In saner times, I’m a firm believer that Christmas belongs in December. Sufficient unto the month is the holiday therein, etc. But these are not saner times, and I’m working on a Christmas romance. In summer. Because, why not?

So is one of my favorite rom-com writers, Peggy Jaeger, here to share her cover for her newest title, Mistletoe, Mobsters, and Mozzarella, coming October 14, 2020. Peggy’s stories always come with a generous side of Italian food and loving, sassy family, so I’m looking forward to this one.

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 broken hearted and alone like the last time?

Pre-order your copy here:  https://amzn.to/2Y9Yj8f You won’t be sorry!

Speaking of Christmas romance, I’m going indie with Book One of my new series set in a neighbhorhood bar in Tacoma, Washington, my hometown! I hope you’ll enjoy the Bangers Tavern stories, opening with Christmas Rekindled, coming in November 2020. No cover yet, but here’s a peek:

Bartender River Lundqvist has a damn good reason for hating Christmas. Bangers Tavern gives him the perfect place to lay low over the holidays—until Charlie walks in. His first encounter with the saucy server nine years ago was utter humiliation, and she doesn’t even remember him. Her reappearance stirs up powerful desires and hopes for a new start. But the timing is all wrong.

Dumped on Thanksgiving, then yanked back to Tacoma to care for her injured dad over the holidays, freelance web designer Charlie Khoury braces herself for the suckiest Christmas ever. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern, her old stomping grounds, gives her a chance to escape Dad’s criticism and blow off some steam. But why does the pretty boy bartender seem to hate her?    

A pretend girlfriend is just what River needs to keep his family off his back—until a kiss under the mistletoe flares hot enough to melt the North Pole. When greedy developers threaten Bangers Tavern, River and Charlie must team up to save it. Their sizzling chemistry feels like the real thing—but everyone knows rebound relationships don’t last.

Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies-to-lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday cocktails, Scrooge love, and the sexiest Christmas miracle ever.