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A Kiss Under The Christmas Lights
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?
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?
138 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 2016
About the author
Peggy Jaeger
60 books1,656 followersPeggy Jaeger is an award winning author of contemporary romance.
https://linktr.ee/peggyjaeger
Peggy is a contemporary romance writer who writes #RomComs about #strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
#Family and #food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Her #hobbies include #painting #crafting #scrapbooking and #decoupaging old steamer trucks that she then gives as gifts to her friends
As a lifelong diarist, Peggy caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she's blogging about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!" daily.
She's a lifelong and avid #romance reader and writer, is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter
https://linktr.ee/peggyjaeger
Peggy is a contemporary romance writer who writes #RomComs about #strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
#Family and #food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Her #hobbies include #painting #crafting #scrapbooking and #decoupaging old steamer trucks that she then gives as gifts to her friends
As a lifelong diarist, Peggy caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she's blogging about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!" daily.
She's a lifelong and avid #romance reader and writer, is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 12, 2016
Once again the San Valentino family is making me laugh out loud at their antics. From holiday festivals, funerals, church attendance and exploding diapers this is an entertaining novella. Gia is the youngest of a large, loud Italian family. She is trying to study for and pass her CPA tests, while helping out at the holiday festival.
She yearns for a husband and babies of her own. Yet the meddling, well-meaning relatives arranged dates do nothing for her love life. The man she is attracted to causes emotional turmoil because of a whopper of a misunderstanding. This is a fun, heartwarming holiday tale of great food, big families and true love. I highly recommend this holiday novella by Peggy Jaeger. Get your copy, curl up by the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate and popcorn. Enjoy!
She yearns for a husband and babies of her own. Yet the meddling, well-meaning relatives arranged dates do nothing for her love life. The man she is attracted to causes emotional turmoil because of a whopper of a misunderstanding. This is a fun, heartwarming holiday tale of great food, big families and true love. I highly recommend this holiday novella by Peggy Jaeger. Get your copy, curl up by the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate and popcorn. Enjoy!
December 9, 2016
I enjoyed reading,just wish it was a little longer..The enjoy the family relationships, and the humor. I would recommend this book..
I enjoyed the book, just wish it was a little longer. I like the family relationships and humor. I would recommend this book..
I enjoyed the book, just wish it was a little longer. I like the family relationships and humor. I would recommend this book..
November 26, 2017
The story is about a good Italian Catholic girl who is falling in love but is surprised to find out who he is. Very funny light hearted story. (I won this in a goodreads give away and would like to say thank you to the sender for the cool wooden box that looks like the book .The cute note cards.The calendar, recipe cards and the bookmarks Merry Christmas and thank you so much)
December 14, 2017
Peggy Jaeger writes the San Valentino family with such loving mirth it had me laughing aloud throughout the story. Gia and Tim both captured my heart, but it was the incredible sexual tension between them that really had me fanning myself and crying Mi Dio!
This is a highly entertaining holiday romp and I most definitely recommend it!
This is a highly entertaining holiday romp and I most definitely recommend it!
December 15, 2017
I love a Christmas romance, and this one was really fun! It brought to mind the movie "Moonstruck". So many Christmas romances are set in the country, so it was a fun twist to have this one set in NYC, in a big Italian-american family. Peggy Jaeger is fast-becoming one of my go-to authors! Her books all have humor, heart, sexiness...really enjoyable reads!
January 17, 2018
A fun holiday romance! I really enjoyed spending time with the San Valentino family, who brought back great memories of a large, Catholic, Italian-American family I knew while growing up. Gia San Valentino and Tim Santini are perfectly matched in every way. If you're looking for a quick, enjoyable read laced with lots of humor, this is it.
October 22, 2018
I LOVE Gia and her hilarious family!
Such a great story! After reading it, I feel like I’ve always known Gia and her crazy Italian Family. The author knows how to make the reader feel like they are part of the family. So good.
Such a great story! After reading it, I feel like I’ve always known Gia and her crazy Italian Family. The author knows how to make the reader feel like they are part of the family. So good.
December 17, 2017
Peggy does it again in this delightful Christmas short! I love the Italian family and Gia is a great character! Give me a Santini any day!
December 13, 2018
I think this is one of my favorite books by Peggy Jaeger to date. It combines Peggy's humor with lots of adventure. Love Love Love this.
November 14, 2020
Cozy read
This is a cozy sweet read that will keep your interest. Family, humor, heart and of course that hea we all want. First time reading this author and will be reading more.
This is a cozy sweet read that will keep your interest. Family, humor, heart and of course that hea we all want. First time reading this author and will be reading more.
November 17, 2016
I received an ARC of A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights by Peggy Jaeger in exchange for an honest opinion and review. Here are my thoughts…
It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy a sweet, short-contemporary romance. We’re in the thick of the holidays now, and that typically means *gasp* FAMILY! In A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights you’ll experience what it’s like to be part of a big, loud, loving Italian family when life throws flaming-hot meatballs at a good Catholic bambina.
Meet Gia San Valentino. She’s trying hard to survive the season while cramming for the CPA licensing exam and enduring family drama. Everyone is involved in a 12-day neighborhood event. St. Rita’s Christmas festival is tradition, and Gia is expected to tackle the decorating.
Enter “his holy hotness,” the new parish priest. He’s sinfully gorgeous, and Gia can’t help but think she’s on the express escalator to hell for noticing. Fr. Santini cannot be flirting with her, it’s forbidden! But is there a mix up? I’m not into spoilers, so you’ll have to read to find out.
This story is a full-on fun-fest with what life is like in this Italian family. From births to deaths, and everything in between, you get lessons from Gia on what it means to be a “good Italian.” As a frequent visitor to NYC, I could see, hear, and taste the world author Peggy Jaeger portrays. I was also charmed by the love, loyalty - and often frustration – she shares about family life. Plus, I was hungry the entire time I was reading. Espresso, pizzelles... Grazie!
My advice - take this book along as you face your own holidays. It’s a quick read, so it’s easy. Laugh, gasp with surprise, talk with your hands, and then hug someone. I give A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights 5 stars for being a fun, short, and delightfully-sweet romance.
It’s the perfect time of year to enjoy a sweet, short-contemporary romance. We’re in the thick of the holidays now, and that typically means *gasp* FAMILY! In A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights you’ll experience what it’s like to be part of a big, loud, loving Italian family when life throws flaming-hot meatballs at a good Catholic bambina.
Meet Gia San Valentino. She’s trying hard to survive the season while cramming for the CPA licensing exam and enduring family drama. Everyone is involved in a 12-day neighborhood event. St. Rita’s Christmas festival is tradition, and Gia is expected to tackle the decorating.
Enter “his holy hotness,” the new parish priest. He’s sinfully gorgeous, and Gia can’t help but think she’s on the express escalator to hell for noticing. Fr. Santini cannot be flirting with her, it’s forbidden! But is there a mix up? I’m not into spoilers, so you’ll have to read to find out.
This story is a full-on fun-fest with what life is like in this Italian family. From births to deaths, and everything in between, you get lessons from Gia on what it means to be a “good Italian.” As a frequent visitor to NYC, I could see, hear, and taste the world author Peggy Jaeger portrays. I was also charmed by the love, loyalty - and often frustration – she shares about family life. Plus, I was hungry the entire time I was reading. Espresso, pizzelles... Grazie!
My advice - take this book along as you face your own holidays. It’s a quick read, so it’s easy. Laugh, gasp with surprise, talk with your hands, and then hug someone. I give A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights 5 stars for being a fun, short, and delightfully-sweet romance.
December 5, 2016
I absolutely adore Peggy Jaeger's Valentine novella about Chloe San Valentino and her large, meddling Italian family, so when I found out there was a Christmas story about Chloe's younger sister Gia, I snatched up a Kindle version to sweeten my holiday season.
Gia San Valentino is the baby of the family, a good Italian girl in her early twenties still living at home with her overprotective family. In the lead up to the holidays she's crazy busy with studying for her CPA exams while helping care for her elderly grandmother and helping out with her family's booth at the annual church Christmas festival.
Her well meaning family has set her up with numerous dates, but none of them make her heart stop like the new soon-to-be-ordained priest at her local church. She's more than convinced she's going to go to hell for having such carnal thoughts about a man of the cloth, and that's before he even kisses her. After? She can't think straight, let alone care. One kiss will never be enough.
This over-the-top New York Italian family makes for such fun reading, especially having grown up in Northern New Jersey with so many Soprano-like neighbors. Jaeger nails lots of the little details that make you both cringe and laugh out loud, and despite the fact that I figured out the story's "twist" well before Gia did, it only added to the fun to watch her emotional turmoil.
For a different sort of Christmas story that will definitely make you smile, grab a copy of this fun, fast read. You won't be disappointed!
Gia San Valentino is the baby of the family, a good Italian girl in her early twenties still living at home with her overprotective family. In the lead up to the holidays she's crazy busy with studying for her CPA exams while helping care for her elderly grandmother and helping out with her family's booth at the annual church Christmas festival.
Her well meaning family has set her up with numerous dates, but none of them make her heart stop like the new soon-to-be-ordained priest at her local church. She's more than convinced she's going to go to hell for having such carnal thoughts about a man of the cloth, and that's before he even kisses her. After? She can't think straight, let alone care. One kiss will never be enough.
This over-the-top New York Italian family makes for such fun reading, especially having grown up in Northern New Jersey with so many Soprano-like neighbors. Jaeger nails lots of the little details that make you both cringe and laugh out loud, and despite the fact that I figured out the story's "twist" well before Gia did, it only added to the fun to watch her emotional turmoil.
For a different sort of Christmas story that will definitely make you smile, grab a copy of this fun, fast read. You won't be disappointed!
December 20, 2016
(An electronic copy of the book was given to the reviewer in exchange for an honest, objective review.)
This delightful novel does for Christmas what Nia Vardalos did for Big Fat Greek Weddings. In this case, the loud, large family is Italian and staunchly Catholic. With a million close relatives watching her every move, both socially and professionally, Gia San Valentino is still living in her parents' house in her mid-twenties. She is dutifully helping her mother and incorrigible aunts with the annual church Christmas Festival when a new soon-to-be-ordained young priest is assigned to Gia's parish. That's fine. Old Father Mario is older than dirt and will be retiring soon. What's not fine is that Gia is terminally smitten with Father Mario's young, handsome replacement! She knows two things for sure: (1) her family must never find out what she feels toward the priest, and (2) there is a special spot reserved for her in hell for what she thinks when she looks at him.
The author wisely lets Gia narrate the story from within the craziness of a huge, nosy, Catholic family, and the resulting story is brimming with heart and humor. With mild language and no explicit sex, this book is fun for readers of any age from 10 to 100. While certain social and cultural aspects of being Catholic are mentioned, there is no religious discussion of the meaning of Christmas. This is just good, clean, wintertime fun and a great Christmas gift for readers.
This delightful novel does for Christmas what Nia Vardalos did for Big Fat Greek Weddings. In this case, the loud, large family is Italian and staunchly Catholic. With a million close relatives watching her every move, both socially and professionally, Gia San Valentino is still living in her parents' house in her mid-twenties. She is dutifully helping her mother and incorrigible aunts with the annual church Christmas Festival when a new soon-to-be-ordained young priest is assigned to Gia's parish. That's fine. Old Father Mario is older than dirt and will be retiring soon. What's not fine is that Gia is terminally smitten with Father Mario's young, handsome replacement! She knows two things for sure: (1) her family must never find out what she feels toward the priest, and (2) there is a special spot reserved for her in hell for what she thinks when she looks at him.
The author wisely lets Gia narrate the story from within the craziness of a huge, nosy, Catholic family, and the resulting story is brimming with heart and humor. With mild language and no explicit sex, this book is fun for readers of any age from 10 to 100. While certain social and cultural aspects of being Catholic are mentioned, there is no religious discussion of the meaning of Christmas. This is just good, clean, wintertime fun and a great Christmas gift for readers.
November 30, 2016
How to be a good Italian
Lesson One- Always buy a Peggy Jaeger book
A humorous, heartwarming love story, A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights, reintroduces us to the loving, loud, and well fed San Valentino family we fell in love with in Mrs. Jaeger’s Valentine’s novella, 3 Wishes.
This time it’s Gia’s turn to fall in love. Enter newcomer Tim Santini and the sparks fly from the beginning. A master at building the sexual tension between her characters, A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights is certain to be one gift you’ll be glad you gave yourself. Be sure to share the Christmas love by recommending this wonderful book to your friends as well.
* I received an ARC of A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights in exchange for an honest review.
Lesson One- Always buy a Peggy Jaeger book
A humorous, heartwarming love story, A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights, reintroduces us to the loving, loud, and well fed San Valentino family we fell in love with in Mrs. Jaeger’s Valentine’s novella, 3 Wishes.
This time it’s Gia’s turn to fall in love. Enter newcomer Tim Santini and the sparks fly from the beginning. A master at building the sexual tension between her characters, A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights is certain to be one gift you’ll be glad you gave yourself. Be sure to share the Christmas love by recommending this wonderful book to your friends as well.
* I received an ARC of A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2016
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a light hearted short Christmas Romance.
Well worth a quick read.
This is a light hearted short Christmas Romance.
Well worth a quick read.
October 12, 2020
Great book
February 7, 2017
A super-fun read that you can read in one quick setting.
December 9, 2016
Set to take the CPA exams and start her career, Gia San Valentino is thrown for a loop when she finds herself instantly attracted to and completely taken with the wrong man. Unable to shake her feelings, Gia is emotionally torn because of an unknown, yet simple misunderstanding. Constantly surrounded by her family, Gia is worried the horrible truth will soon come out.
A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights is a delightful holiday novella centered on a large Italian family and its traditions. I thoroughly enjoyed the hustle and bustle of Gia's life. The author invests time developing the San Valentino family, bringing heart to the story, and Gia's loving, meddling family provides tender moments with a healthy side of humorous embarrassment. Told from Gia's first person POV, we get to experience every laugh, fear, and joy along side her.
While this story isn't an instalove tale, it is evident right from the start the Gia and Tim share something special. The love-at-first-meeting attraction comes across as right and true. However, due to a misunderstanding, Gia is emotionally wrecked and guilt-ridden over her attraction. After a while, it became stressful for me. It's obvious to the reader what is going on, but Gia thinks she's got the hots for an unattainable man. While the author does a great job of keeping Gia's physical attraction appropriately compartmentalized, after their third meeting, I wanted her to be able to enjoy her feelings for Tim without the guilt.
With that said... the author successfully keeps the mood light, even when the book deals with serious situations. And while the romance is a huge part of the story, there are other things going on in Gia's life, keeping the focus off her guilty conscience.
A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights is a sweet, light-hearted read. This holiday novella is a perfect gift to enjoy snuggled on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa.
My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
Review copy provided by Author
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights is a delightful holiday novella centered on a large Italian family and its traditions. I thoroughly enjoyed the hustle and bustle of Gia's life. The author invests time developing the San Valentino family, bringing heart to the story, and Gia's loving, meddling family provides tender moments with a healthy side of humorous embarrassment. Told from Gia's first person POV, we get to experience every laugh, fear, and joy along side her.
While this story isn't an instalove tale, it is evident right from the start the Gia and Tim share something special. The love-at-first-meeting attraction comes across as right and true. However, due to a misunderstanding, Gia is emotionally wrecked and guilt-ridden over her attraction. After a while, it became stressful for me. It's obvious to the reader what is going on, but Gia thinks she's got the hots for an unattainable man. While the author does a great job of keeping Gia's physical attraction appropriately compartmentalized, after their third meeting, I wanted her to be able to enjoy her feelings for Tim without the guilt.
With that said... the author successfully keeps the mood light, even when the book deals with serious situations. And while the romance is a huge part of the story, there are other things going on in Gia's life, keeping the focus off her guilty conscience.
A Kiss Under the Christmas Lights is a sweet, light-hearted read. This holiday novella is a perfect gift to enjoy snuggled on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa.
My Rating: B+ Liked It A Lot
Review copy provided by Author
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
February 8, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my fair and honest review.
This books is a quick, enjoyable, clean book. The book does spend as much or more time on heroine Gia's Italian family as it does on the romance.
Gia meets a gorgeous man named Tim at while helping set up things at her church's fundraiser festival. She erronously thinks he is the no yet ordained priest training at her church. She is confused about why she is not attracted to him when he's in his priest clothes and why he doesn't mention their meetings when he is in plain clothes. She's also feeling guilty for her thoughts especially after they share a hot kiss.
But things are not as they seem. Readers will guess quickly the "twist".
This books is a quick, enjoyable, clean book. The book does spend as much or more time on heroine Gia's Italian family as it does on the romance.
Gia meets a gorgeous man named Tim at while helping set up things at her church's fundraiser festival. She erronously thinks he is the no yet ordained priest training at her church. She is confused about why she is not attracted to him when he's in his priest clothes and why he doesn't mention their meetings when he is in plain clothes. She's also feeling guilty for her thoughts especially after they share a hot kiss.
But things are not as they seem. Readers will guess quickly the "twist".
February 5, 2017
Couldn't really get with this book I love , love stories but this one just didn't do it for me
December 3, 2016
A super little read a great book for the Christmas period.I really enjoyed this and liked Tim and Gia a fun little read that you wont want to put down recommend.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews