We're Launching the BOOK TOUR for
Asking for Trouble
By Anna J. Stewart
Follow the Tour!
2/16 - Launch
2/17 - Coffee Books & Art
2/18 - Mythical Books & Book N Blog
2/19 - My Life Loves and Passion
2/20 - Southern Chelle & Mary Terrani
2/22 - Babs Book Bistro & Colorimetry
2/24 - Mommabears Book Blog
2/25 - underneath the covers & Wishful Endings
2/26 - The Written Adventure & deal sharing aunt
2/27 - Harlie's Books
3/1 - Grand Finale
3/1 - Grand Finale
More About Asking for Trouble and Author Anna J. Stewart
What is your motivation behind this book? Why did you want to write it?
For me, it's always about the happily ever after and the journey the hero and heroine go on to get there. The original idea behind this story was actually the Robin Hood aspect--the Nemesis character who robs from the wealthy and redistributes what's stolen in the hopes of making others' lives better. Over the years (and the many rewrites), that story changed, but at its core, I think ASKING FOR TROUBLE is about what so many of us go through, family issues, health issues, finding our place and where we belong...and realizing that the people we surround ourselves with should make things better, not drag us down.
I wanted to write it because it felt like a fun story to tell. Also, I've always been intrigued by the dynamics of large families and the way they interact with one another. I come from a very small nuclear family (I'm my mother's only child), so from an "investigative" point of view, it was out of my realm of experience, which always makes telling a story a little more exciting.
What do you hope readers take with them when they read it?
While what Morgan Tremayne has taken on is a huge task (helping critically ill children), it doesn't take a lot to make a difference in someone's life. A hug here, a pair of shoes there, giving back to someone, at some point can have a butterfly effect . We're all in this crazy, insane and sometimes disturbing world together and while yes, one person can definitely make a difference, what we can accomplish as a team is an incredibly powerful possibility. Wow. I didn't realize how Pollyanna-ish that sounds (and believe me, I'm not one <G>). Kindness. Yeah, if there's one thing I'd love people to take away from reading ASKING FOR TROUBLE, it's the fact that kindness that can and will change the world.
Do you have a favorite scene?
I have a couple and funny enough, neither one has changed very much since the first time I wrote the book. Morgan's first encounter with Gage's family I think is my favorite; actually any scene where Gage's mother is involved tends to make me laugh. There's a conversation among the women at one point (I'll just say Crock-Pot and readers will know which one I'm referring to) that to this day brings a smile to my face. Yeah, it would have to be one of the scenes featuring Theresa Juliano. She's just really fun to write.
Share something about you that is unique--maybe about how/where you write...or favorite snack foods?
My friends and close writer buddies know this but...every one of my heroines has a Barbie representation sitting on my desk. I'm a doll collector from way back, so when I first start a project, the first thing I do is go in search of a new heroine. The hairstyle, the clothes (I have 2 big tubs of fashion doll clothes, LOL), it all starts to come together and I get a clear picture of what she looks like and who she is. Although, I add a few extra pounds...with a few exceptions, most of my heroines are quite curvy--gotta write from what I know, right?
Another quirky fact? I write in my kitchen. The best days are when the dishwasher is running. That white noise is awesome. Favorite snack food? Cheez-It...which is why I rarely get them in the house. Man those little suckers are yummy.
Excerpt
Excerpt
The boy band jingle blaring from his phone would repeat for hours in Gage’s head, just like the undercooked Chinese food in his stomach. He really had to learn how to un-program the torture his teenage sister kept inflicting on him.
He tapped the Bluetooth in his ear as he swung his Dodge Charger into a parking space across from the Tremayne estate, avoiding the packed driveway as guests waited for the valet service. “Were you able to forward me those additional documents on the Tremaynes, Janice?”
“Just sent them to you.” Janice’s schoolmarm voice reminded Gage a little too much of his mother.
A drill sergeant when it came to organizing and scheduling his time, a bit obsessive about keeping his office and desk tidy, Janice’s attention to detail was the reason he’d hired her after her previous boss retired. Unfortunately for him, she’d since become best phone friends with his mother. Now the two of them were tag-teaming him on everything from his social life to his eating habits, both of which, according to the two of them, needed vast and fast improvement.
Gage snatched up his phone, accessed his email, downloaded, then tapped the icon where he’d saved it. He frowned. Well, he thought that was where he’d saved it. Any idiot could operate an iPhone. But as his mother was fond of telling him, he wasn’t anyidiot. “Any chance you can leave a printout—”
“On your desk? Already did.”
A classic cherry red 1966 Mustang pulled effortlessly into the space in front of his car.
Gage’s drooling was pure macho reflex. Glistening paint job, polished black top, nary a scratch on the body. There was just enough daylight left to shine an appreciative gleam over the surface. Not so long ago he’d have sold his soul for a car like that. No doubt that’s what the owner had done. Lucky bastard.
He caught a flash of long bright blond hair in the Mustang’s driver’s seat. Huh. So, not a bastard.
“Evan just confirmed the story should leak sometime midweek. He asked if you wanted to do the follow-up interview, but I told him I didn’t think you’d be interested.” Was that a cackle on the other end of the phone? Janice knew how fond Gage was of anything relating to the press. In his experience they used law enforcement to promote their agenda any chance they got. It felt good to return the favor.
Speaking of favors, Gage wasn’t convinced Evan appreciated Gage circumventing his plans for the evening, but Gage needed the perfect escort during the Tremayne Fund-raiser. Someone who could get him into the middle of action. Someone to make his foray into Nemesis’ hunting ground all that much smoother.
He only hoped the youngest Tremayne offspring would be more forthcoming than the picture he’d seen on the foundation’s website indicated.
Had the twenty-five-year-old been born with that string of pearls around her throat? Despite the stoic expression on her round face, and given the level of irritation in her eyes, he got the feeling she shared his opinion of the media. Or maybe he was reading too much into a picture.
The family had a sterling reputation, Jackson Tremayne in particular. It didn’t make any sense to him why this Agent Kolfax would be interested in either the patriarch of one of Lantano Valley’s most admired families or their charitable foundation. But Gage’s curiosity had been piqued.
The Mustang’s door opened.
Toned, tanned female legs emerged from the car, gossamer blue fabric sliding over her skin like a lover’s fingertips. Gage’s hand twitched, eager to feel the smoothness of her legs. From his vantage point he could see she had curves. Lots and lots of curves. A shoe dropped to the ground. He felt like a voyeur, but couldn’t pull his eyes away from the tempting vision unfolding from the Mustang as he bid good night to Janice.
He got out of the car, tugged the hem of his jacket straight, and rolled his shoulders as he headed her way. He stopped to hook a single finger through the strap of the sandal. Dangling the shoe from his fingertip, Gage squatted down and looked into a pair of surprised emerald eyes.
Jackpot.
“Ms. Tremayne. I believe you dropped this.”
Asking for Trouble
(Tremayne Family #1)
Anna J. Stewart
Adult Contemporary Romance
February 17th 2015 by Berkley InterMix
The Tremaynes are one of the most prosperous families in Lantano Valley, California. But money can’t buy everything—especially when it comes to love…
Morgan Tramayne has a heart of gold, but to keep her children’s charity afloat she’s had to resort to some less than legal means: donations from a notorious cat burglar who targets the wealthy. It’s only a matter of time before Morgan’s criminal connection blows up in her face—especially since her undeniable attraction to the man heading the investigation keeps putting her in tricky situations.
Former police detective-turned-investigator Gage Juliano has two goals: salvaging his career and nabbing Lantano Valley’s present-day Robin Hood. But when he meets a beautiful, curvaceous woman who’s more interested in helping others than amassing a fortune like the rest of the town’s residents, Gage finds his desires pulled in an unexpected direction…
Note: This novel contains some mature content.
You’ve met Anna J. Stewart (or someone like her) before. She was the girl who spun in circles on the playground hoping her Wonder Woman costume would magically appear before playing cops and robbers a la Charlie’s Angels–as Sabrina (she was the smart one). Anna was the girl in the back of the class with a paperback romance hidden in her algebra book (and yes, she failed algebra).
Growing up in the 70′s and 80′s meant there weren’t a lot of YA books, so she ventured early into mainstream fiction and read Stephen King’s CARRIE at the age of 8. Discovering Nora Roberts and romance novels early in high school opened her eyes to the wonders of storytelling and the beauty of a happily ever after.
So here she is, many years later with an English degree from CSU Sacramento, an RWA Golden Heart nomination behind her, countless stories in her head, and a serious addiction to STAR TREK, SUPERNATURAL, and SHERLOCK. She recently wrapped up a nearly 8-year stint working as assistant to NYTimes bestselling author Brenda Novak where she helped run Brenda's annual online auction for diabetes research. When she's not writing or reading (which she never has enough time for!), she's working on dollhouse miniatures and tolerating her overly-affectionate cat named Snickers (or perhaps it's Snickers who tolerates her).
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Thanks so much for including me on your blog! Hugely appreciated! :)
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