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The St. James Affair
Experience the magical romance of a New York Christmas in this classic tale from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs…Elaine St. James has it all—a thriving career as an elite Manhattan publicist, A-list best friends and a gorgeous, high-profile boyfriend her parents adore. But when Byron breaks up with her on Christmas Eve, Elaine is faced with the prospect of spending the holidays alone…until the man she loved long ago reappears, much like a ghost from Christmas past.Tony Fiore was everything her Upper East Side parents wanted Elaine to avoid—the Italian-American boy from Brooklyn was hardly an ideal match for their perfect socialite daughter. Despite their differences, they always found themselves together on Christmas Eve, ice-skating at Rockefeller Center. Until the year Tony failed to show up, and broke Elaine's heart. Now, seven years later, on another Christmas Eve, they might finally have a second chance at first love…
87 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2014
214 people are currently reading
517 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wiggs
169 books7,422 followersSusan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
November 3, 2021
This is an entertaining, well-written, holiday romance novella. It is a delightful second chance romance, with a touch of magic, and a happily ever after ending. I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narrator, Ms. Christina Traister, has a lovely voice, does an excellent job depicting the characters and their personalities, and has a fabulous Brooklyn accent.
October 19, 2019
This is a second-chance romance that takes place at Christmas in NYC. Elaine is a socialite who owns her own PR firm but has never found true love. She happens to run into Tony at a restaurant. Tony is the guy who owns her heart, but their past relationship was cut short and Elaine's heart was broken. Tony comes from a completely different type of lifestyle, a different type of family, a different part of the city. Years ago, when they were younger, they would meet up on Christmas Eve and skate together at Rockefeller Center. They did this for a few years until one year, Tony didn't show up. And it devastated Elaine. But now, here he is in the same restaurant as Elaine, and Elaine is feeling things again.
Apparently Tony is too. Now a NY police officer, Tony is still living a different type of life than Elaine. But since they're both adults, they can do what they want, with the person they choose, when they choose to do it. He takes her riding in his cop car and they go skating one more time, just like they used to. And what happens is...rekindling of romance at the holidays. EXCEPT! The two get a little help along the way from an "elf." AN ELF, you say? Yes. An elf.
It's cute.
So here again with a Susan Wiggs holiday novella, you should just go ahead and suspend your disbelief. Just do it. I did it already this year with A Fairytale Christmas by Ms. Wiggs and really liked that story. I can't say that I enjoyed this one quite as much as that one, but it was an enjoyable read for the holiday.
Apparently Tony is too. Now a NY police officer, Tony is still living a different type of life than Elaine. But since they're both adults, they can do what they want, with the person they choose, when they choose to do it. He takes her riding in his cop car and they go skating one more time, just like they used to. And what happens is...rekindling of romance at the holidays. EXCEPT! The two get a little help along the way from an "elf." AN ELF, you say? Yes. An elf.
It's cute.
So here again with a Susan Wiggs holiday novella, you should just go ahead and suspend your disbelief. Just do it. I did it already this year with A Fairytale Christmas by Ms. Wiggs and really liked that story. I can't say that I enjoyed this one quite as much as that one, but it was an enjoyable read for the holiday.
February 24, 2015
Really?
They haven't seen each other in 7 years, only met 3 times (on Christmas Eve), meet again on C.E., solve the world's problems, fall into bed, meet his parents...and all in 1 day! Nice fantasy.
I usually like Susan's work, but this one leaves a lot to be desired. Sorry, Susan.
They haven't seen each other in 7 years, only met 3 times (on Christmas Eve), meet again on C.E., solve the world's problems, fall into bed, meet his parents...and all in 1 day! Nice fantasy.
I usually like Susan's work, but this one leaves a lot to be desired. Sorry, Susan.
July 10, 2015
Elaine St. James has it all--a thriving career as an elite Manhattan publicist, A-list best friends and a gorgeous, high-profile boyfriend her parents adore. But when Byron breaks up with her on Christmas Eve, Elaine is faced with the prospect of spending the holidays alone...until the man she loved long ago reappears, much like a ghost from Christmas past.
Tony Fiore was everything her Upper East Side parents wanted Elaine to avoid--the Italian-American boy from Brooklyn was hardly an ideal match for their perfect socialite daughter. Despite their differences, they always found themselves together on Christmas Eve, ice-skating at Rockefeller Center. Until the year Tony failed to show up, and broke Elaine's heart. Now, seven years later, on another Christmas Eve, they might finally have a second chance at first love...
Not sure how anyone else would feel about being dumped by your almost fiance on Christmas Eve, and thenl having your best friend steal from you, then throw your friendship back in your face, on Christmas Eve, but i'd be pissed! Elaine seems to be a cool chic. She is more upset about saving face. But this book has twists and turns and a little Elf helper, that helps the plot along. 4 stars.
Tony Fiore was everything her Upper East Side parents wanted Elaine to avoid--the Italian-American boy from Brooklyn was hardly an ideal match for their perfect socialite daughter. Despite their differences, they always found themselves together on Christmas Eve, ice-skating at Rockefeller Center. Until the year Tony failed to show up, and broke Elaine's heart. Now, seven years later, on another Christmas Eve, they might finally have a second chance at first love...
Not sure how anyone else would feel about being dumped by your almost fiance on Christmas Eve, and thenl having your best friend steal from you, then throw your friendship back in your face, on Christmas Eve, but i'd be pissed! Elaine seems to be a cool chic. She is more upset about saving face. But this book has twists and turns and a little Elf helper, that helps the plot along. 4 stars.
December 22, 2023
This was a short, quick Xmas read, that made me smile. Settle down with tea or hot chocolate under a cozy blanket and enjoy!
August 22, 2020
Short story of 2 people who met at New York’s Central Park skating rink one Christmas Eve. They lost touch with each other, but met on Christmas Eve several years later only to discover that the magic was still there.
February 7, 2015
Fun book.
This book was a quick and easy read. It was a fun story with Dickensian twists and a happy ending.
This book was a quick and easy read. It was a fun story with Dickensian twists and a happy ending.
April 28, 2015
An entertaining romance.
October 29, 2016
Magic
Finding your own true love during the Christmas season is the best gift of all. Never intending to be Scrooge, but realizing you h
Finding your own true love during the Christmas season is the best gift of all. Never intending to be Scrooge, but realizing you h
December 27, 2024
This was a cute novella, a quick read. Elaine st James is a from a high society family and a Manhattan publicist. Her high profile boyfriend just dumped her..
Seven years ago every Christmas eve, she meets up with Tony Fiore who was going to be a hockey player. One Christmas eve he didn't show up and broke her heart.. Now she sees him and eventually finds out why.
A cute story and I love his mother Brooklyn accent. The ending is sweet
Seven years ago every Christmas eve, she meets up with Tony Fiore who was going to be a hockey player. One Christmas eve he didn't show up and broke her heart.. Now she sees him and eventually finds out why.
A cute story and I love his mother Brooklyn accent. The ending is sweet
January 19, 2025
Uptown Girl meets Downtown Man.
Wealthy, privileged New Yorker Elaine St James has the perfect life – owner of a high-powered publicist agency, international travel, great real estate and the “right” pedigree of fiancé. But when her boyfriend cheats on her right before the Christmas holidays, it starts a downward spiral where she begins to reevaluate the life she’s built.
Enter Italian-American NY cop Tony Fiore, the once rising hockey star who dazzled her years earlier on the ice rink. With Tony back in her life, she wonders why their Upper East side -Brooklyn romance never took off years earlier, and ponders if she’s ready to break away from her parents’ expectations.
There is one unintentionally hilarious error. At one point, Elaine tells Tony that her father would have never allowed her to transfer colleges, because her Waspy dad would have been horrified to write checks for her to attend Tony’s Catholic university, Notre Dame. But yet, we learn at the beginning of the story she attended the “right” Manhattan private elementary and middle schools, which includes the very Catholic Marymount, to which daddy (apparently) happily wrote checks. Doesn’t affect the story, just caused me to chuckle.
A light and enjoyable holiday romance, which is what I was looking for over the Christmas season.
Wealthy, privileged New Yorker Elaine St James has the perfect life – owner of a high-powered publicist agency, international travel, great real estate and the “right” pedigree of fiancé. But when her boyfriend cheats on her right before the Christmas holidays, it starts a downward spiral where she begins to reevaluate the life she’s built.
Enter Italian-American NY cop Tony Fiore, the once rising hockey star who dazzled her years earlier on the ice rink. With Tony back in her life, she wonders why their Upper East side -Brooklyn romance never took off years earlier, and ponders if she’s ready to break away from her parents’ expectations.
There is one unintentionally hilarious error. At one point, Elaine tells Tony that her father would have never allowed her to transfer colleges, because her Waspy dad would have been horrified to write checks for her to attend Tony’s Catholic university, Notre Dame. But yet, we learn at the beginning of the story she attended the “right” Manhattan private elementary and middle schools, which includes the very Catholic Marymount, to which daddy (apparently) happily wrote checks. Doesn’t affect the story, just caused me to chuckle.
A light and enjoyable holiday romance, which is what I was looking for over the Christmas season.
December 13, 2021
A re-telling of A Christmas Carol with a 2nd chance romance between a Manhattan socialite and a Brooklyn cop/hockey player. Nicely written and doesn't suffer too much from its age (it was written in 2003). My only problem was connecting with Elaine - she seemed too brittle and high society for me.
October 5, 2022
Have to say I find it easier to believe in a magical Zamboni driver than I do in a couple that fell madly in love by bumping into each other once a year! Still...sweet. Cheesy as hell but a nice shortie.
December 7, 2022
A nice Christmasy novella. A mild retelling of A Christmas Carol with a little It’s a Wonderful Life thrown in for good measure. I would have enjoyed it to be fleshed out a little more, but it was enjoyable just the same.
April 25, 2018
Very short sweet holiday story. Not my usual style but you can never go wrong with Susan Wiggs
December 13, 2019
So charming, sweet, and festive. This may be my first Susan Wiggs novel but it won’t be my last!
February 5, 2020
A sweet Christmas novella.
June 9, 2020
ok read - not a lot of substance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2020
Cute Christmas magic story - but still don't believe these two could make it work in the real world with their differences.
April 2, 2021
Bonita historia.
November 28, 2021
This felt like they published half of a book.
December 25, 2021
Just a light little Christmas romance! No deep meaning but a really quick read. I read it in one day.
April 2, 2022
Would have been a good pick for my "Christmas" reads back when I was doing them.
November 20, 2022
This short second chance romance set around Christmas was a really sweet and fun and shows that you really never know how life will take a turn.
December 13, 2022
Struck me as cringy and hackneyed rather than fun, but it was ok.
December 26, 2022
I didn’t mind how cheesy it was bc that’s what you expect from a book like this. The bridge and drama tied together nicely too. The ring at the end was a little crazy tho lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2023
A charming Christmas story of an unlikely match and second chances.
December 22, 2023
Warm and fuzzy Christmas Romantic Novella! Perfect to put you into a holiday mood!
February 6, 2024
I’d give this 3.5 stars. From 3 dates to marriage with a decade in between?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews