Peggy Jaeger's Blog, page 12

#wednesdaywisdom 12.18.24

I think a lot of us – at least I know this is true for me – have a hard time saying NO to people when they ask something of us.

As a nurse and, therefore, professional caregiver, it’s been instilled in me to answer a person’s call for help or assistance, so I truthfully could never say no.

In personal relationships, this is true for me as well. When a friend asks something of me, I do it. When hubby or daughter ask me to do something, I jump to it.

Funny thing is, when I ask something of people? No jumping. No hopping. In hubby’s case I get a usual, “I’ll get to it.” And I can’t fault him for that because he is a busy man.

Women have a tendency to not ask for help and in so doing, our time is split between everyone and everything else, leaving little for ourselves.

Learn to say no, peeps. Make 2025 a year where you practice NO. Don’t kneejerk a YES to everything asked of you. Take time to consider if you want or need to do it.

Take time for yourself.

You deserve it.

You are worthy.

You are enough.

You have agency and a voice.

Believe it and say NO.

#tuesdaytease 12.17.24

So this one is from my next HEAVEN’S MATCHMAKER book that is releasing on 4.7.25…

Blurb:

Third-generation matchmaker, Olivia Joyner, enjoys a 99% success rate when it comes to helping people find their happily ever afters. But her newest client is proving to be part of the 0.1 percent.

All the women Olivia have matched geriatrician Hunter Reinhart with have been perfect on paper. None of them, though, have resulted in a second request for a date, and all the women say the same thing: Hunter, although handsome and successful, is just…dull. And boring. And too reserved.

Olivia can’t understand it, because to her? Hunter is none of those things. In fact, he’s the exact opposite of dull, boring, and reserved. He’s a man she would consider worthy of marrying herself – if she was in the market for a spouse.

Which she isn’t.

Olivia needs to figure out why she can’t find Hunter Reinhart the perfect match, and it just may require her to do something she’s never done before: go on a “date” with a client.

Purely for research and educational purposes, that is.

He couldn’t have heard her correctly.

Date? The two of them? Like as in date-date? That made no sense.

She was his matchmaker. The person he’d hired to find him a wife, not be a- potential – one.

Before he could say anything, she added, “Not for real, I mean. That would be unethical and I’m certain would get me kicked out of the Matchmaker’s club.”

His brow creased. “There’s a Matchmaker’s club?”

Flipping a hand carelessly in the air, she rose, saying, “Professional ethics,” as if that explained anything. “I think we should go on a fake date or two.”

Hunter shook his head, still trying to get around the fact she wanted them to date.

Fake date? Just what the hell was that?

“Now,” she crossed to her desk and lifted her table, tapped it a few times, then brought it back to the couch, reading. “When you filled out the intake questionnaire for me you indicated you enjoyed winter sports, which is good since you live here and winter’s nine months of the year in a good year.” She grinned across to him. “But you also stated you’re open to trying new things as long as they don’t involve potentially hazardous outcomes.” She lifted her gaze again. “Give me a for instance.”

He blinked a few times. Was she seriously just leaving him hanging with no explanation about the two of them dating statement?

“What do you mean, fake date?”

Liv pulled her bottom lip under her top teeth, her gaze dropping down to her tablet for a moment before rising again and connecting with his. “It wouldn’t be a real date, not in the true sense of the word and the outcome. It would be more an educational experience, from a professional perspective. We’ll pretend to be on a date and you act like you would on a real one.”

“Why?”

“Why?”

“Yes, why, Olivia. Why would we go on a date, fake or real, for educational purposes, which, by the way, I can’t even imagine the meaning of?”

Her smile bloomed quick and bright for a moment he lost his train of thought.

“I see. Well, what I mean about educational purposes is that doing this will allow me to see and evaluate how you interact when you’re on a real date. Understand?”

He cocked his head. “Why do you need to…evaluate me? You said I wasn’t the problem.”

She took a breath and he wondered if she was trying to measure her words so they’d be diplomatic.

Who was he kidding? Of course she was.

PERFECT MATCH Liv and Hunter, Book 3 in Heaven’s Matchmaker is up for preorder right now, right here

#mondaymusings 12.16.24

For me, Charlie Brown is first, last, nad always. I have never seen a Hallmark holiday movie.

Don’t hate me for that…lol!

SMASHWORDS end of year sale is on!!!

Just a quick note to tell you that the annual SMASHWORDS end-of-year sale is on right now, and all my widely available titles are included in the sale.

Now is your best chance to find my wide ebook collection for a promotional price at @Smashwords as part of their 2024 End of Year Sale! Find all the books on sale here: https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos/ through January 1!

Here is the direct link to my page and books on sale: PEGGY JAEGER SMASHWORDS

Many of my books are FREE, and some are at 50% off the list price – so bargains all around!!!

Books as gifts…12.12.24

If you’ve been following me on Instagram FB, and tiktok, you know I’ve been hawking my online holiday webstore. I have a plethora of books I can offer for sale this year directly from me – cutting out middlepeople – and I can autograph and personalize them if you’d like, as I can’t do if you get them from a third party distributor.

So, if you’ve got a romance reader on your gift list this year, or you are part of a book exchange, this may be a fun and easy way for you to shop.

All the titles listed on the order form are $16.00 and that includes shipping and handling – continental US only, though. I can’t do Canada or overseas because of prohibitive shipping costs.

Take a look at the order form, see if there’s anything you want or you want to give. I wrap the book, add some extra freebies to the package, autograph, personalize it, and then take it to the post office, so you don’t have to do any of that.

Easy peasy!

Happy shopping, kids, and, as always, thanks for the love and support.

#wednesdaywisdom 12.11.24

#Tuesdaytease 12.10.24

Today is the day!!!

LOVE, LATTES, and HOLIDAY TALES releases into the dog-loving, romance-reading world!

My story, MY MATCHMAKER PUPPY, is part of this collection, so here’s a taste of it.

Saturday morning after our first week arrived sunny and cold. I was just about to take Juliette for a walk when my phone blared. Ben’s number ran across the screen.

“I’m going nuts,” he said as a greeting. “Are you free for an emergency consult?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Dart’s not listening to anything I’m telling him this morning. He won’t go out, follow any commands and he’s been howling since I woke up. I’ve tried everything. Chicken, diversion. Praise. Nothing is working. I’m just about at my wit’s end and it’s not even ten o’clock.”

I told him to meet me at my office, asap.

To say he looked stressed when I let them both through the front door was an understatement.

“Thank you so much for seeing us.” Ben handed the leash to my outstretched hand.

The dog stared up at me, his gaze enraptured and focused on my face. He shot a quick side eye to Ben, then settled back on me. I gave him a sit command and he plopped down on his butt, his gaze never wavering. I pulled a small piece of chicken from my training fanny pack and gave it to him as a reward.

“That’s the first time he’s listened all morning.” The strain in Ben’s voice was unmistakable. “I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong. I’ve done everything, including what you just did, to no avail. It’s like he’ll only listen to you.”

To put that theory to a test I handed Ben a treat and then asked him to give the dog a command.

Dart complied after first zeroing in on my face.

“Well, geez,” Ben said. “I swear, he didn’t do that before.  Why did he decide to, now?”

I had no idea, but dogs, like humans, could be fickle, temperamental, and just plain ornery at times.

“Let’s experiment,” I said, “I was just about to take Juliette for her morning walk when you called. Join us and we can see if he gives you any more problems.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

We bundled back up against the cold of the day and then set off to the nearby park. D’Artagnan was 50 shades of happy dog when he realized Juliette was going to walk with him.

“Again, I’m sorry to have bothered you on a Saturday,” Ben said as we rounded onto the street, our dogs walking in perfect harmony despite the difference in their sizes. “I’m sure you have a million things to do.”

I felt a little pathetic telling him I had nothing pressing except for monthly business reports and payroll to occupy my weekend.

“I didn’t take you away from anything…or anyone…important, did I? Breakfast with a…friend? Or something?” he asked.

From the slightly nervous warble in his voice to the way he kept sneaking glances at me I wondered at the meaning behind the questions. It was almost as if he was asking because he was…interested.

In me.

Get your copy today, kids! It’s a great collection of romances!

#mondaymusings 12.9.24

I aask this question because I am a world class wrapper.

Short story: when we lived in Wisconsin after getting married, Larry and I were members of the local JAYCEEs organization. One of the major fundraisers we did every year was to wrap gifts for people at the local Mall for a small fee based on the size of the gift.

I learned to be a fast wrapper and a really great one.

So…need anything wrapped? LOL

#teaserthursday 12.5.24

Next Tuesday, 12.10.24, this little gem releases:

This is the first anthology I’ve ever been a part of the was dedicated to a charity organization and I am so proud to be included.

All the proceeds go toward 4 Paws for Ability, a non-for-profit organization matching service dogs with Veterans.

Wednesday Coffee, and Books presents: Love, Lattes, & Holiday Tales a collection of brand new unique short stories for this festive season. Snuggle up with some sweet and spicy romance from multi-award-winning authors, including New York Times and USA Today Bestselling.

These amazing multi-genre holiday stories featuring Hounds & Grounds and a loving pet will leave you believing in love and a happily ever after.

Featuring authors:

CJ Warrant & Rochelle Bradley
CJ Barlowe
Rochelle K Bradley
Sharon Hamilton NYT & USAT Bestselling
Phoebe Alexander USAT Bestselling
LC Taylor USAT Bestselling
Miranda Lynn USAT Bestselling
Faith Alexander
C.J. Baty
Sutton Bishop
Cynthia Carver
C. J. Corbin
Aliya DalRae
Hope Daniels
Miski Harris
Sara Hurst
Juliette Hyland
Peggy Jaeger
Margaret Kay
Tessa McFionn
Sharon Michalove
Charli Rahe
AJ Renee
Tori Ross
Aurelia Yates

My addition to the collection is MY MATCHMAKER PUPPY (of course it is!!! LOL) and here’s a pic of my inspiration….

Along with my book cover…

Dog Trainer Celia Mills has better relationships with the dogs in her life than the men.  She’s got a track record of dating self-centered, narcissistic, alphaholes and her therapist thinks it’s because she’s got a fix’em complex. Celia’s methods for changing behavior works with errant dogs, so why shouldn’t it with men?

Is it any wonder she’s still single?

When new client Ben Masters hires her to train his aunt’s dog, Celia’s lust-ometer goes into hyperdrive. But there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with him that needs fixing.

Could that be a sign she’s finally found her for-a-lifetime guy?

#wednesdaywisdom 11.27.24