Harmel and Harvey are a comedy pair...plus a book giveaway

Kristin Harmel and Kristy Woodson Harvey have a few things in common:

• Their first names start with "Krist" and their last names start with "Har."
• They both have blond hair.
• They both live in the southeast region of the US.
• They have books publishing within a week of each other, that have five words in the title.
• Melissa A has met them both in person.
• They both have sons.
• And, of course, they both have lots to laugh about during Humor month at CLC!

Kristy and Kristin have teamed up to answer some funny questions for the month and you'll be cracking up from their answers. Thanks to Gallery, we have two sets of each of their books to give away: The Room on Rue Amélie and The Secret to Southern Charm.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism and holds a master’s in English from East Carolina University, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including Southern Living, Traditional Home, Parade, USA Today, Domino, Our State and O. Henry. She has been seen in Women’s Health, The Washington Post, US News and World Report, The Huffington Post, USA Today’s Happy Every After, Marie Claire’s The Fix, Woman’s World, Readers’ Digest and North Carolina Bookwatch, among others. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and six-year-old son where she is working on her next novel. Visit Kristy at her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Photo by Wenona Christensen

Kristin Harmel is an international bestselling novelist whose books have been translated into numerous languages and are sold all over the world. A former reporter for People magazine, Kristin has also freelanced for many other publications, including American Baby, Men’s Health, Glamour, Woman’s Day, Travel + Leisure, and more. Kristin grew up in Peabody, Mass.; Worthington, Ohio; and St. Petersburg, Fla., and she graduated with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida. After spending time living in Paris, she now lives in Orlando, Fla., with her husband and young son. Visit Kristin at her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Secret to Southern Charm by Kristy Woodson Harvey:
Leaving fans “practically [begging] for a sequel” (Bookpage), critically acclaimed author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with the second novel in her beloved Peachtree Bluff series, featuring a trio of sisters and their mother who discover a truth that will change not only the way they see themselves, but also how they fit together as a family.

After finding out her military husband is missing in action, middle sister Sloane’s world crumbles as her worst nightmare comes true. She can barely climb out of bed, much less summon the strength to be the parent her children deserve.

Her mother, Ansley, provides a much-needed respite as she puts her personal life on hold to help Sloane and her grandchildren wade through their new grief-stricken lives. But between caring for her own aging mother, her daughters, and her grandchildren, Ansley’s private worry is that secrets from her past will come to light.

But when Sloane’s sisters, Caroline and Emerson, remind Sloane that no matter what, she promised her husband she would carry on for their young sons, Sloane finds the support and courage she needs to chase her biggest dreams—and face her deepest fears. Taking a cue from her middle daughter, Ansley takes her own leap of faith and realizes that, after all this time, she might finally be able to have it all.

The Room on Rue Amélie by Kristin Harmel:
When newlywed Ruby Henderson Benoit arrives in Paris in 1939 with her French husband Marcel, she imagines strolling arm in arm along the grand boulevards, awash in the golden afternoon light. But war is looming on the horizon, and as France falls to the Nazis, her marriage begins to splinter, too.

Charlotte Dacher is eleven when the Germans roll into the French capital, their sinister swastika flags snapping in the breeze. After the Jewish restrictions take effect and Jews are ordered to wear the yellow star, Charlotte can’t imagine things getting much worse. But then the mass deportations begin, and her life is ripped forever apart.

Thomas Clarke joins the British Royal Air Force to protect his country, but when his beloved mother dies in a German bombing during the waning days of the Blitz, he wonders if he’s really making a difference. Then he finds himself in Paris, in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and he discovers a new reason to keep fighting—and an unexpected road home.

When fate brings them together, Ruby, Charlotte, and Thomas must summon the courage to defy the Nazis—and to open their own broken hearts—as they fight to survive. Rich with historical drama and emotional depth, this is an unforgettable story that will stay with you long after the final page is turned.

Review by Melissa A.

Most recent thing you laughed about:
Kristin Harmel: I broke my knee in February, and as it heals, I have a wonderful physical therapist named Tony coming to the house twice a week. On his second visit, I was saying goodbye to him at the door, and my 2-year-old son flew around the corner, announced “Tony poop!” for no apparent reason and ran off giggling, totally delighted with himself. This kid never forgets anything, and now, every time Tony arrives, my son declares “Tony poop!” and then collapses in giggles. Even though it’s completely nonsensical, the humor is contagious, and Tony and I have a good laugh about it too. Tony left an hour ago — so that was my last good laugh!

Kristy Harvey: Every time my mom tells the voice connect in her car to to “Call Kristy Harvey,” it says, “Finding nearest fitness center.” Without fail. It’s hilarious in any case but particularly because I’m a health nut and I’m always trying to make sure everyone is exercising enough. She is totally convinced that I have programmed her car to say that! (It’s even funnier because it is definitely something that Caroline in my Peachtree Bluff series would do to her mother. I am definitely writing a scene with that!)

Favorite funny video:
Kristin Harmel: Every time I need a laugh (and "Tony Poop" isn't around), I can turn to this 2008 Saturday Night Live clip featuring Christopher Walken.
It’s about a gardener who pastes googly eyes on his plants so that he can get to know them better. And it’s so ridiculous, both in the writing and delivery, that it’s perfect. Now, my friends and I paste googly eyes on things when we need to cheer each other up.

Kristy Harvey: It’s not on YouTube or anything, but my favorite video is this one of my son when he is like 9 months old. He can’t walk yet, but he could stand pretty well. In the video he is jamming out on the drums, intermittently falling and taking dance breaks and my husband, mother-in-law and I are narrating as though it is his E! True Hollywood Story. It always makes me laugh!

Funniest misunderstanding you've had with someone:
Kristin Harmel: In high school, I had to give an off-the-cuff presentation to my Spanish class and wound up telling an entire story about a time that being embarazada held me back, and how my parents didn’t want me to be embarazada, and my friends told me that if I just believed in myself, I wouldn’t be embarazada anymore. My teacher kept trying to correct me, and I thought she was just telling me I didn’t need to be embarrassed. It was only at the end that she reminded me that embarazada doesn’t mean “embarrassed.” It means “pregnant.” Oops.

Kristy Harvey: A friend gifted my husband and me a dinner at our house with a chef, so we decided it would be fun to use it for our supper club for a really special experience. The chef had come to our house and looked at the kitchen and we had talked about Thursday night, but evidently, I had texted him later the date for Wednesday night. So he arrived at our house on Wednesday night with all his supplies—and fresh fish. I was horrified, of course. So my husband and I had a gorgeous meal for two. And, for the supper club, we served Domino’s!

Funniest thing you've heard a child say:
Kristin Harmel: When my nephew was little and just learning animal sounds, he asked me what a camel says. Obviously, I had to tell him a camel says, “Hump-dayyyyyyy” (From the 2013 Geico commercial). It was awesome to hear him very seriously go through all the animals he knew — “Moooo. Neigh. Oink. Hump-dayyyyy!” Of course now that I have a toddler of my own, my sister has returned the favor.

Kristy Harvey: This may not be the funniest thing I’ve ever heard a child say, but it was pretty funny. I was practicing my talk for my The Secret to Southern Charm launch at the Pat Conroy Literary Center and I mentioned my six-year-old son, who was in the room. He said, “Mom, when you say my name should I stand up?” And I joked, “Maybe you should just be up on stage with me.” And he said, “Maybe I should just do the talk. I can read it off your iPad.” Pretty funny to me!

What is the strangest thing you've ever laughed about?
Kristin Harmel: When I broke my knee recently, I didn’t just break it. I shattered it. As in, the kneecap broke in half and shot into two different areas in my leg. It was horrific. When the paramedics arrived and looked in horror at it, I just broke down — in giggles, not tears. It was terribly painful, and I was scared to death, but apparently my in-shock coping mechanism was to laugh. Later, on the way to the hospital, I was telling the paramedic jokes in the back of the ambulance. Jokes! But by that time, the pain medications they had given me had started to kick in, so at least that makes a bit more sense!

Kristy Harvey: My husband and I have moved several times over the past few years and I was setting the table a few weeks ago for a book club luncheon that someone had won at an auction. I wanted it to be really nice, so I went to fish out our crystal, which we never use, and couldn’t find it. I assumedI had taken it to my parents’ house, but they couldn’t find it either. Long story short, after a few phone calls, I realized that I had inadvertently donated all of our wedding crystal to the local SPCA with a bunch of furniture, toys etc that we were giving away. It shouldn’t have been funny at all, but I couldn’t stop laughing.

What is the funniest thing you own?
Kristin Harmel: A full-on Little Orphan Annie costume, complete with a red wig, from a long-ago Halloween. And it still fits—and looks entirely ridiculous!

Kristy Harvey: I have a collection of tiaras from going to The Pulpwood Queen’s Girlfriend weekends. But you never know when you might need a tiara!

Thanks to Kristin and Kristy for the giggles and to Gallery for sharing their books with our readers.

How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here. 

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Giveaway ends April 2nd at midnight EST.