Under Sparkling Lights

by Kay Leyda

Nestled in the mountains of North Carolina lies an enchanting little amusement park full of Christmas magic. Join the charming cast members as they head into the holiday season, ready to celebrate with their found family.

Gigi Douglas has worked at Winter Wonderland for five years, moving up from a part time cashier to Head Baker. It is her favorite place in the world, where her park family makes the chilly holiday season full of warmth.

Until she finds out that the park is struggling and the owners have hired a Park Engagement Consultant to determine if Winter Wonderland can be saved or if it should be shut down.

Worse still? Her beloved pseudo grandparents, who play Santa & Mrs. Clause at the park, have volunteered her to go with this Consultant to study nearby holiday attractions to see what changes might work best to improve attendance at Wonderland.

Theodore Forrest grew up in Florida and is the best at what he does, which is breathe life back into failing amusement parks. While the resident Santa gives him a tour, he meets the enchanting Gigi, and falls head over feet.

Too bad she seems to hate him and he can't figure out why. She's sunshine and cotton candy with everyone else; they call her the Sugarplum Princess of Winter Wonderland. Will he win her over on their trip? Or will she blame him for the park closing?

Found Family
He falls first
Mistletoe Kisses
Meddling Friends
Christmas Cookies
Theme Park Holiday Magic

Genres: Christmas

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2025

Reviews

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Christmas you could want is at Winter Wonderland, and Gigi and Teddy are going to give you even more than you hoped for!

Gigi is the head baker at Winter Wonderland and is the physical embodiment of the holiday season. When Teddy is brought in to help form a plan for the future of Winter Wonderland, there are a lot of incorrect assumptions on Gigi’s part, which I am very glad were incorrect!

While I loved watching the slow buildup to the start of a relationship between these two, I felt that it dragged a little bit in places. Gigi can also come across as a little childlike sometimes.

Lottie and Gus truly embody the Santa and Mrs. Claus personas, and I feel even Mr. Winters embodies a little holiday magic. I would love some recipes for a few of the special treats that Gigi makes, especially the hot cocoa churros!

This book is best enjoyed with a cup of hot cocoa and some sugar cookies, and will help you get into a holiday head space.

I received an ARC from Booksprout and am leaving a voluntary review.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gigi is head baker at the village where she's worked for years. She loves her job and the village.
Theodore is a consultant hired by the owners to figure out what the village needs to become more viable.
Then Gigi learns she's been volunteered to go with Theodore as they do a tour of different places catering to people like those who come to Gigi's village.
At first she is resistant to him but as they do the tour things change.
Will they finally have what they are feeling towards each other? Will they be able to save the village?
Cute scenes and cute ways of interacting.
The reader will love this story!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Bittner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book transported me to a time of Christmas cheer and love. I was pleasantly surprised by how giddy the book made me feel. This is a great read for a holiday romance that is whimsical and witty.

[RomanceLand65 · Rating 4 out of 5]

holy sweet tooth this was one of the sweetest books I have ever read. it might have something to do with a Christmas baker and a guy trying to save a Christmas themed amusement park. at times the detail to the baking process made me want to indulge in the sweet goodies.
I can say this book would have made a great Hallmark movie with the sweet characters and the incredible amount of Christmas. this book focuses on a sense of family that this park brings. how two people made such a great impact on lost souls and then helping their community. gus and lottie are Mr and Mrs claus. they brought these people together and gave them a family. Especially when they had no family.
if you like sweet romance this is your read. it's going to leave a tooth ache for me be a craving for all things Christmas 🎄

[C.W. Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really no-spice, sweet and cozy contemporary romance that’s perfect for the holiday season, and especially for anyone that loves theme parks (ahem, me). Theodore and Gigi are absolutely adorable together, I loved reading about the theme park decorations and the baking, and Gigi’s found family was beautiful to read about as well.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under Sparking Lights follows Gigi, who has worked at Winter Wonderland for five years. This is her favorite place in the world. She finds out the park is struggling and the owners have hired Theodore, a Park Engagement Consultant, to determine if the park can be saved or shut down. Gigi is sent to work with Theodore. At first, she wants nothing to do with him. But soon she realizes that he is here to help. Theodore will do anything to win Gigi over.

This was such a cute Christmas romance. Gigi and Teddy were adorable. I really wish that Winter Wonderland was real because I want to visit. This book will give you all the Christmas and holiday feels. I loved that this book also focused on found family. This book just felt like a warm, cozy hug. If you are looking for a lighthearted, cute, cozy Christmas book, I highly suggest this one.

[Stephanie Coniff · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎄💕 Under Sparkling Lights by @kayleydaauthor 💕🎄
Genre: Rom Com/closed door
Length: 260 pages
Pub Date: Nov. 3, 2025!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @booksprout for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Summary (partial from Amazon):
Gigi Douglas has worked at Winter Wonderland for five years, moving up from a part time cashier to Head Baker. It is her favorite place in the world, where her park family makes the chilly holiday season full of warmth.

Until she finds out that the park is struggling and the owners have hired a Park Engagement Consultant to determine if Winter Wonderland can be saved or if it should be shut down.

Theodore Forrest grew up in Florida and is the best at what he does, which is breathe life back into failing amusement parks. While the resident Santa gives him a tour, he meets the enchanting Gigi, and falls head over feet. Will he win her over on their trip? Or will she blame him for the park closing?

Review:
I am so glad I got a chance to read Under Sparkling Lights! Everything about this love story was magical from start to end, from the whismical character names to the magical Winter Wonderland theme park attractions. The love story between Gigi and Teddy was wholesome, and was reminiscent of a Hallmark movie! I loved all the side characters and how Gigi was so close with her found family from the Winter Wonderland theme park. I loved the imagery of the setting and of all of the delicious baked goods that Gigi created in her position as lead baker! Read this one if you love:
- found family
- he falls first
- closed door romance
- Christmas love story

[Sarah Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whimsical and delectable Christmas rom com had me giggling, swooning, and living in the wonder of Christmas!

Gigi Douglas has worked at Winter Wonderland, an amusement park dedicated to celebrating all things Christmas for five years. Gigi wants nothing more than to keep working as head baker at her favorite place with the people she loves. When the park’s owner brings in an amusement park consultant to help make some changes to the park to take the park’s attendance to the next level, Gigi fears that this consultant will only shut the park down. And this thought already makes Gigi dislike him. Theodore Forrest grew up in sunny Florida, and loves all things amusement parks. Theodore expects that his work will be cut out for him at Winter Wonderland, but never expects that the owner of the park would assign a lovely, beautiful, and right out of a Christmas storybook sugar plum princess to be his assistant with researching all things Christmas at nearby attractions. With a little Christmas magic, to die for backdrops, and some delicious holiday treats, Gigi and Theodore find themselves falling in love-but will working together be enough to save the park?

I absolutely loved the magical and wonderful christmas spirit that radiates throughout this story. Gigi and Theodore together melted my heart-they both are so good yet human in every possible way.
I highly recommend this wonderful holiday filled sweet love story!

Romantic Content: 🧁 Sweet/Clean

TW: Family Distance, Abandonment

[Reader_for_LifeTLG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teddy Graham and the Sugarplum Fairy - Theodore and Gigi are the cutest, blushing practically everytime they glance each other's way. With the support of the cast members of the beloved park they all want to save, they kindle a love that is sure to last. A sweet love story, kisses only and no naughty language. Perfect for the Christmas season. A bonus story and a few of Gigi's recipes for great snacks included. Yummy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gigi is like the poster child for holiday spirit. She's exuberant, until she learns Theodore is researching ways to change the park.

This is a fun holiday romance with tons of festive cheer. Lots of cookies and treats and cocoa. It'll have you reaching for a peppermint drink within the first page.

Thank you to the author for the early copy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was a bit wordy and the female character was immature and young. Read like an early high school romance idea. The idea of the story seemed interesting. Might have been a better read with a little editing to cut out some of the excess description and explanations.