Spotlight & Giveaway: A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Posted November 21st, 2022 by in Blog, Spotlight / 50 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Lyssa Kay Adams to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Lyssa Kay and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, A Very Merry Bromance!

 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

It’s the Bromance Book Club meets a Christmas Carol! A Very Merry Bromance is my own take on the sunshine-grumpy trope as a Christmas-loving Colton has to convince Scroogish Gretchen to take a chance on the magic of the holiday…. And him.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

“Ham is the superior Christmas meat.” ~ Colton

(My brother and I argue about this every year. He wants turkey for Christmas. I’m a ham purist. It’s not Christmas without a ham!)

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  •  This book is my love letter to A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I’ve read the book more times than I can count and have seen every movie adaptation ever made. (My favorite, by the way, is the 1999 TNT version starring Patrick Stewart.)
  • The name of the whiskey company owned by Gretchen’s family was suggested by one of my readers! I held a contest in my Facebook reader group (The Lyssa Kay Adams Book Club), and the reader came up with Carraig Aonair.
  • I listened to a playlist of country Christmas songs to inspire me while writing this, and if I ever hear “Tennessee Christmas” again, I might burst into flames. But I discovered a beautiful song I’d never heard before called, “Breath of Heaven.” It became the song I played on repeat during some of the more emotional scenes in the book.
  • Colton is a country music star, and I knew NOTHING about the music industry before writing this. But a friend and former co-worker of mine is the father of the lead singer of the band Lord Huron. They hooked me up with the band’s manager for a long interview, and it was incredible to hear about how the industry works behind the scenes. Biggest takeaway: Buy full albums when you find an artist you like. Artists get paid mere pennies for songs purchased through streaming services.
  • All the Bros make appearances in this book, just like always. And this time, they face their greatest opponent yet: an aerobics instructor.

 

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Colton and Gretchen meet for the first time a year before the book starts at the wedding of Mack and Liv (the characters in Undercover Bromance). It’s basically insta-love for Colton. He’s blown away by Gretchen’s sense of humor, her intelligence and professional drive, and the fact that she is 100 percent unimpressed with who Colton is. He thinks he has finally met someone he can be real with, someone who wants to get to know the real person behind the superstar persona. And he’s right. Gretchen falls for him too, and for all the same reasons. He’s funny and kind and genuine. But while Colton is excited about the possibilities between them, Gretchen is scared of them. He wants someone to see the real him. She’s terrified of letting anyone see that much of her.

 

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

I was both laughing and blushing writing the first sex scene between Gretchen and Colton. They have so much fun together, and there’s nothing better than two characters who can make things spicy and silly. I love their confidence together.

Here’s a sample from that scene:

“Wait,” Colton breathed at the bottom step. Then he bent and scooped her up in his arms.
“What are you doing?” Gretchen panted.
“Carrying you to bed. It’s supposed to be romantic.” He grunted, though, through the first three steps.
“It won’t be romantic if you fall down and I have to spend the rest of my life as the woman who killed Colton Wheeler.”
“But what a way to go, amirite?” He made it one more step. “Okay, you’re right. This is dangerous.”

 

Readers should read this book….

If they love the holidays, grumpy-sunshine pairings, men who aren’t afraid to let their emotions show, and women who aren’t afraid of anything. And ham. If you love ham, you’ll love this book.

 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m so excited that in between this book and the sixth Bromance book, I will be releasing COURTING THE COUNTESS! That’s the “fake” book that the Bro have Gavin read to repair his marriage in The Bromance Book Club. So many readers asked if it was a real book or if I planned to actually write it that my agent, editor and I decided to go for it! I’m so excited for readers to get the full story of Irena and Lord “Tight Pants” Benedict in spring 2024.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: I’m giving away two signed copies of Merry Bromance, and one grand prize winner will receive a Bromance-themed holiday gift box with all kinds of Bromance swag!!

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: We have to settle this argument. Ham or turkey for Christmas dinner? And why are you wrong if you choose turkey?

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from A Very Merry Bromance:

This. This is what a family was supposed to be like. Happy and affectionate and playful and—a lump formed in her throat.
“Uncle Colton, I’ve been practicing my ukulele,” Daphne, the oldest child, said. “Can I show you?”
“I’m countin’ on it.” He got the girl settled with the ukulele across her lap. “Show me what you got.”
Daphne’s tiny fingers splayed competently across the strings as she strummed out a tune in fits and starts. It took a moment for Gretchen to realize she was playing “Jingle Bells.” Colton reached around her and fit his fingers on either side of hers. He struck another chord that harmonized perfectly. And then, in a voice that seemed to come straight from heaven itself, he began to sing with her.
He wasn’t trying to impress. Wasn’t putting on a show. He was just singing a Christmas song with his niece, but the effect was complete and immediate. When she stumbled, he paused to quickly help her, and then picked right back up where they’d left off.
Gretchen was so transfixed by it—by him—that she barely registered when Mary came to stand next to her.
“She’s been practicing so hard to show him what she can do,” Mary said quietly.
“He’s so good with her.”
“With all of them. They all just adore him.”
“They must think it’s pretty cool to have a famous rock star as an uncle.”
“I don’t think they are actually old enough to understand that he is famous. He’s just Uncle Colton to them.”
Just Uncle Colton.
The lump grew. He was just a man. A good, decent, man who—for some unknown reason—wanted her. With all her flaws. All her insecurities.
“He’s been lonely,” Mary said quietly. Gretchen looked over sharply to find Mary gazing at her with knowing eyes. “I think maybe you have too.”
“Wh-what?”
“Being famous isn’t what people think it is. The more famous he got, the more isolated he got. People all over the world claim to love him, but they really just want to own him. I think maybe you know a little something about that.”
Gretchen didn’t need to ask for clarification to know that Colton had obviously told his family the truth about hers.
Mary’s eyes glistened suddenly. “I haven’t seen him this happy in a long time.”
Three hours later, after dinner had been eaten and more carols sung, Jordan sent the kids around the room for goodnight hugs. When they opened their arms to her, Gretchen automatically bent to let them hug her.
The damn lump returned. She cleared her throat. “I really should go. I have an appeal hearing in Memphis tomorrow, so . . .”
Kyle smiled. “I suppose we’ve held you hostage long enough.”
“It has been wonderful meeting all of you. Thank you for dinner and . . . everything.”
“You’ll be here on Christmas Day, right?”
The spotlight of Mary’s question burned hot and bright on Gretchen’s face. “Um, I—”
“I’ll talk to her about it,” Colton said smoothly, sliding up next to her. His hand found a spot on her back. “I’ll walk you out.”
“You don’t need to.”
“But I’m gonna.”
As soon as they were outside, Gretchen laughed. “They’re going to talk about me as soon as I’m gone, aren’t they?”
“I’m sure they already are.”
She crossed her arms and faced him next to the driver’s side of her car. “They’re great, Colton. Really. You’re very lucky.”
“I know.” He leaned then, propping one hand against the hood of her car so he could lower his face toward hers. “But not just because of them.” His other hand cupped the back of her neck. Before she had time to react, just like inside, he kissed her.
When he pulled back, she felt dizzy. “Do you think they’d mind if I borrow you tomorrow night?”
“You don’t have to borrow me. You already own me.”
Sweet heaven, the man had a way with words. “It’s the foundation gala tomorrow night. I want you to come with me.”
“Does it involve you in a fancy dress and me glaring at your asshole brothers?”
“Yes to both.”
“Then I can’t wait.” He kissed her lightly. Then not so lightly. They were both panting by the time he pulled back again. “Spend the night here Christmas Eve,” he said gruffly.
“With your family?”
He winked, understanding her meaning. “I’ll try to behave.”
“But you have traditions and—”
“And I want you to be part of them.” He straightened and lifted the hair from her shoulder. “It’s time someone showed you what Christmas morning should be like.”
When she didn’t answer, he grinned. “Say yes. You know you want to.”
The way he could see right through her. “Yes.”
“Text me when you get home,” he said, stepping back.
“Worried about the dark again?”
“Worried about you.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Book Info:

‘Tis the season for a Bromance Book Club matchmaking mission! This time, they’re pulling out the mistletoe for everyone’s favorite country music star, Colton, and his second chance at love.

Country music’s golden boy Colton Wheeler felt the most perfect harmony when he was with Gretchen Winthrop. But for her, it was a love him and leave him situation. A year later, Colton is struggling to push his music forward in a new direction. If it weren’t about to be the most magical time of year and the support of the Bromance Book Club, he’d be wallowing in self-pity.

It’s hard for immigration attorney Gretchen not to feel a little Scrooge-ish about the excess of Christmas when her clients are scrambling to afford their rent. So when her estranged, wealthy family reaches out with an offer that will allow her to better serve the community, she’s unable to say no. She just needs to convince Colton to be the new face of her family’s whiskey brand. No big deal…

Colton agrees to consider Gretchen’s offer in exchange for three dates before Christmas. With the help of the Bromance Book Club, Colton throws himself into the task of proving to her there’s a spark between them. But Gretchen and Colton will both need to overcome the ghosts of Christmas past to build a future together.
Book Links: Amazon |
 
 

Meet the Author:

After a nearly twenty-year career as a journalist, Lyssa Kay Adams’s dreams of writing and publishing her own HEAs came true in 2015 with the release of her first novel. Today, she writes full-time from her home in Michigan with a pesky, fluffy K9 assistant named Domino who spends most of his day snoring on her desk (that is, when he’s not burying things around the house).
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |
 
 
 

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50 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: A Very Merry Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams”

  1. EC

    Ham. It took a long time for me to like turkey and my family doesn’t eat them that much so ham it is.

  3. Nicole (Nicky) Ortiz

    Neither. We do both for Thanksgiving.
    But who would want Turkey again if you had it for Thanksgiving.
    Thanks for the chance!

  4. Mary Preston

    We have cold ham and chicken with salad – hot here in Australia for Christmas.

  13. Glenda M

    We usually do both. Unless we have something entirely different like lasagna. It all depends on who will be at the big get together.

    • Shannon Capelle

      Ham or turkey is good! Our family tradition is a homemade Italian meal for Christmas lol

  15. Amy R

    We have to settle this argument. Ham or turkey for Christmas dinner? We do both ham and turkey at our house

  34. Pammie R.

    Turkey for Thanksgiving, but whatever for Christmas. Normally, we have both, but had a corned beef a few years ago. Anything goes for Christmas, but I’ve found that most people go for the ol’ turkey/ham thing.

  39. Patricia B.

    For us, neither. I like the both, especially ham. Turkey is for Thanksgiving and ham (or a crown roast of pork) is for Easter at our house. We usually have beef prime rib or chateaubriand, both something my husband likes to prepare for special occasions.

  40. Ellen C.

    Depends on the cook. Sometimes ham, but usually turkey. Ham is usually for Easter.

  42. Jeanna Massman

    I’m not a fan of turkey so definitely ham. I grew up on a farm in Iowa and I don’t remember ever having turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas. We had duck on Thanksgiving and ham on Christmas. We raised chickens, hogs, cattle & ducks but no turkeys.

  43. Tina R

    We’ve done both the last few years. I make a small ham & a turkey breast.
    This series sounds fun. Thanks for sharing.