Today I am so pleased to welcome Chris McHart to Joyfully Jay. Chris has come to talk to us about a new release, Grenzen. Chris has also brought along and excerpt and a copy to give away. Please join me in giving Chris a big welcome!
Thanks to Jay for having me here today.
If you’re looking for me these days, there is one pretty safe bet where I can be found. On a Christmas market.
But—What exactly is a Christmas market? And what has it to do with Grenzen, my new release?
Well, some parts of the story happen on the market, so that answer is pretty easy to give.
Explaining a Christmas Market, or better, the Nuremberg Christkindles Market, now that’s a bit harder.
The Nuremberg Christkindles Market is one of the most famous Christmas markets in Germany, a market with a long history and very beautiful on top of that.
It starts the Friday before the 1. Advent and ends on December, 24. About two million people visit the market every year, and make it to one of the biggest in Germany.
It was founded sometime between 1620 and 1640, when it evolved from a weekly market to a market in the Advent. It’s outside (and we usually have temperatures around freezing), which means you’ll drink a lot of Gluehwein to stay warm. Gluehwein, or mulled wine, is a hot, sweet, spiced wine, that knocks you on your butt in no time flat if you’re not careful.
Some of us spend a lot of time on such markets, the bigger ones, and the smaller ones, just taking in the smells of sugar, almonds, cinnamon and wine. We eat bratwurst, look for Christmas presents and get in the mood for the upcoming holidays. I love these markets and it’s a safe bet that I can be found on one on nearly every weekend in December.
If you ever come to Germany before Christmas, make sure to visit one or two of the markets. They are worth it.
Excerpt
Julian stopped at a stall, went to the side entrance and exchanged a few words with the man running it. The seller handed him two steaming mugs, ignoring that there was a line waiting.
Julian passed one along to me and paid for both. I wrapped my freezing hands around my mug, trying to warm them up. It was very cold in Germany at this time of the year, much frostier than I’d anticipated and was used to. I was from Phoenix. It was hot and hotter there, not freezing-your-ass-off-temperatures. But maybe Julian could help me get warm again.
“Would you like to stay here and do some people watching or walk around?”
“I’ve seen most of the market already, so—can you maybe show me more of the city? It’s beautiful, but walking these streets in the dark without a guide is not that much fun.”
“Some of these dark streets have their perks.” His mischievous smile said everything. “But you’re right. I can show you around a bit.”
I shivered at his words. I wanted to ask him to show me these dark streets, and exactly what the perks were. But I didn’t dare, so I nodded and followed Julian through the masses of people to the market’s exit.
Blurb
When work requires Ryan to leave behind warm and sunny Arizona for cold and snowy Germany, he decides to visit the famous Nuremberg Christmas Market where he meets sexy Julian.
But Julian isn’t an average guy, he’s a Dom. And he wants Ryan to be his sub.
That’s something Ryan has dreamt of, but never admitted to anyone, not even himself. With Julian it suddenly becomes possible.
But what happens once Ryan has to go home, especially since he’s developing feelings for Julian?
There isn’t a future for a relationship if you’re half a world apart…
Buy Links:
- MLR Press
- Amazon
- All Romance Ebooks
- Bookstrand
- Barnes and Noble
Chris will be donating a part of my royalties from December’s sales of Never Wrong and Grenzen to Lost-n-Found Youth in Atlanta.
Bio
Chris McHart is from Germany and while an accountant, writing is Chris’s real passion. Chris likes to spend time with family and has way too many animals that demand constant attention. Chris also enjoys landscaping and cooking.
Whenever Chris has a free minute, it’s spent writing on a laptop, a cup of coffee in hand, deeply lost in the world Chris’s muses have created.
When coming up for some air, you’ll find Chris on a lot of social networks. Check out Chris’s website to see where you can find out more. Chris looks forward to hearing from you!
Giveaway
Chris has brought an ebook copy of Grenzen to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter (and Chris would love to hear if you have ever visited a Christmas Market in your comment). The contest ends on Friday, December 12th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
I have a fascination with all things German, so this book is going straight to my wishlist!
This sounds like a really good book – I love reading BDSM books. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Count me in, too. Thanks!
Congratulations on the new release! This looks like a good one.
I love markets, specially open air ones. Whenever I go to a new town I try to find out if there any sort of market going on and make sure to pay a visit. It is the best way to find out how a place and the people who live there really are.
The book sounds great. Thank you for the giveaway
Thank you for this post and giveaway. I adore Christmas Markets especially the German ones:)
Berlin’s X-MAS Markets are my fave ones. I lived there for years and I miss them every year now that I live elsewhere. I miss the smell of cinnamon in the streets!! Thank you for the chance to win a copy of Grenzen!!!
Thank you for this lovely post. I really liked Prague’s Christmas market. It was snowing and the lights made everything more magical. Thank you for the giveaway.
It’s funny you should ask. We’re planning to go to Christkindl in Arlington TX this weekend. We went last year totally unprepared. We thought it was indoors, but turns out it was set up outside with tents. A blue-norther had just blown through and we didn’t have any more than jackets for warmth. I can’t remember being more cold and miserable…but we’ll be more prepared this year. I’m looking forward to it. 🙂
Great post & giveaway!
I visited Germany last summer. I loved it.
I’ve never visited a Christmas Market in my life and I wasn’t aware there was such a thing. A regular market I’ve been to and I suppose it’s the same thing except less festive? It sounds like fun though.
Great post. I love learning new things about different countries. New author for me. THanks for a chance to win a copy
My uncle G. lives in Munich and when once, he took me to a Christmas Market there, I thought I was inside a fairy tale. Thank you for the chance.
My fav. x-mas market was in Sweden a couple of years ago. Thanks for the giveaway <3
Grenzen sounds pretty cool so thank you for the cool chance to win a copy;)))
I really like the one in Madrid (my hometown).
My grandmother used to tell me about the markets. I have yet to get to Germany but it is on my bucket list!
jasdarts at hotmail dot com
I’d love to get to Germany some day. Thanks for the great post and giveaway!
One of these days, I’ll have to visit my German friend–she loves the Christmas celebrations!
I have been to a few continental advent market/fairs and I think one of my favourite things is the variety of crafts and foods from around Europe and I love the taste and small of hot fresh roasted chestnuts. Not so much the mulled wine or the smell of cloves/oranges. But I would I love to visit Germany and experience Nuremberg Christkindles Market.
Thank you for a chance to win an ecopy of Chris’s book Grenzen