Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Tracy Brogan to HJ!
Hi Tracy and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Jingle Bell Harbor!
Please summarize the book for the readers here:
As assistant buyer for the world’s second-largest Christmas store, Kelsey Parker feels like a holiday harlot. She’s contractually obligated to promote the yuletide season. All. Year. Long. And it’s taking a toll on her spirit. But when her clueless, self-absorbed boyfriend goes on their long-anticipated romantic vacation—without her!—Kelsey is beyond disappointed to find herself tromping through the Bell Harbor snow instead of lounging on a tropical beach.
Drew Hampton is considered quite a catch among the Bell Harbor bachelorettes, but when his high school dream girl, Kelsey Parker, shows up at his grandfather’s Christmas tree lot complaining about her love life, he decides it’s long past time to get her under the mistletoe himself.
As things heat up between the two, a surprise visitor arrives, making Kelsey an offer she can’t quite believe. Now she must decide what matters most, and she just may discover the key to her happiness.
Please share the opening lines of this book:
“So I said, ‘Fine, Blake, you just go to Hawaii without me then. Mele kalikimaka, mother fu—’”
“Shh! Geez, Kelsey! Watch your language. We are surrounded by little kids.”
My G-rated sister had cut me off mid-expletive, which was a good thing I guess, because we were, indeed, surrounded by little kids. Little, tiny kids wearing big winter coats, and hopefully noise-canceling earmuffs, since I may or may not have just spouted off several R-rated words to which their delicate ears should not be exposed. At least not until junior high.
Please share a few Random facts about this book…
- There’s a wonderful place in my home state of Michigan called Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. At over an acre in size, it’s considered the world’s largest Christmas store. When I was young, my mom would take me and my sisters there and it was always a magical place. Total holiday overload in the cheesiest and best possible way.
- Quite often when holiday movies are made, this is the store they contact for props, but not always with a lot of lead-time. I heard of one circumstance where a studio needed a life-sized nativity set to be sent overnight to the set of JINGLE ALL THE WAY. Apparently the shipping cost about $3000, more than twice the value of the nativity set!
What first attracts your hero to the heroine and vice versa?
They grew up in the same town and attended the same school, and although Drew always had a hot-spot for Kelsey, she considered him “the kind of boy that every girl was friends with but no one ever dated” because he was “too nice, to responsible, and too apt to get a girl home by curfew.”
Using just 5 words, how would you describe hero and heroine’s love affair?
Sweet, nostalgic, authentic, and sexually satisfying!
The First kiss…
One of my favorite things about this story is that Drew and Kelsey were each other’s first kiss. As in first kiss ever! During a game of spin the bottle when they were fourteen years old. They don’t kiss again until this story begins so their second kiss is much, much better!
If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?
The hero makes a very unusual Christmas gift for the heroine but because of some troublesome circumstances, he doesn’t give it to her. When she discovers it, it rekindles her lost sense of holiday magic. It also makes her realize that she’s fallen quite blissfully in love.
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned for 2015?
I’m currently working on a story called (tentatively) DRAWN TO YOU. It’s set on Mackinac Island, Michigan, a place where no cars are allowed. Everyone gets around by bike or horse which adds a fun element of discomfort for my characters!
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: 3 digital book giveaway of Jingle Bell Harbor.
To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Leave a comment with your thoughts on the book…
Book Info:
Title: Jingle Bell Harbor
Author: Tracy Brogan
Release Date: 11/20/15
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Jingle-Bell-Harbor-Novella-ebook/dp/B00YZ4W8IO/
Meet the Author:
Tracy Brogan is an award-winning, bestselling novelist who writes fun and funny stories about ordinary people finding extraordinary love, as well as lush historical romances full of royal intrigue, damsels causing distress, and the occasional man in a kilt. She has been nominated by Romance Writers of America for two prestigious RITA Awards for her debut novel, Crazy Little Thing, and for The Best Medicine and has received two nominations for RWA’s Golden Heart Awards. She’s a Booksellers Best Award recipient and has received two Golden Quill Awards in both contemporary and historical romance. Unapologetically devoted to romance, she lives in Michigan with her often-bemused husband, their gloriously above-average children, and their two intellectually challenged dogs. She loves to hear from readers, so visit her website at tracybrogan.com.
Social Networking Links:
Website: http://www.tracybrogan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTracyBrogan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracybrogan
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6452601.Tracy_Brogan
Mary Preston
A very cute title and the 5 word description is just delicious.
Diana Michelle Tidlund
love holiday romances so look forward to reading it
marcyshuler
Wow, it’s nice to find an author from Michigan. I’ve been to Frankenmuth and Bronner’s several times. 😉 I love reading stories set during Christmas and this one sounds great!
glam009
Love holiday romances!!!!!!! looking forward to read it!!!!
Vicki
Sounds wonderful I would love to read more.
infinitieh
I do like Christmas, but I don’t know if I can put up with having Christmas all year round like Kelsey. Yikes and double yikes!
vadensmommy1
OMG I must read, I love holiday stories
Kate Sparks
I think this will be a really great fun read for the season! But I’m glad I don’t have her job!!
Amanda Thompson
Sounds really good! I definitely want to read more!
debby236
Holiday romances are magical and this one fits right in. Can’t wait to read it.
Cheryl Hastings
I love Tracy and her Bell Harbor books…and a Christmas story just adds the cherry on top!
Melissa Morr
I love holiday romances, sounds good
Karen Ashbrook
Sounds like my kind of Christmas book xx
Heather Coulter
My holiday tbr pile is getting pretty full…but this one is on it.
Brooke
I love holiday books. This sounds so sweet!
Natalia J
Love holiday romance books. This one sounds lovely. Can’t wait to read.
kermitsgirl
This sounds sweet and I like characters with a history (and one that isn’t terrible is always nice!).
Jen B
Sounds good to me.
CathyShouse
I’ve been to that Christmas store several times and love it. Being from Indiana, I feel a road trip coming on as we get near the holidays! Thanks for a reminder of a place to have a great time. I appreciate your fun yet insightful books about relationships, Pick me, please! 🙂
Mandy M.
I can’t wait to read this book! It’s my 2 favorite things combined – Christmas and romance novels! Thanks for offering this giveaway!!
Theresa Lemonier
Tracey’s writing has been consistently awesome, so I can’t wait to read the new book. I’m a fan =)
Rhonda Gothier
Can’t wait to read
BookLady
What a great book for the holidays!
Amy Rickman
Sounds good
sandybar57
This sounds like a fantastic book! I can’t wait to read it!!!
kamundsen44
Sounds like a good read.
krazekat
I love a good holiday romance. This one seems like it will be really sweet.
Jo-Anne Boyko
The summary has me feeling sorry for Kelsey. Not only does she have a scumbag boyfriend but she has to be in the Christmas spirit all year! I’m so glad that Drew came back into her life because nobody deserves to be left behind while their boyfriend goes on a tropical vacation without them. I’m really curious to find out who the visitor is and what the offer is.
ndluebke
Sounds like the kind of Christmas story I really enjoy. Thanks for the opportunity.
Leanna
Sounds grea! I love holiday books!
Sue G.
This looks cute. Love Christmas stories!
bn100
not sure about it
duelalias
It sounds like a very interesting story.
Colleen C.
I have been enjoying holiday reads lately… this one sounds like one I would enjoy!
Carrie E.
I’m so excited to read this!!!!!
Chey
I’d like to read more.
Texas Book Lover
Sounds great!
Tammy Y
I really want to read this book
denise
sounds like a wonderful story
Meredith Miller
The opening lines are funny! I’d love to read it.
taswmom
This sounds like a really cute book! I like the fact that he’s always kind of liked her, and that she finally gets to see that he’s maybe not so predictably hum drum! Thank you for sharing!
mrsmac19
Looks great & I love the cover!
Pennie
First, I love Bronners! It is down the road from me and the BEST place to visit! This book sounds WONDERFUL!!!!!!!
Christy
Sounds really sweet. I’d love to find out the mystery gifts that rekindles her Christmas spirit!
Terri C
You had me with the first scene!
tlrosado
I’ve read a couple of Tracy Brogan’s books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I’ve been wanting to continue and this book sounds very sweet and fun.
erinf1
oooh.. this looks and sounds awesome 🙂 thanks for sharing!