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A Dickens Holiday Romance #18
Don't Mess with the Mistletoe: A Dickens Holiday Romance ( book 18): Dorrit's Diner
It’s the holiday season in the tiny town of Dickens and pilot Michael Charles is home for his annual visit. His wanderlust has him itching to get back up in the skies as soon as possible, especially since he’s got a full schedule of rich and famous clients waiting to be transported to warm, exotic locales for the winter.
When his heavily pregnant sisters present him with a plan to give their workaholic mother some time off from managing the family diner, he balks. But one look at how tired the woman who took him into her home and heart is, and Michael agrees to run Dorrit’s Diner for a month so Amy Charles can get some well-deserved rest.
He’ll be back in the skies by the New Year.
The diner staff functions like a well-oiled machine, most of them long-term employees. The exception is new waitress Julia Maryland. The beautiful blonde has a past filled with heartache, a charming six-year-old daughter, and a smile Michael could spend the day getting lost in. But starting a relationship with her wouldn’t be wise because his visit is temporary and Julia seems like a permanent kind of girl.
When a family emergency requires him to rethink and reassess his life, Michael wonders if it’s time he becomes a permanent kind of man.
When his heavily pregnant sisters present him with a plan to give their workaholic mother some time off from managing the family diner, he balks. But one look at how tired the woman who took him into her home and heart is, and Michael agrees to run Dorrit’s Diner for a month so Amy Charles can get some well-deserved rest.
He’ll be back in the skies by the New Year.
The diner staff functions like a well-oiled machine, most of them long-term employees. The exception is new waitress Julia Maryland. The beautiful blonde has a past filled with heartache, a charming six-year-old daughter, and a smile Michael could spend the day getting lost in. But starting a relationship with her wouldn’t be wise because his visit is temporary and Julia seems like a permanent kind of girl.
When a family emergency requires him to rethink and reassess his life, Michael wonders if it’s time he becomes a permanent kind of man.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2023
6 people are currently reading
974 people want to read
About the author
Peggy Jaeger
73 books1,664 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
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 4, 2023
This is the perfect small town holiday romance. I loved Michael and Julia, they had wonderful chemistry. The storyline is centered around the Charles family and the diner with plenty of backstory to help you relate to the characters. This is an interesting and entertaining read you will happily stay up way to late turning pages to find out what happens.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 13, 2023
What a fun Christmas romance. Michael was such a likable character. I loved him. Such a sweet, feel good story, and the way the tiny New England town of Dickens was described, makes me want to live there. Jaeger did such a great job developing the characters. I didn't read any of the other books yet because I won this one through Goodreads, but I think I want to go back and read the other stories to get the background on the other adopted Charles children and how they came to live with Amy and Andy. Highly recommend if you're in the mood for and easy, feel good romance story.
October 19, 2023
KINDNESS AND CARING MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
The story is a sweet, holiday-themed tale with a great cast of characters. The town of Dickens is a small town and it does have plenty of town gossip, including three troublemakers.
The story’s main two characters will be Michael Charles and Julia Maryland. Michael flies home for Thanksgiving, but when he sees how exhausted his mother is, he takes an extended leave of absence from his job as a pilot where he flies rich people around the world. Julia came to the town of Dickens to start over and is working in Dorrit Diner as a waitress.
“Take care of those you care about.”
The story will have Michael running the diner while his parents do some traveling. He is there from about 4 in the morning until 10 a night, existing on limited sleep. While working in the office, Julia and Michael will scare each other. He didn’t know she and her daughter were living in the apartment over the diner. But before long, those late nights are a time for him to talk, and learn more about each other, including her problems, and his past.
Julia: Does it make you uncomfortable when people praise you? Or is it me? Do I make you uncomfortable?
Michael: You? You don’t make me uncomfortable, Julia. You make me crazy.
Julia: I’m—I’m sorry, I’ll leave you alone. I’m sorry.
Michael: You make me crazy, Julia, because every time I’m around you all I can think of doing is hauling you up against me, kissing you and losing myself in you.
I loved the story, and the Charles family is the best. Amy and Andy adopted Abra, Sasha, and Michael and gave them a wonderful home, and values. When they got Michael, he was four, and he didn’t talk for months. It took him years to believe he was finally safe and could live a happy life. He took flying lessons as a teenager before he was even driving a car. His love of flight gave him a prestigious job, but that also meant being away from his family. Reconnecting, seeing two new nieces born, and helping out with medical flights while in town has him reconsidering his future. Meeting Julia and her daughter, Blake, and developing feelings were never supposed to happen—but isn’t that when love strikes? Can he convince Julia that he is worth taking a chance on? In the end, Michael and Julia learn that home is where the heart is.
The story is a sweet, holiday-themed tale with a great cast of characters. The town of Dickens is a small town and it does have plenty of town gossip, including three troublemakers.
The story’s main two characters will be Michael Charles and Julia Maryland. Michael flies home for Thanksgiving, but when he sees how exhausted his mother is, he takes an extended leave of absence from his job as a pilot where he flies rich people around the world. Julia came to the town of Dickens to start over and is working in Dorrit Diner as a waitress.
“Take care of those you care about.”
The story will have Michael running the diner while his parents do some traveling. He is there from about 4 in the morning until 10 a night, existing on limited sleep. While working in the office, Julia and Michael will scare each other. He didn’t know she and her daughter were living in the apartment over the diner. But before long, those late nights are a time for him to talk, and learn more about each other, including her problems, and his past.
Julia: Does it make you uncomfortable when people praise you? Or is it me? Do I make you uncomfortable?
Michael: You? You don’t make me uncomfortable, Julia. You make me crazy.
Julia: I’m—I’m sorry, I’ll leave you alone. I’m sorry.
Michael: You make me crazy, Julia, because every time I’m around you all I can think of doing is hauling you up against me, kissing you and losing myself in you.
I loved the story, and the Charles family is the best. Amy and Andy adopted Abra, Sasha, and Michael and gave them a wonderful home, and values. When they got Michael, he was four, and he didn’t talk for months. It took him years to believe he was finally safe and could live a happy life. He took flying lessons as a teenager before he was even driving a car. His love of flight gave him a prestigious job, but that also meant being away from his family. Reconnecting, seeing two new nieces born, and helping out with medical flights while in town has him reconsidering his future. Meeting Julia and her daughter, Blake, and developing feelings were never supposed to happen—but isn’t that when love strikes? Can he convince Julia that he is worth taking a chance on? In the end, Michael and Julia learn that home is where the heart is.
November 2, 2023
I don’t how Michael did it. Yes he saw the world but he spent his days flying all over on his clients’s whims, hardly spending any time at home and I thought it was terrible that his boss didn’t give him paid vacation. His sisters asking him to take time off to run the diner for their mom was a blessing because he met Julia and her precocious daughter Blake. Michael’s first four years of life were awful but Julia has had a rough couple of years too. Michael didn’t have to call in favors to help her out but he’s a good guy who genuinely cares about her and her daughter. If only Julia will let down her guard enough to accept it. It was nice to catch up with Abra and Sasha and their growing families. I love how the diner looks out for each other and those in need.
November 28, 2023
An enjoyable, fun to read, heartwarming romance that's perfect for the holiday season! A story line that pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages while the characters are realistic and easy to get to know. Long before you reach the end, you feel like you're in the story living life with all the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 1, 2023
An excellent Christmas story in a small town called Dickens when pilot Michael Charles comes home for the holidays his very pregnant sisters talk him into taking over the diner to give his Mom Amy a rest but he meets Julia a waitress but wants no ties since he will be going back to flying but the sparks ignite between them and Michael also loves Julia's daughter Blake. Michael will have to make a decision to leave Dickens or to follow his heart.A beautiful Christmas story.
January 11, 2025
I just loved this Christmas Story, got me all in the feels for Christmas again and just gives you hope.
Michael character made me realize you need to hold on to those that matter a little tighter, and don’t let the surprises in life be taken for granted.
I love Julia Character to never give up and also had sweetness and spunk personality.
The banter between FMC And MMC was like little extra spice Hallmark movie, I just loved it.
Michael character made me realize you need to hold on to those that matter a little tighter, and don’t let the surprises in life be taken for granted.
I love Julia Character to never give up and also had sweetness and spunk personality.
The banter between FMC And MMC was like little extra spice Hallmark movie, I just loved it.
November 6, 2023
Peggy is one of my absolute favorite writers. This was a wonderful feel good story written in his point of view. I’ve never read a book before in the hero’s pint of view and wasn’t sure I would like it. Needless to say I loved it. Michael is a cinnamon roll hero who won my heart! A holiday must read!
November 23, 2023
Good book
December 10, 2023
I loved this book so much!
Michael is a successful pilot who does nothing but work and rarely sees his family. When he goes home for thanksgiving, his heavily pregnant sisters convince him to take a leave of absence from work to help his mom with her diner so she can take a much needed break. His parents adopted him into their family when he was four, and he'd do anything to help them.
Julia is a single mom to her six year old daughter Blake. Julia has hit very hard times and has just started working at the diner. Michael's mom also let her and Blake move into the upstairs apartment rent free.
Julia and Michael are instantly attracted to each other, but Julia is coming out of a horrible relationship which was a rebound after her husband died, and Michael is not planning on staying in town.
Michael tries to fight his feelings for Julia because he knows she's the kind of woman you keep. As they experience a family emergency of the highest order, Michael realizes how much he's missed his family and how much more he's going to miss when he leaves.
I adore this author's writing style and how she creates such beautifully flawed and realistic characters with real life problems. These characters don't lust for the sake of lusting and don't fight for the sake of fighting. This author is able to create believable interactions and consequences into her story which naturally creates tension and plot drama. I love slow burn romances where the characters take time to get to know each other and have connection beyond physical attraction and that is exactly what you get with this book. As always this author has done a fantastic job, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of small town contemporary romance.
Michael is a successful pilot who does nothing but work and rarely sees his family. When he goes home for thanksgiving, his heavily pregnant sisters convince him to take a leave of absence from work to help his mom with her diner so she can take a much needed break. His parents adopted him into their family when he was four, and he'd do anything to help them.
Julia is a single mom to her six year old daughter Blake. Julia has hit very hard times and has just started working at the diner. Michael's mom also let her and Blake move into the upstairs apartment rent free.
Julia and Michael are instantly attracted to each other, but Julia is coming out of a horrible relationship which was a rebound after her husband died, and Michael is not planning on staying in town.
Michael tries to fight his feelings for Julia because he knows she's the kind of woman you keep. As they experience a family emergency of the highest order, Michael realizes how much he's missed his family and how much more he's going to miss when he leaves.
I adore this author's writing style and how she creates such beautifully flawed and realistic characters with real life problems. These characters don't lust for the sake of lusting and don't fight for the sake of fighting. This author is able to create believable interactions and consequences into her story which naturally creates tension and plot drama. I love slow burn romances where the characters take time to get to know each other and have connection beyond physical attraction and that is exactly what you get with this book. As always this author has done a fantastic job, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of small town contemporary romance.
October 31, 2023
This is book eighteen in A Dickens Holiday Romance : Dorrits Diner series and it is Michael and Julia’s story. Michael is a pilot and likes nothing more than being up in the skies but at the moment he is back home in Dickens for the holidays and even though he loves nothing more than spending time with his family he is always happy to get back to flying people around the world and he can’t wait for new year but sometimes things don’t always go as planned because Michael is needed to help in the diner for a month but will a family emergency keep him grounded longer than he expected. Julia is a single mom to her adorable six year old daughter Blake and moved to Dickens with her daughter so that they could start a new life after everything that Julia had been through and now all she wants to do is move forward from her past and she loved working at Dorrits Diner and it had become part of her family. When Michael and Julia meet there is definitely a attraction between them but with Julia being a single mom and having to concentrate on her daughter and Michael only staying for a while before returning to his job it leaves them in a complicated situation in the long run but will the magic of Christmas somehow sprinkle and sparkle around them and give them both the happiness that they deserve. What a beautiful Christmas story about family, hope, love, together, happiness, taking a chance of forever along with a little bit of Christmas Magic thrown in for good measure. I loved this book so much and I can’t wait to read more books in the future.
December 3, 2023
REVIEW: DON’T MESS WITH THE MISTLETOE BY Peggy Jaeger
What can I say that you haven’t heard about this amazing woman?!?
This book is part of the Dickens Holiday series (this series has multiple authors, and they are all outstanding)…
Michael Charles and Julia Maryland are such a great couple, and I can guarantee you all know a couple like this….
They have friendship, they know how to laugh, how to be supportive, to be a great partner, to be understanding — this couple could teach a lot of couples what a relationship is all about… kindness, patience, trust, loyalty and love.
Peggy is ever the most amazing story teller… I loved this story so much! I loved Michael’s family, how accepting, how loving, how hard working and honest —- I loved, loved, loved this story….
Peggy, thank you for making Michael the man every woman dreams of - without being too larger than life, but real - how you didn’t make it all sugar plums and fairies but showed him in a real world light.
Go check out this amazing lady - grab a few of her holiday books, and maybe a couple of her steamy contemporary romance, maybe a suspense romance, hmmm, maybe a small town romance?
Love you Peggy!
❤️
JJ
What can I say that you haven’t heard about this amazing woman?!?
This book is part of the Dickens Holiday series (this series has multiple authors, and they are all outstanding)…
Michael Charles and Julia Maryland are such a great couple, and I can guarantee you all know a couple like this….
They have friendship, they know how to laugh, how to be supportive, to be a great partner, to be understanding — this couple could teach a lot of couples what a relationship is all about… kindness, patience, trust, loyalty and love.
Peggy is ever the most amazing story teller… I loved this story so much! I loved Michael’s family, how accepting, how loving, how hard working and honest —- I loved, loved, loved this story….
Peggy, thank you for making Michael the man every woman dreams of - without being too larger than life, but real - how you didn’t make it all sugar plums and fairies but showed him in a real world light.
Go check out this amazing lady - grab a few of her holiday books, and maybe a couple of her steamy contemporary romance, maybe a suspense romance, hmmm, maybe a small town romance?
Love you Peggy!
❤️
JJ
November 2, 2023
Michael might spend his time soaring with the jet setting crowd. But when he comes home for the holidays, his sisters do their best to convince him to stick around longer.
And they use the best ammunition they've got, their mama. What son doesn't want to help his mama? Michael falls into their plan and finds himself convincing their mother and himself that is a great idea.
When Michael takes over their mothers "burdens", he becomes the keeper of a small town center point. And with it, all of it's different facets.
Including the crew, both old and new.
The new , is keeping him tied in knots.
Julia hasn't had the best of luck, until she happens across the prefect small town diner in the quaint small town she's learned to make her home fur herself _ her daughter.
She loves her coworkers, she loves her boss and she soon finds herself falling for the bosses son.
And they use the best ammunition they've got, their mama. What son doesn't want to help his mama? Michael falls into their plan and finds himself convincing their mother and himself that is a great idea.
When Michael takes over their mothers "burdens", he becomes the keeper of a small town center point. And with it, all of it's different facets.
Including the crew, both old and new.
The new , is keeping him tied in knots.
Julia hasn't had the best of luck, until she happens across the prefect small town diner in the quaint small town she's learned to make her home fur herself _ her daughter.
She loves her coworkers, she loves her boss and she soon finds herself falling for the bosses son.
November 2, 2023
Michael is a pilot who delivers rich people to their destinations. Stopping by the family home around Thanksgiving, his sisters talk him into staying a month to run the diner while their mother goes on vacation for once. He is good at running the restaurant that is the center of the town, and the staff already works so well together. The newest hire is single and has a small child... and is tempting. Can they both open up about their rough pasts? Big decisions will have to happen for things to work out. Loved the characters and the vivid locales. Entertaining situations and banter kept the pages turning. Terrific ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 4, 2023
Michael has been away flying plane out of Florida and his came home to visit. His sisters decide that he should run the diner so mom can have a vacation that she has not have. Since their dad is retire it time for them to get a way. Michael agrees and run the diner as his two sisters are very pregnancy right now. Michael falls for one of the worker Julia and don’t know if the feeling is the same for her. When his sister baby is born and need to be air lifted to another town he step up to do the job, because the other pilot has been drink and he don’t want anything to happen to his niece. Can he find love or not?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 31, 2023
The town of Dickens cared about people just like Mchael was brought up to take care of the people he cared about. Learning about Michael's past and the love Amy and Andy gave to him and his two sisters made for a remarkable story of hope, love, and joy. I liked that the book focused on a grown up Michael reevaluating his life and what he wanted. It was nice he got to return to Dickens and help his mom at her diner, and to be with his two sisters and their families. I also liked that he met Julia and her six year old daughter, Blake. Her story was quite interesting too. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.
November 2, 2023
I loved how this wasn't just a budding romance between Michael and Julia, but also involved not only things happening in hi families live and also a friend from the past. The way Michael starts to reflect on his different stages of life good and bad and where he wants to be now and Julia allowing herself to open up to him is poignant, but you also see how they support and build each other up.
Some great laughs, wonderful people and a location that makes me want to visit every time I read about it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Some great laughs, wonderful people and a location that makes me want to visit every time I read about it!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 9, 2024
Michael is home to give his mom (Amy) a break at the diner. Julia is single mom to her daughter, Blake, and a diner employee. The attraction is there, but he won't be in town for long. Or will he?? There are so many good things about this book... It's a heartwarming story, with a bit of Dickens magic involved. I loved learning about how Michael came to be Amy and Andy's son. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 1, 2023
Another great Dorit's Diner Christmas story. Younger Charles brother Michael agrees to run the Diner for a month at Christmas time so Amy can take a vacation with Andy and get a little rest from her seven day a week dawn till dusk labours feeding Dickens and holding the town together.
Running the restaurant proves to have challenges he never expected and, with two sisters ready to have a baby at any moment and a new waitress who stirs feelings he's never felt before.
A great Christmas romance, whether or not you're already familiar with Dickens and the Dorrits.
Running the restaurant proves to have challenges he never expected and, with two sisters ready to have a baby at any moment and a new waitress who stirs feelings he's never felt before.
A great Christmas romance, whether or not you're already familiar with Dickens and the Dorrits.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews