Day 22 - JJ Harper
Hello, it's great to be back for another Advent giveaway
I'm JJ Harper, if you don't know me I'm a Brit author and have been writing gay romance for over five years. My first Christmas story is out now.
Not Just For Christmas
Hunter has lost everything, including himself. Can Otto and Ajax help him find the joy of Christmas again?
After tragedy strikes, famous news reporter, Hunter Wiley, flees his London home and his successful career in television. In the hills outside a small Welsh town, he finds his refuge. Building his house helps him grieve, and for two years, he hides from everyone. He’ll be spending another Christmas on his own.
Until he finds a puppy, dumped in his woodshed.
Otto Markham used to be a player, but not anymore. He longs for a boyfriend, but they aren’t prepared for his long hours as the town vet. He’s resigned himself to being alone.
Until he gets a call about a bruised and battered puppy.
Not only Ajax heals under the vet’s loving care. Hunter feels safe with the man with the soft Welsh accent and the skilled, kind hands. Otto gives him the strength to let go of the guilt and the courage to move on.
The greatest love stories aren’t always easy, but they are the ones worth waiting for.
Not Just for Christmas isn’t a story full of tinsel and mistletoe, roaring fires, and sweet kisses. It contains lots of snow, hurt/comfort, a broken news reporter, a hard-working vet, and an adorable puppy with the heart of a warrior. Based in the UK and is written in British English
Competition
For a chance to win an ebook of Not Just For Christmas, tell me the best present you've ever had.
Closes 24 December 7am London
My best presents are my husband and daughter!
Happy holidays to all.
I have had so many wonderful presents given to me. However, the greatest gift that I have is my health and my mother’s health. We also have a safe place to live.
Spending Christmas with my family.
How can you pick a best from 60+ years of celebrations. Mind you, this year we are buying an EV, not something expected but the money squirrelled away for an overseas holiday has found a higher purpose.
I’ve wanted to b;each my hair and color it fun colors for two years. My mom saved up and paid for it for me, even though she couldn’t afford having her own hair done all year.
I’m not sure if it’s the best but it was the most memorable. My mom surprised me by wrapping the drawer from a piece of furniture I wanted but she said I wasn’t getting. I was so surprised I burst into tears.
The year I received a typewriter for Christmas, 1970.
My first kindle, I was always a bookworm but it moved it to a different level.
A Ring Romance my husband
Not the best but the one i always remember is a slow cooker – not even a bar of choccy in too sweeten the deal!
One gift i remember is a gag gift my daughter got me. She got me slipper socks size medium like in the Dennis Leary movie, The Ref.
An inter-rail ticket from my parents that I used to travel round Europe for a month when I was a student.
A suitcase with wintery clothes inside after I tolde them I applied for an Erasmus at Germany, it was their way of telling me that they supported me even though I entered without telling them, it was an awesome experience I’m grateful I had.
When I was about 8, I received a doll from Santa that had my name printed on the box. I still have her along with the clothes I leaned to make. My Grandmother also gave me an unfinished baby blanket she started when I was born that was the perfect size for my doll.
The best gift I got was my first iPad. It completely changed the way I read.
While it’s not a Christmas present. For my first birthday I spent with my husband he gave me a love letter he wrote that he put in a bottle. He labeled the bottle with the year. I keep it on my nightstand.
My sister gave me a yearling Belted Galloway heifer! I had to imagine the bow, but Jackie was a complete surprise!
Jeffree Star Cosmetics Cremated palette ⭐⭐⭐
It actually came a few days after Christmas, but one year we got the phone call that our infant son was “ready for pick-up” months earlier than expected!
Winner!! Congratulations, Ron.
Please email me your Kindle address to jjharperauthor@gmail.com
Many thanks for taking part.
Jess
JJ Harper
My then future roommate Donna had been knitting a project and I asked for a scarf (muffler) for Christmas. Her gift was a box with yarn and needles, and a promise of lessons. That led to my knitting, and I had many wonderful sweaters that truly fit my long torso.
I was actually the Christmas present. When I was born, my father was deployed. He didn’t know I came early so when he walked in on Christmas Eve, I was there in a literal bow.
I remember wanting a Lite-Brite so much and one year she bough it I was so happy I played with that thing so much 😂
A kitten
A bull terrier puppy. He was the best dog, I loved him dearly. He passed 2 years ago 4 days before Christmas and I still miss him.
a new phone
annual passes to Busch Gardens. We had fun over the years at this park
A surprise trip to Arizona to visit family.
I got an amazing new sewing machine last year.
That’s a tough one, since we stopped exchanging gifts years ago… Probably books. The kind you get as a child but still want to read again as an adult. Multiple times.
A bottle of Ralph Lauren Romance perfume from my husband. I love the scent so much that still kept the empty bottle in my drawer. Probably also because it was the most romantic Christmas gift I ever received.
This year so far my best present was a $50 gift card from my SIL for Amazon!
Two very dear friends bought me a Kindle–I still read print books, but I prefer ebooks because I can adjust the font.
A kitten in grade school.
When I was a teenager, my parents got me a camera. My dad came up with an elaborate scavenger hunt to find the gift. It wasn’t the gift that was so memorable, but the whole experience and love that made it so special.
While not a Christmas present, for my birthday one year, my husband got me an iPod Classic 160GB, which I absolutely love, because it holds so much music (without having to be connected to wifi for streaming) & they’ve since discontinued them.
My sister brought me my first Pandoa bracelet, necklace and ring set. Then my ipod was acting up earlier this year and she brought me a new one for my birthday.
My oldest niece was born exactly 2 weeks before Christmas 26 years ago and is still the best present I have ever received. She is a bit moodier now, lol But I still love her 😊
This comes to mind: last year was so awful, cut off from people because covid, but a friend gave me an action figure of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It made me happy to feel so understood. And it was unexpected at a time when all my other expectations had been shattered. It was a gift that was so thoughtful.
This story isn’t about one present, but when I was a little child, my parents didn’t want to do Santa. They thought it was lying to your children and would scar me. But I really wanted to believe in the fantasy. So my Aunt said she’d set up everything for Santa at her house (she took pictures, too) and then she’d wrap up the present he’d brought and bring it to my house when she came over. She used a special silk flower to decorate it every year, so I’d know which of her presents really came from Santa. And my parents weren’t bothered by what they didn’t know.
My grandson Hunter who was due Dec 24 but c@me early on Dec 1!
1979 when I received the Barbie Dream House from Santa. Best present ever!
My dad took the whole family out for dinner and to see Les Misérables in the movie theater
I so lucked out in the mom department.
My husband surprised me with a platinum eternity ring about 20 years ago. I always hated gold which my wedding ring is made of. I wear the eternity ring more than I wear my wedding ring.
My 10 grandchildren, 7 of which were born in the 2 months around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
coat
My 2 kids!!
As I child, I think it must have been the Lionel train set, that we would then always set up under the tree every Christmas after.
A trip to Hawaii to celebrate everything!
Many years ago, my father surprised me with a bottle of perfume “J’adore” by Christian Dior without informing my mother. Since then, he has gifted me each Christmas a bottle of said perfume and I never buy any other perfume.
My high school letter jacket
Best gift was my first ebook reader. I was one of the original Nooks. Hubby bought it for me. Took me to the bookstore to learn how to use it and told me I deserved it.
My super-duper Lionel set when I was 10. I still had it until I went into the army 11 years later. Sold it and have regretted it every day since!
dragon wine glasses
I’d have to say the autostart my Dad bought and installed for my car. Makes a huge difference in the winter.
This was a present I gave myself. I saved up all my vacation time and was able to spend the time from Thanksgiving thru the New Year with my grandparents.
My best friend from out of town showed up and surprised me on Christmas Eve!
The My Little Pony castle when I was a little girl. I bought myself one on eBay a few years ago to replace it!
My 2 kids. We had decided not to have any, but our oldest surprised us. 23 years later I’m so grateful to have them in my life.
I really don’t know, growing up with a very disfunctional family, I didn’t have very happy memories, but I think my best one was the first Christmas after I was sent to live with my Dad. He got me a pair of blue suede roller skates. I still have them 40 years later.
After trying for over 10 years to have a child, I was blessed with my daughter, Heather.
A baby doll.