by: Anna J. Stewart
Series: Butterfly Harbor
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 26, 2022
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
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Could a surprise baby
Lead to a forever family?
Ineffective, shortsighted and self-centered—that’s what top family lawyer Leah Ellis thinks of Gil Hamilton. And that’s why she’s vying for his position as mayor of Butterfly Harbor. But when a six-month-old baby is left on Gil’s doorstep, he turns to her for help. Gil’s dedication to baby Eli shows Leah she was wrong about her rival. But can he win her vote for a future together?
I’m doing great, Kim! I think I’ve finally mentally gotten past the last few years and am back in the swing of things. The words have picked up again so that’s always good, LOL.
Let’s take a deep breath and process this…. After twelve books and almost six years, your Butterfly Harbor series has come to end. What was your first thought when you typed “The End” for the last time?
I cried. It was both a relief and a bit scary. Butterfly Harbor was my foray into Harlequin and Heartwarming (aside from the Christmas Town novella I wrote for them). So, it was the end of something life-changing for me. But I’m also excited. I love the ending that I wrote and that I did leave the door open (there’s lots of kids in that town, LOL), but I’m also excited for what’s coming next.
I love the possibility that this series will continue. I’m a latecomer to this series, with Building a Surprise Family, the tenth book in the series, being the first book I read. One thing I took away from that book was that I really really liked Gil Hamilton. Can you please tell readers about him?
Gil is one of the characters who has been on page from book one. He’s what I call a legacy mayor. His father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather, they were all the mayor of Butterfly Harbor at some point and some did a better job at it than others. He has a lot to live up to and a lot to make up for. His father nearly bankrupted the town and fallout from that has happened throughout the series. When we first meet Gil, he’s hired a new town sheriff expecting to be able to, well, for want of a better term, control things. The new sheriff (Luke Saxon) wasn’t having it and from there, Gil was really on a journey of self-discovery and examination. He’s been in every story and he’s always been a bit different; he’s growing which is how I wanted him to be. I wanted him to earn his happily ever after. If there is a villain of the town, Gil would qualify, but he’s also hugely misunderstood. Just like with most people, you never know what’s behind someone’s closed door. Finally writing his story, it felt like closing a circle, not only for him, but for the rest of the town as well.
What’s something about Gil that people would be surprised to learn?
That he’s not ambitious. I think a lot of people assume someone in his position, the favorite son so to speak, would be grabbing at all the accomplishments he can and maybe looking to bigger political accomplishments, but honestly? Gil’s heart truly does belong to Butterfly Harbor. He’s also fine letting people think whatever they’re going to think about him. Until he has someone else to think about—baby Eli. Then he realizes he has some amends to make if he’s going to be a successful father.
In The Mayor’s Surprise Baby, Gil wakes up one morning to find six-month-old Elijah on his doorsteps. Gil knows he needs to report this to Sheriff Luke Saxon, but chooses not to. Why was he so against reporting to authorities?
He knows from the jump that Eli was left on his doorstep for a reason. He was chosen by Eli’s mother to be the one to care for him. Even being in a powerful position, he’s not convinced he’ll be allowed to retain custody of the baby and, having had a mother who was cast out of the family by Gil’s father, he wants there to be an option for the mother if she comes back. To his mind, that’s what he’s doing at the start. He’s keeping Eli safe until his mother comes back. But when she doesn’t, he’s really left with no choice. He could create even more problems by not reporting Eli’s sudden appearance. So he’s caught, which makes for great story fodder.
Leah Ellis has been a thorn in Gil’s side for months now. She’s even trying to take his job. Tell me about her.
Leah first appeared in book 3 of the series, A DAD FOR CHARLIE. She’s a lawyer; a very successful one, but she’s made the switch from criminal law to family (for reasons explained in the book). She’s gone from big city life to small town and she loves it. But what she doesn’t like are the machinations she sees taking place with the mayor. He has made some controversial decisions; some good, some bad. But the idea Gil was elected simply because he’s a Hamilton and it’s just assumed a Hamilton will be mayor really bugs her. The residents have finally had enough and start a recall petition, which results in a special election, happening right around the time baby Eli makes his appearance. Watching Gil with the baby—and he’s good with Eli—allows her to see him in that different light I was talking about earlier. She’s not looking for anything close to a relationship; she’s quite happy and settled with her life, but of course that’s when love always makes its appearance, isn’t it? She soon learns that the Gil she thinks she knows doesn’t really exist and who he really is, a man who instantly devotes himself to this innocent, abandoned baby, is someone not only worthy of her attention, but also her love and respect.
What was the driving force for Leah to decide to help Gil and Eli?
Honestly? I think the fact that Gil asks her for help really is what triggers her helping. She’s always seen Gil as very ego-driven and politically minded. But being open enough to admit he doesn’t know how to handle a situation shines a different light on things. And, well, also, baby Eli is adorable. She can’t turn her back when something so fragile and innocent needs help. She wants him safe and secure and to do that, she’s going to have to face some things in her past that shifts her thinking and her strategy. Leah, like most residents of Butterfly Harbor, is all about the greater good and doing what most of us want to believe we’d do faced with similar situations.
What was your favorite part of The Mayor’s Surprise Baby to write, and why?
I love the scenes where it’s just Gil, Eli, and Leah. The opening scenes, where Gil is clearly overwhelmed and Leah just shows up should throw him off more than it does, but he’s actually holding things together better than I think most men would in the same situation. These two people are just honest with each other from the start. They don’t trust each other, which gave me permission to just let them go at it and lay all their cards on the table. Add in a gurgling, babbling baby to offset the tension and those scenes really did just write themselves.
Tell me about one of your favorite scenes from the book and why it’s a favorite.
I love the Halloween party. While I bring in every couple and most every character who has appeared in these books throughout this book, I got to write one big blow-out of a scene that illustrated a new holiday to celebrate in town. I also got to dress little Eli up as a marshmallow because come on! How cute is that?! Getting to imagine what a Halloween party would be like in Butterfly Harbor was definitely one of the highlights of the entire series for me. This town is and always has been about community. Celebrations like this reinforce that.
You’ve been living with these characters for over six years. What was it about Gil and Leah that made you decide they were meant for each other?
It’s funny. Originally I had planned for Leah to wind up with another hero in Butterfly Harbor, Monty Bettencourt (hero from Bride on the Run), but when I started to seed that relationship into an earlier book, it just wasn’t working right. I think it was when I landed on the recall election and understood he was going to need a strong, viable opponent, Leah was the obvious choice. Which meant it was built in conflict and potential sparks for these two. They’re opposites in a lot of ways, but they’re also very similar.
Those are some of the most fun romances to write, because I have to dig deep and see what really makes them tick.
What’s next for you as far as Harlequin Heartwarming imprint goes? Any new series you want to tell us about?
Yes! In fact next week I’m starting to write book one in my new Hawai’i set series (I believe we’re calling it Hawaiian Days? Not sure yet, LOL). There will be six books in this series (no more 12 book series for me!) and I’ve created a brand-new small town on the Big Island. Nalani is filled with all kinds of fun characters and of course the glorious setting of the islands. Sydney Calvert will be heroine number one and, after coming home because of her brother’s sudden death, she takes on running his local tour businesses. A hotel chain is interested in buying that business and sends its lead accountant to check things out. Needless to say sparks and romance ensues! As the books progress, more of her brother’s friends arrive on the island, drawn there by letters the brother sent before he passed. Once again, as with all of my projects, I’ll be building a family within the close-knit community. I believe book 1 will be coming out next May… so I’d better get writing!
Anna, thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions for me.
Happy to spend some time with you anytime, Kim! Happy reading, everyone!
Leah nipped up the stairs like a woman on a mission. If he was sick, of course she’d dig up some sympathy for that, but this lack of communication and existing through email wasn’t productive by any means and had Leah wondering what the man was really up to.
The house, one of the oldest in town, had served as mayoral headquarters for some of Gil’s progenitors. The Hamiltons had been at the top of the Butterfly Harbor pyramid for far longer than Leah had even been alive, and considering she was in her midthirties, that was saying something.
The house didn’t show its age, however. Of course it didn’t. As a protected historic landmark, city funds had no doubt been used for the upkeep of the three-story, Victorian-inspired home that stood, much like Liberty Lighthouse and the sunshine-kissed Flutterby Inn, as a spire of tribute to the town’s longevity. With its glossy silver-gray paint and bright white trim, the wrap-around porch reminded Leah of a grand old idyllic home. With the changing of the seasons, Gil displayed homespun decorations, like the carved pumpkins perched along the porch railing and the hand-painted wooden barrel filled with shiny red and green apples at the base of the stairs. A pretty picture, Leah admitted, and found herself tempted to snatch up one of those apples and bite in.
Taking a deep breath, Leah punched her finger against the bell, listened to it echo through the depths of the house behind the oversize glass and stained-wood door.
The ear-splitting wail from inside had Leah stepping back. What on earth...?
She barely had time to process the sound before the door was wrenched open. Gil Hamilton, dressed in wrinkled jeans and an even more disheveled and stained gray T-shirt stood on the other side, his mussed blond hair falling oddly sexily over his surfer-blue eyes.
Oh...my.
She swallowed hard. He was a picture. One that had her pulse kicking into uncomfortable ranges. She’d never have believed Gil even owned anything other than chinos and polo shirts, let alone be capable of going barefoot.
“Leah.” It was the mix of confusion, relief and stress that caught her ear and made the anger that had propelled her to his house evaporate into steam.
“You look terrible.”
His lips twitched. He shoved a hand into his hair, pushed it back in a way that had her heart doing an odd little dance against her ribs. “That’s what I like about you, Leah. I can always count on you for the truth. What are you doing here?”
“The council sent me,” she fibbed. It had been her idea to confront the issue at the source, but he didn’t need to know that. “What’s going on? You’re never one to miss a meeting, and you haven’t been to the office in a week.”
His eyes narrowed. “Been keeping tabs on me, have you?”
“Someone has to.” Lying was pointless, at least on this topic. The wailing continued from the back of the house. “What’s that?”
“What’s what?” He blinked over wide eyes at her and clung to the edge of the door, keeping any clear view into the house obscured.
“You know what. It sounds like...” She stepped forward and he moved in front of her. “Is that a baby?”
“I apologize for being absent, Leah, but this isn’t any of your business.” The plea in his eyes had her frowning. “I’ll be back in the office in a few days. I’m just dealing with a—” The screech that erupted behind him had both of them wincing.
“Gil.” It may have been the first time she’d used his name, rather than his title. They’d butted heads so often, it was easier to call him Mayor Hamilton, just to make certain he understood how she saw him. But those dark circles under his eyes, the exhaustion within them... His clothes looked about as anxious to sag to the floor as he did, and behind it all, the crying continued. “What’s going on?” She inclined her head, evaluating her options. But only one thing kept popping into her mind.
Gil Hamilton did not have, at least to her knowledge, any children.
“It’s a bit of a family crisis.” The words didn’t seem to strike her as completely truthful. “I’ll be back on top of things in a while. I just have some figuring out to do.”
“I don’t think you can figure out anything with all this crying. Let me come in.”
He swallowed so hard she could see his throat constrict. Confusion and doubt had his expression flickering like his system had short-circuited. Instead of arguing, he took a step back and waved her inside to precede him down the long, echoing hallway into the kitchen.
Excerpted from The Mayor’s Surprise Baby by Anna J. Stewart, Copyright © 2022 by Anna J. Stewart. Published by Harlequin Books.
The house, one of the oldest in town, had served as mayoral headquarters for some of Gil’s progenitors. The Hamiltons had been at the top of the Butterfly Harbor pyramid for far longer than Leah had even been alive, and considering she was in her midthirties, that was saying something.
The house didn’t show its age, however. Of course it didn’t. As a protected historic landmark, city funds had no doubt been used for the upkeep of the three-story, Victorian-inspired home that stood, much like Liberty Lighthouse and the sunshine-kissed Flutterby Inn, as a spire of tribute to the town’s longevity. With its glossy silver-gray paint and bright white trim, the wrap-around porch reminded Leah of a grand old idyllic home. With the changing of the seasons, Gil displayed homespun decorations, like the carved pumpkins perched along the porch railing and the hand-painted wooden barrel filled with shiny red and green apples at the base of the stairs. A pretty picture, Leah admitted, and found herself tempted to snatch up one of those apples and bite in.
Taking a deep breath, Leah punched her finger against the bell, listened to it echo through the depths of the house behind the oversize glass and stained-wood door.
The ear-splitting wail from inside had Leah stepping back. What on earth...?
She barely had time to process the sound before the door was wrenched open. Gil Hamilton, dressed in wrinkled jeans and an even more disheveled and stained gray T-shirt stood on the other side, his mussed blond hair falling oddly sexily over his surfer-blue eyes.
Oh...my.
She swallowed hard. He was a picture. One that had her pulse kicking into uncomfortable ranges. She’d never have believed Gil even owned anything other than chinos and polo shirts, let alone be capable of going barefoot.
“Leah.” It was the mix of confusion, relief and stress that caught her ear and made the anger that had propelled her to his house evaporate into steam.
“You look terrible.”
His lips twitched. He shoved a hand into his hair, pushed it back in a way that had her heart doing an odd little dance against her ribs. “That’s what I like about you, Leah. I can always count on you for the truth. What are you doing here?”
“The council sent me,” she fibbed. It had been her idea to confront the issue at the source, but he didn’t need to know that. “What’s going on? You’re never one to miss a meeting, and you haven’t been to the office in a week.”
His eyes narrowed. “Been keeping tabs on me, have you?”
“Someone has to.” Lying was pointless, at least on this topic. The wailing continued from the back of the house. “What’s that?”
“What’s what?” He blinked over wide eyes at her and clung to the edge of the door, keeping any clear view into the house obscured.
“You know what. It sounds like...” She stepped forward and he moved in front of her. “Is that a baby?”
“I apologize for being absent, Leah, but this isn’t any of your business.” The plea in his eyes had her frowning. “I’ll be back in the office in a few days. I’m just dealing with a—” The screech that erupted behind him had both of them wincing.
“Gil.” It may have been the first time she’d used his name, rather than his title. They’d butted heads so often, it was easier to call him Mayor Hamilton, just to make certain he understood how she saw him. But those dark circles under his eyes, the exhaustion within them... His clothes looked about as anxious to sag to the floor as he did, and behind it all, the crying continued. “What’s going on?” She inclined her head, evaluating her options. But only one thing kept popping into her mind.
Gil Hamilton did not have, at least to her knowledge, any children.
“It’s a bit of a family crisis.” The words didn’t seem to strike her as completely truthful. “I’ll be back on top of things in a while. I just have some figuring out to do.”
“I don’t think you can figure out anything with all this crying. Let me come in.”
He swallowed so hard she could see his throat constrict. Confusion and doubt had his expression flickering like his system had short-circuited. Instead of arguing, he took a step back and waved her inside to precede him down the long, echoing hallway into the kitchen.
Excerpted from The Mayor’s Surprise Baby by Anna J. Stewart, Copyright © 2022 by Anna J. Stewart. Published by Harlequin Books.
Purchase The Mayor’s Surprise Baby from:
The Butterfly Harbor Series:
Building a Surprise Family ~ Review
USA Today and national bestselling author Anna J. Stewart writes sweet to sexy romance for Harlequin’s Heartwarming and Romantic Suspense lines as well as ARC Manor. Early obsessions with Star Wars, Star Trek, and Wonder Woman set her on the path to creating fun, funny, and family-centric romances with happily ever afters for her independent heroines and the men who love them. A former Golden Heart nominee, Anna’s books have finaled in the Daphne DuMaurier and National Reader’s Choice awards. Her sweet romance RECIPE FOR REDEMPTION was recently turned into a holiday movie for UPtv (A CHRISTMAS RECIPE FOR ROMANCE) which aired during the 2019 holiday season. Since her first novella with Harlequin in 2014, Anna has written and published more than forty romances in multiple sub-genres. Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a serious Supernatural, a Jason Momoa addiction and two slightly nutty cats named Rosie and Sherlock. When she’s not writing, you can find her cooking and baking, binge-watching classic TV and cooking shows, attending fan conventions, or heading to the movies.
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Thank yo so much for featuring me on your blog, Kim! <3
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Thank you so much for doing the interview with me.
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