Today I am so pleased to welcome Joanna Chambers to Joyfully Jay. Joanna has come to talk to us about her new release, Humbug. She has also brought along a copy to give away. Please join me in giving Joanna a big welcome!

Why Christmas stories are the ultimate romance stories

I am into Christmas in a big way. I am also – you won’t be surprised to hear – into romance in a big way. So, I have a BIG love for Christmas romances, and the other day I was thinking about why.

However you might define the happy ending, one thing is for sure: romance stories end with one…and so do Christmas stories. Think about it: A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street – hell, Bad Santa! A Christmas story with an unhappy ending is as unthinkable as a romance without one. Why should that be?

Well, we’re working with fertile feel-good ground here. Christmas stories are all about peace and joy and goodwill. It’s a time when people can come home after a long absence, reconnect with old friends and lovers, examine their lives and see what’s missing. It’s a great setting for characters to think about what home is, what family is, what love means. It’s also a great setting for characters to re-examine old wounds, reflect on what might have been, and also what a new future could look like. And no matter how dark things get, we know that Christmas is our farewell to the past year. A new year is coming, fresh with promise. Things could be different. Things could change.

I think it’s that – more than anything else – that draws me to Christmas stories, over and over. That feeling of an ending and a beginning in one. The bittersweet promise of that. Because look at those happy ending stories again: A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Bad Santa. Yes, every one of them has a happy ending, but every one of them contains darkness too: regret, shame, anger, unkindness. And that’s what I love about Christmas stories. That you get both sides, and then, at the end: off-the-scale happiness.


Blurb

JOANNA-humbug-fQuin Flint is unimpressed when his gorgeous colleague, Rob Paget, asks for extra time off at Christmas. As far as Quin is concerned, Christmas is a giant waste of time. Quin’s on the fast track to partnership, and the season of goodwill is just getting in the way of his next big project. But when Quin’s boss, Marley, confiscates his phone and makes him take an unscheduled day off, Quin finds himself being forced to confront his regrets, past and present, and think about the sort of future he really wants…and who he wants it with.


Bio

Joanna Chambers always wanted to write. In between studying, finding a proper grown up job, getting married and having kids, she spent many hours staring at blank sheets of paper and chewing pens. That changed when she rediscovered her love of romance and found her muse. Joanna’s muse likes red wine, coffee and won’t let Joanna clean the house or watch television.


Giveaway

Joanna has brought a copy of Humbug to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment at the end of the post to enter. The contest ends on Wednesday, December 2nd 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.
  • All book prizes are in electronic format unless otherwise specified.
  • 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.
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