write!

12.13.25

I am super stoked for my last author/reader event of 2025 – A VERY MERRY BOOKMAS taking place in Machester, NH.

Take a look at all the wonderful authors who are taking part in this Holiday Book event! In addition, there are some fabulous Book Influencers and Vendors who will be there as well.

Since this is a HOLIDAY book Event, I’m bringing ALL – yes ALL – my holiday books. The entire DICKENS HOLIDAY ROMANCE line, including the 2025 Cookie cookbook, and all my Christmas SAN VALENTINO family holiday rom-coms as well. Plus, I’ve got extra copies of the anthology, LOVE, LATTES, and Holiday tales, which is no longer in print!!

If you want to preorder any of the books – including any that I’m not bringing – you can do so by using this order form to ensure you get the books you want. PEGGY BOOKSTORE

If you’re looking for a fun event that’s book related with the added special ingredient of ROMANCE – this event is for you!

~Peg

to help me help kids with food insecurity.

By now you all know that for the entire month of November, since the last government shutdown and the suspension of the SNAP benefits to families and children, I have been trying to do my part to help my local family food organization, TINY TUMMIES, raise funds to help them help others.

If you purchase any book in my catalog this month, I am donating 20% of each sale to Tiny Tummies. If you purchase my newest book, YOU’RE MY MATCH, I am donating 100% of the royalties for this month to the organization. I am trying to do my part to help and give back.

I was a victim of food insecurity as a child, and many times we had nothing but mayonnaise and bread for dinner. Not the most nutritious meal in the world, and something, which, I feel contributed to my 40+ year eating disorder. If I can make one child feel more secure by giving them a few meals to eat that are nutritious and will help them grow, I feel it is my duty to do so.

So…won’t you help me help them? And if you don’t want to buy one of my books to do this, no worries. Maybe you’d like to donate to them directly with a cash gift. If so, here is their information. FEEDING TINY TUMMIES

Thank you for all your support, and bless you.

~Peg

I’ve got a way to avoid it!

Back when I was in my twenties, Black Friday was a serious thing with my sisters-in-law and me. We would wake up at 430 am, still stuffed from the day before’s meal, quickly get dressed, and then drive over the local mall or Nordstroms in Long Island and wait for the doors to open at 5 am. Why, you ask? Because this was before internet shopping and you had to physically GO to a store in order to make sure you got the gifts you wanted before everyone else bought them up.

5 am would come around, the doors to the stores would open and the pandemonium would ensue. We’d already plotted what we wanted to get, and each of us set off in the direction of the gift section we needed. If you have ever been in a stampede, you know what it felt like on those mornings. Hordes of women with no makeup, some with hair still in curlers, running as if being chased by the bulls of Pamplona just to ensure they got what they wanted.

We did the same thing on December 26th for the after Christmas sales.

Good times.

The advent of online shopping has robbed us of those escapades, maybe for the better since I am 65 now and can’t run, shove, or grab as quickly as I used to.

This year though, millions of Americans are participating in a big store/internet buying blackout to show their displeasure with corporate greed. If you are one of those people, I applaud you. I am doing the same. But as a small business ( and as an indie author, I AM a small business) i still need to make sales to survive.

So…

If you are looking for a way to avoid the lines, avoid the internet and still want to get a gift or two for yourself or the romance reader on your shopping list, why not order from me directly? There’s an order form at the top of this menu, but I’ll put it here, too, for you to do so. ORDER MY BOOKS from me. And please remember, for every book sold before 11.30.25 I am donating 20% of the sale to my local food bank FEEDING TINY TUMMIES. If you purchase my newest release in book or e-form, YOU’RE MY MATCH, I am donating 100% of the royalties to the same organization.

So if you want to avoid the lines, the being online all day, or you have to work and don’t want to be bothered shopping, take advantage of my website bookstore. You’ll be saving time, money, and also doing a service for a local charity.

Thanks, kids.

~Peg